A/N:

DOH! Just bloody realized my momentous cock up! Have edited the last part of this chapter...so hopefully the story actually makes a little more sense...i hope.


"Sweet child how do you get so filthy?" Baineth pulled the light green tunic from over Nibenmir's head taking note of the stains that littered it.

"It is though you wear them as a badge of honour" she muttered folding the garment and placing it insides a basket to be washed later.

Nibenmir remained silent as she wiggled out of her leggings and undergarments passing them over to the older Elf who gave her a knowing look, she knew when her charge had been in trouble and by the look on the child's face it was a substantial amount.

She gathered Nibenmir's long dark locks up and pinned them above her head in a messy bun then helped her into the meticulously hand carved tub which sat in the middle of an equally impressive room.

"Come now Mir your face is to beautiful to be frowning" Baineth knelt down and gently stroked the child's cheek.

"Uncle is very mad with me" Nibenmir finally mumbled staring down into the steaming water which came nearly to her chest.

"You know your Uncle can never stay angry with you" The elegant woman smiled she had been a good friend of Thranduil her whole life and helped him care for the child like she were her own.

"But he threatened to send me away..." Nibenmir's eyes went wide and she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

"...to Rivendell" the words were barely whispered but understood.

"O you are being dramatic little dove, he would never dream of sending his Mir away" Baineth squeezed Nibenmir's bony shoulder reassuringly but the little Elf shook her head the same gloomy expression never leaving her face.

"No. He meant it this time, I know he did...you should have seen how angry he was Baineth" Just the thought of her Uncles furious stare made her stomach churn.

"Well you will just have to do as Thranduil says and stay out of trouble my little Rana" The older woman reached behind her for a cloth and soap then started the task of scrubbing Nibenmir clean.

"I try to do as he says I swear it!" The Elfling sighed dramatically which was met with a chuckle.

"But it is so boring inside the halls, and Legolas gets to go out beyond the gates all the time, so why not I?" the little girl turned so Baineth could reach her back.

"Nibenmir your cousin is a seasoned guard who has seen many times change and fought in many battles. You however, are only a newborn with a streak of foolish boldness who has barely seen ten summers" Baineth scolded and the child screwed her face up.

"I am not a baby" She scowled down at the murky water.

"No Mir you are not a baby" Baineth grabbed a small brush and started scrubbing the dirt that had become incrusted under the girls fingernails.

"But you are also not near grown, you are a still a child who must follow the rules like every other child" She gave a stern look and inspected her progress, sighing at the state of Nibenmir's chewed nails. At least now they were clean.

"O'the state of you sometimes" she tsked also noticing the twigs and leaves tangled up in the girls hair.

"You have brought half the forest home with you it seems" she started picking the foliage out.

Nibenmir squirmed impatiently and was told to sit still several times before Baineth was satisfied her job was done, when she helped the child out of the tub the water had turned a grimy brown colour.

"Let's get you dry and into something clean then" She grabbed a towel and stared drying her charge off.

"Then I believe dinner will be served, we need to get some meat onto those bones of yours" She fussed.

Nibenmir stood patiently for once and didn't even wiggle when Baineth dried under her arms.

Baineth finished and handed over a clean pair of undergarments then busied herself trying to find a clean tunic. Nibenmir quickly dressed and followed the tall woman into the adjoining room where she slept.

It was small yet cosy dwelling, the round walls draped with white fabric which fluttered in the breeze. Her bed sat beneath a large framed window and was littered with pillows and quilts, looking more like a nest every day as Baineth would put it. There was a small oak desk littered with drawings and books and beside the door leading out was a large hand crafted set of draws that had been gifted to her on her sixth birthday from her cousin Legolas.

He had carved and stained the furnishing himself and sat on top of them was another present he had given her. Three small tawny owls fashioned out of glass, her most favourite bird and she made sure to take good care of them.

"This one will have to do" Baineth rummaged through the draws and found a short sleeved lilac summer gown, making a mental note to send the childs washing away to be cleaned.

The gown came nearly to the floor and Nibenmir tugged at the collar which Baineth quickly readjusted before it was ripped by fiddling little hands. She then loosened the little girls hair and pulled a brush through the long dark locks pulling it back into a loose braid.

"There my beautiful Mir" She bent and placed a quick kiss on Nibenmir's forehead, admiring the child for a moment, she was growing older every day and it saddened her a little.


"Legolas!"

The gloomy expression on Nibenmir's face immediately turned to joy as she entered the courtyard and discovered her cousin who had been gone for nearly thirty moons standing beside the long stone table talking with his father.

She ran up to him and flung her arms around his waist and a hand rested itself on the back of her head.

"I didn't know you would be back so soon!" She leaned back and stared up at the tall amused looking Elf.

"Did you see any Spiders on your trip? Any Orcs?!" Her bright green eyes lit up excitedly and Legolas rolled his own, bemused at the youngsters enthusiasm for dangerous creatures.

"Only if you count those two cousins of ours" He winked down at her and she shuddered, then suddenly remembered the other presence in the room.

"Good evening Uncle" She quickly turned and stared timidly up at Thranduil who gestured for them to take a seat.

"Nibenmir must you bring up those ratchet creatures at the dinner table" The Elven King guided his niece around to her seat then claimed his place at the head of the long table. Plates and Cutlery were laid out already and two large platters of food were quickly brought out and goblets topped up.

Thranduil filled the youngsters plate first before his own.

"How is Elrond and our friends in Rivendell?" He took a bite turning to his son.

"They are faring well, summer has been kind" Legolas took a mouthful "Arwen wishes to come visit when the path is safe"

Nibenmir glanced up from her food, Arwen was like a big sister to her and it had been nearly a year since she'd last visited.

"It would be our honour to have her" Thranduil took a mouthful of the dark red wine enjoying the rich flavours.

"And what has my cousin been doing with herself in my absence?" Legolas turned his attention across the table to the Elfling who stabbed her fork into a piece of roasted goat.

"Nothing" She shrugged and stuffed the tasty morsel into her mouth all in one go which resulted in a disapproving look from her Uncle.

"Is that so?" The Blonde Elf raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner, the fact she wouldn't look up from her plate lead him to believe she wasn't been quite so truthful.

Legolas pondered what kind of trouble his cousin had gotten herself into this time but decided not to pursue the matter further, no doubt his father would fill him in later.

"How are the new recruits faring?" Thranduil and Legolas fell into casual conversation that held no interest to Nibenmir and she stuffed a forkful of leafy vegetables into her mouth, mulling over the idea of been trapped in her Uncles halls. Arthon and Bainor would have a field day when they found out, it seemed their only purpose in life was to annoy the living daylight out of her and so far they were exceeding expectations.

She stabbed a piece of meat and quickly devoured it pondering whether it was wise to inquire as to when her punishment would end, one sideways glance at her uncle convinced her not to.

Nibenmir took up her goblet and swallowed a large mouthful of spring water, once her and Arthon had snuck down into the cellars and tried out some of the wines, she only had a few sips the liquid was so rancid but Arthon had drunk an entire bottle. Afterwards he'd been violently sick and bed ridden for the rest of the day.

When her Uncle found out she was ordered to clean up his mess and then banned from the upcoming Winter Solace one of her most favourite festivals.

"...he is down in the holding cells"

Nibenmir paused mid chew her cousins voice suddenly drawing her attention, she kept her eyes on the plate in front though pretending not to be interested.

"I shall tend to the matter after the meal" Thranduil's voice was quiet and she had to listen hard to catch his words.

Someone had been captured? The thought excited Nibenmir, rarely were the cells used in Mirkwood although her cousin was always threatening to send her to one.

The last of her food quickly disappeared into her mouth as she imagined what could be locked up beneath them, maybe a Goblin or even a Troll! Although that was unlikely Nibenmir entertained the idea and her excitement grew in tenfold.

"Child it is a wonder you are so slim with such an appetite" Thranduil mused he was only halfway through his own meal.

"It is because she spends most of her energy getting into mischief" Legolas teased and Nibenmir pulled a face.

"Indeed" Her Uncle was quick to agree casting a sideways look.

"May I please be excused?" The Elfling dabbed her mouth clean with a table cloth provided "Adarlae has set me a mountain of homework that he expects me to complete by tomorrow" She sighed dramatically and looked pleadingly to Thranduil and took a long moment to decide.

"You are to go straight to your quarters and I will see that Baineth checks in" His words were firm and Nibenmir hopped from her seat.

"I promise I will, goodnight Uncle" She stood on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek which instantly caused him to soften a little.

"Sweet dreams Mir" He touched his hand to the side of her face and she brightened, emerald green eyes stared up at him and he was reminded again of the innocence of youth, he wished for her to never grow up.

"Goodnight Cousin" Nibenmir skipped around to Legolas and threw her arms around his shoulders.

"I am glad you are back" This had been obvious from the moment she'd seen him.

"And I am glad to be back" The blonde haired Elf kissed her forehead before she disappeared.

"She is growing fast" He remarked once Nibenmir was out of sight and Thranduil sighed wearily.

"And growing twice as bold" The Elvin King took a long swallow of wine.

"What has she done this time?" Legolas needn't of asked.

"Today she was discovered out on the Forest Path by Haldir and his brothers" The younger Elf shook his head in dismay his Cousin was always bending the rules but being out alone in the forest was plain foolish behaviour.

"She has been confined to our Halls and bow taken away until I see fit she has learnt her lesson"

"I fear she will never learn" Legolas drained his cup "It was not far from the forest border that I came across the human"

"Orc's and now Human filth wandering freely inside our lands" Thranduil clenched his fork tightly at the thought.

"I want the watch doubled and patrols pushed right out to the forest line nothing is to come in or out without me knowing"

Legolas nodded.

"What do you know of this mortal?" The Elvin King pushed aside his plate his appetite suddenly lacking.

"I was only able to get his name before he lost consciousness, it looks as though he was set on by Orcs six of seven tracks I counted"

"His injuries? Are they Mortal?"

"He will live"

The answer disappointed Thranduil now he would have to deal with the wondering human, yet another matter on his already overflowing plate. The tall Elf pushed back from the table his chair screeching on the ground.

"I want him brought down to my chambers straight away" He made his way from the courtyard stopping in the archway. Legolas dabbed his mouth clean with a table cloth he wasn't yet finished his meal but the thought of keeping his agitated father waiting would only make matters worse.

"You said you have his name?" The Elvin King turned slightly waiting for response.

"Yes he is Snow, Jon Snow" The younger elf recalled the words that were feebly whispered to him.

"Snow..." The name rolled off Thranduil's tongue with a hiss before he disappeared from sight.