Author's note: Here is chapter 2! I'm surprised I got to update so quickly and hope you stick around to read more! I know it's a slow beginning but I promise the action will come eventually with all our favorite characters, and even a few new ones! Without further ado, here you go!

Chapter 2:

Legolas awoke refreshed and curious as to what his father would speak to him about. He pondered this as he quickly and expertly brushed and braided his sleep-tangled hair. Most royals had servants to do this mundane task but he felt it was less time consuming to just do it himself—he didn't feel the need to assert his rank over other elves. He deftly slipped on his usual loose green hunting robes but after a moment faltered. He didn't care much for the vanity of his wardrobe, but he felt that perhaps his father might be more pleased to see him in something more formal befitting a prince. He found an appropriately elegant dark blue and black combination which he felt brought out the iciness of his eyes and the stark contrast of his hair. Yes, it will do nicely, he thought, and set off down to the throne room.

Thranduil sat high on his throne listening to the report of a rather dull councilman. His handsome face forever set into an expression of cold distance, his air that of feigned disinterest. He liked that his massive throne allowed him to look down on those below him, intimidated them, and brought fear into their eyes.

"That will do," he said, and waived the elf away as he saw his son enter the room. He did not need to intimidate his son and instead came down from his throne, standing beside him before he spoke. "I trust you are well rested?"

"Indeed I am," Legolas said, truly feeling refreshed and ready for whatever special task his father might have for him. He waited for his father to continue. Thranduil upon closer inspection noticed Legolas wearing finer attire than normal, and was rather pleased he had considered this.

"Good," his gaze softened, genuinely satisfied. "You may be wondering why I have requested your presence," he paused and then turned to stare him fully. "I am charging you with journeying to Rivendell to escort a royal party here. It is an emissary of utmost importance and I would only trust you with this quest." He put his hand on Legolas' shoulder. "You may select some of the guard to accompany you."

"I would be honored, father," Legolas said, excited at the prospect of doing something different. Still, he kept his demeanor calm, "I will assemble the guard and leave at once."

Thranduil nodded and paced in front of the view of the forest kingdom. "Among those traveling will be councilmen and honored guests. They may cause you to travel more slowly than usual." Legolas moved to leave the hall, ready to prepare for his departure immediately. "Please, be swift." Legolas nodded and left, Thranduil looking after him. "Please, my son, be careful," he said to an empty room.

Legolas went straight down to the armory and training grounds, ready to prepare for the mission and having a few guards already in mind. He would have liked to bring Tauriel but he knew he could not steal away the captain of the guard, after all Mirkwood itself still needed protection. Thus far he thought to bring the healer-turned-warrior elleth and a few older elves who had proven their worth in combat before. The size of his company had to be small enough so they could travel quickly but large enough to adequately protect should danger arise. As he thought about which provisions to select he met Tauriel who was just entering the armory. By the looks of it, she was already well into her morning routine of waking up early to practice her own skills and then stopping to train the recruits. A thin sheen of sweat hung on her brow and he noticed it made her look livelier than ever in the morning sunlight.

"Good morning," she smiled, acknowledging him with a nod. She then paused and took note of his formal garb and looked at him questioningly.

"Good morning," he replied, also nodding in her direction. Without her asking, he began to explain. "My father has asked me to go to Rivendell to escort a party here. I should hope to be back within a few days' time if all goes well."

"A party?" she smirked, "sounds important." She went to the far side of the armory to inspect the training bows which, to her dismay, many had broken strings.

"I would have asked you to accompany me, mellon, but I know your duty to the guard comes first," he explained. Tauriel was secretly pleased, but saddened as she ached to go past the borders of Mirkwood and see Middle Earth. She knew of Rivendell, and longed to hear the waterfalls and feel the warm sunlight for herself.

"I understand," she said, "but in truth, I am sorry for you." She turned her back to him to hide a smile.

"Sorry?" He asked surprised. "Why sorry?" Tauriel laughed in that he seemed almost offended by her remark.

"Because you'll go on a week without seeing me!" She laughed wholeheartedly and Legolas couldn't help but also chuckle.

He picked up the spears and shields he had selected and walked towards the hall. "That's not something to be sorry for," he said, just loud enough for her to hear and smirked as he walked away before she had a chance to fire back at him.

Tauriel scowled when she heard his retort and shook her head at her friend. She knew that she would be missing him during his absence and wondered if he really would miss her too. Though she longed to go, at least the returning party would bring some entertainment and new guests to the kingdom; things had been all too predictable as of late and she was never one to shy away from excitement.

Thranduil took his lunch alone, thinking of his son's journey. He had ordered some of their finest wine and weapons to be taken as gifts as was customary, but also knew this would slow the group down further. He knew Legolas was an excellent warrior, but the reports from the guard reminded him that evil things that had not been seen for decades were appearing again. His son was the last thing he truly loved in this world and would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to him. As it were, Legolas was his only son and heir—a son who happened to not have a wife. Part of Thranduil's reasoning for sending Legolas was that he hoped he might take a liking to one of the princesses or Ladies of Rivendell, since Legolas showed no such interest in any elleth here.

There was one whom his subjects occasionally whispered about, Tauriel, one of his favorites to be precise. He had made her captain of the guard not only because he favored her, but because she was an exceptional warrior with quick reflexes and deadly skill. Though her rebelliousness was at times annoying, it was nothing worth getting upset about though he always maintained a harsh exterior. When he heard the rumors about her and his son he began to keep an eye on them, and though their friendship was certainly a close one, he found nothing to suggest Legolas had a particular romantic attachment to her or her on him. He was not concerned, yet, at his son's lack of engagement. He knew Legolas was well liked, respected, a capable leader, and if the swoons of his female servants were any indication, handsome as well.

Like Tauriel, he too hoped that his forthcoming guests would bring something new to his kingdom. Speaking of Tauriel, he decided to summon her for her report.

Tauriel entered the large room, not surprised to see Thranduil in his usual place: seated comfortably on his throne. "My lord," she said and bowed quickly, something obviously occupying her mind, "we require new bows. The ones the guards have now are deteriorating quickly." Thranduil was not surprised at her bluntness as she paced in front of him impatiently; he expected nothing less and remained listening silently. "The beasts we fight in the forest have grown large and strong, their hides thick and unyielding. More and more arrows are needed to slay them. If we can adjust the curvature here and thicken the neck we could shoot with more force and velocity." She indicated her suggestions on the broken bow she had brought with her.

"Is that all?" He asked, his gaze unchanging.

"Yes, my lord," she said stopping. She then thought the better of it "Well, as I have mentioned before I believe that if we perhaps went out of the forest to attack—"

"No." Thranduil cut her off sternly. He then tried to soften his voice to convince her, "It is not necessary, Tauriel. None of these beasts which you have fought have proven to be any trouble—there is no need to endanger lives with unnecessary battles outside of our forest realm. We are safe here. We shall endure, as we always have."

Tauriel's eyes lit up angrily. Endure?! She fumed. Life wasn't meant to be endured, it was meant to be lived! She wanted to protest, but thought the better of it. Now was not the right time, there hadn't been any large attacks yet, and most of all she didn't have Legolas here to support her protest of the king's stubbornness. Though Thranduil could tell she was visibly incensed by the way she stood almost perfectly still he heard her mutter "Yes, my Lord." Perhaps she was learning to hold her tongue, he thought, however unlikely that might be. Had it been another her lack of respect would not have been tolerated, but he made exceptions for her.

The elf-king dismissed Tauriel, who made her way towards where the grove where the smiths worked—her anger already subsiding as she thought about the suggestions she had for sturdier bows.

After Tauriel left, the king summoned the council member in charge of the palace stores.

"My lord," the elf said, bowing deeply. "You requested 30 barrels of our ornpirya wine for the linae-orn-kalina festival. The traders of Lake Town has been delayed in their shipment and with the wine we have given away as gifts to Lord Elrond, I fear we do not have enough." The elf did not make eye contact with his king, uncomfortable with having to be the bearer of bad news.

Thranduil was silent for a while and then sighed, his silky voice surprisingly forgiving. "Fortunately the festival is not upon us yet. If the goods are not delivered within two more days send someone to Lake Town to fetch them, and remind the inhabitants of whom they are neighbors with."

"As you demand, my king," the elf bowed again and quickly hurried away. He hoped, for the sake of the people of Lake Town, that they brought the wine within two days.

End notes:

Hope you enjoyed and here are some elven words I used I thought would be fitting.

Ornpirya-syrup

Linae-orn-kalina = lake-tree-light