As time passed, his curiosity got the best of him. Always from afar, he watched her engaged with the people. Every dinner, she dined with her family and by other Elves including Legolas. She was always smiling and laughing, all the while her eyes would indeed shine like starlight. He even noticed she had preference for his finest red berry wine. On a few occasions, she had caught the King watching her, and she would smile at him and continue on her business.

Thranduil found that one day he wanted see what she did in her spare time. One day, he followed her down to the training yards and found her clad in armor, battling swords with Legolas. The two had become friends and companions. As Thranduil watched her spar with his son, he felt something in his heart that he had not felt in a long time. The two continued to jest at one another. Her smile was bright and it made him happy to watch her.

"You have got to be faster than that Legolas!" she cried as she managed to tumble and disarm him. She was crouched over him, but with a flip, he now had her on her back. She landed with a thud.

"Now, Elan'. Who is the better warrior now? He smirked at her.

"Now, Legolas, never let your enemy distract you." She said as she managed to flip him on his back, while crouched over him and pulled a dagger from her boot and held it at his neck. "I am the better warrior." She smirked.

The two laughed together, "It seems that I am in a very compromised position, my lady."

"So it would seem." She climbed off of him and helped him up. "Remember when we first sparred together?" The two walked over to a bench. She handed him a small goblet of water.

"I do. The first time that I had you on your back and disarmed, you kissed me." Legolas said.

"I did." She laughed. "You were completely surprised and I took advantage of it."

"You did." He laughed. "It was a nice distraction though."

"Thank you my prince, but we both know that it is not my lips that you wish to kiss."

"What do you mean?"

"Legolas, I see the way that you look at her."

"Who?" he asked.

"Tauriel. You have much in common with her. You are both fine warriors and leaders, evenly matched in most every way. Mereth Nuin Giliath will be upon us in a less than a fortnight. Take her with you, as friends to have fun."

"I do not know if I could. How would I ask her?"

"Are you scared of her?" she jested.

"No. I just would not know what to say to her. We talk about many things, but love is not one of them. We are good friends, but nothing more. What of you? Who are you attending with?"

"I have been working so much to make Mereth Nuin Giliath special, I have not had time to consider an escort. Regardless, take her. Drink wine, eat, dance, do whatever makes you happy. A life without love or joy, is a life wasted. Love gives hope, hope gives light which will chase away the dark."

"What do you mean?"

"Look around you, Legolas. Your kingdom lies beneath what was a wonderful and beautiful spot on Middle Earth. Though, there is darkness around, if one person has love in their hearts for others and themselves; then that will become light. Someday, there will be time in the future that hope and light be needed to drive out the dark of Sauron. I know that you will become a great warrior and vessel of hope to others who will need it. Together with other people in Ennor (Middle Earth), you will chase out the evil and restore the world once more. The starlight will shine on us once more."

"How do you know that? Are you able to see the future?" he asked.

"Not exactly, I have hope. In Lothlórien, I called to Galadriel once to ask her about why I was so unlike everyone else. She told me that that I was to be the physical embodiment of love, knowledge and hope. My hair was colored to remind others of the beauty of sunsets and sunrises in Middle Earth. My eyes were colored green, to reflect the vast gardens and forests that were so pure and untouched before the dark reign. I would serve to bestow knowledge of all things, including our Elven history and other legends. I delight in bringing happiness, love and joy to others. Truthfully, that is one of the reasons that my family came. I told my father, that I could feel that I was needed here. The forests of Mirkwood were once filled with life and beauty, such it was known throughout the lands- before the battle of Mordor and the rise of the Necromancer. I felt drawn here for some reason and I spoke to my parents about it. Father said the army of Mirkwood, was powerful and that he would be happy to serve Thranduil. Mother agreed and since she was famous for her jewelry, she could make them for your father and the people. It was agreed that I should continue on as I had before. They did not argue with me and felt it was my destiny. So we came here."

Legolas listened and held her hand and said, "I am glad you and your family are here. You have been breath of fresh air for all of us, including my father."

"Is that so? Though you and I are friends and speak freely to one another; I do not have that relationship with your father. He is kind to me and we speak, but only briefly or sometimes not at all. I know he watches me, because I have seen him do so at feasts and in the halls. I understand that he has much responsibility in the kingdom to protect his people and that takes much time and devotion. I figured that is why he is pays me no attention."

"Why do you not speak to him yourself more often?" Legolas inquired.

"He unnerves me. When I see him he is flawless to me in every way, a beautiful puzzle I cannot unravel. I get this feeling of nervousness, my heart races and my skin flushes and I think of him at times."

Legolas laughed. "He has that effect on people, mainly women though. Are you sure it is not love you feel for my father? It is possible, you know."

"I am not sure. I feel sometimes, that I was drawn here because of your father. It was rumored that he has become hardened from sorrow for his people and lost love, yet I see him as gentle and protective. He is my king and your father, Legolas. It is not appropriate for me to think of your father in that way."

"He can be difficult and distant at times, but I can assure you, he is not at all what he appears to be. Behind that façade, lies a different person. I know that he is very fond of you, as he has occasionally inquired about you to me before." Legolas said.

"He does?" she asked.

"Yes, maybe sometime you should try to get to know him better." He said.

"I'm sure you are right." She says, as she hears a sound coming down the stairs. She stands and gives Legolas an elbow and a wink and tosses him his sword and the two friends pretend to spar.