(Author's Note: If you guys haven't already figured it out, this story is pretty fluffy. :) I'm kind of focusing on their relationship right now (and I know it's going slow, just hang in there) but I promise there is a plot. In fact, soon so much stuff is going to start happening it will throw you. But until then, we have shyness to deal with. Please review and let me know what you think!)


Miridian couldn't believe it. King Thranduil had just given her run of the palace. She could enter whenever she wished. Oh she was sure she would drive him mad, because she would go to see him so often. She had given up trying to deny that she had quite a strong affection for the King.

Miridian had gone back home and reported to her father that the King was quite pleased with his sword, but that is all she said. She was too shy to share what had happened with the King just yet. That night, she decided that she would visit the palace tomorrow. The fact that Thorin Oakenshield and his band of comrades were in the Mirkwood prison did not slip her mind. She might pay them a visit as well. She admired Thorin so much for his bravery; she wanted to tell him. But most of all, she longed to see King Thranduil.

Now she was at the stream. Not to get water, but just to sit. It was a peaceful place, and Miridian liked to go there to be alone with her thoughts. The forest was beautiful this time of year and she enjoyed being outdoors with nature. She sat next to the stream and put her fingers in the water, feeling the cool rush of the current as it ran to the west, down the little hill.

Many dwarves thought Mirkwood was a dark and frightful place, full of tricks and danger, but Miridian always thought it beautiful. The way the trees changed with the seasons, and the way the sun shone through giving light to every sign of life in the forest. It was peaceful and pretty.

As Miridian sat, she heard a slight rustle in the trees. She lifted her head as she heard his voice.

"I thought I would find you here."

Miridian smiled at King Thranduil as he approached her. He did not wear his crown, and he wore an intricately designed red tunic. He stood at the other side of the stream. Miridian stood up.

"You were looking for me, my lord?" she asked shyly. Thranduil smiled at her.

"You could say that." Thranduil took a leap over the stream and he sat down, Miridian sitting next to him. "You like to come here."

"Yes," Miridian replied, trying not to die of shyness. "It's beautiful out here. I enjoy the tranquility." The King looked at her, and she looked back for a second, but looked away quickly, feeling bashful again. Thranduil didn't look away.

"You're so shy," he said with a smile. Miridian blushed and sighed.

"I know," she said. "I wish I wasn't."

"It is alright; I quite like it." Miridian paused, and then decided to ask a question she had wanted to ask him.

"If I may ask, my lord, why did you come looking for me?" The question was barely a whisper, and Miridian did not look at him.

"I find you…interesting," said Thranduil softly. "And beautiful." Miridian smiled to herself.

"…You are quite beautiful as well," she said without thinking. Oh, that was so bold of her! She wanted to cover her mouth. But Thranduil simply slipped his hand gently into hers.

She wanted to gasp at his touch, as it sent a million butterflies fluttering inside her, but she held it in. She entwined her fingers with his and—out of insecurity—bit her bottom lip. They sat there together in silence, watching the stream run by. Miridian didn't know it, but eventually she fell asleep; her head falling onto Thranduil's shoulder.

The next morning, Miridian woke up in a place she did not recognize. She was in a very large bed, with red and gold silk sheets and a canopy. The room was large and very beautiful; furniture made out of elk antlers from the finest craftsmen. Where was she? And how did she get here? She sat up and stretched, and just then the door opened, revealing King Thranduil.

"I see you are awake," he said, smiling at her. The King had done a lot more smiling than she had thought. He wasn't really known for being friendly; however, he was to her. "You are in my chambers. I brought you here after you fell asleep in the forest."

Miridian blushed from embarrassment. Did the King really carry her into the palace and put her into his bed? Where did he sleep? She felt very sheepish and out of place. Thranduil must have sensed it. He walked over to her.

"You are free to move about," he said.

"If it is alright with you, my lord, I think I should return home. My father will be worried. But thank you so much for graciously caring for me," said Miridian, standing up from the King's bed.

"I understand. But let one of my guards take you home. We have been having a bit of a spider problem, and it is dangerous out in the forest."

Thranduil opened the door for her and stopped a passing elf. She looked as if she was in the Guard, and she turned to Thranduil.

"Tauriel; take Miridian home. Do not let her be harmed. She will show you the way." Tauriel nodded, and Miridian detected surprise in her face. Nevertheless, Tauriel smiled at her and Miridian followed her out of the palace.

"If you do not mind me asking, what is your affiliation with the King? I have never seen you about the palace before," asked Tauriel, a friendly smile.

"My father is his silversmith," Miridian replied. "I deliver his crafts."

"Is that all?" Tauriel said, her smile turning from friendly to suspicious. "It isn't every day one sees a young woman emerging from the King's chambers." Miridian smiled and blushed, looking at the ground as they walked through Mirkwood forest.

"He was with me at the stream last night and I suppose I fell asleep," Miridian replied honestly. "He told me that he brought me to the palace."

"He must be smitten with you! He has been looking a bit enchanted lately. One of the guards actually suspected wizardry. It is strange; the King is not one to associate with romance."

"Oh, I do not think he is that fond of me, but thank you for saying so," Miridian said. She knew the King must like her, but she was not so sure about smitten. She couldn't say the same for herself.

"Are you fond of him? King Thranduil?" asked Tauriel, pulling Miridian from her thoughts.

"Oh," Miridian began. Tauriel seemed trustworthy, and Miridian liked her. So she decided to reveal her true feelings. "Yes. I am so very fond of him. But…he is the King, and I am no more than a village elf."

"Do not give up so easily," said Tauriel. "…I think I may be in love with a dwarf." Miridian looked up at Tauriel and smiled.

"Truly?!" she said. She couldn't believe it! An elf in the Guard, in love with a dwarf! Perhaps all hope was not lost for the relationship between the races. Tauriel nodded.

"He is in our prisons. He's quite tall for a dwarf, and very handsome. He is kind as well, and…I think I may like him a little more than I should." Miridian smiled.

"Do not worry, your secret is safe with me," she said. Then Miridian had a thought. "…Do you suppose you could take me to the prisons tomorrow? I would like to see the dwarves…I do not hate them as much as I should either." Tauriel smiled and nodded as they approached Miridian's cottage.

"Of course. I will see you tomorrow then," she said. Miridian shook her hand and bid her goodbye, and her new friend turned back for the palace.

"She returned to her home safely, my lord," reported Tauriel to Thranduil. He nodded at her.

"Thank you," he replied. That's all he wanted to say, but Tauriel looked at him for a moment with almost a smirk on her face. "The forest is dangerous in the dark. I was simply looking out for her." Although he knew that wasn't true. Tauriel raised her eyebrows and left when Thranduil waved her away. He had no duty to explain himself to anyone.

The rest of the day was slow; more spiders kept coming up from the south and Thranduil had to keep sending out more troops to kill them off. He debated whether he should go out himself and kill them, and he made his decision when it was dark that evening. He ventured out to the stream to make sure Miridian hadn't fallen asleep there again; he would have taken her once more to the palace, for the forest was quite dangerous when it was night. But when he reached the spot, she was not there. He turned around, preparing to go back to the palace, when he heard a scream.

It was the scream of the woman he knew, with danger in its essence. Miridian was in danger. He drew out his sword and ran in the direction of her scream, to find her in the doorway of a small cottage, wrestling with a spider. The revolting creature was almost bigger than her, and it looked like it was about to sink its teeth into her. Thranduil immediately ran to her and jumped in front of her, forcing the spider away from the front door. It hissed and growled, and Thranduil pointed his sword toward it. It backed up and swatted at him, and he chopped the leg off that it swatted with. The creature yelped, and Miridian whimpered as Thranduil wrestled with the creature until he had it pinned against a tree. With one simple flick of his sword, he stabbed the creature in the abdomen, killing it instantly. He drew his sword out of the creature and wiped the blood off of his face. When he turned around, Miridian ran to him and threw her arms around him. He almost gasped.

"Oh, are you alright?! How did you find me, are you hurt?!" He smiled at her; she always looked so pretty.

"I am fine, Miridian. I heard you scream. These foul creatures keep entering my kingdom and multiplying. I hope you are alright."

"Yes, thanks to you," she replied, getting shy again. She looked at the ground, like she often did. Thranduil lifted her chin up with two of his fingers.

"You are safe now. I hope to see you tomorrow," he said. She nodded, and Thranduil suddenly had the urge to kiss her, but he did not. He simply smiled and turned back for the palace.