The horns sounded at the palace gates. Thranduil had arrived.

'My father' Legolas greeted, as soon as Thranduil had dismounted 'How is Lothlorien?'

'As beautiful as ever' Thranduil replied. 'How is my beloved son and home?'

'I am fine, my liege, but Mirkwood has had a strange visitor.'

'Indeed?'

'A mysterious trespasser who is now being held in a dungeon cell. Would you like to see her now?'

'Her?'

'Yes father. A human female with a most ungracious attitude.'

'It can wait until after dinner.'

They ate in a small hall, rather than in the prestigious banquet hall – after all it was only the two of them. Thranduil drained his goblet and asked:

'So who is our mystery guest?'

'I know only a false name – Milia she calls herself – and that she enchants all who speak with her. I left guards infront of her cell, and when I went to check up on them, they were playing games with her!'

'She can't be that dangerous, then'

'Do not be fooled, father. She attacked me in the woods and I am sure she would have killed me if she had the whim to do so. She also has a very sharp tongue on her.'

'Well, I thank you for looking after Mirkwood from these rampaging women! It is time that I set eyes upon her, and determined her fate.' Legolas nodded, and rose from the table leading the way to Jessica's barren and cold cell. It was quite a long way – it took them well over ten minutes to reach it. Legolas stood infront of the cell, looked in, then stepped aside for his father to look in.

'Fool of an elf' Thranduil cursed his son.

*A/N: Now it gets complicated – why is Legolas a fool? How does he know the girl? Onward! *

Thranduil grabbed the keys from a guard and unlocked the door himself. At the sound of the door being scraped across her prison cell, Jessica looked up. Seeing Thranduil, she stood up and curtseyed, as well as she could after sitting in the same position for 48 hours with very little food.

'Almare!'

'My liege' she said, trying to stand upright without falling over. She failed, dismally.

'How long have you been like this?' Asked Thranduil, catching her before she fell over and pulling her upright.

'Just the one night' she said, with the air of one commenting on the weather. 'It could have been better, but I was sufficiently entertained.'

Legolas was stunned. Here, right in front of him was a young woman, after disbanding a host of Orcs, capturing him, then being captured by him, and being held in prison for two days, acting like a princess of noble birth that has done nothing more than gone for a morning stroll. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He came back from his thoughts and continued listening to Thranduil.

'When did you last eat?'

'Not for four days, though food was provided. Nobody knew my dietary habits.'

Thranduil put a hand on Jessica's back to lead her away. She flinched, very visibly.

'What ever is wrong, my dear?' Thranduil walked round her and studied her ripped clothing, and broken, scabby skin.

'We seem to have a lot to catch up on.' Thranduil said, throwing Legolas a concerned look. 'Before that, though, why don't I have a bedchamber set up for you and food sent up so that you can get a proper rest? Then after that we can talk.'

Jessica nodded. 'I would appreciate that very much, father.'

Ok well now is your chance to make use of the little button at the bottom of the page and review. Any comments accepted, though flames will be used to scorch Legolas' hair for being so mean. ;-)