Chapter 4

This chapter is going to be a little short but you all get two short chapters today, and hopefully I will publish a longer one tomorrow. Enjoy!

As Tauriel and two other elves escorted Thorin to the throne room where their king was awaiting them and the other elves escorted the dwarves to the dungeons, Legolas led Perci to the royal gardens to spend some time with his One. He led her to a bench situated around the fountain dedicated to Varda, the Queen of the Valar and the Star-Queen. He held her hands as he sat next to her, his sharp blue eyes drinking in every feature of his One.

"Legolas?" Perci asked, still slightly puzzled on how her entire outlook of the world changed so quickly, and in a matter of a few minutes!

"Yes, love?"

"What is this… connection, that we have? I know that we are each other's Ones, but I do not understand how we can be so connected. Please, explain." He smiled at her, his memory traveling back to when his mother was still alive and when she was telling him about her and his father's connection.

"It is said that with every being that is born in Middle Earth, they will have a counterpart somewhere. And that when these two beings come into contact, a connection will instantly form between them. My mother explained it to me many years ago when she still lived. She told me that even though her and my father had an instant connection, like ours, and felt love for each other quickly, she said that they didn't fall completely in love until they knew everything about the other and even then, they fell a little more in love with each other everyday, even when they argued and fought with each other. We are meant to be together, Persephone, and, even if it will take years to do so, I look forward to spending the rest of my life with in anyway that you will have me." Legolas said, moving from the bench and moving to kneel on one knee in front of her, but still not letting go of her hands once. Perci, now understanding somewhat the bond that she and her One now shared.

"Legolas, you say that we need to learn more about each other? Well let's play a game called twenty questions…"

(I am thinking of doing a oneshot for this part, but I can't think of twenty questions that Perci would ask Legolas and vice versa. So if some of you could help me out, that would be great! Thanks)

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"Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland… and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive. Attempted burglary. Or something of that ilk. You have found…" here Thranduil paused as he examined the dwarf's expressive face "...a way in. You seek that which would… bestow upon you the right to rule. The King's Jewel. The Arkenstone. It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that. There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems… of pure starlight. I offer you my help." Thranduil said with a bow of his head.

"I am listening."

"I will let you go… if you but return what is mine." Thranduil offered.

"A favor for a favor." Thorin said, confirming what Thranduil said, and began to look contemplative.

"You have my word. One king to another." Thranduil said.

Thorin didn't speak for a moment, but his anger and hatred towards the elf got the better of him, not even thinking twice about his next words. "I would not trust Thranduil… the great king… to honor his word… should the end of all days be upon us! You… who lack all… honor! I have seen how you treat your friends. We came to you once, starving, homeless… seeking your help. But you turned your back! You turned away from the suffering of my people… and the inferno that destroyed us."

Thorin's words angered the elf king and as Thranduil's face got close to Thorin's the elf magic that covered Thranduil's face disappeared for a moment, revealing scars on one side of his perfect face and his blinded eye. "Do not talk to me of dragon fire. I know… its wrath and ruin. I have faced… the great serpents of the North. I warned your… grandfather of what his greed would summon. But he would not listen. You are just like him. Stay here if you will… and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink… in the life of an Elf. I'm patient. I can wait. And someone send for Legolas! He should have been here an hour ago!" Thranduil ordered, even as the dwarf king was dragged towards the dungeons, cursing up a storm.

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"My prince Legolas!" a voice shouted faintly in the distance, interrupting Legolas and Perci from their laughter and conversation. Legolas sighed, remembering his impatient father. They heard footsteps coming closer and coming up the path of well cared for vegetation was a young elf in servant clothing walking briskly towards them. Legolas rose, his action also bringing Perci to her feet which made Legolas instinctively wrap an arm around her waist to bring her closer. "My prince Legolas! Your father has summoned you to the throne room!"

Legolas sighed again but nodded his acceptance, causing the servant to only spare a glance at Perci before he turned around and speed walked back the way that he had come.

"Well, I guess it is no time like the present to meet your father, Legolas," Perci said, amusement obvious in her voice at Legolas's obvious dread. He rolled his eyes, having grown used to his One's amusement about odd things. He began to lead her towards the throne room, telling her a little more about his father.

"My father isn't very affectionate, especially since my mother died. He might come off as a cold king, but he is my father and he has protected his people for many years, even though he longs to sail to the Undying Lands to be with my mother, so that I might have the chance to learn and grow up without having the pressure of being king. I doubt any of the guards or even Tauriel have told him about you, because I doubt even they noticed what had happened, so don't take his first words towards you to heart." He murmured into her ear. A shiver traveled through Perci's body when she felt his breath on her ear, but she shook it off when she saw him smirk out of the corner of her eye and she couldn't retaliate as they were just outside a large set of doors that obviously led into the throne room.

Perci wasn't worried though because if she could face down Kronos and Gaia, she could face down her One's father. I'm not nervous, nope not at all…