Author's note- Sorry this one came kinda late, but thanks a heap for your reviews and a BIG thank you to everyone reading! Stay tuned for chapter 5! Yay!

Chapter 4- A Star Itself

It had been twenty years after Oropher had woken up with his head on a flower-pot, and though fragile, Thranduil and his father's relationship had hung in the balance. And so it was on this day that the young Prince was in his father's library, characteristically reading about stars.

Thranduil looked up from the book he had already read several times when he heard someone approach. "I thought I might find you here." He said to the Prince.

Thranduil smiled, "and where else might I be on a day just as this?" He asked.

Saein shrugged, he sat down next to his friend. "I came to tell you that I'm going on a trip to Lindon."

Thranduil's face fell, what would he do without his best friend? Saein was his only close companion in the Greenwood. He sighed, "that is wonderful, on what business are you going to Lindon?" The Prince asked.

"I am visiting my mother, I haven't been to Lindon for so long." The aspiring blacksmith answered.

"And your father, is he going too?" Thranduil wondered if he would be able to talk with Gildin, he had been needing to do so for a long time.

"He is not, this time." Saein looked disappointed for a moment, he quickly replaced this with a smile.

"I fear I cannot stay long in your presence, I have business to attend to." And as he left, the Prince wondered when it would be that he'd see him again, often Saein would leave and return long months later.

He pondered, something had changed about his friend, usually Saein told him everything, but his behavior had been... odd, recently. Thranduil shook his head, if he knew Saein, it wouldn't be long before he confessed whatever was bothering him.

Several days passed and Thranduil had found little to do, save read the books he had read a thousand times, or so it seemed. On this day, a rather rainy day, the Prince was walking the passages that lead to the courtyard, it had become a place of peace for him ever since he fell asleep under the tree. The tree, it was his favorite tree in the court since then, too.

Thranduil gave a sigh as he pushed the door open, breathing in the deep scent of the forest, he was so accustomed to it now, it was different from the scent of Lindon, one is much closer to the sea there, giving the place a lighter air.

The courtyard was especially beautiful this day, and as the Prince walked along the beds of plants he felt that he knew every flower and every thorn in the court by name, until it was that the King's son came across a flower he did not know, and for a moment, he thought he was hallucinating, because for a split second he saw his mother, the Prince desperately tried to form words, but he was unable, he wanted to yell out to her, to tell her everything that had happened and gone wrong, and tell her that he missed her so, but he was frozen there. It took not a moment longer for Thranduil to notice it wasn't his mother at all. And he could do nought but gaze with awe, for this flower was not a flower at all, but a child of Eru, and the prettiest thing he had seen since the days of Doriath.

Despite the rainy atmosphere, she appeared to light up the surrounding area. His confusion broke away to a simple smile, she was asleep under the tree, his tree, but he didn't mind, not at all.

Thranduil had never seen her before in his father's halls, or anywhere else for that matter, yet, she reminded him very strongly of someone, the Prince didn't know who, though.

Suddenly, Thranduil didn't know know what to do, should he approach her? Or leave her be? After some time thinking, he decided it would be ungentlemanly to wake her, and so, with one last glance at her fair face, he left her asleep under the tree, much like he had done to his father years before.

As he was walking back to his chambers he tried to think of who she had reminded him of, she looked a lot like his mother, but that wasn't it. Somebody else, but who? Thranduil shook his head, he didn't know, maybe he never would.

It was later in the week before Thranduil spoke with his father, he didn't wish to tell him of whom he had met, or rather, seen, in the courtyard. No, Oropher himself wanted to tell his son something.

So it was that the Prince was in his father's study, awaiting the King's presence.
Thranduil looked around the room, he had never been in many of his father's rooms in the Greenwood, this one was new to the Prince. The walls were almost completely filled with bookshelves and cabinets. And in the centre of the room was the King's desk. There were paintings, too, of hunting and forest scenes, none of Doriath, Thranduil noticed. Ever since he left, Oropher never returned, it seemed too difficult for him to re-live the memories of times before he came unto the great wood.

A few hours later, Thranduil was contemplating what his father had previously said, he was planning to hold another celebration, why? Thranduil had asked him, 'I have received a letter from Gil-galad, he has need to speak with the court of the Greenwood, we shall show him the greatest hospitality Rhovanion has to offer.'

The Prince sat down in front of the hearth, in his father's living room, thinking... Thranduil hadn't seen the maiden again after he found her in the courtyard, he was beginning to wonder if he had imagined her, no, she was so, real...

Thranduil sat back in his chair, he could not deny that part of him wished so terribly to see her once more, just a glimpse of her grace would be enough. He couldn't explain it, but, seeing her was like seeing a star itself, only more beautiful.