Soo… That last chapter, huh? I was so excited to write that chapter! What are your guy's thoughts on it? This chapter will have a bit of a time skip, just because I want to. If you want a couple of one shots during the few week time period of Legolas and Thranduil, Legolas and Merenwen, or even Merenwen and Thranduil on their time finally together and let me know through a review or PM!
In the past few weeks, Mirkwood had grown bustling with the start of summer. The markets were busier than ever and the forest was starting to resemble Greenwood the Great once more. It may have been due to the announcement of Merenwen's arrival and her connection to Legolas, but he didn't want to think of it that way. He preferred to believe that it was the evil leaving the forest, but deep down Legolas knew it was the arrival of Merenwen. It was a rare sight to see Legolas alone nowadays, and an even rarer sight to see Merenwen without either Legolas or Thranduil. The fierce protection of the young elfling had spread throughout the kingdom, and unless they were approached by Merenwen, elves typically kept their distance. Legolas was glad of this, because he had always attracted a crowd within the markets and would often dread going down into the villages.
Merenwen, of course, thought the elves of Mirkwood hated her because of this. The sudden thrusting into society and becoming royalty was quite the change for Merenwen, especially since she had spent most of her life away from civilization. But being with Legolas helped quite a bit, due to the fact he was the once who helped her in most tasks. He had even began training her by bringing her along on the Mirkwood Guard, noticing her connection with nature and her skills with a bow. No one had objected to this, for they had seen her spar and shoot various times in the training yard with Legolas and didn't doubt her skill. She had grown a family within the Guard, and some even were as protective of her as Legolas. This is mainly why she rarely paid attention during lessons- she still absorbed the information, but knew most of it already. Her mother had taught her the way of the elves at a young age even though they tried to stick away from the realms. Merenwen's teacher of course found it irritating, and had the nerve to bring it up to the King. But when her grandfather had quizzed her later that day and found she knew all of the information, didn't press her on the topic.
Thranduil found his heart healing as well from the loss of his own wife. Merenwen brought a light to Mirkwood that had missing for quite a while, and he didn't doubt that was due to her magic. But the presence of Merenwen had caused the bustling of markets and the healing of Mirkwood. Her magic was constantly pressing at the seams, wishing to be released. The thoughts of why Merenwen didn't use it or if she even knew about her magic troubled his mind often, but he didn't dare question her. This was also why he allowed his son to take Merenwen along with the Guard. It was more time for Legolas to bond and train Merenwen, but also for Merenwen's magic to be temporarily absorbed by the forest. His halls of carven stone greatly rejected the magic, but ever since Merenwen's arrival he noticed vines beginning to grow into the palace, as if they were being attracted.
As Merenwen bounded into the library, Thranduil lifted his head. His gaze found its way to the young elfling and he smiled deeply. It was always a pleasure to see his granddaughter, and all previous events about lying to her had been forgiven. It was a good feeling to have an elfling in his palace again; Thranduil often found himself missing Legolas being an elfling, but Merenwen was so similar it fulfilled that wish.
"Grandfather! Adar is chasing me. Help!" Even though Merenwen cried these words with the utmost impatience, happiness and energy were present in her eyes. Thranduil looked out a window and smiled, noting that it was getting dark. The Guard was returning, and Merenwen must have raced Legolas. He noticed that Merenwen was clutching her bow in her hand, and a few arrows were missing out of her quiver.
"Well, Penneth, what do we have here? Are you racing your father?" Thranduil asked, a mischievous tone to his voice. Merenwen nodded quickly, looking out into the hall momentarily before diving behind a bookcase. The sound of his son's laughter could be heard, and the shouting of something in Quenya was not far off. He turned back to his work, pretending not to have noticed the young elfling run into his room as Legolas bounded in as well.
"Adar, have you seen Merenwen? It seems she has raced me and I cannot find her." Legolas breathed out, laughter on the edge of his voice. Happiness was present in his eyes as well, and the bow usually strapped to his back was pulled out. Merenwen now chose to jump out from her hiding spot and dove into the hallway, but not before Legolas pulled her into the room. "You may have beat me in archery, Penneth, but you did not win the race." Thranduil raced an eyebrow at this. Someone had beat his son at archery? It may have been Legolas' daughter, but it was quite the feat nonetheless.
"But I got into the palace before you!" She replied easily, mirth clear in her eyes. Her bow had been placed on the table, along with the quiver in her hiding place. The dagger was still strapped to her hip, the only weapon clear on her form. Legolas shook his head, laughing.
"It was the first to get to the Armory, Penneth!" Legolas laughed out at the look on her face, ignoring the incredulous look his father was giving him. But he put away the mirth for now, remembering he was to talk with his father about Merenwen. "Penneth, I need to talk to your grandfather. I will meet you in the training yard at the usual spot. A few members of the Guard will be there." Legolas explained. Merenwen nodded, strapping the quiver and bow to her back once more. Thranduil noticed she had a small satchel as well but didn't ask where this usual spot was.
"What do you wish to speak of?" Thranduil asked. Everything had been taken care of recently; he could not think of anything that was enough of a problem to talk about without Merenwen.
"I have noticed something odd about the palace nowadays, Adar. Vines now travel in through the windows and doors of the palace in places they never were before. When we are in the forest, Merenwen seems to adapt a way about her that marvels the guard. Trees seem to be talking about her quite often, and more than once have I seen her conversing with them. But it is not just that. She had bended water before my eyes, healing a wounded rabbit. Do you know of anything that could explain this?" Legolas explained his predicament, and Thranduil sighed. He had been hoping to keep Merenwen's magic a secret for at least a little while, until it had become a bit more noticeable. But it seemed as if she was using her magic more than Thranduil had seemed.
"There is a prophecy of an elfling who would save Greenwood the Great from evil. One who wielded a dagger containing an immense power but themselves would bear a greater magic. They would come from extremely powerful roots, and roam the forest for a large part of their lives. Merenwen, due to her roots of royalty and her grandmother being a great sorceress of the wild and her other grandfather having the power of manipulation." Legolas sucked a breath in at his father's words, and took a seat at the couch. How had he not realized this? He rubbed his temples for a moment, thinking over every option. Would they tell the public?
"What shall we do? Surely Merenwen knows of her abilities, and it takes just a nosey elf to see her powers in action." Legolas could only imagine now what could occur. Elves normally accepted magic, but this elfling of legend was one that elves joked about. How could an elfling have so much power?
"In a few years' time Gandalf will be visiting Rivendell. Right now, he is traveling the countryside. Merenwen shall be taken to Gandalf and Lord Elrond where one of them will surely know what to do."