AN: Thank you: redruby8, guest, MissKitty, Kittykawaii4, diridiri, emmett2, bloomisakura, Yu Yuuki, Gwestiel, windsongspringheart, for your reviews. I am glad that you are liking the story so far. This is another chapter for you. Hope you like it. Suggestions are welcome. Please read and please please review. Thank you.

Chapter 7: Again Brought Together

Legolas stood straight. Three arrows pointed at a target quite far away. Without waiting for a second, he released three arrows. When he looked at the target, all three arrows have pierced the middle point. Such perfection. But it was nothing surprising. The prince of Mirkwood could do much better any given moment. However a certain little elfling was watching Legolas with a bow for the first time therefore he was absolutely enthralled to say the least.

"That was amazing" exclaimed Liam with a huge smile while he clapped his hands excitedly. While Legolas has received praises from many for his unmatchable archery skill, little Liam's applaud was most appreciated by the princeling. Legolas was pleased to see the elfling so impressed with him. For some unknown reason it meant a lot to the prince of Mirkwood.

Since the moment Liam stopped being so afraid of elves, he was in awe of Legolas. He found other elves fascinating too but Legolas was different to Liam in a way he did not understand. The way Legolas fires his arrows, the way he handles his twin daggers, his every move amused Liam. He wanted to imitate Legolas and unknowing to the little elfling he was actually looking up to the older elf. Liam already started considering the prince of Mirkwood his idol. Even though they only spent short time with each other. It was most surprising to the other elves. And the fact that Legolas liked the little elfling following him around amused his fellow elves and friends very much.

"One day you'd be able to do that too" said Tauriel with a soft smile. She hasn't left Liam's side since the encounter back in the woods. Liam wasn't terrified of the captain of the guard anymore. And even though Liam hasn't declared it yet but he has started considering the elleth his friend.

"You really think so?" asked Liam with voice full of hope. Tauriel nodded to him with an assuring smile. Legolas walked over to Liam and knelt down before him.

"I think one day you'll be the greatest archer in middle earth" said Legolas giving an arrow to Liam that he took excitedly. He flashed Legolas a huge smile.

"Would you be my teacher?" Liam asked Legolas very hopefully. The prince smiled at the elfling.

"I shall be honored to have you as my student little one" said Legolas. The elfling's face brightened up hearing that. But it only lasted for a moment before Liam's face fell. He looked a little sad. Legolas noticed that and frowned in confusion. Not to mention he felt anxious as well. The prince didn't like seeing the little elfling without a smile on his face.

"What is it little one?" Legolas asked most curiously. Tauriel wondered too what Liam was thinking. What troubled such young mind?

"I don't think we'll meet again once I go back home. My mum would never let me enter Mirkwood again" said Liam with a little sad tone of voice because he really wanted to learn archery and spend time with Legolas and with other elves as well. But knowing his mother's strong disliking towards woodland elves, Liam doubted he's ever setting foot in this realm again.

After hearing that, Legolas found another reason to dislike the fact that Liam was being raised up by a common human. Not to mention, Legolas was pretty convinced that the human wasn't Liam's real mother. How could a human give birth to an elfling so loving and pure. Perhaps she found Liam somewhere and instead of returning him to the elves, she kept the elfling. Which was a punishable crime in the prince's eyes. And the fact that Legolas would never see Liam again irked the elf prince to not limit. His father king Thranduil has sent guards to fetch the woman from Beorn's farm. Only after meeting her, the king would take a decision about whether to return Liam to his mother or keep him in Mirkwood. In that case the elfling would grow among his own kin and learn their ways of living. Legolas was hoping for the later. He really didn't want Liam to leave.

"Do not despair little one" said Legolas making the elfling look into his eyes. "If you wish to stay here then no one can make you leave. Not even your mother." Legolas knew he shouldn't be speaking in contempt about the human before the elfling. They have the relation of mother and son after all. But Legolas couldn't help it. The thought that the human would take Liam away and prevent them from ever meeting again angered Legolas.

"I like it here" said Liam truthfully. But then he sighed out heavily and said- "But this is not my home because my mum doesn't live here."

Liam then looked at both Legolas and Tauriel. "When can I go back? I miss my mum."

Legolas understood the elfling's feelings. He was strongly attached to his mother. He can't live without his mother. Liam was too young after all. However Legolas would be lying if he said that it didn't hurt him a little bit that the elfling chose his mother over him. Even though that was the right thing for Liam to do. After all he knew his mother his entire life and he just met the elf. Legolas couldn't explain his own behavior. Not even to himself. Why did he care for Liam so much? It was kind of unusual and unnatural. What is this connection that he has with the elfling? And why is there a connection between them in the first place? What was the meaning of that?

Before Legolas could answer little Liam about when he's going back home, a guard came there running. "My lord."

Legolas nodded his head. Giving the guard permission to speak. "Edhel emmel si. Clide nin Galion. He tog din si govad din ion. (The elfling's mother is here. I saw her with Galion. He is bringing her here to meet her son.)" Since the guard spoke in elvish Liam didn't understand anything. Legolas also responded in elvish.

"Lenweta nara Galion lelya baw hae. Iest nin pedo echil nuf si adertha Liam. (Go tell Galion to proceed no further. I wish to speak to the human before she is reunited with Liam.)" The guard bowed and left to fulfill his order. Tauriel figured that Legolas didn't merely wish to speak with the human. He will interrogate her. Tauriel knew Legolas well enough to know that for some reason her friend didn't like the human even though he hasn't even met her yet. It was probably because the human could take Liam away from Mirkwood. Legolas obviously didn't want that.

"Legolas, cenasit men ulto Liam govad emmel minui. He loita si. Dhir pedo echil apa. (Legolas perhaps we should let Liam meet his mother first. He is missing her. You could talk to the human afterwards.)" suggested Tauriel. She didn't wish to see Liam upset and he was definitely longing to reunite with his mother. However Legolas glanced at Tauriel in a way that shut her up immediately. It wasn't an angry glare or anything but an authoritative glance that only a prince or a king could muster.

Legolas looked back at Liam. The hard expression left his face immediately. "Stay here with Tauriel. I shall be back soon."

"Can't I come with you?" Liam asked anxiously. He wasn't without Legolas since they met. Naturally the thought of being without Legolas worried the elfling.

"No little one. And I apologize for that. I shall come back as soon as possible. Tauriel will take good care of you while I am gone." Liam lightly nodded his head. Understanding that Legolas must leave for something important.

"Okay" said Liam. He has used the term okay several times before. Legolas has no idea where he learned that from. Liam told him it means alright. The elfling knew things that Legolas never heard of even though he was almost three thousand years old. It only made the elfling more mysterious and lovable. Legolas cupped Liam's face affectionately and smiled at him once before walking away.

'I've never seen Legolas behave like this before.' Tauriel thought to herself. She turned her attention to Liam.

"Do you wish to play a game little one?" Tauriel asked with friendly tone of voice. Liam grinned at her happily.

"Yes! What are we going to play? Have you ever played hide and seek?"

While Liam bombard Tauriel with questions and chatted away with her in one corner of the fortress, something much interesting was happening on the other side of the palace. Katherine couldn't believe herself. How could she be so stupid? She blabbered everything, well almost everything to the elven king without even knowing she was speaking with the king himself. Not to mention the insults she uttered for the king. No wonder why the elf glared at Katherine every time she said something bad about the king. Because he was the king himself. It all made sense to Katherine after the horrifying revelation.

'I am so dead.' Katherine couldn't help but freak out. And why wouldn't she? She called the king so many things right on his face. Given that Katherine didn't realize she was speaking to the elven king himself but that didn't change the fact that she called him ill tempered and selfish. In truth Katherine was one step away from start hyperventilating and then after a panic attack, pass out into oblivion. However she couldn't just faint or kill herself to avoid facing king Thranduil's wrath. Katherine had to get to her son first. The thought of reuniting with Liam made Katherine keep walking with Galion. It also kept her relatively calm and composed. Although inwardly Katherine was freaking out very much. What would the elven king do with her? The thought that he might just let her go seemed too good to be true. Katherine was sure, King Thranduil has something in store for her. And she would have to deal with it sooner or later. Katherine was thankful though that he allowed her to meet her son before unleashing hell upon her.

Katherine was walking with Galion when another guard came rushing to them. He started saying something to Galion in elvish. Katherine no longer worried about anyone noticing her. She has revealed herself in front of the king already. There was no point in hiding anymore. Katherine was finding it hard to believe that King Thranduil played along with her. Surely he could have revealed his identity at the very beginning. But instead he got the information out of Katherine that he couldn't have gotten as the elven king. It was indeed very cunning of King Thranduil. However Katherine wasn't shocked or anything. She knew enough about the elven king to know that he was capable of being manipulative and cunning. Once the guard left, Galion turned to Katherine.

"We must wait here my lady. I've been ordered not to go any further." Galion let Katherine know. She frowned in confusion. Katherine was already so worried. She didn't appreciate the delay in reuniting with her son.

"What? Why?" Did the king changed his mind about letting her meet Liam? Katherine thought worriedly.

"Be patient my lady. I am sure you shall meet your son very soon" said Galion which didn't make Katherine feel any better. She narrowed her eyes at the elf.

"Very soon? Take me to my son NOW!" Katherine refrained herself from yelling but she spoke very firmly. However the elf remained immobile.

"I am afraid we have to wait" said Galion with calm tone of voice. Katherine's demanding tone of voice didn't affect him at all. The other worldly girl sighed out in frustration. What the hell just happened? What did the other guard told Galion? Katherine realized she couldn't just start running. She would never find Liam on her own in that maze like fortress. She will get lost right away. Sighing out impatiently Katherine began to pace a little. She was feeling complete restless. Katherine was too occupied with her own thoughts to see that where she was standing she could see the lake from there and the lonely mountain as well. The view was quite extraordinary but Katherine paid no mind to it. In all honestly the elf Galion was baffled to see Katherine so unaffected by the enchanting beauty of the elven fortress. As a human Katherine should have been bewitched. Also it seemed that their magic had no effect on her. Galion thought she was probably too worried for her son to notice anything around her. Little did he know, Katherine once lived in the beauty of Imladris and Lothlorien? And Katherine liked the valley of Lord Elrond far better than the gloomy halls of Mirkwood kingdom.

Galion watched Katherine stop pacing and look outside. However her gaze was unfocused. It proved that she wasn't really watching the view. She was rather lost in her own thoughts. And because of that Katherine didn't notice another elf coming there. Not to mention her back was turned to the elf. Galion however saw him approaching and he bowed his head in respect.

"My lord!" said Galion. Legolas lightly gave him a nod. Acknowledging his presence and accepting his respect. Legolas then looked at the human woman. She was completely oblivion to his presence as she was in deep thinking. Therefore she didn't bother to turn around to look at him either.

"Is this the human?" Legolas inquired with cold tone of voice. Galion nodded his head.

"Yes my lord."

Legolas looked back at the human and started studying her carefully. She was young for a human. Also she appeared to be somewhat beautiful. At least by human standard. what surprised Legolas was that Liam didn't look like her at all. It only confirmed his suspicion further. The human got olive colored skin and dark hair. She appeared to be very simple however there was something about her aura that told Legolas that she wasn't so simple as an individual being. Her appearance didn't indicate her to be a peasant woman. However Legolas could tell she was no royalty in the world of men. Perhaps she was from the family of a wealthy merchant. Because her face wasn't dirty or her hair wasn't tangled in knots. And the black gown she was wearing looked costly enough. But how did she end up with an elfling? Even if for some bizarre reason Liam was indeed her son then who was the elf who chose a human for his life partner? But since Liam had no idea about his father then that meant that the elf left the mother and their son. Where did he go? And why? It was unlikely for an elf to abandon his family. Or was he dead? Legolas had to find out the truth.

Legolas walked closer to the human. "Katherine. That is your name, is it not?" The calling of the name snapped the human out of her thoughts. She quickly turned around to face the person. However when she looked up, she completely froze on her spot. Legolas frowned in confusion because the human was looking at him with wide eyes. As if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her mouth was a little open as she gaped at Legolas. She appeared to be utterly shocked. Legolas also noticed that her heartbeat increased rapidly and her breathing became heavy and uneven. What Legolas couldn't know was what was going through the girl's mind.

Katherine was about to loose her sanity. The thing she feared the most just happened. Legolas was standing right in front of her. Katherine wasn't prepared for it at all. She didn't expect to meet the prince of Mirkwood like this. To have him standing before her, looking at her. All the time they spent together in the future. The adventures they went through together. All those memories. One by one every moment of them traveling together flashed before Katherine's eyes within moments. Katherine felt her mouth getting dry. She couldn't think straight at all. All Katherine could do was stare at Legolas and remember their past that took place in the future. And it wasn't just the memories that tormented Katherine at that moment but the feelings haunted her as well. Everything she felt for Legolas, the feelings she had buried deep inside her heart, suddenly started surfacing up. And all it took was one glance at the elf. He looked the same as Katherine remembered him. So beautiful. So divine.

Legolas saw the human eventually turn pale at the sight of him. He could only imagine why she got so shocked all on a sudden. Not to mention she was looking at him as if she knew him very well. It kind of unnerved Legolas. Because he never met the human. They never crossed paths with each other. Not even my mistake. Legolas was sure of it. But the look in her eyes shook Legolas in his very beating heart. The prince of Mirkwood had to struggle to overcome his own discomfort. But he managed to do it and then he started speaking again.

"Why do you look so shocked?" Legolas asked with calm yet stern tone of voice. Katherine didn't response. She couldn't overcome her shocked state yet. Not to mention her feelings were overwhelming her very much. It was a miracle Katherine didn't faint or started running away. She definitely wished to run away from under Legolas' scrutinizing gaze.

"I asked you a question human." Legolas spoke regally and disdainfully. It made Katherine flinch a little. She was trying very hard not to let tears flood her eyes. She turned into such a mess within a few moments. It was unbelievable.

"I-" Katherine tried to speak but she couldn't find her voice. Her throat was dry like desert sand. Not to mention her fast breathing wasn't helping the situation at all. Legolas kept staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face. Frankly he was very confused about the human's reaction to him.

"I-" Katherine stopped again.

"Yes?" Legolas raised an eye brow at her. Now feeling kind of amused as well. "Answer my question or do you not know how to speak?"

"She knows how to speak." A more regal voice said that. Legolas looked up to see his father standing there. Katherine was saved from replying by king Thranduil's sudden appearance. The elven king looked at his butler Galion as he walked closer.

"I thought I ordered you to take her to meet her son." Galion looked a little worried and slightly scared as well.

"Yes my lord, I-" before the elf could finish his sentence, Legolas spoke up.

"I wished to speak to the human father. Before she is let to see Liam" said Legolas saving the butler from trouble. King Thranduil didn't say anything to his son right away. He looked at Galion first.

"Take her to her son." The king ordered. Galion bowed his head and stepped closer to Katherine.

"Follow me my lady." The elf didn't need to tell twice. Katherine flew away from the father and the son. The elven king did notice how Katherine reacted when she saw Legolas. He watched everything before appearing before them. The king wondered why Katherine got so shocked like that just like his son was wondering. Speaking of whom, Legolas was unhappy that his father didn't let him interrogate the human as he wanted to.

"I don't think the woman is Liam's mother." Legolas spoke his mind to his father.

"I have spoken to her myself Legolas. She is the elfling's mother" said King Thranduil. Now Legolas wasn't going to doubt his father's words.

"So you are going to let her leave with Liam" wondered Legolas. He really didn't want that. And the elven king knew that very well. He slightly smirked at the prince.

"I am merely letting her see her son. I didn't give her permission to leave yet. She isn't leaving my kingdom anytime soon."