Two weeks had passed before Lord Elrond arrived in the Elvenking's halls. Now they were in the middle of a lengthy conversation.

"If your bond had been completed, yes. But it is not yet complete. At this stage, your bond should be, at a small extend, strengthened because you see each other daily. That she was able to see in her dreams through your eyes while you were in Dale is highly unusual. I myself have never heard of anything like that before. When that happened it was just at the very beginning of your bond, am I right?" Elrond looked at Thranduil questioningly.

"Yes," replied Thranduil.

Elrond continued to question the king. "Tell me, how many times had you actually spoken to her until that day?"

"I had met her thrice and had spoken to her twice."

"Hmmm…" Elrond glanced at the king thoughtfully.

"But on the very evening when it happened, your bonding energy was all over the room," added Galion, who was standing besides the king.

Elrond was curious. "Was it?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

Galion nodded. "I felt it. It was very powerful but calm at the same time. The atmosphere of the room had changed dramatically."

Upset by Galion's words, Thranduil protested. "There was no drama. It was just a little moment we shared. That is all."

Elrond raised his eyebrows even higher at Thranduil's remark. "Just a little moment you shared? My dear friend, even if you do not like the idea of it, bonding sometimes occurs under the most unlikely circumstances. And there is no way you can control that. It will eventually take place if it is meant to. Just think of our history. This is not the first time something like this has happened among the elves.

"You don't have to give me lessons on our history or bonds. I'm no elfling anymore," retorted Thranduil angrily.

"No, of course you are not, but I bonded with my wife thousands of years ago. And you? You bonded with the girl a few weeks back. That makes me wiser on this matter. Don't you agree?"

Thranduil gave Elrond an annoyed look.

Elrond continued, "Well, as I perceive it, your bond will be an exceptionally strong one. There is no doubt about it. You have to accept it and, in the long run, you will see it will set in motion many good things in your life and in your kingdom. It will be a change for the better. It will bring something into your life and your realm which has been absent for far too long."

Thranduil looked at Elrond, his voice cold as ice now. "And what will that be?"

Elrond smiled at the king. "Happiness."

"I have checked the astrological constellations upon her arrival in your realm. She arrived here on the eleventh day of the new moon, didn't she? This is the day of changes for elves. Do not tell me that you did not notice it. I have double checked it astrologically and there can be no mistake. And she returned to you on the day of Varda. The day of Light. This day bears only auspicious qualities. What more does it have to transpire for you to understand that this is a good thing? It is good and it will bring you peace. An inner peace which you, more than anyone else, deserve my friend. Jump over your shadow and have faith in the will of the Valar, which is, in my opinion, definitely at work here."

Thranduil looked at Elrond doubtfully. "Is it?"

Elrond nodded. "Yes. I am sure of that. After all the signs that I have seen and from what I have heard from all of you so far, I am certain. Cast your doubt aside, my friend. As I said, prepare yourself and your kingdom for the changes that are about to take place."

"Why my kingdom?" Thranduil questioned.

"Of course your kingdom, too," said Elrond with a smile. "Changes in the king's life affect everyone around him. You will definitely become a father again. A child will be born".

Legolas was thrilled to hear that. "I will have a sibling?"

Elrond smiled at him. "Yes, definitely. I have seen it and the queen will..."

"Stop there! Hold on!" Thranduil interrupted Erlond. He was deadly serious now. "I spoke nothing of marriage, nor have I planned another heir."

He had requested for Elrond's help, but this had gone too far. He wanted the girl. But he was in denial in Elrond's presence. Deep in his heart he had accepted her.

Now it was Legolas turn to become upset. "Planning another heir?" he asked in an angry voice. "What is that supposed to mean? Did you 'plan' me? Is this the way you had me?"

Thranduil could not tolerate his son's behavior. Fury burnt inside him as he spoke to Legolas.

"I had lusted for your mother's embrace. That's all. That's how you came into existence. There was no plan at that time for you. No! There was not! You came without our request!"

Legolas was deeply hurt and enraged now. "What I have witnessed here over the past few weeks made me believe that you love her. If you don't need her, why not set her free? Why do you keep her here, if you don't truly want her? Let her go!"

Thranduil's voice thundered through the room. "Legolas! I want her and I need her. There is nothing I can do about that. I am helpless today. Nothing is as it was before. She is always on my mind. When I close my eyes I see her, when I smell the air, I sense her scent. I am aware of her at every single moment. Even if I tried, I could not change these facts. The last thing I need is you telling me what I have to do. Now get out!"

Thranduil exhaled loudly, trying to control his senses and mood. He did not want that. That was not really him. He wished to change. He made great effort to speak again. "My son, I am very sorry. I don't know what came over me. Please, stay. I do not want you to leave."

Legolas sighed relieved. "I know, father. I told you we would fight this battle together and so we will."

Legolas walked up to his father and embraced him. "Do not give up. Everything will be alright."

Thranduil silently nodded, feeling relief by his son's embrace.

Elrond was flabbergasted. Never in thousands of years had he witnessed such kind of behavior in Thranduil. He had apologized. In the presence of other people. Galion had told him how the girl had ended the king's outburst of anger when they had visited Dale. Elrond could not imagine how the great elf's wreaking destruction would have been halted by the mere words of a human girl. Seeing the exchange between the king and his son only confirmed his opinion that something powerful was at work. The king had changed a lot within a considerably short time. It made Elrond's heart glad and filled it with hope.

Later that night, Thranduil and Elrond had a private conversation.

"I have tried to make her more comfortable. But I feel that she is still reluctant to open up to me," Thranduil said frustrated.

Elrond smiled at him. "What did you expect? She is not the only one here with a hesitant heart, is she, my friend?"

Thranduil gave Elrond a strained glance and sighed. "I fear that if I indulge in this bond too deeply, I might be devoured by it."

Elrond nodded in understanding. He placed his hand on Thranduil's shoulder. "This is the nature of bonds. Perhaps it is meant to be like that. I said 'perhaps'. Be patient with the girl and give her the time she needs to get used to you. It will be better this way. It has reached my ears that you have not yet explained the nature of your bond to her. Is that true?"

Thranduil sighed. "Yes, it is true. This is a personal matter between me and her and I will decide when the right time has come to tell her."

Elrond slowly rose from his chair. "As you wish. But she has the right to know. I am leaving you for tonight. Tomorrow we will speak again. Lady Galadriel is arriving and I wish that you let Ari take part in our next conversation, too. I am most curious to meet her. Did you question her about her life?"

"No." Thranduil shook his head. "I tried once but she was too fearful to speak of it. I stopped asking her. I was afraid that I might become angry at her for not answering my questions. I have waited for you."

Elrond smiled. "This is a good decision, my friend. Let Galadriel ask her the questions. I am sure that Ari will answer them."

Thranduil looked up at Elrond. "I have not invited Galadriel. Did you send for her?"

"Yes," he nodded. "We need her, too. And before you ask, I do hope that she will be able to help us."

The conversation today had not been an easy one for the king. In fact, it had exhausted him. Thranduil walked down the long corridor. After a long day of talking, he longed to breathe some fresh air. He needed to clear his thoughts. His garden would be the right place to find peace now. As he neared the entrance to his garden, he spotted his lady walking ahead of him. She walked very cautiously through the dark passages of his halls, apparently trying to be as quiet as possible.

"May I aid you, my lady?" Thranduil asked and offered her his arm.

Ari turned around in shock.

Thranduil looked at her intently. "Where are you going in the middle of the night, wearing naught but your night gown?"

Ari blushed deeply. She had not expected to meet anyone at this time of night. She accepted his arm and replied honestly, "I... I was trying to find my way to your gardens, my king."

Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "To my gardens? Did you not know that you can't go there without my permission?"

Ari became scared and her hand started to tremble slightly on his arm. "Please forgive me, my king. I did not want to disturb you at this late hour."

"Let us go there together. I am having the same destination."

They were sitting on a bench in the garden now, watching the stars in silence. The moonlight showed off some of her hidden female features. Thranduil could clearly distinguish her nipples through the fine gown she was wearing. He swallowed hard as he became aroused by this sight.

"Legolas told me that Lord Elrond has finally arrived," she whispered.

Thranduil nodded, "Yes. Tomorrow Lady Galadriel is arriving, as well. Lord Elrond has requested that you take part in our conversation tomorrow. I wish that, too."

Ari looked up at the king's face. "Then I will come."

They sat in the garden under the starlight until Ari could not keep her eyes open any longer. Thranduil stood up and looked down on her.

"My lady, let me take you to your chambers. You must rest now."

They reached Ari's chambers and Thranduil made sure she lay comfortably in her bed and began to sleep before he blew out the last candle in her room and left.