"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself." Legolas assured his father and sister. He was beginning his trek today of his long journey back to Minas Tirith.

"At least I have the comfort of knowing you won't be traveling alone." Thranduil said. Legolas shrugged.

"You write as soon as you hit the pavement of the White City, so that we know you're safe!" Alasse told him.

"If Gimli doesn't thrash me first." Legolas chuckled.

"No son of mine will ever be thrashed by a dwarf!" Thranduil boomed.

"Oh, you don't know Gimli, Father!" Alasse teased. Legolas pulled her close to himself.

"Take good care of yourself, alright? I mean that!" He told her seriously. "Apply everything I've taught you. Don't go giving Ada reasons to send a brigade of patrols after you!"

"You're one to talk." Alasse teased. Legolas's eyebrows quirked.

"Oh? And who was it that rode all the way solo to Imladris for Lord Elrond, without waiting for a proper escort?" He quipped.

"That was different. There was no time to wait." Alasse said defensively.

"Just don't go getting into any proper scrapes...without me!"

"Legolas, please!" Thranduil scolded darkly. "Do not encourage her. Your sister will have plenty to keep her busy in your absence. She won't have time to think about foolish stunts." Alasse was a bit startled at the sharpness in her father's tone. Though she knew he feared for their safety, she hadn't expected him to make his point so indignantly. She gazed into his blue eyes searching for amusement. But, there was none there. She only saw longing and fear.

"I'm sorry, Ada. I didn't mean anything by it." Legolas apologized.

"He's just worried." Alasse whispered quickly.

"Mmm." Legolas grunted. He embraced her and kissed the top of her head. "I'll be sure to tell Aragorn to hurt himself really bad the day that you come back, and then you'll have to tend him with your new healing abilities."

"Legolas!"

"Ha, ha." Legolas snickered. "Look after Ada, will you? Help him see that he doesn't have to worry as much as he does. You've always had the stronger gift of persuasion than I have."

"I'll try. Believe me, I will try!" Alasse nodded. Legolas hugged her so hard her feet were off the ground. "Be safe, dear muindor. I miss you already."

"Ai. I shall see you in a six months." Legolas smiled sadly. He slowly backed away and walked up to Thranduil. "Don't fret too much, Father. All is well for now. Enjoy the peace you've been fighting to preserve for so long."

"Now that one of my children is safe with me, I shall do so." Thranduil nodded. "Be careful, Legolas! And don't do anything stupid."

"You know me." Legolas smiled innocently.

He gave the custom elf gesture, then descended the palace steps. He gripped Alasse's hand as he passed her then joined his small troop that were accompanying him. Thranduil and Alasse both watched him disappear passed the gate and into the forest. Alasse was crying. She already missed Legolas terribly. They'd been together for so long, and had done practically everything together. Now it felt like they'd never see each other again! Of course we will! Six months is nothing to our people! But this goodbye feels like a final farewell! This is probably how Ada felt when Legolas and I departed after the Battle at Ravenhill! She thought guiltily.

"Alasse." Thranduil called to her. She slightly glanced in his direction. He held his hand out to her. Alasse sniffled and walked up to him.

"He'll come back. He always does." She said, trying to smile.

"Ai. And you are safe now, my child." Thranduil said smoothly, kissing the top of her head. "Now nothing will ever hurt you again!" Alasse stared up at him skeptically.

"W-what? Father, this world is still mending." She said.

"Ai. But mine is now mended." Thranduil smiled. Alasse nodded.

"It feels so difficult, not being with Legolas. We've been fighting alongside each other for years. I'm going to sorely miss it, for a while." Alasse sighed.

"Yes." Thranduil grunted. "But cheer up, my child. You are alive, and have a new lot to accomplish. And I want you to know that I am already proud of you."

"Thank you, Father."


For the next few days, Alasse felt so homesick. She missed going out on adventures with Legolas and Gimli, and Aragorn. That had been her life in the passed few decades. How was she supposed to walk away from it, just like that? Being back home at the Woodland palace felt so awkward, without Legolas there. She prayed he was safe. She decided to write to Aragorn.

At first, Thranduil was worried about Alasse during her first week without Legolas. She was sad and quiet, not her usual self. Seeing her so lonely for her brother made Thranduil feel guilty for taking her so far away from her only sibling. But he had to keep her here! He just had to!


It had been a full week since Legolas's departure. Thranduil was in his study, going over accounts of trade stock from Laketown. Alasse knocked on the door. "Enter!" He spoke. Alasse obeyed. Thranduil looked up and smiled when he saw her. "Hello, darling." He stood. "Sit with me."

"Hello, Father." Alasse sighed as she sat in the chair across from him. "Ada, I've come to speak to you about Bellethiel." Thranduil frowned.

"How is she?" He asked as he sat back down.

"Not good, Ada." Alasse shook her head dismally. "She's been in the healing wing for the passed four days. Malfortion is worried. She doesn't eat, and isn't even practicing personal hygiene! She just sits on the bed, holding Lindethiel's engraved knife. They have given her sleeping potions, but that is about the only sleep she gets!"

Thranduil stared thoughtfully down at his hands. He knew how close the two elf maiden soldiers had been. Bellethiel had been been raised by the Silvans, in Tauriel's village. Her father had been slain by a warg, and her mother had sailed for Valinor after that. When Bellethiel had traveled to Mirkwood to apply as a warrior, the first friend she'd made, had been Lindethiel. The younger elleth had made her feel right at home and from the first day, their relationship had been cemented beautifully. The two girls could not have been closer if they'd been blood sisters.

"I can't help but feel responsible for her pain, Ada." Alasse said. Thranduil gaped at her.

"Alasse! What makes you say such a terrible thing?" He sputtered.

"The two of them were fighting for my protection when the wolves came upon us. My hand and tactics were frightfully slack that night." Alasse said with tears. "Legolas taught me how to efficiently protect myself! That night? I...I failed. And they are paying for it."

"Oh, Alasse." Thranduil frowned sadly and stood up and walked to her. "This is not your fault. It was out of your control." Alasse glowered and shook her head. "Don't argue with me." Thranduil said firmly. "We all did the best we could that night. You are still recovering from an incredible life-altering crisis, and nobody expects you to jump right into who you were before your brush with death. You must give yourself time."

"I just...wish I could help her! Do something to make it right!"

"I know, dear daughter. We all do. Right now the best thing you can do is be a good friend to her."

Alasse looked up at him. "Thank you, Ada." She smiled. "Please excuse me!" She hurried out the door after he dismissed her.

Alasse made her way to the healing halls. She quietly stepped inside. Malfortion was sitting at a desk, filling out some paperwork. Alasse walked over to him. "My lady." He greeted and began to stand. Alasse held her hand up for him to sit back down. "What brings you here, my princess?"

"Malfortion, I do not know if my father has spoken with you about this, but...I was hoping that for my time here, you would take me under your wing as an apprentice." Alasse stated. Malfortion blinked.

"I would be honored, Your Highness. If that is really what you want." He smiled, standing up.

"It is. When I am out in the wild again with Legolas, I want to be able to treat more than minor injuries."

"I see. When would you like to begin, Alasse?"

"Is tomorrow too soon?" Alasse asked.

"That will be perfect. But I shall have you follow Maerwen for the day. I will have her show you the basics first."

"Thank you." Alasse smiled. "I am looking forward to it! Oh, how is Bellethiel?"

"The same I am afraid, Your Highness." Malfortion hung his head. "I examined her this morning. She didn't even protest!"

"That is not like her!" Alasse exclaimed.

"Ai. That is what concerns me. She has only been home for two weeks, and already she has lost so much weight. She refuses to eat. She desperately needs something to occupy her mind, something to give her a sense of purpose again!"

"I pray she finds it soon." Alasse moaned.

"Me too, Alasse. Me too!"


Alasse was excited when she woke the next day. It was her first day of being educated in the art of healing! She followed Maerwen through the day, observing her tending patients, and keeping track of the supplies. Maerwen gave her a medical book to study. Alasse began reading it right away.


Legolas made it to Gondor in record time. He'd had some delays and mishaps along the way, but he'd made it back safely with no serious injuries! He immediately wrote to his family to let him know he was safe. Aragorn was anxious to know if Alasse had received his first letter. Legolas teased him about it, saying that that was all Alasse talked about! Aragorn felt the elf was exaggerating a tad, but it warmed his heart to know how much his beloved had appreciated hearing from him.


Thranduil was passing Alasse's bed chamber to reach his own when he heard giggling voices coming from inside. Curious, he sauntered near the door and listened. "And then, when Legolas aimed his bow, we didn't notice that Gimli had tripped it! So, rather than passing the Bosun's ear, Legolas shot the pirate captain!" Alasse exclaimed in her chair as Tatsu stood behind her, lovingly brushing her auburn hair.

"Oh no!" Tatsu laughed. She couldn't help it. "I imagine the crew wasn't pleased about that."

"They were a bit stunned at first. Of course, Aragorn didn't seem the least bit surprised at what Gimli had done!"

"He did it on purpose, yes?"

"Of course!" Alasse laughed. "The pirates continued sailing. Aragorn just let them, and then the army of dead Gondorian warriors appeared out of thin air and quickly boarded each ship, making quick work of the pirates."

Thranduil cringed when he heard that name. Aragorn!

"You sound like a dangerous lot when you're all together, a small army not to be reckoned with!" Tatsu smiled.

"Ai. I miss it very much." Alasse said wistfully, a lump rising in her throat. Then she looked thoughtfully at Tatsu in the mirror. "Tatsu, how would you like to travel, outside of the Wood?" She suggested.

"Me?" Tatsu gaped. "My dear child, I have never ventured that far, ever!"

"I know. That is my precisely my point. I am to travel to Dale soon, to pay my respects to King Bard. His son Bain rules in his place now, but Bard is an old friend and...and after what happened to me in Gondor...I would like to visit with him. I fear it may the last chance I have to do so, for he is old now." Alasse said sadly. "But, how would you like to accompany me?"

"My lady, I do not know what to say!" Tatsu's eyes widened.

"I've told you, you don't have to call me that."

"I have never left the Wood before. I am both thrilled and panic-stricken at the idea!"

"Oh, please come with me!" Alasse begged. "Not as my servant, but as a friend. It will give you a rare chance to see new, faraway places and meet new people. Do come with me, won't you?"

"I have often wanted to look on the kingdom of Erebor, though I never dared to mention it before! I would love to, my dear girl. But...I am frightened, and I do not know if your father will permit it."

"You are my personal valet." Alasse reminded her. "As your princess, I command you to ride with me to Dale! You want to do this, Tatsu. I can see it in your eyes. You can hardly contain your excitement."

"Well then, your wish is my command, my lady!" Tatsu agreed.

"Someday, you should meet Aragorn and Gimli. I know you will love them both. Gimli is rather rough around the edges, but inside, he is a big softie! Just don't tell him that! And Aragorn...he is only the kindest, bravest, and gentlest of men! Not to mention handsome!"

"I can hardly wait." Tatsu beamed.

Thranduil had heard enough, more than enough! He marched away from his daughter's room and locked himself in his personal chambers. He snatched a bottle of wine and made his way out onto the balcony. He chugged down a glass of wine with a vengeance. Why did life have to be so fickle with him? He'd lost his wife, but had his children, and then they'd both wandered out in the wild far from him for nearly a century! All that time he was proud of them, but had endlessly worried for their well being. And then his daughter was taken from him too! She had withered and perished before his very eyes! His heart had shattered at the pain. And then she'd been given back to him, but now he had to stand by and watch her suffer immensely from her mortal wounds if they flared up on her. Now, his daughter was home but still had the wanderlust inside that she'd gained from Legolas, and now she was feeding it to her old nursemaid.

Thranduil paced in frustration on his terrace. He was conflicted with himself. His conscience for not being entirely honest with Alasse was making him squirm. But he refused to listen to it. He had to make himself feel better, so he turned his frustration on something else: someone else!

It was all Aragorn's fault. Yes, that ranger boy! All of this, everything that had happened to Alasse was Aragorn's fault! All these bad things had happened ever since she'd met that ranger. Not when he'd been known as the child Estel. But when he'd become a man, from the first time Alasse had met him as an adult, that's when her life had changed.

If she had never met Aragorn, she wouldn't have gone gallivanting off with Legolas fighting Orcs, far from home. She wouldn't have been so far away from under her father's eye. She wouldn't be defending Gondor and have gotten herself killed!

All of this, because a ranger, a mortal had stolen her heart.

Thranduil truly wanted Alasse to be happy, but he was angered that she'd given her heart already to a man. And when Aragorn died, Alasse would be absolutely broken. Thranduil knew that kind of brokenness and it was the last thing in Middle Earth he would want to see his children go through, and all because she loved someone who would die too soon. Thranduil truly admired Aragorn. He was a really good fellow, for a human. That's what made it harder. Aragorn was a decent man, more so than many other humans, including kings! And because of Aragorn's clear conscience, Thranduil could not force or even convince his daughter not to love him. Because Thranduil knew Aragorn was more than worthy of it! But Thranduil still prayed this obvious union wouldn't happen. In his eyes, it would only end in pain and heartache.