Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

The Swiftest River and the Highest Banks

Chapter 2: Meeting

Legolas glanced around the beautiful, yet sparsely decorated royal guest chamber in which he and Narius were to stay. I was furnished with a goose feather canopy bed along one wall. Adjacent to this wall was a wall featuring a huge balcony window with a bench seat. Also along this wall was a smaller bed for a personal servant. All other furnishings included a wash basin, a small table with two ornately carved chairs, and a fireplace opposite the wall upon which lay the canopy bed. Their traveling goods had been placed nonchalantly upon the large bed upon arrival.

As Legolas paced about the room, he began to wonder what was keeping Narius. He had sent him to inform Lord Elrond that he and Narius, road-worn and weary, would take dinner in their room this evening, and he should have returned by now.

He stepped into the corridor beyond the room's threshold and stopped, looking first left then right. Every winding hall in this place looked the same. He'd never find his way through the House without a guide. He then realized what was holding Narius.

The sound of approaching footsteps shook Legolas from his reverie. He looked up in time to see a young elven maiden approaching from the left. She paused to look at him and met his eyes. Her hair was long and lustrous and flowed over her shoulders like a fiver of midnight. Her eyes were gemstones. She was dressed in an ordinary handmaiden's dress the color of autumn twilight. Legolas smiled to himself. If this is the beauty of Rivendell's handmaidens, then Lady Arwen shall surely stop the beat of my heart, he thought.

The maiden returned his gaze for a moment but did not smile. She then turned and opened the door to her right to enter.

Legolas came back to himself and realized the maiden would know where he was going. "Wait!" He called to her and she paused to regard him.

"Yes?" She asked, and her voice was lilting and melodic.

Legolas paused for a second to recover from just the utterance of that one word, and then he approached her and continued. "I believe you can help me." He said.

"I will try," the maiden replied curtly.

It was in that moment that Legolas realized that this servant girl had no idea who he was. He smiled and decided to play upon that. Oh, how he loved to see their faces when they learned his name. "Good," he said. "That's all I ask." He then sighed. "I am looking for an archer from Mirkwood by the name of Narius. Have you seen him?"

The maiden's brow furrowed in confusion. "I do not know of any archer from Mirkwood. Who is he?" She asked. Looking suspicious.

"He is a servant of Legolas Elirium, I believe. They were to arrive this morning." Legolas said matter-of-factly.

The maiden's eyes narrowed. "The Mirkwood Prince has never before been to Rivendell. How would you know him or his servants? And also, you seen strange to me. I have not before seen you. Who are you?"

Legolas smiled smugly. "I shall answer both questions with one answer. I know him and his servants because I am he."

The maiden's eyebrows rose, the fell into an expression lost somewhere between anger and amusement. Her face reflected his smug sneer. He bowed shortly. "A pleasure, Legolas Elirium. I am Arwen Evanstar."

Now it was Legolas' turn to be baffled. She had turned his fun back on him and he had not had a clue.

The bother turned toward the left corridor from which the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard.

Arwen smiled as Narius turned into the corridor. "Well, Elirium, I believe that is whom you were seeking. It was a pleasure, but I must go. I will see you at dinner." With that she turned and entered the room she had attempted to before.

Legolas nodded, dumbfounded, and looked to Narius as he approached. "Dinner?" He asked. "I thought I sent you-"

"Yes, Legolas," Narius interjected. "But Lord Elrond insists."

Legolas sighed.