Disclaimer-Lord of the Rings and all characters in the story don't belong
to me. All original characters do.
"This is the famous Etheriel?" He noted her short hair. "I was expecting someone a little more."
"Feminine?" Etheriel couldn't believe that this guy had said something so rude upon their first meeting. Weren't princes supposed to be kind and polite?
"Clearly you are a free spirit." Legolas said. In his eyes you could see the teasing gleam.
"I am. Do you have a problem with that your highness?" Etheriel was steamed. This prince was making fun of her, a soldier that helped protect his people with her life. This was incredibly insulting.
Before he could reply, Threndial stepped between them and said, "Please excuse her. She has just come from battle and is a little shaken."
"You are a soldier?" This time there was no teasing gleam. Etheriel wondered why he couldn't tell. Then she realized her mother had put a pale blue cloak on her when she wasn't looking. "Why, that is amazing." Etheriel smiled. "I haven't met a woman soldier yet. You must tell me what it's like sometime."
Maybe he wasn't that snobby after all. The town mayor started talking to him. He smiled and seemed to genuinely be concerned about the small, unimportant issues that their small town faced. 'He's certainly handsome enough.' She thought. 'What am I saying? There are more important things than looks. Well, he is the Prince, maybe he is as courageous and kind as the stories say.' Legolas had stopped talking to the mayor and was walking towards her.
"Miss Etheriel, I am sorry about my impolite replies in our earlier conversation. I now realize that you are indeed an independent and brave elf unlike any other in Middle Earth." He really means it. Even if you seem perfect, you may have some faults not seen to the naked eye. "May I take a walk with you so we can talk?"
"I can see no reason why not." As Etheriel turned to head into the woods with Legolas she noticed Thranduil giving her a smile. Etheriel rolled her eyes, although she accepted the Prince's arm.
"Do you walk here often?" He asked.
"Only when I'm here on leave. Whenever I do get a chance to come here I feel so calm and peaceful. It is beautiful isn't it?" Etheriel said.
"Yes, even though I am impartial to my home in Mirkwood this forest ranks among the most stunning I have seen." His dark eyes were unreadable, but Etheriel thought he meant it. "Since you are a soldier, I was curious about the conditions and opinions on the front lines. Would you mind telling me about them?"
As Etheriel informed Legolas about the experiences she had in battles, she actually started to like Legolas. It was a far cry from loving him but Etheriel didn't know what to think. In books and the stories she had heard from people, your heart was supposed to beat faster and your palms were supposed to sweat every time you saw them. Maybe she'd feel that way in time.
While Etheriel had been talking, they had already walked back to town. "I enjoyed having this conversation. We should do this again sometime." He gave her a little smile and then was quickly snatched up by various town officials.
"Don't you like him Etheriel?" Thranduil said, coming up from behind her.
"He's nice enough mother. I barely know him and I am most definitely in love so if you are expecting us to get married anytime soon, don't hold your breath." Etheriel said with a smile.
"Don't you worry. You'll love him in time." Thranduil left to go make sure the punch bowls were filled. Etheriel hoped the whole entire prince's stay wouldn't be filled with conversations like that with her mother. They were boring and meaningless.
Etheriel turned to the refreshment tables to get some cookies. Then she saw him.
His long, golden, hair was streaming behind him. His clear blue eyes were sparkling with laughter and there was a kindness and sympathy in them that was unmistakable. Etheriel felt a feeling that she had never felt before but she knew exactly what it was. She was in love.
"This is the famous Etheriel?" He noted her short hair. "I was expecting someone a little more."
"Feminine?" Etheriel couldn't believe that this guy had said something so rude upon their first meeting. Weren't princes supposed to be kind and polite?
"Clearly you are a free spirit." Legolas said. In his eyes you could see the teasing gleam.
"I am. Do you have a problem with that your highness?" Etheriel was steamed. This prince was making fun of her, a soldier that helped protect his people with her life. This was incredibly insulting.
Before he could reply, Threndial stepped between them and said, "Please excuse her. She has just come from battle and is a little shaken."
"You are a soldier?" This time there was no teasing gleam. Etheriel wondered why he couldn't tell. Then she realized her mother had put a pale blue cloak on her when she wasn't looking. "Why, that is amazing." Etheriel smiled. "I haven't met a woman soldier yet. You must tell me what it's like sometime."
Maybe he wasn't that snobby after all. The town mayor started talking to him. He smiled and seemed to genuinely be concerned about the small, unimportant issues that their small town faced. 'He's certainly handsome enough.' She thought. 'What am I saying? There are more important things than looks. Well, he is the Prince, maybe he is as courageous and kind as the stories say.' Legolas had stopped talking to the mayor and was walking towards her.
"Miss Etheriel, I am sorry about my impolite replies in our earlier conversation. I now realize that you are indeed an independent and brave elf unlike any other in Middle Earth." He really means it. Even if you seem perfect, you may have some faults not seen to the naked eye. "May I take a walk with you so we can talk?"
"I can see no reason why not." As Etheriel turned to head into the woods with Legolas she noticed Thranduil giving her a smile. Etheriel rolled her eyes, although she accepted the Prince's arm.
"Do you walk here often?" He asked.
"Only when I'm here on leave. Whenever I do get a chance to come here I feel so calm and peaceful. It is beautiful isn't it?" Etheriel said.
"Yes, even though I am impartial to my home in Mirkwood this forest ranks among the most stunning I have seen." His dark eyes were unreadable, but Etheriel thought he meant it. "Since you are a soldier, I was curious about the conditions and opinions on the front lines. Would you mind telling me about them?"
As Etheriel informed Legolas about the experiences she had in battles, she actually started to like Legolas. It was a far cry from loving him but Etheriel didn't know what to think. In books and the stories she had heard from people, your heart was supposed to beat faster and your palms were supposed to sweat every time you saw them. Maybe she'd feel that way in time.
While Etheriel had been talking, they had already walked back to town. "I enjoyed having this conversation. We should do this again sometime." He gave her a little smile and then was quickly snatched up by various town officials.
"Don't you like him Etheriel?" Thranduil said, coming up from behind her.
"He's nice enough mother. I barely know him and I am most definitely in love so if you are expecting us to get married anytime soon, don't hold your breath." Etheriel said with a smile.
"Don't you worry. You'll love him in time." Thranduil left to go make sure the punch bowls were filled. Etheriel hoped the whole entire prince's stay wouldn't be filled with conversations like that with her mother. They were boring and meaningless.
Etheriel turned to the refreshment tables to get some cookies. Then she saw him.
His long, golden, hair was streaming behind him. His clear blue eyes were sparkling with laughter and there was a kindness and sympathy in them that was unmistakable. Etheriel felt a feeling that she had never felt before but she knew exactly what it was. She was in love.