Disclaimer: See Prologue and Chapter One

Thanx Nelinde for the review...i thank you for suffering through those first chaps *big smiles*


Chapter Three: Sereg'wethrin Meeting


Netasa made her way to the Anduin. She knew this was the best way to get to Rivendell. 'Yes, I know' she thought 'I told Legolas I was to go to Rohan but he above all elves should know you cannot trust a stranger to their word. It is a way to survive.' If Legolas had took her intentions seriously, he would look for her in the south end of Mirkwood. Not where she actually was, in the north end.

Netasa smiled at her wickedness. 'That poor prince. If he has any sense at all, he will forget about me' she thought. Remembering the actions of Thranduil made her shutter as it mirrored those of Legolas. But even Thranduil stopped his search (although he came incredibly close to succeeding) and obviously, found a life for himself.

She frowned suddenly at the thought of Thranduil and pushed it back where it belonged, in the past. She started to run for some reason. Netasa wanted to be out of the forests of Mirkwood. 'Why did I even come here?' she thought.


~!*********!~


Legolas ran into the palace gates of Mirkwood. He was stopped by his friend Elroier wanting to know what is wrong.

"I have found her!" Legolas spat.

His friend looked at him strangely. "Found who?" he asked.

"Her! The one! She is more beautiful than all the she-elves in Middle Earth!" he said with great enthusiasm.

"Calm yourself, Legolas. You are likely to make a scene that many she-elves would not enjoy watching" Elroier said smiling. A look of confusion spread across his face and asked "even the Lady Galadriel?"

Legolas smiled at Elroier. "Where is my father?" he asked putting an arm around his friends shoulder as they walked towards the palace.

"Where do you think, Legolas?" he asked "He is right where you last left him, in his office. I fear he never leaves that room but to dine and sleep."

Legolas laughed. "He is bound to his work I must say. I much fear to become him" he said remembering his station. He stopped their walking and stood arms length away from his friend and said "It is good to see you again, Elroier. I am off to my father's study. I must speak to him at once." He hugged Elroier quickly.

"It is good to see you also, Legolas" Elroier replied a little confused.

At this, Legolas walked away towards the palace doors. Elroier stood watching Legolas walk away with such a content look on his face. 'He has never been like this before' he thought 'or at least, I haven't seen him this way in a long time.' Elroier smiled at the thought of Legolas being so happy, shook his head, and walked off.


~!*********!~


"Legolas, it is wonderful to see you!" Thranduil exclaimed as his son entered his study. He walked around from his desk to meet him.

"It is wonderful to see you, father" Legolas said hugging Thranduil.

After releasing his son, Thranduil noticed how happy Legolas looked. "What has happened, Legolas? What has made you so happy?"

Legolas smiled. "I have found the she-elf I wish to spend the rest of my life with" he replied.

"That is a big decision, my son. Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am sure" Legolas said smiling wildly.

It had been a long time since he had seen Legolas so happy. In fact, the last time he saw his son this way was when he was a child. He had finally been able to hit the center of a target with all of his archery lessons to thank. Legolas was so proud of himself and made sure archery was his life.

"Father, I think she is the most wonderful she-elf I have ever met. She is so mysterious and adventurous" he said excitedly.

"Ai, and there lies the attraction" Thranduil said with a smirk "Adventurous is she?" He smiled and went to sit by the fire.

Legolas sat next to his father by the fire and continued "Yes. She is also very good with a bow and has a skill for daggers...she seems to be very strong as well."

Thranduil's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and laughed a bit. "Where did you meet this she-elf? Was she sparring?"

"No," Legolas replied forgetting his father didn't know the whole story "I met her in woods and we were attacked by orcs. She handled herself very well."

Thranduil was shocked. "You were attacked by orcs!?" he exclaimed "Are you all right, my son?"

"Obviously, father...I am fine" he replied a bit taken by his fathers shock.

"Well, where is this she-elf?" Thranduil inquired.

Legolas hesitated for a moment but continued "Well, father...she is a wanderer. I met her in the depths of Mirkwood, an unprotected part. I found her while I was on my way here from the Misty Mountains."

His father let him finish before he exploded "A wanderer, Legolas!? Lle lakwenien[Are you joking]!?"

Legolas winced, expecting this sudden explosion. He sat looking at his father, not answering his question.

After Thranduil got no reply from Legolas he continued "This means you have no idea where she is. Why are you even trying, Legolas? I do not understand. What is so important about this she-elf?"

"I do not know, father" he replied looking back at the fire "She made me feel something I have never felt before. I felt a true connection to her but could not tell you why. I will never stop searching for her."

Thranduil got up and walked to his desk saying "It will do you no good to search for a wanderer when they do not want to be found. I learned that the hard way." He gripped his desk and closed his eyes hard remembering harsh memories. He quickly pushed them aside knowing they would do him no good to resurface.

Legolas looked at his father for a moment seeing the distress across his face a brief second or two. "I will start searching and will not stop" the Prince resolved.

Thranduil nodded knowing his sons stubbornness (it mirrored his own at his son's age) and waited a few moments before asking another question "What is her name?"

"Her name is Menetasarëwen but everyone calls her Netasa" he replied smiling.

Legolas watched as his father withdrew from himself. He was deep in thought. Legolas wondered what he had said to make his father react this way. "Is there something wrong?" he asked.

"No, son. I will send a letter to every friend of Mirkwood about your lady Netasa and ask for an immediate reply" Thranduil said sitting at his desk to start the letter.

Legolas was surprised and a bit giddy at his fathers actions. "Thank you, father" he said with a huge grin on his face.

When Legolas walked out of the office completely dumbfounded, Thranduil called a servant from outside his office.

"Yes, my Lord?" the servant asked.

"Could you call my wife, Flordin, and Maluil to my office? Tell them it is a special Mirkwood Sereg'wethrin meeting" Thranduil replied.

The servants eyes widened but he bowed and ran off.

Not too long after the servant had ran off, Flordin and Maluil entered Thranduil's office asking what is wrong.

Thranduil held up his hand. There was no way he was starting conversation until his wife came into the room. But it didn't take as long as he expected. She came running into the room only a minute or so after.

"What is wrong!?" she asked breathing heavily from running.

Thranduil stood there a moment, his closest friends staring right at him. His wife couldn't take it anymore and said "Come, Thranduil. Out with it. Have we been attacked?"

He smiled at his wife. "No, Sisi. Nothing like that" he replied.

Everyone let out a huge breath they had been holding. "Then what!?" they all said at once.

Thranduil laughed at his friends and wife. He said plainly "She has been found." He waited a moment to get a reaction from them.

After a while, one of them finally spoke. "Where?" Maluil said softly reflecting everyones shocked thoughts.

"Well, she is close. She was found near the outskirts of Mirkwood. So she cannot be too far still" he replied.

"Why is she not here, then?" Flordin put in.

Thranduil looked at Flordin and said "The elf who found her did not know of her importance to Mirkwood itself." He smiled to himself thinking of how Legolas would have dragged her kicking and screaming if he knew of this information.

"This means she is alive" Sisi said smiling wildly realizing her best friend was still living "Who is this elf who found her?"

Thranduil smiled and said "Why, it is none other than your son. Who returned just now to tell me all about it. He seems to have exceptional taste in she-elves."

Flordin and Maluil laughed at this. "Yes, who else than your own offspring to do your dirty work?" Flordin spat.

Sisi looked at Flordin with an evil look. He stopped laughing and froze. "Though, Netasa has nothing on you, Sisi" he said nervously.

Thranduil and Maluil laughed this time. Thranduil stepped in putting his arms around Sisi saying "Do not worry, melamin[my love]. My love for you cannot be severed by the finest sword ever forged."

"And besides, who would fight Legolas for her?" Maluil added.

"I would" Flordin said with an evil grin "That little brat will beg for mercy."

Sisi looked at Flordin yet again and said "You will touch not one hair on his head. Understand?"

"I cannot promise anything, Dinaer" Flordin said smiling.

Thranduil smiled watching his wife and Flordin fight and Maluil trying to be the peaceful middle man. 'I am going to get my right hand archer back' he thought.