Chapter 2

Miriel felt a cold cloth against her head and her eyes fluttered open. She saw the face of a female elf leaning over her.

"Naneth?" Miriel asked softly?

"No milady, you are in Mirkwood, in the houses of healing. I am a healer," the maiden said softly.

Miriel's thoughts cleared and the memory of her ordeal came back to her. "How long have I been here?" she asked the healer.

"Two days milady,"

"Please call me Miriel. I have not woken for two days?"

"No Miriel, you have been unconscious this whole time. But I am glad you are awake. I breathed a sigh of relief when your eyes started fluttering." The healer said with a smile.

"What is your name, dear healer?" Miriel asked.

"My name is Silien. I am actually a tutor for the elflings of Mirkwood, but our guard has just returned from battle and many needed treatment. The other healers are too busy, so I lent my services,"Silien said, bringing a herbal tea for Miriel.

"Here, drink this, you will feel better," Silien said, handing Miriel the bowl.

Miriel let the steaming liquid slide down her throat and instantly felt better, more refreshed and not so sore.

"What happened to me Silien? How did I end up here?" Miriel asked.

"I do not know the whole story, the guards have told me that as soon as you fell well enough, I am to call them and you will be taken to see our King."

"I should proceed now then. But am I to meet Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, in these rags?" Miriel asked, casting a look down at her tattered dress.

"You are right. Come to my home. You can bathe at the river. I will lend you a dress." Silien said, helping Miriel out of the bed.

~*~

Miriel followed the guard silently across the palace grounds, the only sound made was the sound of her dress against the grass. They entered the main palace through a side entrance. Miriel marveled at the architecture. The ceilings were high and wonderfully crafted. There were paintings of historic battles lining the walls; the palace seemed to give off a glow of its own. Miriel smiled to herself, wondering if her mother had ever been in the palace when she had lived in Mirkwood. She knew her mother would have loved it as much as she did.

She was so involved in her thoughts about the palace that she did not realize that the guard had stopped in front a towering pair of oak doors. This must be the great hall where King Thranduil was. Taking a deep breath she calmed her nerves. The guard nodded to the soldiers at the door and they pushed open the door for him. They entered, their footsteps echoing off the stone floor. The Hall was enormous with a throne at the end, in the center. King Thranduil sat on his throne, a picture of splendor and glory. He had not yet seen Miriel and the guard for he was attending to another matter brought up by one of his advisors. Miriel looked around the hall, admiring the beautiful artwork, mostly of woods and nature. When she looked back, she was shocked to find Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, piercing her with his crystal blue gaze, a look of surprise and was it.recognition. on his face. Miriel quickly curtsied before him, and avoided his eyes.

"You are the maiden Miriel, found on the border of Mirkwood?" he questioned, his tone commanding, yet kind at the same time.

"Yes my lord, I am Miriel." She answered, then resumed fixing her eyes elsewhere. She was not comfortable with his gaze; it felt like he was piercing her soul, revealing all her dark secrets.

"You.you must surely also be the daughter of Galadhwen," he said, making her head snap up to face him.

"You knew my mother, my lord?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly at the mention of her beloved mother's name.

"Yes Miriel, your mother was a healer in Mirkwood before.before she left. Being the most skilled, she would tend to the wounded with expert care. Our soldiers trusted her with their very lives. I myself was once healed by her after a long, hard battle." Thranduil said, smiling at Miriel.

Miriel was brimming with questions. But she did not know how to question the king in front of his advisors, guard and servants. It seemed however that Thranduil knew her exact thoughts.

"Excuse us for a while, all of you," he said to those in the hall. He was met with many puzzled looks.

"My lord?" his guard questioned.

"I would like to speak to Miriel alone." Thranduil said, a note of finality in his voice. Swiftly, all other elves left the hall, leaving Miriel alone with the King.

"My lord, how did you know? How did you know I was my mother's daughter?"

"When I awoke after being healed, the first sight I saw was your mother's turquoise eyes, identical to yours. And you look extraordinarily similar to her. The way you look, and carry yourself and walk. Everything about the two of you is the same. There was no way you were not her daughter." He said, smiling kindly.

"Please tell me my lord, why did my mother leave Mirkwood so suddenly?" Miriel asked, desperate for an answer to the question that had plagued her since her mother had told her that she had once lived in Mirkwood.

"She did not tell you?"

"No, she did not, but I want to know,"

"Miriel, your mother's father, your grandfather was captain of the Mirkwood Guard. He died in the very same battle that I fought in many, many years ago. He was a noble warrior and after he died protecting his homeland, your grandmother died of grief. Your mother had nothing left in Mirkwood and made a hasty decision to leave. I never saw her again." Thranduil said.

"Now will you tell me what happened after she left Mirkwood?" Thranduil continued.

So Miriel told him of her mother meeting her father and her life story so far. She was in tears by the end thinking of the events that had taken place weeks before. The grief was still fresh in her heart.

"King Thranduil, I ask nothing from you but for mercy and permission to live in the land my mother loved so much. This is the only link to my family that I have," Miriel asked, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"Of course you will stay here. Any kin of Galadhwen is a friend of mine. Silien the tutor will take care of you as she has been doing so far." Thranduil.

"Thank you my lord," she said, curtsying again before leaving the hall, her heart lighter than before.

As she passed a soldier, she asked him the way to the stables. He pointed her in the right direction and she ran.

"Hello my friend," she said softly as she spotted her horse. He snorted in welcome and came to nuzzle her, leaning over his stable door.

"You saved my life, I cannot thank you enough. I will name you Arod, the noble," she said stroking the horse's nose lovingly.