Chapter 2
Legolas was walking in his favorite part of the forest, were the biggest waterfall was. The woods' silence was welcomed after the battles of the last few days.

'Where had those Uruk-hai gotten a leader so skilled it knew how to perform two-forked attacks?' Legolas wondered to himself. 'It doesn't really matter now though. Gandalf is coming. And his student, not that he'll be much help to Gandalf with something like this.'

When he had completed a few laps around the lagoon at the bottom of the waterfall, Legolas started back to the center of Mirkwood.

"As I think about it," he thought out loud, "Gandalf should be arriving any day. I need to get home so I can be there when he comes." Legolas hurried to the center faster than before.

* * *

Keladry sighed. They had been traveling for about 5 days when they had reached the borders of Mirkwood. Now after 2 days of leading the horses over rivers and through thickets of prickly bushes, her and Gandalf where but minutes away from spotting the Elven city at the heart of Mirkwood forest.

Finally reaching the beautiful outer gardens, they were greeted warmly and brought to the rooms that they would be staying in.

Keladry's room was luxurious, with waterfalls painted on the walls and light blue curtains and sheets on the bed. There was a small wardrobe for her clothes, a full-length mirror, and a small vanity set with a chair. All of the furniture was a dark ancient walnut and polished to a metallic shine. Keladry opened a pair of glass doors and found a balcony that over looked the gardens to the south.

After unpacking her clothes and putting them in the wardrobe, Keladry rang the bell that would bring an Elf to help her. When the Elf arrived, it was a light haired young lady with kind pine green eyes.

"My name is Tiri. I will be helping you until you can find your way around Mirkwood without assistance. What can I get for you?" Tiri smiled at her and Keladry knew that this was probably the kindest Elf she had ever met.

"I was wondering if there was some way I could get a warm bath," Keladry replied nervously. "I haven't washed in over a week and I would be mortified if I had to stand before King Thranduil looking like this." Keladry glanced down at her filthy clothes and knew that her face was most likely atrocious as well.

"Of course. Gandalf preordered the water for the both of you. It should be here shortly. Is that all?" Tiri answered pleasantly.

"I was also wondering if there was going to be any one else besides the King, Gandalf, and I at the meeting about the Uruk-hai," Keladry asked. "I don't want to embarrass my self in front of tons of people."

"I will get a list of all the persons planning on attending," Tiri assured me. "You won't be meeting until tomorrow, however. Does that make you feel better?"

"Yes, thank you very much." Keladry returned Tiri's smile and wished that she was clean.

"Then if you will excuse me I have other guests to attend to." Tiri excused herself and left Keladry to pick out the dress she was going to wear after her bath.

* * *

Keladry had finished her bath, chosen an ivory dress with side shoulder straps and a tight bodice that ended as a V, then a wide sweeping skirt. The dress made her feel like a princess, and the pearl barrettes that Tiri loaned her added the finishing touch.

She had checked in with Gandalf, then set out to make herself better acquainted with Mirkwood. As she was making her way across an inter-section of paths, she almost knocked over a handsome young Elf.

His hair caught the sunlight perfectly, and his eyes were a piercing blue that made her catch her breath. He was wearing the clothes of a hunter, foresty greens and browns. He held a bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows strapped to his back.

"Pardon me," Keladry quickly curtsied. "I am very sorry sir." She looked up at the man, only to find that he was staring at her.

* * *

Legolas had been jogging along a path near the center of Mirkwood when he ran into someone. It was a she-Elf. And a pretty one at that. She had on an ivory dress with pearl hairclips in her dark brown hair. Her wolf-gray eyes were startling and held a nervous look. Legolas was so lost in those eyes that her didn't notice that she was talking to him.

"Excuse me?" he asked, ashamed that he had been staring.

"I was apologizing for rudely knocking into you," the lady repeated. "I wasn't watching the path ahead of me."

"Please, it is no fault of yours. Running on frequently used paths is not the safest thing to be doing," Legolas corrected her. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Legolas Greenleaf. Might I inquire on your name, Arwenenamin?"

"I'm no lady. My name is Keladry of Lothlorien. I'm visiting with my mentor." Keladry blushed at her bluntness.

"Then let me so you around. The visitors that I am expecting have not arrived yet, so I would be happy to give you the grand tour." Legolas suggested, some how not surprised that Keladry was a High Elf among all Elves.

"That would be very much excepted. I'm very positive I'm lost, I have no sense of direction." Keladry giggled, an odd act for an Elf. "So sorry. I suppose that's not very dignified, is it? That's what happens when I get nervous." Keladry was, in fact, more than nervous. She was terrified of this gorgeous Elf and knew he must think her a ditz.

Legolas offered his arm to Keladry, which she ignored. He sighed. This was a rebellious she-Elf, that was for sure. Leading the way along the path to his right (Keladry to his left) he motioned for her to follow.
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Thank you to AJ who reviewed to the first chapter. I'm really glad that my writing caught your attention. BTW- I already have it written. I post a chapter when ever I'm on, so the whole thing should be up in a matter of days (maybe weeks. I have spring break & I'm going to Disney Land!!) Review or email me with your opinion on this chapter ^_^