The visit was going as well as hoped. Legolas had never had any problems getting along with the Lady Galadriel, and likewise, she found the youth charming, and the two conversed like old friends for quite some time until, having paced in the hallway for a few hours, Haldir knocked quietly and entered.

"Lady, the evening meal will be served soon."

At the sound of the archer's soft voice, Galadriel looked up and smiled warmly. She'd always possessed a kind of motherliness, and most of the Galadhrim saw her as kind of a surrogate mother, Haldir being no exception. The latter bowed respectfully before heading back out into the hall. Galadriel returned her attention to the youth at her side.

"Your visit seems purely routine, Legolas, although I do not doubt a social visit was your only intention. Are you sure you did not come hear to try to assuage the conflict between Mirkwood and Lorien?"

Legolas smiled, slightly embarrassed. "I had hoped this conversation would not expand onto that topic." Legolas paused. "I came on my own accord. My father has no wish to create a peace with Lothlorien. He would much rather stay hidden in Mirkwood with his grudges and lies than gather the effort to negotiate a truce. My father is....slightly lazy in that sense." Legolas said guiltily, his eyes directed at the floor. It was against elvish protocol to insult one's sire, but, rules will be broken.

Galadriel smiled knowingly, reading the youth's thoughts. "Have no fear. I have no doubt that before the next age, this silly child's fight will be no more than a myth in the minds of our kin. Now, I suggest we take the evening meal in the hall with the rest of the family." Accepting the grey-clad arm offered to her, Galadriel stood and the pair made their way toward the dining hall. Legolas stifled a laugh.

"Humorous to think of Lord Celeborn and my father in a child's playground fight!"

Both elves had to laugh at the mental image that brought up.

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The sun had set far into the west and the evening meal was over, the diners having retired to their respective quarters or strolling through the ornately decorated city. Haldir and Legolas had excused themselves and, at Haldir's suggestion, the pair began to walk the two mile circuit of pathway circumscribing Lothlorien.

"How did your afternoon pass in the Lady's company?" Haldir asked lightly.

"Quite well. The Lady is both wise and friendly. I find the hours in her company to pass very quickly." Legolas said with a smile. Quite a bit of laughter and talk of light matters had echoed through the lower hall earlier that afternoon. Haldir mimicked the expression, relieved that there had been no conflict between the two.

"Lord Elrond of Rivendell contacted me a few days past." The marchwarden hedged.

"And?"

"He inquired if Lorien was still at odds with Mirkwood. To be truthful, I was not sure how to respond."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I had recently bumped my head and had no knowledge of any conflict between us."

Legolas laughed heartily. "Surely you didn't say that to Lord Elrond!"

Haldir's eyes widened innocently. "Of course! Although he saw right away it was all in jest. He laughed and told me I was a foolish youth, but to keep that sense of optimism." Haldir sounded slightly miffed at being called a youth. "I wager he wishes there was something he could do for us, but this quarrel is between Lorien and Mirkwood, and Rivendell is merely neutral."

Legolas nodded in agreement. "Do you think you or I will live to see the end of this fight?"

Haldir's eyes returned to their usual seriousness. "I hope so. How long can something so trivial last? You and I will live for the next few millenia. Surely it will be over long before you or I are old."

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Legolas enjoyed the company of the people of Lothlorien for the next month. On the first day of October, he received word from Mirkwood to return home. His father had caught wind of his visit to Lothlorien. The silver horse he had arrived on was loaded with supplies, yards of elven rope, lembas and a spare cloak of the silver Lorien cloth.

"I'm afraid it won't do in the middle of Fangorn forest, but you'll be well hidden while you're passing through Lorien, at least." Haldir said lightly, packing the folded cloth into one of the horse's saddlebags. "I expect you'll contact us upon safe arrival in Mirkwood?"

"I will. My father will not be pleased to see me after hearing of my visit here. If I do make it home in one peace, father will lecture me until my ears are bleeding."

Haldir laughed and cuffed the prince lightly on the shoulder. "Perhaps I should return to Mirkwood with you. I fear we are getting nowhere."

"If you wish."

Haldir nodded and bade Legolas wait awhile for him. The marchwarden knocked softly on Lady Galadriel's door and after being bid entrance, entered the large room.

"Lady, might I be permitted to return with the Prince to Mirkwood? I thought that perhaps I could try to ease some of this tension."

Galadriel slipped into her common robes and shooed the serf away who was fussing at the sleeves. She had known the marchwarden since his younger days, when Haldir had been no more than a mischevious teenager, pulling pranks to see what he could get away with. A few hundred years and twice that many scoldings later, the elf was now a full-grown adult--responsible, reverent and, Galadriel thought with a smile-too overly serious. The lady smiled at him and brushed some dirt of the shoulder of his tunic.

"Yes, Haldir. I trust you know what you are getting into. Quel marth, and send word upon your arrival."

Haldir's face broke into a grateful smile and he bowed respecfully if not hastily before turning and heading back out into the hall to gather a few belongings. Galadriel smiled. That son of hers loved the thrill of a new adventure still today. That part of his youth had yet to wear off.

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