Sorry it took so long. I just wasn't feeling any inspiration. One thing I've noticed which is rather annoying is that my "dot dot dots" don't show up. Grrr. So the last chapter said "the. carnage." Instead of "the dot dot dot carnage" Uhm yeah, anyways, here it is. ^^; The long awaited:

Chapter 3

Haldir of Lorien was riding very swiftly towards the borders of Mirkwood, along with his family: Annûngil and Celebithil. As Mirkwood loomed before them, the travelers slowed their horses for a cool down by walking leisurely toward the forest. Malliavas, the messenger, smiled and laughed, "Let us see if my kin have noticed our presence yet. How about trying the song about Elbereth Gilthoniel?"

His companions nodded. Singing and waiting for a response was all in good fun. They knew the song; it was a well known, and a good traveling song. They sang, "

Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!
O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O Light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees!


Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath!
Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee
In a far land beyond the Sea.


O stars that in the Sunless Year
With shining hand by her were sown,
In windy fields now bright and clear
We see your silver blossom blown! ."

Then they paused and waited for an answer. Sure enough, a couple fine voices replied with the last part of the song.

"O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who dwell,
In this far land beneath the trees,
Thy starlight on the Western Seas."

Malliavas, again, smiled and he lead his companions into the forest, where they were welcomed by three tall and fair Mirkwood elves, bearing much resemblance to Malliavas. They bowed and spoke, "Welcome to the realm of Thranduil."

Legolas of Mirkwood was perched in a tree, on a branch that stood very high from the ground. He smiled to himself, and happily munched on his spoils from the kitchen: a few sweets and bread dipped in honey. He had stolen it from under the very nose of the pompous head cook, who, enraged, had yelled at the retreating figure of the prince that he would spoil his appetite for tonight's feast. But, the cook had let the mischievous prince go. He was used to it. Legolas was always going around doing things like that, and always getting into mischief.

Today was no exception. Legolas hated dressing like royalty for "special occasions" such as a welcoming feast for guests from other realms. The other reason he was hiding in the tree was so that his father wouldn't be able to find him, and force him into boiling dress clothes, and a cumbersome crown.

The prince grimaced when he heard his father bellow his name. He saw his father, all 6'5" of him, storm out into the garden and grumble, "Where is that boy? Haldir and Malliavas could be here at any time, and Legolas still has to get ready."

Legolas winced again when he heard the voice of his older brother, who was heir to the crown, call out, "What is it, father? Is Legolas being a brat again?" Legolas groaned. If his brother joined the search, he would surely be forced to go to the feast. His brother always found Legolas' many hiding places.

The King replied, "Indeed he is. Our cook told us that he's probably hiding and ruining his appetite for the feast right now." The King sighed. "He always did hate wearing appropriate clothes for welcome feasts."

Legolas' brother laughed. "My dear brother didn't pick as near of a clever spot as he usually does. I know where he is." And sure enough, Berensil[1] pointed up the oak tree near his balcony to the exact branch the young prince was sitting in.

Thranduil looked up, spotted his son and roared, "LEGOLAS! GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT! OUR GUESTS COULD ARRIVE AT ANY MINUTE, AND WE MUST GO AND BE PREPARED TO MEET THEM."

Legolas hesitated, and then reluctantly started to climb down. He didn't dare disobey his father when he gave a direct order. And besides, Thranduil was famous for his quick temper.

The prince grumbled the entire time Thranduil hurried him toward his room. He fumed quietly as he changed into appropriate clothes, and when the crown was placed onto his head, he sighed in defeat.

With that done, Thranduil walked swiftly off toward the gates, where he would welcome Haldir into Mirkwood. From there, they would walk to the Great Hall for a welcome feast.

All who saw the royal family walking to the gates laughed to themselves. They saw Legolas meekly following his father, and it was apparent that he had been much chastened by his father for hiding. They nodded among themselves. It was about time the young prince started acting more like an adult. After all, Legolas was a few years from coming of age.

When Thranduil reached the gates facing the Southwest, he was immediately hailed by the border-guards. They told him that Haldir and the messenger Malliavas were very close now. They would be here in a matter of moments.

Thranduil sighed inwardly in relief. He had not missed Haldir, and so Haldir would not have to know about Legolas' immature game of hide-and-seek. As they waited, Thranduil let his thoughts wander. He wondered if Haldir could enflame a passion in Legolas for fighting or archery, like he himself had had when he had come of age. Berensil had shown little of it. He was alike his mother in manner, yet like his father in appearance. His mother had been a peaceful person, with a perfect Queenly manner, so Thranduil was sure that Berensil would make an ideal King one day. Legolas, on the other hand, had inherited his father's adventurous spirit but his mother's looks. So adventurous was Legolas' spirit that he hardly cared to practice fighting. He often ran off to make trouble, and never really concentrated hard on his studies. Thranduil hoped that Haldir would evoke a sense of discipline in Legolas, considering how serious the elf from Lorien took everything.

Suddenly, Thranduil noticed a party approaching. They were walking on the path towards the gate, and as the King looked closer, he recognized Malliavas' face, and saw the indifferent look on another elf's face. That one had to be Haldir.

When the party had reached the gates, Thranduil King walked toward them, bowed and said, "Welcome to Mirkwood, Haldir of Lorien."

Haldir bowed back and said, "Hail, Thranduil King. We thank you for your hospitality." Then Haldir turned and beckoned toward his children. They bowed at the King and Haldir said, "This is my eldest son, Celebithil and my daughter Annûngil."

Thranduil nodded, and said, "Welcome to Mirkwood, Celebithil and Annûngil of Lorien." As he said those words, he was struck by how much Celebithil resembled Gil-galad, the last High King of the Elves who had died the night Sauron was defeated.

Legolas was also studying the elves from Lorien, and as his brother Berensil stepped forward to welcome them, Legolas was very aware of the one called Annûngil. He studied her and thought that she was strangely alluring, in a secretive and standoffish way that was very much like her father. Her shoulder-length dark brown hair with random blond streaks complemented her eyes. They were amber.

Legolas realized that it was his turn to greet the travelers. He stepped forward and spoke, "Welcome, Haldir and Celebithil of Lorien." Then he turned toward Annûngil and said, "Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo[2], Annûngil.

Annûngil of Lorien accidentally let a startled look slide past her mask of unconcern. Her family, and Legolas' family all looked unsure of what to say next. They seemed as startled as she was. Never had Legolas been this sincere!

King Thranduil tried to draw attention away from his son's strange behavior by saying, "We thank you for coming, Haldir. Please, follow me and we will feast in your honor."

Once again… all songs were written, and belong to J.R.R Tolkien…

No book ever mentioned that Legolas had an older brother; I made him up. So Berensil belongs to me.

[1] – Legolas' elder brother, the Crown Prince. His name means Brave Moon.

[2] – A star shines on the hour of our meeting