The silence that descended on King Thranduil's throne room was so thick it could be cut through with a knife. His advisors eyed each other wearily as they felt his anger growing exponentially. Even Legolas began to shift in his chair as his father's discomforting gaze fell upon him. None of them knew what to do or say.

"Well?" Thranduil asked sounding highly irritated. He received no answer, and the silence descended once more. Finally one advisor began to open his mouth to speak.

"My lord--" he said quietly but he did not get to finish his sentence as Thranduil's voice boomed through the room and filled every empty corner.

"I want answers!!!" At least three of the elves sitting around him jumped at the extreme show of fury. "How could a band of orcs get this close to the palace? Where are the guards? The scouts?"

"My lord, I think we--" the advisor tried once more but was cut off again by Thranduil rising off his throne and walking around the circle formed by the elves sitting around him.

"Where is the powerful army of Mirkwood?" he asked quietly as a tinge of defeat laced his voice. He looked around at his advisors, yet they all looked stumped beyond belief.

Legolas shifted again in the chair he had been occupying for the last two days. Elves were very patient creatures, but this third day of his father's questioning session was truly beginning to try his nerves. On this third day of analyzing maps, orc movement patterns, guard and scout placement, army training procedures, and battle strategy the answers to Thranduil's questions became evident, but none had the courage to voice the truth. Yet Legolas could take no more of it all.

"I have your answer my lord," Legolas said with all the bravery he could muster to face his father. In all his years of life, Legolas faced many frightening creatures, but none came close to Thranduil when he was in a bad mood.

"Yes Legolas?" Thranduil asked expectantly.

"We have gotten too cocky my lord. We have been negligent in defending our homeland, and the danger slipped by unnoticed," he let out with one quick breath. Much to everyone's surprise the mighty King Thranduil let out a laugh. After overcoming his shock at the King's change of attitude, the same advisor spoke up once more, hoping that he would get to finish his sentence this time.

"My lord, I do not--" he began, but alas, Thranduil cut him off yet again.

"It took three long, arduous days for you to admit the obvious," he said as he shook his head, a radiant smile never leaving his face.

"We did not want to offend," said the Commander of the Guard.

"Whom did you not want offend Commander? Me or yourselves?" Thranduil replied as he returned to sit on his throne.

"It is a shame to us all my King," came the Commander's reply.

"And what shall we do about it?" Thranduil continued, obviously in a much better mood. This time answers came from every voice around the circle.

"Increase patrols!" said one.

"Send scouts farther into forest!" added another.

"Increase soldier training sessions!" another voice sounded.

"Excellent conclusions my men," Thranduil said as he leaned back into his chair with a look of satisfaction upon his face. "I trust you all know what you must do now," he said with a deep authority. Every voice in the room responded at once this time.

"Yes my lord!"

"Good. Get your work done quickly, for you do not want to miss the ball tomorrow night."

"The ball?" Legolas finally spoke again. "We are still holding the ball after recent events?"

"Do not ever give your people a reason to fear for their safety. I promised the inhabitants of Mirkwood a ball, and a ball they shall get."

"I understand," Legolas answered as he rose from his chair. At his cue, all of the other elves sitting in the circle stood as well. All of them bowed to their King simultaneously, and then they dispersed to the three separate doors that led out of the throne room.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Eowadia walked through the bookshelves quietly. She knew what she was after, and she knew exactly where to find it. She walked past Legends and Folklore, Mysteries of Nature, and Medicine until she arrived at the section that held the books addressing the history of Middle Earth. Disappointment washed over her as she turned corner after corner only to find the aisle empty. As she came around the final bookshelf, her eyes fell on a dark haired maiden dressed in a simple tan colored gown. The maiden seemed completely lost in the giant book in her hands. Her eyes scanned the page furiously in an attempt to soak up every word on the parchment. For a moment, Eowadia was tempted to leave her in her moment of peace, but she quickly remembered all of the things that had to be done, for tonight was going to a big night.

"Melenia," she said softly as she began to approach the princess. Melenia jumped slightly at the sound of her name but she quickly recognized the voice. A smile spread over her lips as she looked up to find Eowadia.

"Eo, what brings you here?"

"I came looking for you," Eowadia simply replied. Melenia's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Is something the matter?" Eowadia only chuckled in response to the alarm that overtook the princess.

"No, there is nothing wrong," she finally answered as Melenia's look of worry began to increase in magnitude.

"So why have you come to find me? I promise I have stayed out of trouble. I have not even stepped near the soldiers' practice fields."

"No my dear friend, that is not it at all," Eowadia said with a smile.

"So, what is it then?" Melenia asked truly feeling confused.

"You must come and get ready for the ball." Melenia's face began to twist with emotion, first confusion, then remembrance, then rage, and finally a steady annoyance.

"That horrid ball is still on?" she finally asked, hoping that Eowadia had merely been joking.

"Why of course!" Melenia let out a very childish groan upon hearing Eowadia's words.

"Must I go?" she asked as a young child would when faced with eating a giant bowl of spinach.

"You are the guest of honor," Eowadia said matter-of-factly. Melenia dejectedly closed the book in her hands and placed it back on the shelf. She joined Eowadia, and they both made their way out the library. As they neared the door, Eowadia finally spoke up again. "Have you spoken to Prince Legolas as of late?"

"No, I have not seen him for four days now," was Melenia's absent-minded answer. "Why do ask?" They reached the door and began to exit the library.

"Do you not remember? He is to be your escort." The door to the library closed behind them, but all that sat inside could hear the tortured groan that Melenia released.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Melenia paced the room and then sat down on her bed. She quickly stood again only to pace for several more minutes and end up sitting on her chair. "Look at you now mighty princess!" mocked the voice in her head. "Waiting for the little prince to show up and take you to the grand ball! Since when does the Princess of Aèrogar sit around and wait on men?" Melenia tried to shut out the voice, but it was too strong. It wanted to take the reins of control again, and it knew exactly how to get to Melenia.

"Leave me be!" Melenia shouted to the empty room, but the voice would not relent.

"It seems that you have gotten too weak to take care of us. I cannot entrust you with our safety anymore." Melenia did not respond. "Stupid girl!" the voice growled. "You will get us hurt again!"

"This is absolute madness," Melenia said to herself quietly. Ever since the incident with the orcs she had not been able to rein in the rage of the Ice Princess, so she avoided all contact with others for the last four days. Now when she had to act as civil as possible, she was losing control. She quickly found some parchment and a writing quill and scribbled onto it

Prince Legolas,

You are late. I have gone off to find the ballroom on my own.

~ Melenia

She pinned it to her door on her way out of the room.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Legolas walked up and down the halls of the palace in search of Melenia. "She will never find the ball on her own," he said to himself as he turned a corner that left him in the middle of the main hallway of King Thranduil's underground palace. On one side was the great door of the throne room and on the other stood the main door of the palace. He looked toward the throne room and found no one, but when he turned to look the palace doors, his eyes fell upon a figure that glimmered in firelight of the torches in the hall. He finally found Melenia. He quietly walked toward her as she stood and studied the beautiful paintings on the walls of the main hall. She stood transfixed in front of one painting in particular, and as she studied the painting, he studied her. A silver dress adorned her body and fell to the floor around her. Her hair fell in soft ringlets and reached her waist. Strands of fine silver chain seemed to be swimming among her hair, and finally, a woven band of silver sat upon her head, symbolizing her place of power in Aèrogar. After taking in her appearance, Legolas realized that she was absolutely entranced by the painting in front of her. He smiled warmly; it was his favorite as well.

"Princess Melenia," he said quietly so he would not startle her like he usually did. His voice snapped her out her thoughts, and she turned to face the glowing Prince of Mirkwood. He wore his formal attire. A beautiful silver tunic covered his torso, and lightly colored leggings washed over his legs. His interwoven crown of silver stood on his head. Legolas simply looked majestic. She marveled at how he glowed so brightly, but quickly forgot all about it as her thoughts returned to the beautiful painting.

"Who is she, the woman in the painting?" Melenia asked, eagerly returning her gaze the beautiful face of the golden haired maiden.

"She is my mother," Legolas answered quietly and a deep sadness colored his voice. Melenia sensed his sadness but decided not probe further at the moment.

"She is beautiful, I am sure that this painting does no justice to how she actually looked." Legolas simply smiled in return, a smile that would has sent several maidens into swooning fits, but Melenia barely noticed. Legolas was still a potential enemy. What other reason could there be for him stirring up her horrible memories all the time?

"Would you like to go the ball now?" Legolas asked, ending the brief silence that descended upon them.

"We are already late my lord," she replied with a smirk.

"Then we should hurry," he responded flashing his killer smile yet again. He offered her his arm, but she only looked at it with furrowed brows and anxious eyes. Upon noticing her hesitation he simply repeated his words from their last encounter, "I promise I do not bite." Melenia looked up at his face and searched his eyes with her own. He seemed sincere enough. She took several reluctant steps toward him and linked her arm with his. Once her arm securely intertwined with his, Legolas turned and began to lead her toward the main palace door.

"I thought we were going to the ball?" Melenia asked nervously.

"We are princess," was his simple answer. He led her out of the palace and toward the trees of Mirkwood.

"Prince Legolas--" she began apprehensively, but he cut her off.

"Shhh," he whispered softly. "See the torches ahead? All we must do is follow them." Curiosity began to replace her fear as the walked past the torches. What manner of ball was this? Legolas could not help but smile as the fear and anxiety in her eyes slowly transformed into wonderment. After several minutes of walking, Melenia could see a soft glow in the distance and could hear the soft music floating through the air.

"Is that the ball?"

"Yes it is princess," he answered as they drew closer to the giant clearing in the forest. They finally reached the edge of the clearing as the song ended, and all the elves cheered. Thranduil spotted the pair as they arrived, so he signaled for the band to stop as he walked to the center of the clearing, which served as a ballroom.

"My dear elves," Thranduil began, "I thank you very much for being here tonight." His gaze turned toward Melenia. "And now our guest of honor, Princess Melenia of Aèrogar, has arrived." Melenia's grip on Legolas' arm instinctively tightened as all eyes turned on her and the elves let out a beautiful cheer. "Let the festivities begin!" Thranduil announced after the cheers died down. The music began and the elves started to dance once more. The night was just beginning.