NOTE: Thanks so much for the reviews, and I'm glad that you think this is as good as 'The Healer of the Past', Miriellar! It is my hope that it will be better! At any rate, I wish to inform you that I'm thinking of changing the title. I have a few ideas: For the Love of a Half Elf, Love for a Half Elf, or In Love with a Half Elf. I'll give you a chance to help me decide. I've quit working on 'Beleg's Lady' entirely now. I've got a sequel in mind for this. So.....yes.....enjoy! ;)

Chapter Six: Danger in the Woods

While Síriel raced away through the corridors, then outside to her home, Legolas was making his way to the dining hall. It was time for the evening meal. He had finally found someone who knew Síriel. That was a small victory. He smiled to himself as he took his place beside his sire.

Celebrindal was correct. Legolas had indeed begun to fancy Síriel. He found himself thinking about her more and more often, especially at night when he laid himself down to rest. He had never laid eyes on someone as uniquely beautiful as she was. Her emerald eyes took his breath away. He wanted to see them once more, yet without the look of pain and torment in them. It made his heart break to see a maiden as fair and lovely as her to be the object of so much unworthy suffering.

"Still thinking about Síriel?" Thranduil asked knowingly.

Legolas flushed. It was all he thought about these days.

"I am, sire. I have had some luck today. I found a maiden who is a friend of hers. I am so close now to achieving my goal." he said.

Thranduil smiled.

"I saw her today. She came and asked if I wanted anything special from Lake-town. She is accompanying her sire, and she is going to stay there for some time. She will not be back for at least a month." he said.

Legolas looked crestfallen.

"One month?" he repeated. "Are you sure?"

Thranduil nodded.

"Worry not. It will pass quickly. You will be busy." he told him. "There is the annual hunt in the woods. Have you forgotten?"

Legolas smiled.

"Indeed, that will keep me occupied." he said.

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Síriel sighed in relief. She had made it back to her house without meeting Legolas anywhere in the corridors. Hastily she had packed a few of her belongings and some clothing before hurrying down to the river, where her sire was waiting for her. There were a few other Elves, all male, who were part of their rafting company. After making sure everyone who was supposed to be present was present, they pushed off from the bank and made their way swiftly down the river. They had no need to work. They were using the current to do the work for them. However, on the way back, they would be rafting, since they would be going up the river.

Síriel waved to a few of her friends on nearby rafts. She knew one of them desired her, but she was not interested in him. She cared for no one. She loved the way she lived. She helped her sire going to and from Lake-town rafting, and in her spare time from keeping up their home, she was free to do whatever she wanted. Usually she was out by the river or among the trees. Occasionally she would go rafting with her friends.

Her thoughts went back to the close encounter in the kitchens with Legolas. She was not angry with Celebrindal anymore, only disappointed. Now that Legolas knew they were friends, he would make it a point to patrol the kitchen in case Síriel happened to be there one time. It would make it almost impossible for her to visit Celebrindal anymore.

Legolas fancied her indeed! Celebrindal was always teasing her for something, and now she had good material to use against her. Legolas had lied. He did not find her interesting. He only wanted to catch her alone so he could punish her. How different he was from his sire. She wondered what Thranduil would think if she told him. But she could not. She would only embarrass herself further. She did not want that.

She sighed again. She was glad to get away from the palace. She had been working so hard. She needed a rest. She deserved one. Already she had plans made for her vacation in Lake-town. Maybe she could persuade some of her friends to stay, if her sire allowed it. Then they could do something fun together. They had not done something together in so long a time. She would ask them when the chance came.

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While Síriel was floating along towards Lake-town, Legolas was going towards the stables. He was going to join some of his friends in a hunting party in the woods. He found Arod. The horse whinnied happily when he saw his master approaching him.

"Arod!" Legolas said, patting his neck.

The horse nuzzled his shoulder.

"I see you are well taken care of. No doubt you miss the green plains of Rohan. I apologize that we have none here. Come now, I will take you riding. I am going to join some friends in a hunting party. No doubt you are anxious to run." Legolas told him fondly.

No sooner had Legolas mounted him than a company of Elves came riding through the gates. He recognized some of them, his friends from distant parts of Mirkwood, sons of his sire's advisors. The only thing he resented about them was their sense of pride. Anybody not as high as them would suffer much mockery and scorn. Legolas had tried countless times to break them of their bad habit, but to no avail.

"Ah, there is the famous ernil!" they said when they spotted him.

Legolas smiled as he rode up to them.

"How good to see you, mellyn nín." he told them.

"Shall we call you the savior of Arda?" they teased.

Legolas laughed and shook his head.

"I am not the savior." he told them.

"Always humble. In that you have not changed." they said.

"And I plan not to."

"Are you ready?" they asked.

Legolas nodded. The servants accompanying them blew their horns, a path was made for them, and they rode through the gates.

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The month passed swiftly for both Legolas and Síriel. The maiden spent her time with a few of her friends relaxing. She brought a gift back for Celebrindal. Legolas spent his time riding through the forest with his friends as they chased deer and shot at them with their bows. He was sorry when the month was over, but when he remembered that Síriel would be returning from Lake-town, his spirits rose.

They were riding along the path towards Thranduil's halls. His friends were swaying slightly astride their steeds, singing drunkenly. A few times they had almost ridden off the path and into the river below. Legolas shook his head. He doubted his friendship with them. If it were not that his sire pushed him to befriend them, he would never have done so. They were not his type of friends. He could not simply call off their friendship now, not after all these years. He had to have a good reason. He shook his head again as he watched them ride ahead of him.

A little ways ahead of them there was a small glade of wildflowers. Síriel was there, making a bouquet and singing softly to herself. She heard the sound of horses behind her, but she did not look up, too intent in what she was doing. There was a strange feeling about her as the horses came closer. It made her uneasy and uncomfortable.

"Tiro!" a voice called. "A maiden all alone!"

Síriel did not dare to turn around. She heard the sound of five pairs of feet hitting the ground. Then she smelled them. They were drunk, and they were advancing towards her. Her heart began to pound.

"She is dressed like a man. Well, let us make certain that she is not a man, shall we?" another voice said in an unpleasant tone.

Síriel swallowed. She had nowhere to go except for the river, her beloved river. Quickly she ran towards it. Her pursuers closed in around her, and before she knew it, one of them had grabbed her. She tried to fight back, but they were too many for her. Then she screamed.

Sindarin Translations:

Mellyn nín: my friends

Arda: earth

Tiro: look