"Welcome, Lord Elrond," bowed Thranduil, the King of Mirkwood respectfully. Elrond smiled, and entered the great hall.
"It is indeed a pleasure to be walking through these halls again, Thranduil." Elrond strolled through the courtyard, taking in the sensuous smell of flowers and the trilling of the birds. "But tell me, where is Nadrwynna? Arwen wishes me to give her a message."
Thranduil looked down. "Nadrwynna is………is very unhappy."
Elrond raised his well-shaped eyebrows. "But Nadrwynna is always happy. She finds pleasure in all the small aspects of life - especially hunting with the male elves. Very unladylike, but you can't expect all princesses to follow rules. Especially Nadrwynna."
The ruler of Mirkwood smiled. "She misses the company of my son. He rode out three nights ago, and she is already missing him. Legolas and Nadrwynna spent a lot of time together before he left. I worry for him. It is not like him to leave without giving a suitable reason. "
"Legolas will return. He has the sprit of a young fawn."
"Come, we will go for dinner. I will take you to Nadrwynna after the feast," said Thranduil changing the subject, knowing Elrond could go on for eternity about his youngest son's bravery especially since the War of the Ring had ended three years ago.
"She is asleep in Legolas' chamber."
Elrond nodded and followed the Elf into the welcoming hall of the splendid palace, hoping his niece would be alright. "Did Legolas go out alone?"
"Yes, my lord. Normally, Nilmade or Nadrwynna accompany him, but this was an exception. He said there was a cloud fogging his mind, and that he needed to clear it. He took Sulë with him."
*
The feast was magnificent, but Elrond did not enjoy it as much as he intended to. Nadrwynna's absence made him very inattentive, and several times Thranduil had to repeat himself. Relief clearly showed on Elrond's face when his host led him to the simple yet majestic sleeping quarters of the Elven Prince.
Thranduil gently eased the door open and Elrond could make out the still form of his niece. Her brown eyes were slightly opened, and she was staring into space. Beside her lay an Elven dagger, a quiver of arrows, a bow and her hunting suit. When Elrond tried to enter, Thranduil stopped him.
"It is safer to talk to her when she is fully awake and unarmed. Two nights ago she almost speared Nilmade with an arrow. Nilmade was sent to call her to the feast, but when she arrived at the room and spoke to Nadrwynna, the princess turned and fired at her," he whispered.
Elrond exited quietly. He had seen Nadrwynna in these moods. She was like this when she was lonely or very angry. The best thing to do was to leave her to her own thoughts.
*
Nadrwynna sighed as Elrond left. She desperately wanted to talk to the Lord of Rivendell, and Arwen, if she was there, but she was too worried about Legolas. He had claimed the road would be dangerous for an Elf maiden, especially a princess. But what was there she couldn't do (except for aim properly when she was taken by surprise). She got up and looked through the window. The world stretched out silently behind the silken curtains. There was a dark shadow growing in her mind. She knew it was worry for Legolas.
Nadrwynna remembered the night he had left. She had followed him to the stables, hoping he would allow her to accompany him. But all was in vain.
"Uin mernë ana hehta lyë," he had said quietly. "Nan ta ná acca hwarin tië."
"Legolas, I can fight. I can wield a sword as well as any Elf in Mirkwood," she had protested. But he was as firm in his manner as she was in hers.
The previous night she had dreamt about him. He had been riding towards Gondor, when he sensed the presence of Orcs. His sword had glowed an eerie blue, and he had hidden in the trees, while Sulë, his stallion stayed within the shadows of the forest. Then Nadrwynna had woken up. It was a suspicion in her mind, but she knew the dream had really occurred. She lay down on the bed again, and let herself drift into peaceful slumber.
*
Legolas stared out at the army of Orcs. There were maybe two thousand at the most. His position in the trees was not very safe. He could be seen any moment. But thanks to his tunic, he camouflaged freely into the surroundings. He was only a day and a half from Gondor, where his long time friend, Aragorn, the King reigned. If he left now, the Orcs would see him. Legolas noticed their weapons were mainly bows. The several Uruks who led the pack possessed both bows and swords.
I should've let Wynna come, he murmured to himself. Legolas was so engrossed with the Orcs in front of him, he didn't hear Sulë's snort of surprise. And then, he was ambushed from behind. Legolas whirled around when he heard a leaf cracking and sent an arrow flying in the direction of the noise. A startled scream escaped the Orc's lips before it fell dead on the forest floor. An arrow whistled by his ear and embedded itself in the tree inches from his face. The Orcs emerged. There were about twenty of them, each looking at him maliciously from behind their solid helmets of metal.
Whoosh. Another arrow found its mark. He whipped out his twin blades next, and swung them at the closest Orc. Its head was sliced off and it fell beside the two other victims of his bow. Arrow after arrow whistled through the trees, whilst Sulë charged through the glen, bringing down as many as possible. The last Orc remained. It was a Uruk. Legolas stared at him, his eyes never leaving its face. The Prince fired an arrow, and the feathered missile embedded itself in the Uruk's shoulder. The Uruk fell dead. Or so he thought. As he turned around, the Uruk grunted heavily and raised its bow. This time its aim was true. The arrow pierced Legolas in the thigh and he felt darkness close in on him as he lost his footing and fell. He thudded to the ground and lay still.
*
"Legolas!" Nadrwynna sat up, all the sleep knocked out of her. He was injured! Minutes later, a figure wearing a white gown and a hastily thrown on cloak rode down the tree-lined entrance, into the woods of Mirkwood, knocking down several guards on its way out. The quiver of arrows was slung casually on its back, and an intricately carved bow dangled from the stallion. Strapped to the figure's back were also a pair of twin daggers and a curved elven blade hung from its waist. Nadrwynna raced the wind. She had to reach the borders of Mirkwood by dawn.
*
*Translations:
Uin mernë ana hehta lyë – I do not wish to abandon you
Nan ta ná acca hwarin tië – But it is too crooked a path