A/N: For Tolkien purists, I am sorry, but I will be using the name Mirkwood instead of Eryn Lasgalen when referring to Thranduil's realm. It is easier to type, and I believe that to elves, it would always remain what they had called it all their life. Also, description of cave based closely to The Hobbit.

Chapter 26- Meet The Parents, Take One

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1 Narië, Year 9 of the Fourth Age

Rhovanion, Middle-earth

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It had been a long month to wait for the journey to Mirkwood, but time seemed to come to a complete standstill for the two weeks that they had been traveling. Their itinerant group was not large by any means, but there was no reason for them to take the long road from Ithilien quickly, especially with the lessened threat of anything happening to them. It seemed to both Legolas and Emlin that they were the only two wishing... nay, pushing... to go faster. Many of the others of their party, Valandir in particular, had whispered and giggled on the reason as to why Legolas tried to keep moving them faster and faster. Though it had yet to be discussed, both had an idea in their minds of what could and probably would happen once they reached Mirkwood, and by now, so did everyone else. Emlin was preparing herself mentally for a wedding, with really no thought to what would come after the ceremonies. She figured it was not worth it for her to be worried over that, as it seemed that was what was on Legolas' mind in place of the actual ceremonial wedding, all day, every day now.

Emlin knew that Legolas would think of all he had to for the occasion afterwards, but she was anxious just to make it to Mirkwood in the first place. She was traveling to a new place and meeting the King and Queen. Ever since they had traveled to Ithilien, she under Legolas' 'guardianship', it had been a whole gamut of feelings, not just nervousness. Namely, she had to deal with her ever deepening love for him. But that was not so much a problem as it was a nice warm feeling always permeating every single thing she encountered now.

Then there was the incessantly growing sexual tension between them, leaving each at the end of self-restraint as they both had fallen victim to each other's playful seduction schemes. Though, she had to admit, he was much better at recognizing and also executing such things than she, which made it so that he was nearly always in complete control of the situation, even if he was humoring her and letting her try. It seemed almost as if he was not taking things seriously, and the passes he had made towards her were all in a teasing matter. He had taken to jokingly calling these things her 'exploratory' time before the actual lesson. She had laughed it off, but in the back of her head had stewed about the future moments together. What would the 'actual' lesson be like? If this was only teasing and scratching the surface of what was to come, and she could barely handle that, then just what would happen to her when the time came for deeper things?

She would let Legolas think about it... she had to let him worry about it. He was to be her teacher after all.

And if being in a permanent state of excitement both mentally and physically, for this new phase of her life, was not bad enough, she also had to live with the constant worry that Nindë could reappear and do something to her or Legolas. She sighed to herself, looking around at the group of travelers with them, the elleths of the group surrounded and led by the ellyn. Nindë was walking a few feet away from her, and as Emlin turned to see if it was Nindë's gaze she felt on her back, the elleth quickly turned her head, her nose in the air.

Emlin chuckled and looked forward. She could vividly remember the day they had set out for Ithilien. Legolas had come to fetch her, they the last to arrive before they set out for the day and a half ride back to Ithilien. Emlin had walked out on his arm, and was offered a rather magnificent Elven-trained horse, neglecting the curious stares she received from the others. Legolas and Valandir had insisted she ride rather than walk, even though the horse she was given was Valandir's own beast of a creature. She had not been too happy that Legolas was making people do such things for her, but Legolas set her onto the stallion's back and reminded her it was also Valandir who insisted she ride. Emlin had grunted and turned her attention away from them.

That was when she first spied Nindë's deathly glares. Emlin had smiled to herself then, but as she was allowed to think about it on the ride to Ithilien, it had become a serious concern for her. If Nindë had thoughts of those horrid deeds for her mother and father, would she actually do them this time? Legolas had done his best to quiet her mind, but Emlin could not help but sense danger was just on the horizon for them. What would happen when Nindë found out who her parents were? Emlin had heard people speaking of the eruption of Mount Doom after the war, and how furious it was, but she could imagine Nindë's reaction being far worse. Especially if she was a minion of Melkor.

"You have been awfully melancholy for the past little while."

Emlin turned at the soft voice beside her, realizing that Legolas had fallen back in the group and now rode beside her. She smiled, "I am only thinking."

"Of what, meleth?" He asked, his face and voice taking on a worried look and tone.

"It has no place being spoken here." Emlin replied.

Legolas leaned over his horse and whispered, "Do not think I will not enquire on it later."

"And I will speak of it later, but not now." She said, almost too snippy. Emlin sighed heavily and softened her face, "I am sorry, meleth. It just has been a long journey and I am very weary of it."

"I agree." He smiled broadly, and gave her a slight wink before turning his attention to the land in front of them. Naturally he had to do that... tease her in such a way. "I wish for things that cannot be done here in the open, and it has made me very weary of traveling."

She felt herself blush deeply and shut her eyes for a moment, trying to ward off the intense feeling of need washing over her body. It had never been so strong before, but as they neared Mirkwood, and most likely their binding, Emlin had barely been able to contain herself. She just wished that Legolas had not been so noble that he would make her wait.

They were now coming over a little hill, and were nearly to the crest. Emlin kept her eyes forward and saw the first outcropping of trees in the distance. Still a good league away from the trees, Emlin could really not see past the trees and into the forest, but she could see that it was dark within the forest, the branches and tree roots all mingling together, looking very old and wrought by evil hands. It was definitely very different from Lothlórien in that respect. Anywhere in Lórien you walked, you were overcome with a feeling of solitude and warmth as the golden light streamed through the trees. The mellyrn of Lórien were large and sturdy, but the beech trees within Mirkwood looked almost too thin and scraggly for climbing up into. And the feeling from within the dark forest was not necessarily one of happiness.

"It does not seem like much," Legolas said quietly with a smile, "But once you are inside the halls and our town, you will think differently."

Emlin sighed and nodded her head, "I have no doubt. Will we arrive by the end of the day?"

"We will." He replied and gave her one more smile before pulling ahead to ride beside Valandir, speaking to him in low tones. Emlin smiled to herself, looking towards Mirkwood, thinking of all the mysteries within and the new experiences that would be waiting for her there.

Upon her first glimpse of Mirkwood, she felt rather scared for traveling within the darkness, but once within the tree line and they traveled along quietly, Emlin found herself filled with a certain type of vitality. She could feel that everything around her was living and giving off their energy, combining with others and making her feel alive inside, much to her surprise after riding in the darkness surrounding them for a good while now. Ahead of the travelers, she could now make out the massive, intricately carven wood gates with a few sentinels standing to the side. The doors were opened quickly, and without Legolas having to speak with the sentinels before hand. Each of the sentinels bowed their heads slightly, a hand to each of their hearts as they welcomed Legolas back.

This gate opened up into the main portion of city, though she had seen talans and other things outside of the gates prior to this point. Soon they passed another gate, this one made of the finest gold and also intricately detailed. She realized that they were now on the inner courtyard of the cave, the tall walls of the mountain the cave was hewn into towering over them as Legolas dropped from his horse and came to her to help her down. Emlin accepted his help gladly, looking about as she was placed on her feet. Many of the travelers who had come with them had left their sides when they entered the city gate, and now the only ones that remained were Legolas, Valandir, two other handmaids and herself. Breathing a sigh of relief that Nindë had not followed them, Emlin turned forward again and felt herself smile. She was in Mirkwood, and with Legolas.

"See? It is much more once you get inside the gates." Legolas said to her, taking her arm and wrapping it in his as he led her towards the cavern opening.

"I had no doubt that it would be, Legolas." She replied, looking about her. Inside the passages were lit with red torch-light, and the corridors were twisting, crossing and echoing paths. It reminded her of Lórien, except those paths were in the trees and the only difference here was that they were underground, though not very deep and filled with cleaner air. They continued on and came upon the great hall with pillars hewn out of the living stone. At the head of the hall sat the Elvenking on a throne of carven wood, an intricate crown of mithril resting upon his golden head, and in his hand was a carven staff of oak. Wise and mighty were the only things she could think to describe the king as she meet his rather intense gaze. Legolas' gaze...

Dressed was he like the lady beside him, in greens and browns. Emlin turned her attention to the elleth sitting next to the great king, in a throne of a diminutive size compared to the one the king himself sat in. Her long russet hair stretched well to her waist, some of it complexly knotted and pinned with a small crown of her own, a net of silver beads around her head. In the Queen's blue eyes, there was determination and a love for discipline, yet kindness and the willingness to see the best from anyone, no matter who they were. She reminded Emlin very much of her own mother.

To say that she was awed by the power emanating from the Elven couple would have been an understatement, though she was not as awed as when, in her younger days, she would have seen the Lord and Lady about Caras Galadhon. Still, though, a slight twinge of nervousness struck her and she took in a long, calming breath of air. That was also when she noticed the low chatter in the room. Around the great hall stood many elves, all of whom appeared to be either lords or ladies of Thranduil's court. If they were not that, they were certainly thought well of by the king. Then again, maybe they were all just honored guests and advisors of the king and queen.

Emlin heard their questioning voices and felt their appraising looks as Legolas led her further up the hall towards his waiting parents. She was sure she had even heard a few disgusted grunts, but she quickly decided that it was not worth it to worry about. Legolas was in love with her and no one else. With a sigh of resolve, Emlin again moved her attention forward and raised her chin slightly to look directly at the King and Queen. A large smile spread across the Queen's face for her, and then one for Legolas. She stood up quickly and walked down the three steps where the thrones were set, to the level floor. It seemed to Emlin that this surprised Thranduil a great deal and he reluctantly removed himself from his seat, following his wife.

Legolas was barely able to bow his head as a sign of respect before his mother had him in a strong embrace, placing a kiss upon his cheek and uttering words of joy seeing that her son was unharmed with her own eyes. Emlin had been so caught up with the interaction between mother and son, especially in the way Legolas seemed to revere and cherish his mother, that she had forgotten about the King. He now stood before her imposingly, and slightly taller and broader shouldered than Legolas was, though she could very well see who Legolas received most of his traits from. Emlin quickly stooped into a polite curtsy, even though she did not wear a dress and probably looked atrocious in her traveling garments.

She felt warm, archery-roughened fingers under chin, drawing her eyes up to meet his as she stood out of her bow. Emlin smiled slightly, though the intense examination of her face and also seemingly of her conscience was a little nerve wracking. The chatter in the room had died down too, as everyone struggled to hear the words being passed. Oh how she hoped that Legolas' parents would approve of her. Finally, the Elf king smiled and placed a strong hand on her shoulder. "Welcome, Emlin Haldiriel, to Eryn Lasgalen."

"Thank you, my lord." Emlin smiled brightly, glancing quickly at Legolas, wondering just how much he had told his father of her in letters. "It is an honor to be here."

Thranduil smiled and turned to Legolas, but Emlin could not watch this interaction. The Queen stepped in front of her, the smile upon her wise features joyful and utterly infectious. Emlin could not help a smile when she bowed her head, "My lady."

The Queen laughed and brought Emlin out of her reverent bow. She quickly hugged Emlin close, pulling away, "You will quickly learn that someone is more likely to find themselves persecuted for their impertinence by calling me 'My Lady', rather than by my given name. It is Tuilindë to most, but there are other things you may call me if you feel like it. We will discuss that later, but now you must be wearied from your travel and wish to freshen yourself. There is a great meal planned for my son's and your arrivals this eve."

Emlin was whisked away the Queen, and turned her head quickly back to glimpse Legolas who still stood before his father, discussing something in low tones. Legolas caught her gaze, and smiled lovingly from across the hall. She sighed happily to herself and gazed back at the beautiful queen gliding along beside her. "This eve?"

"Yes, pen neth." Tuilindë said as they turned onto a quiet corridor, like the ones leading to the great hall, except that this one was lit by many white candles instead of torches. "The elves of Mirkwood wish to welcome their prince back along with his love as soon as possible. Oh, I am sure there will be many more celebrations in the next few weeks... Thranduil loves any excuse to have a feast or celebration of some sort."

"Legolas has told me that on more than one occasion." Emlin nodded.

Tuilindë laughed. "Beware now, Emlin, Legolas likes to have merriment just as much as his father. I shall tell you some of his younger days, but not now. There is much to be done in a short amount of time."

Emlin found herself ushered into a large room filled with thick steam. The smell of oils, soaps and other fragrances teased her nose as Emlin gazed around the large chamber, realizing that it was a bathing chamber. "A bath so deep inside the cave?"

Tuilindë chuckled, "I believe I said that very thing the first time I was brought here. These are the royal bathing chambers, and it is some natural oddity that makes this a flowing hot stream. The water never becomes stagnant."

"The royal bathing chambers..." Emlin said.

"Thranduil and I, and now you and Legolas are the only ones who will use these." Tuilindë explained, "But it is rare that you will ever see Thranduil or myself within this pool. This one is connected to what will be your chamber, and what has been Legolas' chambers for three millennia."

Emlin nodded her head and gazed into the clear pool of water, only slightly comprehending the possibilities of this room. "Then where is it you and the king bathe?"

Tuilindë pointed to a passage way in the stone wall to the side, "There is a door with a latch on it that you cannot see because it is covered in the shadows. Thranduil's chamber connects to the pool of water that is behind that door."

"Will Legolas not wish to bathe, though, this eve before the feast?" Emlin questioned.

"He will, but he will also be in council with his father for a little while, speaking of the journey." Tuilindë said, but then let a devious smile cross her features. "But you will also come to learn that chance meetings, and even planned ones, within this bath can be quite pleasurable between you two. If he does interrupt, I am sure you would oblige him and yourself the experience."

Emlin felt her face burning with a bright blush. "W-we have not yet had such intimate relations."

The Queen looked rather surprised. "I know my son, and he is far from worthy of being called thoughtful and thinking of situations before he does them. Capricious just like his father. I would think with such a beautiful elleth as you, he would claim what is his quickly."

This bit of information made Emlin smile to herself. He had been just as impulsive as herself. "Thank you for the flattering remark, Tuilindë, but Legolas had changed since he admitted he loved me."

"You are welcome, though you should not need anyone telling you that you are beautiful. You should know that already." The Queen replied and sighed, "Well, discard of your clothes to the side, and I will have a handmaid come in and take them for you. She will also leave drying cloths."

"Thank you, Tuilindë." Emlin called as the Queen made her exit. Emlin turned back to the pool and let out a long sigh as she began to slowly undress herself. She slipped into the warm depth of the water, feeling a great deal of the aches and pains she had received from sitting astride a horse for so long begin to lessen and go away. With her eyes closed, she dipped her head back into the water and let out a contented sigh.

A handmaid came in and offered her a soap scented with soft flower scent that she could not place, as well as leaving her drying cloths and pointing to the room she was to go into. Again Emlin was left alone to soak in the bliss of having her own bath. Well, she had one before in Lórien, but that was used by her entire family. At least this one she could spend as much time as she wanted in it... of course that was until Legolas came in and interrupted her. She sighed and remained in the pool for a bit longer, though she grew anxious to see her chamber.

Emlin left the water, wrapping herself in a drying cloth that barely covered all the important parts of her body, and she walked towards the door she had been told to go into. Turning the handle on the door, Emlin found that it would not budge. She looked around the door for a bit, trying to find another latch on this site of the door that had not been undone, but she could find none. Emlin laughed at the situation presented her. Either be a helpless damsel in distress, run around the entire cave, looking for the way to her chamber that she did not know, try to push in the door, or go into Legolas' room while hoping he was not there. Of all the possibilities, Emlin decided that only Legolas finding her would be the best, if anyone had to see her. And Legolas had told her back in Ithilien that there was a secret door somewhere within his room that connected to her chamber.

She laughed at her predicament, and took a breath before walking to his door. Slowly, she turned the knob and pushed the door back a slight bit, sticking her head into the space this opened onto. There were no sounds coming from within the room, so she opened the door slowly and soundlessly, stepping into the chamber. She looked about, finding it to be his main sleeping chamber, and she had entered from the right. The room was quiet and well-lit, an open part in the ceiling where light from the outside could filter into the room. Walking so much in the cavern, she had not realized that they really were so close to the surface. But that did not surprise her as much as the general light feeling of the room. His bed was large and imposing though... even more so than she could remember her parents' bed. The head board was of wood, carven to perfection with the crest of Mirkwood. Four posts of the same wood where carved into vines and stood about the bed on the corners, nearly reaching to the ceiling of the cavern.

Realizing she had already spent too much time looking, Emlin turned her head, and began looking for any indication of a secret door. She had been around the bed chamber completely, and found no indentation or crack that would reveal such a thing as a door. Carefully, she moved onto the next room that seemed to pose no other purpose than to sit in the comfortable looking chaises and chairs. Door, Emlin, door, she tried to remind herself, continuing around this smaller room.

However, she froze in mortification when she heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.

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meleth- love

pen neth- young one

narie- June