A/N: It was so tempting to let this story end peacefully, but then my inner demon kicked in and told me to give my evil side one more go.

A note to my reviewers: Ya'll are wonderful... thank you for the numerous, lovely reviews and useful comments. To those of you who got the reference to The American President, congratulations. I was wondering how many people would catch it. And now without further adieu, I give you the next chapter.

Chapter 29- Plight Of An Abominable Elleth

The next day...

She did not know how it happened, but it had and she was utterly infuriated by it. Infuriated was not even a strong enough word to describe what she was feeling now, seething about the impending nuptials of the prince and that good-for-nothing excuse of a grown elleth, who just happened to be the product of two of her worst enemies. Emlin was a mere child for Elbereth's sake! What could Legolas possibly see in Emlin that he could not find elsewhere, and especially why could he not find it in an elleth like her?! Nindë was everything Emlin was. Personally, Nindë did not think she was not all that vain, nor was she entirely displeasing to the eyes. Of that much, Nindë knew of herself, but why could she not seem to weave the web of deception that was needed to stay a high born elf? What had the others done that had somehow lured the ellyn away from her?

First it had been Indilisse with her rather frank nature in Lórien, going about and being entirely too aloof to those around her, as though she could care less of what people thought of her. That had irritated Nindë the most. How could she be so inattentive and still have all the elves of the forest eating out of the palms of her hands every day? Nindë, for all of her life, had always tried to be polite and cunning, and it completely annoyed her that someone like Indilisse could come in and act like she did, totally negating everything Nindë had done. But even to this day, Nindë believed that it was not Indilisse as herself who had lured Haldir away. It had to have been a spell of some kind. It must have been a very strong spell too, to have Haldir fall into that trap.

And since Nindë valued her life greatly, she did not act upon the thoughts she had go through her mind and had voiced to her friend... the ones that Legolas obviously over heard. There had been a few glimmers of hope in breaking the prince's shell, but she had never really succeeded in doing anything until recently. He had been rather down and grieved about something, and he had almost gotten too involved with her propositions. But, alas, he somehow had withstood himself and his urges, and now he stood to marry Emlin. Indilisse must have taught her daughter the same trick she had used on Haldir. After all, it was proven to be very useful in securing high born elves.

Of all the evil and cruel fates that blessed Eru could have thought up for her, why had he chosen this one? Why was she condemned to trying to win ellyn who were otherwise not willing to settle, had very strong resolve, or where entranced into a potent spell by the Indilisse and Indilisse's descendants? Sometimes, even, it was all three of those things that Nindë found herself pitted against while trying to change minds, but still she could not believe that such horrible things could happen to someone because it was her fate and Eru said it was to be so. Really the things she wished were not that bad. Why did the Valar deem it necessary to punish her in such a way with vile ellyth like Indilisse and Emlin?

And what a lovely surprise it had originally been when she saw Indilisse and Haldir at the feast! Just wonderful. She could have dealt with the fact that they were visiting, but then to find that they too were Emlin's parents! If there had ever been another time Nindë felt so angry, she could not remember it, for this time she actually felt the blood pound in her ears and feel it bubbling in her veins.

Later in the evening of the feast, she had felt as if she were being watched closely, and she looked about. Indeed, she was being watched like a hawk stalking its prey, not only by Haldir, but also by his brothers and Indilisse. So Legolas had told them to watch her, did he? Too bad what she had stayed awake all night planning was hopefully so clandestine that she would not be caught. Now that the wedding was three days away, Nindë was confident desperate times called for desperate measures. She had three days to change something, whether it just be revenge or revenge and changing Legolas' mind, she could not know, but this time she would succeed.

Nindë let out grumble and climbed higher into the trees, balancing her quiver and bow on her back as she did so. Carefully, she righted herself on a thick branch, and walked along it, cursing about dirtying her garments. Really, she saw no use to getting dirty. It was a horrible thing, being dirty. She walked along a bit more, pausing briefly to check her coverage. She was well hidden in the trees, and there were no guards in the trees this close to the city.

Sitting upon the bank of the shallow pool where Legolas had taken her to ask for her hand in marriage, Emlin sat, her feet dipped into the water. Legolas and Emlin had come here last eve to be alone, but they had never really been alone. She had followed them closely, as had those elflings, but she had done a better job of hiding in the bushes than they! As she watched Legolas and Emlin pledge their love for each other, it almost made her feel physically ill. Really, it seemed like both of the elves were very much in love, and she knew that if they were, she would surely pay for her actions henceforth, but she was willing to take that chance. She needed to break Legolas of this spell.

But Emlin had been right about one thing last eve... these trees made for very good hiding places.

So serene she looked. Nindë sighed and took an arrow from her quiver, balancing herself on the tree a bit better. Slowly, she placed the arrow on the string and brought it to her face, aligning her view with her target. Like a sitting duck, Emlin still sat there, her face turned toward the sun streaming through the trees, now making her face glow brightly. Twas such a pity that such a thing would come to an end. Nindë breathed softly and let go of her hand on the string, sending the arrow flying.

This arrow whizzed past Emlin's head, as it had intentionally been done in such a way to scare her. First thing was first, and Nindë wanted to scare Emlin before she went any further. She wanted to see the fright upon Emlin's face. Emlin stood quickly and looked around her, calling, "Who is there? If that was you, Legolas, then you are truly going to pay for frightening me so..."

Nindë laughed to herself and placed the next arrow upon her string.

How dare this person shoot an arrow so close to her head! Did they not know how dangerous it was? Elbereth help the person who had come to do this to her, interrupting her from the wonderful replay of the previous evening going on in her head as she sat out in the sun. Emlin looked around the ground level some more, before turning her eyes to the trees. She saw no one up in the trees, or if they were, they were very well hidden. She thought back to the night before and the conversation she had about such things as spying in these trees.

"Legolas?!" She called again, but there was no answer. "Valandir?"

Again, there was no answer, only the song of the birds and the rustling of tree leaves over her head. Emlin sighed and shook her head. Maybe she was close to an archery practice field and an arrow had gone horribly astray? She hoped that was the reason. From the side of the meadow, came a flash of blue tunic and the yelling, "Emlin, Emlin, Emlin!"

She turned in time to have her brother assault her, throwing his arms about her and hugging her close, Alcon entering the meadow then behind him. Emlin laughed and started to place her arms about him as she felt him go tense, and then relax against her. It seemed as though his hands did not have any strength to hold onto her, and he began to slip until she stopped him with her arms. "Thoron?"

He did not answer, and she realized that she felt a slight sting to her left shoulder. Looking over at her shoulder, her eyes grew wide and she gasped loudly. An arrow had not only pierced her brother's right shoulder, but still had enough force to impale her shoulder slightly with a small puncture wound. Where had this second one come from? Had it come when Thoron had shouted her name, and that was why she had not heard it? Oh Elbereth, Thoron was in serious need of a healers attention...

"Wait," she breathed to herself, feeling the wave of confidence come over her. "I am a healer."

Alcon, who had stopped dead in his tracks, stood open-mouthed, staring at the sight before him.

Emlin carefully set Thoron down on his side, so as not to do any more damage to the wound, and glanced up at Alcon, "Please, go fetch someone to carry him back to the healers, Alcon! As swiftly as you can!"

"M-my lady..." He stuttered.

"NOW!" Emlin yelled fiercely, assessing Thoron's shoulder. Alcon ran off quickly, and Emlin looked down at her unconscious brother. There was no time for worry and sadness now, she had to help him. There would be time for that later only if she did not succeed in helping him. Emlin took in a deep breath and began patting Thoron's cheeks, "Thoron, tôr, Thoron. Please come back. Listen to my voice."

He made no sign of recognition from his lifeless body. Thoron was not gone... he could not be! Emlin's hands found the arrow protruding from either side of Thoron's shoulder, and she quickly and expertly broke the metal point off the end. There had only been a few times she had done this in Minas Tirith, but she had practiced the procedure so often in her mind, she was sure she could do it in her sleep. She straddled his side laying body, and carefully removed his tunic, leaving the arrow shaft in his shoulder as she did so. Then, with quickness no one could rival, she drew out the shaft and covered the gaping wounds with the tunic, placing pressure upon the open injuries to slow the bleeding.

"Tôr nín!" Emlin spoke soothingly into his ear, "Come back to me, Thoron."

Elbereth, how had this happened? Why was it her little brother that had been hurt? It was she who the arrow was meant for, not her innocent brother who chose to come bother her at the wrong time. Emlin felt the tears in her eyes sting like the feeling of the tear upon her shoulder, but she bit her bottom lip fiercely and took another deep breath. If anything else, she needed to be strong for Thoron. She also needed to do this for herself to show those around her with the last little doubt they held about her age and ability to act maturely, that she was fully capable of keeping a level mind in situations such as this one, and even those that were less horrible.

Thoron's blood started to seep through the thickness of his tunic, and Emlin only pressed harder. It was bleeding too much for a wound that really should not have been so bad. In the distance, Emlin could hear worried male voices come closer to her, one of which was clearly distinguishable was her father's. Emlin sighed and looked down at Thoron. "Do hear them, Thoron? Ada is coming, he will be able to carry you back so we can get this bandaged."

There came a small, muffled grunt from him, though she knew that Thoron was still not really out of the shock of the moment, his breathing still shallow and his complexion an ashy grey. He cried, "Emlin..."

"You will be fine, Thoron." Emlin said soothingly, though there was a chance, while small, that he would not be fine. With the amount of blood he had lost thus far, she could not be sure of that. The voices grew louder, and she turned to glance in the direction of the path of the meadow. It seemed as though Alcon had alerted the entire household of Thranduil, especially the male contingent, as her father and uncles came leading the party, followed by Thranduil, Legolas, Valandir and a few armed guards. Each of the elves stopped in disbelief upon seeing the scene in front of them before her father ran to her side and fell to his knees to help her. Thranduil shouted orders to his guards to scour the area for the assailant as the others came to circle around her.

"Ada..." Thoron said, and their father reached out to place a comforting hand on Thoron's forehead.

"We must get him back to the cavern." Her father said calmly, though she could hear the apparent worry in his tone. He looked about her, at the broken arrow, and then back at Thoron. She had seen her father care for wounded elves before, especially those who had been brought in from the fences, but she had never felt such a sense of disorganization coming from him. He truly was worried. "Emlin, did you see who did this?"

Legolas bent down and picked up the remaining pieces of the arrow, and looked over the fletching and shaft carefully before throwing it to the ground hastily and disappearing into the trees with the other guards. She was puzzled by this action, as was Thranduil, but turned back to Thoron.

"Nay, Ada." Emlin said, motioning for her father to take over the compress of Thoron's wound. Quickly, she untied the sash about her waist and tied it about the tunic covering the wound tightly, so that Thoron could be transported back to the caverns. "But we will discuss this later. We must get him back to the caverns so I can clean his injury. He cannot walk. He is still in shock."

Her father made to pick up Thoron, but Rúmil stopped him, "Let Orophin take him, Haldir. He can run more swiftly than you can."

"I will carry my son." Haldir said.

Emlin sighed and looked up at her uncle, "Orophin, please take Thoron. You can go more swiftly than any of us."

Everyone around her was so stunned that she had made that edict, that Orophin only stooped to pick up Thoron after looking blankly at her for a few moments. She was not ignorant when it came to knowing her family's strengths and weaknesses. Rúmil was the strategist, Orophin the footrace champion, and her father the weapons expert. While she did not know much about Thranduil or Legolas, Orophin seemed like the best elf to do the job of carrying Thoron back to the caverns.

Then her father and Rúmil were off, following closely behind Orophin for the caverns. Emlin continued to kneel upon the ground where she had originally moved when Orophin bent to pick up Thoron, and sighed heavily to herself. Her brother would be fine, but now it was on to finding who had done such a thing. Thranduil, who had remained behind to direct his guards, stood over her and cleared his throat. She glanced up at him, "Yes, my lord?"

"You should follow them. You are injured as well." Thranduil said softly.

Emlin glanced at her shoulder and shrugged, "It is nothing, my lord."

The King smiled kindly and offered his hand to help her to her feet. She took his hand and he easily lifted her to her feet. "I must say, Emlin, I am very pleased to see you acting so authoritative. It shows me that you are capable of ruling alongside my son, despite your age."

"Thank you, my lord." Emlin replied quietly, "Did you notice where Legolas took off to?"

"I have not the slightest idea," Thranduil looked towards the trees. "But I believe he recognized the fletching and went to whoever belonged to it. And again, Emlin, we need not worry about it now. Please go back to the caverns, and see to your injury and also to your brother's. There will be a time that I will call upon you to tell me the details of what has happened."

"Aye, my lord." Emlin said and turned on her toes, breaking into an immediate run towards the cave. She arrived quickly, and headed in the direction she recalled from earlier this morning when Tuilindë had showed her to the healers and introduced her to them. The door to the large room was open, and she could hear rushed talking as she entered. Her father and Orophin stood around the bed Thoron lay upon, and one of the healers sat over him, dressing his wounds. She did not see Rúmil around, but she did not care. She was intent upon helping Thoron.

Emlin walked over to the bed and sat on the other side, opposite the healer, and looked down at Thoron. He was now awake and grimacing from the pain of the injury as the healer secured the thick bandages around his shoulder. Emlin smiled and placed her hand upon Thoron's cheek, "See, tôr nín? I told you that would be fine."

"It hurts Emlin." Thoron replied.

"I know that it does, Thoron." Emlin said as her mother and aunt rushed into the room with Rúmil close behind. She sighed, seeing her mother's distraught face, and turned back to Thoron. The other healer had removed himself from the bed, so Emlin reached over to place her hand over Thoron's shoulder. She whispered a soft spell, the familiar heat and tingling gathering in her arm and then leaving through her fingers. Thoron flinched slightly, but then he let out a soft sigh. "Is that better?"

Thoron nodded his head, "Much better, Emlin... Naneth!"

Their mother ran to his bedside and looked over him carefully. "Thank Elbereth you are fine. I was so worried when Rúmil came to fetch us."

"I am fine Naneth!" Thoron said, suddenly acting a great deal more lively like the normal Thoron. "Emlin took care of me."

Her mother turned to her and smiled, placing a hand upon her cheek, "She did, and I will be forever grateful she was there to help you."

Emlin sighed and turned her head away. She stood up and began to say her farewells, feeling a slight bit weary after the morning's events and then from healing Thoron with a spell, wishing to retire to her chambers to bathe and to rest for a few moments. However, the healer stopped her. "My lady, please do not go yet, let me look after your wound as well."

"You are wounded as well?" Indilisse asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"I know not what happened, Nana. All I know is that Thoron came at the wrong time, at which an arrow had been meant for me." Emlin said quietly, turning to the healer, "I am fine. I do not need any attention."

"Sit down, Emlin, and let the healer look at your shoulder." Her father commanded, narrowing his eyes at her.

Not willing to fight about it, Emlin sat down and the healer looked at her shoulder. It indeed was only a scratch, and had already stopped bleeding and had nearly closed up completely. The healer spread some salve over it anyway, and then sighed, "You shall be fine, my lady, for the ceremony."

"Trust me, Gwirith, when I say nothing is going to stop me from that ceremony unless I am lifeless." Emlin said and stood from her spot, walking towards the door of the room. "I will be in my chambers."

For the entirety of the day, he searched for the assailant, and had finally come upon this person at nightfall when she returned to her talan.

When Alcon had come running into the hall, exclaiming that Thoron had been hit by an arrow, Legolas had been in disbelief and passed it off as most likely a silly prank, as it appeared the other elves had done. But there had been something in the edginess of Alcon's voice that had made him sprint along with the others in the direction Alcon had stated. And he was glad he had done so. The sight he had originally seen had been a rather frightening one, and the thing he had noticed first was the fact that not only had the arrow completely pierced Thoron's shoulder, but had also done a sufficient job of drawing blood from Emlin.

That was when his worry had set in, but as he drew closer to them, he realized that Emlin was fine, and was barking orders to her father about how he could help her. Legolas had chuckled lightly, finding it funny that Emlin would have to do such a thing to Haldir, but it was apparent that Haldir was not in the frame of mind to put things together in his mind right away. Legolas had watched as the guards ascended the trees quickly and disappeared on their hunt, though what he needed to find out was the story from Emlin's perspective. What had happened? Did she think it was deliberate? Or was it just a wild arrow? Could his suspicions prove that which he did not even wish to think about?

Unfortunately, though, upon appraising the fletching of the arrow and the shaft, he knew his suspicions were correct. He knew the difference between many different arrows, but he knew the ceremonial ones presented to all elves on there twenty-fifth begetting were customized specifically for the recipient. This one had been of Lórien make, and had been made for an elleth. There was only one person in Mirkwood he could think of who would have such a thing.

The slight heaving in his stomach caught him off guard, but it was quickly replaced with that of complete anger and fury. The elleth would pay dearly for thinking she could do something like this and get away with it!

Legolas had set guards at her door to detain her when she returned, so that he could watch her from a distance. She hid a quiver behind a little out cropping of bushes a while away, but when he went after to look at it, he felt his entire body ignite in rage equal to that of Mount Doom. The guards followed him back to the caves, with Nindë in tow, though they stayed a far enough distance behind that she could not see him. Legolas made his way into the cave, and found that the after-meal festivities had already begun, and he had also missed the welcoming of Aragorn and Arwen to his home.

He hated to bring the merriment to an end, but he slipped in beside his father, bypassing his welcoming duties. Legolas leaned over him, "Ada, what has become of Emlin?"

"She did not come for the evening meal, Ion." His father replied, "She was weary from her healing."

"I shall go fetch her." Legolas said. "I would require a council with you, Naneth, and Emlin and her parents."

"Right this instant, Legolas?" His father asked.

Legolas nodded, "I have found the person who has done such a thing, Adar. I will go get Emlin and bring her to your study. You can call the others."

Without waiting for an answer, Legolas stepped down the stairs his father was sitting upon and made his way for the side corridor that led to the sleeping chambers. He moved swiftly along the smooth-stoned halls and came upon her door, knocking lightly. A few moments passed and Emlin came to the door in a pale green gown. She looked up at him, "What is it, meleth?"

"I have found the assailant, and I wish to hear your full story." Legolas answered, reaching out to touch her face, so glad that she was unharmed.

"Now?" Emlin questioned.

He nodded his head and she stepped out of the room, shutting the door. "We are to have a council with my parents and your parents, about what we should do."

Emlin was silent as they walked down the winding paths and stopped in front of the study. He nodded to the guard that he was ready for them to bring the she-elf up from the cells. When they entered the room, he found that everyone he had requested stood within the room, waiting anxiously. Legolas motioned for Emlin sit in a seat as he looked about the room.

"Why have you called us here, Ion?" His mother asked, adjusting her layers of skirts.

"First I would wish for Emlin describe what happened this morn when she was by the pool." Legolas said, looking closely at her. Upon second look, she did look slightly tired.

Emlin sighed, "I was sitting by the pool, and an arrow whistled past my ear. It was close enough that it made my hair move. At first I thought it was you or Valandir playing a practical joke on me, as though you were trying to get me riled up. But when there came no answer, I got worried. Then out of nowhere, Thoron came bounding out of the bushes to hug me for some reason. That was when he went lax in my arms and I noticed the second arrow. The arrow was meant for me, and would have surely killed me had Thoron not been there."

Legolas felt himself close his eyes and take in a deep breath. Even the thought of Emlin being hurt was horrible enough, but then to think her killed... oh he could not bear it. He turned and made eye contact with the rest of the elves in the room, "I looked over the arrow fletching and shaft carefully, and I knew that it was of Lórien make. The other thing I noticed was that it was of the ceremonial kind that we give to elflings on their begetting days, for an elleth."

"I do not see where this is going, Legolas." His father said, sitting back in his chair behind his tall table.

"There is only one elleth I know of who hails from Lothlórien and would be horrible enough to do such a thing as try to kill another elf." Legolas said quietly, glancing sadly at Emlin.

Haldir let out a low string of curses, as he sat straight in his chair and his nostrils visibly flared. "If you do not wish the bloodshed on your hands, Legolas, I would do it freely and gladly."

The knock at the door sounded and Legolas went to it, pulling back the heavy wood to gaze down at the elleth being held against her will by the two guards. He stepped to the side and allowed them in the room. His father stood up, "Legolas, are you sure of this? This is the elleth?"

He nodded his head, "I saw her place the quiver behind a bush before she returned to her talan this eve, Adar. It was her arrow that had been meant for Emlin."

With that, Nindë struggled even more violently against her detainment by the guards. His father nodded the guards away from Nindë, allowing her to stand freely. The guard left and shut the door. Carefully, Thranduil stood and gazed at the elleth, "Do you protest these assumptions, handmaid? Have you attempted to hurt your future princess?"

"She will never be my princess!" Nindë exclaimed, turning her attention to Emlin. "She does not deserve it! She has not labored for fifty years in trying to woo Legolas. I am older than she, more capable of ruling a realm if need be, and better suited to be princess, or even queen!"

Legolas was taken aback by her outburst. Nindë must have truly been at the end of her rope, and had reached a point where remaining stealthy and cunning in her ways was no longer of value to her. His mother looked as though she was about ready to yell at Nindë herself, but before she could, Nindë began again in her incessant ramblings. This time it was directed more at Indilisse.

"Cothen!" Nindë exclaimed, wildness in her eyes as she looked at Indilisse and moved towards her.

Nindë came upon Indilisse, Haldir stood to his full height and looked down upon her warningly. Haldir said, "You have already done enough by hurting my son and daughter this day, I would suggest that you stay a good distance from my wife."

Nindë sneered. "It is all her fault! She is the one that took you from me! She is a witch and ensnared you with her spells!"

Indilisse let out disgusted snort and shook her head, "I hardly call friendliness a spell, Nindë. Must we really recall the conversations we have had in the past?"

"It does not matter!" Nindë backed away. "I still deserve to be princess, not that frog."

Legolas turned when his father walked around the large table, and came to stand before Nindë. He could never recall seeing his father so angry in his life, not even after the time, as an elfling, he had ransacked this very same study looking for the lessons he had left behind. His father gazed down on her, standing at his full height and straightening his broader shoulders. "Remember your place, Maid, and you are the last elf who would see time governing Mirkwood's people or any other realm for that matter!"

"Fifty years..." She began again but was cut off by the wave of Thranduil's hand.

"Do not speak to me of that! At least my son can see friend from foe." He said slowly. "And Emlin, while young, will be a far greater princess- or even queen- than you would have ever been, no matter who you tricked into binding with you. With you, Maid, it is all titles and selfish gain. With Emlin, it is something far greater than herself that she realizes and embraces. She knows that being in a position of power comes with a responsibility to care for others and not only yourself. You could learn something valuable from my son's betrothed."

Legolas was surprised at hearing what his father had to say on the issue. He glanced at his mother, who looked extremely angered for the words coming from Nindë's mouth. He turned to look at Indilisse and Haldir. They just looked infuriated beyond repair. Emlin sat quietly, her eyes wide while she sat and listened to what his father was saying. Legolas had never really thought of what his father was saying before, but now that he did think of it, Legolas knew what his father was speaking of. Emlin would make a wonderful ruler.

"You will be placed in the dungeons, for the next seven days, Nindë." Thranduil said, looking down at her. "There you shall think about the acts and thoughts of lunacy you have had, while my son takes Emlin as his wife in peace and free of the threat of you. On the seventh day, you will be brought before a council including the elves you see here, and a few others. We shall decide your punishment... and know that I have never had to hold such a council before... not in all my years as prince or king. You are the first elf who has been so depraved."

With that, his father walked to the door and issued his orders to the guards, who removed Nindë quickly from the room. Legolas had been prepared to slit the elleth's throat then and there, but he was glad that his father had been there to act in a manner of tact and diplomacy, though it could not have been called that with the heated words he had said to Nindë.

"I am sorry, my lord, for causing such trouble." Emlin replied quietly.

His father sighed heavily, and gazed back at Emlin. "May I please speak with Emlin alone?"

Indilisse and Haldir moved to the door slowly, not wishing to leave their daughter behind, but his mother ushered them on. They stepped outside the door, and left down the corridor to assuredly go discuss the issue at hand. Legolas bowed out, but stayed close to the door to overhear what was being said.

"First of all, hênen, you must call me Thranduil." His father spoke comfortingly, and Legolas could hear the rustles of robes and imagined his father sitting in the seat beside her. "You are to be my daughter now, and I would much rather you call me Thranduil."

"Yes, my lord." Emlin replied and let out a small giggle. "I mean, Thranduil."

"Good, now that that issue is settled," he sighed. "Emlin, you must know that everything I said to Nindë is true. I know that you are only binding with my son because you love him dearly, not because you wish for power. But along with wedding my son, comes certain freedoms and powers that others do not have. You, however, I believe, will use these for the greater good. I know that much after seeing you take care of your brother today."

"Thank you, Thranduil." She said in a reserved manner. Legolas knew how Emlin hated to have so much attention and praise directed to her, by any male, and could only imagine her being uncomfortable.

His father cleared his throat, "However, there is one task I will ask of you."

"What is that, my l-?" Emlin began but stopped herself. "Thranduil."

"You will be the one to hand down the punishment to Nindë. That would be something that could only come from you after such an incident." His father said. Legolas smiled to himself... he truly loved this idea.

"But you said there was to be a council." Emlin said.

His father chuckled, "There will be, Emlin, but it is you who will make the final decision as to the severity of her punishment. I believe that the handmaid will be ever grateful to you because you will be just, yet slightly lenient. She will learn that you are governed by compassion and not by lust for power. Her real punishment will be sitting in the dungeon, and then through the council."

Emlin let out a small laugh, "I will do it, Thranduil."

"Good." He said, "Now, please go relieve Legolas of having to strain his hearing so much to listen through the door?"

"Yes, my lord." Emlin replied and Legolas quickly backed away from the door. He hated when his father did things like that, but he could forgive him this one time, as the idea about Emlin being the one to choose the punishment was a brilliant one.

----

Ion- son

Tôr nín- My brother

Meleth- love

Adar- father

Ada- Dad

Nana- Mom

Naneth- Mother

Cothen- my enemy

Hênen- my child