When Legolas woke up, he found that he was laying out in the wilderness on a warm woolen blanket. A fire had been built beside him and Arod grazed peacefully nearby. Where was he?

"Good. Your awake." said a cold and piercing voice.

Surprised Legolas sat up with a start, hurting himself. "Who are you?" he asked. And he recognized the girl he had rescued from the orcs. "Who are you, m'lady?"

Cooly she replied, "I might ask who you are, mellon. This is my territory and I've never seen anyone like you around. Speak quickly!! You aren't with the snow orcs, aren't you?"

"Snow orcs?"

"Yes, snow orcs. They are made by a great wizard from the very northmost pole and threaten my lands."

"What lands are those?"

Laughing she said, "What, are you lost?"

Legolas frowned. He didn't like this girl. "Yes. I came to check out rumors of orcs and I guess I found them. But I have no clue where I am." He lay back down on his blanket exhausted.

Relenting the girl sighed and said, "You are in the land of Staariel, land of the Snow Elves."

Grinning softly Legolas replied, "There are no snow elves."

"You saw the snow orcs! They are meant to challenge the snow elves for our kingdom. We have hidden for years deep in the frosty mountains. Our city is guarded by magic and holds a mysterious power. If evil were to overthrow the ruler alof Middle Earth would fall. Sauron wanted to take us down but decided foolishly to go after Gondor first. I'm glad he did. Would you like to go to our city? I suppose I owe you that much."

"Yes." Legolas was excited. "But tell me, who in earth are you?"

"I am Hanariel, Ice Maid of the North and the Flowerer of the Spring. Unfortunately the spring hasn't come to this land in many thousands of years and therefore I haven't been able to create green grass and flowers in the lands as I could."

Legolas understood why her eyes were leaf-green now. They were to give hope to those in this icy place.

"That is astonishing, m'lady." said Legolas. "I now believe in Snow Elves. I am an elf of Mirkwood myself."

"Ah! Mirkwood, place of beauty," she said. "Perhaps you could bring some of its spring here."

"Maybe. But I must heal first. Please, please take me to a healer." Legolas begged. "Make haste."

"You are healed."

"I am?" He asked.

"Yes." She sniffed.

Legolas frowned. "You?"

"Yes. I have certain powers like the Power of Healing."

Legolas stared at her. Her hair was snow white with bluish streaks running through it like a freezing stream in the middle of winter, contrasting greatly with her eyes. Pale skin gave her face a divine look. She was lovely, even for an elf, Legolas would admit. But beauty isn't always kind, now is it? And Legolas refused to trust her.

"Take me to your city." he ordered

"Of course, my prince." She sneered.

"How did you know I was the prince?"

"I have my ways." And her eyes bore into his.

Legolas was annoyed. "And how was such a lovely lady taken by orcs?" he spitefully asked.

Her smile faded. "I was patrolling the borders when my guards were killed by orcs. I tried to hold them off but they were too many and they tied me up and tried to force me to tell the location of my hidden city. I wouldn't say so they started to take me to their leader, laughing at me all the way. They said they'd rape me if I didn't tell them and that's where you came in."