A/N: Very short chapter, but they will get longer, I promise. Next chapter has Legolas, but not much. Chapter 6 is where he really comes in. I had to build up the story first. Anyhow..REVIEW!

Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to Tolkien.

A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! Alright, Legolas is in this chapter a tiny bit.

Chapter 4: New Acquaintances

Night was upon Mireiswen, and still her mother had not returned. Early in the evening she had slowed Luna to a steady walk, hoping Narathiel would catch up to them, but it was in vain. Her mother's fate was unknown to her and that thought vexed her to no end. She stopped the horse in a clearing, next to a small pond. It was only a few hours till day break, so she decided they would sleep there for the remainder of the night. The next morning they set off again at a slow, almost lazy, pace. At mid day they came upon the beginnings of a forest. Mire was reluctant to enter, for although it was lush, green, and shaded from the hot afternoon sun, she sensed it was guarded in some way. 'Guarded? How silly. Who would want to guard an old forest?' She thought. So, drawing Elen closer to her, she entered.

Barely an hour later Mire began to feel as if she were being watched. She shook the feeling off and continued, until Elen looked up at her and whispered, "There are eyes on us, Mire, but I don't see anyone."

Mireiswen glanced around and then looked back to her saying, "It's probably nothing, just your imagination."

Elendawen shook her head in understanding, but didn't look convinced. A short while later they stopped for a break. Mireiswen slid off the horse and gently pulled Elen down also. When she turned around to step away, however, she came face to face with the tip of an arrow. She looked up to see who it belonged to, and before her stood a man with light blonde hair and earth brown eyes (A/N: no, it's not Legolas). She sucked in sharply as she saw several, hauntingly similar, men standing behind him.

"Who are you and why do you travel these woods?" the man in front asked in a stern and slightly arrogant tone.

Mire grasped Elen's hand, and slowly, with a frightened air in her voice, she replied, "M-My name is Mireiswen. We," she said glancing down at her sister, "didn't know these woods were forbidden. We will leave right now, if you will just..not hurt us." She was not about to tell a complete stranger the events that had taken place over the past few days.

The man before her simply smirked and said, "I can not do that. We are to take any strangers that enter Mirkwood straight to the King."

'Mirkwood? Wasn't that an Elven City? KING? That can't be good...wait...elves? That would mean the men before me aren't men at all,' she thought. Now she took in their full appearance. They were all tall and glowing, possessing ethereal beauty, and they had..pointed ears. Both Mire and Elen noticed this at the same time, and gasped in unison.

The man, no the elf, in front finally lowered his weapon, deciding the girl was of no threat, and motioned for the others to do the same. He regarded Mire sternly for a moment then said, "Follow me and don't fall behind." With that he turned and began to walk. Mire and Elen looked on in total shock, until he turned back to them and said impatiently "Come!" Mire jumped slightly and hurriedly followed, still holding Elen's hand. Sage trailed by Mire's feet, giving their new companions deathly glares with it's eye. One of the other elves took the horse's lead and directed it where they were going.

As they walked, Mireiswen heard a sigh from Elen. Looking down at her, she saw an astonished and excited face staring at the beings that surrounded them. Mire was happy that Elendawen's spirits were finally lifted, but she didn't trust these.elves..at all. Focusing her attention back on to them, she noticed how lightly they tread over the earth. They made no sound when they walked. They traveled over limbs and rough terrain with the greatest of ease, while Mire and Elen stumbled and scuffled their way along. Now that Mireiswen thought of what lie ahead, she became extremely nervous. That elf had said that they would be taken to the king. Mire had never met royalty before. 'How shall I act? Do I curtsy? What do I call him? Your majesty, your highness? Well, it matter's not. I never asked to meet him, nor do I want to. Therefore, I will be myself and address him as I please.' Then another, more frightening, thought occurred. 'What if he is mean? A tyrant, perhaps. I've heard that elves are barbaric folk. What if he decided to lock us away forever or worse yet, kill us? He is an Elf. Surely he will understand it was purely accidental that we happened upon his land. Nevertheless, I can't tell him about Reran's plans. The best thing to do will be to leave as soon as he agrees to it...if he agrees to it.'

Mireiswen looked up as they approached a large gate. The lead elf yelled something in a beautiful language, which could only be Elvish to another elf in a watch tower on top of the gate. Then it slowly opened. Mire took in a sharp breath as the palace was revealed to her.(A/N: I read that Thranduil's palace was partially underground and such, but I couldn't really describe it that way so I made my own version) It was a HUGE building, positioned around trees so that none were hurt in it's making. Some of the walls were stone, while others were simply trees with a sheer curtain covering them. Some of her unease was swept away as she looked at the splendor of the palace. Mire looked to the elf that lead Luna. He was taking her somewhere.

"Where is he going with her?" she asked.

One of the elves from the group that had walked with them looked to the horse and, shrugging, said, "He is just putting her in the stable"

"Oh", was all she got out before the lead elf signaled for them to walk again. As they entered the palace, Mire tried to focus her attention away from the impending meeting with the king, by looking to Elen once more. Even she looked apprehensive now. She sensed Mire's gaze and looked up at her. She smiled nervously and took Sage into her arms, cuddling the cat close to give her comfort. Mire directed her sight back to the path and found herself coming closer and closer to a large wooden door, with intricate designs of leaves on it. When they came within a few feet of it, it was opened by two guards. Mire and Elen stepped in. The room was as big as Mire's entire cottage, yet it was barren with the exception of a few guards and a set of thrones at the head of it. One large throne, with two smaller thrones on one side, and three on the other. The large one and a small one were occupied. Obviously the elf in the large throne had to be the king. He was handsome, as Mire found all elves to be, with golden blonde hair and shimmering gray eyes. 'King...King...uh-oh. I have no idea what his name is!' Mire thought. 'Who is in the other throne? He resembles the king a great deal, but his hair is paler and he has blue eyes. He is very handsome, from what I can tell so far away. The prince, maybe? Apparently there is more than one, for there are four empty seats.' She brought her gaze back to the elf she assumed to be the King's son. 'His eyes are really very blue, a deep ocean blue...'

She was snapped out of her trance as a guard yelled out, "His majesty, King Thranduil."

"Your name child?" The king said in a commanding, yet gentle, tone.

"Mireiswen," she replied.

"How old are you?" He said studying her.

Mire gulped and replied, "Seventeen"

"The young one with you, I would like her name and age as well," he said, turning his gaze to Elen.

"This is Elendawen, my sister, she is but six."

"Why were you in my wood?"

"Well," Mire began, "there was. trouble where we lived and my mother, sister, and myself fled. I had no idea this forest was inhabited, especially by.well.you, or I wouldn't of dared to enter." She ended in a hurried and apologetic voice.

Thranduil let out a small chuckle, "calm yourself child. You won't be harmed." He then took on a curious expression. "Tell me though, where is your mother?"

At this Mire's face dropped, as did her sister's. The entire room noticed the change in the young humans. "Our mother.she.well, we don't really know what happened to her. She was lost to us during our escape, but I believe she still lives."

Pity shone in the king's eyes. He sighed deeply, then said, "You may stay here, for the time being, as a guest of the royal family. We will see about getting you to a human settlement soon."

Mireiswen raised surprised eyes to him. "T-Thank y-you," she stuttered out.

Thranduil bowed his head and issued to guards to take them to their quarters. After the mortal girls had left, he turned to his son, who had watched the exchange of words with interest. "Will you escort the eldest girl to supper tonight, Legolas," he asked.

"Of course, if that is what you wish," he said.

"Very well then." With that he got up and left his son to his thoughts.

A/N: REVIEW, PLEASE!