Author's Note: All phrases in this story are spoken in Sindarin (I do not believe that the Elves would use Westron among each other, in their own realm.) If other languages are used, I will mark them.

Chapter 1: A Plan

Third Age of the Sun

Mirkwood

The morning was absolutely perfect. The sun shone down to the forest floor through a thick layer of branches, making the air glow with green light. The air was warm, yet a slow, fresh breath of wind travelled among the trees, giving the atmosphere just the right coolness. Birds sang in the treetops, their clear voices joining to the music of the trees.

Thranduil filled his lungs with morning air, feeling utterly content. He had woken up some hours ago, and there was still time before he would have to go to his duties. Until then, he could spend his time with his wife, and share the morning's wonders with her.

Not a moment later the Queen of Woodland Realm stepped beside her husband on the balcony of their rooms, and Thranduil drew her close, gently wrapping his arms around her pregnant form. Galenrosiel nuzzled closer to him, letting out a content sigh.

They stood thus for a moment, enjoying each other's closeness. Thranduil rubbed his hand adoringly over his wife's belly, feeling the slight movement of their unborn child inside her. The feel of his offspring filled Thranduil with pride, and he hugged his beloved closer, dropping a loving kiss to her forehead. Even if the King already had two sons, the coming child filled him with equal happiness and wonder as his earlier children.

"Thranduil?" Galenrosiel asked quietly.

"Anything, my dear."

The Queen laughed and looked up to her husband, her eyes shining with joy. Then her face turned more serious as she continued. "I have been thinking about our new child."

Thranduil raised an eyebrow, wondering if there had been a moment when she hadn't thought about their coming child after she had realised she was pregnant again. "What have you been thinking? It must be something important."

"It is," she smiled, and continued, "I have been thinking whom we shall choose to be out child's guardian."

Thranduil stared at his wife in disbelief. "Do you not think you are a little early with those thoughts?"

Galenrosiel frowned, staring at Thranduil adamantly. "I am not too early. It will be an important decision, and one we must give much thought."

"I still think you are too early. It will be years before our little one shall be trained to be a warrior. And what if it will be a girl?" Thranduil argued softly.

"If the shadow grows as it has grown at the last decades, our child will need a protector. As long as the shadow remains, our children shall not be safe. Tirifëa and Lossaurion are both adults already, and yet they have not given up of their own bodyguards. That must mean something."

Thranduil sighed, knowing he wasn't going to win this argument. "I still say we should take one step at the time."

"But you will give some thought for it?" Galenrosiel asked insistently.

"Of course, my love. How could I not?" Thranduil promised, sealing it with a kiss to her lips.

to be continued…