Aerin sat in a stunned silence, staring across the living room at her father and mother. The tension in the room was palpable. She drummed her fingers on the low table in front of the sofa where she sat.

"Well that explains a lot." she grinned, trying to no avail to lighten the mood. Legolas got up and left the room, a wave of intense emotion washing over the two elleths as he passed. Melannen pretended to clean her nails. Aerin sighed, the small sound seeming extremely loud. Then she voiced the question that had been festering in her mind like an open wound. "Why is Adar so angry?"

Melannen looked up at her daughter. "He feels guilty."

"For what?"

"Everything."

"Why?"

"Aerin."

"Sorry."

"It's alright." said Melannen. "Being the heir to the throne of Mirkwood never sat well with your father. He hated being doted on and treated differently than his friends, who belonged to many different realms and social classes. His guardians as a child, the aristocracy of Mirkwood, frowned upon this and often his closest friends were driven away."

"That's awful!"

"The High Prince of Greenwood the Great is a heavy title for anyone to bear, much less a child."

Aerin sat in silence for a few moments. "Is that why you want to go to Eldamar?"

"How did you know that we were even thinking about leaving?"

The young elleth squirmed in her seat. "I heard you talk about it sometimes."

"Ah." Melannen got up and was about to leave when Aerin asked another question that had been buried in the back of her mind for years, but now had come to the surface.

"Naneth?" Melannen turned, but before she could ask anymore, Legolas reentered. He carried a small wooden box that could fit in one hand.

He sat back down beside Melannen. "Thranduil told me to give you this before . . . . . everything happened, and for some reason I think now would be a good time."

Melannen gave him an inquisitive glance, but Legolas only shrugged, indicating he had no more of an idea of what was inside than she did.

She carefully opened the intricate package. Inside was something wrapped in a fine, blue velvet, she gently unfolded the cloth and gasped at what lay inside. Legolas tried to look over her shoulder, but Melannen jumped up and snapped the lid shut before he could see anything. Aggravated, he just watched her dash out of the room, a giddy smile spread across her face.

He looked up when she came back in a few minutes later. At first he didn't notice anything different until what she wore around her neck glittered in the light. Legolas had no idea why he had never seen it before, but the exquisite piece of ornamentation was breathtaking. It was made of pure mithril, the thin metal cast in the shape of slender leaves, their edges dipped in gold and their veins were of diamonds. When the light was caught in the choker, it seemed as though it came to life and twined itself around the neck of its wearer. Hanging from the front was a large blue, diamond in the shape of teardrop. It fit her perfectly.

"You look beautiful." was all he could say.

"Wow naneth." Said Aerin.

Melannen looked down at her feet. "You know what it is, don't you Legolas?"

"Yes."

Melannen rolled her eyes. "Your father presumed much."

Legolas nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"What is it?" asked Aerin.

Melannen smiled and turned to her daughter. "In the days before the Shadow and the Ring, it was custom for the father of the groom to give the bride a jewel upon a chain or collar, and the mother of the bride to give a similar gift to the groom."

"Oh." she laughed, causing both Legolas and Melannen to wonder what she had said that was so funny. "You kind of screwed the rules then, huh? Literally."

If looks could kill, then Aerin would have dropped dead on the spot.

Kinda weird chappie there, but I hope u like it! As you can tell Aerin has a twisted sense of humor. The stuff on elven wedding gifts is in Morgoths Ring if anyone wuz wondering. Uhh, well tell me what u think and review!