They reached Minas Tirith after five days of traveling from Edoras. Though tired and hungry, they were immediately went to the throne of King Elessär and Queen Arwen.

"Mae govennen, Legolas Thranduilon!" Elessär cried in rejoice, embracing the elf. He looked down and embraced the dwarf too. "Gimli, son of Gloín, such wonderful sight to see you!"

The three continued on with their greetings as Meiou continued to watch King Elessär. He was a handsome man, possessing kind gray eyes and wavy brown hair underneath his silver crown. He looked strong and self-willed, and his scruffy beard seemed very endearing. And beside him was the beautiful Queen Arwen, her midnight black hair curling down her back, and her clear blue eyes watching her and her husband's friends. She noticed something poking through the queen's hair, only to see that she had pointed ears.

She pulled Legolas to her, "Legolas, you did not tell me she was an elf!"

Arwen seem to have heard her, so she came forward and smiled at her, "Eem Arwen Undomiel. Telin o Imladris."

"Estannen Meiou Linnadhiel o Mirkwood." Linnadhiel replied, and remembering her manners, bowed down to the elf-queen, "Le suilon… Arwen bereth nin…"

Arwen smiled at her as she came close to her side and raised her up, "Arise, Lady Meiou. There is no need to bow down." She mentioned to her husband, "A friend of my husband's friends are my friends also."

"Hannon lle." She said as she stood up. From that moment on, Meiou knew she liked the queen.

"Im gelir ceni ad lin. Baren bar lin. Le hannon a tholel." King Elessär told Gimli and Legolas, and as he turned to Meiou, he gave her a smile, "Welcome, Lady Meiou, to Minas Tirith. The city of the Kings of Men."

"Thank you, my lord." She said as Legolas stood beside her.

"We have come to visit, Aragorn, and to spend a few days." Legolas said as she mentioned to Meiou, "She has told me that my father has grown worried of me, and has been sending messengers to know of my well-being."

Elessär laughed, "Which is true, mellon nin. Your father has been sending sentries for you, but you are always on an adventure. Thrice has this man come to my court, but never seeing his objective, always left with a heavy heart."

"Which is why we have stopped by!" Gimli said as he leaned again on his axe, "I have come to rest also, for I have another journey to go to soon."

The four of them looked at Gimli, surprise registering in their faces. "Where are you to go, Gimli, without me?" Legolas asked.

"I mean no offense to you, Elf." Gimli addressed Legolas, but he looked at Meiou as he spoke again, "A young lady once told me that I should share my talents to the world, and I mean to do so." He gave her a little wink as he turned again to Aragorn. "I noticed that the doors of your city is still not repaired after the orcs broke through it, Elessär."

"I must admit that it has quite posed a problem. We recently had warg attacks because some of the enemy's creature had not all but faded." Aragorn informed them. "No blacksmith is able to handle huge doors, and I fear for my people's safety."

Gimli shrugged as he said, "Very well then… why don't we make you new doors, of mithril and steel to protect you?" The king looked at him gratefully as he continued. "My people would be more than happy to make new doors for you, King Elessär."

The king's eyes filled with gratitude as he smiled down at the dwarf. "Your help would be most welcome, my friend."

"Then I shall be off at first light." Gimli said, "Though I am weary of travel, I shall continue on for my friends."

"Then rest here a while, Gimli." Elessär said as he mentioned to his servant, "A bed, food and wine for Sir Gimli, for he is weary with travel."

"Then we shall all rest as we talk." Arwen said to Aragorn, "It has been a long time since we have spoken to the Fellowship."

"No more ale and celebrations please!" Gimli cried out in protest. "No more battles concerning ales!"

Legolas laughed, "Then I have made my point. That elves can still outscore dwarves, specially in drinking games."

Gimli and Meiou laughed as Elessär smiled at them and said, "No celebrations? I think not. A private celebration, maybe, so you may tell me of your travels and your adventures."

Gimli and Legolas nodded, but Meiou quickly shook her head, "No celebrations for me, my lord. I shall take my leave of you and rest, if you do not mind."

The dwarf was about to protest, but Legolas laid a hand on his shoulder and said, "Meiou is tired, mellon nin. Some rest will do her good. Besides, we will be staying here for a while, so she may have some other time to tell her tale." He turned to the servant near Queen Arwen and said, "My lady Meiou shall rest. Please escort her to her lodgings, with King Elessär and Queen Arwen's byleave…"

"Then you shall be staying then, Legolas and Meiou?" Elessär asked the two woodland elves, "You shall be staying for a while?"

Meiou bowed, "Certainly, King Elessär. Until the messenger for Prince Legolas arrives. But for now I am weary, and am in dire need for some sleep."

"Of course, you may rest." Arwen said, "I know how wearisome it is to travel such a distance. You may tell your tale to us some other time, my woodland kin."

The servant bowed and mentioned to Meiou, and she bade them all a good night. As the doors shut closed after her, Aragorn smiled at his friends.

"Come, let us take our discussion to the dining hall."

"What do mean, you wish for me to stay here?"

Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn were in the dining hall, smoking galenas and drinking ale. Queen Arwen had already retired, so they were able to discuss some matters which concerns her not. They had finished discussing their adventures and was now on the subject of King Elessär's dilemmas for his realm. It was then that he broke the news that he wanted Legolas to stay in Ithilien, to help Faramir, the Steward and his wife, Eowyn, shield-maiden of Rohan, restore the kingdom to its former beauty.

Of course, he had also anticipated for a debate concerning this issue.

"Not for long though? You do not expect Legolas to stay there in all his immortal life." Gimli said. Legolas noticed that he was drinking his ale more slowly now.

Elessär shrugged a bit, "He may stay there for as long as he likes. But I do wish that he would stay." He leaned forward from his seat, "You are a woodland elf, Legolas. Your kin is renowned for their connection with nature, for your appreciation for all that lives and breathes and grows. I only ask for this little favor."

"Why does it take so much from me?" Legolas whispered, "It is just a simple request. I do not wish to deny you, but some curious reason I wish to reject your request." He turned to Aragorn, "Why is that, my friend?"

Elessär seemed to be a little shocked to be asked of his opinion, but he merely shook his head, "Neither do I know the answer, Legolas."

Legolas seem to sigh, but instead said, "I… shall think about your request, but for now I wish to rest. Is that alright with you, my friend?"

Elessär seem to look at him, as if he was looking for something is his face, but soon he nodded and said, "Very well. I understand. Please think of my favor."

Legolas nodded and bowed, and soon enough was out of the door.

As soon as the elf was out, Gimli and Elessär looked at each other, as though they were talking with one another through their eyes. A few seconds, they smiled, as if they had finally found out what was wrong with their elven-friend.

Legolas opened the door to their room to find Meiou looking out the balcony to the darkness on the horizon. She wore a white sleeping gown, and under the light of the torches, seemed like a pale ghost against the dark surroundings. He stood beside her and leaned on the railing of the balcony.

"Your eyes are clouded. Your thoughts are beyond reaches. What ails you, Lady Meiou?"

She merely continued to stare at the horizon as she whispered, "Is that Mordor? Was Barad-dûr beyond that mountain?"

Legolas looked at the place she was staring and immediately knew and recognized the mountains she saw, "Mae… those mountains are the Ephel Dúath… the Mountain of Shadow. Beyond that was Orodruin and Barad-dûr, which was once the realm of Morgoth and Sauron. Why do you ask?"

She didn't answer for a while, and Legolas continued to stare at her. A few minutes later, she spoke again. "Legolas, during your adventures and your battles, did you find anything beautiful?"

He was puzzled for a while, but he answered. "The beauty I saw during the war was the hearts of Men. The hearts of Men were beautiful for their courage, for their hope, for their bravery. When it seemed like all hope was lost, they rose up and challenged the Enemy head on. Of course, the hearts of the Hobbits were the greatest beauty of all." He smiled to himself, "They were rather small creatures, but their bravery surpassed the courage of Men… their wisdom surpassed one of the Wise wizards of Middle Earth… and their appreciation to all that was green and good surpassed the Elves. They are rather strange folk, but their hearts… their hearts are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen during the War."

Legolas finished his explanation, and when he looked at Meiou, something in her made him stare at her. There was a calm expression on her face, as if all anger in her has been driven away. The night wind blew hard, and her short, midnight black hair drifted all around her face. Her earth brown eyes seemed black in the darkness of the night. The effects of the night gave her an almost haunting look, but the expression on her face made her look like an angel.

He straightened and looked into her eyes, and it had the reflection of star lights in them that made it beautiful. He raised a hand and ran his fingers down the side of her face, some of his fingernails catching on some of her hair. He whispered, "Meiou …"

"Legolas… does beauty always have to be physical? Is beauty of the face more important than anything?"

"No, Meiou. Beauty doesn't always have to be seen." He whispered, "Ever since the war, I have learned that. True beauty lies in the heart. It lies in your soul and in your heart, never in your face…"

She smiled and looked out at the horizon, "So you say. So beauty comes from the heart, hmm…?" She looked a bit sad as she stared up at Legolas again, "Then why was my father like that? Why does my father act like I was the most horrid creature in Middle Earth?"

Legolas looked at her eyes again, and for a moment he felt her pain. He raised his hand and ran it down the top of her head down the back of her head, caressing her hair. She looked out the darkness again, and he noticed that tears now fell down her eyes.

"I wish to forgive him." She sobbed now, and Legolas ran his hand down her back in an effort to calm her, "I wish to forgive him for all the decades of torment I received from him. I wish to forgive him for all those years he brought me pain and strife. I wish to forgive him for being ashamed of me, when there was nothing to be ashamed of but my face and body. I wish to forgive him, Legolas, but I can't. It hurt too much. What kind of parent would be ashamed of his own flesh and blood? Why can't he see me, really see me, behind this…what he called… orc face?" She let out a really pained sob as she finally asked, "Why is it that I wish for death over a simple thing such as a physical beauty? Is there really nothing I could be proud of? Do I not have anything beautiful in me?"

Her last question provoked something in Legolas, and he quickly grabbed her and held her close to his heart. Being enraged and sad made Meiou cling to him as she cried her eyes out, her hands reaching behind him. He embraced her as he said with great fervor, "No, do not wish for death like so, Meiou. There is beauty in you, but your father cannot see it."

"What beauty do I have, Legolas, that he cannot see? Can a father really be that blind to not see his own daughter?" Meiou asked under the shelter of his arms.

He waited her to calm down a bit, and as her cries reduced to small hiccups of sobs, he raised her face up to him and with great tenderness, whispered, "You do have beauty in you, Meiou. It lies in your heart and your voice. You have such strength that you yourself never thought existed. Did you really think that it is your face that matters to everyone? Lau… it is your heart that shows people what you are. It is your courage, your will to live and escape, your strength to make it despite of it all, that is beautiful.. Do not wish for death, Meiou, for if you die, your father will never really know how beautiful your heart is… as it is to me."

Legolas felt Meiou stiffen in his arms before slowly separating herself from him a bit. She looked up at him and asked, "You… you find my heart beautiful?"

He didn't know what to say to her. And for once he was lost for words. It seemed like an eternity before he finally said the truth he had been keeping to himself…

"I find all of you beautiful, Meiou…"

Was it the truth in his eyes? The warmth of his body? The gentleness of his voice? She did not know. But something about him made her lose all sense of thought as she raised herself up close to him and brought her lips to him. As their lips met, she felt him stiffen, and knew immediately that she did something wrong. She drew herself away and looked up at him to see him with a shocked expression in his face. She turned away from him as she said, "Gohenon nin… what I did was not proper…"

But before she could finish her apology, Legolas pulled her to face him again and holding her face with both of his long, slender hands, he whispered, "Ú-moe edaved, Meiou meleth nin…"

She stared up at him as he said these words, and almost instantly knew that he spoke the truth. She held on to him as Legolas tightened his embrace again, bring her close to his chest, where she heard every single strong beat of his heart. He heaved a deep sigh, smelling her hair that smelt of elanors in the evening air, "Meiou…" he whispered, "Gerich… veleth nin…"

Meiou smiled to herself, "Legolas o Mirkwood… Le hannon ten nilda nin…" She looked up at him, her lips an inch to his, and she whispered, "Le anon veleth nin."

His green eyes lit up in the darkness, and his smile made her heart race even more. He kissed her again, and as much as she wished to kiss him and hold him more, she knew that she shouldn't. But then she realized that they had the eternity of their lives to share, and the thought comforted her. She knew at once, that she was being loved, purely, innocently and truthfully… and she was glad she had that feeling with Legolas.