AN: Thanks to fierysoulgirl, mirkwoodelf483, and etherealdragon. To etherealdragon: Don't worry, I agree completely with you. Thanks for feeling the same way I do! XOXO
Reunion
The dawn's tickling warmth awakened Fiondra. She sat up, pushing her long hair out of her face. She grimaced; her right arm was stiff and sore from the spider's sting. Fiondra massaged it with her left hand and looked over to where Gimli sat by Legolas.
"Ah, you're awake, lass," Gimli said. He inclined his head toward Legolas. "He doesn't look quite so bad as yesterday."
Fiondra got up off the ground and went over to look at the elf. She checked the wound at his side and stared at it inquisitively. It had already begun to heal. Fiondra reached out her hand to touch Legolas' forehead, then his cheek. He was surprisingly cool to the touch. The fever was gone.
Legolas felt someone touching his face. He cleared his eyes of sleep and stared into the blue-green eyes of another. It was Fiondra. Puzzled, he asked, "What is wrong?" Legolas tried to get up, but he groaned when he felt a sharp pain in his side.
The female elf spoke. "Orcs, Legolas. You were shot in the side by an orc. You also had a fever, but somehow you are well. You heal very fast."
Gimli grabbed Legolas by the shoulders and added, "I was worried about you, lad. Lady Fiondra watched over you all night long. She even defended from a spider and took its' sting for you. That's devotion, lad, plain and simple."
Legolas grasped Gimli's arm and cautiously pulled himself to a sitting position. He questioned Fiondra. "Is this true?"
She blushed slightly and turned away. "It is," came her soft reply.
Legolas continued. "Then I must thank you. I owe you my life. Are you much injured?" Legolas stared at her soberly.
"Merely a scratch," Fiondra mumbled. "The poison had barely any effect."
Legolas smiled and said, "That is good." He again took hold of Gimli and raised himself to his full height. He touched his side gingerly and made a face. "We should off to see my father. You could do with a healer Fiondra, and we could all use some food." He started over to Arod and carefully helped Gimli to mount.
Fiondra's eyes flamed. "You could do with a healer more than I. Do not pretend to be invincible. Even the strongest of elves can be felled by just one deadly arrow." At Legolas' look of amusement, she gave an indignant huff, and stalked off to gather her belongings.
She picked up Tinwë and sheathed it, first wiping it of the spider's black blood. Fiondra climbed onto Etul and glanced over at Legolas and Gimli, both grinning at her from Arod. She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Males. Think they're all-powerful and that we couldn't live without them."
She rode out, still talking to herself. Legolas and Gimli hurried to catch up to her, laughing at her displeasure with males.
Later that day, they found a palace built amidst the trees. "Behold, Gimli, the throne of Thranduil, king of Mirkwood," Legolas said.
Gimli raised his eyebrows and Fiondra murmured, "Home." Legolas looked over at her and she gave him a bittersweet smile.
The horses trotted over the wooden bridge and Gimli observed as many elves came rushing out of their homes.
"Praise Eru, Prince Legolas has returned!" one male elf exclaimed.
"Who is that with him?" said a curious maiden to her friend.
A matronly looking female said, "My word! I believe 'tis Fiondra, daughter of Relart and Lamina."
"She will be killed!" another elf cried.
"Is that a dwarf, Naneth?" asked a young elf child.
Gimli cast a worried look at Fiondra, but she was staring straight ahead, her jaw set. The dwarf noticed that her hands clenched tightly about Etul's reins.
Down the steps came a tall, dark-haired elf. He wore dark green robes and on his head sat a crown intertwined with emerald leaves and diamond blossoms. His face was stern, but in his gray eyes there was only joy.
Legolas dismounted and then helped Gimli down from the white horse. Fiondra silently jumped from Etul. As the regal elf continued slowly down the steps, Gimli spoke to Fiondra out of the side of his mouth. "Is that the king? He doesn't look much like Legolas..."
Never turning her head, Fiondra replied, trying to hide a grin. "It is. Legolas resembles his mother more, but he has the same disposition as his father." She fell silent as the king reached them.
Thranduil calmly said, "Ion nin. Glad is my heart to see you safely home at long last." He embraced Legolas and then continued. "But who are these strangers that you return with?"
Legolas hurriedly introduced his friends. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin. He fought bravely at my side and has become a steadfast friend. I hope that you will receive him warmly."
Thranduil nodded to the dwarf and said, "Mae govannen, Gimli, son of Gloin." Gimli gave him a deep bow and Thranduil's gaze passed over to Fiondra. "And this young elleth? "
"Ada, this is Fiondra, daughter of Relart and Lamina. I have pardoned her," Legolas told his father firmly. Fiondra gave a curtsy, with her eyes kept to the king. Thranduil raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Legolas continued in a quieter voice. "She and I are both in need of the healers." Fiondra gave a small smile at this statement. "I was shot by an orc and Fiondra suffered a spider sting trying to protect me last night."
"Very well," Thranduil said. Then to the assembly of elves that had gathered, he called, "Tonight, we will celebrate with a feast for my son's return. He and his friend, Gimli, shall regale us with the tale of their great adventure." Thus finished, he turned away from the crowd. He said to his son, "We will speak later, Legolas. Now take yourself to the healer."
Legolas bowed and beckoning to Fiondra and Gimli, he led the way to the healing rooms.
X X X X X
"This is quite a nasty sting," the healer, Brethil, said to Fiondra. He took an herb that Fiondra didn't recognize and quickly made it into a poultice. Brethil placed it against her arm and Fiondra felt instant release from the throbbing pain. "That will help with the swelling. Is that all?"
Fiondra nodded and thanked him. He bowed and walked to another room in the small building. Fiondra placed her bow and quiver onto her back and attached Tinwë back at her waist. She went outside and looked around. Mirkwood hadn't changed much since she had left with her parents so long ago.
Deciding to wait for Legolas and Gimli who had been taken by another healer, she rested against a pine tree. At that moment, a group of elf maidens strolled by. One, obviously the leader spoke loudly, so that Fiondra's ears would hear. "I don't see that she stands a chance against me. Why would the Prince want her? She's only slightly pretty and she probably doesn't have much of a singing voice, unlike me. And after all, her father did have a part in Queen Erisan's death. She'd be better off giving up now." The ellith twittered, and the blond leader flashed a sickly sweet smile at Fiondra. Fiondra lifted her chin and gritted her teeth. After the maidens had continued on, she glared daggers at the elleth. Fiondra sighed and realized that the comments about her parents would haunt her for a long time.
X X X X X
Ion nin - my son
Mae govannen – well met
Elleth – female elf
Brethil – silver birch
Ellith – female elves
Another odd place to stop off; I know. I'm in the process of writing the next chapter though. (It's about the actual feast. Hopefully it turns out the way I want it to.) Thanks for reading! Please review.