Come next morning I could hear whisperings of the attack on the riverside that had occurred during the night from numerous elves that passed by my tree house or behind the door. Those that spoke in the Common Tongue I could understand, and most of the information came from the guards who spoke not in their own tongue as to keep panic from spreading amongst those who lived in peace and quiet here. Orcs had come with the intent to cause mischief and havoc, however Thranduil had sent a patrol in preparation for their strike and slaughtered them all before any damage was done. This made me a little nervous as I sat curled up in the window seat looking out into the open vastness of the Elven kingdom. I did not leave my room after being returned there, too anxious to leave my small enclosure for fear of becoming lost in this strange place, and also because I did not know what my purpose here was. Such a situation was too large for me to understand, and I knew not what I should do. Should I try to escape again? Or should I trust in the words of these strangers, who seemed to now treat me with deep affection and gentleness now that they seemed to understand that I was a guest and not an intruder.

I wanted to explore but the wiser part of my young self cautioned against it, knowing that this world was far larger than I could comprehend and I did not fully trust its occupants yet. They gave me strange garb to wear, something so delicately fine that it felt like I were wearing nothing at all and I was in constant fear that I would tear it with even the smallest of movements. Everything was different. The clothes, the food, the smells and sounds around me, everything was strange. For one, they did not seem to eat a lot of meat. Though I had never really had much meat before as it had been expensive, it was still strange to see that most foods consisted of rich vegetables and some forms of nourishment I had never seen before, though I could not deny the delicious scent of everything that they had placed before me.

Although it looked sumptuous, I did not touch anything and remained quietly sitting upon my cushioned seat where I was yet to move from. This place was frightening once the initial magnificence had worn off and I still did not know whether I should run, stay or simply allow myself to wither away. Several days passed in this manner, different attendants coming and leaving, bringing me food or a change of clothes and although they spoke with tender smiles and softened words in their own tongue, none approached me. It were as if a wall existed between myself and them, one that they did not wish to cross, no matter how deep their kind expressions. I think they were secretly afraid of me. Soon I started to feel hungry but I ignored the sensation. I had gone many days without food before, so this was nothing. So long as I had water, I knew I could survive weeks without touching a morsel. Waiting until it was dark I slipped down from my perch and tiptoed towards the door, slowly attempting to open it but it held fast. Had they locked me in? Startled I rattled it a little more, tugging harder but with no success so I looked around, seeking an alternative escape route.

My eyes fell towards my window, a bare gap in the sweeping wall with twisting roots to bar me inside. Perhaps I was correct, they were seeking to imprison me and sought to possess the ability that I had, just as my mother had warned me. I cannot trust these people, not even the beautiful angel that always made my mind go blank whenever I thought of him. I can trust no one but myself, and if they will not grant me my freedom, then I must seek to take it for myself. I am not entirely ignorant of the world, I am certain that I can learn to adapt and survive in the wild. If animals can do it, then I saw no reason why I could not as well. Thus with my decision made, I scampered over to the window and pulled myself up in order to begin my daring escape. The gap was narrow, in fact it seemed far narrower than before as if it had purposefully shrunk to keep me inside, but I was small and thinner than most, and so with a lot of wriggling and struggling, I managed to slide myself through and instantly crawled out onto the broad branch of the tree that was thicker than a road.

It was effortless to walk upon it without even being concerned for losing my balance. I could stumble, trip, even roll around and still have no fear of falling the branch was so large. The numerous branches stretched in every direction, the vast trunk of the tree being so great that it would seemingly take me hours to walk around it with my little legs. It was sturdy and strong, which allowed me the confidence to begin climbing down to another branch, one with a slight drop which caused my stomach to clench and a rush to shoot through me for the moment I was exposed in the open air, but I landed effortlessly and rather lightly, making me wonder at the ease as I then began to descend in a roundabout fashion around the tree, lower and lower until I was able to drop freely to the ground. The impact was a little harsher than all the others so that as I came to meet the moss strewn floor, I naturally fell forwards and rolled several times in order to absorb the force of the impact but popped up completely unharmed, fresh as a daisy.

Keenly observing my surroundings I noticed that there were still several figures out and about, however they were drawn towards a different area of the wooded kingdom, none paying attention or even noticing me, a tiny slip of a girl that seemed out of place in such an ethereal palace. My small stature was my asset, for I was able to go unnoticed through the taller sections of meadows and hide even in the smallest of places, the dark green of my strange dress doing a great deal to shield me from the keen eyesight of the elves, though since none were looking for me, none were paying a great deal of attention which also aided in my remaining unseen. Stealing a quick breath I turned and padded away, keeping close to the tree before I had to pull away, searching for nothing but a place to go where I might feel more comfortable. My mind wandered to the library I had found, more of a study really, and wondered if I would be able to find my way back there. Perhaps I would be able to find maps of the land, and from there be able to plan my full escape from this strange world where I did not belong.

Suddenly my feet changed direction like a hypnotic pull as my eyes clouded over with pale whiteness as the path before me flashed before my mind, guiding me back to that place and forewarning me of any guards or strangers passing by before they were even within sight. It was an unfamiliar occurrence, never before having been able to trigger my waking dreams in such a way but I trusted them, going the way I had been shown and heeded the warnings of guards, though I heard them long before they came into view and with these cautions, I was always able to hide before I could be caught. I felt like a little mouse scurrying around the pantry, keeping quiet and out of sight before scuttling along once more.

The way back to the study was a long and difficult path but now that I was seeking it purposefully, I ensured to memorise the way and thereafter I never forgot it again. After a longwinded journey that had my heart permanently racing I finally found the same door once more, allowing me to push it open and secure myself inside. Instantly the scent of books and wax brought a great sense of relief as it flooded towards me, and for the first time in days I smiled. Glancing around I partially hoped to find the king sitting at his desk writing important letters so that I could keep him company, but I was sorely disappointed. Even so, I wandered around the room, familiarising myself with the shelves and books before I pulled down a scroll and rolled it out on the floor, sitting down with my belly lying flat on the ground with my feet kicking contentedly, studying what I evaluated to be a map with great care.

Of course I could not read the writing in either Elvish or the common tongue but I enjoyed tracing the lines and learning the shapes of the mountains and the layout of the forests. Perhaps this is Middle-Earth, the land that I belong to. I wonder where Dale is on here, as well as the forest of Greenwood where I now lived with the elves. Perhaps this lonely mountain at the top corner was Erebor, home of the dwarves and their kin, which would mean this marking here would be Dale, the town inked onto the parchment with little scribbles. From there I was able to speculate which woods were Greenwood, but since I did not know any other places and their names, or a description of where they might be, I could not determine anything else. So engrossed with my curious study I did not hear the door open until gentle footsteps made my ears throb in warning. Instantly my head jerked upwards in alarm and instinctive fear, preparing to bolt however the gliding form of the elf king made me relax, wearing an odd crown upon his head of twisting branches and red fern. Was that not uncomfortable to wear? "It appears we have underestimated you yet again, little one. I thought I might find you here." He said to me with a hint of amusement to his tone as his eyes turned to the map. "Can you read it?"

"No mister king." I answered quietly, climbing back to my feet and dusting off my knees before I picked up the map, bashfully offering it back to him. "I never learned how to read." This made his stern eyebrows lift slightly, looking at me carefully before his supple fingers lifted the map from my hands and rolled it back up, returning it to his place for he gestured for me to follow.

"Then you shall learn. Come, I shall teach you all that you need to know and more. Knowledge is the world's greatest gift and it's most powerful. With knowledge, anything can be accomplished." He said with his mellow voice and I found myself following him winsomely, trusting him almost instinctively despite the fact that I had already sworn to trust none of his kind beforehand, including him. I observed him as he retrieved several books and rolls of blank parchment before summoning me to his desk where I found myself being lifted up to perch on his knee just as I had been before. "But you must listen closely and study well, for I am not a patient being."

"Yes mister." I nodded my head, silently dedicating myself to learning. If I can learn to at least read, then I will be able to find better employ should I ever escape, and once I can read, I can trace the maps to know how to leave and where to go. At first he taught me words, beginning with the common tongue which I could speak well enough though he started to correct my way of saying things, telling me that my mannerisms were crude and unrefined though I did not know what he meant by these words. When I had blinked at him innocently, Thranduil merely sighed and explained to me what they meant before continuing. I was a slow study, it turned out, meaning that I tested the limit of the elf king's patience though he seemed to understand that it was not due to lack of concentration or effort as I did my very best to please him and not make him angry, I was simply not very bright.

"And when you speak to others, you should address them as my lord or my lady, not as 'mister'." He told me as I made another large blot on the page with the ink, the black liquid staining my fingers and I accidentally left my fingerprints all over the page as I tried to write simple letters though they all just looked like odd shapes and random scribbles to me.

"Yes milord." I responded dutifully though I felt Thranduil send me a sharp look.

"My lord." He corrected and I frowned at him slightly, not understanding the difference or the purpose to properly enunciating anything, but I did so anyway just so that I could prove to him I was trying.

"My lord." I repeated and he nodded his head in approval before his hand came to engulf mine, carefully helping me to form the letters and I started to understand them just as pictures, like I was just drawing images into the mud with a stick back in Dale, and after that mentality came to mind I found it easier to repeat the process again and again until I had memorised a bare handful of the letters and was able to identify them in various pages of books, though I did not touch anything as my hands were still blotted with ink and I feared I would ruin them if I were to touch.

"Very good. You are perhaps a slow learner, but you are a diligent student. We will resume tomorrow, however for now I think you must be in need of sustenance. I am told you have not touched a morsel of food for some days now." I blinked up at him, becoming slightly distracted by the kingliness of his features before I glanced away.

"Wasn't hungry." I mumbled, feeling a little guilty and bashful as I twisted my sleeve a little nervously, forgetting that my fingers were inky black and soon the fabric was marred by the ugly stains.

"Pardon?" Thranduil questioned me sternly, making me flinch slightly before I lifted my head and looked him dead in the eye.

"I was not hungry, my lord." I enunciated a little snappily, making his eyebrow quirk before his lips tilted upwards in amusement.

"Well then, at least allow me the pleasure of your company as I dine. Would you like that?" Immediately I nodded my head, brightening as I quickly fixed my arms around his neck and asked that he carried me in an excited voice, eyes bright and gleeful which took Thranduil by surprise before he obliged, his heart not cold enough to refuse. Rising steadily to his feet the elven king carried me away and into the kingdom, people stopping to give us queer looks but I was too contented to care, feeling secure and perfectly at ease in his company. I am not certain why it was that Thranduil made a point to take such good care of me. Perhaps it was because of my waking dreams he thought I could be useful to him, which was why he kept me under close guard. Being young, I did not fully understand everything that was happening around me, but I was clever enough to know that I should be careful about how I stepped and be watchful of those around me.

Thranduil took me to a grand table surrounded in light, filled with platters of delicious foods of all kinds, though once again displaying near to no meat at all. There were vegetables, fruits, jellies, sweet cakes and other delicacies that I could not name, but no meat at all. "If anything intrigues you, Eleniel, then you may take your pick. You are welcome at my table and may have your share in anything you desire." The king said to me as a chair was pulled out for me by one of the attendants and I was placed down upon it by Thranduil.

"What does it mean?" I asked him, thinking that I had heard him call me this strange name several times. "Eleniel. It is pretty."

"It is a name that I have bestowed upon you. Eleniel, it is the translation into our own tongue of your original name, Asta. They both mean star, however Eleniel indicates a more gentle and subtle radiance in contrast to your forename, Asta, meaning bright starlight." He informed me and I listened to him carefully, trying to understand why he had given me this name. "Asta Eleniel. It was suitable for you to have a name befitting an elleth such as yourself." Upon seeing my blank face as he assumed his throne like seat, he gave a longwinded sigh before explaining to me what he meant by elleth or in contrast, ellon. It seemed the king sighed a lot around me.

As he spoke I found myself picking at the food before me until all at once I relinquished my stubbornness and allowed myself to savour the tender curiosities that I found myself surrounded by with very little grace and near to no charm at all. The others at the table gave me slight looks of disdain as I licked my fingers clean from a frothy cream like mousse that I had found and stuck my fingers into, completely ignoring the fact that they were still blackened with ink, however as I went back for more a light laugh made me stop and look over my shoulder until my angel appeared. "There is no need for you to make such a mess of yourself, little starling." He told me with mirth as he pulled back my hand and brought the crystal glass towards me as well as lifting a golden spoon with elegant designs upon the handle. "Here, allow me." Taking the seat next to me and to the surprise of everyone else around the table, he showed me the use of the metallic item that I had no idea what purpose it was meant for and personally fed me the pudding which felt lighter than air and sweeter than anything I had ever tasted before.

As my angel placed the frothy cream into my mouth I sucked it from the spoon with eagerness, eyes widening again as the delicious taste tickled my taste buds. Glancing around to view the others at the king's table I realised that everyone used various objects of cutlery, including knives and forks, rarely using their fingers and I flushed with embarrassment, realising that I must be something of a horror to them to see my ignorance and crude ways of eating. We had never had cutlery before, save perhaps a wooden spoon between us, so my mother had often fed me herself or we simply drank from the bowl. "I am sorry." I whispered shyly, looking back to the fair haired elf who only smiled to me in understanding.

"Legolas, see if you can teach our young guest the correct manners for the table." Thranduil spoke and his address made us both look to him as he lounged upon his high chair with a goblet of wine in one hand. I flinched at his words and flushed once more with embarrassment and humiliation from the tone of his voice, which sounded distant and austere, a word that I had learned just that day from the king himself. When he had explained it to me, it had struck me then how suited to the word he was. "I shall observe." Taking this as an order the angelic elf, Legolas, turned back to me and placed the spoon back down where he had picked it up and lifted my hand in the most delicate and gentle of touches, using his fingers to guide my own as he instructed me on each and every item before helping me to hold my knife and fork properly.

"It will come naturally to you soon enough, so do not feel ashamed." He was saying to me and I hardly listened to his words as the sound of his voice came in a hushed and musical tone that seemed to lull me into a sense of tranquillity. "Here, simply hold them like this and use the knife to cut your food into smaller portions. You should always sit up and straight with pride, never lean towards your plate." There was so much information that I almost immediately forgot everything, simply staring at the complicated array of food, plates and silverware before I felt my spirits crumble once more. He went on and on about table etiquette and the proper way to do things, telling me how I should eat, how I should drink, how to sit and the kind of manners I need to have in order to sit at the table alongside everyone, but he told me so much and so quickly that all at once, it became too much for me.

"Not hungry." I suddenly announced, pushing myself back from the table with an unladylike clatter, the force of which tipped over several goblets and the slosh of red liquid spilled over into a grand mess as Legolas stopped, blinking at me as I fled from the table, wanting to escape from the judgmental stares of the others at the table as they reminded me too much of those I used to receive in Dale. No matter where I went, it was the same except here it was almost worse, because I was more than a stranger to them. They did not trust me, they even feared me a little because I was strange and since I did not know this place well like I knew Dale, I did not know where the best hiding places were to be found. At least, not yet.

"Asta!" Legolas's voice called after me questioningly and in confusion but I continued to run, having nowhere else to go except back to my room, however it was locked from the outside. Luckily the key was left in the lock so I twisted it and entered, pushing it shut behind me and I locked myself within, leaving the key there so that no one would be able to follow, allowing me to have some peace and quiet to myself. Crawling under the bed I dragged one of the soft blankets down as well as a cushion, making myself a little nest as I started to sniffle and cry, missing my mother all the more as the loneliness began to settle deep into my bones. I simply did not understand this place at all, where they expected me to suddenly become something I was not like it were easy to change a person from a worm into a butterfly. I was frightened, and the momentary relief I found in the times I was spellbound by one beautiful and fascinating person or another was not enough to quell the desire to run far away from this place and never return. After a while of remaining huddled in my nest I heard a knock upon the door but I did not go to answer it, remaining huddled under the bed where it was nice and dark, somehow consoling me as I sucked on my least inked thumb for comfort and pinched the lobe of my ear. The knock sounded again and a voice murmured softly, revealing it to be Legolas, the one with the pretty hair. Still I did not move, curling up tighter in my little nest of warmth and I closed my eyes to block everything out.

His footsteps receded before disappearing, so I presumed that he left and I allowed myself to relax and try to think happy things to myself even as my stomach rumbled hungrily. There was a long lapse of silence which I engulfed myself within but after a while, I heard something creaking at the wall and I blinked, shifting slightly to peer out. The window was being pushed open so that a lithe and graceful figure could slide inside with one hand holding a plate of food which made my eyes widen. How Legolas had managed to fit through that gap was beyond me, as I myself had struggled but he had made it seem so effortless, watching him from under the bed where I could see from the floor as he slipped inside almost soundlessly.

Legolas had somehow scaled the tree with just one hand and climbed in through my window which I had not realised actually opened further, which answered my question on how he had fit through and also why it had seemed smaller than before, the rounded shape revealing a knotted work of twisted designs which he then closed behind him, exhaling softly as he placed the plate down on the window seat before then searching the room. For not realising myself that the window opened, I felt incredibly foolish and ashamed. "Asta? Come out little starling, I know that you are here." Legolas called softly, beginning to walk around the room and search every possible hiding place, almost as if it were a game. "I apologise for making you feel so uncomfortable but you must eat something. You shall make me worry for you if you do not take proper care of yourself."

Instinctively I had inched backwards under the bed, remaining curled up within my blanket as I watched the boots walk across the floor before slowly approaching where I hid. I held my breath, looking outward like a frightened rabbit as he knelt down and looked under the bed, hair pooling down towards the floor as our eyes locked. "Found you." He smiled before shifting, stretching out a leg so that he was lower to the floor. "Do not be frightened of me starling, I made a promise to my father to protect you always, so come out from under there."

"They were laughing." I murmured quietly from around my thumb which I stubbornly kept stuffed into my mouth, making him tilt his head slightly as I tried to explain to him. "In their eyes, they were all laughing at me but their mouths were unhappy."

"I know." He said in understanding, sliding a hand slowly towards me with his palm facing upwards. "So that is why I have brought the feast here to you, there is no one to disturb us so you can enjoy your food in peace however you wish to eat it. I will not laugh, you have my word." He cajoled, making me inch a little closer towards him at the temptation of food and his company. I was nothing if not a fickle thing. "Will you join me, Asta?" With his polite invitation I nodded my head, finally coming around to the suggestion and I placed my smaller hand in his, crawling out from underneath the bed and dusted off my dress which was more than a little ruined and I had accidentally torn the hem of the skirt but I hardly noticed as my eyes were distracted by the food before me.

With a soft chuckle Legolas lifted me up onto the bed and sat me down upon the luscious bedding before bringing the food to me which he allowed me to eat with my fingers, his hand going to my hair to gently draw the loosened strands back into a tameable appearance. "I never introduced myself to you, little starling. I am Legolas, Prince of Greenwood and son of Thranduil its king." He told me, watching me with a softness to his expression which endeared him to me. "But you may call me Legolas."

"Asta. Asta…" I tried to remember the name Thranduil had given me but it had already slipped my mind. "El…something." Again Legolas gave his gentle and kind chuckle which made me smile, the juices of strange fruits dribbling down my chin so he deftly wiped it away with a swift and tender touch.

"Eleniel. My father calls you Eleniel." He prompted so I repeated it, working the syllables slowly over my tongue before I shrugged and reached for more food. It was good that Legolas brought plenty as I cleaned the entire plate before licking my fingers from any residue juices and flavours. "Do not be afraid to ask for anything that you need, Asta. This is your home now and we are to protect and nurture you as you need as you are still very young. Even by the standards of elves you are but a new born." Giving a broad smile I grinned up at Legolas.

"Mama said not to take food from strangers. I took a sweet from someone once and it made me ill. So ill I nearly died. Mama said that people were bad to me and not to trust them, but I trust you and mister king. You have a warm heart." I said, pointing to his chest where I knew his heart to be as I could almost feel it like it had its own aura. At my small story Legolas frowned slightly, his quick mind possibly thinking of something unpleasant by his expression however it swiftly disappeared as he smiled down to me.

"And you have a beautiful smile little starling. Come, would you like to see our kingdom for your own eyes? You have not seen very much and there is plenty to be seen." He offered and immediately I was sliding from the bed in haste, grabbing his hand to pull him to his feet.

"Yes! Yes I want to see, please show me!" I pleaded and Legolas laughed richly, nodding his head as he allowed me to pull him over to the door which I unlocked before disappearing through it, Legolas hurrying to grasp me by the hand in order to slow my pace and after I had calmed down, he walked with me through the kingdom to take me to see its unparalleled beauty with my own eyes and with the safety of having a guide beside me as to not become lost. All the while we walked he held onto my hand, guiding me along and assisting with my balance as we crossed over slim bridges which made me nervous due to their height but I had utter faith in him, keeping close as he began to tell me all about their history and things that dazzled my mind.

He talked with me for so long that I had not realised how far we had walked before we were in the lower levels of the kingdom where I witness impressive forging and the creating of many things perfect and indescribable, from jewels to weapons and clothes, all of them handmade with perfect precision. The forge took my breath away, bright flames dancing as sparkling embers of amber flew upwards, making my eyes widen as the more muscular elves glanced up from their work to see that they had a visitor. The moment their eyes fell upon me I gripped onto Legolas's hand a little more tightly, holding my breath however the blacksmiths smiled and beckoned me towards them, allowing me a closer look at their work and Legolas lifted me up, carrying me upon his hip so that I could see properly and also to rest my aching legs which were tired from all the walking. The flames and the hot metals enchanted me and soon I was asking questions in a babble of words, pointing to various things to ask their functions and somehow, everything that they told me stuck prominently in the forefront of my mind, never to be forgotten. Legolas smiled as I continued to ask questions, wanting to know how they made their swords and their techniques but after a while, he suggested that we move on and I clamped my mouth shut, glancing at him before pouting slightly. "I am being a nuisance, yes?"

"We have much toil to accomplish, young one, however you are welcome back to the forge's hearth any time you wish." The head blacksmith told me kindly before giving a strange gesture that I did not know how to respond to, murmuring something in his own tongue however Legolas answered for me, touching a hand to his heart and I did the same, copying their example. As we moved away from the forge Legolas put me back down at my request but resumed holding my hand, leading me through the city as he then showed me the bathhouse, the grand library that made the study look infinitely smaller and so many other things.

I had lost time to my limitless wonder of this place, the eerie gloom I had perceived before now lifted away by the golden lamps that stretched further than my keen gaze could see, endlessly swimming like magical glimmers of rippling light that had me spellbound each time I gazed upon them, hardly able to withdraw my gaze. "It is such a big place, how do you remember where you are?" I asked Legolas, holding onto his hand as we climbed yet another staircase which took us to cascading heights above even the tallest trees and towards ones that climbed even higher into the skies. "Do you not get lost?"

"Never. I have walked these halls so long that I know each step and tree, it is my home and I know it better than I know myself." He informed me simply before giving me a smile. "And it is your home too. Once you have walked these same halls for a few years, you will know your way around without needing my help. It will become second nature to you, I promise." He said and I nodded my head in understanding, surprised by the fact that I did not feel tired at all despite the fact we had been walking for several hours.

"Legolas, why do they look at me coldly?" I asked in a quieter voice, my eyes straying to a pair of female elves, elleths, who had fallen silent when they saw me, staring openly with their mouths agape and Legolas lifted his head to see them. With a soft tug he pulled me forwards, guiding me ahead as he spoke.

"Strangers and newcomers are not often seen within the city, you are a novelty to them Asta. In addition, it is not often that we see younglings at your age. Some of our people would not have seen a child of our kin in several decades." He revealed and I frowned slightly, unsure of what he meant. Did he refer to the fact that there were no other children to speak of? I had not seen any others my own age and in a place as vast as this I would expect there to be hundreds, even thousands of children of all ages.

"They are not afraid of me?" Came my next question and Legolas stopped, giving me a puzzled look in answer.

"Why should they fear you starling? You are a danger to no one as you are sweet, precious and innocent, I very much doubt you would ever intentionally harm anyone."

"No, no I would not want to hurt someone." I agreed, looking down at my feet as my voice wilted slightly. "Just…people did not like me in Dale. I was frightening to them because I could see things that were to come in my dreams. My waking dreams. Sometimes I would try to warn them of bad things that would happen, a bad harvest, a storm, a plague, but they always turned on me. They blamed me for the bad things that happened." Visions, Thranduil had called them visions, I should remember to refer to them as such since he was far wiser than I was. "And because they were afraid of me, I was afraid of them." An expression of understanding came to Legolas's face as he slowly lowered himself down to one knee, reaching up a hand to rest upon my small shoulder with his eyes tentatively meeting my own.

"Asta, there is no reason for you to be afraid of anyone here as no one intends you harm or ill will. My people shall come to recognise you as one of our own and then it shall be like you were born and raised here from the very beginning, it will just take a little time." He reassured me with unbound benevolence that caused me to trust him all the more. "Little starling, this is now your home and we are your kin. I know that you are still hurting from your inner wounds, losing your mother and being betrayed by those that should have sheltered you will leave you with untreatable scars, but you are not alone in your plight. I shall be here with you now and for all eternity, you have my solemn word upon my bow." He vowed, reaching back to brush his hand against the wooden weapon that he always carried upon his back.

I could not find the words to answer, mostly because I was too young to understand such sincerity, but I smiled all the same. Somehow I could understand that he was trying to appease me and make me understand that I was never in any danger so long as I lived in this place, so I took his word to heart and reached out for his hand again, my entire hand barely able to wrap around his fingers but he curled his grip over my own regardless, his warm and beautiful smile filling my mind as I walked at his side unable to look away. As he turned his head my eyes clouded over and became milky, showing me a vision of Legolas many years from now. He was facing me, whispering words in elvish which I could not understand but they were so heartfelt and loving that they brought me instantaneous comfort. The vision disappeared and I continued to look at him, transfixed by his features and gliding movements as he led me further into the city to show me more of his world.