Ina was taken into the kingdom of Mirkwood. She had not been to many lands in the western half of Middle Earth, so such sights were new and even exciting. Legolas watched the girl as her eyes seemed to glisten as they went through the massive gates. The paths were wooden and winding and decorated so elaborately. The mere scale, even in Legolas' eyes, made Ina look so small that Legolas could have thought her to be a halfling.
No, she was nothing like a hobbit at all. Ina was too slender and skinny. Her hair too tame and straight. While she was not very tall, she was certainly much taller than your average hobbit. Legolas wondered if anyone else thought her to be oddly enchanting in appearance. And certainly others did. All the elves that had come to rescue Legolas were taking secret glances at her. The more Legolas noticed, the more bizarre he thought it all to be.
Soon the elves and the foreign girl reached the throne room of the Elvenking. Everything about the situation was surreal. Ina had seen great number of things, but nothing so grand as the halls of King Thranduil himself. Her eyes were wide and full of curiosity. She watched as the King elegantly yet leisurely took a seat on his throne. The robes he wore were a deep red and they draped gracefully around the king.
Ina noticed how similar he was in appearance to Legolas. Both elves had cool blonde hair that seemed to shimmer like silver under any light and stormy blue eyes. However, Legolas's eyes were much warmer. Perhaps more like a warm, but gray day in the spring just after some rain. The king's eyes, on the other hand, were cold.
Ina looked back at Legolas who gave her the smallest smile in return. He was unsure of her fate for his father was not a predictable man. While he may have promised this girl life in exchange for her service, Legolas could not vow that her sentence was going to be very pleasant at all.
"Who are you?" The voice of the Elevenking boomed with confidence and commandment.
"Ina," the girl answered.
"You will refer to me as your king when you speak to me," Thranduil ordered. "Where are you from?"
"East," she paused a moment before remembering to add, "my king."
"Where East?" Thranduil pressed. "I have never seen the likes of you in all my years of living. Certainly not Rhun. Cuiviénien? Answer me!"
Legolas saw the girl flinch and her eyes cast downwards the same way they had when Legolas had snapped at her the day before.
"My king, I do not think it matters where I from…my king."
There was a hint of hurt in her voice that Legolas could detect. A dreadful feeling washed over the atmosphere and Legolas saw that his father felt it as well.
"I suppose you are correct. It does not matter where you are from. You are nothing but a small, female child. However, I have learned throughout the years that the uncanniest of people could be your enemies. I do not care what pain you have felt because I have probably felt your pain three thousand times over."
Everyone watched as Ina began to tremble and bit her lip. Her eyes began to fill with tears that she struggled to hold back. Legolas, bothered by his father's unjust harshness, stepped forward and pushed Ina gently back behind him. Ina allowed a single tear to fall as Legolas' broad frame blocked her view of the king.
"Father," Legolas began, "she has no family. No one to belong to. Nowhere call home. I do not think it is fair to accuse Ina of such things."
Thranduil glared at his son. He knew that his relationship with his own child was like walking on glass. The Elvenking sighed before making his decision to drop the subject. It seemed that his son wanted to play the hero of the story and perhaps he could give him that for a short while.
"You can fight," Thranduil said to Ina. "I saw you evade the attacks of my own.?"
Legolas stepped aside to, once again, reveal the small girl behind him whose eyes were as wide as those of a doe.
"Then let us test you," Thranduil continued not waiting for her reply. "Legolas!"
Legolas shot a look of bewilderment at his father.
"Perhaps, Ina, you can show me your worth through hand to hand combat with my best fighter."
It almost offended Legolas that Thranduil did not refer to him as his son; however, Legolas knew better than to go against his father for however many times he already had that day. With a scowl on his face, Legolas moved slowly to face Ina who looked so incredibly confused. He expression softened as she gulped but seemed to brace herself.
The first few punches were easy. Even a novice could dodge them. Ina swerved left, right, and under with pure ease. To take it just a notch higher, Legolas threw in a kick to which Ina quickly bent backwards in a clean and quick kickover.
"You are agile," Legolas noted out loud.
Feeling a bit more competitive, Legolas began to make his attacks quicker and created more complex combinations. Ina seemed to expertly dodge all of them with great flexibility and speed. It was like a teasing dance that drew Legolas in, but also tested his own skill which vexed him. However, she did not seem to want to attack at all. The girl didn't even bother blocking his strikes. She only moved in and out of his arms and legs or put distance between them.
Thranduil watched while tapping a finger restlessly on the armrest of his throne. An anger rose within him until he could take it no longer. The Elvenking took a small dagger from inside his robe, stood up from his grandiose seat, and chucked it with impeccable aim at Ina. The blade flew like lighting towards Ina who was not even looking in the direction of the dagger.
Everyone froze. Instead of imbedding itself somewhere on the girl's body, Ina caught the hilt of the blade in her hand. Legolas noticed how calm her face was. This could not have been her first encounter with combat. She have been trained somewhere by someone. Her reflexes were outstanding, inhumane even.
–––
Galadriel, the Lady of Light, felt a deep disturbance that day. Although the sky was marvelously clear and blue, rain fell. It was not an uncommon phenomena nor was it ever considered and omen. However, that particular day, something felt different.
"My lady," a messenger Galadriel had called for kneeled before her. "You had a task for me?"
"Yes," she spoke softly. "A shadow has been spreading west. It seems that even the lightest feather could tilt the scale in favor of the dark. I need you go to Mirkwood. To the Hall of the Elvenking, Thranduil, and invite their new guest to Loríen."
–––
Unsure of what to do, Thranduil stood for only a moment in as much shock as everyone else. However, this was only momentary. He decided that it was better than he maintain his composure and put Ina to work as soon as possible.
"I have seen enough," Thranduil said sitting back down on his throne. "It is clear to me that you have the abilities to defend yourself which you might find that useful in this kingdom for your own benefit as your life is not my concern. However, your task here is not to fight. It is go to my personal metalsmith and have him fashion me new rings. I grow tired of the ones I have currently."
"Where-" Ina tried to ask, but was cut off.
"Go!" The Elvenking commanded, gracefully flicking his hand in a rude gesture.
Legolas saw Ina jump again slightly at the sound of his father's strong voice. She pivoted around before disappearing down the path and around the wrong corner. Legolas' father dismissed the rest of the elves who were chattering amongst themselves about the foreign girl who was now enslaved by the royal family.
Figuring that Ina would have much trouble finding where the metalsmith was, Legolas decided to follow her on her little excursion. He watched as she pondered which corridor to follow. Legolas unconsciously found himself smiling at the girl who had not even been given a spare change fo clothes or even a chance to rest. He figured that his father was probably arranging something for her while she was carrying out her first task. Thranduil might have been unforgiving and dogmatic, but he was a man of understanding who just preferred not to show it.
Ina swayed her head left and right, her instincts unclear. She was extremely tired from her eventful night, but was determined to do what she had been ordered to do. However, to not be given directions in a very unknown place was not an ideal position to be in.
"Do you require some help?" the soft voice of Legolas came from behind her.
Ina whipped around revealing her exhausted yet optimistic face. "I am afraid so."
Legolas walked up beside her and turned her around in the direction where they had both come from. "For starters, you went the wrong way from the very beginning."
"Oh."
"Come."
Ina trailed one step behind Legolas while actively trying to memorize the twisting paths as he guided her through the palace. However, she found this rather difficult as her attention was on keeping up with this his long legs and strides.
"Would the jeweler still be working?" Ina asked. "It is rather late."
"Anyone who directly serves the king is always awake. Us elves do not require rest in the way regular men do. Our kind does not tire very easily."
"Is that so?"
"Do you find it unfair that you are currently subject to our way of living? I mean, you must be exhausted. However, I do hope you do not think ill of my father. He can be much and he may not be the best man, but he is a good king. In fact, if you had pleaded for freedom, he may have given it to you. You will find that he has a bit of a soft spot for children like you."
"Is that why he has been trying to kill me? Because he has a soft spot?"
Legolas chuckled at Ina's flippant remark. "At first he thought you had captured the prince, his only son. Then he got frustrated and attempted to either embarrass you or test you or-"
"Kill me?"
"King Thranduil spared you, an outsider, and took you under his wing. Although I am curious as to why you do not object to being in our servitude."
"He asked for my help and I am giving it to him."
"You think too lowly of my father. He does not simply ask for your help.
I'd like to think that this is his way of protecting you, someone who does not pose a threat. However, I also think it's his way of keeping a firm watch over someone who is not necessarily trustworthy.
You see, a poison has been festering in our woods for years now. Spiders and orcs have infected our land. We try to fight against it everyday yet it seems to only grow stronger. Judging from when you saved me, you must have lived nearby. You could have been killed any day now. I am surprised that you survived on the outskirts of the kingdom for a quite a while. How is it that you saved me that day?"
Legolas stopped walking and turned to face Ina to ask his question. Ina simply replied, "I quickly dragged your body into a ditch and waited for the orcs to pass by."
Before Legolas could inquire any further on the logistics of the happenings of that day and how he had come to survive, they had arrived before the king's personal craftsman's shop. Ina immediately rushed to looked at all the riches that embellished the shop. Her eyes lit up with stars as the touched all the beautiful things she had never seen before.
"Prince Legolas!" a polite and amiably voice said. "You brought a lady with you! Perhaps, she is the one the whole kingdom has been rambling about. To is a pleasure to meet you miss…"
"Ina," Ina introduced herself simply.
"Ina," the craftsman repeated. "A beautiful sounding name. I am Curunir, King Thranduil's personal jeweler. How may I be of service to you on this fine night?"
"The king requests new rings," Ina answered.
"Did he say anything else with his request? Perhaps the kind of gemstone he wishes to use or the density of the ring?"
"No, I'm afraid he did not specify."
"Hm," Curunir let out in a sigh. "The king seems to have posed a challenge for me. I have always complained to my wife about how I lack creative and artistic freedom in my practice because King Thranduil tends to be rather specific with his needs; however, I have come to realize the comfort in instructions and requirements."
"You are the king's jeweler," Ina said. "You must be the best in the kingdom."
"Or the best at giving the king what he wants," Curunir pushed further. "There are several other craftsmen and jewelers that the King goes to from time to time, but it seems he deems me the most reliable. However, I must say that the job pays rather well."
Ina laughed. She enjoyed the presence of this elf very much. Curunir was bright and sociable and all around a good man. Not to mention, beautiful as well. Unlike Legolas who was a very regal sort of gorgeous, Curunir had long shining brown hair like a horse's mane and the warmest hazel eyes to go with it.
To Curunir, Ina seemed to be rather normal. Perhaps slightly underdressed for any occasion other than sleeping, but nothing out of the ordinary. He did, similarly to others, think she was odd looking. However, his eyes were not drawn to her facial features like Legolas had been at first, rather he was drawn the dainty silver necklace that seemed to disappear down her white dress.
"Lady Ina," Curunir began, his eyes still fixed on the silver chain, "would it be rude of me to ask to see your necklace? As a jeweler, I very much like to look at jewelry especially from other places. And this is purely for academic purposes, of course! I will return it to right after my short inspection."
Legolas noticed how Ina seemed to hesitate before removing her necklace and handing it to Curunir. It was like when Thranduil forcibly took it from here only a few hours before. She obviously did not enjoy parting with the object very much. However, Legolas would be lying if he said he wasn't curious about what the object really was.
Curunir started by inspecting the thin chain. He tugged on it so firmly that Legolas thought that it might snap, however, the chain was resilient. Curunir then fiddled with the spherical charm that opened and closed. Both ellons saw that there was very little ornamentation on the ball itself only small flower that attached itself to the bottom of the sphere.
"It is hard to believe," Curunir started to report, "that this is, in face, not elven made. It also feels as though there is some sort of mysterious magic behind it. A curse is too dark a word, but it certainly is not any blessing."
Curunir looked at Ina with a stern expression before continuing to ask, "My lady, where are you from and how did you acquire this?"
"East," Ina replied for what felt like the hundredth time. "The origins of that object to me are also a mystery. It was given to me by my mother when I was younger."
"Is that why you keep it so close to your heart?" Legolas asked. "Because it is a memory of your mother?"
Ina's already soft voice seemed to diminish yet become more astringent with annoyance, "It is simply all I have left."
Ina snatched back her necklace and put it back on, shoving the charm back down her dress.
"I believe I have dawdled for long enough," Ina said bitterly. "Thank you for hospitality, Master Curunir. I will be taking leave now."
Ina stormed out of the little shop and began making her way back to find the king. Legolas waited until she was far enough out of sight in order to speak to Curunir.
"I apologize if I offended her," Curunir said to the prince. "Would the prince like anything nice for himself?"
Legolas did not indulge in riches like his father did nor was he too interested in such things. Rather, Legolas loved receiving new arrows and upgrading his bow every now and then. It was his favorite weapon since he was a small elfling. While Legolas might not have wanted anything from Curunir himself, he did request something else.
–––
In actuality, Ina came back much faster than King Thranduil had anticipated. Of course, he had sent her on that ridiculous task because he took the girl in rather abruptly therefore basic living preparations had to be made with haste. He also would not have his servant roam around and serve him in his kingdom wearing the ugly, bland rag she was already dressed in. Though finding appropriate clothing for someone her size was rather difficult, he managed to collect a few dresses from fairly new mothers whose young daughters had outgrown.
"You took long enough," Ina was beginning to grow used to Thranduil's assertive voice. Something about her conversation with Legolas regarding the king also put her mind a little more at ease. "Preparations for your stay here are set. Your living space is situated somewhat near both Legolas and me. Come with me and I will show you. Quickly now!"
Thranduil began walking down the curvilinear pathway and Ina carefully walked behind him with a small smile on her face. Legolas was right, the great Elvenking was rather soft with those much younger than he was while still keeping a firm eye on someone who could be false.
When they arrived at a rather plain looking wooden door, Thranduil felt that Ina could hardly hold her excitement. He slowly opened the door to reveal to her a meager-sized bedroom. The wood was the room was polished and clean and smelled strongly of pine. Ina took small steps into the room. Yes, it was not large, but it was better than old cramped home. The window was very large and the sill was made into a cushioned seat. In front of the window was a modest round table with one simple chair. In one corner of the room was another door that led to a bathroom. Around the center of the wall was the bed which was around the same size as her old one; but the pillows and sheets appeared to billowy and throw over the white bed was the loveliest shade of sky blue. Right across from the bed was a decent-sized wardrobe. Ina walked over to it and opened it to see three dresses that looked to be her size along with two silk night gowns.
"My king," Ina started, "this is too kind of you."
"And I fear that this is the last of my kindness for you," Thranduil assured. "I gave you this because I will not have you wander my halls in your current…state of clothing and you certainly will not be sleeping on the floors like a homeless man.
You start work after breakfast. I will have Legolas wake you and show you to the kitchen where you may make your own meals. After that, you will come directly to me for your tasks. Remember, you also serve Legolas for he is your prince.
While I cannot speak for Legolas, I do not tolerate tardiness, laziness, or negligence. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, my king," Ina answered.
"Good," Thranduil said before shutting the door on Ina without saying good night or even a sheer goodbye.
Ina looked out the window to see the dark of night had passed and lightening sky indicated the approach of the first light of day. She did not have much time to sleep, but decided that it was better to achieve some sort of rest after bathing. Although it might not have been such sleep, but Ina had never felt more at ease in her life.