Ina woke up to the sound of a firm knock on her door. She rose slowly to see that she must have slept for only a few hours as the sun was only just beginning to rise. The sky was still mostly a soft, deep blue tainted with just a strip of pink at the horizon.
Ina rubbed her eyes and yawned before getting up to answer the door, however, she stopped herself realizing that she was probably not decent enough to greet anyone in the groggy state she was in. So she cracked opened the door ever so slightly to see Legolas' shining face through the narrow split of the door.
"Good morning," Legolas greeted. "I was told to wake you."
"Yes," Ina replied. "I will be ready in just a moment."
"And I will be here."
Ina closed the door began to freshen herself up. She put on one of the dresses that the Elvenking had given her which was a yellow dress that that flowed and hung loosely off her figure. Ina also put on a pair of brown shoes that were hidden deep in the closet.
Legolas waited patiently with his back to Ina's door watching the sunrise through the columns of the corridor. He felt very good and refreshed that morning after some well deserved rest. Legolas heard the door open again and saw Ina in her new elvish attire. A soft laugh escaped his lips as Ina fiddled with the bell sleeves which had gotten stuck within the arms of the dress. She looked a little out of place, but nonetheless suited the dress fine. It was a plain dress from probably a plain elleth that did nothing more than give Ina something appropriate to wear.
Regardless Legolas complimented the girl by saying, "The dress suits you well."
"Thank you, my lord," she replied.
"Before we go into the kitchen, I would like to give you something."
Ina furrowed her brows into a confused expression. Legolas reached into his pocket and held out two of the same objects. They were silver hair pins that appeared to be leaves on twigs. Ina looked at Legolas with surprise as he merely smiled at her.
"I could not take such wonderful things," Ina said refusing to touch the delicate objects.
"They are gifts," Legolas contended. "One from Curunir who is sorry for offending you last night and one from me as a token of my own gratitude. I have never gotten to thank you properly for saving my life."
Legolas inwardly hoped that she did not view half the gift to actually be from Curunir. He hoped that she thought wholeheartedly that this was out of Legolas' own kindness and wish to welcome her to Mirkwood. Ina's expression softened as if she heard his inner sentiment and reached out to take the pins from his hand. When the tips of her fingers grazed his palm, he could not help but think of how soft her skin was.
Ina examined the objects carefully. Legolas saw how the silver reflected in her dark brown eyes like flecks of light. Once she was done, she merely stared at him.
"I do not know put them in," she admitted honestly.
"Then allow me to help," Legolas said. He look the pins from her momentarily feeling her skin once more. Legolas took one pin and split it between his fingers, took a strand of hair from the front of Ina's face, and secured it back. He then did the same with the other side so the two pins rested on either side of her head. While her hair never seemed to truly get in the way of her face, he felt as though this new style framed Ina's youthful face exceptionally well.
"It looks as though my theory was correct," Legolas said. "You look lovely with your hair pinned back this way."
Legolas' eyes fixated on Ina as pink rose up to her cheeks in a soft blush.
"In fact," Legolas continued, "you should keep your hair this way around the kingdom. Consider it my first command to you."
Just then Ina did something Legolas did not expect. She giggled. Her laugh made her seem like any other girl he had met. Bashful and polite.
"If it is your command," Ina said with a smile, "then I shall see to fulfill it."
"Come follow me to the kitchen. You must be hungry."
The two walked side by side in a blissful silence. Ina found Legolas quite pleasant to be around. He was very kind and sociable. Perhaps it was in elven nature to be bright and gentle. Then she remembered the king who was no such things. Ina speculated if Legolas could have such a side to him as his own father: domineering and cold.
They reached the kitchen where Ina smelled all the different foods from dry meats to different aged cheese to the fresh fruits and vegetables. She herself had often had to hunt or steal food throughout the years. Excitedly Ina rushed to investigate all her options and picked many things to put down on a simple wooden table where Legolas sat waiting for her to pick her meal.
For breakfast, Ina chose quite many foods. Much more than Legolas thought one little girl could take in. She brought an entire loaf of bread with various jams, butter, and honey; fixed herself a hearty sized salad bowl; laid out a plate of at least four different cheeses and many different meats; and lastly a plate with a peach, berries, and an apple.
"Will you not eat?" Ina asked with at least three different things stuffed into her mouth.
Legolas must have lost his train of thought before noticing the silverware and napkin that had not been there before.
"I should be eating with my father," Legolas states whilst still taking a mouthful of greens.
"Then you should go."
"I do not want to. This is a nice change of pace."
Certainly, Legolas' absence raised suspicion in the mind of the Elvenking as he sat feeling foolish. Displeased, Thranduil stood from his seat leaving behind his food towards the kitchen. It was there he in fact did find Legolas eating a rather large breakfast with Ina. Fury began to bubble inside the king as he watched the two eat peacefully.
"I see you have decided to indulge yourself with my son," Thranduil's voice showed nothing but clear annoyance which made Ina freeze. "If you have had enough, Ina, you will go down to the wine cellar and fetch me a bottle of plum wine."
"Yes, my king," was Ina's frightened reply. "Forgive me, but where is the wine cellar?"
"Downstairs," the king instructed sternly.
The two other elves remained still until Ina disappeared down the flight of stairs into the cellar.
"I suppose I should get ready for my day as well," Legolas announced wishing to be free of the suffocating atmosphere.
"Legolas," Thranduil stopped his son from leaving the kitchen. "You should not fraternize with someone who is so very unknown to us. Let alone give her gifts."
Legolas challenged his father by saying, "Is that a command or a suggestion, my king?"
Thranduil did not get the opportunity to stop his son from leaving. Legolas marched out of the kitchen and out of his father's site nimbly. For a second, alone with his thoughts, Thranduil sighed and proceeded to his throne where he was going to sit and punish Ina with a series of ridiculous commands.
Ina found that Thranduil had many demands and entertained the possibility that the king was doing this to her on purpose. From the very beginning, she knew that he had a distaste for her that most likely had grown when the king caught her and his son having breakfast that morning. Ina was sent to run around the entire kingdom trying to fulfill all his desires.
"This is the third time you brought me the incorrect wine," Thranduil scolded. "Get me the correct one."
And he went on.
"You seem to have forgotten that I also asked for a plate of cheese that is unless you ate it all this morning."
"Only a fool would bring a plate of cheese for king to have with wine without grapes."
"There are reports that need to be gone over. Bring them to my study."
"Go to the library and fetch me these books."
At this point, Ina was struggling to keep up with all the King Thranduil. Legolas had been right when he said that her position would not be too pleasant. The thin girl took careful and slow steps as she carried a stack of eight books of various sizes. Being as small as she was, she could barely see past the top of the pile making the whole endeavor much more difficult.
Just beyond the hall at Thranduil's throne stood the king, his son, and another elf distinctively from Lothlorién. It seemed the Lothlorién elf had a piece of parchment to present to the Elf King who paced elegantly as he read the letter.
Dear King Thranduil of the Woodland Realm,
It has come to my attention that an unknown creature walks within your realm. You seem to have welcomed her rather openly.Giving her a chamber to sleep in and even work under your authority.You know that I would not write to you, if it were not of the utmost importance. I have foreseen something and it involves that girl. However, the vision is hazy like smoke after fire. Thus, I invite you, your son, and the girls to my halls in Lothlorién. I do understand that you are a king and will give you time for there is still some. However, I do not recommend delaying this for long. I do hope to hear and see you soon.
With greatest regards,
Galadriel
Nothing got past the Lady of Light and it made Thranduil take a deep breath. He too had sensed something off with the child, but guessed it was because of her foreign nature. If lady Galadriel was requesting that they all come to see her, she must have foreseen something great and dire. Perhaps, even the great Lord Elrond had also felt something.
"Do you know what the Lady of Light wishes with the child who is in my possession?" Thranduil asked the messenger.
"I am afraid I do not know," he replied. "Lady Galadriel only asked of me to invite you, your son, and the girl to her realm."
"She must have said something else," Legolas attempted to get something more out of the messenger.
"I deeply regret not being to tell you much more," the messenger apologized while bowing to both the king and the prince. "I too am very much in the dark on the subject matter. However, I do believe it would be wise to pay a visit to Lady Galadriel."
"Um?" a soft squeak came about that could have only come from one person. "Have I done something?"
Ina was peaking around the pile of books she was carrying. It bothered Thranduil that she had decided to make a detour from her task to satisfy her selfish curiosities. Legolas, on the other hand, thought it was rather amusing to see the small girl struggling to even see straight in front of her.
Before Thranduil could below some harsh common or statement, Legolas gently said, "No, Ina. There is no problem, rather you have been invited to the great Lorién by Lady Galadriel."
"Where?" Ina asked. "Who?"
The messenger stiffened at Ina's response. Who was this girl to not know who the ruler of Lothlorién was? Just why would Lady Galadriel take interest in such a girl? However, both Legolas and Thranduil understood—albeit barely. She was, for lack of better words, interesting.
"Enough!" Thranduil demanded. "We will go to Lorién if the Lady of Light asks it of us, however, we will be taking our time. As king, I cannot simply leave my kingdom especially during times as dark as this."
Ina watched as the king dismissed the messenger before her eyes met those of Legolas. She stood in a bit of an awkward silence for a minute appearing to wonder why someone who seemed so grand wished to see a seemingly normal girl. However, Ina was actually concerned. Very concerned.
Her thoughts were ceased by the sound of a strong snap that came from the king whose large hand was in front of her face. While Ina had become more accustomed to king, she still feared him considerably and thought that he strongly disliked her.
"The books go in my study," Thranduil articulated astringently.
Ina eyes went downcast before replying with, "Forgive me, my king."
Legolas raised his eyebrows at his father in a suggestive matter. The king sighed and placed his hand on the girl's shoulder lightly. Ina's expression immediately lightened and she looked up at Thranduil who in that instant looked compassionate.
Legolas saw the girl become elated at the idea that the cold Elvenking of the Woodland Realm had shown her an expression of graciousness. It looked as though no one had ever done such a thing before. He saw the tiny skips in her step as she had her way to Thranduil's study and something about it broke Legolas' heart.