January, 13 T.A 2941
Early morning

Anariel knew exactly what the king wanted the moment the messenger arrive, how could it have been anything else? She glanced to her arm where Elladan had left his mark. How was she going to convince an entire kingdom of her kindness, that she was right to accept the title, that she cared about them, all of them, after she messed up so much already.

She could help them, as she help those in Bree. But how? True, her Sindarin was getting better, but it was more of a matter convincing the king that this was right, she highly doubted that he would allow to roam the commoners area so freely. She would need protection, the king would insist, with so many wishing her ill now. Besides how was she to know who needed help?

Anariel let out a sigh, perhaps this was just a bad plan after all.

The pleas of the people. The thought struck her all of the sudden, how did she not think of this before? It is how the king helps everyone, it was a good start but she knew she needed to do more.

'My lady,' Turwathiel called out to the princess.

The sound of her voice pulled her out of her thoughts, she eyed the fairly simple gown, still it held the style the king had originally picked for her yet it held a simplicity to it.

The gown.

By Valar, the gown.

Anariel shook her head, heading straight for her desk the moment she was fully dressed. 'My lady, we must get to the king.'

'Yes, yes in a moment.' Anariel jotted a note down quickly signing it a flurry, 'have this taken to the seamstresses, there when I was attaining my dress for last nights ceremony was a elleth Vayala-'

'My lady, if you wish to have another gown made we can find a more suitable seamstress, she's eccentric-'

'You, Turwathiel, will do well not to interrupt me. Secondly I will have this brought to Vayala, if you would be so kind as to deliver it.'

'Yes, my lady, my apologizes for speaking out of turn.' Turwathiel bowed her head leaving.

Anariel hoped this worked they she planned with the king now, with a deep breath she headed for his study, there was only one way to find out.

King Thranduil rested his head in hands avoiding those within the study, slowly though unwillingly he glanced upwards before looking back down.

Lord Elrond along with his sons, Elohir, and Elladan stood off to the side, waiting patiently enough.

While Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn looked on with almost amused smiles, 'When might our Marchwarden be here?' She questioned breaking the silence.

'Hopefully soon.' Thranduil said bitterly, keeping his head down. 'I will once again apologize for this all, Lady Galadriel for, what I assume was a misunderstanding.'

Lady Galadriel smiled warmly to the tired, weary king. 'I assure you there are no ill tidying's between us or our realms.'

Thranduil nodded, forcing himself to look up from his hands. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn stood to the right calm and serene awaiting the proceedings patiently. Along with Lord Elrond and his son Elohir, all the while Elladan stood with a grimace upon his face chin jutted upwards his eyes flickered between the king and his father.

Time seemed to drag on with the tensions high in the room, but for Haldir who now stalked behind Feren down the long hall knowing that he would have the opportune moment to confront Elladan it dragged on even more so.

'Can you pick up the pace?' The robust Marchwarden snapped out bitter, and angrily as he gritted his teeth.

'So anxious to see a elleth you will never have,' Feren snapped back without thought, though just as quickly he chided himself. This was not why he returned early from the field.

'No.' Haldir answered in all seriousness, 'I want to see the elf's face when I destroy his perfect, know-it-all, world. I want to see him crumble, when he finds out I know it was him that did this to her.'

Feren paused in his steps. Perhaps it was his words all together. Or the fact, that for the first time, Feren could agree with Haldir. No. It perhaps was more than all that it was the way his voice cracked, the way it wavered at the end. The way he knew his own had now then when he spoke of her. Despite the rumours, and Haldir shooting them down as fast they came, Feren knew it. Haldir truly loves her.

'Is it true?' Feren asked before he could stop himself.

'It what true?' His eyes narrowed in annoyance at his lack of movement, and uncertainty at where he was going with this.

'Is it true, you agreed to attend the ceremony with Anariel?' Feren elaborated, turning around to the look the other marchwarden in the eye.

'Yes.'

Feren nodded. He had told him before but he hadn't quite believed them, now though, now that he was certain that he loved her, he believed him.

'Jealous,' Haldir prodded.

Feren shook it off with a deep breath, he promised Anariel he would not stand in her way, that he would protect and love her from a far even if she chose Haldir, he could not go on fighting with him in secret. For her. He had to hold true to that, even if it broke his own heart, if she was happy that's all he cared about. His time travelling back form Rivendell and back in the field allowed him to see that, better than he had before.

'No. Perhaps at one point I would have been. But, no. Just… she seems to have chosen you so just… promise me you will take care of her when I cannot. I will not stand in your way any longer. Just see to it that she is happy.'

Haldir recoiled slightly, taking a step back. Surprised by his words it took him a moment to collect his thoughts, to realize that this… this was his way of saying "Truce."

'I will. Though don't be so sure it is I she chose. I… I stood her up last night, she is furious at me, rightfully so, none of this would have happen with Elladan if I had been there with her like I promised.'

'You love her, don't you?'

Haldir immediately opened his mouth to deny it, but closed it all the same. Who was he kidding. As he stood face to face with the one other ellon who loved their princess, he knew he saw it, probably sensed as it was the same way he to felt. Slowly, painstakingly he nodded ever so slightly in confirmation.

'I see. Then, I believe we have an ellon to tear down before he tries to harm our princess anymore.'

Haldir nodded firmly this time, a smirk in place they took off at a brisk pace.

Thranduil finally lifted his head from his hands as Feren and Haldir entered the room ready to begin what he assumed to be an intense, and exhausting meeting.

'You!' Haldir sneered the moment his foot crossed the threshold, directly behind Feren. He lunged towards Elladan, 'I'll see you in ruin-'

'Haldir! Step down.' Thranduil commanded standing tall, 'What is the meaning of this?'

'It was him. You son of a-'

'Haldir!' Thranduil warned, stepping around the desk, 'Do you wish to find yourself back in the dungeons?'

Haldir spun on his heels, staring the great elven king down despite feeling a pair of hands upon his upper arms, 'Do it then, but I will not stand down with him standing here looking so smug. It was him! He did this to Anariel!'

'Very well, we will keep it in mind, but we must wait for Anariel,' Thranduil bit out sharply.

The door creaked open one last time after a moment as Anariel entered leaving her guards to await outside, her eyes immediately landed upon those of her father's.

'Come sit,' the king breathed out to his daughter, taking her into his hands. 'How fairs the injury?' His worried eyes lingering on her shoulder.

'Well, Ada, a little sore still from my fall yesterday but still all things considered I am okay.'

Thranduil nodded, happy to hear such news.

'I want to know what happened last night, and who did this-'

'I told you who did it,' Haldir's screaming voice interrupted, his fist clenched by his side.

'Haldir, I hear you, however, let us keep in mind it is you the princess was mad enough at to throw in the dungeons.'

'Me? I would never harm, you don't truly think I-'

'Whoa wait, I threw no one in the dungeons?' Anariel exclaimed from her chair.

'I had to release Haldir from the dungeons this morning, as your guards threw him there last night, after you called them to, to deal with him.' Thranduil explained looking to Anariel in his chair.

'Oh!' Anariel paused, pushing her lips into a thin, before allowing the laugh she was holding back free. A gentle, light, laugh at the Marchwarden's expense.

'Anariel, there is nothing funny about this!' The king scolded his daughter wearily, as the other looked on with raised eyebrows.

'While I don't doubt sitting in cell did you some good, and I admit I was mad...am mad at Haldir. I had not intended to have him thrown into the dungeons that was, well, a slight miscommunication.' Anariel replied firmly, through a small amused smile.

'Slight miscommunication?' Haldir growled out towards the princess, in annoyance, though despite the best of him he couldn't help smirk back at him quirking an eyebrow at her. Gods, he loved her fieriness.

'Your fine,' Anariel noted quirking an eye back at him, leaning back in the chair further.

Thranduil dropped his head into hand closing his eyes briefly, before casting his daughter a side glance. 'Let us first focus on the main reason you are here, Elladan, to what do you say upon the accusations laid against you.'

Lord Elrond looked to his son awaiting his answer, 'Speak, Elladan, we will resolve this now.'

'She comes into our home! She attacks me! She acts as she does, and you lot think she is fit to be our princess! I know her sort.' Elladan raged, firm in his view of the princess that sat before them.

Haldir lunged at him, clenching his fists he swung, 'You know nothing of her-'

'She will never be fit to be our princess!' Elladan shot back jumping towards Haldir, the lunging pair were pulled back forced apart as fists flew towards one another.

'Enough!' Thranduil's voiced echoed around the small room.

Feren tossed Haldir from his hands where he had been restraining him.

'Elladan!' It was Elrond, his voice furious, yet held an eerie calmness to it. 'To what extent would you see him dealt with?'

Thranduil mulled over the question momentarily, 'Let the princess decide, it is she that was attacked. How would you see this dealt with.'

She froze, heart stopped briefly as the lump grew in her throat. What was she to say? What did she want done with him? 'I...' Anything she was in charge, held every ounce of power and yet she felt nothing but minor annoyance. Glancing to her arm the deep gouged he left, in the end, were minor. We're she in Bree she'd turn her back on him and never speak to him again. But she was no longer a citizen of Bree, she was the crowned princess of Mirkwood, the daughter of the Great Elven King Thranduil and she had to find away to prove herself to all of these elves including Elladan. For all three realms of elves looked up to this one king and one day her, as queen.

'I...' she sighed, taking a deep breath, 'I understand your hatred towards me, and your anger for both. you seeing me as an outsider and for my actions. In my actions I have wronged many, for that I am sorry, but my wrong doings do not give room for your own. We cannot expect to continue holding such a strong people together if we seek to tear one another down. I take full responsibility for my actions up until this point, in time I hope to make up for these actions. In such I ask not to have you, Elladan, dealt with or punished though I believe you will see this request as such, but rather I ask you to stay,'

There was a collective gasp around the room, Elladan stood staring at her with wide eyes.

'Stay. For you somehow know me, know everything there is to know about me and I intend to both prove you wrong and will have your respect.' Anariel finished standing from her seat, placing a hand upon her shoulder for support as she did so.

'You can ask for my respect all you want, but you will not get it!' Elladan growled out through gritted teeth, looking to his father to deny this so called princess her request.

Anariel smiled, turning to face him fully. 'You miss understand me, I fear, I am not asking you for anything, I am demanding it.' Her eyes narrowed as his did, squaring back her shoulders the best she could she meet her father's eyes, a smile graced his lips.

'Lord Elrond?' Thranduil prompted, awaiting his acceptance.

'Your not actually going to agree to this, what could I possibly do here in Mirkwood that would-'

'I agree,' Elrond nodded firmly, a smile upon his lips as he looked to the princess, 'I believe this to be a reasonable, and just request. You should be glad for the threat and disrespect you have thrown towards our princess could have easily led to far more serious consequences.'

'What!'

'Our princess has spoken, Elladan, be thankful she could have had you thrown in the dungeons for such an attack on her.' Elrond scolded his son sternly through pursed lips.

Anariel cocked her with a light nod as if considering the idea, it certainly wouldn't have been a bad idea.

'I believe my daughter, as crowned princess will be in need of an adviser herself. Perhaps, this would suit your wishes, muinlell?' Thranduil spoke, clasping his hands in front of him. 'He'd be there for you as Relien is for myself. And seeing you will now need one to take care of smaller affairs and such, having Elladan as adviser and a part of the your council would prove wise. Will this suffice? Elrond, thoughts?'

'That would entail being with her nearly all the time.' Elladan raged, furiously looking between his father and the king, surely they couldn't be serious.

'Indeed, I agree with such. Perhaps more of an honour than he deserves as this point, and so I thank you.' Elrond smiled kindly to his friend, giving his head shake towards his son. True he knew that they had not began on a good foot within Rivendell, still though this was a step too far.

'See to it, that Elladan has a room close to Anariel's and his belongings are moved there.' Thranduil ordered to Relien, who stood silently in the corner, awaiting any orders or service that his king may need.

'Of course, my lord, as you wish.' Relien left the room to see through his tasks.

'If there is nothing else at hand then-'

'Father?' Anariel spoke up looking him in the eyes, with a deep breath she awaited his response convincing herself this could work, she knew from her time in Bree that this would bring her some happiness, though she held a lingering feeling that the king would not approve so first so must figure how to make this work with out angering him and allowing him to see this was right.

'Yes, Anariel, is there another matter at hand that needs to be dealt with?' Thranduil asked, hiding a sigh from his voice glancing towards Feren and Haldir.

Her eyes followed her fathers to Feren and Haldir, she in truth needed to sort it out with them, but not here not like this. 'Yes, and no. Do you remember telling me part of my new duties would be to hear the pleas of our people?' Anariel paced the room slowly, hands clasped in front of her as she moved choosing her words carefully.

'Of course, I do, munilell. We will hear the pleas of our people at weeks end. Elladan will be there now as an Adviser to you, should I decided you are to make a decision on a matter we are faced with.' Thranduil firmly in all seriousness, as he watched his daughters pacing form.

'And one can assume that you have kept records of such interactions?'

'Careful, Thranduil, she seem to be testing you?' Elrond chuckled light heartedly.

Anariel let a laugh escape her lips, 'No not at all, Lord Elrond. But do you?' Anariel turned back to her father in all seriousness.

'Yes, of course.' He quirked an eyebrows towards his daughter wondering.

'Good, I was wondering if I might see them, I had got to thinking this morning and wanted to read them through prepare myself more, to learn and understand what-'

The king held up a for her to stop, Anariel swallowed roughly nervous to what her father might say. 'You may, I am glad to see you taking an interest in our people and actively seeking out how to further help them as well as preparing more into your role as Crowned Princess.'

'Thank you, Ada.' She bowed her head, slowing her pacing to a stop, looking up to his eyes she smiled gently, hoping with all hope that he would not be mad when he found out just what she was up to.

'Legolas, go with Anariel and show her where the records are kept. If that is all, muinlell, you may be excused with your brother. Elladan, your princess will be needing you now.'

'Hannon le, Ada.'

Anariel headed out of the chambers, pausing a mere two steps out before popping her head back in, 'I'll speak with you two later.' She add curtly towards Feren and Haldir, before following Legolas's footsteps once more.

'And she thinks she will not make a good queen?' Lady Galadriel spoke, 'She is already such a leader, surely she must see such.'

'I fear she doesn't, but I have know doubt that in time she will come to see it. I believe in her.' Thranduil spoke in a low gentle voice of daughter.

He had no doubts any longer that she will be a great assent to this kingdom, what he did doubt was her reasoning for wanting the tomes, a smile flitting across his features. He knew without doubt that she cared, wanted to help, but sensed she had another idea could see it sparkle in her eyes. But he would not stop her, keep an eye on her, yes. Thranduil couldn't help but admit he was curious as to what she had planned.