The first chapter ended with:

Mithrandir did not hear the rest of the conversation, but he was amazed by the king's perceptiveness. Thranduil felt that they were in Greenwood to ask them to participate in some difficult task. What would be his reaction when they told him that they wanted to send his only heir to a different world to bring back a mortal woman to mate with her? He shivered. That conversation would certainly not go well.

Chapter 2 – Two champions

Two hours later, King Thranduil and his son were waiting for their visitors in their private dining room. The First Counselor Bronadon and his mate Ninaelil were also in attendance. The four elves were wearing their dark green ceremonial garments, and Thranduil's crown was adorned with the last flowers of the season while Legolas was wearing a simple gold circlet. The king was pacing back and forth in front of the immense fireplace while Legolas was sitting at his designated place. The only sign of the tension he was feeling was the rapid tapping of his fingers on the table. Bronadon was used to the displays of stress that the king and his son only showed to their closest companions, but his wife Ninaelil dearly wished she was elsewhere. The elleth was in charge of the king's household and the presence of such renowned visitors was creating additional chores to ensure they would be received properly, as their status required. She would have preferred to be planning the meals, housekeeping and entertainment of the guests instead of attending this formal dinner that promised to be anything but informal and friendly. Her husband had warned her that the chances of this dinner finishing in a peaceful manner were small to non-existent.

She fully agreed with her mate. The Elvenking had the demeanor of his worst days, when the memories of his deceased wife were tormenting him. Those days, many elves were avoiding the king, and only his son could interact with him. No one in Greenwood blamed him. Centuries ago, his wife had gone to Lake-town to buy fabrics and other trinkets, and her escort had been attacked by orcs. No one had survived. The orcs had dismembered the bodies and placed the elven heads on pikes along the way between the caves and the city on the lake. Gathering the dismembered bodies of the queen, her ladies and the warriors who had been outnumbered had been the most horrifying task the elves of Greenwood had ever accomplished, and that day, King Thranduil had become a cold-hearted ellon. In the following months, most ellith living in Greenwood were sent to the Grey Havens to sail to Valinor, with only a courageous few remaining to stay with their mates and become the support system of a land that had become a realm of Spartan warriors.

Ninaelil wished she could sail to the Undying Lands as her naneth – mother – and sister had done centuries before. The call of the sea was worse with each passing year, assailing her fëa – soul – many times a day, making it difficult to concentrate on complicated tasks. She could imagine the calming sounds of the waves, the taste of the salt on her lips, the piercing cries of the gulls flying high in the cloudy sky... Oh, to see the ocean as far as the eye could see! Bronadon was also feeling the call, but his loyalty to his king was limitless. Her mate would never let King Thranduil down. There was no one to replace him as counselor. The Silvan elves were renowned for producing deadly warriors, but scholars could be counted on the fingers of one hand. None of the others could replace him anytime soon.

A guard opened the door and announced the arrival of their guests. The king and Legolas immediately put on amenable expressions, hiding their tension skillfully in front of strangers. Thranduil walked to Galadriel and offered her his arm while inquiring if she was satisfied with her room. He led her to her seat between himself and Legolas, Mithrandir and Celeborn sat near Bronadon while Haldir, who was wearing his Marchwarden uniform, elected to sit right beside Ninaelil. She realized he was a strong and impressive swordsman, but as a loyal servant of the Woodland realm, she considered that Prince Legolas was the greatest archer and that he was unbeatable with his twin blades. She turned her attention back to the king. Thranduil and Legolas were discussing with the Lady of Light while Bronadon was conversing with Lord Celeborn and the wizard. It left her no choice but to entertain the Lothlorien Marchwarden. She turned to her left and asked Haldir about his sister-in-law Nellethiel, and was pleased to hear that she was now a healer of great talent. The conversation eventually moved on to her friend Alassë, who was a very close friend of Haldir. Alassë had been born in Greenwood and had moved to Lothlorien two centuries before. Haldir gave her news of the elleth and an uncomfortable silence fell between them. There was very little in common between a housekeeper and a Marchwarden, and she was searching in vain for a subject that would interest him. She decided to ask him about the orc attacks in Lothlorien, and he started describing the frequency and severity of these attacks while she politely listened, being careful not to yawn or let her thoughts stray to the duties she would need to perform the next day.

They ate the first two courses while Haldir was still passionately talking about the Lothlorien wardens. Their one-way conversation was interrupted when the king's voice suddenly boomed in the dining room. "Lady Galadriel, you cannot be serious!"

"Prince Legolas is one of the possible champions. The Valar have allowed me to see this in my mirror."

Haldir's attention left the nice elleth sitting beside him and he listened to the conversation at the other end of the table. His lady had never told him there was another possible champion! He had always been under the impression that he was the only ellon who could accomplish this ancient prophecy. And now, he was hearing that the prince was also a possible champion? Were there other ellyn who could mate with this mortal woman?

"Find another ellon! My son will be no puppet in your hands!"

"There are only two champions, Thranduil," Mithrandir intervened. "And neither would be a puppet in our hands. This is a great destiny we are talking about. It is no curse to avoid at all costs!"

"How can marrying a mortal woman be anything but a curse?" Thranduil asked, bewildered and insulted that his son was being approached for this task. Without a doubt, the Noldorin lady and her Sindarin mate had chosen his son because he was a Silvan elf. No Noldo or Sinda would ever accept to bind with a mortal. It was too distasteful. He briefly thought of the rumors he had heard about Elrond's daughter being in love with a mortal ranger, but dismissed it quickly. After all, Elrond's line was considered half-elven since their descendants could choose between mortality and immortality. But none of this for his son!

"You are wrong, Thranduil," Galadriel said, reading his mind. "Haldir is the second possible champion, and he is a Sinda."

The king turned his glare in the direction of the Marchwarden and studied him in silence. Haldir held his gaze seriously but could not quite hide his relief that he might be spared this awful destiny. The king grinned sarcastically and turned back to the Lady of Light. "It seems that your Marchwarden would like to avoid this incredible destiny at all costs too!"

Haldir could not agree more with him, but did not like being spoken about as if he was absent. Would his lord and lady be annoyed if he spoke his mind in front of the king? Galadriel nodded to him, and he decided to speak freely. "You are right, your Majesty. I have not yet accepted this destiny, although I am being told what an incredible opportunity it is. It is... too unexpected."

"Unexpected? You are a real diplomat, Marchwarden! You should give your sword back to Celeborn and become a Lothlorien ambassador!" Thranduil replied with irony. "Unexpected!" he repeated with disbelief, looking at his only son who was thoughtfully listening the conversation.

"Whichever champion will accept this will be honored by the Valar and live a great destiny. There was never any consideration relating to the Sindarin or Silvan origin of the champions. We are merely facing the reluctance of warriors who do not wish to face the unknown," Galadriel said with conviction. "Going to a different world, having a mate and a family..."

"My son will not be your champion!" Thranduil replied icily.

"Adar, may I have a word in private?" Legolas asked. He stood and bowed to their guests. "Please excuse us, and do not wait for us to finish your dinner. We should be back shortly." He eyed his father meaningfully and Thranduil stood stiffly, wondering what his son wanted to talk to him about. He followed Legolas to his private office, still fuming about the outrageous demand of the Lothlorien rulers.

Legolas closed the door behind them and attacked immediately.

"Father, I am as appalled as you are with the idea of mating with a mortal. But we must think about this in a strategic way. If this prophecy is right and that many elven kings will be reborn, would you not want them to be reborn here, in our realm? It would increase tenfold the importance that we have in Middle Earth."

"I do not wish for this importance! We have managed the threats of Dol Guldur alone, without the help of our kind. We do not need them, and they do not need us."

"But Adar, this could change. We could become the leaders! You rule the only realm unprotected by a ring of power. We could have the prophecy elflings! You might be a Sinda yourself, but us Silvans have always been treated as inferior elves by the Noldorin and Sindarin elves of the other realms. We never had renowned scholars and minstrels... This is our chance of proving that we can be as good as they are, Ada!"

"Legolas, you are my only son! I love you! I will never push you into an arranged marriage, with a mortal to make matters worse. You deserve to be bonded to your true fëa-mate and live happy like your naneth made me happy."

"This is what I am intending to do! But let me ask more questions, to assess the advantages our realm could gain with this!"

"This is too dangerous! Going in a different world!"

"Let me get as much help as I can from Mithrandir and Lady Galadriel. I am not fooling myself, this world will be completely different from ours, and I will need some help to adapt. And I will make you this promise: if I go in this other world, meet her and realize she is not worthy, I will come back here and then... either the Marchwarden goes under the orders of Lord Celeborn, or the prophecy will never be accomplished."

Thranduil observed his son for a long time. His outright refusal had probably been a mistake in light of Legolas' arguments. He trusted his son's judgment and knew that this mortal woman would never set foot in his realm if she was not worthy of becoming Legolas' mate and the princess of the realm by the same token.

"You know I trust you, ion nin - my son. I have always trusted you, and I will not stop today."

Legolas smiled. "Thank you, Father. Tomorrow morning, I will speak with Lady Galadriel, ask for as much information as I can, and then I will seek your final counsel on the matter. We will make this decision together. For the good of our realm."

OoOoO

Galadriel was sitting on a bench underneath an immense tree in the courtyard in front of the fortress, observing the preparations of a group of warriors who were leaving for guard duty in the forest. Prince Legolas was with them, having a word with each ellon and joking with them. They were armed to the teeth and were carrying food that the elves could not hunt or pick in the forest. Legolas had also given a message for his lieutenant Hadron, who would be wondering why he had not joined the group of warriors. The soldiers bowed to their captain and waved to their friends while the few that still had their mate in Greenwood kissed them goodbye. The unit would be gone for more than a month, and in a few days some other warriors would arrive back home for a well deserved rest of two weeks before leaving again to guard the forest.

Life in Greenwood was not quiet and pleasant like in Imladris, Galadriel realized. It had much changed in the last century. Only the Lothlorien wardens could begin to understand how difficult this life was, and it was obvious that their lives were easier than these warriors', since Lorien was protected by the ring of power she was wearing. She felt guilty to have turned her eyes away while the situation of Greenwood was deteriorating. But again, would Thranduil have accepted her help?

Legolas watched his warriors leave the security of the wall in front of the fortress, and slowly made his way to her, deciding to take advantage of her solitude to discuss the matter of the mortal woman in private. He sat beside her and politely asked her if she had had a restful night. She answered simply and waited for him to finally ask the questions that she could read in his mind.

He hesitated between many questions, but finally settled for an open one, letting Galadriel lead the subject. "Tell me everything you know about her, my Lady."

Galadriel laughed quietly. "The Valar only gave me access to images of her life for a few days before we traveled here, pushed by the emergency of choosing the champion. I have seen some of her past, her present, and the two paths that could be her future, depending if she mates with you or with Haldir."

"What if neither of us wants to make the journey?"

"One of you will, Legolas. Either by free choice in your case, or by free choice or by my orders in Haldir's case. And whoever will go to her world will bind with her, and quite happily at that if I may add, and he will never regret his decision. So, where do you want me to start, my Prince?"

"What is her name? How old is she? What does she look like? What does she do in life?"

Galadriel started laughing again. "I will try to answer all your questions. Her name is Valerie Thompson. She lives in a world that is completely different from ours. It would be very difficult for me to explain half the things I have seen in my mirror because I simply do not understand them."

"How different is her world?"

"Nature is mostly the same, there are trees, flowers, animals and birds. The differences come from how the people live. If anything, this world is in advance as compared to Middle Earth. They have means of transportation that are astounding. They even have large metal carriages that fly like birds, and I cannot understand how they can accomplish that without the help of magic. Also, they live much more comfortably than the mortals here. These humans have created inventions to fix the problems we have in our world. Mortals there live longer, are healthier and more educated. As compared to them, Rohan and Gondor are at the dawn of their history."

"Am I to understand that I will have difficulty adapting to this world if I go there?" he asked, realizing it might not be easy for him to blend in the crowds if his senses were bombarded by unknown things and places.

"Yes, you will. I am glad to hear that you are not going to throw yourself in this adventure without a minimum of preparation to succeed. I know Haldir, if he decides to go, will certainly not take as many precautions."

"Your Marchwarden is still considering the option? Of his own free will?"

"All options are still possible at this point, my Prince. I know what you are thinking. Having the prophecy children would be beneficial for any realm, whether it is Lothlorien or Greenwood. We both agree on this. Very few people realize that, except us both and Lord Elrond. He is deeply disappointed that Glorfindel is not a possible champion for the accomplishment of the prophecy. He would have loved to have this family in his realm."

"And Greenwood has yet to decide if we will accept," Legolas mentioned, revealing by the same token that the decision would be made by both his father and himself.

"Then we are at the same point. Lothlorien's champion has not made a decision yet either."

"Tell me more about her."

"Her profession is difficult to understand. From what I can tell, she creates little books with lots of drawings and texts for women. This is very strange! Women buy these little books regularly, and seem to enjoy reading them very much."

"Poetry books or books for scholars?"

"Neither! From what I can tell, it is purely for entertainment. She has many people working for her, she seems to be known in many circles and is very successful and prosperous. She is traveling a lot and it is difficult for the children."

"Which children?"

"Her children! Did I forget to mention she has three children?"

"Yes, you did forget! Why would you send your Marchwarden or myself to bring back a married woman?"

"She is not bonded."

"Is she a widow?"

"I do not believe so. Not with what I have seen of her past."

"Things are just getting better!" Legolas cried with irony. "Where is the father of these children?"

"I quickly searched in her past and there were some... lovers in her life. They never had an important role. I am not sure which one of them is the father of the children or as a matter of fact, if they all have the same father."

Legolas suddenly jumped to his feet and started pacing. "This is unbelievable! You want one of us to bind with some... mortal whore!"

"Watch your language, young ellon!" Galadriel said, standing up too and glaring at him. "I have watched her many times in my mirror since the first time I have seen her. You cannot compare her life with the lives that mortals are living here. In her world, people bind and break their bond at will. People live together for years and have children outside marriage. Valerie Thompson is a hard working woman, recognized for her accomplishments, living a difficult and stressful life. You have no idea the treasure that she is, and Haldir and you should consider yourselves lucky for the opportunity to mate with such an extraordinary woman! I would request that you use a respectful language when you speak of her."

Legolas sat back down on the bench and put his head in his hands. Really, Lady Galadriel must be out of her mind! Suggesting to bring back a woman from a different world with different customs, a mortal that could never be worthy of being the princess of his realm, a human he would never be able to love. Women who had had three children in Middle Earth were no more than ruined versions of their former selves. It was something to fall in love with a woman, but falling in love with an unattractive, old mortal, that just seemed impossible to him.

"She is not unattractive and old!" the Lady of Light protested, proving once again that her mind-reading capabilities were quite astounding. "Life in her world is much easier, and women age much slower than in Rohan or in Gondor. The first thing you must learn is to stop calling her a mortal. The Valar would not be cruel to the point where they would allow you to bind with a woman, only to see her die a few years later and follow her in death through fading because of your bond. This is a prophecy, not a curse!"

"What do you mean?"

"She will stop aging and become immortal when she is brought here by one of the champions."

"And what about her children? Are they to come here too?"

"It is up to the ellon who will bind with her to decide. Although, as a naneth, I strongly recommend not separating a mother from her children."

"Would they remain mortal?"

"I have not seen anything in my mirror that tells me about the fate of her children. I know not if they will come here or remain in her world. In fact, I have seen none of the reborn elves either."

"Another fact to consider then," he sighed. "What are the other things I need to know in order to make an informed decision?"

"She is not unattractive like you suspect. In fact, she is breathtakingly beautiful." Her tone was cold and slightly offended, as if his earlier remarks had insulted a person close to her heart.

"Please describe her to me. We might not have the same taste in women," he said with a smirk, and his teasing comment immediately calmed her down.

"The fiery storm is a perfect description for her. She has a strong character, she is courageous and tough in adversity. Her children and her work are everything for her. Her parents and brother are not very close to her, as far as I can tell, but she does have a sister that she likes very much. She seems very intelligent and dedicated. I do not believe you can find a better elleth to help your adar and yourself rule Greenwood."

"You avoid describing her physically. Are you attempting to hide something?"

"Absolutely not. She looks very different than any elleth you have ever seen."

"She looks strange?"

"I never said she looks strange! I said that she is beautiful, but different from an elleth. She is tall, curvier than the average elleth, and has the most beautiful smile and piercing emerald green eyes. Her hair is long and curly, it has a rich dark auburn color with very red highlights under the sunlight. As opposed to some mortals with red hair you might have seen before, her skin is not pale with freckles. Her skin is of a golden tone without imperfections. If you bring her back here, be ready to have at your side a mate that will draw attention. Are you up to it?"

"I think I can handle her, if what you describe is accurate."

"Both Haldir and yourself can handle her, Legolas. Otherwise, you would not have been chosen by the Valar as a possible champion."

"How long do I have to think about this?"

"A few days at the most. Mithrandir needs to leave soon on a mission and he is the only one who can open the portal. Whoever leaves in a few days will have six months to convince her to bind with him and follow him back here before Mithrandir reopens the portal for the journey back."

Legolas spent the rest of the day in the library, trying to sort his thoughts and failing miserably. Despite his promise to his adar, he wanted to make the decision himself and then convince his father to agree with him. After all, he was the one who would live with the consequences of that decision. He skipped dinner to make sure he would not meet his father, and eventually walked back to his apartment late that night, confused, uncertain about this decision he had to make. As prince of the Woodland Realm, he knew he had to make sacrifices for the greater good of Middle Earth, and of Greenwood in particular. He had not been raised to avoid his duty, and had never considered doing so until that day. He had risked his life many times, had been injured so frequently that he had lost the count. But this... Binding himself for all eternity with a woman he had never met before, it seemed like a sad fate! How could he not fade if he found himself bound to a woman he did not love?

When he opened the door of his apartment, he heard in his bedroom the soft breathing of the elleth that he spent most of his nights with when he was at home. Amareth was a childhood friend who had become his lover more than 50 years before. He had great affection for her, and he knew that her feelings for him ran deeper than his. He had always been clear that he was not in love with her, and she seemed satisfied with her current position as lover. He knew she was greatly enjoying the deference of the other elves because of her close relationship with him.

He started to undress while darkly wondering if it would be better to bind himself with an unknown mortal woman that already had children, or with a childhood friend that he respected and liked enough. He threw his tunic on a nearby chair, and sat on another, putting his head between his hands, feeling the beginning of a headache. He only had a few days to make the most difficult decision of his entire life, a decision with considerable consequences for Middle Earth. He knew that the Lothlorien Marchwarden was waiting for him to make his decision first. And Legolas liked the idea that he would have the first choice. If this woman was so extraordinary, he should be the one marrying her and having her at his and his father's side to rule Greenwood.

He suddenly realized that within just a few minutes, he had both dreaded this binding and wished for it. He jerked out of his chair to start pacing in the room, inadvertently kicking the quiver that Amareth must have placed on the floor near the chair. The quiver was projected further away with a thud and the arrows scattered on the floor. He swore under his breath. He could not remember how many times he had told her not to touch his weapons, and she kept doing it!

"Legolas?" Amareth called from his bed. He had succeeded in waking her up. He picked up the arrows, knowing he would have to check the fletching in the morning to ensure there had been no damage.

That night, he made love to Amareth but was puzzled to realize that while he was with the golden blonde elleth, all he could think of was a fiery red-haired woman with green eyes.

OoOoO

"I told Legolas all the information required for him to make an enlightened decision. I can say that I have been fair to both realms, Celeborn. But I still think it would be best if Haldir was convinced to go in her world. This woman would bring so much to Lothlorien!"

"I am sorry, my love. I did everything I could. But our Marchwarden told me earlier today that he will only go if Prince Legolas refuses to accept this destiny."

"Prince Legolas is a fearless warrior, but above all else, he is an intelligent political man, like his adar. He will not refuse. I could read it in his mind, even if he doesn't realize it yet. He is intrigued by what I told him about her. She will not be out of his mind for a minute, even in his sleep."

"Then we have to rejoice that at least one of them will bring her back here and ensure that the prophecy takes place before Sauron gains even greater power. In the end, that should be our goal, wherever she ends up living."

OoOoO

Thranduil was standing beside his son, his usual impassive expression in place. Only his eyes were betraying his distress as his only child was preparing to cross the portal to an unknown world that Mithrandir was about to open. Two days before, Legolas had announced to Lady Galadriel that he was accepting her proposal. The Marchwarden of Lothlorien had given up the opportunity with barely concealed relief, hoping his lord and lady would soon forget his lack of cooperation in this matter.

Legolas had a backpack containing lembas bread, water and lots of gold coins. Lady Galadriel had pointed out that his beginnings in this different world would be much easier if he brought some items that could be exchanged for the money they were using in that world. Gold and jewelry were the only easily transportable items that were valuable in both worlds. They had agreed that he needed to spend a few weeks just getting used to their customs before he looked for Valerie Thompson, and for that, he needed financial resources to live until he found her. Legolas knew that he would probably not succeed if he just showed up at her doorstep to bring her back to Middle Earth.

"It is time," Mithrandir finally said. Thranduil gave him a panicked look but regained control shortly after, giving his backpack to his son. Mithrandir recited the incantation and the portal suddenly opened in the middle of the courtyard. It looked like a thin veil of water vertically suspended above the ground, and Legolas curiously touched it with his fingers, expecting it to feel wet on his fingertips. Sensing the portal wasn't wet nor painful, he turned back to his father and hugged him in front of the witnesses.

Of course, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn were in attendance, along with Haldir and his wardens. Bronadon and his wife Ninaelil, Amareth and many of Legolas' warriors were standing in a corner, watching their prince getting ready to leave Middle Earth. The warriors were wondering why their captain was leaving on a mission for the wizard. Legolas had refused to communicate the reason behind his departure, in case he came back without Valerie Thompson. After all, he had promised his father he would not bring her back if he had not fallen in love with her. Thranduil had been adamant that Legolas should not sacrifice his love life for the sake of Greenwood. The Elvenking was convinced that Sauron could be defeated without a change in Legolas' marital status.

Amareth on the other hand, had been advised by Legolas that he would be gone for half a year, and that he preferred to break their relationship to give her the opportunity to be with another ellon. She had resolutely declined his offer, and after many hours of questioning, he had finally admitted to his current lover the purpose of his mission: finding a wife for himself, a mortal woman that would have reborn elves from him. That conversation had not gone well to say the least, but it had not changed anything to the end result: he had still put an end to their affair. Convinced his quest was going to fail, she had sworn that she would wait for him and take back her place in his life when he came back empty-handed. She did not think that he would not be able to seduce a mortal! Legolas was by far the most popular of bachelors in Middle Earth. But she refused to contemplate the possibility that he would fall in love with this mortal. He did not even realize it, but his standards were the highest possible, and she knew that most ellith did not even raise a tiny bit of interest in him. Even herself, a renowned beauty in her realm, had never succeeded in getting more than his bed favours. How could an ugly mortal succeed were she had not?

Amareth blew a kiss in Legolas' direction, smiling enticingly after, making sure he knew she was not afraid of his mission. He smiled politely, deeply annoyed by her attitude and catching his father's eyes at the same time. Thranduil had always warned Legolas that Amareth would eventually become a problem, and Legolas was only realizing it today. Once more, he admitted to himself that his adar had been rarely wrong in the past centuries.

"I will see you soon, Ada," Legolas whispered to his father, trying to keep their last conversation private. "Do not worry for me, I have faced much greater danger."

"You have no idea what kind of danger awaits you there. You could face unknown perils for which you will be unprepared..."

"Women and children live there. It cannot be very dangerous. Mithrandir said the region she lives in is relatively peaceful. And worry not, I will keep your advice in mind."

Thranduil nodded. He had asked Legolas to carefully evaluate if this woman was really worth becoming a princess of the Woodland Realm. He doubted Legolas could fall in love with any woman, even if she seemed mysterious and exotic to his foreign eyes. Their realm needed more than the laying hen the prophecy described, it required a strong hand to help rule Greenwood and build bridges with the other realms, something both Legolas and him had failed to do in the past centuries. He doubted such a woman existed, but he had to admit there was a flicker of hope in his heart as he watched his son about to disappear in the portal.

Legolas nodded to the people he knew around him, secured his back pack, quiver and his twin blades, took his bow and nocked an arrow, making sure to be ready to shoot any threatening beings he would find on the other side of the portal.

Behind Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn was standing the Lothlorien Marchwarden. Haldir kept his expression neutral, but deep inside, he was relieved to see the prince of Greenwood cross the portal. Haldir was fully dedicated to the protection of Lothlorien and did not think he would have been able to have such a large family to take care of while his responsibilities were already numerous and dangerous. He knew the Lady of Light had been disappointed and he also knew she would not easily forget, but he was ready to wait many decades before getting her forgiveness.

Legolas gave one last look to his father before entering the portal, bow first, then his head. He quickly looked around to ensure there were no threats at the other end. In this foreign world, it was night, a full moon high in the sky. The other side of the portal seemed to be in the middle of a small forest, very near an inhabited area. He could see lights, big houses, but no mortal was in sight. Knowing he was not in immediate danger and that in fact, his arrival would be unnoticed, he completely crossed the portal, and a few seconds later, it disappeared behind him. That was it. Whether he liked it or not, he was now in this world for half a year, unable to communicate or get help from anyone he knew.

I was soooo happy to see the positive reviews my latest story is getting! Please let me know what you think of this second chapter!

I would like to thank KrystylSky, Aureleis, Hirilnin, iloooveinuyasha1, Dorothea Blackmoor, Aranel Mereneth, Glorelwen, Angel, breneke87, Peridot Eyez, kaydub, Fi, Alice, carmynsorena and ccgnme for their support.

PurpleOrchid: Legolas won't remain a cold elf for long... In the next chapter, he will meet Valerie and he will change drastically...

Glory Bee: I am planning to include Haldir in the story, although he will remain a secondary character. I will make sure he gets is happy ending...

Paperlanterns86 and Cleopatraa: I already wrote a Glorfindel story, called The Nazgul Slayer. You can find it in my profile. The main character is OC, but Glorfindel is the main LOTR character.

Faye50free: You can't even begin to imagine how Valerie will be creating chaos in Thranduil's life. But he will also give her a run for her money!

Daenerys of Lorien: Haldir is also my favorite character. I have a lot of inspiration for this Legolas edition, but I am not sure what I will be writing after this story.

MGO: I hope you liked Thranduil's reaction when he heard about the prophecy!