Disclaimer: This story is not for profit. Everything belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter 3

I had ridden for the whole day and night without proper rest, only stopping then and again to walk Sunflower, and then once again returned to the usual run or trot.

I had never felt so tired as I did then, riding up to the inn that Aelon had described to me, where he said his daughter would be waiting.

Trying to avoid the shock and pain of the worst news I had ever heard in my life, I thought back to Aelon telling me to meet his daughter at this tavern. I had not known he had a daughter. He had never spoken of her, although now and again he had taken long trips to the country of Rohan where he had said he had family.

I tied my horse up outside the inn, and instead of hanging up my muddy cloak at the door, I decided to pull the hood down further over my head, lest I be recognized by someone who would, for the proper price, betray me to Baldrick.

I ordered a warm drink from the red-haired inn keep, and sat at an empty table near the fire. I tried to get as warm as I could without getting too close to the other patrons who had the same idea. I was wet, cold, dirty, and more tired than I had ever been before in my short and comfortable 15 years of life. I had scarcely had two sips of my drink before the world melted into a heavy black dream.

I nearly jumped out of my seat when I felt myself being shaken awake.

The person who was shaking me also had a hood over their face, but they pulled it down, and put a hand over my mouth, because I had given a small cry of fear, not knowing at first who it was.

The girl who had woken me was thin and somewhat tall, but despite her thinness still had childishly round cheeks. She had a pretty face, with big blue eyes and a long thin nose. Her hair was strait and yellow. I instantly took a liking to her, while still being annoyed at having been shaken awake. In truth I felt no more rested then I had before I had fallen asleep.

She said her name was Aeiliel, and explained that her father had sent a message to her saying that she was to come here and assist me in my journey to the town of Calembel.

"We must leave immediately, Laurwen, for there is no way of knowing how long you have been here and who may have seen you."

With that I followed her out of the tavern, and we rode our horses out of the tavern and into the dark night.

…..

The whims and follies of Mortal Men, Thranduil thought as he poured himself a glass of wine, will be the death of us all.

Thranduil had received a letter a few years ago from Baldrick himself, announcing to people of importance that he was now the lord of Pelargir, and governor of Lebennin. He went on to say that his Aunt and Uncle had committed treason, and with the approval of the Steward of Gondor he was now the owner and heir of the family estate. His cousin Fiske he declared as a rebel, but he promised that he meant his female cousin, Laurwen and her two younger brothers no harm. Most importantly, he mentioned, Laurwen's whereabouts were unknown. He worried for her safety, and mentioned that there would be a reward to anyone who brought her back alive safely. He implored all the rulers of Middle Earth to send him information of her whereabouts if she ventured near, and to hold her in their subsequent realms until he could come collect her and bring her safely home.

The words of the letter rang false to Thranduil, but did not give it much thought at the time because he had neither seen or heard trace of the young woman.

Thankfully, as he always hoped, none of the problems of the outside world or the world of men had ventured into Greenwood.

Until a month ago.

He could not be positive, but he was almost sure that the young woman who had been carried into his realm was Laurwen.

Words of her wit and beauty had been spoken of in many of the kingdoms of Middle Earth, including his own. Her deft avoidance of his questions assured him of her intelligence, and he could agree that she fit the beauty that she was described with. She was astonishingly fair, more so than even most elf maids. In his opinion, he had only seen one elleth that her beauty could be compared to. Her cousin's letter had said she would be a young maid, with dark curly hair and golden eyes.

Thranduil now found himself in an unexpected and unwelcome predicament.

To keep her in Greenwood would be to defy another lord and possibly bring outside trouble into this realm; that is, if word got out that Laurwen was here, which it assuredly would.

But to return her to her cousin. Thranduil felt that that would be very wrong. He was sure Baldrick meant the girl harm, and had possibly murdered her family.

It would definitely upset some of his subjects if he were to return her. Odd as it was, many of the elves had taken quite a shine to the young mortal princess. During the month Padhrion the healer had watched over her he had grown attached her, which the King could see from the way he had tried to protect her. It took a brave elf to come between the King and his decisions, and the loyal Padhrion had obviously been very concerned. Not to mention the elves that had been to see her while she was asleep had all been charmed by her youthful beauty, or so his cousin told him. That would explain why there had been so many elves there to watch her wake. Whispers of "Princess" and "Porcelain Doll" were emphasized by the white flowers someone had sprinkled into her thick dark hair. And she had woken, her eyes fluttering gently at first before revealing two enchanting golden orbs. Two enchanting, confused golden orbs. There was something about the girl that made you want to shield her from danger. But Thranduil knew looks could often be deceiving, and the girl had proved more than capable of taking care of herself by cunningly avoiding all of his questions.

Fortunately he had time to consider what to do, and possibly consult with his counselors on the matter.

And of course, first things first, he had to be sure that the young woman was indeed Laurwen.

I woke up in the same room as I had earlier, more miserable than I had ever been before in my entire life.

The effects the first rest and chance to heal I had had in a year were eclipsed by the chance to dwell on the miseries and heartaches that I had been too busy to think about for a year.

My parent's death, the separation from my remaining family, being lost and hungry, becoming too exhausted to go on, being separated from Aeiliel…

Worst of all I wasn't sure if the reason I was chased into these woods would find me here soon. I was still in mortal danger. Most elves were known for their wisdom and goodness, but now I was wary of trusting anyone. Also, had I not heard somewhere that the Elven King of Greenwood was not like other elves?

First the first time since I had awoken, I observed that the room I was in now, a healing room of some kind I guessed, was empty save for myself.

A better chance to sneak around, and try to perhaps find a way out, might not come again.

I pulled the clean white sheets aside, and threw my bare feet onto the elaborate wooden floor.

And fell face first onto the ground.

Up till now I had not realized how ill I had been.

I tried to get back up, but my legs were like two piles of mud.

The healing elf found me there, still trying to get up off of the floor, when he came in with my breakfast.

"My lady, you are still too ill to try to leave the bed unassisted. The King is insistent that you continue to have bed rest until you are fully recovered," he explained as he picked up my slim body off of the floor and carried me back to the bed, "but when you are feeling well again, he would like to invite you to sit at his table at a feast; both to celebrate your recovery and to get to know you better."

Get to know me better indeed, I thought as I pulled the covers back over myself, get to interrogate me better, more like.

As it seemed that I would be stuck here for a while, I silently prayed that the elf guards of Mirkwood kept out anyone who might mean to do me harm, and I supposed it was for the best that I stayed a few more days, since it didn't seem like I was well enough to go anywhere even if I was free.