Greenwood the Great,

Second Age.

The Rangers had used their powers to light up the night in the forest, the floating lights high up in the branches of the trees. The clearing was teaming with people, and laughter was mingled with music. It was the harvest feast, for this time the harvest had been particularly fruitful, and the Elves were drinking and were glad.

She laughed as she grabbed Milwen elbow, dragging her through the clearing.

"Come on!"

The two Ellyth were just as dressed as the rest of the Elves for the feast. She wore a light silver gown, silver ribbons woven into her hair. Milwen wore a dress of green, her sleeves wide and white in color from the elbows. The young Ellyth looked about them, admiring the view. There were deer and pheasants being ready to be eaten, and fowl was there as well. The gravy on the golden skin was enough to make anyone's mouth water, the welcoming scents of appetizing food wafting in the air. They spotted nuts baked in honey, and caramelized sugar, the sugar being a rare treat and they managed to get a few for themselves, the cooks shaking their heads as they saw the trays empty quickly. Silvan Elves had different customs, with many Elves sharing from a single bowl or a tray. Smaller portions would pass from hand to hand until all had taken their fill.

Licking the honey from her fingers, Arodien shook her head as one of the Rangers asked Milwen for a dance. She went, shooting her a merry look. Arodien wandered about the clearing, watching the Ellyn play games at one corner, comprising of shooting and riding. She saw the ladies dancing in a corner to some music. As she came closer to the stream near her village, she spotted a few archers and soldiers wading in the water, with their trousers rolled up and their boots strewn on the bank. The division of archers were welcomed back home after five years of extensive training, and among them was Golvon. Her eyes lit up at the prospect of meeting him again. The Elf had been just a few years older than her, and he had played many pranks on her as children are wont to do. But he left with kind words and she had not heard of him since.

He had his back turned to her, conversing with an Ellon she did not know. He had grown muscular and slightly broad-shouldered over the years, she noted. Still, he could not be too changed. She remembered his smile and his love for the trees. Mayhap they could meet again. At the moment though, she intend to get back at him for the entire childhood memories of playing tricks on her. She went to him, who was still speaking to his friend, hands gesturing lightly as they spoke. Reaching him, she spotted that he stood just at the bank of the stream, deeper and wider than most streams in the forest. It was perfect. She crept up, taking him completely by surprise as she placed both her hands on his back and pushed quickly.

He went into the stream with a terrific splash.

The Ellon he had been speaking to started in surprise, whipping his head towards her and then towards the disappeared Elf in the water before letting out a roar of laughter. She took note of him, a young Ellon, dressed in deep blue clothing with his heavy locks pulled back in a single braid. He was clutching his sides as he laughed, bending over, the only hint of him capable in a fight was the dagger embedded in one of his boots.

"My lady, who did you think he was?" The Ellon resurfaced, gasping and reaching the shallow end of the stream. When she saw him, her heart dropped. He was just as tall as Golvon was, but he was broad-shouldered, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline and gray eyes instead of blue, making her realize she, unfortunately, downed the wrong Elf.

Arodien felt uncertain.

"Who is he?" She asked. The way he was drawing himself to a height, a single brow arching at her made her realize he was not just a soldier but probability one belong to a high rank. He frowned at her for a brief moment before bending and coughing the amount of water he inhaled.

"Why, none other than Thranduil, the son of Oropher himself!"

Arodien felt her cheeks burst into flame as she looked at the Ellon before her. He was still sputtering from the undeserved and sudden washing he took. Suddenly she was aware of all the eyes trained on her of Ellyn and Ellyth. She spotted her father shaking his head behind the chief, Oropher standing, a loose fist resting above his mouth before shifting it away to reveal the barest hint of a smile. She glanced back at the Ellon in the water, who was frowning up at her, probably half-insulted that he had been caught unaware by a slim Elleth. His black clothes were dripping with water, sticking to his figure, the silver collar adorned in white gems gleaming in the light.

"Forgive me, my lord." She said, falling into a deep curtsy. "I-I had not known."

The Elf looked stunned for a moment as he stared at her before laughing. His arms swayed, fingers causing ripples through the water and he shook his head, still grinning widely.

"How can I not forgive a lady so pretty thus?"

If possible, she felt the color of her cheeks deepen.

oOo

Greenwood the Great,

Some years later.

"You LIE!" Arodien burst out, mouth still agape in bafflement. Fion grinned, looking up at King Oropher seated across the chess board between them. Oropher was chuckling as he took Fion's pawn.

Thranduil relaxed in his chair, lips twitching in mirth and managing to look so devilish that Arodien was half-tempted to kick him in the shins.

"I do not, my lady." Thranduil said, keeping his voice solemn and struggling to keep his face straight. "You do not need to hide it any longer. We are married after all, just as you wanted."

"Just as I wanted! If I remember correctly you were the one who just wouldn't stop for even a single moment pursuing-"

"Let us not forget," Thranduil said, sitting up and matching her tone. "You were the one who pushed me into the stream. I think you wanted me to notice you."

Arodien straightened and placed her hands on her hips, eyes closing in surprised bafflement as she let out a disbelieving laugh. Her light golden sleeves flared at the movement, her green skirt shifting as she moved foot to foot.

"And what exactly is so romantic about being pushed into the stream by an Elleth?"

"Well, nothing really," Thranduil said. His voice had open laughter now. "Except the fact that you wanted to get noticed and here you are. So there really is no need to hide that you were the one pursuing me."

"Why you disillusioned-"she lunged for him in fury, but Thranduil was already up his seat and fleeing for the door, leaving laughter in his wake as his irate wife pursued him.

"Ah, the lady pursues me once again! I seem to have a certain charm considering you, my lady!"

Oropher chuckled and shook his head as he took Fion's advisor.

"Playful banter soon after marriage," Oropher said. "I never considered Thranduil to be this lovesick."

Fion smiled, retaliating by taking the King's knight.

"Well, he is happy."

"They both are."

"Might I ask why you are not playing with Thranduil? You usually chose him for a chess partner."

"Thranduil detests chess, for reasons I cannot comprehend. Also, the Elf is far too in love to be of any use when it comes to chess. He will be far too easy to defeat with his head always stuffed with daydreams." Oropher paused and then a mischievous glint came into his eye. "Or perhaps I will call him to play with me. Some defeat would do good for the pride that he has inflating lately!"

The pair laughed.

Author's Note:

What do you think? I was actually cleaning out when I found this and I remembered one of my reviewers wanted to see this meeting. I just added a few touches since the old one was pretty old and had a different style of events.

Arodien is my OC and she is the wife of Thranduil, currently appearing most in the Tempest Trilogy.

The Elf Thranduil was talking to was Fion and this meeting is mentioned in Tempest: Modern Age.

Fion is an OC and is Thranduil's close Silvan friend. He is also the mentor of Dorian and Legolas.

Milwen is an OC and the mother of Dorian.