Note: The usual disclaimers.

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Merenwen hesitated in front of Thranduil's study door. It was difficult to face the king on her own since the previous day. But she took up courage and lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in."

She opened the door quietly, stepped into the room, and waited by the door.

Thranduil looked up from his desk. "Merenwen, mell nín, to what do I owe this visit?"

"I wished to speak with you. About my family."

"Please, sit then." The king rose from his chair and gestured to a plush chair by the fire. As she sat down, he moved to a nearby chair and sat with her. "What do you wish to know?"

"I have a conflict…I have accepted that of my past and heritage."

"I am glad to hear that."

"But my heritage conflicts with what I have now."

"That it will, but you mustn't let it rule you."

"How can I, milord? I've grown fond of the way I am. I have just started to accept that things have changed in this world. But what is more important to me is how this would affect your son and I."

Thranduil studied Merenwen. He knew Legolas and Merenwen had been the closest of friends when her parents had died. Legolas had helped her get over the awful loss. The elder elf had watched them grow from friends to enamorment to love to being part of the same being. They were inseparable and it would break both of their hearts to be torn apart, so he understood their dilemma.

"I understand your concern. You and Legolas have always been part of one another." Thranduil took her hand in his. "I promise you that I will not allow you to be parted from one another, of that you can be assured. Even though you must realize, Merenwen, that you have your duties, it will not break your love." He would not wish such torment on either of the younger elves.

Merenwen frowned. "But how can that be so? I would have thought that because of my newfound nobility, I would be looked upon with questionable motives.

"Let it not trouble you, for you know the real reasons. That is what truly matters."

"I am grateful for your advice, milord."

"Merenwen, ever since your parents passed, you have been as a daughter to me. I only wish for your happiness." He squeezed her hand for emphasis, giving her a smile, which she returned. "Now, might you tell me where you were planning on going?" the king inquired, addressing the quiver on her back and the bow she left by the door.

"I was going to the archery range. I wished to practice some. My skills are a little rusty," she answered, looking over at her bow.

"Do you ever sit still?"

She shook her head and grinned. "Occasionally."

"I think Legolas has been a bad influence on you."

"You are mostly right, sir. However, I must remind you that it is the human Estel's influence that has gotten to Legolas."

Thranduil laughed merrily. "That is something I can believe." He motioned to the door. "Be on your way then. I should be getting back to these reports, but I thank you for the respite."

"I should be the one thanking you, lord. You are so accepting of my differences when you could have shunned me."

"No one would be shunned, least of all you, Merenwen." The king kissed her forehead. He rose from his chair, assisting her up as well, and gently pushed her toward the door. "Go. Best my son in archery." The king felt light-hearted with having a daughter-type around.

Merenwen laughed and nodded. She went to the door and picked up her bow, instinctually running her hands over the smooth wood.

"Merenwen."

She turned back to the king. "Milord?"

"I believe Legolas is showing Master Dwarf about, so you may see them at the range," Thranduil said, returning to behind his desk.

The she-elf was already aware of this fact, but it was best not to explain to the king how she came aware of these things so she feigned ignorance. "Thank you, sir."

He smiled and dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

She closed the door to the king's study behind her, and, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, headed toward the archery range.

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"Very impressive stone work you have here, Legolas. Though I must say we could have done some wonderful work for you."

Legolas rolled his eyes. Their debates would never end. He often wondered how two beings so different became such good friends.

"Well, you, Gimli, I would imagine need more gardens and trees."

Gimli looked up at the elf, who just raised an eyebrow in challenge. "Fine, fine. One day we will combine our talents."

"Deal."

"Your word on it?"

"You do not trust me?"

"I didn't say that."

"Master dwarf, I only jest. You have my word."

Gimli muttered something about "rotten elves" but the elf's keen hearing picked it up.

"Stubborn dwarf."

"Stop doing that!" Gimli demanded, never getting used to the heightened senses of the elves.

"We are coming to the archery range, Gimli," Legolas said, switching topics carefully.

"Would that be your Merenwen there?"

The elf already knew it was her.

Practicing again? I may love her with my whole soul and may have shared a lot with her that is not considered fully proper, but I will never get used to that…

"Master elf?"

"Hmm?" He looked down at his companion.

"You are really glad to be with her again, aren't you?"

"That I am."

"Do you intend on marriage?"

In truth, Legolas had thought about it frequently in recent days, and planned on doing so soon. Never would he have let Merenwen go, so what better way to stay together with nothing else to tear them apart?

The dwarf watched the elf look in the direction of the range as he watched Merenwen shoot, acquiring a placid look on his face. He smiled knowingly as they continued on to where the lone elf was.

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Merenwen took her aim and fired her arrow. She frowned and looked at the target; her arrow had landed dead center. Most of her arrows had landed where she was aiming, but a few were off. She shook her head, wondering how she had even survived with that aim. Though in reality her aim was exceptional, she felt angry about it. Legolas was the best archer in Mirkwood, and she felt she'd never be able to catch up with him. She notched an arrow, drew her bow again, and took her aim.

"Milady!"

The elf turned and accidentally fired her arrow. It sliced neatly through the air right between the elf and the dwarf and struck a tree far behind them.

Gimli looked at the trees at the tress and back at the elf who gripped her bow with frustration.

"Please accept my apologies, milady."

"It's quite all right, Gimli. Would you mind retrieving my arrow for me, please?"

"That I will." The dwarf went off to the trees to find the lady's arrow.

Legolas walked over to her. "What are you doing?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Practicing."

He looked at her grip on her bow and nodded his head to it. "For all the strength our bows have, you may be the first to break one."

She looked at her dangerously white knuckles and relaxed her hand.

"You never did have patience when you practiced."

"That is because I'm frustrated I shall never be able to catch up with you," she answered and went to gather her arrows.

He glanced at the target before striding over to help her. "But you are a fair shot."

"Not as fair as you."

"You have not been trained since you were old enough to draw a bow. Nor have you been directly trained for battle. Do not be discouraged; you've kept with me well enough."

"But –"

"Deal with it, meleth. Just be what you are."

"That is not reassuring."

"You know what I mean," he sighed, handing her the arrows he pulled.

She smiled in thanks and stowed the arrows back in her quiver.

"How long have you been out here?"

"Not long. After we parted, I went to speak with your father."

"And what did he say?"

She looked toward the trees. "I shall tell you later. Gimli returns."

Legolas followed her gaze and indeed the dwarf was trotting up to them, an arrow in his hand. Gimli held out the green fletched arrow.

"You arrow, milady."

"Thank you, Gimli. But, please, you must not call me 'milady,'" she said, reaching for her arrow.

The dwarf pulled his hand away. "But you are nobility, are you not?"

Merenwen looked at Legolas, who was looking away innocently. Obviously, he'd said something to Gimli, but she did not fault him for it.

"I've just found out, but I do not wish to have a title as such. I would be much obliged if you treated me as a friend."

Gimli looked at Legolas, who watched them silently. "She sounds like you." Then he looked back at Merenwen. "All right, if you insist. Who would I be to deny a lady's request?"

She rolled her eyes, taking her arrow from him and examining it. The point was bent beyond repair, as was the shaft.

"This is wasted," she said, breaking the arrow over her knee.

"Why did you do that? It looked fine to me."

"Trust me, Master Dwarf. It was ruined."

"I pulled it out carefully and it looked true."

"It wasn't. And I do not fault you for it."

"Are you sure?"

"Gimli, Merenwen has a keen eye for such things. I do not doubt her word."

"Well, it's not my problem. So, if you know what you're doing…"

The two elves looked at each other and rolled their eyes.