Note: The usual, but I did come up with Merenwen and Legolas' friends that appear in this chapter. Enjoy!

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The celebration of the prince's return to Lasgalen was joyful and merry. Guests came and went while music, feasting, and drinking were enjoyed; drinking especially, for the wood-elves were known to be very fond of wine.

Gimli was animatedly talking to Merenwen about the dwarves' love of stonework. She was listening and was a little curious, but for the most part was not interested and acting in kind, for the elves had little interest in delving. Thranduil was to their left at the main table overseeing the celebration and speaking with a close friend that was a member of the court. The seat immediately to his right was however unoccupied. Legolas was at another end of the hall taking to a small group of friends he'd known since childhood.

"I tell you, Merenwen, I cannot think of any work that compares with the Glittering Caves of Helm's Deep. Wide halls, white rock often fashioned in extravagant pillars that reflected the underground pools. It was truly extravagant," Gimli claimed, drinking from his mug of mead.

"From you description it does sound rather intriguing, but I must say that the elves do not have interest in the underground delving."

"Funny you should say that. Legolas said the same thing. Then after we went to see the Caverns he could not find any words to say."

"Really? He failed to mention that to me," Merenwen said, sparing a glance at where Legolas was across the hall before continuing. "What else did he choose to forget to tell me?"

The dwarf sipped his drink thoughtfully. "Well, I don't know of what he's told you, so I can't say. But he probably left out the last part where he admitted an elf never lost a contest of words to a dwarf. He did admit to losing that contest."

Merenwen could not help but laugh. "He admitted that?"

"That he did."

"Oh, what I would give to have seen it."

They both had a good laugh. But before Gimli could respond, an elf came up to them.

"Merenwen? Am I seeing things?"

"Fëaelen!" Merenwen jumped up and embraced the she-elf that had come to the table.

"I knew it had to be you! You are one of the only Silvan elves I know of that looks like one of the Noldor."

"Yes, well, I always did stand out here. But how are you? I have not seen you for so long."

"How am I? I should be asking you; for you are the one who has been gone so long," Fëaelen retorted, dropping Merenwen's hands from her own.

Gimli cleared his throat rather loudly to get their attention.

Merenwen turned at the sound. "Oh, forgive me, Master Dwarf. This is Fëaelen, daughter of Edrahil. Fëaelen, this is Gimli, son of Gloin."

Gimli rose easily and bowed to the lady, who curtsied in response as Merenwen continued.

"Fëaelen is one of my dearest friends. And Gimli has come hither with the prince and is continuing on to Erebor, if I am not mistaken."

"That you are not, my dear."

Merenwen rolled her eyes and smiled.

"I am very privileged to meet you, Master Gimli. Are you staying long?" Fëaelen asked.

"A couple more days at the most. I must continue on to see what shape the Lonely Mountain is in before starting on a few things that Aragorn, I mean King Elessar, requested of the dwarves."

"Well, I hope that you find success in your endeavors, then," she responded, inclining her head politely.

Merenwen watched with happiness. At least things were starting to change for the good, especially where the relationship between elves and dwarves were concerned. She glanced at the other elf before turning to the dwarf.

"Would you excuse me, Gimli? I would speak with Fëaelen, for I have not done so in a long time."

Gimli nodded before waving her off. "Go. I do not mind. I wouldn't dream of interrupting female gossip." The two elves looked at each other before Gimli laughed and continued. "Yes. I will be fine. I believe I will have another mead though," he said, turning to a servant and asking for more to drink, effectively dismissing them.

Merenwen and Fëaelen turned to leave after bowing to Thranduil. They strode out of the hall chatting quietly while looking for a place to talk.

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"But there is little skill among men as archers."

The prince and his friends were discussing archery, as it was a passion of theirs, but the talk had taken a turn to the prince's foray, namely the combat skills of men.

"True words, Cúran. What I would have given for some of our archers…" Legolas said, trailing off as he watched Merenwen walk by with another elf-maiden, Fëaelen, a daughter of a noble of the court. She had been one of Merenwen's best friends in Mirkwood (other than himself, of course) since they were young. They talked quietly and took hardly any notice of the elves standing by in a small group.

The light laughter of his friends brought him back to where he was. Of course, the elves had seen the look that appeared on Legolas' face when the two she-elves walked by. They could not resist teasing him about what, or rather who, caused such a look to fall upon the impassive elf.

"You are incredibly lucky that Merenwen did not follow you, Legolas. If that is how you act when she is near, you may not come back to us at all," an elf commented, eliciting more laughter.

"Quiet, Rienand," Legolas said, blushing some, which made them laugh harder.

"The Prince of Mirkwood, or Eryn Lasgalen rather, has been subdued by a woman. 'Tis truly a wonder," another elf, Tinêl, added.

"Yes, it must be proof that our time has truly come to an end and Gorgoroth has frozen over," Rienand said. The elves laughed again.

Legolas pierced them all with a withering glare. "Will I forever be your source of amusement?"

Rienand and Tinêl looked at each other before answering at the same time. "Yes."

Cúran, the calmest of the three, simply shrugged. "Merenwen did rather well in battle on her own."

"Sure, go ahead and laugh. And none of you ever had a beloved."

"Not to your extent, highness," Cúran responded.

"'Tis true. We have never been in love to such an extent. Passing infatuations, yes, but never such a fierce love," Tinêl said.

"We really are happy for you, Legolas. Especially for us, when things are so lasting for us, while everything around us passes," Rienand agreed.

Legolas remembered one of the reasons why he was so lucky to have Merenwen. He put one of his hands on Rienand's shoulders and the other on Cúran's. Both elves put hands on Tinêl's shoulders, making sort of a circle.

"Hannon le, mellyn nín."

"We thank you, Legolas. Not only for your friendship, but also for our source of amusement," Cúran said, smirking.

That comment lead to all of the elves breaking out in laughter.