She crouched on the branch of a tree, concentrating. Her pointed ears twitched at soft sounds deeper in the forest, but she ignored them as her quarry approached, making less sound than she herself often did. A large spider appeared at the edge of her vision, but she did not turn her head to look at it. If she moved even the slightest amount, there was a chance the spider would see the movement and either flee or fight. She didn't want that. Instead, she waited patiently until the spider was in the most opportune spot; then, she raised her bow, drew, aimed, and fired. It took less than a second, and the spider was dead, shot through the main eye. She finally turned to look at the spider. The sight filled her with loathing and pity.
"Calenmiriel!" She turned again, her face lighting up with joy. She knew the voice that had shouted her name. She sprang lightly down from her perch on the branch and started running in the direction of the voice. She dodged trees and rocks, skipped lightly over dark streams, and ducked under low-hanging branches. Mirkwood Forest was a dangerous place to lose your footing.
Calenmiriel burst into a clearing. An elf looked in her direction as she bounded towards him. She skidded to a stop, bowed, and then wrapped him in a hug. "Legolas!" she said, then pulled away. "Mae govannen, uncle!"
Legolas laughed and said, "Mae govannen, little one. Your spirit is still as bright as ever. What have you been doing out in the forest today?"
"A large spider has been molesting the bonfires of late. I took it upon myself to rid us of the nuisance."
"A very noble deed, I'm sure. Have you succeeded?"
"I have. Indeed, the spider was dead for only a few seconds before you called my name."
"Well done. How many arrows did you spend?"
"Just one. It was a true shot through the main eye. It died instantly, with no suffering."
"You have done well. That is the best way."
"Of course, I learned from the best." She smiled at him, and he at her.
"Come," he said. "I have yet to report to the king how went my hunting, and we have your story to tell as well." He turned and led the way through the woods to the caves of King Thranduil of Mirkwood.
Thranduil was unable to see his son and granddaughter. He'd received an important messenger from Rivendell and was still in council with him when they arrived from the depths of the forest. He did say that he would give them an audience right before dinner; they had time to clean up and get dressed for dinner with the king.
Legolas was clad in a long, dark blue tunic with silver leggings and boots; his white knives were attached to the leather belt at his hip. Calenmiriel wore a dress the color of the river that flowed under the caves of Thranduil; around her waist was a belt of silver from which hung a pair of knives alike to her uncle's. When they stood next to each other, they looked more like father and daughter for the similarities in appearance: both had long white-blond hair and a fair complexion, with dark blue eyes.
They entered the hall together, having spent most of the time before dinner talking and remembering shared adventures of years long past. Already seated at the table was King Thranduil, tall and handsome, with dark eyes and hair white as snow. Also seated there were many other elves of the royal family, including Calenmiriel's mother, Lothiriel, eldest child of Thranduil, and her father, Haldir of Lothlorien. Calenmiriel took the seat to the left of her father, while Legolas took the seat to Thranduil's right.
The king spoke. "Before we eat, I promised my son and granddaughter an audience. Shall we begin with the youngest?" He smiled, a rare thing; he greatly loved Calenmiriel, his only grandchild. She was young, for an Elf, having been born only a thousand years before, when it was believed that no more Elf children would ever be had.
"Thank you, my king," She smiled back. "Many of you know of the giant spider that had been plaguing us while we partook in the view of stars and the bonfires at night. The spider is no longer a threat to us, for today I have slain it, quickly and without undue suffering."
Many of the Elves nodded and murmured their gratitude. Haldir smiled at his daughter, saying, "You have grown well, Calenmiriel. I'm proud to be your father."
"And I am proud to be your mother," said Lothiriel, also with a smile. Calenmiriel smiled back at them and nodded, and then looked at Thranduil. He turned to Legolas and asked, "Now I will hear my son's account of the hunt he went on."
Legolas nodded gravely. "I hunted the creature Gollum to no avail. He is gone among the foul creatures of the forest now. I did discover, however, the hiding place of a large group of goblins, and was able to listen in on their foul speech before returning home. They plan to attack us in a week's time, during one of our most important celebrations." There was murmuring among the Elves. "I say we go tomorrow and rid the forest of their presence."
"I agree," said the king. "I will send a party of thirty of my best warriors to remove the goblin threat. Are there any who wish to be a part of that group?"
"I would go," Calenmiriel said quickly.
Thranduil looked at her. "No, child, I will not send you."
"I will go," Legolas said.
Thranduil nodded. Calenmiriel said, "I wish to protect my people as much as my uncle does. Why can I not go?"
"You are not old enough yet, and I fear I would alienate my daughter and son-in-law were I to send you into battle so young." She looked about to speak, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand. "That is final." She leaned back in her seat. "There is one more topic that I wish to put forth. Elrond of Rivendell has called a council to discuss certain events at work in the world now. He has requested that I send a messenger with news of the creature Gollum. I intended to send Legolas, for he participated in the hunt, but he is now otherwise occupied."
"I suggest we send Calenmiriel," Legolas put forth quickly. Haldir and Lothiriel looked at him. "It will be far safer sending her to Rivendell than letting her stay here to fight the goblins. And she is a good rider. She could be to Rivendell in less than a week's time if she cut through the forest to the Old Road."
Thranduil considered this. "What say you, Haldir and Lothiriel? Will you allow your daughter to be sent to Rivendell for Elrond's council?"
"Yes," Lothiriel replied. "I believe she is old enough now to journey on her own. I request a guard with her while she cuts through the forest, but once she is out of it, the road is well guarded by the Beornings, and trouble will be hard pressed to find her." She looked at her husband. He nodded. She looked at Calenmiriel. "You may go to Rivendell and be our messenger."
Calenmiriel smiled and bowed her head. "Thank you for the honor of being the messenger."
Thranduil smiled. "Now that everything is settled, let us eat."
The next day, Calenmiriel filled a pack with provisions for a week, to be on the safe side. She wore traveling clothes of a dark green tunic and brown leggings, and carried her bow, quiver, and knives across her back. She plaited her long hair into a braid down her back, to keep it out of the way as she ran through the woods and rode her horse. Thranduil, Lothiriel, and Legolas said their good-byes to her at the caves.
"Be safe, my daughter," Lothiriel said, kissing her upon the forehead. Thranduil also kissed her forehead.
"Ride hard," Legolas said as he hugged her. "And should Elrond require your services, do not hesitate to offer them. He will not lead you astray." Calenmiriel nodded as he kissed her forehead. Then she turned to look at Haldir, who stood waiting; he was to be her escort through the forest.
"I'm ready. Let us go." He nodded and set off at a run. She followed him closely. It was uneventful as they made their way through the forest. All the foul creatures seemed to be either uncaring of the Elves' presence or in some other place. They reached the Road after a day and a half of running. The Elven outpost there had two horses ready for them. "Are you coming with me?" she asked as they had a meal before riding.
"No, I am not," Haldir replied. "Lady Galadriel has summoned me back to Lorien. As you go to Rivendell, I will make my way to Caras Galadhon."
"I wish you well, then. You will be traveling farther than I."
"I know." They stood. "Be safe, Calenmiriel. Do not look for trouble where there is none." He kissed her on the forehead.
"And you as well, father." She hugged him, then mounted her horse and began the ride to Rivendell. She looked back once and waved, then urged her horse into a gallop.
Calenmiriel arrived in Rivendell four days later. She had managed to avoid most trouble in the mountains, although once she ran into a few goblins that she dispatched with relative ease. Elrond welcomed her warmly when she arrived, and gave her a room looking out at the waterfall. She and Arwen, newly arrived from Lorien herself, became fast friends, despite the age difference, and spent many hours together talking of lore and legends and what the world may be at the end of the age.