Author's Note: The "update" at the bottom is outdated, which makes me laugh...sigh. I think I'll work today on completing this. Thanks for everyone's lovely encouragement and support. This work was done without a beta reader and now I can see what I'm lacking; I have a more historically accurate LOTR fic in the works and am itching to get started on that. To my own standards, I think Encounters could be much improved and I think I'll start slowly doing that once it is completed.

(one more thing, I was rereading this and the third paragraph down where Legolas speaks and says "eh, quest..." I was like OMGosh...Thranduil should reply sharply, "What are you, Canadian?" lol. This was to tease my Canadian friends and I have NOTHING against you guys =)

On with the show...

A dry wind blew through the courtyard, scattering a few leaves and teasing Legolas' hair. He waited beside his mount, checking his quiver and pack. It was hard for him to believe that he was being sent away that night. Somehow the prince couldn't help thinking that his father was purposely setting him aside, trying to get his son out of the way.

Thranduil walked over to Legolas, nodding at servants and guards along the way. Father and son stood staring at each other for a few minutes, the king's eyes cold and icy. Legolas laid a hand on his mount's neck, signaling he was nearly ready to go. Equipment clanged and there was a sound of things being checked. All attention was focused away from the king and Legolas.

The prince cleared his throat. "Thank you, Ada, for… allowing me to go on this mission… eh, quest…"

"You are merely a messenger of mine to Elrond and his folk. Give them my respect and regards. Tell them all is well in Mirkwood. No need to tell any of the strangers that will undoubtedly be there about the palace's present condition. Give the letter only to Elrond," replied Thranduil.

Legolas inclined his head, about to turn away to his horse when he looked back at the king and briefly gave his father a half hug. Thranduil hesitatingly returned it, but by then Legolas had leaped lightly onto his fleabitten gray horse and bid farewell to Thranduil and the rest of the remaining household.

The wind was chill and fierce that night as they skirted the Mirkwood Mountains. The road was desolate and empty, as if not everything had gone but as if everything was waiting in the shadows. Legolas drew his hood over his head, then patted his mount reassuringly on the shoulder as the stallion nervously pricked his ears up as some leaves blew by. The elves felt deep in their hearts the shadow of something growing and gaining strength. The blackness of Mordor was even reaching to the corners of the Mirkwood palace, which was not altogether unexpected because of the blackness and treachery of the forest thereabouts. Legolas was relieved to be going to Rivendell, a safe haven, or, as some called it, the Last Homely House. He looked forward to seeing Estel, or Aragorn, as the ranger was now being called, and the twins along with everyone else. The Elf's mind wandered from thoughts of his duties as a messenger and instead looked forward to the more exciting aspects of the visit. Legolas snapped back awake from his memories to realize that he could've walked straight into an orc without realizing it.

Ahead the moon glimmered through the treetops, but the elves kept moving along with all speed. It was necessary to get out of this part of Mirkwood as fast as possible, for there was plenty of danger lurking in the dark corners of the forest. Legolas finally hopped off his mount as they neared an especially dangerous part filled with hidden holes. He warily led his horse ahead holding him by the bridle and carefully testing the ground ahead in case the others had missed something. No one had found anything after fifteen minutes, and the guard ahead of the prince started talking to him, checking on Legolas' horse's condition and other items such as when they should stop for the night.

Being bored, Legolas kept his mind on watching where he was going, until he heard Refan casually mention one of the maidens who had lived in Lothlorien. Legolas forgot how Refan had strayed onto this tangent, but found himself listening intently.

"Anyways, she's The Lady of the Wood's other granddaughter. Cousin to Lady Arwen. Apparently the Golden Lady is sending her from the Golden Wood…"

Legolas thought about this for a while. He had met Melian only a couple of times, mostly when they were very young children. She was very close to his age, and a little younger than Arwen. Other than that, that was all Legolas knew. She had those bright green eyes…

CRASH… Legolas felt something beneath him collapse. He lunged away from it, leaving him with his lower half dangling over a large hole, his hands still holding the reins and groping around for something to hang onto. The Elf dug his hands into the ground, dragging himself up out of the pit--which wasn't as deep as it seemed--and picked himself up, continued walking just as he had before, with the other guards trying to cease looking startled and ignore the Prince's mistake. Legolas was glad for the darkness, as his fair face was reddening. He felt like hitting himself for letting his guard down out here. The Elf attempted to push all other thoughts aside as he continued onwards.

The next morning dawned bright, without a cloud in the sky and a lot more sunlight peeking through the trees than there had been closer to Mirkwood. Legolas' energy felt renewed, and he was ready to finish the ride in one long stretch towards Rivendell. He could see the far edge of the end of the woods from atop his tree. Blinking, Legolas realized he saw another small band, not yet out of the woods. One of the guards came jumping through the tree branches, attempting to bow to the prince before giving the following statement.

"My prince, the figures you see ahead are friends. The son of the Steward of Gondor, Boromir, sends his good tidings."

"Let us catch up to them, then, and take the road the rest of the way together," said Legolas, interested to see the man, whom he had never met before.

The elves caught up to the small company of three others. Obviously, the proud and regal looking man must be the son of the steward, thought Legolas, as the men in front of them slowed and turned about.

"Suilaid, Boromir, son of the Steward," said Legolas, riding up.

"Well met, Prince of Mirkwood," replied Boromir, nodding. "We have not seen elves in our city for quite a while."

"We're not in your city anymore, Son of Gondor," said Legolas, shifting upon his horse. He nodded ahead. "We are at Imaldris, the Last Homely House."

Legolas' pulse quickened as they caught site of the ethereal Rivendell in the distance. He had longed to be elsewhere than Mirkwood for so long, and to be able to see Aragorn, Elladan, Elrohir, and the others again. Two miles later, Legolas shaded his eyes and thought he saw a cloaked figure in the distance, standing on a balcony and looking in the Elf's general direction. Legolas and his company wound around the mountainside passes, the prince taking the lead against the other's wishes to protect him. He quickened his horse's pace, rising into a steady but safe trot towards Rivendell. Legolas now knew who the cloaked figure was. Not who he expected, but very welcome nonetheless.

The small party began their descent, winding closer to the Last Homely House. Scents of the gardens reached Legolas, and he was ready to fling himself off his mount and run the rest of the way there like an excited elfling--which, grinning to himself, he was very like to at the moment.

The prince of Mirkwood pressed his horse into a canter, now that they were on flatter land, nearly ready to enter the courtyard. There were elves wandering about in the woods and by the brook nearby, but none of them recognized the prince, not realizing that the king would've sent Legolas as messenger. They issued a few friendly greetings, however, which Legolas returned. The guards departed as they neared the courtyard, and Legolas and Boromir cantered on together. Boromir spurred his mount, racing ahead and was the first to enter under the stone arch, looking in wonder at the scene about him.

Legolas went on in an easy canter, enjoying the sights of Imladris and coming under the archway a few minutes after the son of the Steward.

He leapt off his mount, looking around and above him and taking in the soft scent of tranquility and peacefullness. The prince's grey horse was led away to rest in the stable.

Legolas spun around as he heard a shout and some laughter, and saw two identical elves and a man coming quickly towards him.

"Aragorn, Elladan, Elrohir," he nearly shouted, "Im gelir ceni ad lín!"

Aragorn clapped him on the back, as did Elladan, and Elrohir did it so hard that the prince nearly fell over, but he didn't mind--he was back in Rivendell.

Elvish translations:

Im gelir ceni ad lín!--I'm happy to see you.

Suilaid--Greetings

I'm really sorry that I took forever to update, life just gets busy--haha, yes, my usual excuse. But I'm having a lot of fun writing this, and as you can see I've been drawing it out a bit because I don't want it to end! If I don't update for a while and you're dying for an update, by all means please pester me to keep writing it :)

I debated about writing the part about Melian and keeping it in this chapter, since personally I do not like people making up romances for poor single Legolas. Well, the story that inspired me to mention Melian can be found here, and I think you'll approve of it, you can read it here.

No, don't worry about this being a Legolas/Melian pairing story. Somehow I felt the impulse to mention it just once:)

Thanks for reading and all the lovely reviews people have given!:D