Legolas had spent each day and evening avoiding his father as well as he could while he spent the days on the training field keeping an eye out for any dark haired elleths who were also training but he saw none. When training had finished for the day, he would take to the areas of the woods where his father's people dwelt, in search of her. His searching had turned up nothing. At night he lay awake in bed, turning her words over in his mind, trying to figure out who she was. Nothing made sense. She had said she was a lady but he knew for certain she was not a part of the elleths of the court. He unfortunately knew them all too well. Yet the way his father had spoken, it seemed she was a lower ranked elleth. She had said herself she lived under the trees. He breathed out in frustration. This was torment upon his heart. He had to find her. He opened his eyes to see a pair of light blue ones peering down at him questioningly.
"My Lord?" Legolas came back to the present, realising he had been sitting with the two young guards he preferred taking out into the woods with him, Fael and Ceredir.
"Forgive me, I was simply thinking." Legolas replied calmly to Ceredir with a small smile.
"I hope it is not too out of place for me to say my Lord but it seems this past week you have been distant and yet you have had us incessantly going into the dwellings of the wood elves for a purpose unknown to us." Ceredir hedged. "We were both wondering, are you truly well my Lord Legolas?"
Legolas looked up at both of the young guards and realised they were indeed concerned for him by the worried looks upon their faces and he was touched they did genuinely care. Maybe he could confide in them both. He had just assumed his father had got in their ears. He sighed.
"I am well in health but my mind is frustrated and my heart tormented." He answered them and they looked at him astonished. "There was a young elleth present at the masked dance, the reason I have been dragging you both into the woods dwellings is to try and find her but it seems she has vanished." Legolas said dejectedly.
"My Lord you should have told us earlier for we too attended the dance, maybe we might know who she is." Fael replied and Legolas looked up gratefully to him.
"I wanted to ask but I feared my father had most likely ordered you against helping me. He does not approve of my searching." He said in a quiet voice and both guards gave him small, knowing smiles.
"He has mentioned nothing to us so I think we may tell you whatever information you seek." Fael replied. "Come, Lord Legolas, describe her to us." Legolas smirked, if the two guards could identify her, he might have her back in his arms before evening.
"She was young, I should think between a hundred to two hundred for she seemed worldly. Her hair was a deep, rich brown and cascaded wildly down her back. She wore a dark blue dress of soft material which tied up around her neck leaving her shoulders bare. Her mask was also dark blue and gold and reminded me of a butterfly the way it had been wrought. And behind her mask bright and joyful eyes of a deep blue and her smile, I believe her smile alone could light up darkness itself." Legolas said reverently and the Fael grinned widely at him.
"I danced with her also earlier on in the evening." He explained and Legolas sat upright excitedly.
"Then do you know who she is?" He asked hopefully but Fael only shook his head and Legolas leaned back against the seat of his chair crestfallen.
"I'm sorry my Lord I did not know her but we did speak while I danced with her, maybe we can put our heads together and figure out where she might be." He consoled the Prince and Legolas cheered a little.
"Well she is training in weapons and she is adapt in archery and knives." He said and Fael nodded.
"Yes she told me that and also she is learning to heal."
"I did not know that." Legolas said thoughtfully. "We must search the halls of healing also then." He was feeling hopeful again as he stood up but Ceredir shook his head.
"I have a cousin who works in the healing halls and I am quite sure if he had a beautiful, young elleth training in the halls with him he would have surely mentioned so." Legolas sat back down and tilted his head back.
"Where in Arda is she?" He groaned in exasperation. "She admitted she was a Lady yet she said she lives under the trees and then when she fled it seemed as if she fled from my father. She said she was not meant to be at the celebration. Can either of you make sense of that?"
"I do recall she seemed a little flighty of nature when I asked her to dance." Fael mused. "If indeed she is a Lady, she certainly did not act like the court elleths."
"No indeed." Legolas chuckled. "I could speak with her about anything I think, although I do wonder if that had a little to do with her not realising who I was behind my mask."
"I find it very strange an elleth of the Woodland Realm would not recognise their own Prince." Ceredir said.
"It is not as if I have been out amongst the people of the wood often." Legolas replied. "Those who dwell furthest from the city walls might not recognise me."
"That is true. Yet you have not seen such an elleth in those farthest dwellings, each time we have journeyed out there you have been greeted by all. I can understand why this frustrates you so my Lord." Ceredir replied and the three elves lapsed into thoughtful silence.
"What about elves which dwell near our borders?" Fael said slowly. "What about the wild elves which dwell upon the Gladden Fields?"
"The Edhelroch?" Legolas asked curiously and Fael nodded. "They dwell both in the fields and under the trees. Wild and ethereal they are, I have watched them from afar during patrols sometimes."
"They came from the sea." Legolas said excitedly. "The elleth said her descendants had lived by the sea, and she wished to see it someday. We must observe the herd and see if she is indeed there." He leapt up.
"She could be one of them, the herd is large." Ceredir said as they followed the Prince towards the stabling to fetch their horses.
I hope she is. Legolas thought determinedly to himself. Maybe if she is I'll go and live away from here a while where I can be free too or maybe we can both run away to the sea.
…
Elladen knew something was up as they returned with Glorfindel to see his own Ada and King Falas and Queen Gwaloth waiting in the courtyard for them. in front of him he saw Aerlaer shoot Aerthor a wary, questioning look and he saw his younger cousin mouth 'Act normal.' To her.
"Well met Ada, Nanath." Aerthor said warmly as he strode up to them and embraced his mother and nodded to his father. "What brings you to Imladris, is everything well?" He asked worriedly.
"Greetings Ionneg, all is well we have simply come to see Aerlaer, we have news for her." Falas said wearily and Elladen's stomach started to churn from the tone of his uncle's voice and the pained expression half concealed on his aunts and the silence of his own Ada. Aerlaer did not seem to notice, her face had lit up as she rushed forward and embraced both her parents and Elladen knew exactly what news she thought they had for her.
"What do you wish to tell me?" She asked excitedly and Falas seemed to collect himself before smiling down at her.
"We have spoken with the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn and they have agreed to have you for a time in Lothlórien to continue your studies in a more focussed environment and hone your weapons skills under the guide of their Marchwarden." Falas said neutrally and Elladen watched as his younger cousin's face fell.
"No." She replied flatly. "I do not wish to go. Nanath tutors me just fine."
"You will learn so much more in Lórien and under Haldir you will have one of the best weapons masters in any of the elven realm." Gwaloth said coaxingly but Aerlaer shook her head resolutely.
"If I was to go, when would it be?" She asked hopefully, looking between both her parents. Elladen noted in dismay his own father was looking away from her. Something was wrong with the scene playing out before him, Elrohir, Aerthor, Glorfindel and the others.
"You will leave this evening to journey to Lórien." Falas replied quietly and Aerlaer's eyes flashed.
"No! I am not going! I wish to go home!" She cried out to her father but he shook his head.
"I am sorry Aerlaer, there is no discussion, my decision is final; you are to go to Lórien." He said in a tone that left no room for argument, Aerlaer would have none of it.
"No. I must go home! You don't understand." Aerlaer replied angrily and Elladen saw her hair begin to spark strands of copper.
"What do I not understand Aerlaer?" Falas asked with a brow raised and her eyes shifted to her brother and the rest of her herd companions before returning to her fathers.
"Nothing." She muttered. "I cannot go though, I do not wish to be separated from my companions, from Aerthor." She added desperately.
"They cannot go with you, they will be soon joining the herds guard; you know this. You will have your grandparents and there are cousins and other young elves in Lórien, you will be fine in the Golden Wood. I thought you wanted to go back?" Falas asked.
"To visit, not to live for a while!" She growled out at him and his eyes narrowed down to her.
"Your attitude is one of the many reasons you are going." He growled back. "Your belongings are packed, you and I and Glorfindel are leaving now." Aerlaer turned to the golden haired elf who stood a little behind her.
"Did you know?" She asked him incredulously but he shook his head.
"No young one I did not. You will be able to use Haldir's targets now and when you do come back you will be fierce in your weapon skills I believe." He said softly to her and she looked wildly around the group of elves around her.
"I still do not want to go. You cannot make me." Aerlaer said defiantly to her father.
"I will drag you there if I must Aerlaer. Do not bring it to that." He threatened and she stood taller and glared at him.
"I'll just run away."
"Where to?" Stormed Falas. "Where will you go? Home? I will send you straight back to Lórien."
"Then I will go to the Greenwood." Hissed Aerlaer and Falas laughed dryly.
"Under King Thranduil's command you would be caged in. They do not live like we do. There is more freedom in Lórien." He retorted and Elladen realised this must have something to do with the Mirkwood elf which meant Falas knew all or at least half of what Aerthor had retold them.
"There are kind elves there too." Aerlaer replied quietly and beside her Aerthor hissed quietly under his breath.
"And how would you know that?" Falas asked enquiringly and Aerlaer looked away from him, chewing her bottom lip.
"Tell me." He demanded.
"I met one." She muttered to the ground, refusing to look at him.
"Met who?" Falas asked and Elladen noted the wary edge in his voice.
"I did not catch his name." Aerlaer replied quietly, her voice full of sadness.
"What and so you think this ellon will welcome you with open arms into his King's kingdom?" Falas laughed heartlessly and Aerlaer nodded.
"I think not." Falas replied and he looked over the young members of his herd. "I know exactly what you six got up to before you journeyed to Imladris, I am disappointed in you all, especially you Aerthor. It is not your place to sneak into other kingdoms uninvited." He growled. "But I will deal with you when I return from delivering Aerlaer to Lórien."
"That is what this is about isn't it!" Aerlaer suddenly cried out to him. It is because of the ellon in Mirkwood!" Who is he?" She demanded angrily but Falas ignored her.
"Aerthor bid your sister farewell, you will leave now with your mother to return home." Aerthor briefly embraced Aerlaer and spoke quietly to her but when he stepped back she looked even more upset. Her mother then embraced her.
"I will be in Lórien again soon." She murmured before turning and heading towards the halls to help organise the youngsters return to the Gladden Fields. The five young elfhorses gazed sad and confused at Aerlaer and Thenid looked to be the most dejected along with Aerthor before they too turned away and followed their Queen. Elladen knew the difficulty of being separated from ones twin and knew Aerthor would be hurting too by this decision. Aerlaer watched their retreat, slightly trembling as her herd mates and brother disappeared from her sight and then rounded angrily on her father.
"I am not going!" Aerlaer snapped and spinning shifted to horse form and leapt into a gallop and raced away towards the bridge. Swiftly, Falas shifted too and charged towards the river and plunging swiftly through its waters, climbed up the opposite bank and leapt swiftly up the hilly side to intercept Aerlaer as she came racing around the corner. She slammed to a halt, rearing up and he snaked his head viciously towards her, threatening to bite and Elladen held his breath, feeling terrible for his hurting cousin. He could not hear them speaking from across the river but presently Falas called down to them.
"Glorfindel, your horse is awaiting you outside the stables. Fetch her, we leave now." Glorfindel dashed away and Elladen looked back up to see Aerlaer shift to elf form and begin to run back towards them.
"Where are you going?" Falas called to her in exasperation.
"Away from you!" She hissed as she crossed the bridge and returned to stand beside Elladen. He saw she was fighting back unshed tears, her eyes nearly sea green. His heart broke for her, she had done nothing wrong and yet it seemed she was being punished. He knew for a fact she would take weeks to settle comfortably in Lórien surrounded by strange elves. He looked at Elrohir questioningly and his twin gave him a silent nod of understanding. He knew Elrohir understood how he cared for their young cousin.
"I will go with you." He murmured quietly to her and looked to his father who had said nothing the whole time but he looked to be internally seething as he himself was. "Ada by your leave, I wish to accompany Aerlaer to Lothlórien he said quietly and Elrond gave him an understanding nod and his eyes filled with gratefulness.
"I grant you leave for as long as you need it." He replied. "Aerlaer I am sorry young one, your father's word is final, we have discussed it at length." He said quietly to her and she frowned.
"But why? What have I done so wrong?" She asked desolately and Elrond sighed. "Nothing, but it is to be discussed with your father, not I. Elladen pack quickly, I will fetch your mare." He said urgently as Falas returned towards them and Elladen sprinted off to towards his fathers halls with Elrohir on his heels.