Only one more chapter and the epilogue after this one! If I had more patience, I probably could have turned the last chapter into two, giving you a nasty cliffhanger, but I guess you'll just have to make do with what I have. Enjoy!

The next three years were happy ones for Ellissiel and Thranduil. They continued spending free time in each other's company, much of it devoted to Arahil and his training or simply stargazing. These three years were not so great for Althrin. He felt his time with Ellissiel getting smaller and smaller as she devoted more time to her horse and Thranduil. Things only got worse for him when Raina introduced Ellissiel to some of her friends who were also horse lovers, so Ellissiel had even more friends to divide her time between. Althrin wasn't so resentful of the new elleths Ellissiel spent time with, but he was not at all happy that while his time with her got shorter, Thranduil's time with her did not seem to suffer at all. His moodiness didn't help, as it made Ellissiel less willing to spend time with him, as his bad mood inevitably made her feel grumpy, too.

It was in the middle of spring when Ellissiel felt the urge to go up into the mountains to watch the stars again. She had already got a couple of her friends to agree, and now she was just looking for Thranduil to see if he wanted to go. She found him, as expected, in the library with Balamaethor."

"Studying again?" she said as she came up behind Thranduil, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Always," Thranduil said, his eyes still on his book as he smiled. "What are you up to?"

"I'm going up into the mountains with Valaina and Melisse to spend the night looking at the stars. Do you want to come?"

"I would love to, but I can't," Thranduil said, looking up at her. "I have a lot of work to do."

"That's a shame," she said with a sigh. "Well, enjoy your books. I will see you tomorrow evening." She kissed his cheek before letting go of him and standing up. "Bye Balamaethor."

"Bye Lissi," he said with a smile, watching her disappear before looking across the table at Thranduil. "How long are you going to keep this up?"

"Keep what up?" Thranduil said, still reading his book.

"It has been almost four years and you still haven't told Ellissiel you love her."

Thranduil didn't reply. He had been slightly frustrated over the past couple years that his relationship with Ellissiel hadn't moved any farther, but he was reluctant to push the issue. More than anything, he didn't want to alienate Ellissiel by telling her how he felt. He had some close calls lately, where he barely caught himself before he either kissed her passionately or blurted out that he loved her.

"There's no need to rush," Thranduil said finally, earning a snort of derision from Balamaethor.

"We may be immortal, but if you go any slower, you're going to start going in reverse," he said, watching the prince across the table. "Everyone is on the edge of their seats in suspense."

"What do you mean 'everyone?'" he said, looking up finally.

"I think at this point Lissi is the only one who doesn't know how you feel about her," Balamaethor said with a smirk.

"Well you and everyone else are just going to have to be patient," Thranduil said, feeling that people should mind their own business for a change. "I'm happy the way things are."

"I'm sure," Balamaethor said, not convinced, but he dropped the subject.

"Where's Thranduil? I thought for sure he would have agreed to come."

"He has a lot of work to do. Celeborn wants him to spend the weekend studying."

"Ah. I should have known," Valaina said evenly. "I'm sure that is the only thing that could keep him from spending the weekend with you." Melisse nodded in agreement.

"What do you mean by that?" Ellissiel asked, looking over at her friend.

"It's not like he has ever said no before when you asked. He would follow you to the other end of Middle Earth if he had to."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I am saying that I don't think I have ever seen someone so in love."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Don't play dumb with me," Valaina said, turning to meet Ellissiel's gaze. "You know Thranduil is hopelessly in love with you."

"I do not," Ellissiel said haughtily. "I don't know where you get that idea from."

"Oh, just the way he fawns over you. Like how he always has to be touching you, and looks at you with those puppy-dog eyes—"

"And he buys you expensive gifts for no apparent reason," Melisse added.

"He gave you a horse for crying out loud," Valaina said, looking down at Arahil. "How do you explain that?"

"He is just a really good friend. I tried to get him to stop buying me expensive gifts, but he keeps doing it anyway. I don't think that means he loves me."

"Please, Raina told us about when you went up into the mountains the first time. She said he looked absolutely pitiful when you ignored him on the way up."

"He was just pouting so he could get his way."

"It isn't like you discourage him either," Melisse said, smirking. "You are always hanging off of him when the two of you are together. I swear, the two of you are more intimate than many married elves I know."

"Very true," Valaina said, nodding her agreement. "I mean, Raina and Balamaethor are engaged, and they aren't even as attached as you are to Thranduil."

"I don't know what you both are talking about," Ellissiel said scowling, though her cheeks had darkened noticeably while the other two elleths had been talking. "We are just very close friends."

"Friends, hmm?" Valaina said skeptically. "How long have you been friends with Althrin exactly? And when was the last time you braided his hair?"

"Or kissed his cheek?" Melisse added.

"Or let him caress the tips of your ears?" Valaina finished. "Don't think we don't notice that sort of thing."

"Well I haven't seen much of Althrin lately at all," Ellissiel said, evading the question. "He's been busy."

"I bet he wouldn't have been busy if you asked him to come riding today."

"Why do you say that?"

"I'm pretty sure he hasn't come before because he doesn't want to have to compete with Thranduil for your attention."

"That's ridiculous," Ellissiel said huffily. "He doesn't come because he doesn't have a horse."

"He could ride his father's horse, or with you if you let him," Melisse pointed out. "But you know Thranduil wouldn't stand for that."

"You two are being absurd. Thranduil and I are very close, yes, but as friends. Althrin is very busy so I do not spend a great deal of time with him anymore. You are making a big deal out of nothing."

"Right," Valaina said, rolling her eyes. "So the flirting is purely accidental?"

"We don't flirt!" Ellissiel said heatedly. "Can you drop it, please?"

"Fine, but we all know the truth," Valaina replied, shaking her head at her friend's exceptional level of denial.

The elleths spent the night on the slopes of the mountain, watching the stars until they fell asleep. However, they were rudely awoken in the early hours of the morning by their horses whinnying and stamping on the ground.

"What's wrong girl?" Valaina asked, standing up and stroking her mare's nose. Her question was soon answered as a hoard of goblins swarmed out of the trees. The girls were quickly overpowered, grabbed by dozens of dirty hands, none of the elleths with more than a small knife to defend themselves. Ellissiel knew they had no chance of fighting off the goblins or escaping. Looking around, she saw Arahil bucking and kicking as the goblins tried to grab his bridle.

"Arahil!" she called out, throwing off a goblin that was trying to put a gag over her mouth. "Get help! Find Thranduil!" She saw Arahil dash away just before she was borne to the ground by the goblins, who successfully got a gag in her mouth before she and her friends were pulled bodily away into the trees.

Thranduil was having breakfast with Novathin and Lithiavas, the three of them laughing at Balamaethor, since he was knee deep in preparations for his wedding, which was going to occur in just a few months. Raina had dragged him away not long after he had sat down, giving him just enough time to grab a slice of toast before being led out of the dining room.

"Raina has certainly got him on a tight leash," Novathin said, enjoying his own eggs and bacon. "I'm amazed she isn't in the library bothering you both every day, asking about what to serve for dinner."

"Only once or twice," Thranduil said with a laugh. "I think Balamaethor enjoys the distractions."

"What's that?" Lithiavas asked, looking around as he heard a commotion outside of the dining hall. Elves were standing and going to the windows or the door to see what was going outside.

"Let's have a look," Novathin said, pushing himself out of his seat, followed by Thranduil and Lithiavas.

"That's Arahil," Thranduil said in surprise, pushing his way forward. The horse was bucking and whinnying nervously, trying to pull free of the elves who had a hold on his bridle. He was surprised to see him, as Arahil was suppose to be in the mountains with Ellissiel until that evening. He tried calming the young stallion, looking him in the eye as he put his hand around his bridle. "What's wrong, boy?"

It was then that Thranduil noticed that Arahil had a deep gash on his right shoulder, which was still dripping blood. Looking closer, he noticed there were several cuts along the horse's body. Cuts that had been made by sharp blades.

"Novathin!" he called, his anxiety evident in his tone. The elf was instantly at his shoulder. "Novathin, go find Lord Celeborn. Lissi, Valaina, and Melisse were attacked by goblins."

"No need," Lord Celeborn said, approaching on his other side. "I am here." He looked around at the assembled elves. "Anyone who has a swift horse and a sword, go get saddled up. Three elleths were attacked in the mountains by goblins. We must go find them quickly before they are taken underground."

"If they haven't been already," Thranduil said unhappily. "With your permission, Lord Celeborn."

"Of course," Celeborn replied, indicating for Thranduil to go get Arandil saddled and ready to ride. Novathin and Lithiavas were hot on his heels as he ran towards the stables. They were unaware that Althrin was also sprinting in the same direction.

Ellissiel was terrified, but she put on a brave face. Melisse was doing far worse than she was. The other elleth had been hit in the face while they struggled to get away, and she was now sporting a black eye and a fat lip, which trembled as she tried to hold back tears. Ellissiel had a few minor bumps and scrapes, while Valaina probably had a sprained wrist. All in all, they were not too bad, since they were still alive and whole, and could probably run away if given the chance. They were also lucky that the goblins had not had time to get to their cave before the sun rose, so they were huddled in a dark, dense part of the forest. They also were no longer gagged, which was a blessing.

"Don't worry, Mel," Ellissiel said, trying to comfort her friend. They were tied together at the base of a tree, so Ellissiel took the quivering girl's hand for support. "Arahil will get help."

"I just hope they get here soon," Valaina said, watching the goblins squabbling a few yards away. "Even if they don't want to eat us, they may try to eat the horses." Valaina and Melisse's horses were not so lucky as Arahil, and were tied up somewhere behind the girls.

"Not helping," Ellissiel muttered as Melisse's quivering increased and she let a sob escape.

"Quit yer whinin'!" a nearby goblin said, pointing his sword at Melisse. "No more talkin' you three, or I'll-"

What he was going to do, they never found out. To their surprise, the goblin fell to the ground, an arrow in his throat. Looking up, Ellissiel almost screamed in joy as she saw a host of elves riding into the clearing, bows twanging and swords flashing as they attacked the unsuspecting goblins.

"Didn't I tell you?!" Ellissiel said happily, squeezing Melisse's hand. "I knew Arahil could do it."

As she watched, her eyes fell upon the one person she wanted to see more than any other. Thranduil was right in the middle of the chaos, slashing at any goblin that got within reach of his long sword. He looked very regal, a grim look on his face as he rode his white horse through the melee.

It was over quickly, with the goblins either dead or fleeing deeper into the mountains. It took Ellissiel a moment to realize when she'd been cut free, but when she did, she immediately undid the bonds on her ankles, standing up and rushing to Thranduil, who had dismounted Arandil and was walking towards her. He smiled, stabbing the point of his sword into the ground as Ellissiel flung herself into his arms. He spun her around once, before putting her down. She looked up at him a smile, punching his shoulder.

"What was that for?" he asked, bewildered.

"What took you so long?" she said seriously, before she laughed and hugged him again, kissing his cheek. "I knew you would come."

"You are lucky Arahil is so smart. He went right to the dining hall where half of the guards were having breakfast."

"I told him to find you. I figured you would know what was wrong."

"I'm glad you have such faith in me," he said with a smile. His expression changed to concern as he examined her face, his thumb gently wiping away a smudge on her cheek. "You're not hurt are you? How about Melisse and Valaina?" He glanced over her shoulder to where the two elleths were being assisted by other elves. One was looking at Valaina's wrist while another was closely examining Melisse's black eye.

"I'm alright, just a little bruised. Valaina I think has a sprained wrist, and Melisse has a black eye and a bloody lip, but other than that they are okay. We are just glad you got here in time."

"As am I. I am glad you are all okay. Now let's get you back to the city so we can make sure there isn't anything worse wrong with you." Thranduil pulled up his sword, cleaning it off on the ground before putting it back in its scabbard across his back. He led her over to Arandil, picking her up and putting her on the stallion's back, even though he was fully aware she could do it on her own. Swinging up behind her, he instructed Arandil to head home. He wrapped his arm around her waist as she settled back against his chest. He was glad to have her safe once more.

During this whole exchange, Althrin had been watching closely. He had been the one to free the elleths, using a goblin blade he'd found, since he did not have his own sword. But to his disappointment, Ellissiel had not even noticed he was there. She had immediately made for Thranduil, and then rode off with him without looking back. He'd had enough of this. He was not going to play second fiddle for the rest of his life.