After four days Emerwen was ready for the journey. She had her few clothes, her knives, and her staff. She rarely took her staff with her since she knew the area so well, but she knew she must take it to the palace. Her staff doubled as a guiding tool and as a weapon. There there five even hollowed out portions in the staff, all filled with metal for weight. The tip was encased in metal and slightly pointed at the end. There were two areas on the staff where the texture was roughed to allow a good handhold. This staff would allow her to sweep the area in front of her to watch out for walls, stairs, and whatever else she might encounter in a new place. It was also her favorite weapon. It allowed a small knife to rest in the top of the staff, going by unnoticed by anyone but those who knew it well.
The other ellon were waiting for her as she walked down to the courtyard before dawn. There was a horse saddled and waiting for her. She neatly vaulted on top the horse and turned it towards the rest of the ellon and nodded. They road out of the gates, not taking any looks behind them. Legolas stood from a balcony watching them go.
"May you be well, my love" He whispered as the horses rounded a bend and were not seen again.
Emerwen was tired, but forced herself to sit straight in the saddle and look ahead. None of these ellon knew she could not see and certainly didn't want them to find out on this trip. She rode in the middle of the pack, as was custom for women. She sensed that they had slipped under the cover of guardians in the trees, but dared not ask. They had been riding for a few days and told her they would be arriving in the city after nightfall. She was sure that if she had sight and if the watchers had allowed her to see them, she would see many elves high in the trees protecting their homeland.
Before long they arrived in the palace and she was allowed to dismount and was led before the king. She gave him the letter Legolas had bid her to bring. She assumed it explained why he was not coming back and why she was there in his stead. She heard the king sigh heavily after a time, but did not look up from her polite reverence of his privacy for fear that she would not know what to do next.
The king regarded this elleth in front of him for a moment or two. His son had sent her to him as a companion of sorts. He knew his son was worried that he might become lonely in these empty halls. His son also wrote that this elleth was blind. He wrote that she had tremendous hearing and had worked for years to make her blindness not a noticeable issue. Thranduil remembered her father and mother very well and realized that he had never been informed of her blindness, but then again he had never met Megil's children besides their son whom used to be Legolas's protector.
"Greetings Lady Emerwen, your father would have been pleased to see you here in these halls had he not passed." Thranduil spoke a greeting.
"Thank you, my king. I miss him, but know he is happy where he is now." Emerwen said looking up into the kings face. Thranduil gasped. She was looking him straight in the eye. He would not have known she was any different had his son not stated it in the letter.
"Your son told you of my condition, highness?" Emerwen questioned. She could not think of any other reason for the king to gasp when she looked up.
"Yes, my dear. Come, we will get your settled into your room and then we will go to the library to talk." Thranduil said, holding out his arm for her. He realized his mistake a second later.
"How do I do this, my lady?" Thranduil questioned, not knowing what else to do.
"Thread this through your own. It is the easiest." Emerwen said while holding out her arm. Thranduil did as suggested and off they went. He marveled again at how confidently she walked, despite not knowing where the next step or wall might be.
Months passed quickly as the pair found they did enjoy each other's company. Thranduil began to regard her as a daughter just as Emerwen regarded him as a father figure. They discussed history, lore, weaponry, defenses, and anything they could think of. Emerwen's knowledge was tremendous considering she had never read in her entire life. She learned by listening, she explained. She would sit outside the door to any meetings or councils she could manage, and made her sister read to her out of any topic she could think of.
Thranduil let her sit in on all of his council meetings. He learned to value her questions just as much as her thoughts and answers to his. She began to understand more of politics and of the reasons behind them. He learned patience from Emerwen and learned to trust what she did because there was always a good reason behind it. She always thought hard before she spoke and acted, learning from previous years of consequences.
After about a year had passed, the annual summer dance was to be help under the great trees. Emerwen loved to walk under this magnificent trees, and spent as much time as she could out with them. The week the elves were preparing for the feast, Emerwen would slip away to either be outdoors when everyone was in, or in when everyone was out. She didn't try to avoid people, but she was nervous since she didn't know many people.
That night her handmaiden slipped a dress on her and gasped at how pretty she looked. Emerwen glowed like one of the Eldar and looked as such. Her maid fitted a small crown on her head, signifying her as a royal guest, and led her to the banquet hall. She didn't need to since Emerwen learned almost all of the paths of the palace in the first week, but the two had become fast friends and her maid helped settle her nerves. Emerwen slipped into the entryway alone and waited for a guard to escort her to the high table. Once there she listened, trying to place how many people were present and who was at the high table.
Thranduil smiled as he saw Emerwen approach on the arm of a guard. She sat next to him and let her eyes roam the table. He was not fooled and knew she listened for information to suit her needs. After a moment or so he spoke.
"You look wonderful tonight, it is a shame my son could not see you." The king bent his head slightly in her direction.
"My lord you bless me to no ends." Emerwen tried to play off the words as a thank you, but couldn't stop the blush that crept lightly into her face.
Ah, so she does have feelings for my son thought Thranduil. He couldn't be happier since he approved mightily of Emerwen. The night progressed magnificently. There was much laughter and dancing filling the halls. Emerwen declined all dance proposals, feigning a foot injury.
"Why do you not dance?" Thranduil asked as she sent away yet another offer.
"I am not suited for dancing with my present state." Emerwen confessed to the king. She knew how to dance, but couldn't trust her partner to adapt to her needs of seeing when necessary. After the evening slipped into nightfall, Emerwen took her leave. She bid farewell to the nobles left at the high table and sought out her maid, Aranel (Princess). Aranel led her back to her room and shut the door firmly behind her. Emerwen sat on her bed, staring at the wall.
"What do you do when the one you love is far away and you know not if the feeling is the same to him?" Emerwen questioned. She was never one to ramble on with useless questions before getting to the heart of the matter.
"I do not know, Mellon. Who is it that you seek?" Aranel came to sit beside her with a look of concern on her face. Never had her lady spoken of such.
"He is forever in my heart and mind." Emerwen turned to her friend before continuing, "He is your dear prince." Aranel gasped before breaking out into a huge smile.
"Oh my lady! This is a happy time. Prince Legolas has never found a mate, and his father always wished for him to. But the king loves you, it will be no problem for you to love one another." Aranel hugged her friend tightly before letting go and searching her friends face. It was still troubled.
"I cannot be his princess. My lack of sight will not help this kingdom progress. I cannot let these great people fall to ruin because I let my heart get ahead of me." Emerwen said decisively. Aranel opened her mouth to protest, but closed it when she saw her friend's resolute face. Aranel laid her head on Emerwen's shoulder as they both stared at the wall, lost in thought.