"My Lord, we have received word from the Dwarves." An Elf bowed to a figure sitting on a throne high above him.
"The Dwarves?" Thranduil asked.
"Indeed Sire. It would seem that they will be attending this year's Winter Solstice Festival."
Thranduil raised a brow, "Really? How intriguing. I wonder what has brought the Dwarves out of their caves."
The messenger didn't answer.
Thranduil sighed softly, "You may go. Start preparing the rooms."
The guard nodded and walked down the walkway.
Thranduil walked down from his throne and walked to his chambers. Once there, he slammed his staff into the floor with a small cry of frustration. "Pathetic Dwarves, coming into my kingdom." He muttered to himself. A soft sound hit his ears and he turned to the floor, shocked to find a small patch of ice where his staff had hit the floor. He turned to his staff to find ice slowly covering the surface. He dropped the staff with a gasp, reeling back in shock. "No, this can't be happening. The Winter Moon has not yet risen."
Before he could think more, there was a knock on his door. "Ada?" The voice of his son called.
"Just a moment." Thranduil quickly grabbed the staff and hid it behind his back before placing the train of his robe over the ice patch. "Enter" He said calmly.
Legolas entered the room and smiled at his father. "Have you heard the news?"
"That the Dwarves are coming to the Festival? Yes, I've heard." Thranduil sneered.
Legolas smiled wider, "Yes, there is that, but what I actually wanted to tell you is that there is to be Crystal Snow tonight."
Thranduil looked curious. "Crystal Snow? Crystal Snow hasn't fallen in many years." Thranduil thought back to his childhood; how on the night of the Winter Solstice, when the moon was at its peak, he would climb the tallest tree and allow the wind to carry him upwards. He would then dance with the wind, producing snow whenever he flung his arms out. Unlike most snow, these snowflakes would glow like moonlight thus the name Crystal Snow was born.
"Indeed, but many Elves have foreseen it." Legolas continued
"Hmm, we shall see if their prediction comes true." Thranduil said. He knew this prediction wouldn't come to pass. The last time he produced Crystal Snow was when he was a child, before he hurt his mother. He found out that the Dwarves gathered the snow and made jewels out of it; he saw their finished work to him at King Thror's coronation, offering it to him before slamming the chest shut in his face. The Dwarves haven't attended since then, not that Thranduil cared; a race who had disrespected him in such a way didn't deserve to attend his Festival.
(Spring)(Summer)(Fall)(Winter)
The Woodland Elves gathered in a large meadow, waiting for their guests to arrive. It wasn't long before groups of Elves and Dwarves came through the trees.
"Welcome all, to the Winter Solstice Festival." Thranduil greeted.
"We are happy to attend Lord Thranduil" A group of Elves bowed. Their leader, Lord Elrond gave Thranduil a smile and a small bow before moving further into the meadow.
"Picturesque as ever King Thranduil" A soft voice said. Thranduil looked to see Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn walking up to him.
"Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn, how wonderful to see you." Thranduil said. Although he may only respect the She-elf, he bore her husband no ill will.
"We are always happy to attend this beautiful gala." Celeborn replied. "Rumor has it that there will even be Crystal Snow."
"I have heard that rumor as well." Thranduil nodded.
"It has been missed. The Festival hasn't quite been the same since it disappeared." Galadriel said.
"I am afraid you will be waiting for a long time Lady Galadriel. I do not see Crystal Snow falling any time soon." Thranduil replied.
Galadriel smiled, "Who knows, perhaps it will fall sooner than you think." She and her husband walked off.
Thranduil watched them leave and sighed. "Regretting this already?" A deep voice said.
Thranduil turned to find Thorin Oakenshield smirking up at him, his cousin Dain and company were behind him. Thranduil glared, "Only because you are here." He turned to fully face the Dwarf king. "Tell me, what made the Dwarves decide to grace us with their presence this Festival?"
"We don't need to explain ourselves to the likes of you, Fairy." Dain glared at Thranduil.
Thranduil raised a brow, "Seeing as I am the host, I think it only polite."
"Our reasons are our own Elf." Thorin said and walked off.
Thranduil watched them leave with a suspicious look.
"Don't mind him Lord Thranduil." A small voice said.
The Elf king looked down to see a Hobbit smiling up at him. "And who are you Halfling?"
"Bilbo Baggins of Bag End." The Hobbit said. "I am part of Thorin's company."
"Strange company. I thought Hobbits never left home." Thranduil said.
Bilbo smiled shyly, "I'm not like most Hobbits."
"I see that, if you are so close to a Dwarf."
Bilbo blushed, "He takes some getting used to, but once you do, he's very loyal and a true friend."
Thranduil smirked, "Friend, of course."
Bilbo blushed more and hurried off to join his party.
(Spring)(Summer)(Fall)(Winter)
The Festival was off to a peaceful start. The feast was delicious (even if the Dwarves complained about the lack of meat), everyone danced and sang along to the music; everything seemed to be going perfect…until it wasn't.
The moon was almost at its highest point, the point where fall would turn to winter. Everyone gathered in the center of the meadow, most looking to the sky and waiting for the Crystal Snow that was foretold to fall. Many of the Dwarves were already drunk, laughing boisterously in small groups.
Dain stumbled over to Thranduil, "You are a Woodland Sprite."
Thranduil raised a brow at the Dwarf.
"You cold hearted bastard." The Dwarf-king slurred.
Legolas went to stop the Dwarf, but Thranduil held him back.
"I'm sure your wife is glad she's dead" He spat. All of the Woodland Elves flinched. "What wench would find you attractive?"
Bilbo was trying to get Thorin's attention, but the King was too drunk to take notice of his surroundings.
"You prissy little Fairy, killing your wife off." The Dwarf chuckled.
Thranduil's fists tightened. He could feel his body heat up and the air grew colder. "It would do you well to keep your mouth shut Dwarf."
Dain laughed, "What's the matter Sprite? Where's your sense of fun?"
Thranduil glared at Dain and stalked away from him.
"Come on now Thranduil, face me like a man!" Dain called.
"Enough Dain" Bilbo tried to pull the Dwarf away.
Legolas ran up to his father to calm him.
"Ada" Legolas started, but Dain's shout interrupted him.
"Yeah run! Like the coward ya are." Dain cackled drunkenly. "Go back to your dead wife why don't ya?"
"That's ENOUGH!" Thranduil swung his hand out, unleashing a mixture of blue flames and ice into the air.
Thranduil watched in horror as everyone pushed back to escape the flames. The Ice pushed Dain off his feet and tore Legolas' robe.
"Ada?" Legolas tried to move around the barrier of ice, but Thranduil flinched and backed away.
He could hear the whispers of the other guests, fear coursed through his body.
"Ada, please" Legolas reached out to his father.
"No, don't." Thranduil whispered. He held up his hands, but more ice shot out. A few people screamed and ran out of the way. Thranduil gasped in horror and ran off into the woods.
"Wait! Ada!" Legolas called. He ran after his father, but there was no sign of him. Legolas walked back to the meadow to find everyone looking up at the sky.
"It's snowing!" An Elf said excitedly. Legolas looked up and it was indeed snowing, but there was something off about it. Instead of glowing white snowflakes, they were black.
"What is this?" Galadriel asked.
"The snow is black, why is it black?" Everyone started talking at once.
"It was the King!" Dwalin shouted. "The King has cursed this land!"
"I knew he was bad news!" Dain shouted. "That stupid Sprite! He tried to kill me! I demand he be punished!" Dain shrieked.
"What are you on about Dwarf?" Legolas asked.
"I want that Elf's head on a stick. First he attacks me and now he has cursed us with this Black Snow."
"You only have yourself to blame for that." Tauriel argued. "If you had kept your mouth shut then this would not have happened."
"All Elves are the same." Dain sneered. "Pathetic fairies who think they are more important than the rest of us. Bah! You are all a menace."
Before the Elves could do anything, Bilbo came over and placed himself in front of Dain. "I think we all need to calm down. We are drunk and tempers are high."
"Who are you to push me around Hobbit?" Dain spat. He made to throw Bilbo off of him, but Thorin held him back.
"He is a part of my company Dain, you will not touch him." Thorin glared.
Dain huffed, but relaxed his stance.
While the Dwarves were talking, Legolas made his way over to Elrond. "I must go after my father."
"Do you think that is wise? After what has just happened." Elrond asked.
"He was afraid, he was pushed too far."
"Did you know? About these powers."
Legolas shook his head.
Elrond sighed, "I will look after the kingdom while you are away. Will you at least take someone with you?"
"No, it would be best if I went myself."
"I hope you know what you are doing. He is dangerous."
"He is my father Lord Elrond, I don't care if he's dangerous." Legolas replied seriously and ran off back to the palace.
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