"Why am I being summoned to the counsel, Lady Erulassë?" Adonnenniel asked.
"I do not ask question when received orders, Lady Adonnenniel" Erulassë responded. "It is the story of a maiden"
"Who asked you to bring me here?" Adonnenniel asked.
"I guess it's tradition to meet the Board of Elves upon the first day" Erulassë said.
"But why?" Adonnenniel pondered again.
"I don't ask the questions" Erulassë smiled back to Adonnenniel.
"I thought you might want to introduce yourself to the board of not only my future counsel but yours as well" Legolas said from the end of the hall.
"I did" Adonnenniel said until she reflected on her adviser's rude appearance. "But then I got cold feet, I suppose. Maybe now isn't such a good time? Why would I want to meet them now if they are doing a wonderful job and I will not be in the counsel for a couple more years? Thank you, but maybe some other time"
"Adonnenniel, I can see something has upset you and I can guess who, Hûredhiel is a very conservative Elf" Legolas took a step closer to her and whispered so low that even in closed distance Adonnenniel had to strain her ears to hear.
"I was starting to believe that people were willing to make change happen" Adonnenniel said.
"She gave my mother a hard time too when she first started" Legolas explained. "But then once you earn her trust, she will be the most loyal adviser that you have ever known. Do you want me to say something to her?"
"No!" Adonnenniel said so loudly that her voice echoed off of the halls.
"Okay" Legolas smiled. "It was just a question"
"Is she in there?" Adonnenniel motioned to the double doors behind him.
"Yes. Along with three other main people in your counsel" Legolas told her.
"I was having a very good morning" Adonnenniel commented.
"We will only be in there for a little while" Legolas told her.
"Legolas, I have to be honest with you, after meeting that Elven Woman I do not feel up to meeting more people like her" Adonnenniel said weakly.
"Then don't let her see weakness" Legolas told her.
"It doesn't matter. She still thinks that we are in this invisible war with each other" Adonnenniel muttered.
"Then treat her like a dance partner" Legolas advised. "You never let them get the better of you. Why is she suddenly different?"
She felt a soft hand in hers and looked down to see Legolas' hand had clasped onto hers as he slowly walked over to the double doors. The guards took hold of each knob and opened the door to another spectacular view of the woods with a group of Elves in the middle of the room. Adonnenniel could almost easily spot Hûredhiel in the corner with three other Elven Maidens she presumed to be part of her council. She looked over to Legolas who smiled at her before they stopped right next to Thranduil as he walked behind them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"May I have your attention, friends. My son and his bride have appeared" Thranduil spoke up.
"So this is the beautiful Sea Elf everyone has been talking about, my name is Calanon" a smiling Elf said and shook her hand.
"Good morning, I am Alassëa and this is my sister Adanessa, we are part of your counsel" a woman the same age as Hûredhiel said.
"Good morning" Adanessa curtsied.
"It is nice to meet you, ladies. Forgive me for being a little speechless but I did not know I was meeting all of you today. My adviser forgot to mention it to me last night" Adonnenniel spoke up. "But that is alright, I am sure we will get on the right page soon. Even if I was supposed to make an appearance only today"
"That is quite alright, Lady Adonnenniel" Thranduil smiled down to her.
"I will make sure to not make that mistake again" Hûredhiel said as politely as she could through gritted teeth.
"Lady Adonnenniel, your horse is ready"
"For what?"
"Lady Adonnenniel, there was a request to have your horse ready. I thought you would know" a female servant mentioned once she left the counsel room.
Before she could even say another word, Legolas came up beside her. "I will be down at the stables in a few moments"
"Legolas, take all the time you need" Adonnenniel smiled to him.
"I will escort you" Hûredhiel said once Legolas had left down the hall. "You think that was funny? Embarrassing me like that?"
"You should've listened to the rumors as a warning"
"I am not the type of Elf to play games with" Hûredhiel muttered as they walked down the stairs. "I am not planning on leaving over the sea anytime soon"
"And you are telling me this, why?"
"Because I am not going anywhere which means you are stuck with me"
"And you are also stuck with me" Adonnenniel shot back as they hit the bottom floor.
"Just because you had Thranduil King and Legolas Prince in the room does not make you invincible" Hûredhiel said.
"I was not using them as leverage"
"Good" Hûredhiel commented. "Because they won't be with you all the time during your lessons with me. In fact, they won't be with you for the next couple of days, My Lady. I will be in charge of your duties during that time. You better start behaving like a good little Elfling that you are or else things will not be so grand for you"
"Then do not try to step on my feet the next time you see me"
"That won't be necessary. I would never stoop so low to your bottom of the sea tactics" Hûredhiel said. "Even after you and Legolas Prince marry"
"What is it that my people did to you?" Adonnenniel asked.
"Everything and nothing" Hûredhiel replied.
"That doesn't answer anything" Adonnenniel responded.
"I don't have to answer to you" Hûredhiel said smugly.
"You will someday" Adonnenniel took a step closer.
"That day isn't today" Hûredhiel glared.
"I would answer soon or else I will remember this day when my eldest son is to marry and I will not sit around and have you torment is bride like you are trying to do to me" Adonnenniel threatened. "This I will promise"
"You have no authority over me" Hûredhiel said.
"Yet" Adonnenniel finished for her.
"We will finish this discussion later. Until then, have a nice ride" Hûredhiel said and left Adonnenniel alone at the bottom floor of the massive tree.
Adonnenniel didn't turn around to watch her adviser leave. Instead, she walked with her head held high over to the stables where she noticed that Legolas was waiting for her. She noticed that she felt instantly relieved to see his face just after seeing Hûredhiel's. She did her best to smile at Legolas as she mounted onto her horse and followed his down a narrow and dark trail.
"Sorry I took so long" Adonnenniel said as she cantered at his stride.
"What was all that about?"
"What are you talking about?" Adonnenniel asked. "About what happened in the counsel?"
"That too, but what was Hûredhiel saying after that?" Legolas looked over to her. "I heard her outside of the stable but couldn't hear what she was saying. Her tone of voice was very loud and clear though. I have heard that lecturing voice nearly all of my life. She sometimes used to pop out of nowhere and scare the living daylights out of me"
"She still has that effect on people"
"It will only get worse every time she ages"
"Hûredhiel was furious about me calling her out like that in the counsel room"
"I was very proud of you when you did that"
"You were? I thought you and your father would not want me mentioning that information on our first meeting" Adonnenniel said. "I didn't even know if she was supposed to tell me last night"
"Everyone knows how Hûredhiel is. You have got to keep that in mind" Legolas told her as they slowed to a stop by a border. "Guard! Let us through!"
"There is a storm coming!"
"Exactly the point"
"As you wish"
"A storm is coming?" Adonnenniel repeated. "Why are we out here if a storm is coming? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Where we go back to the palace?"
"That is the point" Legolas kicked his horse at its sides.
"It is?" Adonnenniel asked as she forced her mare to catch up.
"Mirkwood is at its best during thunderstorms" Legolas told her.
"Thunderstorms?"
"The sounds and the trees are a beautiful combination if you are at the right place"
"I have learned to avoid the thunderstorms when they are near"
"The water won't flood as much as it does in your shores" Legolas was silent for a moment. "I wanted to show you my favorite place before I leave"
"So it is true?" Adonnenniel asked.
"My father wants to visit the sightings of the mysterious creatures. In hopes that we might know what we are dealing with" Legolas told her.
"How long will you be gone?"
"I'm not sure" Legolas told her. "But I hope it won't be that long"
"Legolas?" Adonnenniel said all of a sudden. "Be very careful when you are out there"
"I will be" Legolas looked to her in a way that no one has ever looked at her before.
"You must turn back, My Lord"
"Why is that?" Legolas asked the two guards as they both halted to a stop. "It is my intentions to go this way. We are waiting upon a storm"
"It is coming by very quickly"
"That is the best kind of storms" Legolas smiled. "Have you heard any thunderclaps yet?"
"More like we never stop hearing them" a guard said as he shook out his soaked hair.
"This storm is a long one" the other guard said. "We have estimated that it might take the whole day until it clears. Spring is really approaching fast by the looks of this storm"
"Just stay close to a trail. We don't want to come out to search for the Prince and future Princess in the middle of the night. You know how your father worries" the other guard spoke up.
"Do not underestimate your father. He will have the whole Kingdom look for you two" the other guard replied.
"We have got to head back right now" the older guard announced. "Time to change shifts and make sure that everyone is alright"
"Guards, may you have a safe journey"
"And may you have a safe one as well, Prince" the guard nodded to Legolas then turned to Adonnenniel. "Welcome to Mirkwood"
The guards rode off into the distance just as thunder rumbled overhead. Adonnenniel looked up to the sky but couldn't see anything until she felt a massive amount of rain pouring down all over her. The sudden chill of the rain made her squeal out as she tried to grab onto her cloak. She draped it over her head and noticed that she heard this soft and melodic laughter right next to her.
"What is so funny?" Adonnenniel asked through the pouring rain.
"You are!" Legolas shouted back. "It's not that far up ahead"
"This is not very pleasing as you said it would be" Adonnenniel said as they got off of their horses and ran through the rain.
"What kind of thunderstorm do you enjoy if you don't allow yourself to get soaked to the skin in them" Legolas asked as he motioned to an opening in a small tree. "Get inside"
"Gladly!" Adonnenniel gave Legolas the reins as he tied them to a low branch. She looked outside and noticed they were on top of a small hill that showed Mirkwood as a valley, the low hanging clouds made Mirkwood look similar to the Misty Mountains. "It's beautiful here, Legolas. When did you find this place? Did your father show you this place?"
"My mother did" Legolas said in a whisper as he traced his fingertips on Elvish handwriting that spelt out: Raina and Legolas Greenleaf, mother and son forever and ever.
The look on his face made her want to cry, she reached out and gently cupped Legolas' face, making him look down to her instead of the writing. Adonnenniel then mustered up the courage to slightly go onto her toes and planted a soft kiss on his lips. She parted from him and looked up to Legolas who stared down at her. He then brought his head back down, placed his hands on her waist and kissed her again but with much more passion that she inhaled sharply from the kiss. She placed her hand around his shoulders as he placed one of his hands to the back of her head, she was getting closer into the kiss when lightning struck and thunder rumbled directly overhead, making her shriek.
"What was that?" she asked in terror.
"Just a little bit of thunder" Legolas chuckled as she hugged him tighter. "Put my cloak on"
"I did not realize how cold I was" Adonnenniel shivered as he draped his cloak around her. "I forgot how cold it can become in the forest"
"I wish I had advised you to wear a thicker cloak" Legolas traced his hand into her hair.
"Thank you" Adonnenniel looked up into his blue eyes. "For giving me the opportunity of showing me this place. I really appreciate it"
"I knew you were having a hard time adjusting" Legolas replied.
"I will get used to it" Adonnenniel found herself saying. "I am just glad that you are very understanding. I am very fortunate to have you as my future husband. I was scared that I might get married off to someone who wanted just a title and nothing more"
"I would never have treated you like that" Legolas studied her; his deep blue almost purple reminded her of the deep sea. "You are too precious to be wasted like some kind of trophy wife"
Adonnenniel looked at him and then leaned up to give him a long kiss that she often secretly desired ever since their lips first met.
