Authors Note

Huge thanks to everybody who read the last chapter and followed or favourited it or left a kudos or bookmarked it and to Hikari Nova and IsraAl'Attia-Theron for the reviews. Also huge thanks to Charlie for looking over this chapter which kicks off where the last one ended.

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters or places, I'm just playing with them and I promise to put them back when I am done.

Chapter Two - Meeting Royalty

Elizabeth woke with a start, expecting to find herself back in her cupboard under the stairs and so it was a surprise to see a dark forest surrounding her rather than the plain walls of her cupboard that were uncomfortably close. Quickly Elizabeth got up and began to follow the path that she was on, not really knowing where she was going but too nervous to stay in one place. Hearing an ominous creak above her, Elizabeth looked up and had to suppress a scream at the sight of what seemed to be over fifty giant spiders the size of Uncle Vernon's car. Not caring where she was going she took off running, hoping to get away from the creatures that seemed to have noticed her. Elizabeth ran as fast as she could but the spiders were gaining on her. Her foot caught on a hidden root and sent her tumbling to the ground.

Pain shot through her leg as she landed and shut her eyes expecting to die, only for them to fly open at the sound of a voice yelling something she did not understand and a spider screaming in pain as it was shot with an arrow. Looking around Elizabeth spotted a tall blond with pointy ears killing the spiders, and he was soon joined by nine other pointy eared people wielding swords, bows and arrows, and knives. They fought very gracefully and it did not take long until all the spiders were either dead or running away, pursued by most of the tall people, until only the first blond, a redhead woman, and a brown-haired male remained.

The blond knelt down beside Elizabeth and said something in a language she did not know before offering her his hand. Though normally Elizabeth did not trust strangers, the colours surrounding him seemed to tell her that he did not intend to hurt her so she allowed him to help her up, but then promptly collapsed with a cry of pain when she tried to put weight on her left leg. They both looked down to see her ankle was starting to swell up like a balloon. As the pain continued to increase Elizabeth began gasping and crying so hard she could barely see what was right in front of her. She did not notice when the blond called the redhead over to look at her leg. Her hearing was fuzzy and she felt like she was going to vomit but she did, however, notice when the pain began to decrease and everything came back into focus.

"Shh, little one. Just relax, it will be okay," the blond murmured beside her.

"Who are you?" Elizabeth asked between gasping tears.

"I am Legolas," the blond replied, " and this is Tauriel and Zhanaril" indicating first to the redhead female then the dark-haired male, "and what would your name be, little one?".

"I'm Elizabeth," came the reply.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth," said Legolas, "Now, where are your parents, one as young as you should not be alone in a place like this."

"I don't have any, sir," Elizabeth stated, "I don't have anyone."

"Well, we will just have to take you back with us while you heal then," Legolas decided, "Zhanaril, go tell my father what has happened and that I will be bringing Elizabeth back with us." he said as he carefully scooped Elizabeth up to carry.

"Of course, Your Highness."

"Are you really royal, Legolas?" Elizabeth questioned stunned and a little unsure as to what to do, after all, it was not every day you got saved from giant spiders by royalty or carried by a member of the royal family.

Legolas chuckled at her expression, "I am, my father is king of Greenwood which makes me the prince." he said as he began walking, "So tell me, little Elizabeth, why are you here?"

"I don't think you would believe me," Elizabeth whispered. "Nobody ever believes me they always believe Dudley and he never tells the truth."

"Who ever this Dudley is he is not here and even if he was, I am very good at spotting a lie." Legolas declared.

Elizabeth watched Legolas for a moment before deciding that she could trust him with this, and so she began to tell everything; she told him how she was an orphan who was sent to live with relatives, how her relatives were always being mean to her and lying about her parents, she told him about the colours and then finally about her conversation with Vairë before waking up in the forest and being attacked by the spiders, feeling much better when she was finished. As she told her story she completely forgot about her injury, the so far silent redhead, Tauriel, and the fact she would probably have to tell it all again when they got to their destination. By the time she had finished telling her story they were almost there and her companions were in shock.

"That is unbelievable," Tauriel said after a long moment's silence, before hastily adding "not that I think you're lying." when she saw Elizabeth start to curl in on herself.

"I think what Tauriel is trying to say is that it is unheard of for something like this to happen but we believe you, little one," Legolas said as they came to a stop. "My father may seem cruel but I promise you he will not harm you, he is just under a lot of stress. Please believe me and forgive him for the first impression he may leave you with." Legolas requested.

"I trust you." Elizabeth decided, and they set off again until they reached the throne room where someone who could only be Legolas' father was waiting for them.

Legolas carefully set Elizabeth down, supporting her so that she would not put any weight on her left foot, before greeting his father in the language that Elizabeth did not understand and quickly telling him what he had learnt on the walk back.

To say that Thranduil, king of the elves of Greenwood, was shocked would be an understatement. Never before had something like this happened, but he let none of his shock show on his face as he went to greet the little Istar that had shown up in his kingdom.

"Welcome, little one, Legolas tells me you have quite a story to tell, I would be very interested to hear it." he told her wanting to determine for himself if she was telling the truth.

After a reassuring glance from Legolas, Elizabeth retold her story to the king who watched her very closely looking for any sign that the fragile looking little girl in front of him was lying. He found none which left two options, one she was a very good actor and somehow managed to suppress all of the indicators or two she was telling the truth. Given her age, Thranduil was inclined to believe the second option.

"Well, you are more than welcome to stay with us while you heal," Thranduil announced, "then we can see about contacting Gandalf about training your magic and finding you somewhere more permanent to stay."

Not long after, Elizabeth was taken to the healing halls to have her ankle looked at properly; and then to the rooms that had been set up for her near Legolas', with her ankle wrapped and an order to stay off it as much as possible for the next eight to twelve weeks as it heals.

Authors Note

I still hate writing dialogue it never seems to come out as I want it to. Also sorry if the chapter took awhile to get out, I've been sick and Charlie has been busy so we didn't get a chance to talk about the chapter until a few hours ago.