Arwen, only twenty years old, sat alone in her bedroom singing softly to herself. The song she sung to herself was that of Beren and Lúthien-her ancestors and the latter of which she was often compared to, even though she was still in her youth. Each verse gave her a slight chill, starting at the roots of her dark hair to the tips of her toes.
A soft knock came from the bedroom's door, bringing the young elf out of the somewhat trance she had sung herself into.
"Enter," she said, sighing and sitting up straighter on the cushions of the couch.
The doors swung opened and Elrond entered gracefully, his head held high and a soft smile on his lips. "Hello, my daughter."
"Hello, Ada," Arwen stood, looking up at her father. "Is something the matter?"
Elrond shook his head. "No, nothing is wrong. But I came to tell you to pack your things." Elrond moved to the small couch and patted the spot next to him. Arwen sat next to her father. "We are to be leaving soon."
"Where to, Ada?" Arwen asked excitedly, her face lighting up and her curiosity piqued. She had never left Rivendell in her whole short life. It thrilled her to think of the adventures that lay outside of her home, only awaiting her arrival.
Elrond smiled at the look on Arwen's face. "We are going to Mirkwood. The King wishes to meet you. So we must introduce you to him and his son."
Arwen looked down at her feet as she swung them back and forth. She didn't know whether to be excited or not. If she were meeting a prince and a king, that would leave no time for adventures and fun-only leaving time for manners and other boring things.
"Ada, why can't we just go on an adventure somewhere? Just you and I?"
Elrond laughed softly, but his eyes looked harder and filled with a pain. Arwen didn't notice the change in her father's eyes as she pouted down at the floor. "No, we cannot. When Elladan and Elrohir where younger, we went with you mother to meet the king. They've been a few times since then. Now that you are old enough, you must meet him too."
"Why do I have to?"
"Because it is respectful and it keeps the peace between Mirkwood and Imladris." Elrond stood from his seat. "Now, pack up. You will like the prince, I promise."
Arwen sighed again. She would much rather go on an adventure to find some vast mystical land that no one had discovered yet. Maybe when they made it to Mirkwood she could slip off and explore the forest? Probably not because her father would watch her closely. Maybe she could leave after they crossed mountains? That would be unlikely. She would most likely be put in a carriage because of her age. She was too small to ride a horse by herself.
Frustrated, Arwen gave into the fact that she could not escape this unwanted trip, and so she stood up from her seat and began to pack her things.
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"Legolas, be prepared. Lord Elrond and his children are coming for a visit on my request," Thranduil told his son who stood before his throne.
Legolas was just barely twenty-five. His blond hair was ratted up, with sticks and twigs sticking out all over the place. His face, hands, and feet were splattered with mud from running through the forest, and his cheeked were covered with small cuts and bruises from running through the trees. He had been playing tag with the girl Tauriel until one of his father's guards had hunted him down and brought him to the throne room.
"Why?" Legolas asked. Already boredom was taking over and he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Because," Thranduil sighed, shifting his position on his throne. "Lord Elrond has another child. He and I thought that we should get together and meet it."
"Oh," Legolas said, his heart filling with disappointment. He had days of fun planned for himself and Tauriel. Now all his plans would be foiled thanks to Lord Elrond and his children.
"Do you remember Elladan and Elrohir? They came her just ten years ago when you were barely fifteen."
"Yes, Adar, I remember. But why can't Lord Elrond have a child my age come over? Elladan and Elrohir where adults when I met them."
"He does have a child your age. She is slightly younger but-" Thranduil started, only to be cut off by Legolas.
"She?" Legolas' face twisted in disgust.
"Yes. She." Thranduil's voice was filled with irritation. "Do you not have a friend who is a girl?"
Legolas looked away in embarrassment, remembering Tauriel. "Well, yes. But she is different. She is fun to be around."
Thranduil shook his head at his son's poor excuses. "Who knows, Legolas? Maybe Lady Arwen will be pleasant too? She could be just as fun as Tauriel."
"I doubt it!" Legolas exclaimed. "She will be like every other Lady I have ever met. She will wish to do girly things with me, such as braid my hair and do my nails. I would much rather be in the forest with Tauriel!"
Thranduil rolled his eyes at the young prince's tantrum. "Just go. They will be here in a few days, so be ready."
Legolas lifted his chin and strode out, clearly repelled at the thought of meeting Lady Arwen. He would have to stay inside the whole visit to entertain her because they were so close in age. If she had been a boy, perhaps he would have taken her around the forest. But since he couldn't and she wasn't a boy, all they would be doing was listening to the adults talk and doing things he didn't want to do.
"I cannot wait to become of age and be able to do whatever I wish to," Legolas muttered angrily to himself.
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The journey to Mirkwood was long, many days and nights. Arwen shifted uncomfortably, her legs and joints stiff from sitting in the same position for a long period of time. It was early in the morning when they finally reached the edge of Mirkwood. From the small window in her carriage, they grey morning light made the trees seem much taller and scarier than they really were. A few Wood-elves joined there small party, sending formal greetings and welcoming the elves of Imladris to their home. They safely guided them through the forest and away from the dangerous creatures that lurked in the shadows.
The carriage slowly rolled to a stop, the wooden wheel grinding on the stones and pebbles beneath them. "Lady Arwen, you may get out now." A voice called out to her once the carriage had stopped moving completely.
Arwen stood and stretched her poor aching muscles and fixing her beautiful silk dress. She could hear voices right outside the carriage door talking to her father and brothers. And by the way her father was addressing the person he was speaking to, she presumed he was the Elvenking. She straightened her posture as best she could in the small carriage and prepared to step out of it as gracefully as she could. As the door was opened and she began to step out, her shoe caught her dress and all plans of being graceful and lady-like tumbled out the door. Literally.
She could feel herself falling down and she braced for impact by putting her hands over her face and squeezing her eyes shut. But when she noticed that she wasn't falling anymore, she opened her eyes and to her surprise, they were met by bright blue ones.
A boy with blond hair had stopped her from falling. She glanced down at his arms were supporting her and keeping her from falling face first into the mud.
"Thank you," Arwen said quietly, looking back up at the boy. She felt her face flush from a mixture of embarrassment and noticing how cute he was.
He nodded in reply, making sure that Arwen was standing surely on her own feet before stepping away. Arwen walked over to her father and brothers who were not far from the carriage and had watched the whole ordeal.
"Oh! Arwen has gotten herself a lover!" Elrohir whispered loudly to Elrohir when she stood next to them. Elrohir chuckled quietly in reply and Arwen shot a look at both of them. She was not going to have her brothers tease her this whole trip.
Elrond cleared his throat and beckoned Arwen to come to his side. "This is my daughter, Arwen."
Hearing her name called, she covered up the glare she was giving her brothers with a sweet smile as she walked to her father's side. She stepped forward and greeted the king as properly as she could remember, looking up at her father for approval. When he smiled, she stepped back to his side once more.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Arwen," Thranduil said, bowing his head slightly in respect.
"I assume you know that this is King Thranduil, Arwen?" Elrond asked, turning towards his daughter.
"Yes, Ada," Arwen replied.
"This is my son, Prince Legolas," Thranduil said, sweeping his arm towards the blond boy who had saved her from the carriage incident.
Arwen forced herself not to blush again and curtsied slightly. "My pleasure," she said.
Legolas bowed his head, not saying anything. Arwen felt a pang of irritation. This Prince was turning out to be rather rude.
"If you will follow me," Thranduil said, turning towards the massive doors and into the Elvenking's Halls.
Arwen looked up at the doors in amazement and wonder as she passed through them. She had never seen a majestic place such as this. It was so different than what she had been expecting, and a strange and wild feeling filled the air around her-unlike Rivendell and Lothlórien with their peaceful atmospheres. Inside the Halls, Arwen felt her breath hitch at the splendor of the caves and the terrifying paths that they were to walk on.
King Thranduil led them ever onwards, and Arwen held tightly on to Elrond's hand, terrified of falling. They reached another set of big doors, smaller than the ones previously but still grand, and entered into the room behind it. Arwen was relieved to see that this room was safer than some of the others they had passed through.
Instead of life-threatening edges, this room was enclosed but huge. Beautifully carved pillars stood against the walls, holding the ceiling up. They reminded Arwen of trees with roots growing towards the bottoms and tree branches spreading out above. In the center of the room and under a chandelier was a table that stretched from the doors to the wall opposite of them. A huge chair sat at the far end of the table with a slightly smaller chair to it's right. The rest of the chairs were all smaller and the same size. Amongst them were elf maidens setting dishes and food upon the long table and pouring wine in the larger glasses for the adults. The King gave a signal to the maidens and they showed their guests where to sit. Thranduil was in the big chair, his son on his right. Elrond sat to the King's left, followed by Elladan and then Elrohir. Arwen was guided to the chair next to Legolas.
The feast began. The food and drinks where delicious. Arwen had never put such sweet delicacies in her mouth. Back in Rivendell the food was good, but she had never had food and roasted meat quite like this.
After the meal was finished, Thranduil cleared his throat and turned towards Arwen's father. "Lord Elrond, shall we go talk?'
Understanding grew in Elrond's eyes and his smile faded into a grim line. "Yes."
"Elladan, Elrohir, the archery range is free for you to use," Thranduil said, turning towards Arwen's brothers. They nodded and stood from the seats at the table, leaving the dinning room.
"Legolas, entertain Arwen while we speak," Thranduil commanded as he led Elrond towards the doors.
Legolas nodded and watched as his father walked away while whispering to Elrond. Once the King was no longer in the room, he turned towards Arwen and told her to follow him.
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Elrond followed Thranduil until they reached a quiet room away from the children. Thranduil entered the small area first, followed closely by Elrond.
"Please, take a seat," Thranduil swept his arm to a small chair opposite the chair he was lowering himself into, a tall golden cup of wine in his other hand. Once both elves were seated, Thranduil began to speak.
"I assume you know why you're here and what we are to speak about," Thranduil said slowly, moving his cup in circular motions.
Elrond nodded soberly. "Yes. About my daughter and your son. Have you spoken about it to him yet?"
"I am afraid not. And that is none of your concern," Thranduil shot a look and shifted in his chair. "From my understanding, you have not told your daughter yet either."
"That is true, Thranduil."
Thranduil leaned forwards, his eyes on the ground as he thought of what to say next. "Do not tell her just yet. I will send word of when they are ready to know. Do I make myself clear?"
Elrond grew rigid. "She is my daughter. I will tell her when I think I should."
"No, you will not," Thranduil's voice became cold. "Unless you want the war to start, I suggest that you listen to me."
Elrond shot him a look, but heeded his order nonetheless. He had no desire for war and would do anything to save his family and his people.
"I understand," he said through clenched teeth.
"Wonderful," Thranduil smirked, leaning back in his chair and sipping his wine.
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AN: Here is the first chapter of this fanfiction. This has been edited from what it used to be before. It was just a silly idea I had one night, and so I wanted to write it.
To clear a few things up for people who might not know, elves age differently than humans. Arwen is twenty, but looks about seven years old. Legolas is a bit older and looks just a little bit older than Arwen, but not much. Just for this story, I made their ages a bit closer than what they actually are, but I think this should still take place in the Third Age when Arwen was actually born.
Also, for those wondering why Thranduil is threatening war, my reason is: because Thranduil is a jerk. Perhaps he is bitter about the War of the Last Alliance with his father's passing (even if it was Oropher's own fault) and blames Gil-galad and Elrond, since Elrond was close to Gil-galad. So he's taking it out on Elrond in this way. I'm not too familiar with that part of the lore, so if it doesn't work or I got something wrong, then I apologize.
Thank you for reading! Please leave a vote if you liked it!
-cherrymochiii