Elrond sat in his daughter's room, admiring how much she had matured from all those long years ago. Now, instead of a young elfling, sat before him was a beautiful young woman. Her hair was dark and long, curling ever so slightly around her face. Her grey eyes shone with a sort of mischievous light-just like her mother's used to. She had become more graceful and poised, just like her father.

"Ada," Arwen smiled up at father when she saw him watching her. "Is something the matter?"

"No, Arwen. I was just thinking about how much you have grown. You are close to becoming of age."

"Yes, I have grown up a bit, haven't I?" Arwen smiled and stood from where she had been reading her book previously. "Shall we go for a walk in the gardens?"

Before Elrond could answer, a knock on the door cut him off.

"You may enter," Arwen said, turning towards the door.

A messenger walked in, bowing his head towards Arwen then turning to Elrond. "My Lord Elrond, a bird has arrived with a message for you, if you would come and receive it."

Arwen watched as the messenger stepped towards Elrond and whispered something in his ear. Elrond's face grew grim, his eyebrows knit together in worry. He nodded gravely and turned back to his daughter. Already she knew that he would not walk with her.

"I must go, Arwen. I have been expecting this message for awhile."

Arwen nodded, casting her eyes to the ground at her feet. "I will be in the gardens," she said, barely masking her disappointment.

Arwen looked up and watched her father and the messenger leave the room. She sighed, then left for the gardens.

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Legolas was glad to finally be of age. He had waited for it a long time-ever since he was a small child. He had always looked forwards to the freedoms that he would gain with age, thinking he could do whatever he wished whenever he wanted. That wasn't exactly true, but he was able do to most of what he wanted with his free time.

And most of what he wanted to do was spend time in the forest. He still loved the feeling of running through it and hiding in the shadows, or climbing trees or hunting for food. Ever since he was little he had loved the forest. And because of that ardent love and all the time he spent in it, he was the best hunter and warrior in Mirkwood. It was no mere thing to challenge him in any type of combat, whether it was hand-to-hand, archery, or knives and swords. He bested every elf that ever dared to challenge him.

But even with all his new-found freedom, he also had many responsibilities and duties since he was a prince destined to one day be the Elvenking.

As for today, he was stuck inside the halls of his home with nothing to do but attend meetings or sit in his room. His father had ordered him to stay put for the remainder of the week. He had no idea why he had to stay inside, but his father had promised him a reason as soon as possible.

Legolas sighed for the millionth time that hour, tapping his fingertips on the armrests of his chair. He shifted slightly to look out the window, trying to distract himself from the boring meeting he was currently sitting through. He felt fidgety and restless and couldn't concentrate on a word that was spoken to him.

"Prince Legolas? Your Highness?"

Legolas looked away from the window and towards the owner of the voice who had spoken his name. "My apologies. What was that?"

"The meeting is adjourned. You are free to go, Your Highness."

Legolas nodded in reply, pulling himself gracefully out of his chair. Now was his chance to get some fresh air. His father was gone and wasn't to be expected back until much later that night-long after the moon had risen. So it was reasonable to say the he wouldn't notice his son's absence for an hour or two, right?

He nodded to himself, determined. What good was it to be trapped in here with nothing to do? He ran swiftly to him room, changed out of his formal robes and into his hunting ones, grabbed his bow and arrows and his hunting knives then left.

At the doors, he quickly convinced the guards to let him out, saying he would only step out for a minute and not much longer. The freedom of the outside brought a smile to his face, one that faded rather fast.

"Legolas, why are you outside?"

A tall and slender figure was approaching from the shadows of the trees, riding a massive elk with huge antlers. A crown of woven branches and berries was placed upon his golden head. His eyes were cold and hard as he regarded his son.

"I am sorry, Adar. But I despise being inside all day long," Legolas answered, holding his head high.

Thranduil slid off his elk, landing softly on the ground. He turned towards his son. Legolas met him as unflinchingly as he could, ready for whatever punishment might come.

"You know what I told you," Thranduil said firmly. "You were to stay inside for the remainder of the week."

"I just thought that because I am of age now, I had more freedoms than I did before. I thought it would go unnoticed if I stepped out for just a moment. I have been of age for more than a year now, and I think I can come and go as I please."

Glaring down at him, Thranduil stepped closer to Legolas, making the younger elf flinch.

"I am your King and your father. You will do as I say."

Feeling ashamed and angry, Legolas nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the floor. "Yes, Adar."

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Elrond,
It has been some time since we have spoken to one another and I do not send this message looking for small talk or conversation. I send it to let you know that it is time.
Legolas has come of age and I know that Lady Arwen is not far behind him. They are both mature enough to do as I wish them too.
Do not yet speak word of this to your daughter, as I know you will wish to do. I will be the one to explain everything to the both of them as soon as we meet. All you must tell her is that we are meeting once again, after the many long years of not seeing each other.
I have decided that when we do meet, it shall be in Imladris. My son and I have left a week or so ago by the time you receive this message. I shall send news of when we are near as soon as I can. When I do so, you can tell her that we are coming, but wait until then.
-Thranduil

Elrond read and reread the letter many times over, his heart sinking with a heavy sadness. He felt many emotion at once: despair, anger, pain, hatred. How could he have let this happen to his youngest child and only daughter? How could he betray her trust in him?

Sighing wearily, he folded the letter and put it in the pocket of his robes. It was time to tell her of the arriving guests.

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Arwen glanced around the gardens, enjoying the many colors and the beauty of the world around her. Her eyes took in the tall trees that had been planted years ago by her ancestors, then the smaller and newer ones that she had helped plant with her mother. Many of the trees were blooming. Lining the stone pathways were beautiful flowers, all of different varieties. Their soft petals fell on the path, filling the air with their sweet perfumes. More flowers were spread throughout the rest of the gardens, planted under the trees or even in special boxes made just for them.

The gardens pleased Arwen; they helped to calm her nerves. For the past few days she had spent most of her time out here. She had been on edge with her father's strange behavior. He seemed to be avoiding her as much as he could. And when they did meet, his eyes were different and filled with pain and despair. It reminded her of how he looked after her mother left for the Grey Havens.

Footsteps from behind her caused her to halt her slow walking and pulled her from her thoughts. She turned around and smiled at who she found.

"Hello, Ada," Arwen said as her father got closer.

"Hello, my daughter. Please ready yourself. We will be having important guests soon." Elrond's voice was tight, but he forced a smile.

Arwen quirked an eyebrow, curious about who would be coming. "Who?"

"We are expecting the Elvenking, Thranduil, and his son, Prince Legolas."

"And why would they want to travel all the way out here? That is curious. We have not met since I was a little child. They have no cause to visit, am I correct?" Arwen inquired. Thranduil did not seem the type to visit for no reason other then to visit.

Elrond looked at his daughter and the innocent gaze she had. Although he wished to, he couldn't explain the reason for their visitors, unless he wanted to offend the Elvenking.

A hard lump was now growing in Elrond's throat. He could not let his daughter see him cry, or else she would be suspicious. "No, Arwen. The Prince is lonely and wishes for a friend, even for a small amount of time. That is all."

Elrond turned away from her before she could respond. He strode as quickly away as he could from her.

Arwen started after him, completely confused and not understanding. Why was he behaving this way? Had she offended him somehow? Why did the Prince want to be her friend?

The rest of the afternoon she spent carefully avoiding her father as much as she could. She spent her time alone, wishing for her brothers to come home from their journeys so she could speak with them. She hadn't the slightest idea of what was bothering her father, but she had a feeling it had to do with her.

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AN: Here is the next chapter :) I hope you all like it. I just wanted to add that if I remember correctly, elves are considered fully grown and adults at 100. I might be wrong though, so if anyone knows, let me know!

If you liked this chapter, let me know! Thank you for reading!

-cherrymochiii