When I last left Celebriel, she was being greeted by Thranduil, welcoming her to the Greenwood. I have an idea of where I am taking this, and while I don't know if this will be a series, I plan to stretch the story out over the Third Age. This has been in the works for a long time, and I've thought/out and written several scenarios. My original notes are lost and not retrievable.
While this may seem at the moment like a "Legolas love story", it's not. I could put in a spoiler here, but won't.
Thranduil smiled to himself, pleased at the impression he seemed to have made on Celebriel. He ordered chairs brought for her and his son and ordered wine be served to the weary travelers.
He studied her carefully, noting that she seemed a little tired and thin but her ordeal—if it could be called that—had barely affected her. He tried to probe her mind, but discovered he could not, she had somehow learned to prevent others from seeking out her thoughts.
"Now, Celebriel," he said, sounding his most benevolent, "What is it that I can do for you? Why have you left Imladris and sought out my kingdom in the Greenwood?"
Her answer came quicker than he supposed, "I wish to take refuge here until such time as I return to Lorinand. I do not how long that will be but I do not wish to impose upon your hospitality any more than is necessary. And I would make myself useful to you, if I can, I have been well trained by the elves of Lorinand and was amongst those who kept watch upon its fences. I cannot abide idleness, my lord, I am not happy unless I am making myself useful."
"Come, come, Celebriel," Thranduil said, "You must not be so formal. We are kindred, so formalities are not necessary. You need not call me 'my lord', for your rank is at least equal to mine. You may call me 'Thranduil', or even 'Uncle' if you wish. We are family here, my child, and you must now consider yourself a member."
Legolas stared at his father, amazed. Thranduil was shrewd and clever, he had learned to appreciate the workings of his father's mind, and wondered now what he was up to. It was clear that he intended to keep the girl here for as long as he could, but why? Celebriel wished to return to the Golden Wood as soon as she could. Spring was coming and soon she could make her way to Lorinand in relative safety. Did his father intend to provide an escort for her so that she could make her journey in safety?
Thranduil now tried a different tactic, for Celebriel was not responding to his overtures, or so it seemed. "Can you tell me why you left the safety of Imladris to seek such a dangerous journey on your own? Was Lord Elrond aware that you had left?"
She looked up, startled, and he realized he was close to the truth. The girl had left Imladris on her own, telling no one. He was sure they were searching for her, but most likely the search was concentrated on the road to Lorinand. No doubt there would be a representative from Imladris appearing soon, but he wanted to know how he should handle this. Should he hand the girl over to them, or give her shelter here?
Her green eyes met his grey ones, no guile in them. "I was not, I am not, happy among the Noldor, it does not matter that they are my kin. I am the daughter of Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel, this is true, but I was raised amongst the wood elves of Lorinand. I am more comfortable speaking the Silvan tongues than I am Sindarin, though I have been taught both it and Quenya. The Noldor have never been welcome by the elves of Lorinand, but they consider me one of their own."
"Right now I cannot risk the journey back there, that is the first place that Elrond will have them look for me. As you said, I am sure that someone from Imladris will be arriving here soon, but I beg you, please do not betray my presence. If you will not shelter me here, then I must leave. I can live in the wilderness if I have to, I have been well taught and I know how to survive."
"But I would ask you to please let me stay here, at least long enough for them to give up the search for me. Do not send me back to Imladris, please. I am dreadfully unhappy there. I do not live up to the standards the Noldor expect from me, and I do not wish to. I am simply myself and who I am. I am not a princess, Uncle, I am a soldier, I cannot idly sit and spin and weave, that would be the death of me."
She held up her hands, bronzed from many hours in the sun. "See these hands? They do not know or want to know, how to use a spindle, but they can use a bow to deadly accuracy. I have also been taught to use a sword," she pulled her sword out of its scabbard and held it up so the gems in the hilts could catch the light, then replaced it. "I would rather use bow and arrow to fight, but this sword is for my protection when my bow cannot help me. I could be useful to you, I am woodwise and taught by a stern master."
"I must think about this," said Thranduil craftily, "But rest assured, you are safe here. I must decide what is the wisest course of action."
"What course of action can you decide for me?" she cried, "I am no longer considered a child among our people. Were I not the daughter of the Lord and the Lady, no one would care what I do. Do I not deserve the right to decide my own fate? Does the fact that I am a woman give you the right to decide for me? "
"Amroth of Lorinand has made me his heir, did you know that? He trusts me, he believes in my capabilities. If he ever departs over the Sea, the rule of Lorinand falls to me. I have earned his trust and respect, what will it take to earn yours?"
Thranduil sat back in his chair. This was an interesting turn of events. Long ago, the Old Forest, the Greenwood, and Fangorn had all been one. The encroachment of men and the many wars had separated it into the different realms. Lorinand lay close to the southern edge of the Greenwood, not close but not inconveniently far.
This new knowledge opened up many possibilities in his eyes. Lorinand and the Greenwood were close once, there was no reason why they should not be again.
He smiled benevolently at Celebriel. "There is no reason to fret, my child. You have had a long journey and you are tired. Go, we've prepared a chamber for you. In the morning, after a good night's rest, things will not seem so hopeless. I do have your best interests at heart, trust me."
He watched as Celebriel was led away, then dismissed all others except his son. "We must talk now," he told him, and Legolas wondered what his father was up to."
Father and son were alone at last. Thranduil pointed to a chair, and Legolas sat. He watched as his father poured two glasses of wine before seating himself in front of the fire.
"Well, what you think of our guest?" he asked as he handed him a glass and Legolas wondered where he was going with this.
"Well, she's obviously beautiful, but she's also reckless and stubborn. I'd have to add brave and intelligent, too. That was quite a journey she was attempting on her own, and I'm surprised that she made it to our borders."
"How did she seem when you found her?" Thranduil's shrewd eyes were on him.
Legolas took a sip of wine before he answered. "A little tired, perhaps, but she seemed relieved, not frightened," he added.
"Why relieved?" his father asked him.
"I think she was glad that we had found her, and that her journey would soon be at an end. She did not seem worried, or frightened, just relieved. I am surprised that she would attempt such a journey, but she seemed undaunted by what she had taken on. She strikes me as being self-assured as if she knew what she would face and was not afraid," he smiled, remembering the moment when he found her.
Thranduil seemed to consider this before replying, "She is very intelligent, my son, her mother is Galadriel of the Noldor. She has inherited her mother's beauty, as well as her wit. I am surprised that Elrond did not send out a search party to the north towards our kingdom, as well as the south. I suppose he expected her to try to run to Lorinand, but to concentrate all his efforts there was a mistake. She could have run to Lindon or to the Havens, as well."
"Well, Father, now that she is here, what will you do? Will you send her back to Imladris, which I am sure the Lord Elrond would appreciate, or what?"
Thranduil looked at Legolas as if attempting to read his thoughts. "Tell me, son, why have you never married? I know you are young, but not too young to take a wife."
"I suppose it is because I have never given it serious thought. Perhaps I have not yet found a woman I think would suit me." If Legolas was surprised by what he was hearing he tried not to show it.
"Tell me, do you think our guest might 'suit' you? Just think, we would be uniting ourselves with the greatest Elven families in Middle Earth. We would have connections with both Lorinand and Imladris. One day Galadriel will depart over the sea, Elrond also if he wishes to remain with the First Born. I have heard rumors that Amroth has made her his heir for there will be no children born between him and Nimrodel while they stay in Middle Earth."
"Father," Legolas said, "How do you expect me to accomplish this? She is very young, I am sure she is giving no thought to marriage yet. And her parents may have someone in mind."
Thranduil put a hand on his shoulder, "If that was what her parents had in mind, and they might have, could that have been why she left Imladris? Surely she was fleeing for a reason. Perhaps if you are agreeable, you might persuade her. You must woo her gently, do not push your suit or you'll lose her. She is a bright jewel, my son, ripe for the plucking. Win her, and I do not think you will regret it."
Legolas drained his glass and got up from his chair. "I will have to think about this Father," he said and left the room.
Thranduil smiled as he watched him go. He had seen the look in his son's eyes as he stared at the elf maid. He would not push, he had merely planted a seed. Legolas would be a fool to let this girl go, and he knew it. All it would take would be gentle encouragement, and the matter would be accomplished. The only complication would be the girl.
It was an interesting gambit that his father was proposing, Legolas thought. He had intentions of marrying someday but was in no hurry. Celebriel might be a prize worth achieving, but he did not want to force her. It would be an advantageous alliance, his father was eager to expand his influence, and a marriage with the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel would certainly help further it.
What kind of girl fled into the woods on her own? Was his father right, had she been fleeing Imladris? If so, she must have been confident that she would be successful. And had counted on being found by the wood elves to help her find her way into his father's kingdom. He smiled to himself, his father was right, she certainly was a jewel and would certainly shine among the women in the forest kingdom.