Hi and thanks for being here!

I recently found this never-posted story of mine that was written many years ago and decided it was better off here than lost in the abyss of an old hard drive. Quick note that some liberties are taken for plot purposes (e.g. an original supporting character is a half-elf).

Feedback in the form of reviews is most welcome and appreciated!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Tolkien's characters, ideas, or locations and am not profiting off of this fic.

Chapter 1

It was a warm spring day in Lake-town, but the eerie calm in the air foreshadowed a storm. Inside a cottage near the edge of the water sat an elleth at a small desk, busily reorganizing the clutter that had accumulated on the mahogany surface since the last time she had tidied the space.

Stopping to examine herself in the mirror, Narinya pulled a loose strand of dark hair from her braid. Her pale complexion glowed with the light of a small candle sitting nearby, its flame causing various objects to cast oddly shaped shadows on the wall.

She resided in the small but comfortable cottage near the edge of Long Lake with her older sister and her father. The house was one of the few not built upon the water, the small population of full-blooded elves in the town preferring dwellings with solid, earthy foundations. They had lived there since her first birthday, a year after her mother had passed. Her father had found it too painful to stay in Greenwood after her naneth's death, at least, that was what her sister had told her.

She sometimes felt as though she had to make up for the loss her arrival had caused to her family. She took extra chores upon herself, always made herself available to her father and sister, and kept herself busy in ways that would support her small family. The guilt she carried over her mother's death she knew was unwarranted, but she couldn't help but feel it.

Despite these feelings, she had grown into a happy, independent, and capable elleth. Her nature led her to sometimes become argumentative with her father, but he was glad that he had raised a strong daughter. The one thing left he wanted to see her do was find a bond partner.

While her father encouraged her to find an ellon, her older sister had always been the only sibling with romantic aspirations. Narinya preferred to go about her business without consideration for the interests of anyone but herself and her family, helping out with the household often, and using her free time to embark on solo adventures around and on the vast lake. Her best friend, a half-elf by the name of Calanon, had started to act more romantically interested in her than she was comfortable with in past years, so she had pushed him away.

She had little space of her own, but the cozy room that her father had given her was plenty. She had a small collection of her mother's things, which were now arranged neatly. She was just placing the last of the objects into their proper places when there was a knock on her door.

Her sister was turning the door knob slowly to and fro, the slight squeaking sound quite audible in the quiet room, especially to elven ears. The sky had darkened considerably, and a low, distant rumbling heralded the approach of a lightning storm.

"Come in."

Riniel strode in the room and sat down on the bed, the angled ceiling barely giving her enough room to sit comfortably. Reclining onto the soft quilt, her dark hair splayed out.

"Father wants to speak with you. I know not the reason." Riniel turned onto her side to face her sister, seated across the small room.

"Right now?" Narinya's eyes wandered to the mass of pillows on her bed that were now hopelessly out of place. She wasn't sure what her father might want.

"Yes, now," Riniel replied.

Narinya stood up and smoothed out her riding dress, which she wore over a pair of simple leggings. She had planned on spending the rest of the afternoon out with her horse. She had received her first mare when she demonstrated that she could manage a steed on her own, when she was still a child. At that young age, she affectionately named her new friend Sabariel, or "mine" in the common tongue, distinguishing her horse from all others. Narinya now rode the descendant of Sabariel, a stallion whose personality had earned him the name Alagos, meaning "windstorm."

"What are you doing this afternoon, Riniel?"

"I plan to go and see my intended, if the storm ceases, that is." She smiled at the thought of seeing her beloved. "You should go to father, I am quite certain that he will be growing impatient by now."

Narinya nodded, smiling at her sister. For the most part, they were close. She could share almost anything with her and not feel ashamed or exposed, but there were still moments when, in the back of her mind, she felt as though Riniel would rather have had a mother to love and care for her instead of a younger sister. And she really could not blame her if it were true.

Narinya's bare feet padded silently down the narrow corridor towards the living quarters where a blazing hearth was crackling and radiating warmth. Although it was early afternoon, there was no light from the sun filtering in from the windows as the rolling thunderclouds dominated the skies. Her father, Arandion, was staring into the flames, his fingers absentmindedly tapping on the worn fabric of the overstuffed chair that he rested in. He looked young; to the untrained human eye one would think him about thirty, but he had been living for many hundreds of years.

Narinya stood, waiting for him to acknowledge her. When she cleared her throat, he looked her way. As always, and especially of late, his eyes were dull with loss. Seeing his daughter that so closely resembled his late wife only intensified these feelings. He loved Narinya; that was certain, after all, he had created her out of the bond that he had shared with her mother, but the pain was ever present.

"Riniel told me that you wanted to see me."

"Yes, daughter, have a seat."

She sat across from him in a second armchair, curious but with some apprehension. It was not like him to specifically summon her for a conversation - anything routine they could discuss over dinner or in passing.

"Narinya, you know that I love you, and you know that I only want what is best for you and your sister."

She braced herself, but what was to come would be worse than she would ever have guessed.

"Your sister has found a befitting ellon, and it is time now that you do as well. I have asked you to do so for decades but you seem to disregard what I say."

Arandion took a deep breath before continuing, knowing full well the fury that his daughter could be capable of.

"I have arranged for your marriage to -"

Cutting him off, Narinya jumped up from her comfortable seat, heat rising to her cheeks, tears stinging at her eyes, her heart now thundering in her chest. Who was he to claim that he knew what she needed? "I refuse. You cannot force me to marry an ellon who I care nothing for. You said you would give me time..."

"I have given you as much time as I can." He knew it would be hard news for her to hear, but she was clearly overreacting, "This is what many fathers do for their daughters. You will be married, and it will be done as soon as possible."

"Human fathers, maybe, but elven ones do not do such things, at least not honorable ones." Despite being raised amongst the humans of Lake-town, she was certainly not ignorant to the customs of the Eldar.

"I will not discuss this further. I am sorry, Narinya."

She was fuming, but she knew that she couldn't win. She was a good linguist and a strong debater, but when it came to disagreements with her father, she learned from whom she had inherited these traits.

She stormed away from him and toward her small room at the end of the hall. Riniel had heard her raised voice and sat up on the bed, forgetting the angle of the ceiling and hitting her head. Narinya entered the room and slammed the door behind her.

"For Eru's sake, calm down!" Riniel rubbed her now tender forehead.

"You know not what he has done to me! He has promised me to an ellon I do not even know!" Her anger swelled as she gathered her most precious belongings into a riding pack, "I am leaving."

"Sister, he only means to help you. You must speak with him further, before you do anything rash. Who is it that you are betrothed to?"

Narinya glared at her sister, even though Riniel had not wronged her, "I am betrothed to no one."

Riniel shook her head, "Who?"

"I know not and I care not because I will not be marrying him."

Her sister observed quietly as Narinya threw her things into a bag and re-plaited her hair. When they were much younger, Riniel had watched her little sister make empty threats about running away, but this time it seemed that she might be serious. "You do not even know who he is yet! Go and talk to father, I can join you if you wish."

Arandion could hear his daughters' muffled voices from his seat by the hearth. He hung his head in his open hand.

He truly wanted what was best for both his daughters. He felt a responsibility to protect them and make sure they would be looked after when he departed Middle-earth. However, the call of the sea had become unbearable of late; the sound of the surf crashed in his mind, drowning out even the melodic voices of his daughters. He needed to sail, but not before he had seen both of his children settle.

He did not want to force this marriage upon his youngest daughter, but there were few ellyn living in Lake-town; he knew if she stayed, Narinya's choices for a settled home of her own would be few. It was fortunate that he had been a friend of the Greenwood royal family. Although she would not see it as he did, Narinya was quite lucky to be given this opportunity at all. It was not likely she'd get a chance like this again.

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A somewhat similar scene was playing out in the throne room of Greenwood the Great. An elvenking was standing opposite his son discussing a newly arranged betrothal to an elleth from Lake-town.

"As I have made quite clear, I refuse to be wed in an arranged pairing." Legolas' eyes had darkened and his shoulders and jaw were set tensely in his defiance.

Thranduil was calm and measured, "You will be wed because the plans have already been set forth." His words were spoken with a finality that no one but his own son would dare to challenge.

"I am certainly old enough to make my own decisions."

"And as king of this land, I am much obliged to make this decision for you." He crossed his arms across his silvery tunic.

Legolas turned on his heel, briskly walking away from the conversation. It was not like him to concede, but then again, it was not like his father to do something this detestable to him, and they had been arguing for the past hour already. His father had always been stern and unyielding, especially so since Legolas' naneth had passed.

He knew he might find additional perspective discussing the matter with his sister, so he walked toward her chambers to talk to her and decide what next to do.

He knocked on her door and she smiled in greeting, but soon noticed the heaviness of his mood and moved aside so he could step in. He sat down in an open seat near the hearth.

"Father has arranged a marriage for me."

Lindethiel audibly gasped, surprised that their father would do this to her brother. She had always admired her father's strong leadership, but with that came many expectations for his two children.

"The bride is already selected?"

Legolas sighed, "Yes, her name is Narinya. We've not met, but she is the daughter of father's friend Arandion in Lake-town."

"What do you know of her?"

"Very little."

"Well, I do not think our father would make such a decision for you rashly."

"I do not see why it is so pressing that I am wed right now..." Legolas trailed off.

"I will always support you, brother, but he wants you to be married and have an heir, for the good of the realm and so that he might eventually plan to leave Greenwood behind. And, a partner would not be such a bad thing, to help you shoulder your troubles."

"Lin, many of our people are already arranging for their trip to the Undying Lands. Who knows if there will even be a kingdom for me to rule over when the time comes? And that day is still far off, if it ever comes; the haste is unwarranted."

Lindethiel looked thoughtful. As the younger sibling, she rarely had the same expectations placed upon her as her brother did, and he always shouldered them with competence and grace. She could not blame him for his resistance to this one.

He continued on, "And I cannot possibly find a bride the way father has wanted me to. The never ceasing festivals have grown quite tiresome."

Lindethiel had earnest sympathy in her expression. "Legolas, of course I do not agree with his decision, but I know not how you will escape it. I am sure you have tried just about every possible argument to dissuade him. It is unfortunate you didn't find a bond partner before he chose one for you."

Legolas was quiet then, looking into the dying flames and thinking over what to do next.

Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated!