"He is a friend of bird and beast. But I am a friend of soil and stone." - Thorwen.

2nd September/Ivanneth, 3016, The Woodland Realm.

Everyone froze apart from Thranduil, who immediately drew Thorwen close. His keen eyes observed every dark shadow among the trees for a sign that a would-be assassin might still be lurking there. Bregwen approached him. Her calm exterior concealed her concerns. "Your orders, Hir Aran nin?"

His first concern was to get Thorwen safely back to the Halls. This attempt was a clear and sinister warning that the days of peace were coming to an end. "Detain all the servants and return them to the Elven Halls for questioning. Lady Thorwen and I will go on ahead. Pack everything away carefully and bring it to Lady Celephinniel. She has much knowledge of poisons. And return the horses to the stables." Bregwen saluted, and the Hurscarls put the attendants in bonds.

Thranduil took Thorwen's arm, and they walked towards Lagorphen.

"Surely I can ride back with Calithiliel."

"Lagorphen is swifter, and we must go by a different route to thwart any assassin lurking in the undergrowth. The Hurscarls will return Calithiliel to the stables."

"I will speak with her first. She will not understand otherwise."

Thranduil agreed but kept his eye on Thorwen as he mounted Lagorphen.

"Do you desire an escort, my Lord King?" called Bregwen.

"No, I shall make better time without one." He gave Lagorphen a command, scooped up Thorwen before she could protest, and they rode off at full speed.

Onward they went, faster and faster. The trees appeared to melt into one another, creating a vast tunnel of green and brown. Thranduil's nostrils filled with the floral scent of Thorwen's raven tresses. But there was no time to enjoy this longed-for moment. He kept his arm firmly but gently around her waist to prevent her from falling. She was silent throughout the journey. And he was keenly aware she had never travelled this fast before.

Suddenly, a white streak crossed their path, and Lagorphen slowed. "Noro Lim! Noro Lim!" cried Thranduil. But the Elk ignored his cries. Instead, he slowed to a trot before coming to a halt. "Something is wrong. Lagorphen would never disobey my command."

The Elk stood silently as if waiting for something. Thranduil thought it would be wise for them to prepare for an ambush. Thorwen must have heard him as they unsheathed their blades in unison. If Thorwen was afraid, she did not show it. Her slender fingers tightly gripped her weapons as they both looked about them. The silence was deafening. Not even the birds sang. Then, through the trees, they saw a brilliant white light.

The white doe slowly came into view. Her luminous white fur made her look like a ghost against the many shades of green and brown in the forest. "You see her too?" whispered Thorwen.

"Yes. And not for the first time."

As the doe drew nearer, Lagorphen stirred and blew through his nostrils. Their noses almost touched before she turned and jumped away. Lagorphen followed eagerly, and the couple barely had time to sheath their weapons before the Elk took off. Following the doe with all haste. It was as if he was under a powerful enchantment, but Thranduil did not sense any sorcery.

Onwards, Lagorphen carried them and the sun hung low in the sky by the time he slowed again. Now they were in a clearing, but to Thranduil, it felt unfamiliar. "Where are we?" asked Thorwen.

"I know every tree and glade of this forest and yet I feel I have never visited this place before." The doe stood in the centre, drinking from a small bubbling spring. She looked at Lagorphen and his riders and, with one nod of approval, sprang away and out of sight. Lagorphen paid no heed. He was far too busy munching the luscious grass beneath his hooves.

Thranduil took out his flask and opened it. It was full to the brim with wine, but he had not the stomach for it. He offered it to Thorwen, but she shook her head. "I do not blame you," he said and poured the whole flask onto the ground. "Perhaps we should drink from the spring instead?"

Thorwen nodded in agreement. Thranduil dismounted and lifted Thorwen off Lagorphen. Her eyes drew him in, and he couldn't resist. His arms were still wrapped around her waist and it felt as though time itself had stopped. He could see her ageless beauty as clearly as he had done in the dream. But he knew it had been no dream and since then they had spoken with each other through their thoughts. Thorwen smiled, then lowered her eyes, a slight blush appearing on her pale cheeks. "I think we are beyond coyness, Almárie." Gently, he brushed aside the stray wisps of hair from her face. Her lips were as warm and soft as they had been when he had kissed her in the unseen, but this time he did not fade and wake alone in his chamber.

He could feel the warmth of her body as they held each other. They needed no words to express their feelings. A single Nightingale now sang her beautiful song in the Twilight and the little spring continued bubbling away. Thorwen took Thranduil by the hand and led him to the spring. They drank their fill and a wave of calmness came over Thranduil, and he began to feel more at ease. Then he noticed Thorwen was kneeling with her hands on the ground. "The stones, I can feel them deep within the ground. They call to me."

"Stones? What kind of stones?"

Thorwen did not answer but got to her feet as if in a trance and called out in Quenya. "Ni Almárie tult- tye ana sina sinome! Ni tult- tye ana sina sinome!" As she called, Thranduil felt gentle tremors in the ground. He stood open-mouthed as large stones slowly rose out of the ground like fast-growing trees. Thorwen repeated her summons until a ring of great standing stones surrounded them. She smiled at Thranduil with satisfaction but looked somewhat drained. "We will be safe now."

She swayed a little, and Thranduil slipped his arm about her waist in case she swooned. Together, they sat back on the grass. "I must rest, my Will is spent," she whispered.

Thranduil gathered her into his arms. "What have you done?"

"I have created a refuge for us with my stone friends. Do you remember when I told you of my kinship to Radagast? That we are the mirror of each other. He is a friend of bird and beast. But I am a friend of soil and stone......" but her voice trailed away as Thorwen drifted off to sleep. Thranduil set her down on the soft grass. He removed his cloak and laid it upon her, intending to keep watch while she recovered. But soon, his own eyes grew heavy and he too had succumbed to sleep.

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8th September/Ivanneth, 3016, The Woodland Realm.

Legolas and his scouts dismounted their horses at the royal stables, then called for fresh ones. Bregwen hurriedly approached him, the look on her face betraying her concern. "Any news, my Lord Prince?"

Legolas shook his head. "There is still no sign of them."

"You have been searching for days. Let me take my company instead."

"No, I need you here, ........ to await the King's return." He needed to remain hopeful and not give in to his fears. The Hurscarls had insisted The King and Thorwen were on their way back to the Halls. Something must have waylaid them. Legolas put his worst fears out of his mind as a groom brought him a fresh horse. He was just about to mount it when the sound of a horn caught everyone's attention.

Bregwen's keen eyes followed its direction and a wave of relief came over her face. "By 'The One', it is the King and Lady Thorwen! They are safe!"

Everyone cheered as The King and Thorwen rode in together. "The King, The King has returned!" Thranduil waved but looked confused at such a welcome. He dismounted and lifted Thorwen off the Elk, clasping her hand tightly. Legolas noticed there was a strange radiance coming from her face. As he left the stables, The King barked orders at those around him as to where the prisoners were and that he wished to hold a council in his campaign room.

But Legolas stopped him. "Ada! We have been searching for you for days and there has been panic in the realm. Where have you been? We feared the worst! Galion is dead and you return as if nothing has happened. You owe us an explanation, at least!"

Thranduil and Thorwen looked at each other, then he looked back at Legolas. "What do you mean, days? We only rested a few hours."

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Thorwen stood beside Thranduil as he addressed Legolas, Celephinniel, the Elven Captains, and chief attendants in his campaign chamber. His hand still clasping hers. His words were both rousing and angry. "The enemy has made its first strike against us! Poison, how cowardly!" He glanced slightly at Thorwen with a quick half smile and a squeeze of her hand. "However, they did not succeed! But we should spare a thought for Galion, who has been so cruelly taken from his kinfolk while carrying out his royal duties."

He asked Celephinniel to ensure Galion's kinfolk were well cared for and given a place of honour within the halls. "I shall pay my respects to his green grave personally. From now on, all food and drink served within these Halls must be checked for poisons. I will not risk another life!"

"Should we not declare a state of war, my Lord King?" asked Bregwen.

"No! There are other matters to attend to first." He glanced again in Thorwen's direction.

At the end of his address, Thranduil dismissed Bregwen, the other captains and attendants. Only Legolas and Celephinniel remained.

"Ada, you still have not explained where you have been and why you disappeared for so long."

"Because there is little I can tell you. Other than things will be different from now on."

Their joined hands caught Legolas' attention. "So I see. While the Realm has been in disarray. You and Thorwen were...."

Thranduil glared back at him. "As I stated earlier, we only rested till what we thought was the following dawn. We did not intend to be gone so long, we must have been under some enchantment."

Legolas raised an eyebrow. "We?"

Thranduil released Thorwen's hand and placed it on Legolas' shoulder."I know this will be difficult for you. But sometimes fate takes a hand and opens your eyes. I hope you can forgive me."

A half smile crept across Legolas' face. "Is that for disappearing for days or intending to wed Thorwen? If that is so, then there is nothing to forgive." He came to Thorwen and placed her hand in Thranduil's. "Thorwen, as lovely as you are and as honoured as I would have been to be your husband. The Valar could not possibly have meant you for a princeling. Adar is the only one in all of Middle Earth worthy of you. I wish you both much joy and happiness."

Thorwen smiled, relieved at his response. "I feared you would object. After all, Elves only Wed once and your Naneth..."

"My Naneth's dying wish was for Ada to find happiness again. Many opportunities came into his path, but he turned from them all. Except for you."

Thorwen cast an eye toward Celephinniel who had remained silent, concerned with what her reaction would be. To her relief, Celephinniel gave her blessing, too. Embracing and kissing them both. "But I caution you both to be discreet. I fear someone poisoned the wine from within our realm. If our enemies discover you are to be betrothed to Thorwen, they may try again."

"You are right, Celephinniel. It would not be wise for us to be open until our enemies are apprehended and dealt with. We must also seek the blessing of Thorwen's kinfolk."

"But as a Maia, surely you do not need anyone's consent," replied Legolas.

"Aragorn is not aware of who I really am. So we must adhere to the lore of my kin. I cannot wed until I come of age unless Aragorn permits it."

"But what if Aragorn does not favour the match?"

"It is our hope Lord Elrond will give us his blessing and will convince Aragorn of the wisdom of the match. But until then, only the four of us shall know of this," said Thranduil.

"But what of my uncle?"

"Calenamath is on our Western borders. I shall inform him upon his return." Thorwen noticed a change of tone when he spoke of Calenamath. Thranduil was hiding something, and she feared Calenamath was not where he claimed. But she knew he would not keep his whereabouts secret unless there was a very good reason. She just hoped that whatever Calenamath was doing, he was keeping himself safe. In the meantime, Thorwen knew the one place she and Thranduil could truly be safe from their enemies and prying eyes. Until the time was right, they would make much use of their refuge of stones.