"I saw you all over her in the Orchard. Working your sickly sweet charm like honey poured over fruit!" - Thranduil.

15th July/Cerveth, 3016, The Elven Halls.

"Hircóon nin! Come see what we have found!" called a scout. Legolas followed the excited Wood Elf, expecting to see a spider nest of some description. Instead, he found members of his company gathered around an animal caught within a net trap. "It's a white Hart, a Doe, Cóon nin. A rare creature. You should make the kill and offer it to the King. It would make a fine addition to his table tonight."

Legolas looked at the struggling creature. She was slight, but strong. Not giving way to her inner fear. But it would not be long before her strength would leave her. The Doe's bright eyes caught his own, and he felt as though time no longer mattered. Silently, he knelt down and freed the Doe from her rope prison. But rather than running away, she sniffed Legolas's hand and gave it a gentle lick and nuzzle. Then, with one last look back, she trotted away into the trees.

Legolas, seemingly out of his enchantment with tears streaming down his face, instructed his scouts to never speak of what happened again. "That Doe is special! The sigil of my mother's house. She is not to be interfered with. There are other Deer within our realm that will grace my father's table just as well."

He rose and ripped the remaining trap to pieces. "And as for these, I do not wish to see such devices used again. When we kill, we kill for food or to end a creature's suffering. As such, it must be quick and merciful. Traps are a Men's device, not Elves. He cast the remains of the trap aside and marched back off towards the Elven path.

That evening, he returned to the halls. Still haunted by what he had experienced in the forest. Thranduil noticed he was quiet at dinner and after Thorwen and Celephinniel had taken their leave, the two of them went into the king's parlour. While they reclined with some wine, Thranduil asked Legolas if anything unusual had occurred during his patrol.

Legolas took a sip from his goblet. "All was well, Ada, nothing of concern to report."

"I see, only I noticed you barely spoke to or even acknowledged Thorwen. How are you going to win her heart if do not make an effort?"

"My apologies, Ada. I am weary tonight."

"Then why not take the day off tomorrow and go riding with her?"

Legolas drained his goblet, thoughts of the white doe still fresh in his mind and left him in no doubt what he must do."Ada, I do not wish to disappoint you. But I do not think that would be right."

A look of concern crept across Thranduil's face. "You can never disappoint me, Ion nin. But I would know what is troubling you. If you cannot unburden to your Adar, who can you unburden to?"

An attendant refilled Legolas's goblet. "I thought of Naneth today."

"That is perfectly understandable. I often think of her too."

Legolas stared into his goblet, unable to look his father in the eye. "The curse, my mother's last words. Do you ever think she is out there somewhere? Not just wandering the Dead Marshes, but out there in the forest."

Thranduil did not reply, and a long uneasy silence passed between them. Then the king dismissed his attendants so that the two of them were alone. "You are having second thoughts, Ion nin?"

"A Queen must walk in the Great Green Wood, to release her. Not a princess."

Thranduil shrugged. 'Will you not be king and queen of Arnor?"

"I do not think it means that, Ada. The queen must be of this realm."

"Then I will retire and go to Mithlond and into the West. You only need say the word."

"But how could I rule Arnor and the Woodland Realm? What do I know of rebuilding cities? And anyway, despite all of my efforts, Thorwen does not warm to me."

Thranduil let out a large chuckle and drained his goblet. "Is that your concern? I shall take her riding when you are next on patrol. Sing your praises and by the time you return, she will be putty in your hands."

Legolas smiled in agreement. But felt his father was making light of the situation. He knew he would not make a good husband for Thorwen. She was a Maia and the only Maia to have ever wed an Elf had wed a leader of his people and become King. Legolas had led little more than a scouting company and rarely had he travelled beyond the Realm. Part of him longed to travel beyond the bounds of Mirkwood to the world beyond. Until then, he had no desire to settle down and take a wife. Especially one such as Thorwen.

------------------------------------------------------

30th July/Cerveth, 3016, The Woodland Realm.

High in the trees above the river shallows, Calenamath watched Thorwen sitting against the trunk below, consumed in one of her books. The pain of not seeing her every day burned within him. In the days that had passed since Thranduil had sent him to the Western border, his mind had been preoccupied with those summer evenings in the Orchard. Thorwen singing, her voice like a cool breeze on a hot day. The floral scents from her long dark hair and those eyes, the very colour of Mithril. He had resolved in his mind that if Thorwen returned his love, they would escape to Rivendell and he would seek Lord Elrond's blessing. Then they would go into the Far West and Wed, where no prophecy would find them.

He watched Thorwen a little longer before silently dropping to the ground a little way behind her tree. Calithiliel was grazing nearby. She looked up for a moment before resuming. Thorwen put down her book, smiling as she watched some Elflings splashing each other by the waterside. On her lap, the brown hare nestled while she stroked his ears and told him of Dale and why she had been forbidden to go on patrol again. "I fear I have brought a shadow to this place."

Calenamath leaned against the tree. "The shadow was here long before you came."

Thorwen jumped up and turned, sending the hare tumbling from her lap. He twitched his nose at her in disgust and hopped away into the undergrowth. Thorwen did not greet him with her usual smile. "Calenamath, you startled me. What are you doing here? You are supposed to be on the Western Border!"

"I was just on my way to give my report to my brother and I thought I might find you here. Are you not pleased to see me?"

Thorwen shook her head nervously, her body stilted. "Of course, I am just a little surprised, that's all?"

"My apologies. I did not mean to startle you. Besides, it is your birthday tomorrow and I am sure the King will not mind my visit."

"Oh yes, it is. I had quite forgotten."

"I haven't. It will be your eighteenth year of the sun."

They both laughed, though Calenamath still detected some nervousness in Thorwen's demeanour. Screams of delight from the riverbank caught their attention. "Oh, to be young again."

Thorwen nodded in agreement. "I have only seen Elflings here, there were none in Imladris."

"I am not surprised. After the Battle of Wrath, those of the Noldor families who were pardoned stayed in Lindon or passed into the West. They wanted to raise their families in peace. For us, it is a little different. Middle Earth is our home. But our numbers were much diminished after the Battle of Dagorlad. So, after peace was declared, many families bore children in the following spring. Our numbers dwindled again after the battle of five armies, and many of our people are now reluctant to start families."

"Is that why you have not taken a wife?"

Calenamath wondered if he should seize the moment or wait. Another opportunity would not come his way if Thranduil had anything to do with it. He took a deep breath and stepped towards her. "There is an object of my esteem, Thorwen."

Thorwen smiled, but immediately stiffened again. She did not step away, but he sensed she knew of his intentions. "I do not mean to frighten you. My intentions are entirely honourable."

Thorwen looked at him with pitiful eyes. "I am not afraid, Calenamath. I have been expecting you. Celephinniel warned me of your intentions. I am only sad I must disappoint you."

Celephinniel, of course. She knew him only too well and nothing escaped her notice even when she was an Elfling. Taking hold of her hand, he pulled Thorwen towards him. "If my brother has forbidden you to love me because of Legolas. Have no fear we can leave the Realm at this very moment. None will know till we are long gone."

"Legolas? What does he have to do with this?"

Her confused expression infuriated him. "Do you not know of my brother's plan to offer Legolas as a suit to your kinfolk?" The words spilled out of him, like a torrent of rain, and he realised he had said too much. "Thorwen.... I...."

Thorwen shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I know my own heart, Calenamath. You are dear to me. But as a brother, nothing more."

Her words hit as if an arrow had gone straight through his heart. Muindor and nothing more. He looked despairingly into her silver eyes and his very doom was revealed in them. He relaxed his grip on her. "Apologies Thorwen, I spoke out of turn. Goheno nin."

They heard hooves approaching and saw Thranduil and Legolas riding towards them. They dismounted and strode towards Thorwen and Calenamath.

The King greeted Thorwen warmly and Calenamath noticed a blush upon her cheeks. "We thought we'd ride out to surprise you."

Thranduil turned his gaze towards Calenamath, and though he smiled, his cold blue eyes blazed with fury. "Ah Calenamath! What a pleasant surprise. I had not expected a report so soon."

"There has been little activity on the western border. Your concerns appear to have been unfounded."

"Unfounded? After what happened in Dale, you belittle my concerns?"

"Of course not, Muindor, but I believe the Western border is adequately defended now and perhaps we should look to weaker areas."

Thranduil half smiled. "You may well be right, Calenamath. But I think we should discuss this alone. Thorwen, return to the Halls with Legolas. I will join you both shortly."

Thorwen nodded, mounted Calithiliel and rode away with Legolas. Leaving the brothers alone. "She seems different after what happened," said Calenamath.

"That is hardly surprising. She knows what is at stake."

They moved to a secluded place away from the river shallows. Calenamath gave his report to Thranduil. He read the scroll thoroughly before setting it alight. His face was most serious. "I ordered you to stay at the western border until summoned. You could have sent any of your scouts with your report. Yet here you are and against my orders. Not only that, you stopped to see Thorwen before reporting to me!"

"You know why!"

Thranduil was seething. His teeth clenched as he spoke. "I thought I had made myself clear. I do not wish to lose my only brother. Yet I saw her in your arms! Thorwen is meant for a Crown Prince, not a second son!"

Calenamath's nostrils flared."Thorwen is a Maia! Even a crown prince is beneath her! But does that change the way I feel? No, and if my doom is to die for her, then so be it! As for your plan, it is doomed to fail. For neither party will ever be more than friends. Her heart is already given and not to me. But one I fear may yet prove unworthy of her!"

Thranduil grabbed Calenamath by the scruff. "You would speak to the king in this manner!"

"I would speak to my fool of a brother! You think I do not know about the flowers you leave her every morning? I can see her in your eyes even as I saw you in hers. When will you accept the truth?"

Calenamath could almost taste his brother's saliva as he spat out his words. "How dare you presume to tell me how to conduct myself with Thorwen. I saw you all over her in the Orchard. Working your sickly sweet charm like honey poured over fruit!"

"If what I say is not true, why else were you in Dale?"

Thranduil released his grip, and the brothers composed themselves. "If you must know, one of your operatives came to me with grim news. Someone from our realm has betrayed Thorwen's true identity, and that she was in Dale. I had to do something."

Calenamath's eyes grew wide. "Thorwen has been betrayed?"

"We have all been betrayed, Muindor!"

"Why did you not tell me of this?"

"Would you have gone to the western border if I had?"

"You sent me away when I could have done more good rooting out traitors within our realm!"

They glared at each other. Only the distant voices of the Elflings playing together broke the uneasy silence. "Perhaps I was too hasty in my judgement. I admit I was angry that you and Legolas had not followed my orders."

"Thranduil, Muindor Melleth nin. Even you cannot command hearts. You have tried to hang on to me, Legolas and Lasseth. But the time has come to let us follow our dooms wherever they may lead. The only heart you can command is your own."

Calenamath knew what he had to do next. He raised his hood and went to take his leave. "Where are you going, Muindor?" demanded Thranduil.

"If our enemies are infiltrating us, then we must do the same. Everyone thinks I am on the western border. But I shall go south to the Emyn Duir, to the very viper's nest itself. Tell no one of this, even Thorwen."

The realisation hit Thranduil like a stone. "To the Enclave? No!"

"I must, for all our sakes! If my doom is set, then no harm shall come to me there. I shall report back in the usual way." The two of them held back the tears as they embraced. "Only you can decide to accept your doom, Muindor. It is a gift few have been given. Only a fool would give it away."

Thranduil nodded. "Do what you can to assess and sabotage their defences. When all is ready, send the word and we shall attack. May 'The One' protect you."

Calenamath turned and within moments, he had disappeared into the trees, leaving Thranduil alone. Elfling laughter was the only sound he could hear.