What was Liruliniel expecting? Definitely not to be within a training area with Oropher as an opponent. How did this happen again? She found herself utterly lost and confused. She said she was trying to find herself, or something alike and he...Liruliniel just frowned at her king, "You...are taking over my training?"

Oropher looked at her like she'd spoken another language, he looked just as confused as she did. Was this not enough of a hint? "Your father cannot aid your brother, and you at the same time plus his other duties. It will tire him, and it will make decision making unfortunately bad." Oropher watched Liruliniel shrug loosely, that did make sense. "You are not the only one, who is trying to find a reason to be."

She looked worriedly at him, "But you are our King."

Oropher's mouth turned upwards slightly, "By popular demand. It is not something I asked for, Liruliniel. Like your father, I am a soldier. I am not a diplomat, no matter how much I may appear so. What do you think I do all day?"

"Listen to people talking to you."

Oropher nodded, "Exactly. To me, you see, you and I are in a similar position."

She looked a little bashful at that, "Not sure about that...but, well, by aiding me what do you get from it?"

Oropher raised an eyebrow, "A guard who'll talk with me, not at me."

"You'd...you'd just accept me, just like that?" Liruliniel took a step forwards, utterly awestruck here. She felt like someone had just gone and dumped ice-cold water all over her. She was cold, hot, confused, shaking from excitement and fear. The latter being clearly to pass his standards, she had to fight against him, now that hint she got loud and clear. Liruliniel didn't remember this being a thing with other guards. Maybe Oropher was bored too?

He raised an eyebrow, "Liruliniel, as a guard you'd be able to travel wherever I go. You won't be tied down like your brother, or father."

Her eyes widened, "I can see the world?!" She all but shouted excitedly, her eyes looked at him expectedly, Oropher couldn't help but lightly laugh and shake his head. Liruliniel just clapped her hands and basically hopped from foot to foot.

"This part, yes. I hope you won't get too bored."

"I was half thinking of visiting Esgaroth anyway," she shrugged, Oropher didn't look surprised. Liruliniel reached down and unsheathed her sword. She smiled, Oropher was a lot more graceful with doing the same action. He had years of training, strength and speed and experience of course the simplest thing was going to look elegant coming from him.

Oropher slowly stepped forwards, he had taken off the long robe that trailed across the floor. Fighting in the beautiful tunic and tailored trousers would probably cause problems to anyone else. Apparently not him, he moved with speed and grace and Liruliniel, despite the clear disadvantage she had, really kept up with him.

No one really fought her when in training. This was a fight, like an actual fight, the first real proper fight she had, ever. The fact it was with her king was still mind blowing, and if Oropher saw her attention slip he took it to advantage and drove her back. Liruliniel let out a yelp and leaped back from a swipe, she jumped again, pathetically swatting at his sword with her own. Oropher just looked at her dully, not impressed.

"Has your father really got that lax with teaching?" Oropher asked, watching the disposition shift on Liruliniel's face. Her eyes narrowed and darkened, her expression turning serious as she listened to his question.

It was a low blow, bringing family up was not fair and it was an incentive for her to take this seriously to prove him wrong. Oropher knew for a fact that Hérion was a brilliant teacher. He did not doubt his friend's skills. But with the way Liruliniel was fighting right now, Oropher wasn't sure who had taken over the lessons, but they were doing an awful job.

Liruliniel had moments of showing genuine grace and skill, only for that to disappear and for her movements to become a bit erratic and hard hitting. She was quick, Oropher had to give her credit there, she was fast. Not as fast as himself, but when she started taking this fight seriously, Oropher found himself having to counter fast hits and strikes from the younger elf. She seemed determined now, utterly determined to show him she could fight, and it was partially with thanks to her father. She wasn't perfect, there was plenty of room for her to perfect her skills, but she was young. There was potential, potential which was being wasted on her sitting talking to Arthion most days. Though Oropher was sure the elk loved the company, or rather the snacks she came with.

Their swords clashed and Oropher had the advantage to push her back. With a severe look, Liruliniel tried her hardest to push back but he had the strength to easily push her attempts back. She inhaled sharply; she let go of her sword with one hand as the other got pushed down on more. She let out a groan, yet her hand pulled at a knife and thrashing it upwards, she made sparks fly between the three blades as she broke the contact. Standing and twirling the deadly shorter blade in her hand, she hunkered down, out of breath yet ready to go again.

Oropher just beckoned at her, something that ticked her off; he knew joking at her expense didn't always go well, but taunting was something else entirely as she gritted her teeth and ran forwards. He wasn't expecting her to leap in the air and strike down on him, yet it was an attack he easily deterred and repelled. She skidded along the floor, rolling slightly before jumping up and running back at him.

No matter how many times she was knocked back, or fell, she got back up more determined than ever. Her attacks and hits were growing weaker though, he could feel it, so he figured she did too. Liruliniel was getting tired. Her limbs feeling heavy and her head lightheaded from breathing in and out so sharply.

Batting her aside again, Oropher just watched her skid along the floor on her side. She laid there, unmoving yet through her hair he could see her eyes staring up at him. She still had that determined glint in her eyes. Lifting up a hand, she pressed it against the cold ground, with shaking arms she pushed herself upwards. She sat there, her knees bent and her arms against them as she looked up at him. She was horribly out of breath, she hadn't ached so much before, that she knew of.

Oropher sheathed his weapon and made his way towards her, he leaned down to pick her fallen weapons up. As he grew close, he crouched down to her level. Turning the weapons to her, he watched her shaking hands take them back. "You're definitely your father's daughter." He said, Liruliniel placed the knife back in its sheath against her ribs and looked at him curiously.

Oropher's eyes however were looking upwards. Liruliniel was confused now, she turned in her sitting position and her expression soon went utterly relaxed, jaw almost dropping by the amount of people who were gathered around, watching. They had watched everything. Liruliniel looked quickly back to Oropher, her expression distant and shocked.

"I have a meeting in Esgaroth, possible trade involving wine. I leave soon, go change and be quick. If you are not ready when I come to leave, I will go without you."

"When do you go?" Liruliniel's voice was quiet and shaking, she felt lightheaded again. She couldn't quite comprehend what was happening here.

"You have ten minutes and counting." Oropher stood and looked down at her, Liruliniel knew he wasn't going to help her up, after all, it was her job to aid him. Yes, it could work the other way around. But any respect made here with the others would be gone if she needed help standing.

Liruliniel pushed herself up, her legs wobbled yet she didn't fall. She straightened up and looked up at him, she bowed slowly and stood back up. "I will be ready."

"That I do not doubt." Oropher said, a small smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "Dismissed." Liruliniel stood waiting like anyone else for him to tell her to go and go she did. She bowed again, turned on her heels and walked off quickly. She walked through the corridor, lined with spectators and it wasn't until she got to her room that she grinned and showed moments of excitement.

=

Esgaroth was interesting, in an extremely bleak kind of way. Liruliniel wasn't sure what she was expecting, she hadn't really ever seen mortal homes as such. But this place was very close together, the buildings almost collapsing into each other and the icy waters ran under all the wharfs and boards which connected throughout the town.

As usual, she was the smallest person in the company. The other guards looked sceptical, she still wore her forest green tunic while they stood in their beautiful silver and muted gold armour and tunics underneath. Their helmets hid most of their faces, so Liruliniel didn't actually know who they were. She could just see their eyes, and there was something a bit sinister about that, but she guessed she better get used to it. This was going to be her life soon. She hadn't even seen her brother or father to tell the news to them. Though considering the amount gathered, and the news travelling throughout such a small community, they'd know.

"I will train you," Oropher had said suddenly when they were still travelling down. He was on a horse, Arthion looked put out he wasn't coming but...he was large, and honestly the people of this town on the lake would probably be startled.

"My-"

"I already told you; your father is unable to do both."

"Can I ask you something, sire?" Liruliniel asked, she was walking beside the horse, much like the other guards. Oropher just glanced at her, she took this as a yes. "Are you bored?" Someone stumbled behind her and Liruliniel glanced over her shoulder, the elves, two of them, looked at her with narrowed eyes. Was she not allowed to ask such a simple thing?

"It's a valid question. Sometimes, when one is so used to action, to fighting and moving, being still for too long is unknown. But it can also be incredibly dull. I am not opting to do this out of boredom; I am opting to do this to help you." He had said, Liruliniel hadn't replied, she went silent and just thought over everything.

Even now as she stood outside a door to what could be presumably the town hall of this place, Liruliniel looked around. The town was peculiar, only because it was unknown to her. Some of the homes she could consider cosy looking, if it wasn't for the fact they seemed to be sagging. Could she envision living in such a place? Probably not. She knew she grew bored of the same old corridors back in Amon Lanc, at a push the new palace was a bit like that too, but here was different.

She hadn't been in an actual house. Was that strange? What was it like in there? Was it big? Was it spacious? How many rooms were there? Above all this, Liruliniel caught herself thinking over the most important thing: what were the people like? She hadn't encountered many mortals; in fact, she couldn't name one she knew. She didn't know what they were like, other than what others had told her. Caladhiel had said they were selfish, often fickle and rather quick to anger and judgement.

But that was second-hand information, Liruliniel wanted to know herself what people were like. But then again, the people that were walking about the square before her didn't look too welcoming at all. They side eyed the elves with narrowed, suspicious eyes. They didn't trust them, let alone like them. Liruliniel couldn't help but muse over that, why didn't they like them?

Liruliniel tilted her head in thought, her eyes drifting around before pausing. Erebor loomed in the distance. She could see it, this big peak growing out of the horizon. Even from here she could spy snow on the top of it. Narrowing her eyes in thought, she looked at the two royal guards which hadn't gone in with Oropher, "Have you ever been to the Mountain?" She asked curiously, she looked between them, and neither answered. Was not talking a thing? But then she remembered Oropher had said he'd like to have someone who talked to him. She slowly smiled; she got the feeling that really, he was bored. Even if he didn't verbally say it, she got that feeling.

Oropher was king, yes, but he was a king with a settled kingdom and a son soon to be wed; there was peace and there was regular trade, and everything was civil. He had said it himself; unknown is different. He'd been used to constant movement, fighting, meetings nearly everything and anything there. This peace was probably very unreal to him. Liruliniel wondered if Oropher ever foresaw this ever happening?

Hearing the door open, the guards stood to attention whereas she turned and looked up at her king. "Have you ever been to the Mountain?" She repeated her question curiously, head tilted as Oropher paused beside her with a small smile, he was curious as to why she was wondering really. Yet Liruliniel just kept her arms by her sides, waiting patiently.

"No."

Liruliniel sighed, she waited a few moments for that simple answer. She wasn't wholly surprised, "Will you?"

Oropher frowned, gaining the reins from one of the guards as he paused mounting and looking down at the shorter elf still trailing after him shooting questions. "Why?"

"I just wondered, I wondered if it would be like Ered Luin, but also if you ever planned to go."

Oropher looked up at the sky, greying clouds were making it overcast, yet the sun was still trying to peek through. Narrowing his own sky-blue eyes, he flicked them down at her. Liruliniel looked at him with wide excited eyes. He often forgot how excitable younglings could be, everything was an adventure, nothing bought fear to them and the never-ending curiosity which didn't ever seem quenched. Thranduil had quickly grown out of that stage, Liruliniel was nowhere near it seemed.

Placing a foot in the stirrup, Oropher pulled himself upwards. Settling down, he looked at her. "If I go, then that means you will too. Is that what you want to hear?" A wide grin appeared on her face, "Thought as much. Come, I believe we have a smith to find to inquire about your armour." That alone had Liruliniel letting out a very odd noise, something between an exclaim and an excited squeal. Honestly, Oropher didn't think he'd heard such a noise come from their kin before, but then Liruliniel seemed to be a one of a kind.

The noise had the guards looking at her oddly too, and they seemed exasperated even as she ran forwards. She seemed totally in mind to just run back and lead them back home, the five elves behind her though didn't follow. They just looked at her all with varying emotions and thoughts.

Liruliniel turned and looked at them bluntly. "Come on! Don't drag this moment out longer than needed, you don't know how long I've waited for this!" She exclaimed from the other end of the square, people around her looked at her oddly, the elves just remained motionless.

Oropher just smirked and shook his head, urging his horse onwards with a gentle nudge. "Believe me, I think we can guess." He said earning a frown to be sent up at him, Oropher just raised an eyebrow in return. Liruliniel's frown dissipated into a sheepish smile, perhaps it wasn't wise to speak and act such a way to her king, but she was impatient. She didn't know she'd be getting suited up straight away. This was exciting and she wanted to get back to the palace as soon as!

Did she think she'd get her armour straight away? No, no she didn't. However, upon entering the smith's workshop in the lower bowels of the palace complex, Liruliniel double took. Oropher stood beside her, arms crossed behind his back, hands clasped and just watched as she circled around the item of clothing which were hers.

"You...you already made your mind up?" She questioned, peering over the stand and back at him. She stood behind it and whether she knew it or not, but because of how she was standing she was fashioning it in a way.

"I did." Oropher tilted his head, "You'll be aided with trying it on. Get used to it, Liruliniel, because it will become like a second skin to you." And with that said, he nodded at the smith and turned and left.

Liruliniel just sighed, she hadn't seen anything more beautiful before. She didn't think armour could be beautiful, but this was. Don't get her wrong, most things in which the elves created were stunning, aesthetically pleasing and tactile, the look didn't deter from the functionality of an item; sometimes it just added to it, something so beautiful could be deadly.

The armour consisted of plated scale shapes, not chainmail like what mortals have, yet clearly the same purpose; these were a silver and a muted gold in colour, in the light of the workshop the scales gleamed. A silver toned tunic was to be worn underneath and the smith pointed out where she could change into this, so she did. It was perhaps a little big, but she'd grow to it at least. Similar coloured trousers were worn underneath, and she slipped on her brown boots and tucked the trousers into them.

The smith worked with deft and nimble hands. He didn't speak and Liruliniel just watched. She would need to know how to do this herself, but she guessed this was a first time, so she needed to be dressed herself. He slipped the scaled mail over her head; it tinkered slightly as it settled over her body. It was long, stopping near her knees while there were slight sleeves which stopped midway on her upper arms. She moved a bit, noticing the weight change ever so slightly.

The smith watched her before clasping ashy grey gauntlets to her arms, he held up the next piece, which was a sleeveless tunic, this blended in with the other layers she already had on and before she could say anything else he'd attached a belt around her middle. Liruliniel just stood there with her arms up and awkwardly staring at the fire in the workshop. She wasn't used to getting aided in dressing, this was an odd experience all round, the silence just made it worse.

A cape was clasped onto points on her shoulders before curved layered armour was attached to her shoulders, hiding the capes attachments. Having the helmet held out to her, Liruliniel just looked at it. There was something about hiding most of her face which still unnerved her. She didn't want to be hidden. So, she just tucked it under her arm with a small smile. Whatever weaponry she took off to change, she attached back onto herself.

"Do I look the part?" Liruliniel asked nervously.

"You'll do."

Liruliniel just turned on her heels awkwardly, what was that answer meant to mean? "Thank you, this is perfect." She smiled honestly, whether he knew it or not, but he just made her dream come true. She'd be forever grateful, even if he'd been used to making armour and weaponry for everyone for more years than she had been alive.

She stopped off at her quarters, hoping someone would be there. No. No Thalion and no Hérion. Liruliniel pouted softly, she placed the helmet down on the table and left. She placed her hand against the hilt of her sword. The belt made it hang a little lower than what she was used to, but she'd get used to this all, she was sure of it. She walked the corridors, some glancing her way, others not. She sighed and turned into a room, looking around the almost cavernous space, she walked in silently.

No one was present in the throne room, which Liruliniel was quite grateful of. She wanted to have a moment to stand here and reflect. This all happened so fast, she still couldn't believe it. She still thought she was dreaming yet feeling the weight of the armour against her body, she knew she wasn't. This was real, and it was happening. She stood staring up at the throne which was decorated with Arthion's antlers, and she sighed. Heavily, she sighed. She was going to spend a lot of time in here, standing beside the stairs which led up to the large chair.

"So, it is true."

Liruliniel was resisting so hard not to smile, she just continued to stare up at the throne. Even as Thranduil stepped beside her, towering over her more now; it seemed the older he was getting the taller he was getting too. "Don't you feel safer already?" She looked up at him with a smirk.

Thranduil raised an eyebrow, his silver and dim gold coloured tunic and trousers were of a similar colour scheme to her own current clothing. His hair had grown longer, now reaching his lower back as a simple silver circlet rested against the top of his head. Liruliniel had always thought Thranduil looked princely, he just did, but standing here like this he exuded that aura now.

Inhaling deeply, she rolled her eyes around the room. So, with age came the awakening of emotions Liruliniel did not totally understand. She wasn't blind, she may be a little slow at times but her vision was perfect and, well, yes, as bad as it may be considering the circumstances, she may have caught herself at times looking at the prince beside her with thoughtfully curious yet confusing expressions with equal emotions in tow.

"Well-"

"You're not meant to answer!" She laughed and swatted a hand at his arm. Thranduil just caught her hand when she went to do it again. She pouted, "Least I have weapons."

"Yes, and I am unsure whether that is more fearful than any enemy I could face."

"Your father is training me, so I will not be a danger to anyone." Liruliniel said, crossing her arms loosely and looking at the throne. It was perhaps a little hard to imagine that one day, the elf beside her was going to sit upon that seat. Everyone, herself included, had grown so used to Oropher being their king, what would Thranduil be like as king? Would he be like his father? Kind, understanding and loyally driven or would he be different? Liruliniel couldn't imagine Thranduil being a vengeful king. But maybe that was because she was biased, he was her friend after all.

That last thought made her face fall a little. And it was something which Thranduil picked up on. He had watched as she looked jokingly excited, banter with him seemed to just lighten her mood. Maybe because she clearly got a kick out of pestering him, but now, now her expression dwindled to something akin to lingering sadness.

"He will make sure you are up to this task then." In truth, he didn't know his father had undertaken this task. Thranduil found himself wondering why he did, but he wasn't going to outwardly question his father; Oropher did things for sometimes his own reasons, but also unknown reasons to benefit others. Who was Thranduil to judge and question his motives? "What is it, Liruliniel?" Thranduil asked with a slight sigh. He couldn't take her distant expression anymore. He strode forwards a few steps, his eyes never leaving the throne before him. It was large, imposing even in some ways. But then that was perhaps the point, to look important and imposing to put an image across.

"We are still friends, are we not?"

Thranduil turned sharply on his heels upon hearing this question. Liruliniel just stood there, her voice small and her looking even smaller despite of the armour she now stood in. It still seemed like she was a child playing soldiers, but she looked the part more now than ever. She had grown up quite a bit since her childish incessant ramblings of being a guard.

But even still, the armour was still big, she was still young and hadn't finished her training at all. Her question caught him off guard, if truth be told. He wasn't expecting her to come out with that. Liruliniel just stood there looking at him patiently, Thranduil sat down on one of the steps leading up to the throne. He patted the stair beside himself, Liruliniel got the hint and walked over.

She clinked slightly with moving, but she sat down next to him anyway. She half turned and looked at him, Thranduil placed his hands in his lap and looked at the corridor leading out of the room. "Why do you ask such a thing?"

Even as Thranduil turned and looked at her in return when asking this, all she could do was give him a knowing look. "Prince, I have lost my brother to the army, my father to training, and you to royal duties. I don't see any of you anymore, not really. If I do, it is in passing. This is the longest I have spoken to you in many years. I just wanted to know if we were still friends, because at least then as I undergo training with your father, I have solace somewhere inside of me knowing that I am not alone here."

Thranduil looked at her sympathetically. Liruliniel was speaking with such honesty, it could not hit him hard. They weren't always friends, but they had become friends, and it made him straighten up uncomfortably to think that his friend felt like that. "You are never alone, Liruliniel. You know this-"

"Because I am here surrounded by my kin? You are joking. Think how the others look at me. They still see me as a pest. Now I am to be a guard, they see me and are waiting for failure. My brother though? I hear whisperings of how well he is doing, yet I don't know, because I do not see him. I just wanted an answer to my question, and you haven't answered me." Liruliniel said with a growing frown.

"We are friends, Liruliniel. There is nothing that will ever change that." Thranduil responded in his ever-calming tone.

Liruliniel just nodded her head and looked around the spacious room. Her eyes roamed and travelled up and down the pillars which were in here. "I better go." She patted her knees and slowly stood. She glanced down at him with a sidewards look, "It has been good talking to you. Your father says that if you are getting tied down and irritated by wedding plans, then I am to possibly intervene and help you out." Well, Oropher didn't exactly say something like that. But the gist of it was there and who was she to not take advantage and run with it?

Thranduil tilted his head curiously, patting his knees he stood slowly and looked down at her with a small frown. "Really?" He sounded sceptical, Liruliniel just smiled. He didn't believe her; she could see it and hear it in his voice. No way in the whole of Middle-earth did Thranduil believe any of that sentence.

"Yes. Are you calling your father a liar?"

"No. I'm calling you a liar." Thranduil said with a smirk, not totally serious in the slightest. Did he believe his father said such a thing? Maybe something along those lines, but not those words exactly. Did he believe Liruliniel had stretched the truth? Yes, wholeheartedly yes.

Liruliniel double took, a look of mock offence on her face. "Little Prince, how dare you!"

Thranduil just held a hand up to the level of her head, and where it met his shoulder - only just. This just made her eyes widen and her lips jut out quite a bit in a livid pout. She had been shorter than most elves most of her life, having him do this just set her off glaring irritably at him. Yet, she really didn't have any grounds to call anyone little considering her shorter stature to himself.

"Quite the contrary, little bird. I think a break away now and then would do me some good."

With her eyes still narrowed up at him, Liruliniel let out a slow breath. "Are you free now?"

With a smirk still on his face, Thranduil just clasped his hands behind his back and looked down at her. "Yes. Are you?"

"It just so happens I am."

"Well, isn't that grand?" Thranduil questioned and looked around the spacious wooden room around them. Narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, he looked back at her. Despite conversing and joking, Liruliniel still looked saddened by something. Thranduil knew her well enough to know that if pressed enough, she would clam shut. He'd let her confess what was also troubling her with time. "Tell me, did you ever find any treasure in Emyn Duir?" Thranduil asked, his head tilting slightly as he watched her eyes widen at what he was saying and suggesting.

"No. But aren't you a little old for treasure hunting?" Liruliniel questioned with a small smile. She couldn't help it; the prospect was exciting to her. She distinctly remembered being unwell and Thranduil saying something similar to cheer her up. She had to face facts; he clearly knew how to lighten her mood. A skill very few had, or were aware to, unlike him.

Thranduil shrugged, he looked nonchalant really about the whole matter. Yes, truth be told both were too old for such childish activities, but then again, it was something that at the same time was very much them and their thing. "Don't tell me a member of the royal guard is possibly afraid of running into a troll? Or perhaps worried that they won't find the treasure first?"

Liruliniel stomped a foot and pointed at him. "You're so on. If there is anything, no way are you finding it first."

Thranduil sighed, inwardly pleased that she seemed happier than moments ago. "I think you really did spend too much time with the dwarves. When it comes to treasure, you're getting a bit too possessive."

Her eyes widened and she looked taken back there, all jokingly of course. "Least I'm not going to brood on treasure like a dragon. So, are we going?"

"Yes, Liruliniel we're going." Thranduil gestured a hand forward and watched as she grinned and darted off. No one else ran about the palace unless there was an emergency, which in all fairness was a very rare thing. With a sigh, Thranduil merely walked his normal pace to catch up with her. It wasn't like the mountains were going to go anywhere, there was no need to rush about.

Yet, as he had learned quite a fair few years ago, there seemed to always be an urgency with Liruliniel, like she just had to get to her destination quickly and first. In all honesty, there was a part of Thranduil which wished to leave these halls for a small bit. He had seemingly been cooped up in here for too long, not that he felt suffocated by his home, but he was getting a little fed up with the same surroundings. Fresh air and space seemed good, and the forest around them provided so much of that. But also, guilt. He felt bad, which was admittedly maybe a rare thing for him to feel.

He stuck by his earlier feelings and thoughts, he did not wish to think of Liruliniel upset. She was his friend, and in part he had inadvertently played a part in her feeling so downtrodden. He wasn't suggesting them go out on a childish exploration for nothing as a way to appease his conscience, but as a way to make amends. Yes, he had been swept up in wedding plans and getting to know Vanadessë, the latter being the more enjoyable of the two things; but it wasn't until he saw Liruliniel standing in the throne room with her back to him, clad in her guard armour that Thranduil realised how much time had passed between them.

And he knew nothing of what she had done with her time, while his was spent planning and courting, there was a blank space of time which he had missed out on, yet he was aware she'd know what he was doing thanks to the talks around the palace. All in all, as much as Liruliniel could grate a little, with her childish ways and her bouts of sudden seriousness which could catch anyone off guard, Thranduil had missed her company.

In truth, he didn't see much of her brother either and he missed Thalion just as much. But maybe he missed Liruliniel just a little bit more. Not that he'd ever tell her, she'd never let him hear the end of it.

"Did you hear, we went to Esgaroth today." Liruliniel picked up a random topic, the sudden silence seemingly getting to her. She just chose whatever came to mind, and this was it.

Thranduil presumed she spent most of her time in silence, by herself. Something else which he didn't want to think about. Someone so lively, and charismatic being alone. Liruliniel was a social elf, despite how others saw her or treated her. Loneliness would be her undoing. "What was it like?"

"The people didn't look so happy. And the homes looked a bit...well, shall I just say slightly worse for wear? I saw Erebor in the distance though."

Thranduil felt himself smiling slowly. Shaking his head and reaching out to push a door open, he paused and looked at the expanse of woodland before them. He looked her way as she inhaled deeply and placed her hands on her hips exhaling slowly, seemingly enjoying the experience already, even before they left the palace walls. "Somehow I am led to believe the latter thing caught your attention more."

Liruliniel sent him a guilty smile. "That obvious?"

"Only if you started singing and dancing about it, Liruliniel." Thranduil said with a small shake of his head. "I do not understand your fascination with the dwarves, or their homes." He said honestly, it was something he hadn't actually ever spoken to her about, or anyone else for that matter.

"Because they're so unlike us." Her answer caused him to pause walking and look back at her. She lowered her arms, seemingly intending on climbing into the first tree she walked too. "Look don't get me wrong; I love my kin. But, well, we can be a bit sanctimonious, can't we?" Liruliniel asked nervously with another guilty smile on her face. Thranduil just stood there looking at her, slightly lost for what to say. "Now, I'm going up here and I will beat you to Emyn Duir."

"And if you don't?" Thranduil decided to ask. She was fast, he may be a little faster...a little being quite a bit. It was a race she wasn't going to win, even more so considering she was still getting accustomed to the extra weight her armour put on.

Liruliniel looked upwards thoughtfully, wincing she looked at him hesitantly. "I'll help you plan your wedding?"

Thranduil winced a little in turn too, "That pained you to say, didn't I?"

"Yes, because it sounds utterly boring. But your father said I would understand when it's my turn, or something like that. I don't know, I think I scoffed at his words, or at least I did in my head. Me, married...seriously? No, like that is ever going to happen." Liruliniel rolled her eyes and leaped up in the tree, Thranduil just stood and watched her. Something about her words made him feel cold inside, she seemed to so easily shoot down the prospect of her own happiness with someone else, yet would help him with his own? That was partially self-sacrificing surely? "Bye, sire. See you at the mountain!" Liruliniel chimed quite happily and ran off past him, leaping and climbing from branch to tree.

Thranduil's eyes just watched her, he counted to ten in his head before turning on his heels and following suit. It was only fair to give her a head start, right? She may have alluded him when they were younger, but both had grown up quite a bit since then. Surely, she still couldn't evade him now, armour and all? Liruliniel merely glanced over her shoulder when she heard his footsteps closely behind her, she just smiled and continued running and climbing about with her hair whipping wildly behind her as she went.

——

Edited: 20/June/25