Time passed and I went about my life knowing full well that things were changing in the outside world around me even though I never saw the changes myself. The knowledge came from my birthright. Aunt Galadriel, uncle Elrond, and Arwen all had the gift of sight; though Arwen's was in the here and now as opposed to the future and wasn't always consistent. A lot of times they could not predict the future but they knew something was coming. I tried not to spend a lot of time thinking about doom and gloom. Arwen and I spent a lot of our time riding our steeds around Rivendell and talking. It reminded me a lot of when we were younger and used to giggle a lot about what our futures would be like; who would we marry, how many children we would have (we both wanted 3 each), and how our lives would turn out.

One day, Arwen could not ride and I decided to take Sunset alone outside of Rivendell. I knew that I had to be in a secure location and always be armed so I strapped on various daggers and Altherial as well. I rode out of the lands slowly and then let Sunset fly once we hit the open plains. Just riding on a horse that flew like the wind was heavenly. We rode that way for hours until I lost track of time or where I was really and just enjoyed being carefree on my steed.

A few times Sunset reared back like something spooked him but I could not see anything around us so I just slowed him down so I could watch out for any danger. For a long time we just rode slowly around the rock cliffs and edges, through valleys and plains without seeing anything. For some time, I thought that perhaps he had just been spooked by something that was small like a rodent or perhaps a bird of some kind but--and I have been riding him for years--if something spooks Sunset, it is worthy a second glance. He was a very powerful horse who would ride into just about anything with you. That is one of the reasons we connected so long ago. Haldir always grumbled and said that I had a death wish of some kind, which was simply not true. I just knew that if and when the time came, I could handle myself and perhaps protect others.

As those thoughts passed through my mind, I saw almost at the last possible moment a spear flying straight at my head! I ducked low on Sunset and quickly glanced toward where it came from. I saw a whole horde of them; goblins. I had seen them from afar before but not close and not in attacking positions either. There were maybe 20 or 30 of them and they were racing towards me on vile looking beasts. Goblins were vicious beings that killed and ate their prey. Elvish blood and flesh was prized for them; so to have them spot one all alone on her steed and a female at that must have seemed like easy pickings to them. Too bad they did not know who I was yet; they were soon to learn!

I unsheathed Altherial and galloped toward them at top speed, probably not what they were expecting. Then I jumped on top of my horse and rode him while balancing on his back holding his reigns.

"So it is a fight they want, nasty beasts? It is a fight we shall give them. Get ready Sunset! On my mark!" I told the horse.

When I was ready, I whistled and he came to an abrupt halt as I flipped off his back and over his head onto the ground. Before I even landed I swung my sword and decapitated one goblin that was particularly close to me. I began to run and chop at them. They were falling right and left as Altherial was making their black blood splatter all around us. I leapt and balanced on different rocks as I just went at them in a methodical fashion. I did not look at Sunset for I knew he could take care of himself well and indeed he was. His bucking and rearing squished the beasts of the goblins as they were trying to bite at his ankles.

Sunset and I made a very good team. I could tell when the goblins started to fall back as I saw one look at me with different colored eyes. I cannot even put into words how physically hideous these things were. I do not recall their origins but I did know that the more of them there were, the more swinging I would have to do and that suited me just fine. I heard the goblins call for reinforcements so I knew very soon no matter how good I was, I would be vastly outnumbered and it would be time to head to the closest location for backup which was Lorien. Haldir and the Galadhrim would take them out quickly.

Just as the goblin reinforcements arrived, I was a bit far from Sunset to just jump on him and ride off so I would still have to continue to battle until he and I got within a reasonable distance for us both. I was about to take out another goblin when I felt a heaviness near me and a goblin that I had not seen, pitch forward in front of me with an arrow to his head. I gasped and whirled around to see Legolas, the Prince of Mirkwood on his own steed with his bow and another arrow ready to shoot which he did at yet another goblin out of my line of vision.

He smiled at me and I returned the smile as he took out three more goblins and I returned to slashing and crushing. Altherial was a formidable sword and I was lucky to have her. Legolas and I were then almost side by side fighting off this new horde of goblins until there were maybe two or three left and they took off running just as I lobbed a dagger at one and Legolas hit the other two with arrows. The battle was over and it looked like a fierce one indeed. The lands belonged to no one really so we knew that the rest of the goblin clan would soon come and take their fellow brethren and probably burn them.

Neither of us were going to stick around for all of that. We did not say a word to each other as I stepped over the goblin piles to go to the furthest part of the field to retrieve my dagger that I had sunk into ones back. Once all of my weapons were secure, I whistled for Sunset who came trudging out from the treeline. He hid there when Legolas appeared so that he would not be speared accidently by an arrow. As he came up to me, I swung onto him and now Legolas and I were at eye level with each other. He was looking me up and down and that is when I realized that unlike him I was not wearing a warrior outfit but a simple flowy gown and a dark burgundy coat over it. That said, I did not have a drop on me of blood; be it my own or from those horrid goblins.

Then again I had not prepared to fight anything; I was just going for a ride. But I was able to fight without letting my clothing hinder me in any way. It was then that my eyes finally met his and I realized we had not even spoken at all this whole time. Someone had to begin.

"Well, this is definitely an interesting encounter." I managed out without blushing.

"It certainly is. I must say, I did not think I even needed to intercede. I probably would not have if they had not called for reinforcements." He said with that same smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

"Wait, you were watching me? For how long?" I asked surprised.

"Long enough to be very impressed by your fighting skills. That flip off the horse and getting one before ever landing, was admirable to say the least." He said grandly.

"How did you even know I would be here?"

"I did not. I was simply out for a ride when I heard all the noise and decided to investigate; perhaps I could aid someone. Come to find out that my help was not needed as much as I thought."

"Oh." I said feeling quite embarrassed. Why would I ever think, he would actually be looking for me. That sounded so foolish. Before I could say something to smooth it over though, he said:

"Seeing you was an added bonus. Ever since our first meeting, I had been hoping to see you again." He said looking me straight in the eyes and I could not look away. They were almost hypnotic as to how beautiful they were.

"Why?" The question popped out before I could stop it. He frowned a bit then and I wondered if I had just overstepped my bounds. But there was no taking back the question.

"Because you are very special and I wanted to get to know you better. I have never met any princesses from Rivendell or Lothlorien though Arwen is well known throughout our lands as well. I imagine you are close with her." He said smiling again.

"Yes, she is my cousin and I love her like a sister." I said smiling at last too; thinking of my cousin and our connection.

"You have a beautiful smile, Hedraliel. You should smile more often." He said looking down himself for a moment. I was too stunned for the first few seconds to realize he just paid me a compliment.

"Thank you. That is very sweet of you to say." I finally managed out.

"It is the truth."

After that, we realized it was getting late and I should be getting back to Rivendell. Legolas said he would escort me to the gates so I could get inside safely in case any more of those vicious goblins were hiding out anywhere. I took him up on his offer. We rode in mostly silence and peacefulness only commenting here and there about the gorgeous colors the sunset made. I told him the story of how Sunset came to be my steed to which he shook his head. He told me a little bit about his life just as we neared the gates of Rivendell. At that time, I thanked him again for his help and he kissed me on the cheek this time. I blushed a healthy shade of red again. I waved to him as he rode off smiling to himself.

As I walked to my wing and room, I had no idea how I did everything I did that day and still managed to get a kiss on my cheek. I wondered if it meant anything to him other than a casual companionship. I would find out two days later when Arwen came into my sitting area holding a small package. She was smiling from ear to ear as she sat the package down in front of me. I had by then told her everything that had happened and word had travelled around both lands about my fighting the goblins single handedly until Legolas showed up. Everyone including my uncle were very proud of me save for Haldir who was very unhappy that I had gone alone and nearly gotten myself killed. He still in some ways thinks I am this fragile female which is clearly not the case.

But I digress. I opened the box and in it was a letter written in Elvish. I read the letter quickly as Arwen sat on a lounge chair waiting with baited breath for me to tell her all of the juicy details. The letter was from Legolas and it again complimented my fighting skills as well as my beauty. He wanted to know if we could write to each other as there was no way to know the next time we were to meet up like that and fighting goblins was not exactly classified as romantic. In the letter he admitted to having feelings for me but was unsure where they would go. Arwen was very pleased and even though we never said anything to him, my uncle let me know that he wholeheartedly approved. He was not going to let me be with just anyone. Just like Arwen, he wanted to make sure the men we chose to be with were worthy of us. It was during these subtle moments that I felt utterly protected and loved.

As soon as I was finished reading the letter, I sat down and wrote one in response immediately telling how honored I was to receive his and how much it would mean to me to keep a correspondence going until we met again. I wrote about 2 pages worth of letter and then called our courier to deliver it to him. After that, I felt peaceful and went for walk in our gardens with Arwen. She gave me her blessing and when we reached one of the smaller waterfalls, we both made a wish about having happy and loving men in our lives and being forever peaceful.