A company of woodland Elves rode into Imladris courtyard on their stallions and mares. They were all male with auburn, long hair and beautiful features like all Elves had. Amongst them only one stood out, for the Elf riding in the front had hair so fair it was almost white and his eyes were icy blue. His name was Prince Legolas of the Woodland Realm and he had finally arrived in the famous city of Rivendell as he had always dreamed of doing.

Legolas dismounted his steed and glanced around the beautiful courtyard. It was no mere chance that they had come, for Legolas brought a message from his father King Thranduíl for Lord Elrond. It had taken Legolas weeks to convince his father that he was the right person to send to Rivendell, but Thranduíl had proven rather stubborn about Legolas not going to the Elf-city. Legolas had been just about anywhere else in Middle-earth but Rivendell, a place he had never been allowed to visit for some odd reason.

Finally, his father had given in and Legolas had been allowed to go. It was strange really how their relationship had changed so after that time Legolas was cursed by an evil sorceress. It had been eighty years ago since Dwarves broke into the Woodland Realm, in an attempt to enter the Lonely Mountain and reclaim Erebor. Legolas had been a part of the fight to take back what rightfully belonged to his people inside that mountain, but just as the battle had ended he had been cursed by some unknown evil sorceress. That was all Legolas had been told about it, and he remembered nothing more since he had forgotten as he had forgotten all about the events of the Lonely Mountain and the battle.

When Legolas had awoken in Dale all those years ago he felt as though he had been in a deep sleep for the first time in his life. It was strange and uncomfortable to be deprived of events that seemed to have changed much in Legolas' life. For the battle did not leave his father the same as he had been before. He was no longer as cold and bitter as he had been before. Legolas was allowed to travel Middle-earth as far as his feet could take him to the highest of mountains and lowest of caves. Despite this, he had never been allowed to go even close to the Elf Realm Lothlórien or the city of Rivendell. Thranduíl's reasoning for it was always the same - he did not like the Noldor much.

Legolas drew his gaze around in the courtyard - the flowers, the water, the stone floors - everything was as he had expected it to be like, and even more impressive. With him were a few Elves from his realm and about two days behind them came Dwarves as well as a man from Gondor. It was strange that they were all heading for Rivendell and that they would all be there at the same time.

The Elves from Mirkwood knew the Dwarves' leader well - his name was Glóin and he had been kept a prisoner in the realm with Thorin Oakenshield's company. The Dwarves had attempted to get to Erebor to reclaim their homeland which King Thranduíl wanted to take an advantage of.

The Dwarves had sent glances filled with hatred and contempt at the Elves as they rode past them. From what Legolas had been told, though, the Dwarves hadn't been mistreated in their capture at all and they had gotten their mountain in the end so there was nothing to be mad about. Except for the Elves, of course. Something that definitely had not changed was his father's hatred of Dwarves, it had become even worse.

Legolas gazed up toward the main level of Rivendell and soon noticed that three Elves had moved to stand at the top of the staircase leading to the city. In the middle stood an Elf-man with dark hair and blue piercing eyes, wearing a crown upon his head. His statue and appearance told Legolas that his Elf had lived for long and that it must be Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. To his left stood a beautiful Elf-maiden with the same eyes as the lord and with dark hair flowing down all the way to her hips. By her beauty, Legolas knew that she was Lady Arwen, only daughter of Lord Elrond.

To Elrond's right stood yet another Elf-maiden, one Legolas assumed to be a close associate to the Lord since he had no other daughters. The maiden had a rather different appearance than the two, with her hair being slightly lighter and with skin so fair it resembled snow. She had green eyes of the sort Legolas' had scarcely seen and they bore into his own in a way that made his stomach lurch. This was the most beautiful Elf he had ever seen.

"Welcome, our kin," Lord Elrond spoke as Legolas and his company started making their ways up the stairs. "Here you will find rest and counsel until your mission is completed."

Legolas bowed to Lord Elrond politely and then glanced at the green-eyed maiden yet again. She did not seem to want to look at him, though, as the turned her eyes to a distant place.

Legolas had come to tell Lord Elrond that the creature Gollum had escaped from the Woodland Realm and to discuss what to do about it. Seeing as there were a man and Dwarves travelling to Rivendell as well, Legolas suspected that something greater was about to happen in Imladris that he knew little of yet.

"Welcome, Prince Legolas, son of King Thranduíl of the Woodland Realm," Elrond spoke. "I hope the journey was pleasant enough."

"It was," Legolas said and smiled faintly. "Thank you, for having us here Lord Elrond. We have come to discuss matters with you."

"Yes, and discuss we will," Lord Elrond vowed with a solemn nod. "However a greater cause has created the need four a council with our kin, Men, Dwarves and even Hobbits. Be patient, and all will be revealed to you soon enough, Prince Legolas."

Legolas furrowed his eyebrows in suspicion and wondered what matter caused such mystery. He trusted Lord Elrond, though, and decided to let it go until he was granted more insight.

"This is my daughter, Lady Arwen," Elrond introduced, and Arwen bowed her head politely with a gentle smile. Legolas, who was only truly interested as to know who the other maiden was, glanced at her yet again. "And this is Lady Míriel, daughter of Lady Caladwen, granddaughter of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of Lothlórien."

Legolas' face fell. He knew this Elf - no he had not met her before but he had heard her name a few times. Not only was she the granddaughter of the powerful Lady Galadriel, but she was also notorious amongst his people. From what his father had told him, Lady Míriel was dangerous and reckless and altogether wicked. She had some sort of rare gift which made her own mother isolate her from the world, an outcast amongst her own people. Legolas could not believe that they stood in front of each other now, and he thought to himself that she could not be very disliked if Elrond decided to introduce her to guests.

"Lady Míriel will be your guide as long as you stay," Lord Elrond deduced with a kind smile.

Lady Míriel's eyes flickered toward her uncle and she seemed slightly panicked by the idea. To be honest Legolas wasn't very keen either, but he was polite enough to simply smile with a nod.

"It would be an honour," Legolas stated as his curiosity grew.

*

Legolas followed Míriel through her tour of Rivendell and she told him the history of the city as they passed through some of the most beautiful places in Imladris. Míriel tried her very best to act as though she was calm and that Legolas was just another guest in the city, when in reality she wanted to run away and hide like a child. The moment she laid her eyes upon him for the first time in eighty years, Míriel realised just how much she still loved him. To think that he felt nothing for her, that he did not know her at all, hurt her immensely. It hurt to hear him speak, to meet his eyes, because all she saw when she gazed into them was an Elf who observed someone he did not know.

"That would be the end of our tour," Míriel said and stopped in front of her favourite garden where Bilbo usually sat. Unfortunately the Hobbit was nowhere to be seen today, otherwise Míriel would have escaped to his side.

"They say you hold great power, Lady Míriel," Legolas spoke casually. "A reckless, dangerous power."

"I don't know who these people you speak of are," Míriel asked with a frown as she glanced at Legolas. She didn't like the way he described her gift, even though he was right.

"My people," Legolas said and chuckled. "My father... In all fairness, it is not the kindest things they say of you. All I've heard is how your powers kept you isolated most of your life, in fear of what havoc they could cause."

Míriel glared at him; now she was offended. She realised that Thranduíl had spoken to Legolas about her, but not in the way that she would have hoped. He had spread word of her power, making his own people fear and despise her. It angered her that Legolas thought of her in this way now when not too long ago he cared for her deeply. Míriel couldn't blame Thranduíl much, though, for she was a danger. She had harmed his son.

"It's not true," Míriel managed to say. "I've travelled before, not much, but I have. And I do not create havoc everywhere I go. In fact, I never use powers that could harm anyone. Not anymore."

Legolas shrugged and seemed slightly disappointed in her answer. Perhaps he expected more from someone with a reputation such as Míriel's.

"Can you show me some of your power then?" Legolas asked curiously. "Something small, perhaps?"

"I..." Míriel hesitated and glanced into his eyes. It didn't really seem like he had listened to her at all. "I do not like to use them. There was an incident when I was younger, and I accidentally hurt someone. And my power has faded over time."

It was true that Míriel had never been more powerful than she had been eighty years ago and that ever since she lost Legolas she hadn't been able to conjure such power again. Míriel was afraid what would happen to her now that Legolas was there, and if she hurt him again she would never forgive herself. It would all be for the best if he just left as soon as possible, and Míriel would forever be grateful for this small encounter. At least she had gotten to meet him once more, and that was all that she could have ever asked for.

"I see my father was mistaken in his description of you," Legolas said with a chuckle. "Never listen to travellers, I suppose."

Míriel didn't know what to answer him, she didn't know him. The way he carried himself was different.

"Legolas?"

Míriel and Legolas both turned at the sound of Aragorn's voice. Legolas' eyes widened and a smile grew on his face. Aragorn took some large steps toward them and soon the two were in an embrace.

"My friend," Legolas said and patted Aragorn on his shoulder. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Too long," Aragorn said and beamed. He turned to look at Míriel who gave him a look to be careful what he said around Legolas. "I see you've met Lady Míriel."

"Yes, she's been kind enough to give me a tour," Legolas said and smiled back at Míriel. "When did you get here, what are you doing here, Aragorn?"

"I suppose we should tell the Prince," Míriel said to Aragorn. Legolas frowned, surprised and looked from Míriel to Aragorn.

Together, they began telling him the tale of the One and what they were all facing in the near future.

*

Two days later a man called Boromir from Gondor, son of the Steward, arrived in Rivendell as well. He was welcomed by them all and quickly went to rest, and Míriel did not see much more of him after that. Boromir was sent by his father to discuss Gondor's struggles of defending itself against Mordor. The young man had also received a riddle that haunted his dreams - one that he did not understand, and he wanted clearance from the Elves.

Seek for the Sword that was broken,

in Imladris it dwells,

there shall be counsels taken,

Stronger than Morgul-spells.

There shall be shown a token,

that Doom is near at hand,

for Isildur's Bane shall waken,

and the Halfling forth shall stand.

It was obvious that the riddle was speaking of Narsil, the sword that had belonged to Isildur and the one he had defeated Sauron with. It had broken at the battle and the shards were kept in Rivendell as an ornament and a memory. The token was nothing else than the Ring which was Isildur's Bane and the halfling was Frodo. Apparently, this was his fate, and Boromir had brought another clue to the journey that the Hobbit was soon going to face.

Legolas had told them all that Glóin would be coming whom Míriel had not seen for ages. He was bringing his son, Gimli, and other companions that Míriel probably did not know. For the two days that Legolas had been there, Míriel had tried her best to avoid him to not stir up any feelings but had a hard time as Legolas seemed eager to see her use her powers all the time. He did not seem to like her much, though, for he kept teasing her all the time. When he followed her around it was hard to reject him as she wanted nothing else than to be with him all the time.

"And you know Bilbo Baggins, how?" Legolas questioned Míriel who was tired of his questions. She sent Arwen a glance who could only give her a sympathetic smile. It was hard to explain things to Legolas without connecting herself to the Battle of the Five Armies too much.

"Bilbo Baggins came to Rivendell with Thorin Oakenshield's company when they passed through the Hidden pass," Míriel said. "I made sure they were comfortable and then they were on their way. Later, I travelled to the Shire because I grew very fond of the Hobbit."

"Were the Dwarves as awful guests as they were in my realm?" Legolas muttered.

"They were terrific guests if I may say so myself," Míriel insisted.

"I highly doubt it," Legolas argued and Míriel began feeling annoyed. He always had to question and try to prove her wrong about things. He was terribly arrogant.

It was lucky Glorfindel came hurrying toward them, for otherwise Míriel would have probably started a fight with Legolas.

"Lady Míriel," said Glorfindel.

"Yes?" Míriel asked and stood up to meet Glorfindel.

"The Dwarves have arrived," he said with a small smile since he knew how much they meant to Míriel.

She grinned widely and hurried after Glorfindel to the courtyard where she would greet her old friend again, hearing Legolas mutter that Míriel was mad for wanting to meet Dwarves. Glóin was standing in the front of a large group of Dwarves, all of them muttering and complaining that no one had come to greet them. Glóin smiled as he saw Míriel, though, and she realised how much she had missed him.

"Glóin!" Míriel fell to her knees and threw her arms around the old Dwarf, embracing him tightly. She could hear his booming laughter as he embraced her back and he seemed to still be himself even if he was noticeably older.

It surprised her how sad it made her to see her friends grow older for it was a terrible reminder of their mortality. But for now, Glóin still seemed to be full of spirit. Míriel eventually let him go and stood up to see the rest of the Dwarves who must have been wondering why an Elf was hugging a Dwarf.

Glóin was accompanied by about a dozen other Dwarves and one of them was younger and looked much like Glóin did when he was that age, the same red hair and long nose. Glóin's beard had lost all its colour now and was entirely white, and he was if possible a little shorter and perhaps a bit rounder.

"Lady Míriel," Glóin said finally and smiled widely. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it?"

"Too long," Míriel said and smiled with a nod. She glanced at the Dwarf next to him and knew that it had to be his son Gimli. "And this must be your son."

"Gimli," the younger Dwarf introduced himself and bowed slightly. "Pleasure to meet you, my Lady, I have heard much about you from my father. Especially of your gift and all the adventures he dragged you on with Thorin Oakenshield's company."

"Oh," Míriel said and chuckled. "Well, yes he was one of the kinder ones. Not in the beginning perhaps, but later. Anyway, it is very nice to meet you, Master Gimli."

Her heart warmed as soon as she thought of the other Dwarves and for a second she longed back to when they had first arrived. That had been a time when they were all alive, and one of the few times they were altogether without something to harm them. The memories came flooding, but she soon came back to reality and was happy to see another generation of Dwarves coming to Imladris, hopefully bringing some joy to the tranquil city.