Arahaelon

I sit with Legolas outside of the palace in our naneth's garden, and I listen as he reads a passage of his favorite book to me. The sun is warm as it washes over my skin, and I keep my eyes closed as my brother's voice and the soft breeze relax my muscles and calm my buzzing mind.

Ever since I offered this morning, I have wondered how I am going to ask my parents to allow Annalee and the others to visit the palace. In the moment, all I could think of is how great it would be to see Annalee sitting here in the garden on this same bench, surrounded by sweet-scented flowers that are as winsome as she. I did not think how inviting them would obviously spark many questions amongst my family members, and no doubt Tadion and the twins would find a way to make Annalee as uncomfortable as possible, thus scaring her away. She is timid and naive, and her soul is as pure as that of a child's. Such a delicate flower does not belong amongst such buffoons.

"You are doing it again."

I open my eyes, turning to look at Legolas as he scrutinizes me. "What?"

Legolas shakes his head, smirking, and his eyelids narrow over his striking, sky blue eyes. "You are once again not listening to me. Do I really bore you that much?" His tone is light-hearted, but I sense his deep curiosity.

"You do not bore me. I was lost in thought," I reply, smiling at him to ease his suspicions.

"Again," he stresses, closing his book and giving me his full attention. "I want to know what is on your mind. I was polite enough to not question you last time."

I stare at him for a long moment, not at all willing to have such a deep conversation with my youngest brother. "Nothing of importance," I lie easily, turning my gaze to inspect the gorgeous white blossoms surrounding the white bench we are seated upon.

"If it was nothing important as you say, you would not be zoning out on me for the billionth time," he quips, raising his eyebrow- a trait he learned from Ada.

"Twice, Legolas," I remind him, raising my own eyebrow, "It has only happened twice. Do not be so dramatic."

He rolls his eyes in a very un-princely manner. "I have only called you on it twice, Ar. I was too kind to embarrass you more than that."

My eyes narrow as I continue to stare at one of the white flowers, not daring to look at him. I swallow thickly, wondering if he is telling the truth or simply being overdramatic. Surely my feelings for Annalee are not that obvious.

He laughs suddenly, throwing his head back, and I jump slightly at the sudden sound. "You are questioning yourself. See, I knew something was truly bothering you. If your lack of attention was simply 'nothing' then you would not try so hard to cover up your slips," he says matter-of-factly, and I stare at him in utter disbelief.

When had he suddenly become so observant?

"Ar, would you please just tell me? If you are worried about a secret getting out, you can stress about it no longer. I will not tell anyone," he persuades, and I can see the seriousness in his eyes.

I cross my arms over my chest, sinking further into the bench.

"What is said in the garden, stays in the garden," he sing-songs, raising his eyebrows and grinning at me.

I groan. "Fine. I will tell you, but if you utter one word to Tadion or our dear sisters-" I threaten, and he interrupts me with a laugh.

"-I will not!"

I sigh deeply, deciding to trust him. Afterall, Legolas is the most trustworthy out of my two brothers. "I have felt my bond," I tell him slowly, and his eyes widen in shock.

"Y-you are serious?" he asks, looking at me as if I have sprouted three more heads.

"Perfectly," I say with a soft sigh, pursing my lips as I await his reaction.

His mouth gapes open like a fish, and it takes him several moments to speak again. "Are you pulling some sort of joke?" he questions, narrowing his eyes ever-so-slightly.

I stand quickly, groaning in embarrassment. "No!" I exclaim, not turning to face him. "You wanted to know, so here it is. I met an elleth in Woodhurst the other day when I left you and Tadion."

Legolas stands, too, a giddy smile on his face. "Well, where did you meet her? What is her name?"

"In the seamstress shop. Her sister owns it," I explain quickly, still tense, "And her name is... well, it is Annalee."

Legolas still watches me, unable to stop grinning. "Annalee," he repeats, "Ar, I cannot believe it. I will admit that I suspected an elleth for I have never seen you act like this, but to actually hear it from you... I cannot believe it."

I glance at him fleetingly. "I need your help, Legolas. I have invited Annalee and her friends to the palace, but I do not know how to ask Ada without him becoming suspicious."

Legolas shakes his head, smirking. "There is no possible way. You are too obvious, and I can only imagine it will be worse when she is actually here. You will not be able to hide it from any of us."

"I was afraid you would say that," I say lowly, running my hand over my face.

"But, Ar, there is nothing wrong with that. Yes, we are going to tease you and Annalee, but it is because we love you. Tadion will behave. He is not that bad," Legolas says.

I give him a look.

"Okay, Tadion can be pretty bad," he admits with a deep chuckle, but he then clasps my shoulder, "But seriously, it will all work out. Ask Ada, and make sure Naneth is in the room. She will be so excited and will persuade him if he is in one of his moods."

"I already told Naneth about her, so that is a very good idea," I reply, unable to hide my smile, "Thank you, Legolas."

"You are welcome. I am excited to meet her. She must really be something if she caught your eye," he says.

I smile as I look at my brother. He truly is kind, with a good heart and gentle nature. He would make a better king than I ever will, though I would never admit it. As a baby, he almost never cried, and he constantly scanned his surroundings with round, curious eyes. When he learned to walk, I could turn my back on him for just a moment and he would be long gone by the time I turned around. Now he is all grown up and wise. Looking at him now, I realize that I still see him as that tiny elfling, following me around and copying everything that I did. My heart feels warm in my chest as I stare at him, his cheerful and expressive eyes looking exactly as they did all those years ago.

I clear my throat. "Well, I guess I will go find Ada now."

I turn to leave, but his voice stops me for a moment. "Thank you, Ar," he says quietly, and I glance back to see him sitting down and reopening his book. "You know, you should open up to me more often. I enjoyed seeing into your mind, if only for a moment."

I nod once, and then I make my way back to the palace.

___

I find Ada in his study. The room is constructed of all richly colored wood, almost a dark red, like his favorite wine. It is lavishly furnished with expensive patterned seats and rugs, and his desk and bookshelf are beautifully carved, depicting well-known stories straight from the historic scrolls of Middle Earth.

He sits at his desk, his long snowy hair unbound and falling down his shoulders and back evenly. His gaze is trained upon several pieces of parchment lying in front of him, and he sits stiffly, pinching the bridge of his nose. His wine red robes match the magnificent color-scheme of the room.

Naneth sits upon the window seat to the right wearing a dress of striking light blue, almost silver. The sheer sleeves billow down to the floor, flowing slightly in the wind pouring in from the open window. Her ivory hair falls down her back and shoulders, some of it waved and the rest pulled back in dozens of different braids. She looks up from her book when she hears the door open, her light green eyes analyzing me quickly, and she gives me a welcoming smile.

"Ion nin (my son), come in," she coaxes, patting a chair that sits close to her, "Take a seat."

I sit down beside her, watching my father closely as he barely looks up from his work.

"What is on your mind?" Naneth asks quietly, brushing her fingers through a section of my hair that must have been out of place.

She looks at me, her eyes open and loving, and she waits patiently for me to speak.

I cast a look to Ada. "Maybe now is not a good time," I state.

"Nonsense," she says with a wave of her hand, placing her book beside her and reminding me much of Legolas as she gives me her full attention.

"Well, I was wondering if we could have visitors tomorrow," I suggest, and the statement immediately catches the attention of my father.

"Visitors?" he questions lowly, examining my expression skeptically, but I keep my face blank. "And who are these visitors you wish to bring into my home?"

"Our home," I correct him boldly, meeting his challenging stare unwaveringly. "And they are friends I have only just met. One is a small elfling, and he was terribly excited at the notion of visiting the palace."

Naneth clasps her hands together, bringing them up to her chest. "Oh, that is so sweet. Of course we can have visitors! And they can have supper with us if they so desire," she offers freely.

"My friends would love that," I reply, giving her a pointed look.

Her eyes widen a bit, understanding who one of my "friends" will be, and she smirks slightly.

"Who are these friends? Where did you meet them?" Ada asks, picking up on our secretiveness with his keen eye.

"Woodhurst. Itylra's husband is Alwin- the trainee Legolas and Tadion are fond of- and I thought she and her child, Nym, would enjoy a visit."

"Mhmn," he responds, unimpressed, "And who else?" He very slowly pushes the parchment that lies in front of him to the side with long slender fingers, then rests his elbows on the desk and steeples his fingers. He fixes me with his all-knowing, intimidating stare.

I clear my throat slightly, wishing he was not so perceptive, but I will not break. "Lady Faraine and her sister," I tell him calmly, "They are good friends with-"

"-you forgot to mention the sister's name."

I inhale quietly, forcing myself to keep my composure. I despise the way he tests me. "Annalee." I hold my breath, hoping he will not pick up on whatever emotion everyone else perceives from my expression or my eyes.

"Annalee," he repeats, quirking one eyebrow ever-so-slightly, and I see a faint spark of amusement in his eyes.

"Yes."

The tension in the room is so thick, I could slice it with one of my silver daggers, but his eyes continue to bore into mine, waiting patiently for me to cave-to admit what he knows I am hiding. Frustration works its way through my veins. He knows what I am feeling. He knows exactly why I wish to invite Annalee to the palace, yet he will not relent. He will not allow me to have my secrets. He will not stop until I admit what he already figured out.

"Oh, Thranduil, stop being stubborn," Naneth says with an annoyed sigh. "Arahaelon, tell your friends they are more than welcome in our home. I will have Mirima cook a fantastic meal. Oh, and this elfling... what was his name again?"

"Nym," I reply, elated that I shall get to bring them all here tomorrow.

"What an adorable name. I cannot wait to meet them all," she says, reaching out to squeeze my hands. "Let me see, there is Itylra who is married to Alwin, and her son is Nym. Correct?"

"Yes."

"Okay, and then there is Faraine. You did not tell us about her because your father interrupted," she says, sending him a small glare, and he chuckles deeply.

"Faraine owns the seamstress shop in town where yours, Lossie's, and Almarëa's dresses are made," I explain.

"Oh, really? That is interesting. I will have to go down there someday and properly meet her. She always creates fantastic dresses, but I always send someone to order them and pick them up for me. I shall have to break that habit and journey out of this palace more often," she says with a sigh.

"And Annalee, please tell us more of her," Ada says, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs, and I do not miss the mirth in his voice or the way he throws Naneth an amused glance in which she returns.

"Annalee is Faraine's younger sister, as I mentioned already," I reply simply.

Ada sighs dramatically. "Oh, please, Arahaelon. Would you cut the-"

He is interrupted by a knock on the door, and I turn to see Lossenel peaking inside.

"Come in, Lossie," Naneth calls with a smile, and my sister enters the room, floating gracefully over to the chair next to mine.

Her blue-green eyes are alert and knowing, obviously having eavesdropped and knocked on the door to save me. Her hair is the purest form of white, looking exactly like snow, and it is styled much the same as Naneth's, but with pearls and sparkling pins stuck in the silky tresses. Her dress is a deep sapphire color, complimenting her pale skin beautifully.

"We are to have visitors tomorrow?" she asks innocently, and I grin.

"Yes, Arahaelon was just discussing them with us," Ada replies before I can, "Now, continue."

"Annalee is Faraine's sister. That is all I know and all I have to say, Ada."

"Alright then, keep your secrets," he says, "But tomorrow I shall see her for myself."

"You shall," I tell him, "But you will not make her, nor any of my other guests uncomfortable."

Lossie and Naneth laugh gaily.

"I think that is quite impossible, Ar," Lossie says, "Ada is so very intimidating. 'Tis in his nature to make others uncomfortable."

Ada stands, unable to hide his smile, and he comes to sit with us, his crimson robes trailing behind him like a river of blood. He sits down beside me, crossing one leg over the other and settling into the chair.

"Lossenel, where are your siblings?" Ada questions, surprising me with the topic change.

"Legolas is in the garden, Tadion and Elrohir are who-knows-where, and Almarëa and Elladan are in the library," she answers softly, smirking when she mentions our youngest sister and Elladan.

Ada's eyes darken a bit at the mentioning of Almarëa's whereabouts, but he does not comment. "Tell them to be prepared for company tomorrow. I do not wish to make a bad impression upon Arahaelon's... friends." His lips quirk into the smallest hint of a smile, but I ignore him.

"Yes, Ada," she answers dutifully, standing and leaving the room to search for them.

The king's eyes then fall upon me, staring me down like a predator and its prey. "I have my suspicions about this Annalee-," he says, pausing for a moment to see if there are any changes in my expression, "-and what she is to you. I will be sure to keep a close eye on the two of you."

Naneth rolls her eyes. "Oh, hush, Thranduil. There is no need to tease him," she says, her eyes flitting over to mine and shimmering with glee, "He will get his fill of that tomorrow."

And little did I know how right she was.

_______________

A/N: I hope y'all are enjoying this! I'm having so much fun writing this story! If you enjoyed, please leave a kind comment. I love y'all so, so much! God bless :)

Love,

Josie