𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋 𝘖𝘍 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘙𝘐𝘕𝘎𝘚 + 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘏𝘖𝘉𝘉𝘐𝘛 𝘖𝘕𝘌𝘚𝘏𝘖𝘛𝘚

𝘔𝘌𝘌𝘛 𝘔𝘌 𝘐𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘞𝘖𝘖𝘋𝘚 | 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘧

"LEGOLAS! AENDRYR! WAIT, wait for me!" Y/n cried out as she raced after the two Elfings into the darkening dusk.

Her feet moved quickly beneath her with the speed and agility that belongs to all elves. But, she was only a child and her senses were not matured; it was for this reason that she didn't anticipate the foot that poked out from the dark green bushes. Tripping over the foot, she flew forward into the mud of the forest floor. Her hands reached out to catch her fall and they hit hard against the surface of a jagged rock.

It took a moment before she stood up, blood streaking her hands. Humiliation spread throughout her body as she heard familiar, shaming laughter. Pushing herself upwards and groaning as she did so, she turned to face the delinquents that had tripped her, but they were already on the retreat. Her eyes narrowed before sparking with tears as she watched the shrinking shapes of her brother and the young Prince, Legolas. Y/n bit her trembling lip as she turned her gaze downwards.

Her dress.

Oh, her dress–the dress her mother had just given her that night to wear to the celebration. It was ruined. Alongside the thick layer of mud that seemed to seep into the fabric, there was a long tear down the side, splitting open and revealing the white slip she wore underneath. How could she possibly face her mother? It seemed despairing. She knew that if she told on the Elflings it would only make it worse for her; she had already figured that out already–the hard way.

She couldn't do it. She just couldn't. She pictured the disappointment on her mom's face as she stared down at the dress. And so she wouldn't do it–she would not face her mother, instead she would remain in the woods until the celebration was over and her mother would no longer care about the ruined dress because there wouldn't be a party for her to wear it to. Resolved, Y/n began wandering further into the forest, in the opposite direction that the two boys had run. She wiped the blood off her hands on the dress and bit her tongue against the pain.

╰┈➤

PRESENT DAY

A pained groan passed Y/n lips as she felt another tug on the length of her hair.

"I promise you are almost finished my Lady."

She screwed a grateful smile on her face, "Thank you."

"There," Y/n winced at the final tug, "It is perfect."

Y/n nodded as she briefly cast her gaze in the mirror; the braid did look quite good. She hoped that it would stay in place for the entirety of the journey because she did not want to go through that process again.

"Are you ready to leave? Your escort is waiting for you," A head poked in the room.

"No, I don't think I should go."

Y/n watched as her beloved friend Nym strode into the room and offered her a sympathetic smile.

"You will endure it well, I am sure."

Y/n looked unconvinced.

"Y/n," Nym took her hands in his, "It had been many, many years since you have even seen the realm of Mirkwood. Perhaps he has changed."

The she-elf sighed. "Perhaps. Or perhaps he has gotten much worse."

Nym laughed good-heartedly, "You are much too positive an elf."