Queen Naehlara (LOTR, Legolas love story)

Chapter 4

Four days has passed since Naehlara's duel with Aragorn. Spending her days sparing with any elf willing to fight her, which normally ended up being Elladan and Elrohir. Multiple times she tried to get Legolas to spar with her but somehow they always got cut off or she just got distracted talking to him that she never even got to ask him. She would quiz him about Mirkwood, and he told her everything about it. When he had told her it was once known as Greenwood, she vowed to herself to only ever call it by Greenwood. Even if darkness has over rode it and caused the people to call it by another name.

Naehlara found herself at the gate with Arwen. At dinner the night before, Elrond had spoken to Naehlara about greeting her dwarves when they arrived. Scouts had spotted them earlier that day, and let Elrond know they were a days ride away. So Naehlara dressed in her favorite dress the lavender silk flows around her in the wind, the long sleeves even reaching past her hand. She had braided her long black hair back, as she had noticed the winds picking up early that morning and did not want her hair getting into her face. Her golden crown intertwined with the braids keeping it held to her head.

The loud voices of the dwarves, had Naehlara straightening her back. She wasn't sure what to expect, the dwarves form her time were allies and close friends. But Arwen and Elrond had taught her that now, dwarves and elves seemed to have a great distaste for each other. It surprised her the way elves would talk down about the dwarves, calling them greedy and short minded. Adjusting the sleeves of her dress, she watches the gateway into the forest as one, two than four dwarves exit the forest. Arwen quickly bows in greeting, Naehlara following her lead.

"Greeting Master Dwarves, it is an honor to have you in Rivendell. I am Arwen daughter of Lord Elrond and this is High Queen Naehlara." Arwen greets them, Naehlara suppressing a sigh. Having spoken with Elrond and Mithrandir two nights ago about her heritage, she has settled on letting other people introducing her, rather than fighting everyone about her past.

"I am Lord Gloin of the Blue Mountains and this is my son Gimli." The dwarf towards the front greets. His voice is gravely and loud, Naehlara has to fight the urge to cover her ears. Her sense sharper than most elves, better hearing, vision and faster on her feet.

"Gloin? Are you one of the dwarves that took back Erebor?" Naehlara questions, she had heard stories. Many believing that she only awoke due to the dwarves reclaiming their home and killing Smaug.

"Y-yes I was." Gloin says, unsure why the she-elf could be interested in his past journeys. Most elves had found that quest to be a mistake, yet she almost seemed excited speaking about it.

"Did you kill Smaug? I've only heard parts of the story, I would love to hear it from a dwarf that was actually there." Naehlara says quickly, a smile growing across her face. Gimli found himself smiling back, at first he was ready to attack the maiden for even speaking to his father. Yet the two she-elf's seemed kind enough. But not to be trusted he reminded himself.

"I nor did any of the dwarves kill Smaug. Maybe another day I can tell you the story. As for now we need rest and food after our journey." Gloin says, trying to be kind in dismissing Naehlara. Her smile quickly fades to a frown, hearing footsteps behind her, she turns looking up the stone steps. Aragorn and Legolas coming in to view. The sound of a growl has her looking back to the dwarves, Gloin glaring towards the two new comers his hand on his axe, knuckles turning white from his tight grip.

"I will escort you to the chambers you will be staying in." Arwen says, already feeling the tension between Legolas and the dwarves. She knew about the incident between the company of Oakenshield and the Woodland realm and Arwen was ready to keep a fight from break out between Gloin and Legolas. "Naehlara do you want to join Prince Legolas and Aragorn." Looking back towards the dwarves, Naehlara's frown stays. What happened between the dwarves and the elves? It didn't make sense to her.