NEW LEAF (Legolas FF) | ✔️

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

Legolas strode through the halls of the palace. It has been weeks since the wedding and the palace and its servants were still adjusting to the changes. The gossip revolving around Mantheniel, the new queen, was still going around.

People adored her not because she was soft or lady like, in fact it was the opposite. They seemed to revel on the fact that the King had finally found his match in almost everything. Including temper. Legolas lets out a chuckle as he turned towards the dining hall were they were serving breakfast.

As he walked, he glanced at the forest from the open arches. The trees did look greener and somehow the air around them was lighter. A smile played across his lips as he approached the dining hall. The guards posted by the door greeted him before opening the doors so the prince may enter.

He walked briskly inside to find Mantheniel seated by the table alone. He approached her slowly. When he neared her, she glanced up with a smile on her face.

"Legolas! Good morning. Will you join me? It is a bit sad to eat alone in such a huge table." Legolas gives her a smile before bowing slightly.

"I would love to." He walks around and takes a seat opposite of her. He could feel a slight tension in the air as Mantheniel fumbled with her food. He had no idea how they should address each other and by the looks of it, neither did she.

"Where is my father?" He began to ask as he poured himself a glass of water. Mantheniel turns to look at him as she purses her lips and shakes her head.

"Your father has been in the throne room the whole day. Discussing about who knows what since he does not allow me during the meetings." She says bitterly, Legolas could almost swear she was pouting. He fought a smile.

"Ah. Well, he has his duties and soon you will too. The palace is still adjusting. It has been long since they had a queen." He tells her and all of a sudden he wished he could take it back, something about her expression made him think so.

"I apologize. Upsetting you was not my intention." He suddenly says as Mantheniel kept folding a napkin in her hand. When her eyes met his again, she had a look as if she had known him all her life, and she was willing to die for him. Who knew one could convey so much with one look?

"You have not upset me. I apologize if it seemed that way. It is just that..." She bites her lip, averting her gaze from the prince. Mantheniel could hardly believe she was about to admit how nervous and afraid she was about being queen. She had no clue on it whatsoever.

"Never you mind. May we just enjoy the food? You must try this." She states as she grabs a tart from one of the silver plates and places it on Legolas' plate. Legolas looks at her for a moment, confusion in his face before he finally thought better of it and grabbed the tart, biting into it. Mantheniel beamed at him as he did so.

"Winter is almost upon us," he starts as Mantheniel continued to place different types of food on his plate. He was enjoying it far too much to stop her. When she finally showed signs of stopping, biting into a piece of bread, he started eating the mountain of food she had given him. She gives him a nod.

"Yes, but snow does not fall here. Does it?" She asks. Legolas shakes his head.

"No, it does not. Although nights get colder." He explains. Then there was silence between them. Mantheniel could not help but feel inadequate for a small task such as this. To actually have conversation with her husbands son. By gods, where was Thranduil?

Mantheniel glanced at Legolas from the corners of her eyes as he continued to eat. She had thought about doing activities with him, involving a trip outdoors. She was going insane just thinking about how she would get closer to him. It was something she was sure Thranduil would want for both of them. Then her thoughts travelled to Turwaithiel. She suddenly lost her appetite. She stated at the food on her plate. The last she had seen Turwaithiel was two days after their wedding. Now it was December. It had been two weeks ago, by her calculations. Mantheniel wondered if the prince still thought of her as it seemed impossible to get any answers about them from Turwaithiel. She had no desire to speak about it. Often though, Mantheniel could see the prince looking at Turwaithiel from the distance and once she had seen him emerge from the library. She later found out that Legolas was indeed looking for Turwaithiel. Mantheniel knew it was not her business to meddle in their private affairs but a part of her wanted to help them. Simply urge them on their way. How could she? When she had no idea about anything that involved the two of them. She felt quite useless at that moment, but her determination never wavered. It was something Thranduil had found to be such a tedious habit of hers. She fought a scoff, as if his stubbornness was something to shine a light upon.