Saving Middle Earth

A Century Old

Today is my birthday. I have spent the past  month getting used to life here in Mirkwood. Things have been relatively calm since arriving here. I have been enjoying sending time with Legolas and his father. I do miss my family and am still very angry at them for what they have done but I do admit there are worse places I can be.

I wake in the morning and found that the maid has laid out a beautiful simple white dress.  There is another more lavish one more beautiful than any I have ever seen. Rose gold in colour and filled with beads, this is new and must be a birthday gift. I head down for breakfast and Legolas has a goofy grin on his face.

"Well why you look so mischievous this morning."

"I have got a great day planned for you; we will go into the village. You have not been there yet."

"That sounds great I have wanted to go there for a while."

"Great then we can do anything you want. Followed by a wonderful dinner celebration. I can invite some of my friends if you like."

"Sounds wonderful. I would really like to spend some time by the water, maybe have a picnic?"

"You are on; we can pick up something from the bakery shop in town."

"I noticed there is a new dress in my room do you know who that might be from."

"That would be from me." Thranduil had just come in the room.

"Thank you my King it is beautiful."

"You are very welcome; I was hoping you would wear it tonight at our dinner celebration. It is not every day that an elf turns 100. You now become a young adult. This is very special."

"Thank you again my lord for all you have done."

"Lily you have brought much joy to these palace walls, it really is a pleasure having you here. Now go and enjoy you day." Thranduil turns and takes his leave.

"So Legolas what should I wear for our adventures today."

"I don't know Lily whatever you like but be ready in 30 minutes." With that he gets up and runs from the room.
A competition to see who can be ready the fastest, well let's show him. I change as fast as I can and within 20 minutes I manage to change into a casual dress, brush my long wavy hair, I left out the braids to safe time, and was waiting in the stable.

Legolas comes in and is surprised to see me. "Well it is really not fair that you can look that good in such a short time." I blush at his comments.

He smiles back at me. "Alright then let get going shall we. We can take our horses."

"Legolas you know I do not have my own horse. The one I rode here was returned to his owner back home"

"Well I thought for sure this stall had your name on it and there is a beautiful white horse in here. If you do not want him I will take him." Legolas' horse Amar whinny loudly as if he understood. "Don't worry boy I was just joking", Legolas said as he stroked his horse's main.

"I looked over at the horse in the stall, a beautiful white horse starred back at me. All white and gleaming. "Legolas how can this be, who gave me this?"
"It was gift sent from Gandalf and she is the queen of the Mearas. You are one lucky lady to be gifted with such a horse."

"Oh she is beautiful, does she have a name."

"Her name is Aurora."

"Hello Aurora you are a wonderful sight, we shall be good friends."
I mounted Aurora and we set out on our adventure.

"Race you", I yelled back to Legolas. We ran down the path to town. Aurora and I far ahead of Legolas. When he caught up his horse was very tired yet Aurora appeared to have just been for a leisurely stroll.

"Wow she is fast", Legolas stated the obvious.

"So far this is the best birthday ever." I replied.

We went into town and looked through some of the shops. I found myself admiring a beautiful necklace in the shape of a lily with a pearl in the center. Legolas caught me eyeing it. "Why don't you buy it?"

"Legolas, it is beautiful I might return for it later."

We went into many places that day. The local villagers all stopping to bow to Legolas. In all the times I had visited Mirkwood I had never made it into town. Everyone here seemed so nice and friendly. I also noticed that the same guards had been following us for some time. I just thought that since Legolas was the prince that they must be his protectors. They were not bothersome only there. Every now and then I could hear elves whisper about who this mysterious woman was with their prince. A few who had been at the royal gathering knew my name and that I was a person of importance from another elven city, but that is all they knew. I kind of liked being a mystery.
We finally stopped at the bakery and Legolas excused himself to talk with one of the guards. He returned a short time later and we purchased everything we needed for our picnic. We were in there forever deciding what to buy, everything look wonderful. We decided on mostly pastries and sweets after all we still were young and not the most sensible elves.

As we were leaving Legolas went over to talk to the same guard.

"What is going on?" I asked.

"Oh nothing, just told him to make sure he was not seen at our picnic, it ruins the atmosphere and remind me of danger when they are around." I said nothing but I could understand it was like when my brother would follow me around after he learned about my powers.

We went back to our horse and Aurora was quite far in the distance having come loose from her tie.

"I hear if you whistle at a Mearas they will always come if they accept you as a rider."

"Really let me try". I whistle a sweet low whistle; Aurora looks up and come right over to me.

"Well girl I guess you accept me then, how wonderful and you are free to roam whenever you must."

We mount our horse and head to the river that runs through Mirkwood. It is so beautiful here I cannot believe that I have never been here.

"Oh Legolas this is a great spot to have lunch."

"Good I thought you might like it."

We sit and start to eat some of every treat we bought. We then walked in the river's edge and talked about nothing, other times we were silent enjoying the sounds of nature. We were there for hours but it felt like only a short time.

"Lily we should soon be heading back so we can get ready for your birthday celebration."

I followed him over to where our belongings were, "Lily why don't you open the picnic basket and I will pass you our things. The first thing he passes me is a small box wrapped in pretty silver and green paper.

"Legolas what is this?"

"It is your present from me." I stared at the box. "Are you going to open it?"

"Yes, of course but you did not have to do this, you already have done so much for me?"

"Lily I wanted to." He smiles the sweetest smile. I slowly unwrap the paper and open the box, inside is the necklace I was looking at in the store.
"Legolas how did you get this I was with you the whole time?" He remains silent. "Is that why you were talking to the guard?"

"Yes, I had been thinking all month of what to get you and still had not decided till I saw you looking at the necklace. It was so fitting and seems to have been made for you. A lily for Lily."

"Thank you Legolas it is beautiful. I will treasure it always. Will you put it on?" I brush my hair to the side and he places the necklace around my neck and fastens it. As he moves my hair back his fingers light touch my neck, sparks seem to run down my spine. What is happening between us? Am I starting to have feeling for my best friend? I shake the feeling away. He backs up and starts packing our things. I can hear his quickened heartbeat did he feel something too?

"We should head back", he says. We pack up quickly and head back for my celebration.