~Chapter one~

**18 years after The War of the Ring**

Legolas was taking a casual stroll through his father's relm of Mirkwood Forest when he heard a strange sound. Someone was laughing! Ever since Gimli had had to go home 9 weeks ago Legolas had been feeling quite depressed. It seemed that all sounds of happiness had been unable to reach him. He was quite surprised to hear the sound. Why, after all this time, could he finally hear laughter again? He had no time to ponder this puzzling question, though, because he noticed that the sound was coming nearer. As he listened to the sound, as beautiful and pure as the clear ringing of silver bells, he noticed that a sense of great joy and happiness had come to him. For the first time, in a long time, he was experiencing joy again. All of a sudden an elf woman walked into the clearing. Legolas thought that she was as beautiful as the long awaited sun on a rainy day. He noticed that she was the one laughing. There was a squirrel on her shoulder and she was beaming. She didn't seem to notice Legolas, so he stood and just watched her for a minute. After a few minutes she seemed to sense his presence and looked up, right into his eyes.

~ ~ ~

Ril-Gania, Ril for short, was just another elf. She was 2,940 years old, which is actually quite young for an elf. On the surface she always seemed happy, but no one really knew the truth. Her home life was awful. Her mother was verbally abusive and she was always blaming Ril for everything wrong that happened.

One day, after a heated argument with her mother, Ril decided to take a walk in the woods. That always calmed her down. She was walking along a well-worn path when a squirrel ran up to her. She was quite shocked, but she was also very intrigued by this little creature. She bent down and held out her hand to the timid animal. The squirrel sniffed her hand and it must have decided that it could trust her because it climbed all the way up onto her shoulder! She suddenly laughed out loud. She realized that the squirrel was exactly what she needed right now. She needed someone, or something, to help her forget her troubles, and that was exactly what the squirrel had done. She offered it some lembas and soon they were fast friends. As she walked she continued to laugh as the squirrel did many funny tricks on her shoulder. At one point she turned off the path and started wandering in the woods. Quite soon she entered a clearing in the woods. She was so busy watching the squirrel that, at first, she didn't notice him. Pretty soon, though, her elvish instincts told her that someone was watching her. She looked up and met the gaze of the most gorgeous eyes she had ever seen. They were a deep chocolate brown with just a tint of green. She slowly stepped back and looked at the rest of the stranger. He was the most handsome young elf she had ever seen. His golden hair gleamed in the sunlight and his eyes sparkled like jewels. His face was happy, but Ril sensed that something was troubling him. On his back he carried a beautiful bow and a matching quiver of arrows. She also noticed that he carried two white-handled knives. The squirrel scampered off her shoulder and, without hesitation, climbed onto the handsome stranger's shoulder. It seemed to talk to him and he turned to Ril.

"Your friend tells me that I must not fear you, but I must know, are you a friend or a foe?"

"I know not how to answer your question, kind sir, since I myself do not know if you are my friend or foe. If you must know something about me then I can tell you that my king, King Thranduil, is ruler of this relm and to him I am ever loyal'"

"Ah then, you are a friend. May I ask you your name? For a beauty such as yours deserves a wonderful name."

Ril blushed at this statement. She had never considered herself to be very pretty, she actually thought herself to be quite plain.

"Sir, my name is Ril-Gania. My friends call me Ril. If you would like to use that name, then I would be quite honored. Now that you have my name, will you grace me with yours?" Ril was quite intrigued by this handsome stranger. She thought he looked familiar, but she couldn't think of where she might have seen him. Her mother never took her anywhere except the occasional feast, so she never got to meet anyone her own age.

"My name is." Legolas paused. He hated it when people treated him differently when they found out that he was a prince. For once he just wanted to be treated like a normal elf.

"Why do you pause?" Ril asked.

"Before I give you my name, you have to give me your word that you will treat me like a normal elf, a friend."

"You have my word." Ril was curious about what was bothering this stranger. Why did he need her word to treat him normally?

"My name is Legolas Greenleaf."

Ril gasped. This was the king's son?! Now she remembered seeing him 18 years ago when her mother took her to the returning feast for him when he came back from his quest as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring. She stood there as if stunned for a few moments, then she came to her senses and bowed, after all, he was royalty. To her amazement Legolas came over to her and stopped her from bowing any farther.

"I told you that I wanted to be treated like a normal elf. What I need right now is a friend, not someone who bows every time they see me. Goodness knows I get enough of that at home!"

"I'm sorry sir."

"Call me Legolas, please." He said with a smile.

"I'm sorry Legolas, but I was only trying to do the right thing. If you really want me to treat you like a friend, then I will do so."

"Thank you, it is greatly appreciated. Now, tell me all about being normal. I want to know everything!"

Ril giggled at his enthusiasm. They continued to walk through the woods as she told him all about herself, leaving out her mother of course.

~ ~ ~

That night when Ril got home she sensed that something about her was different. For once, she was truly happy, she wasn't just pretending.

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Legolas still wandered. He had just had the most fun that he could remember since the game he had played with Gimli at Helm's Deep. He was intrigued by Ril. He thought that she was even more beautiful than Galadriel. He found a pile of leaves and he laid down in them with his hands behind his head. As he stared into the inky blackness of the sky he started thinking about how Ril was different from all the other elves that he had ever met. When he was around her he felt that his whole life had changed. He even almost forgot his sadness about Gimli's departure. Legolas got up and started the long walk back home, still thinking about Ril.

~ ~ ~

Nine days later Legolas was again walking in the woods. He was thinking about Ril, as he had done many times in the last few days. They had met many times and just walked around the forest. It was good to have someone normal to talk to, but he sensed that whenever they talked about family she was holding something back. Even the day before when he mentioned how his mother ran away and he asked Ril what her mother was like, she avoided the subject. This was baffling him quite a bit. He had no time to think about it any further, though, because he heard a strange sound in the distance. It sounded like someone was crying. He strained his ears and decided that he heard a woman crying somewhere. It sounded like she was coming towards him so he stood still and waited. Quite soon the elf woman came running into the clearing. He thought that something looked familiar about her, it was Ril! She sat on a rock and buried her head in her arms, still sobbing. Legolas had the greatest urge to put his arms around her and comfort her. He went up to her and touched her shoulder. She jumped up and started to run away. Legolas caught her arm and held her back. She then realized it was Legolas who had touched her arm and not her mother, whom Ril thought had followed her into the forest. She was embarrassed that Legolas saw her so unhappy.

"What's wrong Ril?" Legolas asked.

"I am truly sorry to be in such a sad state for our next meeting," she began, "but what I really need now is to be alone."

"Ril," said Legolas softly, he was quite worried about her. When elves get this distressed something really bad has usually happened. "you can tell me anything."

Ril took a deep breath. "My mother, Caleviel," she began in a shaky voice, "came to me this morning and told me it was time to start thinking about my future. She then told me that she had set up my engagement to Prince Amend, son of King Isilmand of the Druadan Forest near Gondor. The problem is that I do not love him, I don't even know him! Love is a very important thing to me. I would refuse to marry him, but it would break my mother's heart. At the same time, though, I feel that I would rather die that marry him."

"I can see the problem." Legolas aid. "I would also be sad to see you move as far away as Druadan Forest. If you go there, I will have no one normal to talk to."

"The wedding is in ten weeks and I don't know what to do. It is being planned as we speak."

"Do you think that there is any chance of you growing to love him?"

"None, I must confess that my heart belongs to another elf."

"Who is this lucky elf? I must know who has captured your beautiful heart."

"I don't think I can tell you." said Ril blushing.

"And why not?"

"I'm not sure what you will think."

"I will respond honestly, you don't have to worry about me lying, especially to you."

Ril knew that he was telling the truth, she was just afraid of the truth. She finally decided to tell him. Whatever happened, happened she decided. She was no longer going to let her fear of the truth stand in the way of her actions. She took a deep breath and started speaking.

"The one elf that I truly love," she began, slowly looking up into Legolas's eyes, "is you."

~ ~ ~

~Chapter two~

After Ril's shocking revelation all Legolas could do was stand there. He had known from the moment that he had seen her that he had fallen in love, but he had no clue that she felt the same way. Ril mistook Legolas's silence and thought that he didn't feel the same way. She hung her head in embarrassment. She was afraid that he would react like this.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you." she whispered.

"Ril, I.I love you too." Legolas said, almost in a whisper.

"You do?" asked Ril. She was quite shocked. She thought that she could never capture the heart of someone so handsome. Her mother had always told her that she would never find someone to love her because she was so plain. When she had first met Legolas she knew that she had fallen in love, but she thought that she was too plain for him and he deserved someone better.

"Yes I do." said Legolas with more confidence in his voice this time. Then suddenly he remembered why he was walking alone in the woods.

"Ril," he began, "I must tell you that my father has also arranged a marriage for me. Like you, I do not know my fiancé. I also do not love her. She loves me, but only for my wealth and my fame for being a member of the Fellowship of the Ring."

Ril looked so sad and forlorn at this statement that he quickly added, "But I will talk to my father and convince him to break off the engagement. I want to be with you, only you."

"I will talk to my mother." Ril promised, although she seriously didn't think that her mother would break the engagement. "I will make her see that she can no longer run my life."

"I promise you," Legolas said, "I will love you until the end of time."

Ril smiled. Legolas stepped closer to her and took her hands into his own. As they gazed into each other's eyes the both were thinking the same thing. Slowly they moved closer and closer to each other. Their gaze met and Legolas's breath caught in his throat.

"I love you, Ril." he said, and with that they shared their first kiss. Legolas thought that Ril's lips tasted soft and sweet, like honey. They slowly parted and Ril buried her head in Legolas's chest. She felt safe and secure with his strong arms around her. She felt certain that no harm could ever come to her while Legolas was holding her.

"I love you too." Ril whispered. She was finally happy in the arms of the man she loved. They were meant to be together, they were both sure of it.

~ ~ ~

When Legolas got back home he went straight to his father.

"Father, I cannot marry Princess Eärilmadith. I do not love her."

"My son, why do you say such things? I cannot just go and tell her father that his only daughter will not be married for a small thing like love."

"Father, love is no small thing!" said Legolas. He was getting annoyed at how his father could just wave off his feelings like that. "I am in love with another elf!"

"And who, may I ask, is the woman who has stolen your heart?"

"Her name is Ril, Ril-Gania."

"What?! A commoner? It will not be done!"

"And why not?" Legolas demanded.

"She is below you, she does not deserve you."

"If anyone is undeserving it is me! She is more beautiful than anything that I have ever seen! She loves all creatures and they love her back. She is gentle and kind, and most importantly she loves me back! She truly loves me! She doesn't love me for my wealth or my fame, she loves me!!"

The old king started to smile.

"I see, my son, that you have learned the true meaning of life."

Legolas stood shocked at his father's sudden attitude change.

"My son, you may wonder what has come over me. Listening to you describe this woman reminded me of how much I truly loved your mother. You never knew that she was once a commoner herself. We fell in love, but my father forbade me to marry her. It broke my heart. I fell into a deep depression and almost died. It was then that my father decided to let me marry her. He would have rather seen me marry a commoner than die of a broken heart. I do not want you to go through the same pain that I had to endure. I will send a message to Eärilmadith's father at once and tell him that the wedding is off. I wish happiness to you and Ril-Gania in your lives together."

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, Ril was having a harder time convincing her mother to break her engagement.

"But mother," she exclaimed, "I don't love Amend! I've never even met him!"

"I don't care. He's royalty and I want to live in luxury for the rest of my life. This will be the only kind thing you will do for me. I want to see you wealthy, and remember your poor mother."

"What's wrong with the man that I chose?" Ril demanded. She still hadn't told her mother that Legolas was a prince. She didn't want her love to be judged by how wealthy he was or what his social status was. She also hated the fact that her mother wanted her to marry into royalty for her own benefit. All Caleviel could think about was how the wedding would benefit her and how she didn't want to be poor anymore.

"What kind of man could you possibly choose? I don't want you to marry some poor man. You have to be able to repay me for all the pains you have cost me over the years!"

"Mother, whatever you say, I will marry the man I love, not some stupid prince that I've never met!" Ril shouted. With that she ran out of the house and into the forest for the peace and solitude that she always sought there.

~ ~ ~

After Ril ran away from home her mother stood at the doorway of the house. Who was the man her daughter had fallen in love with? She was determined to find out. She set out on an elf road to the nearest elf settlement. She saw many people there, and many knew Ril. They all told her how wonderful it was to see Ril so happy. She asked many people if they had seen Ril with a young man. They all answered the same, no. At the last house, though, the answer was different. The woman told Caleviel that she had seen Ril that morning with a handsome young elf. She said that they were in a passionate embrace and they were both smiling. She also noted that the young man looked familiar, though she couldn't figure out why. They had looked like they were truly in love. Caleviel thanked the woman for the information and started the long walk home. Finally, she thought, she had something to start with.

~ ~ ~

Word of Legolas's change of heart reached Eärilmadith quickly. When she heard that the engagement was broken she was furious.

"Who brings me this news?" she demanded. She was furious and she wanted to see some punishment right then. "Whoever it was will be killed, no one brings me bad news, no one." She silently swore to get revenge. She never gave up on anything, especially when she was angry.

~ ~ ~

Legolas was so happy about his father's decision that he felt like singing. He ran to Ril's house to tell her the good news, but when he got there the house was empty. He saw some footprints leading off into the forest and he decided to follow them.

~ ~ ~

When Ril had ran from her house, she didn't really care where she went, as long as it was away from her mother and her harsh words. She found a small clearing in the trees and sat down on a rock. It took her a moment to realize that this was where she had first met Legolas. The memory brought a small smile onto her face, but it quickly disappeared. She started sobbing again. This was how Legolas later found her.

"What can be wrong on such a beautiful day?" he asked while helping Ril to her feet. He had the greatest desire to take her in his arms and make all of her problems disappear, he wanted her to always be happy.

"My mother refuses to cancel the wedding."

"Would you like me to speak to her?" Legolas offered.

"No!" Ril cried. "I want her to accept you because I love you, not because you're a prince!"

"I understand, but at the same time how will we ever convince her to break off the engagement?"

"I do not know, but I promise you one thing, I will not marry Amend, no matter what my mother says."

"I love you Ril, but I do not want to be responsible for breaking up your family.

"My mother already hates me, what's one more thing for her to resent me for?"

"Why would your mother hate you? I could never imagine anyone being able to hate someone who is so kind and beautiful."

"I hate to burden you with my troubles."

"It is no burden, I would do anything to make you happy."

Ril took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She had never told anyone the truth about how awful her life at home was. Now, she figured, was the time.

"Okay, here it goes. Here's the story of my life."

~ ~ ~

Eärilmadith called out her most skilled hunters and trackers.

"We will go into Mirkwood Forest and find the woman who has stolen my future husband!" she exclaimed. "No one just tosses me aside! I will hurt him where he will feel it the most, I will hurt his love."

~ ~ ~

"As soon as I was born and my father found out that I was not a boy, he left Middle Earth by ship. He said that he had failed as an elf by not having a son born first. After he left my mother fell into a deep depression and almost died. She swore that she would never love again. Slowly she began to resent me because she truly believed that it was my fault that I was female. She blamed me for the loss of her true love. She now doesn't even believe in love. For many long years I believed her. I thought that she was right and I took all of her verbal abuse. I even blamed myself. I would see other young elves with their fathers and all I could think of was that it was my fault that I didn't have a father. I wanted one so bad that at times I felt that if I ran away like him I could find him. I tried once, but my mother caught me and told me that it was useless, he hated us because of me. It was then that I gave up my hunt for a father, and any happiness that one would bring. She was slowly turned into a hateful woman, and she blamed it all on me. She tried to drag me down with her. It was only when I met you that I realized that it wasn't my fault."

"What did I say to make you believe that?"

"Remember when we first met and you wanted me to tell you about being normal?"

"Yes, but." Legolas was confused. How could he change all those years of hurt and blame?

"I realized that I was normal. I wasn't different like my mother had told me. She told me that because I was different, everything was my fault. She told me that the reason I didn't have my father around was because I was different, I wasn't normal, or so she told me. When you said I was normal it was like a small light in my world of darkness, a small ray of hope. I was thinking to myself that maybe it wasn't my fault, maybe I had no control over what had happened to me. It's all about fate. It was then that I decided to stop blaming myself for things that were out of my control."

"Does anyone else know about any of this?" Legolas asked.

"Only my aunt, Eleclya. In fact, she is the only other person, besides you, that I have ever told my story to."

"I'm going to go talk to your mother." Legolas decided. "If telling your mother that I'm a prince and her only wanting you to be with me because of that is what it takes, then I'll do it."

"I love you Legolas." Ril said. "If you think that this is the only way for us to be together, then I will do it."

Legolas got down on one knee and looked up at Ril.

"Ril-Gania," he began, pulling something out of his pocket, "I love you more than anything else. I never imagined falling in love with someone so gentle, so kind, and so beautiful. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy and taking away all your sorrows. Will you make me the happiest elf alive and be my wife?" He opened his hand and revealed a gorgeous silver ring with a diamond in the middle and put it on Ril's finger. She gasped at the ring. It was silver with silver like threads running around it, much like Galadriel's ring, Nenya. It had a diamond from the Glittering Caves in the center that Gimli had given to Legolas as a parting gift. On the way to Ril's house Legolas had stopped by the royal jeweler and had him make it especially for Ril. Ril beamed at Legolas and kissed him before whispering in his ear.

"Yes."

Continue to Part 2