A/N: It has been so very long since I last updated. And well, frankly I just didn't have any energy to write. The last months of school have been so exhausting and every day when I got home in the evening I just felt like I would immediately fall asleep, though that never happened since I had homework to do. But in the end my efforts have borne fruit and I will finish the school with straight A-s. Anyways, now that the exam period has begun, I found that as weird as it would seem, I have quite a bit more free time. Therefore, I have decided to finally finish this story and not postpone the updating any longer.

And after all this time, here is the 22nd chapter. Enjoy!

Namiriel woke at a knock on her door.

"Yes," she said, rubbing her eyes and sitting up in her bed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, milady, I thought you had already wakened," Sídhel said, entering the room. "I can return later, if you wish."

"No, it is all right," Namiriel answered, looking out of the window. The sun had already risen into the sky and filled the valley with its light. "I should have been up hours ago already."

"But that would have meant that you got no sleep at all, milady," her handmaiden said and put a pile of clothes on the bed. "I brought your riding outfit."

"Thank you, Sídhel." Namiriel poured some clear cold water into the bowl and washed her face, letting water flow down her neck to the shoulders. "You know, you could come with me," she said, patting herself dry with a towel.

"Come with you to the Woodland Realm?" Sídhel asked with astonishment, handing Namiriel her undergarments so she could get dressed.

"Yes," Namiriel answered, stepping behind a dressing screen.

"No, milady… This I could not do. I have no wish to leave Imladris."

"Why not?" Namiriel asked, throwing her nightgown over the screen. "I would very much like to have a familiar face around."

"Do you still consider the King unfamiliar?" Sídhel took her nightgown and folded it neatly.

"No, of course not, but besides him I don't really know anyone." Namiriel popped out her head from behind the screen. "And I would like to have a good handmaiden, especially since - as much as I gathered from Thranduil last night - in the beginning I would have to attend several banquets and other events. And it is most important for me to leave a consummate first impression."

Sídhel smiled. "I am very glad that you think so well of me, but I'm certain the King will find you the best handmaiden in his realm."

"I don't need the best," Namiriel answered, coming out and pulling a beige tunic over her head. "I need you."

"You flatter me so, milady, but still I can't come with you." She let Namiriel sit on a chair in front of a mirror and began combing her hair. "I belong here, in Imladris. It is my home and I could not bear leaving it. I'm sure you will do wonderful in the Woodland Realm and I wish you all the best, but there is no place for me in the Elvenking's halls."

"Then I am sad to know that today will mark the day of our farewell." The sorrow was apparent in Namiriel's voice.

"Not all farewells must be sad, milady. Rejoice, for you today will be the beginning of your life with a man you love. And we will see again. You'll come back to visit, will you not?"

Namiriel had not really thought about the visiting part. Of course she would like to visit her friends and family as often as possible, but somehow she doubted she would have much chance to do that. Especially since Greenwood the Great lay behind the Misty Mountains and the road over them was dangerous. "I suppose I will," Namiriel weakly answered to her handmaiden.

"Wonderful," Sídhel said, not paying attention to Namiriel's doleful tone of voice.

Namiriel rose from the chair and Sídhel helped her put on a long bluish-green coat and lace up her riding boots.

"That is all, I think," Namiriel said, looking around in her room and at the bags Sídhel had already previously packed.

"Not quite. There is still something I wish to give you before you leave," her handmaiden answered and pulled out a short dagger from under her dress. "That is for you, milady, just to be on the safe side."

"But Sídhel, I…," Namiriel stuttered, "I appreciate the thought, but I don't think I will need it."

"I hope you won't, milady, but I wouldn't want to take any chances. You don't know, what the Wood-Elven folk thinks of you, especially because of your Ñoldorin heritage, and even if they mean you no harm, there are many more dangers out there."

"I can't believe you are suggesting the Silvan Elves might wish for any harm to fall upon me," Namiriel answered aggrievedly. "And for any other dangers I always carry my bow."

"You can't always take your bow with you, but this dagger you can attach with a strap around your thigh and no one will notice it. Please, milady, don't be foolish. It is always better to be safe than sorry." Sídhel's tone was serious and concerned.

"Very well, Sídhel," Namiriel answered with a sigh. "I will take it, if that is what you want, though I couldn't possibly imagine that I could find any use for it." She took the dagger from Sídhel's hands.

"I honestly hope there won't be any use for it, but remember to always have it with you, especially in the beginning," Sídhel spoke sternly. Namiriel pulled the blade from its sheath. It was a fine dagger - silvery, with several engravings on its handle and a blue stone on its pommel. Its sheath was covered with a dark blue cloth, similar in color to the stone and soft like satin.

"It is a beautiful blade," Namiriel said. "And thank you, Sídhel, for your concern about me."

"It is my duty," she responded, gently touching Namiriel's shoulder. "And please, if only for my peace of mind, keep it with you at all times." She again repeated her words and left the room with a slight nod of her head.

Namiriel once more examined the dagger in her hands and then attached it onto her tunic, so it would remain hidden under her coat but would be easily accessible if need should arise. She then picked up her bags from the corner near the door and took a last look at her room. She wouldn't be coming back here for a while.

There were quite many people in the stables when Namiriel arrived, though only about half of them were the Wood-Elves getting ready for departure. Some Elves had just returned from a hunting trip and stable-boys were tending to the horses that had just arrived as well as those that would soon depart. Some younger and more curious Elves had just come to see what all the bustling was about and a few were saying their farewells to their departing friends. Despite the unusual crowd in the stables, Namiriel moved easily between people and by the time she reached Súletál's stall, she almost began to wonder if everyone was deliberately moving out of her way.

Súletál was, as always, delighted to see her. With a frown Namiriel noticed that he had already been saddled. As she approached him to attach her bags to the saddle, Súletál nudged her slightly with his nose and looked intently at his saddle strap, gesturing her to loosen it a little, for he found it to be too tight. After Namiriel had done so, he neighed cheerfully and continued chewing fresh hay.

"Good morning," a voice sounded from behind her.

Namiriel turned. "It is a fine morning indeed," she answered and Thranduil gave her a soft kiss.

"Ready for the journey, I see." He eyed at her two saddle bags. "Somehow I thought you would bring more things with you."

"I am used to travelling lightly," Namiriel responded. "By the way, did you ask someone to saddle Súletál?"

"Yes, I did. Why do you ask?"

She sighed and ruffled Súletál's mane. "He is a bit… touchy about people getting close to him."

"Yes," Thranduil smiled. "I might have overheard two of the stable-boys talking this morning about Súletál having bitten one of them."

Namiriel nodded and grimaced slightly. "He might do that when the saddle is too tight. Anyhow, it would probably be best if I would tend to him."

Thranduil laughed. "On any other occasion I would disagree with you, but I think stable-boys would be glad to hear of it." He gently touched Súletál's nose. The horse curiously sniffed his hand but then, as he found nothing edible in it, went back to munching his hay.

"Are you ready?" Thranduil asked.

"Yes, in a moment." Namiriel took her bow from a shelf and strapped a quiver over her shoulder. "I'm ready."

They led their horses to the courtyard where many other residents of Imladris were already saying their farewells to the leaving Wood-Elves.

Celebrían took Namiriel into her embrace as soon as she saw her.

"Oh, my dear child. Up until this moment there remained hope in me that you would stay." She sobbed slightly while speaking.

"Please do not weep, mother," Namiriel answered. "For I am not sad that I must leave. After all, you are going to see me again soon. If not before, then in our wedding in the next summer."

"I know," Celebrían spoke. "And though now I cry, I am happy for you in my heart."

Namiriel nodded. Only now was this all beginning to seem real to her, as if she had been living in a dream her whole life.

As Celebrían let her go, she immediately felt her sister putting her hands on Namiriel's shoulders. Arwen looked at her for a moment with her bright grey eyes and then hugged Namiriel.

"We will meet again soon," Namiriel whispered.

"I know," Arwen chuckled. "But still it seems so final now. I wish you all the happiness in the world and also all the patience, for I feel you might need it."

"Thank you, Arwen. For everything." Namiriel gently squeezed her hands.

After Namiriel had let go of her sister, Elrond gave her his best wishes for the journey. "May your road be safe and the horses swift," he said. "And be patient with the woodland folk. They are slow to trust those that have not born and grown under the trees." Namiriel nodded in answer and slowly walked to her horse.

Thranduil spoke a few final words with Elrond and then he also joined the company. Namiriel looked around, noticing that Elladan and Elrohir were nowhere to be found. She found it quite peculiar since the brothers were rarely absent from events involving their family. She woke from her thought as Thranduil looked at her with a questioning look. Namiriel shook her head in acknowledgement that everything was fine and mounted Súletál. Thranduil then gestured the company to move out and one after another the horses walked out of the courtyard and towards the road out of the valley. But right as they were riding through the gates, in stormed two tall riders on white horses.

"Namiriel!" One of them exclaimed.

"Oh, brothers! I already thought I wasn't going to see you," Namiriel answered happily and climbed off her horse.

"We weren't about to let you leave without properly saying our farewells," Elrohir said. Both of them had dismounted as well. Namiriel ran to her brothers and gave them a big hug.

"Stay safe out there, sister," Elladan said.

"We'll come and visit when we can," Elrohir added cheerfully.

"You are always welcome in Greenwood," Thranduil answered. Namiriel nodded eagerly and climbed back up on her horse.

"Fair travels!" The brothers waved as the company began moving down the narrow road.

They trotted down the road and Imladris seemed smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing from the view. Namiriel watched the city disappear into the distance as they left the valley and turned towards the road to High Pass. When they got to a bigger road, the riders quickened their horses to make it to the foot of the mountains by nightfall. From there, if the weather would hold, it would take another day to cross the Misty Mountains.

Thranduil led his horse beside Namiriel. "You are so very quiet. Do you regret having left?"

Namiriel looked at him and smiled a bit forcefully. "No, I do not regret anything. Quite the contrary, I look forward to the journey and seeing the Woodland Realm. Still I am concerned about the road ahead. The High Pass is not known to be a safe road to travel. Not only Orcs lurk in these regions."

Thranduil gently touched her hand. "You needn't worry about the Orcs. I have sent scouts ahead - they will inform us if anything unfriendly moves near the road. And as for other dangers, they are only troublesome if one travels alone or with a small group. Though there are not many of us, I do not believe anyone would dare trying to stop the company of a King. Many times have I journeyed down this road and word travels fast among foul creatures. Rest assured you are safe as long as you stay with the company."

And as Thranduil said, no creature troubled them this day and in the night. Not even the day after, when the company was traveling across the mountains, did they hear or see anyone near the road. One could have even said it was too quiet, if it hadn't been for some birdsong or an occasional wandering squirrel running off the road as it saw horses approaching. Namiriel had never before seen so many wild beasts in the mountains. It was as if they somehow sensed the safety of being near the Elves. She even thought that she saw a few rabbits silently following them, close enough to be at a seeing distance, and yet too far to be hit by a bowshot. When she told about it to Thranduil, he only shrugged and said that he would have his guards chase them away if she wanted. That Namiriel of course did not wish and therefore she did not raise the subject again. Nevertheless, she could have sworn she had seen that one squirrel already thrice that day.

On the evening of the third day the company decided to make camp a bit away from the road near the shore of the river Anduin. The Elves' camp was very simple and there were no big and fancy tents, although this was the company of the King. Around a bonfire there were only the bedrolls, and overhead they had set up a large cloth, its corners tied to the tree branches, to protect the sleepers from rain. A bit further away there was a makeshift paddock for the horses. One scout had returned to the group with a freshly killed deer, which was now being cooked above the fire. Namiriel was quite amazed by the efficiency of the group. Everyone knew exactly what had to be done and the whole camp had been set up in less than an hour. Namiriel herself stayed away from all the hustle, thinking that she would be more in the way than of help.

She wandered some way away from the camp, towards the river. The air was much warmer here than it had been up in the mountains. The crickets sang in the cool evening and some birds were chirping in the distance. Soon she reached the river bank. The water was flowing quite slowly here and further upstream she could see the Old Ford, where the river was shallow enough to cross. She took off her boots and walked barefoot on the shore. The water was cool and clear around her feet. The camp was already quite far away, though she could still see the bonfire flicker through the trees. Aside from that there seemed to be not a soul nearby. Only the sounds of running water and the chirping of some birds filled the air. Quietly she took off her clothes and lay them on a larger rock. She then walked deeper into the water, tying up her hair as she went. Her muscles relaxed thankfully as water splashed around them, making her feel quite refreshed after three full days of horse riding. She threw some water on her face, and enjoyed the moment of being alone. Suddenly, she heard some steps on the shore. Namiriel turned around quickly, wrapping her arms around her, though she relaxed immediately as she saw who it was. Thranduil was standing on the bank with a towel.

"How did you know where to find me?" she asked.

"One of my guards saw you leaving the camp and kept an eye on you," Thranduil answered simply. Only now Namiriel noticed a movement on a treetop – she could recognize a figure, its clothing similar in color to the leaves, making it blend into the nature. She was not sure if she should be thankful that the guard had worried about her safety or embarrassed, because right now she realized she was not wearing a thing. Thranduil continued with a slight raise of his eyebrows: "Nevertheless, I deemed water a bit too cold for bathing at this time of the year."

"Luckily I am quite used to the cold water coming down from the mountains. Though now that you mention it, I would like to come out." Namiriel glimpsed again at the Elf in the treetops. Thranduil probably understood her thoughts as he made a slight gesture with his hand and the figure turned around and moved back towards the camp. Only then did Namiriel begin walking out of the water. Thranduil held the towel open in front of him and politely turned away his head, closing his eyes. Namiriel neatly wrapped the towel around her and then placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"You can open your eyes now," she whispered with a smile. After Thranduil complied, she laughed. "I thought you'd have liked to enjoy the view, though."

"Oh, I will have enough time to enjoy it once we're married," he answered with a sly smile and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders to keep her warm. "Come, let us head back to the camp. The dinner is ready."

The next morning no one commented on Namiriel's walk the night before or the fact that she had returned with Thranduil and worn nothing but a towel and the King's cloak. But as they were setting off on the road again, one of the guards approached Namiriel. Only when she came closer did Namiriel notice that it was a woman – men and women had almost identical clothing and she had paid little attention to the guards before. The guard bowed slightly and said: "I must apologize for following you last night without saying anything, milady. The king appointed me to personally make sure no harm falls upon you and therefore I found it important not to let you wander away from camp on your own. If you wish so, I shall not follow you again."

Namiriel remained speechless for a moment to get her head around two facts: firstly, Thranduil had appointed her a personal guard without telling her and secondly, it was the first time during the journey that any of the Silvan Elves directly approached and spoke to her. Of course, she had exchanged a few short sentences with several of them during horse riding, but the Elves had remained quite curt when speaking with her. "It is alright," she finally answered. "But next time, instead of silently following me, I would appreciate some company on my walk."

The Elf seemed quite taken aback by her statement and only nodded and said: "Of course, milady."

"Good. I would like to get to know you better, since you are now my personal guard and all," Namiriel added.

"What would you like to know, milady?" The guard seemed a bit tense, probably not having expected this kind of course of events. But Namiriel tried not to let herself get annoyed by that and instead kept herself calm and amicable, since this was the only way she was ever going to get the Wood-Elves to place more trust in her. "Perhaps you could start with your name," she said.

"My father named me Nínimeth, but everyone calls me Esgalwathel, because I am good at being unseen and moving silently in the shadows." The guard spoke slowly and silently, choosing her words.

"And I am Namiriel," she answered. "Ni veren an le ngovaned."

Esgalwathel nodded and Namiriel decided to leave this conversation at that for the time being. It was usually best not to force oneself upon anyone.

The company continued their journey over the river and down the road. From the distance a dark border between the ground and the sky began to appear – the trees at the edge of the Greenwood. Slowly, but steadily the forest drew closer. Everyone was quite silent during the ride, only Thranduil exchanged a few words once in a while with Namiriel. But her eyes – wide and curious - were fixed on the border of the woods.

"I have never been so close to the Greenwood before. Already now the trees look giant and ancient and we still have an hour to go until we reach the borders of the forest," she said to Thranduil.

"The Greenwood is very old," he answered. "It was old already when the first Elves settled in these parts and I believe this forest will remain long after the last of the Eldar have left overseas. And though I might be the King of Greenwood, even after all these years many secrets of this forest still remain hidden to me."

Namiriel could already separate different trees in the forest. Large oaks towered over beeches, their trunks covered with ivy. The road seemed to disappear completely between the trees, getting narrower as they approached the forest.

Soon they turned off the main road and went southwards following a small trail. The trees were towering high upon their heads when the company stopped at the border of the forest, where no road seemed to go between the ancient roots. Namiriel felt as if the forest ahead was alive, a living, breathing organism with a mind of its own. Every little insect or bird was one with the whole. Everything in this forest seemed to be in balance.

Thranduil gently touched her hand and brought her out of her thoughts. He smiled reassuringly, probably sensing the overwhelming amazement that filled her. Then he led his horse towards the forest and as he went further the trees seemed to pull away their branches and move their roots to clear the way in front of their King. It looked like an old and majestic dance, full of bows and curtseys. As the trees moved, they revealed a small road, hidden to any common wanderer that would pass. One after another the Elves went into the forest and as Namiriel saw them enter, she could sense their joy of arriving home. She was the last to linger on the tree border, gathering herself to go forward. Súletál already neighed out of anticipation.

Namiriel took a deep breath and entered the green kingdom.

Ni veren an le ngovaned – I am happy to meet you

A/N: Recently I received quite an angry review about I quote: "being too f***ing lazy" and not having posted a chapter for a long time. Therefore, I would like to apologize in front of all of you, since I feel like I have failed you as a writer. Me saying sorry a thousand times would probably not help. The only thing I could do is finish writing this story and as I've said that is what I intend to do. While walking home from training or being bored in biology class I have set myself a chapter-by-chapter schedule, which means that now at least I know where the story is going and how much I still have to write. I have made myself a plan and I intend to fill it.