'You stupid mule! Come back here!'

The horse whinnied in response and with an almost condescending toss of its head galloped off to the far side of the field. The elleth stamped her foot in frustration and shoved some hair that had come lose from her bun back behind her ears. This was not happening to her! Not today of all days! Herenya, a royal servant of Eryn Galen, or better known in the darkening days in the Common tongue as Mirkwood, was an exceptionally talented rider. She'd initially been excited to fetch the Prince's horse's newly-arrived stallion and tack him up, eager to befriend him as she had done with all of Mirkwood's horses. However, it appeared that this particular beast had no intention of exchanging pleasantries, greeting her with a solid kick that she only narrowly dodged before dancing away just out of reach. This horse was evil.

'Get over here right now or I swear I'll feed you to the wolves. All they'll be able to find is your mangy tail!' She threatened violently. The horse paid no attention and began to gallop in a circle around her, thoroughly enjoying her rage.

'Oh this is amusing is it?' She demanded. The horse sent her a look that clearly said yes and she bit the inside of her mouth to avoid cursing. She feinted left to distract the arrogant animal and with a war cry she finally flung the rope over its head before it could react. Utterly astounded the horse looked down at the now gleeful elleth.

'There! That'll teach you to disrespect your betters!' Unluckily for the elleth, the rope had become tangled with her feet and with a sharp jerk of his head, the horse sent her falling ungainly into a large patch of wet mud. She screamed loudly as the horse's eyes glimmered triumphantly.

'Having a spot of trouble Herenya?' The speaker was leaning over the wooden fence trying desperately to contain a fit of giggles.

'Shut up Nesseldë,' Herenya said irritably looking up at her very clean and mud-less cousin and best friend. She got to her feet and forcibly pulled the horse in the direction of the stables. 'What are you doing here?'

'It appears our Prince has arrived back from his travels earlier than expected, and Nithron sent me for you, you as usual are late.'

A look of sheer panic befell Herenya's fair features and she leapt effortlessly up onto the horse and whispered fiercely in his ears.

'Hurry up beast or it'll be both our necks on the line!' The horse gulped and obeyed, galloping away at an immeasurable speed.

'Perhaps a change of gown would be useful!' Cried Nesseldë after her cousin's retreating back choking on mirthful laughter.

'Legolas it warms my heart to see you home safe my son.'

'Ai ada I am glad to be home,' Legolas replied with a genuine smile. His father embraced him and placed a kiss on his forehead in greeting. His son, Legolas Thranduillin had been away for nigh on a year on a diplomatic sojourn to Rivendell and had finally returned safely home to serve his duty once again. Thranduil glanced over his son's shoulder and his face fell ever so slightly before he could school it back into a welcome.

'And you've brought with you the sons of Elrond.' The twin peredhil, Elladan and Elrohir, wore identical looks of innocence whereas Lord Elrond's foster-son, the Man Aragorn grinned openly, for it was painfully obvious that Thrandruil had been sent into a panic by their arrival, recalling every single infamous prank that had been waged on his Kingdom as a result of these three troublemakers, with help from Legolas of course.

'Ai ada for the summer only I swear,' said the Prince with a laugh. King Thrandruil looked slightly more relieved and nodded to the twins and the Man.

'It is…good to see you three again.' All three bowed.

'We bring tidings from our father,' Elladan handed Thrandruil a scroll that he took with murmured thanks. 'There are issues concerning the prosperity and safety of both our lands that he would have us discuss with you.'

'Very well,' agreed Thrandruil. We shall speak once I have given my son his welcome home gift. Legolas, I have purchased you a new warhorse, a fine specimen, if he ever arrives.' Thrandruil scanned the gathered dignitaries and servants.

'Nithron? Where is the horse? I thought you had sent someone to tack him up?' Mirkwood's Master of the Horse, and a childhood friend of Legolas reluctantly stepped out of the crowd.

'Ai Your Grace, I sent one of my finest horse whisperers, but she appears to be somewhat delayed.'

Just as the King was about to reply Herenya skidded into the assembled party of elves, knocking some of them over in her haste, the reluctant black stallion digging its heels in as she tugged on the rope. One member of Thrandruil's council found himself sprawled on his bottom, and shot the servant girl a look of pure loathing which she was completely oblivious to. Seemingly not noticing the assembly of elves she turned around and hissed.

'Kept moving you brute!' She began to heave on the rope but the horse simply would not budge. 'Behave yourself or I swear by the Valar I will mount and stuff you!'

'I don't know if that's quite necessary,' broke in Thandruil's calm voice. Herenya's eyes widened comically as she released the rope and fell into her curtsey, Nithron diving immediately to grab the trailing rope that she'd abandoned.

'I am sorry Your Grace.' The newly arrived Lords of Rivendell and Prince Legolas looked upon this rather unusual and quite dishevelled elleth in obvious amusement.

'I apologise for the delay, Your Grace, My Prince,' Nithron interjected, elbowing Herenya out of his way as he tugged the horse forward for inspection. 'May I present to you, Saldir, a well-tempered, dependable and formidable beauty.' The horse seemingly gleamed at the praise and followed Nithron obediently. Under his breath the elf hissed at Herenya, 'step back in line you look a state.'

'You're the one who sent me after that god-forsaken animal! That horse is evil!' She screeched in return before clapping her hand comically over her mouth as she realised just how loud her retort had been.

The twins and Aragorn roared at her comment and actions and Legolas cast a brief surveying eye over her, smiling slightly. Thrandruil raised a terrifying eyebrow.

'I think its best we end this welcome and send you all about your duties,' the gathered elves either curtseyed or bowed and Herenya sighed in relief. With one last seething glance at Nithron, Herenya turned and stalked away, trying to appear proud despite the smear of mud across her buttocks.

'Come now Herenya, it wasn't that bad.' Said Daugon indulgently as the elleth before him paced backwards and forwards, making him slightly dizzy.

'Not that bad? I was humiliated infront of the King, the Prince and the sons of Elrond! Nithron is such a little sneak sometimes.' She cried, flopping dramatically onto the stone bench alongside him. They were outside in one of Mirkwood's secluded pretty courtyards, a stones throw away from the barracks where Herenya had found him immediately after her run in with Saldir, the troublesome horse. Daugon had quite willingly as always allowed Herenya to pull him away from his duties and was patiently listening to her rantings.

'You really do overreact fire-tongue,' he said humorously. 'Besides the twins and Aragorn seemed to find it quite amusing.' Herenya groaned. Daugon took the opportunity as she was sprawled unawares on the bench to study her carefully as he so often liked to do. Unlike any of the other elleths in Mirkwood, her hair was a russet brown, almost copper colour, that also gleamed like rich honey in the right light, and she had large soulful brown eyes. Mirkwood's elves were usually fair haired with blue, grey or green eyes. Her face was flawless as of all the Eldar, but there was something else in her comeliness that set her apart. She was warm and full of fire, in colouring and in her very nature, her passion, quick temper and vulnerabilities so unlike the contained, elegant elves she was descended from. She was also oddly petite, much shorter than the average elleth, but her figure was still delicious in the servant's gown she wore. Gossiping elleths who were jealous of her profound beauty and ability to so unknowingly attract male attention spread rumours that she was half-Elven, and descended from the Wild Men of Rohan, which was off course nonsense. She caught him staring at her and mistook his attention for mockery.

'You're just poking fun at me!' She cried sitting up and folding her arms indignantly. Daugon smiled. They had been friends since she first came to Mirkwood over a year ago to live with her cousin Nesseldë's family and to work in the palace. He had been part of the patrol group that had escorted her and other travellers from the dark and dangerous woods to the palace upon her arrival. Despite her obliviousness, a result of her inherent selfishness, she had no idea that he had been infatuated with her ever since.

'I wouldn't dare!' He exclaimed. 'I know what you're capable of when enraged!'

'I am just so embarrassed,' she grumbled. 'I had wanted to make a good impression on the Prince, to honour my family, and instead he must think of me as inelegant and unrefined as a wench in a tavern.' Daugon looked away from her to mask his irritation. Herenya had arrived in Mirkwood during the Prince's long absence and since Daugon had known her Legolas had long been a topic of conversation. Daugon, as one of Mikrwood's soldiers, had served under Legolas for a long time and knew him reasonably well, a fact that Herenya had latched onto. She wanted to know, what was he like, what were his interests, was he kind. Who did he favour in looks his mother or father? Legolas was understandably popular with the elleths of the kingdom and Daugon had been dreading his return. He was convinced that Herenya would swoon after the Crown Prince like so many before her and he himself would fade even more into obscurity than he already was.

'I best be leaving,' she said, changing the topic and getting to her feet. 'I have some washing to do thanks to that beast.' Daugon laughed at that, his good humour restored.

'Are you to help in the kitchens for tonight's banquet?' King Thrandruil had decided that a magnificent banquet was to take place to honour his son's return. For the servants, this meant serving the nobility and then heading to a merry making party until the early hours of the morning. She snorted ungracefully.

'No I'm not allowed anywhere near the kitchens remember?' Daugon smiled even wider as he remembered her first placement in the kitchens. She'd successfully managed to set the pantry on fire. After that she was quickly moved to a position in the Royal Household.

'Ah yes how could I forget.'

'I'll be serving wine in the Great Hall.'

'I'll look out for you.'

'Don't! She protested. 'If you distract me for even a moment I'm likely to throw it all over some noble guest!' She walked away from him, musing almost to herself. 'Although, if it were Lady Vanya that would be quite entertaining!'

'And not worth your life!' Daugon called after her and she threw him a blindly beautiful smile over her shoulder.

'I will see you tonight Daugon.'

Speaking of the Lady Vanya, Legolas found himself escorting said lady to the banquet at his father's request. She was daughter to one of his father's chief advisors whom he had half-heartedly courted before he left for Rivendell. She had been long-regarded as the most stunning of all the elleths in Mirkwood and due to her father's influence at Court, one of the richest. She had enchanted him with her wit, learning and barely restrained sensuality but Legolas had found something wanting once he had begun to know her character. She was a little too cold for his tastes, with no patience for pleasantries unless they served her purposes. However, she was an excellent companion and undeniably beautiful.

'My Prince, your absence has been most painful,' she murmured seductively as they walked to the grand hall, moving closer to him so that he could smell the intoxicating scent of her perfume. 'I am so thrilled that you have returned.' She gave him a dazzling smile that he returned.

'I am indeed glad to be home My Lady, and you if possible have grown even lovelier since I saw you last' he complimented, the courtly words sliding easily off his tongue. He had taken several lovers during his time away from home and was curious if she had any idea. If she did, she certainly didn't seem swayed from her objective. Her silver-blonde hair was piled atop her head in intricate patterns and adorned with blue gems matching the colour of her fashionable gown, low cut to show her rounded breasts. He met her grey-eyed gaze and could discern her ambitious desire for him and for his crown. His general attitude to such elf maidens was to bed them and then have done with it, yet Lady Vanya was much more persistent. His eyes roamed over her form again as they reached the doors to the hall and he felt his lust begin to rise against his better judgement.

Thankfully, his musings were interupted by the guards throwing open the doors and announcing them grandly. The Prince smiled at his subjects, Lady Vanya preening at his side, and he caught the eye of the twins. They wore smirks, which he knew was a dangerous sign of mischief afoot. His father was watching them suspiciously, and Legolas prayed reverently to the Valar to contain his Ada's temper at whatever the twins had in store for the festivities.

'Ah Legolas!' Said Aragorn as he approached, just behind the couple. Aragorn had bathed and tidied his facial hair after months on the road and looked much more like a proud Dunedin once more rather than a scruffy ranger.

'Well met Aragorn,' Legolas replied with a smile, temporarily forgetting the troublesome twins. 'Were your rooms to your liking?'

'Of course mellon, of course,' Aragorn turned to Lady Vanya and kissed her hand. 'My Lady you look truly mesmerizing.'

'Thank you Lord Aragorn,' she said with forced politeness. She cared little for humans; they were so beneath the elves that it puzzled her as to why Legolas continued to associate with them, this one in particular who was granted such privilege for no clear reason that she was aware of. Legolas noticed her tone and a slight frown marred his perfect features. Aragorn appeared not to have noticed and had left to greet some more old friends. Legolas led Lady Vanya to the table and then took his seat next to her and at the right hand of his father.

Once himself and his father had made the customary speeches, Legolas watched with ravenous hunger as the food was brought out from the kitchens on hot, steaming platters. A fortnight of traveling and surviving on lembas bread and the odd wild rabbit had left him desperate for some real food. He ate heartily, talking animatedly with his father and nobles around him. The twins and Aragorn sat on a table immediately below the Royal dais.

Several elleths served the halls, carrying huge jugs of Dorwinion. The Prince was surprised to see the pretty elleth from earlier who had so struggled with his new warhorse approach the sons of Elrond. He took a moment to look at her properly from his raised vantage point; she was certainly an improvement from earlier, with no patches of mud on her gown and straw in her hair. She wore a fitted red dress that highlighted her unusual colouring and he felt his pulse increase rapidly and something strange come over him as he took in the perfection of her face. It was as if he had been underwater, with a dull, distorted perception and had only now broken the surface into clear, bright, sunlight. He felt an overwhelming need to leap straight off the dais to her side and beg her to tell him her name. Nothing had ever seemed quite as important. He had to know her name. She kept her eyes firmly on the task at hand as she poured Elladan a glass and the twins exchanged smug glances thinking that this elleth was too enamored by them to speak. Legolas, in his newfound awareness of her, could immediately tell that she simply didn't want to spill the wine; she didn't strike him as the most graceful of elleths. A border guard whom Legolas knew as Daugon smiled up at her familiarly when it was his turn to receive a glass.

'I see they allowed you to carry the wine then.' She shot him a mock glare.

'Hush you, I could so easily lose my concentration and pour this all over you.' He grinned as she finished but before she could turn away he caught her wrist. His action made her spill a little onto the floor and she pouted adorably.

'Oh Daugon look what you made me do! I was doing so well!'

'Are you going to merry making afterwards?' He pressed. She sighed loudly, extricating herself from his grasp.

'Yes Daugon, if I don't spill too much of Thandruil's wine, I will see you there.' She moved on to her next table and the guard turned back to the other elves.

'Well those eyes could trap a man in bed for days,' remarked Elrohir with characteristic crassness. 'What is her name?'

'Herenya my Lord Elrohir,' he replied with a returning smirk. 'And yes she is charming.'

All eyes followed the unconscious swap of the elleth-in-question's hips as she disappeared back into the kitchens. Elrohir's look of mischief had increased tenfold.

'Daugon, I think we might join you at the merry making tonight.'