"Your eyes search for something, my lady?" Drashba stated as he rode on horse next to her carriage. Elwing was dousing in and out of sleep, Ariel wanted to wake her to tell her they had entered the Woodland Realm, and that their escape should be made soon.

"It has been a long time since I was called a lady..." She replied quietly.

Drashba was quiet after this, sensing something was on Ariel's mind. She thought whether or not their escape would be easily made, infact, she realized neither her nor Elwing had exactly though out how they would leave.

The carriages came to an abrupt halt, and Ariel was thrown against the edge of the carriage, hitting her head so hard she saw stars in her vision. Shakily touching her cranium, she felt warm blood ooze from her silky hair. Outside she heard yells and commotion, but she was too occupied in keeping her consciousness to care. For a few minutes she sat there attempting to focus, but she drifted in and out of reality.

"Ariel! Run, girl! You must run!" Drashba yelled as he pushed open the thin curtains, his sword was dripping with dark blood, his eyes held fear like she had never seen before.

"Why!? What is happening? She said, suddenly coming back to complete consciousness. Sensing danger, Elwing aroused from her deep sleep, looking at Drashba in shock as if he were a troll.

"We are being attacked by orcs, there are too many to count. Ride into the forest, stop for no one." He said hurriedly as he began to pull her thin body out of the carriage.

Looking around, Ariel saw a sight like no other. In the distance she could see orcs riding balrogs like common horses, at least 30 of them. In comparison to the dozen men who guarded Bagul's party, they were like an army. Elwing was stumbling after Ariel, grabbing what little possessions they had. She looked around herself as the guards scrambled around trying to find a formation that they could fight in, but they knew their deaths awaited them.

"Here, take my horse. Ride to the forest, there is an Elvin city about 2 days ride from here, follow the North Star and you shall reach safety." He said quickly as he helped Ariel into the saddle, she looked over and saw Elwing hoisting herself into the saddle. Ariel's heart dropped to her stomach as she watched her sister ride off into the forest, not even glancing back to see if Ariel was okay. It was then that Ariel realized her 'friend' would have done anything to save herself, not even thinking twice about the girl she called her sister.

"No! I will not leave with out you!" She said, attempting to pull Drashba up onto the horse with her.

"I shall join you, save yourself!" He said, for a moment they wasted a spare second, he grabbed head hard and kissed her, a smile graced both of their lips and they were locked in a temporarily intimate embrace, "Thank you." He said, in that instant, Ariel realized she had given Drashba his last kiss, knowing he would die this day, knowing she would never again see his handsome face.

He slapped the horses behind hard, making it neigh and canter off in the direction of the forest, for a few minutes she rode in the direction of the looming forests of The Woodland Realm, aware that she was out of harms way temporarily, she looked back upon the hill where she came from, locking eyes with Drashba as he gave her a look she would never forget. In his temporary distraction, an arrow shot through the middle of his head, killing him instantly.

"No!" Ariel screamed, tears streaming down her face. Her horse continued to canter into the forest.

Hours later, her heart rate began to finally calm down, her head grew dizzy, her eyes weak. The blood from her previous head wound had slowly begun to stop bleeding, but that did not stop the weakness in her limbs. The horse continued to canter, in what direction she knew not, but as long as it was away from the blood bath she had just encountered, she was content. Gradually, time began to slow, she was aware that the forest grew dark, and the moon shone down through the trees, she attempted to focus her vision on anything, but all she saw was a watery blurriness. Sometime after midnight, the horse collapsed from exhaustion, causing Ariel to stumble forward. Darkness consumed her vision, and she was left alone to her usual nightmares….

Hours or days passed, Ariel knew not. Only that when she came back from a deep sleep, she expected to wakeup in a soft bed with a pretty elleth nursing her wounds. To her dismay, she wakeup on a bed of grass with the soft sounds of a stream nearby. Her head pounded with pain as she sat up, the forest was undeniably beautiful. She remembered a long forgotten memory of Legolas teaching her how to use a bow and arrow in forests' similar to these. She crawled over to the small stream and scooped up a handful of water, a smile crossed her face as the cool drink eased her sore throat. Stripping off her clothes, she layed in the stream cleansing her body of dirt and blood, she felt refreshed and new, like she had all the energy in the world. She began to sing a long forgotten song, combing her fingers through her newly cleaned hair. She tried to remember the events of the past 36 hours, but it was muddled and blurry. She remembered her anger at Elwing leaving her, and Drashba's eyes and he died. But all else she forgot. Where was she again? How did she get here? She vaguely remembered Drashba mentioning something about following the North Star…

Ariel shivered as she put her clothes back on, her short red gauzy dress was hardly appropriate for anything outside the bedroom. She applied the anubra she always wore; thick silver chains with bells on them, which adorned her waist and ankles.

Ariel looked around the small clearing, all around her was dense forest, remembering the stories of giant spiders her mother used to tell her, Ariel hurriedly went North, not knowing where she was going, only that it was imperative she followed the bright star. In her delirium from shock and head trauma, she stumbled through the forest; her feet quickly became bloodied and bruised. Lack of food made her paranoid, she thought she heard noises, snapping twigs and the swaying of the trees at night made her jumpy. By the end of the 2nd day, she collapsed near a large oak tree, unable to sleep. She sat there in a catatonic state for hours, she was sure if anyone were to see her in this state, they would think her dead. She was numb, drained, completely and utterly shocked from the trauma she had endured. When the sun finally began to rise on the morning of the 3rd day, Ariel pushed herself up from the ground and continued on her trek. Slowly, the trees became less and less dense, until finally, she stumbled upon a large dirt road. She looked around, making sure there were no bands of orcs, and ran as fast as she could in the Northerly direction. The first cart she passed was older male traveling in the direction she came, startled, he turned around and gaped at her in shock.

"You are dressed strangely, girl. Surely you are not from these parts?" the elderly man stated, Ariel remained silent in shock, "Ah but you are. An elf. I travel to Mirkwood to sell my product, would you care to join my wife and I?" He said, motioning to his companion, who wore the same expression of disbelief.

"Mirkwood? You are going to Mirkwood? How far?" Ariel said, not realizing how rude she sounded.

"We aren't far now, dear. Only about a league or two. A girl as beautiful as you shouldn't be wondering these roads alone, never know what sort of folk you make come across," his wife stated, "My name is Bethel, please, join us."

"No. I will walk next to you, Im not going anywhere near your cart." Ariel said suspiciously, remembering this was the very road she was stolen from. The elderly couple looked at Ariel as if she had gone mad.

"Very well, dear." Bethel said, the horse took off slowly and Ariel cautiously stumbled behind the couple. Every few minutes they would look behind at her in a disapproving and pitying manner, Ariel brushed these their looks off, realizing she would soon be seeing her father again. Her heart beat like a drum, and she felt herself adjusting her hair and dress.

"Pray tell, what brings you to Mirkwood?" Bethel asked, attempting to make small talk.

"I am returning to my father… I have been gone a long time. I was lost, but then I found the road." Ariel said quietly, looking in the distance she could see the great city of Mirkwood. The glistening towers, and the deep caves Thranduil built his castle. She could see the hill in the background, which was used for guard training, she knew that below it lay the magnificent halls she once called home. At the sight she had longed for the past 20 years, Ariel took off in a dead sprint towards her home, her freedom and her love.

"You there! Where is general Calanon? I must speak with him urgently!" She yelled, she grabbed the first elf she saw at the busy gates of Mirkwood, few people stopped and stared at her outburst. She realized she must look utterly mad, dressed in barely there clothing and foreign jewelry.

"The General will be training up on the hill, milady." A young elleth said.

Ariel didn't even say thank you, instead she began running in the direction of the training grounds. It seemed as if all the people in the street spread to make way for her running form, she thought she recognized a face or two, but she didn't have the time to stop and chat. She needed to see her Father; she needed to know he was still safe. Ignoring the pain in her body and the heaviness in her chest, Ariel continued pushing up the hill, she used the old dirty steps on the side.

When she finally reached the top of the flat hill, she was in a flurry. Her heart was beating out of her chest, looking around, she saw 200 men training in hand in hand combat or practicing their archery. At the end of the hill, a large tent was set up, it looked as if there were a meeting going on, she could see the back of her Father's head pointing to maps, motioning at the others to look.

It seemed as if time slowly down as Ariel walked towards the tent. The wind hit her beautiful silken hair and the wind picked up, her red dress clung to her body and her hips swayed, the soldiers around her stopped their fighting and stared in awe.

"She looks like one of the Valar…" she heard someone whisper.

Her jewelry made the cling of small bells, and a smile graced her full lips.

Her father, sensing the soldiers' distraction, turned and looked to see what was keeping them from their training. A tall woman stood behind him, tears filled her yellow green colored eyes and she had the most joyous expression on her face. Her hair was in long silken tresses down to her waist, her face was utter perfection, even Lúthien would look dull in comparison to her.

The clothes she wore were like none other he had seen, bells on her waist and a dress made of a skimpy material.

"Who are you?" Calanon asked, unsure as to whom this beautiful girl was.

"Adar…. Adar, it is I. Ariel." When she spoke, it sounded like sunshine epitomized, "I have returned Father."

His heart dropped to his stomach and he saw in her the face of her mother, Bellasiel. In that instant they ran at each other, tears streaming down both of their faces. They embraced, both happiness and sorrow filled their hearts,

"You were dead. We thought you to be dead, my dear daughter, forgive me." Calanon cried, swinging his daughter around in circles, "Thranduil, it is Ariel."

Calanon turned so Ariel could see the rest of the group he was conferring with, there at the head of the table sat Thranduil, still as regal and as unchanged as if she had seen him yesterday. He got up, grabbing the arm of the man next to him. Ariel looked to see a very tall young man stare back at her in awe. For the umpteenth time that day, she felt her heart drop to her stomach. Time slowed down as her emerald green eyes stared at Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood. The man she had been dreaming about for the past 20 years. His expression was one of shock and grief, moving away from her father, both Legolas and Ariel walked towards each other slowly. Neither broke eye contact, when they were mere inches away from each other, Legolas put his finger under Ariel's chin. He grabbed her hand and placed a passionate kiss on her forehead, never letting her go. Both Calanon and Thranduil were in shock at the intimate embrace they shared.

"Swear to me you will never leave again." He said low enough for only them to hear.

"I swear it." She whispered back, thanking the Valar their paths had crossed again… Little did Ariel know the remainder of their immortal lives would be spent in this inevitable dance of here and gone, pain and joy…