Chapter Text
The first rays of sunlight of a new day fell over the large forest, which was still called Greenwood at that time. To an outsider it might have seemed an ordinary day, but one only had to enter the forest to sense that something was different.
For it was completely silent, no rustling of leaves broke the peace, and no other noise either. It seemed as if the whole surrounding area was holding its breath. No animal was to be seen that day, following the elven path, which after many miles led into the elven city. More precisely, to Thranduil's halls. In front of these halls stood thousands and thousands of elves and animals. They all seemed to be waiting for something particular.
Suddenly a cry rang out through the droning silence, but it was not a cry of pain or sorrow. It was a cry of life and freedom. A cry of a small creature that had finally come to Middle Earth.
Now all the animals and elves, or rather Thranduil's people, had broken out into a murmur. They all could not wait to see this new creature that now wandered with them on Arda, for this was a unique gift that the Queen, Ithilwen, had given to the great Greenwood and its inhabitants. An heir, in other words.
From that moment on, the line of the kings of the Woodland realm was safe again, for whether it was a he elf or a she elf did not matter. The elves in the Greenwood hardly recognised any difference between these two sexes.
Suddenly the gate that had prevented the people from entering the great castle where the noble family had lived for centuries opened. Out stepped a blond elf wearing a noble robe. The elf also wore a crown full of flowers, for it was spring, the time of new life, and the king, as the elf was truly the king, was in the habit of decorating his crown according to the seasons.
The king, who bore the name Thranduil, had a small creature in his arms. This creature moved a litte, but did not make a sound. Those present could not yet see it because it was wrapped in a white cloth. After the king stood only a few metres from the rest his people, he lifted the little elf up towards the sky and pushed the little cloth off its head.
Thranduil looked so proud and invincible that the people looked up at the two of them in awe. The little creature he held up had long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. This was not unusual for an Elf of the Greenwood, as the Elves who lived there nearly all only had blond, long hair, with green or blue eyes.
"Greet now with us",
the king solemnly began.
"My daughter, the daughter of the forest and the heir to the throne, Arien Thranduiliel, embraced by the sunlight."
At that very moment, as Thranduil spoke these words, a ray of sunlight fell directly on the little Elbling and at that very moment it was seen that this child would one day become a queen like Arda had never seen. That she would bring home honour and glory and that she was the fighter that all the people had hoped for.
At this sight, a cold shiver ran down the spines of all the elves and they all bowed to their future queen. All at once the little child began to laugh. It was such a hearty laugh that was only known from her mother. At her laughter, all the flowers around her opened their blossoms and a sea of flowers appeared around her. Then she looked around, her eyes still slightly squinted at the bright light.
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After one hundred and fifty years, the queen gave birth to her second and last child. At this time, Arien was at an age that humans would perhaps estimate as five. For, it must be said, the older Elves get, the less they age, until finally, at about five hundred years they cease to age at all.
Now, this second child was a boy, and his name was Legolas. The translation of his name is 'Green Leaf' and that was because he was born at the beginning of spring. Where the leaves are colored with sharp shades of green.
Also, his name came from the fact that his eyes were piercing green shortly after he was born. Then, when his father had brought him to be welcomed by the people and Legolas discovered the sky for the first time in his still short life, his eyes turned a piercing blue, like his father's. Thranduil knew then that it would have an important role, just like his daughter, in the history of Middle-earth and pride filled his heart.
The children of the king and queen grew up happily, even if their parents were not always around to care for them, for they still had to fulfill their duties as rulers of the Greenwood. After some time, however, war broke out. The dark land of Angmar in the north became restless and prepared for war.
At this point, from a human's point of view, Arien was about sixteen winters old and Legolas was fourteen. At some point the kingdoms of the North decided to put an end to the evil, and the king and queen went to war with their grand forces.
After a while, Arien began to understand that there was a war raging, even though no one told her about it because they were afraid the crown princess would do something stupid. But secrecy was of no use in the end. Arien decided that she would not stand by and watch hundreds of elves enter the halls of Mandor without being able to do anything about it. Therefore, she waited until the army was far away enough to then follow them secretly at night.
Just before she left, Legolas said goodbye to her. He tried desperately to stop his sister from going, but Arien, despite her brother's pleading, said goodbye with the words,
"Novaer, gwandor". (Goodbye, brother)
Her little brother looked at her long and sadly and finally said goodbye too.
"Lend vaer ar Galu vaer". (Take care and good luck)
Then he turned and sadly walked towards the castle with his head down so that his blond hair fell in sight of his eyes. Arien watched him for a while, struggling internally to decide whether she should stay, but then she shook her head and mounted her horse before silently disappearing into the cool summer night.