It was in a cozy morning of spring when it happened.

Thranduil woke up early that morning just to enjoy the beauty of the arising sun. He barely slept last night, truth to be told; thinking about the kingdom's safety was enough to put the Elvenking in exhaustion but unfornatually, not sleep.

For awhile in the middle of the night, Thranduil had thought of asking for Faeryn, however he did not do so, aware that the elleth herself had been more or less busy those days with the elves outside the palace and their living.

Thranduil had not seen her for four days already, and it was strange not having someone who he was so attached with. There were nights when the king could not sleep without the unpleasant dreams disturbing him and Faeryn would use her gifted magic of treatment to put him at ease.

Later there was a light knock on the door and Thranduil acknowledged immediately it was a servant who came to help him.

"My Lord... It's time to get ready..." A timid call came from the other side of the four feet tall door.

"Come in." Ordered Thranduil as he got away from the window and put on his robe. It was quite a disappointment of him that Faeryn had not come.

A small figure walked in, the blonde elleth strode quickly due to the shortness of her legs, hand carried a tray of new clothes and water.

The elleth was ridiculously familiar to Thranduil as he was watching her working.

"Say, elleth. Why do I see you familiar?"

"It's because you have seen me before, my Lord, when I was ordered to escort Lady Faeryn before your coronation." Answered the maiden elf in deep respect.

"So it was you. What are you called, elleth?" Asked Thranduil as he received the towel from her.

"Mireth is my name, my Lord." Nodded the Elvenking.

It was a brief moment of silence in his chamber before Thranduil asked Mireth the servant to leave. He wanted to ready himself today.

"Your duty ends here, elleth. You shall go and do something else."

Mireth's eyes grew big, obvious that she was afraid that she had done something wrong. "My Lord, I..."

"Do not be fear, elleth. I only wish to be left alone for today. You may dismiss yourself."

The maiden elf was stunned for a second but then quickly showed her way out without making any further protest, which surprised Thranduil as he was amused by her prompt change of mind.

As the elf called Mireth headed towards the door, she did not forget to bid her king her leaving. "As you wish, my Lord." And before the door was closed, came from the elleth another word that confused Thranduil for the whole day. "My excuse, my Lord, but you and Lady Faeryn are very alike."

~●☆●~

The mild wind was luring the trees and the sun was getting higher as the minutes slowly passed. Inside the second biggest room of the grand palace of Woodland Realm presented a dozen of fellow elves. No one was ever allowed to interrupt meetings like this, when the Members and the King would talk about the art of ruling one land.

As Thranduil made his way to the throne, the Members stood up and greeted him and when they sat down, the whispers roared. Many were about the problem with small groups of dark creatures and their weak attacks against the Realm for a several weeks now. Though nothing serious happened since their army had swept them off in mere effort, it could not persist for any time longer.

"My Lord, the kingdom's army has recovered fully from our major loss in the Battle of Dargolad." Informed Belton. Thranduil nodded with content, the dark creatures were getting close to Woodland Realm since mid-winter and he was worried.

Clearly, after the defeat of Sauron, the remainings of their allies had scathered everywhere and planned for their revenge. The poor state of Greenwood's military service was a rock to the way and Thranduil had done everything in order to rebuild it.

"And the dark creatures from the woods?" Concerned the king.

Anglor spoke up for Belton's silence, the elf was an influence, however, despite of his time being, Thranduil sensed lust. "The guards have not seen them since the last failed intrusion, my Lord, but we can't make sure that they won't be back." Anglor looked up to the mighty elf with somewhat respect and proposed. "Perhaps a quest to kill will due, my Lord?"

"I do not wish for anymore death, Anglor. Should you never underestimate your foe as not everything is what it is appeared to be." Looking disapprovingly, Thranduil brushed off the the proposal in mere consideration.

Nobody else said a word as all eyes of them were on the two elves. Anglor seemed to be displeased with the answer given and Thranduil showed no regret for claiming a king's authority.

He was no longer a prince like he used to be; as autumn to winter and winter to spring, there reflected Oropher's icon in Thranduil's figure and so, royal Silvan blood was running inside of the elf's vein, making his rights on the throne of Woodland.

"My Lord, I still think...-"

"That's the point, Anglor. You think but you do not know." Cut the elf off, Thranduil stood up from his chair. "You think I did not go patrol the woods? I saw the destruction they have caused and any decision made further will ensure the least casuality as might." He was now standing face to face with the elder elf.

The king and his high advisor looked the same age since elves were immortals; if you didn't know the thing already, hardly could one define the age gap between them.

As the young king looked down at Anglor, he snarled. "A small reminder that I fought them myself, Anglor."

Silent as Anglor could be, he sat down to his chair with suppressed anger visible as clear as day on his face.

"They are weakening. Without the power of darkness, they will not survive long enough to the day they can tear down one single brick of our walls." Said Thranduil, his voice echoed along the room, deep and determined.

The Elvenking looked at each face of the Members and studied them carefully just like how Oropher had tought him since his younger age. Some wore trust on their faces, in anothers' eyes there was doubt, however only in Anglor did Thranduil see the insubordinate.

In a swift moment, he had sat back on the throne as he assured the rest of the worrying Members. "Until the next full moon. That's when it stops. If not, we shall attack then."

Before Thranduil dismissed the conference, he made an engaged that might pay the king with his own pride.

"And in any case that we must fight, I then own Lord Anglor a public apology."