He was and would ever be the most glorious she knew. It was love at first sight. The world stopped revolving around what she had always known of and instead, the Elvenking became the obvious centre of the orbitation.

There he was, tall and strong as he stood above them all in his magnificiently made turso by the hand of the most skilled tailors. His beautiful eyes looked at her in awe; the princess was utterly pleased by her bless of beauty. How much she wanted to be a part of his life, Aerondess felt her heart beated in melody imaging the life ahead. Since young age, the royal elleth had heard many stories about the Great King Oropher and his son; and now as Thranduil had taken after his father's step to the throne, Aerondess' admiration and idolization for the young king had become obvious.

Princess Aerondess smiled confidently as she was aware that she was in the limelight. While making her way along the passage, escorted by her father's loyal friend and servant, Aerondess noticed, however, not all eyes were admiring her. Next to the Elvenking stood a ridiculously familiar elleth; she was very pretty, yet appearantly pale and shocked as she was staring directly at her.

It took a moment of flashback until Aerondess finally realized who the maiden was. She was clean now, suitably dressed, had her hair done in the simpliest way but indeed, the elleth was Aerondess' unexpected friend in the woods: Faeryn. The princess was both curious and surprised to see Faeryn standing next to the Elvenking, which clearly implied somewhat of her status, and how the two seemed to be having a conversation going on in secrecy.

"Welcome, my dear friend of Aerindel and Your Majesty. Welcome you all, to Woodland Realm of High King Thranduil." Lord Anglor bade his welcome. She nodded.

Aerondess knew there was something odd going on, she saw it in the Elvenking's eyes as he talked to Faeryn. Somehow, the look bothered the princess. She did not know what it was nor did she know why was it that way, but Aerondess was sure that the king of Woodland Realm would never look at her like that.

"The pleasure is all ours, my Lord." Knowing better not to neglect the manners, Aerondess lowered her knees and offered the most lady-like bow she could, just like what mother had taught her before leaving.

Little did they know how hard it was, being born with a silver spoon in mouth. Aerondess whined in silence as she counted her breath. Now stand straight up, slowly... head ups elegantly... don't rush... Smile...

"Ahh, the precious daughter of King Glindaeron, how come I did not catch your name?"

Aerondess darted Faeryn a quick gaze and then the Elvenking. For the first time in her life, the princess found herself threatened. As nonsense as it might be, Aerondess feared for her place in - dare she might say - Thranduil's life. Although they had yet made accquaintances, the elleth had a crazy assumption in which she barely own a place on his list of priorities.

I have always been Father's first. Aerondess assured herself, however the feeling of denial still hung over her like a heavy fog that wouldn't leave. She saw how Thranduil had looked at her and it wasn't like any other. His eyes did not stay nor crave. They simply eyed her in awe, enthused her beauty and left.

But despite how it turned out to be, not once had Aerondess questioned her heart. She had loved the king long before they met, and now seeing him in person only confirmed that feeling. Aerondess looked at Faeryn whose beautiful and unique green eyes were too on her moves and wondered what was this elleth's relationship with Thranduil. The black-haired maiden's nervousness challenged her deduction in every way. A friend? Family? A servant? Aerondess hoped it was simpler and less... threatful.

"I was named after the first sound I heard and the first thing I saw when I was born into this world by my mother. It's-"

"Aerondess."

It was the faintest whisper. Unaudible in such distance. But Aerondess knew it was her name escaping Faeryn's lips. The princess stood there with a knowing smile she could not help as she saw the incredulousness in Thranduil eyes pierced right through her.

Faeryn finally broke off her stare into the nothingness and she gazed down at Princess Aerondess, a painful, distraught and emotionless gaze it was. The princess wondered why and so, Aerondess started to move closer to them, step by step, her blue eyes did not leave Faeryn neither.

"King Thranduil, it is a pleasure to have finally met you." She addressed the king her most charming smile.

Thranduil nodded. "Please, you are the honour guest of Woodland Realm. Make yourself at home, I insist." With the same polite tone, he answered.

Aerondess found it funny how the royals were so predictable. Perhaps it was because how they were raised to become heirs and heiresses. Same attitude, same manners, same way of acting, Aeroondess sometimes felt like she deserved an award for being the greatest being molded ever.

Elegantly she moved toward Faeryn and exclaimed. "Faeryn dear! I did not expect to see you here!"

The princess found the other elleth turned to her, looking much more relaxed as she was no longer engaged in the recent conversation.

"Neither did I, my Lady. How inappropriate I was in our first meeting, I hope for your understanding."

"You never told me you two are acquaintances." Thranduil questioned with surprise. Although he did not say it, Aerondess knew it was Faeryn he was talking to. The king did not even spare her a bit of his concern.

"I haven't?" Faeryn replied in puzzle. She was faking it and Aerondess could tell it in one blink. She had only known the maiden for a mere time but that was all needed to tell that Faeryn did not wish to acknowkedge her king her existence.

The king gave them a soft grimace. "Not that I could recall, no." His handsome jaw tightened as he was thinking; his eyes, eventhough they were on Faeryn only, were Aerondess' breath and will.

Little did Thranduil know, she was falling, hard. Into this abyss of love and adoration. Her eyes were her breath as she could not think of passing a day without looking at him now.

Faeryn coughed and smiled forcefully, Aerondess tore off her longing gaze at the sudden sound. Her cheeks grew crimson, wondering if Faeryn had noticed that. "Please excuse me. I believe my father is calling for me." She said, and started making her way out of the room.

"Manners, my king." And that was Faeryn last words as she leant in Thranduil's ear. Then, she waltzed away from sight and started blending in the crowd of Elves.

Aerondess' action later then was something she was not proud of. Worst of all, it sent her shivers at the thought of what would her dear mother do if the Queen ever knew. She sniffed the air.

The sound drew Thranduil's attention immediately, no doubt it would. As he looked down at the beautiful blonde next to him, Aerondess froze herself with embarrassement. Slowly, his eyebrow rose in amusement.

"I don't think your mother would approve such elegance, dear princess." He spoke. For the first time with will and true interest. To her!

"Oh! I... I was just... erm..." Aerondess babbled the words. She couldn't say that the air smelled strange, could she? Would that be offensive? "The air smells strange." She blurted. It was no lies. At first, there was this beautiful scent hanging somewhere but now, it's gone. Replaced by something bolder and more... natural.

Thranduil fixed his gaze on her and out of the blue, chuckled. He chuckled! The princess could not help but smile happily along his abrupt joy. She was proud, actually. She made him smiled!

"Did you happen to think everything around here has this nice scent of herbal and pine?" His voice was warm and silky. Suddenly, Aerondess' eyes became glassy, she felt like drowning into his words.

"Indeed, I did. But I was wrong, wasn't I?" She questioned him, a bit of playfulness on the tip of her tongue. "Back from where I was, it's always the sea you smell. Salty and refreshing."

Thranduil nodded absently at the information given. The king was started to lose interest, which frightened Aerondess in every way. He had finally decided to talk to her something non-political related and she did not want it to end.

"Isn't Woodland Realm supposed to scent like that, my Lord? Herbal and pine, I mean." Quickly, she drew the elf's attention to where the conversation began first place.

"No." Simply, Thranduil answered the princess. "Grass and wood, yes. But herbal and pine, they are the spirit's."

He excused himself. And went to the other side of the chamber.

~○●○~

Aerondess didn't get to see the Elvenking again until they were invited to dinner.

Lord Anglor was not happy. Aerondess could tell by the way the old Advisor kept looking at the oblivious king once in a while with the visible annoyance on his face.

Lord Anglor did not dare to say it. Neither did Thranduil bother to care. Oh yes, he had been watching that old maellon and would occasionally smirk. Nobody saw that. No one except Aerondess.

The two embassadors constantly brought up the betrothal. Aerondess said nothing but inside, she felt like flying. The idea of getting married for political matter sounded wrong, she knew. However,the idea of getting married out of love and political matter thrilled her dearly. Her eyes drifted to the biggest chair in the room, where throned the king of Woodland Realm and she frowned.

He was not happy.

"Our guests' staying is long, Lord Anglor. I don't see what is it to rush."

That quieted the subject down for the whole night.

The rest of dinner, all they talked about was things that clearly, had nothing to do with Aerondess' concern nor interest. Battles. Wars. Deaths. She hated them. She was young and very much alive and Aerondess has no doubt she would still be in a very long time. And so, the princess sat there, surrounded by things and people whom she did not know, like a beautifully dressed up doll inside the glass.

"I'm sorry but I'm not feeling very well. Should I excuse myself." Softly, Aerondess announced and the voices died down. They gave her solemn nods, apparently not caring at all.

Aerondess stood up and marched towards the door when suddenly, a shadow approached her from the back. It was an elf, a handsome one but in his eyes, she believed he had lived an entire life before.

"I heard you're not feeling well, my Lady. Because of the long journey, I suppose?" He asked her with great concern, showing care and protection.

"Oh yes, I afraid so." She said, did with the act she for the lie she had made up.

"A cup of herbal shall do you good, my Lady. I'm Laebon, Woodland Realm's Healer. May I escort you?" The elf offered kindly. Aerondess hesitated, however found a liking in herbal tea, she nodded.

The walk was quiet but comfortable. They passed a few hallways until they reached a corridor where there were two doors at each end. Laebon led her to one on the right, slightly pushed the door open.

As soon as the wooden board creeked, an amazing scent of herbal attacked her, cleared her mind instantly. The sense reminded Aerondess of that morning and the conversation she had with Thranduil. She wondered what had he implied when he told her it was the spirit's.

So caught up in the own thoughts, Aerondess did not realize she was left alone until Laebon had come back with a steaming cup of herbal tea in his hand. Accepted it with gratitude, she took a sip and was glad for had come with Laebon. The tea worked like magic. It was no energy boost, it just simply put your mind at ease, made all your thoughts weight no more than a feather.

"Forgive my Lord Thranduil, my Lady. I noticed you are not happy towards his performance earlier. The poor elf has gone through a lot." Laebon said out of the blue.

Aerondess almost choked on her tea; her eyebrow raised in surprise at his words. "You seem to know him very well."

"It takes time, my Lady." Laebon answered quietly. Time. The word bugged the princess. Time was one thing she could not have to get a place in the king's heart.

"I think I should go." Aerondess said as she put down the half-drank tea. Laebon opened the door for her and offered an escort, however, she dismissed his kindness politely.

The Healer closed her door, leaving the foreign princess alone in the corridor with her many thoughts. She was about to walk away to her own chamber, yet stopped as she heard small hushes and cries.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Aerondess crept along the wall until she reached the door. The beautiful smell of hearbs and wood hit her again, only this time it was stronger. The door was not closed conpletely so there was a small crack, enough for the outsider to see what was there inside.

Faeryn?

The name rang in Aerondess mind and almost slipped out of the tip of her tongue. She muffled herself right away, tried to make her existance remain hidden as she listened carefully.

"Who I am is, dear Mireth. Daughter of a Silvan, I am. Bear no royal blood, I am. His people, his servant, I am."

His servant? The Elvenking?

"Bounded to this duty as a loyal servant, I am."

"My Lady...-" Another voice said but was cut off by Faeryn's delicate cry.

"Enough! Mireth... My father and mother were Silvans and so is their daughter. I was never a Lady, to be honest. The King respects me the way I respect him. Treat him with loyalty, I shall. Think on his behalf, I will. Love him... more than... the moon... and... the sun... themselves... I wish... I didn't..."

It was an incredibly shock acknowledgement for Aerondess herself. Sinking slowly into the darkness, the princess could not help but think how scandalous it was if anyone should know, especially Thranduil. She realized how noble the green-eyed elleth was, how strong she had been for putting her own duty first.

Aerondess was confused.

Who was this beautiful elleth named Faeryn. And could she be a friend or a threat?