"she just willed me to strike her,"

It was a frosty March morning as Legolas took the twins out for their first hunting lesson. An expedition he did not relish. It was not so much their company he did not enjoy, but the frustration of being little more than a royal babysitter now that Thranduil and Márafea were ruling the Realm full time again. Whilst he did not begrudge them, he had enjoyed his regency more than he thought. He looked at his silver ring and smiled. Come midsummer, he and Óliel would be wed and starting a new life in Ithilien together. Suddenly, the sound of the twins quarrelling brought him back to his senses. "But I don't want to hunt, the animals are my friends," Mithlothiel cried.

"Oh Mithlothiel, you are such a Nall laes," mocked Mellessil.

Legolas knelt to their level, "We are only hunting animals that are old or suffering, so they may have a quick merciful end," said Legolas.

"And to feast upon tonight," called Mellessil.

Legolas glared back at her, "Mellessil enough, you will frighten your sister!"

Mellessil sneered, "Everything frightens her, that's why Nana nearly died birthing us, Mithlothiel was too scared to be born."

"Mellessil, that is a horrible thing to say and not true," scolded Legolas.

"Yes it is, I heard Iorbes talking with the others and they said......"

"MELLESSIL! stop! Whatever makes you say such things? If I hear another spiteful comment from you, I shall summon the scouts to return you to Ada and Nana in the Throne Room, and you can explain to them why I have sent you back. Now prepare your bow!"

Mellessill scowled but did as he commanded

"Now come on, Mithlothiel, follow your sister's lead." 

"I cannot," replied Mithlothiel.

Legolas sighed and patted her on the head, "If only Nínimiel were here."

"She is returning at midsummer, for our tenth birthday and your wedding,"

Legolas smiled, "Yes, she is, till then we must manage without her,"

Radagast appeared through the trees. On seeing him, Mithlothiel dropped her bow and ran to him, flinging her arms around him as he greeted her. "I don't want to hunt the animals, even the sick ones."

Radagast looked down at her and smiled. "Little one, if you do not wish to hunt, that is your choice. Your mother does not hunt or consume flesh, but sometimes a quick arrow is better for an animal suffering and beyond help," said Radagast.

At this, a white doe slowly came out of the trees. She was thin and her fur was in poor condition. She came gently over to Radagast. "My dear old friend, fancy seeing you here?" the Doe nuzzled him. "Oh I see, farewell, my dear friend," said Radagast. He looked up at Legolas, "she has walked this forest a long time, now she comes asking for release.

He took Mithlothiel by the hand. "let us go and see those baby birds we saw last week," and she happily trotted away with him. The doe did not move but looked at Legolas as if willing him to release her. Legolas seemed disquieted but aimed his bow at the Doe's heart, then he stopped "I can't," he whispered. But the Doe nodded her head as if willing him to. He tried again, but still, he could not. He went to try for a third time when an arrow shot past him, hitting the Doe straight through the heart. She went down instantly. Legolas turned with a horrified look on his face. "What have you done?"

"What you could not, end her suffering," said Mellessil defiantly.

Legolas loomed over her, his face red with anger, "why you little....!" Mellessil went pale, turned on her heels and ran off before he could stop her. Tears streamed down his face as he breathed his anger away. "What have I done?" he whispered to himself. "Mellessil! Mellessil! I am sorry, come back!" he called. But the trees were silent. Legolas looked back at the body of the Doe, standing over it was the wraith of an Elven female.  Slowly Legolas approached the figure. "Nana?" he whispered, and she smiled back at him.

"Do not be harsh upon the girl. She has done what you could not and I am released. A skilled warrior she will become, many enemies shall fall at her hand. Now, at last, my curse is lifted, I must go to the Halls of waiting, where my master awaits me. Mandos, granted me this grace that I may watch over you till my curse be at its end." She kissed Legolas on the forehead. "Farewell, my beloved son, your time in the forest draws to its end. Go with my blessing!" then she faded away. Legolas wept bitterly over the doe, then Mellessil crept out of the bushes and returned to him. Legolas embraced her "forgive me, little one."

"I did not know she was a special doe, she just willed me to strike her," said Mellessil through her tears.

"I know, Mellessil, but promise me you will never speak of this to anyone. If Ada, where to hear of it, would grieve him far more than you would ever know." Mellessil nodded and together they buried the Doe.

-----------------------------------

Thranduil watched Márafea laughing and smiling with her friends without a care in the world. His Elf sight noticed the signs of ageing appearing on Eowyn and Lothíriel, yet apart from Márafea's silver tresses, nothing else betrayed the passing of time. No wonder the Beornings told stories of him turning his mortal wife into an Elf. Fantastical stories, that helped to hide the truth of things. Though he had to admit, if it were not for her ears nothing would distinguish his wife from an Elf. Their daughters stood close to their mother, Mithlothiel tightly holding her hand as usual. "Could it really be ten years since the bittersweet day the twins had come into the world and she had nearly passed from it, he shuddered at the thought. "what are you thinking?" whispered Legolas. 

Thranduil took another sip of his wine."I am thinking how glad I am that Nínimiel has chosen to return to us, it will sweeten the bitterness of your parting."

"I am only taking my people south, they have need of our skills there," said Legolas.

"The North of Eryn Lasgalen will be a much quieter place now, am I really such a bad King that they would choose to follow you instead?"

Legolas shook his head, "I think it is more that, like me, they are curious of what lies outside of the forest and wish to linger a little longer before passing into the west." 

"The West, it does not seem so disagreeable now,"

"You no longer resist the Sea longing?"

"I have made my peace with it, when the girls are old enough to make their choice, we shall depart for Mithlond."

"I fear Nínimiel has made her choice, when I spoke with her last she said that living in Minas Tirith had given a new perspective on mortality."

"Yes, when she wrote, telling us she had left the queen's service to work in the houses of healing I was most surprised. King Elessar says she spent much of her spare time in the Great Library of Minas Tirith,"

 Legolas laughed, "Sounds like Nínimiel, head rarely out of a book, just like her mother."

Thranduil smiled, "She certainly resembles Thorwen's mannish side." 

"It was a shame that Elessar could not attend, but with Arwen just birthing the new baby Princess he can hardly be blamed for wanting to remain in Minas Tirith."

Thranduil nodded "The time of the children, is a very joyful and precious time." 

Legolas looked towards the sky, then at a large white tent at the far end of the encampment and got to his feet. "Light is fading in the sky, it is time I made ready father."

"Of course, my son...... your mother would be very proud of you this day."

"I know she would," said Legolas, he turned and went back into the tent. 

Thranduil looked back at his wife and daughters, this would be the last time all his family would be together, soon Legolas would go south with his bride and the girls were growing so fast. Too fast. And so as the stars littered the sky Prince Legolas and Óliel of the Silvan Elves as East Lorien broke with tradition and make their vows in front of all who had assembled not just the Elves, even Gimli served the rings to the couple. Óliel reminded him a little of Lasseth, in his heart he felt her curse was lifted all had come to pass as she predicted and at long last, he had found peace. A great feast followed as was customary then the bride and groom left for a secluded place in the forest. Thranduil and others called out comments and jokes about the joining as they left. "What is the joining Nana?" asked Nínimiel.

"We will discuss that when it is your turn to be wed," said Márafea. Thranduil and Márafea looked at each other lovingly. "It feels like yesterday since our joining," said Márafea, blushing.

"And we have been truly blessed in all that time, long may our happiness continue," said Thranduil and kissed her gently on the lips. The following day, the bride and groom returned to the festivities. During the feast, Lord Celeborn stood and toasted the bride and groom, then produced a Golden Crown with a bear and a man wrestling on its front. He then crowned Lord Vilbeorn as the first of the Kings of Beorn as his people looked on and passed East Lorien into his keeping.

All too soon it was time for the long journey south, his people gathered about him as he prepared to make his farewells.  Legolas looked about him, "The forest has been my home since birth, now I leave it for the last time."

"You will love Ithilien. It is a beautiful wilderness," said Faramir.

Thranduil gave the bride and groom a blessing, then to Óliel he gave a necklace of white Gems strung with silver, "It was Legolas's mother's, she would want you to have it." He and Márafea then made their farewells.

Legolas embraced the twins, "Be good for Ada and Nana, else I shall know about it." They both cried and nodded.

Mellessil quickly wiped away her tears. "I am not sad, all the more hunting for me," she said.

Legolas laughed, "try to save some hunting for everyone else, Mellessil." He patted her on the head, then came to Nínimiel. "My dear firstborn sister, I am glad to see you are returning home. I hope you have learned much from your years in Gondor."

"I have brother, living in the realm of men has, given me a new perspective on things,"

Legolas took her hands, "To you, I give my birthright, one day Northern Eryn Lasgalen will pass to you Crown Princess, much responsibility will now be put upon your shoulders. Listen to Ada and Nana, learn from them, for one day you will take their place."

Nínimiel nodded through her tears, "I shall miss you so much, dear Legolas. Will we ever see each other again? I fear my heart will break." 

"I do not know, but whatever your doom, know that I carry you forever in my heart," said Legolas.

"Our time together has been short," said Nínimiel.

"Yes, it has, I would not have missed a single moment. Farewell, my beautiful Nínimiel," cried Legolas. He gave her one last embrace. Then, mounting his horse, he smiled at Óliel, before giving the command for his people to follow him. Most from East Lórien went south, along with a sizeable group from Eryn Lasgalen.

Thranduil looked at Márafea sadly. "And so my son Lord Legolas of Ithilien passes out of the Great Green Wood for the last time. Our people are sundering Mime Melda, we spent too long in the North, now it is too late."