Lothriel looked up as she moved gracefully through the forest. She smiled and twirled as she moved deeper into the forest's embrace. She knew where she was, knew these woods as well as she knew healing. This was her home, and her place. She enjoyed these silent walks, enjoyed the peace and the surprises it offered. The animals watched as she moved by, but quickly went back to what they had been doing as she passed. She began to sing, a song not of words, but of sounds she had learned to imitate from the many animals that lived around her. As she went, the animals began to join her, namely the birds. She smiled, her foggy gray eyes taking in the beauty around her.

She needed times like these, the chance to get away. Tensions had been building lately among the other elves, and then with the threat of Orks, and now the bits she had heard of a Giant Spider attaching elves, it was almost too much for the young healer to keep up with. As of yet she had only been asked to help with a very low number of injured elves from either foe, but from the tension of the leaders and the warrior elves, she felt something was about to happen. That was something she had become good at, although she didn't often pry into others' business, especially in matters of battle, she could tell when something was going on, just by the tension in the air. Lately there was a buzz, like that in a bee hive, going around.

Something was wrong! Lothriel stopped, and slipped behind a large tree. She looked around quickly, then closed here eyes to try to hear better. Although she had senses as good as any elf, she found that is she closed her eyes, she was able to hear better, and could also almost feel when danger was near. It was silent, not overly so, but yet there were fewer sounds than was normal for this time of day. Curious, yet still alert, Lothriel opened her gray eyes again and took another look. She didn't see anyone, or anything. She was also unable to hear anything, but the feeling didn't leave her. Someone was there, although they didn't feel evil, they were very powerful. For all she knew they could be far off, but if that was the case they were very powerful indeed! Even the forest was hushed from the effects of such a being!

The cool morning breeze against his skin and the sweet song of birds awoken by the soft rays of sunlight streaming through the canopy was a welcome contrast to the countless hours the Elvenking would spend in council or at his desk, worrying over the increasing amount of dangers his people were subject to. And now that spring was finally upon them- there was hope that the new year would bring with it good fortune and banish the evil that had plagued the great forest during the long and cold winter. Thranduil himself was not entirely certain that he could be as optimistic as the younger Elves in his halls and did not think that the worst was yet behind them, but he said nothing of his opinion for hope was exactly what the Elves of Mirkwood needed.

Though even the dark thoughts concerned with the future of Mirkwood failed to cloud to beauty of the forest awakening to the first day of spring. And as Thranduil sat along the branch of a budding tree, he allowed himself to fully appreciate the forest and remind himself of the fond memories that he kept spent in the forest. And as the hours stretched on, Thranduil found himself humming the song his mother had sung to him many times.

It wasn't until well into the morning that he heard another voice accompanying his own song. The voice was clear and sweet for one of the Wood Elves, and whilst it may not have held the same beauty and enchanting effect as did the voices of the Teleri, it felt strangely out of place within Mirkwood- a voice so delicate and fragile in a world filled with such darkness. The voice came closer and closer to where Thranduil was resting until the Elleth found herself almost directly beneath him, though she seemed to miss his presence and continued to sing to the forest.

Though her song came to a short end as she seemed to pause, searching for something she could feel but not see nor hear. Thranduil thought it quite possible that she had finally felt his presence, but he questioned that possibility as he managed to catch sight of another being steadily approaching the dark-haired Elleth.

The being was far taller than she and had double her strength, it was a dangerous foe to any foolish enough to challenge the beast. Tales of it's strength, ferocity and courage were plentiful in the Elvenking's halls and it was said all creatures in the forest feared it's wrath. To Thranduil, it was his closest companion, Arataure. One of the few Great Elks of Mirkwood that still drew breath in the forest and this one had bonded to Thranduil. And currently he was silently studying the Elleth, unsure of what to make of her as she wandered dangerously close to Thranduil. Arataure thrust his chest forth to make himself taller and he stared menacingly at the unknown Elf and as he pawed the ground, he let rip a deep bellow as a warning to the Elf that was both loud and chilling enough to command utter silence over the forest creatures.

Though the Elk's call soon ebbed as Thranduil gave a long whistle to quieten and reassure the Elk of his safety and awareness of the Elleth's presence. And with that, Thranduil gracefully jumped from his branch and landed on the forest floor but a few feet from where the Elleth stood.

"You'll have to excuse Arataure, he's very easily upset and a little overly sensitive. I do hope he did not frighten you" Thranduil offered his apologies and gave the young Elf a warm smile.

Fair Lothriel soon found herself in a rather unforeseen situation. She opened her eyes and moved a few steps to find herself standing before a mighty creature. The Great Elk was great indeed. Towering over her, eyes fixed on where she stood. She did not fear the animal, not as most would have, yet she knew it could kill her without trouble. No instead her instinct was to freeze, but she did not cry out, or run as others might have been tempted to try. She stayed still, watching the powerful creature, respect for such a powerful being. She was not sure if she would live past this encounter, but if she did she was sure she would never forget it.

Just as the Great Elk seemed about to charge, a whistle from behind the young Elleth soon quieted her challenger. At this unexpected sound, she jumped, spinning around. When she saw the man before her, her heart stopped for a moment. The Elvenking! My Lord! She gasped, realizing now what had just happened. Then realizing her mistake, she spoke more formally. Ah! Forgive me. I did not mean to sound rude. She said giving a curtsy to show respect. This would make her first meeting with the great Elvenking, and her first meeting in truth with any of great power, be it elven or otherwise.

"Please, there is little need for all this formality. If anything, I must offer you my sincerest apologies for causing you such distress." Thranduil himself offered a small bow of his head in sincerity as he apologised to the elleth. He understood that his presence was not always one much welcome by the younger elves who feared that he would judge them and scold them for most unimportant of slights against him.

"If I am not mistaken you would be Caladthel's eldest daughter? Lothriel, am I correct?" He said, there was a strong resemblance to the maid- she was comely, gentle and in her eyes shone the very same kindness and tenderness. Though Lothriel surpassed her mother in beauty and he had been told that she had great potential as a healer. Though Thranduil could not help but note that she was nothing like her outspoken, energetic and excitable sister. "She speaks very highly of both you and your sister."

As the Elvenking spoke, Arataure slowly moved to stand at his place by Thranduil's side. The being was still slightly suspicious of the elf, but Thranduil felt it was more out of pride than an actual distrust of her. Even so, he placed  calming hand on Arataure's whithers and hoped to soothe his friend. 

"I can assure you that he would not have harmed you, he only wished to frighten you for fear that you were a threat." Thranduil spoke for the Elk. Arataure would not have killed an elf lest they threatened the Elk or any of the people of the Woodland Realm, but that did not prevent him from getting overprotective. Had she come across some of the less calm-tempered Elks, Thranduil feared for what may have happened- they were dangerous beings after all and had only grown more fierce as their contact with the elves became less and less frequent and the threat of the spiders became more and more important. Many of them hid in small havens that were unknown to the elves but their numbers had reduced dangerously over the past years- as with all the other animals who had slowly been migrating out of the forest as the threat of spiders and other foul creatures began to grow once more and the flora and fauna suffered greatly. Which was, a huge problem as it was now turning into a struggle for the Elvenking to find the food to feed all of his people.

Though speaking of the danger, the Elvenking was indeed curious as to why the young elleth had wandered here by herself. "What brings you wandering this far from the Halls? It is dangerous for a lone elleth to travel this far without protection. There are after all, a great deal of dark and terrible creatures that live in these woods." He asked, surely she knew of the danger? Yet she still had chosen to come.

She was again taken aback, for despite all the talk she had heard of him, Thranduil seemed nothing like she had expected. She found that a pleasant surprise, yet still wasn't sure how to respond to such a chance meeting. As his words, she covered her mouth with her hands, unsure how to respond.

His next words were much easier to answer, and allowed her a moment to compose herself. "I am. She spoke softly, hearing the name of her mother had a soothing effect on her. She smiled proudly as he went on, noting her sister as well. "Likewise, she had told me great things about you as well, my King."

She looked up, her attention turning to the large Elk as Thranduil spoke. He was a majestic creature, unlike any she had seen. She had seen him pass at a distance, but never anywhere so near as she was today. She knew the Elvenking's words were true, yet she had no doubt in Arataure's power, and desire to protect Thranduil himself.

She paused for a moment, having forgotten after the fright her encounter with the Great Elk had given her. His mention of darkness brought back memories of sense of dread she had felt before, but something had drawn her here. "I...hadn't realized I had wandered so far. I often come this way looking for herbs, though each trip seems to take me deeper into the woods. The plants I need becoming harder, and harder to find. But I must have been day-dreaming, and traveled much farther than I had realized...Then I stumbled upon the path of the Great Elk, quite by accident." She said the last part with a fading voice, as she realized she truly had no business here. Not alone. It was true she often went out looking for herbs, most times alone. But the dangers had been growing, and she was not a fighter. She had a small dagger she used for cutting tough plants, but that was about all she had in the way of weapons. Why had she come this far? If she had not stumbled into the pair, would she have kept going? She shuttered to think what other things lurked near by.