Title: Huntress of the Moon Rating: U (Romance/Adventure) Author: Camryn Failenn Summary: Princess Artemisa has always wanted to be a White Huntress, and then her parents agree to send her to the Moon Temple, but a week before she is meant to go she meets the elf of her dreams (you know who), but he is there to marry Artemisa’s older sister. Will Artemisa be able to tell him her feelings and find out his before leaving? Set 6 months before the events of LOTR. Disclaimer: Don’t own LOTR’s. Review if you like, I would love to know what you think and your ideas, Flames I will use to cook my brat of a brother. Feedback: [Toase@uk2.net] (Chapters,1,2,3,4,5.) Chapter 1 Both King Cirlond and Queen Latarwen of Silverwood knew at once their youngest daughter, Artemisa, was special the moment she came into this world. With her sky blue eyes that could change silver, her moon white skin and her hair, which was both brown and blonde. With her long, dark eyelashes she could woo anyone and with her pure voice, like an angel she could place any poor male under her spell. But unlike most female elves, she didn’t go and chase any of the male elves; in fact she would rather practice with her sword. So just before she turned 2,160 she was given two options, one, stay in Silverwood and wait till her parents married her off to some Prince or Lord, or, two, go to the Moon Temple and learn to be a White Huntress. Artemisa thought carefully and chose to go. It was all arranged so in one months time the princess would go off to learn to be a Huntress, Artemisa was very excited, but little did she know a few weeks later she would have wished she had stayed… Chapter 2 King Thranduil and Queen Erinwen were planning something, Prince Legolas knew it. They had not spoken to Legolas and had been spending most of their time with a strange elf that had arrived earlier that week. Soon Legolas just shrugged it off but in the back of his mind it was still there, that is until his father called him into his study. Legolas entered and bowed in front of his mother and father, “ You summoned me.” “Yes, Legolas please take a seat.” Thranduil replied, Legolas took a seat and Thranduil carried on, “You know Legolas, many Princesses and Ladies have sought your heart, and you are almost 3,000 years old…” Legolas interrupted him, “Father, I will marry when I have found my soul mate and both she and I are ready.” Erinwen looked at Thranduil, “Legolas, your father and I have… have arranged a marriage...” “How could you?!” “Legolas, your mother and I will one day retire from the throne of Mirkwood and you need to have a wife and heir…” “So I need to get this she-elf, who I have never met, pregnant with my child.” Legolas said angrily. Thranduil lost his temperature, “It is what is best for the kingdom Legolas! She is the Princess Larwen of Silverwood, eldest daughter of the King and Queen, with the marriage Mirkwood and Silverwood would join.” Legolas was silent, but his face was red with anger, ‘How dare they!’ he thought. Thranduil continued, “Larwen is 2 years older than you, I have heard she is very beautiful, we travel to Silverwood the day after tomorrow, then when the date of the marriage is arranged then…” “I don’t want to become King,” Legolas said flatly. “You are my heir, Legolas. I have no other living children.” Thranduil said that with a tear in eye, Erinwen and he had had two other children, both killed by orcs. For a long time they grieved for their lost offspring, then the Queen had become ill, putting on weight and being sick. Thranduil thought he would lose his wife, but he discovered she was pregnant with another child. After Legolas had been born, Erinwen and Thranduil had become very overprotective of him. “Then maybe if you would have been better parents, my brothers would still be here!” Legolas got up and left, Erinwen let the tears fall while Thranduil comforted her. ******************* Legolas sat in a tree, listening to the wind, ‘How could I be so heartless?’ He was angry with himself for upsetting his parents, but he didn’t want to marry. He gracefully jumped to the ground and headed back to the palace. *******Readers Note*********** One year to elves is 144 human years, Legolas is 2,736(human years) so is 19 elven years old, (in this story); Artemis is 2,160(human years) so is 15 elven years old and Larwen is 3024(human years) so is 21 elven years old. ********************************* Chapter 3 Artemisa sat in the chair while the servants brushed her hair. Opposite her was Larwen with her rings on her fingers and a diamond on a chain around her neck. She was dressed in a pure white dress. Artemisa smiled, Larwen looked beautiful. She was glad she was to marry. Their mother entered. “They are almost here,” Queen Latarwen said. Her two daughters stood up, Larwen in a white dress, her hair up, Artemisa in a leaf green dress, her hair down. The Queen smiled. The servants led the two elf maidens out of the room. “Artemisa please stay,” the Queen asked. Artemisa stayed and her mother handed her a necklace. Artemis looked at it, a silver chain with a crescent moon pendant. “What is this for, mother?” “For you of course, it was your great, great grandmothers, look after it.” Artemisa smiled, “Thank you.” The Queen smiled back, “Come, you have to meet your future brother in law.” The two elves made their way outside. ********************************** “Legolas, is the best archer in Mirkwood,” Larwen whispered to her younger sister. “I know, dear sister,” Larwen had been like this all morning, first it had been on how handsome the Prince was; now it was on how talented he was. Artemisa sighed. She was playing with her crescent moon pendant that was around her delicate neck. Chapter 4 Then the Mirkwood Royal Family entered the gate. The King, Queen and Prince came first followed by the servants and guards. Artemisa swore she heard most of the female elves sigh gently when they saw the Mirkwood Prince. He was dress in a pale silver tunic and his gold hair was down with small plaits. Cirlond helped Erinwen down from her horse, Latarwen helped Thranduil and Larwen helped Legolas. But as Legolas was getting off, one of palace cat’s darted between his horse’s legs, the frightened horse started to buck; Legolas fell off and on top of Larwen. The horse darted off towards the market. If someone didn’t stop that horse, it might not just hurt itself it might hurt someone. Artemisa started to chase. “Get out of the way!” she yelled to the people in the path of the horse. She ran faster catching up, only now she needed some way to stop it. She saw her chance, she jumped up onto one of the stalls and leaped onto the horse’s back. “Slow down, everything is alright,” she whispered in elvish to the horse’s ear. The horse slowed and Artemisa lead it back to the Prince. Chapter 5 Legolas helped Larwen up and stared into her pale blue eyes, she was beautiful. “Thank you dear Prince,” Larwen said to Legolas. And she smiled. “I am sorry, Princess,” Legolas looked up. A maiden was leading his horse towards him. “I’m guessing this is yours,” the maiden smiled. “Thank you…” Legolas was about for her name when King Cirlond stood behind her. “This is my youngest daughter, Princess Artemisa,” The King Cirlond said proudly. “She is a fast runner,” Thranduil said. It began to rain, the servants took the horses and the others made there way to the palace.