It was a warm spring day, and there were blossoms on all of the trees in the courtyard. A mere passerby would think this a meeting of royalty and nobility, for in the courtyard were many noble elves. Elenwe, Queen of the Drow and Princess of Mirkwood sat with her husband, Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, and Lord King of the Drow. They sat in the company of Lord Elrond Peredhil of Imladris and his twin sons, Elrohir and Elladan Peredhil. Elladan sat next to his wife, Meahan of Mirkwood, and beside Meahan was Kerowyn of Mirkwood. Next to Elrohir was Princess Solaris of the Sun Elves…or, known as Luna, wife to Elrohir, daughter to King Garaden and Queen Nostale of the Sun Elves. They were laughing, and recounting something that had happened many years past when a shadow fell over them. “Daughter…come, I have need to speak to thee. NOW!” King Garaden’s voice boomed, and cracked, a rebuke waiting to be thrown. Luna turned her head, gray eyes blazing with the fury she had whenever addressing her father.

“Any need, have thee, to talk to I, do it in front of my company.” Luna answered her father, making fun of his archaic speech. Garaden stood a moment before addressing his daughter. “Solaris—“He started, but Luna cut him off.

“It’s Luna, father.” She said, trying hard not to let her irritation grow. The once laughing group had gotten tense, waiting to see what Garaden would do. The hate Luna and her father had for each other was legendary…

Garaden chose not to reply, instead sat in a chair that was vacant. “Solaris…” he said, pointedly ignoring her request “Your mother and I find it high time we find you a husband of proper rank.” He finished, looking at Luna triumphantly.

Elrohir felt himself growing angry, and was about to jump and strangle Garaden. Elladan, sensing Elrohir’s anger, placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him back. Elenwe had also half risen, and Legolas was angry. Luna was the angriest of all. She stood, her height still a half a head smaller than Garaden. “I am married…King Garaden.” Anyone could hear the insult thrown at Garaden. But he only smiled.

“When you are queen, you make your own decisions. Being left on your own for too long had clouded your mind of judgment.” He said, his hand stroking her cheek. Luna went still; part of her still feared him, a fear so deep that nothing could ever get rid of it.

“And since, you are not alone anymore; it is high time you learned to listen to your elders…!” Garaden reared back and slapped Luna’s face, a loud slap and a painful one that left her ears ringing. ((BRITTANY and KIRSTYN: YOU BASTARD!)) She was caught off balance by the slap and twisted her body, making herself even more off-balance, and fell over sideways. ((So uncoordinated…)) She pushed herself up, and watched as Garaden left, his gold cloak fluttering in the wind.

“Mother fucker…” she said, pulling a leaf out of her hair and putting a hand up to her cheek. Elenwe got up and extended her hand to Luna.

“Mother Fucker is right….that bastard…who does he think he is?!” She said angrily.

“He thinks he is exactly who he is…the king, a ruler who puts fear into his people’s hearts…” Elrond said. Luna stood and looked at her friends.

Luna smiled, and excused herself, her robes sweeping the ground as she walked inside. She had been gone but a few minutes when they heard a shriek and a crash. Elrond, the twins, Elenwe, Legolas, Kerowyn, and Lindir looked at one another and rushed into the house, fearing what they saw. And they had good reason.

Garaden had Luna by the hair and was speaking to her. Elenwe wasn’t positive, but one of Luna’s cheeks looked redder than another, and it looked like there were tears in her eyes. Lindir suddenly asked. “Look…” He whispered.

Elenwe followed his gaze, there was what made the crash, a crystal vase and fallen and shattered, the table overturned. Elenwe looked back at where Luna and Garaden were, and saw that Garaden had left. She hurried over with the others to where Luna was sitting, rubbing her cheek. Elenwe’s suspicions were right, Garaden had slapped her. Elrohir knelt next to Luna. “Melda…what did he say to you?” He asked.

Luna looked away. “I dare not repeat it…” She stood, and hissed in pain. “Stupid crystal vase” She said. “I stepped on one of the pieces…” She looked at her friends. “Don’t worry about it…Ada just—“ She looked toward a door way, and her face tightened. “Don’t tell me…”

The doors burst open, and their stood about fifty soldiers and Garaden. Garaden had a maniacal smile on his face. He pointed at the gathered Elves with his sword. “Arrest them all, all except the Princess.” Luna ran forward.

“Ada! You can’t do this!” Luna yelled.

“You cannot tell me what to do! I am High King of the Sun! I rule everyone in this domain!”

“No Ada! Doing this is committing an act of war against the Drow and the Sylvan!”

Garaden smiled again. The guards at this point had Elrond, The twins, Elenwe, Kerowyn, Lindir, and Legolas in chains and were leading them away. Luna was furious. “No! You can’t do this! Please! I’ll do anything!” Luna cried, falling to her knees. Her friends stared. Garaden smiled.

“I knew you would see it my way. You will marry one I choose for you, daughter.” Luna bowed her head. She caught Elrohir’s eye, and mouthed the words ‘I am sorry’. Elrohir nodded. Luna turned back to her father.

“Release them…I will do as you command, Lord, King, and father.” Luna mumbled the words in a monotone. Garaden grinned an evil grin.

“I think not, Aranorwen.” He turned to the soldiers. “The dungeons, all of them. Now!” Luna shrieked and jumped.

“You promised!”

“Silence!” Garaden picked his daughter up off the ground and shook her. “Your promises mean nothing to me!” He said, and threw her to the ground. Her friends, and husband winced as they heard Luna’s head connect with the stone floor, and she lay, still.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elenwe faced the opposite way, refusing too look at where Luna lay, and followed behind the soldiers, feeling slightly betrayed. She thought that the Drow and Moon, or rather, Sun, were on good terms. “Just wait until Turoth and Fai hear about this. And I don’t even want to know what Moriwen and Nora will do.” She muttered darkly.

“What’d you say Elenwe?” Kerowyn whispered, looking glum. Elenwe shook her head.

“Nothing.” The guards led the group to a dungeon in the bowels of the castle (?) and locked them into a big one. Elenwe took a seat near the ground, and Legolas sat next to her. Elrond was standing near the corner, and Elladan was pacing. Everyone else had sat down around the room. Elenwe looked up at an air vent toward the top, and stared. Suddenly she heard someone yell, and it sounded like Luna. After a few minutes of listening, Elenwe realized it was Luna, and her parents, and from the sounds of it, Luna was NOT in a good mood, and neither was her father. Elenwe motioned to everyone to be quiet and listen.

~Luna, Garaden, and Nostale. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luna sat with her mother, who was bandaging the cut on her head. “Ada!” She said, trying to keep her temper in check. “Why did you lock them up?! If King Turoth—“

Garaden whirled and faced his daughter. “I don’t care what the damned king of the Drow wants to do. The Sun Army is greater then his.”

Luna shook her head, “but the Drow possess magiks greater than the sun can offer us! You know that! We are no longer shadow stalkers!” Garaden whirled, and his hand connected to Luna’s cheek again.

“SILENCE! You shall face solitary confinement the bottom floor, above the dungeons. GO!”

~~~

Elenwe stared at the grate with renewed anger on her face. Everyone else was shocked at what they heard. “Well at least Luna knows what the drow can do. But I only hope it won’t come to that.