Chapter 257: Chapter 257 : The ball

"Gareth? Gareth is that you?"

"Mother.." the dark haired elven king walked into his mother's open arms and gave her a hug. "I am so glad you could make it, Eira will be most pleased"

"Speaking of the birthday girl, where is my little princess? I haven't seen her in ages." Tauriel looked around the crowded ballroom but sighed disappointment. "Curse these bloody masks, I can't even tell which one of these young women is my little Eira."

"I am assuming that's the point," Queen Melissa responded with a smile. "she wouldn't even let me, her own mother, know what she was wearing to her own birthday ball."

"I hope you're not being too strict on the little girl," Tauriel responded before pulling Melissa into a hug. "because it sounds a lot like she's rebelling against you."