Three days have passed since I filled Gelya in on everything that happened since our last meeting. In those three days, nothing seems to have stirred within the Woodland Realm or beyond it—it's sunk back into that strange quiet. It's just like how it was the day I read the diary, and that sets me on edge. I'm trying to avoid that memory at all costs.

In spite of my reluctance towards it at first, training with Thranduil has become something I actually look forward to. A certain pride and smugness has appeared about him, along with the happiness that illuminates his face whenever we speak of our training. He, too, has forgotten what I had forgotten until this morning: I said I would leave, and I have not done so yet.  I've been putting it off for days on end, because the prospect of going is becoming all too daunting.  Whether or not I go alone is up to Thranduil, but I will go nonetheless. 

I cannot help being afraid.

Then again, that is why Thranduil is teaching me, is it not?  So I don't have to be afraid.  If it weren't for me, Thranduil's indisputable skill would have taken him easily through that battle to emerge without a scratch.  If I stop being a liability, I could save not only myself but others who would risk their lives for me.  I didn't deserve to be saved; I have never deserved anything Thranduil did for me.

Stop it. He wouldn't want to see me thinking these thoughts. He knows if there's something up with me. If I can't stop for myself, I can at least stop for him.

Tomorrow, however, we need to be here, in this kingdom.  He told me a while ago that he liked to keep it as quiet and private as possible, but tomorrow is in fact Thranduil's begetting day—a day which I want to make absolutely perfect for him.

'I still can't believe you're getting combat lessons from King Thranduil. Well, actually I can, because it's you, and you're literally his other half, but it's still a massive privilege.' Gelya is sat leant against a broad tree, watching intently while I nock an arrow with surprising ease.

I find myself blushing, and I promptly release the arrow to distract myself, feeling deeply satisfied when it hits right beside the centre of the mark that Thranduil had first shown me. 'He's an excellent teacher. And I'm not just saying that.'

'Your ears are pink,' Gelya grins.

'And? I'm hot,' I say abruptly, focusing my attention on preparing for my next shot. I wasn't completely lying—the mere mention of Thranduil's name is enough to ignite a fire within me. Any time I spend with him is ruled by a blazing love, one which I cannot restrain no matter how hard I try. It's taken over me—he's taken over me.

Gelya bursts into rapturous applause when my second arrow meets the exact centre of the target. 'You'll have skill to rival the King soon! Maybe even better!'

'I appreciate the compliment, but Thranduil is exceptional at archery. His lack of prowess in the area is a mere rumour.'

'I always thought the Prince was the archer and the King was the swordsman,' she says innocently.

'Those are their weapons of choice, I'll give you that.'

'How are you with a sword?' Gelya continues eagerly.

'Better than I expected, but Thranduil still has to go easy on me,' I admit.

She smirks.  'Doesn't he have to go easy on everyone though?'

'That's true!' I laugh as I release another arrow, this one spinning off course and landing some way away.

'What was that?' Gelya giggles.

'That was you distracting me!' I call over my shoulder, while on my way to fetch the arrow.  I turn back around to find Tauriel stood holding the arrow in the air, a smile spreading on her face and her flaming hair shining in the afternoon sun.  Beneath her smile, the traces of harrowing heartbreak still linger, draining some of the light from her eyes. She may hide it well, but not well enough to conceal it from a Star.

'Looking for this?' Tauriel grins, offering the arrow to me.

'Yes, thank you!'  I take the arrow gratefully, and indicate for the Captain of the Guard to accompany me back to the clearing.  She follows willingly, with a strong yet graceful step, and breaks out in a smirk the instant she sees Gelya.

'Gelya! I heard you're looking for an eligible ellon.'

'Oh, Tauriel, not you as well!' Gelya sighs, slumping against the tree, 'exactly how many elleths did my mother tell about my situation?'

'It was Nairelin, not your mother, who told me. She passed me earlier and said she thought I ought to know.' The smirk hasn't left her face. 'So, who has the pleasure of teaching you archery?' Tauriel continues curiously, turning to me and the arrows still clutched in my hand.

'King Thranduil!' Gelya interjects, 'King Thranduil himself!'

'I'm glad to hear he's healed so quickly after the battle. You must have done an excellent job, Elena,' Tauriel smiles, before remarking, 'but I am surprised he's teaching you archery, of all skills.'

'I am learning how to use a sword too. I sparred with him earlier this morning,' I say, sounding far more smug than I intended.

'Here, take this.'  Smiling, Tauriel hands me one of her elegant gold-hilted swords, the smooth silver blade catching in the dappled sunlight piercing the canopy of leaves overhead, before sweeping her hair over her shoulder and pulling out an identical blade for herself. 'Show me what the King has taught you.'

Weighing the gleaming sword in my hand, I look at Tauriel and return her excited grin. 'With pleasure.'

***

Nightfall engulfs the sky and the Stars adorn it. I return after a long afternoon of sparring with Tauriel (featuring frequent applause from Gelya) and a pleasant meal with my two friends to find Thranduil only just staggering into our chambers after ten straight hours of meetings.  He embraces me the moment we close the door behind us, burying his face in my hair as he exhales slowly and rids himself of all the bore of the long day.  I envelope myself in his warmth, press against his sleek charcoal-coloured robes and let my heartbeat become one with his.

'I've missed you, meleth nín,' Thranduil says softly as his hand brushes over the back of my head and neck like the touch of a twilight breeze.

'I've missed you more,' I murmur against his chest, my lips curving into a smile.

As if inexplicably drawn to their light, we exit our chambers and stand out under the vast expanse of elenath, while still clinging to each other in the hope that we'll never have to separate.  The air is still and cool, freezing the starlit patio in a picturesque portrayal of a spring night.  Thranduil leads me off onto the grass, right beneath an opening in the silhouetted trees—a place where we can gaze at the Stars, and they can gaze at us.  I wonder what they would think if they looked at us now: one of their own leant against the chest of an Elvenking, whose arms are holding her close to him and making her feel the most alive she's ever felt.

We spend a few hours stargazing, relaxing in each other's presence well into the night; one of us will talk about our day, while the other listens.  Thranduil cracks a laugh for the first time since before his meetings, and when we spend a while kissing, I discover that it hasn't lost any of the elation that it had the first few times, but only gained a feeling of complete and utter belonging.  Afterwards, Thranduil doesn't actually look up at the sky again, and roots his gaze on me.  It doesn't leave.

'It must be nearly midnight,' I say, in an attempt to sound casual which Thranduil sees right through.

'I told you, there's no need to mention it at all.'

'Just once.  Please, meleth,' I beg, clasping his hand in mine.

Then, it chimes.  The old clock on the wall, once belonging to Oropher, strikes midnight—it is now March 25th.  Thranduil sighs, rolling his beautiful eyes as I turn to face him dead on with a smirk on my face.  I kiss his lips for a moment, before pulling out and touching my forehead to his.  We both close our eyes.

'Happy begetting day, Thranduil.'

***

Elvish:
Elenath = all the Stars in the sky

Your 'begetting day' is what elves celebrate as an equivalent of a birthday ;)
It is actually Lee Pace's (Thranduil's) birthday today, so I thought I'd throw in a little tribute to that :D