When it came to moving, it was surprising really how little they actually had to pack away. Thalion found that most of his clothes folded away and fitted into a cloth knapsack. Other things which were more like keepsakes were packed away into a small trunk. This was it, this was all his life seemingly amounted to, a knapsack and a trunk. But the latter wasn't just his, Hérion's things mainly went in there. Liruliniel had very little in the way of possessions, and that went the same for clothes too. Most of her things went in the trunk, not that she knew this, because she wasn't in shape to help pack up.

She was still a bit lethargic, pale and enthusiasm seemed harder to push. But she seemed better within herself, she spoke more to the two males that she lived with. Even offering to help where she could, only the reality of this was her trying and tiring herself out and needing to sit. Hérion was naturally worried about his daughter, but he couldn't humour waiting around. It sounded harsh, but they were leaving.

Thalion however would pause helping his father and see to her. Liruliniel smiled pathetically, she knew she was a burden. If she was dragging these two down, just with packing, then needless to say she'd be the same with everyone else. She could barely walk from her room to the main living room without leaning against the wall for support. Liruliniel was weak, and a weak elf wasn't useful to anyone.

"Here," Thalion threw a thick cover around her. She had dressed, wearing a simple forest green tunic with brown trousers, he had to help her with her boots and even when it came to braiding her hair. But he didn't mind aiding her where he could, it's what brothers did. However, her sitting there looking mournful was something he couldn't help with. He knew she seemed to partially blame herself for this. And by extension, they both knew others would blame her too.

"It is my fault."

Thalion stopped pinning the cover around her, a simple brooch was holding it in place around her neck. He pulled the rest of the material around her, only her head was peeking out the top of this blanket cocoon. "That is nonsense, and we know it."

"Thalion...if I didn't run away, if I didn't keep exploring-"

"Then we'd never know something was encroaching on our land." Thalion said, staying knelt in front of her, he looked over his shoulder when he heard his father walk in. He had been out discussing routes, or something. In all honesty, Thalion didn't know. He just knew Hérion had left him to ready Liruliniel.

"I have to go through that place, Thalion." Liruliniel whispered to him, Thalion looked at her with a small frown. Liruliniel tilted her head, "I almost passed out once. What is going to happen a second time?"

"We will travel quickly," Thalion said, standing up and looking down at his swaddled sister. She just peered up at him with watery eyes. She was scared, and there wasn't a whole lot he could do to deter her fears. He hadn't been out there, he didn't know. But he would feel it. Maybe not as badly as her, but he would, even the three older elves had.

Hérion soon appeared beside his son, Liruliniel looked upwards at him. Sitting here in the seat, both looked so incredibly tall to her. Hérion didn't say anything to her either, he just simply reached down and scooped the bundle that was Liruliniel up. She let out a little noise and wiggled a bit, but he soon readjusted his hold on her in his arms and took off walking. Thalion got the message and grabbed their things, the trunk was light despite looking heavy and everything the three family members owned, fitted into it. Thalion's knapsack and all.

He followed his father out of the room; he briefly looked back at their home one last time before walking forwards. From over Hérion's shoulder, Liruliniel looked back sadly too. Thalion caught her gaze and shook his head, it wasn't her fault. He readjusted the grasp he had on the handles before spotting the congregation of people near the large doors. Half the elves gathered, Thalion hadn't seen since moving here. Some real familiar faces, familiar faces which seemed to frown his way.

And here came the judgemental looks, not just him, but his father and his weakened sister too. He hadn't felt such niggling hypocrisy and ignorance before. He cared for his kin, of course he did, but sometimes their quick-fire way to judge and criticise got to him. Especially when the subject of such things was his sister. Liruliniel was in no condition to defend herself. Hérion's stony countenance was giving enough of an aggravated aura that whoever did try and look his way with narrowed eyes, they'd look away when meeting his own blank look.

Thalion looked confused hearing his father's stern words before he stopped walking, he paused behind his father and watched as Hérion lifted his daughter up and onto the white horse before them. She couldn't walk well, did Thalion think Hérion was going to carry his daughter all the way to their new home? Perhaps. He honestly didn't know. But it made sense that he didn't, what if something appeared? Hérion would naturally be the first to arms.

"You're basically a shield, I hope you know that." Thalion said, shifting the trunk again and watching as his father shot him a look, he took it from his arms and disappeared. What few horses they did have, were used. Some had higher up elf-kind riding on them, Thranduil right now included. Some had wooden wagons attached, Hérion placed the trunk in one of these before marching past his son, daughter and prince.

Thranduil tilted his head, he couldn't help but smile slowly. "I do not think those gathered would dare look at me, like they look at your sister. If they did, I think they'd regret it." He said, though he did glance at the bundle sitting side saddle.

"They blame her."

"We all knew that was going to happen." Thranduil frowned suddenly, "Why are you sounding surprised?"

"I would like to have given the benefit of the doubt to people."

Thranduil shook his head, seeing his father astride Arthion, he nudged his horse into motion. They were moving on. "Everyone was happy here." Thranduil spoke quietly. He was content here, he knew everyone else felt the same. He saw movement out of the corner of his eyes and looked down. "I'm sorry, but they were. I cannot lie to you." Liruliniel looked up at him with sad eyes. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he wasn't going to withhold the obvious from her.

Liruliniel didn't reply, she just pulled the cover more up and over her head and seemed to fashion a hood. Seems she had succeeded in her task; she let out a huff and remained silent. Thalion just looked up at his friend with a knowing frown, he had just offended his sister. The least he could do was humour her just a little. In all honesty, Thalion was slightly half expecting Thranduil, like all others, to neglect allowing Liruliniel to ride. It was rude to think like that, considering, but it wasn't like the prince had much of a choice here.

The trek was relatively silent, though when they travelled through the dying parts of the forest, everyone's eyes were darting around. They hadn't believed what was said, clearly believing it was some sort of fabrication, but now they were all walking through it, they could feel it; that heavy tension, the feeling of being watched, the atmosphere pulling them all down. No one seemed to react like Liruliniel did, but no one looked at ease. Oropher had clearly already scoped out a path, he continued onwards steadfast and didn't cast a glance behind him. He just knew everyone was still there, he didn't need to count heads or call out names. Everyone was present and accounted for and definitely wanting to get further away from the decaying parts of the forest.

There was a whimpered groan from the blanket cocoon, Thranduil looked down. He removed a hand from the reins and peeled back the homemade hood. He thought Liruliniel looked bad before, now she was doubled up almost. He could feel her body slowly curling up on itself, her eyes were a glassy watered down blue, her skin pale and opaque again. She was shivering a little amongst the layers around her, and her head tilted to the side to peek out of the blankets at the forest around them.

"This place is killing me." Her voice croaked out quietly, her distant eyes looked back up at him. "I might die on you."

"I'd rather you didn't." Thranduil responded sternly in a whisper. He was trying to not make it known to those around them how bad this situation truly was. The last thing he imagined she needed or wanted, was everyone to gawp at her in her moment of weakness.

"It's got worse, hasn't it?" Liruliniel asked, in all honesty her vision was a bit dim. She couldn't see too far in front of them, likewise she couldn't see too many features of those which were walking around them. She could only see Thranduil clearly because he was so close. And in the darkness of this never-ending forest, he was the brightest thing she had ever seen. Shining brightly like a star within the darkened blanket of the sky, beautifully alluring, lonely and distant, unattainably just out of reach despite being right there.

Thranduil nodded his head slowly, "Perhaps it best you don't look." He mused, he pulled the blanket hood over her face again and she got the hint. Honestly, what was green healthy trees was now gnarled twisted forms which formally resembled the former. The bark was ashen, grey and blackened almost, the leaves were no longer crisp and bright in autumnal colours. These were about the same shade as the trees on which they grew on.

There was a strange snuffling noise so he looked down, he could only just see her face really. Thranduil just raised an eyebrow, mainly because she had wiggled her hands out of the blankets and took to seemingly braiding pieces of his hair which weren't fully over his shoulders. Rolling his eyes, he didn't pass comment. If it helped her take her mind off their current problems, then so be it.

There weren't many conversations exchanged by the others around them that travelled. For the most part it was all silence, and this silence if anything just made the current surroundings feel worse. That wasn't to say if everyone was talking away, completely ignorant and content that it would be better. But the silence just added to the weighty apprehensive feeling which seemed to be so prominent within this woodland now. Their hope wasn't without some dwindling optimism, how long would it be before they reached their new home, and it stayed like Amon Lanc? Would this encroaching darkness soon be upon them there quickly too? Or would they have to keep it at bay?

There were many questions and variables, but no one exactly voiced their troubles. Having faith that their king was all knowing in this plan...even if it came spurring on from an elf-child. Thranduil however had these thoughts and questions running through his mind, and somehow, he didn't think his father was going to be too forthcoming with answering them. He had enough to contend with did Oropher, without his son interrogating him. But would it be interrogating? Was it honestly too much to ask to know what was really the plan? Thranduil, unfortunately was as in the dark as anyone else. Other than Hérion and Baramaethor, those two probably knew the plan of action and what to do when they arrived at their supposed new home, wherever that truly was.

Thranduil didn't know, this forest was vast, he could see why something had appeared and it took them this long to notice it. There was just so much space, so many places to hide. There were ravines within the forest, nooks and crannies that one wouldn't know were there until it was too late. However, one firmly fixed point which soon came looming out of the darkness, were the mountains. Thranduil did not know how long they had travelled for. It wasn't like the sun could firmly get through the leaves, the rays did try, but they got swallowed up by shadow.

Time was irrelevant to elves; it wasn't like they tired either. The time scale between moving from Amon Lanc to wherever could've been anything from a day to a few. All that was before them was trees, a rough path which was being stamped out by many feet.

Thranduil reached down and peeled the blanket away from Liruliniel's face. "Look," he whispered, his eyes flicked away from hers and back to the sight before them. Liruliniel's face turned, she fidgeted a little against him to peer fully out of the blankets, her eyes widened at the looming mountains suddenly in their path. "Emyn Duir," Thranduil could see Arthion pace about, the young buck clearly trying to figure out what to do here. Oropher, even though he couldn't see his father, Thranduil knew he was trying to figure this obstacle out too. Surely something had been put into place? He could see from the corner of his eyes that Liruliniel was looking hesitant. "Do you think there will be any treasure to find?" He asked, trying to distract her away from lingering negativity.

She smiled slowly and looked up, "Shall we find out?"

Thranduil tilted his head in thought, his eyes scanning the area as they all stood there. "You'll have to get better first." He commented, urging his horse forwards to meet Thalion. He had walked up ahead quite a while ago to walk with his father. Seeing as how he was now coming their way, he must've had some news. "What is going on?" To be fair, Thranduil probably should've been up the front too, alongside his father, he didn't wholly know why he wasn't.

Thalion sighed and placed his hands on his hips, he glanced upwards and even reached up to tap his sister on the shoulder. Liruliniel looked over her shoulder and smiled downwards, even holding her arms out and seemingly asking without words for her brother to get her. Thranduil felt perhaps a little stung by this, but he was rather quick to judge her perhaps wanting to leave his company because Thalion lifted up a flask.

She was thirsty, and she practically sunk back into the blankets, flask in hands as she drunk readily from it. "They're not too high, we could climb over. But we have the wagons, the horses may not like the climb, but they would do it. However," he looked at his sister as she held the half-full flask back out to him.

Liruliniel looked at the sloping, rocky mounds with a small frown. "I could climb that."

Thalion let out a laugh, "Sorry, no." He didn't agree, she could barely walk let alone climb.

Liruliniel shot him a look, "I am feeling better."

"Enough to climb?" Thalion raised a curious eyebrow, he still didn't believe her.

"Yes!" Liruliniel exclaimed lightly, earning a few looks to be sent her way. She wasn't stupid, everyone on horseback, or elk back if your name is Oropher, would need to disembark to not throw the weight off, to better ease the animal up the mountains.

"You have been sleeping most of the journey." Thranduil could see Thalion was close to answering back. He didn't want to buffer a sibling argument, but he was. Liruliniel's sharp eyes narrowed up at him accusingly. He wasn't calling her weak, or incapable, just...she had been laid up and unable to fully support herself for a small while.

Liruliniel lowered her eyes when his just stared back at her. "The alternative is going around, and that will take longer." Taking the long route would surely make everyone more irritable? Liruliniel sighed, Thranduil tried to stop her but before he could, she all but swung her legs over the horse and landed on the floor. And the landing wasn't pretty. Her knees buckled and she collapsed in a heap, her form hidden under the blankets.

Thalion reached down to help, only to get swatted away. Liruliniel looked at him with a frown, getting her legs underneath her, she pushed herself up. She wrapped the blanket around herself and took off walking slowly forwards. "She's too stubborn." Thalion looked at Thranduil, "I better go catch up to her before she falls again."

Thranduil merely nodded and watched his friend dart after his sister. Liruliniel had got quite far on her small, tired legs but even still he doubted hugely she'd be able to climb the mountains. He would have to wait and see. And wait and see he did, it seemed that being away from Amon Lanc and the heaviness that was growing there, Liruliniel was feeling better. After her stumble she easily showed signs of being back to her capable climbing ways. Yes, she still looked weak, pale and distant. But managing to walk and support her weight was a good sign.

Hérion would stay close to her, holding her shoulder in case she stumbled and Thalion was the other side, Thranduil watched the three from a distance and found himself missing the warmth that her cocooned body bought to the journey. Of course, as soon as everyone managed to go up and down, he was climbing back into the saddle, along with the others. Although no one was exactly rushing off and carrying on, another obstacle was in their path. A river. The clear blue waters were fast moving, crashing and churning and the rocks jutting out here and there looked like jagged teeth of some underwater monster.

It wasn't the calm river like they were used to; the Anduin did not have rapids to this scale; it could only be presumed this river was an offshoot of that one but also led elsewhere. It was clean, it was safe, and it seemed to be a steady supply that wasn't tidal or likely to disappear. So, it made perfectly logical sense that Oropher would lead them all up stream, they could see the sky for a bit now as well. They had temporarily left the cover of the forest behind them, and the sky was a slightly darker shade than the turquoise waters to the side of them. White fluffy clouds idly floated by and everyone seemed to enjoy the fresh air which was out here. After a while, the forest had become stifling, even without the darkness seeping through.

When their king stopped, everyone stopped and it seemed like for the second time, Oropher had found them somewhere else to live, and to hopefully prosper. All they had to do was build their home in this area, and then they could settle down again and things could return back to normal; peace would spread throughout them all and this unspoken tension would just evaporate into thin air.

The only thing was, having to construct a home after travelling so far seemed to be a bit of a push, especially seems firstly everyone just looked around this new part of the forest that they were going to call home. But for peace and prosperity, they needed to settle as soon as, or who only knew what other unrest would appear.

But they did prosper, the halls in which were constructed housed them all and travelled further into the woodland around it, but also downwards too; vaulted almost, the staircases being made of sandy coloured stone, some straight others slightly curving downwards depending on where they led to. The corridors were much like those in Amon Lanc, stretching and long, high ceilinged and the pillars which were keeping the roof up were as beautifully carved out of stone as the rest of the palace.

Unlike their previous home, the trees around them were very much part of the establishment too. Roots and boughs were nearly everywhere, the seasonal changes which travelled through nature, also travelled through here. In summer and spring, the leaves and trees were a healthy array of colours; sharp greens and rough brown bark. In autumn and winter, it was a different matter; orange and browns and eventually bare branches, even the bark itself darkened a little with the seasons. The new home in which the elves found themselves in, was a constant change in moods, atmosphere and abundance.

The river that ran through their new home, or at least underneath and connected by a trapdoor, led downwards to a mortal establishment. Esgaroth, the town built on the lake, beyond this town was Dale. Both were connected by the river, but the latter was basically neighbours to a mountain, Erebor.

Admittedly, Oropher may have had ulterior motives for moving, and it wasn't to put space between his kin and those which dwelt in Lórinand. Khazad-dûm and the dwarves which inhabited the mines were too close, seemingly. Escaped one dwarfish settlement only to be near to another. Back in Ered Luin the elves which were under Oropher's guidance didn't exactly interact with the dwarves from there.

Apart from Liruliniel, and often it had been wondered what bad habits she could've picked up from them. For the most part, she hadn't. Her manners were the same as ever, she didn't use foul language, and she definitely didn't use any of their language or terminology; the former would be a huge taboo considering how private dwarves were over Khazdul. But she had spent time with a smith, Bodur, the smith had naturally been well equipped with using the weapons he made and, well, he had no qualms about humouring at the time, a very young and impressionable elf-child.

From memory recalls, Bodur had a brother, Ralgor, and their father was called Rudír. Why Liruliniel was taught who the rest of his family were, she never understood. But she had told him of her brother and her father. But, anyway, the weapons which the dwarfish smith made were of course, for dwarves, far too heavy and big for her, even if she could lift them. Elves were strong, perhaps not as strong as dwarves, but stronger than mortal men. He may have not allowed her to physically get her hands on a weapon, but considering he saw how much she wanted to know how to fight, he had made her a training sword.

And it was this simple little wooden sword that Liruliniel now sat looking down at. She had progressed from those days, she had a real weapon now, an actual weapon; but it was strange to see the thing which had spurred her on. Admittedly her fighting style, and it was clear the more she was trained, had more voracity than tactful skill...not that dwarves and how they fought didn't have tactics, but they could use their stocky builds and strength against an opponent, and they were very resourceful. This wasn't to say elves weren't, but the fighting styles were as different as night and day.

So, it came to be, and became quite clear, just what Liruliniel had picked up from the dwarves of Ered Luin, but it was something that didn't sit well. Liruliniel was used to not agreeing with those around her, it had become the norm, even as she grew up and said she could see oncoming things; no one particularly listened to her. She had such terrible dreams at times, so vivid she could've sworn she was there.

She kept quiet, she kept everything to herself. Training and fighting however, something that she clearly did in her own way, in her own style. The dwarves had never done anything to her, so why it was frowned upon whenever she spoke kindly about them, or even evidently fought like them, was beyond her. They all lived in the same world, surely, they should all be friends and not enemies?

Liruliniel had grown up quite a bit in the years that they had spent here. Peaceful, yes. Peace was good, even if in her dreams on and off she could see something terrible coming. She stayed silent though and continued her goal. She was more determined to achieve it now that people couldn't use her being a child, or small against her. She was slight, but weren't all elves? She wasn't tall-tall, but she was slender and lithe, quick footed and silent on her feet. Strong, yet not utterly overpowering. No, no one could use being a child or small against her.

Her determination was rooted elsewhere too though, Thalion and her father were hardly around. They weren't when she was a child, and she amused herself in her own way. But being initiated fully into the army, Thalion was usually more occupied with new friends, training and being with the other elves in the barracks. Hérion, still being close to Oropher was usually either with the king, in the barracks, teaching and training or...Liruliniel didn't know.

She did know she was alone, that she knew all too well. Thranduil? Well, age creates wedges, and nothing creates wedges more than a romantic interest. Thranduil was engaged, she supposed was the word, intended to a beautiful blonde haired, bright blue-eyed elf from...Liruliniel didn't know. She wasn't jealous. She was sad.

Basically, within the first year or so of moving here, she had lost her brother to his occupation, her father alongside him, and her friend to royal duties and such. Liruliniel was alone, and she could only find solace in not being alone if she was succeeding in her mission. Surely it was impossible for her to feel such loneliness if she was guarding? She didn't know...there was a lot of things she didn't know right now.

Tapping the training sword against her palm, she smiled fondly. It was so small. It was ridiculous really looking at it, yet she still remembered Bodur telling her how to properly swing the thing. Whereas her father always tapped her with his training weapon and commented on her footing. Bodur was definitely more of a proactive teacher, no offence to her father, but Bodur made it fun.

However, when coming to sparring, those against her didn't find it fun. They found it annoying. More often than not, Liruliniel would walk off in a huff. Sheathing her sword as she went, she'd go sit in her lodgings, alone. Elves may not be the most sociable of creatures, but even they suffered from loneliness. She had contemplated escaping the palace and visiting the neighbouring towns.

But then, she didn't think Men would treat her much better. Mortals could be fickle and confusing, so Caladhiel said. The poor long-suffering tutor was more now a friend than anything. Conceding to letting Liruliniel learn through life decisions and choices. It seemed lax, but it was working out fine for her, Liruliniel guessed.

"I mean...it isn't like I'm hurting anyone, is it? And couldn't people strain their imaginations, just a little? Does it matter how you fight, as long as you win? I mean, I'm not aiming for killing my opponent, not unless I need to of course...but if I win..." Liruliniel said distantly, now sitting on a wooden stool and leaning back against thick wood. She lifted up a hand from the sack she had, opening her palm she didn't even look up as the apple in her hand was nibbled on before being fully devoured.

Arthion. The elk, if anything, had grown and matured more as time passed. Time made everyone grow up, even if some didn't want it. The buck was now so tall that if he straightened his neck, Liruliniel would need to crane hers to look up at his face. He was tall, mighty, terrifying yet magnificent. His antlers had shed each time the season came around, and Oropher had constructed them into his new throne. It didn't look comfortable to her, but she wasn't the one sitting on it, so it didn't matter.

The elk had always scared Liruliniel, just a little. But where she failed to find company in the elves around her, them still seeing her as the annoying child - she was still perhaps the youngest elf present still - she had sought out the animals. Unfortunately, horses were not gifted long life and these passed away and were replaced, thanks to trading with mortals.

But Arthion...she had walked into the stable area at one point, her mood was terrible, she remembered it was the day her brother got into the army, which coincidently was the same day Oropher had told the kingdom of his son's upcoming marriage. Everyone she knew was doing things, moving on, and she was stuck.

But Arthion, he had looked at her in just this way, this look, like he knew; he knew, and he understood, and he stood, straight and menacing but the look in his eyes was calm, understanding. He let out a snort, shook his head in his vast stall and leaned his head over the door and took to sniffing the air. Like he was just making sure she was fine, and she could be trusted.

Liruliniel didn't know whether anyone was aware to her sitting here talking to the elk, but she found herself not caring. Looking up, she wasn't surprised his large head was still leaning over the stall. His brown kind eyes looking into her green-blue ones, "I don't have anything else for you." There was a snort, Liruliniel raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, you don't believe me? Well, some friend you are." She rolled her eyes and banged her head against the wood behind her. Looking up, she couldn't help but laugh. Arthion looked funny from this angle, "You miss them too?" She asked softly, he tilted his head and leaned back down to sniff her hair. "Do you mind?!" She reached up and waved her hands gently, her hands stroking against his nose. She didn't do any sudden movements, Arthion wasn't easily startled but she still didn't want him reacting badly to her.

Pushing away from the wall and standing, she held her hands out to the elk, Arthion leaned his head forwards, and she stroked her fingers through his tawny fur. He was so soft, honestly the softest thing she had ever stroked. Smiling and patting his neck gently she turned away, she diverted and gave the horses the rest of the apples in her sack before fully leaving the stables.

Liruliniel took the steps two at a time and looked around, few were walking around and none really paid mind to her. She sniffed and continued walking, this place was a labyrinth, honestly an absolute warren. She was sure anyone who visited would get lost; it took everyone a while to get used to the layout here. It was very different than their other home. Her footsteps quietly came to a stop; there were platforms here which gave brilliant vantage points to the layers in this place. Vanadessë was walking about down below, beside her was Thranduil and honestly, they looked so happy together. But other people's happiness, even estranged friends, was not contagious.

"You need to stop treating him, or else he'll always expect the same treatment each time."

Liruliniel turned and looked behind her, Oropher. She sheepishly smiled, so perhaps someone had noticed her constant visiting. Well, she didn't visit that often, did she? Liruliniel rolled her eyes and watched Oropher make his way to her side. "The feed they have looks so dull though."

"Well, it isn't you eating it, so it shouldn't matter." Oropher replied, tucking his hands behind his back. He was wearing an incredibly beautiful robe, crimson in colour but the inner layer was a rich burgundy, gold details were twirled here and there throughout. Underneath the long-sleeved garment, he wore a tunic which stopped near his knees, both the tunic and trousers he wore were of a similar colour. His long hair flowed over his shoulders, and seems they were currently in spring; he wore an elaborate crown envisioning the season upon his head. It made him taller, as if Liruliniel didn't find her king tall enough.

She sighed though, father and son had such mannerisms, they spoke the same at times and that to her was a very Thranduil thing to say. "He likes apples." She piped up, inwardly slapping herself on the forehead. She sounded like an idiot. Oropher just raised a dark eyebrow and looked down at her from the corner of his eyes. Yet another very Thranduil mannerism which made her stomach drop and heart hurt.

"You still wander." He commented, not much got past him. She still wandered outside the palace walls and explored her surroundings. She couldn't stay put it seemed. "What is it you are looking for, I wonder?" Oropher mused, his eyes looking downwards at his son and soon to be wife conversing, both smiling and looking content within the other's company.

"A reason to be." Liruliniel said, feeling lighter for it. Oropher didn't look shocked by her admittance. Liruliniel however felt a little shocked she actually admitted it.

"You do not wish to be a guard anymore?" Oropher asked, he still remembered a very bright-eyed small elf diplomatically putting her point across for him to contemplate letting her do such a thing. Even though Oropher knew Hérion wouldn't agree.

Liruliniel shook her head, "Hm, no, no, sire. I want that, but until then...I do not have a purpose."

"Must you have one?"

"What am I meant to do? Just...just live here..."

"Is that so hard?"

Liruliniel just stared up at the elf beside her, Oropher just looked calmly back down at her. "I miss them both." She all but blurted out.

He raised his eyebrows and nodded slowly, "Therein lies the true problem. Your father and I had much the same problem, we were close, we both wed and had children, parted ways for a while and then something just bought us back together, your father is one of my closest friends. Your brother will always be your brother, Liruliniel, no matter where he is. Thranduil, a friendship may be hard to sustain there, but it is possible. To be fair, he would probably like the break away from wedding plans." Oropher said with an awkward smile, Liruliniel looked confused. "You will understand when it comes to your turn."

She scrunched her nose up, "I'd have to be discharged from active duty, won't I?"

Oropher shook his head, "No, not necessarily." He looked thoughtful for a long time, and Liruliniel just stood there silent and awkward. "How is your training going?"

The question caught her off guard. "I...well, it's going...?"

"Not an answer." Oropher decided to withhold the fact he already knew exactly how her training was going. "Follow me." He turned on his heels, his hair and robe whipping in the air behind him. Liruliniel watched him with a perplexed look on her face. This was perhaps the longest conversation she had had with anyone as of late, and it was with her king. "Come along," Oropher didn't even look over his shoulder at her, he knew she wasn't following.

Curiously Liruliniel took a step forward before running after him, him and his long legs had much further strides than her own. She caught up and looked questionably up at him, yet Oropher gave nothing away. His face blank and a calm expression and aura surrounding him, Liruliniel sighed, she succumbed to the fact that she wasn't going to get answers from him, how Thranduil like, again.

——

Edited: 20/June/25