TURWAITHIEL

"My lady, we have arrived."

I arouse from the fitful slumber, realizing I had fallen asleep with my head resting on Lord Aerendyl's shoulders. Upon feeling the warmth of him against my cheek, I jolt forward, almost toppling over the horse. I did not remember how I even got into such a position. I look at him with bewilderment and he seemed to chuckle at my expression, causing my cheeks to burn.

"You had fallen off your horse on the way here," he explained. "You had not told us about your injury. You had caught a fever and was soon in a grave state. Luckily, we had just enough medicine to keep you alive until we reach Mirkwood. You should go to the healing rooms immediately." I let out the breath I was holding, disappointed with myself and how easily I let my guard down. I had forgotten I was injured. Then a thought popped in my head. Who had healed me? My hands go instinctively to the wound on my abdomen, feeling the thick bandage there. I blush deep red, realizing the only person who probably had the knowledge of healing me was Lord Aerendyl himself. Lord Elrond used to be the one to heal me before I had learned myself.

"Your thoughts are quite heavy, my Lady." He comments and I turn my head slightly to face him. We seemed to close. Too initmate. I shift uncomfortably as the gates of the palace came to view. Elves were stationed outside and it seemed to me that the protection over the palace had increased. Something had happened. Lord Aerendyl stopped his horse and unmounted it, offering his hand to me as I unmounted after him. Two guards stepped forward to meet us by the palace borders.

"King Thranduil is not accepting any visitors or traders at the moment," one of them says and his eyes fall on me and they burned familiarity.

"Lady Turwaithiel," he seemed to say, surprise in his voice. I stepped forward, feeling the tiredness come back and stumble softly. Lord Aerendyl's hands grip my waist, but it did not feel like an intrusion or a violation as he helped steady me.

"She is injured," he began and one of the guards step forward to take hold of me. The other watches my companions warily. Lord Aerendyl levels his gaze before producing the letter which the guard takes. "If I were you," he said, more firmer this time. "I would take her to the healing rooms immediately." The guard holding me nods and helps me walk towards the palace doors, I glance back at Lord Aerendyl who waves at me with a wide smile. He was odd. Beside him stood the red haired man, I grimaced at the sight of him then remembered Legolas.

"Legolas," I practically breathe, feeling the pain in my abdomen ignite. "Is he...is he here?" I asked as we entered the palace.

"Yes, My lady." I breathe out a sigh of relief before I let the pain take me and darkness was all I could see.

-

I wake up to the familiar smells of a healing room. The distinct smells of herbs and spices. I close my eyes, taking the comfortable scent in before I heard voices.

"When will she awaken?" It asked. Legolas. My eyes snap open and I could see his faint outline outside the slightly opened door. I felt my heart drop at the sight of him. I was relieved and was nervous at the same time, remembering the desperate kiss we had shared. Did he mean it? Or was it because of the moment? I had not thought about this for I had not expected to live through what I had ran into.

"In a few hours, my lord." The healer replied and I saw his head move. I shut my eyes quickly, feigning sleep. What a cowardice move! I heard him enter the room, his soft feet barely making any noise. I felt his hands on my face and I try my best not to move even though his touch seemed to burn right through me.

"I never should have let you go," he whispered quietly before I hear someone else enter the room.

"My Lord, your father wishes to see you." The voice informed and I waited for the moment his touch left my skin, but it never did even when I heard him walk out the door but not before leaving a soft kiss on my forehead. When I was sure he was gone I opened my eyes and realized I was on the verge of crying. I remembered the letter. I remembered the reason for Lord Aerendyl's visit. King Thranduil was planning his sons's marriage. I felt my chest tighten at the thought.

"Why do you not wish to speak to the prince?" A familiar voice asks and I turn to find the elder healer watching me from the corner of the room. She had an amusing look in her eyes but her smile was not present. I let out a sigh before shaking my head softly.

"I do not know what to do. I am scared." I answer honestly, my voice betraying the strength I pretended to hold. I hear her sigh before walking towards me.

"You will heal quicker if you did not carry such a heavy thought," she began as the door opened again and I held my breath in case it was Legolas but found Mantheniel instead. She looked positively awful. I sit up, about to ask her when she throws herself on me, her arms almost suffocating.

"You do not know how worried I had been!" She exclaimed and I feel her crying, her face buried in my hair. I felt the need to cry as well as my arms wrapped around her, noticing the lack of thickness. She had grown thinner. I pull away from her, staring her down.

"What happened? You do not look so well," I tell her and she laughs in between tears, shaking her head.

"I would ask the same thing, my queen." Lorelei added, her hands on Mantheniel's shoulders. "Are you not supposed to be in bed?"

"Oh, Lorelei. I had been bedridden for days!" Mantheniel complained and I had to wonder why that was.

"Thranduil will not like seeing you out and about, my lady." Lorelei argued and I watched as Mantheniel bit her lip, her eyes trained on the door. They had worry in them and... Fear?

"You should go back," Lorelei informs her and she sighs, nodding reluctantly and left after giving me another hug. I worried for her and when she was out of the room, I turned to Lorelei for answers.

"A lot of things has happened since you left," she said quietly, as if the walls had ears. "Many things. The darkness in the forest, I fear, has entered the palace walls."

"Thranduil has been sending out more and more of his soldiers to find a shadow of some sort that had attacked the queen days ago. I had not seen Lindethiel or Falasdir since they had brought back the prince. Even the recruits are beings sent out! Young as they are," she continued. "It is taking a toll on the King. We do not know what is wrong with the queen but she is barely eating. Sleep walking and she is experiencing the worse kinds of night terrors. Poor dear," she was lost in thought for a moment before her expression grew grave. "I believe... I believe the dark shadow never left the palace." Her eyes turn to me and I catch the fear in them. She shakes her head softly as tears formed in her eyes. "There is also a strange strain between the king and the queen. Which is probably worsening her condition. If only that elven family would leave! But now more of them arrive, with men!" She tsked and proceeded to arrange bottles in the drawers as I swing my feet across the bed. I had to see everything for myself.

"Are you sure you should be out?" She asked me hesitantly as I stood up from the bed. I give her a shrug before a nod.

"I have to do something," I tell her, stopping by the doorway. "If ever there is something I can do." We share the same solemn look and I walk out the healing rooms, finding that most of the cots were occupied. Something bad had definitely befallen the palace. I walk the halls, noting the eerie silence of it all. I make my way to the Royal Family halls and find one of the elven maids exiting a room.

"Excuse me," I call and her head snaps up at me in surprise. "Can you tell me where I may find the queen?" I asked and her eyes dart everywhere before she gives me a small nod and points to the door she had just exited. I frowned. I may not know the place by heart but I knew for a fact that was not where the king and queens chambers were. I give her a soft nod of gratitude before she scurries off. I knock on the door and when I hear no reply, I push it open and step in quietly. There, I see a sight that seemed to make my heart drop to the ground. Mantheniel was hunched down at the side of the bed, her face buried in her hands and from the shaking, I knew her to be crying.

"Mantheniel?" I whispered and she glances up at me, surprised, and quickly wipes the tears off her face.

"Turwaithiel, I did not hear you come in." She says and she stands up. I notice her loss of weight this time. It was visible through the ill fitting gown.

"What is wrong?" I asked. "If you do not tell me the truth I will force you to."

She laughed softly at my attempt at a threat as she gestured for me to sit next to her and that is when I notice it. I stopped dead on my tracks and watched her warily.

"Mantheniel..." I began my eyes studying her. "Are you with child?" The question comes out like a whisper. Like it was something I was not supposed to talk about it. I catch the surprise in her eyes before she averts her gaze.

"Yes," she answered grimly. Not the way I would expect a future mother should sound like. She was hiding something. I walk over to her, taking a place on the floor by her feet and took her hands in mine.

"What is wrong?" I asked and her eyes turned to me, dull and teary. "You can tell me." I encourage her and she shook her head and something hits me.

"Thranduil does not know," I say and do not wait for her to confirm it because she did not need to.

"Why are you here? Isolated?" I asked, feeling the anger rise inside me at how Thranduil has mistreated her. He doesn't even know.

"I chose to be here," she admitted quietly as her eyes dart across the empty room like Lorelei had. "There is something I must tell you," she continued, her eyes now focused on me. "Mithrandir had come to me with a warning. A warning about me getting pregnant. There is a reason why Drow elves are not many. They have difficulty during pregnancy. Our emotional states are highly affected during it and when we give birth, it is usually not a beautiful sight. Most mothers die or their child dies. It is because of the aggressive emotions that seem to surface the most during our... Our transformation. I will lose myself, again."

"Mithrandir had warned me about it but it was already too late. I was already with child and was planning to tell Thranduil when Mithrandir came, baring the news. I was devastated and I was scared," her voice shook and her grip on my arms tighten. "Then everything started to change. He started to change. He became less affectionate and when he would be affectionate it would only last for a few moments before he turns placid again. I do not know what is going on and I had thought, maybe if he knew about the baby he would become normal again. He would become the Thranduil I had come to know and love and not the empty shell I see everyday. I can barely remember his touch."

"In the end, I could not tell him because then..."

"He'd find out about Mithrandirs warning," I continued for her and she nods solemly. My heart ached for her and my anger flared because of Thranduil. How dare he?

"Something is wrong with him," Mantheniel says quietly after a while. "He seems... Detached somehow. When I look at him, his eyes are empty. Do you think it has something to do with the shadow that had attacked me?" She asked but mostly to herself. I hated seeing her in such a state. A woman who was once admired for her strength and courage reduced to a wife worrying about her selfish husband.

"Mithrandir warned me about what my child would bring," she added quietly. "He warned me." I squeeze her hands, feeling my own heart ready to explode.

"Mithrandir is not as reliable with news as one might think," I tell her. "Remember what Lord Elrond use to say about him." I added and was relieved to see a smile on Mantheniel's face.

"You should rest," I tell her and help her on her bed. "I will come back later."

"Where will you go?" She asked, her voice already halfway to dreamland.

"Where the answers may be," I replied quietly as I stepped out of the room. I breathe out a sigh of relief and straighten my back with determination. I walk to the throne room, where Thranduil will most likely be. What I had not anticipated was to walk into a private meeting. I stepped into the throne room to find Thranduil and a few others standing in a circle. They had not noticed me come in as I stopped by the entrance. I see Lord Aerendyl standing there, his armor glinting under the light. Beside him stood the red haired man and beside them was an ellon and an elleth. I watched as she seemed to radiate a bright smile to Legolas whose face remained rigid but pleasant. I take a step closer, hoping to hear better of their conversation.

"I hope we are not imposing," the ellon, who looked older than most, seemed to say. "But I do hope you make up your mind soon. The marriage will benefit both realms." I felt my heart sink at the word 'marriage'. My eyes fall on the elleth and I felt a pang of Jealousy and a strong urge to just punch everyone in the face, even Legolas who no doubt gives her a polite smile.

"I have already made up my mind," Legolas seemed to reply. "I am sorry but my heart-"

"Is indecisive as of the moment." Thranduil says, his voice low and cold. The father and son stare at each other for a moment before Legolas averted his gaze.

"Very well," the older ellon seemed to say cheerily. "We shall just have to wait then. Maybe you need more time to get to know each other better. I cannot complain to that."

I wanted to protest but instead I managed to slip a little and gain all of their undivided attention. My face burned bright red as I got caught, eavesdropping.

"I-I was...uh... Looking to have an audience with the king but I see that you are all busy so I shall come back another time," I quickly turn away, sparing a glance at Lord Aerendyl who had an amused grin on his face and at Legolas who seemed the most surprise to find me there. I practically fly across the halls, putting much distance between me and them but apparently, I still could not compare to the speed of the elven prince as he managed to catch up with me. I felt his grip on my wrist and I try to wrench it free, making him tighten it. I did not look at him for the fear of what my eyes may show.

"Turwaithiel?" He says and I felt like yielding. I wanted to yield but held fast to my ground.

"Turwaithiel," he says again. Softly this time. His tone that of someone relieved. He pulled on my arm and managed to turn me around so that now I had no choice but to face him, but my head remained downcast, watching the shiny flicker of his boots. I back away from him and closed my eyes in defeat when I felt a wall behind me. With my one hand pinned to my side, I remained focused on the ground.

"Turwaithiel," he whispers, almost pleading. Please, stop saying my name like that. My eyes flickered upward to his and his face looked almost as if he was in pain. I feel the warm breath of his relieved sigh travel down my skin and I fought the urge to surrender. He watched me hesitantly, a question on his lips. I was hurt. I was in pain. I felt like a fool caught in my own trap. He was getting married. By his fathers orders. I never knew Thranduil to be like that. What I did not understand was why Legolas had led me on. Led me on with that kiss. So it was just because of the moment?

"Will you not say anything?" He asked and I saw the pain in his eyes and I wanted to believe it. I wanted to believe he did not play me for a fool.

"What do you want me to say, my lord?" I asked, attempting to sound noncholant. "Congratulations?"

He lets out a frustrated sigh as he rested his forehead against mine.

"Do not say that," he says and I remain still, wanting nothing but to pull him close to me. "Please, when were you going to tell me you were awake?"

"As soon as you told me you were getting married," I countered and I felt him shake his head.

"Do you still not get it?"

"Get what? That I had been chasing an impossible dream? That I had wished that maybe you had actually gone after me? That you actually-" before I could finish my sentence he had caught the words out of my mouth as he slammed his lips against mine. I yielded. Just the feel of him was enough to send even my most logical thoughts away, and his taste was enough to make me feel like the world had crumbled beneath me and he was the only thing holding me up and I never, never, wanted to let him go. He pulled away and our breaths mingled with each other as I desperately tried not to pull him back to me again.

"I thought I did a fairly good job at making it clear the last time," he jokes and I managed to crack a smile before a frown quickly replaces it again.

"But what about your father? He-"

"Does not rule my heart, Turwaithiel. He never has and he never will," he says with a small smile of his own. "Besides, I have always defied him. I am not about to change that now."

"Well now," a voice calls gaining both of our attentions. It was the red headed man.

"I had a vague idea you were close with the royal family," he says. "But I did not expect you to be that close."

---

Authors: oh snap.