"The Queen and I will see you in the parlour now and I strongly suggest you keep nothing from us,"

Thranduil rolled his eyes as he lounged upon the bed listening to the endless scratching of a quill in the next room. "Melleth nin, enough, come to bed!" Even the most patient of kings could be tested when it came to desiring the company of their queens. 

"I am almost finished," Alethris called back.

"You said that when there was still light in the sky. Now the stars are at their brightest," replied Thranduil. He was not prepared to wait for her any longer. Smirking, he rose and went into the adjoining room of their suite. Alethris was sitting at a desk in the small dayroom, busily writing a report to King Elessar. He came up behind her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders and kissing the top of her head. Alethris giggled slightly and he slid his hands down her arms to her ink-stained fingers. Taking care not to smudge her carefully written report, he took the quill from her, putting it back in its holder. "I said, that was enough for tonight," he whispered softly. And began kissing her hair and neck. 

Alethris cooed, then turned on the stool and pulled him close. As they kissed her form changed into one of light and radiance. Thranduil could feel the strength of her Fea enveloping him like a warm blanket. Without breaking away from their kiss, they returned to the bedroom before disrobing and surrendering to the heat of their passion. When suddenly there was a soft knock at the door. 

Thranduil looked deeply into Alethris's silver eyes. "Ignore it Thorwen," he whispered. But the knocking continued. 

"King Thranduil, Gracious Queen, I must speak with you urgently!" Glorfindel's voice called from the other side of the door.

"Sounds important," Alethris whispered to Thranduil and she slowly returned to her mortal form.

"Yes," said Thranduil through gritted teeth. He rose from the bed, begrudgingly put on his bedrobe and went to answer the door. Alethris did likewise and followed him into the day room.

Thranduil flung open the door. "Glorfindel! For what do we owe the pleasure of your company at this hour?" 

Glorfindel's cheeks were slightly flushed, whether, with urgency or embarrassment, Thranduil could not tell but it amused him all the same. "My apologies, King Thranduil, Gracious Queen, but Elladan and Elrohir have returned from the Dúnedain encampment near Annúminas.

"They are back earlier than expected," replied Alethris.

Thranduil frowned, they had been disturbed for this? "Could this not have waited till morning?" he snapped. 

"I am afraid not, it is a matter of urgency," said Glorfindel. 

(under edit)

"Very well," said Thranduil begrudgingly.

Glorfindel was waiting outside the Parlour as they arrived. "Apologies again for summoning you, but this cannot wait," he whispered. Inside the parlour, Elladan and Elrohir were sitting at the table with a hooded figure in ranger's garb, upon seeing Márafea the brothers sprang up and embraced her.

"Did you get word to Halben or Dolenbar?" she asked.

"In a manner of speaking," said Elrohir. The figure stood up, slowly removing their hood. A long dark braid dropping to her waist as her hard grey eyes fell upon Márafea.

"You are older than I thought you would be, do you have the seal?" she said.

Thranduil stifled his amusement.

Márafea glared at her, "Mind who you are speaking to, girl!"

"A female Ranger? I thought they had been banned," said Thranduil.

"That did not stop my father from teaching me the ways, in secret. That I may better protect my people when our menfolk were away, and I am not the only one. Now do you have the seal?" demanded the young woman.

"Another charming young Dúnadan, I see," muttered Thranduil.

"Who are you to make such a demand?" asked Márafea.

"King Thranduil, Queen Márafea, may I introduce," said Elladan. But the young woman stopped him.

"I can introduce myself, I am called Haleth, daughter of Halben, after the Haleth of the old tales. My father's one and only. I come as Wardress of Dolenbar seeking aid for my people. We are under constant attack from Outlaws and the Dunlendings, who have joined them. Five villages have been destroyed so far, the survivors tell of much cruelty and some say a sorcerer leads them. If you are truly King Elessar's emissary, I beg you to petition him to summon an army to aid us. We sent word to him to help us and yet no answer has come," said Haleth.

"And King Elessar has answered, we are here to help," said Thranduil.

"And I am more than an emissary. I am Vice Regent, my husband Co-Regent, and you will show the proper respect!" Márafea replied angrily. Lamps flickered around the room, then she felt Thranduil's hand on hers, "Thorwen," he whispered and she came back to herself again. Haleth looked at Márafea, her eyes showed no fear.

"Apologies Haleth, the hour is late, perhaps this conversation should be continued in the morning. Yes, I have the seal, I will bring it to you in the morning. Please, take some rest after your long journey. Butterbur will find space for you and do not concern yourself with the coin. We will talk over breakfast," said Márafea.

-------------------------------------------

Haleth stepped out into the stable yard as some of the Knights were training in the space. They stopped, eyeing her suspiciously. "We heard a 'Female Ranger' had come in the night, fancy it being you of all people," said one.

"You look surprised Landor, I am the daughter of a Lord, descendant of the Stewards of Annúminas. Did you not think he might teach me the ways?" said Haleth defiantly.

"Have you told them of your brother yet?" asked Landor.

"I have no brother.......he is dead to me," replied Haleth bitterly.

"Yeah, and what will Borion say when he sees you dressed like that?" asked Landor.

"I have not seen him since he went with Halbarad to the south. I know not if he is alive or dead," replied Haleth.

"Haleth?" said a voice behind her.

Haleth turned to see Borion and Gurunam standing behind her, she had rehearsed this moment in her mind, over and over. Yet when it came, all she could say was, "Father has been taken," before she collapsed into Borion's arms, weeping. "I thought you dead."

"I nearly was," Borion replied.

"Things have got much worse, so when we got word the King's Regent had come to Bree, I took to my horse," said Haleth.

"How was Lord Halben taken?" asked Gurunam.

"He got word from Haldar, said he wanted to repent. I begged my father not to go, but he would not listen, Haldar was his son. Then Father was ambushed and taken captive," said Haleth.

"Haldar was my best friend, how could he betray his own father. You must tell Queen Márafea when you next speak with her," said Gurunam.

"I told her, I was my father's one and only," said Haleth.

Borion shook his head, "Haldar, of all people, he must have been bewitched."

"He was weak, now he is an outlaw. I have no brother," said Haleth scornfully.

"You never mentioned a brother last night. What else have you not told us?" Thranduil stood in the doorway, he beckoned to Haleth. "The Queen and I will see you in the parlour now, and I strongly suggest you keep nothing from us," he warned.

"I will come with you," said Borion.

"No you will not, your betrothed needs no distractions," said Thranduil firmly.

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Márafea glared down at Haleth as she sat in her chair in the parlour. "Why did you not tell us this last night? We could have been on our way north by now," she demanded.

"No, we could not, my Lady Queen, we still have audiences today," said Thranduil.

"But we need to rescue Halben, there is no time to waste," said Márafea.

"You know as well as I do, going on an offensive needs careful planning. We will hold a council tonight. Haleth, I assume you know the terrain, do you have a map or can you draw one up before sunset?" asked Thranduil.

"I can make one," replied Haleth.

"I fear we will be too late," said Márafea.

"But King Thranduil is right, an attack must be carefully planned, those outlaws where once rangers, they are skilled warriors. What experience you have as a warrior, Vice Regent?" said Haleth.

"More than you think, child, but perhaps you need a little more convincing. I certainly feel the need for some exercise. My Lord husband, can we not delay the audiences by an hour?" said Márafea.

"Very well, but only for an hour, a King and Queen must fulfil their responsibilities to their people," said Thranduil.

Márafea stood. "Very well then, Haleth, meet me in the stable yard five minutes. I need to let off a little steam." Haleth gave a slight bow and left the Parlour.

"Padir, summon Merenthel and ask her to bring my travelling garments, I will change in here," said Márafea. Padir bowed and left the Parlour.

Thranduil placed his hands upon Márafea's shoulders, "be gentle with her, Thorwen, she is only a mortal."

"She is a Dúnadan, I am a Dúnadan. I will be as gentle with her as you were with me, Thurindaer," said Márafea.

Thranduil smirked, "Oh, not as gentle as that, I hope," he said.

-----------------------------------

Haleth was already waiting in the yard when Márafea arrived. "I hope you are ready for this girl," she said and tossed Haleth a practice stick.

she caught it nimbly, "Your arms, Vice regent," said Haleth with a look of surprise.

"We are here to train not to look at my scars, Haleth, but if you must know. Orcs attacked the Woodland Realm the night I was to be betrothed. The Temple of Morgoth took me captive. They tried to corrupt me, but I would not yield. Even when my life was in peril," said Márafea.

"My apologies, Vice Regent, I meant no offence," said Haleth.

"None taken, now hold your ground," said Márafea. Thranduil and Borion stood watching. "This is going to be rather amusing," said Thranduil.

"Haleth is a pretty good fighter," said Borion.

"How do you know? Has she blooded your nose too?" asked Thranduil.

Borion smiled, "almost on occasion, we used to spar in secret in my apprentice days."

"My queen has trained with Elves since childhood, she will soon see what your Haleth is made of," said Thranduil.

Haleth grunted as her chin hit the cobbled yard, "Do you yield?" said Márafea.

"Neigh," replied Haleth.

"Then get up and begin again," said Márafea.

"This is not fair you have two training sticks," Haleth complained.

"Life is not fair and I fight with Númenorian twin blades, they were my grandmother's," said Márafea. She dropped her practice sticks and unsheathed them, showing them to Haleth.

"The Númenorians were arrogant fools," Haleth snapped back.

"Nevertheless, we are their kin and I would hope we have learned from their mistakes," said Márafea, she sheathed her blades again.

"You fight well, for a girl, show me your blade," said Márafea.

Haleth drew her own blade, placing it in Márafea's hands. Márafea examined its balance, length, and build. "This was forged with you in mind," she said.

"My father is also our blacksmith, he forged it himself, told me it was for Haldar, before he was outlawed," said Haleth.

"You never said why your brother was outlawed, Haleth," said Márafea.

Haleth glared, "Haldar sold the secrets of our people to pay his gambling debts. He betrayed us, he is unworthy of his birth name. I am my father's only true child. I have no brother!"

"This blade is yet to have a name, but it will find one soon enough," said Márafea.

She handed the blade back to Haleth "are you ready to resume?"

"Yes Vice Regent," said Haleth.

"Very well, pick up your stick and hold your ground," commanded Márafea.

"You are right, King Thranduil, your queen has great skill, she will need it when we are in the north," said Borion.

------------------------------------------------

Glorfindel entered the main parlour and found Thranduil relaxing in an armchair reading one of the poetry books Elrond had given him.

"Mai omenina, Thranduil," said Glorfindel. Thranduil smiled and nodded. "I see you are reading Quenya texts."

"Lord Elrond passed them to me before he left for Mithlond," said Thranduil.

"And do you find them useful?"

"Yes, and they are enjoyable to read, I have always been fond of poetry."

He put the book down and looked up at Glorfindel, "May I ask, why did you not go with Elrond into the West?"

"If it were permitted, I would gladly have gone with him. But I have another to serve before I can return to Valinor. It is my duty to ensure your Gracious Queen returns home. But she cannot know, at least for now. She would resent me, fear me even, for her parting from this world will be grievous," said Glorfindel.

"She found leaving Nínimiel difficult and has not been herself since we left the Woodland Realm," said Thranduil.

Glorfindel nodded, "I suppose that is to be expected."

"I see you have volunteered to remain here, with some of the Knights whilst we go North," said Thranduil.

"King Elessar needs a base of law and order, it is not beyond my remit to provide support in that capacity. But securing Annúminas is a matter for the Regents, not I."

"I see," said Thranduil. A noise high above drew their attention, it sounded like something heavy being falling to the ground, followed by the sound of breaking glass. "The Queen," they both said and bolted from the room.