"She has a name!"

The resentment in her voice hits me with all the force of a raging wind. It takes all my resolve not to flinch away from her. I glance to my right, finding the reason for this argument, staring in utter astonishment at my reaction. Aradan - my closest friend, my one confidant - seems to be completely oblivious to the line he has crossed. It was not his place to ask her...he should not have been so forward! So unprofessional...this was hardly the place. And to think I wouldn't mind...the audacity!

"My apologies Clara," I reply through gritted teeth, "But you do have responsibilities and I was not made aware of your intentions, I could require your assistance?"

Hmph, there that will teach her to be so presumptuous. She does serve me after all, and it is quite unprofessional to assume that you can just flit off to attend parties when you have duties. And these are not just refined parties, these are wild dances! I've been to a few - alright, admittedly more than a few - and they are no place for impressionable young elleth. Especially not respectable elleth from the King's court! Aradan knows this, he does not care for her, if he did he would not put her reputation in jeopardy.

"And do you?" She asks defiantly, and to my utter shock she draws herself up to her full height. Is she challenging me? How dare she! I am a Prince, she show should more respect. But, when she flashes her gaze over mine, I stutter and shrink. The hurt written there is plain to see...and I did that.

"Am I required to serve you?"

"N..No," I scramble over my words, trying vainly to claw back some control, some element of dignity. "I just meant...well you should inform me if you wish to take leave, it is the respectful thing to do."

"But she is?" Aradan suddenly interjects with a bemused look, "I just asked her a few minutes ago, I am certain she would have given you fair warning. But surely you would not withhold from her the chance to socialise and make connections; it must get terribly lonely for you Clara in those halls all day?"

"Oh I don't mind," She sniffs and looks away from me. I begin to prickle all over with embarrassment. Aradan speaks the truth, but damn it all, doesn't she understand? I don't want her to go with him, I don't want her to leave me, I want her to stay. She could get hurt, she could become embroiled in something unsavoury, what if she fell for someone else? What if Aradan pleases her in ways I cannot?

"After all I am employed to serve his highness! I have no right to complain."

My thoughts stop spinning wildly in all sorts of worst case imaginings. Those words feel like ice in my chest. Like she has clawed under my skin and exposed me - and all my pitiful shortcomings. But still, how could she say that?

Is that how you view me?" I bark and lunge forward. I want to grab her and shake her, to scream that this is not me! I don't let people in, to remind her she is the exception...but how could she know that. Instead I snarl out a shocked question; "You believe I view you as a mere servant girl?"

"Well you just said as much!" Her painful cry unsettles me...is that what she thinks? Maybe I was wrong to think there was anything between us! For the love of the Valar, she has no sense of duty, she is being nothing more than a petulant ill-reared child! I am being absurd, I am furious that I can allow one such as this to disrespect me, to violate my privacy like this, and make me appear like the unreasonable one. Who does she think she is, abusing my affections for her so callously?

"I could have you punished for speaking to me in such a tone as that!" I bite back because I cannot think of another threat. I am stung, this was a shock, I did not factor this into the equation. I could have barely coped if she did not feel for me, as I do for her, but to imagine losing her affections to someone else...now that just stings!

"Thranduil!" Aradan warns and steps in between us; "Control yourself! She meant no harm you are the one acting unreasonably!"

It takes all of my patience not to roar at him in frustration. No! I am not the unreasonable one...she is toying with me...both of you are!

"Ada?"

It is second nature for me to twitch towards my son when he calls, especially when he uses such an emotive voice. The kind of tone that alerts me of risk, that decibel that reminds me that whatever I feel is inconsequential, for it comes secondary to his fears.

"Ada do not shout at Clara?" he pleads, giving me a fearful look; "Don't send her away please, she is our friend."

For a brief second I cannot comprehend his request. All I see is the anxiety in his young face. He is a child, he should not be fearful...but then I realise the truth. He is fearful of me, of my temper, of my penchant to push people out of his life. The guilt that hits me like a wave is enough to make me sway, but I still cannot override my fury at the elleth he defends. I try to remain calm, I try to think rationally, but nothing is rational about the overwhelming possessiveness I feel for Clara. My stomach churns, and my thoughts settle on the term 'friend'. No, I am afraid she is not a friend, and she never will be just a friend. It is like asking me to hold a searing hot poker in my hands and claim it does not pain me...an impossible task.

Angrily I turn my wounded pride to Aradan, only to find him glaring back with equal displeasure. I grind my teeth, and feel my features contort in an ugly jealousy. For the first time since I befriended this elf, I find that his presence is unwanted. He is tall, strong - admittedly handsome for one of the Silvan - and everything I am not. He is patient, cheerful, understanding, tolerant...ugh he sickens me.

"Clara?" Legolas' anxious cry has me jerking away from Aradan, turning my back on him, and refusing to look into his questioning eyes. I do not want his sympathy, nor do I need to behold his triumphant gloating. Instead I fix my expressionless gaze on my son as he attempts to fix yet more of the damage I cause.

"Clara do not go, Ada does not mean to shout."

Yes son, I did mean it. You speak to generously in defence of me.

"I know sweetpea I know," She replies in that soft and foreign lilt. Tears of shame and hurt already haunt her too pale features, yet still she does not attempt to turn my son against me, though I imagine anyone lesser would; "But you just go play with your Ada for a little while, and I will wait for you in the garden we passed on the way in? Hmm is that okay?"

"Legolas!" I call, or admittedly growl out in a less than welcoming voice, but I cannot stand to hear the formality in her tone.

I've reminded her of her station, of her debt to me, of how I have more control over her than she can comfortably accept. She would still be lying in that Healing Hall, with not a possession to her name, if I had not saw her talent and potential. She should remember that from time to time, it might cool her defiant heart, and make her more thankful!

"I will be in the nearby garden, please summon me when you require my presence my lord," she calls to me with a deadened voice, but I am no fool, I see the spark of hope in her eyes...a hope that I'll repent of my anger...she has clearly misjudged me.

I do not move a muscle, I simply look through her, like she means nothing. It is something you learn in royal circles, and in military circles. You cannot feel for everything that provokes emotion in you, it would only break your heart - like I sense Clara's is at this very moment. She is young, and she feels too much, she'll learn to separate herself from her emotions one day...just like the rest of us. Maybe when she does there might be a chance for us, until then I have no need for this excessive drama in my life.

I don't even look at my son, as I grip his wrist and turn him away, leading him out of the barracks. I have not the faintest idea where I am taking him, but I'm not staying here!

"Thranduil?" Aradan calls, and I hear his approach; "My lord...you wanted to train for the afternoon, do I assume you have changed your mind?"

"You assume much!" I seethe and twist my head so I lean threateningly into him.

"I beg your pardon?" He raises an unimpressed eyebrow, and I feel my lip curl into a snarl at his brazenness. "Mellon, you know it takes more than your temper and your words to threaten me. We've been brothers in arms far too long for that nonsense...you are upset over the elleth...yes?"

"Aradan!" I growl, as I feel the heat rise up my neck and burn my face. "It is none of your business!"

"Ah, I think the prince doth protest too much," He chuckles and I think I feel sick to my core - he knows! He knows and yet he still pursues her. "She is a lovely young thing, so bright, I have not seen a life burn so vividly before. It's like she was meant for this life, no? I wonder what it would be like to feel that fea-"

"Your words are disgraceful captain, your thoughts improper...do not speak of a lady of my father's court in such a manner! At least not before your Prince!" I bark furiously, cutting him off before his words ignite my jealousy further. It's claws already dig too deeply into my heart; "You are too bold Aradan...you forget your place."

"I am of the opinion it's not my boldness or my familiarity that threatens you, my lord," Aradan smirks, but bows deeply in faux respect. I feel my skin prickle and my chest tighten at his musings; "I believe that it is your own heart that you fear. But, alas, I'm not but a young ellon who has not yet known love...maybe I am not qualified enough to make such an assumption."

"As I said, you assume too much," I reply through gritted teeth, as I watch him shrug carelessly before sauntering off.

"Well then, I shall assume we are finished for the day," He replies cheerily, then stops to regard me; "And I'll assume I'll be seeing you at the gathering then...may the better elf win."

My eyes widen and my jaw slackens, in a rather unbecoming fashion. It takes a few perturbed glances from passers-by for me to rectify my unsightly appearance. Gruffly I snatch Legolas' hand again and stride off in a directionless path.

"Ada...Ada, slow down," Legolas whines breathlessly, as I turn yet another corner and practically run him along it. "Ada my feet hurt, and I'm thirsty, and where are we going?"

"I do not know child, stop asking ridiculous questions," I snap back, because I don't know and I just want to run...I could run...I could take him and run away. We could leave this place, we could go into the wider forest, they'd never find me. I know it too well. I could raise him away from duty, responsibility, and title. We could have freedom to do as we wish.

"Ada! Ada, why are we in the stables...I don't want to go riding today...I want to stay in the caves," Legolas mumbles anxiously and pulls on my hand, alerting me to the fact that we have indeed ran the whole way to the royal stables. "Ada, I'm thirsty...and my feet hurt...I want to go back now, I want to find Clara in the garden."

"Well you do not always get what you want!" I say with a rather petulant voice, as I pause and consider our surroundings...Valar forgive me, I am a terrible excuse for a father.

"But...I'm thirsty," He begins to sob, great big fearful sobs, as he rubs his eyes with his sleeves.

"Ai child! Stop crying," I groan and hoist him up onto a hay bale. "Sit there, and do not move a muscle until I come back. I'm only going to the well in the courtyard."

Obediently he nods, and I dart to the well, because I daren't leave him for a minute...I don't trust him to keep to his word. He'll be climbing the nearest barn roof if I'm not quick enough.

I find the well, and borrow one of the tin cups left by a stable hand - I'm sure he will not mind. Hastily I draw the water, fill the cup, and spill most of the contents in my rush back to my elfling...I was never very good at this care taking business. I don't know what provoked me to think for a second that I could take care of him, on my own, in the wild. I'd probably lose him down a ravine through careless parenting, or forget and leave him up a tree for the night. I really do need all the help I can get, and as much as it burns me to admit it, I need Clara.

"Here," I mutter as I shove the tin cup under my son's nose. His chin is against his chest, and his eyes downcast, as he fidgets with his sleeve. Notable sobs still emanating from him, which grinds my patience.

"Are you thirsty, or, are you not?" I say with an irritated sigh, and when he doesn't answer, I pull out his hand and force the cup into it; "Fi-what is this?" I balk and stare at the welt on his hand. "Where did you get this?"

"I would not sit still in lessons," he sniffles, but gingerly takes the cup from me. "Clara didn't like that Lady Ithril did that, but I overheard Grandpa say if I misbehave she has to. So Clara brought me to see you, because I asked her, I told her it would make me feel better if she did. Don't be angry at her Ada...it's my fault."

"Your Grandpa says an awful lot," I reply and twist away to lean on the bale beside him.

I scowl furiously at the ground, as I go through the various ways in which I could happily mark the skin of both Ithril and Adar for allowing this. He is my son, I will determine his punishment - not some high born elleth, or my Adar! Oh I could choke them both, I do not care if he deserved it, I do not care if it is the done thing. My Naneth never allowed a teacher or nursemaid to lift their hand to me - she did it if it was absolutely called upon, but not them. She used to tell me a punishment is more effective when delivered by someone who loves you, for they punish to guide you and help you grow, someone who has no such feelings only encourage resentment and fear. Adar forgets this, he forgets everything - or at least that is how it feels, for he never speaks of her.

"Ada...are you angry at me?" Legolas asks timidly, and I lift my head from my hand to observe his fearful face, so full of anxiety.

"No," I shake my head and give a small smile; "No ion nin, I am not angry at you...just disappointed in myself."

"Because you shouted at Clara?" He asks, and then quickly diverts his eyes; "Why did you get angry Ada? She is your friend, you are not supposed to treat friends like that...at least not when they are good like Clara."

"No, I suppose that wasn't very nice of me," I reply and nudge his shoulder with mine so he looks at me; "I'm sorry, you know that don't you? I did not mean to make you, or Clara, sad."

"I know," Legolas giggles softly and props his head against my shoulder. "But you probably should say sorry to Clara, she doesn't know that sometimes you don't mean to shout. She doesn't know you like I know you."

"No, she absolutely does not!" I laugh as I scoop him up and toss him in the air, delighted with the shrieks of laughter he returns...at least I have salvaged that much. I pull him close until our noses bump before whispering; "I will have no closer friend than you my little leaf, you are my whole world, don't you ever forget that."

"Me too Ada," He sniggers and pats my scarred cheek, without even the slightest hesitation. "But, Clara has nobody too, and she really really is a lot of fun. I would not mind if you let her be our friend as well."

"Do you think she would even want to be my friend after how I behaved?" I ask, feeling more than just a pang of guilt...I feel absolutely vile about my jealous actions!

"Hm, I think she would," Legolas tilts his head to think and then nods briskly. "She would forgive you if you said sorry, and if you took her dancing."

"Dancing?" I practically choke on the thought, if I didn't know better I would say my little elfling knows all to well what he is doing. "And where would we go dancing?"

"At the party Aradan is taking her to," he reminds me with an innocent expression. "She loves dancing Ada, and so do you. She will forgive you if you dance with her, and promise not to shout at her again."

"You, ion nin, are full of mischief," I warn playfully and catch his nose, making him giggle deviously. "Alright, I will go to the dance and apologize, and maybe - if she is not too angry - she will dance with me."