Amari POV:

My reign is ending. I can feel it, my crown that was once heavy upon my head has lost its weight, I fear there is nothing on my head at all now. I looked around me, I saw my people, my mortal subjects, looking out of the windows into the dark woods around us as if looking for eyes of orcs to be looking back at them. Orcs have been growing bolder, daring to attack closer and closer to home, it is only a matter of time now before they strike us down. My people are scared, they are strong but fearful to lose their home. Steps approach my throne, I lift my head to meet the cautious eyes of my captain. He bows and looks up at me, "My Queen," He starts, "There is a large group of orcs off to the north, they appear to be gathering there." I bow my head, My men are tired they cannot fight anytime this week or they will perish. I look out the north window and slowly stand and walk towards him "Captain I do not want the news of orcs spreading among my people, That is all we need to worry about for now. Do not engage them, stay away from the north woods in the patrols, rest the men. I do not want a war or the death of any of my people..." He looked gravely at me and nodded his head before bowing slightly and walking away.

I sighed and walked towards the gardens, it's spring time, the flowers are in bloom and butterflies are flying around me. I smile softly as one lands on my finger, it tilts its little head and i hear it whisper to me in my head that my eyes are sad, my lips curl up a little at the corners at its quiet little voice and see other butterflies begin to swarm around me, landing on my arm and shoulders, voicing they're agreement. I laugh quietly and whisper to them all "I am fine little friends, please go back to your flowers..." the butterflies go away and I continue my walk through the cherry blossom trees and lilacs. I think of what the little butterfly said, am I sad? No, I am worried, worried and alone. I look up at the pale blue sky and wonder how long I have until my blue sky is black with the evil that is coming for me.

I look behind me as I hear my head maid walks quickly towards me, her face is pink as she reaches her hand out for mine. Her eyes are bright with excitement under the wrinkles of old age, she smiles at me as a mother would. I take her arm and walk with her, she chuckles and looks at me "Were you talking to the butterflies again my little elf?" i smile and nod my head, "They are my friends, as are you!" we stop walking and she turns me to look at her, "I have known you since you first became queen, many years have passed now and you are still alone, little one you can not be alone for all the ages." she pushed some hair behind my pointed elf ears, I look down then look at her again, "Mereth Nuin Giliath, is soon upon us, if I invite other elves for a dinner, will you be happy?" She smiles, I thought I saw something dark flash in her eyes, but I push it aside as she nods her head.

I smile and walk into the kingdom, calling for servants to make ready the preparations for the feast that would be here in but three days, I quickly send out the invitations to the elvish rulers and smile as the excitement begins to take hold. With a blue fabric now picked for my dress I look to the food to choose, I begin to voice my choice of a salad when the doors to my study burst open. I stand quickly as my captain bows close to the ground, muttering his apologies, I take a breath and bring him to stand from his kneeling at my feet, "What is it Captain?" He looks at me frightened "My Queen... I looked to the north though you wished me not to, The orcs my lady... Their number has tripled, we cannot survive if they attack us they-" "Leave us!" I yell to the servants, they run quickly hearing my harsh tone, one they have never heard before. When the door is shut I look at my captain, his eyes are filled with fear, I take a breath and begin to whisper "If they have as many as you say then running would be futile, we would never get away... We have no choice but to stay and act as though we are perfectly safe. My people must not worry do you understand? They must be kept safe, and if it comes to a fight... Then we will fight until all of our blood stains this floor and there is not one alive." He looked at me with awe covering his fear before leaving, "You may all come back in now." I call to the servants and we carry on choosing for the feast, the feast for tomorrow.

I walk through the darkened corridors of my kingdom, only the guards and I awake at this hour. I look out a window and see a faint glow of red in the distance. Orcs. I turn away as a tear slips down my cheek. We will not last after the feast... They will come for us... I think of ways to save us as i slowly walk back to my room, I could build a wall of fire around us. No that would frighten my people... A wall of stone? No they would surely knock it down... I sniffle as tears fall down my cheeks, tears I dont dare to stop. Once to my room I fall upon my bed and drift into a sleep filled with dreams of fire and blood.

I wake as the sun shines across my face, greeting me with the promise of a new day. I smile as the day of the feast has finally come, I get out of bed and draw myself a hot bath, filled with sweet smelling oils and rose petals, I soak and wash for what seemed hours before getting out and drying off. I look in the mirror as I pass it, my fair skin pink from the hot water and my red hair sticking the towel around my body. My maids soon come with my breakfast of fruit before brushing my hair out and drying it. I spend the good part of the day making sure everything is just so before returning to my room to change out of my simple robe to get ready for the festival.

Once the last flower is put in my braided hair I stand up in front of my vanity and leave my room, my dark blue dress flowing behind me as I make my way down the hall maids quickly leaving my room behind me, a bell rings, the first has arrived. I place a hand at the base of my throat and feel the cool touch of my ruby necklace, the source of my powers given to me by the Valar, the reason I can talk to and control animals, and even control the elements. The rock comforts me as I near the opening doors, Lord Elrond smiled at me and we bowed in respect to each other. He held my hand in his and smiled "Amari, Gwannas lû and {it has been to long}" I smiled and nodded my head in agreement as the bell rang once more, Lady Galadriel and her husband Celeborn walked in as gracefully as ever. I smiled and gave greetings as the last ruler came in, King Thranduil, my eyes widen as he walked in, his son Legolas at his side, though I only saw Thranduil.

We slowly exchanged greetings, our eyes locked on each other, his eyes blue and hard as ice, yet i saw warmth below that. We all slowly made our way towards the dining hall, my eyes meeting Thranduils multiple times as I stole glances at him, he sat right next to me at the table. Dinner was filled with idle talk of past enemies and threats of new ones, Thranduil stayed quiet through most of dinner, he seemed much more involved with staring at me out of the corner of his eyes. By the time it was time for everyone to depart I was so done with politics and Thranduil was quite drunk, continually muttering to himself and he was the last to leave with his sun, I walked up to Legolas as he helped his still muttering father on to his beautiful elk, 'Legolas, you know you both are welcome to stay here for the night." Legolas turned to me and bowed, his face set with a frown, "My queen, thank you for your kind offer, but my father must return home, Good night and thank you." and then they were gone.

I sighed and walked slowly to my room, the dining room cleaned and a dreamy smile plastered on my face, unable to leave even as I fell into bed and a sleep filled with dreams of platinum blond hair.

Smoke. It fills my lungs, i wake up chocking on it, screams of pain and fear echo in my ears. I quickly get up and grab my sword, running out into the halls and gasping at the sight before me, piles of bloody bodies, both orc and my subjects lay on the ground. I run into the fight, my white nightgown quickly becoming stained with the black blood of orcs. In the blur of smoke I spy a group of children cowering a corner, a boy no older then 16 in front of them holding a sword out in front of him as 3 orcs advance on them, I quickly run towards them, slicing through the orc bodies easily, holding out my hand towards and yelling over the screams "RUN! GET OUT OF HERE AND DONT LOOK BACK!" the oldest nods his head and leads the little ones away, i cover them and kill any advancing orcs, but i become circled by a group and are no longer able to protect them, I glare at the creatures and begin fighting them, their bodies falling at my feet, their falling swords slicing my dress, but I dont care. I only see the dead bodies of my people, barely any left standing, orcs running at leaves me no choice but to start running towards the stables, praying that my horse is still alive. I pass a heap of dead children, a boy no older then 16 at the top, sword still in hand. I scream as I keep running under the smoke filled night sky. I look around me as I run, there is no living man, woman or child, just me. I reach up to throw away my crown, but there is nothing on my head, my crown is already gone.

I arrive at the stables moments before orcs, Im riding into the forest when the reach the stables, tears streaming down my face as I ride away from my burning kingdom, only the victory cries of orcs echoing in the night, but the cries of my people echoing in my ears. My beloved people of Ivia, my kingdom... My home... Gone. I dont know how long I have been riding, the sun is coming up in the sky, I can still see a little smoke in the distance when I turn to look back. I am the last of my people, I should have died with them, I should have kept fighting until I couldnt anymore, but I ran. I pull back the reigns of my onyx horse, Koranis I named her, and dismount falling to my knees, sobbing and screaming. Not caring if anything or anyone heard my sounds of pain. After my sobs subside I lift my head to try and figure out where I am, im in the middle of nowhere thats where I am. I sigh, 'Alright Amari, if you rode west then you can keep going that way and go to Mirkwood... To Thranduil...' That sounds like a good plan I'll go to Thranduil! I quickly remounted Koranis and rode west, as fast as I could.

In my heart I pray that he won't turn me away... I have no one else now...