Author's Note:

Hello again! So I'm back, and brought Thranduil with me, I sure have missed him!

This is going to be a sequel for my previous fanfic "Thranduil", it doesn't really continue the other story since there was not a lot left to go with, this one has a different storyline, I'm still figuring it out a bit.

So feel free to review and give opinions, I'm looking forward to read them.

Hope you enjoy :)

Night was falling slowly upon the earth when, a company of elves returned home in a silent march. The battle had been won, but does anyone ever really win a battle? Their hearts did not feel victorious, to think of all his companions who did not survive the terrible attacks of the enemy.

The forest surrounded them, and they were almost invisible amidst the tall, dark trees. Despite being early spring the forest seemed old and tired, there were no signs that life had returned alongside with the spring time and its breathing was heavy, like the panting of a wounded animal.

At the head of the company, in his white horse, rode Thranduil King of Mirkwood. He wore his gleaming armour and his long blond hair fell over his shoulders. Despite his majestic figure, the king seemed desolated. He and his men had fought valiantly, until they finally defeated the hordes of orcs, who came from Dul-Guldor to attack his kingdom, but many had to pay the higher price in order to protect the realm. Thranduil mourned the casualties, but above all he mourned for the terrible times in which they found themselves. His elven instincts could feel darkness breaking upon the earth, the break of day was no longer pure and clear and mornings came loaded with a suffocating weight and a grey fog that grew each passing day.

The sun had set completely behind the distant mountains, leaving only a trace of red light in the sky, as if announcing all the blood that had been shed, all the lives that were not spared. The king closed his eyes and inhaled longly, absorbing the perfume of the old forest. He then wished fervently that all evil left the earth, that all hearts be filled again with love and compassion, that his heart be filled with love again, because he felt that he no longer had one beating in his chest. In that instant a strong wind ran through the forest, shaking the leaves in the trees. The king smiled, he knew the forest had heard his call.

Shortly after, the company arrived to the gate of the king's palace, where many women and children waited anxiously the warriors'. The men left their horses and their weapons and ran to their families with open arms, among many laughs and tears. Thranduil looked at the whole scenario, and lamented that there was no one there to receive him. A pain loomed in his chest violently and he hasted to enter the palace and escape all the commotion. He walked through the gates passing by the crowd that congratulated him for the victory and thanked him for bringing their men to safety. But the king did not stay for the commemoration. What was there to celebrate after all, when evil still hung in the air with such presence, and when so many lives had been sacrificed, probably in vain?

That night the king could not sleep. The cold wind came through his bedroom window and caused him chills. He got up and looked out into the vastness of his kingdom. The moon illuminated the trees making them look like pale ghost agitated under the power of the northern wind. Thranduil felt an enormous urge to leave to the forest, under the moonlight, and walk without stopping, until he could not walk anymore. He was exhausted but more in his soul than in his body. He looked at the stars that shone oblivious and white in the sky.

"All purity must certainly have left the earth, now only by looking at the sky can we remember how it is precious and beautiful" murmured the king.

But suddenly a noise coming from the hallway took Thranduil from his thoughts. Nothing substantially loud, it was only a slight drag, almost imperceptible, that caught his attention. The elf approached the door to hear closely. There was certainly something on the other side, but strangely Thranduil could not identify what kind of creature it was, since its movements were short and dragged like those of a small animal. Thranduil opened the door slowly to come across a small child sitting on the ground next to the large door of his bedroom.

The king raised both eyebrows in surprise, it was a little girl that looked at him frightened by his presence. Her eyes were green and puffy from crying, her small round face showed such sadness and dread that the king felt his heart falling at his feet.

"What are you doing here? Are you lost?" Thranduil asked in the most calming voice he could use, lowering himself to her. It was with great astonishment that he noted that the girl was not an elf, but a human.

The little girl started to pull away in fear, but she looked exhausted. She was almost just a baby, and could not understand a word the elf said. The king looked at her for a few moments, poor creature sitting on the floor shivering, and rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Not knowing what else to do Thranduil stretched his arms towards the baby, she did not resist and the elf took her in his arms gently. The girl was momently fascinated by the king's long hair, but as she felt his warmth she laid her head on his shoulders and fell fast asleep.