I groaned internally again as my horse stumbled over another bump. We had been riding for several days now and I suppose the thing about Elves is they never get tired. Or if they did it never showed on their impeccable masks. Regardless, my butt was unbearably sore and I needed some distraction.
Thranduil had thankfully not spoken to me at all after the rather speedy ceremony. I hadn't even been given a chance to say goodbye to my father and it worried me. He had become a shell of the man he once was and I didn't know if he would last long by himself. I made a mental note to make sure I visited him as soon as we got to our destination. Speaking of which, if Thranduil was the prince of Greenwood, why exactly are we leaving said woods? Judging by the cold reception of his parents, I had begun to suspect that Thranduil had been exiled or something. I was pulled from my thoughts when Thranduil finally spoke up.
"We are halfway there. We will rest here tonight," he commanded, gesturing towards a small clearing. I could have hugged him if he wasn't so awful for that piece of news. Coeleth quickly made her way to me and gently helped me off the horse. Gods, everything hurt. I winced and uncomfortably walked towards the small tent. Coeleth pulled me inside after her and I marveled at the pretty pattern on the inside. It was a deep blue marked with silver swirling patterns all over. There was a single cot and a small table where some bags rested. Coeleth was rummaging through the bags and pulled out a white night dress. She put it on the bed and made to help me undress.
"That's okay! I can do it!" I insisted pulling away. I quickly took off the uncomfortable riding gear and slipped into the soft dress. I smiled at the small little comfort and reminder of home. I half expected to turn around and see Papa there with some hot cocoa, but instead I found Coeleth gesturing for me to sit on the bed. I sighed and obliged her. She began to gently comb through my hair and work through the many tangles. We were both silent as she worked and the Elven woman seemed content with that although I was itching to ask her questions.
"Coeleth, why are we leaving Greenwood? Aren't we supposed to live there?" I couldn't see her, but Coeleth seemed to stiffen.
"Prince Thranduil lives in Lindon. He only goes to Greenwood for official duties," she said simply.
"But he's the prince of Greenwood," I stressed stubbornly. Coeleth clucked and came to stand in front of me.
"Of course he's the prince of Greenwood. He simply lives in Lindon." Coeleth repeated.
"Yes, but-" I began.
"That's quite enough questions I think," a smooth voice interrupted. To my annoyance the hair on my neck rose a little as I turned to lock eyes with his startling blue ones. Coeleth glanced between the two of us, bowed, and quickly excused herself. I halfheartedly considered asking her to stay but I knew she would refuse.
Thranduil leisurely slipped off riding shirt and pulled on a looser tunic. With eyes still watching me he began to take of his pants which was when I sharply turned around. I could hear him chuckle lightly.
"What are you doing?" I hissed.
"Come, come. Don't be shy. We're married after all." Thranduil purred as he waltzed his way towards me. We were now facing each other and I gulped as he began to lean in. His eyes remained trained on mine as his face drew closer and closer. It was simply inches from mine and I could taste our breaths mixing.
"This is hardly as scandalous as it could be," he whispered. I scooted back defensively as he matched me with a step forward.
"You haven't answered my question." I pointed out.
"I'm just visiting my dear wife," he said innocently. He leaned in close to my face again and this time I was prepared. I pulled my head back and quickly snapped it forward in a sharp head butt. Thranduil yelped in surprise and drew back.
"What are you doing here?" I repeated, this time with more force. Thranduil was glaring at me furiously although his face remained in a mask.
Putting my hands on my hip, I demanded, "What did you say?".
"Yes what am I doing in my own tent I wonder?" He spat out and shuffled away searching for something. I watched him for a moment before processing what he just said.
"Why do we have to share a tent?" I sniffed unhappily.
"Because we're married. Do try to keep up, I can't possibly survive a stupidity otherwise," he said smirking at me before producing a mirror from his bag. I had to stifle a snort as he began to inspect his forehead muttering something about "bloody women" and his imminent revenge. I glanced around and the gravity of the situation dawned on me. There was only one cot in this tent. I eyed Thranduil as I inched towards the cot slowly. While he remained preoccupied, I quickly settled myself into the bed. There was no way I was sacrificing this comfort after 3 days on that god forsaken animal.
"What are you doing?" Thranduil asked, turning around to face the cot.
"Me?" I countered, feigning innocence, "I was just really tired so I think I will go to sleep first. Be a dear and put out the lamp please." I smiled proudly at myself and pulled the blanket over my head. Thranduil quickly yanked it back off so I was forced to look at him.
"Yes, that's all very good, but why are you on my bed?" he growled.
"Your bed? Surely it does not have your name on it." I countered. He practically rolled his eyes.
"I suggest you relinquish the bed and go sleep over there." He said gesturing to a small corner of the room. I raised an eyebrow at him in challenge and simply turned around, snuggling tightly with the blanket.
"No." I said simply.
"Now."
"Not happening."
"You will do as you're told."
I scoffed. "Even my father doesn't tell me that. Now please stop acting like a child! I am sore and tired and going to sleep." For a moment there was silence and I thought that I had won. Then I felt two hands grab me and I was suddenly lifted off the cot.
"Hey!" I shouted as he dumped me unceremoniously on the ground. I tried to run back to the bed but I was not match for his elven reflexes as he was already laying down on the bed by the time I reached it.
"That's not fair," I pouted and attempted to push him off. He remained unmoving to my growing frustration and I began to just hit him.
"It's not fair." I repeated over and over again as hot tears threatened to form on my eyes. No. I would not cry. Not in front of him. Swallowing tears was awful but his contempt was even worse. I angrily wiped at my eyes as he turned to face me. For a second he just stared at me and I thought he might offer the bed back so I gave him my best puppy dog eyes.
He snorted delicately and pushed my forehead with a finger. "Go to sleep."
I scowled and trudged back to my corner. The ground was cold and it seemed to bring back the tears. I missed the comfort of my home. My warm bed. The times when I couldn't sleep and Papa would read to me till I fell asleep. The smell of pine and wood and a warm fire. The taste of the crisp sea breeze.
It was all gone.
Now I tasted was the salt in my tears and smelled the strange floral earthy scent of the elves. There was no Papa to lull me to sleep, just me and my thoughts. And I couldn't think of anything calming or happy. I pitied myself. The situation I was in. The fact that for the rest of my life I was tied to this man. I thought about what Papa said.
"Don't rely on others to make you happy Nina. Some things, yes, are out of your control. But there are many more factors in your control. Have faith in yourself and make your own happiness."
So perhaps I had to make my own happiness with the stupid prince. But Papa never told me how and now more than ever I wish he had. As I pondered my situation, exhaustion took over and I drifted away into dreams.
AN: Ahhhh I'm an awful person and I haven't updated in ages. I went back to college so I've been super busy with all that jazz. D: I will try to make updates more frequently so I apologize to all the readers.
Also, as you may have noticed I switched to first person. I'm not sure why but I just found it easier to write and I think for the most part I'm going to keep it in first person. So I'm sorry if you liked the third person, it just wasn't clicking for me. I might go back and change the last chapter later but for now I'm keeping it as it is.
Thank you to the people who followed and favorite this story! Internet cookies for you! And an even bigger thank you (and cookies) to YoursAnnie, morganclaire1, and Rachael Hyuuga for their support, enthusiasm, and reviews! You guys rock!
So as always, thank you for reading and please leave a review letting me know what you think!
Xoxox
Sunky
PS. I still do not own Thranduil, Middle Earth, and Lee Pace's eyebrows of sex.