This chapter is also a prologue, only longer. It's important so the future story makes sense, so I decided to upload it right away to get to the part where our beloved Thranduil shows in the next chapter.

Please,let me know if there's any stupid grammar mistakes.

Hope you enjoy ;)

Chapter II

War

My husband was to part the following day, so I was helping him pack for his journey, making sure that he would not feel cold or hungry, that he would have some medicine for the case of any injury. It made me so happy to be a wife to my loving husband, it reminded my of my parents. They were both human but the love between them was something to last beyond the mortality of their bodies. I couldn't have been raised in a more loving family than the one that saved me when I was just and orphan and a small elfling with no one to turn to. I intend to do the same for my husband and the children we will have. For a moment I could picture a pretty elfling with a hair dark as night and big chestnut eyes running to me with their arms up to be caught, and I craved for that.

Dûrion's voice took me back to reality.

"One would think that I am going all the way to Mordor."

"You should be thanking me for being such a dutiful wife. If I let you pack alone you would find yourself cold and starving in the first night." I answered, putting some of the dried fruit he loved in one of the many pockets of his cape.

He laughed at my remark, but he knew as well as I did that it was true. He always thought himself made of iron when it came to packing.

"It's late." I could hear the archness in his voice "Come to bed, my love."

I chuckled a laughter, since we had just dined and it wasn't late at all. I felt his large hand on my waist and his voice was low in my ear when he spoke

"Come to bed, wife."

I shivered as I turned from the packing to look into his delightful eyes.

"My sky-eyed soldier."

He caressed my neck and gently pulled the hair in back of my head.

"My Hazel." he bite my neck "My most delightful wife." another pulling at my hair, this time more insistent "You won't let your soldier go without a warm goodbye, will you?"

That I wouldn't. The packing could finish itself if it wanted.

I woke up to the sound of Dûrion getting dressed and ready to leave, there was nearly no light as the sun hadn't raised yet.

"Good morning, my love."

"Do you have to leave so early?"

"We are leaving with the first light." he walked to the bed and kissed me "The sooner we leave and get rid of those orcs, the sooner we will be back home."

I held him, hiding my face in his silky black hair.

"I don't want you to go."

He lovingly ran his fingers trough my brown hair to soothe me.

"We will be back in no more than four days from now."

It wasn't good enough. I wanted him to stay with me, four days seemed like way too much time for us to be parted.

"I'll miss you."

"I'll be back soon. And then you can complain of the mess I made of your careful packing."

That made me chuckle, since it was probably true. He is so messy that sometimes I think I married a dwarf. Or a troll.

He held me close for a few seconds before saying

"I have to go now, my love."

I didn't want to let him go.

"Be careful."

He looked at me with his typical cocky smile.

"I'll be alright, my love."

I got up from the bed wrapped in the blankets and watched him go. I already missed him.

It's been a week since the soldiers were gone to get rid of the orc pack, and everyone was worried about them. There was a heavy rain on the third day and I was worried that it might have delayed the mission. I walked from the gardens to the library and to the healing rooms thinking of nothing but my husband and getting nothing done. Since day four I couldn't remain seated for long enough to play music for the plants of the healing gardens or read a book. I was anxious and I hanged close to the gates all the time, waiting for them to come back home. Waiting for him to return to me. Something didn't feel right.

That was all I could think as I paced the library, unable to sit down and read, unable to write, unable to do anything but walk restlessly the length between the door and the opposite wall.

"Hazel."

I jumped, since there was no one else in the library just a moment ago. I was so distracted that I didn't notice Lord Elrond coming in.

"They've returned?" I asked, anxious, nearly running to him

He held both my hands

"We need to talk."

I lowered my eyes. I have been absent-minded and all but useless the whole time my husband was away.

"I know that I have been a bit distant, but I'll resume my experience with the plants tomorrow, my lord."

"That's not about it, Hazel. Please, listen."

I could see he was distressed and that made me immediately nervous. Could it be possible that Dûrion had been injured during the mission? If he was injured I had to go to him at once.

"Dûrion has fallen."

I looked at him, not knowing what to think.

"He fell from his horse? Is he injured? You have to take me to him, my lord."

I saw a pain in his eyes and I had a terrible feeling that something was very, very wrong. I know that riding falls could end up in serious injuries, but Dûrion is a skilled rider, I never thought he would get hurt falling from his horse.

"He has fallen in battle, my child. He's dead."

I looked blankly at him, the words didn't make sense. I couldn't understand what he was saying.

"What do you mean?"

He looked at me with such discomfort, and I knew he wanted to avert my eyes.

"He is dead, child."

That didn't make sense.

"He is not dead."

He was still holding my hands and I could see he was worried about me.

"You have to be strong, Hazel."

"No!"

That can't be true. Why is he saying that to me?

"No."

My soldier cannot be dead. He promised me that he would be alright.

"Let me see him."

Lord Elrond shook his head.

"I don't think that's wise, Hazel."

I felt my knees weaken and I would have fallen if Lord Elrond wasn't there to catch me. I felt every inch of myself numb, and my body would not obey me anymore.

"Let me see him."

The lord was now sitting me on a chair.

"You need to rest now, Hazel."

I don't need to rest, I need to see my husband. The lord was mistaken, he couldn't be dead.

"Let me see him."

"Hazel..."

Somehow I managed to get up and run half the way to the library door before I felt Lord Elrond restraining me. Every thought went nonsense as I cried my heart off and everything went dark.

I woke up in one of the beds of the healing wing.

My husband is dead.

I tried to sit on the bed as Elinor, my fellow healer, started walking in my direction. My muscles were weak and I was dizzy as if I had overslept.

"How long did I sleep?"

"Three days. You need to eat, Hazel."

So they've probably already buried him.

"Did they bury him?"

She looked at me, her big blue eyes filled with pain and pity, as she sat on the bed and laid an apple in front of me.

"Yes, Hazel. I am sorry for your loss. You can visit his stone later, but now you have to eat."

I looked blankly at the apple as Elinor gave out commands that Lord Elrond should be informed of my waking up. My stomach is hungry but the apple has no appeal to me, like it was just a painted stone. I'm not sure I will be able to eat it. As if she was reading my mind, Elinor insisted.

"You must eat."

I nodded and took the apple in my hands with a thank you, as she raised from the bed to take care of the healing wing.

I had only taken two bites of the apple when Lord Elrond came in the healing room. He gave an approving look to see the apple in my hand and sat on the bed.

"How are you feeling? Are you dizzy or weak?"

"Both."

"It's normal, you slept for too long. You have to eat, and your head and body will come back to normal."

There's no need for him to tell me that, I'm a healer.

"You buried him."

He nodded.

"Where is him?"

"He is in the heroes' graveyard. I'll take you there later if you want, after you have eaten."

It was my time to nod.

"What happened?" as morbid as it might sound, I need to know. I have to know how my soldier departed from this world.

"We can talk about this later, after you-"

"No." I interrupted him "Tell me now, my lord. I have to know."

He sighed.

"It was an ambush. More orcs than we had anticipated, Dûrion and two others were separated from the rest and had to fight on their own. He took a sword through his heart to protect another warrior."

I felt my cheeks wet with tears. He knew he would die to protect another. He deliberately forsook his promise that he would come back home to me. My treasonous husband. I never loved him more. I never hated him more.

Lord Elrond was saying something but I didn't listen. All I could think about was that my husband betrayed me, he went from this life and left me alone. Tears flowed down my face, soaking the front of my dress. Will I have a tear left once this is over?

"I'll sail."

Lord Elrond interrupted whatever he was saying.

"It's too soon for that, child. It's early days yet, grief will give way. You will always cherish his memory, but time will heal the pain."

I shook my head.

"I can't live here anymore. Everywhere is full of ghosts. He is in every inch of Rivendell. I can't live here without him." I didn't care that I was sobbing so hard I was shaking.

Lord Elrond patted my back as I lost control of my sadness once more. I tried to compose myself as I heard the door open, but it was useless, so I was still shaking when the most beautiful elleth I ever saw came to my bed and sat beside Lord Elrond. The surprise made me stop weeping for a moment.

"Hazel, this is the Lady Galadriel."

I nearly choked on my tears as I bowed my head to the Lady of Light.

"I am sorry for your loss, Hazel."

"Thank you, milady."

Lady Galadriel took one of my hands in her long pale fingers.

"I couldn't help listening that you intend to sail to the Undying Lands." she looked at me with an attentive look on her face. It felt safe to be near her. "I agree with Lord Elrond, it's too early for you to make this journey, child. I understand you don't want to live at Rivendell without Dûrion, but there are people who need a healer with your talent in other places."

That got my attention. Where else could I go, once the only places I had ever seen were my parents' village and Rivendell itself?

It was Lord Elrond who answered.

"Mirkwood is in need of a healer and a scholar. You would be precious to the silvan people, they need someone like you."

"I don't know if I can take this grief any longer." I spoke, feeling terrible for disappointing them "All I want is to forget everything."

To my surprise, Lady Galadriel spoke:

"I know how much we are asking of you, Hazel. I know you're mourning and that you want to leave pain and sorrow behind, believe me, I know. Still, I have to ask you to reconsider. Mirkwood needs you. They won't do with the healers they already have. Please, Hazel, think about it."

I didn't have words to say, so I just nodded. 'They won't do' meant elves would die. I couldn't go away and let another elf die. I couldn't take one more death.

"When do I leave?"

Lord Elrond was obviously relieved.

"As soon as you want."

"Can I leave tomorrow?" I asked. I didn't want to stay in Rivendell a minute more than the necessary. Lord Elrond gave me an understanding look.

"Very well. I'll ask a small group to escort you there."

I nodded. Mirkwood was an easy place to get lost.

Lady Galadriel raised from her place on the bed.

"I leave you to rest now." Then she looked at me with a piercing gaze of her blue eyes, as if she could see my very heart. "You'll be happy in Mirkwood."

I bowed my head and watched her go. How did she know that? I lowered my eyes and noticed the half apple, forgotten on my lap, and my stomach claimed it. Suddenly I realized that I was hungry, but there was something I had to do before joining the others for lunch.

"My Lord, will you take me to him?"

So this it the part when Hazel's world is turned upside down and she decides to leave Rivendell, next chapter she'll be arriving at Mirkwood, so the action begins. Please, don't forget to review, I really what to know what you think about this story. xoxo