Chapter 4: Fitting

Tauriel gaped at the few, randomly placed flowers on the top of her dresser. Not just any kind of flowers, but the star shaped Elanor, not indigenous to Mirkwood. If the redhead didn't know with certainly that nobody would dare to steal flowers that most ostensibly could've only came from the king's private gardens where the influence of the Necromancer could not reach, she would've thought somebody was playing a farce on her expense. That was one surprise she could just about cope with, but when she saw a silhouette's shadow manifesting on her plain wall, her reflexive response was to grab an arrow and draw her bow.

"I think we've covered that situation already," the king's silky, smooth voice countered her actions. Thranduil was sitting on her nightstand for lack of a proper seat, leaning against the wall, his long, velvet cape covering half her available space between the sparse furniture.

Tauriel had to back away against her door to feel like she'd given him the reputable distance customary between king and subject. "I...I am glad to see you able to manage being up and about, hir vuin," she gave, flabbergasted.

"It's a good day, for pretences," he gestured dismissively.

"It means you're well enough to pretend you are fit and that's good in itself," she countered.

"There's always a riposte with you, isn't there?" The blond humphed sternly.

"Forgive me, My Lord," she bowed as low as her body let her this time. "And I beg your forgiveness for the other day too, I meant well, but I stepped out of line and yet I need you to know, hir vuin, that I was only having your wellbeing and the good of the kingdom at heart."

"I know," the king stood in one fluid motion, the appendages of his robes taking their time to swipe round him for their length. Thranduil advanced a few steps in all his elegance, tilting his head to the side as he regarded her curiously, as if he would've never seen her. "No matter what I do or say, you still think and act like you're my equal. Do you know there's no other elleth in the land and beyond who dares so."

Tauriel drew her eyes away to fix them to the floor in embarassement. The audacious she had been in the past, she had sworn to tone down her behaviour and right now, she was disappointing herself with her previous boldness to speak up. "I doubt anybody can imagine this kingdom without your guidance and protection, that is why I overstepped the mark, but I will strive to show my respect for you My Lord more exhaustively and I thank..."

"I don't want you to." Thranduil interrupted her dismissively.

The captain's eyes snapped up at him, looking into his eyes questioningly, yet another offence not ordinarily expected from a subordinate. She couldn't help but gasp when the king advanced some more, practically trapping her with her back being against the closed door of the entrance. "I have pondered long and profound on your suggestion Tauriel and I have arrived to the conclusion that it's not beyond reason."

"I'm glad, My Lord," the redhead felt she should be relieved, and yet she wasn't. The confrontation wasn't over yet.

"The only issue with bonding with another immortal mate away from the undying lands is that bonds are forged on love." He pondered further.

"I have all the trust in you Your Highness, that your heart will find the right note. You know how to love another, if only the knowledge is a little rusty."

Thranduil pursed his lips disapprovingly. "Yes, the heart. Capricious little thing, don't you think? Orders and commands it does not take easily."

"That it does not," she agreed, "but opening it up to new experiences it could lead to inklings of feelings and then there's no stopping, it all rushes in." Another bold statement, but she was encouraged by their closeness that Thranduil chose, no apparent threat in his voice or stance.

The king gave a longsuffering sigh, "that isn't my predicament, Tauriel. My predicament is that my heart is already filled with love for a wonderously unparalelled elf. I would have to empty my heart first and that, you must know, is not an easy feat."

Tauriel nodded. Like forcing her heart not to love Kili after his death cause it was pointless, useless and it only caused her heartache. "Does it not fade away, not even with the passing of centuries?" She queried, partly out of self interest.

"I'm not talking about my wife." Thranduil established. "As I said, I have cogitated your suggestion and arrived to the judgement that given the state of affairs and of my health at the moment, some circumstances can be ignored. For the sake of the kingdom, of course. For the betrothal to give me strength, I need to bond with someone I have love in my heart for and swiftly. So therefore..." Thranduil lowered himself.

Tauriel raised her hands, ready to catch him. He didn't look like his illness was particularly affecting him at the moment, but maybe he was that good at pretending. Under the allencompassing robes it was hard to figure out what he was doing, but Tauriel soon had to arrive to the conclusion that he knelt down on one knee on purpose given the words that came out his mouth next: "Tauriel. Will you marry me?" His palm opened to display a thin, elegant little ring, encrusted with little gems all round to the extent barely any metal could be seen. "We had used one of your archery gloves to take measurements. It should fit."

tbc