TA 2770

Galadriel often found her gift to be a blessing, and sometimes she found it to be a curse. She could see everything and she knew many things other elves could not consider. She knew that Lord Elrond also possessed the gift of foresight. He could see many things and he knew of events that would happen. He had warned the dwarves what would become of them should their greed consume them. Galadriel had sent her warnings too. She had informed King Tranduil, but he had not been interested in their fate. He only cared for the jewels he was owed.

It was King Thranduil's greed which blinded him from helping the dwarves. Of course Galadriel considered how many elven lives would have been lost from the war. A dragon was not so easily defeated. Yet, there was something about King Thranduil which Galadriel could not quite read. The story of how he lost his wife was one he kept closely guarded, but he had always been stubborn, even before her death. Hence it worried Galadriel when she saw her mirror and the future.

She would not speak of it to Lord Elrond. She wondered if he knew it for himself. She almost hoped not. She was aware of the bond between elves; once it was established then it could not be broken. Elves were destined to be together until the end of time. Their bond was too strong to be undone. Galadriel could not comprehend how Elrond would feel if she told him what she had seen for his daughters. Galadriel almost did not want to believe it herself.

...

"He is nothing but a pompous fool with a crown upon his head," Ava declared as she sat with her sister the following morning.

They were breaking their fast before others awoke. They sat at the small table on the platform above the royal chambers. They were surrounded by fine foods, and branches with large leaves to give them privacy. The sun was trying to shine through the leaves of the great realm, but was failing due to the amount of greenery.

"Ava!" Arwen scolded her sister.

"It is true," Ava rebutted to her. "He has done nothing but insult me and he does not even know me."

"And you do not know him," Arwen replied, sipping on her goblet of water. "You can hardly say such words."

"I can and I shall," Ava replied to her sister. "We are in private and I have to speak with someone. You do not understand, Arwen. You have not had the displeasure of his company. He was rude and mean. I have no intention to speak with him again. I have never known an elf like him, sister."

Arwen smiled into her goblet subtly for a second. She sipped on her water and almost wanted to roll her orbs into the back of her head. She glanced to her sister who was tearing on her piece of bread and chewing on it delicately. She could see that she was angry. Ava was very good at hiding her emotions. She was skilled at that, but Arwen knew her sister better than she thought. She could see that her mind was full of thoughts, and Arwen didn't pretend not to know why. King Thranduil had been crass with his words. He had no reason to speak to Ava in such a tone.

"I can only hope that he returns to his dull forest and never graces us with his presence again," Ava concluded, losing her appetite and dropping her bread roll on the plate underneath her hands.

Arwen gaped as she looked to the entranceway of the small dining hall. Ava looked to her sister and saw her concerned look before her own gaze looked behind her shoulder and she pushed herself back from her chair, making to stand, but failing miserably. The Sindar elf began to move towards the table, his hand held in front of him as he glided forwards gracefully. Ava cursed herself for not hearing him appear, but she also cursed him for being so silent.

"Please, Lady Ava, you have no need to stand and attempt to excuse yourself for your words," he declared, his voice smooth and soft. But Ava could hear the bitter tone behind them. He was not meaning to accept what she had said. He meant to continue with his bitterness.

Ava slowly found herself sinking back into her seat as the King took a seat across from her at the round table. He picked up the jug of water and began to pour it into the cup by his plate. Looking to her sister, Arwen gave her a stern look and urged her to apologise for what she had said. But Ava had a different idea. She had no need to apologise for speaking the truth, nor would she.

"I only apologise for you being present to hear them, my King," Ava suddenly said and Thranduil's eyes snapped up from where he sat pouring his cup of water.

He held the jug in mid air, his gaze nothing but harsh and critical. His strong jaw seemed to grow even stronger as it locked and he sucked in a deep breath through his parted lips. Ava sat up straight and tried to act nonchalant, picking up her discarded bread roll and popping a small piece into her mouth. Her brow arched on her forehead and she continued to meet Thranduil's gaze. He intimidated her, yes, but she would be a fool not to be intimidated. Yet she refused to let him hold such a power over her. His words had burned her the previous evening. She had not slept and she had laid awake all night thinking over what he had said. The more she thought then the more she grew with anger.

"Is something wrong, my King?" Ava decided to push him.

"Ava," Arwen warned her sister and then turned to Thranduil as he adjusted the red cape he wore over his arms and tucked one of his legs over the other one. "I apologise, King Thranduil, my sister meant no-"

"-Your sister meant exactly what she spoke," Thranduil interrupted Arwen, his gaze not once leaving Ava. "It seems that my words from the previous evening have troubled her more than I had initially thought. Tell me, Lady Ava, does every comment of criticism fall so harshly on your ears?"

The smugness Ava had been feeling from causing the King to remain stunned vanished. She startled in her chair, her chin jutting out from her body as she made the motion. Thranduil sipped at his water and it was his turn to raise his brows to her. Had he truly made this situation turn back on her?

"Oh Valar," Arwen whispered under her breath.

"What you spoke was not criticism," Ava scoffed. "It was cruel and unnecessary."

"As you say," Thranduil said and Ava wanted nothing more than to find a way to rid his face of that smirk he wore so proudly. "You have no need to fear, Lady Ava. I return to Mirkwood as soon as my son graces me with his presence. There is little more for me to discuss in Lothlórien."

"I should wish you a safe journey then," Ava inclined her head and pushed her chair out behind her.

She stood on her feet and picked her skirts up in her hands and hauled them to her ankles. Walking hastily, she left the table and rushed down the small steps to the main staircase, wanting nothing more than to leave the image of King Thranduil behind her. She had never known anger like it which boiled inside of her. Yet, in her one thousand years, she had never known an elf as rude as he.

"I sincerely apologise for my sister, my King," Arwen quickly said, trying to form coherent words as she watched Ava rush away. "I have never heard her speak so brashly before. I am certain she shall apologise for her behaviour."

Thranduil dragged his eyes from the elleth who had made her leave. His sharp blue eyes found Arwen's soft gaze and he shook his head to her.

"I do not wish for her to apologise," he informed Arwen. "Your sister is nothing but a stubborn creature and her apologies would fall on death ears. You can force her to speak the words, but I suspect she is too stubborn to agree and, if she did, she would not mean the words."

Arwen stumbled in her thoughts for a second and shook her head at Thranduil. "She should not have spoken in such a manner."

"No, she should not," Thranduil replied.

They lapsed into silence once more and Arwen cursed Ava in her mind. She only wondered what their father would say should he discover what had happened at their meal.

...

"Ava," Elrond scolded his daughter as she stood by the lake one more time, but this time she found herself face to face with her father instead of Thranduil. "King Thranduil informed me what happened when I spoke with him this morning. Were you thinking clearly?"

Ava considered his question and looked from her side and back to the water. She folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. She had been thinking clearly, and that was the scary part to Ava. She often considered herself not to think clearly when in the presence of strangers. She tripped over her words, struggled to speak in sentences, and could not even find a topic of conversation to discuss.

But she had been thinking clearly when she had spoken with Thranduil. Her thoughts had been her own and she had said what she had felt and thought. That was the part which worried her.

"I was," Ava said to Elrond. "I said what I thought at the time and I could not stop myself."

Elrond's quizzical brow arched. He unfolded his arms as Ava looked to the water, her gaze narrow and her hair falling down by her waist as strands covered her face from him.

"I never say what I think," Ava declared, "but he infuriated me. You have to understand, Ada. He was rude and it was unnecessary."

Elrond sighed and shook his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew exactly how Ava felt, for he often found himself infuriated with the King for his actions. But he knew how Thranduil was not a force to be reckoned with. Elrond knew of his power and he knew of the King's violent and angry streak. Elrond doubted that the King would unleash his wrath on Ava, but he did not consider it wise for her to involve herself with the King.

"King Thranduil is preparing to depart," Elrond said. "Do you wish for him to leave with such a negative view of you?"

"I care not what he thinks," Ava replied, dropping her arms by her side and turning to face her father. "I doubt that he intends to apologise for what he said to me. Why should I speak with him?"

"To show him that there are no ill feelings," Elrond decreed and Ava shook her head.

"But I do have ill feelings," Ava said and shook her head. "It matters not now. I shall return shortly."

Elrond watched as his daughter began to walk away from him and he wondered where she was going. He said nothing and chose to shake his head, wondering just where she received her stubborn streak from. He blamed her mother for that.

...

King Thranduil rode ahead of his household guard on his Elven Elk. His son rode to his side on his white horse, his bow and quiver on his back along with his daggers. Thranduil dared to glance to his son and wondered just what trials and tribulations he would face in the near future. The path leaving Lothlórien was covered by vast trees, leaves occasionally falling from the deep brown branches. It held a certain awe to it: Thranduil could not deny that. It seemed brighter than Mirkwood. Thranduil pretended not to notice the darkening air Mirkwood held around it. If he acknowledged it then he would cause fear and worry: two things he did not need.

It wasn't until they were almost away from the gates did he see the sight to the side of him down a dirt path. He paused for a moment, his son stopping and looking to him as he did so.

"Ada?" Legolas whispered to his father and Thranduil held a hand up to silence his son, his gaze not leaving the elleth down the dirt path.

"Lead on," Thranduil spoke to Legolas. "I shall join you in a moment."

"Why? Where is it you are going?"

"Do as I say," Thranduil spoke harshly to his son.

He slid gracefully down his Elven Elk and adjusted the red cape over his shoulders before he moved with poise down the mud path. He said nothing as he went, his crown resting proudly on top of his head. He watched as she continued to stare at the tall white statue before her, her eyes never leaving it as Thranduil stepped out from behind her and stood tall by her side.

"I met her once before," Thranduil's voice said and the girl didn't startle at his sudden appearance. "She was very fair and quiet. I attended the wedding of your father to her. I have never seen Lord Elrond appear as happy as he did that day."

Ava looked to Thranduil and her gaze remained inquisitive. He did not look back to her, but kept his stare on the fair haired beauty made of stone now. He doubted that the material did her justice. He recalled just how lovely the Lady of Rivendell had been. The daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn had been radiant, but no stone could show that.

"I thought that you were returning home," was all that Ava could manage to say.

"I was," Thranduil said, "and I noticed you here."

Ava's face scrunched up. "And you decided to stop?"

Thranduil took his turn to look confused. He nodded at the elleth and she finally noted the fine crown of twigs and leaves which sat on top of his head. It was much grander than the simple silver one he had worn before.

"It appears so," Thranduil nodded. "Should you be so close to the open forest? I have no doubt Lord Elrond would worry if he knew you were here."

"Ada knows where I am. I often sit in the same place when I am in Rivendell." Ava confessed. "It is strange to see her in stone form when she was here less than one hundred years ago. I still remember her well, and I know that I shall see her one day."

Thranduil could not bring himself to say anything to comfort her. Why should he? He did not know her. He knew nothing of the she-elf and she knew nothing of him. Why had he bothered to climb down from his Elven Elk to see her? What had possessed him to make such a motion? He did not know, but now he felt foolish for moving and interrupting her thoughts.

"The loss of a loved one is always difficult," Thranduil finally spoke and he turned on his heel, longing to leave with haste.

He did not get far as Ava spoke and stopped him in his tracks.

"You did not need to come to see me," Ava called out, spinning on her heel and almost tripping in her green gown as she made the motion. "Yet you climbed down from your Elk to come here. Why is that? Do not tell me you wish to apologise."

Thranduil knew that their conversation would not continue pleasantly. She would not allow it for she was far too stubborn and brought up issues Thranduil did not consider important. He had other concerns that did not involve the Lady Ava.

"I had no intention of apologising," Thranduil promised her.

"That is good, I suspect," Ava said and Thranduil found himself growing with confusion.

"You did not want an apology?" Thranduil asked of her.

"No," she agreed. "I did not want an apology for I feel you would not mean it. Your spoke what you thought and it did anger me, but I also reciprocated the action and did the same. I would not apologise, nor would I expect you to."

Thranduil almost wished he had not bothered to speak with her for she confused him more than he cared to admit. She was angry with what he had said, but she does not wish for him to repent? What was it she truly wanted?

"Never before have I met an elleth as confusing as you," Thranduil shook his head and turned his entire body to face her again.

She tucked her hair behind her ears, her hands playing with the material of her green skirt which flowed around her feet.

"Are the elleths you meet much easier to understand?" Ava dared to ask of him.

"I do not converse with many elleths," Thranduil admitted. "A King has many important duties."

"How foolish of me," Ava mumbled and Thranduil smirked at her before he heard footsteps behind him approach.

He whirled around again, his gaze moving to the form approaching as Ava stepped forwards and peered around Thranduil's shoulder, keeping her distance from the King as his son rushed towards him, a dagger held tightly in his hand as he went.

"What has happened?"

Thranduil could sense the danger and Ava knew something was wrong. She watched the King acknowledge his son with an incline of his head and Legolas bowed his head. They exchanged a worried stare and Ava felt her palms begin to sweat.

"We continued on, as you had demanded," Legolas said and Ava sensed a hint of resentment in his voice. "We found a pack of Orcs roaming the woodland and dealt with them accordingly. They have grown bold in travelling so close to Lothlórien."

Ava's spine tingled and she straightened her posture. Orcs. The word instilled fear into her now. It had done for a very long time. She had never come face to face with a creature, but she doubted that she would be able to defend herself. She wanted to kill the monster who had taken her mother, but she feared them more than she loathed them.

"How many?" Thranduil asked.

"No more than nine," Legolas spoke. "We killed them before they could harm us. I thought it only for the best to report back to you."

"You did right," Thranduil said and he looked back to Ava.

The elleth was frozen. Her stare was wide and on the ground. Thranduil almost wanted to scoff at how weak and scared she appeared. A pack of Orcs were not the worst things in Middle Earth. He knew that there were worse. Yet her Naneth had been destroyed by a pack of those creatures. Was the hurt still so raw for her?

"Burn the bodies," Thranduil demanded his son. "Inform the guard patrolling Lothlórien's boarders of what you found. They need to be prepared. I shall return the Lady Ava to safety and inform the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of what has happened. Meet me back at the gate for the journey home."

"Ada," Legolas merely spoke and agreed to his father's words.

Thranduil said nothing back to Legolas as his son rushed away from him and he turned back to Ava. She looked to him and he knew stared back to her. He did not offer her his arm as he moved behind her, his hand touching the small of her back as he began to walk forwards and she moved slowly alongside him.

She said nothing to him and he nothing to her, for they were both too lost for words.

...

A/N: Thank you so very much to the kind reviews everyone left for the previous chapter. I am overwhelmed that you are enjoying the story! Do let me know what you think of this chapter.