Chapter 4

Shilinah was woken up early the morning after and she grunted at the loud knock at the door. She had no interest in waking up, so she simply laid under the cover wishing that who ever was outside her door would leave.

"Go away!"

"You have to go up Shilinah. The sun is up and the servants start working now."

She recognized the guard from yesterdays voice and she closed her eyes, she had no interest in starting to work today. She was thinking fast of a excuse to not participate in the days work.

"I'm sick, I can't get out of bed."

She slapped her head when she spoke before she thought this through. She rush from the bed to the bathroom. She paced around as she was thinking out something convincing. She started the showers and turned up the heat, she held her head under the water, trying to not get her hair wet. It was much harder than she thought.

She heard a knock on the door again and she turned the water off as she ran to the bed pulling the covers over her as she jumped down on the bed. The door opened and she was out of breathe as she was laying in the bed meeting the guards eyes.

"I brought you our healers. They are not familiar with human deceases, but they might be able to help you get better."

She was turned in the bed trying to look like she was in pain as she heard the guards words. How am I going to convince them I'm sick? - she thought as she laid there with closed eyes. She knew she made a mistake but still she knew she was good at lying and this came in handy. She let out a whimper and furrowed her brows, trying to look sick.

The healers walked closer, she opened her eyes a bit to see two elleths look down at her with concern. She tried to hide a frown as they touched her, she knew they only meant well but she still felt uncomfortable by their hands on her. They touched her forehead and her neck. They spoke quietly in elvish as they looked her over. They took off the cover and she let out a small gasp when the cold air hit her skin. The healers looked down at her and they went to look over her arm she injured when she fell after her father had slapped her. They looked concern as they studied it and she heard concern in their voices but she could not understand a word they said. She froze when one of the healers held her hand and spoke one word she did know in elvish - King.

The two healers left her chamber after they made her drink something that tasted dreadful and she felt victorious by her acting as she laid still in her bed. She closed her eyes and smiled to herself, she surely fooled the stupid elves. She knew they weren't as wise as everyone said, and now she had proved it.

Her door opened as the guard walked in and placed a plate on her night table. He looked down on her with concern and she was annoyed by his nice gestures, it made it hard for her to hate him. She offered him a small smile as thanks.

"Are you comfortable my lady? Tell me if I can ease your pain in some way."

She was surprised when he called her lady and even more surprised by his concern.

"The only thing I need is rest to recover. Maybe later if I feel better you could take me for a walk?… I realized I don't know your name."

"I would be honored, my lady… And my name is Fanor."

He nodded his head down as he presented himself and she offered him another smile.

"I wonder why my guard call a human servant of the king a lady. I believe she had not earned such greeting."

Fanor turned around with wide eyes as he bowed low before Thranduil, Shilinah on the other hand glared at him as he stood graceful in the doorway looking at her with an uninterested look. She was remembered by the events of yesterday when a smirk was plastered on his face and her glare turned in to a frown as she lowered her eyes and a blush covered her cheeks. She felt hate for him in her chest as she cursed him silently.

"Such a filthy mouth for such a young girl."

She felt her cheeks turn redder as she heard Thranduils cold voice. He ordered Fanor to leave and she felt her irritation change in to anger. She tried to calm herself down by breathing heavily, Thranduil looked down on her amused and irritated at the same time. He found her behavior amusing but still he knew she faked her sickness.

"You will not bother my healers again with your lies. You will change and go down and start working or I will make you."

She glared up at him but was met by his stern look. She knew he was much bigger than her and she had no chance against his strength but still she had a urge to punch his face. She threw her covers off and stomped over to the wardrobe and opened it. Shilinah smiled as she found pants and a tunic and she picked them up.

"My servants don't work in pants."

She was surprised that he was still in her room and she turned around challenging him.

"Oooh… So I see.. and I guess the men work in dresses too?… I guess that make sense, the men and women look all the same here. Do you feel powerful looking down on them like some kind of creep…."

She was met by fire in his eyes as he took threatening steps up to her.

"You will not disrespect me or my people, do you understand me? Now apologize."

She turned away from him not wanting to be caught in his stare as she grit her teeth in anger. Her whole body was shaking with anger and she wanted to smack his face for keeping her here.

"I don't need to apologize to you. You are not my king, nor will you ever be." She snarled at him as she glared back at him.

"In my halls you are under my command, and you will wear the dress I order you too. For your obedience you will not receive any food until you apologize!"

Thranduil threw the dress on her and angrily turned to a servant and started to scream out orders in elvish. Shilinah was shaking with anger as she threw the dress on the floor and stormed back to the bed. She watched as Thranduil stormed out of the room and the poor servant moved over to pick up the dress she had just thrown on the floor. She felt bad for the servant that Thranduil took out his anger towards her on the servant. But she did not show her remorse as she glared at the servant who moved closer to the bed.

The elf talked to her but Shilinah ignored her not wanted to give in, but the elf did not give up and finally Shilinah took the dress and put it on. She looked at herself in the mirror and frowned at the sad creature looking back, the dress did her no good. It was not fitting her small body, it was hanging loosely and the dull color made her look younger than she was.

She followed the servant down to the kitchen were she was ordered to take care of the dishes, she worked long and hard. She took out all her anger she felt for Thranduil on the dishes as she forcefully cleaned the pots and pans. It didn't take her long before she regretted the strength she used when she watched the staff eating their lunch and she heard her own stomach craving food. When one of them catches her staring he looked back at her with pity at her desperate staring. But no one made a move to offer her food knowing they will receive punishment from the king for disobeying his orders. Still it pained them to see her suffer.

Shilinah was tired beyond words when she finally was allowed to return to her little room. She did not care to remove her dress as she slipped under the cover and fell asleep.

She awoke the next day and she was ordered to tend to the stables and she dragged her feet as she walked there. She was exhausted already not been eating for two days now. The day was filled with hard work and the sweat dripped from her body in the end of the day. She still received pity looks from the servants that past her as she walked with her head down towards her room. The exhaustion was too much and she had no time to reach the bed before she past out on the floor.

She woke up as she felt a cold cloth on her forehead and she slowly opened her eyes to meet warm blue ones and for a moment she thought it was Thorin and she used all her strength to reach out to touch his face. Her vision got clearer and she retracted her hand when she could see clearly. It was not Thorin who had come to save her, it was one of the elves that had looked at her in the kitchen. She remembered his pitiful eyes and small smile to her when they were eating.

She whimpered when she felt him pulling her up to place her on the bed. "I'm sorry if I'm hurting you. But you have to wake up before the king finds out your missing."

She could hear the concern in his voice and in her weak state she found his concern endearing and she leaned in to him. She had no strength or will to hate this elf, his nice words and concern made her feel the closeness she missed. She used the little strength she had left and followed him dragging her feet behind her as he walked through the halls.

He stopped and she almost crashed in to his back as she was not prepared for his abrupt stop in front of a door she had not seen before. He knocked and another elf opened and they spoke quietly in elvish. Shilinah used all the will she had left to keep herself standing upright even if every muscle in her body screamed for her to lay down.

"You will be working in here today." The elf with the warm blue eyes told her with a smile. He took a gentle hold of her shoulder as he led her in to the room. The elf before her was beautiful beyond words, she had never seen someone so beautiful before. Her long auburn hair was glowing in the sun and her hazel eyes was warm and kind.

"Poor thing, what have happened to you?" She asked with concern as she stepped closer to Shilinah.

"Míriel she angered the king, she is not allowed to eat if she do not apologize."

"This is cruelty Éwin, this is horrible action from our king. She will be dead in days if this keeps up."

Míriel stormed out of the room but Shilinah did not recognized it because the room was getting darker and before she had a chance to fall to the floor Éwin caught her.

He carried her back to her room and laid her carefully down on the bed and moved the strands of her hair that was covering her face. The dirt on her body and black bags under her eyes was making her look weak and sick. She was pale and sweat was covering her forehead and Éwin ran to the bathroom getting a cold cloth to put on her forehead. He sat beside her until the door opened and Míriel walked in with anger written all over her face.

"Leave." Was all she said as she picked Shilinah up and was surprised of how light she was. Éwin looked at them with concern before he left with out saying anything, knowing Míriel would take care of the poor girl. He wondered what the girl had done to angered the king to punish her in this way. It grieved his heart to see what his king has caused to this fragile human girl.

Míriel put Shilinah down in the big tub before she started to fill it up with warm water cleaning her whole body. Shilinah was not moving but a whimper was escaping her sore mouth. Míriel left the bathroom but returned quickly with a plate with soup and fruits.

She washed Shilinahs hair carefully and when she was done the water was almost black from the dirt. She could see Shilinahs eyes flicker and her eyes finally opened a bit.

"I apologize in the behalf of the king for this treatment. No one should be treated like this. Open your mouth child."

Shilinah blinked a few times but she could not put the words together. But when she saw her lift a fruit and hold out to her lips Shilinah removed her face. She would not give in, that meant she had to apologize to Thranduil and she would not let him have the satisfaction.

"Please child, you will starve to death if you do not eat."

"I…I can't" Shilinah breathed out as she closed her eyes again.

Míriel covered her with a towel and moved her slowly to the bed and sat down caressing her hair.

"You need too, just small bites."

Shilinah did not answer she simply laid there wishing she would be saved from this nightmare. Still Míriels soothing words and caressing of her hair made her lean in to her touch. She curled up against Míriel and cried silently, she hated her life here. She was scared and weak and she hated the feeling. Míriels soft voice lulled her in to a peaceful sleep and she found herself feeling safe for the first time she came to this horrible place.

She was awoken when she heard loud voices talking fiercely in the room and she willed herself to open her eyes. It took some time for her to focus enough to see what was happening. She could see Míriel standing on the side of the bed arguing with Thranduil and she closed her eyes again and curled up to a ball.

The room went quiet as she moved and she could feel the bed dip and she flinched when Míriel put her hand on her arm. She could hear Míriel saying something in elvish and she knew Míriel was angry by the sound of her voice. Thranduils voice was smooth when he talked and she almost thought he sounded gentle in the way he spoke. Now she felt safer when she thought Míriel might save her from him so she took a hold around Míriels waist wishing for her to take her home.

"So now little child don't cry. You will be alright." Míriel cooed as she caressed her.

Thranduil spoke again before he left the room and when he did Shilinah finally peaked up again.

"He has left little one. Now I want you to eat something." Míriel cooed as she moved away to put a plate before Shilinah.

"But I'm not allowed too."

"Yes you are, now eat." Míriel demanded but her eyes were kind so Shilinah did not hesitate as she dived in to the plate devouring everything in minutes.

When Shilinah was done she sigh with relief to finally feel full and found herself drifting of to a peaceful sleep again when Míriel sat down caressing her head again.

She woke up to a dark room but she could feel Míriel still by her side playing with her hair singing softly. Shilinah hugged her waist as she scooted even closer. Míriel felt like the mother she always wished she had, she surrounded her with warmth and love.

She spent the night drifting of and on to Míriels soft voice. When the sun was raising in the sky Míriel moved away from Shilinahs side and left the room. Shilinah woke up to being alone and panic filled her chest by the loss of Míriels safe embrace. She never thought she would miss an elf in her whole life but now she wished for Míriel to be at her side every day. But soon the door opened and in walked Míriel with a plate filled with food. She almost had no time to put it down before Shilinah, before she started to fill her mouth with fruits. Míriel laughed softly at the sight of Shilinah eating with eager.

"I'm always surprised to see humans be able too eat so much."

Shilinah looked up to Míriel and smiled with her mouth still stuffed with fruits which made Míriel laugh louder. Shilinah swallowed and joined her laughter. They were interrupted by a presence by the door and when Míriel moved Shilinah got stiff when she met Thranduils eyes studying her.

He spoke to Míriel for a while and Shilinah covered herself with the blanket glaring at him. She wondered why he was here ruining this moment, she had not laughed for a long time and now he came here ruining the moment. She wanted him to leave and when he did she felt curious why he had come to her room in the first time.

"Why was he here?" She snarled when Míriel sat down on the bed again.

Míriel looked at her with a stern look and Shilinah knew she had done something to anger her and she felt remorse.

"He is our king and even what he did to you is not fair you should show him respect. He is a good king and I'm sorry you have not had the pleasure to experience the kindness of king Thranduil. There is a history behind every great king so don't rush to judgement. Give it time and you will see that behind every action is a reason."

Shilinah looked down at her hands and took in every word Míriel had said and tried to put the pieces together but her hatred for Thranduil was still so fresh. The hate clouded her mind and she knew she would never find a way to forgive him for what he had done to her. But Míriels pleading eyes made her let out a sigh, she wanted to make her proud. She did not know how Míriel had the power to earn her trust so easily and she knew that if she wanted Míriel close she had to apologize to Thranduil. She was after all the one that had saved her and stood up for her before him. She wondered how Míriel was able to talk to Thranduil in the way she was and demand for him to let her eat.

"I will apologize, but I'm doing to for you. I still don't think he deserves an apologize." Shilinah finally answered as she eat the last things on the plate.

Míriel did not answer she simply nodded pleased to know the girl would apologize. She was curious of why the king was paying so much attention to the girl knowing he was not famous for caring for other races and now he had accepted a human servant. She was angered by his behavior and actions to the poor girl, he clearly had not been in the company of men in a long time. Míriel was surprised to see Thranduils concern when he laid his eyes on the girl. Knowing Thranduil since he was a young ellon she knew how stoic he can be but his emotions was written all over his usually cold face.

Míriel helped Shilinah getting dressed and took her down to the same room she was in yesterday. Shilinah spent the day learning how to make dresses and she hated it. She liked spending time with Míriel but she did not have the grace to handle needle and tread and Míriel scold her a few times for not paying attention. Finally Míriel dismissed Shilinah sending her to the dining hall. Éwin was joining her to the great hall and they sat down at the table further down and the hall was filling with people.

"Why is everyone here?"

"It's a welcome feast to guests of the king." Éwin answered quietly.

Shilinah looked around the hall to see servants running around putting plates on the tables and she wondered why she was not one of the servants tonight. She felt a soft hand on her shoulder and when she turned she smiled to see Míriel beam at her.

"Enjoy this night of service little one. You deserve to have some fun." She said as she made her way through the mass of people.

Shilinah frowned as she watched Míriel leave, she thought she would sit with them. She was surprised when she found Míriel again seated by the royal table.

"Why is Míriel sitting up there?"

"Because she is lord Aênors wife."

Éwin nodded in the way of a white haired elf beside Míriel and his face was gentle and kind. They were a beautiful couple and she smiled at the sight. The hall went quiet as the doors opened and in walked a dark haired elf accompanied with a group of graceful elves. She snarled at the sight of more elves. But she was surprised when she saw a man following them inside. She sat up straighter in her chair as she watched the young man walk in. His brown hair was down to his shoulders and his dark blue eyes met hers. She smiled to him and he returned it which caused a blush to form on her cheeks. It faded when she heard Thranduils deep voice greeting them in elvish and she glared up to were he was standing in his long silver robe and his pointy crown on his head.

She eat with great appetite and the dinner was fun as she found herself liking Éwins company. She did not speak with the other elves her only interest was in Éwin and sometimes she stole glances up to the young dark-haired boy at the main table. Sometimes their eyes met and she blushed a deep red and every time Éwin made fun of it.

She almost chooked on her food when she saw the young man walking down to her table. He had a kind voice and he held out his hand as he asked her if she would like to accompany him for a walk in the garden. Shilinah had never seen the garden before so she accepted it with a smile as she took his hand. She was happy to spend a night with a human for being with elves for too long.

The walked around the trees and she stopped many times touching the flowers and every time he would tell her the names of the different flowers and trees she admired. It was a pleasant evening and she liked his company.

"Where have you been hiding my whole life? I never think I've met a girl so beautiful as you."

Shilinah was surprised when he took her hands and she blushed at his words. Never had anyone said anything so beautiful to her and she did not know how to answer. So she simply leaned forward and placed a light kiss on his cheek as she looked down on the grass.

She almost squeaked as she heard a loud voice behind them.