TA 2773

Ava remained seated in her chamber, her hands in her lap and her fingers squeezed together. Her gaze was set on the wardrobe in the corner and she remained unblinking as she considered her encounter with the King. Arwen sat at the dressing table, one leg gracefully crossed over the other as her sister explained all that had just happened with Thranduil. She had finished telling her tale and had lapsed into silence. Her eyes had remained clouded and her lips parted. Arwen could see that she was thinking. She could almost hear her thoughts.

But there was one question which Arwen could not contain to herself anymore. She was intrigued. She had to know.

"Do you intend to stay?"

Ava had been waiting for her sister to ask her. She knew that it would only be a matter of time before the silence became too much for either of them to bear. The only problem was that Ava did not know the answer. She did not know what she wanted to do. There was no doubt in her mind that the Elf-king had meant what he had said. Every word had rang true. Ava could sense that. She too had spoken the truth, but the truth scared her. She would be safer returning to Rivendell with her father and sister. He could not hurt her there with his scathing words or his harsh stare. But she could not go one full day without thinking of him.

"I do not know," Ava answered truthfully. "I do not understand, Arwen. He is everything I detest."

"Yet he seems to have redeeming qualities," Arwen informed her sister. "You would not be sat here contemplating his question had he no endearing features, dear sister."

Ava had to admit that Arwen spoke some sense. She almost detested her sister when she spoke some words of truth. Yet Arwen was older than she. True, she had never loved an elf, but she knew of love. She knew more than Ava did, anyway. It took another moment before Arwen dared to move over to her sister, pushing her blue skirts behind her body as she sat down on the bed and clasped Ava's hands in hers.

"Tell me what it is you fear," Arwen urged her. "I know you, Ava. I can see when there is something deep troubling your mind. Is this more than the King's affections?"

Ava scoffed and shook her head, continuing to peer down to her lap. "Affections," she repeated the word. "The King has never been affectionate towards me. That is half of the problem, Arwen. We have never had a kind word to say to each other. How can anything happen when the foundations are nothing but hatred?"

"Would you say that it is hatred you feel for the King, sister?" Arwen spoke.

"No," Ava admitted. "I...there is something...something odd about the way he looks at me and speaks with me. I cannot explain it, but it feels different than when any other elf looks my way. I simply wonder how he can claim to want to know me when he has done nothing but mouth scathing comments. It is hardly conventional. You must recall how Ada looked at mother? It is nothing like how he looks at me."

Arwen nodded, moving one hand to stroke her sister's arm up and down, hoping to soothe the nerves she seemed to have built up. Arwen knew that it would take her sister time to come to terms with what she had just heard from Thranduil.

"Not one single person has the same relationship. We are all unique."

"But not one person I know started their relationship by insulting their partner," Ava responded and Arwen's lips tugged upwards. "He infuriates me and intrigues me, Arwen. What if I stay here? What if I stay and I see a different side to him?"

"Would that not make you happy?" Arwen tried to consider her sister's emotions. She truly did not understand her. "The King is right in what he says, Ava. You need to discover more about each other before you can form a genuine opinion. You might learn to like him if you stay here."

"That is my worry," Ava admitted and Arwen couldn't help but think that she was slowly delving to the root of the problem which her sister seemed to harvest. "You saw what happened to Ada, Arwen. When mother left he was ruined...I..."

"You are scared of feeling the same emotions?" Arwen checked, moving her hand from Ava's arm to her sister's chin, tilting it so that she could look her in the eye and see her gaze. Ava's eyes were already watering as she nodded softly.

"Oh, Ava," Arwen sighed and gave her a sad smile. "What happened to mother was terrible. I know that, but Ada still loves her. It is better to have loved and lost than never to love at all. Our lives are not certain, but we cannot remain cautious, sister. You will hurt if you never allow yourself to feel emotion. You have to know that."

Ava sniffed and ran a hand down her cheek to clear the tears falling. "But it is still scary, Arwen. Why is it so scary?"

Arwen took her sister in her arms then, holding her tightly and closing her own eyes. Arwen could not answer that question for her, because she truthfully did not know the answer. Arwen had never loved like her father had loved her mother. She had never felt such passion, but she had read of it. She had observed it.

"Because it would not be real if it was not scary."

...

Lord Elrond waited with patience for his daughter to come to him. He said nothing as he stood on the balcony outside of his chamber, his hands around the wooden railing and his gaze set on a majestic waterfall which ran down the wall and into the ground. There was something about Mirkwood he could not quite grasp. The realm was mostly underground, and Elrond felt suffocated by it. Rivendell was nothing but open air and soft breezes everywhere. It was not hidden from sight.

He had seen what his daughter had done that morning. His gift of foresight never ceased to avoid him. He should not have looked, but he had been intrigued when he had seen Ava return with haste and slam the door to her chamber. Arwen had told him that she would speak with her sister to see what it was that bothered her. She had gone in and she had come back out, assuring her father that Ava would speak with him when she was ready.

It simply scared Elrond that he already knew what his daughter would say to him. It took a while for her to knock, but she soon came to him. Carefully, she trod into his room and stood by his side on the balcony, wrapping her hand over his as she looked to the waterfall he stared at. Elrond moved his softening stare to his youngest daughter and closed his eyes as soon as he saw her pale face.

"I trust you know," Ava whispered.

Elrond gulped; "Of what the King asked of you? Yes. Of your answer? No."

Ava's hand tightened on her father's hand and he continued to peer down to her with a look of adoration as she leant against the railing, her other arm dangling over it as she took a deep breath.

"Even I do not know my answer," Ava admitted to him. "Arwen spoke some sense to me, but it does not make it any less scary."

Elrond took her hand into both of his and began to walk backwards, giving her no choice but to follow him. He settled himself down on the wooden bench by the open doors to his chamber, his hands cradling hers as he did his best to offer her some comfort. But her touch brought him comfort too. Knowing that his daughter might stay in the woodland realm and leave him caused him fear. He did not wish to lose either Arwen or Ava. They were his children.

"I remember when your mother first left Lothlórien," Elrond informed Ava, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. "I met her when I visited her there and I can still remember the first moment I saw her. It took us a while to become acquainted with each other. She would often keep quiet, but as I spent more time with her I saw another side to her."

Ava remained silent as Elrond looked pensively to the floor, telling the story as he remembered it.

"We grew to love each other and Celeborn and Galadriel were happy for us. They allowed us to hold the wedding in Lothlórien, for which your mother was grateful. She wanted them there for her, and I could not blame her for that. She had been with them for centuries, Ava. She felt safe with them. The wedding was grand, but I will always remember the following morning when I saw her packing to leave for Rivendell."

Elrond's smile turned sad, his eyes closing as he struggled not to become emotional at the thought of his wife. If only she was here with him. She would know what to say to Ava. She would know what to do.

"She was crying. I wondered if I had displeased her. I wondered if I had done something to upset her. She would not tell me for she thought she was being foolish. I eventually managed to find out when she admitted that she was scared. She was scared of leaving home...embarking on a new chapter of her life to Rivendell...I promised her I would take of her, and she believed me. She left Lothlórien and was happy in Rivendell. She had Arwen and you. Galadriel and Celeborn visited often when Arwen was a babe. She needed time, Ava. All it take is time to adjust, and so long as you are happy with the person you are adjusting with; nothing else truly matters."

Ava could almost hear the emotion breaking through in her father's voice as he concluded the story. She did her best to gulp down the lump which seemed to form in her throat as she tried not to think of how much she missed her mother.

"But...mother loved you," Ava asked. "She left home because she loved you."

"Aye, she did," Elrond promised, stroking his daughter's cheek.

"I do not love," Ava whispered. "And he does not love me."

Elrond chuckled at that, silently relieved to hear that she had not fallen for the Elf-king just yet. He did not know if he could bear it if she ever admitted that she had. But he knew the time would come. Galadriel had seen it, as had he. He only longed for time not to pass too quickly.

"It takes time to love, Ava," Elrond promised her. "In time; do you think that you could love him?"

"I do not know," Ava said.

"Then you have the answer to his question," Elrond said, a small stinging feeling moving through his stomach as he said it. "You should stay until you know your feelings. Do not be scared of them, Ava, for you can never hide from how you truly feel."

Ava wrapped her arms around Elrond's neck and he held her back, his hand moving to cradle the back of her head as her cheek rested on his shoulder and her warm breath hit his neck. Elrond did his best not to forget that moment, for he did not know if he would ever have the chance to hold her like he was doing just then.

"You would permit me to stay?" Ava managed to ask from him.

"I would," Elrond whispered. "But I would permit you to come home anytime you need to. Arwen and I shall always be waiting."

Closing her eyes, the tears threatened to fall once more, but she pushed them back. She could not cry when she had an Elf-king to answer to.

...

Thranduil had not left his throne all day. He had been sat atop of it, lounging gracefully with his crown on his head as the visitors he had entertained bid him farewell. Council members had come and gone, expressing how delighted they were with the alliances which had been made between realms. Thranduil had kept quiet, listening to them drone on as his mind remained elsewhere. His thoughts were entirely on the elleth he was waiting to hear from.

The end of the day was drawing to a close and Thranduil was finished listening to speeches for the day. He stood with ease, his red cape flowing behind him as he wandered down the staircase and across the walkways. He fully intended on moving to his chambers, but he was soon interrupted.

He could see her rushing towards him with haste, her skirts in her hands as she went. He dismissed the guards who stood by the walkway to his throne, telling them to leave as Ava finally stood before him. She looked to him as he stood tall, his gaze back to the King like hard stare she had grown accustomed to.

She was relieved when she saw the guards sweep by her to leave, watching them as they went and their footsteps soon turned quiet before there was silence. Thranduil was the one to speak first, waiting until all ears were out of hearing distance before he dared to open his mouth.

"Lady Ava," he greeted her. "I had hoped to see you before the end of the day. I was just on my way to retire for the evening."

Ava's brow quirked. "By all means, my King, do not let me stop you. I am certain my answer can wait until tomorrow."

Thranduil almost wanted to yell at her, but he could see the smile on her face and he remained inquisitive. Would she be so teasing if she had refused his question? He doubted it, but he did not know with Ava. She certainly was a closed book to him. Her thoughts were nothing but a mystery to Thranduil.

"I am positive that I can make time for you before I retire. Come, my Lady," he spoke to her and offered his long arm towards her.

Ava hesitated this time before she wrapped her arm inside of his. Even through the thickness of his silver tunic; she could feel the warmth from his body. His strides were long, accentuating his physique as he went. Ava struggled to keep up, trying not to trip over her gown as he led her down multiple walkways until they came to a quiet pool on the ground. Thranduil released her arm, his hand brushing against hers and sending shivers down her spine as he looked to the peaceful water.

He moved to the table by the stone pillar and picked up a cup before pouring it with wine and offering it to Ava.

"I often come here when I need time to think," Thranduil decreed. "The small pool is water collected from the waterfalls. It is quiet and peaceful. No one shall hear our discussion."

"It is very open," Ava noted.

She could still see the walkways above and the concrete floor seemed to go one for some while, large trees acting as archways as it went.

"The council chamber is at the bottom of the path," Thranduil informed her. "There is nothing else down here. Regardless, I do not wish to discuss architecture with you."

He finished pouring his own cup of wine before looking to Ava. She had one arm over her stomach and the other holding her cup just underneath her chin.

"Truly? Because I could talk of architecture all evening-"

"-Ava," he spoke her name, the sound soft yet stern at the same time. "Do not play coy with me. It will not end well, believe me on that matter."

His stare was so intense that Ava found herself unable to look away from him as he kept a respectable distance from her, his gaze refusing to ease as she wondered if she was turning red whilst looking at him. The fact that he still wore his crown of twigs and leaves made him seem even more powerful.

"I do not doubt that," Ava promised him. "But I am simply nervous."

"About?" he offered for her to expand.

"Everything," she shrugged. "Staying with you in Mirkwood is not something I easily decided. You need to know that. And you need to know that there are conditions to my stay."

Thranduil's brow arched and his lips tugged upwards. "So you shall stay?"

"As long as you agree to my conditions," Ava reminded him and he stepped closer towards her as she sipped on her wine.

"Consider them agreed to," he told her.

"You do not know what they are," she reminded him.

"I do not care," he shrugged off and drank his own wine.

"Well one of them was that I was allowed to ride your Elk whenever I wished," Ava said, trying to taunt him. "And another one was that I be allowed to sit in your throne...oh and I should also be allowed-"

"-Fine, name your conditions if you must," Thranduil waved a hand in dismissal. "Your fake ones are slowly becoming tedious."

Grinning, Ava finished her cup of wine and brushed by the King to place the empty cup back on the table. He turned to watch her as she moved by him, his blue eyes not once leaving her small form as she went.

"I can leave whenever I wish," Ava declared and Thranduil nodded.

"Naturally, you are no prisoner, Lady Ava," he promised her and she poured herself another cup of wine.

"We dine with each other at least four times a week in order to understand each other," she said. "I know that your kingly duties might take you away for some time and I can accept that. But if I am to stay here then I need to converse with you."

"Consider it done," he said, wondering just how many conditions she had come up with.

"We tell each other the truth," she said. "No more cruel words or snide comments...just conversation...and honesty."

Thranduil was not entirely sure about such a matter. He was King. It was only right that he keep some secrets from her. He doubted that she would approve of some of the things he had done during his reign. But he nodded to her request and she finished her second cup of wine.

"And I really do wish to ride your Elk," she concluded and Thranduil would have laughed had he not been rolling his eyes at her. "But that is it. I shall stay in Mirkwood so long as you would have me."

Thranduil moved until he was but a foot from her. He moved his arm behind her body to set his cup down, refusing to look away from her as he moved his hand to take hold of hers. His fingers engulfed hers and he kept his grip tightly on her as their hands hung at her hip and she tried to control her breathing at his proximity.

"I am simply glad you came to your sense before the day ended," he admitted. "I may sleep better for knowing your answer."

"I am pleased I can have such an effect on the King of Mirkwood," she told him and he smiled to her before he pulled her hand up to his chest height and bowed slightly at the waist, his golden hair pooling around him as he moved his lips to the back of her hand.

"And I am pleased to see what an effect I have on you, Lady of Rivendell," he told her as he finished kissing her knuckles tenderly and his hot breath brushed over her wrist and his felt her pulse with his index finger. "Perhaps you should retire before the day overwhelms you?"

"I would suggest the same to you, my King," Ava mumbled, refusing to let him have the final say.

"Believe me, Ava, it takes much more than a simple peck to overwhelm me," Thranduil's eyes seemed to glimmer as Ava nervously brushed her hair behind her ear. "Goodnight, my Lady."

"Sleep well, King Thranduil," Ava said and quickly moved up the staircase they had previously descended.

Standing with his hands behind his back, the smirk on his face refused to leave. "Insufferable wench," he muttered, but this time not with any malice or annoyance. He said it with nothing but honesty and warmth.

...

A/N: The response to this story just gets greater and greater. Honestly guys, thanks so much for spending the time reading this. As always, thoughts, ideas, comments are appreciated. Until next time...