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Chapter 8:

Mirkwood:

Eva fell on the ground for the fifth time, she glared up at her training partner, "You! That was dirty you tripped me!"

The elf growled, "An orc will do far more dirty things in a fight."

Eva huffed, "and I thought kings were supposed to be respectable."

The handsome man eyes twinkled, "if you want a respectable fighter go ask your father to train you."

Eva said, "no Your Grace Thranduil." She quickly bowed her head, "I didn't mean to sound rude or disrespectful, I was teasing."

She felt two fingers gently touch her chin and the king rose her face to meet his. "As was I little valar," he had what Eva thought was an almost smile on his face. Thranduil almost never smiled. Though she always thought his rare smiles were beautiful, like a sunrise. Eva felt her cheeks begin to redden, she had a very big crush on Thranduil, and in her opinion he was the most beautiful elf she had ever seen. But since she was just a little girl, Eva was embarrassed about such things and so she kept her feeling hidden. Besides he was married so even when she got older he was off limits.

Eva quickly stepped back and turned her back so she could hid her blush, "lets go again." She then turned to face him, and they began sparring. Over the summer Eva had decided she wanted to learn to use dual wielding swords. Like Thranduil. He had assigned one of the captains to teach her the basics and all summer she had been practicing, and she had gotten to the point she could hold her own during her lessons. Now being thoroughly thrashed by Thranduil, she had a sneaking suspicion the captain who taught her had gone easy on her. Or Thranduil was just really good. Eva dogged another swing only to be hit across the back by the other blade.

Thranduil said, "dead…again. And then in a bored tone said, "at this rate you'll be an old lady by the time your ready to go in the forest."

Eva frowned, "I don't see why you wont let me go in the forest. I am perfectly capable of protecting my self with magic."

Thranduil sighed they had, had this exact conversation many times. "Eva what if for some reason you can't use your magic or what if you run out of magic. You may be powerful, but you tire like any other mortal. And your body is fragile, I won't have you alone in the forest until I am fully confident that you can protect your self in any situation that might arise." Eva didn't say anything she just stared at the ground, with a deep frown etched into her face. Thranduil came up and placed his hand on her shoulder, "I do this because I want to keep you safe, you are to precious to us all."

Eva noted he said us all, and not his self, she always wondered if he really did like her, or only tolerated her prescience because of what she was. One of the Valar, and therefore a divine being. She gave a deep sigh, "I understand Your Grace." She then rubbed her sore arm where Thranduil had rapped her with his sword.

Thranduil looked her over, he could already see some bruises again, he frowned he had forgotten how easily she bruised. "I think were don for the day. I was going to go for my daily ride would you like to accompany me."

Eva perked up a little and gave a little node, "yes your grace. A ride would be fun."

Thranduil then walked over to a few guards and asked them to inform Legolas that they were going for a ride and that he was welcome to join them.

An hour later, King Thranduil, Evangeline and Legolas were in front of the stables. Both Eva and Legolas had mounted their horses and they were now waiting on the Kings War Elk. Thranduil had to summon it from the forest and when it arrived it's coat was caked in mud, and so the stable hand had to groom the Elk. Eva was quietly braiding her horses mane as it grazed. Thranduil scolded, "eva you shouldn't let the horse gaze while your ridding it."

Eva looked up and asked, "why?"

Thranduil arrogantly stated, "it encourages bad habits."

Eva pursed her lips, "Fine Your Grace." She then sat up in the saddle and lifted the horses head and nudged it into a walk." She steered the horse and brought it up next to Legolases horse, "better?"

Thranduil said, "yes."

They waited another five minutes when Legolas said, "come on, I still need to inspect the armory today."

Thranduil looked over and rose one of his thick, but well groomed eyebrows, "you haven't don that yet?"

Legolas frowned, "I went out with the morning watch, and we found a large spider nest, which took longer than anticipated to clear."

Thranduils face turned colder, Eva recognized that look. He was worried, but didn't want anyone to know. Eva said, "perhaps you could ask the White Counsel for help with the forest?"

Thranduil frowned, "I doubt they would be able to help. When the shadow of Sauron fell upon this land, it created all the dark things that live within the forest. And these things will continue to live and will haunt us until Sauron has truly fallen."

Eva frowned and fiddled with one of her horses braids. Her Ada had told her of stories of Sauron and his Nazgouls. She had actually seen a Nazgoul once, it was the Witch King the leader of the Nazgoul and she never wanted to see it again. Eva recalled what her father told her about the battle, in which men and elves fought against Sauron. Where a King of Gondor had severed the ring of power from Saurons hand and thus destroyed his physical body. Eva frowned, recalling all the rings, she knew Nan Gladriel and Lord Elrond both had rings of power, though they were never corrupted like the ring which Sauron had given to the Dwarfs and Men.

Eva was pulled out of her thoughts by the sight of king Thranduils Elk being lead from the stable. Thranduil said, "finally lets go before we lose anymore daylight."

Thranduil quickly mounted and kicked his elk into a slow canter. Eva and Legolas happily followed. The three cantered down the road that wound around the Mirkwood mountains, Eva took in a deep breath of the forest air. Close to the mountain the forest wasn't so polluted with Saurons evil, and Eva felt relaxed. She gave a large smile, it was moments like this that she loved, the three of them taking a leisurely ride through the forest. Thranduil signaled that they would cross the river up ahead.

Legolas happily yelled to Eva, "try not to fall in this time."

Eva huffed and yelled over the sound of the crashing water, "that was one time!" And steered her horse to the proper spot to jump the river at its narrowest spot.

Eva looked down at the river, the river was narrow but very deep and it was flowing very fast. Eva then signaled her horse to jump and it flew over the gulch, landing with ease on the other side, causing Eva to laugh in glee. She then kicked her horse into a gallop and passed Thranduil. She galloped for a moment until she heard hoofs beats behind her and watched at Thranduil galloped past her.

She yelled "Hey!" and asked her horse to run faster.

The horse gave a little more power in its strides and came neck to neck with the Kings elk. Eva looked over at Thranduil, and gave him a wide smile. He didn't openly smile back. Though Eva noted his eyes were shinning and his lips were very slightly curved up, and so she knew he was happy. He then bent over and whispered in his elks ear and it picked up speed which Evas horse couldn't match and Thranduil overtook her.

Eva let her horse fall back into a trot and she waited for Legolas who was leisurely cantering his horse. She then rode side to side with Legolas. Still disappointed that the King beat her, Eva sulked while she rode next to Legolas. Legolas then leaned sideways and reached out for her. Ruffling her hair, he said "cheer up, no horse can beat his Elk. Why do you think he rides it?"

Eva continued to sulk and Legolas sighed, he hated it when Eva sulked. She got all pouty and 'woe is me' like. But as long as she didn't cry he was alright. Legolas couldn't stand it when she cried. He always found her tears hart breaking because she rarely cried for herself, it was usually for others who were in pain. Such as his father, Eva cried a lot for his father. He still remembered when she was a small child and he found her crying.
Why the tears little one? Legolas picked her up and wiped her tears away only to have new one pours from her eyes.

She hiccupped, "Thraduil is sad."

Legolas frowned, "my father has had a hard life."

Eva nodded, "I know and he is in such pain and he dosen't acknowledge it."

Legolas agreed with her and knew his father was upset though he preferred to keep his pain private. And thus Legolas had no idea how to help him, "Ada is a strong man, not crying is how he copes."

Evas lips trembled, "if he can not cry and acknowledge his pain then I will for him."

Legolas was surprised, he didn't know what to say to the little girl. Who's hart was so big, who cared so much for him and his father. "that is a big burden to take on."

Eva snuffled, "I can do it. I will do it. Thranduil needs someone he can reach out for, I'll be that person. He is only living a half life, and I can not stand it." She then began to cry again. And Legolas hugged her tight to him trying to comfort her.

Legolas looked over at Eva she was growing up so fast, it seemed all he had to do was blink and she would be full grown. Legolas asked, "you started your school, yes?"

Evangeline looked up at him it seemed as if she had bee thinking deeply about something. Eva said, "yes I arrived yesterday. I was sorted into Gryffindor with Harry."

Legolas nodded, Eva had told him of her new friend Harry and he wasn't quite sure how to feel about the boy. He knew Eva was coming to the age where she would start to develop romantic feeling for people, and he didn't like the idea. He had observed the young men in lake town, and if Harry was anything like them then didn't want her near them and their crude ways.

Legolas knew she technically wasn't an Elf and therefore didn't have to follow their ways of only marrying one person. Though he was still horrified by what Eva had once told him about how on earth people usually dated multiple people before getting married, and how many couples got divorced. She had also told him it was quite normal to lay with a lover before marriage. Which to an elf was an extreme taboo, just about as taboo as getting remarried. Legolas fixed a smile to his face, "that is great Eva."

Eva then continued to tell him about Hogwarts and her train ride there. They finally reached the field, which was as far as they would ride. Eva found Thranduil had dismounted off his elk and was currently scratching the animals neck, with out looking up he said, "took you two long enough."

Legolas ignored his fathers statement and asked, "did you bring any food."

Thranduil said, "no but I have some wine."

Eva chuckled and cheekily said, "all hail the party king."

Legolas let out a loud snort, and Thranduil rose an eyebrow at her, "what is that supposed to mean?"

Eva gave a wry smile, "You throw more parties than anyone I know."

Thrandiul frowned, "Is there a problem with trying to keep my peoples spirits happy."

Eva shrugged and began to pick the wildflowers in the field, "No of course not. . . But you know on earth you'd be considered a high functioning alcoholic."

Thranduil asked, "again what's that supposed to mean?"

Eva simply stated, "a high functioning alcoholic is like an alcoholic, but they can keep their work and life functioning just fine. A regular alcoholic doesn't…usually."

Legolas asked, "and I take it being an alcoholic is bad."

Eva nodded, "yah if you drink excessively all the time your considered one."

Legolas then said, "so most dwarfs and men are alcoholics."

Eva thought on what he said for a bit and then said, "yah I guess. Though here on middle earth drinking ale and wine is normal because clean water is less available." Eva then sat down and began to make flower chains.

The King sat down next to her, "I remember taking you out here when you were just a toddler. I feel like I've just blinked and now you are almost full grown."

Eva looked up from her work, "I've still a few more years My King."

Legolas sat down next to her, "what are you making."

Eva smiled brightly, "flower crowns."

The three relaxed, and laid in the field for a while and chatted while Eva made them all crowns. It was a rare sight to see the King and prince so relaxed, but being around Eva eased their harts. They felt comfortable with her, she was not a subject or an emissary from another country who they needed to be careful around. She was a divine being who was to be respected, and so the King felt he was on even footing with her. Though he knew she was young and acted like any child, she sometimes showed wisdom that Thranduil knew only came with living a great amount of years. In those moments the King was reminded of exactly what Eva was. He always wondered why a Vala would chose to descend from Valinor and live in another world called earth. And he greatly wondered why, she came here. To the King, Eva was an endless, why. The girl created more questions than answered them. Neverless, Thranduil enjoyed Evas visits. When she was around he felt a bit lighter, and he hoped as she grew maybe she could help him rid his kingdom of Saurons evil. But she required a lot of training in both her magic and her skills with weapons before such endeavors.

Thranduil was pulled out of his thoughts by Eva placing a crown of flowers on his head, she then chastely kissed his forehead and cheekily said, "all hail the party king."

The King hummed and gave a slight smirk and tickled her side "cheeky little queen."

Eva laughed and tried to squirm away while Thranduil mercilessly tickled her, she gave a shrill laugh and yelled, "stop! Noooo to much!" Thranduil tickled her a moment more before letting up. Eva was breathing hard, and watched as Thranduil picked up the slightly smaller flower crown and placed it on her head. Eva smiled brightly at him and he affectionately fixed her hair.

Legolas then said, "we should probably head back." Eva nodded and Thranduil stood and then helped Eva up. They all then made it over to their horses and rode back to the palace. On the way back Eva felt the familiar pull, telling her she had to leave. Eva said, I need to go and the rode up to Legolas and handed him her rains. He nodded and said, "till next time Eva." She smiled and said bye, and left.