Hi! A new chapter is on your way.

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And this time you guys even commented! It was lovely. I hope it happens again.

Answering a few questions: Lemons in the does not allow adult content. L Although perhaps fluff and I will try to walk the line, but I'll be lawful. Second of all, sexy-ish scenes, I am not that good of a writer, but I'll try. :D Lady Mareth may possibly start some shiit…she's really unhappy with the arrangements so far. Next chapter you'll get some action. Landmir. A little blood, a baby and feels. Many of them.

COURT IN SESSION

Early in the morning one of the seamstresses came over to the healing chambers, bringing a dress with her. Thranduil had sent her a dress. One appropriate for court, the rebellious side of Lena wanted to take the dress and shove it into the bottom of her oaken chest, but she had to wear it. So the deep blue dress, its fabric like the night sky with crystals sown on it that shone like stars, was something she would just have to suck it up and wear. Lena had nothing against wearing beautiful dresses, until someone started to choose her clothes for herself, like Thranduil had taken the liberty to do.

Though Lena put her own twist on it not wanting to be the doll for dress-up, instead of wearing the jewellery she had been offered, Lena asked Landmir for flowers. Landmir had a knack for gardening and a wide array of different florae embellished his office. He had chosen simple white blossoms, which Lena delicately set into her hair after braiding it crown. She wasn't a picture of a punk-rock rebel, but Lena was happy. As the participating in court was mandatory for her cause of Thranduil had made it so, the look of a warrior-ish princess was something he just had to put up with.

Walking to the throne hall, Lena noticed Tauriel and Legolas standing guard, lady Mareth chatting with some elleth she hadn't seen before. Legolas took note of Lena's arrival as she was very eye-catching and walked her to her seat. Lena was seated next to Legolas' spot, something that had to do with royal protocol as the next in line of the throne sat the closest or the queen and then other guests, members of the Council and so on.

Thranduil hadn't yet arrived and as everyone else was seated including a few of the councilmen she heard guards signalling the king's arrival. Another tailored silver robe and a sword…Lena curtsey as did the others, one by on the herald started calling out names.

-…-…-…-

Lena did not know how long and how ridiculous the whole event would be, the concerns of some Men were...ludicrous. While elves brought some more serious issues, from sightings of bands of men and orcs to bad omens. Omens that made Lena's skin crawl. Rumours of skinned bodies of men.

"My goods were robbed." The merchant spoke, Lena's interest peaked. The man's story was making her suspicious, how he made it on time to the court hearing, to the fact of the he was a traveling salesman.

"Good such as?" One of the councilmen asked.

"Medicinal herbs, spices, wine. I wish a reimbursement. Compensation to rebuild my stockpile."

"You claim you were attacked on my lands?" Thranduil spoke, looking the as regal as six hours ago when the hearings started.

"Yes. Criminals. Thieves. Scum. Took all that I have." The man complained and described the attack on him. Hushed whispers were exchanged between elves. The land of the Woodland Realm was protected by Thranduil, any attacks on merchants or travellers in his kingdom was a public disgrace and insulted his honour as king and implied the weakness of his guards.

Lena got even more sceptical in the end of the man's story, it was loopy. "He is lying." Lena spoke in Silvan, that she knew quite well.

"Lady Selene, why do you think so?" Thranduil asked in Sindarin, his gaze solely set on her.

Lena's Sindarin was…to say the least, rusty. She could read in it, but talking was another deal. "If his story was true. At least one of the merchants who have visited in the last week would have heard and talked about the attack. Word gets around in those circles."

Thranduil smirked, tapping his fingers and still staring at her. "Would you please elaborate on those circles?"
Lena was no stranger to a stare-down, she held her own, raising her brow. "The palace kitchen staff would know. They speak to merchants most often. The said robbery took place last week and I talked to a few of the staff yesterday. If anything had happened, I would know." Lena hoped she wouldn't get Anna in trouble, but if anyone had been robbed Anna would have told everyone by now. "He doesn't look like a merchant."

"No, he doesn't." Thranduil agreed with her and raised his fingers, beckoning the guards. "Dungeons." Two ellyn came forth and took the said merchant to the prisons. He would interrogate and decide later what to do with the liar.

Lena sat in silence and watched how the man was taken away to be questioned further. She wondered if the dungeons were something out of a horror story- bloodied shackles and torturing devices only came to her mind. She shook the idea from her mind and continued listening. The court hearings lasted till sundown, Lena felt mentally exhausted.

The king descended from his throne, Lena wondered how he didn't fall over nor stumble into his robes, the wondering thought of Thranduil tripping and then falling down the staircase brought a smile on her face.
"Selene, what has brought a smile on your lips?" Legolas asked, slightly startling Lena, she must have phased out for a second.

"Oh, nothing." Lena did not want to tell, that she just imagined his father falling.

"Plotting lady Mareth's demise?" Tauriel whispered, making Lena laugh out loud. "Come with me. You must be hungry."

-…-…-…-

Lena sat down with Tauriel and others chatting away, the atmosphere much more relaxed than in the throne hall. Lena and Anna ventured down into the wine cellars. Taking the stairs that went down quite a way, in search for a finer vintage to drink.
"He asked to name his goat! Do you imagine? There are other people with much more serious issues and he comes to the king to name his goat?" Lena mentioned the absurd situation.

"What happened then?" Anna asked

"Grass-eater. The goat was named Grass-eater. Do you imagine I had to hear this all day and only because he wanted to punish me for the sneaking off…like really? He is a crafty little thing." Lena tried to think of something better than a crafty little thing, but the wine had made her a bit tongue-tied. "No wonder the king is an alcoholic."

"The king is alcoholic?" Anna wondered what fancy illness that was or perhaps it wasn't a condition.

"He drinks a lot. Almost every time I have seen him he either has a goblet in his hand and a bottle of wine somewhere in the room. But then again, if I'd have to deal with that for a few thousand years, I'd drink too. Probably much-"

"Lady Selene." Thranduil's voice echoed up from the chamber downstairs. Anna let out a squeak and sprinted up the stairs, leaving Lena alone to face the king, who sounded unhappy.

"Hi." Lena spoke into the darkness awkwardly. Fuck, shit, fuck, fuck. I'm dead.

"Would you please join me and continue your story?" Thranduil asked, she still could not see into the wine cellar, the dim light illuminated the steps, but otherwise she was left without a light in the dark.

"Nope, too dark for my liking. I will just stay here, where it isn't pitch black." Lena called out, she wasn't planning to step into the lion's den. What the hell was he doing in the wine cellars in the middle of the night without any light? For all she cared he could have been dismembering a body.

"Selene." Thranduil was sounding grumpier. "It wasn't a request."

"You weren't asking me? It was more like a polite command, oh how generous of your majesty." Lena knew she stepped out of line, but she wasn't going in there. Too dark. Lena could hear Thranduil's jaw snapping shut and footsteps coming towards her. Then light illuminated the entrance to the wine cellar. It wasn't dark anymore and unwillingly she made her way down the last steps.

"Continue your story." Thranduil said, now behind her.

Lena turned quickly and felt her heart hammering out of her chest, she held her hand over her heart. The fight or flight mode was starting to kick in, clearing her throat she tried to make her voice sound normal. "I'd drink too, probably much more." She ended her unfinished sentence. Her voice lacked that panicky high note luckily.

"I drink too much?" Thranduil tilted his head, not knowing what to think.

"Well…we are in a wine cellar and you are holding a bottle of wine. Imagine the irony of that." Lena stated, it was truly faith mocking both of them.

Unexpectedly Thranduil laughed, it was a funny situation. "And you came here for wine too?"

"Yes." Lena answered, still feeling like 'the deer in the headlights'. It was the first time she had seen Thranduil actually laugh. She was excepting a forced ' . NO.' or a Game of Thrones Joffrey/ Harry Potter Malfoy-escue 'I'll have you beheaded for this!'

„Irony indeed. Come." Thranduil ordered her. She thought he had let the polite command comment slide.

"Where?" Lena inquired. Thranduil looked like he was about to snap her neck. Moody. "Ah...so no polite command this time?"

"Lady Selene." Exasperated he took her hand and they walked arm in arm. Lena more dragged by Thranduil than walking on her own. He took a path through the palace that she had never used, if she'd been on her own she would have been lost for sure.

Lena had been in that chamber before, though last time she was drunk, she remembered quite well. The moment Thranduil let go of her hand she went and sat down on the sofa. Sulking.

Thranduil frowned, she had taken his place. Again. "Why did you think the man was lying?" he poured himself wine.

"Cause he was. The way he looked. I have seen plenty of merchants. He looked more like a bad actor in a merchants clothing and if anyone had been robbed. First of all- other merchants would know and second of all- Anna would know." Lena had talked to merchants, being regular visitor of the kitchen.

"Anna?"

"She is your chef? The one with light brown hair, hair always in a braid. Talks a lot." Lena described Anna, didn't Thranduil know his own staff? Most importantly who was cooking him food, not knowing who your chef is might get you poisoned.

"I am aware of who she is, what I am asking is she a reliable source of information?"

"She talks most to the outside world. I trust her." Lena simply stated, hoping she won't get Anna into trouble.

"Selene. You are peculiar."

"Ehm…can't really comment on that. I am unique."

"Father. Lady Selene is…" Legolas looked around, until his eyes settled on Selene, he tilted his head in the same way Thranduil did. "Not missing. I was told she went into the wine cellars and then…" Legolas frowned at his father.

"I wished to talk to her. You may leave now." Thranduil dismissed Legolas, turning his back. Legolas looked at her, Lena shrugged and then the prince left leaving them in silence.

"I have a question." Lena did her best evil overlord impression. Thranduil raised his brow for him Selene was getting more peculiar by the minute.

"What do you wish to speak of?"

"A theoretical question about your area of expertise." Thranduil poured himself more wine and sat down on the couch over hers. "How come you are king and don't use the excuse that your father was too. I did not elect you. I got no vote over it. Why should I abide to your rule? Next. Let's say there is a king who is cruel to his subjects, using them as a means to an end, how can this be? Just cause one was born first by chance and gets to rule, shouldn't grant them the right to decide over what's best for others. How is the king's rule justified then?" Lena finished and inhaled, the habit of talking really fast without breathing was a hard one to kick. Thranduil stared at her like she had grown an extra head. Perhaps questioning his rule wasn't the best idea, she gave a meek smile. Please no beheading.

"A king serves his people. A man who claims power by force is no king. Power has to be recognized for it to have any effect and loyalty isn't born out of fear. Kings who are cruel to their subjects always find a bloody end. There are no exceptions. Kings can be killed." The final words tasted like blood and ashes on the battlefield. His father, for a moment Thranduil felt anger and hurt well up, making itself heard. His grip on the goblet too strong, even Lena noticed the tension in him. Then as fast as his inner turmoil started, it disappeared and Thranduil gave a pleasant smile and continued. "As for you Selene, you did have a choice."

Lena mulled over his words, no…she did have a choice. Not the best one, but she did and life in the palace was ten times better than any chance she would have had in the wilderness…Fuck. Selene mouthed, then realizing Thranduil heard it. Goddamnit.

"Selene." Thranduil smirked.

"Okay. Minding my language." Lena blushed.

-…-…-…-…-

Lady Mareth watched how Selene left the kings chambers. Jealousy bloomed in her, this was the second time she witnessed a nightly visit. Was Selene a concubine, it would explain her mysterious background, but a nagging feeling told her Thranduil wouldn't do that. What were they discussing then? One of the ladies had informed that the king had sent her the dress she wore to court. Whatever the relationship between them, lady Mareth did not like it.

-…-…-…-…-

Thranduil was entertained by Selene. Asking her to sit in at court gave him time to observe her. The guards had noted her ability to escape their watch, so he had unofficially asked some of the elves Selene was friendlier with to keep an eye on her. It wasn't questioned by them, they cared enough for Selene to look after her.

It was unexpected that she spoke out in court, even more she did it in Sindarin. Landmir had taught her well in her brief time in Greenwood. He noticed walking in to the throne hall the white flowers placed in her hair. While other ellith were wearing their best and adorned themselves in jewellery, she had simple blossoms in her hair and caught more looks than anyone else. Her beauty was a different kind.

He also noted the tension running between Selene and Mareth. The lady from Rivendell was very guarded when it came to Selene and it was for the better. The peace in the realm was too fragile and deceitful for the revelation of her origin.

Selene's way with words, she spoke out of order, he knew he should have reprimanded her, but he didn't. It was new, her audacity and he decided to let it grow a little. He was a crafty little thing, Thranduil chuckled. He had asked Selene to join the hunting party the next day. A polite command. A chance to keep an eye on her.

How did you like it and how is Thranduil so far? I'm still having difficulties writing him.