Mantheniels POV
The news of the departure of the prince arrived shortly in the morning. I had been walking towards Turwaithiels study room when a guard had informed me of a meeting held in the stone courtyard.
I walk briskly to the meeting place and find Lord Elrond and Legolas talking to each other in low whispers. They stop as soon as I was of earshot and turn to look at me.
"I was summoned? My Lords?" I ask, awkwardly addressing the two lords before me. I was now uncertain if I was needed here or not. Lord Elrond greets me with a smile, raising his arm and gesturing me to come closer. I do as I am told and take deliberate steps towards them. The prince acknowledges my presence by a mere swoop of his eyes. I continued to stare at Lord Elrond, questioning him through my eyes.
"Mantheniel. I am glad you are here. I have another task for you." Lord Elrond was looking at me, his smile unfading. When I did not reply he takes it as a sign to continue.
"Legolas wishes to go back home." He starts and my eyes lock into the elven princes, he remains stoic and emotionless.
"What of it, my lord?" I ask when Lord Elrond had grown quiet.
"I want you to accompany him."
His words play over and over again in my head. I was to accompany him. However, that would mean...
"May I ask why there is a need to accompany him, my lord?" I ask, my voice clearly shaken but hidden beneath a facade I created.
"I do not understand it myself. Lord Elrond, I can make the journey on my own. There is no need for your best soldier to accompany me." Legolas explains and I feel a bit relieved he was with me on this one.
"Yes. I know. But it is not I that requested it."
Both Legolas and I stare at Lord Elrond, the confusion in our faces identical.
"The king... Has grown an interest in my beloved soldier." Lord Elrond explains. I straighten my back, unbelieving. I felt the familiar race in my heart. Legolas seemed unconvinced. I was just utterly confused.
"What sort of interest?" Was Legolas question and I find myself eagerly waiting for the answer?
"Just mostly her skills. He would like to have a spar."
A spar? With an elleth? The king?
I feel panic rush through me. I suddenly doubted my own skills. Why on middle earth would he want to spar with me?
"Ah. Why does that not come off as a shock to me?" Legolas smiled. Was I the only one thinking of it odd?
"You do not have any arguments about the arrangements, do you Mantheniel?" It takes a moment for me to register Lord Elronds question. His dark eyes filled with curiousity, awaiting my response.
I find myself shaking my head 'no'.
"If it is orders then I shall carry them out." I reply, unable to keep my gaze firmly on Lord Elrond.
"This is not an order. You do not have to if you do not wish to."
I was taken aback my Lord Elronds words. Was he letting me choose? Even so, I did not have an answer.
"Well, whatever your decision may be. I leave tomorrow." Legolas informs me before he walks away, leaving Lord Elrond and me. My thoughts were suddenly vulnerable, now that we were alone.
"So what will it be, Mantheniel?" Lord Elrond asks, I could not help but think there was a reason behind all of this.
"That is all? I am just to go back to the woodland realm just because the king would like to have a spar with me?" I surprised myself with the question that cane so naturally out of my mouth. I had been asking so many questions of late.
"My lord." I add, suddenly aware that I had not been addressing him properly.
"Yes and no."
"What?" I ask, confused as ever. Lord Elrond looks away, taking slow steps away from me. I watch the retreating figure of his back.
"Has it something to do with what you have foreseen last night. My Lord?" I ask, remembering the events of last night.
"You have been asking so many questions these days, Mantheniel. Although you have always been the curious type."
I feel a blush creep up my cheeks. For an elf, I showed emotion too easily.
"To answer your question, it does." He walks in front of me watching the trees that surrounded us. My eyes follow the slow movements of his robe being dragged on the floor.
"May I ask-" I stop myself, finding it difficult to continue my question when he turns to face me. One of his brows raised in question. I force myself to look into his dark eyes, allowing my mind to be vulnerable. Maybe if he found out about my attraction he would have second thoughts on sending me back there.
"Ask what?"
I clear my throat before continuing, my eyes firmly on his.
"What is it that you saw?" My voice falters a little and Lord Elrond takes notice. He looks away from me then, pacing forward.
"I think you and I both know what I have seen for it has already happened." He says, his voice was soft that I could not help but put my defenses down. This was Lord Elrond. He would know what to do.
"Has it something to do with... King Thranduil?" My heart is in knots as soon as his name escaped my lips. Quite impossible for Lord Elrond to ignore. He looks at me from the corner of his eye and I knew he knew.
"Yes. It has."
"I swear by the Valar that I will not nurture these feelings." It comes out as a desperate plea. For what, I did not know, maybe I was trying to convince him and myself.
"It is alright, Mantheniel. I am not here to punish you for what you feel. Or to accuse you of anything wrong." He turns around to face me, concern visible in his voice. His eyes looked at me as if I was a wounded animal, desperately trying to escape the trap I had so blindly walked into.
"I want you to go." He speaks again after a few moments of silence. I look at him with my brows furrowed in confusion.
"It is better to face it instead of ignoring it."
He had a point. If I wished to forget, I must learn to accept. I nod as a reply before excusing myself. I had to find Turwaithiel, I must tell her.
I find her in her study, scanning through the pages of a thick book. When I come in she merely glances up from her book in acknowledgement before diving into it again.
"I think I may be attracted to the king."
Her head snaps up at my words, looking at me with big wide blue orbs as if she had not quite understood what I had just said.
"I met him and I felt..." How did I feel?
"Like something was pulling you towards him?" She says and I nod my head, it was exactly how I felt. That strong pull. The effect his eyes had on me.
"Oh dear. Does Lord Elrond know?" She asks concern in her voice. And for good reason. Elves fell in love only once in their whole immortal life. It was not as if I was in love, but the possibility of it was quite high. Moreover, that would be a mistake. A grievous mistake.
"Yes. He does." I take a seat by the window, watching the courtyard below.
"Well, if he says there is nothing wrong then it is alright. Maybe it is nothing. Maybe you just find him attractive like how I find that guard on the watch tower attractive." She explains, trying to comfort me with her words.
"It is nothing." I repeat with more strength in my voice. It will be nothing.
She looks at me for a moment before taking a seat beside me, her hands fidgeting on her lap.
"What is the matter, Turwaithiel?" I ask she does not respond but continues to stare at her feet I began to doubt she even heard me before she speaks again. Her voice low, almost like a whisper.
"He is leaving." She says, I could feel the sadness in her voice. "And you as well!"
I suddenly felt guilty, already agreeing to leave for Mirkwood without thinking of whom I would be leaving behind. I bite my lip, unsure on how to proceed when a thought occured to me.
"Maybe you can come with us?" I suggest. It would make me feel calmer knowing she would be there. Who knows how long I would be staying there. I hope that it is not so long.
She seems to accept my suggestion but argues against it with a violent shake of her head.
"I will not!" She says almost defensively.
"Has something happened?"
"No. Nothing has happened. I would rather not talk about it."
And that was the end of our conversation. She had asked me to stay with her that night, falling asleep on my lap as I brushed through her hair. I would be leaving again tomorrow, to face what I fear the most... and vanquish it.
Authors note: Happy New Year! Sorry I haven't been updating much. eeep! But it'll change next year! Also, do any of you have accounts? I would like it if you read my original stories as well. hehehehe