Author's Note

Hi guys! I know it's been months and I don't know if you guys remember this story but I hope you do. These past few months have been tough, honestly. School, teachers, parents, and other teenage problems that maybe some of you are going through. I've also been trying to finish other stories and trying to get my blog up. With all of that, I guess, this story slipped my mind and every time I tell myself to continue it the world just throws me another bone I need to go get. But that's not an excuse. A writer should never throw a story away and I hope I can finish this story before my summer ends.

To all the people who are still waiting for this, you guys are the reasons this story never truly left me. Thank you for your support and wish you guys all the best. I hope you won't stop supporting me and I hope all of you continue to be readers (and, maybe, writers. Cause come on. Who doesn't like writing?)

Thank you!

P.S. To the person who gave that amazing comment, thank you! I don't understand Spanish (well, I'm trying to learn.) but it really meant a lot.

- T.W.F

Chapter Nine

"Tauriel is not watching me today?"

"No, Master Hobbit. She is with the King dealing with urgent matters."

"Oh. Well, I thank you for your service."

The Elf guard dressed in the usual Mirkwood gold looked uncomfortable for a few short moments and it prompted Bilbo to ask if he did something wrong. "Nothing at all, Master Hobbit." Was his short reply and Bilbo felt quite distressed at the use of such a formal title. Though the guard insisted that using his name will be disrespectful of someone of his stature.

'I'm not all that important.' Bilbo thought as he walked the outside garden.

Tauriel was right that compared to the garden inside the one outside was much nicer and bigger and more beautifully lit since the sun was lazily giving its rays. Though like the enclosed garden, the flowers were healthy yet its buds and petals did not breathe off life and energy. We can fix that, Bilbo thought as he bent down to inspect a few purple lilies.

"Do you have a gardener, Master Elf?" If he was going to use Master Hobbit, Bilbo was bent on using Master Elf to show as much respect.

"We do. They are working right now, I suspect."

Bilbo nodded as his fingers touched the dirt and inspected its contents. Bilbo could see that everything was in order, according to his knowledge in gardening. The Hobbit sighed as he tucked the dirt back to its home and started to trace the down-looking petals. "The sickness is too much, isn't?" Bilbo whispered and it may have been the wind but Bilbo was sure the flower shook its petals in answer.

"My Lord Legolas."

Bilbo turned his head as the Elvin Guard straightened his armor-clad body and bowed to his Prince who was now standing beside The Hobbit. Bilbo stood up from his position on the floor and offered a polite greeting. "You are far too polite, Bilbo." He answered and Bilbo's ears twitched as Legolas turned his head to stare at the flowers beneath him. The Hobbit wasn't sure as to why or how but he felt Legolas was… unsettled.

No, that's not it. Bilbo thought. As he looked at the Prince's blue eyes.

Sad. That was the right word.

"May I join you in your stroll, Master Baggins?"

"Of course, Pri- Legolas." He caught himself being too polite and Legolas gave him a slight smile in response.

The two walked side-by-side with the Elvin guard, thankfully, a few steps back. Bilbo wanted to have a private word with Legolas; to find out what was bothering him for the Hobbit had a heavy feeling in his gut what it was. And he's sure the Prince would not want the people he's supposed to rule one day find out about this dilemma.

"Your garden is quite magnificent, Legolas."

"Is it? But I was told that it does not come close to Rivendell's" Bilbo blushed at the slight teasing tone and the Hobbit babbled on about how comparing two different gardens should be unheard of. Legolas chuckled and his eyes softened for a few short moments. The pair walked on in silence with Bilbo trying to talk of topics that Legolas might enjoy before he asks him what was wrong.

The Hobbit it seems is having a harder time talking to the Elvin Prince. With Tauriel it was easy but Legolas seemed more stiff compared to his childhood friend.

"Father tells me you enjoyed the library, Bilbo."

Bilbo looked up surprisingly at Legolas before his cheeks were taking in a blasted shade of pink for he did not expect the Elvin Prince to know that. "I did. The Elves have quite a selection and I can only imagine that a lifetime is not enough for books such as those." Legolas nodded in understanding but Bilbo can see his eyes in a faraway land. Bilbo internally sighed as silence regained its position once more. There was no point in thinking of topics of conversation if the Prince had other things to think about.

It seems there was only one way to try and calm his mind.

"I was not expecting you to be out today, Legolas." The Prince in question turned his head and Bilbo almost smiled at successfully gaining his attention. However, his next words he would have to choose carefully.

"Why is that, Master Hobbit?"

"I was told that an urgent matter has arise and that Thranduil and Tauriel are settling it." Legolas' eyes narrowed ever so slightly while his movements paused and his body stiffened. It only showed Bilbo that his thoughts were right.

Legolas turned his attention to the Elvin guard and he ordered him to leave them be.

"But my Lord, the King-"

"Master Baggins is alright with me. Tell that to my father if you must." The Elvin guard hesitated before bowing and moving on.

Bilbo allowed his mind to wander around the thought that maybe he might have overstepped his bounds and he panicked yet his face betrayed no such thing. Before Legolas turned back to him and his hard blue eyes slacked. "There is a bench near here. I can protect you but I am not a healer and you still need rest." Bilbo nodded as the Prince of Mirkwood lead him to a bench quite similar to the one in the enclosed garden. Except this one has seen its fair share of rain and sunlight. Now that Bilbo thought about it, he did forget his injuries often. Spending time with Thranduil and exploring Mirkwood was allowing his mind to think of more pleasant things instead of things that loomed in the dark.

The pair sat in silence for a third time and Bilbo wondered if the Prince decided not to talk to him, after all.

"I disliked Dwarves." Bilbo turned his head with mouth agape at the sudden words. He knew that of course but Bilbo never thought that Legolas would be so straightforward. The Prince chuckled and stared at the spectacle of different colored flowers before him. "I mean no offence but I dislike them in a sense that that was the norm. Elves and Dwarves were never meant to be friends." Bilbo sealed his lips and waited. Thinking that an explanation was due. "When we caught your Company I knew that something was about to happen. Imagine my surprise to find out that my father has been blessed with another love." Legolas' voice had a slight tinge of bitterness that made Bilbo reach out for the Elf. "Not only that but my childhood friend, whom I have matured with and spared with have also found her love. In the form of a Dwarf Prince."

"She spoke with you." Bilbo whispered and Legolas turned to look at this small creature who was now to be a part of their lives. "I knew from the moment she told me how tall he was for a Dwarf. I knew she found the other half of her soul and it was not me. There were no need for words."

"You have someone, Legolas. Your Soul Mark is living proof of that."

Legolas smiled such a broken smile that Bilbo saw himself. Saw his image when staring at a mirror back in the Shire. "Do you know how old I am, Master Baggins? Do you know what it's like to live your life without knowing the emotion that races kill for?"

"I do." Bilbo answered; his voice suddenly low and his throat dry.

"Granted, I don't know it as long as you but to a mere Hobbit fifty-years is a long time. I know what it's like to watch others find their beloved and live the life you so want. I know the feeling of going home to an empty house and sleeping alone on what should be a comfortable bed instead of a cold mattress." Bilbo breathed in deeply and shut his eyes. All those memories of loneliness and sadness suddenly attacking him.

He could feel his Soul Mark heating his body; Bilbo could almost swear it was crying for him.

"I have wished and dreamed and hope and prayed and ceased. I have ceased all that for I have already decided that love was not for me. Yet we do not get to decide that. We cannot control time or fate or destiny. We can only ready ourselves for what may or may not happen and allow ourselves to feel. To fall."

Bilbo voice cracked and a single tear slid past his eyelids to his cheek. The Hobbit did not dare open his eyes for he fears that Legolas might mock him for showing such weakness yet to his surprise he felt a finger gently brush his tear away.

"My father is a lucky one, indeed." Legolas whispered and Bilbo saw the Prince's were glossy with unshed tears. "Is it worth it?" he asked. "Worth the wait?" Bilbo dried his tears using the hem of his sleeve and smiled.

"Worth every second."

And that was the truth.

Thranduil was angry.

No, he was seething.

A band of Orcs has passed his borders and it was both a relief and a pain when his Elves managed to kill every last one except for his current prisoner. Correction, he's now dead prisoner. "My Lord." Tauriel said as a few Elves dragged the headless body of the Orc prisoner away. The Silvan Elf did not understand the sudden emotions of her King nor did she understand the words the Orc filth spitted from its mouth.

But not Thranduil.

The Elvin King knows fully well who this master was.

He turned his back to Tauriel and traced a finger silently on the smooth skin of his face; caressing the unblemished jaw up to his cheekbone 'till he felt the finger hang on nothing but air. Thranduil closed his eyes as the illusion of perfection disappeared and if there were a mirror, he knew he see the image of a man scorched.

Burn.

He understands that word more than people give him credit for.

Thranduil willed himself to place the illusion back into place as he turned to face his Captain of Guard with new orders. "Seal the Kingdom. No one goes in and no one will come out." Tauriel let her face show surprise as her mouth tried to form the words she cannot speak. Thranduil narrowed her eyes at her and for the first time felt annoyance at her sluggish response. "Well? Go!" The Silvan Elf cringed as the booming voice of Thranduil echoed in the throne room and no doubt down to the cellars. That, itself, should have made Tauriel cower in fear yet she needed to say this.

"What about Bilbo, my King?"

Thranduil stood; livid as he heard his beloved's name. He felt anger, hate, and, if Thranduil would be truthful, shame. Anger for Tauriel for even dare voicing her question. Hate for the Dwarves and shame knowing his Bilbo would probably never forgive him. "He will stay here." He said and his tone of voice left no room for argument as he left; leaving Tauriel to worry about the future.

"Why on earth am I not allowed to leave this room? Tell me."

"I'm sorry, Master Hobbit. It is the King's orders."

Bilbo sighed, who knows how many times that night, as he stared at the Elvin Guard inside his room that politely excused himself. After the chat between Legolas and he, a group of guards came marching towards them; bodies clad in full-armor with swords on their sides and bows on their backs. Legolas narrowed his eyes and stood in front of Bilbo like a protective father with their child. The Elf, who so obviously led the group, spoke to the Prince in Elvish; leaving Bilbo in the dark.

Yet the Hobbit could see the slight widening of Legolas' eyes then the narrowing of it. His voice replying in the Elve's tongue with a warning tone in every word. Bilbo looked from Elf and to Elf while balancing from foot to foot. The sudden feeling that something was going on overwhelming him.

At last, when the two Elves were finish talking (Arguing more like, Bilbo thought.) Legolas turned to him with an apologetic look on his face mixed with confusion in his eyes.

"I'm sorry I cannot continue our stroll, Bilbo. But you must go back to your room at once. These Elves will escort you back." Bilbo clumped his face in confusion; wanting to ask what was wrong but deciding against it for the Prince's face was pleading for him not to question.

"All right. I'll go back." Bilbo stared at the group of motionless Elves. He always thought the Woodland Elves to be imposing but now, suited for battle. No for war. They looked terrifyingly beautiful.

"I can go back on my own, Legolas." Legolas shook his head and appealed to Bilbo that it was for his protection. Bilbo wanted to protest. Surely, he was quite safe here in Mirkwood. But Bilbo sadly did not win the argument and he was alone with Elves with forlorn faces as Legolas walked towards the path to the throne room.

And now as soon as he set foot in his room, he has not been allowed to leave.

Dinner awaited him on his bed but the uncomfortable churning in his stomach made him look at the food with slight disgust. Something, he never thought he'll ever do as a Hobbit.

Bilbo tried to talk to the Elf guarding his door and his answers only frustrated him more. This time, the Hobbit finds out that his beloved, the King ordered his Elves to keep Bilbo secured in his temporary room.

Thranduil maybe King and Bilbo maybe in his kingdom but he will not be treated like this, especially, since he knows that something is quite wrong. Bilbo slides his fingers down the pocket of his Elvin pants; playing with the gold ring inside. It's been a while since Bilbo used the ring for anything. Yes, he heard the whispers; its allure making his fingers twitch. But the happiness Bilbo has felt these past few days the content hum of his Soul Mark heating him made the allure bearable.

But now, Bilbo knew he needed to go to Thranduil and demand what on Middle Earth was going on. So, with a deep breath, the gold ring slid into his finger and refitted to match that one digit. He knocked on the door and Bilbo was not surprised that no movement, not even shuffling of feet, followed his act. Bilbo breathed in deeply once more and hoped his plan would work.

"Help! There's something in my room!" The sudden opening of the door almost knocked Bilbo to the ground yet he balanced himself hurriedly before moving for the agape door and into the palace halls.

Bilbo has never seen the palace this abuzz with tense guards roaming the stone halls. The Hobbit had to dodge guard after guard before he could even reach the paths that lead him up to the throne room. By then, Bilbo could feel his breathing labor and his heart hammer with slight tiredness. The slight sting of his injuries were not all that painful; Bilbo expected it would be much worse.

It seems his rest in Mirkwood is now doing it's miracle on him. The Hobbit threaded the winding paths up to the throne room then his ears twitched. Bilbo paused his steps as he strained his ears to hear a sharp sound in the air. His Hobbit ears picked it up once more and he hurried to climb the throne room where the sounds were coming from.

"He will not leave this palace and nothing you say will change my mind, Legolas." Bilbo felt his entire world stop. His heart pause and his eyes widened as he moved between the shadows of the throne room. He was hiding behind the stone posts even though his ring allowed him invisibility. But the truth unveiling before him made him more cautious. He laid his palms on the smooth pillars as he listened with silent dread at the arguing father and son.

Legolas looked exasperated as Thranduil turned his back to head towards what Bilbo could see was a small table full of bottles with red liquid. Wine, he concluded. "And if Bilbo find out of this? What will he think? What will he say?"

"He will understand." Was Thranduil's clipped response as his hands clasped on the bottle of wine and his golden cup; he realized with a sort of shock that his palms were slightly quivering. Because of Orcs? No. He knows he could easily slay those horrid creatures. For Bilbo? Thranduil clenched the stainless glass of the wine bottled and poured.

"What if he doesn't?" Thranduil continued to pour the wine to his cup; careful not to spill any of the red liquid as Legolas continued his speech. "Father, you know how important those Dwarves are and when Bilbo finds out you're keeping him from them-" a sudden gasp had the King and the Prince stop from their conversation. Thranduil narrowed his eyes at the empty shadows before him as he willed his other senses to discern this unknown being.

"Who dare hides behind the shadows of the Elvin King of Mirkwood?" He was not up for games. Bilbo was his main priority and right now, a creature beyond his eyesight in his palace. Another gasp was heard and Thranduil felt his Soul Mark suddenly soar with heat and his eyes widened as his ears picked up that familiar tone of voice.

It was Bilbo.

Bilbo was running, ring in his pocket, towards his temporary room.

He needed to get out. He needed to find his sword and get out and back to the others before Thranduil finds out.

Bilbo ran as fast as he could in the Mirkwood palace. Elves gave room for the curious, sprinting Hobbit with arched eyebrows and the guard almost sensed something was out of place. Yet Bilbo paid them no mind as he entered his temporary room and locked the door with a soft click. Bilbo's hands rested on his knees as he breathed in deeply; his heart was hammering in his chest and his curls were sticking on his forehead with sweat.

Bilbo straightened his back and even though he knew he should not be wasting any time he could not help but sit on his bed and hide his face inside his hands. He could not believe it. He could not believe that Thranduil would betray him like this and not allow him to fulfill the quest.

No. not just that.

The King of Mirkwood was going to let his family die while he babies him inside his walls.

Bilbo let a bitter laugh escape his lips and he felt his Soul Mark stinging his chest with heat and pain. The Hobbit gripped the part where he knew the blemish sat; his grip, no doubt, going to leave a bruise with how tight it was.

"Shut up you." He whispered. The Mark just heating further in response. "This is all your fault. If you haven't awaken then maybe this quest would have been finished. Then maybe the Dwarves could have had a home."

Bilbo felt a small splash of wet on his thigh and he realized that silent tears were coming from his eyes and traveling down his nose. Bilbo unclenched his hand and roughly wiped the liquid with his sleeve. Crying was most unfit for a Hobbit his age and he would not give Thranduil the satisfaction of seeing him like this.

So, with surprising energy Bilbo stood from his seat and started looking for his sword. Bilbo searched for a few good minutes before panicking at the thought that maybe the Elves took it for after all it was theirs. Yet, with slight relief he found it tucked under the bed. The leather was just the way he left it and the familiarity of the weapon brought him the slight sense of comfort.

Bilbo strapped the sword near his side and realized that his Elvin clothes will have to do for travel even though he wanted nothing more than to throw away everything Elvin (Except his sword of course.) As soon as Bilbo strapped Sting beside him, the heat of his mark strengthened and Bilbo knew it meant only one thing.

He heard it.

The shuffle of footsteps behind him where the door was. The Hobbit scanned the room for any source of escape and cursed his luck for the Wooden Elve's dislike of windows. Bilbo knew the door was his only chance. Of course, he could use the ring and escape; no one would be none the wiser. Yet… something was holding him back. Something making Bilbo stay in his place, a few steps from the door with his back turned while his fingers played with the ring of power.

He needed to see Thranduil one last time.

Even if it is goodbye.