Chapter 10

"Thranduil," I whispered. This would be our last meeting for a long time. We met in our normal spot, pretending that nothing was particularly special about today. "Ereinion has given me leave. He will not bother us tonight."

"Because he knows we will likely never see each other again." Thranduil's voice was thick.

I pulled his shoulder so he faced me. Tears streamed down his face and beaded on his long, dark eyelashes. "Then we should not waste our time with tears, should we?" I attempted to console him, but my voice cracked.

He breathed deeply and pulled something from his robes. "I want to give you this, as a promise." A silver ring sat in his palm. "Whenever you can, find me, and we will wed."

I allowed him to slip the ring on my right index finger – a symbol of betrothal. He then took the one made for him and did the same. I embraced him afterwards, falling into his arms and watching the sun disappear behind the clouds. I could feel Ereinion's burning stare on my back at odd intervals – I could not imagine what his reaction would be to a betrothal.

We had agreed to marry each other long ago, but under my brother's watchful eyes we had never been able to exchange rings. Now that Thranduil was leaving, it did not matter that I wore a ring.

"I do not want to leave your side tonight," I whispered.

"You do not have to," he replied.

I took his hand and guided him towards the citadel. He did not protest. We climbed the stairs and entered my room. Ereinion had kept his promise – he left us alone. I closed the latch on the door and turned to Thranduil. He caressed my face and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. I blushed hard, but unbuttoned the front of my dress and slipped it off. I was wearing a thin, dark slip underneath my dress.

"Rávawendë," he gasped.

"I just wish to sleep next to you tonight," I whispered. "Just one night."

He nodded apprehensively, most likely questioning his own control. I pulled him to my bed and laid back. He tentatively hovered over me, his lips pressed against mine. I pulled him on the bed and laid on my side, facing him. His sad eyes examined my face as he finally relaxed.

"Do not think of it." I caressed his face. "We have now."

His lips crashed against mine suddenly. I moaned as he slipped his tongue past my lips. His tongue explored my mouth and he pushed me on my back. His hand found its way to my leg, he stroked the inside of my thigh gently. I attempted to ignore my desires – but once his fingers hooked in my underwear, I lost my self-control.

"I want to remember this night," he whispered hoarsely. "I will not go too far."

I nodded, allowing him to go further.

His fingers slid inside of me. Darkness spread over my eyes and I fell back against my pillow with a shocked gasp. His fingers thrust slowly. He parted from my lips only to breathe, placing small kisses on my neck when he did. Bliss swept over my body quickly, my pulse quickened and my muscles clenched with a small orgasm.

Thranduil managed to contain himself, and we slept in each other's arms for the rest of the night.

Thranduil left the morning after, leaving me with a kiss and a promise. It would be a long time before we saw each other again.

Thranduil

We moved her body to a guest chamber shortly after. We did not know if it was more than a body. Her chest moved with breaths, but she made no sign of waking. I waited for days, the ring on my index finger growing heavier with every moment.

"Ada," Legolas said as he walked in. I stared at her pallor skin silently. "It is quiet. There is no sign of her."

"Hopefully she is regaining her strength at the same speed as Rávawendë." I twisted my ring. "You should go."

"What?"

"Go and see Fangorn without the distraction of Rávawendë as you promised the dwarf – while it is still quiet. She will still be here when you return and she will remember you or she will not."

"I do not–"

I interrupted him, "It was not a request."

"Yes, my lord," he said caustically. He left the room and angrily slammed the door behind him. I pinched the bridge of my nose. He could not see me like this: in the midst of battling my conscious and the desire to forsake my vow to my wife.

I caressed her hand. The white silk sheets nearly matched the color of her skin. "Wake up," I whispered. I nearly knocked my chair backwards when she responded with a low groan and rolled onto her side. She breathed heavily and thrashed at random times.

Rávawendë

SA 1200

Thranduil and I would see each other every hundred years or so. We would meet in Eregion under the watchful eye of its new rulers, Galadriel and Celeborn. Even when he was hundreds of leagues away, my brother managed to govern me.

It was nearing the time for us to meet again, but there was word of a darkness rising in the east, and I had to settle for the peace I found in him in my dreams. I sent word days ago, telling him I would not be able to enjoy his company.

I wandered around the walls of the city, looking out on the horizon, where I sorely wished to be. "A rider!" a guard called, waking me from my reverie.

My eyes scanned the grounds until they found him. He was on a dark horse, dark hair fell down to his waist, I could see his beauty even at this distance. Yet, I felt uneasy. "Do not let him in," I commanded. "Find my brother."

"His grace does not wish to be interr-"

"Find him!" I yelled.

"Greetings!" A noble voice called from the ground. "Will you not let me in?" Chills vibrated through my body.

"The answer depends on the person asking. What are you?" A guard called down to the man.

"I am Annatar, Lord of Gifts. Do you deny me access to your great kingdom?"

The guards exchanged glances. Some were nervous, some were excited, but all were curious. "Do not let him in," I repeated.

"Who is the leader that will not show his face?" Annatar called.

I advanced from where I had been hiding my face, and leaned over the balustrade to treat with the stranger. "The king will decide if we shall let you in."

"An elf maiden," Annatar marveled. A curious grin spread across the fair face. A woman rode a horse next to his. Dark hair fell to her waist; her skin was almost grey, matching her pale eyes.

"An elf maiden that is sister to the king, and you will address me as such," I responded. The amused glimmer in his eyes irritated me.

The woman's gray eyes seemed to flash red for a moment; her companion simply smiled. I backed from the balustrade with a fearful gasp; I retreated until the wall caught me. My mind reeled; there was fire in his eyes. No… no, there couldn't have been. I was imagining.

"Why have I been summoned?" my brother bellowed – his sudden appearance nearly made me soil myself.

I clutched at my chest, yet even when my brother scared me, I could not look away from the direction of Annatar.

"Sister?" he spoke to me with concern.

"Do not let him in," I gasped.

Elrond appeared behind my brother. "My lord?"

"I wish to speak with the great king Gil-Galad!" Annatar called up to us.

He whipped around to the wall. "Who asks for me?" He leaned over the wall to see the man waiting there.

"I am Annatar, Lord of Gifts. Why do your guards deny me passage?"

Elrond joined him by the wall. "I have never heard of you."

"Do you trust him?" Gil-Galad asked Elrond.

Elrond turned to me and looked at me curiously. He shook his head.

"We do not know you, nor do we trust you. You will not be permitted within the walls of my city."

He strutted past me. "Happy?"

Elrond stopped and spoke to me. "Why do you fear them?"

"How many servants of Sauron survived the war?"

"It is believed that a man and a woman survived."

"There was fire in the woman's eyes," I responded simply.

****Underlined means the dialogue is in Quenya. There was no way in hell I was going to try to translate that. Also I use the grey-company for Sindarin, so it's not true to Tolkien's work, but it's just so much easier.

Not well edited but its been wayyyyy too long. And I edit when it's all out bc I write novels, not periodicals. Work and class are crushing me so updates are gonna be like this for a while.