Chapter 11: Commitment
Thranduil forced his eyes to stay squeezed shut, intent on keeping them under lock and key, away from the bothersome assault of some bright light, threatening to draw him from the safety of the corner of his mind that was refusing to engage in any serious thought. The sound of crashing water was bothersome too, he never liked that about Rivendell, and to think that the elves residing there left their windows open in the summer, not put off by the persistent sound. He couldn't help noticing the smell of flowers and the fresh air either, and a shred of logical thought propelled him to understand that it was indeed there to Rivendell he must have been brought. The realisation finally turned his mind unwillingly towards the recent past and he had to take stock of how he was feeling, letting the sensations stemming from his body enter his consciousness. He felt light and floating, unreal, and the previous sting in his backside had apparently turned into a dull ache similar to the pain in his belly. His abdomen was covered with something warm, while he felt a gust of air stroking his bare chest. Fearing further humiliation, he opened his eyes to stare into Tauriel's warm, concerned ones, Tauriel's who eagerly kissed him at once, a gentle smile remaining on her face when she drew back, "my love, I'm so grateful you're back with us, I couldn't have survived it, another death," she stroked his chest, overwhelmed by relief, "Lord Elrond wanted to keep you in stasis for longer, but I insisted you would be well enough to cope with getting roused and living on. Was I wrong? I can call him back.."
"Don't you dare, meleth nin," Thranduil pulled her back for another kiss that she let him develop into a deeper, more exploratory one, noting how his whole body came awake all of a sudden, sliding against hers as much as was possible in that position. She herself lingered, wondering why she'd deprived herself of those delicious lips for so long.
"Elrond means well, but he's so wrong because I love you, I love you so that nothing else matters," he breathed against her mouth.
"Well," Tauriel pulled back to turn serious, "there is the matter of getting you fit and healthy.."
"And there's the matter of getting married as soon as we bump into the first elf who has the power to get us united, didn't you say? Elrond certainly qualifies!"
"Married? We aren't even betrothed yet!"
"We can jump that step easily enough, circumstances withstanding."
"I would want nothing more but how," she involuntarily glanced lower down to his midsection, "how are you well enough to do that? We can wait a few days," she laughed at his eagerness. Sure, he had waited a while for her to make a move, but there was no need for such a rush.
"No, I can't wait." The blond established gravely, having to keep himself from cringing at the thought of the opposite. "There's nothing else that can keep me from going unhinged right now. I know how to deal with grave injuries, and for me, denial and avoidance works best." He had shown enough weakness lately, it had to be no more, or he couldn't look himself in the eyes.
Tauriel reeled back a little. Again, Thranduil didn't quite manage to think of to mention a right reason to marry her, but in his distress, she could certainly overlook that, she knew he loved her more than any other anyway. However, there was one issue she had to remind him of they could not disregard, that it appeared he had forgotten about that in his distress, "Legolas is in the next room, has been very worried."
Thranduil's breath caught in his throat. His first impulse was flight and he contemplated for a moment whether he would have gathered his bride and borrowed some horses right there and then if he would have been hale. Of course the answer was no, and the realisation came with it that disappointing and hurting his son again was unavoidable. When he had been king, he had felt a certain immunity. Closing his heart was the only way to do what needed to be done sometimes, but now he had no excuse other than his lack of control over his fea's choice. "What did you tell him?"
"Simple facts only. That you came to me and stayed, then we were both taken hostage. He seemed perplexed, but up until yesterday he was too busy dealing with the orc groups that had been chasing us to be able to question me more. He will be looking for answers, and soon. What do you want me to tell him?"
"Nothing," Thranduil deflated, his previous enthusiasm distinctly chased away, "it is not your responsibility, Legolas isn't your responsibility, he's never been. Send him in."
"I was meant to change the poultice on your belly," the redhead tried to stall him.
"It feels alright just now, pleasant."
"Are you sure? I feel guilty too, but you need rest, you don't have to rush."
"He needs to know." The blond tensed, knowing it wasn't good for his barely healed stomach, it just had to be done. It felt like he was the child and Legolas the father, as if he'd been naughty and was waiting for his father's due and just punishment. Their relationship had never been the best, but he was sure that after this it would most likely be nonexistent. "I will have a happy life with you," Thranduil promised both of them, "I just need to close certain chapters of my life, for better or worse and then we'll leave on our travels, wherever you want, have children if you like."
"Children? The invitation's tempting, but you need to rest," Tauriel was stuck on that one consideration. She never wanted to see him so close to death again.
"Children are inevitable when two elves create a union," Thranduil smirked suggestively and reached an arm round her to pull her against himself invitingly. Every touch between them felt so overdue.
"Your belly. It doesn't hurt?" It was Tauriel who made sure to hold herself back a bit so she doesn't get crushed against his middle.
"Mmmhmhh, my bad," the patient shivered, taking a breather from the strain. Perhaps he overestimated the healing skills of the master of Riverdell, but either way, with her, he was happy to be alive. "Lie with me for a moment, muin nin," he demanded, "you give me strength when you are with me and then I will be ready to face the world."
tbc
