SORRY FOR TAKING TOO LONG

Untamed heart

Chapter 11

You had never been in a war and even when you had a past life as a ranger a war was something bigger. You were afraid but not for you, Laegnir and Tauriel were the ones that worried you, losing them would mean death to you.

The news were that Smaug had died in the hands of a human. Bard is the name of the executioner and he was the town's current hero, still the people of Laketown needed all the help they could get to reconstruct the town as it was. Also Thorin Oakenshield was not dead but very much alive and refusing to help the people of Laketown.

Lord Elrond had no interest in the treasure of the mountain, however he suspected something evil was heading to the mountain. Something more evil than a dragon, he felt something was wrong and they were going to need even more help.

You didn't doubted him but all of this scared you, Laegnir and you had seen orcs and wolves on your way to Rivendell but you didn't think it would come to this.

To top it all king Thranduil was going to be there, he obviously was going to be there. He wanted those white gems more than anything, the more he had the mightier he felt. Was he going to fight Thorin Oakenshield? You didn't know, but it was more than certain he was going to get those gems whatever the cost.

You feared his reaction when he sees you and Laegnir there…wait…you remembered one thing. Seeing the ring in your hand you remember you didn't give one to Laegnir. Why did you had to be so forgetful? Now you were on the way to Laketown, a ring was almost impossible to get right now.

"Laegnir!" You call out, he was walking with other elves

He walks towards you

"Yes my lady?"

"Don't call me that way"

"I'm sorry, you are my lady all the same"

"I…I didn't give you a ring…I am so sorry"

"Yes, I forgot about it, may I suggest something my lady"

"You may"

"Just for now, why don't you make a branch ring…the one I gave you is as simple as a branch ring, make one and I'll take it"

"I won't! You deserve something more elegant"

"Wait, let me finish. When we are back home you can give me a real one."

"Sure?"

"I will be more than happy with any ring you give me"

"Alright then, I will try and find the most beautiful branch"

"We have two weeks for that"

You had less, because you were traveling very fast and no one stopped to rest, you took at least five minutes to eat (not more not less) and then you were on the road again. Lord Elrond was impatient to get to Laketown as soon as possible and any second was valuable to him.

The guards arrived to the campsite and informed Legolas of the arrival of elves from Rivendell, naturally this created a bit of tension inside of him. His father was better now but he feared his reaction when he sees Aeneth and Laegnir. He believed them engaged by now and he wondered how this might affect his father.

Things were complicated, Thranduil wanted to avoid a war if it was possible, he only demanded what he thought was his by right but dwarves were greedy and Thorin was not going to yield his treasure just like that, something had to be given in exchange.

And the elves could also sense something more, something not visible but evil and powerful. Laketown and Mirkwood were not the only ones who knew about the fall of Smaug, certainly other creatures might have heard of it.

In the mid time some of the elves worked in reconstructing Laketown and the others went with Thranduil to the mountain, no one was unoccupied.

You picked the branch you thought was the most decent, still it was absurd to make a ring out of a branch but Laegnir wanted it that way, if you came back to Rivendell you had to give him the most beautiful ring it was the fair thing to do.

After a week and a half Lord Elrond and his guard arrived to the campsite in the remains of Laketown. It was true, everything was destroyed except for a few buildings. The entire place smelled like death and misery and wherever you looked there was sadness.

Your heart started pumping really fast as you recognized the elves of Mirkwood, you stayed behind the others afraid of seeing any other acquaintance. Tauriel was not seen anywhere, she must had been in the mountain with the king and obviously Legolas had to be there as well. You wondered if Laegnir was as anxious as you, he sure missed Legolas and even in these circumstances he would be more than glad to see him. You as well wanted to see Tauriel but even though you missed her quite a lot, this was something you were not ready for.

Laegnir was helping to set the Rivendell camp, other elves were already helping the elves of Mirkwood in the reconstruction of the houses and the rest of the buildings and some others were helping to heal the less wounded.

The news were as you had suspected, Thranduil wanted the gems and he was stubborn enough not to retire until he got what he wanted, the dwarves were still alive and they refused to come out so this could take a while.

You were too distressed to do something so you started to walk in a random direction, you had Laegnir's ring in your hand not sure when to give it to him. Probably you had to wait until he was free from his tasks. Right now you felt completely useless so the best thing to do was to hide a while and try to get back the strength you needed

"My lord, Elves from Rivendell come to our aid"

"Elves from Rivendell you say?"

"Yes my lord, Lord Elrond and his guard are here. They are helping to reconstruct the houses and helping to heal the wounded"

Thranduil felt excited at the possibility of seeing you, the matters of the treasure were the most important thing now but he did wondered how you were, he wanted to see you…and then he remembered by this time you must be engaged with Laegnir and the excitement became resentment and jealousy.

His face hardened

"Is there something wrong my lord?"

"No, you may leave"

He went out of the tent to breathe some fresh air and to think. He was now decentralized he felt anger and resentment but also curiosity. He recalled everything that happened in Mirkwood when you were there and again felt ashamed of his impulsiveness but he also was eager to see you one more time, if it was true that a war was coming he had to see you at least once more.

The moon was showing when the others arrived to the campsite. Bard, Gandalf, Thranduil and Bilbo looked disappointed, the dwarves were stubborn and nothing was coming out of that mountain and to top it all more dwarves were coming to ally with the rest of their kin.

You were with the Rivendell elves distributing lembas and other things. Helping the others and being busy kept you calm, it had been a long day but you were not tired and you wanted to be busy to avoid thinking of your own misfortunes.

You were filling a keg with water and then you spotted him, it was impossible to be mistaken. The tall figure, the shining armor, the hair, the radiance of the sword…Thranduil was there.

You dropped the keg with water on the floor and walked to the tent of your guard. What were you so afraid of? He couldn't harm you or Laegnir here, he wouldn't be such a fool…and there were more important things to worry about than you.

"AENETH!" Tauriel runs and gives you a big embrace

You cannot say a word but you embrace her as well. For a while you are both quiet but at last she dared to speak.

"Life in Mirkwood is so dull without you, I have no one to scold" she laughs and then tears run through her face

"I have missed you too, Rivendell is quite beautiful but you're not there, is everything alright?"

"The king is convinced something evil is coming, the dwarves won't yield and there are more coming…"

"Aeneth look who I found!" Laegnir enters the tent with Legolas

Legolas looks at you and then embraces you

"Aeneth…"

You stand still a little bit surprised, Legolas was your friend but you weren't as attached, the embrace totally took you by surprise

"Legolas, it feels wonderful to see you and Tauriel again. I've never been so happy"

"If there's a war I am so glad I have you here" Legolas said

"And we are more than willing to fight by your side, I no longer serve you but I am your friend"

A guard of mirkwood enters the tent

"My lord, the king asks for you"

Legolas looks at you and then at Laegnir and then leaves

Thranduil had not seen you but he knew you were in the camp somewhere, he didn't dare to look for you himself but as he suspected…Legolas already had.

"She is here?"

"Indeed, but I'm asking you to leave them be"

"I'm not planning to interfere in their plans Legolas, I just wanted to know if she was here"

"She is, she is of the Rivendell's guard…naturally if there is a war she must come"

This ached in Thranduil's heart, the word "war" had to many implications…one of them was death, your death and he knew it was something that was possible…he promised himself he would look after you from afar.

"Does she look well, is she healthy"

"I do not understand your concern, she is well father. She was in Rivendell…she is engaged, there is a ring on her hand"

"I must see her"

"No, leave things the way they are"

"This might be the only chance for me to bid adieu"

Thranduil had not be that open with his feelings with his son, but now there was no doubt in Legolas heart…his father loved her.

"You must resign father, she doesn't feel what you feel. She is engaged and she is frightened"

"Frightened? Of me?"

"Yes"

"Then I need to apologize"

"I must go, the others need help"

He regreted being that honest with Legolas, his feelings for you were unknown to everyone but now his son knew it, still you couldn't hide it no longer this was a war and he had to let you know how we felt and he had to apologize.

His lust blinded him, his desire to possess you made him behave in a way he shouldn't have been. He repented greatly and the only way he could mend it was if he did it personally.

You left the tent early to get some air, you were not hungry so you started to walk towards the forest, you loved sitting under the shadow of the trees, hiding from all the sadness that overlaid the camp.

You heard footsteps, you imagined it was Laegnir…he didn't like when you walked alone to the forest, you stand up to run and hug him but you give a step back when you look who it is.

"Aeneth…" He can barely say your name, his voice sounds a bit broken

"King Thranduil" you give a reverence and then start walking to the camp

He puts his arm on the front to stop you

"Please, I'm not here to harm you. I just wanted to apologize"

"Apology accepted, I must go back there is a lot of work to do"

"Aeneth, this may be the last time we speak…you must hear what I have to say"

"Everything is forgiven, you don't owe me anything King Thranduil" you try to loose your waist from his arm

"I was impulsive and I was violent and I humiliated you, I must apologize and I must confess myself to you"

"There is no need"

"Yes there is because in the event of my death I will not be able to say it, stop fighting me and listen, after this you can go and I won't look for you anymore…you have my word"

"Do I?"

He nods

"Legolas mother died many ages ago, after her death I was devastated and I submerged myself in what I thought was important. I didn't set eyes on any female but then it was you. You were a rebel you were reckless and you often did as you pleased and at first I confess I didn't care at all about you but something made me look at you in a different way. At first it was lust…pure lust, I dreamt of possessing you and after you rejected me I was infuriated and devastated and I found out it was not only lust…it was also love. I must apologize for the way I made you feel, I drove you away and I am incredibly sorry. There is a war coming and we both might die…I needed to say this"

You stand there shocked at his words, it turns out the king is just not an alcoholic asshole after all.

"I accept your apology, now if you forgive me I must go back…my fiancé would be wondering where I am"

"Indeed" he loosens his arm and lets you go

You could feel his stare following you but you didn't dare to go back, you were shocked and impressed at his words, you didn't expect that not of him...he looked so honest.