The soft snow crunched underneath her feet as she walked, the fresh white powder caressing the end of her long winter cloak with a soothing hand, brushing away the trail of her footsteps. Tiny crystals of snow kept falling form the sky, dancing their way through the air until landing gracefully on the snow-covered grass, accumulating like white cotton blankets over the frozen branches of the peaceful trees or landing gently on her hair, shoulders and eyelashes. This one was a cold winter, a beautiful one, but a cold one. Men could not have survived the temperatures outside, and even the elves, much more resistant to the cold, had been forced to wear thicker garments than usual.
Her gloved hands tied her cloak closer to her body, snuggling deeper in the exquisite black scarf, made in the finest of wools that remained securely tightened around her pale thin neck. A sheepish smile grew on her lips as she was once again reminded that the scarf was not hers. It still smelled of Thranduil, of the wild and free smell of the forest, of the freshness and strength of the flowing river, of the gentleness and lightness of the soothing breeze. She had taken it from his chambers some hours ago, when she had gone looking for him but found him still at a meeting with someone she had forgotten then name of. The scarf had been lying there, on the back of an elegant chair by the grand fireplace, and she had decided that he would not miss the garment if it went missing for only some hours. Not that she did not have any of scarves of her own to wear. On the contrary, she had all too many scarves, of every color and form she could ever imagine, but her scarves did not carry his sweet scent.
"Alarya, have you not been listening to what I have said?"
Her cousin's words brought her wondering thoughts back to the present, her eyes turning to meet those equal green of Aerdan, who walked next to her. Two of her maids followed closely behind her, Sidhel and a new one she did not quite remember the name of , walking behind her like quiet shadows and tending to her every need – even if she did not need anything. It had been a little over a month since the night of her engagement to the King of Mirkwood, and still she could not find it in herself to get used to the treatment she was receiving. Maids followed her day and night –until she would desperately dismiss them- lords and servants bowed respectfully at her presence, and if she ever wanted anything, anything, she only needed to ask for it and it was brought to her. Valar, she was not even Queen yet! It was maddening and frustrating! And yet, every single time her eyes fell on his ice blue irises, or his strong yet melodic voice sounded in her ear, or his lips met hers, she knew for sure that she would keep embracing the new attention and more, so long as that made her his.
"I am sorry, Aerdan. What did you say?" She answered her cousin, her emerald eyes sparkling playfully as she unconsciously bit her lower lip, like a child caught doing mischief.
Aerdan narrowed his eyes at her, an equally playful grin appearing on his face as he shook his head in fake resentment.
"I am sorry!" She said again, her hand grabbing at his upper arm in an apologetic gesture, as light chuckles escaped her lips. "I heard the first four sentences, but then you kept and kept on going and I could not follow!"
A handful of snow landed suddenly on her face, making her stop talking as a surprised squeal left her mouth, followed by her cousin's musical laughter.
"That is what you get for not listening to me when I speak, dearest cousin." He said as she brushed the snow away from her face, joining in his laughter as she shook her head. She felt her cousin's arm wrapping brotherly over her small shoulders.
"I will tell Thranduil." She said teasingly, not really meaning any of her words, and to her surprise still saw the slightly uncomfortable look in her cousin's eyes at her overly informal way of addressing the Elvenking. Nonetheless, de did not comment on it, simply following with their conversation as if she had used the word "King" before his name.
"Of course." His tone was teasing, his hand giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Go hide behind the King the way an elfling runs to his Nana."
That made her laugh again, and still she did not miss the slightly uncomfortable way with which her cousin spoke of the King, as if he was not something he was used to spoke about casually. Alarya had been trying for her cousins to get comfortable with the idea of the Elvenking being around them, but it was definitely taking longer than she had anticipated. But she did not blame them, for her cousins, Thranduil was still their revered King and protector they admired and respected, not an elf they would casually and informally address in any way. Only her eldest cousin, Agoron, had ever interacted more than twice with the king, and seemed comfortable enough around him, but Aerdan and Anethor still remained with that same stunned look on their faces they had had when the King showed up at their Summer Solstice's Celebration every time they saw him.
"Are you nervous of being around him?" She asked teasingly, watching as her cousin's eyes glared playfully at her momentarily.
"I am not nervous about being around my King." Aerdan said, his eyes speaking the contrary of his words, making her let out another round of chuckles.
"Yes, you are." She said again.
"I am not." He contradicted her once more as they continued their slow march trough the gardens and towards the Palace's Main Courtyard where Thranduil, her parents and other cousins where probably already waiting along with the escort that would be accompanying them during their afternoon ride through the forest.
"Do not worry, Aerdan. He will do nothing to you." She reassured him, humoring herself at his uncomfortable state. It was about time she had something to tease her cousins about after so many years of finding herself at the receiving end of their pranks and games. "Not if you behave in the way he pleases of course."
"And what, pray tell, do you mean by that?" Her cousin's voice sounded slightly annoyed, as if he had believed her words, and yet she had to fight to contain her laughter as she easily saw that he had believed her words. Oh Valar, she should not play with her cousin like that, but it was so hard to contain herself from doing so.
"You know." Se said in the most casual tone she could muster, as if it what she was about to say was common knowledge to every elf in the Greenwood. "Simply behave as everyone else does. You know, never touch him, never look into his eyes when he speaks to you and never speak to him without asking for permission first, always bowing deeply before talking."
Alarya knew her little prank would not work on any other of her cousins except for Aerdan, and part of her felt slightly guilty for what she was doing. Oh, who was she kidding, she was enjoying the situation thoroughly. Aerdan was the only one of her cousins who had never directly interacted with the King, and she decided that having a little fun could not be that bad. After all, she could write a book with all the pranks that this precise elf had pulled on her in past years.
"You are teasing me." Was her cousin's reply, narrowing his emerald eyes at her, and yet she could see the new slight worry in those forest green irises, as if trying to decide whether or not she had been speaking the truth.
She shrugged, the expression of her face a perfectly peaceful one, giving away no trace of mockery or guilt, nothing that would give away her prank as she stepped into the snow-covered clearing of the Main Courtyard, her eyes already falling on the group of elves already readying their horses for the ride.
"Believe as you wish, dear cousin." She said, her feet marching almost automatically into the courtyard as her eyes fell on one particular figure standing by a beautiful white horse.
Thranduil's ice blue eyes met hers in the distance, her heart instantly melting inside her chest, everything else around her seemingly forgotten as she made her way to him in long strides, her cloak dragging on the snow behind her. He wore a dark winter cloak, securely fastened with a gorgeous silver broach at his chest. His hair cascaded loosely down his back, the light blond strands contrasting beautifully with the dark wool of his cloak, the Crown of Mirkwood resting majestically atop his head, looking so royal, so powerful and imposing.
"How was your meeting?" She asked, unable to look away from his sea colored eyes, as gentle as the summer sky, as cold as ice and at the same time burning as wildly as blue fire, swallowing her entirely.
"Boring." Was his answer, his lips pressing a light kiss to her cheek as his hand cupped her other cheek, sliding down her face until it fell on the scarf around her neck, trailing down the soft wool.
"Why does this seem so familiar?" He asked, an eyebrow raised questioningly as his lips curved up in a gentle smile, the smile that could make her stomach flutter in delight. She simply smiled guiltily, perfectly aware that in no way was he angry at her for taking the garment without his consent. "Do you know that I had Galion look through my chambers for hours trying to find that precise scarf?"
For the first time a slight pang of guilt hit her stomach, imagining the poor butler trying to find a scarf that was most certainly not in the place he was looking. "Did you?"
His smile widened in response, another gentle kiss landing on her cheek as she felt his arms lacing around her waist, his touch sending tremors down her body as always.
"No, I did not." He confessed. "I had not even noticed."
It was her turn to smile wider, watching out of the corner of her eyes as her parents stepped into the large courtyard, her father already mounting on his horse after helping her mother onto hers.
"It looks good on you." Thranduil continued, his hand resting on the small of her back as he started to lead her towards her own horse. "You may keep it if you want it."
Her heart fluttered again. Valar, how much she loved him. She only wished there were enough words in Arda to express just how much she loved him.
"If I keep it, Thranduil, then it will stop being yours and it will loose its allure." She explained, her heart delighting in the sound of the musical chuckle that left his flawless mouth.
"As you wish." He said as they reached the place where her horse stood, the guard holding onto the reins bowing respectfully at his King.
Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Aerdan finally joining them in the courtyard, bowing silently to the King in greeting before attempting to walk away, a thing that most certainty did not happen for Thranduil spoke before her cousin could turn and leave.
"Good afternoon, Aerdan" The King greeted politely, his voice serene, nearly half a head taller than her cousin. Alarya had to make an astonishing effort not to laugh as her cousin suddenly looked down to the snow, remaining entirely silent. Thranduil looked puzzled for a moment, eyeing her cousin with strange interest, as if waiting for the elf to say or do anything. But Aerdan did not move, his eyes still looking at the snow.
"Thank you for accompanying Alarya in her walk." She heard Thranduil adding when her cousin did not say anything, ice blue eyes looking at the elf in question suspiciously, confused. Once again, Aerdan remained quiet, not lifting his eyes from the snow-covered grass ass she fought her urge to laugh. She did not know who looked more puzzled, if her cousin or the Elvenking who looked at Aerdan as if his behavior was the strangest he had seen in very long years.
"I trust you had a nice time?" The King tried again, one more rewarded by silence as her cousin did not dare to lift his eyes from the snow. She saw Thranduil's own eyes look towards the snow, as if expecting to find something new and interesting there that could possibly be so appealing to her quiet cousin, only to lift back up again as he found nothing but fresh white snow.
"Do you not speak?" Thranduil finally asked, his voice still perfectly calmed and patient, ice blue eyes still looking at her cousin confusedly. Aerdan's green eyes lifted immediately at his King's words, a new sudden realization appearing in his face as he looked at Thranduil's puzzled expression. In a second, her cousin's eyes flew to hers, glaring at her murderously, the expression of his face the one of someone who has suddenly realized they had been playing a trick on him.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty." Her cousin apologized, a smile that promised revenge now present on his lips, turning into an amused and defeated one as he turned to look at the King once more. "It seems my dear cousin has been playing a prank on me and I was foolish enough not to notice until now."
Thranduil's eyebrow arched up questioningly, his eyes turning to look at her and she found it impossible to contain her chuckles from flowing freely out of her mouth, another guilty expression on her face.
"If you would excuse me, my Lord, I will retire." Her cousin continued, smiling in disbelief at his own stupidity for believing her. She knew she would be paying for it later, but Valar it had been entirely worth it. Then, her cousin's eyes turned to her, narrowed in threat "And you, Alarya, better sleep with guards at your door tonight."
With that, her golden haired cousin walked away to join his brothers, still shaking his head and laughing lightly at his foolishness. Thranduil ha not said anything, simply looking at her questioningly, his eyes holding an expression that told her he would not even ask about it, one of his arms still laced around her small waist.
"I do not know what is it that you did or said to him" The King started, his voice soft and amused, a small smile playing on his face as his ice blue eyes found hers once more "but I will thoroughly enjoy it if he gets back at you."
That made her laugh again, her face holding an expression of overly faked offense, a thing that immediately transformed into surprise as she felt his hands suddenly on her waist, lifting her without effort onto the back of her horse. One of his hands remained lightly on her knee, watching as a guard carefully handed her the reins before walking away to his own mount, climbing onto its back in a single swift graceful movement, every single movement entirely effortless, as natural and flawless as the forest around. She could feel the gentle hands of her maids arranging her cloak behind her, so that the rich fabric fell over the horse as well, and she tired her best to ignore it, simply sitting as tall and untroubled as always, her eyes never once leaving Thranduil's figure.
Before she could even notice, they were already slowly marching through the forest, the muffled sound of the many horseshows lading deeply on the powdered snow dancing like a soothing lullaby through the wind, bouncing on the labyrinth of frozen branches and crystalized leaves. She could hear gentle conversations moving around her, her cousins talking among them about the Valar knew what and she could faintly catch parts of a slightly forced conversation between Thranduil and her father a little distance before her, but she was not interested in paying attention.
Her eyes continued to wonder through the forest, her mind not seeming to believe what she was seeing. She had seen many a winter, but she had never seen one as cold as this one, and yet, even in its bitter iciness the sights around her transformed into an enchanted view, almost seeming to mask away its deathly claws in a spectacle of white splendor. It was terrifying and yet beautiful, her eyes not seeming able to get enough of it. Long ice crystals hung from every branch above their heads, some thin and long other slightly shorter and thicker, marking the traces where a drop of water had died in ice on its way down to the grass. Every single branch was covered in white, the leaves hanging from them frozen into crystals of every color, some still brightly green, others golden and red, reflecting the distant rays of the sun in many shades of silver.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Thranduil's voice danced inside her head, and once again she felt the sudden warmth that always accompanied that sound. She would never get used to it. It had already been some time since their bond had become strong enough to allow them to communicate through their minds, and still every time she heard his strong calmed voice inside her head her heart fluttered like it had done the first time.
"Yes." Was all she able to answer, her eyes instantly turning to him, watching as a few tiny snowflakes landed smoothly on his long blond hair. "Have you ever seen a winter like this one?"
"No. Not like this one. It has frozen everything. It will be a long one." His voice replied, once again sending her heart in a fist of flutters inside of her.
"Men cannot survive this weather." She heard her father's voice adding softly, whether he was speaking to himself or to someone else, she could not tell. She could see her mother next to him, always so elegant, always so patient and calmed.
"They are faring surprisingly well." The King was the one to reply, his voice as serene as the endless whiteness that covered the forest. "They stay indoors day and night, and cities are overflowed with travelers and rangers caught up inside their doors, unable to leave."
She heard her father adding something else, but she did not quite catch what, her mind and eyes once gain lost in the white splendor around her, gently guiding her horse forward. She had always enjoyed the afternoon rides through the forest. They were always so peaceful, always so soothing to the mind. And yet this one was proving to be a sight to remember. Valar, how can something as cold and cruel as ice be so beautiful and enchanting? And yet, even as she marched in gentle silence, attempting to memorize the gorgeous images of the frozen forest inside her head, part of her could not wait to return to the warmth of the Palace, to the welcoming fires that she knew would burn in Thranduil's chambers, to his strong pair of arms wrapped around her small body as they sat by the roaring flames, to her delicate fingers sliding gently down his long silken hair.
She did not know for how long they had been riding, but her mind was abruptly brought back from her wondering thoughts as Thranduil suddenly halted, his hand held up in silent command. Every elf stopped in unison, confused eyes turning from one side to the other, as if trying to figure out what was happening. Her eyes looked around her, confusion taking hold of her, her hands automatically sending her horse into a complete stop.
"My Lord?" One of the guards closer to Thranduil said, but the Elvenking held up his palm again in a silencing gesture, his movement so graceful weightless, and yet not a single elf dared to question his authority, to disobey his silent command.
The King's watchful eyes looked carefully to the forest around them, concentrated, as if looking for something specifically, his expression suddenly alert. She could see the guards doing the same around her, as trying to understand what it was that had suddenly alerted their King but finding nothing. She could feel her heart drumming inside her chest, her eyes fixed on Thranduil, unable to understand, just waiting, waiting for she did not know what. She knew that Thranduil would not stop for a false alarm. There were no false alarms with him. But still she did not understand, she could not comprehend. The forest had gone quiet around them. Far too quiet, a blank white emptiness watching them from all around, devoid of even the slightest breeze.
As silently as the forest, the Elvenking signaled to two of the guards with a weightless movement of the hand and immediately she saw the two elves in question jump onto the branches high above, disappearing through them with the ease and silence of the wood elves. Her heart raced, even her breathing suddenly feeling too loud for her. Something was amiss. She could not tell what, could not even notice, but she only needed to look at Thranduil to understand. Something was definitely amiss. The King's hand had travelled to the hilt of his sword, as if ready to draw it out, ice blue eyes scanning the forest around.
And then, she felt it. That sudden need to run, the sensation that told her of danger as the forest suddenly cried a warning around them, a warning that Thranduil seemed to have aught way before all of the elves did. The need to run was stronger than her, her body swamped by the sudden urge to follow the forest's advise, and yet she did not move, paralyzed on her horse, eyes fixed on the King.
In a swift motion, too fast for her to even notice, Thranduil had drawn his sword, all the other elves imitating him almost instantly, all of them now finally aware to the forest's warnings, some guards already closing up around their King, ready to protect him. But she did not believe he needed protection. Suddenly, every elf seemed to looking at the King, waiting for his orders, watching intently, and in that second she knew that every single one of the elves around them would follow him blindly. She had never seen him armed, never seen him even sparring before, and suddenly, as he watched around him in concentration, sword safely held in hand, she was sure he had never looked so powerful and at the same time so dangerous.
"Cunir" The Elvenking suddenly spoke, the captain and advisor in question instantly moving his horse up to his King, waiting for his orders. "Take Ladies Alarya and Laessel back to the Palace."
Her heart only raced faster as the elves around her moved with the new command, her mind not even understanding what was happening as a guard was already reaching for the reins of her horse from his own mount, turning her horse around in a haste. Fear consumed her more that before. Why was Thranduil sending them back to the Palace? What was amiss?
Then, everything happened so fast she could not even register half of it. A black arrow flew through the air, lodging itself on the shoulder of one of the guards, sending the elf backwards off his horse. A silent cry left her lips, arrows starting to fly from the trees all around them, from the arches that the King had sent up the branches. She felt the guard holding the reins of her horse push her mount back inside the circle of guards. Elves moved all around, more black arrows flying in their direction. It was too late to go back to the Palace now.
Before she could even know what was happening, high pitch cries cut through the air, the blood-curling sound freezing her veins inside of her. She did not know what to do. Orcs were upon them in mere seconds, swords meeting swords in endless cries of metal hitting metal. They seemed to be coming from everywhere, jumping to them from all around them, guards rushing to meet them with their swords as others simply circled closer around her. She let out another cry, one that went drowned by the sounds of the battle around her as she pressed her body to the neck of her horse, narrowly missing an arrow that had gone flying her way. She could not see straight what was happening around her, the elves and orcs moved too fast, guards surrounding her from all sides.
"My Lady!" She could hear one guard screaming, his quick hand holding for the reins of her horse, attempting to maneuver her out of the heart of the battle. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see Thranduil jumping in front of her mother, who had fallen to the ground, holding the Lady to him with one hand as with the other fought every orc that went their way, tryng to move her mother out of the battle. Her father was some distance away from them, caught up with three more orcs to himself.
She had not time to think as a sudden arrow flew in front of her horse, missing it by inches. The animal jumped on its rear legs without advise, sending rolling to the snow, her hands covering the back of her head to avoid getting hit by the many horseshoes running widely around her, the rider-less horses fleeing the battlefield. Fear felt more powerful than ever as she rolled to her side, trying to jump back to her feet.
"Alarya!" She heard Thranduil's voice yelling, her frightened eyes barely catching sight of him trying to reach her side, stopped by the many orcs that kept jumping on him. Her mother was crawled upon herself on the snow, pressing her body to a thick tree trunk behind Thranduil, seeming to paralyzed. She could see Thranduil desperately trying to get her to move whenever he was spared a second, but her mother seemed frozen in fear. There were so many orcs. So many.
She crawled on the snow, trying desperately to get out of the middle of the battle as the elves and orcs slammed against each other around her. A hand circled around her upper arm, yanking her to her feet as another arm pressed her tightly to a body, a sword slashing across her line of vision as it landed on an orc right before her. She barely had time to register that it was her cousin Agoron the one holding her, moving across the fighting figures. The battle seemed to be spreading, wherever she ran more orcs and elves followed.
A sudden frightened scream from her mother make her eyes fly in her direction fear burning inside her veins as she saw one of the fowl creatures swing its black ended sword in her mother's direction. Thranduil was quicker, jumping in front of the paralyzed Lady before the orc could even notice. However, in the spare second that it took the King to block the fatal blow directed at her mother, another blow landed on him. She felt herself scream, her throat feeling raw with the sound that went deaf in the roaring battle as she saw the blackened sword landing brutally over Thranduil's left shoulder, the blow hard enough to easily break the collarbone. Thranduil, however, did not even flinch in pain, turning quicker than the orc could have ever predicted, his own sword cutting to the repulsing creature in a move so fast she was not even sure she saw.
Another frightened cry escaped her lips as she felt herself fall again harshly onto the snow, her cousin now fighting two more orcs that had caught up with them. Fear was more powerful than ever, slowly consuming her, driving her mind into despair. She had never been in battle. Never. She could feel her body going into hysterics, her eyes shedding tears that she could not even feel, could not even notice sliding down her cheeks. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, making her jump to her feet, trying to flee the scene, eyes desperately searching for Thranduil.
"Alarya!" She could see the King's ice blue eyes finding hers easily, trying to reach her side, but the task seemed to be proving impossible. More and more orcs kept jumping upon him by the second, the battle separating them even as she saw him desperately trying to work his way to where she lay.
And she ran, trying to escape this living hell of blood and cries around her. She ran. Her feet lead her through the snow-covered forest as fast as she could, running through the fighting figures and deeper into the forest.
"Alarya!" She could hear Thrandiul's desperate cries behind her, but she could not stop her feet. "ALARYA! COME BACK! ALARYA!"
But she could not go back, her feet feeling unstoppable, feeling it was hard to breathe as she ran, her heart racing widely. She could not go back to that hell, to that mass of fighting bodies. But where was she running to? To safety?
She had not even run for a minute when an orc jumped in her way, an arrow flying by her ear as she let out another cry of terror. She looked around her, not stopping her run, her heart giving a wild jump inside her, adrenaline rushing faster than ever through her. She was surrounded. More orcs kept coming from the forest and for a second she wished she had stayed in the battle. At least there were elves that could protect her, that could fight the orcs. One single look back confirmed her fears. She was too far away from the battle to make it back safely. There was only one way out. Run.
The orcs were more than her, closer than she had anticipated, and before she could know it she was thrown face down onto the snow, two of the fowl creatures pinning her by the arms as she screamed and trashed around, trying to free herself from their sharp claws, their poisonous grip that she could feel cutting through her skin. Something cold and sharp pressed against her neck, her breath now coming out in trembling gasps. Valar, she had never been so scared in her life.
"What's a littl' Lady doin' out 'ere?" One of the creatures snarled on her ear, the sound of its voice sending shivers down her body, freezing her blood inside her veins in fear and repulsion. A knot on her throat made it impossible to breathe, tears sliding hysterically down her cheeks.
"Slice 'er pretty throat!" She heard another yell, followed by another growl "Eat 'her alive!"
Then, something else seemed to catch the orcs attention, disturbing their discussion, but she had not time to figure out what it was as she heard them battling once again, metal hitting metal. The second the blade had been removed from her neck she kicked and punch, managing to free herself from the cutting claws, feeling the skin on her arms becoming raw as they pulled harder at her, cutting away parts of her flesh as she yanked away from them, jumping to her feet which had started to run again, only to trip on a dead orc and fall again on the cold snow.
An arm suddenly wrapped around her, forcefully pressing her against a warm body, and she kicked again, only to find the arms holding her tightly, a sword hitting every orc that came near her. It took her a second to recognize the familiar presence next to her, the protective arms holding tighter than ever, the feeling of security as fear spread like venom through her body. Thranduil.
Almost automatically she clung to him, her hands curling onto his cloak as if her life depended on it, pressing herself closer to his chest in despair. Something wet and sticky met her hands as she pressed herself to his left shoulder, her heart racing even faster at the realization. Blood. But the King did not seem to be feeling any pain, using his left arms just as easily and strongly as he used his right.
Orcs kept flying upon them, and Thranduil fought them one by one as he led them away, running through the forest in an attempt to escape. For a second she though that he would bring them both back to the heart of the battle, to where the other guards and the rest of her family remained, but he was leading her the opposite direction, away from the orcs. And then she understood. There was no way back. If they attempted to get back to the rest of the elves that would mean to go back to the orcs. There was simply forward.
Thranduil dashed through the forest, dashing left and right with an incredible ease, seeming to know where every single tree was, every branch. But more orcs kept appearing, meeting Thranduil's sword in the way. She had her eyes closed tightly, her fingers gripping at his cloak so tightly that she wondered if she would make holes through the fabric.
Then, another one of the fowl creatures smashed against Thranduil, sending them both rolling through the snow, his arms letting go of her in order to fight the orc now over him. She did not know what to do. More orcs were approaching. There was no way out.
"Alarya, run!" She heard Thranduil yell at her as he got rid of the orc on top of him, only to find two more already clashing their swords with his. She stood there, paralyzed, watching. "RUN!"
And she did, or she would have had it not been for an orc that suddenly slammed against her, the force sending her backwards. She lost her footing, her feet suddenly finding an edge she did not know had been there in the first place, and she felt herself falling, the orc letting out a blood-curling cry as it fell along with her. She felt herself falling, falling down an abyss, Thranduil's scarf around her neck flying away in the wind, her cry of fright dying at her throat, her back sinking into the depths of the raging river, the cold water cutting her body like daggers, running too fast and harshly to freeze into ice, puling her under, under until she could no longer see the surface, Thranduil's cry still ringing in her ears.
"ALARYA!"
So here is chapter 14! Sorry for the long wait! I hope the chapter can make up for it! Please let me know what you think!
Also, again thank you SO SO MUCH to those of you who reviewed my latest chapter: awesomeness-lvl-infinity, Jibril-Kadamon, Ivy C Rae, Michelle 1294, Martine9295, AmazingWriter123, Wtiger5, The Lead Mare, LadySilverfrost, Cellobratelife, ShueYun, XxNaiXx, and SofiatheMinx888. Again, this chapter is dedicated to you! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!
Love,
Elena