Chapter 20

December 10 T.A 2940

Evening

Haldir suppressed a growl beneath his breath, looking over to Anariel who had only just shoved him away sitting up tall. Her stomach was churning with guilt, no matter how hard she tried she couldn't completely quiet her mind this time. Still, she could see the look upon Feren's face she hadn't the luck not to see him as he entered. She saw the way his face twisted in both pain and disgust, saw his hands clench in anger and yet all he did was leave and Anariel found she was horribly heartbroken by the fact. She found she wanted him to come in, wanted him to throw Haldir off of her and comfort her himself. But Feren had given up, and Anariel could see it in his eyes.

Haldir's hand snaked around her waist, the other coming up to cup her cheek turning her back into him. Anariel's eyes fluttered closed for the briefest of seconds and Haldir smirked at her, he loved and reveled in the power he held over her in her weakest moments.

Anariel's hands fell firmly upon his chest shoving him. "No. I can't." Her words came out meek and barely more than a whisper as her mind whirled endlessly.

Haldir kept tugging her closer again, not truly listening to her words.

Legolas and the king sat waiting in the living room, Legolas' eyes kept glancing out the windows he couldn't help but think of how all of these people loved her so. He too loved his sister, but he could see something within their eyes, sense this undying caring like she held for them. Legolas sighed scratching idly at the back of his head wondering just how much these people truly knew her, Anariel. The strong, fierce, elleth he'd caught a glimpse of when she first arrived in Mirkwood, somewhere in the short time she has been with them she really lost herself and he could see it as clear as day as he thought back to the way she was then.

How much did he or their father really know her? Sure they knew her anger, they knew her while she was stressed and even fearful. They knew the princess or at least the girl who fought against becoming a princess and slowly became to try and please the king. But, they didn't really know Anariel.

"Let's stay," Legolas spoke out loud on the spur of the moment.

"Excuse me," the king demanded, he had every intention of just having her say goodbye and leaving soon thereafter.

"Ada," He began explaining himself, explaining everything he had only moments go gone over in his head. "I want to know my sister, Anariel like all of these people before her, not just what she thinks you want her to be. And whether you admit it or not I know you do too, I've seen you, Ada, through the worst of our times, and since she's been with us we've barely got to know her at all. I know you've seen it to, the change in her since she first walked through those doors into the throne room, till now. She's changed, and not for the better, she's lost her spark."

Thranduil nodded his head, Legolas was right it didn't take much convincing.

Feren stormed down the stairs, heading straight outside without so much as a word to his king or prince, the pair looked on as their Marchwarden left in a rage. Glancing at each other Legolas hurried up the stairs as Thranduil gave the order for everyone to leave.

Legolas pushed open the door looking in on Haldir as he pulled his sister closer, he could hear her soft muted sobs. Strutting across the room, grasping his sister firmly in his arms. "The king has ordered everyone to leave," Legolas snapped turning his eyes to Haldir as he hugged Anariel tightly.

Haldir bowed his head unfazed by the situation, Legolas sneered at him as he watched him leave, "You'd be wise to stay away from my sister if this is how you think she deserves to be treated."

Haldir said nothing on his way out.

Anariel sniffled burying her face in her brother's chest. "Are you okay, muinthel?" She nodded, though Legolas doubted that to be the truth. "Come, Ada wants to speak with us."

Legolas steered her away back downstairs sitting next to her upon her the couch.

There was silence, nobody left in the house but the three of them. "I have thought of everything, and much of what Legolas has brought into the light." Thranduil began, "He is right. I have pushed you too hard, giving you no time to adjust to the reality of things, and shoved every expectation at you was far too much pressure and unfair. I see that now. You may, if that is what you wish, drop the title princess."

Anariel stopped leaning up from her brother's chest, horrified by his words a new slew of tears began. "I'm sorry, for everything. I can do better. I promise."

Thranduil and Legolas looked to her shocked not understanding her words.

"You do not want me anymore. I can be better, please. I know I have made a horrible princess, thus far, but I am trying. And I know I have not shown it well myself but I…I don't want to lose either of you." Anariel cried out, pushing Legolas away she stood from the couch taking a few steps back. "If you are all going to leave me now, then please don't explain. Just go. Just get it over with."

Thranduil's eyes widened, now he understood perfectly, she was so was terrified. She had spent all of her life getting to know people to grow and love them only to watch them die in pain or suddenly through harsh winters. In the end, they all leave her and though she now stood with her own race the fear of losing them was still there lingering, a fear that drove her heart mad.

Thranduil stood from his chair, rushing forward he grasped his daughter's hands guiding her back to the couch sitting her down once more as he knelt on the floor in front of her. "I meant nothing of the sort. I do not wish to lose you. I want you to be happy, and the pressure I have placed upon you was unfair. I want you to forget it all. Just be Anariel, let go of everything else for now. You will always be my daughter; you will always be welcome. I want you to return home with us, but on your own terms by your own means." Thranduil spoke, at times each word had come out like it was each its own sentence he still struggled greatly with speaking so truly to those around him but his daughter and his son needed him.

Wiping her tears away Anariel looked up to her father stunned, "Truly?"

Thranduil nodded. "When you are ready, we can start again. Begin your lessons, but for now, there is nothing until you wish to begin. For now," Thranduil paused, turning to look at Legolas he moved one hand from Anariel's and rested it on his shoulder. "We focus on us, as a family. Something I know I should have done long ago." He spoke his last words looking Legolas in the eyes, for they were for him as much as they were for Anariel.

Anariel slid off the couch wrapping Thranduil in a deep hug. "Hannon le, Ada." Pulling away slightly Anariel looked to the king rather seriously, "So, does that mean we can stay for a bit?"

Thranduil sighed, "Yes, but in two weeks' time at the very latest we must head out. On our return trip, together." Thranduil stressed, "We are to make a stop in Rivendell, stay for a time before returning home with Lord Elrond and others whom will stay with us for a time for your ball."

Anariel groaned having forgotten about it. "Do we have to."

Thranduil nodded, he would not cancel it all, nor would hold expectations upon her as he once had come that night. "Don't think about it for now." He stressed the situation, "Tell me, what you would be doing, on a night like this were you still here in Bree." Thranduil asked as the three of them sat apart once more. Her tears had stopped and a light smiled graced her lips for her shoulders felt lighter and she felt a little more carefree and happy once more.

"Wait, a moment." Anariel cried out of the blue, Legolas and Thranduil looked over at her surprised as the stresses of being the proper princess were lifted from her shoulders and she knew she had time to say goodbye to all her people it was like they sat with a whole new elleth.

"What is it?" Legolas chuckled lightly, his own smile coming free as he watched his sister.

"That means we shall be here on the twenty-second."

"Yes we will," Thranduil acknowledged slightly confused, he noted that it was the Winter solstice but hardly understood what that had anything to do with being in Bree.

Anariel just sat beaming, pulling her knees up to her chin, this time out of contentment she just grinned. "On a night like tonight," She began thinking back to the question her father had asked completely changing subjects on them. Thranduil nodded trying to keep up, it was clear that she had no intentions of telling them what was on her mind. "I'd be helping Tom in the Prancing Pony." Anariel gasped out suddenly leaping from the floor. "Tom! Well, come on!" She cried behind her shoulders as she exited the house.

Thranduil and Legolas glanced at each other before following her out, Thranduil paused as they were about to exit through the door.

"What?" Legolas questioned curiously as he watched his father.

Soundlessly Thranduil reached up grasping his circlet he pulled it from his head, as he glanced out of the window watching Anariel walking down the muddy street he placed it upon the counter before removing his elegant travelling robe.

Legolas quirked an eyebrow at him.

Thranduil offered his son a gentle smile, sighing. "Look at her," he spoke still looking at her retreating form as she headed for the Prancing Pony. Thranduil, of course, referred to her simple attire of leggings and tunic, her hair pulled high before falling down into a single braid. "Whether she chooses to use the title princess, or not, she is one. She knows that, and yet," the king sighed once more. "There is nothing more important than them, nothing about herself or what that title can bring her by means of power or physical nature. We are to stay here for, at least the next two weeks. Anariel need not make mention or even remotely act the role of a princess until her ball. She is thrilled it eases her stress yet, I sense she is unsure, undoubtedly so, it is a sudden unexpected change. And I intend to help her with it. For I pushed her too far, I am the cause for those doubts. I must help her be rid of them."

Legolas stood continuing to look at his father before him. "Are you suggesting what I think you are?" Legolas spoke dumbfounded.

"I merely suggest to ease her comfort, and so that she knows I am perfectly sincere in my words and allow her to drop the role and title for a time. To get to know her in the best way possible, to understand what it was like for her here. Something neither one of us can even begin to imagine."

Legolas choked, eyes widened in shocked. "Truly? To live as these mortals live?" Legolas stood shaking his head.

Thranduil only nodded.

Slowly Legolas' hand reached for his own circlet he wore, as was normal custom when travelling with the king.

Once both king and prince removed themselves of their finery, they set off together down the muddy road to the inn. No longer looking nor playing on their roles as king and prince, but instead they walked as Anariel walked before them. Nothing more than Thranduil and Legolas, citizens of Bree.