Author's Note:

A huge thank you goes out to my lovely reviewers Stardust63, AllTrekkedUp , Lady Viola Delesseps , and AreWeHavingFunYet. I am so lucky to have you all along for the ride! You make this really...fun for me. I've needed this distraction...I truly thank you all. Be sure to check out their stories. Each of them are truly wonderful writers. Much better than I ever will be!
Raise a glass to the Professor, and read on!

Chapter Twenty-One: Do Not Weep, My Love

As Glineth woke, she was nearly struck blind by the pain in her head. As she tried to open her eyes, she was confused. It was dark. Much too dark. She put her hand in front of her face, but she could not see it.

"Hello!? Anybody? Someone!? Please...I" Glineth called out. Her only reply was the echo of her voice.
Glineth put her hand to her head to evaluate the severity of her wound. She was concerned at the sticky matting that had formed upon her head and the desire to fall back to sleep. She fought against the darkness that threatened to overtake her. As she moved her wrists, she noted that they too were wounded. 'So, I was struck, then bound like a common animal.' she thought.
Glineth quickly threw herself as far back as her cell would allow, as she heard the soft sound of leather on stone, coming closer and closer to her cell. Someone was coming.

"Glineth?" a familiar voice called.
Glineth felt her way to the bars at the front of her cell.
"Who...who is there?! Show yourself!" she commanded.
"I will, as soon as I can manage to light this lantern. Useless thing keeps going out on me."
The face lit by the lantern was one that Glineth was happy to see. "Oh, Landir! I...help me." she begged.
As he put the lantern to the bars of the cell, he was shocked and repulsed by what he saw. This was not the Glineth he knew. The thing he saw, it was a monster to his eyes. She was cramped in a small dark cell, hardly enough room for her to move about properly. Her posture was wrong, she always stood straight, with a sort of unnatural regal pride. No she was hunched over, one hand on the top of her head. He also noticed that her white hair was turned red by her own blood.
"Oh Glineth, I am so...sorry. This...I...I hate him for what he has done to you." Landir said.
"Do not hate him. He has been poisoned enough by hatred. Show him love and kindness." Glineth said.
Much to her surprised, Landir produced a small key and opened her cell door. She naturally, looked around for an easy way to escape.
"Do not even bother Glineth. You would not get far." the voice of her husband said in the darkness.
"Thrand-"
"Do not speak to me." he said coldly.
Landir shook his head and went to work cleaning and soothing the wound on her head. Glineth sighed in happiness as Landir worked a bursh through the matted mess that was her hair. "Thank you for this, Landir."
"Anything for you, my fair friend. Here...I have also brought you some food and drink. It should keep you for some time. You may have my lantern as well." he said as he slid a small bag towards her feet.
"Are you finished?" Thranduil snapped.
"Yes, Majesty. I am done." Landir replied.
"Then go. I wish to speak with my wife alone. " Thranduil said as he stepped into the light.
As horrid as he may be, Glineth was always struck dumb by his beauty.
"As you wish." Landir said bowing as he exited the cell.
As the King stepped into her cell, Glineth again cowered against the farthest wall. She shuddered as she heard the creak of her bed as Thranduil sat on it.
"So. Your head. It pained you, did it not?" he asked, his tone not showing any true concern for her.
"Yes. It did. Landir's skill has eased my pain, though." she said, looking anywhere but his face.
"The pain you felt, I feel it now. There is no remedy for the wounds your words caused."
"I regret nothing I have said to you, Thranduil."
"I do not recall asking you if you did, wife. Before I leave you, is there anything more you require?" he asked.
"Yes. I wish to be released. I do not belong here." she said, bravely coming closer to him.
"And where is it you belong, Glineth? The Wood? The Halls of Mandos? Do you seek your freedom so fiercely?"
"No. I belong with you. You know this to be true husband. All I have wounded is your pride." she pleaded.
"If only you had thought of this four days ago."
"You...I have been left here for four days?" she asked.
"Yes. Don't worry, someone checked on you every night. When I heard your calls, I summoned Landir and we came here as quickly as we could."
"Thank you." she said, trying to see the good in this cold being sitting so close to her.
"I...you, are welcome. You did not deserve to die that way."
Glineth then clutched onto the leg of her husband. "Please, if you have any love in your heart left for me, please, let me out of this place. It is so dark..."
"Glineth. I cannot let your crime go unpunished." he said slowly.
"I only wanted to find-"
"No. You wanted to runaway. In some part of you, you knew that you would find nothing. It was your excuse to leave. You...have wounded me, deeply. I do not know if I have it in my heart to forgive you."
"Do not leave me in this place. Thranduil...I beg you. I love you, I always have. Since the moment I saw you in the Wood. Please...I would rather you slay me now, than leave me in this place." Glineth said, breaking down into body wracking sobs.
Thranduil could not lie to himself, her cries pierced him as well. "I must leave. But...here, take this." he said as he removed his long red coat and tossed it to where she sat.
"Please, do not leave me..." she said putting her arms through his coat. "Please. "
Thranduil inhaled deeply, hiding tears of his own and left her without a word. Just his long red over coat.

As she buried her face into the collar of the coat, she allowed herself the dim hope that somewhere in his heart, he still loved her.

Glineth heard nor saw anyone for the next month. It took all of her strength not to slip into madness. As the second month of her solitude was to begin, she was surprised once again by Landir.

"Ohhh. Landir." Glineth said in a voice, soft as a whisper from going unused to so long.
Landir said little as he entered her cell with food, drink, clothing, and new bedding. "Is he well, Landir? The King?"
"No, he is not. Few can see it in him...but grief and despair has taken root inside of him. He grieves the loss of you, and of your child. But it is your name he cries in his sleep." Landir said, making Glineth's bed for her.
"I am sad to hear that he is unwell." Glineth said, quickly draining a skin of wine and looking to her wedding ring, that now hung loose about her finger.
"All miss you, Glineth. They miss their fair Queen." Landir said taking her in his arms and holding her.
Glineth had not known how much she missed having contact with another being. She let her full weight lea into him and enjoyed his warmth. "Is it wrong of me to miss him as I do? I have not gone this long without seeing him, not since he came into his Kingdom. I...Landir. I.."
"No, it is not wrong. You love your husband. Let me tell you this...he sees you. There is an area, over that way, which has a view straight into your cell. He stands there some nights, and just watches you. I think he will come to watch you this night."
Glineth again began to cry..."Then why does he not come for me?! Why does he let himself suffer...I would forgive him for all he has done. Please...why won't he let me out?!"
"His pride, and desire to show that no one is above the law keeps you here." Landir said, placing Glineth on her bed, and stepping out from the cell.

As she heard his footsteps fade into the distance, Glineth said to the wall, "He is strong and stubborn...and he will come for me."
She let a few hours pass, knowing that it was now night, she walked to the front of her cell and spoke to the darkness, "I know you are out there, Thranduil. I can feel you, I know your scent. I...I forgive you, and harbor no ill will towards you. My love for you is still as strong as it was on the day we wed. Do not let yourself be troubled by my fate. I understand that my imprisonment is something you had to do. I forgive you."
Glineth then walked back to her bed and covered herself in the new blankets Landir had brought her. She had forgotten how good fresh linen felt on her skin.
As she closed her eyes, her now extremely sensitive ears picked up on the sound of on sliding down against a wall into a sitting position.

As sleep slowly began to take her once again, she recognized the tears of her King. 'Do not weep, my love.' was the thought that carried her into her dreams.

A/N:

I know. He's so...cold. Don't worry...there is always darkness before the dawn!
Again, a huge thank you for taking the time to read this mess. I truly appreciate every single one of you. -M