Chapter Twenty-Four

I had made it back to Mirkwood, and no sooner had I arrived I was summoned to King Thranduil's chambers. I did advised the stable-hand to make sure that my friend, Thor, was washed brushed and got hay and apples. He deserved it, he was incredibly patient with me and my wounds. The fact that we road through from Mirkwood without stopping was pretty impressive on his part. He deserved to be pampered for a while.

After Thor was taken care of I made sure my things were taken to my room and cared for, I gathered my crutches I had received from Reiala, and hobbled my way to King Thranduil's chambers, getting up the stairs with crutches was a challenge. He was in his personal chambers, and upon my arrival he seemed to be trying to relax. His robes were of maroon and gold and his hair was down, there was no crown upon his brow. He looked tired.

"You are back before everyone else," He mentioned.

I raised my eyebrow at him tiredly, and he motioned for me to sit in the armchair across from him. He handed me a warm cup of tea, it was a lavender mix with mint and something else, probably healing herbs.

"How are you feeling?" he asked after a few moments.

I swallowed the taste of tea in my mouth, there was a hint of bitterness indicating herbs, but the warm liquid warmed and soothed me.

"Sore, the ride back did not help," I responded grimacing.

"What are the extent of your injuries?"

I set the cup down and began naming my injuries.

"Four broken ribs, a cracked ankle, a concussion, and bruising over my entire body for the most part."

Although King Thranduil's face and body posture revealed nothing, his eyes were concerned.

"The horse ride cannot have been pleasant,"

I shook my head, I felt his gaze upon me, studying.

"Yet you seem defeated, despite our victory."

I peeked up at his gaze, his face dropped the cold hard façade, it was soft and sympathetic, almost fatherly.

"I did warn you, little one."

I gave him a sad smile.

"The heart wants what it wants." I said quietly.

He tipped his head in acknowledgement.

"What will you do?"

I was quiet a moment.

"I was thinking about leaving."

There was an odd emotion that flit across his face.

"Where will go?"

I shrugged slowly.

"I'm not sure, back to Rivendell for a time, and maybe join Aragorn in wandering. He's been bugging me to. The dwarves, the Eagles, and Beorn offered me to stay with them for a short time. Maybe I'll do my own wandering." I murmured.

He was silent for a while.

"They're out there too. Maybe I'll hunt." I said coldly remembering.

Thranduil looked at me curiously.

"Those who hurt me…they're no longer in Mirkwood, the scent is cold and stale here. I cold track them down." I said off-handedly.

Thranduil said nothing for several moments.

"Getting revenge on them will not ease the pain,"

I nodded.

"I know…but I remember they had no remorse, no qualms about any of it. They had done it before…maybe the other girl they attacked didn't make it, or they didn't get caught then, justice wasn't served on them. My animals aren't liking it." I responded.

Thranduil tipped his head.

"The animal kingdom has their own form of justice, I acknowledge that, but do not forget that it will not change what happened, they attacked you and ran away." He mentioned.

I nodded and took more sips of my tea.

"What will happen with Lillie?' I asked.

He had a small smile on his lips.

"The girl has grown exponentially under your care," He said.

"That is why you put her with me yes?"

Thranduil nodded.

"I had received complaints from several of my guests stating she was too shy and too timid. But she has grown a backbone. Even Luthias seems to have recognized this…"

I nearly spit out my tea in surprise. I coughed and winced at the pain. I waved him off.

"THEY'RE courting?" I asked surprised.

He smiled broadly at this. Happy that he was aware of something that I did not.

"Yes, they have been courting a little more than three months now. They have been quite quiet about it, but they are very happy. I have never seen Luthias happier,"

I leaned back and took in the information.

"I'm glad, she deserves to be happy, both of them do."

He nodded.

"I will admit I was skeptical about taking the girl when she first came to us. But her…'parents' seemed rather eager to get rid of her. They were not aware of the girl's talent for sewing. She tells Luthias she would like to open her own shop."

I nodded, Lillie and I had spoken about it at length.

"She would do very well, if you allow her to she'd do very well." I suggested.

"Maybe not a permanent shop she may run it at her leisure out of her own room, but she is welcome to stay in your room until you return." King Thranduil stated.

I looked up at him slightly surprised.

"You have heard this from Elrond but I will repeat it. You will always find a home here in Mirkwood, should you chose to return here."

I smiled a nodded.

"Thank you," I said.

He tipped his head in acknowledgement.

"When will you depart?"

I drank more of my tea.

"During the festivities tonight, less of a fuss." I responded.

I knew King Thranduil would be throwing a celebration tonight in response the victory, there were already hand-maidens and the like scurrying about to get the Grand Hall ready.

"Many will be hurt you did not say goodbye,"

I snorted in response.

"I'll leave letters for those who may notice me gone. But I won't be missed really, I'll leave the jewels with your son. No doubt he'll return them." I stated as I rose to leave.

Thranduil didn't respond but he seemed to understand. Before I left I turned towards him.

"Keep an eye on your Guard Captain…she's…not one to be trusted so completely."

I returned to my room tired and exhausted but I still had a long evening ahead of me. Although honestly I wanted nothing more but to crawl into my bed and sleep for about a week.

"Braelyn?"

Glancing up I saw Lillie, she was wearing her typical hand-maiden attire.

"Lillie, I didn't mean to wake you," I murmured.

She shook her head.

"I was already up milady."

I notice she had my traveling pack already ready to go near the door and my weapons were cleaned and strapped to it.

"You knew?" I asked her.

She smiled a little sadly but sat beside me on my bed.

"I had an idea, I knew this battle would not be easily won, so I figured you may need to go find yourself."

I smiled.

"You know me well,"

She smiled back.

"It will get better."

We shared a comfortable silence.

"By the way, congrats with you and Luthias, Thranduil mentioned it."

She blushes scarlet from her neck to the tips of her ears.

"I thought we were being careful…"

I smiled.

"You were! I wasn't aware, but not much escapes his notice. He's actually quite happy for the two of you."

She peeked at me between her hands.

"Really?"

I nodded.

"He approves, he also mentioned you're welcome to stay here and run your business out of here, he would like to know how it goes though." I added.

She beemed at me and got teary eyed.

"It's almost too much to be true." She said happily.

She wiped away the tears.

"When will you be leaving?" She asked.

"During the festivities, people will be coming and going so frequently they won't know I've slipped away." I said quietly.

"Are you trying to avoid confrontation?"

I winced a little uneasily.

"I'm trying to avoid goodbyes. I was never really good at them."

She nodded understanding. She clapped her hands and stood.

"Get to work on the letters you want people to find and I will get your dress and bath ready for the ball."

I nodded and we got to work.

Sometime Later…

The party was in full swing, thanks to my hyper-healing ability and the healing tea I was coming along rather nicely. The bones would take longer to heal, but the bruising and soreness was dissipating. My ankle was sore to walk on but the bones mended properly. Lillie had dressed me up in this gorgeous red and grey gown, she also managed to tame my hair after it was washed and scrubbed properly, and curl it into a pretty half up and down up-do.

She was a wonder with clothes and hair and the like I looked like a different person each time I wore one of her gowns. I leaned against one of the walls in the Grand Hall, I was trying to avoid attention and for the most part it was working, I had been stopped a few times to be complimented on my dress. I could see Luthias and Lillie speaking quietly to one another in the corner, Lillie looked gorgeous in one of her own champagne colored gown. Her hair twisted into an elegant up-do, for once, she didn't look like a handmaiden but that she belonged in the court and on Luthias's arm. He looked like he was radiating happiness and I was super happy for the two of them. I flute of champagne in my hand I was able to see the entire floor from where I stood. I could see Legolas in a tunic of silver, his breeches a navy blue and black boots adorned his legs. He wore a silver leaf-like circlet upon his hair. Beside him, on his arm was Tauriel, the two of them were speaking in low tones both grinning. She wore a blue off-the-shoulder gown, there were some sequins or shiny threads in the dress so it sparkled in the light. She wore white elbow-length gloves. Her hair was all pulled up in a bun, not a hair was out of place. I could see black heels peeking from beneath the dress. She was glowing, and many people were stopping to pay her compliments as well. Legolas spoke with a few more peoples before whispering with Tauriel and asked the room to fall silent. It was so quiet not even a breath could be heard.

"We want to thank all of you for your service in the battle that took place. It was long and hard, and there were sacrifices and they will not be forgotten. But it was a victory well earned."

Many raised their glasses in acknowledgement.

"There is also…some news your Guard Captain and I would like to announce."

There were several murmurs and idle chattering, as well as confused looks.

"We are happy to announce…our engagement…formally!"

The room broke out into applause, the cheers covered the sound of breaking glass from my flute crashing onto the floor. I knew they were smitten with one another, but an engagement? Then again…I was nothing more than a child in their eyes, they had a history. I could hear my heartbeat thundering in my ears, and panic well in my throat. I searched for the elven king. I found the blue eyes he possessed I saw pity and sorrow. He made a small gesture with his head and bowed it, his signal of saying goodbye. I did not need to be told twice, I slipped out of the room and returned to my own residence. I slipped out of my gown and hung in in the armoire before changing into a loose green shirt and brown breeches and my boots. I pulled on a cloak and the letters that were left on the table I had written earlier. I paused when I touched the hollow of my throat where the necklace sat. I had worn the necklace the entire time I was in Mirkwood, as I took the necklace off my neck felt wrong and barren. They were not mine to keep, as King Thranduil instructed me, they belonged to the woman Legolas was to marry. I weaved the necklace into the letter I had written for the elven prince and set it on my bed. Pulling the pack onto my back and lifting the hood to hide my face I took one last look around, I felt my eyes linger on the bed where the letter sat. Shaking my head and gritting my determination I slipped into the darkness of the night.

Legolas POV

The elven prince opened the door to Braelyn's room. He was fairly confident he would find her there, he was almost certain he had seen her in the Grand Hall but was unable to find her after the announcement was made. He had managed to slip away to search for her, but she was not in her usual places when she hid. He was about to turn and search elsewhere, but something caught his eyes glittering on her bed. Closing the door behind himself, he went over to the bed and was rather surprised to see a letter address to him with his mother's necklace intertwined in it. He saw them so frequently on her neck it was strange to not see them there. He sank to the bed the jewels on his lap and opened the letter.

I think these belong to the woman you are to marry. I want to thank you for the opportunity to learn from you while in your troupe and putting up with my behavior of the past course of my stay here. I will never be able to repay the debt I owe you for saving me.

I think it is best that I leave, to avoid less complications in the future. I'll never forget any of you, I'll never forget the experiences that I have had here.

Lots of love,

Braelyn

Legolas froze, he reread the letter twice, she was leaving. Steeling the anger and hurt that entered him he gathered the jewels, pocketing them securely in his pocket before rushed off the balcony and using his eyesight in the darkness of the night. He had a bone to pick with the human.

Braelyn POV

I was no elf, that was for certain. But if I didn't wanted to be tracked or found easily it was difficult to find me. I stayed off the main roads using the woods and the wilderness to hide my tracks. After traveling for several hours I had managed to stop at a hidden hot spring several hundred miles from the Mirkwood gates. It was little known to passerby and I had found it one day while venturing out on my own. Before I relaxed any I listened for anything out of place, when I heard nothing I relaxed and set my pack down rolling my shoulders to relieve the tension. I toed off my boots and stretched my legs. I groaned in appreciation. They had been in the boots for hours and the cool sand beneath my feet felt marvelous. I pulled off the loose green shirt and was left in a pale pink undershirt that was nearly see-through leaving myself in the shirt and breast band. I had just tugged my breeches and socks off when I heard a rustle in the bushes. Before I could spin around and grab my weapons, I found myself pinned on my back in grass. From the flow of the fireflies I found myself face to face with the elven prince.