Hello my precious! Please don't kill me, Sunday is still weekend. To all of you who reviewed last chapter, my thanks with all my heart, I wish I could bake a cake for each one of you guys, you are the light in my dark classes and sometimes I just re-read a review and the world is a beautiful place again, love you all, really. To all who followed/favorited this story, thank you guys too for having the willpower to start reading a story that's already 28 chapters long, and on top of that choosing to keep track of said story, you guys are awesome.

To all the Jewish all over the world that might be reading this story, Shana Tova, a happy new year to all of you guys. I hope that 5776 is the year you'll look back at in the future and said "now that was THE year", so live long and prosper, and make this new year count.

Even if you're not Jew but you were waiting for a sign to do something you've always been scared to do and give your dreams a go, this is it. We're not elves, it's not like we're going to be young and fabulous forever, don't waste your hundred-something years. Jewish new year is as good an excuse as any to start something new.

Now that I had my "give life a go" moment, the story


Chapter XXVIII

Spring Settles In

"Your Grace." I greeted Legolas coldly, memories of how he had treated me flooded my mind. I honestly had no idea of how I was going to deal with him.

"Hm, good morning." I noticed Legolas was tense and that made me even more uncomfortable "I heard you were sick. Are you feeling better?"

I relaxed a little, allowing myself to breathe again.

"Yes. Thank you."

There was an awkward silence and I wondered where Legolas was trying to get with that.

"That's good." He said, finally.

"Thank you." I repeated, awkwardly.

Legolas closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a sharp breath.

"I was a bastard." He said it so fast that it was almost like the words caused him pain.

That's unfair, he didn't do all this drama to apologize to Zynia.

But then, Zynia was not bedding his father.

"You were." I agreed, sulky. I was not lying and saying that it was alright the way he had treated me. But still...

I eased my face

"I know you're not like that."

"I'm not." The prince agreed, as if he was trying to convince both himself and I "I just..." He sighed, giving up on explaining why he had snapped. Still, I had an idea "Ada loves you, you know." I thought I could detect a note of resentment in Legolas' blue eyes "He was sick too."

That caught me off guard. I didn't know Thranduil was sick.

"I would think both of us needed some sleep."

Oh, God. Of course I wouldn't know, I was doing all I could to avoid Thranduil in the past two days. I felt sick with guilt.

"I never wanted..."

"I know." Legolas looked at me with a surprising kindness in his eyes "Talk to him."

I nodded, not trusting my voice. I would talk to Thranduil as soon as I got a chance.

"Hazel" Legolas' voice made me look up at him again "I'm really sorry. For everything."

By this you mean being a cruel bastard?

"It's alright." I assured him, managing a thin smile.

"It's not." Legolas gave me a sad smile "But thank you, for forgiving me all that."

I didn't know what to say so I just stood there like an idiot, as Legolas left with a last 'Talk to Ada'.

I didn't understand what he meant by 'it's not'. Did that mean that he was not alright with the idea of Thranduil and I? Or he meant it was not alright that he had been a bastard? Or maybe both?

I dropped gracelessly in my chair. Prince Legolas' words were too hard a mystery for me to solve. It would be better if I stick to my books on the health of elflings. With Melim's little girl on the way, it seemed like the castle was breathing elflings' things. She already had dozens of tiny clothes, story books, pretty toys, everyone had a gift for the new courtier.

Everyone but me, whose creativity was little more than a fish's when it came to presents for elflings. It seemed like the little girl already had everything she would ever need, even though she wasn't even born yet.

Suddenly jumped to my feet.

I had forgotten that I was going to see Thranduil before Legolas appeared.

I stood frozen for a moment between the load of books and the thought to see my loved one. My eyes flied from the work to the door and I finally ran out of the door, nearly running over Aster and an elfling.

"Oh my God, I'm sorry." I quickly apologized "Are you alright?"

Aster recovered from the startle, still holding the hand of the miniature elf.

"Yes." The black-haired elleth laughed "We were going to see if you're alright but it seems there's no need for that."

I couldn't help mirroring her laughter.

"I'm fine, thank you. And who are you, little one?" I turned my attention to the toddler who looked at me with widened violet eyes.

Aster took the infant in her arms, giving me a better angle to look at him.

"That's Finnigan. My great-grandson."

My face of shock made Aster laugh harder, and the elfling echoed her laughter with stunning precision. If that was her great-grandson, then Aster was likely older than Thranduil. Of course it was already hard to find such an ancient elf this side of the sea, they were but a handful. And what was more stunning was that Aster was one elf that I would never guess to be that old, since older elves usually weren't so easy-laughing, light-heart. It was just look at the wise Lord Elrond or the serene Lady Galadriel to confirm that. Aster, on the other hand, was always smiling and all but leaping around like a doe.

"Oh" I looked at the tiny elf who smiled at me, managing to contain my shock and curtsy "Hazel."

Finnigan laughed, amused by my manners, as half the silvan elves seemed to be.

"'Azel." He tried, making me smile.

"I see you're busy. I just wanted to make sure you're well." Aster smiled.

"You're very kind. Thank you."

Once she was gone I was once more faced with the choice of going back to my work or go looking for Thranduil. Sighing, I turned back to my room and forced myself to sit at the desk before the countless books. Thranduil was most likely working, and I didn't want to disturb him. I would find a way to talk to him after lunch. I could wait.

I can't.

I have to.

Suddenly I was reminded of something rather unpleasant. Thranduil used to spend his spare time in the afternoon in the Royal Library, from which I was banished due to my quarrel with Lady Maril. I sank in the chair. Seemed like I would have to wait until late afternoon to see my loved one. This world is such an unfair place.


The sound of the birds singing outside was a welcome distraction from the pile of work the king had been laboring over. The two days of uselessness had taken their toll on the dreaded paperwork, and there the new issue of finding someone to take Maeglad's place as Trade Councilor, as well as organizing the first spring festival and the festivities in honor of Maeglad's appointment as ambassador.

The king sighed, looking outside the window to the green grass and the flowers blooming. The days were warmer now, and there were some idle Sindarin nobles strolling around under the sun, the young lord Tegalad and his wife among them. Thranduil smiled at the sight of the young happy couple. He knew how they felt, that peace of loving one and being loved in return, the feeling of finding home in someone else. And right now he longed for the presence of his beloved.

The king reveled in the thought of Hazel, her big brown eyes and stunning smile, the silky brown hair and her soft, warm, skin. In the eyes of the Valar they were as good as married. They were one, and nothing in this world would ever take his wife from him. Thranduil felt his heart warmer at the thought of his beautiful Queen of Hearts, reaching for her red ribbon, which he now wore tied around his wrist, hidden by the tunic.

His love contemplations were interrupted by a knock on the door, followed by Lord Maeglad.

"The ambassador." The king forced himself to smile. He still had not forgotten, nor forgiven, the way Maeglad had tried to turn him against Hazel, but his merry mood kept him from kicking Maeglad all the way to Lothlórien.

"I can't say I wasn't surprised by this." Maeglad looked surprised, indeed.

Thranduil smirked.

"What can I say, Celeborn left me hardly any room for negotiating. He was very specific about you being the best choice for ambassador." That made the Sindarin lord beam with pride "Though, before you leave, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the new Trade Councilor."

Lord Maeglad frowned, puzzling.

"My lord, if you ask me, I'd consider the Lady Councilor of War."

Thranduil considered it for a moment.

"She's part of the war council, not trading." The king pointed.

"True, but I believe she's rather fond of books, and you know she's skilled with numbers."

The king nodded, not much convinced. The Sindarin was skilled enough in counting, true, but she was hardly fit for Trade Councilor. That would be rather difficult to solve.

"That will be all for now."

The Sindarin lord bowed, leaving with a smile, and Thranduil mentally thanked Galadriel for the thousandth time. That was the best outcome possible. Maeglad would be happy as an honored ambassador, Hazel would be happy for him and his daughter being far away, he would be happy with Hazel's happiness. They would all be happy. Flawless.


I stood on the grass under the shadow of a massive tree, watching as Irminne trotted happily around. She seemed comfortable again to leave me and run farther, wandering around the vast grass, her ears alert to any noise.

Lazily, I leaned on the tree, taking the flute to my lips and playing a merry tune, as to echo the numerous birds that seemed to come out of nowhere with the coming of spring. I wondered where all those birds were during winter, when the only bird we could hear was the owl at night.

Wherever they had been, it was good to have them back.

The same wind that carried my music far away denounced the king's presence before he spoke and I opened my eyes, my heart leaping at the sight of him in light green, like he was a part of the forest, reborn with it this spring.

What are you now, a poet?

"What are you playing?" Thranduil asked, nonchalantly leaning on the tree too.

"Nothing really. Just something merry." I answered fighting an internal war to keep a decent distance, as we were in the open.

Irminne looked at us from a few meters away, her smart horse ears up, as if deciding if she should intervene. My hand going in my pocket made the decision for her and she came trotting happily towards us, turning her head in a disinterested acknowledge of the king, before fixing her attention on me as I offered her an apple, after taking a bite myself. Not like I was still trying to make up for the days of starvation, of course not. I was just... making sure the apple was good enough for my loyal friend. Yes, that's right.

Pathetic, Hazel.

"Apple?" I offered Thranduil the spare fruit I had in my pockets, and Irminne immediately turned her head, greedily, at it "That's not for you." I reproached her, earning a neigh in return.

The king smiled at me and I shivered at the warmth in his eyes.

"No, thank you."

Irminne, having finished her treat, proceeded to sniff at Thranduil, who laughed, caressing her neck.

"Irminne, are these the manners of a lady?" I reproached, and she looked at me like an elfling that had just got away with her mischief "You're too smart for a horse." I sighed.

"A fine horse indeed." Thranduil approved, as Irminne lost interest in us and went back to her exploring of the surroundings.

I studied my sweet golden king, looking majestic in the most ordinary clothes as if he was dressed in his heavy robes. The crown too was replaced by an exquisite circlet of silver, not as showy but just as regal.

"You're sending Lord Maeglad away." I said, in a whisper, half a question, half an exclamation of surprise.

Thranduil looked at me and I held my breath at the light in his beautiful blue eyes. The king looked around quickly and I though he had seen something or someone but the next moment his lips met mine and I felt my hart racing at the boldness of kissing in the open like that. It was like even the birds sang louder in shock.

It didn't last long enough, as if there could ever be enough of him, but I was dizzy and breathless when we parted.

"I love your smile" Thranduil smirked, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest "I had some help from Lothlórien." He admitted, looking slightly embarrassed, as if it lessened what he did.

"I should send them a gift then, with my sincere gratitude." I chuckled, brushing my hand against his, and to my surprise the king took it, our fingers interlocked for the briefest moment before he let go of me.

"What can one gift the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood? They already have everything." Thranduil mirrored my smile.

"Oh, that's something I know all about." I sighed, unhappy "I think I'm the only person that still didn't find a present for Melim's little girl, the baby already has everything she's ever going to need. I'm pretty sure someone must have already ordered a wedding dress!"

"Give her a little training sword." Thranduil suggested.

"Thranduil!" I reproached, laughing.

"It was Legolas' first toy, and he loved it." The king insisted, his clear blue eyes shining in the light of the afternoon sun "What about a little dress?"

"She already has dozens." I sighed, leaning on the tree.

"This is going to be one spoiled baby." The king predicted, making me laugh.

I summoned my loyal mare with a four-notes whistle, and Thranduil tried, without success, not to laugh.

"What?"

"Nothing." He laughed in Westron, mimicking my accent.

I raised an eyebrow at him as Irminne trotted happily to my side.

"Oh, I see you mock my ways, so tell me how's that great Sindarin lords and ladies summon their horses."

"I'll show you." He gave me his arrogant half-smile, following me to the stables.

As I took a brush from the rack on the wall, Thranduil walked to where his fine stallion rested, opening the gate, and I noticed that the horse stood quietly instead of nearly running over his master, like my loyal bad-mannered friend would do.

Shame on me, I can't discipline a horse.

Irminne turned her face to look at the other horse as I diligently groomed her, and Thranduil came to stand by my side, his stallion staying obediently in it's place.

"Watch and learn." The king smirked, confidently, snapping his fingers "Tolo."

Dutifully, the horse walked to where we stood, stopping by his master like a soldier, and Thranduil beamed proudly at me, like an elfling showing off.

"How can he hear you in the open?" I frowned.

"He will if I call louder. Works with people as well, a very versatile trick indeed."

I rolled my eyes at his smart answer.

"Very well, you win."

Thranduil inclined his head in thanks and I kissed the arrogant smile on his lips quickly, afraid that someone might come in and see us. Which made me wonder, as my sweet golden king took the gallant horse back to it's stall, if he wasn't being missed somewhere else. Well, I wouldn't point it out, it was great that he was here with me now, specially when I thought I would only see him later in the afternoon.


Thranduil turned from his proud and faithful stallion to the elleth who passed by his side to put the brush back in place, and the king didn't resist to pull her by the waist, hearing a little scream of surprise that soon turned into a laughter and into silence when their lips finally met. It was so right to have his queen by his side again.

Hazel had the sense to push him with a laughter.

"My love!" She intended those words to sound reproaching, but the king was too entranced by her smile to care "The horses!"

"They're not telling anyone." Thranduil pointed out with a smirk, and indeed, the horses seemed much more interested in their food than in whatever he and his little queen were doing.

"Thranduil!" Hazel protested again, and the king pulled her for a quick kiss.

"Forgive me, my little dove."

The elleth looked up at him, her stunning brown eyes shining with mischief.

"Are you coming to see me tonight?" Thranduil savored the desire in her voice, shivering and tensing as his body seemed to fully approve the idea of another late-night visit.

But not in her bedroom, surrounded by other elves' rooms.

"I know of somewhere better." He suggested, smiling with the idea he had formed in his mind "Do you want to know another amazing secret of the castle?"

There was curiosity and wonder in the same measure in Hazel's eyes. She had loved the attic, and the king had a feeling that she would love the secret passageway of the gardens even more.

Finally she nodded, smiling in a way that nearly made Thranduil forget where he was.

The night couldn't come fast enough.


I found the king right where he said he would be, not far from the Healing Wing's gardens, looking at the stars but appearing not to see them.

"My little rebel dove." He greeted me, and his smile seemed to light the night sky.

I took the hand he offered me and we walked like that, hand in hand, out in the garden. It was surreal, that moment, holding hands with my dear king under the light of the stars. We reached the minor maze with the fountain in the center, and Thranduil and I stood before one of the bush walls.

"Are you ready?" He asked, with a smirk to me.

"Do your magic." I prompted.

Thranduil turned to the wall again and I was so distracted by his beautiful, elegant profile, that I almost missed the moment when he said something in Sindarin and the wall before us opened in an arch of green leaves.

I gasped, touching the wall of the living tunnel before us, and when I turned to look at Thranduil again he was smiling at my marveling.

"Do you like it?" He asked, running his fingers on my hair, and I shivered at his touch that I loved so well.

"It's beautiful, but it's so dark in here, I wonder how it looks like in daylight."

"It's beautiful." Thranduil agreed, holding my hand "Do you want to see the other end?"

Only that warm reassuring touch was enough for me to believe that the other end would be somewhere among the stars.

"What was that you said?" I asked, walking into the tunnel side by side with the king.

"Seron." He answered, holding my hand tighter.

"And what does it mean?"

Thranduil looked at me with his luminous blue eyes.

"You would know if you took some time to learn my native idiom, hervess." He teased.

"How impolite, you're calling me something in an idiom that I can't understand." I reproached, shaking my head as if he was one of the kids of the Healing Wing.

Thranduil chuckled a laughter.

"You would understand if you studied."

I rolled my eyes impatiently.

"I'm going to learn an idiom you don't know and I'll call you something in it, and then we'll see if you'll look so cocky." I muttered.

"Good luck with finding an idiom I haven't learn." The king said, turning to me with a cocky smile "I fear you'll have to invent a new one."

I would have retorted if we haven't reached the end of the tunnel, and the night sky was so pleasing after the dark tunnel that for a moment I wondered if we where among the stars. But of course we were still within the castle walls, only somewhere I had never been before.

It was the most beautiful garden I ever saw, there were tiny white flowers everywhere that made the night air scented in delicate notes, there were trees and statues all around in a manner to remind an enchanted forest or something like that, and there was the most amazing thing about that garden, the large pond, ever agitated by the curtain of water that dripped from the numerous branches of the monumental stone tree which stood on an island in the center of it. It was magical. I could see the stone walls that surrounded the garden, covered in green leaves and tiny white flowers, and the large doors opposite from where we stood, which certainly led to the castle.

The pale light of the moon lit everything with magic. I approached the curtain of water, careful not to disturb the magic of the place, and Thranduil followed, always by my side. I could feel his eyes on me as I watched the magic garden. How could ever be something so beautiful outside the world of dreams, or legends?

There was the feeling of lightness, and I noticed that Thranduil had removed my robe when the chilly night air peeped through my nightgown.

"My love-" I was interrupted by a dazzling kiss.

"No one will bother us here." Thranduil guessed the cause of my worry, pulling me closer to him "Now let me indulge you." The idea was enough to break my resistance. If Thranduil said no one would bother us, I believed him "Let me love you under the stars."

My king let his own robe fall down to the grass and I rushed to take off the rest of his clothes. Thranduil took me in his arms and placed me down on his silky robe, the stars above us made him look like a dream, majestic in his bare skin like a wild animal.

"Now, meleth nín, you'll forgive me this." His voice was heavy with lust, and I was about to ask what I would forgive him when the sound of fabric being tore answered my silent question. The cool night air caressed me for a second before the heat of Thranduil's skin replaced it. I tasted him in my tongue and breathed the scent of him and the tiny white flowers. He was all mine, and I would have him like that, under the open sky.


Red and white. The king had always thought that to be one basic color combination, with nothing special about it. Something an empty-headed elleth would wear in her wedding bouquet and think herself so clever for the surprising allusion to both purity and carnal love.

As he traced Hazel's spine with a strawberry, though, Thranduil realized how wrong he had been – again. Red and white was just perfect. Hazel shivered under his caress, letting out a sigh. The elleth was lying on her stomach on the soft mattress of the king's wide bed, supported on her elbows, those bewitching dark eyes closed and lips parted as she enjoyed the king's attention.

Thranduil marveled at the work of art before him. Hazel was, without a doubt, result of a very careful work, sculpted in marble by the hands of heaven. In the scarce light of the last hour before dawn, she was absolutely magnificent. There was power in the confident pose she held, her feet up, ankles crossed, not minding the rain outside, the rain that drove them from his private garden to his bedchamber. No, that wasn't right. Everything that was his belonged to her as well, it was their private garden, their bedchamber and their bed.

His little hervess seemed content in allowing Thranduil to trace her exuberant contour with the strawberry, mapping the valleys and hills, even though he took a special time with the last. Hazel waited, patiently, reveling in his attention like a purring cat. It was only when the king pressed the berry to her lips that Hazel's eyes finally flied open, fixing him with that burning ember gaze.

Thranduil felt every inch of his skin shiver as Hazel snatched the strawberry from his hand, crawling towards him with a spell in her eyes. Nonchalantly, she pushed him back onto the mattress. They had made a considerable mess to the point where the covers were on the floor, the pillows, God only knows where, but it didn't matter. Not like there was any possibility of sleeping.

"I serve my king." Hazel mocked, offering him the strawberry with a smile.

"But I don't want strawberry." Thranduil smirked, placing a hand on the back of her head, fingers entwined in the soft brown waves "There's something else I desire."

The embers in Hazel's eyes burned brighter as she sat astride him, a mischievous smile on her lips.

"And what is that you desire, my love?"


"You look the very impersonation of spring." I finished Melim's hair with a butterfly-shaped silver pin.

"I look like the very impersonation of a barrel." She argued, laughing.

"I have to agree with Hazel." Zynia intervened, and I nodded, confirming my statement.

"Two flatterers." The brown-haired elleth rolled her eyes, still laughing.

Melim better get used to looking hefty, she'd get much fatter before the end of her pregnancy. And really, it didn't look bad on her, she had that aura of fruitfulness about her, almost like she made the flowers bloom just passing them by.

I really should consider being a minstrel.

The gardens were crowded with elves enjoying the kind spring sun, and the laughter of young elves playing around could be heard anywhere, like music. There were groups sitting around, chatting nonchalantly on fabric, and pastel colors seemed to be the fashion for this spring among the ladies of court. Truth be told, I myself was wearing a butter-yellow dress.

After Melim left us to join her husband and the other nobles Zynia and I found Alyan and Tauriel comfortably arranged on a red cloth, chatting, like many other groups.

"Hazelbird and Miss Beauty." Alyan was the first to notice us "Fly over here."

A space was granted on the red fabric and Zynia and I made ourselves comfortable.

"How wonderful that we all got a holiday to honor Lord Maeglad." Tauriel poisoned from her spot, melting lazily against the trunk of the tree "Even better that it was followed by this wonderful spring festival. Soon I'll have forgotten what it is to work."

"Wonderful indeed." I mocked, taking a sip of sweet golden wine. It was refreshing and I took a mental note to take care not to drink too much.

"Where's Veryan?" Zynia asked Alyan, ignoring the captain and I.

Alyan shrugged.

"I don't know, he said he had something to do before meeting the rest of us here."

I didn't partake in the speculation of what could be more important than joining us, looking over to where Thranduil, Legolas and the rest of the nobility talked about whatever nobles talk about in their spare time. My lover was reclined on a tree, talking pleasantly with Azira and Legolas, and I had to make an effort to take my eyes off him.

Back to our group, Veryan had just arrived with a letter in hand, which he gave to Zynia, sitting relaxed on the cloth.

"Veryan has been getting letters from a mysterious elleth?" Alyan teased, and I noticed the notes of jealousy in his voice. They would make such a sweet couple.

"Hardly mysterious, it's from our mother." Zynia replied, not bothering to take her eyes off the letter "She's coming to court. Better tidy my bedroom."

There was a minor commotion about the coming of Zynia's mother to court. Most older elves lived outside the walls of the castle, only sending their children to court to learn an occupation, but most children liked the life in the castle and that was the reason why most the young people were in the castle and most the older elves were not.

"How is she?" I asked, distracted.

Veryan turned to me with a kind smile, and I noticed that he felt somehow guilty for having a mother when I didn't.

"She's nice. A little too strict with cleaning and tidiness, but overall nice. I think you'll like her."

"Does she look like you?" I was curious about how would she look like, the mother of those two beautiful elves.

"Just the eyes." Zynia precised.

"That's not true. Zyn walks just like Nan." Veryan teased.

"It would make no sense if I walked like Ada." Zynia replied "He's a farmer." She said, as if it was some kind of explanation.

I nodded as if I understood perfectly well what she meant, and as they talked excitedly I took my flute and started playing a merry tune, trying to put to notes the memories of spring with my parents and the beautiful feeling that I had in my heart in that spring when all nights were to be spent with my Thranduil and everyday, sunny or rainy, was a growing wave of expectation for the night, when there would be just the two of us again. With Lord Maeglad already far on his way to Lothlórien, I was living in rosy.

As soon as I had finished my group and the ones near us complimented me and I felt my cheeks hot with pride, thanking them and trying not to look too content with myself.

"Lady Hazel, do play some more, if you please." Thranduil's voice made me turn my head and I saw him giving me one of his hinted smiles "I believe we were all enjoying your music."

I'm pretty sure my face looked as red as the cloth I was sitting on when I took the flute to my lips once more, allowing my mind to wander in the green meadows of my childhood, the smell of freshly baked pie, the familiar warmth of Buttercup on my lap. I purposely avoided the thoughts of my current spring nights, aware of many eyes on me. Even though Thranduil thanked me for the music when I finished and didn't say another word to me the rest of the day, I was conscious of many eyes still on me.

If he was trying to end the gossip that was not the way to do it. But Thranduil did sound very confident, and I sensed he had a plan. What it was, that was something that I would have to wait until the night to know.


And that was it for this weekend! I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. If you did, please leave a review, and if you're new to life at court don't forget to follow/favorite this story to keep up with the next chapters.

Next weekend: What the hell, did Thranduil forget all about keeping secret? What the hell is hervess? And someone will be in desperate need of help.

See you guys next weekend

xoxo