Thranduil stopped just inside the tent. He did not see his pixie nor her sister . His head tilts a bit to the side and he could hear the sounds of water behind one of the screens. Quietly he moved at an angle that allowed him to see behind the screen without startling the fae.
Steam drifted up from the tub. He could see the top of a head covered in dark hair and the top of one covered in wet silver hair. "How is she Ryu?" He finally spoke in a gentle way.
Ryu lifted her head and her eyes peered over the edge of the tub. "This is most peculiar." She said as Juniper pushed her back a bit and lifted up to peer at him as well.
"I am fine you could have just asked me." She said annoyed.
He stepped closer now. "Yes I could have but you would have said just what you did. Ryu what is peculiar?"
Juniper scowled at him and turned around. Ryu smiled gently at her sister. "You can come closer. I am not ashamed around you."
Thranduil moved close enough to see into the warm waters of the tub. Juniper leaned against the back with her arms crossed over her chest. Ryu knelt in front of her. "The bruises and little scrapes are all healed. Even for us this is fast."
"I told you I am fine." Juniper said lowly.
"Indeed you are sister but You have healed so quickly it is troublesome to me." She looked down to Juniper then back to Thranduil. He nodded and stepped back before turning away and moving towards a chair.
He had a seat and pressed an elbow against the arm. His cheek resting against his knuckles. His legs crossed as he watched the fae.
"My being unharmed is troublesome?" Juniper said to Ryu.
"Yes and no sister. I am happy you are unharmed but this rate of healing is not natural." Ryu retorts.
He watched them argue. It ending in Juniper pushing Ryu back and pulling herself from the tub. Ryu following. They both shivered and wrapped themselves in towels and stood near a brazier to stay warm.
"Why wont you tell me what happened?" Ryu asked gently.
"Because I am not entirely sure myself." Juniper finally said. "Please sister I love you. I will tell you. Just let me be tonight." Her hand reached out and caressed Ryu's cheek tenderly. Ryu's gaze softened.
"Alright, Tomorrow you will tell me. I will not relent. " With that Ryu moved away to get herself dressed.
Juniper stopped beside Thranduil's chair. She looked to him and his icy gaze shifted to look at her. His hand lifted and took small hand into it. His thumb rubbed against her palm. She knew he knew. She just didn't wish to have this discussion with her sister that night for some reason.. One he had not figured out.
His eyes moved to the entrance. He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her just as Legolas was entering. Legolas smiled at her. "It is good to see you well My Lady." His eyes lifted to Thranduil's. "The patrols are on heavy rotation and the guard has been tripled."
Thranduil nodded as Ryu approached Legolas. He held a hopeful look in his eyes when she looked up to him. "Tonight I will stay with you." She said and his face seemed to brighten. He lifted her up and wrapped her in his cloak. "Goodnight, may you both have pleasant dreams." With that he left and now they were alone.
"As much as I do love being this close to you. Your armor is rather cold." Juniper said softly. Thranduil gently placed her on her feet before rising.
"Go on and get the bed warmed up." He teased her .
She scampered for the bed behind a screen the towel tossed over it. She could hear him removing his armor. When he came around the screen he was in his tunic and leggings. Both of which were stripped away before he joined her under the warm blankets. She wiggled in close and soon she was wrapped in the comforting embrace of his long arms. Her head against his chest.
"I know you spoke to Narl. You know what happened." She started the conversation.
"Indeed I did. I know it was Sauron's son that came to you. I know he was the one that healed you and I know what he said to you. What I do not understand is why you showed him such tenderness and why you will not speak of it to Ryu."
She sighed very softly and was silent for a few moments. "I take it you believe what he said. You did not see deceit in his words." Thranduil spoke once more to her in a soft whisper.
"He did not lie. " She said then paused again. Thranduil could feel her confusion and trepidation.
"Juniper do not shut me out. Talk to me. I promise I will not be angry."
She shook her head. and lifted it so she could look him in the eye. "When I touched him I saw many things, I felt many things. His pain, his fear and his hope. " She lay her cheek back against his chest. He began to caress his hand down between her wings. "The fact he dares have hope is a wonder. There was no lie in him and I got a glimpse of the deepest parts of him. He hates himself. I have never felt anything like that. This sheer hatred of his very being. He hates what he has been made to do for so very long. I saw Ryu Melamin. I saw her being tortured by him while his Master watched. Outwardly he appeared to enjoy this. Inwardly he was screaming . He wanted to stop but he could not. In the end he managed to get her away. He sent her to me with no memory of it. "
Thranduil felt a tightness in his throat. Now he understood why she had not wanted to talk to Ryu about it. "Do you trust him?" He asked.
"Yes and no. I trust he did not lie to me. However, I do not believe his intentions are pure. Not like Minol. Not how Minol wants something better for the future. Even if its my future and by proxy everyone else. Drannor wants his future better but ... it's so selfish. He is damaged. So very damaged."
Thranduil looked at the top of her head. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. At least until my enemy is defeated."
Those words held so much truth and she sighed. "I want to help him."
"Of course you do. That is your nature but Juniper. Sometimes they are beyond your help. Please keep that in mind." He said softly and pressed his fingers under her chin urging her to lift her head. When she looked at him he drew her closer and kissed her tenderly.
The night passed without incident. The sun shone down once again on the combined army of elves, men and orc. The fae sitting in it's warmth once again though the air was still chilled around them.
Ryu was eyeing Juniper suspiciously and Junipers silence was aggravating. "You promised to tell me today sister." Ryu's words making Juniper open her eyes and inhale deeply.
Upon exhaling the pixie sighed. "Very well." She began. "The one that took me from Lasgalen came to me again."
Ryu's eyes narrowed as Juniper continued. "He had no interest in taking me this time. He only wanted to talk. He healed me. I do not know how but he is the reason I am not damaged. When I touched him I saw things, terrible things sister. I saw truths about him. Things he could not hide from me or perhaps he no longer wanted to."
Juniper reached out and took Ryu's hands in her own. "I had never experienced anything like how he feels. How he feels about himself. He, hates himself in a way that is not easy to explain. Right back to his very birth. His existence in this world and all the things he had been forced to do. His bond to this darkness was not made willingly and the power this thing has over him is immense."
Her small thumbs caressed over Ryu's knuckles her eyes lowered unable to look Ryu in the eye in those moments. "I saw you. I saw you and he. His master made him torture you the expression on his face was one of pleasure but the feelings within him were not. He was screaming inside for it all to stop."
"Show me." Ryu demanded.
Juniper looked to her then and shook her head. "No sister do not make me do that."
Ryu's gaze became more serious as she pulled her hands away from Junipers. "Show me sister."
"Ryu there is a reason he sent you to me with no memory of it. Please do not make me do this." Juniper begs as tears begin to fall from her eyes.
"He sent me to you? I escaped and Lorithir found me and this thing is responsible for his death. I demand you show me."
"Yes you escaped. Ryu, the circumstances of that were made by him just please take my word on this. Do not make me show you." Junipers voice cracked with emotion.
Ryu sighs. "I need to see sister. Understand this, I need to see."
Juniper sat up straighter and began to look around. Her eyes falling on Elthian who was near by. She called to him. "Elthian please come here."
He approached and crouched down. "Yes Melamin?"
"Could you go find Legolas. Tell him it is important." Her gaze met his and he could see the concern in her eyes. He nodded and rose.
"Why do we need Legolas?" Ryu asked.
"I am not showing you this without him here."
It took some time for Leoglas to be found and brought to the fae. The sun had begun to lower and the temperatures had fallen. They had retreated to the warmth of the royal tent where the huddled together in Thranduil's large chair.
Legolas entered first followed by Elthian. The fae watched him walk closer with knitted brows and questions in his eyes. Juniper looked somber as she spoke. "When I was with Narl and He came to me I saw something when I touched him. It was a glimpse into himself. I saw something from his past that haunts him. I saw something that causes him great pain and it concerns Ryu."
Elthain and Legolas both become wide eyed but before either could speak Juniper spoke again. "His master was forcing him to torture Ryu. For the benefit of his master he put on a façade of pleasure but I can assure you. He hated it. He hates the things he has been forced to do."
She could see the anger growing in Legolas. He was beginning to struggle with it. "Ryu has no memory of it. Before he put her on the path to me he mercifully took those memories from her but my sister wants me to show her. I do not want to. However, I can also understand the strong desire to get stolen memories back. No matter how painful they are. I will not show her without your consent Legolas. You will be the one to give her comfort after all."
Legolas closed to the distance between them in just a few steps . He lowered down and took Ryu's hands into his own. "I do not think this is something you should remember tithen meleth (little love). Why would you want to remember something horrible?"
"Because it is my memory. I have memories of beatings and pain. I have memories of things that have been done to me. It is my memory and it was taken." She explained.
"Listen to me Ryu." He began and caressed the backs of her hands with his thumbs. "You know it happened. Juniper has told you it happened. It is now in your memory as well. Please do not re-live that pain. I would curse myself for allowing it. When you hurt I hurt." His voice was soft and he drew her into his arms. "Knowing it happened is enough. Please do not put this pain on us." Now his voice was beginning to quiver.
Juniper looked to Elthian. She looked as if she were about to cry as well. He felt her sadness and her despair to not do this. Then Ryu spoke and relief was felt between He and Juniper.
"Alright, I wont do it. I forget sometimes that it is not just me any longer."
Legolas leaned back a bit and cupped her cheeks in his warm hands. "No it's not. It is us." He kissed her tenderly then rose up with her in his arms. He looked down to Juniper and smiled she saw the gratitude in his eyes. "I think I will take Ryu to our tent for a while."
Juniper nodded and he turned with his fae and left. Once they were out Juniper began to break down. Elthian was quick to take her into his good arm and hold her closely. He lifting her so he could sit in the chair with her on his lap. Her face to his chest she sobbed. Hid hand caressing down her back and between her wings.
"Shh Melamin, You did the right thing. " He consoled her until the sobs stopped and he realized she had fallen asleep against his chest.
Elladan was making ready to leave Lasgalen. He was checking his packs and supplies for the ride. It would be a hard ride to catch up with the army but he had every intention of being beside his brother during the battle.
Checking the last buckle He began to grin but did not look away from his task. "Have you come to see me off?"
"I am going with you."
He now looked up and turned to see Kree standing there with a fully packed horse. "I don't think so." Elladan said with a serious look in his gaze. He moved around his horse to secure some packs. "This is a war I am going to Kree. These wont be human raiders you will face."
"Do you think it was human raiders I fought back home?" She asked and looked at him as he looked to her from over his horses back. "I assure you Elladan I can hold my own. Besides I would love to see you try and make me stay."
His eyes narrowed as he regarded this proud elleth. "You are that set on following me?" He asked and she simply nodded in answer.
"Who am I to argue with a stubborn elleth?" He grinned then pulled himself up onto the back of his horse and she did the same. "I have a feeling there is far more to you then I have yet to see"
Her answer was a smirk then he quickly took off and she followed.
Piles of brightly burning warg corpses dotted the plains around the camp. The larges of these fires was the corpse of the chimera Minol had taken down. Thranduil stood at the edge of the camp watching these fires. Finnola came to join him. She towering over the King. They watched in silence for many moments.
"Finnola," He began his voice low. "I want you to recruit those 4 orc to the Queens guard."
She looked to him quickly her brows lifted in surprise. "Are you certain My Lord? Wont that seem odd to your generals?"
Thranduil began to chuckle softly and shook his head. "Where she is concerned I care not what they think. Even Ferren, though on this I believe he would agree with me. These orc have proven themselves. It is a shame it had to be like that."
Finnola grinned and turned her gaze back on the fires. "I will make the changes to their positions in the morning. To be honest, I like them. They are strong and loyal."
"Indeed they are." The King said with a bit of a smile as he stood beside the giantess.
Juniper walked from the tent with Elthian following. "I can't believe you did not tell me he was injured and severely injured at that." She scolded Elthian with each step.
"Melamin as I said you were injured and Thranduil simply did not..."
She cut him off. "I was healed before I made it back to the camp. I spent today in the sun with Ryu. At any point you could have told me. I had to pry this information from you." She grumbled in frustration and threw her hands in the air before turning on her heels and heading for the tent that housed the demon. "You will stay outside Elthian. I do not want to argue about this. Just stay outside."
He stopped and nodded. "Yes my Queen."
With her back still to him she entered the tent. Minol lay on a cot. His body supported by pillows. He was sitting up with a cup of tea in his hands. He did not look terrible but then again he healed so quickly. They stared at each other in silence for several moments.
"As you can see Little Flower I am fine. Celeborn wont let me out of bed until tomorrow. Though I am perfectly well." He said as she just stared at him. This made his brows crease and his head tilt just a bit. "What is it?"
Then as he began to notice the shimmering of tears in her eyes his brows lifted and he placed the cup down on the side table. "What has you so upset?"
She rushed to him and threw her arms around him. He pulled her to his lap and held her against his chest. She finally let it all out. Her body shaking from her tears. "I think this is more than just worry over me. What is it?" He said as his head lay down against hers.
'" I asked about you several times today. I asked various people and none would tell me a thing about you. " This made him breath deeply. His hand caressed her head slowly. "I finally had to threaten Elthian and he told me what you did and just how badly you were hurt. He said you even required Celeborn's help."
"I did but I am fine now. I heard you had a little adventure of your own. Would you care to tell me about it?" Minol enjoyed this rare moment with her. This closeness and intimacy without anyone around. He used just a pinch of his power to place a bubble around them which wouldn't allow their words to be heard.
Minol sat her back on his lap and wiped at her eyes with his sheets. He was bare chested and she had never seen the muscled state of his body before. her hands lightly trailed down his chest. She looked up to gaze into eyes more lavender than green. Those eyes so much like her own. Then she shifted to straddle his legs so she was more comfortable. "I think showing you might be better."
He looked a bit surprised by her offer of something far more intimate than words. The gave her a little nod. "Very well then Little Flower. Show me."
She leaned in and pressed her forehead to his. Their arms wrapping around each other. She was so warm and soft. Her scent surrounded him and then he was within her mind. He stood at the entrance to small cave. One of the first orc sat by a small fire there was something wrong. He appeared to be frozen in place. His eyes drifted over and focused in on the back of Drannor. He moved around the cave and saw her in Drannors arms. He saw him healing her and grinned.
Then suddenly Minol fell to his knees as every memory he had passed to her began to enter his own mind. He had not only healed her but he communed with her. He felt a hand on his shoulder and now she was standing beside her watching it all play out before them. The initial pain had passed yet he remained on his knees.
"He showed me many things. Horrible things that happened to him. I think he was trying to tell me why he is on my side." She said softly.
Minol's hand lifted and lay upon hers as she held his shoulder. "Indeed he has suffered. Like me he has found a way to rebel. He is still bound to him Juniper. Only death can break it. Yet he has found a way. How much of all this have you spoken of?"
"I told them what he openly said. The orc told them too. I told Ryu about what I had seen concerning her but the rest I kept to myself. I do not think they would fully understand. I think they would be horrified and fearsome. He loves and hates his master. Its hard for me to understand too. Do you think he will help us as he says?" Juniper looked down to Minol who pulled her down to him and held her.
"I know he will." Then the scenery changed around them and he was holding her in the field of yellow and gold flowers once more. The sun warmly shining upon them. His lips met hers and he kissed her deeply then lay her back into those flowers sweet scent. His hands pressing down beside her and the kiss lingered.
"I do love you. I have always loved you." He whispered against her lips.
"Even if I am not the Juniper you once knew?"
"But you are her. You are Juniper past and present." He sat back on his knees and just drank her in. Every single inch of the vision that lay among the flowers. "We will leave soon. Our path takes us further east. It will be hard for me to keep my promise to Thranduil." He grinned and pulled her up as he rose. Then suddenly he scowled. "I think we should return. We are no longer alone."
He leaned down and kissed her once more.
Her eyes opened and she sat back. She turned to see Thranduil, Celeborn and Elthain standing beside them. Yet a few feet from the cot. "I might have used a small barrier." Minol whispered. They could not hear him nor move any closer than they were.
She glared at him and waved towards them with her hand and as the barrier drop they could hear her saying. "That was not needed Minol." In an angry tone. Thranduil pulled her away and Elthian went to strike Minol with his fist but found he could not. Celeborn grabbed Elthian by the shoulders and pulled him back.
Minol rose slowly. His eyes locked on Elthian's. "You wish to challenge me little elf? I assure you it will not end well for you. "
"Minol! Stop. Everyone just Stop!. "As her voice rose all but Minol began to feel the weight of it and the tea cup Minol had left on the table shattered. The three elves looked at her with wide eyes.
She kicked Thranduil a bit too close to a sensitive area for his liking and he released her in shock. She fell then few feet to the ground and glared at him and Elthian. "This was my idea." She growled. "It was my idea to commune with Minol. To show him what had happened while he was busy killing that beast before it killed far more of you. You are always so quick to think the worst of him. This suspicious behavior about him is not a good look on any of you. Especially you Elthian." She looked between the two of them as Celeborn stayed back wide eyed.
"I remain far too quiet. I say so little. Perhaps its time I start using my voice more often. Who am I kidding even when I do speak you don't listen until I loose my temper upon you. I will say this one last time and if it does not sink in the next time you accuse him of wickedness I will unleash my wrath upon you . MINOL IS NOT MY ENEMY!" As she screamed those last five words everything in the tent shook. Then she was gone the tents flap dropping behind her.
Thranduil and Elthian felt utterly admonished as they left the tent without a word. Celeborn looked to Minol and sighed. Minol sat back on the cot and let all the tension leave his body. Celeborn dropped into a chair. "For the record Minol I tried to stop them. I understand you better than they and where you are concerned their vision is a bit clouded by their love for her."
"I know Celeborn and it is good to count you as a friend." Minol said with a sigh.
"What did she show you?" Celeborn asked.
"Everything Drannor showed her. I knew he would suffer after I left all those centuries ago. I just had no idea how much. This was his message to me. I have no doubt about that now. Though we have spoken since, he found a way to tell me just how much he endured and now I am left with perhaps the only regret I will have from all I have done."
This revelation was a surprise for Celeborn. He found himself reaching out and laying his hand on Minol's arm in an attempt to comfort the demon.
She did not feel the cold as she storm through the camp and back towards the tent. The air around her was heavy and those she passed jumped away from the sensation of her being close to them. Her husbands followed her yet kept their distance. She disappeared into the tent and they paused outside.
With a deep breath Thranduil entered followed by Elthian.
