Chapter 26

There was no denying it, even if she wanted to. The pen snapped in two as she tried to scribble down the elegant scripts set before her. She sighed as the remnants of the pen fell from her grasp and clattered on the table. She now understood why Bard had been so adamant on his warnings over the elf, and now her carelessness had cost her.

"Is there something troubling you?" Galion asked, his indifferent gaze swept over her. He had sensed the tension in her when she walked in. If there was anything to suspect was the cause of such tension, it was most likely due to the rumors that had been flying about.

"Why would anything be troubling me?" Leanna responded with a glare. Truthfully, there was no one to blame but herself. She left herself unguarded for that deplorable elf to toy with and things had gotten far out of hand.

"That is the third quill you've broken in the last thirty minutes, if anyone were to guess from your countenance, they would guess you were angry" At this statement, Leanna froze. She sighed and dropped her quill down on the table gently.

"You need not continue your lessons in a bid to avoid him" Galion said looking at her as he spoke.

"I am not avoiding anyone"

"Lady Leanna you're scheduled to leave for Dale in a week, do you honestly expect me to believe you intend to make use of such a short time by spending it here? With me?" Galion said raising his brow to emphasize his disbelief.

"Why is that so hard to believe? There is nothing wrong with one spending their last days in the presence of one such as knowledgeable as you" Leanna said picking up her pen as though nothing was wrong.

"I would have thought so too, until three nights ago…" Galion said looking pointedly at Leanna.

"What would three nights ago have to do with today's lessons?" Leanna responded blankly. Realizing she had no intention of being open, Galion sighed and clasped his hands on the desk.

"It seems whatever happened between you two must've been serious, given your constant attempts to avoid the King in the past few days"

"Nothing-"

"-happened, indeed…and yet you flinch every time the King's name is mentioned though you try to hide it. I would not care over such matters but I will say this. Where the King is concerned, I urge to thread carefully". Galion said before snatching the quill in her hand to refill it as she had left it dripping on the parchment she was writing on.

"Noted" Leanna said, looking away from his unearthing gaze. She felt goose bumps ripple through her skin at the warning. It was the first time besides Bard, where she had been given such a warning before. But what was done, was done and there was no changing that.

!

!

There was a preparation within the palace. A feast was to be had in celebration of Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond's departure. It had become a normal situation for Leanna, where a feast was needlessly thrown to celebrate some elven culture.

What did it matter to her? She did not care for such things any more than she cared for the title bestowed on her. She held back a chuckle at the name she had heard during her stay here, she wondered when it had started or who had started it rather. She sighed, none of it mattered. She looked out the window and wondered what would be in store for her when she returned home.

A knock sounded and Leanna answered from her position by the window. The small light streaming into her room indicated the day was ending and wondered who would seek her out at such an hour. The door opened and Gwuineth stepped in quietly, bowing her head in greeting. Leanna frowned at the sight of the Palace caretaker.

"Lady Gwuineth…is there something you need?" Leanna asked, wondering why she was here.

"I have come to prepare you in time for the feast this evening"

"Oh…" Leanna said in realization.

"I'm not going to the feast" She added to clarify her intentions, noting the calm expression on the elleth face.

"I presume your decision not to go has nothing to do with his majesty?" Gwuineth said with an eyebrow raised to emphasize her question, which really wasn't a question.

"What are you implying?" Leanna did not admit or deny anything.

"You are not as subtle as you think, Lady Leanna" Gwuineth smiled as she laid the dress intended for Leanna to wear on the bed. She turned to face Leanna and noted the look on her face as she continued.

"I have seen to your care since your arrival here, did you not think I would notice the slightest reactions you may have?"

"A lot has happened since my arrival" Leanna said looking away. Gwuineth was unusually chatty today which was a surprise, seeing as the elleth only spoke when there was a need to.

"Yes, and while I had hoped you would grow to like it here, it seems you've chosen to live quietly almost as though you wish to disappear, even more so now that you strive to avoid the king so" Gwuineth said with a smile that did not reach her eyes this time.

"It's not exactly the easiest, given the circumstance surrounding my arrival to Mirkwood" Leanna admitted bluntly, she turned to look out the window, the forest beyond was starting to feel like a bigger cage surrounding the stony walls of the palace.

"So I heard…"

"Then you know why it's better not to draw any more attention than necessary, at least until I return home" Leanna said, looking at the dress on the bed to drive her point home.

"Thranduil has never been the easiest elf to deal with, even as a child" Gwuineth said sitting on the edge of the bed. "But then I suppose anyone who went through what he did, would carry a hardened heart like his"

"You knew Thranduil as an elfing?" Leanna asked, shocked at the revelation Gwuineth had given her.

"I was his nursemaid in place of his naneth who sailed shortly after his birth" Gwuineth chuckled at the young woman who had grown wide eyed at her words.

"How old are you?" The words slipped out before she realized. Leanna turned blushing at her recklessness. "Forgive me that was a rude thing to ask" she mumbled out.

"It is alright, you are still unused to the life of elves here in the forest which is why you would learn something should you attend the feast this evening" At this Leanna raised an eyebrow, she had brought the subject right back to where she had hoped to abandon it.

"I know there is some friction between you and the king but this is a joyous occasion, it should not be met with an unwelcoming heart" Gwuineth said, watching as Leanna's turned and looked out the window, contemplating her response.

"What is the sitting arrangement like?" Leanna asked still, facing the window with her hands clasped behind her, it was a petty question to ask, yes but one she would not shy away from nonetheless. Gwuineth thought she looked the image of a Queen then but quickly abandoned the thought to answer.

"The feast will not be held in the dining hall this time My Lady"

"It won't? Where would it hold?" Leanna turned to Gwuineth in surprise at the unexpected news.

"In the forest enclave not far off from the castle gates"

"I thought the forest was unsafe to hold any festivities…" Gwuineth watched Leanna move closer and knew she was considering attending.

"The King has decided that is where we will hold tonight's feast, in light of our recent victories over the evil of Dol Guldur. The forest is wonderful during a feast…it would be a shame to miss it"

"Then a shame it shall be…I don't think I have the stomach for a feast tonight"

"Perhaps were it a regular feast, but with Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond leaving…" Gwuineth responded calmly and waited as silence ensued. She sensed the tension rise as Leanna's face went blank.

"You seem awfully persistent in trying to persuade me to attend the feast tonight" Gwuineth rose and responded with what were her last words to Leanna before she made to leave the room.

"Because I believe no one should hold this much power over you" Gwuineth took a parcel out from her sleeves and left it on the bed. Leanna looked at the parcel and then to Gwuineth who smiled at the silent enquiry.

"In case you change your mind…" Gwuineth said as she opened the door and left.

Leanna sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the parcel before her eyes fleeted to the wardrobe where she was certain Gwuineth had kept a dress for her to wear to the feast. Her thoughts waded back to the elleth's words and her fingers slowly squeezed the sheets beneath them, gripping them in irritation. She rose up and untied the lace on her back, letting the dress fall to the ground as she moved to the bathroom to prepare for the evening and she suspected it would be an interesting one.

!

!

His eyes watched the scene before him lazily from his tent with his hand caressing his half-filled goblet of wine. He found himself vaguely pleased for the fact that those two nosy elves were finally leaving his kingdom. No, that in itself was a lie, he was so pleased that he felt equally generous enough to throw a feast in their honour.

His thoughts drifted again and his eyes automatically skimmed through the crowd present for the feast. He had not seen her since the incident in the forest and at some point realized she was avoiding him. Did it matter that she went out of her way to stay out of his sight? No not really Thranduil thought. It further proved to him and anyone else in question how ridiculous the idea of a spark between both of them could ever happen. Thranduil looked at Galadriel who gave him a stern look. He smirked at her in response, knowing she did not need to pry into his mind to know what he was thinking.

He enjoyed the moment until the field grew quieter. He turned to source of attention and watched as Lady Leanna of Dale walked hand in hand with his captain of the guard Feran. The sight triggered a burst of irritation and he felt his jaws clench at the sight of the woman making her way towards the tent where himself and the other elven dignitaries stayed. He clamped down on the unusual emotion and spoke to her casually, as he would any subject below his station.

"To what do we owe this…honour, I wonder" Thranduil said as he made his mockery evident in the way his eyes moved about her. His eyes went to the dainty hand still attached to his captain's arm and looked at said captain in question. He did not know how or in what way, but in that simple act Feran convinced he had walked into trouble. He did not why Gwuineth insisted he be Lady Leanna's escort for the evening but the look on Thranduil's face gave him an inexplicable urge to place some distance between the lady and himself.

Leanna, oblivious to the interactions of those around her, decided in good nature to ignore Thranduil's jab and reference to result of the incident in the forest. She bowed in greeting to the elf lord and lady present for the feast, smiling as she did.

"While your words are humbling as always my Lord, such high honor must be paid to the lord and lady of the hour" Elrond choked in his cup and looked up aghast at the brazen words of this young woman, he noted her escort was had much paler and swallowed his tension as he and no doubt the rest of them waited for Thranduil's condemning response.

Feran had immediately regretted it, having the lady as his partner for the evening was the worst idea he could have ever agreed to and he would make certain to collect his due from Lady Gwuineth should he walk out of this situation unscathed.

He slid a glance to the woman who had her head held up in utmost defiance and was assured of one more thing his evening, she was trying to get them both thrown into the dungeons and if she knew what the dungeons of Mirkwood were like before, she would most certainly suffer it worse now that Thranduil made it doubly fortified in light of the jail break last winter.

Galadriel jumped to rescue before any more damage could be done. It was a grim situation to others who watched it play out, but try as she may, she could not hide it. Her glee was seeping through her eyes like melting iron in a furnace. The sight further enraged Thranduil who misunderstood her joy for pleasure at his expense.

"An honour well received Lady Leanna, you carry yourself very well. I'm certain the captain is most pleased and fortunate to escort a lovely creature such as yourself" Galadriel said smiling as always.

"You praise me too much my Lady" Leanna, blushing at the compliment given to her. She felt the burning eyes of Thranduil and did not meet them. She looked up only when she saw Galadriel rising from her seat to meet her. In curiousity and a small ounce of fear, she waited for the Lady of Light to reach her.

"I think I shall join the others, Lady Leanna would be so kind to walk me?" Galadriel said, not giving room for anything else to occur. She took Leanna's arm into hers ad led her away from the tent towards the main grounds where most of the elves were gathered. She could feel Thranduil's eyes follow them as they moved further away.

"That was quite reckless child" Galadriel scolded, her eyes wrinkled with mirth and Leanna felt herself grow more at ease with the strange elleth.

"Forgive me, I let my tongue have the best of me, regardless of how infuriating the King is…" Leanna said, restraining herself from barraging the elleth beside her with complaints over Thranduil. They moved towards the edge of the feast, in an area that oversight on events occurring on the field. Of course Thranduil's view which was to remain high above the rest still had the best view on the field.

"Even so, you should not antagonize him. It will not bode well for your future relations with him"

"Only in probability, who is to say we will meet again once I leave this realm and if I had any say, I'm certain I will never have to see or deal with King Thranduil after all this"

"Yes…only in probability" Galadriel smiled at her and Leanna reciprocated with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. It was easy to see the elleth was keeping something from her, if her clipped and unassuming answers were anything to go by.

They watched as the dance ended and another song was played, people began to come out in pairs and it soon became evident that it was some kind of couples dance. Leanna watched the glowing faces of each person and soon became bored, letting her eyes drift towards the open tent. Unsurprisingly, she was met with Thranduil's gaze and sighed, looking back to the dance as the couples swirled around on the field.

"Beautiful is it not?" Galadriel who had been watching the woman beside her, asked. Blank and shaken out of her thoughts Leanna turned to Galadriel.

"What is?

"Love"

"Oh…I suppose so"

"Why…Lady Leanna , famed to be the most priced treasure of Dale, surely even you know of love" Galadriel teased, goading her towards the topic she had so clearly been avoiding for a long time.

"No My Lady, I'm afraid love is nothing but a luxury to me now, such a thing is meant for those who can afford it" It was the second time she had been asked that and after her conversation with Tauriel, Leanna had come to a conclusion. "…besides with the pain it causes, I'd rather be fine without it" Her old life had given her that much experience in the field of love.

"You are afraid…" Galadriel said in a calm and deep voice while looking into her eyes. Leanna gave a shaky smile in response.

"Wouldn't you be? If everything you ever cared about was snatched from you in the blink of an eye" Leanna said, her distress dulled face only for bit before her face went blank. Galadriel looked aside briefly before speaking again.

"I too thought it a curse to love once. It is a terrible thing to be betrayed by those whom you've nurtured a bond with, to watch it twist into something dark and malicious. It was a time I believed I would not live through" Galadriel spoke as she watched the dancers on the field take a faster pace to match the music playing.

"So how did you?" Leanna whispered in awe. She couldn't imagine it alone from just the tales she had read in Galion's office, what elves like Galadriel had faced in the First Age.

"In a world plagued by so much evil, I found hope in love" Galadriel smiled and her deep blue eyes sparkled with joy at the thought of her love. " I found Celeborn my dearest love, a brave ellon emboldened with a strong will and desire to pursue me to the ends of the First Age and he did" Galadriel held Leanna's hand gently as a form of assurance.

"Everyone deserves love, even the worst of us who believe themselves unworthy of it. It is a gift, one that I hope you will let yourself enjoy, in time" Galadriel said.

"I don't know if I have the strength in me to love so deeply or even at all" Leanna said solemnly, looking down as she did. Galadriel glanced ahead of her and smiled before responding in finality.

"Oh I have no doubt that you will, no matter the circumstance…I am glad to have met you lady Leanna of Dale, I must retire for the evening" Galadriel smiled, warmly stroking Leanna's cheek as she spoke.

"Thank you for all your help My Lady, I will forever be indebted to you" Leanna bowed lowly and watched quietly as Galadriel walked away. While she was grateful for the elleth's help, a foreboding feeling rose up in her that she had not managed to shake off since meeting her and sensed Galadriel was hiding something.

Leanna who turned to leave, drew back startled at the sight of none other than Thranduil standing before her in all his glory. She bowed in greeting, her posture stiff with displeasure as she did so.

"My Lord… To what do I owe this pleasure?" Leanna asked, looking at the ground. Thranduil dissatisfied with her lack of reaction, took a step closer. Surprised at his blatant disregard for their surroundings, Leanna whipped her head up at him to say her mind.

"Follow me" at the tone Leanna reared her head back in disbelief.

"What?" She asked, her eyes growing slits at his words. Thranduil who had already turned around, turned halfway to face her.

"You seem to be of the notion that I made a request Lady Leanna" He said, before turning around to walk ahead. Leanna looked around to find many eyes watching the scene in interest. Among them, was Gallion who had been watching the feast from a quiet corner of the field with a cup in his hand.

Haelros who had also been present, felt anxious over the scene as it played out. He had tried with all his might to keep away from Leanna in light of her feelings for him but after Thranduil had approached her, he moved to her side.

" Don't" Feran said as he blocked him from going any further. Haelros looked at his friend and then back to Leanna's figure as it disappeared away from sight.

"Why does The King ask for her in secrecy?" Haelros bit out.

"I don't know, but what I do know is, going after them would be very unwise and could end up badly…especially for you" Feran said sharply. He did not understand it himself, why the King had given him such a look upon his entrance to the feast with Leanna.

Feran was used to the cold glares Thranduil cast to him and everyone else, there were no exceptions to his notorious inclinations. Tonight however was different, The King looked as though he meant to cut off his arm for so much as touching Leanna.

"It is best you tread very carefully where Lady Leanna is concerned, things are not what they seem"

!

!

Thranduil led her through a different path and Leanna began feel apprehension well up as they moved further away from the feast. She looked back and found no one following, which was a cause for more concern, there was usually an escort nearby.

They reached the mountain side and Leanna found herself unfamiliar with the area itself, wondering how she had not discovered this place. Touching the wall of the mountain, Thranduil muttered a few words and waited as a part the wall disappeared to reveal a door. He glanced at her before entering the passage and Leanna followed not far from behind.

"Where are you taking me?" Leanna said stopping at some point in the tunnel, tired of the silence and disregard for her person entirely. It was a dark tunnel which she could barely see in, she made certain to take sure steps so she would not stumble and while she thought she was keeping up well enough, she still wanted an explanation.

She heard nothing at first, and then she felt warm breath on her nose. Startled, she stumbled back to get some measure of space between them but suddenly felt a large arm wrap itself around her waist and drew her to a hard chest.

"Regardless of how good this feels for you, make certain it does not become a habit" Thranduil purred in her ear and felt her shiver in response.

"Let. Me. Go…Now" Leanna said as she grit her teeth in anger. Thranduil released her and turned around to continue walking.

"You haven't answered my question! Where are you taking me?" She insisted once more. She could hear it in his voice, he was enjoying this. However, Thranduil's response made her heart cold with dread.

"My Chambers"