The Fairy of Middle Earth

by HarleyQ73

What if everything you knew about Middle Earth wasn't as it seems. What if the histories were wrong. Thranduil knows some of those secret histories. Now He will be given something even more important than the one ring. (This will be ongoing. Edits are posted for Chapters 1-90. Please give them a read.)

150. Chapter 150

I know I said 150 chapters but I need another one LOL.

---

Thranduil sat at his desk within the camp. He was there everyday, dealing with all manner of things to do with his own people, Elves, Humans and Orcs. There was much on his mind and in his heart. So much, he had not been sharing with her, in hope, she would be stronger by the time, such news were presented to her. The death of Narl was the big thing, he had kept from her. She had lost so much already.

Then his mind drifted to thoughts of his father. He was in Cuivienen, returned to Middle Earth and a guard in Thingol's service. At first, this news hurt. Why wouldn't his father come find him? His father, whom he loved and respected, but as he had time to really reflect on this, he began to understand his father´s fears. They were his fears, too. Soon they would depart for Cuivienen, this would be the first leg of their journey home. Seeking his father, would be his choice.

The tent flap opening, made him look up from his thoughts, to see Feren entering. "The day has just begun and you already look exhausted, mellon. Sit down," he chuckled and motioned to one of the chairs. "The preparations are being made for our departure. Adnir left yesterday with the last group of our own heading back before we leave. I am ready, My Lord. I miss my wife and my children." He sank into the chair and his shoulders slumped.

"What of Radelia? You and I both know, she means far more to you than just some tawdry battlefield romance," Thranduil asked as he poured Feren some tea.

Feren laughed and took the tea. "You think, my wife would warm up to the idea? Radelia does have something to offer the both of us. She is a healer and she is really good with children. Strange, that I am even considering such an arrangement." He lifted his cup and sipped at the tea.

Thranduil smirked and sat back, looking at his oldest friend. "Maybe it isn't so crazy of an idea, Feren. Ever since she arrived, things have begun to change. Some things have been harder than others, but I no longer view the world as I once did. I am sitting here, agonizing over the best way to tell my non-Elf wife about the death of her friend and mine, who was an Orc, Feren. Does any of that make sense? Just five years ago, I would have thought you insane for such a suggestion. Maybe love is simply love. No matter, how strange it may seem. Look at myself, my wife and Elthian. All I am saying is, the possibilities seem endless now. The world no longer feels like it´s small."

Feren grinned at his King and friend. "I am looking at the biggest change right before me. You have a lust for life again. I suppose, I do, too. I feel new again. Thranduil, the very idea, that we can return, gives us all hope. We few, that still remain, that did not sail. We have watched our numbers dwindle and our lands fade, but look, there is a whole land of our kin here. We few, that remained, that love this world and did not want to leave, no longer feel like we are fading."

He finished his tea and rose from his seat, "I feel honored, to have been here, to have seen the world change. Now I am ready to go home. To watch my Kingdom grow with my King and my children. My family, how ever it ends up. Now, if you will excuse me, I am supposed to meet with Orome about supplies. You know, one of the Gods." He just laughed as he walked to the flap. "Thank you for listening, My Lord." He smiled and bowed his head before he left.

She felt a caress to her head, she smiled and slid her hand across the bed, but it met nothing. Thranduil was already gone. She gasped, lifted her head quickly and looked around. There was no one there. She turned to look at the bed and there, on the pillow beside her, sat a white, shining gem. She gasped and scooped it up. She was on her feet and running towards the deck. The door pushed open, she looked everywhere. Frantically she ran down the steps and into the garden.

Spinning around, she looked over the dimly-lit area and gasped, when she looked at Minogos, just a few feet away. He looked concerned. She looked terrified. "What is it, My Lady?" She held out her hand and opened her fingers. There, on her palm was the glowing, white gem. "Is that the...?" He never finished the question. She nodded quickly.

"I felt someone touch my hair and I reached out, thinking, it was Thranduil, but he was already gone. There on the pillow was the jewel," she whispered. "Do you think it was him?"

"Who else could it have been?" He asked her. She closed her fingers around the gem and pulled it back towards her. "I am glad," she said and crouched down as she began to cry. Minogos lowered down, pulled her back up and wrapped her in his embrace.

She decided, to tuck the stone away. It was not one that should be worn. Within this stone was the light of Rowena and who knew, how many others. It was something, she would ask Feanor about, once they reached Cuivienen. She did not tell Thranduil about it and she made Minogos promise, to not say anything about it. Though he did not like doing it, he promised her he would not speak of it, until she had her chance to speak to Feanor.

The day was a haze for her. She thought about the stone and the touch to her head. Her hand passed over there, where she had felt it and she smiled. He was probably miles away by now and heading off towards a future of his own, finally free of his chains. She kept to herself, until Thranduil arrived that evening to find her asleep with her head at the foot of the bed, the covers a mess under her, but none over her. He chuckled softly to himself and began to prepare for bed.

Finally he turned to his Queen and began to lift her. She woke up and whimpered softly at first, her eyes lazily opening to see Thranduil over her. He laying her back in the bed, he noticed those purple eyes watching him. He sat on the bed beside her and pressed his palm to one of her cheeks. "What is it, melamin?"

"I have been thinking all day. I stayed to myself, because my thoughts were everywhere. I am realizing, how much Rowena really was a part of me. She was the Queen, Thranduil. I am just Juniper. My thoughts are not even the same anymore. " She shook her head a bit, as she struggled to explain how she felt.

His long, slender fingers caressed down her cheek. He just smiled at her as he said softly, "you are a Queen with Rowena or not. You are my wife and last time I checked, I was still King so by default." He shrugged a bit and grinned.

Juniper smiled at his little joke. He sat back and lay his hands on his lap, "you are still getting used to being alone. You have a point, she was a huge influence on you, when it came to queenly things. I imagine, it will take time. I will not make you do anything you really are not ready for. I have done that to you enough." He sighed and looked at his hands.

"I have had some time to reflect on everything as well, now, that the threat of impending doom had passed. I thrust you unprepared into many things. One of which was becoming my wife and Queen of a people, you did not fully understand. You did not even understand yourself yet." She listened to him carefully, he needed to get all this off his chest and she was not going to stop him.

"I was selfish, Juniper, and I have often behaved like a monster where you were concerned." She sat up then and shook her head. "Thranduil, I don't..." He kissed her softly before she could continue. "Shh, melamin. I need to say this." He stroked her hair tenderly and she lay back down.

"I was a monster. You may not see it that way, but I was. You risked everything to save me. You rode out onto the battlefield in labor for me. You stopped a war and handed me an army. You did that and I fought you every step of the way and my thanks to you was to chain you up and keep your family away from you." He was crying now. He took her hands and kissed them, "please, forgive me for every time I was a monster and not a husband." His head lowered and lay against her belly, shaking with his tears.

Her hands began to comb through his long, silver hair that matched her own now. She still changed at night, which was something she was happy about. She knew, he liked the way she looked at night the best. "I forgave you long ago, melamin. You after all did not understand me fully either, did you? Now I am afraid, we are at that place again. Where I am trying to figure me out." She laughed a bit. "Thing is, the one thing that has not changed ever is, how I feel about you. Ever since that day, you took me into the forest and I heard music for the first time, I have loved you."

He lifted his head and looked her in the eyes. "I could never stay mad at you for long, Thranduil. As long, as we are both striving to be better, I am sure we will make each other angry and on the other hand we will make each other happy. No matter what, we are together, forever."

He smiled at her, leaned in and kissed her. He whispered against her lips, "I do not deserve you. I am so thankful to have you." He kissed her again and her arms wrapped around him. Her body was pressed against his and her warmth was inviting. He began to feel those delightful stirrings in his body. His kiss became more heated and his tongue slid past her lips and his body pinned hers to the bed.

Then just, as his hands began to explore her thighs, he pulled himself away and gasped. He sat up and looked down at her. "I am sorry," he said, as he panted deeply. "I know, you are not..." She lifted up, kissed him and pulled him back down with her. "I think, I might be ready," she whispered. He sighed and kissed her again, his body moving over hers. His hands almost ripping the thin dress, she wore, as he pulled it up over her hips.

He has dreamed of this moment for months now. Their separation had only made his desire strengthen. He had longed for their reunion. It was by her hand, that he was guided between her thighs and against her burning, hot sex. He had no will to fight the need and with a firm thrust of his hips and deep moans, they were finally united again.

It was sheer bliss he was now drowning in. She clung to him, her fingers digging into his back, her soft thighs pressed against his sides. He was surrounded once more by the scent of fresh earth and wildflowers and his arms held her tightly. His body shifting as he sat up and brought her with him. Her knees against the bed, his lips crushed to hers. His hands grasped her shoulders and he pulled her down on him, until almost every inch disappeared into the creamy, soft passage that trembled around his thick flesh.

She whimpered and moaned against his lips when he pushed her up again. She could feel him almost pulling free of her clinging sex and then he plunged her back down and she shook and nearly came undone. Her head fell back, her lips parted with her heated cries. He thrust into her harder and faster and her cries filled the room and suddenly neither one of them cared who heard them.

He held her small head in his hand. The bodies rocked in rhythm and he looked into her eyes. Their gazes locked together and then he began to see it. The lights and colors. This pathway to her soul and the place where time stops. He embraced her tightly against him and together they floated in euphoria. Their Bond strengthened, as their souls intertwined.

Outside of the house by the spring the shrine dwellers and guests were beginning to feel amorous. Lovers paired off. Most found someone to spend the night with, all except Maglor. He sat on the porch of his small cottage and played his harp under the stars.

The activity of the shrine was at a near fevered pitch. There were all the last minute preparations being done for their departure the next morning. Juniper watched with mild interest. She was eager to get going as well. There were many of her friends she still had not seen. Finnola knew it, she watched as Juniper squirmed in place and paced a bit. She could not and would not settle down.

"It is still many days to Cuivienen, My Lady." She watched, feeling a bit hopeless, the face of so much energy. "I want to get home and if that means, I have to go to Cuivienen then great, but we need to go first." Juniper pouted and spun around before falling into a dramatic heap on the blankets they had spread out under a willow.

Finnola chuckled and watched the Pixie. She had endured, what had to have been a vision of hell and come out the other side, alive and whole. "You know, My Lady, there is the issue of a certain promise, I made to you a while back," Finnola grinned and looked Juniper in the eye.

"You mean the one, where you protect me while we travel and see all the places we have read about?"

"That would be the one, My Lady. You think, maybe we can take like a year, maybe two off from traveling. After we get home that is. Just to breathe and rest the body," Finnola smiled. "But after that we are going. I have been all the way to the far east 1000's of miles from home and I still have not seen Imladris. Which is just a few weeks away from my home." Juniper laughed happily and rested on her knees finally. Her hands clapped together. "I well be happy to join you, I am sure. By that time, I will have three children to deal with, so why not. We will take them on an adventure."

"It will be good for them," Finnola started with a wide smile, "to get out and see the world beyond your own borders. Your children will be children of the world as well. Things will be different for them. So adventures when they are young will just get them ready for the future. I'm going to take mine with me when I go places."

Juniper blinked and sat up quickly, her smile spread across her face, "Finnola, are you...? You know...?" Finnola looked into Juniper´s wide, questioning eyes and started to laugh. "No, no, My Lady. Not yet, but it´s something being discussed and wont happen, until we are home. We can only have one pregnant woman per journey. It´s in the rules somewhere. I am sure, Galion can find it in one of his books when we get back to show you."

Juniper giggled, then sighed as she thought about Galion and how Minol was not returning to him. She sighed and looked down, "I know, Galion will know about Minol before we get back. I just hope, Ninnel and everyone else is there for him, when I can not be. I am sure, they are."

"So you think, that was real?" Finnola got comfortable again and began to dig in the picnic basket.

Juniper nodded, "I know, it was real. He was quite shocked at just how real it had become and how much he entertained the idea of returning and living out what days he had left in Galion's arms. In the end though, he had spent too much of himself, getting us all where we needed to be. He would not have made it back to Greenwood either way. Besides I am not sure, what his plan B was, so who knows? Maybe we were already at plan D."

"I hope, you will tell me what happened some day, Juniper. If you don't, that's fine, but I would like to hear it from you and not someone else. If anything I just want to hear, how you got a Dragon to turn on his own army and fly away," she laughed. Juniper burst into a fit of giggles. "You are the first to ask about the Dragon, so I will tell you. It all started with me being told I had free roam of the Fortress, because it was going to be my home. So I started to wander the many endless halls and corridors and I ended up in the deep roots of the mountain."

Finnola listened to the whole tale and was silent right up to the part, where Juniper had been lifted up on the palm of the Dragon. "Wait, you did not even know you had befriend a Dragon?" Juniper just shook her head, "I had no idea, but as I sat on his palm and felt his skin under me and knew, he was using the greatest of care in dealing with me. He was the greatest of all of them and he was one, who was not evil to his core. Free of the dark influence, he truly did not wish to inflict such terror on anyone again. He set himself free of his chains."

Then she had Finnola in stitches as she laughed hard after Juniper said, "Well, then I just turned around frustrated and said, that is because I had tea and cakes with a Dragon."

"You know, Finnola, if you have that much energy, they can really use you with loading the wagons." They turned and saw Minogos on the path. "I am here to take the next shift with our dear Lady anyway."

Finnola grumbled something about a stick some place and rose to her feet. "You can finish that story later. I still have questions," she spoke softly to Juniper, then turned to Minogos and grunted before stalking away.

He chuckled to himself and joined her on the blankets, "do I even want to know, what part you told her?"

"I told her about the Dragon."

"Oh, well, that is a good story," he peered at her. "You don't have to stay silent. You can talk about it, if you want," she said and pulled a piece of fruit from the basket. "I told Byn. That is the only person, I planed to tell. Everyone else can just imagine what happened. I really don't give and sh... crap...," he groaned, neither word was better than the other he realized.

"Thranduil asked, if I wanted to go to the tree. I told him 'no'." Minogos blinked and looked at her hard, "why not?"

"I am just not ready to go back there. Maybe someday," she said very softly as she peeled away the fresh smelling citrus peel. He lay back and nodded, as he looked at the blue of the sky, peeking through the long, wispy branches of the willow. "I am not ready either," he admitted.

She was flying over an immense battlefield. The heat from the flames washed over her as she swooped low and there she was standing beside Narl as he fought his way towards wagons. He had a few moments. Just a few and he realized what was inside these wagons. She could feel his urgency as he walked to the next wagon and found an oil lamp hanging near a table. He took the lamp and looked out to see the hoard closing in.

She felt his heartbeats fast in his chest. She felt the anger and the fear he felt, but when he climbed on top of the wagon and looked down the upper hatch and the things inside, he felt certain. Then, as the horde began to run past him and he was looking death in the eye, he spoke of the future and dropped the lantern into the hatch. There was just a split second of pain and then... He was drifting through a sea of darkness.

Then, just as he was about to be consumed by this darkness, he was thrust into the light. Then he was standing in a hallway so gigantic, he had a hard time understanding the size of everything. The pillars and even the stone lamps were huge. "Even though you are an Orc, your kind was created from Elves," a deep, rumbling voice began to drawn near and he turned to see a very large, dark figure walking towards him. Narl lowered his eyes for he felt, if he was to look upon the face of this imposing creature, that would cast him into doom.

He did look upon his robes. Finely woven and depicting various scenes that seemed to move within the cloth. Telling a story as he stopped and looked down on this lowly Orc. "I plucked you from the void, you see? You and your kind do not belong there. Your deeds and your heroism should have a reward. From this day forward, you and your kin and all of your descendants will be allowed to reside within my, Mandos´ Halls, and someday be allowed into Valinor."

Juniper sat up quickly and gasped. Her hand pressing to her chest, she was staring out into nothing. "Juniper?" Minogos leaned forward and reached out his hand, touching her shoulder. Her gaze shifted to him. "What did you see, Juniper?" He asked softly. "I saw Narl standing before Mandos, and he was told, that he and all of his kin and all of their children will go to his halls. They are being accepted into Valinor."

Minogos smiled at knowing that, but then he looked down and waited for it. "Why am I dreaming of Narl in Mandos´ Halls?" She asked him and he didn't answer her immediately. "Minogos, answer me! You out of everyone should be the one that wants to tell me everything," her voice cracked.

Minogos reached out and took her hand. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "You should speak to Thranduil. He was there. He should tell you what happened. I agreed with his reasons to not tell you right away. We all agreed. So if you wish to be angry, be angry at all of us."

Her hand pulled away from his and she looked on him with a widening gaze, "so then he is dead," she spoke and pushed herself up to her feet. Minogos got up, too, and stepped closer. His hands rested on her shoulders and he pulled her in and hugged her, yYou really need to speak to Thranduil."

It wasn't just, that she pulled away, it was the manner, in which she did it. Her wings came up and with a flap of them she pulled away from him and stopped several feet away. She eyed him, then gritted her teeth as she hissed, "coward!" He lunged for her and he found himself grabbing her dress as it fell from her body.

He looked up, could see her light moving away and he began to chase her. "Juniper, wait!" He was calling out and running as fast as he could. He found himself having to leap and dodge, to not break things or run into others. It was Finnola, that he did end up running into. Face first and hard against her muscled abdomen. She pushed him back a bit and he looked to her, "it's Juniper, she had a dream about Narl in Mandos´ Halls." Now Finnola was giving chase alongside Minogos. Having lost sight of her, they began to search.

Juniper was visibly upset and searching for Thranduil. She flew around the village and did not see him. She flew back towards the spring and around to the house at the center. She was naked when she landed on the deck and her feet touched sun-warmed wood. She ran towards the opened doors and stopped suddenly.

"Orthae J'nesst," she said softly and looked to the woman.

"It was I that suggested, they not tell you about your friend just yet. Thranduil agreed with me. Everyone else agreed as well. You needed to heal first. You had plenty to mourn already," she held her hand out to Juniper and finally the tension seemed to leave her body and she stepped closer and took the wise woman's hand.

"Now, tell me about your dream," she said, as she led Juniper towards the bed and she lifted light, linen sheets and draped them around Juniper. They sat on the bed and Juniper told her the whole dream. Ryu and Thranduil arrived soon after. They had felt her and then been told what had happened. Now they stood on the deck in silence and watched Juniper speaking with her.

Soon those red ringed eyes shifted to look on them. She smiled and motioned them to join her. Juniper now hung her head and would not look at them. Her hands pressed down to the bed and her shoulders trembled. Thranduil gently lowered down, sat beside her and slid his arm around her.

"I have told her, it was my suggestion. I think. she understands why. Though it seems, Irmo sent her a message from his brother," she spoke as if she were familiar with their Gods. This surprised Thranduil. "This was to be a message to help ease her mind. Narl and all of his people will reside in Mandos´ Halls then, when it is right, they will reside in Valinor."

Thranduil's eyes met hers and he held her gaze as the weight of this began to be felt. "They will be counted among the Eldar? They were created from Elves," he said in almost a whisper. He looked to Juniper and she still did not look at him.

"And so were the Avanati." He looked back to the wise woman. "You are peredhel. That is, how you are familiar with the Valar. You are children of both worlds." She smiled at him and said, "like your children." His attention back on Juniper he sighed, lowered down to his knees before her and wrapped her in his arms, "I am not sorry for not telling you right away. I am sorry for not telling you sooner. This dream you had," he sat back a bit, pressed his fingers under her chin and finally found her gaze. It was wet and sad. "Juniper, it is a reason to be happy. Not because Narl is gone, but because Narl and all of his kin will have another chance at life."

He saw more tears beginning to form and he took her in his arms again. The Orthae J'nesst rose up slowly and began to leave, when Thranduil spoke to her. "Thank you," he said simply and she bowed her head a bit.

Juniper was finally reunited with Narl's brothers. She hugged each of them for several long moments and then whispered with them. Thranduil stayed out of it. This was between her and them. He watched from a distance. After all he knew, what she was telling them. He saw Hock falling to his knee's and holding her and one of the twins running off to tell his own people that remained with the Elves. The other twin just stared at her in amazement.

Glorfindel stopped beside Thranduil and watched the moment, the Orcs found out, they were now counted among the Eldar. "Well, looks like we are all really kin now," he said with a smile. "Indeed, now imagine all the Elves back home being told this. I fear, we have so much more work ahead of us." Thranduil sighed and effectively rained all over Glorfindel's party.

"They might surprise you, My Lord of Gloom," he smirked. He thought, he could actually hear Thranduil's eyes roll.

They were mounting up and preparing to leave for Cuivienen. Though it would be several days getting there, at least they were heading towards home. She didn't need to hide, nor ride in a small pouch though, as she was looking over all around her preparing to leave, she began to miss that pouch and the one that always carried it. She turned and there it was in the distance. It was even brighter and more glorious in the predawn light. Tears began to fall as she looked back on that place and felt nothing but grief.

It was a warm, reassuring hand on her shoulder that snapped her out of her moment. When she turned to look up, she saw Thranduil. He looked out towards the tree, then down to her, "I think, I can understand your reluctance to go there. I have not been back to that place, where my father fell, and I almost did as well." Her hand lifted to her shoulder and she took Thranduil's hand and simply said, "thank you." After all, she had been struggling with her choice. Something kept pulling her towards the tree, but her heart just couldn't. Not yet.

She looked back towards it. Thranduil lowered down behind her, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. "Before Thingol left, he told me that my ada is in Cuivienen. My naneth did not come back and that my ada is just an average Elf. He did not wish to be given a seat on the council nor hold any title."

She turned around in Thranduil's arms and looked at him with wide eyes. Her heart was racing and she held his cheeks and smiled, "Thranduil, this is good news. You should see him. I would love to meet him. You hardly ever talk about him." He took her hands into his and pulled them down between them. He was sucking on his lip a bit before and nodded, "if he will see me." He scooped her up then and spun around. "Of course he will see you, melamin. Why wouldn't he want to see his son?" As he walked back towards the horses, he was silent. He had a few answers to her question but none he thought, she would understand. So he chosed silence. He lifted her to Loratha's back, then easily swung up behind her. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her and lowered his lips to whisper in her pointed ear, "what I really wish to see is my wife sitting in her garden. On her lips is a bright smile and around her are laughing children."

He smiled at that idea and nodded. She understood him pretty well by then. He needed time to think and this short journey would be that time. She looked back to the shrine maidens and waved to them. She would always have this place to go and they would keep it for her. She felt nothing, but gratitude and love for them.

They took a far more gentle pace on this trip. Juniper was so happy to be allowed to actually relax into the rhythm of the journey. She was able to actually see and experience the land now. The blur, that had been her world, was becoming clear and her scope became broad.

It was on this leg of the journey that she learned more about what happened to them after she left. This was, how the truth about what her husband had been up to during their separation, came out. Though she was far from angry about it, now the reason Elrohir avoided her, began to make sense. Thranduil had not told her about them. Just as she did not speak of what had happened to her.

It was during an afternoon stop than Juniper managed to wander off in the direction she had seen Elrohir take. There, beside a small creek, she found him watering his horse. "I want to thank you," she said suddenly. Elrohir turned quickly and saw her standing on a boulder several feet away. She crouched down as he relaxed a bit. "And what are you thanking me for, My Lady?" He asked and turned back towards the water. "For taking care of him."

Elrohir's brows arched and his shoulders lifted with a deep intake of breath, then slowly they lowered as he exhaled. "Who told you?" He blinked and looked down, when he felt her small, warm hand sliding into his and she stood beside him. "Your brother and Kree."

"I see."

"You don't have to be so distant. He doesn't show it, but he doesn't like it. I think, he even misses you," she squeezed his hand before letting it go and walked towards the water, stepping in up to her ankles and lowering down to look at some interesting rocks of different colors there just under the water. "You are looking at our relationship like an Elf." She giggled and looked over her shoulder at him, then turned back to look under the water.

"I am an Elf, My Lady."

"Yes, you are. Now I need you to look at it from another point of view. I am not an Elf. I don't see things like you do and I don't feel the same about many things. I am not jealous, upset or angry about what happened between the both of you." She rose up then and in her hand she held a round, smooth stone that was swirled with grey and pink. "Perhaps, My Lady, my distance is for many reasons."

"Oh? Well, tell me," she said with a smile, stepped from the water and plopped down on the cool bank. She lay back and let the warm sunshine engulf her. Elrohir found himself sitting down near her a look of contemplation on his face. "Maybe I started to have feelings that I never though was possible to have, and it scares me."

She ended up tilting her head back a bit so she could look at him and that ended up being upside down. "Do you love him?" She asked rather matter of factly, which made his brows crease. "I would not go that far, My Lady, and I mean that. I am not trying to lessen things. I care about him though. On a level bordering on love. He, however, does not feel remotely that way. I know, we discussed it. The distance is for myself."

"He cares about you, too, Elrohir. It may not be the same, but he cares all the same." She smiled, rolled to her belly and pushed herself up. Now she faced him fully. She reached out and cupped his cheek in her small hand, "if you feel distance is what you need, then keep it. I'm just saying that you don't have to. Besides...," she smiled and leaned down to kiss his forehead, "forever is a very long time and that is, what we have. The future is wide open. I for one am done with prophecy and peeking into it. "She grinned and pulled away. "I am looking forward to seeing more of you, Elrohir," she said as she began to walk back. "You are welcome in my home anytime."

That evening, Elrohir approached the fire Thranduil was sitting by. Juniper watched from the tent as Elrohir was invited to sit beside her King. Ryu joined her and realized quickly what Juniper was looking at. "You spoke to him," she said softly. "Of course I did," Juniper said as she smiled to herself. "Good, now come back to the table. I have yet to win a hand and my cards are hot." Juniper lingered there a few more minutes before she let the tent flap fall.

The next day, Elrohir rode closer to the King and Juniper took this opportunity to harass him. She invited herself onto his shoulder. He found it odd to have a Queen riding on his shoulder, but he acquiesced to her request. She asked him question after question and he knew, he could not lie to her. He could refuse to answer, but so far he found himself relaxing and just openly talking to her. By that evening they were good friends.

In the days before reaching the city, the moon began to become more full and bright. She was aware of it. So was Thranduil, but so far there was nothing happening. They continued on with life and travel and so far there were no moments of sneaking away to relieve to pain. Which he was strangely missing.

On the night before the full moon, she was comfortably resting in a large chair in front of his desk. He was reading over a few minor things and he kept glancing up to see her peacefully curled up with her eyes closed. "My Lord." Thranduil looked towards the gentle voice of the guard to see him standing just inside. "Maglor and Curufin are here to see the Queen." Juniper's eyes opened and she looked to Thranduil as she sat up slowly. She nodded to him and he looked to the guard, "show them in."

She peered over the back of the chair towards the flap and first she saw Curufin then Maglor. She held Maglor's gaze as his brother spoke to Thranduil. She heard the pleasantries and talk going on between him and her husband, but it was Maglor she was lost in, in those moments. He moved through the tent towards her. She watched him and turned in the chair as he came before her. Thranduil watched with an arched brow. Curufin looked mildly horrified.

Maglor dropped down to his knees and lowered his head. "My lady, please forgive me for being a bit forward, but I must do this for my sanity." She blinked a bit then smiled softly, "alright, Maglor, go on." He peered up at her and she smiled. "I pledge myself to you," he said and now she looked more shocked. "I can not think of any other place I would want to be, but by your side. If you would have me, My Lady." His head lowered once more.

She looked to Thranduil, who just looked back at her with a slightly shocked expression. Then she looked to Curufin, who looked like everything he had planned just crumbled. "You wish to serve me?"

"Yes, My Lady."

"Alright." Everyone blinked and looked to her, then to each other. She began to realize she needed to say something else. "Oh, I need to say something more?" Maglor began to chuckle and shook his head, "no, My Lady. Thank you."

"I think, you could best serve me by teaching my children music and just playing for me. Thranduil used to get the court minstrels to play in the hall, but it would be far nicer if it were you sitting there with your harp."

"Of course, My Lady." She slid off the chair and just wrapped her arms around the kneeling Elf. His body still thin, but getting stronger. She released him and yawned, as she began to make her way past them and towards her bed. "Goodnight, my friends," She spoke and disappeared behind the screen. Thranduil looked to them both and shrugged, "I guess that is all. Goodnight." Curufin and Maglor bowed and left.

Thranduil peeked around the screen and saw her laying face down on the bed. He chuckled to her, "you did well, melamin." She pushed her hands to the blankets and lifted herself up. "Thranduil, I didn't know, what to say any more. I mean, when things are formal and I need to be queenly and I just don't know how to do it. "Her hands lay on her thighs and she sighed and watched Thranduil move to sit on the bed. His hands on his boots as he pulled them off. She draped herself over his back, her arms falling over his shoulders. They spilled down over his chest.

"You will learn again and I wont be throwing you to the court any time soon." His hand lifted to wrap around one of her small wrists, "you can be Queen consort for a while. We will handle everything else." She breathed a sigh of relief and he could feel her body relax.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. "Besides, I think I would rather enjoy having you being just mine for a while." He peeked over his shoulder at her shocked reaction. "Don't be surprised. I know, when he returns, you will not have eyes for me for quite a while."

"You can be so stupid sometimes," she blurted out. Thranduil blinked and felt her embrace him tighter. "You are my heart. I will always want you and when he returns we will all have each other, but you and I are more than that. We always have been. So, yes, I will have eyes for him, but I want you there every step of the way."

He pushed her to the bed and hovered over her. He looked her in the eye. "Equals?"

"Equals," she said softly and then started to giggle when he collapsed down upon her, pinning her down he began to tickle her.

The next day was just another day on the road. She was growing weary of it, but knew, the next part would be even longer. The city of second chances was, where they would be by this time the next day. She looked up and the sun was a bit to the west, so it was early afternoon. She and Ryu lay atop one of the wagons and just soaked up the sun.

Maglor had moved to ride within her ranks. He was one of her house now and found himself with the likes of Glorfindel and Finnola. "Hey, Maglor," Glorfindel grinned as he rode up alongside the raven-haired Elf. "We should spar later and knock the rust off of you." Maglor smiled and shook his head gently. "I hope to never have need to take up a sword again, Glorfindel."

"You did pledge yourself to the Queen, right?"

"Yes, I did, Glorfindel, but..."

"But nothing, Maglor. You might have to protect her at some point. What then? Will you play your harp as the attack happens?" Maglor looked at Glorfindel with his grey eyes, then looked down at his hands. "It is a spar to keep you at least in shape and ready. You will need to do them a few times a week. You may never have to take up a sword and kill anything ever again, gwador, but you will be ready to, if needed."

Maglor nodded silently. He understood where Glorfindel was coming from and he was right. It was just something he had hoped to avoid, but being one that would be close to her often, he needed to keep his skills fresh. He did not look forward to this.

That night under the stars and off in the forest Maglor and Glorfindel squared off. It was not a big event and none really knew of their plans. Finnola was there along with Jeven. Then Juniper came buzzing through the trees. She perched herself up in the high branches of a cedar tree. Thranduil followed her up. He sat on the thick branch beside her, their legs dangling down. They were trying to be inconspicuous and the spot, she had chosen, was not easily seen. She saw Finnola and Jeven, then Curufin came into view with Maglor. He said a few words, then offered Maglor a sword. He looked awkward with it in his hand. The face he made at the feel of it, as he lifted it, told her, how much he hated it.

Then, with a sigh, Maglor walked out into the small clearing where Glorfindel was standing. You couldn't ask for two more different Elves. Maglor was tall. Even taller than Glorfindel and Thranduil, but more slender and willowy. Glorfindel while shorter was muscular and powerful. It looked so uneven and she looked to Thranduil. "This hardly seems fair," she whispered.

Thranduil smiled and took her hand into his, "watch, melamin, you should know by now to not judge books like the cover." With a smirk Juniper looked back to the field as the others left it and now just Glorfindel and Maglor remained. Maglor stood to one side. He faced Glorfindel with his side towards him. Glorfindel attacked. He went right for him in a frontal attack. He charged in sword lifted and Maglor did not move, until the last second. Juniper was not even sure she saw him move, but he was well out of the way of the sword´s swing and Glorfindel brought his swing around quickly and again Maglor stepped out the way, but she couldn't see him move.

Thranduil just sat there smiling in silence as Glorfindel attacked again and again and each time Maglor just stepped out the way. She could see the frustration in Glorfindel's expression as he went in to attack again. Then, with ease, Maglor moved in and before she knew it they crossed swords. Again and again, the movements so fast they were blurring. "He is fast," she said and Thranduil nodded. "So is Glorfindel, but Maglor is just a little faster. I am guessing he used that first bit to learn Glorfindel's way of moving." She looked to him and nodded, then turned her attention back on the spar.

Neither Elf gave in and they kept attacking each other. No blood was really spilled, but there would be some bruises to be had. Glorfindel threw the first punch, hitting Maglor in the face. Then Glorfindel took a hard kick to the ribs. Before too long, Glorfindel began to realize they were on more equal footing than he had thought.

The moon rose as they continued and finally Glorfindel stopped attacking and so did Maglor. "You know, Maglor, I think you have proven your point. You still know, how to use a sword. We should still spar twice a week though." He leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees and breathed heavily. "You are quite powerful, Glorfindel. I have to admit that," Maglor said with a smile, he, too, breathing hard.

Thranduil nudged her side, "we should go, it seems they are done." He began to climb down and she went small and flew down beside him. Then, once on the ground, she grew beside him. "Yes, let´s hurry. I don't want anyone thinking, they just saw me coming out of a tree." They began to walk away casually.

They entered a clearing and the full moon smiled down on her in all of her silvery glory. She stopped and looked up at it. She was not driven mad by the need to mate any longer. Though she was feeling a bit amorous. She was free of it.

Her gaze lowered and Thranduil stood a few feet away and watched her. She smiled and bounced towards him and took his hand. She tugged him along laughing. "I think, the rest of tonight would best be had in the tent." She wiggled her brows. Thranduil grinned and he scooped her up and laughed as he carried her off.