Content Warning: Rated M for violence.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything created by Tolkein and Middle-Earth. This is for entertainment only.

A/N: Ssooo… I hope you don't want to kill me. Because, you know… Who I killed… The silver lining is we know who the Shadow King is now! Right? I've known who it was since he first appeared, and I had so much fun putting in extremely subtle hints throughout the story. Honestly, though, you guys have no idea how relieved I am to have that secret out in the open. Although this chapter is significantly shorter, there is a lot more drama in store, so I hope you guys are ready. XOXO - Presephone

Song of the Chapter: "Where's My Love - Alternate Version" by SYML


Betrayal

Thranduil could still feel her lips on his as he drew his sword and rode into battle. He had never intended to show such affection in front of others, but an unsettling feeling had begun to take hold in his chest. He didn't know if it was based within him or Aurora, but he knew they both could feel it.

As he focused his attention on the Orcs surrounding him, he continually scanned the battlefield, catching sight of his son and Lord Elrond engaged in fierce combat with several orcs on the riverbank. Thranduil turned his Elk and barreled towards Legolas; he looked over his shoulder and saw Alistair riding next to him.

"Alistair," Thranduil called out, "locate the Marchwarden and ensure that the prisoner is still secure. VANYA (GO)!"

With a nod, Alistair rode off, and Thranduil turned his attention back just in time to see an orc swing out and strike the leg of his Elk, causing them both to tumble forward throwing Thranduil over the small drop onto the riverbank. As he found his footing, he looked back to see his Elk running into the woods. He drew his second sword and began cutting down Orcs to get closer to where his son fought.

Legolas spun around to see Thranduil cut down an Orc who would have struck him in the back, "Your arrival has ensured our victory," Legolas swung his sword again, aiding Lord Elrond in casting several Orc corpses into the river. When Legolas turned back to see his father, he felt fear rise as his father was clutching his chest, "Ada! Man raeg? (Father! What's wrong)"

Ilma nin, what's wrong? Thranduil opened his mind in panic as he felt a horrible dread wash over him. He clutched his son's arm as it gripped his shoulder, "Aurora," Thranduil choked out and whipped his head around to search the clearing, "Something is wrong with Aurora."

Legolas furrowed his brow, "How do you know?"

"Your bond," Lord Elrond spoke up as he came to the Elvenking's side, "You can feel something wrong with her?"

Thranduil weakly nodded as he made his way to the small drop-off where several soldiers waited to help the trio back up to the central clearing. As they helped Lord Elrond up, Thranduil grabbed his chest again and wince in pain before turning back to Legolas, "Diheno nin, ionneg (Forgive me, my son). Aurora and I wanted to tell you and Augustus of our binding upon your return, to celebrate properly."

"Do not apologize, Ada," Legolas placed a hand on Thranduil's shoulder, "I am happy for you, and we will celebrate once we return."

Thranduil and Legolas were both helped up, and all were instantly frozen at the sight of a Fellbeast beginning to circle the clearing, Aurora, where are you? Thranduil called to her again in his mind. He looked around the clearing and saw a more massive cluster of Orcs, and he caught a glimpse of Aurora's guards in the middle of the fray.

He looked up just as Legolas rode up next to him with another horse, and he swung his leg into the saddle. Thranduil looked around to see that they had been joined by Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel, and several other soldiers as they began to make their way across the clearing towards guards. As they cut Orcs out of their way, Thranduil caught a glimpse of Aurora cradling a pale and bleeding Augustus on the ground. She was looking around and seemed to call for help when his view was blocked again.

As Thranduil looked to the sky to see the Fellbeast, he felt an almost, unendurable pain seemed to snap across his chest, causing him to fall from his horse. As he regained his footing, he found that Legolas, Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn had quickly dismounted to check on the Elvenking. As they reached him, they heard a horrid scream fill the clearing, and they noted the shadows darken to black within the tree line. AURORA! He desperately reached his mind out to her again as Thranduil grasped his chest again as another scream echoed around them.

"Ada," Legolas grabbed his shoulder, "what is it? What's happened?"

"Augustus," Thranduil straightened up with another wince. All the others looked at him in concern as he looked to each of them individually until his gaze fell on Legolas with a sorrowful expression, "He's been slain..."

All present froze at his words as another scream darkened the shadows of the trees further. Thranduil looked around to where her guard was fighting back the remaining Orcs when he saw something that filled him with more rage than he had ever felt.

If it had been merely the sight of Sankrovyn comforting Aurora at the sight of her slain brother, he would not have been angry. The view of the Nazgul towering over the pair brought forth a familiar fear and anger at the need to protect her.

The real sight that caused an unconquerable level of rage within him was when Sankrovyn leaned over and whispered into Aurora's ear, followed by striking her over the head with the hilt a dagger and kissed her temple. Thranduil took off at a run through the clearing as he saw Sankrovyn pick Aurora up and placed her in the arms of the Nazgul. He seemed to say something to the Nazgul, and the pure rage settled in his chest at the sight of the Nazgul bowing to Sankrovyn.

Thranduil drew both his blades and began sprinting the remainder of the clearing when he had almost reached them when a large tail crashed to the ground in front of him. He reeled backward and collided into Legolas, who had followed close behind along with the others. They looked up to see the Fellbeast rising to the sky once more with the Nazgul and an unconscious Aurora.

Thranduil's vision flashed red, and he charged towards Sankrovyn, giving the High Advisor a moment to react and raised his blades to meet his friend, "WHY?!" Thranduil roared, 'HOW COULD YOU SERVE A FALSE KING?!" Sankrovyn thrust Thranduil's swords backward and spun out of the way of his next attack when Thranduil lunged towards him again and raised his blade to strike at his best friend but wasn't fast enough to move out of the way of the counter-attack.

The moment before Thranduil's blade would've connected with his shoulder, Sankrovyn pivoted and crouched low to the ground. As he crouched down, he quickly sheathed one of his swords, pulled out a dagger, and buried it into Thranduil's leg. As the Elvenking collapsed to the ground, Sankrovyn towered over him. He stared down with cold grey eyes and spoke with a dangerous calm, "Im aphada alben (I serve no one)," Without another word, Sankrovyn pulled himself onto a horse that was brought to him and looked down at Thranduil once more, "Ni i Aran Duath. (I am the Shadow King)."

Without another word, he rode off into the forest with the remaining Orcs.

Thranduil clung to his bleeding leg, where the dagger was protruding, and he tried to stand up but collapsed to the ground once more. He felt hands grasp his head before it struck the ground, and he opened his eyes to see Legolas staring down at him with fear-stricken eyes.

"Ada! Stay still," Legolas pleaded, "Lord Elrond, No lim! Aran Thranduil harn (Be swift! King Thranduil is hurt!)"

"Aurora..." Thranduil's breath had grown labored, "We need to get to her before—"

Lord Elrond helped lower him back to the ground as the other Elven Leaders looked on, and soldiers began to circle them for protection.

Thranduil had seen Aurora be rendered unconscious, but that didn't stop him from opening his mind once more, I will find you Ilma nin (my Starlight).

Then his world went black.


The dripping water awoke her senses, but the pounding in her head made her fully awake. She slowly opened her eyes to take in her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was that she was in a darkened stone room, the walls lined with vines, two walls with curtains draped across them. There were several candles lit, but they did nothing to remove the ominous feeling of the room. Aurora stood up and winced as the pounding in her head increased. She walked to the other side of the cave and gripped the curtain, and, after a moment of deep breaths, she pulled the curtain open to reveal a small bedchamber. There was only the bed with dark sheets and a blanket and a dressing table with fabric neatly folded on top.

At the sound of footsteps, she whirled around to see an imposing figure standing in front of the other curtain. She took a step backward as the figure stepped closer to her but froze when a menacing laugh filled the room. Her blood ran cold as the figure took another step forward, and the candles illuminated the evil grin as it spread across Sam's face.

"Welcome home, Rory."

Aurora continued walking backward until she felt the cold wall against her back. Her bottom lip trembled as she shook her head, too afraid to take her eyes off of him as he continued to walk closer to her. "What, no thank you?" He tilted his head as he stopped in front of her. Leaning forward, he pressed his chest closer to her as his hand drifted upward on her thigh. "You've finally been brought home." His eyes glanced at her bed and back over to Aurora, who had started to cry. He smirked and leaned closer to her when he spoke again, his lips brushed against hers, "Surely there is some way you can show me your appreciation."

His lips had just fully covered hers when she suddenly felt Sam pulled away from her. Aurora's eyes snapped open again, and she saw another looming figure standing between her and Sam. "You will never go near I Duath Bereth Aurora (the Shadow Queen) again. Heniol, Samendiel? (Do you understand, Samendiel)"

Sam glared at the other figure but then bowed, "Ben iest lin, Duath Aran nin. (As you wish, my Shadow King)."

Aurora watched as Sam left the room and closed the curtain. When she spoke, her voice trembled, "Sankrovyn?" The figure lowered his head, and she could see him sigh heavily before turning to face her. His grey eyes were sad as he looked at her, "What have you done?"

Sankrovyn walked forward, and Aurora once again found herself trapped against the wall. His hand gently cupped her cheek, and his thumb traced the line of her lower lip, "All I've done has been for the betterment of our people… For us, meleth nin (my love)." Without another word, he pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead before turning and leaving her alone.

Being too afraid to move away from the wall, Aurora slid down until she was sitting on the stone floor. She opened her mind and hoped to hear his voice in her head, Thranduil? Where are you?

After several silent minutes, she allowed herself to cry again.

— — —
Thranduil's eyes snapped open, and he immediately tried to stand from his bed when he felt a sharp pain shoot through his leg, and he screamed in pain and frustration. He managed to sit at the edge of his bed before collapsing entirely and was preparing to attempt to stand again when his bedroom doors opened. He looked up to see Legolas, the Elven Leaders, Alistair, and Gawain rush in.

"Thranduil," Elrond placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Please, mellon nin (my friend), you must rest further."

"Not while Aurora is in that Valar-forsaken place," Thranduil insisted, "We've already wasted too much time bringing me back here to dress a wound."

"Ada," Legolas hesitated, "Look at the wound." Thranduil watched his son for a long moment before pulling his legging up far enough to see his injury. His heart dropped as realization set in, and he looked back up into the saddened eyes of his son, "We almost didn't get you back in time, Ada."

Thranduil continued to stare at the silver spiraling around the wound, "How long have I been asleep?"

Gawain stepped forward with a solemn expression, "Three days, Aran nin (my King)."