Chapter 31

A warm sun and a gentle breeze accompanied Thranduil and Daenerys on their ride back to Echad Andestel. They had awoken by dawn, and gazed one last time upon the beauty of the Mirrormere, until the last faint glimmering of the fading stars upon its smooth surface waned. And they had made love, while the shadows of the night still lingered and the light of the new day was dim.

Their return was unhurried, and they took their time to enjoy the unique scenery around them, riding along the Celebrant. The sun was nearing its highest point in the sky when they reached the small elven settlement, and made for the inn for rest and refreshment. There they found Hadron seated at a table in the corner, and he beckoned to them as soon as he saw them.

"My lord Thranduil, my lady Daenerys", he greeted them. "Welcome back to our humble village. I trust your excursion was pleasant enough?"

The Elvenking smiled. "It was. Nen Cenedril possesses a beauty unmatched."

"Unmatched? I would say no, for there is such a beauty standing by your side, my King", he said, and his sharp, green eyes turned to Daenerys.

Thranduil touched her elbow and glanced at her fondly. "Indeed, I say you are right. You put me to shame for not having thought of this first, Hadron."

The ellon answered with rolling laughter, and the Elvenking responded in kind, and their laughter filled the small chamber. Daenerys looked at both of them and said, "Stop it now, will you? You make me feel as if I am a jewel to be admired, but I would be rather seen as a person to be respected."

Hadron shut his mouth and his brow was raised in wonderment, while Thranduil smirked in amusement. "One does not necessarily exclude the other, beloved", he said.

She was appeased, and nodded with a small smile. Hadron lowered his head briefly before her. "Forgive me, my lady. My words were meant in jest, and there was no intent of offense in them. I simply wished to praise your exceptional beauty, for I find you more enchanting than Nen Cenedril, and few sights in this world may be called that."

"You are eloquent with words, Hadron, and a charmer. But if you continue speaking thus I fear that my husband-to-be will grow jealous", she warned him in a smooth but firm tone.

The dark-haired elf glanced at the Elvenking and found that his expression had indeed become sterner. So he drew back to his height and wore a solemn face. "There is no need to cause trouble out of nowhere. I was only jesting", he repeated. "But come, join me at my table. I shall order food and wine to celebrate your return."

As soon as they were seated sweet wine was served to them along with large platters of bread, cheese, fresh salad and bowls of hot stew. Daenerys took a few bites to settle her stomach after the long ride, and then she turned to Hadron. "Mirrormere is wonderful. I consider myself lucky to have gazed upon its starry face. I know not of such a wonder in my own world. But your world seems to be teeming with magic", she commented.

"Magic may be called the power that is beyond our understanding", said Thranduil between his sips of wine. "Would you not say so, Hadron? What do your books and long studies tell you?"

Hadron nodded. "There is much that is beyond our understanding, and it is perhaps only for the Valar to know. But we can tap our fingertips in that mystical, potent energy that we call magic, and get a taste of the power of the Valar, and even wield some of it… like our noble Lady of the Wood."

At the mention of Galadriel Daenerys instantly remembered the mirror. Galadriel had promised to allow her to look in it, but only when she was ready. Now, after the appearance of the Crown of Durin, her interest and curiosity had only increased. "Hadron, would you tell me more of the Lady's power?" she asked. "I feel it in the woods all around, but there must be more to it…"

The scholar gave her a careful look. "You refer to her ring, and the mirror."

"Yes."

"Objects of power are not uncommon in our world. But possessing them comes with great responsibility, and in their use lurk hidden perils. Remember the palantiri, for instance", Thranduil interjected.

"Or the Rings of Power", Hadron added. "Indeed, such objects may prove of great aid, if one knows how to wield them. But the One Ring answers only to one master, and is ever bound to the will of Sauron, for with his essence it was forged. A wise man should not seek to possess it, for he would never be able to truly become its master." He made a small pause, his gaze growing distant and darker for a moment. "But the Lady's mirror is not like that. Filled with the enchanted waters of her fountain, it has the power to reveal what may – or may not – be the future to the one looking in it."

"Have you ever glimpsed in it, Hadron?" Daenerys wondered.

He shook his head negatively. "The mirror is not for any common elf to use. Its power should be revealed only to those whose fate may be tied to the fates of the world."

She gave him an inquisitive look, and Thranduil touched her hand. "Galadriel is one of the White Council. Whatever power she possesses, she has placed it in the service of the greater good of this world. She would not waste it lightly upon trivial issues."

But she offered to allow me to look in her mirror. She must have sensed, then, that my fate is tied to this world, that my future is connected to the future of this world. Otherwise she would not have made me this offer, Daenerys thought.

"That is true. The Lady uses her magic to preserve this land and shield it from evil, and few know she possesses the mirror, and fewer still that she wields Nenya. All her power is committed to the struggle against the darkness", said Hadron. "But you, my lady Daenerys, you possess something of wonder too. Something this world has never seen, save for its evil counterpart."

"You refer to my dragons", she said and the ellon nodded. "They are a wonder in my own world as well. Their kind was thought to be extinct for countless years. But I birthed my three dragons through fire… a miraculous thing to many, and not unjustifiably so, since blood magic was involved. But the dragons are inherently creatures of magic, and with their birth magic was reborn."

"Then you must possess some kind of magic as well, my lady", said Hadron, and his green eyes glinted with interest.

Daenerys laughed nervously. "I am not sure what this means."

But Thranduil smiled at her, and there was fondness and pride in his gaze. "If you must know, Hadron, this young lady here is the blood of the dragon, walking through flames unburnt, communicating with her dragons, and using her inner fire to cast potent healing spells. I say there is strong magic in her spirit, burning bright as a torch at night, and she has just begun to realize it."

"Magic was thought to be lost in my world, a thing of the past, of the age of heroes and mighty dragons… Its remnants were nurtured in the eastern corners of the world by mysterious priests and cultists, but they were frowned upon by the rest of the people, their powers considered dark and despicable, a mummer's farce even. But when my dragons were born…" she took a deep breath, shaking her head lightly. "I was gifted three dragon eggs; valuable, but little more than a relic. Stone-cold. Dead. No one thought they might ever hatch, and no one ever imagined me, a woman and the last Targaryen, to be a true dragon. But I proved them all wrong, and I wish one day I could return to my world and fly to my homeland on the wings of my children."

Thranduil lightly squeezed her arm. "I promised you that one day I shall see you fulfill your dream."

But she gave him a saddened look. "Our search for a passage between worlds has proven disappointing so far. We have found nothing but a dark spell, which requires blood to be spilled", she told Hadron. "But you are a scholar. Have you perchance come across some information that might aid us?"

"I have spent endless hours in the libraries of Lórien and Imladris, but nowhere have I found any mention of stepping between worlds. Before your arrival, the existence of other worlds was unknown to us. How you came to be here is a matter of mystery… an unforeseen complication of the blood magic involved in your birthing of the dragons, perhaps? Something in the spells of your world yourself were not aware of? None can tell. But in all the elven lore I am familiar with there is no mention of travels between worlds." He gave her a sorrowful look, and Daenerys sighed. "But what is this dark spell you spoke of? What have you found?"

Thranduil cleared his throat. "There was an old scroll, dating back to the Second Age, when the elven settlements in Eregion were powerful. The scroll does describe such a rite of passage between worlds, but it was written by Annatar himself", he stressed under a raised eyebrow.

"Annatar? This does not bode well…" Hadron murmured, frowning.

"One life to leave this world, one life to pay for it. One willing to lay down his life for a friend, and the friend to claim it. Let now the blood run hot, let the darkness take it. Let it open this door, for one to leave this world and ever forsake it", Daenerys recited from memory. "This is the spell of the scroll, written in the Dark Lord's own hand. I have burned the parchment, but the words will not leave my mind. It seems I can never forget them, although I would never seek to cast such a heinous spell. If this might indeed be the only way for one to travel between worlds, then I will spend the rest of my life here, in Middle-Earth."

"I understand why you say so. The dark spells of Sauron should remain as they are: words on parchment, and nothing more. No one knows what terrible repercussions casting such a spell might induce", Hadron warned. "But perhaps the Lady might be able to help you. If there is another way, she and she alone would know it, for she has walked for endless years on this earth, and her wisdom is as vast as the vastness of the sky."

"She has offered to allow me to look in her mirror", Daenerys revealed.

The Elvenking looked at her in wonder. "But are you ready for such a thing?"

"I am not afraid. And I am not a stranger to prophecies either. I have had dreams of this nature, as some of my ancestors also did. And these dreams, though hazy, symbolic and unclear, contain revelations of what may come to pass. If Galadriel's mirror shows me any hint pertaining to my future, then I will receive it as a gift; I will set aside my qualms and look in it unafraid." The depths of her violet eyes were once again burning with inner fire, and Thranduil felt his heart soaring with adoration for her.

"My lord Elvenking, Daenerys is a unique and truly magnificent woman indeed", Hadron said with a smile.

"She is, my friend, she is."

But Daenerys patted her lover's arm and smiled. "There you go again. Did I not tell you to stop it already?"

And the three of them laughed, and emptied their cups, drinking to each other's health and prosperity. And more they drank and ate and jested, until the sunlight began to wane, and, tired as they were from their journey, the pair decided they should retire.

The hours passed, and evening came. Daenerys was sleeping, but Thranduil felt little need for rest. He rose from the bed and quietly dressed. A glance at the serene face of his beloved tempted him for a fleeting moment to wake her and love her, but he banished those thoughts. She was a mortal, and the journey had been tiring, so her rest was precious. He did not want their visit to Lothlórien to seem like a tiresome chase through the woods to her, so he decided they spend the night in the modest inn of Echad Andestel and return to Caras Galadhon the following morning.

Noiselessly he exited the chamber and made for the common room below. He had a mind to find Erthor and reminisce upon the past with his old friend, thinking that at that late hour of the day he must be done with his duties. But as he made to exit the inn, a female voice called to him and made him stop in his steps.

"My lord Thranduil, have you taken no notice of me?"

He turned at once, the voice ringing distantly familiar in his ears. A dark-haired elleth with sparkling blue eyes approached him unhurriedly, lightly swaying her hips as she went. "Or have you forgotten me already?" she asked with a smile.

"Ningannel", he uttered her name, eyes wide in surprise and mouth slightly parted in disbelief.

"Long have been the years we have not seen each other, and separate ways we followed…" she said, her eyes never leaving his.

He smiled faintly. "Truly, it has been too long since we last met."

The elleth nodded, and gestured towards the door. "Would you join me for a leisurely stroll in the town and some friendly company?"

He hesitated for a moment, remembering his intention to seek out Erthor, but Ningannel's smooth hand on his elbow seemed more persuasive at last. They left the inn behind them and the white-paved paths of Echad Andestel stretched forth, inviting them to discover the nightly face of the settlement. The air was warm and fragrant, and silence reigned. The lamps along the paths were lit, and a few elves walked in the streets. Thranduil and Ningannel headed for the eastern part of the town, which was built upon a small mound.

"I have always loved to walk in the town in the evening, and gaze upon the hill of Caras Galadhon in the distance", Ningannel began. "The silver lights of the flets make for a breathtaking sight." She pointed to the northeast, and Thranduil looked at the capital city of the Galadhrim. Ningannel was right; the view was exquisite, as Caras Galadhon shone like a lone silver star in the vastness of the forest.

But then he returned his attention to her. "I would have never expected to meet you here. After our people left Lindon I thought you had decided to move to Imladris", he said.

"I did, for a time. But my husband is of the Galadhrim, and we eventually moved to Lórien", she replied.

"Your husband?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Ningannel laughed quietly. "Of course. Did you think that my fondness for you would have had me remain unmarried for the rest of the long years of my life, Thranduil?"

He studied her face; the sparkle in her eyes was undiminished, and the melody in her voice was ever-vibrant. She was not changed, and yet she was different from the elleth he once knew. "No, no, certainly not", he answered. "Do you live here in Echad Andestel, then?"

"My husband's kin comes from this small town, but we have our home in Caras Galadhon. It happened that we were visiting his family these days. And I am glad that I agreed to this visit, for look who I met here, entirely out of the blue."

Her eyes were glimmering again and she was smiling, and her hand rested gently on his forearm. Warmth radiated from her to him, and the Elvenking found his mind flooded with memories of the distant past.

"Ningannel, there you are! I have been looking for you this whole morning", he called to her from afar, and hastily stepped towards her.

The elleth laughed. "Truly, my friend? Did you not think I would be studying in the art hall?"

"Of course… Will you play the harp for me, and sing?" he asked of her, his eyes trained on hers, starry silver meeting sky blue.

"As if I could ever deny you anything…"

She took her harp and sweet music sprang when her delicate fingers touched the chords, and the air was filled with her sweet voice when she sang. And Thranduil sat and listened and watched her intently, and his heart fluttered with warmth and admiration for her. And when her song was done he reached for her hand and dropped a feathery kiss on her knuckles.

"Your music is extraordinary, Ningannel, as are you", he whispered to her.

"Oh Thranduil… You are such a flatterer!" she said, and her cheeks turned rosy.

"I only speak the truth."

He bent forth then and touched her lips with his, kissing her for the first time. For long he had thought of kissing her, and now that at last he did, he found that the sensation was even better than he had anticipated. And Ningannel closed her eyes and kissed him back, and both elves knew for the first time what it felt like to kiss another person.

"Thranduil? You seem so distant", Ningannel spoke.

He turned his eyes to her, waking from his reminiscence. "I was remembering", he said.

"May I ask what of?"

He looked at her and smiled softly. "Of the time of our first youth, when you were studying in Menegroth to become a minstrel, and I was an aspiring warrior. I was remembering of our friendship."

Her smile turned a little mischievous. "I would call it a little more than friendship."

Thranduil gave her a side-glance. "Perhaps…"

They looked into each other's eyes for a while, remaining silent. Then Ningannel said, "Much has changed ever since."

"Yes…"

"You met Gilwen, and forgot all about me", she said with a nervous laugh.

He caressed her arm tenderly. "Ours was an infatuation, the first romantic stirring in our youthful hearts. I never forgot about you, this is untrue. But we both found true love in other people."

She gazed into his eyes, and her smile slowly faded. "It is so."

She had spoken the words, but Thranduil sensed she might not have been entirely frank. Could it be that she still harbored some feelings for him, after all these countless years?

"I sometimes wonder how my life might have been, had we married", she confessed.

"No one can say. But why would you ask this? Are you not happy in your marriage?"

She shook her head. "I am, I did not say otherwise. My husband is brave and noble, and handsome besides. But there will always be a tender spot in my heart for my first love."

Thranduil smiled warmly. "Of course. It is natural to be so. It is the same with my heart as well." He took her hand in his. "But many years have passed since our time in Doriath, and much has happened. Darkness fell and wars were fought, and lives were lost… I have known pain and loss that I never imagined possible… And it seems the world has passed me by, locked in my Halls as I have been for all these centuries", he mused.

"Not few were those who spoke of the grief of the Elvenking of Eryn Galen, after the passing of his Queen", she spoke in a low, sorrowful voice.

Thranduil lifted his eyes towards the lights of Caras Galadhon and sighed. "It is true. I was devastated after Gilwen's death. Little I cared for what went on beyond the borders of my realm, and less I sought to engage myself with the fates of the world. But the time of idleness is over, Ningannel."

"What has prompted you to change?"

"The path of my life turned the day I met Daenerys."

"Daenerys? Talk has been in the town that the Elvenking is accompanied by a peculiar woman with white hair and violet eyes", she commented.

He nodded. "The most unusual thing happened to me, one day two autumns past. I was returning from a hunt with my company, and there by the side of the road she was, a human girl with three dragon hatchlings in her arms. She claimed to hail from another world… I kept her a prisoner at first, but as the time went by she showed me she and the dragons were not evil, and already twice she has aided us."

"So the rumors are true", Ningannel murmured. "Some spoke of a large shadow flying over the woods, with wings large as a dragon's."

"The black dragon followed us on our trip to Lórien. They are wild and free creatures, but they are not evil. It is my conviction that they will be a great weapon in our armory, when finally the war against Sauron comes", he explained.

"And what of this woman? What role is she to play?" she asked, searching the depths of Thranduil's eyes.

He took a breath. "I told you my life changed since I met her."

Her lips parted in astonishment. "You cannot mean…"

"Yes. I thought my heart had died with Gilwen, but Daenerys came to prove otherwise. We love each other, Ningannel. And we are to be wed by Mereth-nuin-Giliath."

A moment of silence ensued, but then Ningannel recollected her senses and smiled. "This is extraordinary news, Thranduil. It is so rare for an elf to truly love a second time, all the more wed again. I am happy for you. You have known much grief, and if this woman can bring you peace and joy, then she truly deserves to be your new Queen."

"Thank you, Ningannel. Your heart has always been gentle."

"Whatever brings you joy gladdens my heart as well, my dear old friend", she whispered, and then stretched out her arms to him. Thranduil closed the short distance between their bodies and embraced her, and she lay her head upon his shoulder.

"Your hair has always smelled of roses…" he sighed, touching her tresses gently. "Will you play the harp for me, and sing?"

She lifted her face and took a step back, so as to look at him. "As if I could ever deny you anything…"

When Daenerys awoke she saw she was alone in the chamber. Thinking that Thranduil might be in the common room downstairs, she dressed and made for it. But he was not to be found there. When she asked the serving maid after him, she informed her that she saw him leaving the inn a couple of hours earlier together with an elleth.

An elleth? Daenerys wondered. He spoke of no acquaintances here other than the brothers Hadron and Erthor. What business has he with an elleth at this hour of the day? Her thoughts darkened and suspicion took root in her heart, although her reason told her not to jump to hasty conclusions. But her young and fiery heart could not accept the fact that her husband-to-be walked off with another woman while she slept.

As she stood there brooding and pondering what to do, the door of the inn opened and Hadron stepped inside. He noticed her at once and approached her. "My lady Daenerys, what a pleasant surprise", he started.

"Hadron", she acknowledged his presence single-wordedly, not bothering to hide her sour mood.

"What is it, my lady? Are you unwell?" He placed the heavy tome he was holding on a table and motioned for her to sit with him. "Are you feeling ill?"

"No, I am not ill. I have only just woken up and have a mild headache, that is all", she lied, unwilling to reveal her thoughts to him. "But what brings you here again?"

"I spent the afternoon in quiet solitude, studying. But my brother and I like to share a few cups of wine in the evening, when he is done with his duties. It seems I am a bit early tonight, though, for I do not see him", he answered.

"Then maybe you can share a cup of wine with me while you wait for Erthor", she offered.

He smiled and his piercing green eyes shone. "What a lovely idea. Cyllessil, will you bring us wine to drink?" he called to the serving girl. "Oh, and a platter of fruit as well, please."

"You elves love your wine", Daenerys noted.

"Ah, why not? After all, it is almost impossible for us to get intoxicated, as is the matter with humans, so our consumption of wine is rather harmless!" he chimed.

She laughed at his comment. "But I must be careful not to get drunk."

"Of course, of course… What would lord Thranduil say then, if his lady got drunk under my watch? His wrath is notorious, and I would not want to face it."

She laughed again, and then Cyllessil returned with their order. Hadron served them each a cup, and Daenerys brought hers under her nose. The wine smelled of strawberries, and when she tasted it, she found it rich and sweet. For a moment she considered watering it down, for fear of getting lightheaded, but then she decided against it. If Thranduil can spend the night with another woman, why can I not get a little drunk? It may help me relax and forget about him for a while, she thought.

"The vineyards of Lórien produce some of the best wines in Middle-Earth", said Hadron.

"Lothlórien is a magical place. It is only reasonable that its wines should also be exquisite."

Hadron took a few sips, and then said, "I have been thinking of the scroll we spoke of earlier…"

"Sauron's scroll?" she inquired, her interest roused.

"Indeed. I asked myself, why would the Dark Lord part with such information, and gift it to the powerful elves of Eregion? And my conclusion was this: this spell is crafted with his black magic, and, should someone foolishly attempt it, then the path to another world might be opened for Sauron himself. Or perhaps he is ever seeking for a way to bring his master Morgoth back from the Void, where he is imprisoned. Who can say? I hope I am wrong, but the more I pondered it, the darker Sauron's purpose seemed to me", he said.

Suddenly her mouth felt dry and the wine tasteless. She had not considered such possibilities, but now her eyes were opened to them. "Oh Hadron, what you say terrifies me. I never intended to cast this spell, for I would not sacrifice a life to make my dream come true. But I never thought its purposes might be deeper and much more evil…"

"So it is with Sauron. Ever he seeks to dominate the will of all living things and turn them into his servants. I fear that if someone were to cast this spell, he would inadvertently become his servant, too. But…" he began, but hesitated.

"But?"

He shook his head. "I do not think this is the only way of traveling between worlds. There must be another way. Where there is shadow, there is always light. We know the dark part, but we must search for its counterpart. Perhaps it is in front of our eyes, but we are blind to it. I do not know."

"Your words certainly make me see things more broadly. Almost everything in your world seems to be so clearly defined as either good or evil, whereas in my world this is rarely the case. In my world, where everything is morally grey, there may be truly only one way to step from one world to another, and it is neither a good nor an evil one. Through blood magic – which is the darkest form of magic in my world – my husband and baby died, but my dragons were hatched as well. Good and evil happened at the same time. But here, as you said, we only know the dark path towards the destination. There has to be a light path, too", she murmured in exhilaration, now feeling her hopes of finding a way back to her homeland renewed.

"Yes, my lady. That is what I think." He lifted his cup, prompting her to do the same, and they clinked them. "To the search for the light."

"To freedom from evil."

They drank deeply, and Daenerys found that her cup was emptied too soon. She reached for the flagon and refilled it, and the richly flavored wine invaded her senses once more.

"Be careful, my lady, lest you get drunk", Hadron told her, as he observed her downing her second cup.

"What is the harm in getting a little drunk, my friend? You gave me hope again, when I had abandoned it", Daenerys replied, and lightly touched his sleeve. At once Hadron's eyes went to her hand upon his arm, and then he looked deep into her eyes.

"I am glad, my lady."

"Please, call me Daenerys."

"Daenerys, then. As befits friends", he spoke smoothly, and turned his hand, touching her fingers with his.

A tingling sensation spread along her arm, from where his fingers lay upon hers. She looked at his face; he was handsome, dark-haired and green-eyed. And he wore the robes of the scholar, but his square shoulders betrayed his long years of training as a warrior. How had she not noticed how handsome he was before? She drank a little more of her wine, feeling heat rushing up to her cheeks.

"Do you not have a lady, Hadron?"

He smiled uneasily. "Ah… There is one, I must confess. Baimeldis she is called. She is a scribe in the library of Caras Galadhon, but her family comes from Echad Andestel, and she often pays them visits. I know that her wish is for us to marry, but I do not feel ready to take that path. In fact, I am not sure if married life is the one I truly want for me."

"I see… Not everyone desires marriage and a family, I suppose. We should all be free to live as we please", Daenerys commented.

"I agree. And you, Daenerys? Is it your desire to marry?"

Her thoughts turned back to Thranduil. She had indeed agreed to marry him, and her heart burned with love and desire for him. But were they fated to be happy? Could she claim she truly knew the ways of the elves? She had been in this world for nearly two years, and much she had seen, but even more was still unknown to her. She felt certain for his feelings and his fidelity, but what did this nightly disappearance of his mean? Who was the elleth he was with, and why did he have to meet her in secret, without letting her know first, if this meeting was innocent in nature?

"I do what my heart tells me", she answered him.

Then a creaking sound was heard and the door of the inn opened. Thranduil stepped inside, and Ningannel was by his side, her arm intertwined with his, her face smiling. His eyes immediately fell on Daenerys, where her hand was touching Hadron's. But she looked at him as well, and her eyes were burning with angry fire. Slowly she removed her hand from the ellon's and stood. "My lord returns, at last", she said to Thranduil, as he disentangled himself from the elleth and came to stand before her.

"I see that my lady has enjoyed some pleasant company", he remarked sharply, his eyes turning momentarily to Hadron.

"We both had some pleasant company, it seems", Daenerys quipped. "Will you not introduce me to the lady?" she required, and gave Ningannel a cold look. The elleth was tall and fair, with bright eyes and a luminous smile. Her body looked lithe beneath her flowing dress. How could she ever hope to match the elven beauty? She inwardly compared herself to her, and found herself short and clumsy and imperfect in every possible way.

"This is Ningannel, a childhood friend of mine", the Elvenking replied dryly. Then he turned to the elleth. "Ningannel, meet Daenerys, my betrothed."

"A pleasure to meet you, my lady. Lord Thranduil has spoken with great fondness about you", Ningannel said, bowing her head before the mother of dragons.

At that comment Daenerys' brow relaxed somewhat. "Really? It pleases me to know this."

Then the door opened again and Erthor walked inside. Seeing the gathered company, he went to them. "My lord Thranduil, Daenerys, brother! What a surprise to find you all gathered here!"

Four sets of eyes turned to him, and most looks he gathered were sour, causing him to stand befuddled for a second. Hadron, sensing the discomfort in the air, stood from his seat. "Come brother, let us occupy another table and allow our dear guests their privacy now." Without waiting for an answer he grabbed him by the elbow and led him away.

"I believe it is only proper for me to leave you to your own as well", said Ningannel. "It is about time I returned to my husband's home. I am honored to have met the future Queen of the Woodland Realm. May you fair well, my lady", she told Daenerys. "It was heartwarming to remember the old times, Thranduil. Good night." She gave him a tender look and then exited the inn.

When everyone was gone, Thranduil turned to Daenerys and touched her elbow. "We should retire."

"I have not finished my wine."

"I think you have already had too much. Come, let us go before we make a scene for all to see", he insisted, and his grip on her arm became steady, as he led her upstairs.

"Let go of me", she hissed as soon as they were in the privacy of their chamber.

"You nearly made a fool of yourself", he reprimanded her. "What did you think, sitting in private with another ellon and touching his hand in public? And you are drunk at that. You shame us both."

"You accuse me of behaving shamefully? I did nothing shameful. But you disappeared with an elleth and told me nothing. And you stroll inside the inn with her hanging from your arm, all smiles and fond looks. Who is behaving shamefully in public, Thranduil? Hm?" she retorted angrily.

He huffed and paced away, towards the window. "Ningannel is just a childhood friend."

"She seemed to be more than that."

"I do not have to explain myself to you."

"You are to marry me, remember? You do have to explain yourself to me, and you will."

Her commanding tone made him turn to look at her, only to be met with the hot flames in her gaze. Such a tone coming from someone so young never failed to surprise him. "Nobody dares to speak to me thus."

"I am not anybody. I am the mother of dragons, and I am to be your wife and Queen. Tell me, what business had you meeting this elleth in secret?"

Seeing that he would not escape her questioning, he decided to yield. "I met her by chance. I had not seen her since the Second Age, when our people still dwelled in Lindon. We were friends since we were children in Doriath. That is all."

"That is all? Are you sure? The looks she gave you did not seem entirely friendly to me", Daenerys pressed on.

Thranduil grunted in annoyance. "You grow suspicious when there is nothing to be suspicious of!"

"I am not so sure about that. What was she to you?"

"We shared a romantic friendship, when we were both very young. But that was so very long ago, even before I met Gilwen. Stop being ridiculous now. There is no point in sulking over things that happened ages ago. It is absurd, and it is the wine talking, not you", he told her, trying to maintain his calm.

Daenerys crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back to him. "Very well. I care not."

"It is your turn to explain your public displays of affection towards Hadron now."

"There was no public display of affection." She looked at him from over her shoulder. "As soon as I awoke I went downstairs in search of you, and he came to wait for his brother to return. We sat and talked a while, and he told me of his thoughts considering the scroll of Sauron."

Thranduil raised an eyebrow in interest, and took a step closer to Daenerys. "What did he tell you?"

Dropping her annoyed look, she turned to him. "He believes there is another way, and not only a dark one. Where there is shadow, there is always light, he said. He lifted my hopes, Thranduil. What you saw was a simple sign of gratitude, for I had lost all hope that one day I might be able to return to my world, but he made me believe otherwise now. Hope is not lost."

"It is what your heart truly yearns for, then. To go back to your world", he spoke solemnly.

She faced him, her eyes deep and fiery. "It is."

He held her gaze. Her eyes were burning an indelible mark on his soul. He would hate to have to let go of her, but if there was a chance she could get what she truly wanted, then he could never deny her that. "I have sworn to help you find a way, even if it means that we must be parted."

"I know." She looked into his eyes, full of sadness and love. Her heart softened, and she walked to him. "But until then, if it ever comes to pass, I am here, yours, with all my heart. I am sorry I looked foolish earlier. I am only a young girl, and my heart easily gets jealous."

His hand went to her tresses. "I know, my heart. Before I left our chamber my thought was to wake you and love you, so desirable you looked to me. But I did not wish to disturb your rest. You were so tired after the journey, and in your slumber you looked so peaceful…"

"But now I am awake and willing", she told him, placing her hands on his hips. "Love me, my King, and make the agitation of the day go away."

And when his lips touched hers, she forgot all about Hadron, all about Sauron's scroll, and all about returning to her world. All she desired was Thranduil, and he was in her arms. For a few precious hours nothing but his love mattered to her. The world and its toils could wait.