Gulp! I didn't realize it has been so long since I updated! I'm sorry, here's the long awaited chapter and I'll try to not make you wait so long again! Hides Under Desk

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Chapter 16-- A King's Strength

Thranduil slowly woke from a troubled reverie and looked around. It was dark in his chamber then he remembered. Rhianna, his lovely Rhianna, was dead. He got up and lit a candle then went to the balcony and opened the doors. Sunlight and a warm breeze entered the room. He smiled a bit then moved to look in the mirror. He couldn't believe his eyes. There were dark circles under his eyes and he was gaunt and pale. His hair was snarled and filthy. "I look more Orc then Elf," he muttered. Part of him wanted to return to his bed, but the stronger side of him refused to allow it. "I am King of Mirkwood and I am responsible for those that live here," he muttered. He stripped out of his grimy clothes and pulled on a robe then opened the door to his chamber.

A servant was passing just then. "Sire, you are awake! How may I serve?" he asked.

"I wish to take a bath. Have it prepared at once," Thranduil said.

The servant bowed and dashed off, calling for the other servants.

The servants had just finished preparing the bath and left when Alarion walked in. "Father, you should not be up. You should be resting," he said.

"I have rested far too long as it is. Gather all of proper rank in the meeting hall. I wish to speak to them," Thranduil said sternly. "Quickly, there is certainly much I must do."

Alarion bowed respectfully. "Yes father, I will do so at once," he said and hurried away. He didn't go fetch the people like he'd been asked. He sent a servant to do it instead. He went to a room deep in the castle and knocked on the door. "Zion, I must speak to you!" he called. "Open the door!"

It opened revealing an Elf with dead black eyes and lank black hair. "What do you want?" he asked.

Alarion stormed into the room, hearing the door close behind him. "Father is up! He is acting like himself! You said he would fade! That your potion would keep him under control, but it is not!!" he said.

"Calm yourself, we have not failed yet. Your father can be disposed of as easily as your mother if necessary," Zion said. He added herbs to a potion boiling over the fire and stirred it carefully.

"I should have never allowed myself to be involved in this. You said mother would not die from that foul concoction!" Alarion said.

"She should not have," Zion shrugged, "she must have had a bad reaction to it."

"I should go straight to father and tell him everything," Alarion growled.

"Go ahead and do so, but you are as guilty of murder as I, my Prince. You allowed your envy of your little brother and the desire to be King rule you. What do you think will happen to you when it is found out?" Zion asked.

Alarion's shoulders slumped as he realized he was trapped in this mess with no way out. "Then just fix it, do it quickly," he said and left the room.

Zion watched him go and smiled. "You think you are an adult, but you are still a foolish Elfling. You can be removed as well as your father if necessary," he muttered. He stirred the potion and smiled. "This lovely mixture can take care of you and your oh-so haughty father."

Alarion entered his chamber and closed the door. Falling onto his bed, he wondered how everything had went so wrong so quickly. I was a fool and now there is no way out of this, he thought.

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I sense a bit of regret there. Don't you? Once again sorry about the wait! R/R please!