Thranduil startled out of sleep as the doorknob rattled. He pushed back the linen tucked around him, knowing Harune had spread it over him while he slept. As he sat up, the door opened, and his mother swept in.

Queen Natelle moved as though the wind propelled her ankles. Cut low at her breast and long at her back, her blue dress brushed across the floor. Her hair fell in loops and curls at the nape of her neck, golden against her pink and white skin.

"You missed lunch, ion nin," she said, her voice high as spring peepers and as mellow as water trickling over rocks. "Do not be late to dinner."

Thranduil frowned. Ion nin? He wanted to tell her he was not her son but the memory of his earlier fight with Oropher kept him silent. He said instead, "Forgive me; I am so used to having lunch with Harune, I forgot I was meant to join you for lunch today."

Natelle dipped her head, and the gold flecks in her blue eyes flickered. "You have ten minutes to make yourself presentable; your father and I expect you in the dining room."

Thranduil glanced down at himself after Natelle walked out the door. Dirt streaked his brown tunic and he felt granules of earth clinging to the skin under his neck.

Thranduil slid off the bed and crossed the floor to the wash basin. Water steamed from the porcelain bowl. He washed his neck and hands and ran a comb through his hair at the dresser next to the basin. In the corner ten steps away from the dresser, he dug a tunic out of the wardrobe and stared at it with distaste. The high collar itched but he flung it on and straightened the black cloth at his shoulders.

In the doorway, he paused and looked back. The sheet lay in a mess on his bed in the center of the room, and the rugs under the almost-floor-length windows were crooked. The soap and towel at the washbasin were jumbled together and his wardrobe set back against the same wall as the bed headboard stood with its doors hanging open and his dirty tunic on the floor.

Knowing Harune would lecture at the sight, Thranduil folded the bed sheet, tided the wash basin, and shut the wardrobe door. Satisfied, he skipped from the room and followed two flights of stairs down, passing numerous closed doors before he reached the short hall leading to the dining room.

Windows made one wall, allowing light to spill across the dark wood walls. Two tapestries of green and blue and white showed forest hunt scenes from either side of the door. At the center of the square space, the dining table seated a dozen people, but plates were set at only the first three. He knew it had been the royal family dining hall for centuries, but Thranduil liked the cozy round table he and Harune shared meals at better.

Oropher sat at the head of the table with Natelle at his left side. He nodded to Thranduil as the elfling sat down at his right. A silver tureen of soup between the three elves flavored the air with vinegar and venison.

"The servants are not serving the soup tonight?" Thranduil asked, as he filled his bowl and swirled his spoon in it.

"I do not like your tone," Oropher warned. He took a deep breath as half a dozen elves and black and white aprons circled the table to offer croutons and butter. "Your mother and I discussed your earlier behavior and we decided it is clear you do not have enough structure in your life."

The tang of the soup met Thranduil's tongue as he sipped it and he followed it with a crouton and a heaping chunk of meat.

"We have decided to increase your learning opportunity," Oropher continued. "With a brief break for meals, you will spend your days with the royal tutors—"

"Brief break for meals?" Thranduil gasped. He choked on his stew and grabbed his napkin.

"It is unacceptable to interrupt," Oropher said. "You will begin lessons after breakfast and finish before dinner, with a break for lunch."

"That is not fair," Thranduil said. "You cannot shut me away and expect me to learn!"

Oropher put down his spoon. "This is why you need more structure, Thranduil. You are a disrespectful child who has been given too much freedom. It is time for you to stop being a child and start being a prince. Be grateful I have held off as long as I have; my father ensured my education began at birth."

"What about," Thranduil swallowed. "What about Harune?"

"You are too old to require his presence any longer."

Thranduil half-rose from his seat. "You are sending ada away!"

"Sit. Down," Oropher said.

"You disrespect your father by calling a servant ada," Natelle said. She lowered the napkin from her lips.

Thranduil sat. he stared at his bowl, the smell of the vinegar suddenly curdling his stomach. When he looked up, Oropher and Natelle were tucking into the second course of fried mushrooms.

"I will not do anything if you take ada away from me," Thranduil said. He gulped over a sob.

Oropher raised his eyebrows. "Indeed? Last I checked you had no say in the matter."

"No," Thranduil whispered. "I need my ada."

Oropher put his napkin on the table. "Thranduil, do not disrupt this meal. Unless you want a spanking, mind your tongue."

"I am not hungry," Thranduil said.

"If you think you may be excused, you are mistaken," Natelle said. "Harune is gone, Thranduil. We sent him home."

The spoon in Thranduil's hand clattered to the floor. He jumped up, splashing soup across the table as his bowl rocked. "No! You cannot do that!"

Oropher stood. "Thranduil Oropherion, you shame me."

"No!" Thranduil cried. A sob rose from his throat and hot tears distorted the anger on Oropher's face. "Bring ada back. You have to bring ada back!"

"When you have settled into your new routine, we will consider allowing Harune to visit," Natelle said. She smiled. "Consider it a reward for good behavior."

"You will adjust," Oropher said kindly. "It will take time."

Thranduil gulped and felt the lump in his throat. A cold, empty bed to sleep in. No one to comb his hair. No hand to hold his and enjoy the forest stream. No one. Alone.

The heat in Thranduil's cheeks streaked to his eyes. "No," he spat. "You lie! You took away my family. I hate you! And I will do nothing until you bring ada back."

Oropher glanced at Natelle.

"Nothing," Thranduil repeated.

Oropher grabbed his arm. Thranduil heard Oropher's chair scrape back before he landed across the king's knees.

"Ow!" Thranduil screamed as Oropher's hand slapped his behind. One of Oropher's legs pinned his down, preventing him from kicking. "Let me go!"

"I am tired of your behavior, Thranduil," Oropher said. "From now on, I will discipline you and you will learn to behave!"

"This is why I need ada," Thranduil sobbed. "You are cruel."

Thranduil caught the pitying eyes of the servants standing along the wall with pitchers and trays in their hands. His sobs tore his chest and the plop of his tears on the floor sounded like drums in his head.

So. It has been told Thranduil's childhood was not all sunshine and rainbows. But, despite that, I am enjoying writing through darkness to find the hiding slivers of sunshine.

Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts with me!

Next Chapter: Thranduil meets the tutors Oropher appoints him.