Chapter 8

"Viserion! Calm down. Soon I will release you, and you will take your first taste of flight."

The cream dragon kept pulling hard on the chain, though, and Daenerys was forced to unhinge the clasp and let him go. Once free, he cried happily, and flapped his strong wings, taking to flight. His mother had wished to walk further in the forest before releasing him, so as not to scare any elf that might be outside the Halls, but the dragon's persistence left her with little choice.

She watched Viserion shrink in the distance with a sigh. They have grown so much, and so fast, she thought with a longing. No more were they babies to ride on her shoulders. They were growing into majestic beasts, each with their own character, quirks and habits. Viserion was the second dragon she took out after Drogon; initially she had thought to take Rhaegal before him, as he was larger than the pale dragon, but Viserion's restlessness prompted her to change her mind. Your brother will wait for his turn, she thought as she watched the cream dragon fly in circles far above the tree-tops.

Left alone now, she began a slow sauntering in the woods, careful not to stray from the elven path and lose her way. It had snowed a bit those past few days, and she had to pay attention to where she stepped, for the path was almost hidden under the snow at some parts, although the scouting parties of the elves had cleared most of it. The nature around her was solemn and quiet, slumbering under the blanket of winter. If she looked in the distance amidst the trees, it seemed to her that at times shadows crept here and there, giving a brooding feeling to the forest. Daenerys remembered what Thranduil had told her about the evil creatures that infested these woods, but she had seen none so far, and she dismissed those shadows as tricks of her eyes, and the play of the thin sunrays with the branches. Still, her fingers traced the hilt of the dagger on her belt. She was not a warrior, and neither was she trained in sword-fighting, but the small elven dagger gave her a sense of security. She only wished her skill would not be put to the test, though.

This dagger was the only weapon she had been allowed by the King. Small enough not to cause any real harm, especially in the hands of one who knew little of how to use it, but still it was a weapon for her to defend herself with, if needs be. Deldhin the King had named it, Silent Horror, and perhaps it was too strong a name for this small dagger, but Daenerys liked the sound of it nonetheless. Its blade was made of steel, sharp and a little curved. Its blunt side was perforated and decorated after the elven fashion. Its hilt was a direct continuation of the blade, the whole dagger made out of a single piece of metal, thus giving the small weapon lightness and stability in the hand of its wielder. It was not adorned with gems or silver, but Daenerys cherished it, for she considered it Thranduil's gift to her. He had given it to her a few days ago, and the scene was still vivid in her memory:

"Daenerys", he called her name.

She turned in the hallway, just outside the doors of her chambers, only to be met with the King. He approached her unhurriedly, always maintaining his regal posture, his long damask cloak swooshing behind him.

"My lord."

He came and stood opposite her, and after a short moment a tiny smile crept upon his lips. "This is for you", he said as he produced a small parcel from his robes.

He handed it to her, and she took it with unspoken question in her eyes. Thranduil watched her as she carefully unwrapped it. It was a steel dagger, sheathed in a leather holder.

A look of surprise appeared on her face. "But I am no warrior", she uttered.

"You are a warrior, Daenerys. Not one with a sword or bow… but still…" he smiled. "It is for your own protection, for many are the evils that lurk in the shadows. May you never need to use it."

"Thank you, hîr nín. It is a most generous gift", she told him with light in her violet eyes.

"Take it as a token of our… friendship", he said.

Her gaze danced from his eyes to the dagger and back. Friendship he called it, and yet some time ago they had shared an intimate moment, and their lips had touched. She would not call that friendship, even though he might choose to name it so.

"Friendship?" she challenged him boldly and took a step closer to him.

He inhaled deeply, trying to rein in his wild spirit, and keep it from engulfing Daenerys all at once. She sensed his restraint, though, for her skin tingled with his energy, and it was that feeling she had felt before, only measured and contained now. He had erected barriers around him, and she felt compelled to bring them down.

"Was it friendship we shared that evening?" she whispered to him.

He looked deeply into her eyes, feeling lost in them. "Do not ask of me to name it elsehow", he told her in a tone low and smooth.

"Why?"

His gaze flickered in uncertainty, betraying his inner battle. "Elves love only once", he uttered.

But still his eyes were locked with hers, and his lips craved the feel of hers, defying his declaration. How can it be, he wondered, that I, an elf so ancient, who has shared a love so deep and true, may harbor such feelings for another?

Daenerys sensed his dilemma, and she could see he was in denial of his own reality. She did not want to press things, though, for she was not entirely certain of her own heart either. She chose to bestow upon them both the benefit of the doubt, and took a step back, while a small, sad smile curled her lips.

"I shall keep it as a token of your friendship, then, Aran nín", she told him with respect, and bowed her head before him.

His heart swelled with pride and longing for the woman in front of him, for she had wisely chosen to act with dignity. He smiled at her and nodded to show his approval, and tied his hands behind his back. She felt his aura retract then, and inwardly sighed. She already missed his encompassing presence, although he was still there with her.

"I wish you good night, Daenerys. Losto vae."

"Ollo vae, Thranduil", she responded, choosing to call him by his name only, forgoing all titles.

He understood why she did that, why she sought that informality, for it signified intimacy of another kind. She would let him have it his way, but she would remind him of the truth that lurked underneath the surface. He stood and watched her keenly, and she smiled fondly at him, before turning and disappearing behind the oaken doors of her rooms.

Such an intimate moment it had been, and Daenerys now wondered where those newfound feelings would lead them. Thranduil, although not dwelling in regret over the kiss they had shared, did not seem to embrace his feelings for her either. Laden by the notion that elves love only once, he dared not call what he felt for Daenerys love. And she made every effort to understand him, and not expect him to act as she would have expected a man to act, for he was an elf, a race unknown to her until recently. Their traditions were different, their laws were different, their souls were different. And if he was in turmoil, that was his own battle to fight. The trouble of his heart saddened her, but she knew she could do little to help him but wait for him to come to terms with his emotions.

And she did not wish to get too attached to him either. Her true purpose was to find a way out of this land and return to her own, not to marry the King here. And, even though she would not object to a romance with him, she did not wish her feelings to take deep root. She had in mind to keep her heart under control, and use Thranduil's feelings for her own advantage. She did not mean that in an evil manner, though, for she would never wish to hurt him. But if his love for her meant he would be more willing to help her, then it was a love all the more welcome.

Meanwhile, she continued her search for information about a possible exit in the lore-books daily. But, till now, it was to no avail. She had not lost her hopes, however. If there is a way in, there must be a way out, she kept telling herself. And if Thranduil's tomes and scrolls proved useless, then surely there were other libraries and other wise people in this Middle-Earth she could turn to for help. She was determined not to be disheartened by this initial failure. Certainly such information would be rare and well-guarded, otherwise everyone would know of it, and more outlanders would be known to have come to this world. Still, no such records did she come across in her search.

And her dragons kept growing. Relocated now to a spacious room in the depths of the Halls and unchained, she visited them every day. She had decided on a schedule of taking them out in the forest with her one by one every few days, to give them freedom to fly and hunt. Thranduil had been worried, though, that the flight of the dragons would sooner than later attract the eye of the Enemy upon his kingdom, and he discouraged her from taking them out too frequently. Daenerys understood his concern, but she did not know how it would be possible to hide three dragons from the Dark Lord, especially once they were grown into adolescent ones. He would know of their presence here eventually. But to her Sauron was only an idea, a shadow and a distant thought. What harm could he visit upon three mighty dragons?

A loud shriek from the sky disrupted her musings, and Viserion flew down and landed beside her. His jaws were reddened and bloody. "What have you feasted upon, my hungry child?" she asked him sweetly. He answered her with a jerk of his neck and a blink of his golden eyes. She approached him, and after petting him for a little while, she fastened the chain on his foot. He neither resisted nor complained, sated now and pleased with his flight over the trees. "We will go back now. It is around midday, and you are not the only one who has gotten hungry", she told him. "Faelwen promised me this morning that she would prepare her wonderful berry pie for dinner. I wonder what else she has made."

Before long Daenerys and her dragon were inside Thranduil's Halls. Her first care was to return Viserion to his brothers, and then she made for the kitchens. There, Faelwen the chief baker informed her that the King had kindly requested that she dine with him. Daenerys thanked her and hastily made for the upper levels, where her chambers were located. She definitely needed a bath to make herself presentable before she met the Elvenking.

But as she was on her way there, voices coming out of the council chamber attracted her attention. She glanced towards the door, and noticed that it was left ajar. Unintentionally, for sure. She gave no second thought to it and made to move on, as whatever was being said there was none of her business. But someone pronouncing her name caused her to stop in her step.

"Yes, my lord, I understand you have chosen to trust this woman, Daenerys, but are you certain without a doubt that those beasts of hers are not evil?" a male voice spoke.

"I told you, Golhador, I have met the dragons myself. They are no more evil than any wild beast", Thranduil replied.

"It seems strange, for such an opinion to come from you, my lord… Especially after all you suffered in dragonfire", another councilor said pointedly.

"What are you implying, Orodlin? That I have forgotten I have since long been scarred and disfigured? No, I tell you, I have forgotten nothing. But if I had the heart to approach the dragons, how can you doubt my words when I say they are not evil?" he countered, and to Daenerys he seemed wounded and enraged in equal measure by the questions of his councilors.

Scars and disfigurement? What do they mean? Thranduil looks perfectly fine to me, and beautiful beyond words, Daenerys thought. Intrigued further, she hid behind a pillar beside the door and kept listening, even though it was eavesdropping and she disliked it.

"Hîr vuin", a mellow female voice said, "we do not doubt you. We simply cannot trust this foreign woman, who claims to hail from another land. What land is that? There is no mention of other worlds in any lore book I know of. The Dark Lord has sought to trick and deceive us before. This might very well be yet another of his beguiling devices."

"I have thought of that possibility as well. But I sense nothing evil or suspicious about her. All this time, she has given me no reason to doubt her. And she insists on finding a way back to her own world", the Elvenking replied.

"Sauron disguised as Annatar managed to deceive even Celebrimbor, once", Orodlin pointed out.

"But the Dark Lord is incapable of taking fair form any longer. We must not forget that. Daenerys is not Sauron in disguise, nor is she one of his servants", Thranduil stated.

"Suppose all is as you say, my King. How long before the Dark Lord discovers the dragons and seeks to claim them? Nothing will save us then from their scorching breath. Our forest will turn to ashes and we with it, a doom even worse than the doom of Erebor, when Smaug came. And they are dragons, my lord", the one called Golhador went on, stressing the words one by one. "They will answer to the call of evil. It is in their blood."

"Those dragons are not born of this world. Their allegiance lies only with Daenerys. I have seen that", Thranduil insisted, but his voice betrayed that he had started feeling irritated and tired. "And do not think I have not considered the possible interest of Sauron in them either. That is why I have made an agreement with her. She will commit the dragons to our cause and remain loyal to us, in exchange for our aid with finding a way back to her land. With weapons such as these, we will force the Shadow to abandon all plans of conquering the northern kingdoms. For not even the Nazgûl will be able to face the dragons, once they are grown."

"Yes, my lord. Once they are grown. But there is no telling what terrible fate might befall us until then", the elleth spoke. "And we have received word from Erebor earlier this week, that the guards at the outposts saw a strange black shadow flying over our woods some days ago. They were inquiring as to what it might have been, and whether we had noticed that shadow as well. Clearly they were referring to the dragon. How long before they realize it was indeed a dragon, and they turn against us in fury? There is little love between our races anyway. The dragons will only make the situation worse."

"What is this dwarven letter that I have not heard of? Are you keeping secrets from me?" Thranduil raised his voice.

"Of course not, my lord. The letter was addressed to the Captain of the Guard, and only yesterday did he see fit to seek our counsel, for he was unsure as to how to respond to it. And no response has been given to the dwarves as of yet", she replied.

The King grunted and huffed. "I see. Tell the dwarves what you will, but make no mention of the dragons. Enough problems we have as it is; we need no new ones."

"Indeed", Golhador agreed. "But the issue remains. Daenerys and her dragons are the problem, and we will not be able to keep their existence a secret for long."

Silence fell in the chamber for a little while, until the King took the floor again. "You seem adamant in your opposition, all of you. What do you propose, then?"

Orodlin cleared his throat. "Send her away, my King. Far beyond the mountains in the north, to the frozen wastes of Forochel… Too far for the reach of Sauron's arm, if she is not a guise of Sauron indeed. Let her go there in exile and search for a way back to the world she says on her own."

Thranduil was aghast. "And the dragons?"

"Put an end to them, while they are still small", Orodlin replied without hesitation.

"Such beasts can only cause trouble, my lord", Golhador added. "Already the people address us with complaints about the dragons dwelling in our home. They fear them, and rightfully so. And what if one day that woman decides she wants your kingdom for her own? All it will take is one word, and all will be turned to ruin."

Dracarys. That is the word it will take, Daenerys thought with anger. But it is not your kingdom I want. I have asked for nothing but your help to leave this place, but all these vile suspicions have risen instead. Perhaps not all elves are wise and good-natured, as I thought. Perhaps this world does not differ that much from mine, after all.

"Daenerys is innocent. I know it. I have seen it. I have felt it. I cannot send her away, nor kill her dragons. If only you trusted me; if only you saw things as I do", the King said bitterly, but in truth he knew that there was no way he could change the minds of his councilors.

"Some say there is another reason why you cling to her, my King…" the female one spoke.

"What do you imply, Mídhiel? Speak clearly!" Thranduil bellowed.

Daenerys felt her heart beat like a drum in her chest, as she waited to hear the ominous words.

"Well…" the councilor began reluctantly. "Some say you seek solace and companionship with her."

"This is outrageous! How dare you insult me thus!" he yelled, although deep inside he knew Mídhiel's words bore a great deal of truth. "My heart lies with Gilwen, and always shall. Daenerys is a… a human child. But she has dragons. Need I repeat what I said before? She will help us win the war against Sauron. That is all", he stated. "And whoever dares voice such lowly claims, they better have the courage to say it to my face and know my wrath!"

The councilors had more things to say, but Daenerys could not stay any longer. She did not wish to listen to not even one more word. Hurriedly she made for her chambers, with her heart and mind in upheaval. Should she go, as they wanted? Should she stay, as Thranduil wanted? And what did she want, actually?

Suddenly all her appetite was lost. She had no intention of dining with the King now. And to blazes with Faelwen's wonderful berry pie.

The hours passed quickly. The dinner that had been served in Thranduil's chambers had by now turned cold on the platters. The sun reached its apex and then took to the west, but Daenerys never showed up for dinner. The King sat there alone and gazed out of the large window miserably. For some reason, she had decided to turn down his invitation. He felt offended by her behavior as a King, and hurt as an ellon. Could it be because she wished more of him that he could not give her? During their last exchange, when he gifted her the dagger, she touched upon the issue of their relationship. He had chosen to call it friendship, and clearly she was disappointed by that. Thranduil was no fool; he could see that Daenerys had begun nurturing feelings for him, and he was at fault for that to a great extent. He should have been more careful, more restrained. He should not have allowed his fëa to reach for hers so desperately. He should not have let his feelings be known so openly. He should not have kissed her. No, he could not blame Daenerys for the feelings she had. He should only blame himself.

The wind outside caused the heavy rain to batter mercilessly against the trees. The sky was grey, and thunder rolled in the distance. The King watched the winter storm under a furrowed brow. And then suddenly he jumped to his feet and threw his cloak around his shoulders, as he hurriedly marched out of his rooms. If she will not come to me, I will go to her.

She was not in her chambers. It was dark and cold when he entered, and the embers were dying in her hearth. Frustrated, he turned on his heel. Where might she be? I hope no ill has befallen her… But surely I would have heard of it, were that the case. And then it struck him. The dragons! That is where she must be. It makes perfect sense. And he hurried towards the dungeons.

When he pushed the heavy doors open, he saw Daenerys crouched on the floor with Rhaegal's head in her lap, while Drogon was finishing off his meal nearby and Viserion was sleeping in the corner. It was quiet, the air chill and the light dim, as only a few braziers were lit. Thranduil took a step forth and called her name. She sighed, turning her head only slightly. She knew he would come looking for her eventually. In silence he approached and knelt beside her. Rhaegal lifted his head and sniffed at the intruder, but when he recognized the King, he was pacified and returned to his mother's caresses.

"I knew you would find me", she muttered.

"Were you hiding?"

She smiled. "No. I needed to be with my children."

"But I had hoped we might share dinner. You did not deem it proper to grace me with your answer, though. I sat in waiting for hours", he complained, and his voice came out weaker than he had wished it to.

Daenerys turned her eyes to him. They glimmered like amethyst jewels in the dark. "It was not my intention to offend you, my lord. But I found that I had no appetite for fancy dinners", she told him with bitterness in her tone.

"Why? What happened?" he asked with concern. He was not angry with her, she could see; only sad.

She took a shaky breath. "I learned some upsetting things today. Thranduil, my King, tell me truly: am I unwanted here, my dragons and I? Am I considered to be a servant of evil and they despised as abominations of evil?"

He stood speechless for a while, not having anticipated her to speak thus. "Where have you gotten these notions?"

"Just tell me if they are true", she insisted.

His brow furrowed and he dropped his gaze to the stone floor before him. "They are. Some of my people are uncomfortable to have the dragons live here. And not all of them believe you come from another world as you say. They think you are a servant of evil in disguise."

"And you think otherwise?" she challenged him, although she knew the answer already.

He turned to her and his eyes bore hard into hers. "You know what I think." She held his gaze for a while and then turned to pet Rhaegal once more. "But the minds of my people are their own."

"I am sorry I have caused you such distress. If your people do not want me here, I shall leave", she said. The green dragon blinked, as if he sensed his mother's sorrow.

"Leave? And go where?"

"Anywhere away from here." She looked at him with tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, but she fought them back.

Her look broke his heart. "I cannot let you do that. You do not know this world, and it is full of peril and darkness. How will you ever survive?"

She sighed. "I will find a way." That is my fate, she thought. Ever to be a nomad, homeless and seeking a place in the world, with nothing to me but my name… and my dragons. Yes, at least I have my dragons. Them they will never take away from me.

"But we had an agreement. I offered you my protection and my help to find a way back to your world. Will you break it now?" he asked her.

"It is not my wish to break it. But things have changed. If I stay, the dragons will keep growing, and your people will fear them even more. Perhaps at some point one of them will behave unpredictably – who can know? They are creatures of free will. I can communicate with them, but I cannot dominate their minds. And then it will be disastrous for all. I can risk no one's safety, nor the stability of your kingdom and your credibility as King, especially in the face of the war you tell me is coming. If I stay, my lord, things will only get worse, and the displeasure will increase", she explained gravely. She hated having to speak these words, for she liked her life in Thranduil's Halls, and she liked Thranduil even more. But how could she ever bring ruin to him and his people, who have housed her and treated her kindly all these months?

He fell silent. He knew what she said was true, and as King he had to consider the welfare of his people above all. He had to steel his heart and abide by the will of his councilors, who also expressed the will of the majority of his subjects. Rhaegal moved then, and went to join Viserion in his sleep. Thranduil looked at the green dragon with sadness. If only his people could see things as he did.

Daenerys watched how the shadows played on his face, accentuating the sharp lines of his profile and his heavy brows, making him look grimmer still. But in his eyes she could see all the sadness of the world, and she could feel his aura cold and dim and detached.

"Thranduil…" she whispered.

He turned his face to her. "You call me by my name."

She smiled bitterly, and an unruly tear ran down her cheek. "Of course", she responded in a broken voice, and dared touch his shoulder.

He sighed, striving with all his might to keep his composure. "I do not want you to go."

"I know. I do not either. But I must. You know I must."

He lifted a trembling hand to her temple, tracing her hairline there, and let it slide along the gentle curve of her ear. His eyes fell momentarily to her lips, but he resisted. I must not make this mistake again. I must not make things more difficult for her, he told himself, and fought hard against his urge to ravish her then and there, he fought hard to ignore the discomfort of his awakened manhood in the confines of his breeches that reminded him he was still alive, and not dead as he had thought himself to be all these centuries after his wife's passing.

His caress caused Daenerys to shiver, and her eyelids fluttered. Please, do not kiss me, she inwardly wished. Do not make our parting more painful. Please. But her beating heart and her heated body cried against her mind, craving the ellon in front of her, screaming for his touch, for his kiss, for the nakedness of his skin she had wildly dreamed of in her sleepless nights. Please, do not kiss me.

Finally, after what seemed an endless moment, his hand dropped, and he averted his eyes, his lips drawn in a thin line. "Give me some time to think about it. I cannot just have you go into the wild, alone and unprotected. My heart will never rest, for each passing moment I will live in regret of my choice. There must be another way, a less cruel way."

Instinctively, she took his hand. He quivered at her touch, but did not pull away. "I trust you. And I will do as you decide", she told him.

Their eyes locked then. He nodded, and felt her fingers still lingering upon his. But then he let go of her hand and rose to his feet, marching out of the room before the inevitable happened.

Translations

Aran nín = My King (Sindarin)

Losto vae = Sleep well (Sindarin)

Ollo vae = Sweet dreams, lit. dream well (Sindarin)

A/N: Hello my dear readers! Do forgive my two-week absence... life got in the way. But at last I found the time to post a new chapter. Please tell me what you think!