Chapter 13

Mornings dawned and nights fell, seamless in their succession, and Daenerys' life in exile continued as it were, barely straying from the routine. She would rise early, prepare food, tend to the chores and the yard, then release a dragon to hunt, and by dusk she would retreat to her bedroom to read. Having finished lord Oropher's book, she now went back to the ancient tomes Thranduil had given her. But much she read, and yet nothing pertaining to an exit from this world did she find.

And her dragons had grown more. Now they were larger than oxen, and their tails had grown long and their wings thicker and wider. Their teeth were strong and sharp as steel, and their horns as well as the crest on their back had become so hard that they seemed impossible to break. The scales that covered their bodies still glistened with their unique colors, but now they were a true armor, impenetrable by common arrows. And they had grown fiercer and bolder still. They would fight each other for the game they hunted, and their jaws would be bloody and gory afterwards. And if Daenerys ever dared interrupt them while they fed, they would turn to her with angry hisses, warning her to stay away. Sometimes, when they quarreled with each other in the cavern and shrieked, their roars would shake the rocky walls. The power of her growing dragons always made Daenerys shiver in delight and pride, but she could not deny that they brought her now a measure of apprehension at times, for she worried that there might come a day when they would not listen to her, even though she was their mother.

But outside the dragons' cave the world welcomed spring. The trees grew green with new leaf, and birds sung on their branches from dawn till dusk. Flowers blossomed, and the air filled with intoxicating scents. Life awoke everywhere, and even the shadow that was upon the woods could not hinder it; it only served to dim its glory, and Daenerys wondered how much brighter Eryn Galen must have looked in its earlier days, when it was free of stain and evil.

One of these days, and as she was washing her clothes, she heard galloping approaching from afar. And it was a sound unexpected, for no visitor had she received after Luineth and Istuives had been to see her more than a month ago. Curious, she abandoned the trough and walked outside. And there she saw her guards emerging from the guardhouse and lifting their arms in greeting, as the Elvenking, sat upon his majestic elk, trotted into the yard. Her breath was caught in her throat then, as she beheld him proud and straight upon his mount, wearing his crown of green leaves and white flowers and his long white cloak flowing from his shoulders and dancing like a silken wave with the pace of his elk.

Thranduil greeted his subjects with a nod and a measured smile, and then his eyes fell to Daenerys, who was standing midway upon the path before her door. She looked disheveled, and her simple brownish gown was stained with water and slightly rumpled. Her hair was done in a hasty braid, but unruly locks escaped here and there, and her face bore a look of surprise and stupefaction. She was the loveliest sight he had beheld in days.

Gracefully he dismounted, and trusted the reins of his elk to the guards, who led it to the lone oak tree of the yard and tethered it alongside Daenerys' horse. Then he thanked them and dismissed them, saying he had no need of their services, and that they should resume their patrols. As the elves departed, he unhurriedly walked up to Daenerys, who was still like a statue and gazing at him with wonder in her eyes.

"Gi suilon, Daenerys. Ci maer?" he began casually.

She suddenly remembered to bow before him. "I am well, my lord. And you?"

He took her hand and gently pulled her to her feet. She raised her eyes to look into his then, and he smiled. "Now I am better."

She returned his smile, but concern lined her features. "Were you unwell?"

He glanced around with narrowed eyes and said, "Best if we do not speak of such matters here. I know not who might be listening."

"Oh, yes, of course", she stammered. "Come inside, then."

She pushed the door open and showed him into the living room. Thranduil saw how she had turned the once abandoned elven abode into a comfortable and warm human home. There were pots with flowers on the window sills, the tables were clean and neat, and the furniture tidy.

"How has been life for you here?" he asked her.

She took a breath and shrugged. "Tolerable, I suppose. Sometimes I feel hopeful, though other times melancholy takes me", she admitted.

His face saddened. "I wish it did not have to be so."

"One cannot have it all." But then she shook the sorrow from her expression and gestured towards the sofa. "But come now, my King, take a seat. And I will prepare some tea and biscuits. I have little to offer, however, I must warn you", she added with a playful tone.

"I do not mind", he told her softly, as he took his seat.

Soon enough she returned and sat beside him. He picked up a biscuit and bit on it. "This is good", he praised her.

"It is naught but flour and oats, and some honey", she explained timidly, watching him as he ate the rest of it.

"Do you have need for anything?"

She stood thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps some more oats and flour?"

He nodded. "They will be brought to you."

They fell silent afterwards, with her sipping some tea and him munching on another biscuit, until Daenerys felt uneasiness creep between them and expand like a plume of choking smoke. Clearly the time they had spent apart had had its effect on their level of comfort with each other. Wishing to break this silence before it became unbearable, she spoke. "I am grateful for your visit, my lord, but, may I ask, what brings you here?"

He gave her an incredulous look. "Why would you need to ask me that? Had I not promised you that I would come to you?"

Her lips parted, and she cast her eyes low. "Yes, but… I did not think…"

"You did not think I would keep my promise?" He sounded almost hurt.

"I thought you might forget me", she replied, bringing her eyes back to his.

"Forget you? Never…" His hand went to her cheek, and his thumb traced her cheekbone lightly. She trembled, and a myriad of emotions flooded her heart, for she had dearly missed him, and now she realized it, and it was all coming back at once. "But dire matters kept me confined at my Halls", he said, his countenance turning grimmer now, and his hand dropped.

"What happened?"

"I had a visit of Mithrandir, the grey wizard, and Aragorn of the Dúnedain. They brought to me the most peculiar creature, a wretched thing, deformed and twisted and ugly… Gollum it is called, and they asked me to keep him in my dungeons and watch over him. The creature had been captured by Sauron and was tortured and interrogated in Mordor, and it appears he has given away valuable information with regards to the search of the One Ring and its whereabouts." His face grew graver still. "Alas, Daenerys, I am now certain we have come to the beginning of the end. For before long Sauron will find the ring and claim it, and then doom shall fall upon Middle-Earth…"

Daenerys had no idea what this creature Gollum was, but the tidings of war the Elvenking had spoken of was dire news enough. "Even now the Dark Lord searches for the ring, restless in his efforts… The paths of the world have become darker and peril lurks in every corner. Dol Guldur stirs again, and my scouts tell me the Nazgûl are amassing forces of evil, orcs and spiders and wargs and all sorts of foul creatures. How long before they unleash an attack against us?"

Her heart went out for his plight, for he looked distressed, and a new burden was laden upon his shoulders. Her hand found his then, and her touch was warm and comforting. "We must not lose hope. You have told me of the coming war since the first days I was in your Halls, and the time is approaching. We must not lose heart, but be ready for what is to come."

"We?"

She nodded in affirmative. "We. Have I not pledged you my help?"

A loud roar was heard then, and the walls of the house shook. Thranduil looked around in alarm, but Daenerys only smiled. "Drogon. He is a furious child."

"The dragons… they have grown."

"They have."

He gave her then a look full of resolve. "I wish to see them."

Her brow furrowed a little. "They are wild", she warned him.

"They would not seek to harm me, when I am with you", he said with certainty.

I hope so, Daenerys thought. "You should be quite safe, peeking at them through the tunnel door…"

He rose. "Take me to them, Daenerys."

Seeing that he was determined, she yielded. "Very well."

They walked through the narrow tunnel and she unlocked the door. "They have not fed yet today", she told him. Then carefully she entered the cave, and Thranduil was behind her. "Drogon?" she called.

There was silence at first, but then a large black head emerged from the shadows, hissing at them with open jaws. The Elvenking gasped and stepped backwards, but Daenerys gripped his arm, halting his retreat. "Drogon! He is my friend!"

The dragon hissed again, and his throat took to glow like an ember with fire, one breath from releasing it. Cold sweat broke upon Thranduil's brow, as memories from ages past came alive in his mind. Ancalagon's lieutenants flew down from above and rained fiery rain upon the Host of Valinor, forcing them back from the gates of Angband… He tried to steady himself, taking courage from Daenerys' firm grasp of his arm.

"Drogon! You will not breathe fire upon him!" she shouted, her tone imperative now.

The black serpent flapped his wings, causing their hair and cloaks to billow. But then Rhaegal jumped against his brother with claw and tooth and shoved him aside. He interposed himself between the pair and Drogon and screeched angrily at him.

"He is protecting you! Rhaegal, he remembers you", Daenerys whispered to Thranduil. "Be not afraid", she said, and let go of him, as she stepped forth.

Drogon snarled at his brother, but did not attack him. "My children! There is no need for you to fight. Listen to me!" she cried, and both dragons turned their heads towards her, regarding her with their large glowing eyes. "Thranduil is my friend. He is no enemy. You will not harm him!"

Drogon snorted a puff of black smoke through his nostrils and lowered his head in submission. Rhaegal extended his shiny wings, shielding Thranduil behind them. Daenerys went and touched the black dragon's nose, and he closed his eyes, now pacified. Rhaegal then turned and looked at Thranduil, and he made to reach for him with his head. But Thranduil was still shaken from his memories, and he retreated a few steps in fear, heart beating fast in his chest. The dragon growled low in his throat, as if in question of the elf's odd behavior. Daenerys noticed the exchange, and left Drogon. She came and stroked the green dragon between the eyes, and he blinked. "Do not fear him", she murmured in a gentle tone. "He wants you to touch him."

But the Elvenking would not move from his place against the wall, and he looked pale like a ghost. When Daenerys looked at him, the smile fell from her face. "Thranduil? You are unwell."

He found his voice. "I fear that my idea to see the dragons was a terrible one. They have grown… fearsome."

She saw agitation written all over his face, and touched his arm once more. "Come. We should return to the house."

When Thranduil was back in the living room, he could at last breathe again. He sank in the sofa, and she sat by his side. "I am sorry. I know not what came upon me", he muttered weakly.

"Thranduil…" she murmured his name tenderly. "I know of your story, and your scars… You have shown me, remember? No need to apologize."

"Yes…"

She was so close to him then, and looking deeply into his eyes. "The past… it will never leave me", he whispered.

"It never does. But we must learn to live with it. And you have lived thousands of years… Is the memory still so vivid?" she wondered.

"Elven memory does not fade. For us, it all is still too near. We feel everything too deeply", he replied.

"Everything?" she asked him, her heart taking up now a faster rhythm, as his proximity set her senses ablaze.

He gazed at her. Her eyes were glimmering, her lips plump and eager… "Everything."

Daenerys glanced at his mouth, corners turned downwards in a perpetual pout, accentuating his grave expression. How grim and grave he always looks, she pondered. I wonder how he was in his youth, when he used to laugh, as his father writes in the book… Life has been harsh on him, and he is doomed to bear his wounds forever.

Her fingertips dared touch his chin then, as she leaned against him. "I have not forgotten. The memory of it returns to me every night", she told him under her breath, and her thumb boldly traced his lower lip.

He gasped and shivered, feeling his body coming alive against hers. His hand went to the back of her neck, fingers tangling in her loose braid. "Daenerys…"

"You have not forgotten either."

"How could I? I bared my body and my soul to you… and you accepted me wholeheartedly", he said, cradling her head.

A single tear fell from her eye, and her heart was overwhelmed with emotion. "Of course I did. Did you ever doubt it?"

Instead of replying verbally, he closed the small distance between them and sealed her lips with his. The kiss started off as chaste, but quickly she gave in to her desire, and opened her mouth for him. The invasion she suffered was sweet, as his tongue battled hers for dominion. His arm then wound about her back and pulled her closer to him, and she pushed him against the back of the sofa and leaned against his chest. Her hand crept from his shoulder to his throat, deftly unclasping the broach that held his cloak fastened, and then slid beneath his collar, her touch setting fire to his cool skin.

But then he broke the kiss and held her by the shoulders. "Daenerys, no… No, this is folly", he said and shook his head, still breathless and flushed. "You have said it: there is no path on which we might walk together. Our feelings will only bring us pain, if we give in to them."

She regarded him for a moment, and then her passion died down, and she pulled away from his arms. She stood up, turning her back to him, for she did not wish for him to see her tears of hurt and disappointment. "Why did you come to my house then?" she asked him in a broken voice. "Why must you come here and upset my life? You know how I feel! Why must you torment me, if you have no intention of reciprocating my feelings?" she flung the final words at him, turning to him with a look of anger and pain, while tears streamed down her cheeks.

Her reaction shattered him. "Daenerys… It was never my intention to hurt you. All I said, I said for your own good. There is no future for us… One day you will return to your world, and I will linger here…" he sighed.

She shook her head. "I doubt that will ever be possible."

He stepped close to her. "Even so, which I would never wish for you, I am an elf, and you are mortal. Your life will pass like a breath of air, and-"

"And you want to spare yourself the pain of losing another love, not to war and death but to the slow decay of time?" She was not sure if she was hurt or angry anymore, or just disappointed.

He hung his head. "Yes. Perhaps I am selfish, but I will not spend an eternity mourning a second loss", he told her.

"And you would rather deny yourself the joy of the present?" Another teared rolled down.

"There is no other way…"

"Then why did you come to my house?" she repeated the question more aggressively this time. "Answer me!" The dragon was awoken in her, and it demanded answers.

His gaze flickered. "I wished to see you. I wished to know you are well."

"Well, as you see I am perfectly fine!" she shouted at him bitterly.

"Daenerys…" How did it come to that? How did he let this escalate so horribly? "You are not fine. You are lonely, and feel abandoned and hopeless. And I must seem a monster to you, for now you feel betrayed by me. But what I feel…" he took a shaky breath. She looked at him with a frown. "What I feel for you is so deep and real that I fear it will consume me if I allow it to grow unhindered, and I will never let you return to your world, but keep you here for myself, though short the time might be. I wish to protect you from myself… But it is a struggle to try and keep away from you, and I must fight with every fiber of my being not to take you in my arms and make you mine forever", he finally confessed.

She gasped, and was about to say something, when they heard frantic knocks on the door. "My King! Daenerys! We are under attack! Orcs!"

Thranduil and Daenerys exchanged a look of alarm. "Stay here", the King said, and drew his sword. Then he flung the door open and marched into the yard.

Daenerys ran to the window, and saw Thranduil rushing to join the two guards to the front of the yard, who were already fighting the orcs. They were many, a large raiding band of fifty orcs or so, and they were armed with swords and scythes, axes and clubs and other weapons of crude orc-make. The three elves stood their ground and felled orc after orc, but soon they were surrounded, and fought back to back. One of the guards received a deep cut across the chest then, and fell to his knees. Thranduil and the other elf strove to keep up the fight and protect the fallen one, but the struggle became harder by the minute.

I cannot remain idle here. I must help them, or else they will die.

Knowing at once what she had to do, Daenerys hurried to the tunnel and to the dragons' cave. Unlocking the great iron doors that barred the cave from the outside world, she called to the black dragon. "Drogon! Fly!"

He crawled out of the cavern, and took to flight. Daenerys rushed out and circled the rock, and the scene of the skirmish came into view. The other guard was now down as well, and Thranduil was on his own, fighting the remaining twenty orcs. The ground about him was strewn with the corpses of the foes. The clash of steel against steel filled the air and mingled with the grunts and growls of the orcs and the gasps of the ailing elves. The King wielded now both his swords and swirled like a maelstrom amongst the foul creatures, but they kept coming at him from all sides, and he received many cuts and gashes as he fought.

He will not last for long, Daenerys thought in dismay. She then turned her eyes to the dragon, who flew above the crag now. I hope he will obey my command. She took some brave steps forward then, approaching Thranduil and the orcs. "Thranduil!" she screamed his name, and his eyes darted to her for an instant. "Move away! Now!"

He felled an orc, and she managed to see the questioning look in his eyes through the flurry of blows. But then he noticed the black dragon flying, and he understood what she meant. Deftly he ducked and avoided a blow, and then jumped and rolled on the ground, away from the orcs.

Daenerys then knew this was her chance. She turned her eyes to the sky, where the dragon flew. "Drogon! Dracarys!"

The black dragon halted and levitated in mid-air, balancing his weight by batting his wings. And then his jaws parted and he roared, and a stream of fire poured forth from his throat. A few orcs were instantly lit like torches, and the others scattered away from the flames. Drogon then landed, and tore an orc's head from his body with one vicious bite of his sharp teeth. Other orcs threw spears and axes at him, but were unable to cause him any real damage. Angered, the dragon spat fire against them, and soon enough all orcs were turned to ash and bones.

Daenerys then walked to him and touched his neck. "Thank you, Drogon", she whispered to him, her voice an exhalation of relief, and he rewarded her with a prideful roar, before flying off once more. In the distance, Thranduil had been watching the scene in awe and amazement, and now he rose to his feet and sheathed his bloodied swords. Daenerys approached him. "Are you hurt?" she asked with concern, seeing his cuts and bruises.

"I will be fine. But the guards are in a worse condition", he replied, and moved towards Amdiron, who had been badly wounded. There was a deep gash across his chest, and blood soaked his armor and garments. The King knelt and placed a hand above the wound. "Ceven dhaer, anno vellas lín enin 'raw hen", he whispered, and repeated the words numerous times, until the elf's breath eased and became deeper and rhythmic. By then the other guard stumbled closer. He was injured in the leg, but his life was not in danger.

"What are we going to do? You need a healer, all of you", Daenerys said.

"You saved us, my lady", the guard with the leg wound said.

"That is true. Daenerys, we are alive thanks to you", Thranduil acknowledged, and gazed intensely at her.

"No, not me. It was Drogon who saved you", she said.

The Elvenking smiled at her, but pain caused him to wince. "Had it not been for you…" he rasped.

She looked at him with worry. "Thranduil, you must come inside. You have to lie down."

He did not protest any further, but only said, "Amdiron and Bregedir need assistance."

"I am alright, my King. It is only my leg that is hurt. I will help you carry Amdiron inside", Bregedir said.

And so the three of them lifted Amdiron and brought him into the house. They laid him upon the sofa, and Daenerys brought pillows and blankets for him. Bregedir sank in the armchair, and took to inspecting the wound on his calf. Thranduil repeated the healing spell for Amdiron, while Daenerys cleaned his wound, until he became calm and at last fell into a peaceful sleep.

"What of the orcish corpses outside?" Bregedir wondered.

"I will see that they are burned, should any remain that Drogon has not already charred to dust", Daenerys replied.

"The palace must be notified", the Elvenking said, pacing around nervously. "I will ride back."

"No!" Daenerys objected. "You are in no condition to ride a whole day back to the Halls. And we do not know if more orcs lurk in the premises. I suspect they had been watching me for some time, and decided to come and pillage the house today. We are safer inside, and with the dragons close to us", she said.

"But I am no healer. Amdiron needs urgent attention", Thranduil said, clasping now his side.

"It will soon be dusk. The next pair of guards will come, and they can take Amdiron back to the Halls. It is the safest route to follow", Daenerys insisted. "Meanwhile, why do you not all rest and wash your wounds, while I prepare some soup?"

Without waiting for a reply, she vanished into the kitchen.

It was all done as she had said. The night shift came, and the King ordered them to return to the palace at once, and take Amdiron to the healers. He and Bregedir would stay behind until they were fit to ride unaided. After they had cleaned themselves and filled their bellies with food, the guard occupied the sofa, while Daenerys insisted that Thranduil take her bed and rest.

"No", he refused, but she shook her head.

"I will hear no objections. You are wounded, and need to lie down. There is no other place available but the bed."

She sounded resolved, and grasped Thranduil's forearm, prompting him to climb the staircase to her bedroom. He gasped as he walked up the stairs, for his wound persistently kept shooting pain across his right side. Daenerys watched him with dire suspicion. "How badly are you wounded?"

Another gasp came instead of an answer, and she had to help him to the bed. As soon as he lay down, she unbuckled his belt and lifted his tunic. What she saw made her brow crease in worry. There was a large bruise covering his lower ribs, indicating there might be some internal bleeding. "An orc came at me with a club", he said hoarsely.

"Thranduil…" she muttered. "You said nothing about the injury and exerted yourself; you should not have done that."

He looked away, not knowing what to tell her. While he fought, he cared little of himself. All he was thinking of was to protect his people, and her. And afterwards, he did not wish to look weak in her eyes. For she had already seen too much weakness in him.

"Thranduil…" she murmured again, tenderly this time, and touched his hair. He turned to face her. "You need to prove nothing to me. You are strong; do you think I do not know that? You have survived things that would have claimed the life of lesser people. But you are foolish", she scolded him. "Brave and foolish as a boy."

He felt his defenses abandoning him then, and he felt helpless and afraid. "So much has been taken from me. I cannot lose you, too", he whispered brokenly, while a tear ran down his good eye. The other one was unable to cry tears since long now.

"Hush, what are you saying now? I am not going anywhere", she reassured him, caressing his tousled silver strands.

"One day, you will. One day…"

The sadness in his eyes took her heart, and she sighed. "But that day is not today, and may not come for a time still. Now you need to rest, and allow your body to heal and relax. I think I have some athelas leaves in a jar. Let me go and fetch them", she offered, and stood from the bed.

When she returned after a few minutes, she found him fumbling with his garments. He was trying to bend and reach for the buckles on his boots, but the pain at his side forbid him to. She set the jar aside and went to him. "Let me help you."

She knelt and took off his boots, and then loosened the cords of his tunic. He shrugged out of it with some assistance, while his hand went to his side protectively. She then glanced at his breeches. They were bloodied and stained. "Do you want these removed as well? I do not want to make you uncomfortable", she told him nervously.

He looked at her and took a shallow breath. "Yes. You know me, Daenerys. Help me, please", he asked of her, as he once again tried to bend.

"Wait, wait…" She stepped up to him and undid the laces of his breeches. Her fingers were almost shaking, for she was about to expose him so, and did not wish to rob him of his dignity.

But he perceived her turmoil, and brought a hand to cup her cheek gently. "There is no shame in nudity", he whispered to her.

She brought her eyes up to his, drawing comfort from his words, and then yanked his breeches down. They pooled at his feet, and he stepped out of them. Daenerys avoided to look at his private parts, for the situation now felt wrong and uncomfortable. She felt it was not the same as then, in the tent, when he bared himself to her, revealing his scars and his desire for her. Now he was broken and wounded, and all lustful thoughts brought shame to her. She hurried and lifted the covers, and when he climbed underneath them and was covered up to the stomach, she could at last breathe with ease.

Her eyes then went to the jar on the table. "I will crush some leaves and apply them to the wound, alright?"

"Yes…"

She took a bowl of warm water and broke a few athelas leaves in it and pounded them until they became a sticky greenish pulp. The aroma of the healing herb filled the air. Thranduil breathed it in deeply and turned on his left side, and Daenerys came and spread the poultice over his wound, and then dressed it with a clean compress. He instantly felt the pain and discomfort subsiding, and his brow relaxed.

Then she stood and wiped her hands on a towel. "Let me know if you need anything", she told him as she hurried for the door.

"Where are you going?" he worried.

"I must check on Bregedir. And I also need a change of clothes."

"But return to me, please", he nearly begged her.

She looked at him with a small smile. "I will."

Translations

Gi suilon, Daenerys. Ci maer? = I greet you, Daenerys. Are you well? (Sindarin)

Ceven dhaer, anno vellas lín enin 'raw hen = Great earth, may you give your strength to this body (Sindarin)