"Ada!" the toddler declared as he ran into study. The elfling had recently learned how to use door handles and he had put the skill to good use, entering any room in the palace he wished. The guards stationed outside the study were no match for the energetic child who never seemed to tire of exploring every corner of the palace.
Before Thranduil could put away the papers he was working on, a blur of blond hair launched itself into his arms. The King chuckled as his son buried himself into his chest. The father tightened his arms around the toddler. His light blond hair was unbraided, no doubt having fallen out since the morning. He smelled of leaves and wood and the light scent of lavender that his mother must have transferred onto him during their morning cuddles.
"Legolas, how did you get past the guards outside?" Thranduil teased.
The child shrugged in response. "Ada, take me outside to play!" he demanded.
Thranduil chuckled, his son's energy was enviable. "I am at work Legolas. Maybe later" he said gently.
Legolas pouted, the child was adorable. Thranduil felt his heart soften. "What are you doing?" the child asked as his father quickly put the papers on his desk out of his reach just as his hands went for them.
"I am looking at the reports from the scouts at our borders Legolas. We must keep our people safe from those who would do us harm. It is the King's first duty, above all else. One day, it will be your job" Thranduil explained to his heir.
"Will you help me Ada?" Legolas asked innocently, his big blue eyes staring earnestly at his protector.
"Aye, of course. I will always be here to help you" Thranduil promised. Their moment was interrupted by the door to the study being opened again. This time, the Queen of Mirkwood entered. Ava was wearing a simple, cream colored gown. A look of triumph passed on her features when she spotted the object of her search.
"There you are, my sweet. You know not to disturb Ada when he's working" she chided gently.
"Ada's going to help me protect Mirkwood when I am king!" the prince said proudly. His mother smiled.
"You won't need to worry about that for a very long time my little one" Ava responded.
"I'm not little! I'm going to be bigger than the baby!" Legolas reminded his parents.
"Yes you are, and you'll be a big help when your little sister arrives" Thranduil added.
The toddler flashed a toothy grin.
Ava ruffled her son's hair. "Why don't we go play in the gardens and give Ada some time to finish his work?" she suggested. The prince bounded outside as fast as he could, having completely forgotten about his father. Ava glanced at her husband with a knowing smile and chuckled. "I will see to him" she said. Before she could turn to leave, she felt Thranduil's arms wrap around her waist.
"Are you sure it won't tire you? He is quite full of energy, I'm sure one of the chambermaids can take him. You look pale" he offered.
Ava smiled and leaned into her husband, his concern was endearing. "I'm in my seventh month, it's normal. He takes after me, you know. We'll be fine. If you finish soon, maybe you can join us."
Thranduil rubbed her pregnant belly, she was radiant. "Duty always calls, but I will try."
Ava nodded and quietly left the King to his work. The garden was right outside his study window, tantalizingly close and allowing Thranduil to see his wife and child enjoying the warm summer's day. Ava was sitting of the bench reading a book while Legolas ran around on the grass pretending to be a bird.
The King allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. Ava had settled into her role as Queen finally. The realm had welcomed her as his consort and were overjoyed with the arrival of an heir a century after their marriage. She had been young, carefree and very immature when they first met. Ava had grown to become responsible and dutiful, though she had not lost her affectionate side.
"Nana! Can I go into the woods?" Legolas whined. Ava sighed, the elfling had tired of running on the grass in the gardens. He was at the age where climbing trees had become his new hobby and Ava could tell he was itching to explore the forest.
"Yes sweet pea, let's go." Legolas took off running before Ava could even put down her book. She chuckled and moved much more slowly to follow her son. When she reached the palace gates, she could see his tiny figure running into the forest.
"Your majesty, allow us to accompany you" the guard posted at the palace gates said with a bow. Ava arched her brow. "I do not require guards, we won't be going far" The guard, unsurprised by the Queen's answer, stepped aside.
The woods smelled of damp earth. Ava breathed deeply and savored the scent. She did not frequently have the opportunity to stroll through the woods. Thranduil had recently cautioned her against it due to increasing orc incursions at the borders. While Ava appreciated her husband's protectiveness, especially during her pregnancy, she felt a twinge of frustration that her movements were so limited. She could hardly go anywhere without a guard or a lady in waiting. Today, she had stood her ground and insisted she take her son to play in the woods alone, and it had felt good.
"Nana, look at me!" the elfling demanded, as he swung from a tall branch.
"Be careful not to fall Legolas" his mother reminded him half heartedly, with a smile. She vividly recalled doing the same thing as a child and her father fretting incessantly over her safety. As she predicted, Legolas landed safely on the ground. Without stopping for long, he quickly ran ahead in search of the next tree to scale.
Ava took the rare moment of silence to muse about how drastically her life had changed. She had once sought a self indulgent existence. She cringed at the thought of how selfish she used to be, how difficult she had been with Thranduil when they first met. The first few years of her marriage had been rocky as well, she was unaccustomed to the protocol and restrictions being queen had thrust upon her. She had resented Thranduil for it and acted out. It had hurt him, she knew. But he had been patient and loving, and with time she matured and adjusted. When she was younger, Ava had always insisted she did not want children. Yet, as her bond to Thranduil grew, she began to understand his yearning for a child. Eventually, she felt it too. They had been thrilled when Legolas was finally conceived, ushering them into a new family life.
Ava's reminiscing was interrupted by her son. "Nana, NANA!"
Alarmed at the child's sudden change of tone, Ava hurried as fast as she could towards her son, her pregnant belly keeping her from going as fast as she'd liked. She found Legolas staring into a clearing. The trees in the small area had been chopped down haphazardly. There was evidence of a camp. Garbage was strewn carelessly, soiling the pristine land. Ava felt her anger rising, something had defiled their beloved forest.
"Nana, someone's hurt the trees" Legolas said, turning to her in anguish. Ava pulled the elfling to her, trying to sooth his hurt. She was hurting too, as all elves did when the nature around them was damaged unnecessarily. No elf could have done this.
The footsteps were heavy and threatening. Ava turned towards the noise and saw a group of orcs. They were undoubtedly responsible for the damage to the forest in front of them. It was a small group of five or six, led by a commander it seemed. How long had they been in the forest undetected? The group were at first surprised to see the mother and child. Then, a devious smile crept upon their commander's hideous face.
Ava knew she could not fight them, for she was obviously outnumbered and outmatched. She scooped Legolas into her arms and started to run. The elfling was terrified, having never seen such creatures before. He buried his face into his mother's chest and cried softly. Ava dared not look back. She didn't need to, she could feel the ground shaking beneath her from their footsteps chasing her. She could not afford to slow down any further, they were gaining on her.
Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through her shoulder. The wound created by the arrow that had struck her started to bleed immediately. And then, the weakness began to set in. It was the poison from the arrow, Ava realized.
Ava slowed to a stop. As gently as she could, she stood Legolas on the ground. The elfling's eyes were wide with fear.
"Nana…" he sobbed.
Ava caressed her son's cheeks. "Legolas, you must go" she said urgently, taking a quick look behind her to see how close the orcs were.
"Nana?" Legolas asked uncertainly.
"You must run back to the palace and tell Ada to send help. I will keep them from you for as long as I can."
Legolas shook his head furiously. "NO! Nana, please!"
"You must be brave my little leaf. Run!" Ava ordered. Her son, finding maturity beyond his years, nodded and began to run towards the palace. Ava prayed he would reach it, knowing it was still so far away. When Legolas could barely be seen in the distance, Ava tried shakily to stand. She cautiously explored the wound in her shoulder. The arrow was still embedded in her flesh. She found as good a grip as she could on the object and pulled. The pain exploded and Ava sank to the ground. The world around her began to spin, her vision blurred. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was the satisfied face of the orc commander hovering over her.
It was not the sharp pain from her shoulder that awoke Ava. Rather, the trickling of blood down her legs. Ava opened her eyes to find herself bound at the wrists and ankles. Her crisp gown was covered in dirt and blood. The wound from her shoulder unattended, had bled out. Just then, a contraction tensed her abdomen. It was a short one, but it terrified Ava. The baby was only seven months along, had she gone into early labor? She took a deep breath to concentrate on the baby. The child within her was still moving, giving her a small measure of relief.
A hand grabbed her hair and pulled harshly, tilting her head towards the sky.
"My, my, the Queen of Mirkwood herself" the orc commander greeted.
"You are trespassing in elven lands!" Ava said defiantly.
"I do not think you're in a position to enforce your borders, your highness" the orc retorted, forcing Ava into a kneeling position.
"You will pay dearly for what you've done to the forest" Ava spat. She was met with a violent slap, hard enough to knock her over. Tears sprung to her eyes, but she was determined not to show her fear.
"If you want to live, tell us where the armory is" the orc demanded, losing his patience with the elleth. He was met with silence. Elven blades and arrows were renowned for their strength and quality. In the hands of orcs, they would be deadly. Ava also did not know where they were kept, the answer a closely guarded secret that only the King and select captains in the guard. Unsatisfied with the answer, he slapped her again. Ava landed forcefully on the ground, a scream escaping her lips.
"Tell me where the armory is or your child will never see the light of day" the orc hissed.
At this, Ava's resolve broke and she began to cry. A stronger contraction came and went, she knew her baby was in mortal danger.
"Please," she begged.
Before the orc could respond, an arrowed sailed past them and found its target in one of the subordinate orcs. Ava recognized it as an elven arrow. Both orc and elf turned to see a contingent of well armed Mirkwood soldiers, led by their King.
Though the King exuded a cool demeaner, Ava recognized his eyes were burning with rage as he surveyed the scene in front of him.
"Ah, the King himself" the orc acknowledged wickedly.
"Release her" Thranduil commanded. It took every last shred of his free will to prevent himself from throttling the orc in front of him.
"You too, are in no position to bargain. Your wife and child for your armory, sire" the orc responded.
"Thranduil, please" Ava begged, her hand reaching protectively for her belly.
The King's face reflected the conflict raging within him. It was evident to Lord Wyrran, his friend and closest advisor too.
"Your highness, the armory – you cannot. It would be the end of our people"
"What would you have me do, he has Ava and the baby" Thranduil hissed.
"Thranduil, Thran" the Queen barely got out.
"What will it be" the orc demanded.
Thranduil's closed his eyes and said nothing. His silence spoke volumes.
The orc smirked. Predictably, the King had chosen his duty to the realm. The orc was going to enjoy what was about to come. "Your husband seems to have chosen his armory" the orc told Ava. A single tear slid down her face.
When it came, the blow was devastating. The orc's foot had found its target in Ava's pregnant belly. She led out a pained scream. The last thing she saw was Thranduil leaping across the clearing, sword forward, to attack the orc. Lord Wyrran had tried to hold him back, but the King could not be dissuaded. Ava thought she saw regret, grief, guilt in her husband's eyes right before she lost consciousness.
hey all,
we're really getting into the main arc of this sotry! Reviews, as always, are appreciaed
