The King of Mirkwood paced impatiently outside the healing rooms. He was uncharacteristically haggard and emotional. Inside the chambers were a hoard of healers, nurses attempting to save his wife's life. The previous hours had become a total blur.
Your wife and child for your armory, sire" the orc had demanded. Thranduil's heart dropped: an impossible choice.
"Thranduil, please" Ava begged her husband, her hand reaching protectively for her child. His child. An elfling he had desperately wanted, already loved with all of his heart.
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." Of course, Thranduil knew he could not give up their weapons. Not only would that endanger his people, but all the creatures in Middle Earth. But, by the valar, this was his wife and child!
"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. It took every fibre of his being to stop himself from giving in. He couldn't give in. His people counted on him to protect them. Never could he have imagined the cost to be this high. He silently prayed that Ava would forgive him one day.
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. Thranduil's heart tore at the sight of his wife, kneeling in front of that foul creature, her arms hovering protectively over her unborn child.
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 sound was guttural and nothing like Thranduil had ever heard. It snapped something inside of him. Filled with rage, he lunged at the orc. He vaguely recalled Wyrran trying to hold him back, but to no avail.
The orc was surprised by the sudden move from the King and was unprepared for the rage that belied the attack. Thranduil easily overpowered the orc and did not stop until Wyrran pulled him off of its long-dead carcass.
"Thranduil, stop. It's over. They're all dead" Wyrran yelled. While the King had battled the orc commander, the rest of the elven company had successfully engaged the rest of the orcs.
The King snapped out of his rage. Panting heavily, he sunk to his knees. "Ava, where is Ava?" he breathed.
"The healers are tending to her" Wyrran said heavily. He had seen the injury the Queen had suffered, he knew the news would not be good.
Thranduil looked to the ground not too far away, where a team of healers had crowded around her broken body. A large pool of blood was seeping from between her legs.
"We need to get her back to the palace before we lose them both" one said urgently. Thranduil's heart constricted at the thought.
Presently, the King was staving off exhaustion awaiting news. Every now and then, he could hear urgent shouts emanating from the healing room. The healers had called for more bandages, more clamps. He had not heard Ava make a sound. She had been unconscious since arriving back at the palace. He could not feel her through their bond.
"Thranduil, perhaps you should try to get some rest" Wyrran suggested. The look Thranduil shot his advisor was enough for him raise his bands in surrender. "It is just a thought Thranduil. You do your wife and son no favors by collapsing from exhaustion."
His son, Legolas, was in his rooms. A chambermaid had come by half an hour ago, telling him his son had asked for him. Urged by Wyrran, the King reluctantly retreated to his chambers to shower before going to see Legolas. The elfling was sitting crosslegged on his bed, hugging his favorite toy, a teddy bear. The child looked scared, Thranduil's heart broke as he knew his son needed his mother's love. For now, Thranduil would have to be enough.
"Ada" the elfling sobbed, the child ran into his arms as soon as Thranduil entered the room.
Hugging Legolas close to his chest, Thranduil gently rubbed his son's back. "It's alright Legolas, you're safe now."
"Where's Nana? I want Nana" Legolas cried.
Thranduil swallowed his own tears, he would not cry in front of his son. "Nana's been hurt Legolas. The healers are trying their best to help her. We must be patient. When she wakes up, she will be so proud of how strong you've been." Was he lying to his son? Would Ava wake up? For now, Thranduil could not bear to hurt his son even more. Legolas sniffled as his father gently wiped away his tears.
"Your highness", the chambermaid interrupted, "the healers need to see you."
Thranduil gently peeled his son from him and handed the now sleepy child to the maid. He sprinted across the palace back to the healing rooms. His heart was pounding, but it was not from the exertion. The head healer stood outside Ava's chamber, arms folded.
"Your Highness," the healer greeted.
"Is she awake? How is she?" Thranduil asked urgently.
The healer's gaze casted downwards. "Your highness, the Queen is still in a coma. Her injuries were severe, beyond my abilities. You need to summon his Lord Elrond, only his healing powers ."
Thranduil ran his hand through the hair on the top of his head, he was relieved. "Of course, Lord Wyrran will send a messenger immediately."
His advisor nodded at the indirect command and immediately summoned a nearby sentry. Ava was still alive, he would do whatever it took to help her.
"What of the baby?" the King asked.
"I'm sorry your highness, the elfling did not survive. We tried everything, but the trauma was too great, the Queen had lost too much blodo…"
The world swirled around Thranduil. He staggered backwards, speechless. "No" he whispered, before letting out a pained wail.
The first thing Ava noticed was the diffuse pain, all over her body. Was it possible for every muscle in her body to be sore? She groaned and tried to move her arms and legs. Her limbs were not used to the movement, having been still for the last 4 weeks.
"Ava, sweetheart?" her father's voice asked, concern laced in every syllable.
Ava groaned again. "Ada"
Elrond's voice cracked in relief. "Yes, it's me Ava. Be careful, you're still healing"
"What happened?" Ava croaked, healing from what?
"The orc attack. Do you remember?" Elrond asked gently.
Ava looked at her father, drawing a complete blank. She looked at her surroundings, frowning at their unfamiliarity. The room was not like any she knew of in Imladris. Outside the windows, the trees were much larger than she remembered. "Where am I?"
"Darling, you're back at the palace. You've been here for weeks. Thranduil will be so happy you're awake. He's hardly left your side, I just convinced him to take a short break."
Ava was even more confused. "Who's Thranduil?"
Elrond considered his daughter's responses carefully. He checked her over, and did not detect any new injuries. The physical injuries she had from the orc attack had mostly healed. Ava's amnesia though, was entirely unexpected.
"Your husband Ava. You have been married for a few centuries now. You are Queen of Mirkwood" Elrond said evenly, bracing for her reaction. He was right to expect a volcanic shock.
"What!" Ava shouted, sitting up abruptly in bed. "WHAT are you talking about?"
"Ava, please calm down" Elrond pleaded.
"What are you saying. I'm in Mirkwood? WHY? I'm married? To Thranduil? King Thranduil? HOW did this happen! I just came of age! This can't be happening" Ava blabbered, in distress at what she had just heard.
"Ava, you came of age four hundred years ago. You and Thranduil, are very happy. You love each other" Elrond tried to explain.
"You are joking right? Tell me this is not real. I don't want to be married. To ANYONE! I don't want to be Queen of ANYTHING!" Ava said, she was hysterical.
Hearing the commotion, Arwen rushed in. The elder daughter looked at her father questionningly. "Arwen! Arwen, I don't know what Ada's saying. He says I'm married, I'm Queen of Mirkwood. What is happening! I don't know what he's talking about. Tell me it's not real!" pleaded the younger sister.
For a moment, Arwen was too stunned to speak. Instinctively, she reached towards her younger sister to comfort her.
"She has lost much of her memory from the last several hundred years" Elrond said heavily.
"Ada, how?" Arwen asked her father, with one arm still rubbing her sister's back in a futile effort to calm Ava.
"It is likely from the blood loss" Elrond answered, looking at his youngest daughter. Her mannerisms, speech were like they had been all those years ago, when Ava had just reached adulthood. The restraint, maturity of age suddenly gone with her memories.
The sound of Ava's voice had set a minor commotion outside the room. The servants were now well aware their Queen was finally awake. "Your highness" the chambermaid stated as she entered the room.
Ava's steely glare was antithesis to the warm, kind Queen the maid was used to seeing.
"Get out!" Ava ordered, not wanting to see any more strangers during this traumatic time.
Arwen rose to see the servant out. Once outside the door, "her Highness is still quite affected from the attack. I hope you will not take her treatment just now to heart" Arwen told the maid.
The servant nodded in compassionate understanding before leaving. She was replaced by an even bigger challenge: the King of Mirkwood.
"Arwen, they told me she is awake" Thranduil said hopefully.
The King reached to push open the door to the bedroom. Before he could enter the chamber, Arwen stopped him. "Thranduil, there's something you should know…."
So, here begins the tale of how Ava will discover the life she had built with Thranduil. Unfortunately, she will not take the new so of being a mother well either. She's not intentionally trying to hurt Thranduil or Legolas. Imagine if you woke up thinking you're 22, young, single only to be told you were in fact a wife and mother and had a myriad of responsibilities...
Ava WILL (hopefully) find her way back to her husband and family, though it will be a difficult and at times painful process.
Appreciate your reviews!
