Chapter 18

November 19, T.A 2940

Before Dawn

Anariel allowed her eyes to close as Feren laid her down she sighed internally, feeling Feren's soft, gentle lips press against her cheek, his warmth lingering against her skin. Anariel struggled with the feeling to reach out and hold him close, instead she waited silently until Feren left, with her heart aching she pushed the feeling out of her mind as she climbed out of bed, having made up her mind that she was leaving. If the king would not let her leave, then she would find her own way out and leave on her own accord.

Anariel slipped around the corners, maneuvered her way through the halls wondering how long it would take them notice that she was gone, she paused in both thought and movements doubting her father would really notice at all. She had spent lifetimes wishing to find her family, to leave Bree and now that she had nothing was as she had thought it would be. Then again she never really thought about what it would be like exactly. She was no longer alone and not for a short time, she was surrounded by elves, by people who would be here hundreds of years later. She could barely wrap her mind around such a thing, but it only made her wonder how she would lose them if it not by the death of old age or sickness than what? Anariel decided she could not bare the unknown, perhaps life before as she had known it was better, painful, but it was consistent and she knew what was expected to happen.

She had left all of those people behind, people who could use her help in preparing for the winter, she could have helped watch Marigold. Tears began falling it struck her heart painfully, she heard hurried footsteps of the stable hand returning, she mounted the first horse that allowed her near taking off at a great speed.

Tears continued to fall, she could have helped, she could have prevented Marigold's death if only she hadn't been so selfish. She should have fought harder to stay.

Anariel pushed the horse harder for as long as he would possibly allow. The sky turned dark, the wind began whipping through the leaves when the horse reared up suddenly throwing her painfully to the ground before trotting away. She'd pushed her mount too far, too hard and now she was on her own. Anariel lay groaning out, rolling onto her side shooting daggers at the horse she flicked hand and stormed off using her pain to fuel her anger.

She kept going never stopping, she couldn't stop now.

"I can't let her out of this kingdom again." Thranduil snapped as Feren pushed on at the matter at hand, he tried everything he could to try and convince the king but nothing seemed to be working.

"My lord, please. Do you not wish to see your daughter happy? Because right now she isn't!" Feren argued on her behalf, he was quickly running out of ideas.

"Do not question my intentions with my daughter." The king cursed, though Feren held his ground he became angrier as time passed as did the king. Feren's own anger for the king hitting Anariel earlier in the week came out now along with every ounce of built-up anger he held inside. "I will question it!" Feren screamed at his king. "You bruised her cheekbone, gave her five stitches in one lip not but three days ago. You've condemned her to this life, to be something she doesn't want. Forced her to leave the only life she ever knew, without so much of a thought of what she wanted."

"Silence!"

Feren stood his breath heaving as he forced himself to stay silent as his king ordered.

Thranduil's fist clenched in anger before the king could continue Feren sighed and began again. "Look, you trusted me with the queen…" Feren began trying a different route.

"And look how that turned out." Thranduil sneered in anger.

"I risked my life for the queen! Nearly died for her. And I would do it again. How many times have I stood behind you in battle faithfully? You trusted me to bring her home and I faithfully followed those orders, kept her safe and protected her. Let her go, I will go and protect her. She'll return willingly." Feren stood fighting the king for what she wanted, Feren knew he was pushing his luck but he had to try, for her.

"You can not guarantee that! " Thranduil tried to hide the pain within his voice, Feren, however, caught it and it nearly matched his own.

Feren sighed his head dropping lightly. "Perhaps, you are right. I can't guarantee that. But, I have to believe it."

Thranduil looked at Feren suddenly in a different light, he admittedly admired Feren's boldness in this matter. Leisurely Thranduil began stalking around Feren looking him over. "Tell me, Feren, when did you fall in love with my daughter?"

Feren paused stumbling over his words. Was it so apparent and obvious? "I could not pinpoint an exact moment, my lord. It's just…"

"Speak on it, I will know your true intention and feelings towards my daughter," Thranduil ordered firmly, still moving in circles around the now stumbling ellon.

Feren sighed running a hand across the back of his neck. "She's everything. I want to be there for her, through every low and all brokenness. I want to know her fears so I can destroy them, spend an eternity getting to know her fae. To be there every moment to show her how every flaw, every imperfection she hates about her is just another reason why I fell in love with her. I…I just want her to be happy, and it's horrific because what if her happy isn't me? What if it's him? I don't know what I would do, I know I would do anything for her but my own heartaches and fears for what might happen if she doesn't want me back. I fear my own jealousy, I have already shown my anger physically towards him, and yet as it stands we are nothing more than Princess and Marchwarden."

Thranduil stopped in front him staring him hard in the eyes, he believed that Feren truly loved her. Thranduil remembered saying similar things about his own late wife. "Well, I will tell you. I will not make any decision for her. If she so chooses you then, by all means, I will await you in the throne room for you to ask for my blessing, but I will not stand in her way nor persuade my daughter in the matters of her heart."

"I understand, my lord." Feren did and he respected that decision. "Can she return to Bree only for a time." Feren pushed on as Thranduil wandered away still deep in thought he poured two glasses of wine offering one to Feren.

"And what do you propose I do about the ball?" Thranduil questioned, telling himself the question was purely hypothetical.

"Postpone it a little and…"

The king held up a hand commanding him to stop. Thranduil mulled it over, he had remembered the smile that graced her lips as he agreed to help the town and the pained look that graced her face as he denied her the return. All he wanted was her home and safe, it was true the king could trust Feren but he wanted her home where he, himself could keep her safe. Thranduil struggled internally on the matter for a time. He was about to respond when the door burst open.

"My Lord, the princess… she has gone."

Thranduil and Feren's glasses went crashing to the ground, eyes growing wide. "Send a message to Haldir to ready himself, and inform Prince Legolas of what has happened. We leave immediately. Haldir is to meet us by the west gates. Have Feren's and my own mount prepared as well."

"My lord?" The new ellon wondered.

"Go, I know where she is headed." Thranduil turned to look at Feren, "Go and prepare yourself, we leave for Bree."

Feren bowed, "My Lord?"

"I can only assume, after what you have just told me, despite your injuries you wish to come find her?" Feren bowed knowing he need not speak his answer. "Then go prepare yourself."

"Thank you," Feren bowed one last time before heading out to his own chambers. Thranduil gave the messenger a few more orders before leaving to prepare himself to leave.

"So she spends one night with you and runs away?" Haldir mocked, saddling his horse as Feren made his way into the stables.

Feren took a deep breath trying to keep his cool, he tried desperately to stay focused on Anariel and not allow Haldir to get under his skin. He was worried for her, there was an increasing amount of orcs on the roads he just wanted to catch up to her, or get to Bree and make sure she is okay.

Feren caught the way Haldir scoffed at him and shook his head, sending Feren into a rage. This horrid elf before him, the damned elf that tries so hard to steal away his Guren vell, who cared nothing for the elleth that she was, nothing about the way she is feeling, about the danger she could be in. It made him livid, and his anger showed. Feren lunged for him just as Legolas and the king arrived. Haldir braced himself immediately throwing back a punch the second Feren threw the first one knocking him square in the jaw.

Legolas pushed forward despite his own pain grasping Feren and pulling him away. Haldir despite the blood that fell from his lip smirked. The king eyed the two carefully he could make a well-calculated guess as to what caused the fight as he moved towards his elk, he had no time for such foolish games he had to get to his daughter.

Legolas released Feren once he felt that they were far enough away from one another. Haldir leaped upon his horse as Legolas pointed Feren in the direction of the horse he would be taking, as it would seem Anariel had taken his own.

The group moved out of the forest the second everyone was ready, Thranduil spared no time in hurrying to seek out his daughter. He did not know how long she had already been gone and was fearful for what may happen to her alone on such treacherous roads.