Chapter 21

December 10, T.A 2940

Late Evening

Thranduil and Legolas had entered the inn, everyone had gone silent for a moment, turning to look to look over at this great elven king and prince. Anariel grinned rushing to the entrance taking both her brother and her father by the hand leading them over to the main counter she patted the stools looking over at them expectantly to take a seat.

Legolas easily leaped up onto the seat, as Anariel slipped behind the counter with the innkeeper, Tom. Thranduil eyed the seat, wearily glancing around at his surroundings. This was far from being within his comfort zone, taking a deep breath he looked back up to his daughter who filled pints placing them on the trays in front of her along with an assortment of food.

"Need a hand there," Tom asked eyeing the three trays ladened in pints.

"Need help?" Anariel cried in a mock tone of shock. She chuckled lightly as she placed the first upon her forearm picking up the others on the palms of her hands. "No worries, finish up there." Anariel smiled as she slid out from behind the counter carrying the trays out to the patrons.

"Ada, you should seat," Anariel spoke kindly as she came back behind the counter, throwing the trays beneath.

Thranduil shot his head back up looking to, he had hardly noticed that he was still just standing there watching her as she worked and mingled with the people. Watched as she smiled and laughed cheerfully. Before him was his daughter and he watched her move so gracefully, a gracefulness that came to her naturally, as she moved through the throngs of people he could see the subtle grace he had pushed her to show, lectured her on.

He saw the way she was ever calm and serene, the way she mingled with everyone yet never broke in her work sometimes pausing to have a longer conversation but never losing focus.

Thranduil slowly slipped onto the seat as he accepted the drink she offered him, he continued to watch her as she worked he couldn't help but find now, like when he first laid eyes on her, he criticised her still. Though unlike before he began to see everything in such a positive light, realized why she was so angry yelling at him that she could do it, he could see that now, could so clearly see it for himself, he just never trusted nor believed her in the beginning. How he wished he would have.

Feren watched as they left the house, watched her hurry away happily to the inn. The smile on her face made his anger slip away a little though still, it held strong, he could still see the way Haldir held her so closely. Feren growled out giving his head a light shake, he was trying not to think about Anariel. He always did a terrible job when it came to not thinking about her.

"You need to do something about it," Orelion spoke coming to seat beside him.

Feren glanced behind him as the others came around, turning back around to Orelion, he shrugged knowing exactly what he was talking about.

Colfinner looked down at both his Marchwarden and friend, "Orelion is right. Sometimes, you're far too gentle. Don't get me wrong, I adore our princess. But, Feren I've never in all the years we've been friends since you've come to Mirkwood have I seen you look so… well, heartbroken."

Feren sat silent, he was completely at a loss as to what to say. Orelion and Colfinner were right, he was heartbroken. "She cares about you." Feren scoffed at Orelion words, doubting them greatly.

"You two showed to be good friends, she began to trust you, even on the travels back though she tried hard not to. When you to began training…" Orelion quirked an eyebrow allowing Feren to think back on those days himself, it brought back a smile to his face. "Tell me it did not show in those days that she liked you and I'd call you a liar."

Feren remembered so easily feeling her body so close to his, the way his heart was racing as he breathed in the scent of her locks blowing in the wind. He never wanted to let her ago. The way her cheeks flushed when he grasped her firmly in his hands, during their first swordplay lesson, Feren nearly let a sigh escape his lips as he remembered the way her hand came up tucking a strand of his own hair behind his ear, her fingertips brushing the tip making him shiver in delight, damn him, how he wanted to kiss her even then. He remembered how he caught her in his hand held he so close to him, her eyes had fluttered closed instinctively he went to move closer, he would have kissed her too had Elros not come around.

"Feren," Colfinner called snapping him out of his daydream. Feren slowly looked up rubbing at his chin in thought. "You should speak with her."

"Loved to but I'm sure after that argument she wants little to do with me. Besides, what am I to even say to her, I have gone to say things even I regret." Feren rubbed the back of his neck, "I want to be with her. I love her more than anything else, and yet it seems at every turn one of us does something, says something that pushes us further apart." Feren, himself, was so furious at the truth behind his own words he wanted to punch something.

"Are sure?" Colfinner asked with a light smile.

Feren quirked an eyebrow, "Am I sure? Of course, I am sure. Nearly every time I turn around there she is standing in his arms and it infuriates me both because I want her here with me in my arms, those should be my hands upon her hips, it should be my shoulder she rests upon. But, also because I've come to realize even if she chooses him and breaks my heart… I know I could not bear to sail from these lands, I'd stay here for her despite the pain it would cause. Why? I don't trust him. Here, from a distance, I can see to it that she is safe and well protected in her lands. By the gods, after a time I may very well still serve her faithfully."

Orelion and Colfinner said nothing for a moment as Feren finished speaking, "Have you told her any of this, have you even begun to tell her the way you feel?" Colfinner wondered.

Feren shook his head.

"So, why don't you? She's there in the inn. Go kiss her, tell her you love her, let her see everything your hiding?"

"And then what?" Feren snapped in fear.

"You either get your heart broken, or exactly what you are hoping for."

Feren nodded, he knew there was a piece of Anariel that was terrified of trusting in him in most people, in general, he knew that from the beginning. If he were to open up to her, would it help, would she learn to trust easier that way? Feren shoved himself up off the step heading for the Prancing Pony determined, it was the time he found out.