Chapter 32

To say Thranduil was not pleased about their binding was an understatement. He could probably be heard in all corners of his kingdom as he made his displeasure known. Evelyn had kept her mouth shut, although she was angry, it was nothing compared to Legolas' anger. Since their binding both had been overwhelmed by a torrent of the other's emotions. She had felt his love for her, his desperation not to lose her again, the conflict over his father's approval. It was hard to imagine all the thoughts he kept hidden from her and his people with his mask.

It had taken weeks for the King's anger to dissipate into a reluctant acceptance, though his cool demeanor towards her had not changed, and therefore, neither had his people's. Legolas tried to free more time to be with her, taking strolls in the garden she worked in, taking rides through the fields, but they were still few and far between. She could feel her depression growing with every passing day, and did her best to hide it from her mate. Evelyn did not want to add to his frustration. Only this morning she had done just that.

It was a rare morning where she was getting to enjoy languishing in the bed, draped across Legolas' chest, her fingers twirling his blonde hair as his fingers traced patterns along her back. The sun was shining without a cloud in the sky and birds chirped happily outside their window.

"I am surprised your maid has not been in this morning, the hour grows late." Legolas stated nonchalantly. He felt Evelyn stir atop him as he felt her nervousness through their bond. He pushed up on his elbow, looking into her face as she chewed her bottom lip.

Since the binding she had moved into Legolas' chambers, but that still meant she had a room of her own, which is where she slept most nights when Legolas was out late, and this had been the first time he had spent the night in her chambers. If they were together they shared his bed. She knew the day was coming though that he would notice her lack of handmaids.

"What is it, melleth nin?" He asked concerned.

"I have not had any since the first week I came here." She replied, looking down at the bed. The first week the maids had come, they had not been pleasant, they did what was asked and nothing more, and were clearly scared of her. Since that day and Corwen's influence, it was not just fear but disdain they showed her. Evelyn had not been upset when they just stopped coming, though it took a bit of practice to get into some of her gowns and style her hair without assistance. Her powers had come in handy in those instances. Some of the residual animosity came from Thranduil not pronouncing her publically as the Princess of the realm. His subjects knew his dislike of her and followed suit. She was not sure if it was out of love or fear. Legolas was not enough to change their minds against the King and Corwen.

"What?!" He bellowed, causing Evelyn to wince with his rage. "Did you send them away? How have you received meals?"

"No, I did not send them away, they just stopped coming." She whispered, "I either go to the kitchens or grab fruit from my garden."

At this point Legolas jumped from the bed, slinging his old clothes from the day before on, "I am going to speak with my father." He announced storming from the room.

She sighed, so much for not causing problems. Evelyn was not sure what the point in going to his father was, she did not see him caring all that much but she did pity the maids who would not doubt be facing her husband's wrath shortly.

So, with her lovely morning cut short, she made to get ready and so found herself at the stables, which of course cleared out as she came in as per usual. Her loneliness was the source of her depression, she needed and missed interacting with others. Gimli tried, poor soul, but he was a poor substitute for female companionship and was often engaged with Legolas still. Though today she saw him waiting for her outside the stables as she led a frisky young colt through the gates.

"Good morning Gimli," she smiled, greeting her old friend.

"Mornin' lassie, it's a fine day to be out." He replied.

"It is the first morning in a while I have seen you, no duties?"

"Ah, Legolas is otherwise engaged with the King at the moment, my services were not required." If he knew the subject of the conversation, he did not divulge, and she dare not ask.

…

After hours in his study with his son, Thranduil made his way down the stables in search of Evelyn. Legolas had confronted him earlier that morning over the handmaidens assigned to the lady not performing their duties since the week of their arrival. He had been slightly surprised at the anger that welled up in him. The king was embarrassed that his subjects would act so to royal guest, a royal guest that was now his family. His advisor was currently hunting them down for disciplinary action. Apologies had to be made, and he sent Legolas to the training grounds to burn off his anger. Thranduil remembered well the effects of a fresh binding. So, he himself had to be the one to speak to her.

Voices drew his attention away from the stables. "Easy there Evelyn, that was a nasty tumble." Gimli's gruff voice called out. He frowned, still not overly fond of the dwarf either. Changing his direction, he halted when he saw two elleth crouching in bushes just outside of the field. Gazing across, he watched his son's wife brush dirt from her clothing and hobbled back to the young horse in Gimli's grasp.

"I'll be fine, I've taken worse falls. Stubborn beast, I don't know what it is he is so frightened of. Any other place in the field he is a perfect angel."

Thranduil narrowed his gaze, his suspicions rising, but he stayed where he was. He watched as the woman pulled herself back on the horse who pranced in place. For the next few minutes she kept the horse to the far edge of the clearing. As much as he did not want to admit it, she was a good horsewoman, better than a few elves even. Soon the animal was back under control and working well. Slowly, Evelyn urged him closer and closer to where Thranduil stood behind the hiding elleth. The two in question were whispering quietly to one another, one shoving the other to grab an object between them. The king could neither hear their words nor see the object at this distance, but he did not want to give himself away by moving.

The young horse moved closer and closer, he could see the horse tense in the area nearest the bushes hiding the elves, but he kept his composer and listened to the cues given to him. It was when Evelyn circled back by within about three feet that it happened. Thranduil saw them shoot forward in the brush, though remaining hidden in the leaves at the same time the colt violently shied away, jumping to the side with a wild shriek. Evelyn, he saw had been ready barely unseated by the event. She worked to turn the black nose to her knee while disengaging his hind end. However, whatever it was that scared the animal was still in his vision as he fought her furiously. He reared, bucked, crow hopped, and spun, finally unseating his rider.

Thranduil watched in growing horror as she fell, foot catching in the stirrup. In mid rear, Evelyn's weight out the horse off balance. Try as he might to get his feet under himself, the young horse struggled and began to topple over. The colt tried to miss her, Thranduil could see, but there was nothing he could do to free his owner's foot as they both hit the ground. The king did not even remember dashing across the field.

Evelyn hit the ground hard, the sticks and rocks, cutting into arm and side, but it was nothing to the flaring pain in her foot and ankle trapped under the seven-hundred-pound animal. She wanted to scream, but had no time as the horse instantly began struggling to his feet, dragging her with him. It took a few moments for her mind to register what was happening, shaking the shock from her mind, she wrestled to reach up and grip the stirrup. Finally, it seemed liked hours, her fingers gripped the worn leather. She knew it would scare the animal more, but she had no choice, she encased the leather in ice, shattering it. For the third time, she hit the ground.

The air left her lungs in a whoosh, pain erupted through her body, for the moment she could only lay there. When she was able to take in a depth breath, she rolled on her side, pushing herself up, grimacing as pain shot through her left leg. Pain and falls and injuries they were a part of riding, they were expected, even if unpleasant. What was unexpected was to see Thranduil rushing towards her with an actual look of concern on his face. She had be to gaping open mouthed as the king crouched on the ground next to her, gripping her by the shoulders.

"Are you injured? Are you okay?" He interrogated, eyes sweeping over her dusty clothing.

"I am fine, Your Majesty, just had the wind knocked out of me." Which was mostly true, except she knew her ankle was either broken or sprained from the throbbing pain she felt. However, she was not about to show weakness in front of Thranduil. She prayed she could put weight on it as she stood, and watched warily as her father in law stood as well, albeit much faster and with more grace. Turning she grit her teeth to fetch the horse Gimli had faithfully caught again. As soon as she put weight on the left leg she regretted it, agony flared from her toes to her thigh and she would have hit the ground a fourth time had the strong arms of Thranduil not caught her, hoisting her up against his chest.

"Are you quite done with your bravado?" He raised a brow as he questioned her.

"Yes."

"Good." Then he spun on his heels, sending a wave of nausea through her. She noticed they had an audience. Some of the stable hands were gathered as well as Thranduil's guards. They did not need their jobs here in Valinor, but it seems old habits die hard and they are often found with him. Without acknowledgment, he spoke and they knew he addressed them, "Seize the two elleth retreating to the city." They acted immediately, ignoring the questions bubbling from those gathered. "You!," He addressed the closest stable worker, "Find the object used to frighten the Princess' horse."

"Oh."

He cut his eyes towards her again, "You seem to make enemies quickly."

"That is what you have when you don't have friends." Evelyn replied bluntly.

"You blame me." It was a statement rather than a question.

"Partly."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Not particularly, Legolas doesn't know, then again, after this morning, maybe it is best he doesn't" She stated, and Thranduil snorted as he trekked across the land towards the castle, waiting silently for her to continue. It annoyed Evelyn that he expected her to cave, it angered her more that he was correct in his assumptions. "Your people avoid me, they do not try to befriend me. It is hard for them to like a respect a person their King does not. They also do not wish to associate with a witch who has placed the prince under a spell and is the royal concubine."

That stopped the King in his tracks, "Royal what?!" he bellowed.

"Those rumors started the week after I arrived."

"And nothing was said?" he asked, trying to control his rage, his voice tight.

"For what point? I had no proof other than what I heard them say, you would not have cared, and had I told Legolas, it would have caused more rifts between you when all he wanted was to mend your relationship."

Thranduil had no response to her. The thought of his people thinking her a whore angered him, but would it have then? The infuriating woman made a valid point. Almost two years she had been here, alone, mostly because of him, but he knew without her giving a name who started the rumors of her character. He now understood the depression Legolas kept mentioning to him about feeling in their bond.

"Legolas is coming." She stated, feeling his panic, and then a rush of anger and intense jealousy as he spotted her in the arms of another elf, even if it was his father.

"He will not be happy." Thranduil stated as a warning to her. Freshly bonded his son was highly possessive and everyone gathered, including the soldiers running worriedly after him.

"He isn't."

Legolas stopped inches from his father, smashing her between them. She could hear her husband growling deep in his throat. "Get your hands off my mate." As he spoke his hand gripped his sword. The soldiers and guards gathered, looked to their king and prince and between each other worriedly, unsure what to do.

Thranduil was about to reply but Evelyn beat him to it, not sure it was smart for him to respond until she was safely out of his arms. "Legolas, will you carry me?" She asked, watching his eyes slowly constrict ever so slightly and look at her. The anger remained, but she saw the concern and worry flicker across his face. "I need you."

At those words, he snatched her into her arms, jarring her, too preoccupied with his anger and jealousy, to notice her sharp intake of breath as he stalked away. Thranduil followed behind, his mask of aloofness back in place.

"Easy Legolas, she is injured."

He spun, once again causing her to experience a wave of dizziness, "What did you do to her?" he ground out.

His father clasped his hand in front of him, staring coolly back at his son. "I carried her from the field where she took a nasty fall from a young horse." He did not mention the elleth who spooked the horse, he was certain if he did so, his son may kill them. Better wait until he calms down. Growling again, Legolas stalked off, leaving his father to trail behind. Turning to his guards, he spoke, "Take the prisoners to the dungeons," and to the soldiers, "Bring my healer to the Royal chambers."

Legolas' heart was pounding as he carried Evelyn to their chambers. From nowhere he felt an intense pain and rush of fear through their bond that was not his own. Without thought he dropped his guard, his second in command grazing his arm with his sword as Legolas turned and ran from the training grounds. He barely noticed the nick. Upon seeing her in his father's arms, he lost all control, even knowing he would not harm her. The rage and jealousy was all consuming and was only now fading with Evelyn in his arms, hers wrapped tightly around his neck, her face buried in his chest, whispering sweet words to him. He gripped her tighter as he raced to his room.

They reached their chambers in record time and Evelyn dropped to the bed unceremoniously, Thranduil waited outside, shutting the door.

He kneeled over her on the bed, placing his forehead against her own, holding her tight. "Please tell me you are alright." He sounded to be on the verge of tears.

Reaching up to stroke his face, she replied, "I am fine Legolas. I am not going anywhere."

His lips crushed hers, a desperate need to feel her against him, for reassurance, for strength. She answered him readily, gliding her tongue across his lips, deepening the kiss. Evelyn wrapped her arms around him, letting him support her weight. He lowered her down on the pillows, reluctantly breaking their contact, still feeling the lingering pain radiating through their bond. At the same time a knock sounded on the door, causing Legolas to tense.

"It is just your father and a healer, he only needs to look at my ankle." She reasoned, rubbing his arms gently. He nodded his consent and went to open the door. Legolas returned to her side instantly, taking her hand in his. Thranduil strode in, posting guards outside the doors as they shut behind him. The king stood beside his son, blocking his view of the healer now working on Evelyn's leg. To her credit, she made no faces or noise of discomfort in a great effort to keep his son calm.

"I believe," Thranduil stated, "It is time we celebrate your binding and let our people meet their princess. Then you will both take quite a long holiday in the mountains."