A week had passed.
A week of unhurried walks with Legolas, Arabelle enjoyed them as the company was pleasant and Legolas was often happy to point out many aspects of the kingdom. Unfortunately, all she had learnt so far was the kingdom was as beautiful as it was inescapable.
A week of sparring with Tauriel, a painful reminder of how talented elves were and that fighting their way out was not an option if they wished to leave with all appendages and lives intact.
A week of polite dinners with Thranduil, all conversation made through thinned lips and careful filtration; neither of them gaining what they desired.
A week of restless nights beside Bilbo, who was apparently a very skilled burglar as he stole the sheets every night. Though much of her restlessness came less from the lack of sheets and more from the fact it was not Fili who shared her bed, Arabelle's heart ached for his smile, her eyes searched for him in every room in foolish hope, her hands fiddled with their courtship bead in every quiet moment.
"Your mind is elsewhere today." Legolas commented, having apparently stopped talking of his morning patrol with Tauriel at some point.
"Sorry, I am not being very good company." Arabelle offered an apologetic smile as she walked up to a large tree, she embraced the sun against her skin and placed a steadying hand on the white bark, brittle it crackled under her palm and a gentler smile crossed her features. Legolas had shown her the beauty of Mirkwood, shown her the true Greenwood, which held trees older than most living beings, it was humbling and had she not of been a captive she might have even chosen to stay.
"Can you hear them?" Legolas placed his forehead up against the tree, breathing with the wind that swayed in the branches above; no wonder the dwarves called them tree lovers.
"Unfortunately, not. My father always had a great appreciation for nature…We buried him under his favourite oak."
Dejected Legolas took a step back "Not many can hear the trees…"
"The dwarves speak to stone, they say that mining is a conversation and that to be a smithy you need to be a fine smooth talker." Legolas stupidly grinned "I know right. It is no wonder so few of them marry, honestly you should see Bofur's face when he gets on the topic of ores." Legolas now outwardly laughed as they continued to walk along the river, Arabelle's mind distracted she happily continued "Fili says they sing to the mountain to find new mining sites, though only a few can do it. Apparently, his mother is the best in all the kingdoms." Arabelle's mind drifted back to the night Fili told her about his mother's voice, how she would sing them to sleep every night and how she did not sing for months after his father's death. It was the same night Fili sung for her, he had perhaps thought her asleep beside him but she heard it, the low hum of his voice was thick as honey and warmer than any fireplace; she imagines it was a sweet lullaby as it was before she knew even a single word of Khuzdul.
"Your heart, it slows when you speak of him" Legolas snapped her out of the memory as they began to walk up a stone fortification, the river following straight through it.
"I miss him."
Legolas looked down with a far off look in his eyes "This river runs under the kingdom, we use it to trade supplies with the people of Laketown."
It was a simple statement. A fact. The guards to the side would not have thought twice of it but to Arabelle it was everything, she leant up against the wall her eyes following the river which offered her freedom.
"Legolas, one day love is going to find you and I hope it is the happiest of unions."
"Perhaps it is out there."
"You never know, might even be a dwarf." She winked at him and chuckled at his distorted face.
Arabelle's body hated her, her lungs screamed for more air, her legs threatened to turn into the jelly custard Bilbo so favourited and her arms felt heavier than stone; she closed her eyes for a moment. Only to have them forced open as Tauriel bounded to stand infront of her, having the audacity to smile as she offered her a hand up.
"Please tell me it is time for a drink." Arabelle begged, her face lighting up as Tauriel nodded a new wave of energy entering her body as they made their way to the Captain's quarters.
"Kili was telling me of the ocean near the blue mountain, he says there is a point where the sun melts into the waters and the whole sky looks as though it is on fire."
"Yes, I have seen it; it is one of the most beautiful sights."
"How could that not be number one?"
"I would give it top five." Tauriel left her mouth open in shock her hands flailing for her to continue "Well there is a wildflower field in The Shire it spans so far that when you stand in the middle all you can see is a sea of flowers. Then there is a strange view in Ost-in-Edhil, only ruins remain and even then it is not much but a single tree remains and to see it so tall and unbroken…It makes you believe in miracles." They shared a moment of silence, the mention of a war before their age stung and Arabelle realised it was likely how Tauriel became the ward of the king, she placed a hand on Tauriel's, squeezing lightly.
"That is only three." Tauriel wiped away the tears that threatened to fall down.
"Well, the next one is more recent but I watched a sunrise from the back of an Eagle, we were above the clouds when it broke and while an ocean of fire is a sight to see this was something else." Arabelle sipped her wine as she remembered the pillowing clouds, the warmth of the sun as it rose so gently above them; it was otherworldly.
"You cannot tell me there is something better."
Arabelle's lips couldn't help at the smile that grew as she bit her lip to try and contain it, the image of Fili's sleeping face beside her as the sunlight brushed against his skin, his hair shone golden as he peacefully laid without a care the sheets barely covering him.
"Save it." Tauriel put her hands up on seeing the blush across Arabelle's cheeks and the girls laughed, a knock on the door forced them to stifle their cackling as a young Elf let himself in.
"Captain you requested to see me?"
"Yes, I will take charge of the cell keys on Mereth Nuin Giliath. You need report them to me first thing, it is an important day for all of us; you can enjoy yourself without worrying of duty."
"Thank you Captain." The elf bowed out and Tauriel offered a sly apology for what seemed to be a perfectly timed interruption.
Mushrooms. Arabelle had never had much of a taste for them and while it was not for the Elvenking to know she still disliked him even more for the dish in front of her. Dinner had started off as per their usual dance.
"Thank you for having me." Wish I was literally anywhere else.
"It is my pleasure, as always. How was your day?"
"Lovely. I walked with Legolas for the morning and Tauriel had me sparring all afternoon." Same as the day before, and the day before that; as you would already know you overgrown weed. "And how about yourself?"
"I finally received some correspondence I have been waiting on." Thranduil smiled, no, he grinned as his focus returned to his plate, a devious light in his eyes.
Just spit it out "I hope it was good news for you."
"Yes it was. I have made contact with the King of Rohan, who is willing to send his son to come trade with us."
I would sooner eat shit than be traded like a horse "I will be sure to keep myself scarce. So to not interrupt your business."
"You would be most welcomed, of course, after all Rohan and Gondor are neighbours. You are fond of horse riding are you not?"
"Yes. The horses. Not their riders." Arabelle quipped, a serving elf suddenly began chocking in the background. "Now if you will excuse me I am rather full and will be retiring for the night." Arabelle had already stood and turned from the table her anger palpable.
"You are excused."
One week is long enough.