Author's note: Now that they are with the elves, you can assume they are speaking elvish, but I am going to write it in English.

Chapter 11

Thranduil POV

"Well, Feren, report." Was the demand of the elvenking as he dropped his large hand on the top of the desk with a crash!

A tall elven warrior, clad in brown and deep green, didn't flinch at the noise, since he was quite used to his king being in such a foul mood of late.

He looked straight ahead.

"We don't know what happened. Prince Legolas was only gone for half an hour at most.

Where he found the mortal is puzzling. We tried to coax the tale out of him, but he point blank refused to talk to Gwenth.

I've never seen him so distraught. He kept repeating "I want to see naneth!" He even stomped on Galion's foot, so he could run to the healing halls.

Melui wouldn't let him in, so he's sitting outside the door waiting."

The king's look of displeasure worsened at this news.

"who is she?" This strangely clad mortal woman was an enigma he intended to solve by any means necessary.

Why was his son so attached to a being with such a fleeting existence.

"there was a…painting in the Prince's pack of the mortal that had the word 'Evie' written on the back. Other than that, we have no idea. She has still not woken, and Legolas won't talk."

The elvenking took note of the hesitation in his Captain's speech.

"report to me the minute she wakes. I will see to Legolas. You are dismissed."

"yes, my king."

With a curt bow, the leader of the Greenwood guard, turned and exited the King's study door.

"my son attached to a mortal. Ridiculous." Muttered the elvenking, thoughtful for a moment, vowing silently to rid the Greenwood of this weakness.

Rising from his chair, the elf fixed his robes and schooled his face to his signature poker face, before striding to the study door.

He exited with a determined flourish and walked with purpose towards the healing halls.

Evie POV

As the curly haired woman woke, she gently lifted her eyelids and quickly shut them against the bright light.

Taking a breath and trying again, she opened her eyes and took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

The walls surrounding her were a creamy white with an intricate golden pattern.

Opposite her was a small sitting room with a beautifully carved wooden table, with two plush gold and cream armchairs on with side.

On her left was an open doorway with a screen in front, that she assumed, led to the bathing room.

On her right was a large cream and gold armoire.

The bed she was lying in was very large, king sized she mused, golden carved frame work and completed by the all-white, soft as silk, sheets and doona cover embroidered in tiny leaves.

Spying platinum blonde hair over her arm, she moved the covers slightly to see a peaceful family face snuggled into her side.

Sighing, she lifted her hand to brush his cheek. Freezing momentarily when she heard a deep voice.

"he hasn't left your side."

Swallowing her nerves, she lifted her eyes to the tall, imposing figure leaning in the doorframe of the bedroom, watching her with eerily familiar bright blue eyes.

Her breath caught as she looked over the elf. If Legolas was beautiful, this male elf, who undoubtedly was his father, was otherworldly and god like.

That gorgeous platinum blonde she had come so used to seeing on a much younger elf, was worn out and long down his chest, his pointed ears on show for the world to see.

She wondered if it felt as silky as Legolas'. Creamy perfect skin, chiselled jaw, high cheekbones and eyes of the ocean, filled with pain, intelligence and years of experience.

There was nothing warm in that fair face.

Broad shoulders draped in royal blue robes, trimmed in silver, held up a well built chest that any woman would be dying to run their hands over, and connected to long, lean and powerful legs, covered by the dark grey leggings, only interrupted by black leather boots that went up to his mid calf.

She realised that she hadn't given a response and silence had carried on way too long as she'd appraised him.

"he's very loyal." Blue eyes narrowed slightly at that.

"it is misplaced and perhaps a little too kind to mortals." Was the reply, said like a challenge. Her lips formed a tight line at that statement.

Before she could open her lips, she was shocked by the coldness of his next words.

"you will explain to me why my son calls you mother."

She licked her lips and waited a breath "I will not explain myself to you. What has Legolas told you?"

Blue eyes were incredulous at her refusal to obey. She could see that this elf was not used to having someone deny him. A high elf lord, perhaps?

"nothing. He wouldn't talk. Demanded to be with you."

She was stunned by that. Yes, she knew he loved her, but this. This was something extra special.

But, she thought, he was the one who had brought her here and it made sense that he would not abandon her to find her way on her own.

Plus, he had been very distraught.

She winced as she shifted slightly, causing mild discomfort to her side.

Looking down, she noticed, she was clean and dressed in a white frilly nightgown.

"you will make a full recovery the healers tell me."

"good."

"by which time, you can go back to you home and leave me and my son in peace."

The unspoken but implied, to never contact us again, was hurtful.

She intended to set him straight.

"I am n.." but was interrupted by the creaking of a door opening and the very soft footfalls of a dark haired woman carrying a silver tray.

No, a female elf, when Evie saw the delicate points of her ears peaking though her tidy hair.

"oh, I'm sorry you're ma…" but a large hand was held up to silence her.

"I was just leaving Gwenth, carry on."

"You will dine with me." Was the expectation directed at Evie.

Before she could say anything, he had turned and left through the door, his robes billowing after him.

What a strange encounter, she thought, surely not all the elves are like this.

"Lady Evangeline?" she was brought back by the gentle question from the new elf.

"hmmm? It's Evie, please."

"Lady Evie, then. I've brought your lunch."

"Thank you…"

"Gwenth, My lady."

Evie smiled in thanks to the stranger and rearranged her body so she could sit up.

The only problem with this, is that the movement disturbed the little elfling asleep at her side. She smiled at Legolas' sleepy face.

His blue eyes snapped to focus when he noticed Evie was awake and sitting up. Quick as a flash, he had his arms around her and she laughed in delight.

"I'm so glad you're ok, naneth. I thought I'd lost you."

"no, you can never lose me, honey. You know why?"

The little head shook side to side. She moved his body slight away from hers and placed her hand on his chest, over his heart.

"I will always be with you in here."

The answering grin was enough.

And then the moment was spoiled by Gwenth's discreet cough. If she was surprised by Legolas calling this mortal 'mother', she didn't show it.

"have some lunch with me, honey?"

"yes, Naneth."

"good. Tell me all about what I've missed…"

"well, it's been 2 days since and so much has happened. As you can imagine, Adar was not pleased…"

Legolas happily went into detail about the events that occurred while she was asleep.

"and then i slipped out when Feren wasn't looking and came to find you. I overheard them say you had been moved Naneth."

Evie laughed at the idea of an elfling slipping past a hundreds' year old, fully trained elven warrior. But such was the loyalty that had grown between the two huddled on the magnificent bed, bellies full.

She looked into the blue eyes of the little elf that had stolen a piece of her heart.

"my heart is full to wake and find you with me."

Legolas beamed at her words. Before he could respond, they were interrupted.

"My Lady?"

"hmm?" Evie looked up the brown haired elleth, who had silently come back into the room.

"time to bathe and dress." The statement was too the point, but not unkind.

She looked back at the little elf with a soft smile.

"time for you to go, honey."

"yes, Naneth. See you later."

Legolas surprised the red head by darting forward to wrap his arms tightly around her neck, pulling back a little to kiss her cheek, before releasing her to jump off the bed in a spray of crumbs.

His long legs had him out the door in a flash.

Evie pushed the bedding down her body. She moved her legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching her limbs.

Hearing the unmistakable sounds of running water, walked toward the doorway blocked by the tall screen, where she had seen the female elf disappear.

The tile like flooring of the room were cold beneath her exposed feet, a creamy white with a marble like effect.

Evie shivered slightly and kept walking towards the mat that was placed at the edge of a built in bath.

Massive it was, at least compared to her bath at home, rectangular in shape and made out of a porous rock. Water flowed out of a hole in the wall and directly into the 'tub' filling it with warm water. Lavender and some other floral scent rose with the steam and wafted under Evie's nose.

Fascinated, she reached out to touch the unusual medium.

"would you like some assistance, my lady."

Startled, she turned to face the brown haired elf.

"assistance with what?"

"to bathe." Stated as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Evie was floored. Assistance to bathe? She hadn't had help with that since she was a child.

"no, I'll manage."

Seeing the hurtful expression on the elf's face, she reached out to touch her upper arm and smiled.

"thank you for looking after me. Truly. Such a thing where I'm from is not…usual."

Gwenth seemed satisfied with this explanation. And turned to leave the bathing room.

"I shall leave your dress on the bed for you."

She smiled, picking up a piece of floral soap and lifting it to her nose and before turning back towards the bath, she had a burning question.

"Gwenth?"

"yes, my lady?"

"Is Legolas' Adar a high Lord or something?"

she could still see the blue eyes burning through her with such cold fury.

It was Gwenth's turn to look at her, disbelief written all over her face.

"you do not know? Surely you knew."

A frown appeared between Evie's brows.

"knew what?"

"He is Thranduil – King of the Wood Elves."

The piece of soap fell from her hands and made a 'thump'ing noise as it hit the mat between her feet.

"Fuck."