Chapter 13
Thranduil POV
The elvenking tapped his long fingers impatiently on the arm of his chair in the breakfast room.
Addressing the maid who had carried a tray of fresh food to the table, he spoke in an icy tone.
"Where is the Prince?"
"I am not sure, my King."
"go and fetch him."
"yes, my king."
She maid curtsied and made for the door, but was stopped when the door opened quickly.
Laughter was heard before a small platinum blonde elf and a red headed woman walked in hand in hand.
Anyone watching the guards, would have seen their looks of amusement at the scene.
Thranduil's eyes, however, narrowed at their casual contact.
Both abruptly stopped and identical looks of dread appeared when they spied the King seated at the table, the look of displeasure intending to make others feel ill at ease.
"Naneth will be joining us for breakfast Adar." Stated the little elf as he seated himself at the King's left.
The king's eyebrows rose at the boldness of his son.
Evie quietly moved to take the seat to the King's right.
"Good morning, Your Majesty."
His blue eyes flickered to her for a moment before switching back to address his offspring.
"I do not tolerate tardiness, Legolas."
"Yes, Adar."
They began to pick from the spread of food laid out for them in silence.
From the corner of his eye, he watched Evie pour herself a cup of what smelled like rich coffee, and lift the cup to her nose and inhale.
Strange, he thought. He took another moment to observe her uninterrupted.
Her curly red hair had been braided back into a single braid down her back, though she had moved it to sit down her right shoulder.
His eyes flicked to her heart shaped face, taking in the slender, and distinctly feminine bone structure.
A dusting of light freckles over her button nose and cheeks.
Her lips, pink like a soft rose, were lush and plump, waiting to be kissed.
The creamy expanse of her neck, his eyes resting on the crystal heart for a moment, that led down to the neck of her soft grey gown, displaying the tops of her full breasts.
Beautiful, he thought. The grey dress that washed out some of the beauties of his court, only enhanced the green eyed beauty.
Catching himself with these thoughts, he shook it away and the distracting image of her sucking on her yoghurt spoon and turned back to the issue at hand.
"I am not mortal…" a whisper of the memory from last night.
A discovery that had keep him awake half the night.
He cleared his throat and had both their attention at once.
"Lady Evangeline explained what you when through Legolas."
The young elf gave the woman a grateful smile before looking at his father.
"Yes, Adar. Was there something you wanted to ask me?"
"you pulled her through the portal. Why?"
The answer was without hesitation, like he was expecting it.
"because I want her with me forever."
Simple. The innocence of children a small wonder, he thought, but sometime misguided.
Wanting to believe he had misheard her last night, the King began.
"But she is m…"
He was interrupted by his son.
"She is not mortal, Adar."
Legolas looked to the red headed woman and she gave him a quick nod. He turned back to make eye contact with his father.
"Evie is an Elemental."
Cold, but intelligent, blue eyes turned to focus on Evie again.
"Elementals haven't been seen in Middle Earth for thousands of years."
"so I've been told…" Came the calm reply "But here I am."
"Yes, indeed."
Looking back at his son. "I will consult with Mithrandir about this. You will return to your lessons."
A groan came from the young elf. "But Adar, I need to help Naneth settle in."
"Gwenth can help Lady Evangeline, Legolas."
He saw the woman's green eyes flicker to him in curiosity at these words as his son crossed his arms in defiance.
Remembering the words spoken by the red head woman, he reached out to touch his son's arm and softened his usually cold and abrupt tone.
"You may spend your free time with Lady Evangeline."
A small concession really, he thought, which had the desired effect. The little elf was grinning at him in a way he hadn't in a very long time.
Jumping off his seat, Legolas raced give his father a hug, Thranduil stiffened momentarily, unused to the physical contact of another in many years, but relaxed his muscles and held his son tighter to his body.
He found he enjoyed this intimacy and had forgotten how good it felt. He released the elf.
"time to go, my son. Be good for Sven"
"yes, Adar."
"See you later naneth."
"have a good day, honey."
Thranduil watched as his son moved to kiss the cheek of the red headed woman who smiled, before darting out the open door.
It was silent in the room for a long moment.
Evie excused herself and made for the door.
"I think I owe you an apology."
She stopped, turned slowly and green eyes snapped to his in disbelief.
"regardless of what you have heard about me, I am not completely heartless."
"I'm sure. You just wanted to protect your son."
He nodded once at her and rose from his chair and made his way to stand in front of her.
"It seems that I owe you a life debt three times over for the care you have showed my son."
His mind remembered Feren's report this morning that she hadn't known he was a King, let alone that Legolas was a Prince before arriving.
"well, maybe only two now, since your healers saved my life."
"I think maybe we got off on the wrong foot."
The woman gave him a smirk at that. She held out her hand.
"Evangeline Nichols. You can call me Evie."
Enjoying the surprise in her eyes, he took the offered hand in his large one, ready for the tingling fire where they connected this time, and lifted her hand to give it a gentle kiss.
"A pleasure to have you in my halls, Lady Evie. Gwenth will help you explore."
He smirked at her, when she still hadn't retreated her hand, very aware of the effect he could have on the opposite sex if he wished.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
He let her hand fall through his fingers and felt the loss of her warmth.
She hastily gave him a little curtsey before leaving the room, not glancing back.
A moment later.
"Feren."
"Yes, My King."
"Ask Sven to send me the most detailed book about Elementals."
Feren raised his eyebrows at this request but did not comment.
"Right away, My King."
He gave a short bow and left.
Deep in thought about the woman with eyes like his beloved forest, the elvenking strolled down the hall towards his study, intending to write to the Grey Wizard.