Thank you to:
GaaraSandNiN: Yes, sweet was exactly what i was aiming for.
Nott01: Thank you, i love writing it. I intend to finish it and then go back and edit.
Kelwtim2spar: Yes, we shall see what happens, but i like your ideas.
&Mia (Guest): Thank you! You are very kind. I'm glad you love it as much as i do.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Enjoy and please read and review! xx
Chapter 35
Evie POV
Evie walked as silently as possible through the forest bracken, careful to match her steps to the brown haired elf in front of her.
Following her footsteps with practiced ease, leaving no traces behind and ensuring their Queen was cocooned between the warriors, were Edrahil & Conall.
They had been following a trail that was obvious only to the elves for a day and half, their pace had not been slow as such, but definitely not as fast as Evie would have preferred. Feren had insisted on them remaining unseen as they passed through the forest.
For the first day, she had marvelled at the beauty of the woods that surrounded their party, for she had never been so deep in the forest before. Greens and browns of all colours and shapes danced under the sunlight that escaped the canopy.
The flora around her hummed with life and delighted at their presence. On one of their rest breaks, Evie had let some of her golden magic out, to which the trees had danced with, letting their branches sway in time to a song softly sung.
She had turned to Feren then and asked what it was.
"It's the trees. The elves began it, woke them up and taught them to speak. They are singing their joy. Listen."
Evie curiously watched the Captain as he closed his eyes, a small on his lips as he tilted his head towards the sky. A glance around her saw the other two warriors joining in. With a smile, the red head copied them.
At first it was only soft, but then she took a deep breath, felt the warmth of her magic release a bit more and there it was, louder now and perfect elvish.
The sang about the coming of the wood elves, the kings that had lived and passed, the heroes and tragedies, the kindness of the elves that cared for them. They sang with such reverence, she couldn't help but share her thoughts aloud.
"They love you. The elves, I mean."
She opened her eyes to see the elves had not, they were still listening to the sweet songs, but it did not stop one of them answering her, Conall this time.
"As they love you too, Evie. Listen again."
She did as she was bid and listened once more. What she heard took her breath away.
They sang about her. For her.
Her fierce heart, her beauty and her golden magic that would save them all.
This incredible experience helped lighten Evie's sprit and kept her going when they moved on, deeper into the forest.
She had noticed that as they progressed, the colours seemed to dim slightly, the songs from the trees became softer, the light became less and less. Whatever this evil was, it had more of an effect on the forest than she had first thought.
Trudging on steadily in single file, she was deep in thought, for she had underestimated severely the effect that the separation from Thranduil would have on her.
The bond felt uncomfortably tight in her chest with each step she took forward, away from him, and for a brief moment she wondered if he was feeling the same. Did he miss her, like she missed him? The way his eyes would brighten when he looked at her, the warmth of his arms around her, the comforting smell of pine.
She shook her head to clear these thoughts away and pressed on, remembering her purpose.
Many hours later, they were nearing the end of their second day and made camp. They sat on tree logs sharing lambas, ale and fresh fruits, not bothering with a fire. The Captain spoke softly but clearly under the stars.
"Another day and we should be very close to the site."
The thickness of the air became denser the nearer they drew and it worried her as to what they'll find.
"Is it very bad?"
"It depends on your definition of 'bad' Evie, but I have never seen it's like in my long life."
That did not help settle the worry she carried, made all the worse by her homesickness.
"Is there something more than the sickness that lives in the forest?"
"I will not lie to you. Since the sickness, we have had reports of large beasts that did not exist before. We don't know much about them yet, so that is why I wish to be extra vigilant on this journey."
"I understand. What did the reports say?"
"Black bodies with venomous pincers and lots of legs..."
"Spiders? Why would you be scared of them?"
"…and the size of an adult troll."
Her eyes went wide then. A troll she had never met thankfully, but Legolas had described them as being as large as a small truck. Big. Very big. And very bad. She did not wish to see one of these beasts.
"Do not worry, we shall keep you safe. And I hope we may be lucky enough to pass by unnoticed. Come, it is time to rest for we have a big day ahead of us."
"Quite right Captain. Goodnight."
A chorus of good night came from the male elves as she located her pack and sorted through her things.
Days of constant walking made Evie tired physically and when she stretched on her bedroll, wrapping her soft and warm cloak tightly around her body, it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
Thranduil POV
The Elvenking was seated In his blue velvet chair dressed in grey with a deep green robe hanging off his broad shoulders. Eleven other chairs made up the council circle that was in session.
Abruptly the King sat back in his chair with a sigh, his long longs stretched out in front of him and his large masculine hands coming to rub his eyes.
Two and a half hours they had spent In this room. Two and a half hour he had listened to Galion and his advisors debate over the proposed treaty terms for trading with Laketown. He had thought that it would prove to be a good distraction from the absence of a certain red haired woman that he felt keenly.
This was not so. The longer Evie had been away, the worse his mood became and his patience was dangerously thin. An ache in his chest, which he knew to be the straining of their soul bond, had begun as he watched her venture into his forest. The corresponding headache that was building in his temples was not helping matters either.
The only elf that had seemed to help ease the pressure was his son, Legolas, who was missing his dearest Naneth terribly.
The first night she had been away, the Prince had had a nightmare that she died in the forest and never came back to him, so since then he had taken to sleeping in his Adar's bed, an arrangement that seemed to suit both male elves.
The second night with his little leaf falling asleep cuddled into his chest, Thranduil reflected on the last time he had experienced such a close bond with his offspring, and was unhappily to remember that it had been long before his first wife passed on.
This newfound bond was precious to the Elvenking and he was thankful that Evangeline had given the push to help achieve it.
When he was not needed for royal duties, he had spent every possible moment with the little elf. Reading, drawing, dining, training and walks through the gardens.
He lamented the fact that Legolas had not been able to join them in the council meeting, for he knew that would be the only thing to help – other than the return of his beloved, of course.
His thoughts then turned to her, his wife, Queen and lover.
The sound of her unrestrained laughter paired with Legolas' when they chased each other in the garden.
The joy that made her green eyes sparkle when she sang as she baked sweet treats in the kitchen.
The softness of her feminine hands as they gently cupped his face before her tantalising lips found his own.
The lavender scent that would cling to her hair when he would lean in to press a kiss on her head.
He was stirred out of his thoughts by Galion calling his name.
"My King?"
"Yes Galion. What is it?" He was fully aware that his tone had turned ice cold. He had had enough of this for today.
"Do you agree?"
"Agree with what?"
"Lord Neldor has proposed to increase the tax on the goods we supply to laketown. Do you agree?"
"I want more information before I make a decision. Both sides are required to submit a report. In the meantime, I think this council has gone on long enough for today. We will pick it up again after I have reviewed the reports. You are dismissed."
Not giving his advisors time to argue, the King was up and out of his seat quick as a flash and out the council door before any of them could draw him into any more discussions.
His step were quick and light as he stalked down the corridors with purpose, not making eye contact with any of the elves he passed along the way. A few flights of stairs and a turn to the left brought him to the sanctuary he was looking for: the kitchens.
The warmth and smell of baking pastries and bread comforted Thranduil in a way he never thought it would, and then he smiled for the first time that day upon seeing his son seated on a stool, chatting freely with Amos, a treat in his hand.
He walked towards them, and waved a dismissive hand at Amos when he noticed his approach and tried to bow, before taking a seat on the stool next to the platinum haired elf that resembled him acutely.
The ache eased slightly when he received a full smile and gave one in return.
"Afternoon Ada."
"Good Afternoon Legolas. Not getting in Amos' way I hope?"
He tried to appear serious, but failed miserably when he noticed the crumbs and stickiness around his son's mouth.
"Of course not Ada, I was helping."
"Helping polish off the sweets? That will leave no room for your dinner."
"No Naneth assured me that it's ok if I bring out the dessert stomach."
He raised his eyebrows at this, having never heard of such a thing before.
"Dessert stomach?"
It wasn't however, the young elf that answered, but the head chef.
"Our Queen has educated us to understand that it means there is always room for sweets."
"I see."
He didn't really, but could see that the thought brought his son delight and decided to push it no further. He was surprised at the offer that came next.
"Would you like one, My King?"
His blue eyes took in the strawberry tarts that were held out on a silver tray, glazed and golden.
"Yes. Thank you, Amos."
He reach out and took one, hesitating only for a moment, for the person they reminded him of, before taking a large bite. Crunchy, perfectly cooked pastry melted in his mouth as it combined with the sweet taste of cream and strawberries and he couldn't help but hum in pleasure.
Yes, he could understand why his wife adored them so much.
Finishing the last of the treat, he heard a giggle from the elf next to him and turned to look, raising a questioning eyebrow in the process.
"You have a bit…just there Ada."
He allowed the little elf to reach out and brush pastry crumbs from his cheek. His heart softened and his lips lifted in a mischievous smile.
"Shall we have another?"
"Yes Ada, let's!"
The King and the Prince sat side by side at the bench in the kitchen for several hours gorging themselves on tea and baked pastries, neither seeming to have room for dinner later that evening.