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Chapter 37
Thranduil POV
It was the morning of the third day his wife had been asleep.
Melui had assured him that she would in time, he just had to be patient, something he did not enjoy.
Legolas was cuddled up to the left side of the sleeping woman, not asleep, but humming softly and simply being with her, the dog, malthen, keeping watch at the end of the bed.
Thranduil could not fault him for wanting the closeness, he too, had wanted to remain close by and not be disturbed by any others while their waited.
He was seated next to the bed, a book about elven weaponry open in his hands, but he felt he had read the same passage thirty times, his mind unable to concentrate.
A knock at the door was equal parts welcome distraction and annoying disturbance.
"Enter."
He relaxed seeing the familiar healer enter the bedchamber with a bucket and linen, pausing at the end of the bed to bow.
"Good Morning My King. I have come to tend to the Queen."
He stood at once, and made for the door.
"Of course. Come, Legolas."
He waited while his offspring got down from the bed and followed him, the dog quick to come, the door closing shut softly behind them.
While they waited in the private lounge, Thranduil was surprised by the knock on their suite door. He had thought that the message not to be disturbed was clear.
"Yes."
The door opened to reveal a male elf with dark hair and grey eyes, his steps hesitant.
"My King, sorry to disturb you, but Captain Feren has requested an audience."
That had his brows raising. He had to admit that his curiosity as to the details of the trip into the forest was high. He knew they would find him if his beloved was to wake.
"Very well. Legolas, don't you have lessons with Sven?"
He tried not to roll his eyes when the little elf groaned.
'Do I have to Ada?"
"Yes. You can take the dog with you."
He was pleased to see him brighten at these words, for usually the dog was not permitted in the study hall after the incident with the mouse several months before.
He turned and walked in step with Lord Galion down the corridor towards his study, the bond protesting at the distance from woman who held his heart.
Evie POV
It was through heavy lidded eyes that Evie saw the light of the day, in what she recognised to be her shared bedchamber with her husband.
Blinking slowly, her brain taking longer than usual to catch up to her, she stretched her long legs under the cream silk sheets.
She revelled In the feeling of being clean, warm and safe in the familiar comforting softness for a moment.
Looking around the familiar space that was meticulously clean, despite how quiet the elves were, she could feel no other presence.
The arm chair that usually sat in their private lounge room had been moved beside the bed nearest her and she spied a book on the nightstand that did not belong to her, a navy blue bound cover with a sword down the spine – Thranduil had been here.
The thought of that comforted her slightly, but then it gave rise to other questions.
But where was he now?
What could be more important than her?
And where was Legolas?
Her hand went flying up to grasp the heart spaced pendant around her neck, her mind drifting to remember the horrible, awful images she had seen when healing the sick sapling and then her thoughts were consumed with the desperate need to see him, hold him to her.
Forgetting the fact that she had been injured, how many days ago she did not know, she chucked the covers off her body and rose on her feet, wincing at the discomfort the movement caused.
She grumbled at the silk and lace chemise that clad her body, not good for venturing out into court, and grab the first robe she saw lying on the back of the loveseat – Thranduil's favourite, a deep green with gold trim.
Pulling it around her person, it was miles too big, but the familiar scent she had been without for days that seemed to entrance her dreams, brought a smile to her face. He was real. He was safe.
Not bothering to close the robe with the tie or any shoes, she took off, desperate in her desire to see her favourite little elfling once more.
Coming into the foyer of their suite, she almost collided with Laurel bearing a silver tray of tea and fine foods that Amos had no doubt prepared to perfection, but did not stop.
Not even when her personal maid called out to her to wait.
She flung the double doors open, pausing momentarily to address one of the guards station outside.
"Where is he?"
"Ahh…His Majesty is…."
She grew frustrated when the guard stumbled over a response when being faced with their half-dressed Queen.
"The Prince. Where is the Prince?"
"The training grounds, My Queen."
She didn't bother to thank them, she just gathered the robe between her hands to make sure it did not trip her feet and took off down the familiar corridors, her bare feet slapping on the cold ground and red wild curls in disarray down her back, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Turing a corner onto the main hall of court, she did collide then with Lord Neldor, with such force that they both went down hard, through Evie's fall was broken considerably by the elf that had instinctively held her to him.
"oooohhmphhh."
"Careful My Lady."
"Thank you, My Lord."
She took the offered hand and rose to her feet once more. She ignored the curious look she received as his eyes roamed down her person. Her current state was less than Queenly to be true.
"I'm sorry, I have to go."
She left him there with his mouth open in shock and resumed her path, feeling slightly breathless but relived when she stopped at the top of a hill that looked down on the secret training grounds. Her green eyes found the platinum haired elfling easily with his bow up and ready to shoot an arrow into the target in front of him.
The sight of him there was enough to bring tears of joy to her eyes and slide down her cheeks.
She had to hold him. Right now. The burning need was painful.
She sprinted down the hill and called out to him.
"Legolas!"
Still running towards him, she beamed when he froze and turned slowly at the sound of his name.
She called him again.
"Legolas!"
Closer now, she could see the bright smile on his face at the sight of her coming toward him.
He dropped his bow immediately and ran to her.
Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she dropped to her knees in the short grass and opened her arms wide.
She felt the force of him as he connected with her and she wrapped her arms around tightly in reflex. Her hands roamed around over his form to assure her that he was in one piece, safe and sound.
Her tears kept coming, and she kissed him wherever she could reach, whispering how much she loved him in his little pointed ear, not caring about the hot tears from the little elf she felt soaking the robe on her shoulder.
Eventually, she moved his body away from her own so that she should cup his face and look into his bright blue eyes.
"Oh Honey, I missed you so!"
"Never again Naneth, I could not bear it."
"I promise you Honey, I will not leave you again."
The tears kept flowing down his fair face and it made her heart squeeze to see it.
"I love you so much."
"I love you too Naneth."
She closed her eyes when she felt his small hand cup the right side of her face and smiled, memorising the feel of his touch on her skin.
Without a word, she drew him back into her embrace, loath to let him go.
They stayed huddled together for a time, taking comfort in each other before Evie's grumbling tummy disturbed their peace and caused the little elf to giggle at the sound.
She smiled hearing this, having not realised just how much she'd missed it.
She kissed the top of his head one last time and then made to stand, taking the time to wrap the large robe around her body.
"Shall we go and see if Amos has a treat for us?"
"Yes!"
"Come, Honey." She led him back down the path to the palace with his hand firmly in hers, happily listening to him chatter as they went.
Her reception when entering the warm and fragrant kitchen was full of joy. Amos made sure to give her a big hug, protocol be damned, and warned her never to frighten them like that again.
The two were then ushered to familiar stools so they could sit and sample the fresh treats baked that morning and catch up on the latest gossip while the kitchen staff worked busily around them.
The head chef was retelling his infamous attempt to visit her. Legolas chimed in from time to time, happily munching on a berry muffin.
"And what did you say?"
"I told the guard I would kick the door down if they didn't let me in to see you."
She couldn't help but laugh at the image this created in her mind.
"Alas, they were having none of it. I was not allowed in. No-one was. Well bar, the King, Melui and our young Prince of course."
Putting her own muffin back down on the bench, Evie reached her hand out to touch his gently.
"You have no idea how blessed I feel to call you friend. I understand that Thranduil can be stubborn and he wouldn't have blocked you without a good reason. And here I am anyway, fit as a fiddle. You will get sick of me soon enough!"
They both laughed at this.
"I think not, Evie, for your Queenly duties will occupy much of your time when you are fully healed."
She opened her mouth to protest but he gave her a knowing look.
"You don't fool me, or anyone else who knows you I'd wager. Your body may be fine, but there's pain behind your eyes. I don't know what you saw in the forest and I don't want you to tell me, but do not let your inner light go out."
He let go of her hand then with a soft smile.
"Now, do you want to see my newest creation?"
The red head tried to give him a smile in return as he turned to retrieve another tray, but it was half-hearted. She turned her head to watch the little elf next to her, sighing internally, a part of her worried for she had not felt a flicker of her magic since waking.
Thranduil POV
"And how exactly did she get left behind?"
He had to give his Captain of the Guard credit for he had answered every question without flinching and he knew his tone was cold as ice.
"It was not intentional. I gave explicit instructions for everyone to stay together. I suspect she may have stopped. As I mentioned, there was a foul voice in the air, but to us it was only a whisper, The Queen however, appeared to be suffering. We have no idea what was said to her."
"But you heard her scream, yes?"
"Correct. She had collapsed on the ground, her face full of tears. The scream was loud and morphed into her calling out for the Prince repeatedly. I picked her up, but it wasn't until we were some distance away that she calmed."
They were both quiet, contemplating the discussion for a moment.
"What is it Feren?"
"Am I that obvious, My King?"
He chuckled low.
"No. I do believe I know you better than most."
"Indeed…there was something else I think worth mentioning."
"Go on…"
"As you know from the reports, the area around the evil rot is black and grey, devoid of life entirely. We noticed when we left that there were footsteps leading back the way we came."
"What kind of footsteps?"
"Well, small ones. But the interesting part was that where these footsteps were, the ground was a healthy green grass."
"Green?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure you didn't imagine it?"
"Absolutely not. The others confirm they saw it too."
They went over the events in detail, conversing for hours, bringing in the other elves to give their accounts, planning for future treks.
A knock at the door broke their bubble, and they both looked to the door to see a breathless Laurel enter and curtsey.
"It's the Queen, she's awake!"
Everything else was forgotten in a instant and he was up out of his chair and out the door in seconds.
Evie POV
Evening had come and Evie had had the pleasure of putting Legolas to bed, singing for him as she had done before she left.
She was now back in their bedchamber, her feminine form still clad in the giant robe that brought such comfort, sitting on the love seat in front of the fireplace, staring into the flames as the cup of tea warmed her hands.
Eventually Evie became aware of a presence behind her, the equal parts joy and nervousness radiating from their bond told her who it was.
She watched as male elf that held her heart came to a stop in front of her.
Her memory had not done him justice. He was devastatingly handsome with the defined jawline and fair hair falling down his back. Evie couldn't take her eyes from him, afraid to touch him in case he disappeared before her eyes.
He was frozen in front of her too, almost like he was scarcely breathing, but she could see the love pouring out of his blue eyes as the seconds turned to minutes.
For Evie, the emotion building inside of her as she stared into his fair face was intense and she had to take a few deep breaths, reminding herself that this was real. He was real.
Her green eyes followed his hand as she let him take her tea cup and place on the side table before kneeling in front of her and taking both her hands in his.
"Forgive me?"
So happy was she to see him that this confused her.
"What?"
"I was a stubborn fool Evangeline. My actions were driven by nothing except to keep you safe. The distance from you since the moment you left was painful and I…"
He stopped when he felt her finger gently press against his lips.
"I shall forgive you Thranduil if you do something for me in return?"
"Anything."
"Forgive me?"
It was his turn to be caught off guard. She continued before he could respond.
"You have ruled this elven kingdom for many years and it was wrong of me to doubt the extent of the evil lurking in the shadows. I should have trusted your judgement to be cautious."
His immediate response was to raise her hands to his lips and leave gentle kisses on the soft skin.
I love you
As I love you
She felt his joy down the bond and she knew all was well between them again, the ache of separation easing steadily.
The red head moved her hands to cup his face and gently leaned forward to press her lips to his, sighing in contentment at the connection.
She then felt a deep burning desire fill her, reacting wildly with his, and knew that there would be a time to talk, but this was not it.
She broke from their kiss and gave his chest a little push to indicated for him to stand before standing herself and wrapping her arms around his torso, inhaling his pine scent as she pressed her face into his chest.
She enjoyed the feeling of his arms wrapped around her waist, keeping her close to him.
Feeling his desire for growing impatient, Evie wasn't surprised when his large warm hands moved to untie the belt on the green robe and tug the thick fabric so it fell to the floor, leaving her in the short lace and silk chemise that hugged her curves.
She pulled away from his chest to look up at him, shivering at the intense blue gaze and the finger that he used to trace down her neck and over the visible tops of her breasts.
"I missed you."
Instead of answering, she tugged at this shirt with her hands.
"off."
"As you wish."
She stood there staring as he removed his clothing, leaving it in piles on the floor. His body was magnificent and perfectly toned from years of training and battle. And all hers. She grinned.
She gave a slight squeak of surprise when he easily lifted her by the waist, her legs instinctively wrapping around his hips and she entwined her hands into his luscious silky hair.
She had no idea what he was doing until he stopped walking at the foot of their bed, getting on both knees as he placed her gently on the linen.
He used his right hand to brush the red curls off her face as he leaned forward to kiss her deeply, which she had no issue responding to in kind.
She let out a soft sigh of pleasure when his lips moved across her jaw and down her neck, the skin tingling from his touch.
"Let me show you how much I love you, my beloved wife."
She could think of no objections to his requests and helped him pull down the straps of the chemise so it fell to her waist, exposing her firm breasts to his eyes.
Ever in control, Thranduil did not waste time showering them with the attention they deserved, but nor did he was to rush this reuniting of their bodies.
A soft kiss, followed by a quick nip and sucking on her creamy skin, here and there, occasionally hitting the nipples in such a way that sent a bolt of desire straight to her core, while his hand explored, caressing and kneading her heated flesh.
Evie's breathing was coming in soft pants, such was the desire that had built inside her and she wished for him to touch her everywhere, all at once, so when his head moved away, she whimpered.
She felt his warm breath on her ear.
"Lie back for me, my darling."
Her mind blank, she obeyed immediately, settling back on the soft covers.
She gasped at the feeling of his large warm hands on her thighs, pushing the cream silk up and off her body before opening her legs wide for him.
'Oh fuck."
It came out of her lips slightly breathless as she felt his tongue sweep over her sensitive nub once, twice and then again.
It had been too long since they had done this and her body was begging for a release.
Pleasure was building inside her as he teased her first with his tongue and then by inserting his long digits into her hot and wet core.
She was nearing the edge when she felt the loss of him and she growled in response, but then his mouth pressed to her and sucked hard while his hand reached out to play with her nipples and Evie went over the edge screaming his name.
Bright light was behind her closed eyes as the tension melted away from her convulsing body.
Coming down from the high, she took a few deep breaths, opening her eyes when she heard the deep amused chuckle from above her.
She opened her mouth to retort but was silenced when his mouth descended on hers forcefully before his hard cock pushed inside her slickness easily and they both felt whole.
She wrapped her legs around his hips and encouraged him to move, which he did, gently like a loving caress and then growing faster and more urgent as his own release neared.
The combination of the unique smell of her and the feeling of her walls tightening around him that finally had him explode inside her, moaning in pleasure.
It was at this moment that they both felt a surging of power between them originating from their soul bond and spreading outwards, causing Evie's skin to radiate with golden light.
Raising her hand to be in her line of vision, she felt the familiar warmth of her power under her skin and willed it to the surface, gasping at its beauty when it materialised, glowing brighter and stronger than ever.