Thank you to:

leward1992 – I like your thinking, brutal but effective.

Kelwtim2spar – Hope you enjoy this next bit!

x3sunnydaay – Yes, you see the conflicting problem. What to do with a character who is not entirely good or bad, but had done bad things?

ButlerGirlAnime – haha love your eagerness for him to die.

Silentmayhem – I like your thinking, shall we see if it turns out that way?

Here you are lovelies, read and review xx

Chapter 44

Thranduil POV

Thranduil had never pushed his steed so hard in his long lifetime as he did right now, racing through the forest with Feren and the other warriors keeping pace. He was surprised at how easily the dog had stayed ahead of them all.

His mind focus was a simple one: Find Evie

His eyes took in all the stimuli as they thundered past, but they did not stop, for elves were able to sustain themselves longer than mortal men.

He could feel that they were going in the right direction because the fea in his chest grew more vibrant the closer he got to his beloved. He wondered if she could feel him growing nearer also.

The other thing that had helped them on their way was the singing voices of the trees. On one of their early breaks he had listened with keen interest as they sung about the beauty and kindness of a red headed woman passing through the wood. They confirmed that they were indeed going the right way.

What had been most odd during that time though, was when he took Feren aside to private share the news of the baby, they had returned to camp to leave with haste and found that Lord Neldor had somehow vanished. None had seen him leave, but it mattered not to the Elvenking, his priority was absolutely clear.

He raised his hand to halt when they heard the unmistakable sounds of clashing metal in the distance.

His first instinct was to fear for Evie being in the brunt of a battle, but his reasoning knew she was capable of looking after herself and rushing in was not the elven way. Instead, he approved of the Captain of the guard instructing two warriors to scout ahead.

They jumped off their mounts and quickly disappeared into the trees ahead.

Thranduil tapped his hand on his thigh impatiently as they waited.

It was not long before the scouts returned. The tallest of the two elves spoke first.

"A battle of orcs and spiders. One mortal man by the look of it and no sign of the Queen."

His bright blue eyes caught those of the Feren and his made his command known.

"We proceed with caution. No loss of elven life. I want the mortal alive, all others to perish without mercy. We must rid ourselves of this evil before it can spread any further."

A chorus of "Yes, My King." Was heard from the group before his gave a hand signal for them to move on.

He noticed the troubled face of the wizard, but was glad that he said nothing and instructed his stallion to move.

It did not take long for the 20 elven warriors and their King and supporting wizard to come across the clearing where the eight legged beasts were indeed fighting with the orc scum that had entered his forrest.

Without warning the company charged through the bush, swords raised and attacking both sides with ruthless efficiency.

Thranduil took no pleasure in killing the creatures around him, but he did let all his caged fury out while he beheaded orcs with his twin blades.

Since a number of the orcs were already dead when they arrived, it seemed the spiders had had the element of surprise on their side in the beginning, it didn't take long for the expertly trained elves to finish off the last of them and take on the new threat unhindered.

Thranduil was not even out of breath by the skirmish, but his pent up anger had risen to the surface and he was loath to bottle it back up now. He wanted to inflict more damage.

He was approached then by none other than Mithrandir.

"What do intend to do with the mortal?"

That broke him out of his thoughts. He was surprised the mortal had not already perished.

"I want information."

"You promise not to kill him?"

"I will make no such promise."

"He may be innocent."

"Mithrandir, you are known for providing great council, but in this I require none. A mortal travelling with a pack of orc is no innocent. I will find out the extent of his treachery by any means necessary."

Having had the last word on it, he brushed past the wizard dressed in Grey and made toward the shaking figure kneeling on the ground, his head bent towards the ground and with elves holding swords up threateningly if he moved an inch.

He knew he did not have to tell Feren that he wanted to begin the interrogation. His voice was cold and hard when he addressed the pitiful creature.

"Do you know who I am mortal?"

There was silence as the man did not speak or raise his head. The Captain stepped in then to forcefully raise the captive head to look at the regal elf in front of him.

"You will answer the King mortal."

It took them aback when the mortal man in question, suddenly laughed.

"I believe you just answered his question elf."

"You find this funny?"

"Not at all. It all gone horribly wrong. We were supposed to get out of the forest."

"And go where?"

"Somewhere safe."

"Who are you?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"You will address the King properly mortal." Feren spoke upagain.

"Why should I tell you, Majesty?"

The Captain then socked the mortal in the jaw for his insolence and went to do it again when the King spoke to his captain in elvish to stop.

"We will try this again and you will answer my questions or you will not like the consequences. Am I understood?"

"My my you are dramatic. How did she stand you?"

"Where is Evangeline?"

"Alas my sweet sweet Evie is gone. I fear never to see her again. A shame for her beauty was unlike any other."

These words made Thranduil's temper rise. She was not 'his' and he better start explaining himself.

"Where is she?"

"Truthfully, I know not. For I sent her off away. I did not wish to watch her die."

"What direction did she go?"

"I don't know."

"Did any beast follow her?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know much do you?"

"I know plenty Majesty, you just aren't asking the right questions."

"Right. Who are you?"

The King was unsettled by the smirking look the mortal man gave him and was wary of the answer.

"I'm sure you've heard of me. I'm Luke, the other lover."

There was stunned silence at this for a moment and it made the anger in his chest flare up again.

Shaking his head at this interruption, for they had lost precious time, he signalled for a few of the warriors to bind the mortal's hands and return with him back to the palace dungeons, where he will await his trial. Thranduil was certain there was more to learn in all this, but it would have to wait. He needed to find his wife.

Evie POV

Evie ran through the trees, heavily breathing as she jumped over fallen logs, pulled her clothing from being held by nearby branches and occasionally looking back to make sure she wasn't followed.

She had the sword tightly held in her hand, but as yet had not had the need to use it. Thank the Valar, she thought.

As she ran further and further from the battle, the thickness of the air grew and she knew she was in familiar territory.

She propelled herself forward and shrieked when she collided with a solid body, who arms immediately caught her so she did not fall on her ass.

Looking through her dishevelled curls, she was stupefied to see the last elf she was expecting.

"What are you doing here?"

The dark haired male elf seemed to be in a distressed state, far from the usually composed council member she was accustomed to seeing. His clothes were dirty and ripped, like he had made haste and not bothered to watch where he was going. His eyes didn't seem to believe that she was standing in front of him and as a result, his mouth kept opening and closing but no words came out.

Evie was already wary of Lord Neldor and didn't quite trust his presence, keeping her sword ready, but she remained calm as she addressed him again.

"What are you doing here?"

That seemed to do the trick and he immediately came towards her, checking for injury, but she pushed him back away from her.

"Get off me! What do you think you're doing?"

The elf then started to pace like one possessed and Evie was at a loss on what to do as the mutterings began in elvish.

"He'll have my head for this."

"She has to be safe."

"Cannot return without her."

"Should never have interfered."

"Must get back."

"Maybe he will have mercy."

Evie had had enough of this, for her patience was paper thin and gripped the elf on the shoulders so he could face her.

"Right. Explain yourself."

"We have to get you back to the Palace My Queen."

Him addressing her with her full title shocked the woman for he had never bothered before.

"Why?"

He looked at her then like the answer was obvious.

"We must get you back to the King of course."

"Yes. I understand. I want to see Thranduil, but why is there only you?"

"I had to run ahead, it was the only way to right the wrong. Please we must go now."

"You are not talking sense, I will not go anywhere with you until you explain."

The elf looked annoyed at the delay, but she had used her Queenly voice and even he recognised it was not to be argued with, so he took a breath and began."

"It was me, I did it. I let them in. But nothing was meant to happen along the way to you and I went along to make sure everything went to plan, but then there was a complication that changed everything and I had to fix it before they knew what I did."

"What was the plan?"

"Well to get you out. You have to forgive me for being a traditionalist, but you are not an elf. The idea of you being Queen. Ridiculous. And then when I received that letter, a human mate for you, well it was perfect. But then…"

He trailed off and Evie had to admit that she was curious to know what changed his mind so quickly, so she encouraged him to continue.

"But then…?"

"I overheard the King talk about the baby to Feren."

Oh. The baby

That stupefied her slightly, for she did not think this elf to be capable of feeling emotions.

"Why did that matter to you so much?"

"Surely the King has explained to you how precious elflings are to the elven race?"

"I have heard mention of it."

"Above all else they are to be protected. The life growing inside you is a future Prince or Princess of the Greenwood. It's imperative that we get you back and make sure the baby is alright. If all that wasn't enough, the response from the King to your disappearance was more aggressive than I had envisioned."

"We are soul bonded."

"Ahh. That explains it. I don't not know if he would recover from the…loss."

"From what I understand, he would not and neither would I."

"Yes."

Evie let go of him and walked away, processing the details that had been shared with her.

"I cannot keep your secret from my husband."

"I do not expect you to. I had hoped that if I were the one to bring you back, that he would be…lenient."

"You know his temper as well as I and I think you need to prepare yourself that he will not react favourably."

"I have deduced the same. However, I wish to make it right."

"You can, you can go and find him and tell him where I am."

"No, you need to come with me."

"No, I have something to take care of. You must go."

"I will not leave without you, he will not believe me. We cannot risk something more happening to you."

"With respect, it's not your decision to make. Go and find your King."

"No."

Evie had to react fast as the elf reached for her, so she sidestepped him and turned so that she was behind the elf and quickly jammed the base of her sword to the back of his dark head, causing him to fall limp to the ground.

"You're going to have a terrible headache I'm afraid, but it can't be helped."

Knowing that the elves would eventually find him, she reached up and freed the other sparkly leaf clip that had somehow stayed in her hair and placed it in the elf's open palm.

With one last look, she took off through the trees, all the while feeling her fae pulse brightly in her chest like a beacon to her other half.

A/N: There we go Chapter 44! It's really starting to get interesting, but some important things were revealed. How do we think Thranduil will react? Most probably not well. Will we see his infamous temper? And how will our lovebirds be reunited?