Chapter 8: Scheduled

Thranduil woke with a whimper and turned to his left side, cradling his belly and hoping the pressure would alleviate the stabbing feeling that roiled through his stomach. To his slight surprise, the pain was immediately attended to by something soft, warm and wet being slid down to where it hurt, coupled with soothing words that he recognised as ones meant to accelerate healing. "Tauriel?" He questioned the voice curiously once he got his senses back.

"Idhrenion wanted me to practice my healing, for the journey," the redhead supplied matter of factly.

"The jouney." Thranduil grunted, muddled, his brain still taking its time to surface from the fog.

"To find Legolas." Tauriel voiced tentatively, her own insides clenching with unease. For her, it would be something unthinkable if he'd changed his mind or didn't remember their conversation. "You need to get better swiftly so we can set off as soon as possible while conditions are favourable. And the more time passes, the more likely it is we could lose track of him." She elaborated, hoping to jog his memory.

Thranduil sighed and turned to his back, a little more comfortable due to her ministrations. "I doubt he would want to see either of us," he ruminated, cynical.

"Maybe not me. I have no excuses and nothing new I could offer him. That is why I would stay in the shadows once we find him. But I can't very well let you venture continentwide alone," she reasoned, still not being able to contemplate the possibility of him not going.

Thranduil's forehead creased, "letting me? You have serious authority delusions." He mused.

"I apologise," the elleth averted her bold gaze, "I hope I have not angered you too much, My Lord."

"You have not…for some reason," he added, incredulous himself. "Perchance I am too weary for anger." The king ruminated dismissively, not completely engaged with the topic at hand.

"I am fully committed to bring about your wellbeing, Your Majesty," Tauriel assured, "please consider this as fact."

Thranduil rolled his eyes, "tiresome, futile undertaking," he ridiculed.

Tauriel shook her head, "I do not care what you think, My Lord. I will not watch idle while others I care about suffer when there are other options."

"Care? You defy me at every step and now you claim to care and understand? What a curious individual you are."

"I guess it's just me," Tauriel gave a sad smile, "however burdensome it may be. I wish happiness to you and Legolas. Your son happy is what I'd like to see, probably especially because I can't give that to him myself. Going to him is the only way to make it right."

Thranduil exhaled slowly, eyes misting over as he stared up at the ceiling, raptured by a wave of sadness at the mention of his son, something that then turned him absent and noncommittal. "I am tired."

Though he didn't specify and drop more of his regal façade than he'd lost already during recent afflictions, Tauriel didn't think for one moment he meant physically, although he most certainly must've been like that too. "I can be your feet, I can be your strength, I can be your will, whatever you need. In exchange for only one thing – direction, acceptance of my offer." She wagered boldly.

"I'm tired." Thranduil repeated, sounded more defeated than ever. "Do whatever you wish," he settled for the easier option, too drained for more discussions, fighting or pain. "It cannot be worse than this."

"I'll let you sleep, you need more rest at any case, but tomorrow we start with getting you ready," she allowed, not feeling very encouraged by his answers but she will have to take whatever she can get.

Tbc