Author's Note:A bit more mention of future slash in here. We're not yet into the slashy bits yet but there is (repeated) mention of blushing. Just trying to be sensitive to those who may or may not find that appealing. Anyway. thanks for the encouragement and comments. And to Dinah I'm glad you like it so far. 3
It had been nearly a month since Himelon had been instructed to stay in Greenwood and the seasons were slowly changing. The soft scents of spring were becoming the more potent and intoxicating aromas of summer flowers. The gentle green of the forest was also finding itself bathed in more and more gold and orange light as the clouds from spring retreated from the sky. The temperature had gone up slightly an while most everyone enjoyed the sunlight and warmth Himelon would have been lying if he said he felt the same. It wasn't that he disliked summer, it was that he found it simply to hot and bright of a season. In the duration of his stay Himelon had found that the extra guards that Thranduil had appointed to keep an eye on him weren't that bad. He'd thought they'd be over restrictive but in reality they mostly let him go where he pleased. Certainly they didn't hesitate to tell him when he'd over stepped his privileges, but they weren't exactly rude about it. His perception of Greenwood had been changing as he learned his captors weren't, for the most part, any more excited about him being there than he was. Although he had been enjoying his stay more than anticipated.
Himelon's days in Greenwood had started out awkward and slightly forced. For at least a week he didn't dare venture outside of his given room. There were simply too many people and he was terrified. When King Thranduil had caught word that his "guest" was cooped up in his room, and hadn't set foot outside for nearly a month, he'd gone out of his way to remedy the situation. If a guest was unhappy, for whatever reason, someone outside of Greenwood, or inside of, would hear about it and his hospitality and authority might come into question. Such perceived weakness or rudeness could destroy a kingdom and humans had proven that time and time again. Thranduil rationalized to himself that he was going to see Himelon simply to prevent rumors but in truth a part of him had been feeling rather sad in the passed weeks without see the raven haired elf male. So with a strong and confident stride the King of the woodland realm set himself to travel through his palace to the room where Himelon was staying.
The room of wood had been as Himelon had been keeping it. Dark and cold. He was thankful that he'd been gifted with the reign over ice and shadow. Some of the elves back in Valinor, and even a few in the elf kingdoms of Middle Earth, had thought him cursed for a time. Thankfully the majority had the sense to see the gifts for what they were. Nothing but a variation of the elemental abilities some other elves possessed. And so Himelon was putting them to good use here in Greenwood The Great. If he was to stay in this endless forest he would at least be comfortable. He'd blotted out the daylight until there was no sun left shining in the room and then proceeded to ice over most of the place to keep it cool. 62 degrees and below was favorable. The ice itself gave off a soft blue glow from the "magic" that created it. The only light in the room was the gentle comforting glow.
Himelon had taken rest in the bundle of sheets and it actually had been about two days since he'd even moved from the bed. Overall a month had passed and in that time Himelon would wander around the room, speak to the trees and curious creature who came to visit, and occasionally spy on a certain Elven King while he slept. One day the rave haired elf thought, for a moment, that he might actually leave and explore the palace but the thought was quickly crushed by his own phobia of his more feral kin. That is until there came a soft yet strong knock at the door. Without a word the large oak threshold was pushed slowly open bathing the dark and blue room in golden light. In response Himelon curled himself further under the covers to shield his eyes a let out a soft hiss. Yes he was acting like an elfling. No he didn't particularly care at the given moment. All was silent for a moment until there was a soft sag on the bed and a sharp tug of the sheets that ultimately uncovered the raven haired elf hiding there.
"You could at least pretend to take interest in my kingdom." Thranduil had spoken fluidly yet gently while holding back a soft sigh. In truth the Elven King didn't know why the idea of Himelon being cooped up in the room bothered him enough to see about solving it himself. It just did.
"Are you displeased with your treatment here?" The starlight haired male had continued as if he had not expected a reply. He cared about the well being of his guests whether they were staying voluntarily or not. If Himelon was somehow being mistreated he'd take care of it as he would if any other guest had stated a complaint.
"Aside from not being permitted to leave," Himelon sighed sitting up an scooting away from Thranduil all the while averting his gaze to hide the red tint spreading over his face, "No. You have been shockingly hospitable given the Silvan elves and my prior behavior. I just find the number of people here to be uncomfortable. I'm not used to groups larger than two or three." It was the truth and what really could hurt in admitting it? It's not like he was insulting the King by being socially inexperienced. As Thranduil let the information sink it he observed the raven haired elf shifting nervously along with the soft pink tint marking the pale skin of the other male. Most people would have simply let Himelon be given that information but Thranduil just couldn't. Not only did he want his guest to be, semi, comfortable but it bothered him to no end that it was this particular individual who was uncomfortable.
"Would you feel more comfortable," Thranduil's words were slow as if he was still putting them together as he turned a striking blue eye to look Himelon in the eyes, "with your bow and blade?" The wandering gaze of the raven haired male suddenly snapped to meet the King's. Had he heard that right? Apparently so.
"Infinitely." the word had left Himelon's lips significantly stronger than initially intended, but it made its point. Thranduil's eyes had widened ever so slightly before his soft passive expression returned to further comfort and confuse Himelon. There it was again. The boldness that the raven haired elf had expressed earlier when they'd first met. Not to mention the flutter in his own stomach. As much as he disliked the authority Himelon was seemingly asserting, Thranduil couldn't help that he kind of found it enjoyable. Most everyone was ever so careful to only say that which they thought wouldn't upset him. The fact that his Captain of the guard had less of that reflex was one reason why he listened to him more than some others. It was also that trait that Thranduil found himself pondering. None the less he nodded and placed a soft pat on the other male's back before rising and moving toward the door.
"Perhaps after your bow and blade are returned to you," Thranduil glanced over his back at the elf whose pale blue orbs were transfixed on him, "you might accompany me on patrol through the forest." Himelon blinked momentarily surprised by the offer for two reasons. The first being that he'd only just arrived and was not exactly a full guest seeing as how he was so heavily guarded and watched. The second being that he thought a King would not go on patrols. That's what the guards were for wasn't it? When Himelon gave no reply and Thranduil remained where he stood the raven haired elf felt a slight amount of heat return with full force to his cheeks and cleared his throat.
"Sure," Himelon spoke with a nod looking anywhere but the starlight haired King, "I'm not familiar with Greenwood in the way you are but I'll try to be of assistance." Himelon had decided to take that tack. If he treated it like nothing more than an order or request from the King perhaps he wouldn't feel so flustered by it. Unfortunately that didn't seem to work. The Elven King seemed to have been satisfied by the response and had left. Promptly after Himelon had found his weapons resting just inside the door.
After that little bit of coaxing Himelon had found himself wandering around the palace. For most of the time Himelon had spent in Greenwood he'd taken to either wandering the forest, exploring the palace, playing with the elflings, or practicing with his bow and blade. Things were more enjoyable than he'd initially expected.