As the raven haired elf male's hand gripped the edge of the flour sacks Thranduil felt his heart going a mile a minute. He was going to be found and it was by the one person in all of Middle Earth he would want least to find him. Taking in a deep breath Thranduil rose quickly from his hiding place and pushed passed Himelon with all the authority and grace of any King. He tried his best to behave as if he had been doing nothing out of the ordinary.
"Why are you here without the guards I assigned you?" before Himelon could even speak Thranduil had smoothly and coolly bit out the question. He kept his back to the other and did not even glace over his shoulder to make eye contact with Himelon as Thranduil stopped his stride only a few inches from the door. He was trying to hide his flour covered front and also was allotting himself and quick escape route should something go amiss.
"Why are you hiding behind a pile of flour sacks?" Himelon's questioned had come with a tilt of his head and flowed as gently and coolly as the mountain wind in the early days of winter. Had Thranduil looked behind him he would have seen and small smile playing across the rave haired male's face. Thranduil had been fast in escaping his hiding place but Himelon had still seen the flour on the front of the King. He had known with that split second of an image that Thranduil must have been the mystery baker. Knowing this a part of Himelon felt bad for assuming the pie to be poisoned. Not all of him. Just a part in the increasingly more active emotional side of his mind.
"You have not answered my question." It was then that Thranduil looked over his shoulder and his icy blue eyes met Himelon's pale blue ones. His tone had been as cold and narrow as a frozen stream cutting through a glacier. Himelon couldn't help but chuckle softly. Of course he hadn't and he couldn't help but think it slightly cute the way the corners of Thranduil's brow arched downward ever so slightly as he, not entirely perfectly, masked the embarrassment that was without a shadow of a doubt thrumming through him at this very moment.
"I have no clue where they are," Himelon replied with a soft sigh as he took a seat on the flour sacks and crossed one leg over the other while crossing his arms over his chest, "I am certain that they are not far behind me though." Thranduil nodded and tried to take the opportunity as the chance to leave. As his hand pushed on the door ever so slightly he was cut off.
"You made those pies didn't you?" it was more of a statement than a question that slipped from Himelon's lips. As Thranduil processed the slightly amused tone he knew that the other male knew his secret. Letting out a low groan the Elven King turned and slunk down into the nearest seat with his head in his hands. His cheeks were beet red and the one elf he couldn't get out of his head knew about his little hobby. No doubt the whole of Greenwood would know about it by morning if he did nothing about it.
"Don't tell anyone." Thranduil's words were meant to be an order but came out as more of a weak plea. The Elven King's mind was running a mile a minute and his emotions were not helping. His mind raced between all of the things he could do with the remaining pie to how he would deal with the teasing and subtle reprimands and gossip that widespread knowledge of his hobby would surely spark.
"Why would I?" Himelon chuckled softly as he glided over to sit by the starlight haired king, "It's not any of my business that you like to bake delicious pies." In that moment Himelon had the urge to wrap his arms around Thranduil and pull him to his chest while gently running his fingers through his soft, silky, blonde hair. Of course such as thing was inappropriate in the given situation. They were a far cry from being lovers which is what such behavior would be reserved for. Instead Himelon gently laid a hand on the Elven King's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. As Thranduil's, now softened, blue eyes met Himelon's again the raven haired elf offered his King a small smile of reassurance. The red tint on Thranduil's cheeks excited a soft blush in Himelon's own face as he released the other male's shoulder.
"You think they were delicious?" Thranduil's question was accented with something between a chuckle and a whimper. Himelon however let out a soft yet heart-felt laugh at the question. The raven haired elf poked softly at the pies before answering. It had been a long while since he'd laughed like that. Although the sound was soft the meaning of it ran deeper than anyone could imagine. The last time Himelon could remember laughing like that was when Lord Elrond, when he was only and elfling, had made Himelon play "orcs and elves" with him.
"Yes." Himelon cooed gently standing up in a single movement, "I don't like pie too much but I had two pieces of yours." A bit the Thranduil's pride swelled at the statement. It wasn't just that someone had like his pie, it was that Himelon had liked his pie. He truly enjoyed the thought of that. Noting that the other male was leaving the Elven King reached out swiftly and gently to catch Himelon by the hand.
"In two weeks I will be leaving with some of my men," Thranduil stated slowly and pointedly as his gaze demanded Himelon's full attention and the warmth of his slender hand kept the raven haired elf transfixed in place, "To go to war with the orcs in the far North. It shouldn't be too big of a deal and should be over quickly but I feel uneasy about it." Himelon looked and listened. The touch was wonderful and distracting while the reason for Thranduil telling him this continued to escape Himelon.
"I wish you all the speed and luck you need," Himelon began carefully leading and tilting his head ever so slightly to the side, "But why do you tell me this?" Many thoughts ran through the raven haired elf's head. He could be letting him go because of this. He could also be restricting him even more in his absence.
"I would like you to accompany me into battle." Thranduil's words had seemed surreal to both of them. Much like when he had stated that Himelon was to be their guest Thranduil felt as if someone else entirely willed his words to flow. Yet he trusted his request. It made him feel more secure and less worried about the situation. The idea of Himelon accompanying him into battle was comforting and made him feel relieved. Despite the little overall contact that they had had Thranduil liked to think of Himelon as a friend. The raven haired elf had accompanied him on patrols and, despite his Captain of the guard's objections, Thranduil would occasionally take Himelon with him when he went hunting. Those had been the best memories he'd had regarding the older elf's time in Greenwood. The walks and fellowship they'd shared no matter how brief those moments may have been.
"Of course my King," Himelon replied with a soft smile as he gripped the starlight haired King's hand a bit tighter. It had taken him a moment to get over the initial shock of the request. Himelon had liked to think them friends after the contact they'd had as of late but he was unsure whether Thranduil would even entertain such a thing. Yet here he was asking him to go into battle with him. It wasn't just a skill thing. Such a direct and personal request was an expression of trust. One would only ask someone they trusted to fight alongside them in war. It was a rather intimate bonding experience despite the blood, gore, and horrific death that came with it. With small knowing smiles being exchanged Thranduil released Himelon's hand and the raven haired male disappeared through the door into the rest of the palace. Himelon had understood the gravity of what he'd been asked and they both now knew that the idea that they were friends wasn't just a selfish thought that the other could and would not reciprocate.