There and Back Again: A Queen's Tale

Written by: Anime Girl Kim

Disclaimer: If I owned anything in LOTR, it would be a miracle… but I don't

Short A/N: Please read and review!

Chapter 3

"Raina dear! Edlosto!"

Bright sunlight seared Raina's eyelids as the curtains were drawn back from the window with a loud whoosh! and some rattling. She let out a groan, flipping over and onto her stomach in the large master bed, as well as buried her face back into the pillow to avoid the light. "Close it!" Her voice was muffled by the light feather bed pillow, nevertheless she was clear Amoniel could hear her.

"Dear sister Raina, you really should get up!" Amoniel protested. The bed creaked, sinking under the elleth's weight. Raina tried to ignore her, covering her ears with her hands. "Raina," the caretaker tried another approach, gripping hold of her victim's shoulders and shaking her slightly to get her attention. "It's the your first day on the job! You wouldn't want to disappoint the King would you?"

The plan sure worked. Raina sprang out of the bed faster than a horse fleeing in panic; although despite her speed, her agility was her downfall - or fall-down. She face-planted right onto the floor in a very undignified way. Amoniel broke into peals of laughter, still seated at the edge of the bed, watching in amusement as Raina peeled herself off the spotless white floor, looking murderous. "Gee, thanks, Amoniel." She grumbled, rubbing at her half-open eyes. "Is it real or what?"

"What is real?" Amoniel asked, pretending to be confused, her whole face scrunched up into what was supposed to be an innocent expression, but it looked too much like a wicked smile. Raina rolled her eyes at her, putting on a oh-c'mon look. "Okay, okay. Technically, it is the first day on your job; but the King won't be needing you until after breakfast. So, hup hup! I've already set out the food!"

Raina gave another sigh, running her fingers through the tangled mass on her head, not even caring that it was obviously undignified. "Fine, whatever." She made a shooing motion with her hands. "Out with you," Still giggling, Amoniel danced out of the room, feeling quite pleased with herself.

The walk-in closet in the bedroom was bigger than any wardrobe back at Rivendell. Raina found herself totally flummoxed - no, gobsmacked - at the sheer size of the closet, or should she say room. No matter where she looked, it was all dresses. Dresses here, dresses there. Raina could freely say that she was not a fan of dresses; heck, she hadn't even worn a dress in her whole life! Even at Rivendell, where almost everything was peaceful and quiet.

After rifling through the impressive amount of clothing, she finally retrieved a simple thigh-length tunic in the color of palest blue, her usual black leggings, and a pair of leather boots with thick sturdy soles. Once dressed, Raina checked herself from top to bottom in the mirror. Good, she was presentable - not that she cared.

Just as Amoniel had guaranteed, breakfast was arranged and laid out all over the table. Raina found her mouth watering at the sight of fresh baked loaves and blocks of cheese. "Le channon," she thanked Amoniel, taking a seat across from her, and loading her plate with food. "Did you cook this, or did you steal from the pantry?" Raina teased jokingly, digging into her plateful of breakfast, savoring the buttery taste of eggs in her mouth. Normally, she didn't like eggs, but the food at Greenwood was amazing.

Amoniel swatted at her playfully. "How dare you say that! Of course I cooked it!"

They chatted happily over their meal, momentarily forgetting the time. Even when the food had been scraped clean, their conversation still didn't stop; even Raina herself was surprised there were so many things to talk about, like so so many things.

Then, rap rap. Both of their voices died down, two sets of eyes fixated on the door in bewilderment. Another rap rap. "I'll get it," Raina announced, pushing back her chair and standing up. A series of raps sounded again as she crossed the room towards the door. "Coming!"

She wrenched the door open, about to open her mouth to demand who was so rude to be pounding on the door so many times. But before she could say anything, the knocker spoke up. "Mae govannen, brennil nín." It was an ellon, dressed casually in clothes similar to hers, with sharp handsome features. Raina found herself speechless at his beauty, her mouth slightly open.

"Suil!" She replied hastily, almost forgetting that this was her home, and she was to be hostile to guests. She gestured politely for the ellon to come in. "Do you care for a drink?"

The ellon gave a kind smile, his twinkling blue eyes seizing her up and down, making Raina feel a teeny bit uncomfortable. "No, thank you. I come with a message instead."

Amoniel rushed over suddenly, stopping right beside Raina. "Who is it?" She asked, before turning to look at the messenger. "Elvellon!" She shrieked in joy, throwing her arms around the surprised ellon. "Le hannon a tholed!"

Elvellon gave a low bow. "Lu ann gwannant, Amoniel."

"Raina," Amoniel spun around to face Raina, her slender fingers wrapping around Elvellon's arm and pulling him close; the ellon looked quite astonished. "this is Elvellon. He works as the King's messenger and personal bodyguard! Isn't that great?"

Said elf scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I'm not that great, Amoniel. You're exaggerating."

"I am not!" She countered with her arms folded, her tone angry but the look on her face was one of amusement. "You are the one that rides beside the King at battle! The third in command! That must mean something."

"No, it doesn't." The two were soon engaged in a fierce argument on whether Elvellon was great or not, giving Raina a migraine.

Raina cleared her throat. The two of them turned to look at her, momentarily stopping their argument. "What about the message?" She hinted.

"A!" Elvellon slapped his forehead. "Yes, about the message." He gave Amoniel a meaningful look before turning to face Raina. "The King requires your service, Raina. I will take you to his study, once you are ready."

"Um…" Raina glanced unsurely at Amoniel, whom gave her an encouraging smile. "Well then, lead the way."

This was it. First day on the job. Raina walked in a giddily way, following Elvellon through the complicated palace. The said ellon moved in a steady pace, occasionally glancing behind his shoulder to ensure that she was following. "So," Elvellon chirped, starting a conversation. "how does it feel, in Greenwood?"

"It's…" Raina tried to find a suitable word. "overwhelming. Greenwood is very unlike Rivendell, but I feel… comfortable here." It was the truth. She liked Greenwood very much, finding it cozy and friendly, despite being an underground realm. Still, she missed her home, the bright green plants and the large waterfall, the lake and the sky, a sky so so blue.

"Ah, I knew you would like it here." Elvellon grinned childishly. "Being the King's messenger is really boring - but don't tell your Majesty that - I'm glad you came. Our troops really need to hustle up."

Raina laughed at his humor. It was nice to just joke around and not worry about anything. "Well, they sure need to look out! Because I'm coming for them!" Both of them laughed in unison.

Elvellon elbowed her playfully. "You, my dear, are going to be a perfect influence on them," he lowered his voice, casting a careful glance around them to check if anybody was listening. "and on the Prince. His attitude is growing; the King is getting tired of him." His voice grew even lower, so Raina had to strain her ears to hear him. "Others say he's ambitious, but I know better. Thranduil is one of my closest friends, so close that we could be brothers. He just needs trust, someone to have his back; he was always alone, ever since he was only a wee elfling. His mother died after his birth, and his father has grown bitter ever since; Thranduil has always grown up under the King's shadow, never seeing the right path."

His speech left Raina breathless, awestruck even. Was this the truth? Was this the reason that Thranduil was acting so bitter? That he attacked her? But why did this have anything to do with the reason he pounced on her? Raina found herself drowning in a sea of utmost confusion. She was so deep in her thoughts, she almost walked right into Elvellon, whom she hadn't realized had stopped. "Whoa there!" He cried, grabbing hold of her shoulders to steady her. "Steady!" Elvellon shot her an amused look. "Are you sure you are a warrior? You are the most ungraceful elf I have ever met!"

Disgruntled, Raina shot Elvellon a glare. "Har har, very funny Elvellon." She eyed the door a few feet away from them. "So, I have to go in?"

He nodded solemnly. "Of course." The ellon stepped forward, and knocked on the wooden door.

"Enter."

Raina and Elvellon exchanged looks, before he pushed open the door, and the pair stepped inside.

As usual, Oropher sat behind his desk, scribbling something onto a piece of parchment. However, there was another presence in the study. The exact person they were just talking about. Prince Thranduil.

He stood beside his father's desk, grey eyes staring at them in a piercing way like a hawk, platinum blond hair flowing down his back. The glittering silver robe Thranduil was wearing glowed in the light streaming through the windows, making his hair look even… blonder. Raina bit the inside of her mouth at the sight of him, feeling nervous and angry at the same time.

"Ai Elvellon," Oropher set down his quill, sealing the parchment tightly. "You have brought her?"

"Yes, my lord." Elvellon bowed, shooting Raina a look she couldn't quite decipher.

"Maer." The King turned his sharp gaze on Raina. "I assume your stay here was soundless, neth Raina?"

Now Raina understood why Elvellon had gave her the look; to be respectful. She gave a slight half curtsy, because instead of a dress, she was wearing a tunic. "It was absolutely lovely, my King." This earned a snort from Thranduil. Raina glared at him, feeling slightly incredulous; had the Prince really sank this low to emit a snort?

Before she could turn away from him, Thranduil's sharp grey eyes met hers instead. They narrowed into slits as soon as they came in contact, glowering with so much hatred, it making Raina feel slightly overwhelmed. Oropher noticed his look, and pursed his lips. "Thranduil, Raina is one of us now. You will respect her."

"Respect her!" Thranduil shrieked, looking almost like a mad person as he stared at his father in disbelief. "Her place is lower than me! I am the Prince! She should respect me!"

"Thranduil!" The King roared. "I am warning you. Your attitude will not be accepted. Exactly when will you stop this?" Oropher's sharp angular face was now slightly red with anger, his cheeks a bit puffed out. Raina found herself taking a step back in surprise; she knew never to cross the King, for his temper was as extreme as his own son. Elvellon - who was still standing beside her - looked tired, as if he had already seen countless times of the father son argument.

While the King and the Prince were still arguing in the background, Raina turned to Elvellon. "Do they do this a lot?" She whispered under her breath, trying to be as quiet as he could.

"What? Fight over a pretty elleth?" Elvellon snorted and waggled his eyebrows at her. "Possibly, yeah."

She hit him across the shoulder, making him yelp in pain and cradle his arm close to his chest. "I meant," Raina sighed. "that do they always argue like this?" She eyed the fighting couple warily, unsure whether to break it up or just stand out.

The fair messenger shrugged his shoulders, looking as bored as ever. "Most of the times. Thranduil isn't really a father's boy, never as been ever since his mother died; a huge tragedy that was." He started picking at his fingernails, and all Raina could do was watch him. She studied the angular cheekbones poking out from the skin of his face, how sharp and tilted his nose was, his bright blue eyes narrowing in concentration as he scraped at the scab on the back of his hand, the bright strands of hair cascading down his shoulders gracefully.

"Ehem," Raina jumped back in surprise; she hadn't noticed how close she had leaned towards Elvellon. Oropher stood with his arms crossed, a long distance away from his son; apparently their little spat had finished, and it would seem that he had won. "Raina, my son will lead you to the training grounds to teach you some things you must know. Elvellon, stay here, I need you to deliver this message for me."

Thranduil stalked towards her, passed her with a short "Aphado nin" and breezed pass the open door. With another nervous look at Elvellon - who gave her an encouraging nod - she followed Thranduil out of the study.

The training grounds was a large patch of green clearing at the middle of the ground floor of the palace, everything that was needed was there. Raina could make out an archery range far away, a sword fighting arena beside them, knife throwing targets here and there, etc. Thranduil stood behind her, but even though she couldn't see him, she was sure he had his arms crossed and his lips pursed. "This is the training grounds," his voice came out almost indecipherable, it was as if he had his teeth gritted.

Raina turned around, raising an eyebrow curiously at him, studying his expressionless face. "Exactly when will you tell me why you hate me so much?" She asked, tilting her head, making sure that her tone wasn't unpleasant. It must have surprised Thranduil, since a look of confusion passed over his face, and his eyes sought out hers.

"I… do not know what you mean." He replied firmly, starting to look away from her, but Raina grabbed hold of his forearm. As soon as her hand clenched around him, his whole body gave a jerk, and his eyes instantly snapped wider. Raina could feel the taunt muscles of his arm under the thin fabric of his robe, rolling in ripples as they hardened with tension. "What. Are. You. Doing?!" Thranduil hissed, staring at her with shock.

"You know exactly what I mean," her voice came out a little wobbly, feeling suddenly skittish from the feeling of his strong rippling muscles… no, she must focus! Regaining her courage after letting Thranduil go and taking a deep breath, she continued once more. "The way you flipped out at me when I first arrived here, when we first met. It's not… it just isn't normal! Why can't you just tell me the reason?"

Thranduil studied her for a few seconds, seeming to ponder his chances at backing out of this conversation, but Raina's intense gaze prevented him. "Fine!" He snapped, setting off towards the shooting range. "The reason is that I did not want my father to have a new apprentice because- oh, why am I telling you this?!"

Raina gave a half-grimace, half-grin. "Because I asked you."

"I am telling you nothing." Thranduil didn't even turn around to look at her, only quickened his pace, making her have to jog to keep up. Curse his long legs. "Now, tolo!"

Surprisingly, the archery range wasn't much different from the shooting grounds at Rivendell. Targets had been set all over the place; on the stone walls, between the branches of trees, hidden in the bushes. On a long wooden rack, bows were placed in ordered size, and quivers stuffed with arrows dangled on the thin pole connected to the rack. Curious, Raina plucked one of the silver-feathered arrows out of their quiver, bringing it close to her face for examination.

"Those were made by the most skillful blacksmiths in Greenwood." Thranduil's sudden announcement made her jump in fright. He smirked down at her. "I would say I am sorry, but that would be a lie." His smirk grew wider as Raina stomped on his foot with all her might, planting the heel of her boot right on his big toe, but Thranduil didn't even look hurt. "Now now, no bullying your trainer."

She ignored him, merely picked up one of the slim, medium-length bow sitting forlornly on the rack, her other hand locating a single full quiver and slinging it over her back. "Well then," Raina growled, fitting one of the feathered arrows into her bow, slowly yet elegantly pulling back the string. "I'll show you that I don't need a trainer." And with that, she aimed at one of the targets, and released the bowstring.

It was the way she acted, how she spoke to him, every touch of arrogance in her voice that matched his own, even the tiny bits and pieces about the new elleth warrior that fascinated Thranduil. He hated and despised her, yes; but some part of him was curious as well as excited to see exactly what she could do.

His eyes followed her every move, watched her slide back the bowstring and take aim. Thranduil squinted to see where she was aiming for, the target at the highest peak. A scoff left his lips; there was no way she could shoot that far, with her small petite figure. She had to be the most un-graceful elf he had ever met, plus the shortness. "You aren't going to hit it!" Thranduil yelled at her, as she let go of the string, and the arrow whooshed into the air.

Then, thunk! Raina turned towards him, an identical smirk on her face. "Oh, can't I?" Thranduil stared first at her gleeful expression, then raised his eyes to glower at the arrow stuck right at the middle of the target's red bull's-eye. It was still shaking from the impact.

"You…" Thranduil struggled to find the right words, feeling completely tongue-tied.

"Oh, don't thank me." She shot him a wink before turning away. "Thank my own training."

Translations:

Edlosto: Wake up

Le channon: Thank you

Mae govannen, brennil nín: Well met, my lady

Suil: Greetings

Le hannon a tholed: Thank you for coming

Lu ann gwannant, Amoniel: It has been too long, Amoniel

A: Oh

Ai Elvellon: Hail Elvellon

Maer: Good

Neth Raina: Young Raina

Aphado nin: Follow me

Tolo: Come

I know I know, I'm a horrible person! No update for so long! I'm really really sorry everyone! BUT, I think I've started getting hang of this thing. This chapter is obviously longer than the previous ones, I'm so proud of myself!

Okay, enough of that self-praising. It's my turn to thank you all!

DeLacus, buubaa, BeautifulCataleya, cami3007, the whitekitten - thank you for your favorites and follows.

And my reviewers:

Wunderkind4006: Thanks, I'm trying not to stress myself. Raina does not like to be seen as weak and soft, but she does have that side in her, she just didn't want to admit it.

sass-mistress-lucifer: Oh, you're so sweet! I'll definitely take that in mind; in fact, you just gave me a very good idea! I know I'm kind of harsh on myself, but I just want my readers to have the best. Yes, Raina's happiness is indeed part relief, hope that clear things up a bit.

DeLaucus: Aw, you know you didn't have to review on all three of my chapters, did ya? But, thanks, I really appreciate it. I really love Lindir, he's just so cute and lovable - and that name Figwit! It made me laugh out loud! Frodo is Great, Who is That?! Yeah, that's awesome. I know your feeling of never being satisfied by your own work, I feel absolutely the same! Hehe, strict father alert, LOL! Love your story - To Be Willing, although I haven't read it yet. I'm sure you're a really great writer! Absolutely love your nickname for Raina, Rai-Rai, haha! And, you're an anime fan? Awesome! We really should discuss our favorite animes some day!

So, I hope I mentioned everyone. If not, PM me! And also, I've found out that no matter what story I write, the follows always outnumbers the reviews and the favorites. Oh, I'm kinda sad…

Anyway… I GOT MY NEW PHONE! Yep! 12 years old, and my first phone, how cool is that?! Also, it's an iPhone 5s! Okay, not really great, since my mum has an iPhone 6PLUS. I am sooooooo…. Urgh! I WANT MY IPHONE 6+! Ooh, that ranting made me feel much better.

If there are any typos, feel free to point them out! Since I'm from Taiwan and I'm only in elementary school - okay, I'm part home-schooled - , I'm really not quite fluent with English, so if anybody has some hints or tips, post them in the reviews!

Please leave some feedback, push that Favorite/Follow button and check every square, blah blah blah. Ya know the drill!

Until next time, fellas!