Chapter 3: Trouble Maker

~ X ~

It had been two months since the arrival of the Avari, the couples that had children moved into Greenwood houses. There were only couple more left to move into the realm, singles had not been integrated into the realm yet. They started making more houses being able to bring all of the Avari into the Woodland realm, and the two clans joining with one another.

Thranduil took another sip of the wine in his hand, then continued to swirl the red liquid in the cup. The wine was a gift from Aaron, Avari wine. He had come to like the taste greatly.

He had avoided the ellth as much as he could, and it seemed like she did as well. It was awkward between them. He had seen her naked, his mind would wonder to her body when he was in his solitude. It had been centuries since he laid eyes on a young naked ellth.Not since his wife died, Legolas was just a child at the time.

He could already hear footsteps coming towards his door, it was evening and Thranduil was in his chambers. Only one person would bother him at this time of night.

"Come in Dillion"

The door open and revealed his general

"How are you? Your majesty"

Thranduil waved his hand dismissing the comment and telling him to sit in the chair.

"Have you thought about my arrangement, for you?"

"Yes" Thranduil stared out to field filled with green, even though it was dark he could still see the color of the trees and grass.

"Your daughter have you spoken to her about it?" Thranduil turned his head towards Dillion, waiting for a response.

"That is why I am here she is standing outside your door, should I let her enter?"

A nod of confirmation was made.

Dillion walked over to the door and opened it as his daughter came in. She was wearing a pair of shorts and knee high boot, with a short silver tunic over.

They both sat down, she avoided making eye contact, they greeted each other like they always did with a short nod.

"Zoë and I have been talking and she agreed with certain conditions."

Conditions? She was asking for his help not the other way around.

"Dillion leave us, we should discuss this matter privately"

Dillion looked between his king and daughter, finally nodding and leaving. He hoped everything would go well. The new alliance depended on it.

~ X ~

They sat in silence, she looked outside at the stars, and he observed her posture. She sat upright, her hands folded neatly on top of each other on her lap, legs crossed. She sat similar to him when he was in the throne room.

"It is my understanding that your father wishes for you to marry"

"That is correct your majesty" she always addressed him with his title.

He had learned that among the Avari title had no meaning, your importance was in your actions as a warrior, healer, or just a mere servant. The title they did not carry, which was very different when being compared to the other elf clans.

"Dillion advised me that you would be a very suitable wife for me"

She cringed a bit, she never wanted to marry. That was one of the reasons she delayed their arrival to Mirkwood. They could have been here in two months' time but she decided she would push it out as much as possible.

Moving to Mirkwood meant, her clan would have stability and free reign but either she or Aaron needed to marry someone with high influence to keep their people safe. She could not make the entire clan leave their home to be then kicked out because of some ridiculous debacle. Her father informed her that Aaron could not marry because no woman held a council or general position. Aaron came up with the idea that she should marry the king or his son.

She understood the situation very well, but never wanted to marry in the first place.

She was not wife material.

"I will be honest with you your majesty, I do not believe I am suitable. I am not exactly wife material." She took a deep breath, "But if you will have me and my people, I would do everything in my power to be a good partner for you as long as you give me the same courtesy."

Thranduil and her made eye contact, her physical appearance would not be an issue any ellon with eyes could see that she would be satisfying in their bed chambers. Her personality he could not quite figure out.

"Then we have an understanding, your role as queen would be simple. Attend parties, advise when needed, and accompany me in my chambers" He waited to see what she would say to the last part of his statement.

"I still wish to be general of my people, they will not follow a king blindly even if their general marries one" She did not particularly care about sleeping with him, she heard the ellths whispering about him both Avari and Greenwood elves.

She wanted to keep her people under her control that was understandable. Thranduil had nothing truly against that.

"The training and such can be handled by Dillion, you may be your queen to your people. When everyone is moved into Mirkwood. We are to reign both, the two clans shall become one and the leader should be one as well."

"The Avari do not just follow anyone your majesty, we are warriors not some stupid flock of birds. Even if they are to call you king, my lord they will not listen to your commands."

He had hit a nerve, they were extremely prideful.

"Very well then you shall reign over the Avari for three hundred years, I will have no say unless they are drastic conditions when concerning my kingdom."

He had made her a good offer three hundred years was not too short or long, she would still lead her people.

"Very well, then is that all to our conditions for marriage?" Zoë asked making eye contact, she watched as he gulped down some more wine.

She could see how his adam apple moved as the liquid moved down his throat.

"I am to assume your maidenhead is intact" Thranduil asked as he poured more wine from his goblet into the cup.

What on Eru did that have to do with anything?

"Why does that matter your majesty?"

"So you have been with an ellon before?"

He just answered the question with another question.

"If you are asking me, if I will be able to please you as your wife, then you have nothing to be worried about your majesty."

Why did it seem like every time she called him "your majesty" it seems as if she was mocking him.

"You can call me Thranduil, Lady Zoë. I am simply a curious husband asking about his future wife." Thranduil smirked and with his action, the ellth narrowed her eyes at him.

"Then Lord Thranduil, I am an ellth I know what do to please any ellon. The question my lord is do you know how to do the same."

He was at a loss for words, did she make fun of him?

"Since I am marrying such an ancient ellon, I should be worried about your health and activities." She smirked and leaned back against the chair.

This wench had the audacity to call him old!

"Listen here you child! –"

"I am not a child my lord, you yourself seem to know that too well with all the staring you did at the river."

She caught him again, how witted was this woman he was going to marry.

She stood up and walked out of his chambers.

Thranduil grabbed the goblet and drank from it, to Mandos with it!

~ X ~

Dillion had waited the next morning to seek an audience with lord Thranduil. He wanted to make sure everything went well. He had asked Zoë the previous night but she simply smiled and walked away.

His daughter had a demon in her at times, she would only show it a few times he was told by Aaron. When she wanted control and when she was fighting.

Zoë is an Avari, a warrior and general in every way. He was sure if he had son, he would not be able to keep up with his daughter.

Her beauty is just a beautiful cover up for what she truly is. He had thought of Thranduil the very moment marriage came to his mind. They had very similar personalities, in front of their kin, they were a warrior, a leader, a demon, and a savior. In private it was a different case.

He had watched Thranduil grow up, while serving his father. Teach him to guide his people when he became king. Personally he wanted them to marry because….simply because…..he liked Thranduil.

He watched as Thranduil walked out of his chambers and towards the council room.

"Good morning my lord"

"Dillion, what is wrong?"

"Nothing, I simply came to check on you"

"Is everything going well with the Avari" Dillion nodded, he was a bit hesitant to ask him what happened last night.

"You daughter, has she been with someone before?"

The general stopped walking and looked at his king for a moment and then proceeded their walk.

"Aaron told me that having intimacy in the Avari culture is simply for the pleasure it has no true meaning the majority of the time."

"That is not what I asked you" Thranduil looked at his general, he was avoiding the question

"I have been informed that she has spent time with one of the Avari ellon, my lord"

"Which one?"

"One of her lieutenants, I do not know his name"

"Find out" Thranduil commanded with a harsh tone

With that they both entered the room, with the other ellons to discuss political matters.

~ X ~

Zoë laid in her bed tangled in sheets, at the back of the tent, that was separated by another door.

She could feel the kisses trailing her back as it came to her neck and cheeks.

"What are you thinking about Zoë?" She could feel his strong hands holding her waist against his chest.

"It is nothing Kian" She smiled and turned around taking his handsome face in her hands.

His light brown eyes observed her face as he played with her long luscious hair. When compared to his short brown hair.

He smiled and kissed her, he could hear a small moan escape her lips.

Kian lifted her leg under the sheets to wrap his waist, giving her another kiss on the cheek.

"Should we keep going?" He whispered into her ear

Zoë placed a hand on his chest to stop his actions.

"I cannot, my father is coming to have an audience with me and you lieutenant Kian have training with your squad."

He sighed and gave her one quick kiss on the lips. The lieutenant grabbed his pants from the floor and started to get dressed.

Both of the elves started looking for their clothes to get dressed and look appropriate.

When the ellon put on his shirt he looked at his general, they had been doing this for a couple of years now. It was common among the Avari to always keep a clear mind when going to battle or training. There should be no other thoughts then fighting, all the urges they would acquire should be dealt with before hand.

"I will be coming to training grounds once I am done speaking with my father."

Kian placed a hand on his chest and bowed, showing now their roles went back to leader and subordinate.

"Understood General Zoë"

~ X ~

Dillion had been trying to figure out who it was that his daughter kept company with as discreetly as possible. Aaron had informed him that Zoë had three lieutenants to train the warriors in different weapons and styles. She did not openly show affection or favoritism to anyone in particular. He could not openly ask something like that.

He was extremely curious as to who the ellon was, it did not seem like she wanted to keep company with anyone.

He entered his daughter's tent as he saw her sitting by the desk looking at parchements.

"Good morning father"

He walked up to her and kissed her head, but the smell could not escape him. The smell that lingered from having relations.

"His majesty informed me that he has agreed to marry you, which means your people can live here peacefully."

She sighed in relief, she did not really care about the marriage but the safety of her kin.

"That is good news"

The two elves walked out of the tent and started walking to the training grounds, Dillion would be observing the training style of the Avari and come up with productive ways to patrol the borders.

As they reached the clearing where at least fifty Avari warriors were in training gear with swords.

She saw the king and son watching from the side lines, her father escorted her towards the royal family.

As always they all greeted each other, she observed how the training was going. Kian was leading the training of this squad. They were younger warriors with very little experience in the battlefield and too much attitude.

The three wood elves conversed with each other as she could see the fight breaking out, between two young ellons.

They were sparring in singles against each other, Zoë could see as the one with a stronger build push the smaller ellon.

Thranduil watched as the fight broke out, they started punching each other rolling on the floor. The one Avari ellon who was in command of the training walked over to the fighting ellons but was stopped by a hand from the ellth.

He watched as she walked towards the two young ellons punching against each other, the other warriors made a clearing.

It surprised the wood elves at how the Avari general handled the situation. Wasn't an ellth to be gentle and kind, to be protected by an ellon.

Zoë walked over and pulled the bigger built ellon off of the smaller one, and threw him half way to end of the clearing. She reached down and helped the young boy up and instructed him to go see a healer. The warrior did as he was told and left the training grounds.

Thranduil watched as the ellon yelled in their native tongue, it was something between Quenya, Sindarian, and black language.

With a second to pass he watched as the ellth went straight to the ellon grabbed his collar and punched him square in the face.

He fell straight to the floor holding his jaw.

Zoë spoke to the boy in their native tongue and after that comment he stormed off. Kian shouted something and they continued.

As Kian approached his general he could see, that the King of Mirkwood was watching his steps, he paid no mind to him. The king's impression of him was of little importance.

Thranduil watched as Zoë and the older ellon conversed, they did not speak Sindarian, but something told him that there was something a bit off putting about the ellon.

He has short brown hair not even reaching his neck, light brown eyes. A muscular build, a tattoo on his left arms of different symbols in white. He was good looking, it seemed like all of the Avari people could stand head to head for beauty with the wood elves.

As she nodded to her lieutenant and he walked back to his squad to continue training, she walked back to her father's side.

"Is something of the matter?"

"Nothing I cannot handle father." She touched Dillion's arm and gave him a gentle smile.

Thranduil watched as to how she was dressed, she was once again in a pair of short long knee high boots, and a white top that hugged her form tightly.

There had been other matters to discuss with her, regarding their wedding and the living arrangements.

"Lady Zoë would you join us for dinner this evening." The harsh voice of the king brought the ellth out of her thoughts.

"Sadly I must decline your majesty, I have been keeping my father company at dinner. I have not eaten meat in several days." They made eye contact once again blue meeting dark brown.

"My men have been complaining about it, I will be joining them tonight" She gave a small bow and started to leave once the squad dispersed for the day.

She was beside Kian when wood elf king spoke again.

"Then I shall join you"

Seriously?

~ X ~

I hoped everyone enjoyed this chapter, if you think I am making Thranduil too mushy please let me know I do not want him to come off that way.

Please Review!