Thranduil awoke to the tune of a cheerful melody sang in the common tongue. He was alone in the solitude of his room. The song seemed to come from the inner courtyard, far below his balcony.

-'A troop of human minstrels, Ada', Legolas spoke from the door frame, watching his father glancing out the window at them. 'They arrived two days past and have since lifted the spirits within these halls. I should have mentioned them to you before. Forgive me!'

-'Tell me, Legolas, what yet troubles your mind? You know I can sense it within you.'

-'Ada, please... I almost lost you. I know I was reckless. I...'

-'Do not allow yourself to be buried in guilt, ion nin', the King interrupted him. 'The past week, you have shown me what a great leader you can be and I can feel nothing but pride at the elf you have become, pride to call you my son. You would have made a fair King one day.'

Legolas bowed his eyes, welcoming his father's soothing words.

Thranduil turned to look at himself in the mirror. The healers had removed the bandages and the scars were barely visible now on his bare chest. Elven bodies possessed an accelerated healing power that allowed them to escape most sickness or wounds. The majority of their physical injuries could heal without a trace and be forgotten in the flow of time.

-'I am sorry we had to use fire on you, Ada! I know how much you dread it. Ever since the dragon scared your face... but there was no other way.'

-'Let us speak no more of this. The magic that helps me mask my wounds allowed me the illusion I could forget what happened in the times of old. I would like to leave it be, for now.'

The King returned by the window, his eyes searching in the sea of faces below until he found her, Sonja. He had not seen her since he woke from his slumber, four days ago. She seemed in high spirits among the other humans and there was a new glow about her, something he hadn't noticed before.

The dawn was white and cold and loud, and it was all too clear that both humans and elves alike had been feasting and dancing around the big bonfire in the yard for the duration of the entire night.

-'I should join my people', the King expressed his wish and Legolas helped him get dressed.

The wine coming from the King's cellar was the best in all of Middle Earth. The humans were the first to fall under its sweet spell as they danced around chaotically, all to Sonja's amusement as she watched them stumbling, but not giving up in their endeavours.

-'You have been avoiding me', she heard his grave voice echo inside her deepest thoughts.

Her muscles tensed and her eyes lost their focus on the dancers in front. She could feel him, towering like a grand shadow over her, and his cold breath, so close to her hair, was sending shivers down her spine. She wandered for how long he has been standing there behind her, watching her in silence, reading her thoughts.

-'Get out of my head!' she pleaded in her own mind, knowing that the King will hear her.

She then felt him, even closer to her body, his silken robe brushing against the skin of her hand and then his long fingers grabbing her left wrist in a tight grip. She froze under his touch, unsure how to react.

-'I'm sorry, Ada, Sonja owes us a dance', Legolas spoke out of nowhere, reaching for her other hand and pulling her away, closer to the fire.

Thranduil watched them dancing with the others, in a reel around the flames. Hand in hand, elves and humans, their hearts were young and full of life. His gaze followed her for a long while and decided she was actually moving gracefully, for a human.

Their eyes met a few times, staring at each other across the burning fire and when the song stopped, Sonja found the King standing at her side once more.

-'Dance with me', he asked, struggling to voice it more like an invitation and less like a demand.

To his surprise, she placed her small hand in his and together they joined the other pairs swirling to the gentle new melody, like a flowing stream. She did her best to follow his lead, but she was still tense. He put his arm around her waist pulling her close and he felt her fading under his touch.

-'Breathe!' he reminded her, smiling while he whispered the words.

They continued to dance and she discovered that she couldn't look away from his eyes. She felt like drowning in their blue. The image of her Brann came forth inside her mind and made her sigh under a terrible guilt.

-'I have to go', she said, pulling away from his arms.

She strolled aimlessly in the solitude of the garden, looking to escape the chaos in her mind. Her hands brushed away the snow from the lower end of her dress. It was cold, just like his touch. The icicles and the frosted trees were sparkling in the sunlight. Sonja stopped in place and took a deep breath, wanting to let it all sink in. She stared in awe at the white beauty before her and felt the wind blowing away the dark locks from her face.

She decided to retire back to her chambers after the sleepless night she had and turned around to walk up to the palace. She froze again. The King was standing tall at the end of the alley, his hair flowing freely in the wild wind.

-'It is not safe to be out here alone', he scolded her. 'It is dangerous outside the walls, even in my palace gardens.'

-'Did you follow me here?' she asked in outrage. 'I am not a little child you need to watch over!'

-'Yes, indeed, a child you are not', he replied, acknowledging his words while his eyes travelled all over her being.

The calm in his voice only made her feel more enraged. He was being condescending. She bit her lip trying to ease her nerves. She would not risk his anger by continuing this conversation.

-'Are you just going to stand there until your mortal body will freeze to death? Is that how hard you wish to avoid me?' he challenged her.

A moment later he dove out of the way of an incoming snow ball aimed at his face.

-'It is unwise to attack your King', he added. 'Besides, you throw like a little girl.'

Exhausting all means of outing her frustration with him, she started walking up in his direction. This time, she stared intensely upon his face, just like he used to, and noticed how it was making him rather uncomfortable. It was not often that any of his subjects would dare to look so freely into his eyes.

Pleased with herself, she stopped walking, a near pace before him, that is how close she was now. When he broke her gaze and looked away, she started moving in circles around him, nodding her head to the sides, like she was examining him in the most peculiar manner.

-'What are you looking for?' the King finally asked her, curiosity getting the better of him.

Sonja did not reply and continued her examination.

-'You are a child, after all', he said, swiftly grabbing both her wrists to stop her in place.

His fingers felt the small scar on the back of her hand and he let go of her just as swift.

-'Go back inside!' he added, hoping she will turn away and disturb his soul no more.

For the first time this day, she wanted to obey him, but could not bring her feet to move from where she stood. His eyes had caught hers once more and she felt totally paralysed. The snow was falling cold on her cheeks and lips, melting as it touched her warm skin. Suddenly, all she could think of was the taste of his flawless lips and their freezing touch. She wandered if they were indeed as cold as she imagined them.

Silence stretched between them. Thranduil watched her as she studied every line of his face. Sonja pushed herself on the tip of her toes and boldly pressed her lips onto the King's without another moment's thought. She immediately started to fear she would be sent to the dungeons for this, or worse, but when he kissed her back she could barely contain her surprise. He was warm, more than she could have ever anticipated. His arms rose to embrace her, but before he could allow himself to become absorbed in the moment, he parted his face from hers, letting his mind take over control once more.

-'I know you are the one that saved me. Legolas told me everything', he spoke softly into her ear.

His voice was like the sweetest music, in total contrast with their conversation from before. Sonja shook her head lightly, trying to escape the spell that came over her.

-'Release me', she whispered, almost pleading, her breath caressing the skin of his pale cheek.

He let go of her gently and when he opened his eyes again she was gone.