Night fell over Greenwood once more. The sky was clear and the light from the stars protruded through the palace windows.

Sonja was absent from dinner in the grand hall again. If it hadn't been for the servants that assured him she was indeed eating in the comforts of her own room, Thranduil would have guessed she could survive for days solely on the air she drew breaths from.

Recent events made him question and doubt himself in ways that troubled him beyond belief. The near thought of her was enough to leave him breathless and this bothered him deeply. He wanted to be in control, not be ruled by his needs. He hated being vulnerable. As to why would he feel so exposed in front of a mortal, that was a thing he yet could not explain to himself.

The thought of sending her away did cross his mind more than once since the moment she so fearlessly kissed him, lowering his defenses. But then how would he protect her if she was no longer in his halls, inside his palace? He had promised her no harm shall come to her ever again. On top of that, he owed Sonja his very life and probably the life of his son, sparing him the grief of facing the eternity after causing the death of his Adar.

No. Send her away he could not. Perhaps it was for the best that she did not join him for dinner after all. As long as he kept his distance, things would go back to the way they were. With the decision made, he tried to push her out of his mind for a while. There was a lot of work waiting for him on his desk. Legolas had managed to make his way through all urgent matters during his father's recovery, but there were still many issues left to attend to.

As she was approaching the end of the corridor, Sonja was starting to have second thoughts. Upon further reflecting at what had transpired during the previous day, she understood all too well that there was ever only one possible outcome.

Torn between her reason and her heart she slowed her footsteps. But it was only to delay the inevitable.

Thranduil finished his work sooner than he had expected. It seemed that he had underestimated the efforts and dedication that Legolas has put into organizing the reports. He was indeed proud of him and overjoyed that he had decided to linger in Middle Earth, at his side. Ever since his beloved wife died, carrying alone the responsibilities of the crown has proven difficult at times, even for the greatest Elvenking.

He stepped out of his study heading towards the balcony where he got reunited with his son a few weeks before. The hour was late and the hallways were empty.

Sonja stopped when her eyes met his in the corridor. She had hoped to find him asleep and leave her letter by his door.

-'My King', she addressed him in an unnatural way for her.

-'My lady', he answered in the same manner, trying to maintain his apparent calm. 'What brings you to this part of the palace at such an extreme hour in the night?'

-'I was coming to see you; in truth I was hoping you would be asleep', she admitted.

Sonja noticed his thick eyebrows rising in surprise.

-'I wrote this for you', she quickly explained while showing him the letter. 'Perhaps you will read it in the morning.'

He started walking her way and his footsteps made no sound. His long robe was flowing down his broad shoulders, sweeping the ground.

-'Don't!' she begged him, lifting her open palm in front of her as a signal to stop him in place and he complied. 'I came to say goodbye', she added with a slight tremor in her voice.

Any trace of warmth instantly left his face. His eyes focused hers. She was serious and she meant every word.

-'No one can leave the Greenwood without my permission!' he replied almost harshly, not expecting to hear that from her.

-'But... I cannot remain here a moment longer', she answered in protest, keeping her eyes downcast.

A few more steps and he was by her side, towering over her small body. He gently placed his long fingers under her chin, slowly lifting her face until their eyes met. He felt her shudder as he did so and she turned quickly from him, hiding her tears. Every second she spent in his eyes felt dangerous to her. He was so beautiful under the starlight.

-'Look at me!' he asked in a whisper. 'You seem to forget I can read your thoughts. Don't run away', he pleaded, which was a rather unusual thing coming from him. 'I will not allow it', he added in his demanding, king-like tone.

-'I am mortal', she replied, without being able to face him just yet. 'Brann... He is waiting for me at the gates of dawn, he must be', she added mostly to herself, her voice fading back to mere whispers.

Of course she knew in her heart that mortal souls were lost in death forever; there was no other place for them to linger. An immense feeling of guilt and shame overcame her and she felt her body going limp and silent, eventually falling against his chest.

He stroke her hair, trying to soothe her as they stood alone in the middle of the dark hallway.

-'What of your wife? Do you not miss her? Do you not hope to be reunited with her on the shores of Valinor?' she asked unexpectedly.

The question came like a dagger, deep inside his aching heart, awaking painful memories long suppressed from thought.

-'She is not there', he replied, hoping to have to talk of her no more.

-'I don't understand. Was she not elven?'

-'She was.'

Feeling the shift in his voice, Sonja decided to not press the subject any further.

-'It is not often that I speak of her. Not even to Legolas. The pain is still deep in both of our hearts.'

-'Forgive me', she found herself saying as she noted the single tear falling from his lashes, slowly down his cheek.

-'She was tainted by the shadow', the King added. 'After she was captured by the orcs of Gundabad, I had my army defy the legions and return her to Greenwood. But she was already lost to me. Her body was there but her mind was absent, belonging to the darkness. What she had become, I cannot say with certainty, but an elf she was no more. I watched her for months as she drifted away and struggled with her every breath, until I could not bear to see her in that pain anymore. I ended her life myself', he confessed and a deep sigh escaped his lips.

Sonja was at a loss for words, confronted with the grief and guilt he must have carried around for millennia. Her small hand rose against his face and she caressed his cheek, whipping away the salty tear. He grasped the back of her hand, drowning inside the black sea of her eyes and he closed his own giving in to the softness of her touch. She soothed him and he kissed her with ardour, showing her, more than words ever could, just how much he needed her in that moment. He then lifted her of her feet, cradling her in his strong arms as he carried her along the corridor towards his chamber.