It was the first day of spring.
The candle was burning low, wax melting and dripping from its rim and onto the desk, covered in maps and reports. Thranduil scarcely had time to touch them in the early morning before Legolas returned from his night patrol in the woods. He was keen on meeting with his father in his study and found him in high spirits.
-'You seem different as of late, father. I can almost see a smile light up your face. This is so unlike you. '
-'Legolas! '
-'Is it supposed to be a secret? ' he asked with a grin on his face. 'I am happy for you, truly. She saved your life and for that I will be eternally grateful to this human. '
The Elvenking did not reply, but it was apparent that he was pleasantly surprised by Legolas' words. He glanced at his son and invited him to sit next to him with a gesture of his hand.
-'Tell me, how did you plan to surprise her on this day? ' Legolas asked.
Thranduil felt out of practice. Swords and battles did not frighten him one bit, but when it came to small gestures of gratitude or affection he was on foreign ground.
The first day of spring has always been a day of celebration for elves. It was the day of the year when they liked to exchange gifts to honor the dawning of new life inside the forest. But it has been too long since he last tried to plan a surprise for anyone that mattered to him. He wanted everything to be perfect, yet his pride prevented him from ever asking for advice on this subject.
-'Maybe you can show her the Greenwood, Ada. The trees are in bloom and the grass is green and soft once more', Legolas suggested, trying to help him along.
-'That I could, ion nin. I shall arrange for dinner to be readied for us in my favorite place in the entire forest. '
The Prince took a sip from his wine, pleased he had been of help, then put down the cup back on the round table, and stood up to take his leave.
-'You wanted to talk about something, Legolas? ' his father stopped him.
'It can wait. Enjoy your day, my King! ' the younger elf replied with a smirk.
-'Why do men like it so much? ' she asked, stirring the cup of wine in her hand and watching the red liquid swirling within.
-'It gives them courage, I suppose', Thranduil laughed at the question.
-'Does it give you courage? '
-'Do you think I am in need of more? ' he asked, pulling her hand as to make her fall into his lap.
She snuggled into him and smiled with all her heart as she allowed herself to be lost inside his eyes, marveling at the beauty of his untamed spirit.
The King took a long look at the crown of freshly picked wildflowers resting on her head. The white petals against her dark hair made him think of the sea of stars in Varda's sky. He leaned in and kissed her without warning. He tasted of wine and honey. Sonja pulled herself back slightly and protested wordlessly as his fingers were working their way through the laces of her dress, but he did not stop and ruthlessly claimed her mouth again.
-'You of all I thought would be more patient. You are immortal after all', she scolded him, with a childish smile on her face.
He shook his head lightly and paused in his endeavor. There was plenty of time for that later.
-'I have something for you', Thranduil told her in his deep voice, watching her face light up in expectation.
He presented her with a small and delicate silver case, beautifully carved with Sindar symbols.
-'Open it! ' he urged her, examining the emotions transpiring on her face as she did so.
-'It is incredibly beautiful', she sighed when she discovered the pendant.
It was in effect very similar to the one that he himself wore around his neck, under his robe, close to his heart. Her small fingers traced the smooth edges of the round moonstone that shone brighter than starlight before her.
-'Allow me', he pleaded in her ear and secured the necklace gently around her neck.
Her entire body shivered under the touch of his fingers on her skin and her hand rose to meet the stone, cold against her chest.
-'It shall remind me of your eyes, always', she told him, then turned to place a soft kiss on his lips.
The scent of the blossoms hung heavy in the air around them, almost intoxicating the horizon with new life.
Thranduil set himself down in the soft grass and closed his eyes. He was lying still and peaceful almost like he was contemplating eternity. His hair was spread out on the ground, glowing with golden and orange hues in the sunset air that filtered through the branches of the old woods.
He felt her soft, dark strands brushing against his nose and lips, delicate and ticklish on his skin and when the elf opened his eyes to look at her, she could swear she was staring into the depths of time itself.
Sonja raised an eyebrow at him, but his stoic mask betrayed neither thought nor feeling.
-'You look even more serious upside-down', she told him as she was leaning over his face, studying the sharp lines of his jaw and cheeks.
-'Shshh, listen! ' he said and his voice was calm and soft like the breeze of spring.
Sonja watched him closing his eyes again. His hands were resting at his sides, caressing every blade of grass beneath his long fingers. His chest rose as he inhaled deeply. She was all but sure that he could just stay there and wait for the grass to grow under his touch and not be bothered by the time passing around him.
-'It speaks to you? The forest? ' she asked him after a while.
-'The wood speaks to all who know how to listen', came the King's reply. 'Every tree has a story to tell. Some of them were burnt but they endured the fire and got revived; some of them were cut, some were torn by winds. Yet every year there is new life blooming here. '
-'Can you talk back to it? '
A sudden smile was born in the corner of Thranduil's mouth.
-'You should try it, maybe you will get the answers you seek', he told her, but did not expect for her to actually take him on his dare.
Sonja got herself of the ground, pacing slowly towards the nearest tree. She ran her fingers over the rough bark and rested her forehead against the trunk.
-'I love you, forest', she called out loud and a few birds flew out from the overhead branches.
She remained standing there in silence, like she was waiting for an answer to echo back at her.
The sight of her attempting her dialogue with the ancient oak tree amused the King but at the same time it made his heart fill with joy. Her words were true, he could feel the warmth of her love radiating through every breeze of the forest, a feeling he had never hoped he would know again. The more he looked at her, the more he could not will himself to think of anything else. Walking silently behind her, Thranduil wrapped her in his arms and placed his right hand over hers on her stomach.
-'My beautiful human', he said softly, kissing the top of her head.
She wove her fingers into his, feeling completely lost in his embrace. He raised the other hand and strong fingers tangled in her hair to expose the soft skin of her neck. He leaned down to bite her gently and taste the sweetness of her flesh. Thranduil resumed his mission to undress her. He was strong and green, much like the trees growing tall in this magical forest. His forest. The ancient Woodland Realm. He lifted her with ease and pinned her back against the old trunk, her legs hooked over his hips.
-'Tell me you want me', he breathed into her ear, his body taking over, his blood running hot and fast in his veins, like wildfire.
She grabbed onto the fabric of his outer robe and kissed him hungrily. He smiled, surprised. She pulled his head back, her fingers locked in his silken strands. Her lips were slightly parted, her cheeks flushed with desire. And she looked him right in the eyes. She could see her own reflection in their blue, immortal shine, so clear and so intense they were, sparkling with a husky inner smile that marked the crease between his brows. He wished to speak but Sonja brushed her thumb over his lower lip, sealing the words inside his mouth forever.
She pushed him just enough when she caught him off-guard. He stumbled and fell on his back, all the while not averting his eyes from hers, like being trapped in an enchantment. She lowered herself into his lap, facing him, before he could get any chance to protest for not being the one in control. She kept her eyes focused into his while she tightened her legs around his hips, watching as his senses abandoned all defenses.
Thranduil raised his hands and brushed his fingers in fascination against the exposed scar on her stomach, then moved them upwards in a slow caress and she moaned and arched her back for him. Their eyes met again.
The elf lifted his torso up from the soft grass, and cupped her face with his palms, bringing it closer to his own until their foreheads were joined. He whispered a few words to her that she could not understand, as he was no longer speaking the common tongue. His breath was fire against her skin. Sonja shuddered as his lips travelled slowly down her neck, tasting her skin, before claiming her mouth once more. His hands then found their way into her hair, his fingers tangled in her dark locks and he tilted her head back so he could watch her losing herself.
-'Thranduil... ' she murmured softly into the sky, causing his heart to nearly stop at the sound of his name.
He felt her nails carving into his back in sweet agony. He groaned and his mind froze for a moment to reflect on their unusual lovemaking. It was uncommon for a King to relinquish control like that, especially for this King, but to his great surprise he liked it.
The night fell almost unexpectedly over the forest.
Thranduil climbed back into the saddle and reached down to help Sonja settle herself in front of him on the horse, fingers tight on her forearms, lifting her up like she was a feather. His left arm locked around her waist, pulling her close into him and he wrapped her in his crimson cloak to make sure she would be warm enough. There was a long ride back to the palace, but the elf knew every road in his woods by heart.
As they were approaching the walls, the path became lit by hundreds of lanterns, hanging from the tangled tree branches, dancing slowly in the breeze, like fireflies.
The King felt her back falling softly against his chest and her head resting to the side, on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed with heavy sleep as she dreamt of him, standing in the moonlight, naked. Thranduil smiled when he read her thoughts. And he knew in that moment that he would rather have one breath of her hair, one kiss of her mouth, one touch of her hand, than spend eternity without ever knowing her.
-'What am I to do with you, my beautiful human? '