He kneeled right next to her, in the red snow. Her clothes were soaked in her blood. Her cheeks were pale now and her chest was still. Thranduil could hear no heartbeat and feel no trace of breath against the back of his hand. He was holding her gently, lifting her head of the ground, unable to speak. It was as if for the first time in his life he did not know what he should do. It was all so sudden, it seemed so unreal still. Voices, many voices echoed in the background, but the words were all blurred and even the loudest shouts failed to reach his ears.

Legolas joined his father, remaining just a few paces away and staring down at Alistair's body. He couldn't help but blame himself. If his eyes had been keener, if his hands faster, if his bow... No. There was nothing that he could have done to prevent this from happening. He glanced at his father next as he held Sonja closer to his chest, rocking her in his arms. She looked like she was sleeping, but with each passing moment she was becoming colder and colder to the touch.

The human generals insisted she should be taken inside the walls, but the King would not allow anyone to touch her as he stood guard over her body. He was inconsolable in his grief.

Death claims any man, for such is the curse of mortals. And yet Thranduil felt he could not bear the parting, not this soon, not after he had just found her again. Not after she told him she loved him and he, he loved her back.

He was always able to hide his pain behind his self-disciplined demeanour. His aloofness caused others to fear him. And now, burning tears were falling from his eyes down against her pale white face. He kissed her mouth and her forehead and buried his face in her black hair.

It was finally quiet. No more voices, no more faces. It was impossible for Thranduil to hear his own heartbeat now and he thought that he might fade away. The thought scared him. Not because he feared death, but because he knew his fea would be parted from hers forever. The smell of battle invaded his nostrils, grounding him like an anchor. He needed that.

Night fell again and he eventually lifted his face from her hair and looked towards the stars. His left cheek was hollow, his face badly scarred by fire. The magic used to conceal his old wounds was gone.

"Ada!" Legolas called, realizing what the King has done.

But Thranduil cared not. The face he has been trying to hide for past centuries was now exposed and, along with it, the pain in his soul.

"Turn from the shadow, Sonja, come back to me!" he pleaded in her ear.

The elf's pale eyes were wet with tears and shone in the night, as he looked to the stars once more. Bright lights of blue and green were dancing in the winter sky.

Long moments passed.

Sonja felt his lips placing gentle kisses on her brow. The pain in her back was entirely gone. Her eyes were heavy and her voice seemed lost to her, like coming out of a dream. Her chest rose as she inhaled the freezing air. A sigh escaped her lips.

Thranduil sensed the pain releasing his heart. He took her small hand in his and was almost surprised to feel its warmth again. Her other hand slowly rose to trace the outline of his scar, feeling the burnt flesh, rough and strange and cold. Sonja knew about the dragon but she never imagined the damage would be so grave. She wandered how he had survived such an injury. It was obvious that his body could not heal it, the magic of the flame was too strong still. Deep down she knew the marks on his face were not the only scars he bore. His wounds were deeper than flesh and he felt vulnerable in his pain. Her fingers brushed further over the bare muscle and Thranduil shut his eyes for but a moment, forgetting everything and everyone around him. He then pulled away from her touch.

"Don't!" he begged her.

"What happened? Why?"

"I had to. This magic, hiding my true face, it was the only way to bring you back to me."

"Bring me back? Thranduil, what did you do?"

Her voice betrayed her panic and when she noticed Alistair, dead beside her, the memories flooded her mind.

"I lost you, but I had you returned to me. Death has no power over you now. Immortality is yours, if you chose it."

Sonja rose her hand again to his face and his hair felt soft between her fingers, long fine strands that shimmered palely in the dim light. Her eyes travelled all over his features, while her mind searched for the meaning behind his words. She tugged at the collar of his tunic bringing his face closer and kissed his salty lips and his scars.

"I chose you. I chose life", she whispered to him and her mouth curled into a faint smile.

Thranduil felt her shivering. She was still so very cold. She clung to him and he got her off the ground, gently, and wrapped her in his royal cloak. It smelled of winter and it smelled of the forest. Sonja felt inebriated with the scent of his skin and the warmth of his embrace.

"I am here, ind nin." he spoke softly. "Always and forever, I am yours."

"Ind nin? "

"My heart."

Hello everyone. Along with this chapter I would like to tell everyone that bears any scars, physical or emotional, that there is no shame in your marks. They are a part of your story. They show the battles you have fought and won and are a sign of strength, not weakness. Thanks again for reading my fic.