Hey there, it has been some time, but here is the next chapter :)

Thank you to everyone who still sticks with me and my stories, even if I am not the most reliable writer. I am sorry for that!

I appreciate all the feedback on this one and if you have a wish, please feel free to tell me!

„You've done what exactly?"
„I drugged his drink with a light sedative."
"You've drugged Thranduil?"
"Yes."
"You've. Drugged. Thranduil."
Galion turned to Berion with one eyebrow raised "Yes, I have."
Berion starred at him and rubbed a hand over his own tired eyes shakily.
"Should have done it with your drink, too by the look of it."
Berion shot him a withering glare "You don't dare to do that."
Galion snorted: "I just drugged our king, you think I fear your wrath more than his? But I need someone who runs the warriors with Thranduil asleep and so you have to stay awake for a little while longer. Otherwise I would have done it without a second thought."

The two of them looked in direction of said elf and it seemed that he had a hard time listening to anything his advisors were saying. Galion nodded in satisfaction, the herbs seemed to work and Thranduil would retire soon, hopefully before he passed out in front of an audience. That was the only risk he couldn't have avoided, but he hadn't had another chance. The war against the ever-spreading darkness had reached a new level of intensity and as far as he could tell Thranduil hadn't truly slept in days. Probably it was over a week by now; he tried to make him rest multiple times, but to no avail, he had simply ignored him and anyone else telling him to rest. And so, Galion grabbed some herbs unobtrusively as he had been with the healers to get a report about their injured for Berion yesterday, promising himself to use them at the first given opportunity.
Which had been down in the kitchen about an hour ago, as a single glass of Dorwinion wine was prepared and he had offered to take it to Thranduil because he needed to get back to him anyway and they mustn't send someone up for a single glass. Nobody had questioned him or his intentions, because it wasn't uncommon for him to do things like that, and so he had walked out of there, but instead of walking back directly he had stopped in an abandoned corridor and slipped the crushed herbs into his kings' wine.
Thranduil had drunk the red without hesitation and Galion was quite proud of himself until Berion had tapped him on the shoulder, a serious expression on his face and wanted to know why he starred so intently at their friend. He needed to work on his observing skills – a lot.
And here they were now, watching Thranduil struggle to the last point of today's audience together. Berion massaged his temples and looked at Galion "I don't know anything of this, if he finds out and you pretend otherwise, you will find yourself dangling from the top of the highest tree within this forest from a rope around your feet the following morning."
Galion inclined his head before the Warrior spoke again "And make sure he reaches his bed discretely. He looks ready to pass out right there."
Galion nodded before he promised Berions retreating back that he would be the next one as soon as Thranduil was on his feet again after a good night's rest.

He reached Thranduil shortly after he had entered the corridor leading to his quarters. Galion put a steading hand at the small of his kings back to support him discretely as the herbs seemed to do their job wonderfully.
"Where've you been?" he was asked in a raspy voice, very unlike his usually strong baritone.
"I was there for the whole time, discussing things with Berion in the back."
Thranduil hummed. "I think I need to withdraw for a moment."
Galion nodded, glad that his friend was way to tired by now to see through his innocent mask.
"I will make sure that no one disturbs you in the meantime."
There wasn't an answer to that, but he didn't need one. He opened the doors and helped Thranduil to get rid of the heavy cloak before laying down with a sight. His eyes glazed over instantly and Galion sighted in relief. He had drugged his king, friend or not, Thranduil would be truly pissed if he found out. But he wouldn't. Berion would never give him away and Thranduil hadn't noticed. He must believe that.

"What 'ave you done?" Berion all but slurred as he turned his head slowly in Galions direction, he had a white knuckled grip on the back of a chair and seemed ready to pass out any second.
"I… what?"
"You did it."
"I've done what?"
"You've done some… some…" he needed to breath in deeply before he could continue "something in my drink."
Galion froze, this what not happening. Berion would give him away in front of Thranduil because his more than exhausted body was at the brink of collapsing and he needed someone blameworthy.
"I have done nothing to anyone, but may I suggest that you go and lay down for a moment? I will gladly help you to your bed." And out of their king's earshot.
Berion nearly growled at him, but Thranduil interceded before another word was spoken.
"I did it. I literally ordered you to get some sleep, but you wouldn't listen. So, I had to do something, it is your own fault. And now accept Galions offer of help and lay down before you fall down."
Galion grabbed Berions elbow and led him slowly out of the room.
"Come on and I promise you, that you don't want to go that way. It is a doorframe you are aiming at. What did he give you? A horse sedative?"
The slightly smaller elf took some more of Berions weight and readjusted their path to make sure that they didn't crash into anything, before he realized what Thranduil had said.

He froze midstep, jostling Berion in the progress, but he was so out of it, that he simply stumbled to a halt next to him without protest.
Galion didn't turn around, even if it was the only way to find out if his suspicion was true, but Thranduil had definitely known what the two of them were talking about, which meant, that he knew about his doings from a few days ago. He was screwed.
He closed his eyes shortly and breathed in deeply before he turned around without letting Berion crumble helplessly to the ground.
Thranduil sat behind his desk, directing his predatory and knowing grin directly at him. Ice blue eyes twinkling with amusement and all of a sudden Galion felt like prey. Which he probably was. He tried to smile back self-confident, but failed spectacularly as he jumped at the unexpected voice of Berion.
"I will cut you down from the tree if Thranduil will tie you up there, as I wanted to do." He mumbled groggily and Galion huffed in amusement at his friends words. What a comforting thought that someone would come for him after Thranduil would be done with whatever he intended to do. Dangling from the top of the highest tree didn't look to bad when you knew that someone would come to safe you, probably he could be able to enjoy the view from up there while he had nothing else to do anyway. His days were rather busy for years, it was a chance for some rest.
Probably he could believe himself as soon as he found shelter somewhere, where Thranduil would never find him; with Galadriel or some dwarfs or in the cellars of the Orcs.