Title: TH Elvenking's Visitors
Chapter 6: Information
Spoiler Alert: The Hobbit (books, maps and movies)
Warnings: Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Blood.
Pairing: Thranduil/OC
Summary: Ship - Thranduil lost his wife years ago to war. After the death of the dragon, there is a group of humans who are causing problems. One sparks Thranduil's interest.
A/N: Let's see what happens to the fangirl next. I have to admit that I am curious as well.
She couldn't decide if she should get out of the bed or not. If she did, then she feared they would chase and grab her. If she didn't, then she was afraid that would make them think she was complicit.
When the tall one approached the bed, Alyssa held out her hand palm facing him. "Stop. I don't want either of you near me."
"That would make this…more difficult." The tall one offered even as he sat on the side of the bed very close to her. The other set his bag on a table and continued to watch.
"You're both Elves and supposed to be peaceful and kind. I know that from the Lord of the R…" She stopped herself knowing that what she was about to say was equal to saying Sauron. "I mean I heard that Elves are peaceful. If I tell you to stay away from me, you should respect that."
The shorter Elf standing by the table countered. "We are here to do our duty. Nothing more. We were warned you may not look favorably on our ministrations, but it is for your own sake that we will do this. We will make it as painless as possible. You will feel better afterwards."
The other nodded. "We have often noticed that humans caught up in fever act erratically and say things they don't really mean."
The shorter one agreed. "Yes, and often delusional."
Alyssa could not believe what she was hearing. They were saying that it was their duty to attack her. They knew she didn't want them, but they said it would be as painless as possible and that she would like it afterwards. Erratic? Delusional? "Caught up in fever? I think both of you are the delusional ones."
The taller one leaned closer to her noticing the bright red skin on her face and neck. "Yes, fever. Are you feeling warm and achy?" His eyes roved over her face and chest again.
"Get away from me you pervert." She threw the blanket back toward his side of the bed and wanted to run from him.
His hands closed on her waist and pulled her back into the bed. "You need to lie down and be still or you could die. If you are fevered, then you could harm yourself. Just be still."
"Like hell I will. And your threats won't work on me." She kicked out at him as the other came around the bed. When both of them were holding her in place, she feared they wanted her to struggle, so she went still as they said.
They let go and glanced back and forth at each other. Both of them were worried that if they didn't find out how ill she was then Thranduil would behead them and with no one to tend her that she could die from sickness.
"Open your mouth." He wanted to check if her throat was red because he heard a hiss in her breathing and worried she might have the breathing sickness that was deadly to humans if untreated.
She shook her head no as her face flamed redder.
The tall one sitting on the bed inched forward holding out his hand to the side. "Just allow me to see."
She glanced back and forth. "No."
First and foremost they wanted their patients to be well. One nodded and the other did. It was decided. They acknowledged to each other that they would risk another fit to make sure of her health.
The shorter Elf gripped her arms holding her down in the bed while the other pried open her mouth trying not to harm her in the process.
Alyssa's mind offered that it must be how ponies feel when people in Westerns always kept looking at their teeth when they bought them. When her mouth opened, she let out a banshee screech that was so loud it seemed to reverberate off of the walls searching for a way out.
A second later, the door burst open being half way ripped off the hinges.
Alyssa's vision blurred as she felt the hand on her jaw being ripped away. She continued to scream seeing that the Elves that were on the bed were now pressed to the wall held in place by their necks.
Thranduil's voice silenced hers. "What are you doing?"
She knew that he was cutting off their air and that there was no way they could speak. They just hung there gripping at his arms as their feet dangled. She knew from watching the movies that he was tall. But it struck her as she held them like dolls how tall and strong he was and that his clothing made him appear deceptively slimmer. She gasped believing that he would strangle them to death as she watched.
"You're healers!" Thranduil yelled releasing them so they slid down and gasped in air before he slammed their heads back into the wall lifting them even higher. "She is ill. She might have a fever. And you decided to cure her by what? Climbing all over her?" He growled with rage. "Answer me!"
Alyssa stopped crying at hearing the word healer. Memory flashed in her mind. She remembered when he brought her back and she asked for her group to be let out of the cages that he made some comment about healers. Ill? Fever? "Healers?"
At the sound of her voice, Thranduil dropped them and went to her side. He took her hand and pressed it to his lips briefly before inspecting her jaw that had a few reddened places where she had been grabbed earlier. "Did they hurt you? If they did, then I will kill them for you and feed their bodies to the wolves one piece at a time. Did they?"
Alyssa saw the madness in his eyes and knew he had lost control. She swallowed then glanced at the two Elves who were gasping for air rubbing their throats while they tried to remain bowing in his direction. She was use to people saying things like that in anger, but not really meaning a word of it. She looked deep into his eyes again that shone like the deadly silver of his sword and knew he fully intended to carry it out if she but nodded yes.
Alyssa shook her head no. "No they didn't hurt me." She remembered them talking about humans becoming erratic with fever and now knew they were not talking about being overcome with arousal. She now knew when they said that she would feel better after that they meant they were doctors and they were going to try to heal her.
She felt like a complete idiot and the feeling only grew when she realized her misunderstanding of the situation almost cost two Elves their lives. "No. I'm not hurt. I think I was hysterical, but I'm better now. They helped me." She thought to herself that yes they helped her in some way understand what was going on once they were almost killed and she thought it was about time his methods were used against him.
The intensity in his eyes lessened but he continued to tip his head from side to side while watching her as if trying to see something that was eluding him.
"I'm fine now. Can I…can I talk to them alone for a moment?" Alyssa inquired.
He stayed where he was at but glanced at the two Elves in the floor then back to her.
"It's a treatment thing. It's kind of embarrassing, so I would prefer to talk to them for just a moment. Please." Alyssa desperately needed to explain to the Elves why she had acted like a lunatic, but feared what he would do if she said anything like that around Thranduil right now.
Thranduil blinked quickly a few times and took a breath coming back to himself. He let go of her hand and stood over the Elves. "If you touch her again, both of you will lose your hands."
Thranduil moved to the door and ripped it the rest of the way off and leaned it against the wall. He turned and watched them with malice as if they were going to run over to her and poke her in the arm just to spite him.
When they bowed even more, he left and even departed from the living area for the main chamber.
"Oh my gawd. I'm so sorry. I thought…I thought you were both going to attack me…physically and that was why I acted like that. I'm so sorry." Alyssa scooted to the edge of the bed and wiped the remaining wetness off of her face.
They bowed even more almost pressing their faces to the floor. She didn't know which spoke because the voice was a raspy whisper. "We only did what we did to try to help you. We would never strike a lady. Have no fear of that."
She lowered her voice and angled her head some trying to see their faces. "No. I mean I thought he was giving me to the both of you. I thought this was about sex. I'm sorry. You're doctors for god's sake. I'm sorry."
Their heads came up with a jolt. The one she thought of as the tallest spoke while holding his neck. "Neither of us would ever condone or tolerate a woman being forced." He gaped at her as if she were accusing him.
The other watched her wide eyed. "And we are not dock whores. We are healers who know something of humans. You thought we were dock whores and that he gave you to us to use harshly? Well, that explains everything. Do not be sorry to us. We should have explained ourselves better instead of assuming fever had taken your sense of reason. I will not make that mistake in the future. Thank you my lady. Even thinking the worst of us you spoke to him in a way that would spare our lives. I am sure we are grateful to you, but are you well? Is your throat red and do you have any difficulty breathing?"
Guilt struck her seeing them in the floor and knowing that they were almost killed and yet they still thought of her health. "No. I'm fine. I don't feel sick, just stupid." She pressed her hand to her forehead and laughed when they smiled.
The Elves looked at each other then sat back against the wall.
She waved a hand. "You guys can get up if you want too. Do you need something to drink?"
They bowed back professing they were well and that they would stay where they were till the Elvenking came back.
Thranduil strode in a few moments later. "Is everything settled?"
Alyssa stood up and went to him. "Yes."
He glared at the two Elves seeing they were in the same place he left them. "You both may go, but stay in the realm incase she needs aid. Next time, I will remain in the room no matter the topic."
"Yes my King." They chanted in unison and backed out of the room then out of the chamber.
It was only then that Alyssa realized that Thranduil had kissed her hand when he came to her rescue. "Before when you said I was not hot, where you talking about me not having a fever or were you commenting on not thinking I'm attractive?"
He blinked slowly at her a few times. "Fever. You did not appear well and I feared you were ill. Your state of heath appeared to be declining. You were flushed. Your eyes were red." Confusion spread across his face.
"What about when you said I might need to take a bath?"
He tipped his head to the side. "I thought cool water might help with the fever…if you had one. Why else would I…" The confusion melted away. He glanced at the bed then back to her. "You did not know they were healers and you thought my actions were concerning your lack of attractiveness."
He paced away then back to her. "You did not know they were healers. Why did you think I sent them to you? Who did you think they were?"
His intensity caused Alyssa to start breathing faster and she knew she was flushing again. She knew now he would know it was not a fever, but her reaction to him that was causing it. Her lips parted with an intake of breath as her eyes scanned the floor. "I thought you were getting rid of me by selling me to them since you didn't want me."
"Selling you?" He circled around her with his eyes hooded. "Why would I sell a spy who I have openly told secrets too?"
"Spy?" Alyssa squinted at him. "I'm not a spy. That's silly." She stopped what she was about to say because she feared those last two words might not be received well. She had just called the Elvenking silly. She closed her eyes and shook her head back and forth once then opened them again.
"You and your companions show up asking questions wanting to look around my kingdom. You spoke of writing about me and watching me. You drew me. Studied me. Tempted me. Is that why they picked you to gather information about me because sometimes you look like her? Your coloring is not like her, but sometimes your mimic her so closely it is as if she were here still." He knew he was rambling and not making a lot of sense but he could not help it. His control was slipping. "Perfect bait for a king. Pierce his heart and his weaknesses will drop out for all to know. If you claim to not be a spy, then what are you?"
Alyssa felt overwhelmed by what he was saying and it pushed at her emotions especially after her assumptions had almost just caused two innocent Elves to die. She knew she was as unhinged as the door, but couldn't pull herself back together. It was just too much. He was just too much.
"Lost. I'm lost." She waved her arms. "I'm not a spy. I'm not from here. I don't mean your kingdom, but I mean Middle Earth. I'm not from this time. This place. Where I'm from, you are nothing more than a character in a book that was made into a movie or I guess the closest thing here might be theater…make believe…acting…performances like a play for amusement and entertainment. Where I'm from, Elves and mutant wolves don't exist. It's fantasy. Its children's stories. We thought we were showing up where they did the movie. We thought you were an actor who portrays an Elvenking. That's why I freaked out pulling at your hair and scratching at your ears. I thought it was fake hair and plastic on your ears making them pointy." Things had been way too tense for her and she had to let it out. "I'm not use to life and death situations happening every hour on the hour."
Alyssa strode back and forth as Thranduil watched her. "I'm not from Middle Earth. I'm from another place, and in my country men don't go around chopping heads off or feeding people to mutant wolves. We don't have kings. We elect a President and vote on things. We don't have real wizards like Gandalf. Well, he's not really a wizard but a lesser god or something that lived where Galadriel did when she was young. We have wars that are fought with guns and drones not Wizards fighting a Balrog then Ring Wraiths."
Thranduil stepped into her path and she put her hands out on his abdomen to stop from running into him. His hands went over hers pressing them so they stayed in place. "What do you know of Ring Wraiths?"
Her eyes went wide and she knew that her emotional outburst went too far. "I shouldn't have said that." She pulled at her hands knowing he was not going to let go. Even under so many layers of clothing she could feel a muscular frame. She tried to breath normal even as she felt his body move as he himself breathed. She tried not to look at his eyes, but that only resulted in peering at his wide shoulders and where his hands pressed against hers.
"Why? Do you work for a Wraith that is under the One?" His eyes pierced into hers as she looked up.
"No. They scare the hell out of me. I would never help them for any reason not even to save my life. They're evil. They tried to kill…" Alyssa pressed her teeth together knowing she shouldn't say Frodo.
"Who?" He leaned down bringing their faces closer together.
She thought about the movie Hobbit and the Orcs. "Thorin."
"True, but that is not who you were going to say. Who else have they tried to kill? Who were you going to say?"
"I shouldn't say. It could change the future. If I tell you things, it might not work out the right way and then we could lose." Alyssa tipped her head down feeling intimidated by him. She knew he could make her talk and not even by reverting to torture. All he would have to do was kiss her and she knew she might buckle.
"Who could lose?" His hands pressed harder when she tugged trying to slide them off of his body. It only resulted in sliding her hands farther down his body.
"We could lose. Not me but all of you. Middle Earth. The humans, Dwarves, Elves all the good people could lose. Galadriel said the quest stands on the edge of the knife or blade or something and if they stray even a little then they will fail. I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize that. Well, she hasn't said it yet. It's like a hundred years from now I guess. I'm not sure, but everything has to happen a certain way or he will win."
"Who will win and what does this person want?"
She was afraid to even say his name for fear he could hear it or something. She whispered thinking of Sam being caught by Gandalf listening at the window. "The Dark Lord and the end of the world."
He let her hands go, and she pulled them back now regretting the loss of the pressure of his much larger hands.
"How do you know this?"
"I watched it. They are not always the same as the books, but the outcome is. Tell me this…has the dragon already been killed?"
Thranduil nodded.
"You fought a bunch of bad guys after that?"
He nodded again.
"Ok, then it's done for now. It picks up later with the Lord of the Rings."
"The Ring of Power. It gets found? By who?"
Alyssa sat down in a chair and sipped on his wine. "Oh my gosh that's strong. Like really strong mead." She thought she could use some more and downed the rest. "I tried it once because I had this thing for blond Viking men a while back. Oh and no. It's already found."
"Who found it?" Thranduil inched closer pouring the glass full and offering it back to her. She wanted wine then he would give her wine and he hoped in return he would get information.
She felt dizzy, but enjoyed the taste. "Don't worry. He doesn't know what it is, and he's not evil. You should know that." She lifted the glass then set it down. "No. You shouldn't know any of this. It could change things. But then you weren't there in the next war. I always wondered why you weren't there. Galadriel either…she helped but never left her forest and neither did you for that matter. Is there a reason why both of you would stay away from war if the ring was found but not being used?" Alyssa felt like she was spinning.
Thranduil drank the wine since she didn't. "Galadriel has foreseen that she will be tempted to use it."
"She doesn't. She passes her test." She laughed and leaned forward. "She scares the hell out of Fr…people." Alyssa felt like she was leaning sideways even though she was sure she was sitting straight in the chair. "What about you?"
"I will never allow myself anywhere near it. I have talked to Galadriel about this. I know myself. I would take it at all costs." Thranduil offered her the wine. "If such a war happens, I would remain here using my abilities to control weather and earth to aid those who go."
She drank some more thinking when he said at all costs that he meant exactly that. He would take the ring no matter what it cost. "You would take it to do good?"
"No. I would just take it." A wicked smile quirked on his lips as he took the glass from her hand and lifted the glass to his lips. He watched her over the rim.
Alyssa licked at the taste of wine that lingered on her lips as she grazed over his body with her eyes then focused on his full lips and eyes. "You're scary."
"And you like that." He made a statement. "What else do you like? What was it? Yesssss…Blond men." He tipped his head to the side letting his hair fall forward toward her. He almost leaned forward and kissed her when her eyes half closed as she tipped her head up breathing in the scent of his hair that fanned toward her. "I do not know what a Viking is though."
Alyssa was lost in the scent and touch of silken gold hair all around her. "Ancient warriors. Tall strong sword wielding warriors."
"Have you had such a man?" Thranduil asked pleasantly, but internally spikes of jealousy sprung up stabbing at him.
"I ummm no. Real Vikings like back in the old day don't exist anymore." Alyssa reached up and let her hand skim across his hair. "Soft." Her hand draped it to the side where her skin bumped into his bicep. She blinked a few times then ran her fingers over his impressive arm. "Hard."
He moved in front of her and gripped the arms of the chair to stop himself from lifting her out of it and against his body. "So you are not a spy. You are lost in what did you call this…a fantasy?"
She sipped the last of the wine and held the glass out to him. "It's a nightmare fantasy."
"A nightmare?" He took the glass and set it to the side.
"Yes. I almost drowned. Killer wolf mutant. Scary King. I almost got two Elves killed. My group was put in cells. Wait, are they alright?" In her drunken state, she found it hard to focus and had even forgotten they had already talked about her group.
"Yes. Who has the ring?"
"I can't answer that. If you ask again, I'll be forced to take a vow of silence to keep the world safe, and I will have to run away somewhere because I think you could get me to talk. You have already. Wait one more thing. You said control weather and earth. Could you cause the ground to open up and swallow a massive Orc army if you were far away?"
Thranduil stood up straight. "Not by myself." He paced around then came back. "I would have to be at a place of power. I would have to have Galadriel and Celeborn's help, so it would have to take place in Lothlórien where the magic fills the trees." He glanced around then back. "Elrond would need to help, but he could do that from Rivendell. Much farther away and he could not help. How far away is the army?"
"The gates of Mordor. Could you feel it if the ring was destroyed then know it was time to swallow up the bad army, but not hurt the good guys who may be close by?" Alyssa leaned back fully against the chair as she was unable to sit up on her own.
Thranduil folded his hands behind his back thinking with practice it could be done. "Yes."
Alyssa's eyes closed a few seconds then opened. "That's why you guys aren't going to be there fighting. I wondered why you guys were gone. That makes sense now. I think I need to sleep." Alyssa's eyes closed and she fell fast asleep.
Thranduil watched her for a few minutes then went back to pacing. He thought over what she said. She was not sure when it would happen only that it was somewhere around a hundred years in the future. He would need to work together with the other Elves to swallow up an army that was far away after the ring is destroyed. She knew who found the ring. She acted like he knew the person. The person did not know what it was. He thought over who it could be. He realized yes he was trying to figure it out so he could take it from them.
Alyssa opened her eyes. "Don't ask me anything else. I can't be responsible for all of your deaths. I can't."
He felt the impact of her words and knew a decision he made long ago to have civilians help with a group of dragons that were attacking their city cost a quarter of their lives. He watched her blinking slowly with a light flush to her face. So young. So venerable and drunk. He knew he could get more information out of her. He wanted the ring. At what cost to her and everyone else? He took a deep breath knowing things inside himself had shifted. Once he would not have even hesitated, but now because of this one young human woman he knew he could not proceed.
He bowed to the watching Alyssa. "I vow on the memory of my lost Elvenqueen, your life and the life of my son I will not try to find out who has the ring, and I will ask you nothing more of the future. I will only tell those that must know, and I will make them vow on all they hold most dear that they will not tell anyone else without my consent. I so vow."
"Good." Alyssa fell back to sleep.
Thranduil rose and pulled out his sword. He gripped the blade and pulled it back letting his blood flow pooling on the floor. "I so vow." The drops of blood was like a massive bell being struck and he knew that in his vow the fate of the world hung. He would not break it and he knew he would kill anyone who would betray it.
Eventually, he noticed that she curled up like she was cold. He contemplated putting his blanket on her then noticed his hand was still dripping a little. He used items from the healer's bag that was left behind to close up the wound. He knew it would be like new by morning.
Knowing that the bed was more comfortable, he gently picked her up and took great pains to make sure he did not wake her. He lay her down then covered her knowing that his connection to her was more than just learning information and her expressions that made him think of his lost love.
The skin on her face and arms felt cool, so he began to worry again. He knew from her own words she was not use to harsh things. "Delicate." He had never found that appealing before and had felt the opposite in fact. But now watching her, he felt as if she were a precious jewel that could be damaged and not repaired.
He turned to the fireplace. He knew he forced himself to be around flames while out in the wild so that none could guess his weakness. He thought of the Orc and knew that the enemy had the information already. If he had dealt with it for is pride then he could deal with it for her sake.
He built a fire to take the chill out of the room all the while thinking that she was becoming even more precious to him. He folded his arms and realized that in his vow he had listed her with the members of his family. His hand went up to his broach, and he closed his eyes knowing that his Elvenqueen had foreseen this.
He whispered not knowing if she could hear him or not. "My Elvenqueen. My love, I did not believe you. If you can hear me, please forgive me for not speaking to you before now and for locking myself away in the darkness you did not wish me to dwell in. I do not know if I can do this, but I will try. I love you." Tears dripped from his eyes. It had been since her death that he allowed himself to feel the impact of her passing without shielding to some degree. His heart wrenched and his body shook.
The flame in the fireplace died down and he felt colder. He turned to the other side of the room that was away from the bed and thought he saw a glimpse of his former wife.
He leaned forward hearing her voice floating toward him with a feeling of love. "Be at peace. Farewell."
He strode forward into mist that cooled his skin. "Be at peace." He replied and wrapped his arms around himself wondering if she had lingered all this time waiting to be sure he was alright and not wanting to leave him alone without someone.
After an hour of reflection, he turned to the jug of wine, but didn't feel a compulsion to drink it dry. A smile broadened his face till he saw all of his blood on the floor. "That will never do."
He left his chamber to retrieve something to clean it up with knowing that if Alyssa woke up and slipped in it getting his blood all over her that she would be traumatized again.
Alyssa woke to feel the bed dip down. She was lying on her side with her hair over her face. Her heart sped up thinking that Thranduil had joined her.
She opened one eye only a slit and saw blond hair and the outline of a man sitting on the bed. "Took you long enough. I think the wine did me in."
Alyssa reached up pulling him down to her noticing that he pulled back some. She determined that he was not getting away from her this time. She wrapped her arms around him so as he pulled back sitting up that she came up with him.
His hands went to her arms as she shortened the distance pressing her lips to his.
He gasped as if in shock and angled his head farther back.
Alyssa loosened her arms noticing that the blond hair that fanned around her didn't smell like pine and berries, but more like citrus and spiced cider.
A growling at the door turned Alyssa to see the firelight flickering on Thranduil as he stood where the ripped off door leaned on the wall. He had a bowl and cloth in his hands then he threw them on the floor.
"This is not as it appears. I think in her drunken state she thought I was you." The man she just kissed spoke for the first time.
Alyssa completely let go of the man and fell back a few inches onto the bed as he talked. She recognized him instantly when the light shone on his face as he turned to Thranduil. She pushed at him catching him off balance, so he fell on the floor sprawling.
Thranduil tried to remain calm. "She is drunk. What is your excuse Legolas?"
"I was trying to see who she was, and it was just a simple kiss. Nothing more." Legolas glanced at the fire. "There was a fire and a woman. I thought something was wrong."
"I have a woman in my room with a fire to keep her warm and that means something is so wrong that you have to come in here…and kiss her to what? Make it better? Is it so unusual that I would have some type of company?"
Legolas felt trapped. "Yes."
Thranduil stepped closer. "Yes to which question?"
Alyssa pointed at Legolas. "You're not supposed to be here. I know this is your father's kingdom, but when I read it you were not here. I mean it makes sense you would be in your own father's kingdom, but well…in one version you were and in another you were not. It gets confusing, but I ummm think it's better when you are here. Adds to the story, in the books we only see you once the…"
"Alyssa be quiet. Do not speak of the future." Thranduil leaned forward as his voice boomed out. He didn't want to have to kill his son, and didn't think he could even to save the whole of Middle Earth.
Legolas saw flashes of emotions in his father's face and knew this was no ordinary human. "She was one of the humans from that group. What is happening? What will happen?"
"You do not need to know, and you will not ask ever again about information she knows of the future. The lives of Middle Earth are in the balance. Yours and mine as well." Thranduil glanced at the ceiling. "I have lied to myself telling myself for a long time that if we stay inside out realm then we will be safe. I fear you will one day need to venture out and I must remain."
Legolas touched his lips then peered down at her. He glanced around the room and tipped his head to the fireplace knowing how much his father hated fire. "Do you want me to have her taken to another room?"
"No. And she has drunk our wine. She will start talking again, so she remains where she is. Who knows what else she will say?"
Legolas walked over and picked up the wine jug. "You know they are not supposed to drink our strong wine straight. Our wine is a lot stronger than even their strongest hard liquor. The wine we send down to the humans is only a third wine. It is mixed with water as to not poison them. They can become ill if they drink too much of the strong. They call it alcohol poisoning. They pass out and never wake up."
"Poisoning?" Thranduil jerked forward to her side. "Wake up." He took her hand and started smacking it.
Legolas sprinted to the healer bag and rummaged around in it. "Here."
"I do not know what to do. I usually do not pay attention to any treatment other than ones for Elves." Thranduil gave the leaves back to Legolas. "Help her. I command it."
"Yes. Yes. Give me the water glass." Legolas went to the other side and rubbed the leaves between his hands and chanted. The leaves turned old and cracked into pieces. "How much did she drink anyway? One sip? Two?"
Thranduil held the water glass out as the broken dried leaves started to fall inside. "Two glasses I think."
Legolas took a deep breath. "I don't know if that is enough to kill one so small, but these leaves will absorb what is in her stomach and start to leach it out of her body." Legolas dusted his hands off.
Thranduil leaned her forward and put it to her lips. "Alyssa. Drink this."
Her eyes opened unable to focus, but she drank. After about half of the glass, she pushed it aside. "Tastes awful."
"You have had too much wine and this will help."
"No. I'm fine. I'm just not use to drinking. A lightweight." She pushed his hand back.
Thranduil turned to Legolas. "Should she drink more?"
"I do not think so. If they can talk then no one worries." Legolas watched his father lay the human woman back noticing that his father was truly concerned for her and it was not just some ploy.
Thranduil moved her hair out of her face. "I almost poisoned you with too much wine. Make sure in the future you mix it with water."
"I keep almost dying. I told you this was a nightmare." Alyssa's drunken mind offered something she had memorized in school for speech class, but she didn't remember it all and skipped around adding in things. "Yes, a nightmare upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary…does attacked by a wolf then drunk count?, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore…and Lord of the Rings books, while I nodded nearly napping…or being poisoned, suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door…but it wasn't tapping you ripped that thick door off its hinges. And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor…sorrow for the lost Lenore. For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore, Nameless here for evermore…Quote the raven, Nevermore."
Legolas turned to her as if offended then back to his father. "You talked to her of the Elvenqueen? You told her the unspoken name?"
"No." Thranduil was white as a piece of paper as he stepped away from Alyssa.
Legolas hurt at the sound of his mother's name and leaned over her whispering. "My lady…do not speak her name I implore you."
Alyssa sat up and had to plant her hands on either side to stay steady. "That's what I said. She is nameless. And you aren't supposed to be here anyway. It wasn't in the Hobbit. I told you some things were different…are different."
"Yes she is right, Legolas. I got a message you were going to Rivendell." He wanted Legolas away from her before she said anything else or tried to kiss him again.
Legolas stood up straightening his clothing and noticed all the blood and water on the floor for the first time. "I was going, but the birds told of strange tidings of a Warg attacking a human and you going after it." He turned back to the bed. "You should have her looked after by the healers who I saw when I…" He remembered they appeared to have been strangled. "Or maybe she already has been." He peered over his shoulder back to his father. "She was wounded and you gave her wine? Humans are not like us. She could bleed to death if she has wine and is wounded that severe. It thins their blood." He pointed to the floor with accusation.
"It is not her blood. She only has a few scratches. Do not lecture me…" Thranduil was cut off.
Alyssa slumped over. "Yes the mutant wolf was a Warg I think. It attacked me and a group of them will attack you Legolas."
Both men turned to face her.
"Don't worry. They don't kill you. You think they kill someone, but he is alive. Can Elf women heal human men? Well he is not exactly human…can they heal mostly human men from a distance? I think she healed him. They love each other. I think sometimes that Lord of the Rings is a love story. How he becomes who he should to rule and save everyone. Those ghost things in the mountain were scary. Lots of sculls. I don't need to tell you that. No wait. You haven't done that yet. Well, the ghost army is evil but they help you guys. I shouldn't be saying any of this, but your best friend is a Dwarf and he goes into the mountain because you do. It's so funny. You kill more than he does." Alyssa giggled and closed her eyes falling back to sleep.
The men watched her making sure she was breathing. It took a few moments for them to remember that the leaves continue to work on removing the alcohol and that she was safe now.
"Father. What is going on? Is she part Elvish or touched by the gods?"
"No. Vow that you will never speak about what she has told. Vow it on your mother's memory and spirit that visited me tonight."
Legolas tipped his head to the side.
"Vow."
"I vow. Is that what she meant by ghost?"
"I do not know what she meant. Truthfully, I don't know what she is talking about half of the time. It might be better that way. Come. We need to talk." Thranduil left the chamber wondering how she had known her name.
Thranduil paused at the door seeing that one of the male guards was blond. "You. Go find someone who has dark hair to take your place. And don't let anyone in the rooms save me."
Legolas waited till they were away before talking. "Why did you change guards?"
"She is still drunk and I don't want to have to kill half the kingdom because they look like blond Viking warriors."
Legolas thought of the brief kiss and the drunken human in his father's bed that spoke of the future as if it already happened. "I think I understand."
A/N: Ok, I just had to have Legolas interrupt things and blend The Raven. I cannot take credit for the word doctor being mistaken for dock whore…that was all Sandra Hill and her Viking books. I remembered it and had to add it. Oh my. What will happen when she wakes up and he comes back? A bath perhaps?