Chapter Four: The Agreement

Thranduil stepped out into the hallway, weary and unhappy. He had just finished his talk with Oropher. They, along with Aduial, had finally come to an agreement as to how the patrols would be run. While Oropher initially thought it best to separate the two, he told them he believed this was a divisive move. Therefore, he wanted them to cooperate and command the guard together. After this had been decided, Aduial had stormed from the room rather quickly. Thranduil had stayed behind to work out some of the logistics, but now be hoped to find Aduial and speak with her.

Aduial hadn't left quite yet, much to his relief. She paced the hall outside the throne room, looking like a caged beast. She stopped as he entered the corridor, though she didn't say anything or otherwise acknowledge his presence. Thranduil cleared his throat and approached her cautiously.

"I did not get the opportunity to thank you properly earlier," he said, his own voice sounding foreign to him. He came alongside her, though she still gazed at the floor. "So, thank you." He put a hand over his heart. "I am indebted to you."

She finally looked at him, the hint of a smile on her lips. "Well, I certainly could not have the brand-new princeling die on my watch, now could I?"

His cheeks grew warm. "I suppose not."

She turned so that her whole body faced him. She stared at him for a long while, her expression unreadable. "Walk with me, My Lord," she eventually said, turning on her heel and setting off down the hall. Thranduil followed, catching up with her.

"I have decided that your father, the King, is correct. We must combine forces from now on if we can ever hope to keep the orc scum at bay." She shot a glance at him, her features as hard and cold as carven marble. "But, I do not like it."

This did not come as a shock to Thranduil, judging from the way she had been treating him. "May I ask why it bothers you so?"

"I have served in Greenwood's guard for centuries. I have watched its borders and protected its people. I have dedicated my life to serving Greenwood the Great, My Lord." She grew louder and more impassioned with each word. Her eyes flitted to meet his. They were a deep blue, and reminded him of polished sapphires.

"And you?" she continued. "You have only just arrived. You have snatched away what I have worked so hard to earn. You have no real ties to this land or its people. But I have lived here. I have made friends with the trees and the birds. I have counted each and every star above us. I have bled and worked and suffered to preserve this place for my kin."

"Aduial." Thranduil stopped abruptly. "Be at peace," he said, noticing the tips of her ears were starting to redden. She opened her mouth as if to snap at him, but he held up a hand for silence. "I did not come here to usurp you or nullify all of your hard work. You have done a remarkable job protecting Greenwood. That is why you are the captain of the guard. No one is going to take that away from you." His tone was soft, but firm.

"You did," she spat.

He blinked. "It appears there has been a misunderstanding. I am not here to command the guard."

"Really? Because that is what it seemed like when you were leading your own patrols!"

"I am trying to guard this forest, just the same as you. I was only doing what I was told to do by my father. In any case, we are now commanding the patrol together. I know you do not like it and, quite frankly, I do not like it either. I would rather that only one of us was in charge. But no matter. My father's word is law, and he says that we are to lead the troops together."

She folded her arms over her chest. "What do you propose we do then?"

"I am not asking you to be happy about it—"

"Good, because I am not going to be."

He pretended she hadn't said anything. "However, I do not think it would be wise to be openly at odds with each other."

She lowered her arms, her features softening a little. "This is true," she said slowly. "If we fought in front of the men as we did today, it would only serve to cause division."

"They would not know who to trust or to who to obey. It would cause a split among the guards and create problems in the field," Thranduil said.

"Lives would be lost."

"Indeed. And then we will have failed in our purpose."

"We need to work as a team then, at least in front of them," Aduial said. "I acted out of selfishness earlier today, but it will not happen again. Not to your face, at least," she smirked.

"A truce, then?" Thranduil asked, offering her his hand.

She shook it. "Truce. Whether I like it or not."

"You could at least try to show me some respect. I am the crown prince, after all."

"But where's the fun in that?" She laughed. "Anyway, I suppose I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning."

"You had better get used to it," he retorted, a little sick of her taunting by now.

"Unfortunately, it seems that I must." She sighed. As she walked away, she glanced over her shoulder and said, "My Lord?"

"Yes?" he asked.

"If I were you, I would be more careful on patrol in the future. I may not always be there to save your sorry skin."

He flushed. "Indeed. Good evening, Aduial."

"Good evening, My Lord," she said. They parted ways.