Miserable was an understatement. Dawn felt as if every day she was being eaten away. She was always escorted by guards wherever she went. All door and windows were locked when she entered a room. She had limited time with her children, and that wasn't even the worst part. Whenever she made a mistake, Thranduil would give her a long speech and hit her. Of course he never did this in public. Always right before bed, and afterwards she was sometimes ordered to please him, without being touched herself.

For a month she endured this. She needed just a small taste of freedom. She stood out on the balcony and stared at the sunset. It was in the middle of April, right before a storm. She could sense whether it would rain or not. April… Damn Thranduil and his rules. She had only spent only a fraction of time with Violet on her birthday. Her little girl was six. She is strong. He will not break her.

"What are you doing out here?" His voice made her almost cringed.

"I was just watching the sunset."

"That is a privilege you no longer have. Go back to our room." She watched a mere second more before he grabbed her arm, a little too tight, and pulled her back inside. "Go." She turned and left with her escorts back to her room. Once inside, she quickly bathed and changed into her night gown, just before he entered the room. She sat at her vanity and brushed her hair. "You know you are not allowed outside, yet you still do so."

"I was not outside. I was only on the balcony."

"THE BALCONY IS OUTSIDE!" She stayed calm and did nothing to show that she was paying any attention. He glared at her before grabbing her hair and pulling out of her chair and onto the floor. "I am talking to you." She glared and spat at him.

"I do not care. You cru-" He threw her into the mirror across the room, shattering it.

"You will respect me." He turned and walked to the door.

"Why?" He stopped and slowly turned around to see her lying on the floor, sobbing and covered in blood.

"Excuse me?"

"Why?" she whispered. "Why do you treat me this way?"

"Your little escape almost cost me my life and my kingdom their king."

"Why did you come after me? Why did you not just let me go?"

"Because I was a fool, but I am not one any longer."

"I know what I have done, but I do not deserve-"

"YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHAT YOU DO OR DO NOT DESERVE!" She flinched and hid her face. "I tell you what you deserve, and if I say you deserve this, then it is what you shall get. Or do you need another lesson." She quickly shook her head.

"NO! Please no! I will be good! I promise!" He walked over to her and kneeled down beside her before leaning down so that he mouth was by her ear.

"I do not believe you." He grabbed her arm and pulled her over to the bed before tying her to the frame and pushing her dress up. She began to panic. He had never done this to her before. He went over to a trunk and pulled out a huge belt. She began to shake and tried to pull her hands free of their restraints. "I would not do that if I were you."

"Please no! I will be good! I swear!" She was so blinded by tears that all she could see were blobs. He shook his head.

"Such a pity." The first stroke came without warning. One moment he was talking, the next she was screaming in pain. With each stroke she screamed louder until he grabbed her by her throat. "One more sound, and I might just get rid of the belt and use a knife. Would you like that?" She quickly shook her head. "Then stay quiet." She nodded again and he let go before continuing. He might as well have used the knife. After being whipped so much and with such brutal force, her poor bottom started to bleed. "There. Now you will behave, or you will endure it again."

And she did endure it, every night for two months. Now it was June. She was more depressed than ever before. She hardly ever said a word, and moved around as if she were a ghost. Dearon and Legolas were furious and Idril was skeptical, but none could talk their father out of it. They all then knew that saving Dawn was a lost cause. He had done it. He had finally broken her.

On June 27th, Dawn sat on the floor by Thranduil's throne while he settled kingdom affairs. She waited patiently and quietly while he worked. When he was finished he dismissed his guards, and hers, before standing and looking down at her.

"Come Dawn. Walk with me." She stood and followed him out to the gardens. "It is boring today. Do you agree?" She nodded in a daze. They sat on a bench by a pond. He was bored and needed something to talk about. "Dawn, how old are you?"

"Twenty –nine," she answered in a hoarse, quiet voice.

"When is your birthday? You never told me. Not that I never cared."

"June 27th." He glanced over at her surprised.

"Today?"

"What is today?"

"June 27th."

"Then yes, it is."

"Dawn?"

"Yes?"

"Look at me." She looked at him and he finally took in her appearance. She looked exhausted and in a daze. "Dawn?"

"Yes?"

"What are your parents' names?"

"I do not remember. I have not seen them in years. They are not that important anyways." He frowned.

"Dawn, do you remember what I showed you the night Elon and Jade were born?"

"No. And who are Elon and Jade?"

"Oh my goodness."

Thranduil sat outside their room. He had brought Dawn back inside and she was being treated by the healers. He didn't know why, he just did.

"My lord?" he looked up to see all but one of the healers leaving.

"Well?" She looked down.

"We do not know what has happened to her. It would seem as if she has lost all reason to live."

"And how did you come up with that ridiculous conclusion?"

"She has become very thin, is not getting enough sleep, and seems to be harming herself. She can barely remember her own name. My lord I-"

"Leave." The healer nodded and left. Lost all reason to live… He stood and went inside before locking the door and making his was over to bed. Dawn laid there motionless, staring at the closed window. "Dawn." She slowly turned to look at him. He frowned and crossed his arms. "Wake up from whatever nonsense this is. You are stuck in your head, in your ridiculous dream of freedom. There is none! You need to grow up and realize that you are not going anywhere. Are you even listening to me?" She only starred at him. He wasn't sure what to do, so he laid next to her. She looked away from him and stared at the ceiling. "Dawn, what is my name?"

"I do not know." He looked at her before putting an arm around her and pulled her closer. It felt odd.

"My name is Thranduil. I am the king of the Woodland Realm, and your husband." She only nodded. "Go to sleep. You are the queen and you need your rest." She nodded before closing her eyes and very slowly fell into a deep sleep. He stared at the ceiling for a while before going to sleep. She is always in need of something.