A/N Again, many thanks to Celridel for taking the time to beta this chapter
Two months had passed since the feast and Estella's realization she was in love with Legolas. During that time, the two of them had become even closer. Of course, Estella never let on her true feelings toward Legolas; however, that did not stop the two from spending each spare moment, they had training together, going on afternoon walks or rides, or even just sitting and laughing. Naturally, their increased friendship had not gone unnoticed by several eyes including those of the king.
Estella was in her rooms, alone, when she heard someone knock on the door. The noise startled her, having become accustomed to her lack of company since Legolas had gone on patrol two weeks ago. She felt lost without his presence, and Raiwen–whose company she often sought–had her duties during the day. While most Elves were cordial with her, Estella was beginning to realize she did not have many real friends. She heard the knock again and sadly rose from her bed, making her way slowly to the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to see Feren standing there.
"Feren, what are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep the sad tone from her voice.
Feren smiled softly at her. "King Thranduil has requested your presence, my lady. He awaits you in his study."
Estella felt a slight panic rise in her. What would the king want with her? He usually did not summon people to his study unless he was upset about something. "Did he say why he wanted to see me?" she asked, her voice faltering slightly.
Feren shook his head. "Nay, only that it was important and he wished for you to come quickly."
Nodding slowly, Estella started to follow Feren down the vast hallways leading to the king's study. When they arrived, Faron told Estella to wait while he announced her arrival to Thranduil. While she waited to be let in, she tried to think of why the king would want to see her. She did not remember doing or saying anything inappropriate, and she had been relatively quiet or in her rooms as of late. Less than a minute later Feren appeared and escorted her in. The last time she had been here was a few days before the feast, and that was to remind her to be on her best behavior.
As she made her way to the back of his room to where his private study was, she was surprised to see the king did not look at all unhappy but rather at ease. When she entered, he looked up and smiled softly at her and motioned for her to sit in one of the large oak chairs that were in front of his desk. Estella sat rather stiffly, her mind still racing with reasons as to why Thranduil would want to see her.
"Ah Estella, I am glad you came. Can I get you a drink? A glass of Dorwinion perhaps?" Thranduil asked, smiling as he poured himself a small glass of the rich wine.
Grinning, Estella started to feel herself relax. She began to realize the king was not angry with her. Perhaps he was just concerned for her since she had been hibernating increasingly since Legolas left. "Yes, please, my lord," she replied timidly, still unused to being alone in his presence.
Thranduil poured her a glass and handed it to her, sitting down in his chair behind the desk. Estella noticed he seemed to be pondering on something as he had a faraway look in his eyes. "Is everything okay, my lord?"
Chuckling softly, Thranduil sipped his wine before he answered her question. "Yes, pen dithen, I am fine. I was going to ask you the same question. I have noticed, as well as several other staff members, that you have not seemed your usual self since my son left for patrol."
Estella cringed slightly at the mention of Legolas. How she missed him. She had not felt this alone and lost since her mother died almost a year ago. Looking back up at Thranduil her dark green eyes shone with profound sadness. "No, my lord. I have not been myself. I miss Legolas very much." Estella could not look at Thranduil any longer and looked away sipping her wine.
The Elvenking sighed softly. He knew the two of them were very close, how close he knew not, but he needed to find out. If they indeed were in love, he would need to decide the best course of action to take. Should he allow them to bond or would he forbid anything to become of it? "Estella, I need to ask you a question, and I want you to be very honest with me."
Estella started to feel fear well up inside her. What did he want to know?
Locking gazes with her, Thranduil asked the question which had been on his mind since the feast several months ago. "Are you in love with my son?"
The young elleth felt the room spin when she heard Thranduil ask her that simple yet most dreaded question of all. If she was honest with him how would he respond? Would he be furious with her, would he kick her out of his realm? She had heard rumors from other ellith Thranduil was fiercely protective of Legolas and the last elleth to be in love with his son had been banished from Mirkwood.
As she looked at the king her hands trembling, she knew she had to be honest with Thranduil. Despite her best efforts to lie she had never really been good at it. Taking a deep breath, she slowly said the three words that could seal her fate. "Yes, I am."
Thranduil stared at Estella unsure of how to respond. Deep down he knew the answer but now that she confirmed his suspicions he had to do something. However, first, he needed to know two things. First, was his son also in love with the girl and secondly, who exactly were her parents. He would have to wait until his son returned from his patrol in a few days to find out the answer to the first question even though he had a sneaking feeling the answer was yes, but he could at least find out the answer to his second.
"I see," he replied slowly not giving off any emotions which scared Estella even more. "Who are your parents Estella? I know your mother died in the other world, but I would still like to know who both your mother and father were."
Estella was unsure how to respond. She knew who her mother was but unfortunately, she never knew who her father was as her mother never told her. As Estella was contemplating on how to best answer, Feren burst in Thranduil's chambers, a look of urgency on his face.
"My king, Orcs have been spotted on our outer borders, you are needed immediately!"
Leaping from his seat, Thranduil hurriedly grabbed his sword he always kept close by in case he was ever called out. As he was leaving, he turned back to Estella who was concerned at hearing there were Orcs so close. "Estella, I am sorry, but our conversation will have to continue later. Please, if you come back later tonight we can pick up where we left off."
Estella nodded vigorously and rose from her chair. "Of course, my lord. Please return to us safely."
Thranduil smiled gently. "You have my word, pen dithen." Then he quickly left with Feren close behind.
As soon as Thranduil left, Estella was left alone with her thoughts. She casually returned to her room. So now the king knew her true feelings for his son. What now? He did not seem to be angry which was a good sign; however, he did not let on if he was happy about it either. She was also apprehensive if he would talk to Legolas about this as well. She was almost sure he would, and that worried her. What if Legolas did not feel the same about her? She did not think she would be able to face Legolas if he did not return her feelings. The other thing she needed to figure out was how to answer his last question: her parent's identities. She would be able to tell him her mother's name, but as for her father, she had yet to find out who he was and if he was still even on these shores.
Estella had almost made it to her room when she bumped into someone. Looking up she was face to face with a group of ellith who by the looks of it did not seem too happy. Estella was about to apologize for bumping into them when one of them roughly pushed her against the wall. Instantly, memories of school years of being bullied and threatened came flooding back into her mind. Despite her best efforts to get away, they would not allow it.
"Well, look who we have here? If it isn't the orphaned outcast. We were just looking for you," the elleth who pushed her said with a smirk. "So, you think you have a chance with our prince, do you? You think you can just appear here and play the sad, lonely elleth and everyone including Legolas will fall for you? Did you think he cared about you?" The dark-haired elleth laughed coldly at Estella, her gray eyes flashing with pure hatred.
Estella felt the tears begin to fill her eyes as she heard the words leave the cold Elf's mouth. She wanted to ask why they were acting so callous but she was not able to form any words. When the ellith saw she would not answer, another female, who was taller than the former, came forward.
"If you actually think you stand a chance, you have another thing coming. Legolas would never fall in love with a nobody. And that is what you are. You are an outcast, worthless and you will never belong. The only reason Legolas is so nice to you is he feels sorry for you. But I can personally tell you it will end soon. He pulls this with all the ellith. But then, as soon as he tires of them he throws them away."
Estella tried to cover her ears and turn away, but two of the other Elves grabbed her hands and held them to her side while the first one grabbed her chin forcing Estella to look at her. "Listen here and listen well, Estella. You stay away from Legolas. He does not need a pathetic nobody with no past trying to poison his mind. When he returns from patrol, you stay away from him. Understand?"
Estella shook her head violently tears now pouring from her eyes like a broken dam. After a moment, the girls let her go, leaving an icy warning ringing in her ears. "Oh, and one more thing. If you so much as tell anyone about this conversation, we will make sure that is the last mistake you ever make." Laughing cruelly, they walked away, leaving a distraught and frightened Estella.
Then they were gone. Estella's mind whirled. Where was she going to go? She knew she could not stay here, Legolas would know something was wrong and would not leave her be until she told him what happened. Estella could not stop the cruel words of the ellith from racing through her head. Elrond and her other friends said Legolas loved her but what if what these girls said was true? No, it was not worth the risk staying and finding out. She had to leave but where could she go? Suddenly, she remembered Lord Elrond's words from the feast. Estella, if you should ever wish to leave here, the gates of Imladris will always be open to you. Rivendell, she would flee to Rivendell!
With her mind made up, she fled to her room and prepared to depart. Grabbing a pack she used when she went on trips with Legolas, she threw in a bunch of clothing and grabbed her water skin. When she had filled it, she grabbed her dagger and bow with a quiver of arrows and made her way to Legolas's room where she knew he kept an old map. Taking it from off his wall, she made her way down to the kitchen and asked Beririel if she could take some bread and cheese for she was going on a little outing. Beririel, not asking any questions, gladly filled her bag with food and wished her luck. Estella thanked her and headed for the stalls.
Fortunately, Estella did not run into anyone, and she managed to find her way to the stall where Cabrion was busy feeding the horses. Estella smiled her best at him and went over to her horse Lúthril and saddled her up. "My lady? Is everything okay?"
Estella looked up at Cabrion who seemed concerned. Putting on a smile, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yes, Cabrion, I am fine. I just feel the need to ride today. I have not ridden Lúthril for a while, and I think she misses me."
Cabrion did not seem entirely convinced, but he did not push the matter and went back to his work. Thankful he did not question her; further, Estella mounted her horse and made for the bridge which led out of the palace and towards the forest. When she arrived, several guards stopped her, wanting to know her business, explaining it was not safe to be out with Orcs and spiders roaming. Estella told them she was allowed to leave and she would be back before sundown. The guards exchanged glances with one another, but in the end, they reluctantly allowed her to pass.
Estella galloped full speed toward the forest and was soon far out of sight from the safety of Thranduil's Halls. On she rode deeper into the woods. She was starting to have second thoughts on whether this was such a good idea as she had never been this far out on her own before. Legolas warned her on numerous occasions the forest of Mirkwood was not safe and if she were to leave, then he or another guard would need to accompany her. However, as soon as she remembered the cruel words of earlier, she maintained her present course and speedily made her way towards Rivendell.
Hours passed, and she could see the sun setting below the trees when she finally stopped to take a rest. Finding a good place to relax, Estella sat down and took a drink from her waterskin and slowly munched on an apple while her horse drank from a nearby river. When she had eaten half, she gave the rest to Lúthril and went to read her map to see where she was. She was pretty certain she was heading in the right direction, so rolling up the map and placing it back in her pack, she mounted her horse and started back on her long journey.
As night fell, she could not help but feel as if she was not alone. Everywhere she looked shadows were playing tricks on her mind making her think she was being followed or watched. She tried to tell herself it was only a figment of her imagination but the feeling would not go away. Estella, feeling her horse starting to stumble, realized they had been riding hard all day. She was about to tell her horse they were going to rest for the night and was in the process of looking for a suitable place to camp when Lúthril halted for a moment, her ears pricking forwards into the darkness. Without warning, Lúthril suddenly whipped around in a half rear, her eyes rolling, and Estella let out a small shriek, tangling her fingers in Lúthril's mane. Remembering all Legolas had taught her she brought the terrified mare under control before she could bolt, turning her back around to see what spooked her.
Keeping silent, Estella strained her ears for a sound–for anything. After several seconds of hearing nothing, she was about to reassure her trembling mare there was nothing there when she began to hear the faint sound of hissing from all directions. Then within seconds, Estella found herself surrounded by three enormous black spiders, hunger burning in their red beady eyes. Letting out a terrified scream, Estella urged Lúthril to flee.
Estella did not dare look behind her as they raced through the shadowy forest. She did not have to look, for her keen Elven hearing could pick up the faint sounds of her predators behind her. "Noro! Lúthril, Noro!" Estella urged her mare who found an extra turn of speed despite the uneven ground and twisting path. After what seemed like an eternity they managed to reach the forest borders, and the spiders refused to follow her any further. Nevertheless, Estella did not dare stop until the sounds of skittering had long since faded into the darkness, and she was heading towards the High Pass. Only then did she slow Lúthril to a halt, and doing her best to make her comfortable, Estella quickly set up camp in the darkness to face the long night alone.
Meanwhile, Thranduil had just returned, tired from his hunt for the Orcs who dared to attack his outer borders and had gone back to his chambers in hopes of continuing his earlier conversation with Estella. When he arrived, he was disappointed to discover she was not there. Perhaps she too was tired. It is late after all, he thought to himself. Thranduil decided he would talk to her in the morning. If she was indeed asleep, he did not wish to wake her, but he decided to check on her anyway. When Thranduil arrived at Estella's room, he quietly opened her door and walked over to her bed. When he looked down at what should have been her sleeping form he blanched at his discovery: Estella was gone!
Faster than anyone could react he checked the rest of her room to make sure she was not elsewhere, and when he could not find her he ran to his son's room in the hope perhaps she decided to retire there for the night. However, she was not there either. Panic filling his body he searched the palace until he had exhausted every known place she could be. "Where is she?!" he exclaimed aloud, anger and fear in his voice. As quickly as he could, he ran to Feren who was getting ready to retire himself. "Feren!"
Upon hearing his king's voice, Feren turned to find his face pale. "My lord, is all well?"
"No. Estella is missing. I have searched everywhere for her and cannot find her." Thranduil's expression was grave. "We must find her."
Feren hastily gathered a group of Elven guards and alongside Thranduil, left the palace and started to search where they could. They knew they could not search the forest for it was too dark and the spiders were sure to be prowling at this time. As they began their search for the young elleth the only thoughts that ran through Thranduil's mind were, Please Elbereth, let us find her and let her be unharmed.
The last thing he wanted to do was to have to face his son when he returned and tell him Estella was missing.