Kagome gazed out of the window that the room she was given had, high atop the palace she had been forced to live in since her abilities had been discovered. She longed for freedom, something she had not had in... she no longer knew how long. The king did allow her to roam, but she was to be accompanied at all times, but she yearned the freedom to do as she pleased when she pleased.

Glancing down at the ground far below, Kagome decided to sit on the window's ledge, sure to gather the attention of her... keeper. Turning her face up to the sky once she settled, she smiled at the sunlight that warmed her skin. While enjoying the day, she began to hum a song from her home as her legs kicked back and forth slowly.

It wasn't long when he entered her room, silently approaching her relaxed form to stand behind her. She could feel his confusion, frustration and some unknown feeling rolling off of him.

"Good day, your majesty." she hummed, rolling her head so she could peek at him from the corner of her eye, smile still in placed.

"Indeed it is. May I know why, you decided to perch yourself in such a way in your window?" his voice was still as smooth, regal and boarder lining on deep as it was the first day she met him.

"I'm not about to jump, if that's what you're asking. While I do want my freedom back, I'm not that desperate." she turned to face the world that was stretched before her window, watching the patrols as they slipped about like the shadows they were trained to be.

He moved so he stood next to her, also observing the world. Silence settled over them, not exactly comfortable, but not tense either. It was, just there. Until he broke it.

"You are free to roam wherever you please." unlike most times, his voice sounded somewhat light.

Sighing through her nose, Kagome shook her head. "But I'm not, I'm accompanied by personal guards every step. I'm not allowed to step foot past your kingdoms boarders. Instead, I'm tucked away up here, safely out of reach." she turned to face him, brows slightly furrowed. "It makes me wonder though, out of whose reach?"

He continued to gaze forward, giving her nothing more than his profile. Dark brows above bright eyes, his features were unearthly beautiful like all of his kind. Hair that reminded her of pale sunlight swept back and held in place because of a crown. Said crown was made of woven branches with bright red orange leaves, shaped that way with magic and kept alive the same way. He still wore soft silver grays, though the red draping cloak she first saw him with was currently missing.

"Am I going to get an answer, Thranduil?" it was when she finally called him by name, that he turned to her.

"It is for your safety." his tone was somewhat sharp, as if stating that was all she was going to get and not to further ask questions on the subject.

Pulling her legs so the dangled on the inside while her back now faced the world, she leaned on her arms which brought her closer to him. "I was new to your world when you first locked me up here. You had allowed me to train with your guards so you know I can take care of myself. So what is out there that poses such a threat?"

He answered her without facing her. "You are a... strange creature."

"I'll accept that as a compliment." she smiled softly, mentally chuckling when she remembered Sesshoumaru saying the same thing to her once upon a time.

"What has you so eager to leave?" his brows furrowed as he stared her down.

Twisting to face the world once again, Kagome remembered. Plans, hopes and dreams she had for herself once upon a time. How they had changed when she first traveled to Japan's past, how some were given up for something bigger, while others were ones she fought for all that much harder.

"I remembered dreams I once had when I was younger." she leaned against the window frame.

"Dreams?" he truly sounded curious.

"Yes, hopes and dreams I once had. Still have to this very day." her head fell lightly against the window frame. "When I first arrived, it was exciting! To learn of your world, and everything of your people. I learned all I was allowed too, now I simply sit here."

Her words were quiet, softer than they once had been, but it's what happens when one grows up. He waited patiently for her to continue explaining what it was she wished to discuss. To an elf, time wasn't relative. Life was still very much precious to them, but not time. Why would it be when they could live on for all eternity? It was time shared with loved ones that was treasured, but time itself held no value to them.

"I want a family." her sudden words startled Thranduil into turning his entire attention onto her.

He watched as she continued to sit there, eyes closed and basking in the sunlight. Her skin, once very much sun kissed was now pale creamy complexion. Her raven hair had grown much longer, but still kept at a length she was more comfortable with than what most elves traditionally wore. Childishly features grew into womanly curves, slimming and filling out where gangly limbs once seemed stretch.

"I want to find the one I'm meant to be with and start a family, to have children and watch them grow." she opened her eyes and stared down at her hands as they rested in her lap. The pale mint green of her sleeves and dark green of her gown complimenting her complexion.

Thranduil felt his brows furrow at her confession. It was not unheard of the hear other confess to such wants, but it seemed somehow odd to hear her say these wants out loud. Never before had she really said any want, other than to learn all she could and to explore the world. But for her to want a family... Mortals were so young and short lived compared to elves, but she had been with them for so long and had not aged as a mortal.

A tiny warm hand pressing against his cheek startled him out of his thoughts and he whipped about to face the woman. He opened his mouth, about to insult her for daring to lay her hands upon him but stopped short when her hand began to glow. Not much unlike when elves healed, but unlike the elvish start white glow, hers were tinged with pinks and blues that swirled in and around each other.

"Why hide? Concealing it won't allow it to heal properly." she was concentrated on her task, whatever it was, than him personally.

He pulled out of he touch, still very much unsure and confused at the sudden contact. It was the first time she reached out and touched him.

"It holds painful memories." his voice was stiff with pain and a hard edge of his absolute disinterest in the topic.

"I'm sure it does. All scars do." her hand fell back down, but instead of her lap, it fell to her hip where she absently soothed a ghost of an ache.

"It's a mark of shame, foolishness on my part." he scoffed, disgusted at the mar he constantly hid beneath magic.

He heard her hum before listening to her next words. "Perhaps, but perhaps it's a mark of survival. A mark of wisdom, of growth, a story. Each scar bares a tale, it shows that yes a mistake was made but you survived the ordeal and became wiser because of it."

Her head tilted to the side causing her hair to fall away from her shoulder, baring her neck and delicate ears. But he was shocked at what she had to say and what she had just acknowledged. "You can see it."

She nodded her head. "For almost as long as I've been here."

Narrowing his eyes on her, he leaned in closer. "And you do not see a monster, find it disgusting? I find that hard to believe."

"It was... startling at first, I'll admit. But then I thought I was seeing things. As for your questions... no. I do not see you as a monster nor find it disgusting. You are who you are, such a mark, while it does define a part of who you are, it is not what you are." she returned her attention back out the window, her fingers now combing through her hair. "From what I have seen, you care very much for your people and ensure for their safety. How you treat your guests... could use with improvement."

He was about to dismiss her words for insult before pausing when he caught sight of that teasing smirk she threw his way. Scoffing, he pulled himself to his full height. "How I treat my... guests is expected of me and my position of king."

"Yes, but your other guests are allowed to leave when their business is done. I still have yet to pass the borders of your kingdom." her reminder let him upset with her constant want to leave.

"The forest is not safe, it grows darker these last months" he commented, hoping it would divert her conversation topic.

"It's growing sick, and it is quickly spreading." she turned sharp eyes towards him.

"All the more reason to stay." his response was curt and sharp, he truly wished she would drop the subject of her wishing to leave.

Her brows furrowed as she continued to watch him, eyes taking him in. "Why is it you're fighting against me wanting to leave? What could you possibly want from me?"

Canting his head to the side, he observed her in her confusion and how it frustrated her. She truly was an odd creature. Of mortal, yet not. Abilities similar to elves but vastly different in ways he could not comprehend. She was unlike other women, no where near docile and timid while not being overly brash with a need to prove herself among others.

And as much as he hated to admit, even to himself, she drew emotions from him, caused things to stir and whirl in ways he had thought long since buried since Legolas' mother had passed. But he would not cross that line, he did believe in keeping the royal line pure and his thoughts had not and would not near such topics. She was not and elf, while not being anything of this world.

Facing the window again, he contemplated her questions. Indeed, why was he fighting her arguments and reasons why she should be allowed to leave. What -did- he want from her? Even he himself could not answer those questions, at least, not now.

AN: Another request. This was a difficult one. Do have it before Legolas was born or after? As I read elves don't remarry so I was like... uhhh. Anyways, read, enjoy, and review!