Disclaimer: I own obvious OC characters! Everything else belongs to Tolkien!
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My hands shook uncontrollably, I felt cold. The elk's head! Who could have done such a thing to an innocent animal?
Malenor sat me down on the bench next to a table of herbs. The strong scent of every one of them hitting me. In the state I was in they offered small comfort. I felt hands on my shoulder. It had no effect. In fact I barely felt it. Gwaenor came in front of me. I stared in a blank shock. His azure eyes reflecting the alarm and worry he felt. I watched his lips move. He seemed to be saying my name. He placed a gentle hand on my cheek.
Malenor came back with a glass with, what appeared to be milk. But the moment he moved the cup closer to my face. I could smell that it was poppy milk. The smell of it was strong. Malenor pushed the glass against my lips. Gently coaxing me to drink it.
I obediently drank it. The coolness of the glass or the taste didn't bother me as it should. I slowly felt the drowsiness wash over me. My posture slipping and a shadow descended over my mind like a dark rain cloud.
…
Échon, Échanar and Faeldir after a thorough investigation, immediately hurried off to inform the king. Their almost sync footstep echoed among the stone corridors and wooden caverns.
Moments later they reached the grand door to their majesty's chambers. Where he most likely retired for the evening. Faeldir knocked three deliberate times on the door.
Galion opened the door. They immediately entered on invitation.
"My lord! We have come bearing most unfortunate news." Échanar said urgently with a tinge of sadness. Échanar explained the grievous affair. Ivoriel and the deer head. Strangely Thranduil felt more concerned for Ivoriel. But the deer. He will find who did this. This is a severe crime that will not go unpunished. He would question Ivoriel on the matter later. He needed to see the elk's head. He hoped it wasn't who he thought it was.
Thranduil stood so quickly, that he knocked over his goblet, which to Galion's relief was empty. He quickly strode out the open doors, his majestic dark robe billowing out behind him in his haste.
His guards following close behind. The twins Échon and Échanar leading them to the crime scene.
…
The elk's head was brought down from the beams of the bed, so Thranduil could inspect the beast's head. It didn't appear to be any deer he was familiar with. But that never lessened the crime.
"I want the rest of the body found! You two, send a search party out, you are assigned as head of it." He demanded the twins. They nodded once and left straight away. Thranduil turned back to the deer head.
He said a few very soft words in farewell and left. One of the servants were left to clean up the mess and dispose of the carcass's head. It left him in a solemn and grave mood. He needed to see Ivoriel. No… he wanted to.
…
With all the commotion going on, no one noticed the lone figure lingering about. Thranduil had ordered her to clean the remnants of blood from the bed chambers. This made her angry. That he ordered her around without even so much as looking at her. Anger washed over her like a tidal wave. She stormed from the chambers. It was her fault! All of it! What could she do to make the king at least look at her? Or maybe it wasn't her that was the problem… maybe it was Ivoriel. The shadow misinterpreted Ivoriel's visits to the king. She believed it to be for some darker reason…
…
My eyes peeked open at the bright sensation of light. Someone's fresh breathe blew into my face. I turned my head cautiously, only to catch sight of Gwaenor's sleeping figure. His arm acting as a pillow. I grumbled softly as he had stolen all the pillows. It took a few moments before the events the day before came rushing back to my conscious. It hit me like a poisonous arrow. The impact of this realisation leaving me breathless. I cowered into Gwaenor. His body was warm and comforting. He must have fallen asleep during the night while he was keeping an eye on me.
I missed Aewenel, I missed the comfort she brought. She had gone to Lorien for a month. I hope she was safe and well.
I was frightened to go back home. That was a warning! The elk's head. But why? What have I done to deserve this? Gwaenor muttered something unintelligible, successfully gaining my attention. Perhaps I should sleep more… but how could I sleep now?
…
I wasn't ready to go back. Not now. Not ever. But I had to… I walked through our wind and cautiously to my bedroom door. I opened it silently. Someone was in here. A maid. She was making the bed. The room itself appeared as if the incident never happened. Like it was all a dream.
The maid turned in shock when she heard me.
"My lady!" she bowed hastily. She was quite a pretty elf. Very light hair and bright brown eyes. She couldn't have been any older than me. I greeted her curiously.
"Who are you?" I asked warily. Looked at how well she cleaned the chaos up.
"My name is Moriel! I am your new handmaiden." She smiled politely. I wonder who appointed her to me.
"Who sent you here?" I asked carefully, examining her closely. Expecting her to turn into something evil. Maybe I was getting paranoid.
"The lord elven king." She smiled wistfully. Hm, interesting… she looked almost desirous when talking about Thranduil. I mentally pinched myself. I touch of jealousy there perhaps. Well I squashed that down pretty quickly.
"Oh that reminds me! He wishes to see you." She said her voice rising a few octaves in apprehension at having forgotten that. Seemed she was new to this.
"When?" I asked, dreading it just a little, but then wanting to go at the same time.
"Well, now I suppose. He said to tell you as soon as you returned." She said, finishing putting the pillows in place on the bed. I wasn't in the mood for chatting and I was too tired today but I would have to go. It shouldn't be too hard. Especially if I rested afterwards and not go out on patrol. Then again, I was unfairly dismissed from that…
I thanked Moriel and left. Hoping to get this over and done with as quickly as possible.
…
It took me longer than usual to reach the kings study, but I got there eventually. I really didn't want to go home just yet. Upon reaching a guard turned and knocked on the door. I smiled weakly at him. The door opened, not long after. The kings Butler standing proudly beside the open door. He gestured for me to entre.
I walked slowly around the short bend and into the room. Thranduil had his back from me. He was pouring himself something in his goblet. Wine, I suspected. He turned then. He looked different. Strangely so. He smiled slightly when he saw me, goblet in hand. Galion left to stand next doorway. Completely ignoring us.
"Ivoriel." Thranduil greeted, picking my hand up. He kissed it softly. I masked my mild surprise and as hard as I tried to keep the heat from my face. Has he had too much to drink again?
"My lord." I greeted in return, bowing slightly.
"Enough with the formalities… Call me by my name." he demanded.
"As you wish… Thranduil." I said shyly. He smiled pleasantly.
"Shall we?" he asked agreeably. Raising an eyebrow the tiniest bit.
His lips curved into a small smile while unbuttoned his tunic. Time to get to work …
…
Thranduil could see Ivoriel begin to sway slightly, but she never fell. If he had of known the state she was in. he would never have asked her there. She should be at home resting. But given the late events, he didn't blame her. Thranduil carefully maneuverer Ivoriel to the soft lounge. It wasn't quite long enough but it would be inappropriate to lay her in his bed. Most inappropriate. He shuddered at the thought of the amount of gossip that would reach his ears. So he just sat her down on the lounge. Her body leaning heavily on the arm rest.
…
"Can I get you anything? Water? Wine? You look very ill." I clutched Galion's wrist. I blinked slowly. My eyes refocusing on his face. My eyes slid up his strong features meeting his eyes.
"Wine." A soft but sensual voice answered for me. I would have protested but I felt so tired. Galion was back in a matter of seconds with a goblet of wine. I felt a tingle of rebelliousness. Usually I wasn't allowed wine. Not since Gwaenor and I had a little… too much, shall we say. I actually don't remember what exactly happened that night but from what I was told it was shudder worthy. Something about putting dresses on horses. I'm glad it never got that far.
The warm bitter liquid met my lips. I choked on the taste at first and was sorely tempted to empty the contents back into the cup. I didn't do that. I swallowed it. A relaxing warmth settling in the pit of my stomach. I put the curved wine glass on the small corner table. I should go.
I made to stand but a hand firmly pushed me down back into the cushions. I felt weak. Thranduil had his hand on my shoulder. He didn't seem to move it anytime soon. He sat down beside me and passed my goblet back to me.
"You will not leave until you finish it." He said, authority laced his voice. My fingers curled around the stem of the glass. I sipped a little more and after a while I found myself thoroughly enjoying the taste. In that time I observed my surroundings. This room was very beautiful. Perhaps the soft carving of the furniture and the artistic nature of the walls. Or even the books and paperwork that littered the shelves and desk.
I almost forgot Thranduil was sitting beside me until he signed deeply. His head was rested on the back of the lounge. His steely eyes watched me as I observed. What was he thinking? I wondered. He was sitting awfully close to me. Our legs almost touched. I self-consciously moved slightly away.
"You are not drinking… is it not making you feel any better?" he asked. I could sense a sly hint of amusement. I downed the rest of the dark liquid.
"A little…" I reply quietly. He poured me more. I knew I shouldn't but I felt calmer, more relaxed the more I drank. I slouched further into the soft cushions. It probably wasn't very lady like, but I couldn't care very much at this point. I noticed Thranduil had the same relaxed posture, so it didn't bother me as much. He grinned sheepishly at me.
I looked over his face, across the planes of his cheeks and his soft looking lips. His piercing eyes watching mine flicker across his face. This seemed to amuse him.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice sounded better than usual. I leaned in and kissed his hand.
The moment my lips touched his skin. The entire lower left side revealed itself slowly then thin stitching's of skin began to spread, it healed slower than usual but it healed. I breathed in deeply, I relaxed further until my eyes were unseeing.
Soo tell me what you think of this chapter… I would really like to know! Was it bad or good? Let me know! And until next time