(At My Best—Machine Gun Kelly)

A couple of weeks passed quietly, Adar occasionally asking me theoretic political questions, but making no other demands of my new title. That is, until I'd pestered Arastor into scheduling a long-awaited spar. It just so happened, that was the day the kingdom was to bring in their taxes. Naturally, Adar informed me I would be transcribing.

All. Day.

"Next," Adar called, his smile barely masking his own boredom. "Name?"

"Losdir, your Majesty." The ellon at the front of the line handed Adar a few small coins and a chicken. "I'm afraid this is all I have right now...if you'll give me some time, I'll do some extra work and bring in the rest."

Adar shook his head. "No, this is enough. Go in peace, provide for your family." To me, he said, "Thranduil..."

Please send me to the barn, please send me to the barn—

He frowned. "Thranduil, inscribe one hen and five silver coins for Losdir." Turning in his seat, he handed the chicken to one of the guards. "Take this hen to the barn."

I scowled. That would've been a nice opportunity to make an escape.

"Next...name?" Adar motioned forward the next person in line—who turned out to be none other than Lagorien and her disgruntled companion.

"Tavordor," the ellon replied. "Here is the tax." He handed Adar a small leather coin pouch. As Adar opened it and began quietly counting, Tavordor added, "I brought my daughter to apologize to you—I am glad Prince Thranduil is here also." He faced me. "Her apology would be more appropriate for your ears."

I forced a smile bordering on a snarl. "By all means."

Lagorien stepped forward, hands clasped behind her back and head tilted in what she must've thought would appear a repentant stance. "My behavior at your coronation feast was wrong, Prince Thranduil...please forgive me?" She batted her eyelashes.

Eru save me. "Does fire forgive ice for stealing a bit of its glory?"

She squinted at me. "What is it that you speak of?"

"Does fire in all its radiance and strength, condescend to forgive ice for the reflection of light that it steals?" I clarified.

Adar closed his eyes and rubbed his brow. "What he means to say is yes, you are forgiven. Next?"

I stood, scraping my chair loudly across the floor. "No, in fact, that is not what I meant to say. I will not hold a grudge, Lagorien, but there is a reason the ice never remains near fire."

She cringed back from me, eyes wide. "Why?" She squeaked.

I braced my hands on the table and leaned down to her height. "Because, in the end, ice is nothing but frozen water. Whereas fire only grows more terrible, becomes more destructive, and burns hotter the closer you get to it." I dropped my voice. "The ice would evaporate if it drew too close."

"Thranduil." Adar stood, glaring at me. "Control yourself." To Tavordor and Lagorien, he said, "Thank you—you may go."

They all but fled.

Exhaling, I clenched my fists and sat. Ignoring the next people in line and Adar's disgustingly-polite conversation with them, I lifted the quill pen and dipped it in the ink, then wrote Tavordor—paid in full. The tip shattered on the last letter, flecking ink across the page and my fingers. I grunted in utter frustration.

Adar glanced at me, annoyance written across his face. "What is it now?"

"I need a new pen," I muttered, holding my hand clear of my clothes as I stood.

"Wait." Adar glanced at me, then the two ellith before him.

One of which caught my gaze with a bright blue eye. Face half blocked by a curtain of dark hair, she gazed at me with the slightest of smiles.

Adar cleared his throat. "Thranduil, I would speak with you." I followed his lead into the narrow hall. "This is Faelel and her daughter, Rosseth," he whispered. "Faelel's husband is a guard, and while his wages usually cover the needs of the family, a debt recently paid has left them unable to pay their tax. What would you do in this situation?"

I hesitated. Being merciful, like with Losdir, was one thing. This was another. And yet...there had to be a good way of doing this. Standard punishment for missing a tax was a month of indentured service, but who would we indenture? The guard? That would be stupid. Faelel? That would be cruel. Certainly not the little elleth...Rosseth...

"Thranduil?"

"It's not a simple scenario," I replied, meeting his gaze. "We can't do nothing, but the typical punishment would only be counterproductive."

"I agree." The side of his mouth twitched upward into a half-smirk. "If it were simple, I wouldn't have asked your opinion."

Raising an eyebrow, I challenged, "So you aren't grooming me for the throne? You actually care what I think?"

Adar chuckled. "I am grooming you for the throne, and I do in fact care what you think. You're a grown ellon...besides breaking my quill pens." He gave me an almost-scolding expression.

I grimaced at the ink still sticking to my fingers. "I'm pretty sure that one was about to break anyway."

"That quill was brand new." He waved a hand. "Nonetheless, we need to reach a conclusion. I'm leaning toward giving them a one-month extension, with a small additional fee for being late."

"No." Glancing back into the room, at the elleth—Rosseth—I let my mind follow a rabbit trail, which led to a possible solution. "Naneth needs another maid, yes? Offer to have Rosseth live here as Naneth's maid in return for forgiving the tax...and send a small monthly stipend to Faelel, to get them back on their feet."

Adar pursed his lips in thought. "That's a bold move, Thranduil. She may not suit the roll, people may misinterpret your motives, and Faelel may not even agree. How will you address this?"

"Simple. If they don't like my idea, they can take yours."

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded once. "Come."

We walked back to the room, where Faelel stood with her hands clasped, and Rosseth stared at the floor, face mostly covered. Adar took his seat and smiled, folding his hands in his lap. "We've discussed the situation, and Thranduil has a proposition for you."

All eyes turned on me, and my mouth went dry. I hadn't thought he'd make me take credit for whatever failure my idea experienced. But I would take it standing. "My naneth, the Queen, has need of a maid. If Rosseth would come live with us to fill that role, we would consider the tax paid in full and send her monthly wages home to you."

Rosseth's visible eye flicked up and caught mine, then she looked at her naneth.

Faelel gazed at Rosseth for a long moment, and they exchanged various subtle expressions. Finally, she glanced between Adar and me and she nodded. "We will accept your generous offer...thank you."

I walked to my table and reached for the pen—and winced. "Adar, I need a new pen."

He shook his head. "Take Rosseth to your naneth, help her get settled in. I'll have someone that doesn't shatter my quills take over your station."

Resisting the urge to celebrate, I nodded. "This way."

She sent Faelel one lingering glance, then quietly stepped after me, fiddling with her Arien and Tilion necklace. I led her down the corridor, turned, and up another, in complete silence save our footsteps echoing off the stone. I didn't particularly know what to say to her, or if I even should. She made no attempt at conversation either, and so we ascended the staircase and reached the royal wing without having said a single word.

We reached Naneth and Adar's room, and I knocked with my clean hand. "Naneth? I've brought someone for you to meet."

Footsteps within the room approached the door, which opened a moment later. Naneth, dressed in a casual dress, with her hair in a loose braid, looked out. Her eyes first took in the mess staining my hand and robes, then flicked to Rosseth. A warm smile overcame her face. "Hello there."

Rosseth dipped into a deep curtsey, keeping her chin tucked.

I tucked my hands behind my back. "Naneth, this is Rosseth. She may be suitable as a maid for you."

Naneth smiled. "Wonderful, let's give it a try, shall we?" She beckoned Rosseth into her room.

Rosseth hesitantly went in, but I hung back. It felt inappropriate to follow her into a bedchamber.

"Your Highness!" A servant came rushing up the stairs, gasping for breath. He quickly bowed. "I am so sorry to interrupt Your Highness, but Lady Lavassel just went into labor, and she requested you come if you weren't presently engaged."

Covering her mouth, Naneth turned to Rosseth. "Lady Lavassel is my dearest friend—you'll excuse me while I help her through labor?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Rosseth replied in her quiet tone.

She placed a hand on Rosseth's cheek and gave her an affectionate smile. "Thank you, Rosseth. Perhaps you could help Thranduil clean off that ink while I'm gone, hmm?"

Rosseth blushed and nodded.

Naneth strode out the door, motioning for the servant to lead the way, leaving Rosseth and me alone in the royal wing.

I cleared my throat. "The bathing chambers are in here...there should be soap and whatnot." I led her deeper into the expansive chambers.

She followed, looking around with awestricken eyes. Same reaction for the bathing chambers. One might've thought wealth was foreign to her. In fact...I realized it probably was. Embarrassment washed over me, and I didn't know what to say.

Rosseth walked to the counter, where a stack of folded washcloths waited in the back corner for use. Snagging one, she opened the faucet and wetted the material. After shutting off the water flow, she squeezed out the excess and returned to me. "Give me your hand."

No one but my parents spoke to me with such straightforwardness. Amused, I held out my stained hand to her.

Her lithe fingers cradled my knuckles, and she began rubbing the ink off my skin. "The stains in your robes aren't apt to come out easily," she murmured, rotating my wrist to access my thumb.

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter much. Adar and Naneth stuff my wardrobe with these ridiculous clothes...I would much rather be dressed like you." The half-length leather trousers and loose tunic would be perfect for romping around in the woods.

Rosseth's eyes flicked up to me and narrowed, as though she suspected a lie—though I was being truthful. "If the garment matters so little to you, give it to me, and I will give it to someone who has need of it."

My mouth pulled into a smile, though I didn't mean to let it. "As you wish."

She gave a satisfied nod and looked back down at my hand, scrubbing a little harder at the stains in my skin. Her dark hair fell forward and brushed my wrist, and she pushed the locks behind her ear. "Sorry."

I shook my head. "Think nothing of it."

A pink hue bloomed across her cheeks as she inspected my hand, then she nodded and backed away, avoiding eye contact. "The stains can't be washed out any better, but they will fade soon."

"Thank you." Resisting a smile, I studied her. Why did she blush? I didn't understand ellith, but I found this one interesting. "If you'll follow me, I'll change and give you my robe for redistribution." I turned and walked out, trusting her to follow.

We went across the hall to my chambers, and I paused and blocked the doorway. "You may wait out here—you've seen enough of me undressing for the time being, yes?"

Rosseth's face went tomato red, and she froze several steps outside my room. "Forgive me...I don't wish to intrude on your privacy."

I smirked and shut the door, immediately pulling off my stained outer robe. After rolling it up into a wad, I went to my wardrobe and pulled out a different set of clothes—a tunic and trousers that I pinched while visiting the guards' practice arena. I quickly changed into them, snagged my soiled robe, and opened the door. "Here you are, kind elleth." I plopped the bundle in her arms.

Her eyes flicked over me, taking in my changed appearance. "Thank you, Prince Thranduil...I will find a suitable owner for this garment."

Footsteps came up the staircase, and we both spooked. A servant elleth I saw frequently reached the top and smiled at us. "Good day, Prince Thranduil, Rosseth."

I nodded. Rosseth gave her a hesitant smile in return.

She beckoned to Rosseth. "My name is Clorel. I am the organizer for the royal staff, and King Oropher told me to settle you into your new chambers. Today is for you to rest and learn your way around, but I suggest you focus on resting. The days start early for us."

Rosseth gave me a somewhat panicked glance, as though unsure if she could trust Clorel.

"Don't worry," I said, giving her a small smile. "Clorel will take care of you. Adar and Naneth trust her completely, and that says quite a lot."

Rosseth sighed and ducked her head, holding the robe close to her stomach as she went to Clorel. The servant gave her a curious glance in passing, but merely said, "Good day, Prince Thranduil."