Chapter 18

One of the elves in their company drew up a horn which Leanna guessed would signal their return. The tall green and elegantly designed gates opened up and a group of elves came out to welcome the returned party.

Feeling self-conscious, Leanna drew up the hood of her cloak well over her head and waited as Thranduil alighted from his elk. Bard and everyone in Dale spoke of the beauty of elves and while the ones she had interacted with were charming, Leanna could not help but stare at the welcoming party.

" It is good to see you returned safely my King, I trust your journey was uneventful" Galion had come forward, bowing subtly with his hand on his chest.

" It was well enough until we encountered a nest on the north eastern borders, I expected by now that all nests would have been cleared by two moons past" Thranduil said as he moved to his head councilor.

" I will speak with captains and make sure all that needs to be done…is done" Galion drifted off as he took note of the figure that had dismounted from one of the horses. Thranduil knew where Galion's eyes went to and spoke up.

"We have a guest in our midst, have one of the servants prepare a room and some food" Thranduil said before walking off into his halls.

Galion frowned in confusion, turning to look at this guest that returned from Dale with the rest of King's party. He decided he would greet her himself out of curiosity and he knew she was female, the slenderness of her shoulders and plumpness of her rosy lips peeking from the hood gave it away.

Leanna tugged the hood from her head and looked up. It would be rude of her to hide her face while she was addressed. She kept her chin up and waited for the elf that walked over to speak.

"Good day to you my lady and welcome to the Greenwood, I am Galion, Las Galen's High Councilor" Galion introduced himself as he bowed politely.

"I am Leanna, Aide to the Lord of Dale, I am pleased to make your acquaintance" Leanna responded just as politely, bowing as she spoke.

"Please follow me, I shall take you to your room" Galion said as he turned and walked inside. Leanna followed not too far behind.

She was lovely, Galion thought as he led her to her designated chambers. Her eyes caught the light of the Sun like sapphire jewels and her hair was beautiful, Galion wondered if she perhaps possessed elven blood in her. He kept his thoughts to himself on the matter of her appearance but what he was definitely interested in was why such an important figure of Dale was present as a guest in the King's halls.

Leanna looked about her as they walked, she was in awe of such beauty around her. She took in as many details of the interiors as she could, trying to contain herself at the sight of masterful architecture. Galion looked behind him, noting how she looked at everything they passed by and decorative archways high above them. Indeed, their halls were as grand as any great elven hall of legend.

Galion led her to a hall way which was where the guest quarters lay, they stopped at a door and he opened it before ushering her inside.

"Your things will be brought up later after they have been cleaned, this is Gwuineth, she will see to anything you need during your stay in the Greenwood" Galion said gesturing to an elleth that was standing close by. Leanna took note of the elleth smiling at her and looked away.

"Thank you" was all she said and Galion nodded.

"If that would be all, then I shall take my leave" Galion said, bowing before leaving with the door closing behind him in a soft thud.

The room was filled with silence and Leanna moved to the other side of the bed that was neatly dressed with white sheets. She heard someone clearing their throat and looked up in surprise.

"A bath is being prepared for you at the moment, as is some food while you freshen up my lady" Leanna nodded, slightly uncomfortable with the elleth standing before her, she had expected she would immediately be left alone but her hopes were quickly dashed. She watched the elleth smiling at her as though she was waiting for something.

Gwuineth stood waiting patiently for the young woman who in turn watched her, confused as to what was meant to happen next. The elleth thought perhaps she was not clear enough with her words and repeated them so the woman could understand properly.

"The water will soon get cold or would you not wish to take your bath now my lady?" Gwuineth asked her gently. Leanna's eyes widened in understanding as she realized the elleth before meant to assist her with her bath. Her pale cheeks bloomed red with embarrassment as a result.

"Oh…"

"I will not intrude in your privacy if that is the cause for concern my lady" Gwuineth understood what the problem was but remained firm in her standing. She was tasked to make their guest presentable for tonight's dinner. It was already past midday and the guest in question seemed hesitant to accept her help.

Leanna looked at the elleth again and decided to cooperate, there was no point in proving difficult when she had just arrived, tired and filthy from her journey. She wanted to get this over with but unfortunately even she knew that could not happen until the condition for her stay here was fulfilled.

"Very well, lead the way" Leanna said quietly. She gestured for Gwuineth to lead the way to the bathroom, taking off her clothes and dumping them piece by piece in the corner as another elleth came in and waited for her as well.

Her bath took longer than she expected, on the insistence of Gwuineth which she guessed was of a higher rank than the others who bathed her, she was doused in several bath oils with the water already filled with scented petals. When she agreed to a bath, she assumed it would be a quick one but apparently her hosts decided otherwise.

"These are your garments provided for your use during your stay here" Gwuineth said, opening a wardrobe by the corner of the room and picking out a blue dress and laying it on the bed.

"While I'm grateful for your generosity, I already have my own clothes provided for me from home" Leanna smiled though it did not reach her eyes.

"Indeed, but it is the King's gift to you and to refuse would be an insult to him, King Thranduil is not eternally forgiving of such things" Gwuineth said staring coldly at her in response.

Ah, so they too had heard of what transpired between herself and Thranduil. Leanna said nothing and gave nothing away, keeping her expressions guarded. She let the maids dress her up and sat silently as they combed through her hair.

The preparations had been completed and Leanna was left alone in her room. Gwuineth had instructed her to wait in her room until she was summoned by the king, before leaving. A knock sounded on the door and Leanna opened it half way, peeping through the crack to see another elf in possession of her things. She opened the door and took them from him, thanking him as she did before she closed the door behind her.

She went through her items to ensure each one was complete and nothing else was missing. Satisfied with her inspection, she kept the bag she had brought in the wardrobe, along with her new dresses gifted to her. While alone, she took the time to look at the dress given to her.

It was woven beautifully and meticulously, it clung to her much easier than the ones made for her in Dale, like a second skin. Leanna noted the small train at the tail of her dress and rolled her eyes, atleast there was one thing she knew Bertha would be please with out of all of this. She sighed and sat on the bed, sinking into it as she waited for her dreaded meeting with Thranduil.

A knock sounded on the door and Gwuineth entered the room smiling as she had the first time she met her. Leanna rose from the edge of the bed remaining silent as she did.

"His majesty will see you now, please come this way" Gwuineth said before turning around and walking out, the door closing behind as two elven guards escorted them from behind. Leanna followed quietly, trying to map out the paths and hallways they were taking. The only sound being heard as they moved was the gentle tapping of her shoes.

!

!

Thranduil had chosen to remain absent from tonight's dinner, deciding he would have his own evening meal at his private quarters. He circled his finger on the rim of his cup and went through some of the reports that had been secretly compiled for him in last three months. The information given was interesting but still nothing out the ordinary.

Despite his efforts to know more about his guest, there were no leads to follow at all. No one knew anything about this woman, nothing except she had appeared in Laketown before its destruction by Smaug. The circumstances leading to her stay here were merely just an excuse, there was no genuine reason or need for her to have come to the Greenwood.

But he felt weary of the idea that a mortal had powers that were beyond her capacity or any point of reasoning at all. How such a thing came to be, he didn't know but he would take advantage of his resources to uncover the truth. What is more, is that he had to make certain such powers would not in any way pose any kind of danger.

A knock sounded on the doors and by his permission, the doors opened. Gwuineth entered along with Leanna who had kept her gaze on the floor as they entered.

"Lady Leanna of Dale, my king" Gwuineth said, bowing as she made her entry.

"That would be all, you may leave" Thranduil said with a wave of his hand, still looking over the scroll.

Gwuineth bowed before exiting the room, the large doors closing behind Leanna with a large thud. Leanna had not moved from that spot and still kept her eyes to the ground.

"Sit…" Thranduil offered, gesturing to the chair opposite him. He wrapped the scroll back into its casing and kept on the table beside him. Leanna looked up at him and then to chair. She finally sat down and watched Thranduil pour what she guessed was wine into his cup.

"Though if you'd rather remain on your feet, then you're free to do so" Thranduil drawled as he poured some wine into another cup and placed it in front of her. Leanna took the cup and sipped from it, alcohol was never her strong suit but for the sake of a peaceful dinner she would entertain it. While she felt no joy being here, she found herself unwilling to be discourteous to her host.

"Please eat…it was quite a long journey for you, I imagine you must be famished" Thranduil said as he waved over to the food provided on the table. Leanna stared at the food silently, her distrust for the contents on the plate displayed on her face.

"You have nothing to fear, I have nothing to gain from poisoning you" Thranduil said before drinking from his cup. He watched her pick up her fork from the plate and take a small bite out of her food, and then another.

He smirked behind his cup, observing how much control she exerted over her table manners. It was a different and slightly strange sight to see, a woman behaving the way she did.

Leanna dabbed her lips clean, relishing her full stomach from a good meal. She had been prudent in her manners, well aware of Thranduil's watchful gaze as she ate. She washed her food down with the wine poured for her and frowned as she drank. She hadn't noticed before but she certainly did now. The wine was diluted, which if going by all accounts she had heard from the winemakers in Dale, Thranduil only ever enjoyed fruity and strong wine, very strong wine.

"Thank you for the meal, it was delicious" Leanna said setting down her cup. Thranduil nodded and lifted the silver pitcher up to her cup.

"More wine?" He asked.

"No, thank you…" Leanna responded as she gently lifted her hand up to emphasize on her refusal. "…While the wine was unexpectedly light, I would rather stay on the side of caution"

"Which is understandable, given your low constitution to strong drink" Thranduil said as poured more wine for himself.

That piece of information was not common knowledge to the public, she doubted even Bard knew she couldn't handle strong wine. Naturally such information was not harmful to her if known the public but she was certain she had kept such details private from scrutiny.

"Thank you for your generosity, though it was unnecessary"

"Perhaps but you are a guest here in our halls, as such we must make certain you are welcomed here" Thranduil said leaning back in his seat. Leanna did not wish to start up any more games this evening and decided to get to the point.

"Why am I really here my Lord? Leanna asked looking at Thranduil for the first time that night.

"Perhaps to fulfill your end of the wager that you so woefully lost, or to serve in place of someone else as a substitute…" Thranduil rose from his seat, slowly circling the table as he spoke. "…One can never tell whatever the reason is for your presence here at all" Thranduil said as he moved around with his cup in one hand, his long dark robe slinking quietly on the floor as he moved.

"And they are reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with my powers" she said.

"A matter that has caused undeniable interest in me I will admit but it is not so much your powers as it is the question of who you are that concerns me" Thranduil said. He stood in front of her and looked at her, his hands folded behind him as he watched her, waiting for her response.

"I am no threat to anyone I assure you my Lord, I only wish live my life in peace with the rest of Dale" Leanna responded. Her gaze was leveled and unrelenting from Thranduil's intimidating gaze.

"Indeed...the hour is late, perhaps we shall have this conversation another time" Thranduil said, walking over to the fireplace and watch the flames eat away at the wood. The doors opened and Leanna rose from her seat to leave.

"Thank you for having me my Lord, I bid you goodnight" Leanna bowed. She walked towards the door but stopped at his next words.

"Oh and you are not to leave the palace grounds"

"What?"

"Your tendency to wonder around hills will not be allowed in my domain. While you may seek to explore, I would remind you that this is not Dale. You may go" Leanna looked back at him, her glare directed in disbelief over his words. Turning swiftly, she left the room and walked as fast as she could, trying to restrain herself from running.

Stopping by a balcony on the side of the mountain facing the forest, Leanna stopped to catch her breath in the empty hallway. Her breaths came out in short paces as she remembered Thranduil's words.

How long had he been watching her? Leanna combed through her memories, how much did he know? No, what did he know? She stilled as a thought came to her.

"Leanna?" Leanna grew tense at the sound of her name. She turned around and faced the elf who had called to her.

"Good evening Haelros" Haelros stood before her. The shine of moonlight prevented her from seeing the elf shrouded in the darkness.