Chapter 41

It was morning and she had barely slept through the turmoil of the old healer's revelation. However what posed a far greater problem was the lack of ability to leave her bed. Whatever ailment she felt yesterday had evolved into a completely nauseating experience.

Bertha had come in with a tray of food and that too had been a disaster. Regardless of whatever changes were made to the food, she couldn't seem to keep anything down. Above all else, her mind was still swirling from the reality that she was pregnant.

Pregnant...

She looked at the tray Bertha had brought in, sitting silently in the farthest corner of her room as per her instruction. It was a dish that looked as though it had been carefully prepared by gentle hands, made with the hope that she would eat it.

Leanna however, had no desire to eat regardless of her understanding that she needed food. She turned back to look at the window and watched the clouds move slowly, all her previous plans lain to ruins in light of her current predicament.

"You ought to eat something, it would help you get stronger..." Bard said as he came. His words were met with silence, his brow creasing in worry as he stepped closer.

"Leanna?" He called out cautiously, gently sitting by the edge of her bed, coaxing her to look at him.

"I made a mistake..." She said thickly, as a tear slid down her cheek. "...I should've listened to you, I know I should've and now I can't undo it...I can't undo it" Leanna sobbed with Bard pulling her into his arms, cooing at her in consolation.

"It was not your fault Leanna"

"No but it was! I let this happen and now? I'm pregnant?" She cried out in despair as her tight emotions spun out of control.

After several attempts by Bard to calm Leanna down, he settled her back into the pillow of her bed and waited to make sure he had her attention. Leanna sniffled, willing her hand against her nose in a bid to calm down, she looked at Bard and frowned, looking at his face properly for the first time that morning.

" What happened to your face?" Leanna asked. She drew nearer, barely touching the bruisings on his lip and cheek bones. Bard winced and smirked at her question .

"Let's just say I had a word to say to a certain elf lord over his behaviour with my ward" Bard winced as she touched the reddish black bruise under his eye.

"Looks to me like you had more than a word"

"Yes well you should see him, I reckon I did more than my fair share of telling him a thing or two" Bard boasted, his chest puffing up slightly in pride over the brawl he had with the Elven King. Leanna chuckled at his antics and sighed shaking her head.

"So what happens now?"

"Whatever you want to happen love"

"It's not that simple..."

"He said you're bound...to each other, married if you will"

"Not by choice no...but yes, we are married"

"You never agreed to it then? Then we'll have it resolved, you and the baby can stay here-"

"-its not that simple Bard" Leanna shook her head, her eyes portraying the helplessness she felt. Bard breathed out in restraint, currently he was using every ounce of patience to hold back from having another go at Thranduil but decided Leanna's situation mattered much more.

"Then make me understand"

"I thought that maybe if I came to Dale, alone, things would be easier. I'd be able to break things off but now that there's a baby involved, there's no going back from here, from this"

"I don't understand, if you never agreed to it then why stay, is there something else?" Bard asked, he felt his stomach dropping further down as he tried to make sense of her words. He knew elves had a completely different culture, however because elves and humans did not mingle casually, they knew next to nothing beyond the truth of their legends and skills.

"A binding amongst elves cannot be undone, since it is a binding that requires the souls of the parties involved and now even if there was any hope of undoing it at all, it is lost"

"Because of the child" Bard responded in realization.

"Do you see now? I'm not just married to the king of Mirkwood, I'm carrying his child" She said solemnly.

"That would make you queen..." Bard said as another truth hit him unexpectedly.

"Or a concubine" Leanna snorted.

"He wouldn't dare..." Bard said, his nostril flaring in outrage.

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The desperation was creeping on him, along with signs of weariness etched on his face, the strain on their bond, coupled with the hurried news of her pregnancy had caused her to completely shut him out, both physically and emotionally.

A part of him did not even realize his fear, fear over what he would feel should he try to feel what she felt. His heart was suffering enough as it was. He continued to rest on the wall of the hallway leading to her room. Every whisper leaving her lips filtered into his ears and chest, felt hot and heavy. Looking down, he half expected to find a dagger heated from a burning furnace, plunged into his chest, but there was nothing, only pain.

The door opened, and he lifted himself up to his feet in expectation as a foot stepped out of the room. He came face to face with an irritated Bard who all but growled at the sight of him.

"We need to talk" the dragon slayer said in low tones, well aware of their surroundings. Thranduil looked to the door behind him and back to Bard before silently giving way for the Lord of Dale to pass, he would oblige him his respect as he was the only one who help him in this instance.

Bard took him to his study, informing his guard that he was not to be disturbed. He led Thranduil into the spacious room and stood by the bookshelf, tilting a book down words he spoke a word that had Thranduil surprised.

"Îdh.." Bard said softly and the carvings around the bookshelf glowed as it opened up into a door way.

"It seems the dwarves have done more than just rebuild your city..." Thranduil said as he followed Bard through the secret opening.

"They are much too greedy to share the treasures of their knowledge, this was just a gift considering how much King Dain favours Leanna" Bard said as the door disappeared behind them. He noted the stony expression on the ellons face and witheld the urge to smirk.

"It matters not to me of what dealings you have had with them, however there is a more serious matter to discuss" Thranduil responded coldly, it was not news to him that Dain had been vying for his wife's attention. He felt hot bile rise in his throat at the very idea.

"Yes...I placed her in your care and protection but it seems you had other ideas over what that meant, you not only go ahead and marry her but a child?!"

"And she is safe! Last I looked, she is safer than she's ever been, for who now would dare to lay claim to get or harm her?" Thranduil said fiercely.

He maintained his composure, having restored the dignified image he upheld sternly, he had humoured Bard with a childish brawl to quell his anger which he admitted was justified, but he would not make a mockery of his crown any more than he already had.

"And what of her? Is this what she wanted? Or did you decide this would be the best way to go about it?" Bard knew Thranduil would never admit his mistake, the elf was as old as he was prideful, no matter how much he pushed.

"I did what needed to be done, and I did so despite my better judgement. Our ways are much too different to compare, let alone understand..." Thranduil walked around the room, stopping at the large family portrait hung up on a wall. "...at first I sought to keep her from danger however there are other forces at play here, forces beyond my own designs" Bard noted his gaze lingering on the newest addition of his family and spoke.

"What powers could force you of all people to go against your own desires?"

"It would seem lady Leanna was meant to come to me as I was meant to come to her. Regardless of what I did to prevent this outcome, it was an outcome I secretly desired unbeknownst even to myself" Thranduil admitted as he turned to the man before him.

"And I did try, but as I said, it is no use now we are bound and I do not wish for it to be any other way" Thranduil sat on a chair nearby without breaking his gaze from Bard.

"Then why does she believe it was your intention to trap her into a union that bound her allegiance to you?" Even as the words left his mouth, Bard's jawline clenched in suppressed rage, this is was a situation akin to swallowing horse droppings, not that he would ever dream of trying it.

"I have never thought to question your knowledge of the eldar ways but your astounding lack of knowledge disturbs me in no small way" Thranduil remarked with mock pity.

"Believe me, I'm just as disturbed as you are but I wouldn't have had to concern myself over such details had you not done what you so clearly should not have done!" Bard shot back.

The more this matter remained prominent in his mind and he doubted anything else could trump these recent days of revelation, the more his reign over his emotions lessened, and Thranduil saw this but the truth he would admit somewhat bruised his pride.

"Then perhaps you would better understand that elves do not bind to anyone they in turn have not sworn their bodies, their hearts and very their very lives to...it is an impossibility for us to consider any other motive beyond love as a reason good enough to share our souls with another" There was heavy silence after he finished his words, cocking his head at the frowning young Lord, guaging the emotions that filtered over his face.

"So...what you're saying...that- but the threats, the wager" Bard stumbled over his words, struggling somewhat to process what the proud ellon before him had admitted.

"It was merely for my amusement nothing more, that is until it became a serious matter" Thranduil had still not broken his gaze, not caring for the discomfort he knew he caused the Dragonslayer.

Bard knew Thranduil gained nothing in this situation, there was no upper hand to be won not when the matter of highest concern to him was his wife. It was such a strange thought to see her in that light. He did not know what hurt more, the thought that he had been unaware of the troubles she went through in Mirkwood or the fact that he didn't get a chance to give her away.

"There is still the matter of the child she's carrying"

"I fail to see how that is any concern to begin with" Thranduil turned to the pitcher beside him and picked it up, pouring himself a cup of wine.

"You don't care that the child will be half elven? Even you don't, I cannot imagine that your court is leaping for joy over these turn of events" Bard still pressed on watching as Thranduil stilled but for a moment.

"That matter has already been dealt with, granted their worries are not without reason, however the decision has been made and cannot be undone and that brings us to a matter that even she is unaware of"

"And what would that be?"

Thranduil tipped his head back as he threw the rest of wine to the back of his throat. Staring into a memory that he knew led to his reinstated him back into the status of fatherhood, he turned to Bard who waited in anxiety.

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Leanna had finally managed to leave her bed and the confines of her room, which of course was solely thanks to Bertha and the healers wrestling her into finally eating with the help of herbs and droughts to keep her stomach calm.

She had not seen him since their arrival to Dale and wondered what he occupied his time given her refusal to give him any audience. She felt a tinge of annoyance over his silence and wondered if he had given up, she paused in her walk almost chuckling in disbelief. Thranduil was never one to give in, that being said it was no surprise to see Feran and other guards shadowing her every move.

She popped a berry into her mouth and cringed as the taste burst into her tongue. It did a good job of distracting her from the smells that hit her nose once in a while but it did not mean she liked the sourness any better.

She had turned a corner and found Bard moving towards her smiling. She wished she could share in the joy of whatever was making him so happy but her mood was a stable as a boiling pot of broth.

"You look well" Bard greeted.

"I've had better days" Leanna answered, her tone questioning him on her behalf.

"I wished to discuss a matter with you regarding Sigrid's betrothal..."

"I did not realize you were serious about it"

"Neither did I but she's threatened to go ahead anyway with or without my say so" Leanna did not know whether to feel worried or impressed, she was sure it was not easy feat given the overbearing nature of her father.

"And the boy?"

"A member of Ecthelion's guard..." At this Leanna turned to Bard in surprise, watching his face grimace at what was most certainly news to her.

"She caught his interest during Ecthelion's visit and has been sending letters since then"

"And Sigrid? How does she feel about this?" Leanna said as they continued on their walk through the city pathways.

"I thought she would ignore his advances at first and it looked as though she would until a month ago when Minas Tirith sent a letter with a crest of the steward on it" Bard said.

"Well...it was bound to happen at some point" Leanna said.

They reached the city Square and it was bustling more than ever, they paused by the fountain and Leanna say down to rest for a bit, an entourage of elven guards creating a perimeter round them as they remained by the tallest center of attraction in Dale.

Bard bit into his cheek as he looked around, his gaze silently dancing from face to face in the crowd as though he searched for someone.

"He's here, you need not worry" Leanna sighed as she leaned back on the edge of the fountain.

"How do you know?" Bard asked.

"It's...strange, I could always tell when he was near ever since..." Leanna paused as a thought came to her. She rose in a daze as her mind swirled, the forest, the abduction incident and at the cliff, all these incidents had something in common, him.

"What's wrong?" Bard asked, his brow creasing in worry over her facial expressions.

"No nothing, I just realized I have questions that need answering is all"

"And you have every right to them, Leanna...this is not for me to say but perhaps, you should speak to Thranduil, there's much to discuss afterall" Leanna raised a brow in question and Bard snorted in unconscious reaction.

"You're even beginning to act like him" At his words Leanna glared icily in response and Bard wondered if she knew just how alike they had become, she'd probably grieve over such a revelation.

"Apparently there's more to this binding thing than you realize and as for the pregnancy...well you'll certainly want to hear that from him"

"Oh believe me...I will" Leanna said seething as she stormed off.

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Leanna went through the darkened alleyways, no one would dare approach her, lest they wished a quick death upon themselves. Her cold expression alone instilled an air of caution around those who moved passed her. When she was certain she was alone she turned to the deepest end of the cobblestoned path and called out.

"I know you're there, you may very well come out" Leanna waited in the narrow pathway, her laboured breathing now louder now that she was alone, supposedly.

"It does not do to move about so soon after you've only just recovered" a voice said in return.

"I've been well regardless" Leanna answered coldly.

"And yet you've only just begun to eat properly" Thranduil emerged from the shadows, his face expressionless as he spoke, yet his eyes glistened with an expression Leanna did not wish to name.

"Bullying the healer to report my actions, why am I not surprised?"

"What news of you came to me voluntarily, your lady in waiting was kind enough to relay her concerns to me" Thranduil said as he stood before her. The proximity calmed her for the first time she had arrived Dale and a surge of emotions she was shocked to feel rose up in response.

She swallowed as she spoke, determined to arrive at the bottom of her gnawing questions.

"I wish to discuss something of important with you...if you would tell me the truth"

"I do not recall a time where I was deceitful with my words Leanna"

"Don't patronise me" Leanna shot back "you know you've never truly been honest about certain things" Thranduil sighed, unwilling to rile her up any further. Afterall he was well aware of her current condition and understood her emotions were slightly out of control.

"Very well, I will tell you all you wish to know"

The alley was quiet and Feran who had been on guard felt both unease and a small ounce of joy over their decision to talk things out with each other. Unease because Leanna had marched in ready to lance Thranduil through with fresh fury after her discussion with Bard.

He looked up, praying to the valar they both resolved this matter in peace. Though he had to admit, never in a thousand years would he ever imagine Thranduil choosing a mate, let alone one from the world of men.

He breathed deeply in exasperation, remembering the look his king had the moment he found out his queen was already with child. He almost let a chuckle slip, he was felt his heart ease up on the confidence that all would be well in the end, that was until he heard a loud sound that sounded too much like a slap, followed by a outraged Leanna storming out of the alley way.

Dear Valar, was it too much to hope for some improvement between them? He stood stunned at the sight and noted Thranduil also coming out of the alley with a reddened cheek and...a smirk?

Oh Elbereth what had he done this time?