Chapter 7

Narinya was glad for her father, for she knew this was what he had longed for over so many long years. While she knew she would feel his absence, she might now be able to breathe a sigh of relief that this marriage had achieved its purpose, at least, in her eyes. His departure also provided her with a good excuse to keep to herself for the next several days, spending much of her time in the library where she was less likely to have to interact with Legolas or anyone else.

She desperately needed time to think. Every day her fear worsened and her stomach tightened not only with the growth of the life inside her, but also with knots of worry.

She felt the ever growing connection between her and her unborn baby. It was a gift that ellith had, to be able to feel and almost communicate with their unborn elflings. Narinya, though, did not feel the connection strongly. She wondered if it would grow stronger over time, or if it would remain weak because the child's father was not near. Or perhaps it would be weak because it knew she did not truly desire it.

She was still mulling over her predicament when a page ran hurriedly into the room.

"My lady, you must come at once."

Narinya could hear the panic in his voice and she wasted no time in following him to the meeting hall in which a haggard looking elf stood. His tunic was torn, and his once silken hair was matted with dried mud and blood. Narinya ran to him, supporting some of his weight. Thranduil stood silently, wearing a dazed expression rarely seen on his regal face. No one in the room seemed to be moving or doing anything at all.

"Help him!" Narinya said authoritatively, surprising herself.

The elf that was leaning on her spoke, "Milady, I come bearing news of the party that set out to Lórien. We were attacked en route and I am the only one to return."

This news shattered her. Tears threatened to fall and she looked up to meet Thranduil's pained gaze. He walked out of the room. The elf that had previously been leaning on her was now suddenly the one helping her to stand.

She collected herself, knowing that the citizens of Greenwood should not see her fall apart. Many elves were standing in the hall, equally affected by the news of their beloved princess' death.

She walked out of the room, unsure of where she was going. Then, she realized that she had not seen Legolas in the hall. Did he know of his sister's fate? She could not bear to tell him.

She ran to her and Legolas' chambers. There she beheld a sight she had never expected to see in all of her days in Arda.

Legolas was sitting haphazardly on the floor, his back against the bedframe. His form was hunched over, his golden hair hanging over his shoulders, shielding him from her. He knew she had come in but he did not care.

He had endured the loss of his mother. His sister was all he had had left of her, and now his sister was gone. It should have been he who had gone in her stead.

His mind was racing and at a halt all at the same time. He had never felt sorrow like this before, the depth of his despair muting the world around him.

He was pulled back to the present when he felt a pair of warm arms wrap around him. Narinya had set herself down on the floor next to him and pulled him against her in an embrace. He was surprised by her tender motion and he could not stop the tears that had been threatening to spill forth. He was ashamed to do this in front of his wife, but he and she both knew that it was far better for him to lose control now, in the privacy of their bedchamber, than in front of Greenwood's population.

Legolas and Narinya remained like that for several hours. He leaned against her body, soaking up the warmth she gave off. Had his heart not been overwhelmed with grief, he might have noticed Narinya's firm, slightly rounded belly.

When the room was finally completely dark, Legolas pulled out of her embrace.

"I should not have let her go."

His tears had long since ceased, but she could tell that every word he uttered was deeply pained.

"Legolas, you could not possibly have known that she would face danger on such a routine journey."

He was staring across the room now, his eyes fixed on the wall, "I cannot lose her, too. I cannot."

Narinya knew all of Greenwood would mourn the loss of the princess, and she too felt great sorrow in her heart. But no one would experience the same anguish that Legolas and Thranduil would face. She hoped they would both endure it.

She moved so that she was facing her spouse and then put her arms around him again, drawing him against her. She felt his arms wrap around her in response and he rested his head on her shoulder.

"What do I have left?" He mumbled the words against her shoulder.

"You have you father and your people. You have me." She sighed, not sure whether her last point was consolation to him or not.

He nodded, inhaling her scent before standing and moving to the bed where he lay down and quickly drifted into the escape that he desired.

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The next morning, he awoke to an empty bed. He wished he could have remained sleeping forever, but then tried to clear his head. The last time he had had those thoughts was after his mother had died.

Narinya entered the room shortly thereafter, her eyes swollen from a night of crying. She did not do it in front of him, for she did not want him to feel as though he had to say comforting words when it was he who needed comfort.

She had brought him a goblet of miruvor, "I am so sorry, Legolas." His deep blue eyes were far dimmer than usual, clouded with grief.

"I have to go and check on my father." Legolas knew that the king needed him.

Narinya nodded and watched him ready to leave the room. He still wore the same tunic and leggings from the prior day. She sat down on their bed, unsure of what to do next. She would be there for her husband when he returned and she would not let him succumb to his grief.

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The prince did not return to their chambers until late that night. When he opened the door, Narinya stood to greet him. His eyes were still dull and they looked as though they had shed a few more tears.

She wrapped him in her arms and held him against her, "Legolas, how is the king?"

"He suffers greatly."

She released him. He walked slowly over to the bed and sat down there, "Our people mourn the loss of their princess."

"Do not worry about them right now, Legolas, they are not in the danger that you are in."

He nodded, "She cannot be gone."

"She would not have you fade on her account."

He hung his head, the loss again making his heart constrict with grief.

Narinya let him lean against her. It was strange for her to see him in this state. He was always collected and she had never seen his emotions get the best of him before. But this was too great a loss for him to face.

"Thank you, Narinya."

She nodded and gave him a weak smile, "I am your wife. I am here for you."

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They awoke the next morning lying much more closely together than usual. Legolas took quiet comfort in the feeling of her warm form near to him. They had slept late, neither wanting to face the day or the reality of the situation.

Legolas was the first to speak, "Narinya, I am sorry for you having to see me like this." His sorrow was still written across his features, making him appear paler than usual.

"Legolas, you have nothing to be ashamed of."

He nodded, "I should go to my father again. May I leave you with the task of seeing to whatever has gone unresolved in the past days?"

"Of course."

Legolas rose and went into the bathing chamber, eager to try and wash away some of the pain that consumed him.

Narinya departed for the court. The elven lords there bowed to her, all looking sullen. Not much had happened in the past two days. It seemed that Greenwood was largely at a standstill.

She dealt with a few minor issues, not completely sure of her judgment but knowing that she was the only member of the royal family that could make clear decisions at this time. She was grateful, though, that Legolas had trusted this task to her.

As she sat upon the throne, a place she had previously been only on the night of her crowning and her wedding, the elf that had first delivered the news of Lindethiel's death entered the room. "My lady." He bowed to her, wincing as he did so from his recent injuries.

Narinya regarded him, "Please tell me what happened, spare no detail."

"We were on our third day of travel when it happened. A rogue pack of wargs was hunting in the area and found us. We were too few in number to combat them, even with our skill. We were all engaged in combat; the last I saw the princess, a warg came down upon her."

Flashback

They had been riding for only three days when they were ambushed. The wargs had been stalking the group silently for days, waiting for the right moment to attack. They were growing more bold as their numbers increased.

The beasts charged into the group. The company was small and the pack was large. The few warriors in the group swiftly dismounted and drew their blades, knowing their bows were nearly useless at such a close range.

The princess was told to remain out of the fray, to take any shelter she could find. She could find none and instead watched the unfolding battle. A warg encroached upon her and bit hungrily into her horse's flank. Her horse delivered the warg a swift kick, but it returned and latched on to his vulnerable neck. Lindethiel watched in horror as her mount tried desperately to fight off his attacker, but to no avail. She whispered a silent prayer for her steed and slipped from his back, pulling her sword from its place at her side.

One of her companions had already been brought down by the pack. There were at least three wargs to each elf. The odds were not in their favor.

The princess drove her sword into her horse's attacker and looked upon the scene unfolding before her. Another of her comrades fell.

Another member of the group was driving his long knife up into the stomach of the warg that had foolishly tried to leap on him. The beast grunted and fell to the ground. His death would be neither swift nor painless.

Two more wargs approached, overwhelming the elf. They were strong and reckless. One of them pounced forward and grabbed the ellon's arm in his teeth. The deadly incisors pressed harder and harder into the elf's flesh, until finally piercing through the skin.

Lindethiel suddenly heard the light footfalls of a creature approaching and she spun around quickly. The warg leapt on her, knocking her from her feet. Its claws dug into her shoulder, piercing the fabric of her tunic and drawing blood. Her eyes widened with fear as his hot, foul breath filled her nostrils.

End Flashback

The elf that stood before Narinya clutched his arm, remembering all too well the feeling of having the warg's fangs embedded there.

"Did you see her body?"

He shook his head, "Nay, milady, I fled once I saw I was the only one remaining, my swift horse the only thing that allowed me to escape them. They gave me chase."

"Then she may yet be alive!" Narinya gestured for a page who was somberly awaiting her instruction, "We must send riders to look for her. If she has indeed passed, then we shall at least bring her back to her homeland for a proper farewell. Find a company willing to travel the path that Lindethiel traveled."

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Later that evening, Thranduil and Legolas made their way together to the throne room. Thranduil regarded Narinya, surprised to see her posted there, alone on the throne as he and his son walked into the room to join her. She looked surprisingly capable there. She met Thranduil's eyes with sincere sympathy in her expression.

"What have I missed today?" He asked, a sharpness in his tone barely masking his deep sorrow.

"I have sent riders for Lindethiel. We have no proof that she has fallen, and if she has, then we cannot leave her to suffer scavengers and beasts. They leave at first light."

Thranduil drew a sharp breath. He could not bear to look upon his lifeless daughter, and he could not stand the idea that Narinya was filling their people with false hope. Legolas, though, looked slightly heartened, "I will go with them."

"And what will you do if you find her dead? You will lose yourself when you look upon her."

Legolas pressed on, "I will go."

Thranduil put his hand on Legolas' shoulder to stay him, "You will not. My word is still law in this kingdom, my son."

Narinya watched the exchange. She was glad that her idea had been accepted, but she did not know in her heart if she was right to claim that Lindethiel may yet be alive.

Legolas knew that his father was right, if he were to find his sister deceased, he would indeed be claimed by sorrow.

Thank you for reading!