26. Beware of Me (Part 2)
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Thranduil continued studying the elleth before him in silence, as she took gentle bites from the second cake square at the time.
Reiya seemed pretty relaxed at that particular moment. Hence, perhaps it was time for him to address the little thorns he had found out about her prior to the Xandorians' arrival.
Thranduil was well aware that he was about to push the queen's buttons to an extent he hadn't before. Nonetheless, he highly doubted another opportunity would present itself to bring up the subject any time soon.
Having made up his mind, he took another sip of wine and patiently waited until the female monarch finished her dessert before he proceeded to speak.
"Lady Reiya, you've had the opportunity to travel many places, haven't you?" Thranduil asked in a casual manner.
The Xandorian queen raised an eyebrow at the statement, given that the king had never asked about her travels in the past, but she provided an answer regardless.
"I wouldn't say I have been to every single location in Middle-earth just yet, but you are correct. My expeditions have led me to all sorts of places on this continent." She left it at that.
"Right. I assume you are familiar with these, then?"
Following the inquiry, Thranduil took a small ornate box from the bench at his side, and he placed it at the center of the dining table.
Reiya took a closer look at the item for a few seconds before she proceeded to speak.
"I believe I may have seen several of those before... Is that a deck of cards? The ones often used by men for playing table games?" She inquired.
"You guessed accurately, as expected, for someone who has seen much of the world." Thranduil confirmed. "King Bard of Dale gifted this deck to me as a token of appreciation following our latest treaty." He pointed out as he took the cards out of the ornate box.
Reiya's expression remained unchanged while she kept listening to the fellow monarch in wonder.
"I admit I do not find much entertainment in these, as traditional strategy board games suit my preferences better. Nevertheless, these cards will come in handy at this time, since you were nicknamed after two of them, it seems." Thranduil pointed out.
'What?' Reiya's expression turned to one of confusion, as she had no idea what the fellow monarch was talking about at the time.
Taking the hint, Thranduil took two cards from the deck and placed them at the center of the table face-down.
He then turned one of the two cards around as he revealed the first label in question.
"Queen of Spades." He quoted. "The last term is often translated as 'Swords' in the tongues of men, per my recollections. Thus, it looks like the name was intended to praise your combat skills on the battlefield, my lady. Quite suitable, if you'd ask me, given that you preside as a warrior queen with many accomplishments in that regard."
Reiya raised an eyebrow at the king's unforeseen compliment, figuring that was not the main purpose behind his remarks.
"The second one, however, caught my attention the most due to its more prosaic nature." Thranduil pointed out.
He then turned the other card around and revealed the subsequent name in question.
"Queen of Hearts."
Reiya was at a loss for words once again, as she had no idea what that entitled.
Thus, Thranduil proceeded to explain the meaning behind that one label as well.
"Word has it that you entice the hearts of your suitors, then you disappear without an explanation, leaving them to rot in distress and wonder. It looks like your reputation as a heartbreaker precedes you, Red Queen." Thranduil remarked in a sardonic manner.
Reiya tensed as the king continued to speak.
"This is quite the surprising discovery, I should add, as I did not expect a devoted elf-ruler such as yourself to be perceived as fickle in any way or form." Thranduil remarked matter-of-factly.
The Lady of Fire looked down at the table with conflicted expression following the statement.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself in that regard, your majesty?" The king inquired as he continued observing her closely.
Reiya remained silent for a few seconds before she voiced her answer.
"People tend to exaggerate rumors." She merely responded before she took a sip of water.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at her in wonder.
Reiya did not deny the speculations, but she deflected them instead?
That was certainly not the sort of response he was expecting from the Xandorian queen, knowing quite well how argumentative she could be.
Thus, Thranduil continued steering the matter in the most subtle of ways to see if he could get anything else out of her.
"You didn't know those things were being spread about you, I see." The king stated with a tone of irony as he removed the two cards from the dining table and put the deck back into the small box.
Reiya remained quiet following his remark, however.
Thranduil quickly realized he would not get anywhere with the queen through mere subtleties. Thus, he opted to question her ongoing silence instead.
"Is this topic causing any discomfort, my lady?" The king inquired. "I could always divert from it, if that is what you wish."
"That is not it." Reiya responded with a firm tone as she shifted her attention back to him.
"What is it, then?" Thranduil inquired.
"I guess I am slightly surprised by your questioning, as well." Reiya admitted. "I did not expect such mundane talks to peak your interest in this manner. I would've assumed rumors of that nature were beneath you?" The queen remarked with a hint of bitterness in her voice.
"Oh, they are; trust me." Thranduil responded with a presumptuous voice, completely ignoring the criticism in her statement. "This is the issue though, my lady."
The king leaned slightly forward on the table as he proceeded to make his case.
"You previously stated that this collaboration of ours would require us working more closely with one another, and I was quite lenient accepting all of your conditions for it, I should add. Yet, I do not really know you, and it is not like I have much to go from, as you know." Thranduil argued with a sardonic tone.
"Well, if you were so keen on learning more about me, why didn't you just ask me about such things before turning to rumors?" Reiya stated as she confronted the king further.
"That is precisely what I am doing right now, am I not?" Thranduil responded, pointing to the fact that he had indeed chosen to discuss the rumors with the female monarch privately for such a purpose.
Reiya rolled her eyes and shook her eyes slightly at the king's childish justification.
Thranduil, however, disregarded the gesture once again and kept pressing the matter even further.
"So, do you intend to continue this heartbreaking trend of yours with Lord Galdor of the Havens, or perhaps ours truly, Lord Cevan, given that he was so looking forward to dancing with you at the gala?" He asked in a casual manner as he leaned back into his chair and crossed his legs in Elvenking fashion. "Looks like you are already working your wonders on the two of them, judging by the way they revere your presence." He added with a sarcastic tone.
Reiya's reframed expression turned to one of annoyance following the king's statement. Sheleaned into the table herself that time around before she voiced her answer.
"Actually, why don't you tell me yourself, King Thranduil? It looks like you have me all figured out in such regards, don't you?" Reiya pointed out with a sarcastic tone of her own. "What do you think I am going to do about Lords Galdor and Cevan, if I may ask?"
Thranduil raised an eyebrow as he was not expecting the queen to turn the matter back on him. Thus, he pondered the question for a few seconds before he proceeded to speak.
"Well, I cannot read your mind nor state your motives for engaging in such tendencies." He responded in a genuine manner. "That is your own matter to work through, after all." He remarked.
"Exactly." Reiya responded matter-of-factly as she leaned back into her chair and finished drinking her glass of water.
Thranduil remained speechless for a few seconds following her response. However, he let out a low chuckle soon after and looked down at the table, as he realized what the queen had done there.
In her own not-so-subtle ways, Reiya had reaffirmed that the matter at hand was none of his business, and she was not obligated to answer any questions beyond the boundary she had just established for him.
Touché. It looked like the queen savvy with words was back to her usual self.
"I guess that settles it then." Reiya stated as she placed the empty glass back on the table. "Thank you for the food, my lord. It was pleasing." She remarked out of courtesy, even though her demeanor seemed more distant at that moment.
Thranduil's expression became impassive once again as he realized the queen was about to leave.
He would have liked for two of them to discuss other issues further, but the Lady of Fire had enough debating for one night, it seemed. Hence, the remaining issues would have to wait for another day.
Reiya was about to apologize and call it a night, just like Thranduil foresaw, but her semblance changed abruptly when something else in the hall caught her attention.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at her and turned his face in the same direction that she was looking at. Judging from his impressions, it seemed like one of the items in the glass cabinet had raised the queen's interest.
Thus, Reiya shifted her attention back to him before she spoke.
"Can I?" She inquired, requesting his permission to go take a closer look.
Thranduil nodded and followed her with his gaze as she walked towards the intended spot in front of the glass cabinet. He rose to his feet as well and went to stand beside the queen as she remained immersed in her contemplations.
"Where was this weapon crafted? I do not believe I have seen anything quite like it before." Reiya asked, looking at the item in front of her closely.
The weapon in question consisted of a slightly curved dagger that contained a gold-coated handle with encrusted jewels and vine-shaped carvings on the metal surface of the edge. Truthfully, the dagger was highly aesthetic, even by Elvish standards.
Thranduil opened the glass lid and took the blade from the shelf before he proceeded to answer her.
"This is a dagger from the old kingdom of Doriath." He pointed out as he held the blade. "I got this at the time I was living with my father in Menegroth. Dwarves used to help elves craft weapons back then, resulting in visually stylish weaponry." The king explained as he slid a finger across the dagger's handle.
"I see… The cut must also be of the highest quality to have endured this long." Reiya stated as she stepped closer to him in order to take a better look.
"Yes." Thranduil corroborated, being quite aware of the queen's proximity. "Such collaborations between elves and dwarves no longer exist, of course. Hence, very few weapons remain from that time, which makes this dagger one of its kind." The king remarked.
"Extraordinary…" Reiya stated as she lifted her hand slightly, seemingly wishing to inspect the blade herself.
Thranduil was partially surprised by the sudden action on her part, but not entirely, in a manner of speaking.
Judging from his previous observations, Reiya usually kept a respectful distance from people when engaging in formal exchanges. Nevertheless, the queen seemed to have a tendency to stand in closer proximity whenever her curiosity got the best of her—like a youthful elleth entangled in some sort of dream-like trance.
Following that lead, Reiya had deliberately stood closer to him as her mind wondered.
So close... And yet, her attention was completely fixed on that lavish dagger and not on him by any means.
He didn't like that.
Thranduil pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes slightly at the elleth before him, as she remained oblivious to his deliberations.
Thus, when Reiya's hand was merely inches away from the dagger, he removed the item from her sight and folded his arms behind his back.
She looked up at him with a confused expression following the action.
Thranduil glanced down at her with a smug smile, seemingly pleased with himself for redirecting her attention back to him.
"I allowed for a closer look, but I never said you could touch, did I?" He stated with a sardonic tone, referring to the dagger, respectively.
Reiya glanced at him for a few seconds with a stunned expression, but she recomposed herself promptly and adopted her queenly stance once again.
"Right." The lady of fire responded.
She then turned around and proceeded to glance at the other items that were on display in the glass cabinet.
Thranduil put the dagger back on the shelf and closed the lid at that moment as well.
"King Thranduil, I have a question regarding something that you said back when we were at Imladris."
He raised an eyebrow at her in wonder.
"If I remember correctly, you asked if I would be an asset or a problem in this war. Hence, there goes my question as well." Reiya pointed out. "If I end up becoming a problem at any point throughout this conflict, what are you going to do about it?" She asked, while her attention remained on the rare artifacts.
Thranduil's expression turned to one of confusion as she the queen continued to speak.
"Will you seize me? Throw me into your dungeons? Put me to the sword, perhaps?" Reiya stated, gesturing a light taunting smile in his direction.
Thranduil remained silent for a few seconds as he pondered her question.
That was strange... Why in Arda would she ask such a thing?
Thranduil's expression gradually turned to one of suspicion when he realized the Lady of Fire was resorting to another of her tendencies—making casual conversation when she was actually fishing for something else.
To be honest, he had not considered any particular measures to handle Reiya if she were to become a threat at any point, given that he had been much too occupied fulfilling shared intelligence tasks with the queen herself.
Nonetheless, he chose to play along and voiced his response with that in mind.
"Did you believe that I would just reveal my countermeasures to subdue you without weighting consequences?" Thranduil remarked with a sardonic tone as he stood in place.
"Not really, but I was hoping to get a hint, at the very least." Reiya remarked with a sardonic tone.
"For what, exactly? Dissuading me from my course?" Thranduil responded as he narrowed his sight on her.
"Not entirely. You can do as you please. You are a king, after all." Reiya remarked, turning her face forward. "Nevertheless," She stopped walking all of a sudden. "That will not spare you from consequences." The Lady of Fire remarked with a more menacing tone as she completely wheeled around in his direction and her eyes turned glimmering scarlet.
Thranduil was startled at the sight when he realized Reiya went into her Krisha form without notice.
"Úr Coron! (Fire Sphere!)" The Xandorian queen chanted with a low tone as she performed a set of hand gestures.
Right that instant, a fire orb materialized over Reiya's hand. She then directed the orb towards the king as she controlled the trajectory with her fingers.
The flame began circling Thranduil's body in a paced manner as he remained in place.
He was initially stunned by the unforeseen action on the queen's part; however, his expression turned into a glare before he proceeded to speak.
"Do you always have to unleash your Krisha power every time I say something upsetting to you, Red Queen?" Thranduil inquired in a cold manner.
"Upsetting?" Reiya remarked with a raised eyebrow before she let out a low chuckle. "You misunderstand my intention, Elvenking." She stated with a taunting smile once again, as her eyes radiated the scarlet glow.
"What is your intention, then?" Thranduil asked with a dry tone as he began walking towards her at a firm pace, in spite of the fire orb that kept circling around his body.
"You once said you could handle the flames. I am merely seeing if your statement holds true." Reiya responded matter-of-factly.
"So you are testing me, huh?" Thranduil responded in a sardonic manner.
He had no idea what had gotten into the Lady of Fire all of a sudden, but he highly doubted she would claim his life and break the coalition between their realms at that moment, since that would hinder her own war efforts as well.
She wouldn't be that foolish.
Nonetheless, the question still remained. Why was she ramping?
"You are not afraid of me..." Reiya remarked with a raised eyebrow as she brought the king out of his thoughts.
"Is that what this is about? Do you wish for me to fear you?" Thranduil stated with a commanding tone as he stood in front of her.
The fire orb now began circling them both as Reiya adjusted the trajectory with her hand movements.
"You should beware of me." The queen stated with a menacing tone while glaring at him.
She flipped her fingers right that instant, and the fire orb split in three separate fractions as they spun around them much faster.
"You have no idea what I am capable of!" She flipped her fingers again, and the three fire orbs split in five that time around. "A fact that you seem to forget often these days." The queen remarked with a firm tone as she flipped her fingers yet again, and the fire orbs split in eight.
Thranduil, however, ignored the visceral gesture altogether and frowned at the female monarch as he lowered his face in front of hers rather abruptly.
"Tell me, then!" The king stated with an imposing tone. "What is it that you are capable of?" He asked in a defiant manner.
Reiya widened her eyes slightly at the king's reaction. Was he truly... not afraid of her?
Making notice of her sudden stillness, Thranduil pressed the matter.
"Speak your thoughts! Why should I be afraid of you?" The king reiterated as his piercing gaze never left hers.
Reiya kept silent for a few seconds, and her surprised expression remained unchanged.
It looked like she was about to say something at one point; however, she seemingly changed her mind at the last second, and her features turned neutral once again.
Thus, the Xandorian queen snapped her fingers, and the fire orbs dissipated from sight. The scarlet glow vanished from her eyes right that instant, as well. She thenturned around and continued observing the items on display in the glass cabinet as she kept walking forward.
"Seems like you were not bluffing after all." Reiya remarked in a casual manner, referring to his claim.
Thranduil was slightly startled by her sudden change in demeanor once again, but he voiced his response either way.
"I never bluff." He left it at that.
The king stood still for a few more seconds as he pondered everything that had just taken place at that moment.
To put it simply, Reiya performed one of her more vicious fire spells to date, and he had walked right into it—like a fool.
He took her little act as mere spectacle in order to get a point across—whatever that was. However, the whole ordeal had certainly served as a reminder that he was playing with fire when treating with this elf-queen—both subjectively and literally.
The fact that Reiya could tune into that Krisha power of hers so quickly was still unsettling.
Anyhow, Thranduil was brought out of his thoughts when the queen continued to speak.
"You still have not answered my question." She stated.
"What question?" Thranduil responded in an aloof manner, as he began following her once again.
"You know what I speak of." Reiya remarked, being quite aware that the king was playing the clueless listener at that point.
She reached the end of the glass cabinet and turned around to face him up front.
"If I become a problem, what are you going to do about it, Elvenking?" The Lady of Fire repeated herself as she looked up at him firmly.
Thranduil cornered her against the wall that intercepted the edge of the glass cabinet—like a wolf surrounding his prey.
Her smaller frame lingered in the shadow of his impressive height, as her expression remained resolute.
Thranduil's piercing blue eyes probed every inch of her being, in spite of the defiant act she just pulled.
Once again, he found himself being lured by the sight of her.
Her vivid red hair and porcelain smooth skin; the infinite pools of her bright green eyes; the feminine curves that distinguished her accentuated figure; the delicate trail of her neck, and those full lips of hers, begging to be captured—tempting him into sinful thought.
Every single instinct in his body was telling him to claim those lips for himself. Indulge the mischievous impulse; have a taste of that which was forbidden; satiate the hunger this elf-queen had damned him with, for once and for all.
Thranduil's body moved on its own accord as he began nearing his lips towards hers in an unrushed manner.
Reiya widened her eyes slightly and parted her own lips in wonder as his face got closer and closer to hers, and his powerful gaze kept her still.
His lips were almost reaching their desired destination; however, the king suddenly stopped himself, and his expression became erratic, when an unexpected thought got a hold of his mind right that instant.
It was the seventh term on that accursed contract, stating that she would end their collaboration effective immediately if he stood out of bonds.
Thranduil groaned, and he looked at the floor with a frustrated expression, as the notion made him feel something that he very rarely experienced with ellith he'd shared intimate moments in the past—hesitation.
Reiya was visibly confused by his sudden change in demeanor. However, her lips gradually curved into a sly smile, as she seemingly understood what was going through the king's mind at the time.
Thranduil was starting to realize the extent of the power move she had pulled on him, no doubt.
'Dammit.' The Lord of Mirkwood thought to himself as his mind remained conflicted.
"Is something the matter, Elvenking? I am still waiting for your answer." Reiya stated as she looked at him with a light taunting smile, in spite of his close proximity.
Thranduil raised his face to look back at her rather abruptly and narrowed his eyes following the statement.
Seriously?
Not only was she well aware of the grasp she had imposed on him with that one contract, but she was rubbing it in his face as well?
That vexatious elleth... Always having her way with words and the sort.
He'd had enough of that for one night. Thus, he would show the Red Queen that neither her words nor her actions were devoid of consequences as well, even if their collaboration was at stake.
If she wanted an answer so badly, then he would give her a fitting one.
Following that lead, Thranduil's expression became impassive once again, and he straightened his stance while keeping his gaze on her.
Reiya's features tempered down as well, as she awaited the king's response.
"What would I do if you were to become a threat, you ask… Well, the alternatives are endless, all things considered." Thranduil stated as a smug smile was drawn on his face.
Reiya raised an eyebrow at his statement.
"I always opt to eradicate threats rapidly. With you though, I would take my precious time." Thranduil remarked.
He then rested his left hand on the wall close to the queen's waist and lowered his face in front of hers as he continued to speak.
"Perhaps I might be able to uncover the elleth hiding underneath that collected exterior you so like showing to the world." The king stated as his piercing gaze shook her very core.
Reiya's eyes widened when Thranduil got even closer.
He angled himself to the side of her face and neared his lips to her skin without making contact.
"Find out what drives you." The king murmured into her cheek with his deep, silken voice as she felt his warm breath grazing her heated skin. "Unfold what makes you tickle," He remarked with a lower tone as he moved lips down to the side of her neck.
Reiya's lips parted, and her breathing quickened slightly as her chest rose in a ragged manner.
Thranduil smirked to himself, seemingly pleased for uncovering what appeared to be one of the queen's tender spots. He then moved his lips a bit higher on the side of her face.
"Learn what makes you crumble." The king whispered into her ear as the queen's eyelids closed halfway.
In a waking moment, Reiya seemed to have come to her senses for a few seconds, but Thranduil kept his proximity regardless.
He moved his face back in front of hers once again, and both their lips were now a few inches apart.
"That would be quite the treat, wouldn't it? Seeing you let go for once as you get swayed by your most primal instincts." The king remarked with his silken voice as his eyes probed down at her body in a feral manner.
Reiya's breathing became slightly ragged under his scrutinous gaze yet again. However, she managed to gesture a forced glare at Thranduil in the midst of all of his attentions.
Having contemplated her curves to satisfaction, the king shifted his attention back to the female monarch's face and smirked at her, as she was clearly attempting to fight the edge he was having on her.
"Struggling to keep me at bay, aren't you?" The king stated, pointing to that one fact. "I would love to see you dare try your little gimmicks on me, as you do with the rest of them." Thranduil remarked with a low, firm tone, referring to the queen's suitors, respectively.
Reiya pursed her lips in response.
He looked deep into her eyes and then down to her jaw as his instincts kept begging him to act. Nonetheless, his mind was now lucid enough not to let such impulses take over.
In any case, a side of him still wondered if she would ever let him go for it. Capture those full lips of hers into the blissful kiss he had craved so badly that night.
If he could only lower her defenses just a tiny bit more...
"Is that going to be your answer, then?"
Thranduil was brought out of his contemplations at the sound of the familiar voice.
He directed his attention back to the female monarch's face, only to find that Reiya was back to her more collected and distant self.
"Very well, I will make sure to remember it." The queen added.
She then slipped away from his cornered grasp and walked to the dining table in a relaxed manner.
Thranduil was staggered by the way she had fully bounced back from such a heated moment, but his expression became impassive rather quickly as he withheld a sardonic chuckle.
'Of course, it wouldn't be so easy with her. Nothing involving the Lady of Fire ever was.' He thought to himself as he pondered the previous notion.
"We have carried this conversation long enough, and it is late, my lord. I should head back." Reiya stated.
"Agreed." Thranduil corroborated.
"I assume this is the last time you are ever inviting me to dinner, considering that I almost burned down your dining hall over an argument?" The queen inquired with a sly taunting smile as she carefully folded the cloth napkins on the table.
"On the contrary."
Reiya shifted her attention back to him and raised an eyebrow at the statement.
"I found our dinner time to be quite enlightening, my lady. Exhilarating, even." The king remarked as he went to stand in front of her once again. "I am looking forward to the next one." Thranduil stated with a smug smile on his face.
Reiya was slightly surprised by the unforeseen response.
Was he being serious?
There was much she could say about that; however, she reframed from starting yet another debate with the fellow monarch and chose to retreat for the time being.
"Good night, King Thranduil." She stated, gesturing her farewells in royal fashion.
"To you as well, Queen Reiya." He followed suit.
And thus, she proceeded to leave the room.
Reiya did not look back at the fellow monarch on her way out, but she could still sense him smiling smugly at her at one point.
'That conceited elf-king and his mischievous ways.' The Lady of Fire thought to herself as the image of Thranduil's piercing blue eyes remained vivid in her mind.
…
A/N: The heat is rising!
Intense much?!
There is a whooole lot to unfold on this one, but I will let you guys form your own impressions, as usual ;)
Happy holidays, everybody!