The next morning, she awoke with a sense of trepidation at the thought of going back to the king's council chamber.
After Daron had left her that evening, she almost cried herself to sleep.
But to be honest, she didn't get much sleep.
She had thrown a drink over a member of royalty. The king.
Why he didn't slay her where she stood was beyond her comprehension. She certainly would have had she been in his position.
She knew the sun had risen and that the king was usually up before midday.
She got out of her bed and moved to her washbasin to freshen up. She had a bath last night, but it wouldn't do well to turn up looking like a rumpled mess. Again.
It was lucky that today was her day off.
Herself and Daron had arranged to have their shifts covered. They knew that they might not have been in a proper state to work if they were meant to partake in the festivities last night. It was meant to be a celebration after all.
Once she was outfitted in one of her finest dresses, she grabbed the king's cloak and made her way down to the chamber.
There was no soul in sight during her journey. Probably all had hangovers. She thought with a laugh.
She held the cloak across her arm. The fabric was thick and heavy, made of the finest materials. Nothing but the best for the king.
Why had he allowed her to wear his cloak? It made no sense. He seemed like the sort that would delight in someone like her being humiliated by walking home in a nightdress. But he surprised her. And he wanted her to return the cloak too, she would have preferred to send a messenger.
She caressed the fabric as she walked. It had silver thread running through it. The same colour of his eyes.
It smelled nice too. She noted.
She mentally slapped herself at her thoughts. She stopped herself from thinking about the king like that. It was beyond improper.
He had belittled her and laughed at her despair. He was not worth her time let alone her thoughts.
And she had a … a Daron.
When she reached the door, she knocked three times and waited for someone to grant her entrance.
When no one answered she knocked again. She checked the handle and found the door unlocked. She peaked inside and saw that there was no one there. Nor could she hear anyone inside.
Curiosity got the better of her and she proceeded to walk inside. The chamber looked so different during the day. The walls were smooth unlike the walls of her quarters. The polished floor made it look like she was walking on glass.
She approached the desk. It looked as if he had been working today already. Scrolls and books sat open on top. The red wine had been cleaned up. She didn't like the feeling of being alone here for longer than necessary. She walked towards an ornate chair that sat in the corner beside the cloakroom. She laid the cloak carefully on the back.
When she turned to leave, she felt her body smack into an unmovable force. She was nearly propelled backwards but managed to catch herself on the arms of the chair. She couldn't contain the gasp when her eyes met with the elf she ran into.
"Good morning, Raelee." King Thranduil smiled, enjoying her surprise.
"My king." Raelee went to stand but the king's proximity made it difficult. He didn't look like he was planning to move.
"You seemed at ease." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Waltzing in here like it is proper to enter the council chambers when you have not been invited in."
"I-I apologise, my king. The door was unlocked, and I only meant to return your cloak and leave." She kept her eyes downcast, still holding her weight on the arms of the chair.
"Have you had breakfast?" He questioned out of nowhere.
"I-I have not, my king."
"Then please, join me." He gestured to a doorway off to the left of the chamber. She hesitated before following him. Perhaps he had been here the whole time and didn't hear her knock.
The area was a sheltered balcony that overlooked the entire forest. She could barely remove her eyes from the view. She had never seen the Greenwood from above. It was beautiful.
She heard him pull out a chair. She turned to see him already sitting and eating what looked to be a platter of fruit.
There was no spare seat beside him.
"Please." He gestured to the fruit.
She took a couple of red berries after a moment of hesitation and stood at the railing as she ate.
"How do you fare?"
"I am well…" She was anything but well, but he didn't need to concern himself with her wellbeing. He made that clear last night.
"It is not often that I find my mind occupied with the thoughts of a lowly Silvan elf and yet I found that you had plagued my thoughts late into the night." He said nonchalantly.
She blinked at his statement. Of all the words she expected to come out of his mouth, those didn't come close. She expected him to berate her straight away. Suggest that she give up her post as a guard. Another apology wasn't out of the question.
"My king?" She questioned.
"I thought about what you said, about leaving my realm to pursue your freedom from your marital obligations, and I thought about my own life and how many times I refused to get remarried because it was not what I wanted-."
"It was the foolish thoughts of a foolish Elleth." She said in defeat.
"Do not interrupt me." He said glaring at her.
Her mouth opened and closed as another apology waited to on her tongue. All she could do was nod for fear of his reaction.
"I find myself reluctantly at a crossroads in life. Every time I take an Elleth to bed, she expects to be made queen and then sulks to the rest of the court when I inform her that I had no intention of pursuing her hand. An occupational hazard." He laughed dismissively.
When he looked at her expectantly, she responded with a confused nod.
"It really is quite a delicate situation I find myself in more often than not. I frequently find myself envious of lower ellons that partake in the company of multiple lovers and reap none of the consequences." His eyes turned dangerous then. The once stormy grey eyes were now nearly all black.
Again, all she could do was nod at his statement.
"I have thought of your predicament, about wanting to escape your betrothed and become a captain of the guard." That had her attention. Before he was talking about himself and the fact that every Elleth he beds expects to be made queen. But why did he bring her into his musings?
"I could give you that; your freedom from your impending marriage and the rank you desire at another kingdom. It could all be easily arranged." He said casually.
She was blown over. He spoke with ease, as if this was a simple act. She allowed herself to feel hope once more.
"My king, I-" She was about to give her thanks when he held up a hand to silence her.
"However, I would need something in return for my generosity." His matter of fact tone dampened her happiness.
She pondered on his words. He would need something in return for her freedom. Freedom is rarely free after all. But what could she give him?
He was waiting for her to offer him something.
She had nothing of value that could tempt him. He was the king. It's not that her family was poor. She was a member of the court by her father's standing on the council, but they didn't have much in regard to wealth. There wasn't a stone or gem she could offer him which he did not already possess.
"I have nothing of worth to offer you, my king." She sighed as she felt the tears prick at her eyes.
Why would he ask this of her?
Did he enjoy laughing at her? Did he want to dangle hope in front of her only to take it away? Was he that cruel?
Did he expect her to pull some ancient family heirlooms?
There weren't any as far as she was aware.
Her dress was … nice. But it didn't compare to the other ladies of court. Those same ladies that vied for the attention of the king. The same that wanted to be his queen.
He studied her for a moment before she saw his eyes look her up and down. Surely he could see she was telling the truth.
"Do not demean yourself so quickly, I am not speaking of material items. I am sure you have something of value to offer me… unless Daron has been granted that honour already?" He looked expectant.
She furrowed her brows in confusion at his question. What 'honour' could he be speaking of? This whole conversation was starting to confuse her more by the minute. First, he asked how she is faring, if she's had breakfast, and just now he talks of granting her freedom from his kingdom in return for something she doesn't possess. And before he was talking of bedding…
Suddenly it clicked into place. He was asking if she and Daron had ever-
Her eyes darted from the floor to the king's expectant gaze. He was waiting for her answer.
"Not that it is any of your concern but-."
"Yes or no. Have you shared his bed?" His hard gaze compelled her to answer.
She sighed in defeat.
"No." He slowly smiled at her confession
"Good." She didn't like the way he sounded far too pleased at that admission. "We may have a bargain after all."
"What do you mean?" She was afraid of his answer.
He smiled at her.
"You give me your body and I will help you leave Greenwood."
She froze at his words. She was glad in a way that he didn't beat around the bush with his request. But it was terrifying to hear him ask for something so… inappropriate.
"Give you my…" She couldn't finish. The words were like lead on her tongue.
"A favour for a favour."
He calls it a favour as if she will be lending him her cloak-
She stopped herself from finishing that thought.
She wasn't a cloak to be passed around. Worn and discarded.
"What you are suggesting is highly improper."
"So were your actions last night."
"It was foolish to try and escape, I'm aware of that."
"I was referring to when you threw my drink at me."
She froze remembering the aftermath. She could feel her scalp itching just remembering his fingers being buried in her hair.
"My king-" She was about to apologise when she felt a hand at her chin. She never even heard him get off his chair.
"I am willing to forgive your lapse in judgement last night, provided that you willingly come to my bed in return for your eventual freedom."
She stood still in astonished silence.
What he was asking of her, she thought it was the lowest form of blackmail. To become one of the elves she and her friends gossiped about was nothing less than humiliating.
It was the courts' dirty secret. The unmarried and occasionally married members of court that attracted the king's attention and eventually found themselves in his bed flaunted their 'relationship' with the king. Openly pondering when he would ask for their hand. Only for the grape vine to broadcast that they had been replaced by another.
The only reason sewing circles existed was for the ladies to gossip.
"Why would you ask me to agree to this? Why me?" She asked.
He looked her up and down before he answered.
"You are convenient." His answer nipped away a little further at her dignity.
Before she could respond, he let go of her chin.
"I will have your answer tonight. I will send a messenger to collect your response at dusk. I expect you will do what you believe is best."
He let go of her and returned to his breakfast. She knew that was him dismissing her.
It took her a moment to take a deep breath to gather herself.
He wasn't focused on her now, for that she was grateful.
With one last look at the king she left the balcony, not bothering to bow as she left.
She didn't owe him anything.
Not yet.