I Am My Own (Reader x Thranduil)

Chapter 36

I gripped my husband's hand a little tighter. Any minute now Valori would be walking through those doors. Thranduil and I had talked about what we would say to her but it seemed as if all of that planning was in vain becuase I couldn't remember a single thing we rehersed. He just squeezed my hand back. It was enough to calm my nerves a bit. 

We decided to hold our little conference in one of the smaller meeting rooms in order to avoid accidental interruptions from advisers, servants, or anyone else who might be in the palace. We hadn't told Oropher or Daealla about our plans to confront Valori either. It was a personal affair and did not need to be overseen by them since we knew exactly how we were going to handle it. 

I shouldn't be nervous about this, however that didn't stop my breakfast from turning in my stomach and attempting to make it's way to the top of my throat. Thranduil was with me and he'd known Valori way longer than I had. If things got too emotional he would step in since he was familiar with her mannerisms.

The creak of the wooden door vibrated through my ears and down my spine. No turning back now.

I caught sight of Seavel first as she pushed open and held the door in place, standing straight backed and formal as ever. Then Valori rounded the corner with a blank expression. She, no doubt, questioned why she was being summoned to a private audience with the Prince and Princess of Greenwood. 

Saevel nodded her head in recognition of Thranduil and I before quietly shutting the door behind her, leaving Valori standing alone in the middle of the room.

"Valori, thank you for coming on such short notice," Thranduil started.

"Of course, my prince."

The way she said it was so formal, so cold, and without a hint of recognition. It was as if Thranduil had meant nothing but a distant ruler to her. The pain in her eyes told a different story though.

"My wife and I, we requested your presence because we needed to tell you something very important," he continued, taking a quick, warm look at me and then back to Valori, "And it is was out of the kindness of (Y/N)'s heart that this meeting was arranged."

He let go of my hand and I took this as my signal to pick up where he left off.

"Valori," I said as calmly as I good and doing my best to not let my voice waver, "We are expecting... a child."

Nothing. I saw nothing come from her. She didn't even blink and it seemed as if her eyes were staring right through me and focused on something far far away. I wondered if she were breathing at all.

"We wanted you know before the official announcement. We didn't want to blindside you."

Still she said nothing and continued to stare.

I glanced back at Thranduil for a moment. I didn't know what else to say or do. He read my plea for help and came to my side, letting a hand settle on the lower part of my back which I greatly appreciated since my knees had begun to wobble.

"Valori," he questioned.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out before she closed it again. She tried again and still there was nothing. The silence burned my ears and I felt my own breathing get heavy in anticipation of what would come next. I feared she would fall to ground in grief right in front of us.

That was when her eyes began to water. The tears streamed down her face but her mouth remained in it's straight lined position. Her body was still, as if made of stone.

I killed her, was the only thought that my mind could come up with.

Finally she looked up at Thranduil with her delicate eyebrows furrowed and those beautiful eyes sparkling in the morning sunlight that poured in through the only small window in the room.