The ElvenKing [A thranduil fanfiction]

Chapter 32

Greenwood T.A 2048

         I was admiring the view from the balcony in Thranduil's room while the sun slowly began its ascend over the top of the trees in the far distance. The silence and solitude I usually found here in the morning had already become a tradition after Thranduil had already left me before I usually would have to leave for my own duties. However, there were none of those today.

I had just completed a series of nightshifts in a row which had come to an end this morning right before dawn. For once I had gotten back before Thranduil woke up, which he usually did around the same time. I had climbed under the sheets after shredding my uniform. He hadn't been entirely satisfied with me when I settled at his side and wrapped my arms around him because I had apparently been a little cold from being outside all night.

But in the end, he was still glad to see me. He had pressed a kiss to my temple, waking up due to my presence and rousing himself from sleeps heavy grasp. He had looked utterly exhausted when his eyes met mine and I knew he hadn't been sleeping for long. Properly only for a few hours if I had to guess. It had become more frequent these days because, either his tasks, or our constant need to be beside each other, kept him up during the nights. I had been tired as well, felt a fatigue I had seldom felt but I wouldn't have it any other way. I relished in the attention Thranduil gave me again, truly loved the constant affection he showered me with.

He had initiated another ruffle in the sheets that morning before he left me in the early minutes after dawn. I had been exhausted and wasn't able to remain awake for much longer after he left the bed. Sleep had claimed me almost instantly and I hadn't heard him leave, but when I woke up, he was gone and the sun almost cleared the trees in the distance, soon reaching the highest point on the sky. I had lingered in the bed for a few minutes before rising, dressed and then escaped out onto the balcony to watch the sun climb higher, while enjoying the silence. I knew it wasn't many hours of sleep I had gotten but decided it was best not to sleep any longer, because I would not be able to sleep tonight.

I spent as much time as I could out here before turning back to the room. The sun already reaching midday now. It had only been a few weeks since Mereth-en-Gillith, but the winds had turned colder, but there were no snow yet, though a few times a fine layer of snow had dusted over the forest, not to remain but to remind us that winter was coming. All that lingered was the season's decay, that had claimed the once lush autumn foliage. The trees stood bare, dark with decay before the new season would claim the land. I shivered when a cool breeze shifted through the trees and into the room.

Before sleep had claimed me after Thranduil had left the bed, I had in my haze still noted how reluctant he had been to leave because he dreaded a particular meeting with Agenor he was needed to attend that morning. But it wasn't just him, it was a few other councilors he didn't name. He had begun to dress, while cursing their constant nagging. It had made me smile before falling asleep. They seemed to get on his nerves much more than normal lately, his mood had become fouler with each day that passed, though he never deliberately showed it to me.