It's a Hard Knock Life for Us (Thorinduil AU)

II • : Just in Case : •

Okay let me explain this before people get confused. In my story, Thranduil is still quite young, therefore he is not King yet, but Oropher instead. He's like younger than Legolas is in the LOTR. Yeah dude.

I thought it would make more sense if Thranduil was closer to Thorin's age.

Anywho, to the story~

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Thranduil's POV

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I sat on the edge of the long table. My family sat close together at one end since there was no one else eating with us that fall morning.

I'm an only child, so the only ones eating at the 14 foot long table were me, Nana, and Ada. Not only were meals particularly awkward because of that, but us elves are quiet folk, and everything was silent as we ate.

I've mostly gotten used to the silence by now. I mean, I am 624 years old. I'm young but not that young. Though it shouldn't unsettle me, it does.

Most parents would pry into their children's business and daily lives with questions like, "So, how was your day, honey?" Or "What are your academic lessons about? Did you learn anything new?"

But no. Not my parents. All they do at the dinner table is glance around the room and quietly nip at their food. It would not hurt to have a conversation or two.

I fiddled at my salad with the prongs of my metal fork uninterestingly.

Nana must have noticed the uneasy expression played across my face for she piped up, "Thrandy? Are you feeling alright?"

Thrandy. I loved that nickname. It rolled on the tongue and fit so well... And the way my Nana spoke it somehow made me feel better no matter how down I was.

My elbow that held my cheek-filled hand up sat on the table. I turned my eyes from my unappetizing food and automatically straightened up, took off my elbow, and stopped playing with my salad. "Oh, yes ma'am, I am fine..." I spoke sheepishly.

Around Nana I could speak informally, but when Ada was near, I had to mind my 'princely manners' as he put it or I would get a lengthy droning lecture, and I for sure did not want that.

"Are you sure? You are not eating your food." She observed and pointed a slender finger towards my plate.

Why did she have to say that? Ada glanced over to my dish and rose a brow, "Why aren't you eating?" His deep voice boomed.

"I suppose I am just not hungry today, sir..." Great. Ada, the king of the Woodland Realm, the Elven King Oropher, the 'almighty', was onto me. Thank you, Nana.

Nana immediately realized she had brought Ada's attention to my plate and knew I would be scorned for not eating like a good Prince should. She sighed and gazed at me apologetically.

"Eat! It is not going to kill you. You are thin enough as it is, now finish your meal." Ada ordered me while gesturing to my plate. He soon went back to his own healthy breakfast.

If I wouldn't have known any better, I would have sighed, but I did know exactly what would happen if I did. Let me just say, lots of 'You have an attitude! Prince's do not have attitudes!'

I grew weary with every time he said, '...A Prince would...' Or '...like a Prince should...' It seemed as if all Ada cared about was the royal entitlement, not me.