Beauty and the Beast | Thranduil x Reader

Chapter 10

"Must you press so hard?!" Thranduil growled as he clenched his other hand into a fist against the armrest of the chair, gritting his teeth. You had cleaned the wound on his forearm without much issue but the one on his shoulder that had, still unbeknownst to you, been struck by the poisoned blade was causing him to be more aggressive as the seconds ticked past.

Truthfully, you thought that he was acting a little bit like a baby and you were getting frustrated.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt so much if you would just hold still!" You couldn't help but snap at him, though you did your best to keep your voice soft despite your irritation. You were still wary of him and also quite upset that you had given up your chance at freedom, at getting back home to your father.

"Well, this would not have happened at all if you had not run away." He shot back at you, tone laced with malice.

You blinked at him, fingers stilling for a moment. "If you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have run away like that!" Maybe it was a little lie because what else did you think you were trying to do, creeping through the hallways like you had? Though, honestly, you were sure you wouldn't have gotten out of the front gates if you hadn't been fleeing for your life so maybe it wasn't a complete lie. Regardless, you had been so terrified by Thranduil's awful temper... and the look on his face. You pushed the memories away, trying not to scowl at him.

He scoffed, turning his head to look at you properly. "None of this would have happened if you had kept your thieving little nose out of places it does not belong!"

"I was not stealing!" You cried, frowning at him. "Maybe you should learn to control your temper and not jump to conclusions!"

You both glared at each other in silence for a long few moments. His eyes flashed as he regarded you and you thought maybe he was going to do or say something else but he simply turned away and poured himself some more wine with his free hand. You went back to tending his wound, using the herbs that Legolas had placed on the table, and then you stepped away from him and quietly left the room, closing the door gently behind you even though you were tempted to slam it just to spite him. He was still the King and you were still scared of him and his temper and what he could do, even if he had seemed to give in to you just now. Even if he had saved your life in the forest. You were still stuck in these halls and you didn't want to give him more reasons to throw you back in a cage.

Legolas was standing at the end of the hall and he turned to you when you appeared. Unbeknownst to you, he had heard every word you and his father had exchanged in the room, and he was amused beyond belief. However, he hid it well, planning to keep it in until he could tell Tauriel all about it later on. "So. How is his prognosis, doctor?" He asked teasingly.

It actually made a smile tug at your lips as you half rolled your eyes at him. "I do believe he will live."

"That was nice of you." He said a moment later, not mentioning how strange he found it that his father had even allowed any of it to happen. "I know you are uncomfortable here."

"Not uncomfortable... just stuck." You murmured, ghosting your fingers over the wall as you walked down the hall with him. "But I suppose everybody is."

"What do you mean?" Legolas wondered, turning to look at you curiously.

You immediately felt as if you had overstepped. You felt quite comfortable in Legolas's presence, strangely, and had forgotten that he was the prince for a moment. "I, uh... nothing. Please... forget it."

Legolas stopped, reaching to gently place a hand on your arm. He shook his head, his expression gentle. "You can tell me, you know. You can trust me."

With a sigh, you shrugged. "I don't know! I just... forgive me, but your father, he is... horrible. Are you and the others not just... trapped here with him as much as I am? This whole place feels cursed."

There was silence and you felt like you had made a serious mistake. Legolas simply sighed, saying your name gently. "I know he can seem difficult and hot-headed... but he is a good King, he is a good person." Legolas wished he could explain fully but there wasn't really any way that he could do so. One, you didn't know any of them well enough and as nice as you were to him and Tauriel and Myleth and everyone else, he wasn't sure you trusted anybody. For which he couldn't blame you in the slightest. Two, the topic of his mother and his father's shattered soul was forbidden. "I swear to you, he means no harm... despite some of his actions... some of his words." He gave you a pointed look before continuing to lead you down the hallway. "Believe me... nobody is trapped here."

You were quiet for a minute, coming to a stop outside the room you had previously been given. "Except me." You murmured, catching Legolas looking at you sadly. "I am not to be locked back in the dungeons?" You ventured, eyeing the door of the room. Though the King hadn't really given any verbal instructions to that effect, you were sure he could have given the order with but a simple look.

Legolas chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No." He smiled at you, lifting your hand in his own and pressing a light kiss to the back of it. "Sleep well. You have had quite a day." Then he took his leave and you turned, noting the guard was firmly back in place, and pushed open to the door to your room with a soft sigh.

However, the sudden commotion at the end of the hall had you turning again. Tauriel had been rushing up the corridor looking for Legolas. "Legolas!" She cried, forgetting titles in her rush, brows knitted together with concern. "It's the King... he has fallen!"