The King's Hope

Chapter 20

Rhovanel

"Keep your blade up! Block the strike! I know we covered this!" I shout at Legolas and Tauriel while they are dueling. I do mean what I say, but they need to get used to the shouting and the added tension if they ever want to be able to effectively defend themselves. The two young elves spar back and forth for another ten minutes before both drop their swords and gasp for air.

"Excellent work, you two. We shall work on endurance next lesson, but that will not be today or tomorrow. I will let you know when and where to meet next time in a week. There is much to do in preparation and hosting so many diplomats. Be especially respectful to Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn, and Lord Elrond. Always behave your best around the guests." The two nod with sweaty faces then pick up their swords and slowly return to the gates with the guards. Harthor stays behind a moment to congratulate me on my teaching.

"They have grown so much since I have been here, I can only imagine how much was accomplished before that."

"Not much, in honesty. They had one lesson before the ordeal with Umon and Rivornor began. It feels like ages ago."

"I wish I could have been here to help dispose of them. To force someone into marriage merely to anger another is more cruel than many of the torture methods I experienced with Hoknath. The two of them would have suffered greatly if I had been there," Harthor growls with searing anger on his face.

"They shall not bother this world again, muindor. They have been banished to the next life where they shall suffer for their actions." Harthor nods, but I can see the concern in his eyes. He worries that I shall become abusive like Ada. He has not been to see Arthon since he returned with Annoneth and Thranduil; he cannot think me overly aggressive when he has not seen me with the baby.

"You are far away, what troubles you?"

"Nothing, muindor. I shall be back soon. Can you check on Arthon before you go to the meeting?"

"Of course, Rho. I wish I could spend more time with my nephew, the captain has me busy with border patrols. The spiders have barely been kept at bay. They have grown bolder and that frightens me greatly."

"You are scared of the spiders?"

"Yes, and you should be too. If they became smart enough to organize an attack, or join with someone else who can create a conflict that could escalate into war, this forest would suffer more than any other realm." There is a deep sadness in Harthor's eyes, but also something that seems excited too, as if he wishes the world's destruction. And I am the overly aggressive sibling.

"I do not fear the world as you do, Harthor. There is a tendency that exists in Middle-earth, all things can be brought to light, even if only for one small moment." He looks sadly at me, but decides it wiser not to argue. He steps closer and we embrace tightly before he begins the trek back to the palace.

"I thought he would never leave," Thranduil laughs from behind a massive oak. I spin to face him and feel my jaw drop.

"Cheater. Wearing distracting clothes is cheating," I murmur, unsheathing my daggers.

"No, melamin, it is not cheating, it is knowing you opponent's weakness and exploiting it," he smirks. He chose to wear tight trousers and a loose, white shirt that hangs open in the front to show off his perfectly sculpted chest. His tall leather boots add to this sailor ensemble perfectly.

"Alright, aran nin, two can play this game." I start in clasping my tunic and shedding the thick fabric. Underneath is but a thin undershirt that hides the corset. Thranduil visibly falters.

"That is not fair, Rhovanel. Not fair at all," he mutters, shaking his uncrowned head but never taking his eyes off me.

"What? Is this too much? Would you rather surrender now?" I tease. I know very well that Thranduil never surrenders. He simply sighs and draws his sword. I cannot help but admire my own work as it shimmers in the broken rays of sunlight. Only for a moment does its beauty distract me before the shining silver metal is swinging toward my arm.

"No maiming, first to be disarmed loses," Thranduil grunts, clutching bewilderedly at the arm I just smacked with the flat of my dagger.

"Of course, aran nin," I say, bowing in mockery. Thranduil frowns and starts treading in circles around me. I begin to move toward a waterfall I know is but fifty meters away. I can hear the rushing water from here. Thranduil follows me slowly, keeping the thought in mind that he is the predator and I am the prey. He prefers to be dominant, and usually I allow him to believe he is.

"You have grown slow with age, Aran nin!" I shout over my shoulder as I turn and run to the waterfall. I cannot hear Thranduil behind me, but I know he is near, he does not give up easily.

It is pure luck that Thranduil steps on a thin branch before he leaps from the trees. I have only enough time to throw myself sideways and out of his range before the king lands in a crouch where I had just been running.

"Age has only made me wiser, melamin. One might think your mind has begun to slip in this age," Thranduil laughs, eyeing my daggers warily.

"One who has not paid attention might." Thranduil looks confusedly at me as I step through the trip wire. In a second, Thranduil is hanging five meters in the air from the net I asked Harthor to prepare. "Do you yield?"

"Very funny, Rhovanel. Cut me down."

"I believe I like this view better, Aran nin." He glares at me and grasps for his sword, only to find it fallen away in the bushes beneath him.

"Rhovanel, this is not comical."

"Oh, but it is. Never assume you know everything, Aran nin. Some people may not be as kind as I." He glares at me again and makes a cutting motion with his hands. I sigh and throw my dagger into the tree he is tied in. The ropes snap and the net falls to the earth with Thranduil crouching inside. As the net falls away, Thranduil stands slowly, his back to me.

"Thranduil?" I mumble, hoping he is not upset.

"It is not wise to ensnare the wild," he says in a deep voice, "they will only bring wrath and ruin when freed." Then he lunges at me with his reclaimed sword and thrusts the tip at the hilt if my right dagger, forcing it from my grasp. I stand there agape for but a moment before flying at him with a single blade.

We both fight as if our lives depended on the outcome, and never once was I distracted by Thranduil's wardrobe nor he by mine. Our focus was completely devoted to analyzing the other's movements and potential weaknesses. There would have been no end if Thranduil had not fallen into the water. We were fighting in the rocks when the former best warrior in the Woodland Realm lost his footing on a mossy stone and fell with a loud splash into the stream. He came up a moment later, coughing and gasping for air. I jumped in after him and wrapped my arms around his thick neck.

"This is your last chance, Aran nin. Do you yield?" With tremendous reluctance, he raises his arms out of the water and gives me his sword, hilt first. "I thought so."

"What do you claim as you spoil of war, my champion?" Thranduil asks with an air of bitterness. He hates losing.

"You are all I need in this life, Aran nin. Promise to never leave me."

"There was never a thought in my mind otherwise, melamin. Never for one moment have I wanted to live without you. I fear I would not survive if you left." I feel warm tears burst upon my cheeks as I face Thranduil. His eyes are stormy and clouded from tears, but I can also see the happiness and peace that he feels in this moment. Then his eyes trail down to my lips. There is just something so mysterious about a waterfall...