Embrace(Thranduil fanfic)

Chapter 4

I know it's been like a billion years! haha sorry guys. I got all four of my wisdom teeth removed and finally and peppy enough to load this up! Sorry for the wait!

(Mara's p.o.v)

Lord Elrond led me to a separate room, and once I sat down my legs were shaking. I was scared and confused. Why would dad take me away? What was going on?

"Maratheil, you will be staying here from now on. It will be a hard transition for you. You are not allowed to write or be in contact with your parents," Lord Elrond told me.

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Why did my daddy bring me here? Why can't I talk with them? I want to go home!"

"Be quiet child," I heard someone say.

Lord Elrond stepped to the side and a beautiful woman, dressed in high elven robes approached the center of the room. I stared at her.

"Who are you?" I asked her.

"My name is Galadriel," She answered.

I suddenly remembered my parents whispering about her. I had a bad feeling about everything, but it seemed I was stuck here. As I continued to think the thought that my parents wanted to get rid of me popped into my head.

"Your parents gave you to me," She continued. "I will be the one taking care of you now."

**200 years later**

"Maratheil! I'm tired of telling you to stand straight!"

"I'm tired of listening to you. I want to take a break!" I yelled back.

Galadriel sighed and gave me a small smile.

"Alright, I guess you've earned your break."

"What is going on with Lord Elrond? I have not heard from him in a long time."

"He has been busy, same as we have."

"You still haven't told me....what are we preparing for?" I asked.

I looked into her eyes, wanting a straightforward honest answer. Knowing her she was not going to tell me anything or the complete story. I still have yet to understand why she enjoys such mystery and why she interacts with people the way she does.

"That is for another time my child," Galadriel answered with a wink.

I walked out of the gardens and headed towards the archery stables. I poked my head around the corner and saw all the guards doing target practice. My heart yearned to join them, but I could hear Galadriel scolding me that it is not what women do. I shrugged my shoulders and headed back to my room. As I walked down the hallway, suddenly my ear twitched.

My ears always seemed to signal me when people were nearby, especially if they were talking very softly. I followed the soft mumble of two voices that led me to a door. I stood outside the door and tried to listen.

"We are running out of space to stash these."

"Just put them with the rest."

I could hear the dragging of a sack and the shuffling of papers. Once I heard their footsteps come towards the door I ran to hide behind a nearby pillar. I saw them as they dragged their feet rather slowly away from the door. They seemed exhausted and I completely understood, having Galadriel as a boss wasn't exactly the easiest thing in the world.

It had gotten to the point where I no longer felt fear towards her, rather the formation of love; after all she did raise me. I opened the door and saw the room was completely empty, it was just another bedroom. I walked around and saw what seemed to be the corner of a piece of paper from under the wardrobe. I slid my fingers under the wooden closet and pulled the paper towards me. I could see it seemed to be a letter, but there was no name on it.

Something urged me to open the letter but I could not tell if it was my heart or my head. I opened the letter and read the parchment:

Mara,

Happy Birthday! It honestly took a lot strength to write this letter but I would have to say this eventually. I truly hope you are not completely unforgiving towards me and your father. We miss and love you. There is not a day that goes by where I do not want to just take a horse and bring you home. I miss holding you in my arms, stroking your hair and telling you silly stories.

I am sure you have grown into a beautiful woman. Your father unfortunately is too torn to even write or contribute to this letter, so it is just me. Your brother, Legolas still carries on as if nothing happened and you are now old enough for me to begin speaking the complete truth to you, but I will save that for another time.

No birthday is complete without a present! In the envelope I left a small gift to you from all of us.

Love,

Mommy

I stared at the letter blankly for a moment. Why would it have my name on it? Mother and father? There must have been some mistake, Galadriel is my only mother.

I stuffed the note in my pocket and walked out of the room. I sat in the garden waiting for her to come but I assumed she got busy, because she was never late. After assuming my torture of the day was done, I went to my room to change into my riding boots to continue my daily routine.

"Mara!" I heard someone call.

I turned and saw it was none other than Arwen.

"Arwen!" I said running towards her.

We held each other tight. It didn't feel like it had been a long time since we had seen each other, but more of we were continuing from where we left off.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"My father has some business with your mother. It seems he's becoming more secretive about it. Did you find out any details?" Arwen asked with anxiety in her voice.

"Unfortunately, nothing we don't already know, but my dreams have been getting more vivid."

"Have you told your mother about them?"

"No, I'm not telling her anymore than she's telling me. I'm going to figure out what's going on and I don't need her to tell me."

"That's a bit rash Mara, but do tell me about your recent dream," Arwen said sitting down on the grass.

"Usually my dreams are reoccurring but recently I've just been having dreams about the same woman," I said zoning out.

"A woman? What did she look like?"

"She looked like an older version of me, but I know she wasn't me. She was just sitting in her bed writing in the dark other than a single candle by the bed. Her expressions would change as she continued to write, shifting from sadness to happiness to anger, until she would just cry. I could feel her sadness. I could feel the hurt in her tears... It seemed like she was missing something."

"Missing what?"

I paused.

"A part of her," I answered.