Crowned

Chapter Seven

Erelos woke to the sound of yelling and a knock at her door. She quickly jumped out of bed, immediately recognizing what was going on. She opened the door to find Thranduil and Tauriel were at the door, with Legolas behind them, bow in hand. "Erelos." Tauriel opened the door wider. Thranduil slowly looked at his captain of the guard, giving her a harsh glare. Tauriel sighed under her breath. "M'Lady, you must come with us. Bandits are trying to breech the castle." Erelos frowned. "Bandits?" Legolas grabbed her arm and pulled her from her room. "Bandits, yes! We'll explain on the way!" They moved quickly down the corridor, Legolas and Tauriel in high alert. Memories flashed into mind for Erelos. Just take back quite a few years to when she and Legolas were much smaller, and helpless. There was screaming and blood. That time when she first called Thranduil father.Thranduil too held his hand on his sword, his arm protectively over Erelos. She rolled her eyes. "Father, see, if you hadn't forbid me from entering the weapons room, if I had my bow and dagger, I-" she was stopped mid-sentence by Legolas shoving her through a door. "Father, sister. You will be safe in the cellar. Father, I apologize for not allowing you to fight. We-""We don't know what they want." Tauriel butted in. "Your majesty." She quickly added. They both nodded and shut the door. Thranduil and Erelos stood in the dark until Erelos reached across the wall and found a lamp hanging on a hook. She leaned down and picked up two stones to spark a fire. Once the candle was lit she stood up and looked around. "I haven't been here before." Thranduil looked around with curiosity. "Nor have I." Erelos turned around and gave him a sassy look. "You haven't been in your own wine cellar before?" Thranduil shook his head. "I have not had the reason to." They were barrels upon barrels of the finest elven wine sitting in the cellar. They were rows and rows, and at the end there was a small underground stream, that led to the outside. Suddenly a gust of wind blew out the candle, and the two again stood in the darkness. Erelos froze, and quickly reached down, her hands feeling for a rock. She didn't want to admit her fear of the dark, but also couldn't find any big enough stones. Her breathing became fast and sharp. Thranduil came over and put a hand on her shoulder. She quickly tucked her knees up to her chest, and to Thranduil's surprise, started to sing.Hush, oh my darling with terrors in the night. Only mamma's singing can banish out the light. Death will surround you, softly like a sigh. In this monster's lullaby. Think of the horsemen bowling with their heads. Think of the orcs tucked beneath your bed. Think of the witches clicking nails like knives. In this monster's lullaby. She shoved her face into her hands, and Thranduil stood behind her, dumbfounded. "It is a surprise to me, that you..remember that lullaby." Erelos nodded. "...The queen would sing it to me..." Thranduil took her hand in his. "Yes, I remember." They were interrupted by the sounds of harsh whispers coming from the stream. Thranduil went frigid, and quickly grabbed Erelos and pulled her behind a row of barrels. Three beings emerged from the water, and it being dark they couldn't see who or what they were. Thranduil smelled the air. "Bandits." He whispered. Erelos frowned. "How could you tell?" "They don't bathe." They heard splashing as the three bandits climbed out. Thranduil whispered in Erelos ear. "I will fight them, stay put." She rolled her eyes as she heard his sword unsheathing. He crept towards them slowly, and with a yell jumped at them. She listened to the grunts as the four of them fought. Erelos hated to feel like she couldn't help, so she picked up the lantern from the ground and tiptoed towards the fighting shadows. She twirled and launched the lantern at one of the heads, begging to herself that it wasn't Thranduil's. The bandit stumbled back and fell into the stream. "Erelos!" Thranduil yelled angrily. She grabbed the other guy and he threw a punch at her. His fist hit her jaw, and she was stunned for a moment. He took the moment to kick her knees, sending her to fall on the ground. Once on the ground, she kicked him back in the ankle and he fell beside her. With lightning speed, she jumped up and pushed a pyramid of barrels on him. She turned around to hear the slice of Thranduil's sword and a thump in the ground. "Are you injured?" He asked her. She shook her head. "No. And you?" He leaned against the wall. "I'll be fine." The door to the cellar opened to a panting Legolas. "Father, it is safe to come up." Erelos and Thranduil smiled at each other, and walked to the stairs. Once in the throne room and in the light, Thranduil looked at Erelos's face. "You are bruising." He touched it gently. She smiled and shrugged his hand away. "I'll be fine."Tauriel walked into the room. "Sir, we have the leader plus five others." Thranduil sat on his throne. "Bring in the leader." She nodded and left. When she came back in she was followed by a female elf in chains. The elf had short, auborn hair and a large scar running from her eyebrow to her ear. Her clothes were tattered and Erelos could defiantly tell she didn't bathe. Thranduil, in shock, stood up and gasped. The she-elf looked up with coal covered eyes. Everyone else in the room gasped and numbered to each other. "Qeal." Thranduil said.The elf smiled a sly smile with her sharp teeth. "Darlin'."