The Black Queen of The North (A Thranduil Story)

Chapter Five: Games.

Thranduil's POV:

I spent the remainder of my night unable to sleep. Had I been to harsh on Legolas? I just wanted him to be strong, after his mother's death I had to raise him alone. My father had raised me alone, he had been stern and taught me that my sensitive heart would not serve me well as a king. I thought that if I taught Legolas what my father had taught me he would one day be a good king if my reign were to come to an end. I got up from my armchair and adjusted my tunic, I can not sit here all day pondering my actions I have duties to attend to. I opened the door leading out of my chambers and began walking down the hallway. I saw Verowne running up the hallway coming to a halt in front of the chamber that Katterina had taken residence in, he knocked on her door rather urgently. A few moments later a very annoyed Katterina came to the door, she must have been busy bathing because she stood in her doorway in just a towel- a rather short towel. "Aaros is here." Verowne said a smirk painted across his face. The annoyance immediately disappeared from Katterina's face. She too smirked, "Well then I believe I am going to have to make quite the entrance." Her voice laced with allure. "That red gown." They both said, their faces painted with mischief. With that I neared them, "Good morning my lord." Verowne greeted as Katterina bowed her head. "Forgive me my lord." Katterina said moving slightly more behind the door. "My lord, Prince Kerrinos's guests from the south have arrived." Verowne followed the statement with a very gracious bow. "I must go to welcome them at once." I stated sharply taking one last look at Katterina who was so deep in thought that she did not seem to take note of my gesture. I walked swiftly down the corridor, Verowne accompanying me.

Once I had reached the grand foyer I saw 3 men standing next to a group of my councilors and Prince Kerrinos. "There you are my lord." Suiadan, one of my oldest councilors, said as I approached the group. "King Thranduil, I am Aaros, son of Illius, Lord of my peoples southern strong hold and home. We are honored that you have welcomed us into your home. Truly, we are very grateful. We have brought you five of our finest pure breed horses as a token of our gratitude." He spoke smoothly as he lowered his head. "Thank you Lord Aaros. I welcome you to my home, to the Woodland Realm, the Great Greenwood of old. I have faith that you will be as gracious a guest as your kin who have already taken their stay in my home." I did not trust Aaros, he seemed far too confident in his actions. "Of course my lord." With that he turned to Verowne and stepped closer, "Where is her grace, I have not yet seen her, I have missed her radiance." The words dripped from his mouth as if he were a dog that had not eaten in days, starved and ravenous for what he seeks. That put me over the edge. I disliked this man, he spoke of his queen as if she were a freshly hunted piece of meat. Men like him could not be respected. "She will most likely join us now, she was attending to some of her duties earlier this morning." Verowne stated plainly.

As if on cue Katterina walked down the hallway. I could not help but stare. She worn a long red gown that came down to below her ankles, there was a slit in the fabric that ran all the way to her hip on her left side and when she walked it exposed the exquisite pale skin of her leg, it was cut very low showing off her rather full breasts, it clung to her body like a second skin, lapping up and hugging every curve and feature of her body. She wore an equally beautiful black fur cloak over her back and shoulders, the fur that surrounded her neck only made her look even more... royal. When she came closer she made eye contact with me, she smiled her hypnotizing smile and turned her attention to Aaros. Her expression changed, her lips clearly curled into a smirk. "Aaros, it has been long since we last met." Something about her tone spoke of a hidden agenda. A game of sorts, and she took much pleasure in it. Aaros knelt before her taking her hand and kissing it. "My Queen." He spoke as if he had not been able to breath and her presence had filled his lungs with the life giving air that he had so desperately been pleading for. His eyes did not leave hers as he rose, she did not seem pleased with his gesture. "As extravagant as always." She said her voice laced with charm as she rolled her eyes. "Nothing is to extravagant for my lady, the Black Queen of the North, Queen of the Lost City." Aaros said his normal smooth tone evident. "Tell me, how are the ports since I have last visited them." She made her rank in their conversation very clear with this question. "Better than they have ever been." His lips curling into a smirk. "Good to see my hard work has not gone to waste." With this her tone grew cold. They locked eyes. An uneasy feeling pasted between them. "Tonight is the spring solstice is it not my lord?" Katterina spoke turning her enchanting gaze towards me. "That is correct my lady." She smiled at me, "Very well then." She reverted her gaze back to Aaros, "I will see you there then, will I not?" It came across as a taunt rather than a question. "Indeed you will your grace, indeed you will." The tension between the two could be felt throughout the foyer, even by those who had not been observing them. Something was going to happen tonight, that was unmistakable.