Galadriel's Daughter, the Prophesied Child.

Chapter 11: Remember and Regret

Chapter 11

Third Person POV

Thranduil tossed and turned over in the chair provided by Pharâzindil's bed.  It was clearly that whatever recollection he was having did not bode well...

Thranduil's POV

*flashback*

"But Thranduil!" I could hear my beloved pleading desperately. " Why can't I go to Imladris?! I have not seen my brother, Lord Elrond in nearly two centuries!"

I sighed in irritation. I loved her, but with the daily border skirmishes and frequent flying snakes of the north, and a very cooped up young prince to raise, I was, you might say, irritated.

Whirling around, I stopped, and the woman behind me skidded (gracefully, as all elves do) to a halt- but not soon enough. I found myself underneath a mass of soft, white long hair, and looked up to see the beutiful emerald green eyes of my wife, Elareìna.

The same eyes gazed mournfully now; and her lips, the oh so kissable lips, they were, well, petulant- to say the least. Leaning in, I smirked and confidently kissed her as her mouth opened in surprise. Blushing bright red, she still managed to cheekily ask, " Does that mean you'll think about it?"

The younger Thranduil relents, a smile threatening to show- not that anyone could see it, of course. "I shall...take some time to ponder on the wisdom of this." He slyly replied in response.

But it was enough for Elareìna, who immediately got up and disappeared in a mad dash towards the garden in victory...

*end flashback*

Yes...Thranduil watched as his past self frolicked happily. His fault, it was his fault.  And so was his guilt to bear for the rest of the ages. He closed his eyes, relieving the painful memories.

*flashback*

Elareìna was leaving. Not permanently of course, but by the permission of the king, (who spent the next few weeks trying to rid the entire land of orcs before he would let her go on the journey.)

Now, she was finally leaving for her birthplace. "I'll be back by thre first moon harvest." She promised Legolas affectionately as he clung to her skirt sobbing.

"Naneth! Mommy" he wailed.

Gently, she pushed him into the arms of Thranduil, who stood withing solemnly by her mount. "Only a week, promise?" He ordered. " No less, and no more. "

"Why of course, your majesty" Elareìna answered sarcastically. Then in a more serious tone, she added, "I love you. You know that, right?"

"Of course." I smiled gently.

And with that, she rode off, soon disappearing into the forest

*end flashback*

And towards fate, I thought bitterly. If only I had just...waited. I could have prevented this. Another memory resurfaced, one he had tried so many decades to forget - to ease the pain - the memory of her disappearance, her capture...and her death.

*flashback*

It had been exactly three days since she had left. Thranduil had gone on with his daily work schedule, until an urgent messenger from Imladris had burst through, claiming to carry an urgent message.