Heart Of Thranduil

Chapter 18

She lowered her bow, still staring at him. Water ran down his naked upper body and his icy blue eyes were piercing her. "Who are you?", Thranduil asked. "I'm Arieth", the elleth answered. "Who are you?", she asked him. "My name is Thranduil", he replied. "What are you doing here", she looked at him. "That is none of your concern", Thranduil said. "What are you doing here?", he asked her. "None of your business", Arieth said and put her arrow back in the quiver. "Well, this conversation isn't going anywhere", Thranduil said and turned to leave. "Wait!", she shouted. "Do you have any food?".

Arieth followed Thranduil back to his camp. "Why are you running low on food? Weren't you prepared for your trip?", he asked her. "No, I... I had to leave in a hurry", she answered. "Do you have a horse? Or anything else beside the clothes you wear and the weapons you bear?", he looked at her. "No, this is it. My horse got killed by orcs by the river Glanduin. I have been travelling by foot ever since, living on water, berries and some plants", Arieth sighed. "Not much to manage on", Thranduil said. "I'm sorry to hear about your horse by the way". "Thanks, I...", she looked at his horse. "Oh, this is Malhtaug", he said. "He was badly wounded by a warg a couple of days ago, but Radagast the Brown healed him". "Radagast?", she asked. "Yes, the brown wizard. Haven't you heard of him?", Thranduil looked at her. Arieth shook her head. "Not to worry, he doesn't pay much attention to men or elves anyway. Here, have some Lembas", he said and gave her a piece of bread. "Thank you!", she said and smiled. Thranduil's heart had been beating extra fast since he met her. The elleth in his dreams had a name, and she was real.