The Black Queen of The North (A Thranduil Story)

Chapter Nine: Confessions.

Thranduil's POV

Katterina's lips are slowly drawn back from mine as I remove my hand from its previous position, cupping her cheek. Her stormy eyes meet mine, I want to say something but not matter how hard I try the words will not escape from my lips. An apologetic smile forms on her perfect rose lips, "See that's the thing Thranduil, things are not always as they seem." She places her palm to my cheek and I see a flash of something unknown in her eyes. It almost appears to be anguish. She rises from the bench and begins to walk away, just before she rounds the corner and disappears completely out of my sight she turns back to look at me, she smiles her crooked smile and then she disappears, rounding the corner.

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Katterina's POV

"I feel no need to apologize for my actions Vero, it was not his place and he knows how I feel about Aaros! He is always there, waiting for the opportune moment to sweep in and test my patience. I am not a patient woman!" I declare exasperatedly. Is this what it has come to? Not even my closest and most dear friend will comfort me or validate my opinions. "He is still your brother Katterina! You two should not treat one another in such a manner." Verowne scolds me as if I am a child. He has always told me that my temper will get the better of me but in this instance he is not right. "This is not your battle!" I hiss, I have grown tired of his incessant wining. "Fine then! Have it your way!" He retorts, as he walks away. The absence of his presence makes me realize that I am standing beneath the night sky completely alone once again. I cannot describe how much it pains me. To be so utterly alone. I think back trying my hardest to conjure a happy memory from my past, one of the man who I thought would be my companion till my dying breath but all that comes to mind is pain and anger. I was wrong. So very, very wrong about him. I hated these moments, I wanted so much to believe that I was capable of love but there was no spark. I had tried, many times, to find happiness- to find my soul mate but never once did my efforts bear fruitful. "Oh but what about Stèfan?" a small voice in the back of my head questions, it was answered by another equally quite voice "He left you, after everything you did for him he ran from you ... and you did not go in search of him." The thoughts are sobering and I shiver at the painful truth that my mind has brought to my attention. "Well this is rather morbid and it is my definitely not helping my mood." I huff quietly to myself, but what of the kiss... It was something so invigorating, so passionate. As if for a moment, just one moment, I was not myself. I did not bare the burden of power, I was weightless. I was free. The feeling of his lips on mine sent shivers up my spin. His skin rendered me powerless, speechless and I wanted nothing more then to place my lips upon ever inch of it. It was intoxicating. It was... Unlike me? I have never been so powerless in the presence of any man, I felt as though he could tempt me into doing anything just by placing his hand upon my skin.

A painful shudder pulls me from my thoughts and I feel my magic faulter for a moment, memories rushing forward. Images of the battle flash before me: his eyes locking on mine, with every blow his heavy sword weakened my grip on mine, the cool ground when I fell, the taste of blood on my teeth, his hands wrapped around my throat, the lashings, his bitter breath against my neck, how my body ached as he struck me again and again. The torture was endless, for months he kept me locked away as his play thing. The thought of him touching me caused my stomach to tighten as I stumbled forward grabbing onto the nearest railing. My breathing rapid and I couldn't help but run my hand up to my chest, tracing the thick scares that lay there. I opened my eyes trying to fight off the unbearable flashback. He was the only man I had ever felt powerless against. The Witch King of the West. For a moment I steadied my breathing and thought to myself, is this really what I want? To be rendered powerless? But the kiss... I felt powerless... But it was different, it was not the same...