The Black Queen of The North (A Thranduil Story)

Chapter Ten: The Call to Battle.

Thranduil's POV

It has been 2 weeks and I hadn't even realized it. I had spent every moment I could spare with Katterina and Legolas. Both Katterina and I had been very busy attending one meeting after the other, sorting through scroll after scroll, it seemed to never end. Thankfully Karrinos and Katterina had made peace 2 days after the remembrance of their mothers passing so the meetings in which they were both present were bearable. Although this new found peace had not left me much time alone with Katterina so my efforts to, as I had said that night on the balcony, "court her" had not gone as well as I had hoped. Most of our time spent together was spent with Legolas, Katterina had grown very fond of him and Legolas simply adored Katterina. He was fascinated by her stories and by the odd traditions of her kin. When I did finally find myself alone with Katterina we spoke mostly of current affairs, of matters we had discussed in meetings as well as what we feared was to come. I complimented her as much as I possibly could and my compliments were always met with the same enticing smirk and playful reciprocation. It was not my finest attempt but given the circumstances I felt that I was doing a fair job. See that was the thing with Katterina, it didn't matter how hard I tried to maintain my usual cold demeanor because the moment I was in her presence I gravitated towards her, I could no longer truly maintain my mask or maintain control over my emotions. I couldn't possibly hide something from her for very long before her piercing eyes had searched every inch of my body and found the answer or uncovered the truth. She made me loose control and that was something that scared me but at the same time it was the single most enchanting feeling...

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All the members of Karrinos, Katterina as well as my council had gathered in my council chamber, it was a rather large group but luckily there was just enough space to accommodate everyone. "We cannot ignore just how unstable that newly formed settlement of barbarians just outside of our boarders is, my lord." One of my advisors voiced from the far end of the large, wooden table. "It is old friend, but we can not simply invade a settlement that is beyond our boarders based on whether or not it is stable." I did not want to risk the lives of my people based off of something so small. "I have heard talk of dark magic being practiced amongst these men..." One of the men that had accompanied Aaros sated. "What?" I hissed. "Dark magic is being practiced on the boarders of my realm and I have not been informed!" I hiss, many of my advisors bowing their head in hope that they will not fall victim to my temper. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Katterina stiffen. "If there is black magic being practiced then this is a shared concern of mine." Katterina spoke sternly. The room grew rather uncomfortable at the mention of dark magic and all of the advisors that were not mine stiffened. "Do you believe that wise your grace?" Aaros questions with his brow furrowed. "Yes why would it not be?" Her expression was emotionless and her eyes were their usual steel grey. "Well your grace I just feel that this is not a place for you considering ..." Aaros drifted off averting his gaze. "Come now Aaros, what is it ?" Katterina pried obviously slightly angered by how Aaros had been acting. "Considering what has happened in the past." Aaros said rather carefully. "Now now Aaros that was many years ago." Katerina's tone was no louder that a whisper but I could feel just how commanding it was. "I only fear for your safety your grace." Aaros mused arrogantly. "I do not need your concern." Katerina's tone raising slightly as she clenched her jaw tightly. "I believe that is what you told your father and look where that got you." Aaros hissed. "That is none of your business Aaros!" I could see Katterina trying her hardest to remain calm. "Oh but I believe it is! Your first encounter with black magic almost got you killed but now you insist on getting involved in this matter? Will you never learn!" Aaros was now standing leaning forward over the table in Katterina's general direction. "I made a choice Aaros! A choice that saved lives! Countless lives. Do not lecture me I know far better than you the consequences of my actions, incase you have forgotten I was the one that he held captive and tortured, I understand what could have happened!" Katterina's voice was now a low growl, she was glaring daggers at Aaros. "You are so insolent!" I almost stood and struck Aaros myself but Katterina beat me to it. She was on her feet and she had Aaros my the collar of his tunic. "If you ever dare to speak to me like that again I will have you hung and quartered, do you understand!" There was something unrecognizable in her eyes, something beyond anger. "Oh but why not kill me yourself your grace, after all what is another life to you. That is how you got your title isn't it? The moment you tore his wretched head from his soulless body you took his title." Aaros smirked into Katterina's face. "How dare you! I took nothing but that miserable creature's life. The Witch King's title died the moment my sword met his neck and do not think for a second I will not do the same to you!" Her boney fingers tightened their grip around his collar and her eyes darkening with rage. "You act like you are so proud of your victory, your revenge, but you hide the scares with your magic like an ashamed youth." Aaros was seething, you could see it painted across his entire face. "Fine then." Katterina hissed, she closed her eyes and her magic faded revealing the deep scars on her chest. "It must destroy you to know that you are so far from perfect your grace. That he has dirtied you. Actually I'm glad you called off the engagement, I wouldn't want you after what he did to you. You're spoilt. Thank the Gods that you are barren or you might just have had to bear his spawn." Aaros spat. That was the moment when Karrinos, Verowne and I stood, I could see the hatred in Verowne's eyes but it was to late. Katterina had pulled Aaros clean across the table and pushed him against a wall. "You listen to me you worthless bastard I will rip your soul from your body in a heart beat! Do not antagonize me! I have done far worse and I will not hesitate to wrench your hollow head from your body and use it as decoration outside the city gates do you understand me? I will make your worst nightmares come true with one simple touch. I will drive you blind with the very image of your death and drive you into an eternal abyss where your soul will never rest!" She stepped back from him raising her hand striking him once and then again and again until she placed her hand around his throat closing her eyes. Aaros began to scream but his body was frozen in fear, Katterina pushed him to the floor as she released her grip on his throat. He was now lying on the floor shaking. Katterina began walking towards him. Even in her beautiful lace gown and high healed shoes she looked deadly. As she reached Aaros she lifted her leg driving the heal of one of her exquisite shoes into his abdomen. Aaros curled up into a ball from the pain. She moved her foot from his stomach to his neck and I could see how she began to apply pressure. She turned to face Verowne. Her eyes no longer a sterling grey, they were now a deep, dangerous blue. "Tell me Verowne, do you recognize the look in his eyes? I know you do. He has the same pathetic look in his eyes that that beast had just before I removed his head. That look of true fear, fear of loosing his presious life. We act like we are so different but look into his eyes and you will see the same fear you have seen in every dying mans eyes no matter his origin." Her words were like small daggers and the icy look she gave me sent shivers down my spine. "Will you do nothing!" One of Aaros's men exclaimed turning to Karrinos. "Did you hear the way in which he spoke to your queen!" Karrinos spat. "He is lucky to still be in one piece. Hold your tongue and remember your place." I to glared at the man in warning. "Now Aaros will you remember your place or will I have to cut your tongue out?" Katterina's voice filled with cruelty. "I am no longer your betrothed. If you ever dare to speak to me in such a manner again I will not hesitate to end your life do you understand?" Katterina queried with a serious expression. Aaros simply nodded his head as best he could from under her high healed shoe and she released him. He sputtered and coughed as he rose to his feet, returning to his seat with his head hung low. "Now can we please finish our discussion?" I had never seen someone gain their composure so quickly. "I will support you I whatever choice you make regarding the matter Thranduil, but I will advise you to take action in this matter. Black magic is very dangerous, I am sure my brother will agree that it is toxic and it spreads like wild fire, we will stand with you if you choose to rival this darkness as it is not only in the best interest of our alliance with you and your people but also in the best interest of our people." Karrinos nodded in agreement with Katterina's statement and I gave the final word that we would advance against the barbarian settlement in 2 days time. The meeting was quickly adjourned and everyone filed out of the room scattering in every direction. I followed closely behind Katterina and the moment we were alone I grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into a tight embrace. She moulded into my body and I felt as she relaxed into me. I placed my chin on the top of head. "Thank you." She whimpered into my chest. "There is no need to thank me my dear." I said with a faint chuckle. "No Thranduil there is, you did not have to run after me but you did and for that I am grateful. I needed this." Her voice still only a whisper. I placed the palm of my hand on her cheek, I slowly ran my fingers under her chin, tilting her head up. Her beautiful eyes were now a pale blue and they were glazed over, she looked like she was about to start crying by she never did. "If you need to cry then do not suppress it. You do not have to pretend with me, you can cry when you are with me." My eyes never left hers as I smoothed out her beautiful waist length hair. "Oh Thranduil dear, I am no pathetic child. I will not cry over something as frivolous as this." Her voice was assuring but her eyes gave her away. "Katterina you do not have to lie to me, I know that his words hurt you and I know that he brought out a side of you that you would rather not have revealed and it is okay to be upset by these things." I once again places my hand on her cheek and leaned in kissing her forehead. "He... He did all those things..." She whispered. "Everything Aaros said is the truth. He did all those things, the Witch King. I'm... ruined... spoilt as he had put it. I am barren and he was my betrothed. I was engaged to him... It was arranged by my father, but I couldn't marry him because I thought I was in love with another man, Stèfan, he was nothing more than a commander of some of our Southern legions. My father was beyond enraged, he told me that if I were to engage with a man from the South it would be to a man of the highest possible class. He thinks that our kin from the south are not as pure in blood as those of us from the North are. My father is sick, he has a sickness of the mind. It had begun after my mothers miscarriage. She had lost the unborn child that would have been her third child. After that she was riddled with sadness and then when she could no longer fight with the sadness that had consumed her she died. After that my fathers illness only grew worse. That was when I broke off the engagement, but the thing is ... Stèfan just left. He ran off without a word. I have not seen him since. Worst of all is that I did not even try to find him. I didn't cry for him, he was the apparent love of my life, I had thrown away the perfect marriage that my father had arranged for me- even though I did not love Aaros- all for a man that I did not truly love. I had destroyed my relationship with my father and that was what I had to show for it. Nothing. I had failed my father, my family, once again. That was when I made the only choice I had left to make. I set off with my army. I would be the best general I could possibly be, to fix what I had done but then in the heat of battle he found me. He told me that he and I both knew how the battle would end. There were to many of them... My people would die. So he gave me a choice. He would take me prisoner and spare my army or he would kill every last one of them including me. So I chose. I was his prisoner and he tortured me in every way possible. Finally one day I managed to escape. I stole a horse and with what was left of my energy I rode home. I was an inch from death by the time I reached the city. When I had recovered I was informed that my father had been told of the incident and felt that because of my sacrifice I deserved to be the one to take his life and so I did. That is when the darkest time in my life began. I drank to much, I was violet and rash, I let my dark side get the best of me. I've always been cold and distant, my father said it was in my nature but after everything that had happened I just became even worse. I fought till I couldn't stand anymore but not even the trill of battle could ease the built up anger. My temper was so far out of my grasp, it scared me and I completely lost control. Then I woke up one day, I had no idea where I was and there Vero was he held out his hand and helped me. He didn't say a word he just held me and from that day I tried to clean myself up as best I could. I wanted to fix things between my father and step up to the title that my mother had left me." She took a shaky breath as a few stray tears slid down her perfect cheekbones. I leaned down kissing them away and then I slowly tilted my head, my lips grazed hers and then when I could not take it anymore I placed my lips on her. I kissed her gently before executing every ounce of self control I had, pulling away from her soft lips. "You have every reason to cry Katterina, those are terrible tragedies and I wish that there was something I could do to ease this pain. You are not ruined dear, you did something that was truly selfless and that is truly honorable. I am so glad that you put Aaros back in his place, you do not deserve to be reminded of these things in such a way." I placed my fingers on her scars and traced them. "I still think you are the most exquisite thing I have ever been lucky enough to lay my eyes on." I whispered into her ear. "You are so fierce, your concern for your people and the people of this realm is undying and I can see it in your eyes. I could listen to you speak about anything for hours because the way you think is something I have never encountered before not to mention how you seem to always be able to describe things so perfectly. It is breath-taking." I moved away from her side to stand right in front of her so that our gazes could meet. I saw a smile tug at the corners of her lips. "You always know exactly what to say don't you Thranduil?" Her lips forming a full smirk. "Only with you, because you make it so easy." A smirk painting across my face as she closed the distance between us.

There is nothing in this world that I could have wanted more in that moment then just Katterina in my arms as the cool breeze of fall brushed lightly against our skin. It was perfect.