Secrets Within [Thranduil fanfic]

Banished

There was a war raging inside of her body, Lanneth could feel it even as she laid quietly in the King's bed. Good and Evil, Darkness and Light were battling it out on which would win out on Lanneth's soul. She woke up gasping for air and clutching at the bed sheets. She had managed to suppress both of them for the time being but she did not know how long she could do it for. She had to see Galadriel for perhaps she had the answers to it all. As Lanneth turned her head she saw Thranduil in a chair next to her dozing off in what appeared to be a very uncomfortable position. She watched him quietly not daring to move as she did not wish to wake him up. She knew he had a lot of questions and most of them she most certainly could not answer. She closed her eyes again attempting to make it appear that she was sleeping so she could avoid the questions but clearly Thranduil was far more awake than he appeared to be. "I know you are awake Lanneth, or perhaps I should now call you Cendra." She could tell he had put his walls back in place, like an ice cold fortress that none could penetrate. Opening her eyes she turned her head and looked at him. "I would still like to be called Lanneth still." Thranduil gave her a cold stare back but said nothing as he clasped his hands in front of his face. Lanneth could feel her heart pounding in her chest, she wanted to know what he was thinking. "I think you need to leave my Kingdom Lanneth." His words were like ice surging through her veins and she sat bolt upright and could feel the look of surprised etched across her face. He held up his hand to silence the words that were about to come tumbling out her mouth. "I don't know what you are. I can feel the powers radiating off of you both good and bad. I feel you are now a threat to my kingdom as you have no control over these powers. I want you out by nightfall." With that Thranduil stood and walked out of the room leaving Lanneth all by herself. She looked towards the open balcony and saw that the sun was high in the sky. She did not have much time to pack and leave but lucky for her she did not have a lot in which she would want to take with her. Numbly Lanneth got out of the bed and stood on wobbly legs. She could feel her heart breaking into a million little pieces wondering how he could be so cruel to her after she saved his life. She made a huge sacrifice and her reward was banishment from Mirkwood. Lanneth pushed back the tears that tried to push themselves out. Instead she stood straighter and squared her shoulders before walking out of the King's room with her head held high meeting the eyes of any elf that dared to look at her.

She stood in her room looking quietly around one last time. She had a few spare clothes in her hands that she would put in her saddle bag. Other than that there was nothing she wished to take with her. Her uniform was hidden under her long cloak along with every knife and blade she owned. In her other hand was her bow and quiver full of arrows. Turning Lanneth pushed open her door using her shoulder since she left it slightly ajar when she came to pack. Word had spread fast and elves lined up to watch her depart. The doors opened and there was her horse already tacked up and waiting. She could taste the anger but was not sure at whom they were mad at. She heard the door close behind her and she took a deep breath taking in the smell of the forest and her horse who stood quietly waiting. She packed her spare clothes in her saddle bag and quickly mounted suddenly wanting to get as far away as possible from this place. She felt a hand upon her right knee and turned her eye upon a familiar figure. "Prince Legolas. You shouldn't be out here." He looked at me with his soft warm blue eyes, "Nor should you. This isn't right. You shouldn't be banished for something so stupid. You saved his life and made a great sacrifice and yet your only thanks is banishment. I shall go with you to the edge of Mirkwood." She smiled softly and placed her hand gently upon his speaking softly as so only he could hear. "I am a monster now apparently. I can feel the war raging inside of me. I think I understand why none of my ancestors survived. You must stay here for your safety. I do not know what I am capable of. I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to you. This world cannot loose someone as loyal and as kind as you Prince Legolas. One day you will make a fine King." Before he could reply Lanneth pushed his hand off her knee and turned her horse whistling softly. He sprung forward and Lanneth never once looked back towards the Prince or the Kingdom behind him. She knew if she did she would hesitate and not want to leave. She also missed the sag in not only the Prince's shoulders but all of the guards. She never realized that she was their backbone and without her they did not feel whole. Without her it felt as if a part of them was missing.

Rivendell stood before her, for some reason Lanneth had felt a pull to come here instead of going to Lorien. She could not explain it but she trusted her gut so she made her way to Rivendell. Perhaps Lord Elrond would be able to heal her some way but she highly doubted it. This was not a sickness, it was a curse. Lanneth pushed her hood back and slowly made her way across the bridge she knew the elves in the trees were watching her carefully but none made a move to block her path. Curious she thought to herself. Elrond was already standing there waiting for her when she pulled her horse to a stop. Lanneth eyed his warily wondering how he knew she was going to be coming. She dismounted quickly and bowed to him. "Stand Cendra you do not bow to me." Lanneth stood and sighed, "Please continue to call me Lanneth my Lord Elrond." Rivendell was peaceful, more so than Mirkwood but less so than Lorien, she could feel it washing over her but with the calm came the breakdown creeping up. Elrond noticed and he walked over to her and quietly put his arms around her drawing her into a hug. It was something that Lanneth did not expect and instantly went ridged before slowly relaxing. It was then that the dam broke and tears came rolling down her cheeks. There in Elrond's arms she clung to him and cried. Cried like she had never cried before, clung to him as if he were an island and she was rock threatened to be engulfed by the ocean. His hand gently stroked her hair and he murmured quietly in her ear, "It will be alright. We will figure this out. Galadriel is already on her way. As well as another you know but he does not yet know you are here." Lanneth sighed and pulled back regaining composure of herself and now felt abashed by her breakdown. "I apologize for my breakdown Lord Elrond." He gave her a small smile and shook his head, "There is no apology needed for it is understandable. You have been dealt a lot in the past couple of week. I cannot even begin to fathom what you are feeling or going through. Come let us go inside, it is almost time to eat and then you can retire for the evening. I am sure the journey was long and you are tired." Lanneth nodded and noticed that someone had already taken her horse to the stable. She followed Elrond up the steps of his beautiful kingdom. She could already hear the harps playing and smell the food that was set out. It was then that she realized just how hungry she was as her stomach growled at her.

Lanneth was laying in her bed starring up at the ceiling. She was tired and yet she could not sleep no matter how much she longed for it. With a sigh she threw her blanket off and got out of bed moving towards the open archway that lead to her balcony. She stood there was the cool breeze whipped around her observing Rivendell at night. It was just as beautiful at night as it was in the day time. Lights twinkled all across the city and some danced across the rivers that flowed through the city. She wondered how soon Galadriel would be coming and who else was showing up? Lanneth hoped it was not Thranduil and yet already she found that she missed him. It was like a part of her had been ripped away and left back in Mirkwood. She was surprised however that the battle between light and dark had seem to quiet down for now and for that she was grateful. With another sigh she turned around and walked quietly back to her bed. Though she would try and get some rest Lanneth already knew that sleep would continue to evade her.