The Great Sacrifice

A Yearning Is Kindled

He burst into Ari's chamber, his eyes searching for her all over the place. Her bed was empty. Thranduil panicked and looked around again. Where was she sleeping? At last, he spotted her in the balcony. He ran over to her and kneeled down next to her, shaking her shoulders roughly.

"My lady! My lady, wake up!"

Ari opened her eyes in fear. She felt his excited energy and saw him right above her, shaking her rudely.

Thranduil lifted her upper body from the floor and held her close to his chest. "I am so glad that you are here with me. I feared you might have been pulled into the sea," he explained his rather sudden approach.

Ari understood the king's fear and allowed him to cradle her in his arms against his broad chest. Legolas silently closed the door to Ari's chambers. He had followed his father and when he understood that all was well, he decided to give them privacy.

"My king, I am fine. I just fell asleep," Ari reassured the king.

Thranduil reluctantly let go of her and sat on the floor in front of her. "You scared me last night. I could feel that you were slipping away from me," he confessed.

Ari smiled at him. "But I did not, my king."

Thranduil looked upon her sternly. "No indeed, you did not. Because I did not let you. I held you back."

Ari was slightly shocked. He had held her back? She had suspected that one of the elves had held her back, and it had been him, her king. She was very grateful. "Thank you, my king. I am afraid I not only have to repay you for the hospitality you offered me during my travel. But perhaps for my life as well. Who can tell where my dream would have carried me last night."

Thranduil shook his head, "There is nothing to repay, my lady. Tomorrow Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel are leaving my halls. I would like to use the opportunity and invite you to a ride in the forest."

Ari smiled. "I would love to see your forest, my king."

Thranduil's expression was stern once more. "It still leaves us with the problem of you sleeping alone, because of your special dreams."

Ari looked astonished. "What?"

He nodded sternly.

Ari thought a moment. "That will not be a problem. Maybe Hurwen can stay with me?"

Thranduil shook his head. "No. Only I was able to hold you back last night. You will have to sleep in my presence," he explained.

*****

Thranduil returned to his chambers and was faced by Legolas and Galion who had waited for his return.

"I've told her about her new sleeping arrangements and she did not like it. She blushed deeply and was against it. But we found a solution we both agreed to. Hurwen is going to stay with her at nights and I will be there to watch over her, too."

"If this satisfies everyone involved, I think it's a good beginning, my king," said Galion positively.

Thranduil turned towards Legolas. "As you know, tomorrow morning Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel are departing for Rivendell. Please make sure that supplies will be arranged for them. If there is anything in my halls that they may need, please take care of it."

The king's generosity made Galion smile. "The council has requested a meeting for tomorrow. What answer shall I send to them, my king?"

Thranduil turned to him. "There will be no meeting tomorrow. I am going to ride out into the forest with Ari. Legolas, please arrange this as well. I wish to spend the day with my lady in my forest."