Anastasia | Thranduil

Insanity and Another Warning

  Anastasias POV)

It had been now been a month since my return to Mirkwood. I now had been granted more freedom and was allowed to go wherever I wished. Legolas had returned but was acting strange lately, staying away from everyone the best he could. Every time I asked him about it he would deny anything was wrong and would find an excuse to leave. 

Eclipse was healed but decided to stick around, for now at least. Did I mention I was going crazy? I have still been seeing random white animals everywhere I went throughout the day. Last night there was a white snake with blue-green eyes on the path I was walking on. Fluttering outside the kitchen window was a white hummingbird with the same colored eyes as the snake. Just around an hour ago a white horse with bluish green eyes was trotting around outside the gate and squealing. 

Lauren had also been acting out of the ordinary, rarely leaving her room for anything but food and water. Today I let Eclipse roam wherever she wished while I sat in a chair on my balcony, looking over the trees. It was peaceful and the only noise being made was the occasional rustling in the trees and the chirping of birds. I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh air, leaning my head back.

"Hello," a voice chirped.

I nearly fell off of my chair in surprise. My eyes opened in shock and flitted around wildly.

"Show yourself," I said calmly.

"I am, you are just not looking hard enough," the voice huffed.

I continued to search but stopped when a white crow with blue green eyes landed in front of me.

"Hello Anastasia," the bird chirped.

I leapt out of my chair in shock, knocking it over in the process.

"One, you're a bird! How can you talk-"

"Not exactly a bird but go on," she interrupted.

"How do you know my name?"

"The elf King was shouting your name when you and your wolf were attacked by spiders. Nasty creatures I must say, spiders," she stated disdainfully, preening one of her flight feathers.

"Alright, so now I have accepted I'm going crazy so what's your name?"

"You may call me Winter, and you're not going crazy. I'm a shapeshifter of sorts" the bird said.

I raised and eyebrow causing Winter to roll her eyes.

"Surrreeeee."

"I'll prove it then, look familiar?" Winter questioned boredly.

The bird glowed for a second and in its place stood a white deer with the same colors eyes as the bird. It was the deer I had seen while out with Eclipse. Next, the deer was replaced with the snake from yesterday, then back to a bird.

"Okay I believe you then. Soooo why have you been stalking me? Is it because you're bored or what?" I questioned.

"I have come to warn you. I kept wanting to speak with you but I was afraid you would run... That's what everyone else does after all," she spat bitterly.

"Warn me about what?"

"A traitor. The girl who passed for a maid in Rivendell. She is after you and your drake. Perhaps even the throne of Greenwood for all I know. The maid is not who she seems to be-"

"What, Lauren? She's my friend. Why should I believe you?" I asked.

"So that's what she calls herself now. Listen, I know you have no reason to trust me but be careful, keep an eye on her. She will do anything she can to get what she wants. I have to leave now, someone's coming."

"You're still a bird, just stay here for a moment." I offered.

The door opened and in walked Legolas. I sighed and turned to face him.

"Made a new friend?" he questioned, gesturing towards Winter.

"I guess you could say that." I stated tiredly.

"What is she? I have never seen a bird that looks like that before."

"A talking shapeshifting bird," I replied.

"Bye," Winter chirped, spreading her wings.

"Um, hehe, I mean SQUAWK."

With that the odd little bird flew off. Legolas shot me a questioning glance, waiting for an explanation but I just shrugged my shoulders. The prince walked back out of my room, shaking his head lightly. It made me wonder why he had come in in the first place. I sat back down, thinking about Winter, the strange shapeshifter who accused my friend of being a traitor. Wow, I suppose I may very well be going crazy.