An iceling in mirkwood ~ thranduil love story

Chapter 7 ~ new feelings and hidden powers

The king slipped into bed after the ball, tired and feeling the repercussions of drinking a little too much wine. As He lay next to helke he couldn't help but urge to hold helke to him. He slowly slipped and arm around her and pulled her close to his chest as she I continued to sleep. She stirred slightly but settled down, nuzzling into the kings chest. He slowly stroked her soft hair as she slept. He knew people had seen what she was capable of and he was sure trouble would follow soon. As he ran his fingers through her long white hair he looked at the picture of him, his wife and son. He scowled at the guilt that rose up his chest. She had been dead for so many years now, he had grieved enough. But he still felt he loved her. As he was about to settle down for the night he pricked up and listened. He felt suddenly unnerved and on edge. He listened but all he could hear was helke's gently breathing. He pulled the covers over the two of them more and lay down unsurely to sleep...

It was not the sun that woke him the next morning but the absence of his iceling. He shot up suddenly and looked around. He quickly got dressed, not bothering with his crown and bolted out. He took a deep breath once outside his chambers. He thought if he seemed panicked his people would panic and he had enough on his plate with the talk of war. He walked briskly to the stables and to his surprise she wasn't there. He checked anywhere which he knew she knew of. "Where are you?" He muttered to himself as he strolled through his halls.....

Meanwhile...

"I know it's hard. It took me a while to get use to it, just try pulling it back as far as you can" encouraged legolas. He had found helke sitting around rather aimlessly in the kitchens that morning and asked if she would like a go at archery. She wasn't very muscular so pulling the bow back was troublesome for her. She had not yet been able to hit the target, missing by a few inches each time.

"You know, I do not see a lot of you. My father often keeps you in his room" said legolas as he strung another arrow for her.

"He's...kind. And generous" she said.

He smiled and said "he's not always in a such a good mood".

Helke smiled as she pulled the string back and far as she could, concentrated and released. Legolas stared as the arrow hit the bullseye. He took the bow and checked everything was as it should be.

"Jealous?" She teased lightheartedly. Legolas smiled at her and she grinned.

"My father is quite fond of you" he said as he fetched the arrows for her to try again.

"How can you tell?" She questioned.

"Just the way he is around you. Protective, gentle. Like he doesn't want to scare you off" legolas explained.

"He can be scary?" Helke asked as she picked up the elegant arrow.

"Only trouser browningly" he said and helke burst out laughing.

------>

"You there" the king said demandingly to a young she elf. She curtsied and said "yes your highness?"

"Have you seen the iceling in these halls?" He asked, his eyes cold. He had searched everywhere and had not found a trace of her and was beginning to worry.

"Last I saw of her she was in the kitchens m'lord" she said respectfully and thranduil swept off to the kitchens. He couldn't piece together why on earth she would want to go to the kitchens!

As soon as he stepped in everything went silent. "I was told helke was here?" He questioned.

"Your son took her out to practice archery" said the elf who was head of the kitchens.

"Am I to go on a wild goose chase?!" He asked himself as he slammed the door shut and stormed off to the training grounds which where outside of the palace.

Sure enough the white haired beauty and his son were there. The king watched from afar as helke strung an arrow and let it fly, each one hitting the target, sometimes even the bullseye.

He stepped forwards, closer and closer until legolas said "ah, father" and helke dropped the bow in surprise, the arrow flying off randomly.

Helke could not help feel like a child being told off as thranduil looked down at her coldly.

"Do you realise the extent I had to go through to find you?" He asked and legolas shuffled uncomfortably. "Or how worried I became?" He pressed. Helke just looked down.

"But father, she was quite safe with me-"

"And you" thranduil said coldly. "You should have known better than to bring her out into the heat, let alone outside the palace" he said angrily.

The two stood in front of the king looking at their feet as he bared down on them like an angry bear.

"You must come back to the palace. And you should be on duty" he commanded, looking from helke to his son. Helke sighed quietly and looked at legolas and his bow longingly.

"Bye" said legolas as he packed up his bow and headed towards the forest.

"Are you not happy in my company?" The king asked once legolas was out of hearing range.

"Of course I am. I just got fidgety for being in all day" she said quietly, suddenly feeling extremely tired.

"I only wish to protect you" he said defensively. She yawned widely and stumbled left slightly before the king caught her.

"The sun is taking it's affects on you" he said as he held her safely. The sun would heat icelings, melting the Ice crystals in their body and making them highly weak, in some cases even killing them. She clung to him as he picked her up and brought her inside. He only became worried when she began panting and her head began to lull back, her eyes becoming unfocused. He brought her to his bathroom quickly and did the only thing he knew to, He let some water pour into a bucket and drenched her (clothed and all). She gasped as the water hit her and ran down her body. He continued to drench her to cool her off until the ice began to freeze.

"I feel ill" she said as he grabbed a soft towel.

"You need to stay out of the sun" he explained as he placed the towel on top of her head and gently dried her white hair. The two stared at each other as he dried her hair until she leaned in and connected their lips. He kissed back and dropped the towel as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He gently nibbled on her lower lip, asking for entry but she didn't pick up on the subtle hint. He gently nudged her lips with his tongue and she opened her mouth experimentally. She moaned as he rubbed his tongue against her's and his hands slipped down to her hips. She ran her fingers through his soft blonde hair as he ran kisses down her neck, occasionally nipping and sucking. She moaned loudly when he hit her soft spot. He smirked to himself and bit down and sucked, creating a purple mark of dominance. He kissed her her neck but stopped when he reached her cleavage. He looked at her and straightened up. He ran a hand over her breasts and she gasped when his thumb ran over the hardened numb. She pressed her self to him and he picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. He walked to the bed and lay her down and climbed on top.

"You are beautiful" he whispered as he admired her gorgeous hair, spread out like a fan underneath her.

"You are handsome" she said and he smiled. He kissed her again but with more passion. She kissed back hungrily and he ran her hands up his sides, than suddenly.....burning. There was a burning cold sensation on his lips. He hissed in pain and pulled away quickly and touched his lip to find them freezing cold. He looked down to see frost beginning to collect underneath helke. He went over to the mirror and checked his lip. It was indeed paler than usual, it appeared she had almost given him frost bite.

"I'm sorry" she said quietly from the bed.

"You are nervous?" He asked as he turned around. She shook her head honestly.

"Scared?" he questioned, she shook her head again. He scowled and looked down.

"I must go. Rest" he said shortly and swept out of his chambers. There was one thought running in his head all the time he was walking to his throne room. 'Could there be more to icelings than were written in books? Things nobody knew about?'....