An iceling in mirkwood ~ thranduil love story

Chapter 13 ~ like father...like son?!!

The king was true to his word. He kept helke close at ALL times, keeping her in his throne room when he was tending to business, even if she was unhappy with it. Thranduil was beginning to feel like he was trying to train a puppy as he often caught her trying to sneak out and scolded her. Unaware to both of them the kings's son, Legolas, was watching and found the scenes slightly comical but more often than not....sad. He saw helke like a butterfly that needed to stretch her wings but was being coped up in fear of her flying away.

At the moment she was staring out a window longingly in the throne room. The king took a breath to speed to her when he saw she was staring out the window and sighed. A small pretty blue bird flew in and she smiled as it landed on her hand and cheered cheerfully, but gasped in horror as the pretty creature frosted over and fell to the floor. dead. She retracted her hand away from the window quickly and crossed her arms.

Her powers were overflowing now after being kept in doors without exercise or fresh air for a week now.

"Helke" called the king softly when helke bent down and picked up the small bird. She gently ran a finger over it's silky feathers sadly, a melancholy expression on her face.

The stepped down from his throne and looked over her shoulder as she continued to stroke the dead blue bird.

"It's dead" she croaked quietly as she stared at the bird.

"Helke" started the king but he did not know quite what to say. He gently took the bird from her hands as she continued to stare at the spot it had been on her hands moments ago.

"I think it maybe time for you to get some air" he said to a lethargic helke and she just nodded tiredly.

As many people rejoiced at the warm summer that was blooming in thranduil's kingdom , helke hated it and could not wait for winter to come. She could only stay out for 5 minutes before she began to feel lightheaded and had to come back in.

Not long after the king and helke returned to the throne room a tall female elf with ginger hair walked in.

"M'lord I wish to speak to you" she said bowing neatly. "Alone, if that is convenient" she added, looking to helke.

The king too looked at helke and said "very well, but make it quick, helke you may retire in my chambers" said the king, looking down to helke and the ginger elf. The elleth looked down as helke left quickly and turned to walk down the halls to the king's chamber. As she turned a corner she bumped straight into someone. She looked up nervously and a smiled "legolas" she said, her accent not quite spot on so sounded more like 'legalas'.

"Helke! I thought you would be with my father!" He guessed after watching her being glued to him for a week.

"Him and another elleth are having a private conversation. I have to go to his chambers" she said sadly.

"Well, I don't think a few minutes of fresh air would do any harm" legolas hinted and helke looked up, smiling widely.

"But thranduil-" she started nervously

"I will not tell if you do not" he teased and she smiled widely as she crept through the halls with the king's son, nervous excitement bubbling in her stomach. She stopped in the doorway of the halls and looked out as the sun shined brightly.

"I can't" she said, looking out at the heat.

"The forest will provide enough shade, come" he said and jogged lightly over to the thick forest and helke sprinted after him. Sure enough the forest trees provided a wide range of shade, allowing helke to wonder in comfort.

"Are you not scared?" Asked helke as she brushed by a tree and it frosted over.

"Why should I be? You are not malicious by any means" replied legolas confidently as he strode through the forest next to helke.

"Malicious?" She asked curiously, not knowing the meaning of the word.

"You mean no harm to come to others, you are kind" explained legolas slowly, looking down at the iceling, admiring her soft beauty. He had never really had the chance to admire the iceling until now and it was only now that he realised why his father was so fond of her.

"Teach me some elvish" begged helke as they walked through the leaves and blossom.

"Well that are a few different types of elves and elvish" explained legolas as he tried to bite back laugh when he saw helke was bare footed.

"What?" Asked helke quickly, looking down at her feet than smiled.

"They are uncomfortable" she complained, referring to shoes. "Anyway, different types of elves" she pressed, nudging legolas playfully.

"Right, right. There are noldor's, the highest type of elves, then Sindar's which is what me and my father are. Then lastly there is silvans" he explained. "Language wise there's sindarin which is what we speak and quenya" he finished.

Helke stared up at him blankly and Legolas laughed "okay, we'll just do some Sindarin" he chortled as he tried to think of some easy words

"Hello is suilad" he said slowly.

"Suilad" helke copied and he nodded.

"Um, thank you is le hannon" he said and she mimicked.

"The common elvish for ice is helke" said legolas and watched helke smile widely but tried to hide it.

"Bain is beautiful" he said and something changed in his voice. It was gentler, more caring...and loving...

Helke just looked down, deciding not to mimic the word this time.

"Mel is love" he said, brushing his hand against helke and helke stopped in her tracks and looked up at the elvish prince. Legolas too stopped and looked down at helke, then leaned down until their lips were inches away....