Learn To Love - A Thranduil love story [discontinued]

Chapter 4

The healer bathed you, washing your hair and body thoroughly; the feeling of someone serving you felt strange and foreign to you. Several times you would go to do things yourself, and she would stop you. Whilst in the warm water, you noticed how thin you had become, and how bruised your skin was. Your eyes lingered over the white scars from your childhood with Denethor; before you let the memories haunt you further, you immersed yourself in bubbles to hide them from your vision.

After drying you off, she then gave you a strange tasting medicine to drink, before helping you put on a dark green, long sleeved dress that she picked out. The healer was an old looking elf, quite short with a slight hunch to her back. She gave you a pair of black slip-on shoes, before escorting you to the gardens, and before you could thank her she hurriedly bowed to you and left.

You gave a confused look at where she had just been standing; you had never been bowed to before, and you weren't sure how to reply. As you curiously walked into the fresh gardens, a low voice caught your attention straight away.

"You look as you have recovered well." You looked round to see the king in a long, dark red robe, his golden hair resting on his shoulders without his elegant crown.

"The healer is very nice." You smiled and clasped your hands in front of you. "...I assume you wished to see me to hear of my past..?"

"True. However I also wish to know more of you in general. A golden haired elf travelling in the wilderness, accused of kidnapping my son, when actually was saving him. You speak of your master with such fear in your eyes, even when he is human, and you have expressed some sort of hatred towards dwarves, which I understand completely." He stepped closer to you and a small smile spread across his lips. "I can not deny that you have made me somewhat interested in you."

His eyes stared into yours, as though he was reading you. You ripped your eyes from his gaze and bit your lip, walking over to a nearby bench and sitting down, holding your hands in your lap.

"I fear Legolas is awaiting to interrupt again." The king said with amusement in his voice as he sat next to you.

"...my lord, I-"

"No need for such formality. Let us speak as acquaintances; one wood-elf to another. You did save my son's life, after all." He turned his head to you. "Your name was..?"

"Calathiel, my lor-...I mean umm..."

"Thranduil."

"Thranduil." You repeated, enjoying the way his name rolled off your tongue. He began asking you of your past. "I do not know my real family." you started. "I was brought up by a man named Denethor of-"

"Denethor? That human-scum in Minas Tirith?" You nodded.

"He raised me saying that I was abandoned by my parents, who were both elves, and he took me in as his own child...or at least that is what he said."

"He seems nothing more than an alcoholic brute." Thranduil commented, his voice almost monotonous. You couldn't help but smile a little at his response. "Did he inflict those scars on you?" he looked at you, his brows furrowed. You tipped your head and looked at your balled hands. He shook his head in disbelief. "Humans...they seem to be forgetting their place...I take it you managed to escaped."

"Yes...I was directed to an inn which was owned by hobbits. They took me in and raised me to who I am today; I could not be more thankful..."

"Why did you leave?" Thranduil asked.

"...the inn was attacked only a few nights ago by dwarves. They destroyed the one place I called home, and they killed so many people...so I gave myself to them, to save those who were still alive." without realising, a single tear fell from your eye and your voice started to tremble. Everything came tumbling from your mouth as it replayed in your head. "Those wretched dwarves killed innocent men, women, children. They tore families apart, they humiliated me, tortured me, raped me and-!" you were stopped by Thranduil's hand on your shoulder. He looked at you with a shocked expression. "F-forgive me...I did not mean to ramble on like that." His eyes softened sadly. Hesitantly, he pulled you into an awkward, yet gentle embrace.

"I am so sorry to hear that. What you did was brave and honourable; sacrificing yourself for those you loved." He whispered. You let out a shaky sigh, taken aback by his gesture. His hand gently caressed your shoulder blade, and you felt yourself calm down. Inhaling his sweet scent, feeling his warmth radiate onto you, hearing his steady heartbeat from within his chest; you felt safe.

"Ada~!" Legolas's voice called in the distance. Thranduil quickly pulled away and stood up, looking a little flustered.

"I hope to see you at dinner." he stuttered, giving you a small smile before briskly walking towards his son's voice. You watched him as he left, strands of his long hair floating behind him in the wind as he seemed to glide across the ground. Looking down at your hands, you contemplated the situation; here you were in King Thranduil's kingdom, sitting in his gardens after being in a prison cell for several hours, to then being hugged by the king himself, and feeling safe. You tapped your fingers on your lips as you thought about it. You felt strangely welcomed. Not long after, a maid approached you and took you to a room, which was designated to be yours.

It was a large, yet cosy room with dark wooden floors, a grand bed, and a writing desk. On the opposite side of the room was a door, which lead to your own bathroom. Fiddling with your fingers, you slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, glancing your eyes at the details of the room. The bedsheets and pillows shimmered silver, and the silky material was smooth to touch.

You approached the window, staring at the vast view the sun setting over the forest.

'I'm so far from home...' You thought, scanning your eyes across the unfamiliar realm you were in. You felt your eyes become moist as you thought of June and Edwin. Clamping your hand over your mouth, you tried to hold back a sob. Edwin dead, and June's whereabouts unknown. She could be dead. Perhaps the dwarves tracked her and the rest of the group down and killed them. Your stomach turned at these thoughts and you shook your head to be rid of them.

As much as you wished with all your heart that she was safe, you had a very bad feeling that that was not the case.

I hope you enjoyed reading this part! :) Sorry it took a while to upload; I hope it was worth the wait haha XD

Let me know what you think! I decided to make ol' Thrady a bit softer in this chappy since he was a bit of a meanie in the last few chapters haha ^_^

Stay tuned!

Chiyo xxx