I Am My Own (Reader x Thranduil)

Chapter 25

"I'll write regularly, I promise," I told my mother who was latched onto me.

"You had better. I'm going to miss you," she said as she pulled away.

My father took hold of her, basically prying her away from my company and into the wagon with the others. It was hard to believe they were actually leaving. My father climbed aboard his dark brown horse and gave me a final wave goodbye.

It wasn't easy watching those I had been with all my life shrink as they faded away into the distance. Thranduil, who had come with me to see my family off, placed one of his hands on my shoulder.

"It's not good bye forever," he said to make me feel better.

"I know," I said twisting the ring on my finger.

He turned me to face him.

"We can always visit...whenever you want."

His eyes were pleading. I knew he wanted me to feel better about this and he was doing everything in his power to make that happen.

I took one of his hands and placed it to my lips. He was searching my face for emotion.

"Thank you," I whispered.

We went back inside but didn't get much time together. Thranduil had to attend to duties with the army and that left me to myself. I was lost, wandering the halls in search of something to do.

What does a princess do here?

I thought for a moment I could go find some of the servants in the castle who might need some help. Perhaps Queen Daealla would have something for me to do.

I stopped a young elleth in the hallway to ask her where I might find the Queen. She dipped her head with a bow and clung a little tighter to the white cloth she had been carrying.

"Last I saw her was in the garden, My Lady."

"Thank you."

It was easy for me to navigate the halls to the garden by now. It was my favorite part of the castle.

When I got there, just as the elleth had said, Daealla was there, along with a servant who held a basket in her hands. Her silver hair shone brightly against the sunlight and the delicate jewels that hung down from her head glistened at the slightest movements. They're backs were turned to me so I was going to have to make myself known.

"Queen Daealla," I said once I was close enough to where I wouldn't have to yell.

When the two turned, I was greeted with a bright smile from my mother-in-law and the cold eyes of Valori who stood impassive as she shifted the basket from one arm to the other. I hadn't thought of Valori since before the wedding and it threw me off that I didn't recognize her from the back.

"My dear (Y/N), do you need something," Daealla asked.

"That's exactly what I was going to ask you, actually. I wanted to know if there was anything I could help with."

"Actually," she said as she lightly tapped her chin in thought, "there is. Perhaps you could join me on a walk around the garden. I'm cutting some fresh flowers to place inside."

"Of course," I smiled and took a quick glance at Valori.

Queen Daealla took the basket from her.

"Valori, you are free to go."

She bowed to the Queen, turned to me and gave me a slightly smaller bow and left without saying a word. I couldn't help but turn and watch her as she walked past me and disappeared behind a corner created by a row of rose bushes.