ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ [ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴀɴᴅᴜɪʟ x ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 7- Discovery

I laid back on the bed for a while before Thranduil reentered carrying a few books.
"Someone will be by with food shortly, " he said sitting down in the chair by the bed where Laeanna had originally been. Thranduil handed me a large book bound in leather.
"You know I should get bitten by spiders more often if it means I have The King Thranduil waiting on me, " I smirked.
"Don't get used to it and certainly don't get bitten by any more spiders. I can't keep coming to your rescue, " He replied with a smile.
"How did you even know I had gone?"
"I had heard someone calling for you and then once I heard the sound of a horn I put two and two together knowing that Laeanna had been sent out today, " He explained.
"Thank you for coming. I had feared that no-one would for I believe Laeanna and I are the least liked in this kingdom me, of course, being the most disliked, "
"I will always come to your rescue though do try to keep yourself out of danger, "
"I can't make any promises, " I replied before looking at the book in my hands. The spine was cracked and worn in many places.
"This has certainly been read many times, " I acknowledged.
"Indeed it has, "
Thranduil and I settled into a peaceful silence and read for a while before another elf came in with some food. She seemed to be quite young. My gaze settled on her and the food she was carrying. She set it down at the end of the bed. She looked back at me and her eyes swept across my hair, then my eyes and lastly they settle on the left side of my face. That's where the burns were from my time with the dark elves. They sat across the lower part of my jaw and the top of my neck. She looked away when she realised she was staring and swiftly left the room without another word.
"People should learn its rude to stare," Thranduil said looking at the now-closed door.
"It's nothing I'm not used to Thranduil. When I was an elfling the people in the village I lived all used to stare at me. Mothers pulled their children closed when they walked by even though I was only ten years old,"
"That cannot have been easy for you,"
"It wasn't fun. It was part of the reason I ran away. I was just so tired of being stared at. It was only later that I took it in my stride taking pride in how scared people were of me," I explained.
Thranduil frowned.
"That is not very good either,"
"I know but it was either that or stay sad about how lonely and isolated I was. Even with the dark elves I still stuck out. I've never fitted in anywhere. In the human village, I always stuck out partly for being an elf but mostly because the whole town knew of what my father was and looking as I do even without the scars I don't exactly blend in. That's why I was so hopeful when the dark elves took me in I thought that maybe I would finally belong somewhere finally have a home. I forced myself to believe that place was home for 1000 years but my friend's betrayal was the thing I needed to wake up and realise it wasn't home the people there were truly evil. They had fallen completely into the darkness, "
"Whereas you have a chance to come back to the light," Thranduil cut me off.
"I think so... I really hope so, "
"Have you ever wondered about why your hair is how it is?"
"I used to but I gave up searching for an answer a long time ago," I replied.
"All Dark elves have black hair it is a sign of their corruption. Your mother has white hair, as you know, and so yours is half and half. But it doesn't have to be. You are not the first half breed dark elf to have lived but may be the only one still living now,"
"Well that's a great comfort," I cut in Thranduil gave me a mild glare before continuing.
"Your hair changes with you. The more you stray from the light the darker it becomes but the better you are, the closer you come to light, the more white it becomes,"
"I doubt that is really true,"
"I doubted too until I looked at your hair once I had rescued you, "
I looked at him and saw nothing but sincerity. I pushed myself out of bed and tried to walk forward but stumbled. Before I could fall onto the hard ground strong arms wrapped around my waist and I fell into a strong chest.
"Be careful, " He smirked.
"I'm fine, " I said pushing away from him trying to hide the blush that had coated my cheeks. This was certainly new.
"I believe you've already said that many times and I am still no inclined to believe you, " Thranduil replied.
"Just help me to the mirror would you, " I said with a sigh noting the smirk plastered on his face.
Thranduil wrapped an arm around my waist and helped me to the mirror. I was stunned to see that in fact there was less black running through the white of my hair.
"How?"
"Now that, I believe, only the lady Galadriel would know, "
"Yes, she has the gift of foresight doesn't she?"
"Yes, "
"I may have to go see her I have many questions that I have wanted answers to for so long, "
"I don't know if that is best. You are still seen as a threat by most,"
"But Lady Galadriel would know I'm not there to harm her," I persuaded.
"That is true, "
"So do I have your permission to go and see her?" I asked looking up at him.
"I suppose so but you will only go once you are fully healed and Laeanna and another representative of mine will go with you, "
"I think I can manage that but no others I don't want you sending an entire army with me,"
"I just want you safe, "
"I know and I will be fine I promise. I know my way around a blade, "
"Then you shall have to prove it as one last test before you leave for your journey to Lothlorien and before you join the guard," he said.
"But you already said I could go and that I could join the guard," I objected.
"Well I am the King in these lands and you will follow my orders, "
"Oh so now they're orders?" I questioned with a smirk.
"Yes, they are,"
"So how is it that I will prove that I know how to use a blade,"
"Sparing," he replied shortly.
"And who is it that I shall be sparing with?" I inquired.
"Me,"
"You?"
"Yes, me. Is that so bad?" He asked leading me back to the bed.
"No just...interesting,"
"And why is it interesting,"
"Because I will be able to see how you react when you lose," I smirked.
"Who said anything about me losing?"
"I believe I just did, "
"You are clearly in need of rest. I will come back in the morning when you are thinking more clearly," he joked heading for the door.
"Thank you again Thranduil for saving my life," I said before he left.
"Any time," he replied before disappearing through the door.