The ElvenKing [A thranduil fanfiction]

Chapter 38

Greenwood T.A 2059

           Despite the comfort Thranduil's presence had provided me when I fell asleep, my dreams had not been pleasant. They had been uncomfortable, bordering nightmarish because I truly feared what Ranîr would do once our child would be born. I had woken up in tears. They had tainted my cheeks for quite a while, mostly due to the nightmares still haunting me after I woke up but also because Thranduil had not been at my side. But because I had been so lost in my own thoughts and the remaining nightmare which had clung to me, I had not realized who now sat in the rocking chair on my right.

It was the soft rhythmic creaking that brought me out of my trance, head snapping towards the sound. More tears emerged due to how foolish I felt in that moment. Thranduil had not left me without good reason. He was seated in the rocking chair with Legolas in his arms. His eyes were closed while his chin rested on top of his son's head. Legolas was still awake, I could see his open eyes glinting in the moonlight because he had also been crying.

I knew he had come to find me because a nightmare had haunted his sleep, which were to be expected after the day we'd both had. I inhaled deeply before turning to lie on my side, the motion made Thranduil open his eyes and look at me. He seemed exhausted while sitting there, still he managed a soft smile. Legolas also felt the shift in his father and sat up while rubbing his eyes. I watched Thranduil extend the smile to his son before standing up. He held Legolas tightly while closing the distance between us. At the bed, he took a knee before placing Legolas down in front of. The young prince looked utterly exhausted when he curled up next to me.

Thranduil took the little space there was left behind Legolas while I started running my hand through his hair, securing several strands behind his ear, my fingers spending some time following the arch of his ear while I started humming the melody I knew he enjoyed. Thranduil exhaled deeply before shifting closer, his head coming to rest on the same pillow as my own. His forehead pressed against mine while I continued to hum for Legolas, who didn't seem to be the only one enjoying it.

It didn't take long before Legolas was fast asleep again and Thranduil dared claim my attention. The sun had all but disappeared below the threes, diminishing the light as it made way for night to claim the lands. I smiled when Thranduil pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Ûtridien has already arrived, he came not long after sundown." Thranduil announced in a quiet voice while sitting up. The movement made Legolas groan and stretch, but he didn't wake up because I placed a hand on his back for comfort. "He is tending to Charanthir's injuries at the moment because you were still asleep when he arrived."

Thranduil rubbed his temples before leaving the bed. He moved to the desk where he had hung his cloak before joining me. He took it on, fumbling with the folds for a few minutes longer than necessary as if he tried to stall. Then soft knocks announced the arrival of someone else. Thranduil yielded a step as the door was opened and Ûtridien stepped in. He smiled while lowering his head, a hand over his heart in greeting. "Ûtridien—" I greeted while Thranduil picked Legolas up. The young prince groaned but remained asleep while Thranduil carried him away.