ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ [ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴀɴᴅᴜɪʟ x ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 18 - New Life

For what seemed about the hundredth time this week I ended up back in my favourite place in Mirkwood. The library. I traced the spines of the countless books many of which I had read and settled on one of my favourites the one Thranduil had shown me when I was first injured by the spiders.

Sitting down in my favourite chair I sighed contently opening the book and smelling the familiar comforting smell of parchment. Rain tapped softly on the windows as I read on the only other sound in the room for a while was the rain and my rhythmic flicking of pages.

"And you say I have bad posture," A warm voice chuckled in front of me.
I looked up to see the blonde King in front of me with a smirk plastered on his face.
"That is be used you do have terrible posture and seemed to be unable to sit on any chair properly," I countered closing the book with care after marking my page.

"There may be some truth there Meleth nîn,"
"May?" I laughed rising slowly and placing the book down on the chair.

I sauntered up Thranduil.
"I think it's more of a definitely than a maybe at this point without fail I think every single time I see you you're slouched in a chair and don't get me started on the throne. I swear no one ever taught you how to sit correctly." I wrapped my arms around his neck still laughing lightly to myself.

"Something tells me it's a little too late to learn."

"A few thousand years too late I would think,"
We both laughed.

"Come, there is something I want to show you," he said lacing his fingers with my own. I looked up at his quizzically through stands of black and white hair.

We walked in comfortable silence through Mirkwood and then outside the large front gate.
"Now I really am curious," I muttered gazing up at the dark sky above us littered with millions of glowing stars of all sizes.
We walked up what seemed to be an old staircase which wove into the tall hick tree surrounding the front of the kingdom.

Shadows of leaves surrounded us as well as outlines of long thins branches which we had to occasionally push out of the way on our ascent to wherever it was Thranduil wished to take me.

What I found myself focussing more on than anything else was Thranduil's hand. It was shaking. Not a lot just ever so slightly. It made me wonder what it would be that would make him nervous I doubt it would be the height seeing as he walked this path with the familiarity of one who had used it many times. I found myself drawing a blank for reasons so instead just decided to enjoy the view as we finally made it to the top. The wooden boards creaked underfoot as we stepped on.

"What is this place?" I questioned scanning a couple of chairs and a small wooden table sat in this treehouse-like structure.
"Somewhere I used to go when k was young. I brought you here because of the view," Thranduil examined leading me over to the edge. The view was beautiful it had to be said but I couldn't focus on it fully what with Thranduil seeming to grow more nervous next to me.

"What is going on with you?" I asked an eyebrow raised.
"What do you mean?"
"I think you know exactly what I mean," I teased.
He sighed in defeat but still, the nervousness was there which was something thst I had never really seen with home ever before.

"Ever since you went away I have been thinking about doing and even so much as planning how to do it but now it seems I have forgotten it all," He chuckled and plucked a single silver ring from his pocket.
My eyes widened in surprise and a wide smile spread across my face.
"Araniel will you marry me?" The hand that still held my own squeezed tightly as he looked at me questioningly with bright blue eyes that reflected the light of the moon.
"I can't think of anyone I would rather spend eternity with than you,"

He smiled broadly too lifting me off of the floor in a tight joy-filled hug.
"There is no one I would rather spend eternity with either," he said setting me back down on the ground.

We spent a long time up there talking and laughing but soon we decided it was time to return. We walked back down the stone steps as the wind swept around us blowing our hair gently. We made it back to my room first but where I would usually part from him Thranduil kept my hand tightly in his grasp moving to his room instead. I couldn't say I objected.

The next day I was out with Laeanna doing some archery in the training grounds so far she was yet to notice the band of silver that shone brightly on my finger. In fact, she didn't spot it at all. Astra had come out to join us once she had sorted out a few things.
"I can't believe he did it!" She had exclaimed just after I had sent an arrow whistling into the target embedding it solidly.
"Did what?" Laeanna questioned.
"Asked her to marry her?" Astros answered in a teasing sing-song manner.
"Thranduil? Asked Ara to marry him? What a terrible decision," Laeanna smirked.
"You are so rude Laeanna," I exclaimed swatting her arm but unable to hide my smile at the comment.
"You're like a sister to me what do you expect me to do?"
"Nothing less," I smiled.
"Now are you sure you want to marry King grump a lot who also had asshole tendencies," She questioned somewhat seriously.
"I know you don't see eye to eye a lot of the time Laeanna but yes I am sure. I love him and he is not like that with me."
"I think I speak for both of us when we say we just want you to be happy and also if he hurts you in any way we shall be ready to take revenge," The green-eyed elf smirked hugging me.
"I wouldn't expect any less from my two best friends.

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Despite typical elven traditions Thranduil and I were married within two weeks of our engagement. The announcement caused some outrage amongst the people given my past and recent actions involving the dark elves but never the less, for the most part, I was accepted. The wedding had been amazing and my mother had even helped me get ready since my return for the second time she seemed to have thought better of me and decided I was not like my father as much as she thought.

A few months on from the wedding I was heading to the throne room this time it was my hands shaking. A guard opened the large wooden door and as usual, I was faced with my husband perched extravagantly on his throne.

"You know I do hope our child does not take after you when it comes to chairs,"