Once Upon A Dream (Thranduil Fanfic)

Chapter 7-Treacherous Waters

January and February passed and the spring months raced by. June began to creep in, as did the heat, and the elven warriors began to patrol in the shadows, keeping cool in the dark portions of the forest. The long river began to lower, its rapids slowing to a calm steady pace as the heat evaporated the majority of the water. The sun made the rocks hot, and it was about the beginning of the time when elves would leave the shade of their underground kingdom to soak in the lower waters.

"You know how to swim don't you Catalina?" A young elf guard by the name of Daugion asked the princess as a small group of warriors made for the river. The soldiers had their own designated days off, and on this particularly hot morning, only Catalina, Tauriel and a handful of others had the day to themselves; Legolas had a meeting with his father and other officials.

"Yes I know how to swim. If being nearly drowned by Thor didn't do it, then being pushed into Asgard's deepest lake certainly did." Catalina tossed a towel over her shoulder.

"Who did that to you?" Daugion asked.

"My evil twin Loki," the princess followed Tauriel to the edge of the water.

"And you love them?"

"No, I said that we put up with each other. I don't know why one of us hasn't left permanently yet. Maybe it's because we really do love each other, even though we don't really say it." Catalina unbuckled her boots and slipped off her socks and stuck her toes in the water. The rest of the elves followed, and soon everyone was in the water. They sunk into the calm liquid, soaking in the warmth of the sun and the cool water.

Catalina stood on her knees, her face above the surface, watching the elves lay still and quiet. Daugion's face poked out of the water, his pointy ears and his body submerged.

Catalina pushed a little wave with her hand, that ran over his face, causing him to jerk out of the water suddenly.

"Why did you do that?" He sputtered as he spat water from his mouth.

"I didn't mean it," Catalina grinned and splashed him again.

"Oh, I give up!" Daugion splashed back, causing Tauriel to splash him, and then the other elves. Soon the entire half of the river held choppy waters as the group made artificial waves as they attempted to outdo each other.

Suddenly Daugion's body went under. He came up gasping, his breath being squeezed out by an enormous snake. Another soldier's body was coiled in the wrap, and the group scrambled out of the river, searching desperately for their weapons.

Tauriel and the others shot arrows, but the points did not lodge in the hard scales. Daugion fought with the snake, his comrade fighting near him. They fought, but to no avail as the snake wrapped itself tighter around them.

Catalina grabbed her dagger and ran into the water, despite the urgent pleas of the others. On a rampage of pure impulse, she stabbed wherever she found scales. As she sunk the blade into yet another spot, she felt the cold surface of the snake wrap around her neck and shoulders. She gasped, gulping for air as the snake kept tightening itself.

The sound of galloping hooves made the others turn around, and the king and a hoard of soldiers ran toward the river in armor.

Catalina shakily sucked in one more breath as her eyes looked into the evil eyes of the serpent. On her last impulse, Catalina drove the dagger into the snake's skull. It fell away from their bodies and sunk to the bottom of the river.

Everyone rushed into the water and pulled the three warriors out. Daugion and the other soldier were unconscious and Catalina flashed in between consciousness and unconsciousness.

Everything was blurry, figures came and went, and someone was kneeling over her. Her throat hurt, and she felt liquid in her mouth and running down her face.

"Princess? Can you hear me? Catalina?" Legolas held her shoulders and gasped as he saw blood running from her mouth.

A wagon was brought out, and the three soldiers were placed carefully in the bed of the wagon and taken back to the palace.

Legolas and Tauriel followed the wagon closely, keeping a close eye on the soldiers. The king came after them. He shook his head in regret, in worry of what would happen to the princess. It was his fault that she was hurt, he should not have let her bargain her way into leaving the palace, leaving his sight. What if Heimdall saw and told Odin about it? What would he do? Would their alliance break? The king sighed shakily and rode in through the gates behind the other guards.

*****

Catalina woke up a few hours later in her bed inside of the elven palace. She sighed and looked around and met the eyes of Iellwen, who jumped at seeing the princess staring at her.

"My lady, you're awake!" She stood up and removed a cold wet cloth from the princess's forehead.

"What happened?" Catalina asked, her voice small and sore.

"You saved those warriors from the snake. But I fear that one is dead now. You did the best you could." Iellwen sighed and put her fingers on Catalina's neck. "I think you will be alright. I'd advise not straining to speak more than a few words at a time." She said, but her orders went unheeded.

"Daugion is dead?"

"No, the other guard. Hebion. He helped you kill the monster, but he passed right after. It is a sad thing." Iellwen shushed her.

Catalina's eyes filled with tears, her already sore throat tightening. He was dead. And she hadn't done the best she could. She hadn't worked fast enough, she hadn't used any powers. She hadn't kept him alive.

She sunk into the pillows and closed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears of guilt. Apologies could not help this situation, and a trick could not reverse time.