Once Upon A Dream (Thranduil Fanfic)

Chapter 34- Of Myths and Lies

Loki stood on the balcony overlooking Asgard. His green eyes were focused in concentration on the Bifrost, watching as the rays of light flickered against the night sky. Tonight was one of the quieter nights under his rule; everyone seemed to be coming and going so quickly since he had become king, he didn't have much time to himself. So many things to do, so many people to speak to, so many matters to address, he hadn't truly appreciated the role of a king until now, and as he closed his eyes against the cool breeze, he knew it was for the best that Thor had been banished. The blonde would not have kept Asgard running for this long.

Of course, he thought as he looked over to the golden scepter gripped in his right hand, he had the help of his mother Frigga; without her, what would he do? But there was something else missing, someone he felt he needed, a void that needed to be filled....

Catalina.

******

Thranduil walked silently along the narrow stone path that led down to the elven dungeons. His careful footsteps echoed in the long corridors, and the quiet sounds of his breathing sounded in only his ears. He drew in a breath as he approached a locked cell door, catching a glimpse of a hunched figure in the far corner of the cell.

"Veryangole...." He called softly to his friend.

His friend's head turned slightly. "What do you want Elven King?" The elf's hair was tangled and unkempt, his face stained with dirt and large circles underneath his eyes. "Have you come to gloat?"

"No Veryangole, you know I would not." The king placed his hands behind his back. "I have simply come to talk."

"I hate her, that is all." Veryangole turned sharply around and got up. "If she was dead, the nine realms would be a better place!"

"But why Veryangole? Why you've ossified yourself to believe this is yet and still a mystery to me." Thranduil looked down upon the former advisor who glared into the blue eyes of the king.

"Do you know what she is King? Do you know who she is?"

Thranduil furrowed his eyebrows, "she was princess-"

"You do not know a thing do you? You know not the curse she will bring upon this place. Every enemy, every evil, vile thing will be looking for her once they get to hear of her, and it will not just be Sauron himself: it will be every disgusting creature in the nine realms. She is a valuable prize you know." He paused to let his words sink in. It was clear the elven king was searching through his memory to try and figure it out. "That is why she was driven out of Asgard. She was not wanted there."

"She is not dangerous Veryangole. She's but an innocent girl-"

"She was never innocent Thranduil! Not from the start!" Veryangole grabbed the bars of the door. "She tricks and manipulates your heart. She makes you believe lies. She is not innocent." The elf made a relieved exhale, as if glad to get it off of his chest. "I once believed her innocent; when I first saw her as a young woman, not yet fifteen hundred. Big green eyes and rosy cheeks, just a little girl. She learned that song so fast and sang it as if she had been singing it for years...." The elf lowered his head, still hanging on to the cell door bars. "I never believed I would ever see her differently. When you had informed me of her coming to Mirkwood I felt as if one of the Valar themselves had given me a gift.... But when I saw her," he swallowed, "she was not the same girl I remembered. She herself did not even remember me. I felt betrayed...." Veryangole sighed and put his head against the bars. "I then learned of her identity; I became angry. I suppose it is the reaction of all who learn of it, yet as I watched you fall in love with her, I was torn. I wanted to tell you, yet I couldn't. My Lord, you are my most trusted friend, and I could not bear to see your heart broken again. I've hung Eluriel's death over your head for so long I had forgotten your feelings, and when she came, you were happy...." He swallowed hard again and gripped the bars, trying to keep himself steady. "I couldn't tell you; I couldn't bring myself to. So I let it go, but every time I saw her, I became angry again, and I couldn't love her as you do."