The ElvenKing [A thranduil fanfiction]

Chapter 39

Greenwood T.A 2059

                      What chaos ensued in the following weeks after the encounter with Ranîr, was immense. Thranduil had barely been around, spending the majority if his time scouring the forest, searching for Ranîr, but never going near the ruins because the darkness there, had grown stronger. For the last week, this had been the same pattern. The bags under Thranduil's eyes had grown darker again because he was not sleeping again. The nightmares had started to haunt him again, draining his energy while he searched for Ranîr now that his true purpose had been revealed. Our child.

During it all, Ûtridien remained behind in Greenwood. I could see the sheer worry in his usual expression, but also in the silence he had come to have whenever around anyone but Thranduil and me. The revelation of a traitor in our midst had made many paranoid. Ûtridien's company was not unwelcomed, he kept an objective eye on everything, but mostly on Thranduil for some reason.

Charanthir and Voronwë, had also remained at my side, on Thranduil's order. I didn't mind their company, though I could see that it also took its toll on them because they, or Voronwë in particular, had other duties they needed to attend to as well. At first, I had enjoyed it, but now I had become to dread it because it was hard getting just a few moments to myself, though I understood it was to protect me. Charanthir's wound had healed extremely well under the guidance of Ûtridien who had kept him on a tight leash, scolding him the first few days if he wasn't considerable to his new wound. He had managed to reopen it on multiple occations already.

This morning however, it was Ûtridien who had been my companion and then Legolas. He was too observant sometimes and knew perfectly well that something was going on. I inhaled deeply and shifted in the rocking chair, throwing one leg over the other while lifting Legolas who moaned and stretched in my arms but remained asleep. I smiled at him before leaning my cheek against the top of his head. Legolas had become my companion as well, finding me more often throughout the days because he hated his lessons, and because Thranduil didn't oppose it. This kept the two things he treasured the most, safe.

Ûtridien was standing by the windows, enjoying the breeze that moved through. His arms were closed, and I knew he was deep in thought, but always on alert, listening. I looked at him from the corner of my eyes because this was one of the first times he had lingered for so long. His long blue garments stood out like a sore thumb against the usual brown, orange, and green colors that most woodland elves wore. I smiled with the thought before concentrating on Legolas in my arms.

The rocking chair had been moved to the room I was staying in now. It was where I spent most of my time, either just starring into nothing or reading, but also entertaining Legolas for a few hours. The days had become long, but I understood why the measures had been this drastic. It was all for me. When Ûtridien yielded a step backwards, he reclaimed my attention, eyes following him as he walked towards me. He smiled in my direction before moving towards the desk where his herb bag was. He rummaged through it with practiced moves. I chuckled before returning my attention to Legolas in my arms.