Blessed by the Stars (Thranduil X OC Story)

Chapter 13: Meal Time

"I think I'm part Dunedain."

Thranduil slowly nodded, his hands sliding down my face. He knelt before me still lost in thought.

Suddenly he sprang up and walked over to the window behind his desk , he folded his hands behind his back. "I will send a messenger to Isildur and see if he is missing any kinswoman. Maybe you belong in Gondor?"

A small pit formed in my stomach, like I knew that wasn't quite right. But I stayed quiet, my stomach on the other hand betrayed me quite spectacularly by letting out a massive growl.

The Elvenking whipped around, blue eyes piercing into me. A slow smile spread across his face. "Forgive me for being an inhospitable king, you have not yet eaten your entire stay here."

He stepped toward me holding out his hand "Come they should be serving the mid day meal in the great halls now."

I took his hand as he helped me from my seat, his hand felt warm, it was rougher than expected, callused, which spoke of his years spent as a trained warrior. His thumb skimmed the back of my hand before lifting it to rest on his forearm , "If I may , General , It would be my pleasure to escort you. "

I mutely nodded, The Elvenking was so dang charming.

We walked in a comfortable silence. I couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful Mirkwood was in the afternoon light. It almost glowed.
I was startled out of my thoughts by the Elvenking's rich voice.

"We have arrived at our destination General Telcontar."

I looked up to see a great banquet hall stretching so far with tables of food lining the wall, elves milled about talking and laughing , selecting their foods from the buffet.

The Elvenking led me to a table at the end of the hall on a raised platform. There was a table with three high back chairs , the most elaborate one made of carved wood in the middle was obviously his. He pulled out the chair to his right and motioned for me to sit.

I shifted uncomfortably as I felt the eyes of the elves in the hall upon me. Servants came and laid plates of food before Thranduil and I , he poured me a glass of wine. "General , if I may you seem uncharacteristically quiet. Tell me your mind."

"I feel like everyone is staring at me."

"That's because they are."

I took a bite of the meat and vegetables on the plate before me, holding back a groan and the wonderful flavor exploding in my mouth.
I finished chewing before asking ,"But why?"

"Why would they not stare when the most beautiful elleth in Middle Earth walks in on the arm of their king?"

I started slightly, he was flirting with me. "What of your wife, surely she is beautiful? What would she think of you saying such things to me?"

The Elvenking's jaw dropped and then he started to laugh heartaly a beautiful booming sound. His eyes crinkling up in mirth.

I frowned at him. "What do you find so amusing?"

He stopped laughing and stared at me , sky blue eyes twinkling, "I don't have a wife."

"What?"

"I've never been married."

"No, that's not right you should be married arounnddd...."
My head felt like it was going to explode , I slumped toward the Elvenking with a groan, once again images flashed across my vision, Thranduil with older world weary eyes, a statue of a beautiful woman covered in vines.

Then it all went black.

.........
Thranduil POV

I couldn't help but laugh, the look of outrage on the General's face when she assumed I was a married man flirting with her.

That is one more thing that I admired of her, her honor, wanting to do right by the wife she thought I had.

Finally I was able to reign in my amusement long enough to tell her, "I don't have a wife."

It took all my self control to not start laughing again on the confusion that crossed her face. I imagine she is a elleth of many talents but masking her emotions is not one of them.

"I've never been married."

She started to respond" No, that's not right you should be married arounnddd..."

And she slumped toward me, her head hitting my shoulder with a groan. My heart leapt into my throat. I shifted to kneel in front of her , scooting her chair back, she slumped forward, taking her shoulders I gently shook her, "General Telcontar. General Telcontar!!!" 

I could feel panic starting to rise within me, I turned to the nearest servant and barked for them to bring Head Healer Nestarion.

A calm voice, like autumn leaves whispering through the trees spoke from behind me, "I'm already here , My King." 

I turned to face the kind faced elf , his red hair billowing behind him, He knelt beside the General,  and gently took her hand in his , his eyes  closed. 
A warm glow emmited  from his hands as his healing magic worked its way through the General. 

Fire started to crackle upon her skin. Nestarion's eyes snapped open and he quickly dropped her hand. He stared at me wide-eyed.

"My King."

"Can you help her?"

A look of fear passed over Nestarion's face.
"Please just tell me how to help her, I will not punish you for saying the truth. I am not my father."

Nestarion bowed his head in apology. "I'm sorry, My King. I can do nothing for her. Her mind has been locked away by a powerful enchantment but it is trying to escape which is causing her great pain. I can help ease her physical pain but the enchantment...she has to break that herself."

I nodded mutely, wiping the hairs out of her face, I whispered to the general, "Wake up...please."

Her eyes fluttered open and I found myself staring into those beautiful moonlight eyes. She smiled softly and my heart almost leapt out of my chest.

She might be under the Lady Galadriel's enchantment but the General has put me under an enchantment of her own.

An enchantment that I didn't want broken.