Thranduil / Reader (13) - Part 4
The first two weeks were the hardest, like with any new thing. You got constantly lost in the palace and therefore got late from some agreed meetings, not that there were many, however in your opinion it was even more important not to miss the few ones you had, especially since you were trying to impress the king and at the same time avoid giving Elros any reasons to suspect your motives as well as the sincerity of your actions. Yes, the guard was always waiting and even though you had hoped that after a couple of days it would get easier and finally you wouldn’t even notice his presence, the truth was that he always made himself known, just to keep you on the edge, perhaps. You did not blame him, though, he was being a good guard and doing his job. You, after all, were not an elf… not even a human and no one had ever seen anyone like you so he had every reason to be suspicious. Sure, it bothered you, being constantly followed when you were not in your own chamber, but you decided that you would try to ignore it and you would do your very best not to let it get on your nerves.
The beginning of summer was sunny and fairly, yet pleasantly warm in Mirkwood; the garden was blossoming and there were birds chirping and singing their songs all around the forest. You were still getting used to your new physical form and sometimes you got drained from energy without any warning due to staying outside in the sunshine for too long or exhausting yourself with long walks in the surrounding forest. You couldn’t help yourself; the world above was just too beautiful to ignore and you were living on borrowed time, constantly dreading the time to run out and the summer to end. The only thing that comforted you was the realization that you would be part of the forest, as mist and frost, so you would never be trapped in the world below ever again. What troubled you about your pending future was the loneliness… that you would be just a bystander, a ghost living in the forest, witnessing events and the times changing but never being able to be part of that change. You would be constant… constantly in between and separated from the world around you.
These thoughts made your mind as well as your heart fill with hidden sorrow sometimes even though you always made a noble decision to live one day at a time and leave the worrying for the last days of autumn. However every time you saw or experienced something wonderful, the great joy you were feeling for it got replaced by a deeper understanding that this might be the first but also the last time you had an opportunity to experience it and… it made your spirit fill with hidden melancholy. During the times of lingering sadness you kept to yourself and tried to avoid running into anyone important, well, Thranduil. You found a spot in the garden that was hidden from the curious eyes and just sat in the sunshine, hoping that you would forget about the glooming deadline.
You saw Thranduil nearly daily, usually every day but sometimes he had a busy schedule that he had no time to attend any meals or walks with you. You tried to understand, of course, he was the king after all and therefore he had much more important things to take care of than keeping you company. To be honest, though, you were quite happy when he missed the opportunity to dine with you because it meant that you had an opportunity to practice using fork, knife and a spoon… especially the spoon which was the trickiest of them three; you had to keep the tool perfectly leveled otherwise the food that was in the most inconvenient form, in liquid more or less, would get spilled on the table as well as your fine clothes. Fortunately you learned fast and after ten days of practicing you felt so confident with the fork and knife, even the spoon, that you were able to follow an elaborate conversation while eating. It had been frustrating at times because just when you had thought that you were finally mastering the art of graceful dining, you came across a new dish that really screwed you over… but now you couldn’t wait to show Thranduil that you did not have to eat with your fingers anymore.
- Enjoying the sunshine, my Lady? Thranduil said when he saw you sitting alone by a small spring in the garden. You were reaching out to the water with your hand and drawing shapes on the surface and enjoying the refreshing coolness that radiated from the pool. The spring got its water from a source deep underground and therefore water in that spring was always cold. It was a hot day and the air was dry, dusty even because it had not rained since you had arrived to the court of Mirkwood. You stood up immediately, startled and also worried that you had done something wrong but when you got on your feet so fast, you felt terribly lightheaded all of a sudden. You covered your eyes with your hand and sought for support from any tree nearby as you stumbled further away from the spring. Thranduil hurried to you, placed his arm around you and held you firmly against him so you wouldn’t fall.
- Careful now. he said and pressed his hand on your forehead to determine if you were feverish from too much sun. your forehead was uncommonly hot, considering that your skin was always very cool. “Sunstroke” Thranduil stated and sighed.
- I'll help you to sit under a tree. he said and escorted you to the shade. It was clear that you had been out in the direct sunshine for far too long and now you would probably get a headache. After helping you to sit on the grass Thranduil broke a large leaf from a plant and folded it into a form of a cup. He walked swiftly to the spring and scooped water from it. Then he walked back to you, squatted and helped you to drink. “Better?” he asked, his tone compassionate, soft and caring. You nodded and drank some more. “Too much sunlight can make you feel lightheaded” the king stated and added that you should always remember to drink water when you were out in during the afternoon hours. You nodded as a sign of compliance. “Perhaps rest here...” Thranduil said and then continued hesitantly “…Or should I carry you back to your chamber?” You shook your head and smiled a little. It was fine like this and you already felt a bit better.
- Very well. I'll stay for a while to make sure that you're alright. the elf said and sat down next to you.
He spoke to you about the elves and told great stories about the mighty bloodline of Greenleafs; his father, himself and of course he also talked about his son, Legolas, who had decided to leave Mirkwood and sail beyond the sea to Valinor with his dwarf-friend. You listened to Thranduil’s tones very carefully and it became exceedingly clear from the first words on that he was proud of his son, grieved the loss of his father and was a bit undecided what to think about himself on a deeper level. Of course Thranduil was proud of the accomplishments he had reached, all the great deeds and victorious battles, but it was apparent that there was something else too… perhaps… doubt and regret.
It was like he had been asking himself whether he had or had not been great enough to be spoken about in the same sentence with his father, Oropher. Had he been the man he had hoped to be? Had he always made the best decisions? Had it been the right course of action to isolate himself from the surrounding world and let his heart turn to stone? Would he be happier now if he had tried to love more after his wife had died? And most importantly; did he deserve to be loved and accepted as he was, with his scars and imperfections that he hid from everyone?
Thranduil was a powerful king, one of the oldest elves in Middle Earth, if not the oldest now that Lady Galadriel had sailed to the West with her husband, but despite his wisdom, strength and absolute power, his every command being followed without objections, there was a man with insecurities behind all that. Perhaps Thranduil was afraid that if he opened his heart to anyone he would get brutally hurt and that would make him weak. Maybe it was too much for him to admit as well as to accept that it was alright to need someone and in fact it was not a sign of weakness because to open up one’s heart was the bravest thing to do, especially when one had been hurt before.
You kept listening to Thranduil as he told you the story of his life, his voice soft and mellow like a lullaby but you kept fighting against the urge to drift away and fall asleep. The problem was that you loved listening to Thranduil talking, especially when he was talking to you and to you only, and you were interested in the subject, which was the story of his life. However at the same time the smoothness his deep voice was making you feel so relaxed that it would not have been difficult at all to fall asleep instantly if only you had allowed yourself to. However you fought the urge to close your eyes because you did not want to miss a thing, you wanted to hear everything and you wanted to enjoy this rare, precious moment fully awake.
Thranduil noticed that you were on the verge of falling asleep and therefore he put his arm around you and guided you to lean on him. He kept talking to you, not quite sure if you were awake or not but it didn’t matter really because he enjoy sitting next to you in the shadow of a large tree while the wind rustled in the leafs and a brook that began from the spring was rippling playfully as water flowed slowly onwards in the narrow channel. Thranduil listened to your calm breathing and reached out to take your hand, tangling his fingers with yours and brushing the back of your hand softly. You felt so… familiar… somehow but he couldn’t just put his finger on the reason why that was. Had he met you before? Then again, he was absolutely certain that if he had, he would remember because you were so… different… from any being he had ever come across during his long life. Yes, he was sure; if he had ever met you before, he would know it. It would be impossible to forget a lady like you.
- My lady, would you dine with me tonight? Thranduil asked suddenly and for his total surprise you immediately reacted by sitting up straight and turning to look at him with keen eyes that seemed to sparkle like the water in the little spring. “In private” he added and swallowed nervously. Was he too bold if he suggested such thing? Was he taking this too far too soon? Thranduil waited for some kind of response, holding his breath until you started to smile widely and nodded.
- What would you like to eat, my Lady? he asked and then continued by saying “I’ve been told that you master the art of using fork and knife nowadays.” You laughed and nodded and made a gesture that the elf understood immediately. “Oh yes, a spoon as well” he said and chuckled. “I am very proud of you” he said and complimented you for practicing so methodically. Thranduil was about to ask you about whether you were learning to write yet but then decided that he wouldn’t stress you out with it; you had time… although sometimes he found himself pondering what this thing about first snow had been. It had been something very important and it had troubled you greatly. Had you tried to say that you were planning to leave when the first snow fell? All you had stated was that you had time until the first snow. Yes, it was a riddle that he had to figure out before the end of summer.
- Well, let’s leave that for a surprise. the king said, got up and helped you to stand as well. “I promise, though…” he said and wrapped his arm around your waist to prevent you from losing your balance, just an unnecessary precaution really, and continued “…It will be something tasty.” His tone was sultry and captivating, his warmth surrounding you completely as he stared deep into your eyes and held you firmly in place. Thranduil took your hand, lifted it on his lips and pressed a soft kiss on the back of your hand. He closed his eyes for a moment and enjoyed the feeling of your soft skin against his lips and then let go of your hand, bowed and offered to walk you to your chamber.
You walked slowly side by side, Thranduil escorting you like a gentleman, through the garden to the palace and then further to your chamber. When you were at the door, Thranduil kissed your hand once more, told you that a guard would come to get you later, before sunset, and you would be escorted to the king’s private chamber. He told you that he was looking forward to the evening and smirked at you mysteriously, with a subtle twinkle in his eye. The gesture made you grin like a silly girl but you did not mind… oh no, you did not mind at all! You were happy, truly happy and therefore it did not matter if it, your overflowing happiness, was visible to Thranduil. He after all was the reason why you were feeling this way. Thranduil chuckled, bowed and left after you had gone into your chamber. However you did not close the door all the way but took a secret look at the regal elf as he walked along the corridor and turned around the corner.
And then it started raining. It started as few drops but within few minutes the soft rain had turned into a heavy shower. You stormed out to your private balcony and climbed down to the garden. You ran around in circles and enjoyed the raindrops landing on your face, making you feel reenergized and filled with life. You spread your arms, span around with your eyes closed and laughed at the dark, heavy-looking gray rainclouds even though there was no real sound coming out from your mouth, your actions causing the noble elves wonder if you had completely lost your mind since you were not running to take cover like they were. Then again you looked like some kind of creature of the sea so perhaps this was not odd behavior for you by any… well, by your standards.
You danced in the rain until it started to get a bit darker and suddenly you remembered that you were supposed to have a dinner with Thranduil this evening. You tried to climb back to your balcony but failed and therefore you had to locate the nearest door that led to a general area in the palace, a corridor or a common sitting room, and then find your way back to your chamber. However all the doors that you managed to find were locked and it would have been too embarrassing to knock on the windows and try to draw attention to yourself so someone would let you in. Oh no, that would be too embarrassing! Therefore you kept walking further away from your balcony, to the other side of the palace where you finally found a door that was open.
You walked in, soon realizing that this was no common area where you had entered. You walked around on tippy-toes and silently admired the beautiful furniture, luxurious curtains and the fine ornaments as well engravings that decorated the windowpanes and columns in the room, careful not to touch anything. You decided to sneak out before you got in trouble but when you were heading back to the door that led into the garden, you heard a man talking behind your back, telling you that you were early. You knew the voice, it was deep and rich, assertive yet playful… it was the king. You had accidentally walked into the king’s private chamber. The king waited for you to turn and when you did he took a long good look at you from your head to toes; your hair as well as your gown were soaked from the rain, your eyes glowing eerily like they had glowed in the lake. What a mesmerizing sight to behold… and just like that he was under a spell.
You closed your eyes and cursed silently, took a deep breath and turned around while exhaling nervously. You dropped a curtsy and when you lifted your eyes from the floor, you were greeted by a sight that you had missed; Thranduil standing in front of you completely naked. He had just come out from bath and noticed wet footprints all around his private sitting room… he had investigated, of course and then he had seen you, trying to sneak out from his chamber. The king however was not upset but amused, perhaps even slightly excited to have found you here.
- I see, you missed me too much to wait any longer. he stated and smirked. He was not embarrassed of his physique, that was pretty obvious and since it was you who had invaded his personal space, he did not feel that it was his duty to cover himself. You either looked away or looked at him, either way, he knew that you liked what you saw. You turned your head away, embarrassed and when you were about to leave the room, Thranduil walked to the door and stayed there, tall and firm, like he had been a wall between you and your only escape route.
- Would you like to tell me what you are doing here this early… he asked, paused and continued “…Or should I draw my own conclusions?” You swallowed nervously, stepped back and then pointed out from the window. You pointed at yourself, made some dance moves, made a gesture that meant rain and then mimicked the whole thing of you trying to find a door but they were all closed… until you had found a door that was open. Thranduil tilted his head and chuckled while following you carefully, never letting his gaze leave you, making you feel quite exposed in front of him. You stopped explaining and tried to figure out what to do next but your mind was just… blank.
- So you did not come here to take a bath with me? the king asked and scanned your face as he read you and your mood. Were you feeling threatened or just shy? Did you enjoy being in this situation or was the elf violating your honor and taking advantage of your misfortune? You shook your head as a response. “Are you sure?” Thranduil asked and added with an innocent tone “The hot bath would warm you up for sure.” You rubbed your arms as a reaction and chuckled nervously. “I would warm you up even better” he stated, his voice sultry and soft, like velvet.
- Your hands are always so cold. the elf stated and stared at your heaving chest with a hungry spark in his eyes. He reached out to take your hand, raised it to your lips and pressed soft kisses on your cool skin, tasting the raindrops on you. He was drawn to you, mesmerized by you… somehow you were singing your songs to him and he was unable to resist your call, you truly were a siren, whether you liked it or not. “Would you like me to kiss away the raindrops, one by one?” he asked and continued blowing hot air on your cool skin and brushing it with his lips while keeping his eyes fixed on yours.
- My lips… can do wondrous things. the elf stated, smirked and added mischievously “Things that will take your breath away… literally.” Suddenly Thranduil grabbed your hand firmly and pulled you closer, his firm broad chest now right in front of your eyes. It was decorated with small droplets of water that glimmered in the soft candlelight, his skin carrying a smell of expensive bath oil mixed with his own scent as his warmth radiated on you. “Would you like me to do those things to you?” he asked and leaned closer as he said “Would you like me to guide you?”
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Thranduil snapped out from his state of daze. He realized that he was standing completely naked in front of you, very close in fact, so he stormed quickly into the bathroom, got his bathrobe and said “Enter” with a loud voice. It was Elros who had come to inform the king that the lady, meaning you, was not in her chamber and nowhere to be found. You raised your hand and waved it once from left to right as a greeting. Elros the guard rolled his eyes and left after being dismissed by the king. You kept standing completely still while the king got dressed in casual, yet fine clothes and walked out from his dressing room. He took one look at you from your head to toes and smiled a little and then handed you a silky dressing robe. He told you very politely to get changed in his bathroom while he would let the servants know that they could serve the dinner. You took the robe, nodded and closed the bathroom door behind you.
“What was that about? I am not a siren! I am… not… a siren anymore. I do not want to be a siren!”
You took off your simple, plain yet beautiful gown and put the dressing robe on your undergarments. You checked yourself in the mirror while listening to the sound of footsteps in the sitting room. The main door was opened… the table set, the servants left and the main door was closed. Soon there was a knock on the bathroom door and a friendly voice asking you, if everything was alright. You filled your lungs with oxygen, held your breath for a moment and then exhaled slowly. Then you placed your hand on the handle, turned the lock and opened the door. You smiled at Thranduil politely and nodded. He offered you his arm, which you took after hesitating for a split-second and then walked with him to the table that had been set. The king helped you with the chair and after pouring some wine to you, he sat down as well on the opposite side of the rather small dining table.
- Have you settled in well, my lady? Thranduil asked with a friendly, polite tone. You nodded, however you were a bit confused by the way he was completely ignoring what had just happened… or had you imagined it perhaps? It was also possible that the king felt embarrassed for his bold actions and therefore he was pretending that nothing had happened. Maybe he did not remember it just like he did not remember the part where he had nearly drowned and you had saved his life… or had you imagined that too? What?
- Have everyone treated you with respect? he asked and when you nodded, he sighed “Good, good” paused and asked with a concerned voice “Even Elros? The guard.” you nodded again. You started to eat, using a spoon for the soup that was the starter and fork and knife for the main course, as it followed later.
- And the bruises on your legs and arms? Have they healed? the elf asked, shifted his eyes from his plate to you and waited you to respond. You smiled and nodded.
- How about your chamber, is it... sufficient? Are you living comfortably? Thranduil asked, keeping his full attention focused on you constantly. You smiled, placed your hand on his and brushed the skin with your thumb softly. The gesture made Thranduil chuckle so you pulled your hand away and acted like nothing had happened. It was impossible to read him! He was sending so mixed messages, almost like he had been battling with himself whether he wanted to have a love affair with you or if it was just friendship that he was after… but if he wanted something casual and easy… it would never be enough for you.
- More wine? Thranduil asked and woke you up from your thoughts. You gestured that your glass was not even empty yet and refused his offer politely. The king filled his glass and then focused on reading your expressions again. He could tell that something was bothering you, but he was unable to figure out what that something was.
- You do not... love that elf lord anymore, do you? he asked with a somewhat shy tone. “He is a fool and clearly does not deserve your affections” he added, hoping that he was not too bold to make such statement. You stared at the king with a baffled expression until you suddenly realized that he thought that you were or had been in love with an elf lord who had forgotten you. You shook your head and took a long sip from your glass, hoping that the wine would make you feel a bit more relaxed.
- I think, with all due respect, you belong here. Thranduil said with a warm tone that was assertive and gentle at the same time. “I do not know what the future brings but I have great plans for...” he said but then stopped all of a sudden. You waited patiently for him to finish his sentence but he did not.
"Us?"
- Well... Shall we raise a toast? the elf said after a somewhat long silence. You gasped because you had been holding your breath while waiting for that small word… but it had never come. Thranduil filled your glass, his as well, and after he was done, you grabbed your glass, smiled at the king and tried to hide the better disappointment behind the polite expression. “To this wonderful evening... and... to you, my Lady” Thranduil said and bowed his head as a sign of acceptance and respect. You returned the gesture and then emptied your glass with one gulp. You really needed the wine to calm your nerves and to make you feel comfortably numb.
After this dinner you made sure that you never surprised the king in an inconvenient moment; sure it had been exciting to be wanted and to be seduced but you did not want your relationship, if there was going to be one, to be based with the fact that you were a siren and he lusted you. You wanted him to fall in love with you like you had fallen in love with him and then, yes, you would love to be the object of his desires but… if he was just attracted to you, if he just wanted you because water seemed to wake up the siren within you, then it was not what you wanted.
You and Thranduil flirted subtly, enjoyed slow strolls in the garden together and sat side by side on a common balcony just staring at the rain as well as listening to the sound that it made. In your opinion it sounded like the most beautiful instruments or the most delicate voices singing ancient songs and forgotten melodies but unfortunately you had no way to share this with Thranduil; the idea was too complex and too dear to you to be butchered with gestures and a guessing game. It was raining much more in Mirkwood now and some of the elves seemed to blame you for it, and perhaps they were right; you were a water-being anyway, whether they realized it or not, and it wouldn’t be bizarre at all if your mood had an impact on the weather too. When you were troubled, unsure or discontented it seemed to be scorching hot and sunny and when you were extremely happy it was pouring like someone had left the tap running.
It was a little past midsummer, sun had already set and the sky was filling with stars. You loved the stars and you could have stared at them forever. It had been raining for many days now but the sky had finally cleared by the sunset and revealed the dark blue vastness above you, the canvas that was decorated with sparking gems and the silver moon. You were slightly jealous at the elves during the nights when the moon was up because they were so beautiful, glowing softly and looking ageless, immortal… well, you were ageless and immortal as well, ignoring the unfortunate deadline… but the elves… they were so graceful and fine that sometimes you felt shy to even look at them. You seemed to be at your best when it was raining and everyone in the court seemed to hate you for it… everyone except Thranduil… although… still… three weeks after the first private dinner, you couldn’t still read him well enough to know if he cared for you or if he just… wanted to have you. You were puzzled, slightly melancholic maybe as well, the main reason why the sky was clear tonight.
You were standing alone in the garden, at a spot where there were no trees to cover the sky. You were deep in your thoughts, sniffling once here and there and wiping the runaway tears off your cheeks just to keep your emotional state hidden from the elves. You knew that there were rumors about you… and especially about you and the king… and you did not want to throw fuel into the fire by crying openly. Besides, you were not really even crying, just… processing everything, getting lost in your own head and feeling the emptiness that surrounded you during the nights like these. Yes, you loved the starry skies, you really did, but the vast emptiness scared you a little.
- Good evening, my lady. Thranduil said when he walked to you. He had been looking for you, asking casually around, not wanting to cause any rumors to grow or to spread, but he had a feeling that you were feeling melancholic… even lonely maybe, after all it was such clear night, no rainclouds in sight… and therefore he just had to find you. You turned around to greet the king and smiled at him when he said “Such a beautiful night, isn't it?” You nodded and sighed. There was a small breeze blowing from the south through the sleeping forest. The wind grabbed the hem of your dress and played with it for a moment, revealing that you were not wearing any shoes… again.
- You really enjoy walking barefoot. Thranduil commented and walked to stand right next to you, he leaned closer and said “I'll share a secret with you, my Lady. I do too.” The statement made you chuckle a little. “I love the feeling of grass under my toes” he admitted and then continued “For some reason... I had forgotten that I do.” You mimicked rain falling down and dabbed your bare arm with your fingertips very softly.
- And... rain... on your skin. Yes. Thranduil stated and added “I have seen you dancing in the rain.” You nodded.
- Water... it is your element. It is obvious. the king spoke, keeping his eyes focused on the stars but sometimes taking secret glances at you. He liked to look at you when you thought that he wasn’t doing so. He felt like that was when you were at your sincerest, not trying to hide your true emotions or pretending something that you were not… like now; you looked… like you had been a little lost, perhaps that was the reason why it was such a lovely, clear evening.
- Strangely enough, it has started to rain a lot more in Mirkwood since you arrived. he stated, paused and continued with a tone that was quite… adoring actually. “Therefore I shall name you...” he said and then added “…Eithel-nín.”
- It is quite fitting, don't you think? Thranduil asked, clearly pleased with the name and then explained softly “You leave wet footprints everywhere you go…” he said, paused and continued “…You love rain more than sunshine...” You smiled but it carried an undertone of hidden melancholy, which made Thranduil a bit worried. He wanted to ask you what was troubling you so, but he sometimes feared to ask you such private things because he was afraid that when you told him, in your own special way that he had learned to understand quite well during these past weeks, the part that really mattered the most could be lost in translation and it would be a great shame.
- And... Thranduil spoke, inhaled calmly and continued. “…The color of your eyes... reminds me of... a lake...” he said, stopped and then sighed “Oh... the lake!” You turned to stare at the tall elf standing next to you, your eyes wide open as your face was covered with an expression of shock. “I haven't visited it for a while now. Perhaps tomorrow-“ the king said but the suggestion put you into a frenzy; you were gesturing him “No” in every way you knew, breathing erratically and pleading him with your eyes to take it back. Returning to the lake was not a good idea!
- What's wrong? Thranduil asked, placed his hands on your shoulders and said assertively “Calm down, Eithel-nín!” but you kept shaking your head until he said “Alright-alright! I won’t go there.” Your breathing had turned into shallow gasps and it seemed that you were going to pass out any moment now. “Please! Take a deep breath. Everything is fine” Thranduil said, placed his hand on your head and then brushed your hair with calming, long strokes. You inhaled deep, filled your lungs with the pleasantly warm night air and then slowly exhaled. “Good” Thranduil sighed, visibly relieved. He couldn’t read your thoughts, sadly so, even though he was excellent at reading your expressions but moments like these scared him. Moments like these made him feel inadequate and weak and he did not like it.
- You're cold... he said when he felt you shiver against his hand that was still resting on your shoulder. “…Come here, my Lady” he said and wrapped his arms around you. “Here” he sighed as he guided you to press your cheek against his chest. “Your skin is always so... cold. I am worried” he spoke softly, pressed a soft kiss on your forehead and added “I have a right to worry for you, Eithel-nín.”
- Would it be too bold of me... if I... kissed you? he asked with a soft whisper, leaning to speak right into your ear. You smiled and drew back, raised your chin and stared at the tall elf with a mesmerized look on your face. Thranduil cupped your face, holding you like you were a beautiful, precious yet fragile flower and then leaned to press his lips on yours.
He lips merely brushed yours at first, softly and modestly, gracefully with all time in the world. The king brushed his nose against yours playfully, drew back few times just when you assumed that he would allow his lips to land on yours once more. You felt electrified, your stomach filled with butterflies and skin tingling and craving to be touched, as you waited for Thranduil to make his move. The king shifted his hand from your neck to your waist and pulled you closer. He wrapped his arm around you, holding you as close as he could, and then captured your lips into a sweet, slow kiss that grew more passionate and then subsided into gentle brushes and nibbles while waiting for your breathing to return to normal.
Then he deepened the kiss once more, his lips exploring yours, moving in a perfect unison like they had been made for each other. You wrapped your arms around Thranduil and enjoyed the way he guided you through the ever-changing kiss, sometimes pulling your hair gently in order to change the angle of your head and sucking your lower lip, demanding you to open your mouth a bit more and to welcome his tongue in, which he used very moderately, for now. Thranduil lay you down on the grass, lowered himself on top of you, still carrying his own weight even though you encouraged him to put his weight on you, he pinned your hands against the soft ground, locked his fingers with yours and continued kissing you after admiring you for a moment with a calm smile on his face. He moved slowly and in a very sensual way, but this time, you knew that he was not attracted to the siren… but you.
Thranduil was a very romantic kisser; he paid attention to you and no one else, it was like the rest of the world had disappeared completely and you had been the only two people that existed. He held you close, his assertiveness and firmness making you feel safe and deeply cared for, but he was never too overpowering or driven by desire or lust. He was in control of his actions which gave you courage to give up your fears and doubts and to follow him anywhere he wanted to lead you. You trusted him, you felt the kindness of his heart and… love… that was growing inside of him. Yes… you were quite sure now that Thranduil was falling in love with you.
You stayed the night in the garden, just embracing each other and getting lost into emotional, passionate yet gentle kisses, laying on the grass side by side, your fingers tangled and locked together. You felt happy, but your happiness had an undertone of melancholy that kept the skies clear for the entire night. You were scared of losing everything, you were scared of the loneliness that was waiting for you… and mostly you were scared that losing you would break Thranduil’s heart and the grief would kill him. A slow, painful death was such cruel and unjust fate for someone who was so beautiful and kind.
By the sunrise the king had already fallen asleep, holding onto you and resting his head on your chest while the tears of sorrow and happiness poured silently from your eyes, rolled down and fell on your hair that was laying around your head like a halo. You sniffled few times every once in a while, careful not to wake the elf up, and brushing his silver hair slowly. Then the sun came up and the forest around you came alive once more, like it always did after a calm night. You pressed a kiss on Thranduil’s head and traced his handsome, yet so delicate features with your fingertip until he woke up and kissed you good morning. Oh, those soft, gentle lips. You had missed them so much even though it had been only few short hours since the last time he had kissed you. How would you ever survive an eternity of loneliness now that you had experienced… love?