The ElvenKing [A thranduil fanfiction]

Chapter 20

Imladris T.H 2058

Admittedly, before returning to my room, I were perfectly aware that I would not be able to sleep tonight. My inner turmoil would not allow for me to find any rest. Much had happened since Thranduil arrived in Imladris this morning. Seeing him again, had not been as I expected. Feelings I had once carried towards him, had all hardened except from a tiny amount of hope, barely hanging on by a very thin thread, that he remained the person I had once loved.

His cloak had provided me with an extra layer against the cool summer's eve. The kindness he had extended to me entirely unexpected. I drew the cloak tighter around myself when I entered the room I had been given. It was on the second floor of the main house, near the rooms I knew Thranduil, and the others would have been given as well. The main house often housed the visitors.

I lingered in the room for as long as I could, until I grew too restless in the early hours of the night. I couldn't bear to remove Thranduil's cloak from my shoulders even when I left my room and walked through the empty halls. I didn't care who saw, all that mattered was that I would relish in the kindness he had extended to me for as long as I was able. I picked up another book from Elrond's study before heading towards the gallery depicting the war of the last alliance, fought against Sauron.

I found a secluded area with a small couch. I often occupied it during the late hours of the night whenever I couldn't sleep. It had become my refuge other than Elrond study because few ever came here. All elves knew the tales, the countless stories there was, so there was no need for them to come gaze upon the large paintings and Isildur's broken sword. When I settled in the couch, I tugged my legs in under me before I melted into the soft cushions of the couch.

The book was not a particularly exciting tome, but it kept me occupied for the next few hours before I, in the early morning hours, returned the book to Elrond's study. There, I found that he was already awake. He took one look at me from the chair he was seated in, deducting I had not slept at all. The soft smile that protruded on his lips afterwards when I returned the book to its rightful place was only filled with kindness. "You're not the only one who haven't slept tonight." Elrond said as he turned his eyes back down to the parchment in front of him.

I arched a brow but waited until he had finished reading the document, intending to ask him about his words. But Elrond sighed and left his seat before I could even ask. "Look into the garden." He gestured towards the large windows overlooking the garden behind the main house. I moved with careful steps, shifting so they came into view but only far enough that I could only just peak out into the garden to see what it was he was referring to.

Someone stood in the middle of the garden, hardly dressed, while starring at the sky above, which were slowly lightening in the distance, bringing a different array of colors to the once dark sky. Like sapphire, emerald, and rubies all reflecting the sun. I swallowed nervously when noticing the long blonde hair running straight down his back, it had almost disappeared against the white shirt he was wearing. Thranduil. He stood barefoot in the middle of the garden, head tilted slightly back with his eyes closed.