Daughter of Stars of Earth

Chapter Nine-Sapling

I feel Elrond enter my mind and I look to his starlight eyes for the reason why.

"Should you need to share minds I am here, mellon." He assures me and his care touches my heart. But I will not taint him with my melancholy.

"Your love alone brings me joy, dear friend. Thank you." Elrond nods and his mind removes itself from mine.

"Why does the Great Eagle think I mean you harm?" Thranduil questions and we all look to him. The question seems to have burst from him like rain from a storm cloud. How amusing that it seems to bother him.

"I should think because you pointed a sword at him last you met. He also heard you threaten to tie me to you and drag me back to the woodland realm." Surprise colors the faces of the two beside me and I smirk as Thranduil's eyes widen slightly.

"That was your suggestion, was it not?" He points out and takes a swig of his wine as my cheeks heat. Thank the Valar for my dark skin, so it is probably not noticeable.

"I said that was what would have had to be done to keep me from the fight."

"Ah, so it was your wish." Thranduil twists my words with a half-hidden playful smirk. Flustered, I forfeit.

"It did not come to fruition either way." I end, but his smile only grows. If only I'd known embarrassing me is what would make him smile, I might not have wished for it so often.

"I do not foresee your stubbornness fading, so the opportunity may present itself again." Thranduil posits and once again my cheeks heat. Is he playing with me?

"Do you wish it to?" I fire back and grin as he falters.

"I did not know the king had the power of foresight." Elrond interrupts and Thranduil looks to him as if he forgot the other two were here.

"An educated guess, Lord Elrond." He relents and the table quiets for a moment. I do not eat but drink water profusely. My tears have spent me.

"You must eat," Elrond tells me in my mind and I look down at the lovely food. My lip curls.

"It will taste like ash in my mouth," I tell him knowingly as I shiver. My head lifts to see him tilt his head to Legolas.

"You worry him, Aeolin. Sustain yourself." My eyes look over Legolas glancing from my plate to me concernedly. An image of the king's searching eyes pop into my head as well and I look to Elrond questioningly. "The younger Greenleaf is not the only one concerned." His voice is slightly amused now and I pick up my fork to avoid further argument. Elrond removes himself from my mind as he smirks.

"I did not know that you and Lord Elrond were so well acquainted," Thranduil comments and takes a dainty bite of his food. I shrug and swallow a tasteless bulk of meat. Not that it is not seasoned, but that my sadness has leeched the flavor from life.

"You did not ask." I tease and like seeing the small smile on Legolas' face.

"Must I ask about every detail of your life in order to know it?" Thranduil asks and I barely laugh at him. That ghostly smile slides over his lips. Lips that have touched my skin.

"That is how one usually learns, King." I sigh and shiver once again in the early morning light.

"Are you cold, Aeolin?" Legolas asks in a low voice. Elves do not feel the cold as keenly as humans, but I am weak and feel the chill around us as if mortal. Especially with only a nightgown on. I part my lips to answer, but the king has already stood. I watch him walk to me as he sheds his burnt orange and red cloak. With one smooth movement, he drapes the body warmed coat around me and secures it tenderly over my shoulders. He smirks at my flustered eyes and lips parted in shock.