Warnings: major character death and mentions of blood.
The fire roared as you sat together quietly it’s light casting shadows across the walls of your room. Just enjoying each others company as your beloved wrapped his arms around you and pulled you closer.
“Did our little prince go to sleep well tonight?” Thranduil asks.
“He did, but not without making a small fuss, just like his father.” You answer, bringing Thranduil’s hand to your lips for a soft kiss.
Thranduil laughs. His enchanting voice slightly echoing through the room.
“You must be mistaken. Our little Greenleaf takes after me in looks, not in personality, that is what he gets from you my dear Queen.” He says, a teasing smile spreading across his pale lips.
He moves in closer to you about to steal a kiss when the couple is interrupted by a small knock on the door.
You both turn to look at the door, wondering who it could so late in the evening.
“Who is it?” You ask. After a short pause, a small voice answers through the door.
“Naneth, Ada, can I stay with you?” The small voice says.
It was Legolas. The small elven prince must not have been able to sleep.
“I’ll get him.” Thranduil says, getting up from his comfortable position.
He moves towards the doors, low and behold as he opens it, the small prince stands there, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
The silver haired king scoops up his son and brings him to his mother over by the fire. You take Legolas in your arms and Thranduil sits down with you again.
“Did you have a bad dream winë?” You ask Legolas.
“I couldn’t sleep Naneth, I wanted to be with you and Ada.” He answers. A small yawn escaping his lips as he snuggles closer into your side.
“You can stay winë, as long as you are a good little prince during your studies tomorrow morning.” You say.
“I will be good Naneth. I promise.” Says Legolas.
You sit in silence with your family for a while. You and Thranduil watch over your now sleeping son in silence.
But the moment is interrupted when the sound of a horn being blown in the distance startles the young prince awake.
“What could that be?” You ask Thranduil, worry laced in your voice. Nothing could dare come near Mirkwood at this time of night.
“Must be an animal of some sort seen by the borders. I must go and tend to the situation.” Thranduil answers.
He leaves the room, but before he does he locks it behind him and posts guards by the outsides of the door.
He’s cautious. If anything were actually happening, he had to be assured that his queen and son were safe.
Thranduil made his way to his throne room to speak to his guards on night watch about why the horn was blown.
Thranduil hadn’t been gone long before it happened.
You still sat by the fire with Legolas, and you had decided to read him a story to keep him calm.
Out of nowhere as you read to Legolas, a group of four orcs crashed through you room’s stained glass window.
You acted quickly, grabbing Legolas and hiding him in the wardrobe.
“Naneth!” the small elf cried. “What is happening?” He cried to you.
This broke your heart. You had to save your son. He was your everything, you loved him more than life itself.
“It’s alright my little Greenleaf. Stay in here and hide, no matter what you hear, do not come out unless your Ada or I come to get you.” You tell him, tears welling in your own eyes.
“Take this. Hold onto it for me until I come back.” You say, taking off a beautiful necklace of gems that shown white like stars. They were a gift from Thranduil.
Legolas took them and nodded. With that, you kissed his cheek and closed the door to the wardrobe, ready to fight.
The orcs were strong and you were outnumbered. As they came closer, you pulled your hidden dagger out it sheath from where it was hidden under your dress.
A blade of silver with a beautiful hilt made of crystal. You had named your blade “crystal sypher” when it was gifted to you.
Thranduil demanded that you carry it as at least some form of protection.
The orcs moved closer. One taking a quick swipe at you, but you were faster. You sliced its throat and dodged the thick black blood that spewed from the wound.
But the others weren’t so naive as the first one. They came to attack for a reason and they were determined to complete their task.
The three orcs moved fast. One lunging forward to strike, but missing as you sliced its arm.
You had made a mistake attacking. While distracted, the lead orc came up from behind and sliced you with his blade. Not to kill, just to wound you and make you fall off guard.
You screamed in pain and fell to the ground.
Your screams echoed through the halls of the palace. Alerting Thranduil to your danger.
He ran. As fast as his legs could carry with many guards in his steed. The sighting on the border had just been a distraction. Part of an attack that Thranduil had not seen coming.
He made it to your doors. The two guards posted were trying to get in, but the door of course had been locked.
Only Thranduil had the key. As his shaking hands fumbled with they key, finally unlocking the doors, he couldn’t bear to see the sight before him.
You stood in the middle of the room with a knife held to your throat by an orc. Two others stood on either side of the vile creature. One wounded, no doubt by you.
His eyes flicked to the floor where he saw you dagger next to a dead orc. You had tried to defend yourself. And in that moment of fear for you, he felt a bit of pride.
But it was soon washed away as he realized his son was nowhere to be seen. His concern grew as he walked into the room followed by his guards.
Weapons were raised, ready to fight, but he couldn’t risk you being killed. So he reluctantly decided to compromise.
“Let the queen go and I will grant you freedom.” He told them. “I will let you walk from my realm, just let her go.”
The orc with it blade to your throat snickered “We are not here to hurt the queen elf. We are here to hurt you.” It says. “Our master expects our task to be completed. We don’t accept.”
You could see Thranduil’s eyes harden. He was scared, but all his icy blue eyes would let them see was his anger.
“So be it.” He says. He steps forward unsheathing his long and beautiful silver blade.
But the orc was quick. Right as he saw the drawn blade, he took his chance and stabbed his blade into your heart.
You gasped in pain and collapsed to the ground.
Thranduil screamed in rage. His guards quickly moving to kill the orcs as he ran to your side.
“Meleth nîn” he says to you, taking you into his arms.
“I’m sorry.” You say. Pain and exhaustion apparent in your voice.
“The is no need to say sorry meleth nîn. Just stay awake until the medics come.” He says.
But you were running out of time. And both of you could feel it.
“Where is our child, where is Legolas my love?” Thranduil asks.
“He’s safe.” You say turning your head to look a the wardrobe.
Using up the last of your energy, never to move again. Your eyes slowly closing for eternity.
Thranduil screamed in rage as you fell lifeless in his arms.
He cried into you. His one and only love, his queen, his starlight in never ending darkness, the mother of his child stolen by disgusting orcs.
Child. Legolas. He needed to see if he was alright. He gently laid your limp body on the stone floor and covered you in a silken sheet. He couldn’t bear to let his young son see his mother in such state.
He moved slowly towards the wardrobe. He could hear soft crying coming from inside.
“Legolas, winë, it is Ada. You are safe now.” He says as he opens the doors.
He crouches down to the level of his son, and parts the silken dresses he hides behind to see him.
The small elf clutches your necklace. The one Thranduil had gifted to you long ago and the sight makes his heart ache.
He takes the small prince into his arms and walks him to his own chambers.
“Ada, where is Naneth?” Legolas whispers.
“Your mother is gone. She walks the halls of Mandos now. We won’t be seeing her again my Greenleaf.” Thranduil replies.
His voice almost cold. Something had changed in the King of Mirkwood that tragic night, and he would never be the same again.