The King's Jewel (Thranduil Fanfiction)

Chapter 31

"Legolas! What on earth are you doing here?" Alina said as she wrapped him in a warm embrace. Then a thought occurred to her and she took a step back. "Wait. Did you know? About your mother?" she clarified at his confused look. At the mention of his mother, realization dawned on his face, and Alina pushed herself away, disgusted. "Wait, Alina. Please. You have to understand, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. My father warned me not to but I didn't care. I was going to tell you anyways, but then I saw how happy you made him and I couldn't. I didn't want to ruin that. He didn't deserve that. Besides, so what if you look alike? Anyone who has ever met you can tell that you couldn't be more different. And my mother, rest her soul, has been gone a long time. Her face is a distant memory, far from the minds of almost all the people, even farther for those who never met her. My mother was a very private person and never involved herself in the affairs outside of the palace so really only those who worked there knew her. I'll admit I was confused when I first saw you, but as I got to know you, I realized it didn't matter. I like you for who you are Alina, not who you resemble."

Legolas's speech assuaged her fear and hurt and Alina wrapped him in a tight embrace once more. "You know I'm still a little upset you didn't tell me," she whispered to him. "You definitely owe me." Legolas pulled back, to gauge her face, but when he saw the teasing smirk, he just laughed. "Whatever you say, m'lady. Now what is that smell? I'm starving." Chuckling, they all sat around the table and watched as Legolas inhaled the rest of Radagast's stew. With Alina's permission, Radagast retold his story, leaving out the bits regarding his affection for Tirananniel and the corruption of Legolas's mother. At the end of the story, Legolas turned to Alina, his nose wrinkled. "Wait, so does this mean you're my aunt?"

"You better, believe it, mister. It also means I'm older than you," she gloated sticking out her tongue. He just rolled his eyes and snorted in disbelief. They sat around chatting for most of the day but as the sun sunk lower in the sky, the conversation turned serious.

"Alina, you have to come back home," Legolas was pleading. "Father is out of his mind. I've never seen him so upset." But Alina firmly shook her head. "Legolas, I can't. He doesn't want me back. Why else would he have shown me that painting if he didn't want me to leave?"

"You know him, Alina. Whenever things get emotional he shuts down. I don't know exactly why he showed you that, but I have a feeling it had to do with him being afraid. I've never seen him as happy as when he was with you and that includes when he was with my mother. I don't think he knows how to be happy. He hasn't been in so long. Please just come back. I'm sure if you tell him the story, he'll see some sense of reason."

Alina sighed, knowing she couldn't disappoint Legolas or stay away forever. The painful tugging of her heart strings told her all she needed to know. She loved Thranduil. She wasn't about to abandon him. She told Legolas as much, but seeing the hopeful smile on his face, continued on. "I love him, but I can't go back yet. I need some time to figure out my own feelings. There's still a lot to process. Come back to get me in three days and I'll be ready then, alright?" Legolas reluctantly agreed and they said their goodbyes.

The next two days passed by in a peaceful blur. Alina spent the time walking the forest with Radagast and learning to care for the plants and animals. She found she enjoyed the peacefulness of nature and the time it gave her to think. She realized quite a few things in the solitude. She knew Thranduil, probably better than anyone she realized. She also knew he wouldn't have done what he did without good reason. In the last day, she had questioned Radagast all about Thranduil's relationship with his wife. Of course, the wizards reports were more hearsay and observations from his furry friends than first-hand accounts, but she quickly surmised the general feeling of the relationship and she realized two things: one, her sister was a first class biotch, and two, the king and his wife could not possibly have been in love. She had probed Radagast of all his elven relationship knowledge and if Thranduil had truly loved her, he would have faded, regardless of his foolish pride. She also enquired after Radagast's musing that her sister was corrupted long before she married Thranduil and found out that both Gandalf and Radagast had speculated that her evil twin was under Sauron's influence far longer than they had both initially thought. They traced her odd behavior all the way back to her early "teenage" elleth years.

In all actuality it made sense. Here there was this abandoned child, growing up with only nobility to look up to and no close mentors. And then a voice came along promising power, comfort, and a sense of belonging. It was everything Alina had wished for in life so it made sense that her twin had wished it as well. If that was the case, then the king and queen's whole relationship had been a fraud. To be fair, Alina knew that Thranduil undoubtedly thought they had been in love. And she had a feeling that was why he had shown her that painting, to try and prove to his dead wife that he still believed.

Though her mind was now satisfied, her heart still ached and she knew she'd more than happily go with Legolas when he arrived the next day. With an air of excitement, she said her goodnights to Radagast, and they both turned in for the night.

A pounding on the door startled them both awake and Radagast grabbed a nearby stool, heading to the window to scout out their intruder. "My old eyes might be deceiving me, but I believe Legolas is banging on my door at this unholy hour." Alina who was close to the door, stood up. "I'll deal with him, Radagast. Don't you worry." Stalking to the door, she yanked it open in a huff, ready to give the elf a piece of her mind. "Legolas, we said tomorrow. It's three in the morning and-" her rant was cut off by firm lips against her own and her eyes widened in shock until she took in the elf opposite her. It wasn't Legolas as Radagast had first assumed, but rather his father. With a soft sigh, she gave into the kiss, letting it sweep her away. The aching in her heart ceased and she was content. A subtle coughing from behind them broke them apart and Thranduil leaned his forehead against her's. The moonlight shone from behind him as he stared deeply into her eyes. "I love you, Caladwen," he said with such raw emotion in his voice, her breath hitched and she felt tears of joy prick at her eyes. "I thought I could never love again, but then I realized that first love was not love at all. How could it when my soul mate is right in front of me?" He cradled her cheek in his hand and she closed her eyes, feeling a tear escape at his admission. Her heart was overflowing and it was like a happy dream from which she never wanted to wake. As she opened her eyes, she saw tears in his as well as he brushed hers away. "I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you," he said hoarsely. "I-" but Alina cut him off, her finger over his lips. "Hush, love," she whispered. "You don't need to apologize. I understand. And it's all in the past. What matters is that you're here now." The loud trumpeting of an exaggerated nose being blown caused them to turn and look behind her. Radagast was standing, kerchief in hand looking slightly guilty. "I'm sorry," he said in a strained voice. "I've always been a sucker for happy endings." With a quiet chuckle Thranduil pulled Alina to him, resting his chin on the top of her head, his hands around her waist. "You don't suppose we could convince him to let us have the hut to ourselves for the rest of the night do you?" he whispered in her ear with a cheeky grin. Alina felt her face flush as she whacked him in the stomach. "You should have thought of that before you came barging in at this ungodly hour. You couldn't have at least waited until morning?"

"I couldn't stand to be away from you for one more second, much less a few hours," he said sincerely before capturing her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. This brought on a whole nother round of sobs from the dramatic wizard behind them and they both smiled into the kiss, completely blissful. 

You guys!!!! That's the end!!!! *Blows nose dramatically and commencing with the sobbing*

There's going to be an epilogue which I'm in the process of writing right now. But otherwise this is it .  I just want to thank you all because you've been so supportive and really just an amazing audience.  I can't believe it but three years later it's done.  This is the first book I've actually finished and I've never been so relieved/heart broken.  Gah!! Feelings!!  Anywho, thanks again and as always let me know what you thinks.  Love you all! Mwah (that was my attempt at classily blowing a kiss.  Yes I know I failed.)