Thranduil's POV

On the next day, for the first time in a millennia, I missed waking up in the early hours. Last night, I stormed into the healing rooms and asked some herbs to calm myself down at least a bit, but somehow, after eating those plants, I passed out, like a dead. I didn't even remember reaching my chambers. Maybe, I should have eaten one bite, as the elleth said, and not a bowl of them.

It was now nearly noon, I was still staring at the ceiling and getting angry for the second time, in two days. This didn't happen in the last few centuries. And what have that female done to me? How could she break into my past like that?! If that damn trespasser and her sin wasn't enough, yesterday everybody cleared out of my way as I was just Sauron itself!

I sat up and called for my servants to make me ready for the day, but quickly! Half an hour and a short lunch later, I was on my way to my private library, wearing my fine grey robes. I had some ancient books with ancient knowledge, I didn't want to share with anybody else in the palace. Next to this, I had a collection of royal books, I inherited from my father, grandfather, and they... the Valar knows from who.

I walked across the huge elven library, till reached a noble door at the end. The old golden key was turning hardly in the lock, but after a minute of begging, gave it up, and let me enter. I lit some candles, stood them on the desk and at their dim light, I took a look at the little room. The dusty shelves and books welcomed me, as long seen, old friends. I hadn't been to this place since centuries. Since my beloved queen's death, perhaps. After that day, everything lost its sense for me.

'Well, now I am here again.' I sighed as sat down into an old armchair.

Science of ten thousand years must have been enough to get my answers. I spent long hours with reading from wizards – they were always speaking in cloudy phrases, so you surely could not understand clearly anything -, witches – they literally enjoyed confusing your mind as hell -, even demons – what was highly forbidden, actually - but found nothing. I sighed, stood up tiredly and threw the last book away.

Starting the day with a headache, reading all day long in vain and missing the dinner didn't help me find my inner peace. I ended up on the thought, fighting always calmed my nerves, but till not even a single orc was hanging around here – fortunately -, I took my way to the training rooms. It was late in the evening, I could cruelly destroy stupid wooden dolls without anybody to watch me. I pushed the doors without taking care, what made a terrible noise as slammed back.

I found myself staring at my son as he was hugging Tauriel in the middle of the room and blinking at me with clear shock in his eyes. Tauriel was a simple guard. A simple woodelf. I had never allowed Legolas – THE CROWN PRINCE - to fall for her, so I started to accept the idea, I'll have a stroke before this day ends.

Preventing this – and killing my own son -, I took a deep deep DEEP breath as stepped back, and slowly, closed the door again.

This. Just. Didn't. Happen.

I stepped without a sound and walked outside from the palace, holding my breath. I was comic. Things were just happening with me and not by me, and this was new. I was so close to go insane, so close! Bring here just one single dwarf, and I'll be off!

The only living creature who could calm me down was found next to the great oak trees. I often visited my four-footed friend on the edge of madness. The fresh night air slowly filled my lungs and cleaned my aching head, as I went across the dark gardens.

Noira's POV

'Where's the king?' I heard a male voice from far 'He skipped an important meeting in the morning'

'Oh, I don't mind he is not here, after yesterday, he almost cut me in two pieces...' answered another voice.

And I also don't mind it.

God, I had to get out of here quickly. Fortunately, in the previous morning, right when I was sure, he cut my neck, he just stormed out of my cell, without a word. But I knew, his majesty didn't forgive me, I saw him in an embarrassing state, like that. I was thinking... was his son living here in the palace? And the queen? Maybe she had a warmer heart, than her husband had. It would have been better meeting her instead.

I had to confess, I was upset. This was not what I expected. What would I do after running from my own race? Were there elves somewhere else too? On the North, as Fräynn told me? I hoped so. A familiar figure appeared in the dungeons. 'Captain!' I greeted him with a smile. We were not friends and on our first and only meeting, I even attacked him, but still, his presence brought a little color into my grey mood.

'Ah, warrior!' he turned to me 'Call me Fräynn, drop the formalities here' he smiled back.

'Well, then I don't mind... call me Noira! But actually, I didn't mind the warrior.'

'Noira' he tasted the word 'Beautiful name. Noira, I've heard what happened yesterday.'

'Oh, great! Have you heard gossips? I thought, elves wouldn't do such a thing.'

'No. I've heard it. You know, it was... quite loud.'

'Oh' I guess I blushed.

'I'd like to just warn you. Be more respectful with Thranduil! He is quick-tempered and doesn't tolerate this kind of behavior.'

'Yeah, I suspected' I answered, but he couldn't hear it, after a guard whispered something to him and they hurried out.

I was lying on the ground, and tried to create a useful plan for my improbable escaping. Let me see... once, I knew the way between the dungeons and the throne room. I also knew the way between the throne room and the gates. Oh, and as a jolly joker, I've already known the way between the throne room and the king's bedchamber.

I laughed. Who the hell would care? Probably assassins.

The previous thread sounded great, but it wasn't true. I so much not knew those roads just because my feet once touched them. Ahh... I noticed a shadow on the wall. 'Fräynn, why did you come back?' I turned my head, only to see a red haired ellon, standing in front of my cell.

'My name is Aleros. I brought some food.' he said shortly, as pulled the new plate in and turned away. I haven't even eaten the other one from yesterday...

'I DON'T NEED ANYTHING FROM YOU, SILLY ELVES!' – I shouted after him.

'Believe me, you need this.' he said, not even looking back. Nonsense. I kicked the food away, but then, saw a little glimmering thing between the vegetables. I knelt down and grabbed it quickly, hiding it into my palm.

A key!

I was sitting on the ground in the next few hours, and couldn't figure out how and why did this happen. My useless thoughts were interrupted finally, when the red haired came back to me.

Oh, what was his name? Ale... Alenos?

'Is your hunger satisfied?' there was a strange glisten in his green eyes, as he looked at me. I can't tell you, I liked it, but I reminded myself, every single elf was looking at me strangely for my appearance, after all. I didn't know what to say.

'Great' he stepped closer, and looked to the direction of two ellons, sitting at a little table. 'Soon, that two guards are going to go to the other floors for a checking. You'll have some minutes to go to the upper floors by using those stairs on the right side.' his voice was barely more, than a whisper. I stepped closer to him.

'Now, I tell you everything you need to know for leaving this cursed place.' with this, he started to whisper in my ear and after a minute, I could draw a Mirkwood-map with closed eyes.

'...after you are outside, turn right and you will find the stables. Take a horse, because you need to be fast in the woods, otherwise, the guards will immediately catch you.'

'And then?' after that, he whispered something about a little house, I would find on a glade.

Clear. But. Wait, what?!

'Why would you help me?' I asked, but he was already gone.

°°

All in all... I did, as he'd said. When the ellons disappeared on the left, I unlocked my cell and run to the right. And I was just running, and running and running on my little elven toes, so I didn't make any sound. The way, Aleros suggested me, went across several storages and cellars, but the essence: there was not a single soul there. I reached another floor above, and found myself standing between huge runlets and shelves, full of wine bottles. Those thousand bottles would have been enough for a pretty populous realm, I thought. My nose filled with the sweet smell of the wine, and I guessed, I could get drunk from only staying on this air a little more. Finding the exit, I slipped into another chamber, what looked like a kitchen. I suddenly felt the desire to eat the next thing I find, but firstly, I had to hurry, and secondly, the only thing I find and could eat was a table, so I just left the place quickly. Now, just some steps left, and I could reach the final wall. I could already see the painting, what hid the vent, if Aleros was right. I got going with long steps, lifting my arms forward, and almost touched the colorful material, when a sound hit my ears.

'But it was just a misunderstanding!'

'...was it?'

'OF COURSE IT WAS!'

The two elves took their way to my direction, and I quickly crouched down, leaning to the wall, trying to shrinking as much as it was possible, and even held my breath. I didn't dare to look at them directly. It is a big truth, that everybody notices if he is watched, but I saw a blonde and red patch from the corner of my eyes. My heart was beating so loudly, I barely heard, what they said.

'The king maybe forgives you, but not me, since I am not anybody to him!' said the female voice angrily, from too close. My hands pressed each other so tightly, it was hurtful, as I stared at the dirty ground. There was no response. They stopped for some seconds, then turned, and left me there, thinking of what the hell I was doing, anyway. Long minutes passed, but I finally collected enough courage for standing up again, and pushed the painting away. I climbed out of the small vent, and found myself in a lovely garden.

I closed my eyes and inhaled the refreshing air deeply. A light wind lifted my dark locks gently, and listening to the songs of the little nightlings, I had the mood to lie down onto the soft grass and watch the stars moving on the night sky. It sounded great, till a thought made my heart stop beating. The guards had already noticed my absence, that was sure.

Let's turn right!

Soon, I could smell the fragrance of the straw, and I knew, the stables were in the near.

After a short minute, I arrived, but the first thing I saw was beautiful and noble and huge and brown and... anything but a horse. Me and the gigantic animal were standing face to face, blinking, when I felt an unpleasant hurt in my belly. I pushed it with both of my hands but still... my stomach made an unexpected loud voice.

At that moment, I've heard a familiar deep voice from behind.

'You should've eaten something before your journey'

Oh my...