Thranduil and Elrond approach me in a flurry, although the king is the one who seems more flustered while Elrond is calm. "You just have an inexhaustible desire for trouble, do you not?" Thranduil huffs and takes my hands without a qualm to tug me to my feet. Familiar fingers take my chin so that I look at him as he searches my eyes. When he finds nothing but confusion, he releases me and scans my body for harm.

"Have you been injured?" Elrond asks me softly and I meet his gentle eyes. My head shakes.

"I...I'm not sure what happened." My eyes return to Thranduil and only realize now that before he was wearing something starkly different. Brown and orange, I think, rather than white and green. "There was a little girl, an elleth." I can't break away from Thranduil's concerned and questioning eyes. I can still feel his lips on my cheek, his arm wrapped around my waist.

"I understand, mellon, and will do my best to explain. For now, let us move indoors." Only when Elrond takes my hand from Thranduil do I look to him. "Thank you for searching with me, but this is something I believe should be spoken between only us." After a moment Thranduil nods, but I don't release his hand. While I agree with Lord Elrond, I don't want to part from the king. Not now. Not after...whatever that just was.

"Could he not walk with us, at least? Once we reach my rooms, then we may talk privately." I plead and Elrond tilts his head in deference to the king. Thranduil doesn't hesitate in leading the walk towards the soft torchlight within the walls of his realm. He clings tightly to my hand as we walk and even if he didn't, I wouldn't release him. There's clearly something tying us together, our emotions, the Valar's plans, whatever just happened in the woods, but it's all tied together with us in the middle. My eyes rarely stray from him as we walk as I try to see traces of the ellon in the woods, but too soon we're at my door. "Go within and wait for me. I'd like just a moment with the king." I tell Elrond and after a cautious look between us, he nods and ducks into my chambers.

"Aeolin, what troubles you?" Thranduil asks as soon as the doors shut. I meet his eyes and there it is. There's that concern reminiscent of the ellon in the forest. The tiniest sparkle within those blue pools like a diamond at the bottom of a lake. All of a sudden, hope blooms within me like a beautiful weed I'd tried so hard to stomp out.

"I hope to one day have the courage to tell you what I have seen." I murmur to those sapphire eyes and bring our entwined hands up between us to rest them over my heart. His touch sends a soft sort of comfort through me. "But this is not the day. I only wished to say thank you for the feast, for my dress, and for walking with me." Now his eyes are filled with confusion. I release his hand only to go up on my toes and press a butterfly light kiss on his cheek. "Amin diola a' lle, Aran." (My thanks to you, king.) I whisper and take one last glance into his eyes before ducking into my room.

*Thranduil's POV*

I'm ashamed to admit just how long I stared after her when the door shut.

Something in her eyes called out to me more than before. A knowing. Maybe even a longing. My head shakes as I turn and move to my rooms closest to her. As always, I drape the lively bunch of daisies onto the table beside my bed along with the one I keep in my robes over my heart. The rest of my clothes are draped over the chest at the end of my bed in exchange for a sleeping robe. Then I move to my balcony and stare up at the stars.

The elleth remains on my mind, as she often does. She once compared me to starlight, but if I am starlight then she is sunlight. Warm, welcoming, and nurturing. Hot on the skin. I sigh and rub my fingers together before turning and walking back within my rooms. She had been breathtaking tonight and allowed me to hold her so close to me. Her hand strong and tight on mine as we walked back to her rooms. She'd requested that I come with her. That we not be parted. Yet here we are; parted after all and I find myself restless because of it.

"What is this?" I sigh and sit unceremoniously on the chest at the end of my bed. Wretched affection I've called it once before, but now even that is an unsuitable name for the growing thing within my chest. There's no stopping it now. It breathes and beats along with my heart like a weed never to be banished. My eyes lift to the daisies on my nightstand.

But I suppose not all weeds are bad ones.

*Aeolin's POV*

The door shuts behind me and I place the antlers on my bed atop Thranduil's robe. My blazing eyes turn to Elrond who is sitting very calmly at the small table in the corner of the room. "What-"

"Come sit." He beckons and gestures to the seat across from him. I flounce over and sit, then look at him pointedly. His eyes meet mine and he smiles a bit, then sighs. "When the king and I went looking for you, I reached out to see if finding your mind would be easier than finding your body. All that you saw, I saw." Elrond's head shakes. "You have my apologies. Visions are something private and I didn't mean to intrude upon yours." My hand scrambles for his on the table and I squeeze his fingers tightly.

"It's not your fault, mellon, and I am not upset with you." I dismiss his apology for I hope he can tell me more. Another small smile graces his face as he leans forward and smooths his other hand over mine.

"Visions are very much like seeing life through water. They're one thing, but a change in current can easily shift it into something very different. What you saw is a mere...chance. An opportunity out of millions."

"But it is a possible future." I breathe, not sure if my hushed words are out of hope or fear. Perhaps a bit of both. Elrond nods and I can't stop the tears that rise and sting my eyes.

"Not if you don't want it to be, Aeolin," Elrond assures me and I laugh, laugh loud and happy.

"No, mellon, I am not crying out of sadness. Whether it is a future I want or not is a conversation for another time. I am crying for joy because it is a future and I have not had the luxury of thinking of the future, a happy future, in a long time." I tell him and his face clears of concern to instead be taken over by happy understanding.

"Then I am glad for you, of course." He murmurs and for a long while we just sit there in each other's company. I'm too overwhelmed to speak and, as always, Elrond understands. Soon, the dust in my mind settles and questions take the place of potent emotions. Now that I know such a future is possible, is this future something I want? Perhaps not even that future, but one like it? And after all, this future did not only include myself but was made with another. One who I may be able to read well, but not completely. How would he feel about such a future if I decided I wanted it?

As I think I find myself working. The antlers the little one gave me nearly turns itself into a crown before my eyes after gathering a few leaves and buds from the tree just beyond the balcony. A heavy sigh leaves my lips as I stare at it and Elrond hums softly. My eyes lift to his amused ones.

"I too have pondered the things I believe you do now. Visions can be a blessing, a curse, or something in between." He leans forward as his hands squeeze mine. "One precious thing that we do have though, is time. Think about the questions within you. Take your time deciding." I smile and nod as he stands. Only now do I realize it's nearly dawn and he must leave.

"Although I do not have an endless amount of time to keep you, do I mellon?" I ask, standing too and embracing him as the humans do. He chuckles and his arms are gentle as he embraces me in return.

"You're still welcome to come with me and if you do not then write. I am still easily accessible to you." He runs a hand over my hair and I sigh with my head against his shoulder. I'd miss him. "Please, remain here and try to rest." He pulls back and frames my face with his hands. "Remember you have sparring practice at midmorning." Reluctantly, I nod and as he leaves, I put my hand on my heart, then extend it to him. Elrond repeats the gesture before vanishing beyond my doors.

"I will fly with him to the border, Aeolin. Rest easy." Taryn's reassurance soothes my heart as I lay down in the soft bed. As the blankets slide there's a soft clink that calls my attention. My hand reaches over and I smile when I find the antlers little Luthien found. I place the crown in the drawer next to me and fall asleep smiling.

When I awake my eyes land on a strange sight. The king is wearing pants. It takes me a moment to realize why this is so strange. After all, he must wear pants all the time. It's because of his lack of a coat, robe, or anything flowing at all that disguises his body. As my eyes wander up from his dark brown boots, pants caging strong thighs from riding to a white shirt loosely covering a muscled chest and sculpted arms with a light brown overlay, I find I nearly don't recognize him. But there, there are those stark blue eyes and a little smirk on his lips. His long cape too, is draped over his arm. He blinks once, then twice, as a slow smile works its way onto my face. One that I do not hinder or fight.

"Do you visit all those who are late to training and watch them while they sleep?" I tease instantly and watch as he takes a sharp breath as I sit up. I'm still in my fine dress from last night, so at least I'm suitable. Still, the king's eyes flit about my face and hair as if I'm baring my soul.

"You were not present at Lord Elrond's leaving. After the mystery of last night, I thought perhaps you'd gotten into trouble."

"As is a penchant of mine." His eyes sparkle when I respond so quickly.

"Since you are so susceptible, yes."

"So, you were worried about me," I state more than ask and delight in the surprised widening of his eyes. I don't care what I say. I'm giddy and hopeful and I haven't felt such things in far too long.

"Would it please you to say so?" He asks as I slide off the bed to instead stand in front of him.

"Sometimes it is not about pleasing or not, but the truth." I dare him with my eyes and the fire in me seems to be catching. He slides from the wall to be a bit closer to me.

"What if I preferred pleasure to honesty?"

"Only a fool would do so."

"I think I'd rather be a fool caught up in rapturous pleasure than a king surrounded by torturous honesty."

"Hm, I'd rather be a queen surrounded by rapturous honesty than a fool tormented by pleasant lies." We're both smirking at each other now, less than half a foot apart, caught up in our game of words.

"An impasse, then?" He offers and my smirk widens.

"I'd happily accept your surrender, but have one condition." His lips rub together as he glances at mine, then back to my eyes.

"What would you ask for your prize? Another failing sapling?" Thranduil teases and my head shakes slightly. Promptly, I turn and walk over to the vanity, sitting at the stool and glancing back over at the king frozen where he stood.

"Assist in removing the braids and pins from my hair." I request expectantly and watch as shock registers on his face first, then he's fighting another smile. He walks over and I straighten, allowing myself to watch him in the mirror as he moves behind me.

"A task that is not fit for a king." He poses, hands clasped behind his back.

"Certainly not." I poke a bit of fun at him. "Did you think I would reward your surrender with a reward?" He hums a laugh, then shakes his head slightly as his hands hover over my crazed nest of curls.

"Sometimes surrender is rewarding." He murmurs and I'm not completely sure if he meant to say the words aloud. Lighter than a feather, his long fingers perch on a pin before trying to yank it out of my hair. I wince and air slices through my teeth at the sudden pain.

"This is ridiculous. I will call someone." Thranduil moves towards the door, but I catch his hand and his irritated eyes snap to mine.

"Thranduil, you may not leave until completing your duty." I scold and tug him back. "Here." Gently, I slide myself onto the floor before gesturing to the chair behind me. "Sit," I command as he stares at me.

"You mean to sit on the floor during this?" He asks, frustration still fresh on his tongue. I nod before looking pointedly to the chair. Sighing, he sits and places his legs on either side of my body before I raise my hands.

"Your hands," I demand and with another look at me in the mirror, he gifts them to me. "Now, you take your fingers like this," I place them on the pin, "then use the other hand to gather the hair off so it does not catch. It takes two hands and patience." My cheeks brush with heat as he leans closer to me, nearly enveloping myself in him as he focuses on the pin. Slowly and carefully he removes the first pin. My sigh is soft with relief at having the first out and my hand reaches up to massage the tender skin. My eyes meet the now tentative king's. "Can you accomplish this task, my king?" I tease and those blue eyes flash before he moves to the next pin.