*Edited*

A pair of yellow-headed elflings chased one another across a field, one tripped and reached out her arms to catch herself. She cried out in pain as she hit the ground. The second elfling raced to her, a mask of concern donning her pointed face. The wounded girl began to cry, and her sister leaned down next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Sh, Rovaneth, do not cry," she soothed. "I am here,"

***
"Why do you argue with me, Morynn!" Rhovaneth paced the floor, her arms crossed.

"Is traveling to Greenwood the greatest decision?" Morynn asked. "You barely know him!"

"Ada says Thranduil is a good king, I will be safe," her sister replied.

"How do you know you truly love him Rhovaneth?" Morynn countered. "You may be hurrying into marriage!"

"Enough, Morynn! I am no longer a child," Rhovaneth snapped. "I know what my heart wants,"

Morynn pursed her lips, turning away. "I doubt I can persuade you, dear sister, I only wish the best for you,"

***
Morynn watched as Rhovaneth danced to the sound of flutes and harps, onlookers gushing in adoration. Her sister seemed to enjoy every moment of her eloquent wedding, but Morynn did not share the same joy. She was not plagued by jealousy, though she recognized that Thranduil was rather attractive. Her heart felt hollow, Rhovaneth had been by her side all her life, and now she was finally leaving. Rhovaneth had finally found her mate, and Morynn was left ever feeling the lone wolf.

***
"Morynn!" A shrill voice screamed in terror.

Morynn scurried into her sister's adjoining room. She was greeted by the sight of a cloaked figure standing over the bassinet. The bassinet that held the future king of Greenwood. Morynn started forward, but stopped, scanning the room for Rhovaneth, dread pooling in her stomach. The figure turned and removed his hood, revealing a wicked face. Morynn gasped in surprise. The man swished his cloak around him and was gone. Morynn began to step towards the cradle, but was distracted by a small sound.

Rhovaneth laid on the floor, her breaths faint and her chest heaving to suck in air. Morynn knelt besides her, for what she knew would be the last time, and took hold of her sister's hand. "My dear sister, no, do not leave me,"

"Morynn, do not let darkness blind you," the dying elleth whispered. "Promise me,"

"I...I promise," Morynn choked back a sob.

"Watch over my son," Rhovaneth sighed as her pain disappeared, death taking her.

Morynn ducked her head, tears dripping down her face. She clutched fistfuls of her dead sister's dress, oblivious to the crying that emanated from within the cradle.

-
The tall elf received many odd stares as she entered the tavern, her hair dripping water and a blade strapped at her side. She took a seat at the bar, ordered a tankard of mead, then hunched over the counter, broodily waiting for her drink.

Morynn had been close to finding the man who mysteriously disappeared after murdering her sister in cold blood. The grief was still there, as was anger, but she trained herself to ignore all other emotions, to better track the assassin and kill him.

She had followed a false trail twice, led on by a greedy man who only wanted her gold. She was repulsed by men's disgusting nature of greed and selfishness, she was tired, and wanted to end her quest, so she could finally join her sister.

She truly only loved her sister, and since it was love that led Rhovaneth to her death, Morynn vowed to never love again. Thranduil had chosen a similar fate, but he made her laugh. King Thranduil did decide to forsworn love, but he hid himself away within his halls, letting his wife's killer walk the earth. He was a coward, and if it wasn't for Legolas she would kill him too. She made a promise, to protect her sister's son, and if that meant keeping the snake alive she would.

She was drawn from her thoughts at a tap on her shoulder. She narrowed her eyes, pretending to ignore the touch, even though she sensed the elf behind her. Her drink was placed before her and she drank deeply from it before the elf cleared his throat.

"Pardon me, do you happen to know Morynn Elereth?"

She turned with a sigh and stared at the elf standing before her. "Depends, who's asking?"

"My name is Ruven, I am the Captain of Thranduil's guard-"

Morynn turned back to the bar. "I don't deal with cowards, find help for your king elsewhere,"

Determined by the knowledge that he was, in fact, speaking with Morynn, he persisted. "Please, the King of Mirkwood is ill,"

"Mirkwood? How many years has it been since the great forest I once knew of was spoken on the lips of all as Greenwood?" Morynn asked, genuinely curious.

Ruven frowned at her ignorance, it had been a long while since the name Greenwood was spoken. Was she really this distant from her family?

"Many years now, miss" the guard grimaced. "Ever since the spiders wove their webs and corrupted the heart of the forest,"

She raised her eyebrows. Much had changed since she had visited Thranduil's halls. Sighing, she glanced at the elf. "What troubles the great Elven-king now?"

"The King is sick, his mind is addled with paranoia. He sits in the dark for hours on end, talking to no one but himself," he replied grimly.

"So the rumors are true," she said with a smirk. "Thranduil has gone mad,"

The guard gave her an irritated look. "Yes, the King has been troubled since the Queen's death-"

Anger flared inside Morynn's heart, and she twisted in her chair to see Ruven, snarling at him, something feral awakened within her. "Do not speak to me of the Queen!"

The guard took a step back. Noticing the curious glances from other tavern-goers he lowered his voice. "His sickness is brought on by something else,"

"Pray tell, what is it this time?" Her sanity returned, though a savage beast nudged at the corners of her mind, taunting her, goading her into unleashing her fury.

Taking a deep breath, Ruven shifted, fixing his gaze on hers. "The Prince has left Mirkwood, in search of...something, he would not say,"

"Why do you think I would help?" She murmured, feigning disinterest. Inside, her mind was racing, coming up with any situation, no matter how delusional, that Legolas could have gotten himself into.

Ruven swallowed. "It's been said you were a sister to the King,"

Morynn scoffed. "I don't know what lies you've been listening to, but the King and I have never been close,"

"Please, if you would just return with me to Mirkwood,"

Morynn looked at the elf impatiently then stood up. "No, I will do no such thing,"

Leaving Ruven standing alone she trudged back into the rain and walked to the stables. Her brown Friesian whinnied at her, displeased at their lodgings. Morynn patted his nose and flopped down into a pile of hay, wrapping her cloak around her.

A/N
Thanks for checking this out! This is my first Thranduil fic, though I have written a Legolas one that I just finished recently, if you want to check that out too, I'd appreciate it! I dedicate this book to Dess_Basilisk so, go follow her! She's amazing!

Anyways, updates will probably be slow, but I'll try to stick to some schedule, so I apologize in advance. Thanks guys!
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-The Warlock