Chapter 6: Undercover

"Ada, lle tyava quel? You should go lie down for a bit before King Bard arrives," Legolas insisted. The morning council had stretched into the afternoon due to the appointing of new watchmen for border surveillance to cover some previously unwatched areas and listening to accounts of old ones and it had been the longest time Thranduil had spent out of bed since his getting better.

"No. I just need some fresh air," the older elf asserted, continuing towards his gardens, but he did accept the offered arm to lean on. "Tauriel." He stalled, looking back and waited till the elvish maiden joined them as well, "have you ever seen the golden-white bells of symbelmine in bloom before?" The king addressed his newly reinstated guard.

"They don't grow in the forest," Tauriel shook her head.

"Indeed, they do not. Ladrengildis had they brought from Lebennin," he explained as they ascended up the stone stairs that led to an opening in the caves, a portion of the hills the halls were built under that could not be reached from anywhere else due to the steepness of the rocks surrounding it. It was where the queen's garden used to be that at Legolas' astonishment was still well kept and flawless, clearly looked after. He had no idea his father even knew about flowers, never mind the exact way for instance mallos, nessamelda or the sweet smelling lissuin needed cared for. The king has taken great shine to explaining about them all, the same way as he frequently mentioned his late wife almost fluidly as if it always would've been completely habitual of him. "Symbelmine, once in blossom, outlive most elves," Thranduil leaned on Tauriel's arm at his other side as well, having been seemingly exhausted by the assent to the top, "all they need is love."

The access flap opened with a song, that the tall elf hummed distractedly, somewhat rushed at this point till he could step out and take a well missed deep breath, becoming one with the plants and flowers populating his secret garden in a stunningly beautiful arrangement. It was possibly where he felt closest to his long lost bond mate. Smiling, he led the two younger elves round a Lebethron tree and pointed to the sticking up roots that resembled a bench. "It was here Ladrengildis told me she was expecting," he sighed, absorbed in the memory, "and this is also where you were conceived. Nobody can see this spot, not from the inside of the halls, and not from the outside. Me and your mother spent precious moments here. Nae saian luume'…"

It was mind-bending to think that unbeknownst to most, including his own son, Thranduil came up here regularly and often to remember his wife and carried the burden well contained for so long on his own. "I thank you ada, for all these recollections of my mother you share with me," Legolas bowed his head in acknowledgement.

"Oh, that's not why we came here," Thranduil waved a hand dismissively, letting go of the supporting arms and indicated the two of them should sit on the root.

"Why is it we came here?" Legolas inquired as him and the maiden complied with the command. "Not really fresh air either, was it?"

"Do you know the song that opens the exit?" The king pressed, "can you reproduce it?"

"I believe so," the prince said wearily. Every scrap of knowledge of the kingdom and its secrets he had learnt felt like a small bit of good bye to Thranduil. Was his father still teaching him everything so he could pass away or was it possible that learning these things did not have grave consequences?

"Then I give you," Thranduil made an embellished gesture round his surroundings, "your private gardens."

"Oh no, no, ada," Legolas opposed fiercely, "you take so much pleasure in these flowers! I do not know how to care for them best and I'm not exactly the flowers type," he argued desperately, "they wouldn't survive my type of attention."

Thranduil rolled his eyes, "I certainly would not trust you with them, that's for sure. What I am giving you is a confidential place you two can come to meet, away from dissenting eyes and nosey servants. I understand you are not ready to take your relationship to the next level, so until then, this is where you can be yourselves, unrestricted by custom and restrains. Tenna' telwan san'." And with that, he nodded his head at them and started off with purposeful, confident steps back to his halls, leaving the younger ones behind without as much as a glace.

"Was he faking needing both of our help up the way?" Legolas frowned, staring at the occurrence.

Tauriel snorted, "I wouldn't be surprised. I heard other guards talking about him being back on the wine a fair bit like he used to be, and singing at night. What do you think!"

"I do not know what to think," the blond admitted, "wait. When was this getting tanked-up?"

"The night before the last."

"So you're saying that is why he had the dizzy spell yesterday, cause he had been drinking! And here I've been worried. But what about his appetite? He still doesn't eat much."

"Did Thranduil ever eat much?" Tauriel shrugged. "I believe he is well, Legolas. And I would go further, that notwithstanding the minor physical weaknesses, he is happier than I have ever known him. Your proven devotion is his cure."

"What about this farce then," the blond grunted, "getting us up here to give us a…what? What exactly are we supposed to do here?"

"His matchmaking skills are adorable, don't you say?" The redhead said, rather amused, and slid closer on the tree root to the crown prince, "as are you, all perplexed." She leaned close, and for the briefest of moments, touched his lips with her own. It was like a stroke of velvet over his panting, surprised lips, a loving gesture. Bright, sincere green eyes left him enthused and hopeful. "What was that?" He frowned suspiciously.

"The next level," Tauriel confirmed, cupping his cheek, not quite understanding herself what took her so long to come to appreciate what was in front of her.

The End.

Vocabulary:

Nae saian luume' – it's been too long

Tenna' telwan san' – until later then

lle tyava quell – do you feel well