Thranduil walks up to his father's throne and as he reaches him he says, "You wished to see me?"

"I did, I hear you have a new acquaintance?"

Thranduil feels his heart clench as he says, "I have,"

"What do you know about her?"

"That she comes from a magical doorway in our own wood. It brought her here from her own world."

Oropher nods slightly as he says, "And you believe her?"

"I have seen the door, so yes I believe her."

"And this so called door, where is it located?"

Thranduil raises an eyebrow as he says, "In the woods a short ways from the river."

Oropher nods as his icy blue eyes stare down at his son. "And this mysterious friend of yours, I hear she's human?"

Thranduil narrows his eyes as he says, "She is human yes."

Oropher nods and standing form his throne says, "If she is human then why my son, have you not returned her to her kind? Why is she parading around in your mother's robes?"

Thranduil clenches his jaw before he says, "I thought it best if she changed her clothes before walking around our realm Adar."

"I see you avoided the question as to why she is here, so I will ask it again. Why have not returned her to her own kind?"

"Because I do not wish to!" Thranduil finds himself saying without thinking.

His father stares at him eyes wide as he says, "You are not yourself! This human woman has you under her spell,"

"She does not have me under any kind of spell Adar, she wanted to return I kept her here."

"And why would you do that?"

"Because I-" Thranduil pauses, why had he kept her from leaving? He didn't really understand it himself. He just couldn't let her go. He didn't want to. He wanted her to stay with him no matter the consequences. It started to dawn on him that perhaps he had grown fond of her in the short amount of time he had been with her.

"You will escort your young friend back to the door from whence she came, she doesn't belong here." Oropher says as he walks down the steps from his throne to his son. "Thranduil, this human does not belong here. Take her home." Before Thranduil could reply his father places a hand on his sons shoulder and says, "This is an order from your king."

Thranduil takes a deep breath before he says, "I ask that you reconsider and allow me to return her tomorrow. The doorway will still be there."

Oropher pauses and taking a deep breath says, "I will allow her to stay for one night; but upon the rising of the sun you will return her to her world or I will have the guards do it for you." Thranduil nods as he clenches his fists tight to his sides. He had no choice now; he had to let her go but he didn't know if he could. He pushed his feelings down hiding them in a chest deep inside his heart. His line was known for hiding their emotions and being unreadable. It was time to test it.

~~~~~~~~

As Innor led me to Thranduil's room I found myself feeling uncomfortable with the awkward silence. "So Innor, how long have you been working here?" I ask trying to break the silence. I wait for a reply but none comes. "Okay, never mind." Soon when ran into a young elven woman with long golden locks and emerald eyes.

"Mae govannen Innor." She says as she slowly walks up to him a smile bright on her face.

"Mae govannen Cílil, arwenamin." (Well met my lady Cílil)

She slowly turns to me looking me up and down before she says to Innor, "Ya naa tanya?" (Who is that?)

"Re al-pen." (She's no one)

Cílil nods before saying, "A firen?" (A Human)

Innor nods and I raise an eyebrow as I say, "You know secrets don't make friends." They both turn to me with disgust in their eyes. "You know why don't you just tell me how to get to Thranduil's room and I'll escort myself?"

Cílil's eyes widen as she turns to Innor and says, "Mankoi naa lle sana he ennas?" (Why are you taking her there)

"Amin naa soora heruamin Thranduil's conui," (I am following my lord Thranduil's command)

"Thranduil conui sina?" (Thranduil commands this) Innor nods and Cílil turns back toward me with a look that I could only surmise as hate. I start to long for a place to run too anywhere but there when I hear Cílil say, "I will escort her Innor."

A chill runs down my spine as I watch Innor bow to her then quickly head away from us. I silently cry out in my mind for him not to leave me alone with her but it didn't work. I look back at her to see her emerald eyes narrowed in my direction. "Come I will take you where you need to go." I gulp down a breath of air as I slowly follow after her. When we reach what I believe to be Thranduil's room she turns to me and says, "Who are you to him?"

I raise an eyebrow at her before I say, "I'm his friend, but I do not see how it is your business."

She clenches her jaw as she says, "It is my business because I love him, and I am going to marry him."

My eyes widen as I say, "Then you have nothing to fear from me I assure you. I have no feelings like that for him." My heart clenches as I say the words but I quickly hide my emotions as I stare back into her eyes.

"Even if you did the two of you could never be together. He is immortal and you are not. He is a prince and you; well you know what you are." She says and I suddenly start to feel my anger rise as I say, "No, by all means please explain to me what I am?"

She rolls her eyes at me as she says, "You are-"

"Cílil?" I hear Thranduil's familiar voice say and I avoid his eyes I bite my tongue to keep from saying something rude.

"What are you doing here?" He asks her and she smiles at him as she says, "I was just escorting your FRIEND to your room for you." I sense the disgust in her usage of the word 'Friend', but instead of causing a scene I keep my eyes focused on the ground in front of me.

"Thank you Cílil, that is all." He says as he walks between her and me, grabbing my arm and pulling me through the door behind him.

I think about telling him about how I was treated but quickly decide against it. I look over at him to see that his face was emotionless and my curiosity spikes.

"Are you okay?" I ask him as I reach out toward him and gently touch his arm.

"I am fine," He says as he sits down on his rather large bed.

I raise an eyebrow and folding my arms over my chest say, "You may be able to fool others but you can't fool me. Now tell me what's wrong."

He stares at me for a moment surprise filling his tiffany blue eyes before he says, "My father wants you to return to your world because he fears your people will come looking for you."

I nod and heading toward the door say, "Then I should go home."

I instantly feel his hand grab mine as he says, "What if I do not wish for you to leave?" I sigh as I fight with the emotions trying to reveal themselves.

"I don't belong here," I say as I avoid his eyes.

"Something has happened to you, since I left you and now." He asks and I shake my head and lie as I say, "Of course not I'm just stating the obvious."

"Why do you lie to me?"

I feel tears threaten my eyes as I pull my arm from his grasp and say, "I'm not lying."

I start to head to the door when he says, "Where are you going?"

I don't even bother looking at him as I say, "I'm going home, where I belong." I quickly open the door and start off toward the exit. Before I make it to the end of the hall I once again feel Thranduil's hand on my arm and I feel my heart clench as I say, "What?"

"It is too dark for you to return now, stay the night and first thing in the morning I will return you to your world."

I sigh inwardly as I slowly turn to him and say, "Fine, but we're leaving first thing in the morning."

He smirks as he says, "Of course, I promise. Now let us head to dinner. I wish to show you elven feast in all its glory."

I force a smile as I say, "I can't wait."

At dinner I find myself even more uncomfortable as I sit between Thranduil and Cílil. I could feel the anger radiating off her body toward me. I sigh inwardly as I try to eat the food sitting before me. I had to admit it was delicious but I instantly lost my appetite once Cílil sat down.

After a few minutes of feeling all the disgusted eyes staring at me I suddenly long to be anywhere but there; yes it was a beautiful and magical place but I didn't belong there.

"______?" I hear Thranduil say my name and I force a smile as I say, "Yeah,"

"Is the food not to your liking?"

I shake my head as I say, "No, the food is delicious I'm just tired. I think I'm going to go to bed."

"I'll escort you," I hear Cílil say and I keep my emotions hidden as I say, "Thank you,"

I turn to Thranduil and force a smile as I say, "Goodnight my friend."

"Quel du ______." He says giving me a soft smile. I give him a slight nod as I start to follow after Cílil.

When we were far away from the dining hall I say, "Will you take me to the main gate?"

She pauses before turning to me and saying, "You told the prince you were heading to bed."

"I know I did, but you and I both know I don't belong here. I just want to go home."

Her eyes turn soft as she says, "If you truly wish to return to your home then I will help you leave."

I smile as I say, "Thank you,"

Without another word she leads me to the gates and says, "Do you know the way back?"

I smile as I say, "I'm good at directions, I'll find my way."

"Be safe," She says concern filling her voice and I raise an eyebrow as I say, "Are you worried about me?"

"I just don't want to see my lord hurt."

I smile as I say, "Don't tell him I've left until tomorrow. I don't want him to try and stop me again."

She nods as she says, "Namaarie ______." I give her a quick smile before I take a deep breath and head back into the woods as fast as my feet could carry me.

To my surprise it took no time at all to find the door that led back home. As I reach down to open the door I glance back toward Thranduil's home. My heart clenches as I think about never seeing him again. Tears sting my eyes as I force myself to open the door and as I walk through it I say, "Goodbye Thranduil, my friend, my prince, my love." When I am through the door I quickly close it and as I do I feel all the suppressed emotions come flooding out. I slide down the door as tears cascade down my face.

I knew in that instant that even though I only knew him for a brief moment I was in love with him; but I knew that I could never see him again. Only when I look down do I realize that I am still wearing his mother's dress.