Request for: @MissGreenleaf

"You look beautiful." A soft but virile voice said from the doorway of my bedroom

I smiled, closing my eyes as the melody that was his voice caressed the drums of my ear canals.

"You are under no obligation to flatter me when all that my features radiate is a tiresome and worn queen, my love."

"Nonsense." He whispered urgently as his arms snaked around my waist "You voice lies, Y/N. All that you radiate is a celestial beauty, a beauty that any other elleth could only dream for."

I giggled softly, leaning back into his embrace, choosing to deny his false claims internally because I was in no mood to argue.

"We must make haste, for our guests will arrive shortly." I reminded him, smoothing my dress down

Within his sigh, my caged waist was set free and hand in hand, we inched towards the dining hall.

"Can you believe that spring has finally blossomed?" I mused wistfully, intertwining my arms around his one to my left

"Yes, my darling, for it shall be a vigorous one." He whispered among the loose tendrils of hair splayed across my ear, sending them into a fluttering dance as he spoke

"Of course, how could I forget that you are named after the grand frequency of springs so bright and vibrant within our home–"

"My lord and lady" The lady of light greeted as we stepped through the grand doorway leading to the dining room

"Lady Galadriel" We simultaneously addressed in return, smiling as we bowed in her opulent presence

"Oh, it's been ages. How are you both faring?"

"We are absolutely exquisite. A new season has sprung, and with it, new forthcomings that will only result in the purity of our forest to be restored." Thranduil spoke with a passion that could dissuade any heart from its saddened demeanor

As the Lady of Light prepared to give us a reassuring notion, Lord Celeborn quickly joined her side, giving us a warm greeting

~°~

The cider was the sweetest during this truly alluring and delicate season.

Although, the small sip I was willing to take would have resulted in the termination of my endless reign over my beloved realm, if it were not for the foresight and impeccable senses of my dear friend.

~°~

I raised my glass containing the sweet, swirling liquid to my lips as my husband as well as our pupils did in one swift motion.

As my idle lips parted and my bottom lip curled around the edge of the glass, I inched back ever so slightly, my tongue a fraction of a second away from absorbing our realm's ode to spring.

"Lower your glass, mellon nîn. For you shall not drink this evening."

I slowly lowered my glass, in an upmost nonchalant manner, vowing to show no fear nor emotion, and I slowly met Galadriel's eyes.

She spoke to me within my subconscious and I could not form any words that I could ask to answer to my fear and confusion

"Your glass has been poisoned, Y/N. You mustn't show your knowledge of this, mellon nîn, you are trembling."

I did not realize that I was.

Perhaps because I was so close to consuming it, none of my kin surrounding me noticed that I had not taken a sip at all, not even Thranduil.

Except, there was one who did

"Is there something wrong with your drink, my lady?"

Slowly, my hardly watering eyes met the captain of the guard's, and I was overcome with the most pure, raw feeling of betrayal, that my heart had begun to tear and my nostrils burned.

Him. He tried to poison me.

"Why is it your concern if the queen's beverage is up to par?" Galadriel queried in a very accusing manner, causing the entire room to go silent

"Perhaps," She began, slowly rising from her seat "you would like to taste it? To make sure that it is safe for the consumption of your queen of course."

His brow broke into a sweat and his trembling hands were quickly tucked away into his lap

"My love, what is going on?" Thranduil asked me worriedly

My eyes looked to his slowly, but I could not bring myself to say anything remotely coherent

"The-The glass...p-poisoned." I sputtered

As Thranduil's features transformed into a worried frenzy to rage, Galadriel circled the table and her delicate fingers took hold of my accursed glass, which swirled with liquid death.

The captain of the guard's chair was sent clattering to the floor as he took off towards the large double doors.

I seemed to become lost in time in that instant, my blood curdling as I imagined what would have happened if my tongue grazed just one drop or if Galadriel was not here. My eyes developed a translucent film that only permitted the perception of faded colors and indistinct objects and my ears could only hear the pounding of my heart and the shallowness of my breath.

Perhaps Thranduil was calling out to

I couldn't feel anything. I wasn't sure if I was breathing.

~°~

With an abrupt intake of air, I was harshly withdrawn from my desolate, hazy state.

My arms flailed as I turned about, immediately realizing that I was in the healer's quarters, seated in the far corner.

A pair of hands carefully cradled my face, but I quickly swatted them away, afraid that my assailant had returned to finish what he had so stealthily started.

"My love, it is I." Thranduil's voice cooed, caressing the arches of my cheeks

"Thranduil?" I murmured, looking to him with my newly restored sight

His eyes watered suddenly, and he wasted no time in pulling me into his arms.

"I could have lost you this evening, to the bastard whom I trusted most. And yet you were unresponsive. I was so worried."

Although my senses were revived, I still could only focus on one thing.

Where was the captain of the guard?

"Where is he?" I rasped, my heart instilled with fear

I watched as my worried husband's face compressed into disgust and hatred.

"He is in the dungeon, to be put to death tomor-"

"No." I intervened, my tears commencing their downpour "Banish him. Only to be put to death if he returns."

"I cannot accept your request. How can you pardon him when he tried to take your life?"

I did not have an answer, nor could I think of one.

"My flower, I know that altruism is your dominant virtue and that it is etched deep into your pure heart, but setting him free only enables him to try to horrendously take you from me again–"

"Where is Galadriel?" I cut him off, my heart beginning to race as he poured these revelations into my ears

"I am afraid she has already begun her departure—"

~°~

"Galadriel?" I called out as loud as I could muster, after barreling through the front gate

When she turned from the carriage that would take her away, I messily gathered the hem of my dress into my hands and stumbled towards her, flushed and trembling.

"You saved me. I am eternally in your debt." I heaved, my tears quickly resurfacing

With a gentle smile, she lowered her elevated foot from the carriage and rushed over to me, taking me into her arms.

"Hush, mellon nîn, you mustn't allow your tears to fall and profess victory over your ability to overcome fear. I promised your mother to care for you and that I will do until the ends of time. I foresaw the events of this evening far in advance, but I could not tell you until the time was right. Yes, be angry with me, but a knowing and informed queen is never a good one. You must learn from these fearful days and only take strength and confidence from them...I understand the extent of your fear at this very moment, but you must understand and fully accept that you are safe now. Listen to your husband's words, Y/N. A good queen is never tolerant to all, even despite their crimes."

As she released me from her friendly and maternal embrace, I stepped back one step and watched her remount.

"Galadriel," I croaked "thank you."

She flashed me a smile in return and said one thing throughout her subconscious for only I to hear.

"Your reign over this very realm will surpass what your mother could have ever imagined. She is proud of you, mellon, and so am I."

~°~

I hope you liked it