She stood racking her brain on what she could do. She'd earned some peace and quiet in the empty throne room, as everyone was out dining, and her guards were meandering thinking that surely she wouldn't be in a room that was usually bustling with life. But everyone was gone, and the doors were shut leaving her alone. She stood behind the throne, looking out the large and ornate window, it was closer to the trees than she'd been in days. Or was it weeks? Figures, even in civilization she still couldn't keep track of time. Maybe if she'd paid more attention she could have at least known. But that didn't matter now.

If she managed to escape and went north, what then? She'd have to make a new hut, which wouldn't be so bad, but she didn't know how she could manage that, and get food, and fight against enemies, all while she would be having a child! If Ghash were there, then maybe, but how alone!? It would be safer to stay in Murkwood, but not when they see what the child's lineage is! Knowing her luck, she would manage to escape and in the end the child would look like an elf, and it would all be pointless!! Well, at least then she'd be free, and wouldn't have to raise the child as a noble. Although it would be kind of funny for her mother to be proudly showing off the heir to the estate who would be half Uruk. No, be serious, this is no time for being petty!

"Years ago," she suddenly jumped upon hearing the voice, only to see the king casually crossing the room, his hands folded behind his back. "when my wife and I were still expecting Legolas, she stood right there, looking out that window, just thinking." he said. "Im so sorry, my lord, I didn't mean to intrude!" she exclaimed. He simply waved his hand, "Think nothing of it. It took thirteen people to put that pane in, it'd be a shame if no one used it." he calmly strolled beside her, facing the window. She hadn't realized just how tall he was till then, as she usually saw him sitting, and when he stood, she was never so close to him.

"You sure know how to quiet a room." he chuckled. "Yes..." she muttered. "Sorry about that."/"Unexpected, I'll admit, but to be fair, reading people has never been my forte, so I suppose I wouldn't have known." he replied. She raised a brow. "You?" she scoffed. "Sad but true." he said. "Could have fooled me, it always feels as if you can see right through people." she said, turning to look out the window again. "I can usually tell if someone is lying to me, that doesn't mean I can tell what's on their mind." he answered. "For example, a few years ago, I could have sworn Legolas would ask you to marry him." at this she suddenly turned to look at him. "Legolas?!" she questioned with a raised brow, "we were just friends!"/ "Well I know that now!" he said, rolling his eyes. "But look at it from my prospective. Two young people, wild, impulsive. You two were thick as thieves!" he said with a smile which she shared.

"What would you have said?" she asked. "If he proposed to you?" she nodded. "Well, at the time, thinking about you as the future queen and heir to the kingdom... Absolutely not." he answered. "Oh no, tell me how you really feel!" She chuckled. "Im king, Im supposed to say what I think. But honestly, as brash and impulsive as you were, you would have run the kingdom into the dirt. You're simply too emotionally driven and hot headed." he said. "Legolas was always very emotionally driven!" she argued. "Yes, but he's not so hot headed and foolish. Besides, its the combination of the two of you that would really be the problem." he said, and she gave no argument, he was probably right.

"Now thinking of you as my daughter in law, and Legolas' wife... Maybe..." he mused. "Really?" she questioned. "Not so absurd. You were good at drawing him out, and he was good at leveling your flighty tendencies." he explained. "It was certainly a surprise to learn he'd helped in your little disappearing act." her smile fell and she turned back to the window. "I suppose you would say I was wrong to leave." she muttered. "It's not really for me to judge, but I see it from your mother's point of view." he answered. "First she loses her husband, then her daughter leaves without a word. That wouldn't be easy on anyone." her gaze fell as he spoke. "Losing your father was hard on the both of you, you needed each other. Your mother thought that was what she was giving, but she doesn't always know what you need. I am well aware that Elena is a difficult person to have as a mother, but you're a difficult person to have as a daughter. In her mind, preparing you to be lady Elayin, and finding you a spouse is the best protection she can offer, neither of you seem to realize that your actions may be hurting the other."

She gave a sigh. "So I shouldn't have left like that." /"Well, not necessarily." he said. She looked to him in confusion. "Really? After all you said, I should have left?" she questioned. "Well, leaving was definitely a cruel thing to do to her, but now that you've come back, well... I don't know what all happened when you were out there, but..." he stood thoughtfully for a moment before saying. "My opinion on if you had married Legolas was based on the time before you'd left, but now... Im not sure. While I still dont think you would make for a great leader, I do feel you have grown somewhat wiser, perhaps less self assured." he said. "What do you mean?" she asked. "I mean that while running away may have been the wrong thing to do to your mother, it may have been the right thing for you. It may have given you a taste of reality." he finished.

"I dont feel any wiser..." she said with a joyless laugh. "I should think not. But I do think that child may be exactly what you need." he said. "I should liked to have met him." he added. "What?" she questioned. "The man that could turn your head." he said, "All the men of the city, even Legolas, and, not to sound immodest, but the boy comes from quality stock." he said with a faint smirk. "None of them could catch your attention for a moment, but somehow a man in the middle of the woods could. Anyone that can do that must be something different." She smiled. "Yes, but I dont think you'd get along." she said. "Perhaps. Perhaps someday we shall see. Either way," he placed his hand on her shoulder. "dont try to fight alone if you dont have to." he said before turning from her and walking towards the door. "My lord," she said, catching his attention. "what was she thinking about, your wife when she looked through the window?" she asked. He was thoughtful for a time before saying, "I never did find out, I always figured she was thinking the window needed cleaning." he said. "Get some rest." then he left the room. She smiled. She'd never really spoken to him before, she wished she had. He was right.

She couldn't do this alone, but she couldn't stay. She either needed to find Ghash or get someone else's help, but seeing as she had no clue where he was, she wasn't so sure about her first option. Could she get her family to give her a chance and spare the child? She didn't have much faith in that, at least not alone. She didn't think she'd be able to defend herself when it was born, let alone the child. She needed someone that trusted her enough to give her the benefit of the doubt. Legolas? But where was he?! Him being in Rivendell months ago didn't mean he was still there. And chances are he'd be too busy with the war to need to worry about her. Everyone she knew and trusted was gone! Though she had a slightly better chance at finding Legolas than Ghash. Ugh! This is just too complicated!!

Ok, so what if she waited for Legolas to come back, and explained the situation to him? Well that's assuming he came back before the child was born, and the war didn't sound like it was going any where any time soon. Well, if she did escape, then she could find him and wait till a good moment to let him know, but she didn't know where he was! Where was the war exactly? He'd probably be there. She knew Rohan was fighting in the war, but from what Ghash had said, everyone else was as well. He might not be in a city at all. Ok, so think, what were her options? She had to do something! It would take over a month to reach Rivendell on foot, so that was out of the question. It had crossed her mind to track Ghash, but by then he was bound to have reached Isengard, and while she knew he wouldn't hurt her, she couldn't say as much for the rest of the Uruk Hai, she would just be putting the both of them in danger.

She passed her hand over her eyes. She was so tired of this. Feeling lost and vulnerable. She needed to do something now, or else she'd loose her mind! And if not that, she'd loose the child. Maybe she should just head north and do her best. No, there was no way she could manage it all on her own, and she couldn't risk the child, she needed a plan. Hmm, well, maybe it would take a month, but was Rivendell so unthinkable? It was safe from orcs and wild animals. She didn't know the people to know how they would react to the child if they saw it, but she had no family there, no one who would force her to stay or force her to show them the child. Any way it was a start, and she had to do something, anything was better than staying there. So, she would get there, tell them she needed shelter just till the child was born, and that she just wanted to be left alone, that should give her enough time to recover, then she could either find Legolas, or head north.

This in mind, she decided she would find a map in the library, and would have to hoard any pieces of bread she could get her hands on till she had enough to last till she could hunt. It helped that her pack still had some smoked meat, not much, but still. Then her next move would be an escape. She wasn't sure how, but she wasn't going to be stopped by her mother's possessiveness! In the meantime she could refit her travel clothes, seeing as asking for new garb would probably raise some eyebrows. She walked from the throne room, with an enthusiasm she hadn't felt in some time. Finally, something in her life she could do and control!