Don't tell me. Seriously. I know, it has taken me far too long to post this chapter. But believe me, I have written it with a lot of love and not just my efforts are in there, but also an enormously big amount of patience coming from my lovely beta MelodyDark, thank-you :* And also a huge thank-you for the kind reviews, it is so important for me to know what you think about the story due to this being my first fanfiction ever.

I hope, you'll enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 5

Chess On Clear Ice

Siyath stepped through the door of her chambers. They appeared more beautiful to her than the last time she had been here. Maybe the reason was the freeing conversation, which had eased her soul, though just a little bit. Indeed, she felt released. The deep grief had not left her heart, but to go through this pain once again and to share it with someone else paradoxically had had a purifying effect. Like clear connate water. A silent hint of excitement touched her heart lightly, of which she had already thought, it had transformed itself into ice that day.

And a beautiful smile, distinctive and sovereign, was standing in front of her eyes again. But also another smile was floating through her head, charming and boyish, so different to the king's.

When she thought of her conversation with Melianar again and of what he had told her that afternoon, she hesitantly stepped in front of the mirror, which was made out of polished, dark wood, glancing at her seductively.

Her face had high cheekbones, elegantly shaped. Underneath laid full lips, distinctively swung, the corners always a little bit smiling, even involuntarily. One sparkling, dark blue eye examined her, the glance intense and knowing. Too old for her young face. And curved like the eyes of a beast: slender and long, a frame of dark lashes. Expressive, thick, blonde eyebrows laid above. Siyath lifted her small hands, small for a fighter, and stroked carefully over the silvery scar, which gorged itself through the left side of her face.

Her hair was braided to a thick, golden brown plat, which shortly ended underneath her shoulders. Single curls had freed themselves and framed her face.

Without the scar she would be as beautiful as a portrait, a face out of an ancient time, but exactly this characteristic feature gave her the impressive face of a warrior, branded by life and unique. Exotic, Melianar had said.

And in this moment she tried to see herself how she truly was, not what she seemed to be to herself. In this very moment, she was able to strip off the pain and look at herself nonbiased and she recognized for the very first time her own great beauty.

The scar, which went from her hairline to her left cheek, reminded her less of a sword parting her face brutally, but more of a river shimmering silvery in the sun while it found its way through the landscape. The white of her eye seemed like a lake, in which all her secrets were liying deep down under the surface and waiting to be discovered. Indeed. Out of some, undefinable reason here face did not appear like a distortion of herself, but rather like an artwork.

No typical beauty, but an extraordinary, unorthodox, surrounded by a hint of mysticism and something..aloof. And who had at the same time the most cordial smile in the world.

After this most shocking discovery, which made her a little bit proud and a little bit insecure at the same time, an enormous atmosphere of..adventure grabbed her senses. She turned around and sallied out her chambers to pace down the corridors. She did not know where she went to and she did not care, either. This new feeling, fluttering carefully in her heart, ruled everything.

And then, all at once, she stood in a huge hall, filled with nothing than elves. Courtiers, also female elves, who Siyath examined with extraordinary interest. When she stepped forward, a few of the present appraised her disparagingly and yet, with a hint of nearly not hide curiosity. She didn't draw back, but her heart was beating wild and hard in her chest and she felt it in her throat. There Melianar found his way through them, in full armor again.

"Siyath.", his smooth voice said calmly. Only his eyes revealed his joy. She was glad to see him, too.

"Melianar.", she said with a bright smile, breaking through thick clouds as the sun itself and making her face glow.

Despite his presence she could clearly feel the subliminal animosity and a certain disgust in the gazes of the present. She was the only mortal in a room full of immortals. She could smell them; they smelled differently, pleasant, but different. Their hair floated down their backs like water. Even their breath was different, a lot slowlier it went. It was the breath of the superior, who were aware of their immortality. The breath of creatures of another world. The eyes, which were laying on her, were as cold as snow.

"Come with me, Siyath.", said the dark-haired elf, who could feel the subliminal tension as well.

He grabbed her arm and conducted her out of the room, just to get held back by an officer, as the uniform told her.

"Wait!", the melodic voice shouted.

When Siyath turned around, she recognized the second elf, who had brought her to the king's palace. Although he had dark hair like Melianar, his definitely had something reddish in addition. His eyes were dark and friendly, his stature a little bit broader than Melianar's. She could remember his bones breaking under her hands.

"I wuld like to introduce myself. My name is Arigoris.", he slightly inclined his head, so that long eyelashes sank on his cheeks.

When she did not answer immediately, he added: "You had broken my nose.", he smiled a little bit stiffly.

"Oh yes, I can remember it!", she said maybe a hint to enthusiastically in face of his facial expression. "I mean, of course, I feel sorry about this incident…although you had definitely provoked your destiny.", she laughed. "Yet, I have of course only broken your nose because it was a necessity. Forgive me. It has healed well though, if I may ask?", she asked interested.

"Oh, I do not take offense in it. You were attacked. And thank you for your interest; I can indeed say it has healed very well.", he said smiling.

"Do you like our realm?", he asked, instead of pushing the topic any longer.

"Well, in face of the fact that I got prevented from seeing much of it, I do not feel myself in the condition to answer this question. But the palace is of the most impressive beauty, your people does have great architectural skills, one cannot deny that.", she grinned at him impishly. Wit was sparkling in the dark blue of her eyes.

"I heard of the king being…appreciating your presence, letting you stay in these halls as his personal guest.", Arigoris said and now she could see a spark of calculatio in his polite smile. She was wide awake.

"I keep wondering whether this was a wise decision.", another voice said behind her. If cold calculation was to be a voice, this would be it. The hair on her skin felt electrified.

When she turned around, an elf of undoubtedly high rank was standing in front of her. She knew immediately that he played an important role at this court. You could see it: the steadfast glance, laying calculating on her, the armor of a great warrior covering his body and his hand, casually placed on the knob of his silver sword. But his eyes, that were the coldest eyes she had ever seen.

"Well, who am I, little, unimportant child of men to question the decision of a king, the one of such a glorious elven ruler known and famous for his wisdom and his always well-considered acting in whole Middle-earth in addition? It would be most presumptuous to, in my position, doubt the decision of Thranduil….or in yours. Or are you not a subject to your king and therefore bound to him by loyalty?", she asked politely, but an icy coldness was laying in her eyes.

She did not know why he slightly winced at these words. Either because she had just openly questioned his loyalty towards his very own ruler or because she had spoken out the name of the king loudly. It felt weird on her tongue and…familiar at the same time. As if it would belong there.

The elf's gaze pierced her own. Awkward. She sweated a little bit. Her face was a mask of polite interest.

"Do not dare to talk to me like this in the halls of my people, child of men.", anger boiled in his eyes, but he controlled himself skillfully, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Siyath stared at his face for another moment.

Then she stepped so near to him, that only a few centimeters were still parting them. His armor mirrored her face.

"Better do not forget that it was you who doubted your king in the halls of his people. Not me.",

she said with a charming smile. It could nearly have been honest. But her eyes only found place for the profound animosity she had felt for this man from the very first second.

"What is happening here, Tychidas?", their ears heard a controlled voice. Her head turned immediately in the direction it came from, as did the head of the other elf.

Of cause it was him. She would have recognized this voice even in her sleep. Why, actually…? She asked herself briefly before she concentrated on the situation again.

The elven king stood in front of them, embraced by dark red and silver silk; the shimmery fabric running down his body, only to burst out in endless light and dark waves around him. Innumerable pearls were woven into the seams of his clothes, so that it remained a riddle to her how he had been able to come nearer so soundlessly. Silver and golden rings, richly covered by the finest jewels embellished his elegant, snow-white hands. She knew, how strong these hands could be despite their filigree looks, though.

His face showed a look of medium interest, blended with general boredom and a hint of regal arrogance. His glass-clear, ice-blue eyes firstly examined her coolly, were they remained maybe one second too long, then they went to the elf in front of her.

"Your majesty, nothing of importance, when I am allowed to say so.", Tychidas explained smoothly with an elegant bow. His features did not show anything than polite devotion.

"Your voice sounded excited, though.", the king stated. He had not blinked once.

He was waiting.

But before Tychidas could answer, Siyath began to speak.

"Oh, we were just discussing the enormous importance of loyalty in every manner. We were absolutely of the same opinion that one cannot overestimate its great value.", she gave Tychidas a devastating look, then smiled at the elven ruler charmingly.

The eyes of the king were locked with hers and simply knew in this very second, that he had heard their conversation earlier.

"Truly.", his lips dwelled. One more time he exchanged looks with both of them. Then he looked at her intensively again.

"Come with me, Siyath.", his gaze did not allow any contradiction. And without another comment he sweeped out of the room.

But before Siyath could follow him, Tychidas cut her off.

"You know, the king is truly obsessed with his passion for collecting. He collects beautiful things and plays with them for a while until, finally, they begin to bore him. You better should not overestimate your importance, Siyath. You are nothing more than his newly discovered favorite toy and probably are going to get boring for him earlier, than you can even imagine.", the calculating smile, dripping with derision, had appeared on his full lips again, while his voice was as smooth as velvet.

Calmly she glanced at him. "And you should probably learn to hide your jealousy better, Tychidas. To lose the favor of the king, one has to be in favor with him, firstly.", she smiled casually, whispering her words like telling him a secret.

"And do you know what? I'll be so merciful and put in a good word for you.", she grabbed his arm and squeezed it affectionately.

Then she turned around and left, at least a hundred pairs of cold eyes in her back. Melianar had frozen to ice.

Alright. If he wanted a war, then he could get one, by all the gods. Yet, her heart was in her mouth and when she had passed the next corner, she leaned against the wall to get her pulse under control again.

That had been more than reckless.

She got frightened to death, when someone shot as fast and sharp as an arrow around the corner. Only a second later she realized that it was Melianar.

He discovered her leaning against the wall and grabbed her arm harshly to haul her further along the corridor.

"Would you mind doing that a liitle bit more gently?", she hissed.

He stopped abruptly and pressed her against the wall.

"What. Was. That?", he asked.

She had not seen him like this ever before, to be honest, she wouldn't even have thought, that Melianar was able to show another frame of mind than absolute and deeply relaxed calmness.

"Well, he has, indirectly, I admit that, but still he firstly insulted me, then the king, and then me again. I saw it as my duty to defend my own, as well as the honor of the king. And besides, who shall that be anyhow..?", she said with the calmness he was lacking.

"He has not truly insulted the king, but wanted to provoke you. Do you understand?! He tested you! By all the gods, Siyath, that is one of the generals of the royal army and you..yyou…!", it probably was the most astonishing thing she had ever seen before, when Melianar started stuttering. She could not believe it. It was sort of..sweet.

"Are you actually stuttering?", she blurted out in absolute surprise.

"What?", he asked completely perplex, interrupted in his tirade. "No! I mean, y..yes, but only when I'm in such a state o..of exciteme..ent..!, he said in the most reproachful tone, which said it all.

"That truly is..heart-warming and absolutely…fascinating, when you do that." She paused. Then she looked at him again. "Are you going to do it again?", she asked eagerly.

"Damn it, Siyath..", he tugged at his hair. She couldn't stop staring at him. Unbelievable.

"..for me?", she interrupted him.

"Now listen to me, damn it.", something in his voice let her fall silent.

"Excuse me.", she said all at once uncomfortably.

He let his hands fall and breathed in deeply.

"Well. This person you have just gotten into a confrontation with in publicity is one of the generals of his majesty and therefore of great importance for him. He has never ever lost a battle. Do you understand? He is enjoying the trust of the king!", he said insistently.

"Even if: Does he king want to trust him or does he do so out of necessity? There is a big difference and I think it rather is the latter.", she said.

"It does not matter, Siyath! You cannot fight him because you will lose. So please forget your pride."

"Excuse me? To do what? Lick up his saliva? Should I emphasize once again that he was the one to provoke me and not the other way around? I did not delight in my one pride, but did nothing more than to refuse myself the cowardice of crawling away like a beaten dog.

Besides, I knew immediately that he could only be a general or something in the same league; such a man must be virtuosic in taking away lives with cold calculation. For someone with those eyes lives only are numbers on a sheet of paper. And I do not believe that he is in favor with the king. His thinking does not fit together with Thranduil's.", she hissed.

When she said the name of the elven ruler, the elf In front of her winced.

"What? What is it? That is his name or is it not?", she asked excitedly.

"Yes..yes, indeed, but no one really speaks out his name.", he said perplex.

"Well, I think, his name is beautiful and am going to use it with the highest respect. And in addition I do not believe that a king with such wisdom trusts a man like Tychidas more than just apparently."

"Do you really believe, you know an elf, a king as well! After only three conversations better than those, who always surround him?", Melianar asked factually. He meant no harm, he just wanted to protect her from doing a grave mistake, she knew that.

"I believe, that when the king is surrounded by more personalities like Tyhcidas', one can only call it a miracle that this kingdom still exists and the king still is alive. He is false, I have seen it in his eyes.", she said hardly.

"Oh, Siyath, but he is already in the army of the king for centuries now. Don't you think, he would have already tried to deceive him long ago?" The elf sighed.

"It even is the perfect basis for a complot. Why the hurry, when one is immortal? Isn't it a lot more approximate that he counts on that? Blinded by centuries of loyal service no one will suspect him. It nearly is a perfect plan."

"Which plan? Siyath, all this is nothing more than speculation. And besides, you didn't even like the king yesterday. And now you already accuse his closest advisors of possible treason? It nearly seems as if you are his most loyal intimate now!"

Of course he had a point there, she thought, how did she actually become so protective concerning the elven king? Why was she so angry in face of the possibility of broken loyalty towards a king, she had believed she despised until a few hours ago? It was baffling. Yet, it didn't decrease her anger.

"Maybe he needs exactly that, a loyal intimate, at least one single person who is relentlessly and truly honest towards him. Because when I take a closer look at the faces of this court, then I either see feigned loyalty or deliberate blindness concerning this fathomlessly disgusting wire-pulling. It would make me sick, if I was meant to be in his position. And he may have accused me wrongly, but that certainly does not make him a king who deserves this." , she said excitedly.

Abruptly she turned around and sweeped away. How could he not see it? She had felt the falsehood at this court in the very moment, she had entered the halls. And she had damn much experience with falsehood by now.

Had she turned around one more time, she could have seen, how the elf glanced after her thoughtfully, furrowing his brow and a certain notion taking shape in his head. But she did nothing suchlike.

Still filled with incomprehension she walked through the corridors, got lost twice, but finally reached the huge portal, through which she had stepped not long ago to visit the king. This time, though, two fully-armored warriors guards were standing in front of it, making a way wordlessly, when they saw her.

By all the gods, Siyath did not know, what was awaiting her in there. Would he be angry? Or disappointed? Or would he even call her behavior good? She did not know it at all.

So she calmed down her racing pulse and breathed deeply once. Then she pushed the heavy wings of the door open and sat her feet on the enchanted path again.