Thranduil/Reader
Summary: Thranduil returns from a trip and brings back his queen a most beloved gift.
A/N: Can you tell I love writing a soft, domestic Thranduil?
The only sound in the empty chamber you shared with your king was the sound of your footsteps against the stone floor. Anxiously, you paced back and forth, glancing out the window occasionally to see if your King had arrived. He had been gone for a few days now; he was visiting Lothlórien. You understood the importance of his position as ruler of the Woodland Realm, but that didn't make you miss him any less when he was absent.
As you drifted out of your thoughts, a surge of anticipation coursed through you at the sound of his arrival just outside. A bright smile painted your face as you skipped out of the chambers. Your heart raced with excitement as you made your way to meet Thranduil. The nights spent alone had turned your palace walls into a prison of solitude, but reuniting with him ignited a warmth within you that banished those desolate thoughts. Each moment apart felt like an eternity, yet every reunion sparkled like the first light of dawn, illuminating your world once more. You could feel yourself falling in love with him again and again.
You walked out of the entrance of your castle and smiled as you watched Thranduil dismount from his elk, still clad in heavy armor that gleamed brightly in the light. As he sauntered toward you, you raised an eyebrow curiously when you noticed the small burlap sack he held in his hand.
“Did you bring back something from Lothlórien, my Lord?” You asked. Before he answered you, he pulled you by your waist and placed a deep kiss on your lips. He pulled away and stared at you for a moment, soaking up your beauty with those silver orbs of his.
“It is not from Lothlórien, but I found it on my way back. It’s a gift for you," he said, holding up the sack. “Let us come inside, and I will show you, " he answered, his hand still resting on your waist, motioning you to follow him.
Once he removed his armor and settled in a bit, you went to Thranduil’s study. The tan burlap sack began to wiggle the moment Thranduil had placed it onto the wooden table. “Open it, " he instructed. As you began to undo the hemp string that sealed the bag, you slightly flinched the moment you felt the bag move again.
“I hope it is not a spiderling.” You joked as you undid the tight knot. Your nails digging into the hemp, working into the tight spot. You could feel the impatience growing of whatever was trapped inside the strict confinement of the sack.
Thranduil looked at you, almost offended that you would even joke about such a thing. “ I would never.” He watched carefully as you undid the string. “Although it does bite.” He added.
“It bites?” you questioned. You were now very curious about what your king found you on his journey back home. You were just glad it was not a spiderling, though you were joking. You knew your King would never pull such a prank on you.
The moment you pulled out your gift, a gentle gasp escaped your lips, and you softly murmured, "Aww." Thranduil’s lips curved as he watched your face light up.
You pulled out a small kitten. It was a fluffy pewter-colored kitten adorning a smoky tiger pattern with the most beautiful emerald-colored almond eyes. The kitten let out small mews. “Meleth nîn..” you murmured affectionately to Thranduil, your voice barely above a whisper as you pressed the little creature against your cheek, feeling the warmth of its body and the gentle rhythm of its heartbeat. He was very aware of how badly you wanted a pet, how lonely you got in this large palace.
Thranduil knew how deeply you loved Middle Earth’s living creatures, from elk and horses to even small bugs. One of the many things he loved about you was your ability to see the beauty in everything and the importance of every life to you. You thanked your small farm upbringing for that.
Thranduil gently cupped your face with his large hand, his thumb stroking your cheek. His eyes stared deep into yours. “I know how lonely you feel in my absence, " he said to you softly. The weight of his words lingered in the air. “I know that this won't replace me, but I hope you think of it as a piece of me with you when I am gone.” Thranduil moved his hand to stroke the kitten’s small, round head.
“I love it more than you could ever know, my Lord.” you beamed. Getting on your tippy toes and your free hand making its way to his chin to pull him into a deep kiss.
You could feel a rare smile against your lips.
