You had been waiting for two hours. It was clear now that he wasn't coming. This was the third time he had bailed on walking with you through the garden. All you wanted was to spend time together, something that had become rare due to his endless meetings.

Tears stung your eyes as you turned away from the door leading to the blossoms and foliage you longed to stroll through. You angrily wiped your tears and made your way back to the bedroom, planning to sulk there until sleep overtook you.

As you pushed open the massive bedroom doors, you saw him seated behind his desk, absorbed in the small print of the numerous papers before him. “Why can’t you just tell me you don’t want to walk with me?” you asked, trying to maintain composure, though your body trembled with sobs.

His pen dragged swiftly across the paper, and he lifted a brow as he tried to finish writing before addressing you. “I beg your pardon?” he asked, finally looking up into your tear-filled eyes.

“W-Why must you keep bailing on me?” you hiccuped. “This is the third time, Thranduil.”

He cursed under his breath, lowering his face into his palms as if his features suddenly weighed a ton. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his voice muffled. “I got carried away with all this paperwork and forgot. Tomorrow. Tomorrow we’ll walk through the garden, I promise.”

“Why? So you can forget again?” you replied, your voice laced with accusation, causing him to look at you with narrowed eyes.

“I made you a promise,” he huffed. “You have my word.”

“I know you promised, just like you promised yesterday and the day before that,” you retorted, your sorrow growing.

“I said I was sorry and made you a promise. What more do you want?!” Thranduil shouted, rising to his feet.