Thranduil / Reader (13) - Part 7
Thranduil had drifted between being half awake and sound asleep or even unconscious the entire night and when the sun rose he finally gained full consciousness he noticed a naked elf lady laying next to him, still partially in water, new ice growing dangerously near of her legs as the small forest lake had started freeze shut from the parts the ice had been broken. The king jumped to the lady immediately, finding the fresh snow quite slippery as he crawled on it on his knees, and pulled the woman completely out from the water to lay on the snow. Thranduil noticed instantly that the lady had pointy ears which meant that she was an elf. This was important because if she was not an elf but a mortal, she would have been long gone by now due to severe hypothermia, if not due to drowning. However, even elves did not survive drowning – there was still a chance that the lady was dead.
Thranduil rolled her cautiously to lay on her back instead of leaving her to lay on her stomach and then, after pressing his ear against the lady’s mouth, listened carefully whether the lady was alive or not. A series of flashes hit the king hard at that very moment; he remembered the ice shattering, hearing violent gasps and loud, painful-sounding coughing, seeing someone fighting to stay afloat and swimming desperately to get to the shore and then collapsing on the snow covered stones, not quite making out on dry land, only partially. However these memories were very hazy and he had assumed at the time that he had been merely hallucinating due to grief and cold.
The lady was breathing, just barely though, so the king collapsed next to the lady to recover from the sudden shock. The whole world was spinning and it took all bits and pieces of his mental strength to keep himself together; he had lost the woman he loved and now there was this elven lady whom he was supposed to take care of. Well, not really but he was the king after all and this elf was not one of his own. Oh no, he had never seen her before and therefore the whole thing was kind of a mystery. Was she a friend or a foe? What was she doing here, naked and alone? Why was she trespassing on the elvenking’s land and where had she come from?
Now one thing was for certain; it had stopped snowing soon after his beloved siren had turned into snow and the lake’s surroundings were completely untouched. Yes, there were no footsteps anywhere and the only place that was visibly stirred was the ice that covered the small forest lake. It meant that the lady had come from the lake, but it did not make any sense. Perhaps it was some kind of wizardry, Middle Earth was, after all, filled with old spells and potions but still, finding an elf lady alone in a forest was, lightly put, odd. Therefore the king decided that he would not reveal his identity for now, just to play it safe. He would take the lady to the court of Mirkwood and then question her himself.
So, the lady was a mystery. Her sudden reappearance was a mystery too and her intentions were unknown, yet another mystery. However there were few things that the king was able to figure out by only looking at the unconscious lady; the lady was not from any elven realm that Thranduil had visited. He knew this because every elven people had their own distinctive look and this lady resembled none of the elven people the king had met during his long life. The other thing the king noticed immediately was that the lady was a high elf – she had the delicate and exalted features of the noble elves which meant that whoever she was, she was a Lady. The lady did not wear any jewelry, nothing to help the king to solve the puzzle without actually talking to her – no circlet and no rings with symbols of her family.
It was frustrating because the king did not like surprises like this – strangers wandering on his lands, no matter how noble they were and therefore the king did not bother to cover the lady with an item of clothing. Besides, Thranduil was stricken with grief and therefore totally uninterested in helping random ladies more than the bare minimum. He had checked if the lady was still alive and it had to be enough for now. But then again, Thranduil had fallen under a shadow of grief once before and he did not want to take a risk of doing so once more so he decided that helping this mystery lady was good distraction that would keep his mind busy for sure. It was not the most noble reason to help someone, quite a selfish one in a matter of fact, the king knew that, but it had to do for now because he felt that it was justified to be a little selfish after losing the woman he had fallen in love with.
Thranduil got up and checked if the lady was still breathing, again placing his ear right above on her mouth, careful not to touch her, not even daring to try her pulse – a faint but constant sound of breathing. “Good” the king thought silently and sighed while his gaze lingered on the lady’s bare form for a moment too long. There was something very familiar about her but he couldn’t quite figure out why that was. Suddenly he noticed that the lady was squeezing her fist tightly shut, or perhaps it was frozen that way. The king shifted himself and as a result moved the lady’s arm accidentally a little but when he did, a ray of sun hit her hand in the right angle, revealing that there was something that the king had not noticed before. This peaked Thranduil’s interest and therefore he decided to lean down and take a closer look.
When Thranduil looked a bit closer, he noticed that there was something glimmering… only ice maybe… but it was also possible that the lady was holding some item in her fist. The king placed his hands around the lady’s tightly clenched hand and after a moment of warming her cold fingers up, Thranduil managed to open her fist, one finger at a time and revealed a great surprise; his favorite ring – the one he had lost many months ago when he had nearly drowned. The king grabbed the ring instantly, slid it back on his finger and decided that he would not mention it to the lady, in fact, he would not speak of it to anyone. However this proved one thing; the lady had crawled out from the lake, from the very bottom of it.
The forest was silent, undisturbed, until the lady started to cough all of the sudden and broke the quiet moment. Thranduil had been listening to the wind, hoping that he would hear a soft whisper, proving that his beloved siren was still around, her spirit at least, but he had soon faced a bitter conclusion that nothing had changed – the wind was the same, the forest was the same… but at the same time something was missing. Perhaps the small lake was different now. Indeed, it wasn’t calling Thranduil like it had, before.
- Breathe, my lady. the king said and then added “Fill your lungs even if it was painful.” The lady continued coughing, turned on her side to get the remaining water out from her lungs and tried to push herself off the ground but her arms had no strength yet to carry the weight of her upper body. Therefore she her every attempt failed and ended up with her collapsing back to the snow-covered beach. Thranduil kept staring at her weak attempts, unable to decide whether he was supposed to help or not; on the other hand, yes perhaps he should, he was a gentleman after all, but then again, every time he got closer and tried to engage the situation, the lady pulled back like a wounded animal, her eyes filled with confusion and fear. Finally she was awake enough to realize that she was completely naked in a presence of a stranger, a man, and her expression changed from confused to clearly terrified as she continued her somewhat pathetic attempts to get up.
- My lady! Take it slow. Thranduil said and got up. “You are alright. No need to exhaust yourself” he stated as calmly and politely as he could. Eventually the lady managed to get up, covering her private areas with her hands and scanning her surroundings frantically while shivering violently.
- What is going on? she asked and asked “Where is my entourage and why is there snow on the ground?”
The lady noticed a long coat just laying on the ground and as an automated reaction, reached out to pick the garment up and to put it on. The elves were not affected by the cold temperatures but the harsh reality was that she was cold from the freezing weather and embarrassed of standing in front of a man she had never met before completely exposed. However her reasonable and justified action was met with a shocked stare from the tall man whose gaze had not left her, not even for a moment.
- You can’t wear that. Thranduil stated firmly, with a somewhat rude and inconsiderate tone, even though it was an unfair demand from his part. In a way he knew it, but then again the coat had been worn by the woman he had fallen in love with and therefore it was unacceptable that anyone else should wear it. No, the coat had to be buried because that was the only thing could be buried since there was no body or other remains left. The siren had turned into snow and then faded away right in front of the king’s eyes.
- Excuse me? the lady asked, stopped sliding her arm through the sleeve of the coat and stared at the man with her mouth ajar and eyes wide open due to the unreasonable statement.
- Sorry, but you may not wear that. Thranduil stated, his tone still demanding and assertive, but less rude now than before, not that made the situation any better for the lady.
- I beg your pardon! she exclaimed and scoffed. She took a deep, annoyed breath and asked with a tone that was not very friendly, oh no, she sounded offended and angry “What am I supposed to-“
- Here. he said, opened the finely detailed silver clasps of his long coat and handed it to the lady. She put it on immediately and exhaled slowly with her eyes closed when the warm fabric hugged her freezing cold skin. The lady opened her mouth but when she tried to speak, no voice came out, just hoarse sounds. Clearly exclaiming and talking without being careful with using her vocal cords had not been a good idea.
- Thank you. she said, her voice breaking constantly. The lady rubbed her throat and began “I… I…” but her face soon changed from relieved to an expression of deep anguish.
- Does it hurt? Thranduil asked and quickly added “Your throat.”
- Yes. she whispered and nodded.
- Come. he said and made a gesture with his hand that she should follow him. “You’ll feel better after drinking some hot tea” he stated and smiled politely. His smile was very impersonal, a façade for sure, but it was the best he could do, considering that he had lost someone just few hours ago. However since there was nothing that could have been done about the situation concerning the siren, the main goal now was to get the lady to the court where she could be properly questioned and the reality was that it would be easier for everyone if she came willingly, therefore a reassuring smile had been needed.
- My lord, I can't possibly come with you. the lady stated instantly and refused to take any steps towards any direction. She just stood barefoot on the snow, rubbing her arms and scanning the forest frantically.
- Any particular reason for that? Thranduil asked curiously although he was getting somewhat annoyed with her due to her unwillingness to cooperate.
- I am expected at the court. the lady stated after perfecting her posture. The coat was too large for her for sure but now that she was standing proudly in front of the king, with her long fine hair shining in the sunlight, she looked very regal even despite the unfitting coat. The sight made Thranduil gasp but he quickly pushed away any signs of growing fascination and asked curiously
- Who is expecting you?
- The king. the lady responded, her voice still weak and hoarse. It was painful to speak, that was apparent.
- The king? Thranduil asked and furrowed his brows. The lady nodded elegantly. “That is... interesting” he commented with a suspicious tone. The lady furrowed her brows as well as a reaction to such tone, clearly unsure whether she should trust this finely-dressed elven lord or not. “Well, you are in luck, my Lady, it so happens that also I am headed that way” Thranduil stated suddenly with a friendlier tone and gestured the lady to follow him.
- Such fortunate coincidence. she commented as she walked behind the tall elf lord who soon shouted an elven name few times and a large elk appeared from the forest. “Oh, you ride an elk. How charming” she mumbled and smirked when Thranduil took an annoyed glance at her.
Thranduil helped the lady up on the elk and then hopped on effortlessly as well, positioning himself to sit behind her. He commanded the elk to gallop because it would take the entire day to get to the palace and therefore there was no time to waste. Thranduil wrapped his arm around the lady and pulled her to sit as close as possible in order to share body heat and to make sure that she wasn’t going to fall during the ride. The lady objected, of course, stating that it was highly inappropriate for a lady to sit this close to a stranger, but after nearly falling more than once or twice, she swallowed her pride and accepted that the elf lord had to hold her firmly against him in order to keep her from falling during the ride in rough terrain and slippery hills in the snowy forest. Soon the lady fell asleep, or passed out from mental and physical exhaustion and slept throughout the entire ride. She recoiled when the elk stopped and she was told that they had arrived to the palace.
Thranduil helped the lady down, spoke few words to the elk and gave him treats. Then he escorted the lady in and ordered the servants to take her to see a healer. After this there should be a warm dinner, herbal tea to soothe the aching throat and a long, hot bath that would warm her up in no time. Thranduil ordered the maids to prepare a guestroom for the lady and then excused himself because truthfully, this was the end of the king’s interest for today. He wished the lady goodnight and told her that he would talk with her tomorrow in the morning. The lady tried to ask whether she would meet the king tomorrow, her question sounding more like a demand, but Thranduil chose not to give her any answers concerning that.
The king walked with heavy steps into his private quarters and after ordering a bath to be made and a dinner to be prepared as well as to be served, he sat down into a comfortable armchair and sighed as he leaned back. He felt empty and lonely, also proud of himself for being able to handle the situation with the mystery lady so well and without breaking down in front of her. But now, alone in his chamber, he did not want to hold back anymore so he let the tears fall as the cruel reality hit him; the siren was gone and it was possible that there was nothing that he could do about it.
Thranduil knew that he would try to find a spell to undo what had happened but at this very moment, physically exhausted and mentally drained, all he could do was to let the tears pour out from his eyes and pray Valar that it would get slightly easier by tomorrow morning. Yes, tomorrow morning he had a scheduled meeting with the mystery lady and hopefully he would finally find out why she was here and why she had stated that the king was expecting her arrival. And most importantly; the king would find out who the lady was and perhaps he would then figure out why she looked so… well, not familiar per se, but nearly so. Yes, tomorrow was going to be yet another tiring day of acting brave and hiding the grief that consumed him, yet another day to pretend that everything was alright.
A servant knocked twice and after getting a permission to enter the king’s chamber, he greeted the king with a respectful bow and walked into the bathroom where he started to get the bath ready. He did not make any comments about the king’s tear-filled eyes, but he did ask if there was something that he could have done to ease the king’s worries. Thranduil shook his head and asked the servant to bring a carafe of strong wine to the bathroom because he felt like having some before the dinner… as well as during it. The servant nodded and said “I’ll be right back” before leaving the room.
Thranduil got undressed, walked into the bathroom and selected his favorite bath oil from a wide selection of fine oils and soaps. He administrated few drops of the precious oil containing soothing and relaxing herbs into the water and then stepped into the bathtub. It was a big bathtub, made for two people actually, so he was able to lay low in the tub so the water got up to his chin. Soon the servant brought the wine which Thranduil then started to drink, drown his sorrows one sip at a time until the carafe was empty and the bathwater had gone unpleasantly lukewarm. He got up, got dressed into his luxurious bathrobe and walked into the sitting room where the dinner was already waiting for him… with a full carafe of wine.
The king ate and drank, cried and drank some more until it was late and it was time to go and pass out in the bed. He lay down, stared into the darkness, imagining that he felt the siren’s fingers running up and down on his skin, lips softly tracing his jaw and finally landing on his lips. A familiar shape in the shadows, whispers in the darkness… a feeling of closeness… wet footprints on the wooden floor… light blue eyes staring into his from a close distance and long strands of hair tickling the king’s face. Soft skin under his fingertips, warm and alive, beautiful moans and sighs, breathing sounds echoing and a heartbeat against the king’s bare chest. An intimate embrace and words “I’m still here” spoken softly into the king’s ear.
Thranduil recoiled to a loud knock. A terrible headache and his limbs in pain like he had been run over by an olifant. He got up, summoned the servant and asked him to bring him some herbal tea for the aches. He ate breakfast, got dressed and then headed to his throne hall, but before all that, he had his tea and waited that the pain would disappear because it was impossible to even think about food and duties before taking care of the physical distress. Now he was ready, well as ready as one could have been, to meet the lady, the trespasser who claimed that the king was expecting to meet her. “How ridiculous” Thranduil chuckled and rolled his eyes just as the door opened and the lady was escorted to the hall.
- Good morning, my Lady. Thranduil said, bowed and asked politely “How are you feeling?”
- Better. the lady answered and dropped a curtsy. She was wearing a beautiful gown that suited her way better than the king’s coat.
- Anything hurts? he asked and gestured the lady to come a bit closer.
- No… well, not much at least. she replied and after hesitating for a moment walked towards Thranduil but still kept her distance, unaware who this lord was and what he wanted from her.
- Good. Thranduil said, walked to a small table and filled two wineglasses made of crystal with mild elvish wine. He grabbed both glasses, walked to the lady and handed her a glass. The lady thanked for the wine and took a small sip. She complimented the wine, clearly waiting for something… perhaps for an interrogation to take place.
- Now, I think we should talk about who you are and what are you doing in Mirkwood. Thranduil stated after the mood had changed from awkward and formal to just formal.
- According to good manners the lord should to reveal his identity before the lady. she said with a polite smile on her face. It was quite obvious that she was not entirely comfortable with the current situation.
- I suppose, in normal circumstances but I am far too tired to follow the etiquette today… Thranduil stated with a cold, distant tone and then added “…Lady…?” with a demanding tone. The lady flashed a somewhat sarcastic smile to make sure that the lord knew that she did neither agreed nor approved it but was raised better than to start an open argument about it. She complied and told the king her name. She also described as well as she possibly could the events that had taken place before finding herself naked on the snow yesterday. She explained that she had taken a swim in the small lake in the middle of the forest while her entourage had stayed in the camp, sleeping most likely.
- I saw something glimmering at the bottom of the lake and dived towards it. she described and after a deep sigh, added “And the next thing… well, trying to break through the ice before running out of air and passing out.” Thranduil made a deep “Hmm” –sound and folded his arms as he scanned the lady’s face. He had that feeling of familiarity again, almost like he had heard a part of that story before… but he did not know when or where. It was on the tip of his tongue but he was unable to put the pieces together and solve the mystery.
- I demand to see the king now. the lady stated firmly yet politely. Thranduil made a gesture with his hand, signaling that it was not the time for the lady to make any demands. This made the lady to scoff silently.
- Why are you here? he asked curiously. The lady sighed, rolled her eyes and folded her arms. She was clearly frustrated but after taking a deep breath and probably reminding herself of her upbringing and the importance of ladylike manners, she smiled politely and stated
- I’ve sailed across the sea to marry the king of Mirkwood.
- Really? Thranduil asked although his question sounded more like a curious comment than a real question. “That is… interesting” he commented and walked around the lady slowly, towering over her and knowing that he was most likely making her feel threatened. However, she had made a bold claim and it couldn’t be ignored.
- Yes. she said, struggling to keep her composure in such oppressive situation and after a brief silence she continued by stating “I’m sure he has been waiting for my arrival… however it seems that I got… delayed.” Thranduil made a “Hm”-sound while sharpening his gaze. “Now, please, tell me who are you” the lady snapped since the pressure had finally gotten too much to take.
- I am the king of Mirkwood. Thranduil stated instantly, took few steps away from her and perfected his posture. His facial expression was neutral but there was a certain level of smugness in his aura.
- King Oropher? the lady asked and smiled nervously.
- Excuse me? Thranduil asked with a puzzled tone.
- King Oropher of Mirkwood, the woodland realm. the lady stated and dropped a curtsy.
- No… I am Thranduil. he said and after a brief pause, added “Oropher was my father.”
- I do not wish to play games, Lord Thranduil. the lady stated and chuckled tensely, clearly suspicious and doubting the elf lord’s words.
- Let me assure you, my Lady, no games are being played. Thranduil stated and bowed a little.
- What year is it? she asked instantly. Thranduil answered calmly, keeping his eyes fixed upon the lady and told her exactly what year it was. The lady went pale instantly and took one shaky step backwards, probably to stop herself from falling on her butt from the shock.
- What? she sighed and then, after few sharp gasps, exclaimed “It has been over six thousand years!” She took few more shaky steps but when Thranduil was about to offer his arm to support herself with, she refused it with a simple gesture and mumbled that she was quite alright. She did not look alright, though, actually she looked like she was going to throw up or pass out any minute now.
- My Lady, must I remind you constantly about the importance of taking it slow? Thranduil asked with an irritated tone and rolled his eyes. It was not exactly and completely true; the king had not reminded the lady about taking it easy many times before but it surely felt like it due to the king’s state of annoyance.
- I’m alright. I am thankful for your concern but… I’m fine. she replied and took a deep breath to make sure that she would not indeed pass out. Throwing up, however, was an entirely different thing, not so easy to prevent by just focusing on the breathing. Thranduil walked the lady into a nearby sitting room and said “Please, sit down.” The lady sat down and it was clear that she felt immediately better now that she did not have to struggle to keep her balance anymore. Thranduil handed her a glass of cold water and sat down as well, to a chair that was located opposite from her.
- So, you are the son. she stated after a long silence.
- Yes. Thranduil replied and nodded, keeping his eyes fixed upon her.
- Legitimate? she asked.
- Of course. Why… are you asking me that? he asked with an annoyed and slightly offended tone. The lady apologized and explained that she had meant no offense.
- It just means that he got married. King Oropher. the lady commented and then added bitterly “To someone else.” Thranduil leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat.
- Well... with all due respect, my Lady, although I was not there personally… Thranduil stated, added “…Obviously…” and the spoke with an assertive tone “…But I’ve read letters and documents…” he said, paused and then continued with the same assertiveness, perhaps even with a hint of offense taken “…Documents clearly stating that people thought you either drowned or ran away.”
- Ran away? the lady exclaimed and stood up. She walked a bit in the room and then turned to face the king with an offended expression on her face. “I chose to sail from Valinor to marry the king of Mirkwood” she stated and then continued proudly “That was my duty and privilege.” The lady shifted her gaze elsewhere for a moment while she took a deep breath and swallowed her annoyance. “I wouldn’t have just run away” she said and then added “In fact that is what I am still willing to do, King Thranduil.”
- What? Thranduil asked, his tone a complicated mixture of not giving a shit and curiosity.
- I am still willing to fulfill my duty. the lady stated after perfecting her posture and shifting her gaze back to the king. “However I am aware that time has passed and circumstances have changed” she spoke, her expression changing from almost arrogant to slightly disappointed and bitter. “You are not obligated to respect the agreements of your father, Lord Thranduil” she stated and sat down.
Thranduil monitored the body language of the lady and in a way it seemed like she had decreased in size, physically, after realizing that she was not going to be able to fulfill her duty now. She looked nervous as she sat in front of Thranduil, visibly distressed and anxious, without a shred of arrogance or smugness. Thranduil sat in silence as he tried to decide what to do with the lady; was he supposed to send her away or keep her here? He felt sorry for her due to the fact that none of this was actually the lady’s fault and therefore it was a very unfair situation for her as well. This mystical forest lake was located on the Greenleaf’s lands, there was and never had been any sign to warn the possible swimmers about the dangers lurking down below so… basically none of this was the lady’s fault.
- However… the lady began after a long depressing silence. The king snapped out from his thoughts and focused his full attention to her once more. “…There is no ship to take me back during the winter” she spoke softly with a tone that was neutral and polite but there was an undertone of sadness in it. “I must ask you to let me stay until spring” she said and smiled a little, although her smile was just a weak excuse of a proper smile; her eyes were filled with sorrow, much like Thranduil’s, but neither of them showed their true emotions openly.
- I will honor the agreement my father has made. the king said suddenly. “A promise is a promise and since my wife died a long time ago…” Thranduil stated, sighed and then added “…I am free to engage myself into a new marriage.”
- That is very generous, my Lord. Are you certain? the lady asked and began “I will not be offended if-“
- Yes. Thranduil stated before the lady had even finished her sentence. Thranduil had come to a conclusion that getting married would serve his realm, which was the most important thing but it would also provide him with some distraction and perhaps stop him from falling into depression like before. Besides, it would save the lady from embarrassment and give her an opportunity to fulfill her duty. All valid reasons to consider and therefore he had decided to do it. The lady however looked a little hesitant.
- How about… we’ll get to know each other during this winter and if there is no friendship between us by the first day of spring, I’ll return home. she said, got up and offered her hand to Thranduil for a handshake.
- Sounds fair. the king said, took her hand and shook it firmly as a sign of an agreement.
The days passed and the winter settled into Mirkwood, took over the forest and filled the world with silence. The truth was that for the first few days Thranduil had felt fairly good about his decision; he had invited the lady on private dinners and slow strolls in the snowy garden, earnestly trying to put effort in getting to know her but then, before the first week was over he found himself having mixed feelings about the entire thing. He felt like he was betraying his beloved siren, who seemed to visit him every night during the darkest hours, by marrying someone else, especially so quickly after the who incidence… but then again, it, marrying the high Lady from Valinor, would surely serve his realm, his people, who was his responsibility.
A new marriage meant stability and companionship. Those were the two things that the king needed right now. He wasn’t even thinking about falling in love again, even though the lady was gorgeous, much more beautiful than the other elves in the court of Mirkwood and she was smart, kind and witty too, although the king had pretty much abandoned any efforts of building a friendship with the lady after the first week. He just… didn’t seem to have any energy for making a connection with a new person, a stranger, and possibly building a life with her… even though he had promised to try.
As the winter progressed, the king started to spend more and more time in the library, going through old scrolls and documents, reading spell books and trying to come up with a way to bring the siren back. She clearly still existed since she visited him every night, unless… unless, of course, it was just a hallucination mixed with a dream… but surely no dream was that vivid. The king felt somewhat guilty for his desperate attempts of trying to get someone else back when the noble elf lady was right there, ready and willing to dedicate her life to the king, to his people and to his realm. Thranduil felt torn between his love and his duty… he felt torn between his need to be selfish and his duty to put his duties first unselfishly.
He wanted to be unselfish but somehow he always seemed to steer towards selfish actions such as ignoring the lady and the promise that had been made. Thranduil went out for walks that lasted for the entire day as he tried to find a connection with his beloved siren but the nature was silent and for some reason he was unable to sense a presence. This made him bitter and he sometimes took it out on his servants and maids who always seemed to interrupt him when he wanted to be left alone. He even snapped at the elf lady once or twice due to a small disagreement or a silly matter, but he was too distracted by his grief and desperation to care. In other words, he did not really give a shit.
Then the spring came, late this year, but slowly the snow started to melt and life returned to the forest of Mirkwood. Thranduil left the palace every morning around the sunrise to catch the morning mist and always returned to the palace with a bad mood to have lunch with his counselors. He had normally had a quick meeting with the diplomats from other realms before returning to the forest where he walked alone, talking to the wind and scolding himself for being so blind. He sometimes cried, sobbed helplessly and begged for forgiveness, hoping that it would release him from the guilt, the pain of losing a loved one and his mental turmoil but the forest offered him no consolation.
It was the first day of summer again. The forest had recovered during the winter and even the river had returned back to normal, filling the air with the familiar roaring-sound which was loved by the elves of Mirkwood, well the ones who lived in the palace or nearby. The birds were singing and new flowers popped out from the ground every day, covering the forest floor and filling the garden with intoxicating scents. The king however found no comfort from this and not even his traditional swim in the small forest lake made him feel any better or closer to the love he had lost nearly half a year ago. Sure, it was a short time for the elves, even hundred years was only a blink of an eye for the elves, but stricken with grief and loss, every day was as long as a decade for the king.
Now, on this particular evening, there was going to be a festive dinner because of the beginning of a new summer. The king was standing in the garden, listening to the wind like he nowadays always did, when the elf lady walked to him and asked to have a private talk with him. “Now, if you may” she said and dropped a curtsy. Thranduil bowed and gestured the lady to walk a bit closer since she was standing many meters away. The lady smiled a little and walked to Thranduil, to stand next to him, both facing the garden and staring at the beautiful, luscious green that the elves loved very much – the color of all things living.
- My king, Thranduil. I have given it a lot of thought... the lady started after some meaningless small talk. She paused for a moment, probably to rearrange her thoughts and then continued cautiously yet calmly “…And come to a conclusion that it would be for the best if I sailed back to Valinor.”
- Oh! Thranduil commented, clearly surprised for such statement. “May I ask for the reason for your decision?” he asked with a tone that did not sound too interested or curious.
- Of course. the lady sighed and took a quick glance at the king standing next to her.
- Well, go on. he said, his voice sounding slightly impatient now.
- To be honest, I have felt quite restless here. the lady said after hesitating for a moment. “I do not know if it is due to homesickness or something else…” she stated, inhaled slowly while enjoying the light breeze on her face and then continued with a troubled tone “…But I keep having these dreams about… creatures with glowing eyes, living in murky depths-“
- I see. the king commented, sounding somewhat bothered and even more uninterested.
- And that’s not all, my Lord. When I wake up… I am filled with deep… sorrow. she described, put her hands on her heart and expressing discomfort with her face although she tried her best to hide it. “A deep sense of… time running out and being unable to… communicate” she said and swallowed once. Thranduil got a strange feeling when he heard that statement. He turned to look at the lady with a somewhat concerned look on his face and waited in silence for the lady to continue. “I think… I might be able to find peace among my people” she stated and finally added “Therefore, perhaps, sailing home would be the right thing to do.” The strange feeling passed, just as swiftly it had come… it was gone… and the familiar state of not giving a shit returned and filled the king’s mind.
- I support your decision. You must do what you must do. he commented quite coldly. The lady gasped, clearly taken aback by the king’s cold attitude towards her.
- Besides, it is obvious that your heart belongs to someone else and I do not wish to bind you into a loveless marriage. she spoke and smiled, staring at the forest and trying to mask her disappointment as well as she could. “I do not think we have even become friends during past winter... and spring” she stated too.
- My apologies, I have been distracted. Thranduil commented, not really sounding too sincere.
- It is not your fault. Just wrong timing, I suppose. the lady said instantly even though the king had not sounded very sincere. It was just her fine upbringing that was also a defense mechanism. It had not been before arriving to the court of Mirkwood but here she had soon learned that the only way to cope was to hide any negative feelings and behave in a ladylike way as well as to stick to the etiquette. “Well, I shall write my parents after dinner and send a messenger bird at first light tomorrow morning” she stated, her tone quite emotionless, yet polite. “I am most certain that there is enough time to arrange a ship to pick me up from the Gray Havens by the end of summer” she said, dropped a curtsy and turned away.
- Well before the first snow. the king blurted, deep in his thoughts. The lady froze completely still and for a moment she was unable to even breathe.
- What did you say? she asked, refusing to look at the king.
- Nothing. Thranduil commented and then stated “Very well.” The lady inhaled sharply, like she had been awakened from a state of trance or released from a spell.
- I am most thankful for all help you have provided. she said, took few steps towards the palace and added “I shall not forget it.”
All the guests, the lady and Thranduil included, gathered to the large dining hall that had been decorated with flowers and candles. The atmosphere was good and the dinner was very delicious, as always. There was a wide selection of different dishes to choose from, snacks and plenty of refreshing wine. People shared enjoyable conversations with each other, even the elf lady who had managed to recover from the conversation she had had with the reluctant king. It, the matter of being cast aside and ignored, being a stranger in the realm she was supposed to rule, had weighed on the lady’s shoulders and therefore she felt quite a bit lighter now since the issue had been resolved.
She drank many glasses of wine, getting pleasantly tipsy, and her bubbly laughter filled the entire hall whenever someone from the dignitaries and courtiers she was sitting next or in close proximity to made witty comments about the life in the court of Mirkwood. She made some as well and told vivid stories about her home realm, Valinor, the birthplace of the elven race. She was very expressive, even the brooding king noticed that; using her hands to speak, making gestures and facial expressions to get her point across. The king, finally, started to pay more attention on her, sitting in the far end of the table but still capturing the minds of everyone around.
- Dreams about creatures with glowing eyes living in the murky depths… the king mumbled while he stared at the lady.
- Excuse me, my lord? a diplomat from Rivendell asked curiously, catching only few words here and there.
- Nothing. Thranduil said and sipped some wine.
- It is quite fascinating. the diplomat said and after the king had shifted his attention from the lady to him, he stated “Quite peculiar indeed.”
- What is? the king asked and rolled his eyes involuntarily. He did not particularly like this elf lord and even just sitting next to him at the dinner table was a drag. Why did he have to start a conversation as well?
- The way she talks. the diplomat said and pointed at the elf lady. “With her hands” he added and then chuckled, rather tipsy from the wine “Isn’t speaking with words enough?” The diplomat mimicked the elf lady and ended up nearly tipping over a precious wineglass filled with wine. Fortunately Thranduil managed to catch the glass before it fell over completely. The diplomat cursed because he got some wine on the sleeve of his light green tunic and left the table to wash the stain before it became permanent and ruined the fine garment completely.
Thranduil leaned back in his chair, focused his gaze on the lady once more and after a moment of just silently following her, the voices got muffled away and something clicked. The king leaned forward, his mouth ajar and eyes wide open. “It is you” he gasped with a loud tone, making everyone go silent for a moment and turn their gazes at him. However when the statement was not followed by anything really, the guests, the elf lady included, returned back to their topics and continued enjoying the dinner like nothing had happened. “My… Eithel-nín” the king sighed silently.