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Eleanor's POV
After a few minutes of staring at the blonde elf in inarticulate amazement and anger, I finally find my voice.
"So Ginny and I are political prisoners then?"
Thanduil shrugs.
"If you want to put it that way, you will be treated substantially better than prisoners though. You will both be treated excellently with everything you need provided for you. My people will behave as they would to one of my own family."
E: But we will still be expected to do as you say sah?
He caught the deliberately sarcastic mispronunciation of the word 'sir'. His smile tightened slightly before it smoothed out again and he answered me.
"Yes you will, but if you behave like a princess and guest of my halls, there will rarely be any need of that. Ginny, wasn't it, will be expected to behave as your lady-in-waiting. As neither of you know anything about this world or the elves, you will be given lessons in language, history, and local etiquette. What is so funny?"
He apparently noticed the quirk of my lips when he mentioned language lessons.
"I hope you have a patient teacher, my language skills are non-existent. So lessons be your first order, anything else I should know?"
His eyes flickered to his son and back to me and he looked like he was debating saying something. It didn't take long for me to work it out. I have studied both politics and history long enough for that.
"You are kidding me, aren't you?"
It came out slightly hysterical.
"You want me to marry your son for the political leverage it will give you?"
He actually managed to look sheepish.
"The elves don't believe in political marriages, only those of love. I will not force you to, but I would like you to think on the subject. My son really is not that bad, Aranel."
Ginny makes a quiet scoffing sound; Thanduil looks at her, but doesn't react.
"So now you bring morals into the argument! After you have kidnapped me and Virginia, by the way, and informed us you plan to keep us in a gilded cage for your own ends. Is the lack of force in this area purely in regard for elfin belief or rather because it may hurt your own son?"
Before he can answer, I turn to Legolas and say perfectly calmly to him,
"I don't mean any insult to you by my objections; I just do not like political marriages at all and barely know you. My anger is aimed at your autocratic father."
He smiles gently at me and nods in understanding. I turn back to the King who is staring at me in faint surprise; his expression is something I shall savour for a very long time.
His lovely brother fills in the gap in conversation with a convenient subject change.
"As you will notice, the spell that made you human ceased to work once you arrived back in Arda; this is the reason for your sleepiness earlier. The transformation back to your true form took over your body and shut down your mind. You will frequently feel sleepy over the next few days as the last few missing details get filled in, though I am sure you have already begun to notice the changes coming over your body."
I nod at him. Thanduil has by this point recovered composure and takes over the conversation again.
"I'm sure you have also noticed the influence on blue and gold around you. Those are the royal colours of Turgon's house and therefore yours. Gin- Virginia will be expected to wear those colours, on formal occasions at least, unless you say otherwise, as a symbol of her allegiance to you."
"She can wear whatever colours she likes. Personally, I don't think those colours quite go with her hair, or at least I've seen better combinations."
At this point a wave of tiredness rolls over me.
"It is rather late, Your Majesty, and I don't know about Ginny, but I am rather tired by the day's events so if you don't mind we will retire now."
"Of course, sleep well, Aranel and you too, Lady Virginia. May I ask one final question though?"
We nod at him.
"Why do you say your name is Virginia, yet are referred to as Ginny?"
Ginny, of course, answers.
"Virginia is the full version of my name; Ginny is the friendly, affectionate version."
There is no missing the frosty tone or the implication in that answer.
We both rise and bid good night to the other occupants of the room before leaving where a guide thankfully takes over and leads us to our rooms.
The next morning, after sleeping well in a blissfully soft and truly huge four poster bed, I am woken by Aniya who helps me out of the archaic nightgown and through a ridiculously long morning toilette; resulting in another beautiful blue and gold outfit with a stunning and complicated hairstyle. While all this is going on she tells me of today's routine.
After breakfast with the royal family, Ginny and I are to go to the seamstresses' workshop where we will get some 'proper' clothes fitted. Apparently we each only have enough clothes for a few days made on an estimate and we need some more, better fitted and personalised gowns.
Obviously this is going to take all morning because the next thing on the agenda is lunch, once again with the royal family. I learn that there is a great hall where larger meals take place, but we are to be kept from there until we have at least a passing grasp of the language. That will be quite a long time then.
In the afternoon we are to meet our teacher and start lessons.
Once I am finally ready, I go to the sitting room where Ginny is waiting for me. Her morning routine clearly takes less time than mine. Being a princess evidently means that I have to have a morning routine for the record books.
Ginny immediately gets to the point
"What do we do now then?"
"We wait for Elrond to arrive. Until he is here we don't have any place to escape to so there is no point in trying. He also knows rather more about what is going on, geography etc. In other words we need him to get ourselves out of this interesting hole."
"Will you do what King Thanduil wants you to do concerning Legolas?"
"I'll be nice to him at least; I don't want to piss off elf-king too much. I do think cultivating a friendship with his daughter is a good idea though; apart from anything else she seems quite nice and innocent. I wonder where the mother is."
With that thought the conversation ended as the same servant as last time came to show us to the dining hall. Neither of us felt comfortable talking in the presence of the servants, as we both strongly suspected that they would report anything said to their king.
Breakfast past surprisingly enjoyably as Miriel had been calmed down, either because of the time of day or that possibly she was less excited about our presence. Once we could hold a conversation with her, it became clear that my assessment of her was spot on: young, innocent, and very kind. When she asked to accompany us to the seamstresses' workshop we were more than willing for her company.
The ladies that were fitting us were very kind and welcoming; telling us about all sorts of thing that they were sure the King and our tutor would miss out, being males; and telling us exactly where to come if we ever needed help.
After they had finished taking measurements, we had to choose designs for our clothes as well as the cloths and colours. Miriel helped us out and it was clear she enjoyed the company of these motherly elves.
After we had chosen dress designs and the fabrics, I asked about them making me a nightgown more in the styles I had liked at home.
The seamstress I was talking to got an evil grin across her face and a knowing twinkle in her eye as I drew the design I wanted, that of a short satin nightdress. Her expression became even more wicked when I told her how long these gowns normally were.
She also agreed to make a matching dressing gown to go with the night gown. I found I quite liked her mischievous streak.
Lunch passed with several comments on the mischievous expression which I could not wipe off my face after the conversation about night clothes.
Our afternoon meeting went quite well, especially when our teacher, a scholarly looking elf with dark hair, found that both Ginny and I have an interest in history and a reasonable grasp of etiquette already. The only downside was the section that involved languages. My capabilities in that area are still a figment of the imagination, even though this is supposedly my natural language.
We pick up a few polite phrases in Sindarin, though I am sure my accent is abominable, before we are whisked off to a private dinner. This is slightly less strained as Thanduil is not there; he apparently has too much work, mostly related to arranging Elrond's visit. I can't help a stab of shadenfreuder. I enjoy his pain because it is related to his bad behaviour. Not a very nice, I know, but I can't help it.
After dinner, we go with Miriel to what she calls the 'comfortable library'. It is a relatively small room with several bookshelves full of tomes and a set of futons each with several large cushions and blankets on them.
I notice that Miriel is the only person that treats Ginny as an equal, rather than my subordinate.
I lean back and fade into the background, allowing my friend to have a conversation with someone other than me that treats her like a real person. I think she enjoys the opportunity for something which obviously will not be very common in Mirkwood.
Ginny's POV
Political prisoners! My word...just the other day, we were unknown, impoverished university graduates and now this Lord Elrond is coming on a state visit just to see us. Well, Ellie really, but it's still pretty impressive.
During that meeting with Thanduil, Ellie really showed her cat-like side. Though I don't think anyone would be too impressed at being used for a bit of political leverage.
I really think that I'll have to tweak my morning routine though, as I spend AGES waiting for Ellie in the mornings. I think may start bringing in books that I took around on our trip. Though, with the speed of my reading and the amount of time that Ellie takes to get ready, they won't last very long. I hope Sindarin won't be too hard to learn, at least to read. As there's only so many times I can read the same book or sing the same song to myself.
Although, I don't think the latter of those two will too much of a problem as Miriel has promised to teach me a few elfin songs. Miriel is so nice; actually she is the first royal elf to treat me with something more than reluctant civility.
The conversation after dinner really centres around the world trip that Ellie and I took during our gap year. I describe how we spent the year traversing Europe, Asia, and Australasia. Miriel's eyes shine; she hasn't done much travelling herself, only in and around the borders of Mirkwood. On the other hand, Miriel doesn't look too envious when I describe travelling by aeroplane.
"You poor things! To be cooped up for hours on end with hardly anything to see or do."
"Yeah, but it's worth it."
"Maybe, but I think one of the best bits of travelling IS the travel, rather than just the destination. You get to experience so much more. What did you do to occupy yourselves?"
"Read, slept, played games..."
"Ooooo, what sort of games?"
"Card games – Uno mostly."
"Uno?"
"It's the coolest game! You have seven cards and... Hey, I know, why don't we play a few rounds? You'll learn it far better if you play yourself. Come on!"
I lead Miriel and Ellie back to my room. Halfway there, we come across Legolas going in the opposite direction. I don't think he's quite got over my scoff at him last night for he whispers something in Sindarin as I pass him.
I have absolutely no idea what he said, but there is no mistaking the general gist as Miriel immediately whirls around, her face scarlet. She shouts at him, also in Sindarin, but, from her gesticulations, I can tell she's telling Legolas to apologise. I, however, have an idea and step forward, my face the epitome of calmness.
"No, it's OK, Miriel. I can fight my own battles."
I turn to Legolas nd clear my throat
"Podex perfectus es. Futue te ipsum et caballum tuum."
He stares at me, they all do.
"What did you say?"
"Oh, don't you know? Well I'm sure if you elves really are as sophisticated and well read as you say you are that you'll be able to work it out...eventually."
I wink at him.
"Vale! Come on, girls."
I sweep past Legolas and on down the corridor, the others running to catch up. We don't stop until we reach the seclusion of my own chambers.
"Ginny, what WAS that?"
"Just a bit of Latin."
"But what if he understands..."
"Oh come on, Mir. I highly doubt the Romans ever visited Middle Earth."
"But what did you say?"
"Roughly translated it means: You are a total asshole. Screw you and the horse you rode in on."
There is total silence, broken suddenly by a splutter of laughter from Miriel. She hugs me.
"Oh, Ginny! You know, I suddenly have new found respect for you! What about this Uno then?"
We play Uno, chat, and laugh until late into the night – or very early on in the morning, depending on your point of view.
And that's how the days begin to pan out: get up, lo-o-ong wait for Ellie, breakfast, lessons, lunch, more lessons or go around with Miriel, dinner, stay up with Miriel until the small hours...
Everyone's on tenterhooks; waiting for Lord Elrond's arrival...