Chapter 4. Halls of Stone.
"Get out of my sight!" roared Thranduil. "And name not those longbeards in my presence again!"
It was not a good day to approach the Elvenking on any subject. The Wood-elves who had espied their southern kindred from afar and helped them disembark now cowered before the doors of his glittering new throne room as yet more messengers were thrust from his presence. The Dwarves who had completed the magnificent underground dwelling, and much metalwork besides, had suddenly departed, and not empty-handed. A cursory inspection of the vault was enough to confirm the Elves' deepest prejudices. As Ríon had rightly predicted, a feud was looming, and the fury of the King ready to be unleashed on anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path.
"You must announce us," said Rílaisseth gently to the escort at her side, attempting to conceal the impatience and nervousness she felt at the long wait. "He cannot turn away his own kindred, when they come bearing the gifts of the vine."
The green-clad Elf seemed uncertain about this, but he opened the great door and announced, in an almost unfaltering voice, "the Lady Rílaisseth of Dorwinion."
Rílaisseth looked intently at the figure on the throne as she and her companions entered the pillared hall. It was tall and stately, and the face had all the beauty of the Sindar race, but it was not the face she had seen in Dorwinion all those years ago. There was a coldness to the eyes, a grimness to the mouth, which had not been there previously. She sought to read the heart in the features, but she could not.
"Well met under leaf and branch, maid of the Land of Maidens," said King Thranduil, dispassionately. "Is Ríon of Rhûn so enamoured of his vines that he must needs send women to do his work for him?"
"Certainly not!" exclaimed Rílaisseth, flushing with an annoyance she fought to quell. "My brother and I hold all things equal. My word is as his."
"Is that so?" the King replied. "Then what word have you come this distance to speak? I hope you bring me solace in this dark hour."
"I do indeed," said Rílaisseth, smiling as she felt her power in the situation growing. "For I bring both a proposal and a sample of our very finest vintage."
She nodded to Galion, who brought forth two silver bowls of King's Table.
"Shall we drink together," she said, "that we may seal our friendship of sweeten our discourse?"
"We shall," Thranduil replied. "A seat for the Lady!" he called. "You may dismiss your servants," he added.
Her servants! Rílaisseth felt her heckles rising again. These are my people, my friends, she thought. I risk all for their protection and he dismisses them as so many discarded twigs!
"Please, take some rest," she said uneasily to the southern Elves, but she fought to keep her voice steady, and was not unaware of a slight glimmer of amusement in Thranduil's cold eye.
In spite of his grimness and fey mood, Thranduil proved surprisingly amenable to Rílaisseth's proposal. His approval of the wine was obvious, and he even offered to take on Galion as a wine steward once the agreement was complete. Rílaisseth was less than comfortable about this suggestion, and she was sure Ríon would not be pleased to lose his personal attendant so easily either, but she kept quiet for now. The subject could be broached again later, as she had agreed with the King to stay in Mirkwood until New Moon, so that all could be organised for the shipment of wine to begin.
"A star shines upon the hour of our meeting," Thranduil said. "My new palace has wine cellars built with easy access to the river, perfect for the execution of our plan. Come! I will show you. Then you will see with your own eyes the marvels of these halls, the greatest since the Elder Days, albeit that they were delved with the assistance of those-" He muttered something Rílaisseth was relieved not to have heard.
Thranduil offered his arm and Rílaisseth took it primly. She did not feel she could warm to her northern kinsman, nor to his halls of stone. Although the artifice which had fashioned pillars in the likeness of living trees (complete with birds and beasts) and lamps in the likeness of the stars of heaven, was truly breathtaking, she longed for the sea breeze on her face and the scent of ripening grapes. Perhaps she allowed his earlier abruptness to cloud her judgement but when, on completion of the tour, the King asked her opinion of his Elven halls, she replied:
"I like them not. It is a dark day indeed when Elves must forsake the woods that bore them and take to the rocks like Dwarves. Ingenious though they are, I beg leave to quit them and be taken to lodging among my companions in the open air."
For the first time, she saw a genuine expression on Thranduil's face, and almost she wished she had not spoken so harshly. But he merely bowed and said:
"As you wish. I shall find you apartments in the Summer Palace."