Chapter 20 ended with:
In the end, they never settled the bet. The king was very annoyed by the request while he was in the middle of his correspondence, and did not immediately pay a visit to his new wife. He only did after an hour, but way before his usual break time. What he told his wife, or what she told him, they never knew. But from now on, the king always spent some time with his wife in the morning when she woke, if only to wish her a good day.
Chapter 21 - Interrogation
Valerie had spent her first day with Ninaelil, after a brief breakfast with her mate, who had deigned interrupt his work to wish her a good day. A kiss on her forehead and he had gone back to his private study, where his councilors had been waiting for him. She had been disappointed by the beginning of her first day in her new home, although she understood that her mate must have had a backlog of work following his trip to Isengard. Surely, in a few days, Thranduil would be caught up and be able to spend a few hours every day with her.
Once she had voiced that assumption, Ninaelil had explained that the king was working 18-hour days without what Valerie had called a weekend. The concept of having two days off every week had seemed strange to the housekeeper. She had then proceeded to explain to Valerie that the king would benefit from a queen involved in the affairs of the fortress, explaining that she herself was spending many hours every week with the king to take his orders.
Valerie had quickly understood that any task that she was taking over would give some time off to her husband, time that he could spent with her. She had asked the housekeeper to explain what her duties were, and when Ninaelil had taken out a huge book, Valerie had valiantly opened it and listened carefully to her explanations.
Hours later, and after a session with the seamstress as the final fitting for her new wardrobe, Valerie had wanted some time to relax before dinner, and Ninaelil had shown her the way to the royal family's sitting room. She was in information overload, she missed her mate, and she wanted to spend some time alone in a comfortable room.
Valerie entered in the sitting room and froze when she saw that another elleth was already there, quietly reading in a couch. She knew her name was Amareth and that she was Legolas' lover, although she was surprised that she had access to the family quarters. However, the elleth seemed at ease and used to the situation, so who was she to question it if Legolas and Thranduil were comfortable with her presence in this room?
"Good day, Valerie," the elleth said, lifting her eyes from her book for a few seconds before going back to her reading.
"Good day, Amareth," Valerie replied, before walking around to observe the area. The furniture was beautiful, much more sumptuous than what she had seen in Isengard. There was a bookcase with impeccable leather covers, and this, she had heard, were Thranduil's favorite books. There was a library elsewhere in the fortress where all other books were being kept. She touched the first books, wondering if her mate had touched them recently, curious to know what kind of reading he liked. She took one that seemed more used than the others and went to sit on another sofa.
Amareth was still paying no attention to her, fully absorbed in her book. Valerie opened her book and read slowly the still challenging elven characters. The tome contained what seemed to be poems. She had never read elven poems, most books in Isengard had been about history and practical matters such as warfare and spells.
She started reading the first one, her full attention on the poem for a little while when Amareth stood, announcing that she needed to go get ready for dinner. Valerie nodded in return and went back to her book. She stayed there for a while until she heard a noise at the door.
"Your Majesty," Ninaelil whispered, "the king is waiting for you in the private dining room. I apologize… I completely forgot to tell you that he expects dinner to be served at 7 sharp every day, and that he hates when people are late."
Valerie stood and put the book back in the bookcase. "Please do not worry, I will explain to the king that I was reading and lost track of time."
"You need to change, wear an evening gown for dinner," Ninaelil continued.
"This gown is fine," Valerie replied. Quite frankly, all the dresses that Thranduil had ordered for her were all so sumptuous that she could not tell the difference between a day gown and an evening gown. "I will wear an evening gown tomorrow at dinner, I promise."
Ninaelil seemed to evaluate the dress before she shrugged, knowing there was no time for the queen to change. The ellith walked swiftly in the direction of the dining room reserved for the family, and Valerie entered, surprised to see that her husband was alone sitting at the end of a massive table. She wondered if she would be sitting at the other end of the table like in the old movies, but the king nodded without a smile and indicated with a hand gesture that she should sit next to him.
Valerie sat down on the designated chair and realized the table was set for only two.
"Your son will not be having dinner with us?"
"Legolas went back to the forest road. He wanted to see his warriors after a lengthy absence."
"So soon? I would have expected that he would want to spend a few days here in the comfort of his home..."
"Legolas is currently… not speaking to me. I do not know what his intentions are."
Thranduil had said those words as if he had been commenting on the cleanliness of the tablecloth. Without emotion or facial expression. She could guess a reason or two why Legolas was angry with his father, but she had no idea what kind of relationship they had and did not feel entitled to interfere. At least at the moment.
"Will Amareth be joining us?"
"Amareth?" This time, he seemed interested in her question. "Why would Amareth even be allowed in this room?"
If Amareth was not allowed in the dining room, why was she allowed in the sitting room? Valerie thought.
"I was just asking," Valerie replied, not wanting to trouble her mate with petty comments and requests on her first day.
But her husband would not let go. "How do you even know who my son's concubine is? Did anyone introduce you to her?"
"I was told about her… and… I met her."
"Who introduced you to her?" His voice was cutting like a knife, like the one he was holding in his hand. That was not reassuring.
"Where did you meet her?" he asked as he continued the interrogation.
"In the sitting room?"
"What was she doing in the sitting room?"
"Reading?" Valerie answered with questions, not understanding why she was being interrogated, and uncertain if her answers would please or upset the king. The latter seemed more realistic.
A servant entered the room, bringing two bowls of soup while another brought a loaf of bread that smelled delicious. Ninaelil entered behind them, to make sure that the king was satisfied with the first course. The king waited for the two servants to leave before he started questioning her again.
"She was reading in the sitting room?"
Valerie looked at Ninaelil, wondering why the king was not being more discreet in her presence.
"My dear, I asked you a question," he insisted coldly. It seemed that Ninaelil was allowed to hear the family discussions, as opposed to the servants.
"Yes, she was," Valerie replied, annoyed, not understanding what the problem was.
"Did she speak to you?"
"Yes."
"Did she stand up?"
"Thranduil, I do not understand your concern-"
"Did she stand to acknowledge your arrival in the room?" he cut, clearly stating each word separately.
"No." Valerie now saw where this was going. She needed to stop this, it was not worth it to make a scene.
"What did she tell you?"
"Thranduil..."
"Valerie, I hate repeating myself, and you are forcing me to do so way too much at the moment. When I ask questions, I expect a clear and immediate answer. What words did she use when you arrived in the room?"
Valerie looked at Ninaelil but the housekeeper was acting like she was deaf. Their eyes crossed and she could see compassion in her eyes.
"She wished me a good day."
"I want to hear her exact words."
"She said: good day, Valerie."
"Good day, Valerie," the king repeated, turning his piercing gaze to the housekeeper. "Lady Ninaelil?"
"Yes, your Majesty?"
"You know everything that happens in this fortress. Did it escape your attention that Amareth comes and goes as she pleases in the royal aisle?"
"No, my Lord, it did not."
"Do you not think it is inappropriate for her to do so?"
"My Lord," Ninaelil started helplessly, "Amareth..."
"Thranduil," Valerie cut, "it is my understanding that Amareth shares Legolas' bed. Is it not normal for her to be in the royal aisle, at least once in a while?"
The king turned his eyes to her, and she could see the grateful expression of the housekeeper standing beside him.
"Quite frankly, if you believe her presence to be inappropriate in the royal aisle, just ask your son to control her comings and goings," she added.
"I shall do so," he said evenly. He turned to Ninaelil again. "In case you did not realize, after the queen, you are the elleth with the highest level of authority in the kingdom. I expect you to ensure that my commands are reinforced. I do not want this… elleth to be ever again seen in the royal aisle."
Valerie was suddenly grateful that Thranduil had married her. What an awkward situation she would be in without this precious bond.
"Yes, my Lord," Ninaelil agreed.
"And do teach her how to address a queen. Next time she sees my wife, I expect nothing but the utmost reverence."
"I will, my Lord."
"Now leave us."
Ninaelil bowed to them and fled the room.
What a nice first dinner home with her mate! Where was the ellon of her first days of bonded life?
A/N: I felt I owed you a quick update, since the previous chapter had been published a little later than usual! In the next chapter, Amareth will wish she never insulted her queen…
stubs1101: there will be a few little fights, let's say adjustments, but the real big fight will come after a few months. That will be their first true test. It is coming in a few chapters…
AhealingRenaissance: Amareth would never have stood a chance with the king, that is why she went for the weaker one of the two. Unfortunately for her, I have plans for Legolas…
glassary: fireworks in the next chapter... This was only setting the stage for the drama!
W: he is willing to compromise on certain things – but in the case of Valerie and Amareth, he will be as cold and unforgiving as he can be. Good thing his angst is not directed to Valerie…
princessnera: he is back after a lengthy absence, he needs to spend time with his councilors. Plus, he doesn't want his people to realize that Valerie is his weakness. He will try to hold the cold facade for a while, but his people will not be fooled for long…
Maggie: Valerie will eventually help Legolas and Thranduil reconcile, but she will have a hard time finding a good bond with her much older stepson…. who could have been her mate. A little awkwardness is normal, I guess!