The Life & Times of Greenwood the Great
Part II: Shadows Rise
Merry was the Greenwood
c.1363-64 SA- Eryn Galen
One thing that the Sindar had quickly learned about their countrymen was their festivity when it came to important events: most particularly weddings. While when it came to both marriage and the celebration it seemed the Silva were much less formal and traditional than their kin. Not that it mattered to Thranduil, if he was ever traditional about anything Ortherion might just hit him over the head for it obviously meant Thranduil was not in his right mind. In either case, the Silva had about an equal amount of traditional marriages with year long engagements like the Noldo had taught them once they came back across the Sea and more ancient marriage traditions where they married first by bonding and celebrating afterwords.
Both were generally accepted, and either way the celebrations were usually the same.
The celebrations themselves were just as feral and wild as the people were. The music was generally fast and fierce. The wine flowed generously. Food was not lacking. And they were open to anyone, whoever wished to celebrate. Usually if there was a wedding in one House, at least two or more would show up. And in this case, more than even that had shown up.
As Captain of the Guard, every single guard member and his or her family had shown up. His wife had a large family as well, which in itself meant usually a whole House would show up just for that one side of the family. The fact that Daugion worked in the Palace and had been a member of the unofficial Council before he had been made the Captain of the Guard meant that most all the Silva lords and ladies would show up as well. Not to mention that if Thranduil attended, everyone who knew that would show up as well.
So in this instance, the feast was held just outside of the Palace and most all of Eryn Galen would show up.
Thranduil found it amusing that Daugion did not seem to know what to do with that information. He was constantly nervous, always pacing. For once he had not protested when Thranduil changed his schedule to have a lack of duties the entire month before the feast. Galion was laughing the whole time.
"You would not find it so funny if you were getting married!" Daugion yelled at Galion one day.
"Perhaps that is the key." Galion had said liltingly. "You should have gotten married before the feast."
Daugion merely growled at him and stalked off. Galion was still chuckling when Thranduil walked down the hallway. "Are you alright?" Thranduil asked concerned.
"Yes, of course!" Galion said happily handing Thranduil a bottle of wine and walking off.
Thranduil frowned as he walked off, glanced down at the wine bottle, and then looked back up at Galion. "Do you keep wine bottles on you all the time?"
"No, only every so often. Daugion looked like he needed it, but he left before I could give it to him. So I figured you would want it!" Galion called back before he turned down another hallway. Thranduil looked back at the wine bottle, shrugged, and decided he might as well not waste it.
In the next few weeks, the Palace prepared for a large feast, and Daugion only got more nervous. Thranduil, however, was quite good at arranging parties, and to that end Daugion had nothing to worry about. He was only nervous about the wedding itself.
Thranduil rolled his eyes one day as he walked out of his study to find Daugion pacing in front of it. As soon as he saw Thranduil he immediately stopped and stood back slightly to the side of the door like he always did. His cheeks tinged red. "Are you nervous?" Thranduil asked.
"No." Daugion answered.
"Ah… And you tell me I am restless." Thranduil said and kept walking. Per his job, Daugion was forced to keep his mouth shut, but Thranduil could practically feel the glare coming off of him. He only smiled to himself. "You should have married more covertly, as I did." Thranduil said and then walked into another room where he had a meeting, shutting the door before Daugion could reply or slip in after him. Daugion only stared at the door for a moment, before he began pacing again. Maybe Thranduil had had a point.
The feast began at dusk. Just before Thranduil stood watching Galion try to help Daugion prepare, which was not helped by the latter's constant pacing. Galion looked at Thranduil annoyed, as if to ask why he did not interfere. Thranduil smiled and then cleared his throat. Daugion half jumped and turned around. "What?"
"For the love of all peace, calm down. Your bride will not appreciate you jumping at every sound." Thranduil said.
"What will she appreciate? What if she does not love me anymore? What if-?"
"May I slap him?" Galion asked annoyed as he again tried to get the Captain to put on the tunic.
"Perhaps tomorrow. He has to look unmarked today." Thranduil said. "Now come, put those clothes on, you do not have long."
Daugion's face paled at that and Galion took the opportunity to shove the tunic on over him. The Captain only glared at him as he put his arms through the sleeves. Then he began smoothing his tunic down with renewed vigor. "I know what you said." Galion started. "But can we not give him wine now?"
"Yes… I am beginning to think that may be best." Thranduil said. "He has few minutes left."
"What?" Daugion asked, his voice rather high-pitched.
Thranduil grabbed him by the arms and forced him to look at him. "Calm down. You will be fine. It is almost impossible for you to screw up."
"You're one to talk." Daugion said. "You did not have the entirety of her house watching you."
"No, her house is across the Sea with mine." Thranduil pointed out. "It was still nerve wracking, but all will be well. Just calm down." Galion finally succeeded in finishing his attire as he fastened a cape to his shoulders.
"I am not ready." Daugion said.
"No one is." Thranduil said.
"Really? No one is out there?" Daugion looked too hopeful.
"No, that's not what I meant." Daugion's eyes fell as he realized what Thranduil had meant.
"Oh… I was hoping-."
"Yes, we know. Go on." Thranduil said pushing him out the door.
"If I get married…" Galion started, "Can you make sure I have at least two goblets of wine first?"
"I will make sure you do not." Thranduil said and then walked out of the door himself.
Thranduil watched the ceremony amused and inwardly proud. Daugion seemed to have finally pulled himself together. Although that might have been expected as he was not usually one to be lacking in the moment. Perhaps, like Thranduil himself, he was the most nervous right before. After all, there was a reason Thranduil had waited a half a century after meeting Oiolairë to finally marry her. Thranduil sat back as the feast began, glad to be out of the center of attention for once.
Oiolairë sat beside him. "They make a lovely couple." She said warmly, watching as Daugion danced with her.
"Why should they not?" Thranduil asked.
"Well… you know it's a miracle he found someone to tolerate him." She said cheekily.
"Ah." Thranduil said.
"Rather like you."
"Me?" Thranduil asked surprised.
"Yes, you."
"I had plenty of ellith that wanted to marry me."
"Mmm, they did not know you." Oiolairë said. "And none of them would have waited as long as I did."
"Perhaps, we are probably more alike than we usually wish to admit." Thranduil said studying Daugion.
"At least he actually married sooner."
"You seem bitter." Thranduil said, his eyes narrowing at her.
"Not really. It ended up working out. But at the time…" She started.
"Well, that's my cue to leave." Thranduil said winking as he made to get up. She pulled him back down.
"Not so fast."
"What? I need more wine before you go on about that again."
"Did I hear 'need more wine'?" Galion said superstitiously dropping a bottle in Thranduil's lap. Thranduil grinned and tipped the glass to him.
"He's a good butler." Thranduil said to Oiolairë.
Oiolairë rolled her eyes. "You did not even want one."
Thranduil shrugged. "I was forced into it, and now I might as well take advantage of it."
"Imagine whatever we would have done without one." Oiolairë sighed dramatically.
"Well, I might not have any free time if we did not." Thranduil said. "At least this way I have time to watch you sleep occasionally."
"You could sleep yourself."
"I still don't understand what that means. Besides… you are quite cute while you sleep."
Oiolairë blushed. "What do you mean?"
"You scrunch up your nose and occasionally you rub your face deeper into the pillow. Sometimes-." Oiolairë stopped him by standing. "Where are you going?" Thranduil asked.
"I was hoping to dance."
"Why didn't you say so?" Thranduil asked, standing and holding his hand out to her. She smiled. The past year had been far better than the last ten. Thranduil did not seem so worn with care, and right now his eyes were brighter than they had been in a while. Though, Oiolairë admitted, that could be the wine. He seemed happy to be dancing.
"Do you remember?" Oiolairë asked, leaning her head on his chest.
"Of course." Thranduil said, his voice hummed against her ear.
"You tried to avoid me afterword."
"I was terrified."
"Of me?"
"Of myself." He said laughing lightly. "You had a different sparkle to your eye than any I had seen before, and for the first time my heart actually felt something for the elleth I danced with."
"Elrond said you were quite the flirt before."
"Perhaps. I was worse in Doriath." Thranduil said. "Melian thought I would never marry."
"Never?"
"No."
"Why so?"
"Well… I knew it got on Thingol's nerves, and I had not really grown up at the time…" Thranduil said.
Oiolairë laughed as she looked up at him. "You always were a trouble maker."
"Mmm… It was intentional then. Now I start trouble while trying to create peace." Thranduil said sighing.
"Do not think on that tonight, meleth." Oiolairë said, knowing exactly where his mind had gone to. "You need not feel the cares of the world all the time."
"They weigh on me nonetheless." Thranduil said, but he offered her a smile as he did. "But as long as we dance they will stay light on my shoulders."
"Then we should stay here until all others leave."
"I feel that might be rude, considering they would stay if only because of who I am." Thranduil said.
"That means nothing to me."
"I think you are the trouble maker now, love."
"I learned it from you."
Daugion himself forgot that there were others watching them as the Feast and dance continued. He had eyes only for Melui, and hers stayed on his as well. He held her close as they danced, glad that the ceremony was over, and that they had finally married.
"All your nervousness was for nothing." Melui said softly.
Daugion cocked his head at her. "Who told you?"
She laughed. "No one had too. Everyone could see how nervous you've been the past few weeks."
Daugion blushed. "Forgive me. I did not wish to make a fool of myself in front of you and your entire House."
"You were the one that suggested this kind of wedding."
"So I have been informed."
"Oh yes? By who?"
Daugion smiled. "The King."
"He is a wise elf."
"True, but now that it is over I am glad we chose this over the other."
"Yes. Besides, you entertained the rest of us with your pacing. I am rather sure there were some scared you would run a hole through the floor."
"The floor is solid rock in the Palace." Daugion said.
"Mmm… true enough. It will be exciting to live inside." Melui said smiling.
Daugion snorted. "Perhaps for the nobles and the king. Our rooms are not as grand, love. Besides… parts of it are actually quite boring."
"Truly?"
"Mmm…"
"Strange, I hear all sorts of exciting things."
"Once every now and then. It does get exciting when the King decides to travel back and forth quite quickly, but that is only because you do not have time to breathe."
"Will I come? When you go to the mountains?"
"If you wish. Or you can stay here. Whichever suits your fancy."
"It does not matter. We might have a little while to figure it out yet."
"Yes… hopefully."
"Hopefully?"
"The king also has problems with restlessness on certain occasions."
"Ah, well he seems to be rather content tonight." Melui said glancing over his shoulder. Daugion spun her around and glanced at Thranduil.
"Yes… I see. They seem to be happy tonight."
"They are good dancers." Melui commented.
"Yes. Why are you so concerned with this?"
"Because you are. And as long as we stay here you will be. Tis your duty, yes?"
Daugion smiled. "Perhaps, but he has informed me if I have a shred of duty for this next month he will throw us out of the Palace. I doubt it is an idle threat."
"Good. You worry too much."
"Great, never knew I would be getting it from both of you."
"Perhaps he will have no need to tell you such things if you listen to me from now own." Melui said grinning.
"Well… I have less objection to listening to you certainly." He said kissing her. "Now stop speaking of such things. Tonight we need have no worry."
Merry then was the Greenwood. The darkness had not yet stretched across the forest, nor across even the remotest parts of the world. For now Annatar remained true to his word. Annatar was far from them, and for now they were far from his mind as well. Perhaps they were alone, but the Silvan people had always been more inclined to stay among their own anyway. Such as it was they were content and happy for the time.
The shadow may have fallen on Thranduil's mind, but for now it was far from anyone else's.
And the Palace seemed to be the center of this merriness. Feasts were abundant, the people were happy, and life was being created. Daugion and his new wife were no exception. Within a year of being married, Melui was with child. The two had planned on keeping it quiet for a little while, but Daugion gave it a way rather quickly.
Thranduil was writing something in his study while Daugion stood in the corner. However, as he worked, Thranduil noticed that Daugion was not as still as he usually was. On a normal occasion, Thranduil could work all day without noticing the Captain at all. But today, Thranduil could hear Daugion shifting from foot to foot, and he was swaying slightly as he stood. He seemed to remain alert, but when Thranduil glanced at him his eyes were on the ceiling.
"Are you going to tell me what you are excited about or are you going to continue to interrupt my work with your nervous shifting?"
"What nervous shifting?"
Thranduil snorted in answer. Then he put down his quill and looked at Daugion expectantly. "Well?"
"I am not excited about anything." Daugion said coolly. Thranduil raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "I'm not." Daugion insisted. "Go back to work."
Thranduil's eyebrow raised even higher. "Are you giving me commands now?"
"No… Aran nin."
"Mmm… Tell me." Thranduil said.
Daugion blinked once. "I am completely normal."
"Obviously." Thranduil said with more than the barest trace of sarcasm. "I am inclined to think you are excited rather than anxious. That must mean it has nothing to do with me. Not sure what it might be…" Thranduil trailed off and glanced at him. "It couldn't be…"
"It's not. Anything, that is." Daugion said. "If I am distracting you that much, I can switch with the guard outside."
Thranduil considered him for a moment before he picked up his quill again. "No… you can stay."
"Hannon le." Daugion said inclining his head. Thranduil started writing again and said nothing else for the rest of the time they were there, but he kept a close eye on Daugion. He noted that though the Captain had stopped shifting, he know was twiddling his fingers together, something Thranduil had seen many warriors do when they needed to feel a weapon in their hands.
He did not truly think Daugion was wishing for a bow or blade in his hand, but perhaps it was something more poetic. "Had you agreed not to tell everyone?" Thranduil asked when he was about to leave his study.
"Tell everyone?" Daugion asked as he jumped startled.
"Mmm… indeed." Thranduil said. "You are excited."
"I am fine."
"I am encouraged to know that when you get excited you also begin daydreaming. One of these days an assassin is going to come and I would hate for it to happen whilst you are excited."
"I have told you I am not excited!"
"Then your mind is on something entirely different. You might as well tell everyone. Regardless of what you have agreed everyone who sees you is going to know as soon as they see you what has happened."
"What has happened?" Daugion asked confused.
"It is most clear you know."
"I know nothing."
"You are a terrible liar. Please, if someone ever puts a knife to your throat and asks where I am, just tell them and warn me when they let you go. They would see through your lies immediately."
"What lies?"
"About not knowing anything. You clearly do."
"Know what?"
"You… your wife…"
"My wife?"
"Indeed. It is written all over your face."
"It is." Daugion said, his hands immediately flying to his face.
"Yes. Even Galion I suspect could tell you that."
"He does not know."
"Oh, surely he does?"
"No, I have not told anyone."
"But you have. Your wife is going to be most disappointed."
"I have not broken my promise."
"It shall not cross my lips then. But I will have to keep Galion from trying to sneak you bottles of wine."
"Whatever for?" Daugion stopped. "He tries to sneak me wine?"
"You did not know? I apologize. I should not have said anything."
There was a pause in the conversation as both considered the implications of what they had said. Although both knew something the other only guessed at. "We will keep our secrets for each other then?" Daugion asked, looking hopeful.
"Why not? You already keep all of mine."
"Good. Melui would kill me."
"I doubt it, considering what has happened. But no matter. To keeping secrets." Thranduil said handing Daugion a goblet. Daugion took it without thinking.
"And to new life." He said.
"Ah, so your wife is pregnant." Thranduil said. Daugion spit out the wine as it hit him.
"You tricked me!"
"It was quite easy." Thranduil said, setting down his own goblet. "Tell her congratulations." He winked and walked out of the door. Daugion stared after him and then down at his goblet.
"That's not fair…"
He hurried after Thranduil. "You can't tell anyone!"
"My lips are sealed. Yours, however, are not." Thranduil said amused as he walked down the hallways toward the Royal Wing.
"You tricked me!"
"You have already said so."
"It's true! Wait until your own wife-."
"Unlike you," Thranduil said, "My life is subjugated to the rest of the realm. Since that is true, I doubt that privacy will be an option. Suffice to say, I understand. Galion, however, may not." Daugion looked at Thranduil confused who only glanced back behind them. Daugion stopped and looked back. There Galion looked like all of his dreams had come true.
Thranduil chuckled to himself as behind him he heard the two begin to argue. The rest of the Palace would know before the night was over.
