Author's Note: Sorry for the absence. College swallowed me whole. Anywho, have another chapter. :)
Pale blue butterflies. These were what awoke Thranduil every morning as of late. It had been nearly a week since he had last seen Himelon. Usually the starlight haired elf could at least find the other, but recently even he was powerless to locate the raven haired ellon. In Himelon's absence the butterflies had appeared. There was a new one every morning and none were like the others. They each shone and fluttered with delicate life despite being made of glittering sapphire and diamond. Much like Thranduil's gifts to the other, the butterflies appeared every morning just as Thranduil was beginning to wake. And yet their sender was nowhere to be found. Aside from the butterflies and Himelon's general absence, Thranduil had noticed a few interesting abnormalities. His forest grew ever greener and brighter. At first he had mistaken this for being a result of his lifted spirits, but then he had seen flowers growing that never had grown in Greenwood before. The palace was cool as early winter even though it was mid-spring. A curiosity that Thranduil had not taken much note of until he found his throne perpetually covered in frost. His favorite foods and wine always seemed to appear whenever he was getting hungry. He never got the chance to order a servant to get something because it appeared whenever he would think about it. And there were always fresh ingredients set and ready for him when he would sneak off to bake pies. Of course the ingredients were normally ready, but the abnormality was the fact that they were set up for him and the oven was often already heated.
Sighing softly Thranduil scooped up the butterfly that had landed on his nose and moved toward his wardrobe. As expected there was a full glass of wine and some honey glazed biscuits with fruit sitting on a small table by his bed. Unexpectedly there was also an elegantly wrapped package laying on the plush chair next to the table. It was a medium sized box wrapped in black silk with a silver ribbon holding the silk wrapping on. Upon gingerly removing the wrapping with slender fingers, Thranduil found a box made of expertly carved birch and cedar wood inside. It was carved with intricate designs that depicted what appeared to be a history at first glance, but Thranduil soon realized to be something else entirely. As he studied the carvings he found one that depicted one elf riding atop an elk while another collided into it. The memory made him smile warmly. As the grin spread Thranduil couldn't help shaking the box like an elf-ling who'd just gotten a present for winter solstice.
When the sound of the package gave him no clue, the Elven King carefully lifted the lid to reveal a garment. It was a long silver robe that seemed to have steaks of darker and lighter grays weaving with the silver to give the effect of a tree trunk. It had a high neck and draped elegantly to the floor pooling around his ankles and trailing a good 12 to 16 inches behind him. On the front the was a gentle slit that revealed the black trousers and black leather boots that had accompanied the robe. The robe itself was held together by a delicate yet regal spider broach. The centerpiece was a gem made of moonlight and the spindling legs were woven silver and mithril. After admiring the way the robe hung around him and the obvious care that had been taken to ensure that it fit him perfectly, the starlight haired ellon searched the box for a card or note of some kind, but none was to be found.
"This makes my gifts look pitiful," Thranduil half laughed, half groaned to himself as he slipped out into the hall, "It's supposed to be my job to give the gifts too isn't it? I mean, I'm courting him right? Not the other way around…" Stopping to let out another sigh Thranduil ran his fingers over the material and smiled. It was perfect and he couldn't help but love the robe. From the moment he'd pulled it out of the box he knew it would become his new favorite outfit. And from the looks he was getting from all who saw it, it had become a favorite of his subjects as well. For the good part of the day Thranduil wandered looking for Himelon. Of course his search had been disguised as going about his duties so as not to upset or concern anyone, but he was none-the-less searching. Around nightfall Thranduil had allowed himself to collapse, in a rather undignified manner, into his throne. No sooner had his head titled back and his gaze turned to the ceiling that the starlight haired King caught sight of something. Or rather someone. It had been only for a second, but on one of the high arching branches that supported the palace there had been a person. Without realizing what he was doing, the starlight haired male was racing through the palace with his face turned toward the ceiling. It wasn't until he had entered one of his private studies that he caught sight of the figure again. This time however, it dropped from it's place above, to the ground below. With curiosity and caution Thranduil rounded the corner to see who exactly it was that was sneaking around his palace.
"Looks like I've been found out," Himelon laughed softly as his pale blue eyes met Thranduil's icy blue orbs, "I do hope everything has been to your liking." Himelon stood there grinning like an elf-ling who'd just gotten caught misbehaving. In one hand he elegantly balanced a tray of food and wine and in the other he clutched a book. It was a simple book. Thin and gently bound with fern leaves, but Thranduil knew it. Oropher had shown it to Thranduil when he had come of age explaining that everything one would need to know about courtship could be found within its pages. With the realization of what Himelon was holding came powerful, deep laughter.
"Don't laugh!" the raven haired male indignantly commanded setting down the tray and hiding the book, "Isn't this how its supposed to work? Little gifts and care for the other's needs secretly?" Himelon puffed out his cheeks slightly as he watched Thranduil lean on a chair to support himself as he tried to stifle the laughter. Himelon had been trying fairly hard to understand what his kin deemed proper courtship protocol. After asking around, the King's personal healer had directed him to the book and told him that what was in the book was all he needed to know. However, the healer had failed to mention that since Thranduil was courting him and not the other way around, the contents of the book described what he should expect to see from Thranduil. Not what he would be expected to do.
"Forgive me," Thranduil finally managed after regaining his regal composure, "It's just, that book isn't meant for you to follow. It's supposed to be my job to follow what the book says." Thranduil's grin was gentle and not mocking as he gently removed the book from the other's grip and returned it to its proper shelf. Himelon on the other hand, looked more than a little distraught.
"I guess I can't do any of this stuff right," the raven haired male had spoke barely above a whisper as he peered out the window at the setting sun, "Something always goes wrong…" Thranduil felt his grin fall away as he saw Himelon's hand subconsciously come up to brush the left side of his face. Without another word Thranduil slid gently behind the other and pulled Himelon to his chest. Nuzzling his head softly into the crook of the raven haired elf's neck Thranduil planted a soft kiss and hummed gently until he felt Himelon relax and lean into him.
"I see nothing wrong with being different," Thranduil's voice had been barely above a whisper as he gently maneuvered them both so that Himelon was sitting in his lap, "Everything you've done has been with sincerity. And you already seem to know so much about my likes and dislikes. Not many others can claim such a thing. Just don't disappear on me again okay?" Himelon smiled gently and snuggled into the Elven King with a whispered "Okay". When Thranduil felt the raven haired male's breathing even out, he moved to retrieve the wine. After taking a drink he gently offered it to Himelon who in turn took a drink. That was how they spent the evening. In each other's arms, sharing the meal Himelon had been carrying with him.