Chapter 35
A Feast in the Woods
"Ah, I'm so hungry I could eat five lembas in one sitting," Arestel sighed as she dropped her gear in a cart.
"I can bet on that." Glorfindel laughed, removing his gauntlets and dropped them as well in the cart.
One of the border-wardens pulled a cart along the forest and took away the weapons, armors, shields, and everything in storage. After Arestel gave him a quick nod, the elf nodded back and hurried across the other side of the forest, doing the task Glorfindel had given him.
The Host of the Elves returned to Lothlórien hours after southern Mirkwood was cleansed. Celeborn wanted to make sure that no evil remained in the lands, and no more Dol Guldur. Then, they crossed the river using their swan-boats and had gathered in Caras Galadhon for the treatment of the injured and the weak. Thranduil and Celeborn had spent the remaining day talking to each other, almost avoiding anyone else who might come in their way.
When night came, the Elves were back in Caras Galadhon for a feast.
"They… brought… wine?" Rúmil gawked unceremoniously, speaking in his best Westron. The Silvan elves of Mirkwood carried barrels down and opened them while the elves of Lórien dunked their cups beneath it.
Arestel laughed heartily and tapped his shoulder. "You should visit Mirkwood, my friend. There is no place in Middle-earth who can compare to the feast of the Wood-elves!"
Rúmil was speechless when Arestel pulled him by the hand and approached Galion. The Elvenking's butler served wines for the others while laughing and drinking from his own cup. Upon seeing the two elves approached him, Galion took two wooden cups and loaded them with wine.
"Best wine in Mirkwood," the elf butler said and handed them two cups. "The Elvenking's finest!"
Rúmil looked down at his cup and stared at his reflection on the crimson liquid. Then he stared curiously at Arestel, who refused to accept the cup Galion was offering her.
"What…?" The blonde marchwarden seemed to have lost his wits.
Arestel laughed again. "Come on! Drink, Rúmil!"
Shrugging, Rúmil drank from his cup and tasted the wine. He licked the remaining liquid from his lips, and then he smiled. "This… good."
"I told you." She smiled and walked away. The dress Lady Galadriel provided her was of pale green and reached all the way down her feet, prompting her to lift it up while walking. Near the fortress, Tauriel was watching and Arestel made her way towards the captain. "What are you doing all the way here? The others are drinking. Go ahead and enjoy yourself."
Tauriel stifled a laugh and shook her head. "I would have asked you the same thing. Why not enjoy yourself and drink rather than asking me those questions?"
"Wine is not really my thing," Arestel admitted, her eyes darted on the feasting elves. Even Glorfindel was enjoying himself. Tauriel gave her an inquiring look. She laughed and continued, "I don't think I can handle my liquor pretty well."
"Is that so?" Tauriel replied, looking amused. "Wine is practically our water in Mirkwood." It was trailed off with a soft laugh.
"You know what? I'm really grateful you arrived just in time. We wouldn't have done it without you."
"Of course,." Tauriel nodded. "The King initially refused to change his decision, even though the request came from you. He was really stubborn that time, and very aloof. However, I managed to put some sense back into him."
"A rare event," Arestel remarked. "What are you planning to do now?"
The captain shrugged. "In a few days, we'll head back to Mirkwood. The north is still in a slight chaos. If you must know, Bard and Thorin are crowned as kings already."
Her expression brightened. "Really? You mean, Thorin Stonehelm is already King under the Mountain?"
Tauriel nodded.
And before they could continue, Thranduil called out to them.
"Estel! Tauriel!"
Arestel inwardly winced when her nickname was called. Thranduil had never called her Estel until now. She glanced at the auburn-haired captain, and together, they approached the Elvenking. He was in front if the feasting elves, along with Celeborn and Glorfindel; all three had a cup of wine in their hands. The Elvenking grinned and gestured for Arestel to come closer. Stepped forward she did, and the King wrapped an arm around her shoulder and raised his cup.
"A toast!" he exclaimed, almost bouncing like a giddy young elf. "For our glorious victory today! For rekindling past relationships! And for the end of the War!"
The elves chanted in unison and raised their cups.
"And another toast for this young lady over here." Thranduil smiled down to Arestel. "She is the most spirited of us all, the hope of the War, and soon, she will be my daughter."
The elves cheered and clapped louder. Even Tauriel seemed to be enjoying herself in Thranduil's little speech. Arestel forced an awkward smile, still uneasy about the whole affianced business. Somehow, it felt comforting, to be in the company of these elves who cheered and laughed and drank. One could not guess that they went through countless hardships before having this feast.
And so, Arestel leaned close to King Thranduil and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. She whispered, "Thank you for everything, Ada."
He smiled and embraced her. "Anything for you, pen-vuil."
Then, Galion stood up, earning everyone's attention and shouted, "Hey! Isn't we supposed to be having a feast?!"
Everyone cheered, and the dancing around the bonfire began. Galion was in front of the line, clearly drunk, yet he provided fun throughout the night. Rúmil was apparently pulled into this; the bewildered marchwarden could not help but go with the flow. And there was Glorfindel, in his dark blue tunic and black leggings, following the lead of Galion and Rúmil. Tauriel was stifling her laughter until her warriors pulled her into the dance. King Thranduil was twirling Arestel around, caught her by the waist, and danced with her. Celeborn and Galadriel clapped their hands as they watched. Gareth watched from Cerin Amroth, enjoying himself at the rare occasion of seeing the elves drunk and singing.
Once the Elvenking had released Arestel, Glorfindel stepped forward to take his turn. Smiling, he guided his partner back to the dance floor just as the minstrels shifted their song again to a quiet, slow-paced tune. The dance was initially slow, as though they were taking their time, until Arestel had to lean close to his shoulder, and yawn. Glorfindel laughed. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sleepy," Arestel reported, stifling another incoming yawn. She matched Glorfindel's strides with her own, grateful that she knew enough dancing so as not to step on his feet. Arwen had taken all her time educating her, and her dancing partner since childhood had always been Glorfindel.
"Then you should proceed to your chambers." Glorfindel loosened his grip around her waist, but she protested quickly.
"I meant later." Grey eyes playfully rolled at him. "The dancing had just begun, and you're not even dancing with the other ladies." She spied many of Lady Galadriel's handmaidens waiting to be asked by the Lord Glorfindel, much to their disappointment. He had been spending the night drinking and chatting with his warriors, until the dance began. Arestel gave him another of her playful looks. "You could invite Tauriel to dance."
He almost scoffed. "I reckon she does not want to be approached, and I still haven't forgotten what she said."
"It was supposed to be funny, not offensive."
"Time for bed." Glorfindel released her once again, took her hand, and escorted her within Caras Galadhon. He sensed Arestel's displeasure for his estrangement with Tauriel, but there was no helping it. She followed him obediently, until they had to stop in front of her chamber doors. "Good night, Estel. You did well in the battlefield today and all the other days. I am so proud."
Arestel smiled smugly. "You have been always proud of me, 'Del."
"Of course, I am. Good night." He left her with a good night kiss on the forehead, like he always did.
6 April T.A. 3019
"Come, Estel, or we'll leave you behind," Celeborn whispered over to his granddaughter.
Walking around southern Mirkwood, Arestel accompanied both Celeborn and Thranduil as they scouted the area. She and her grandfather were mounted on horses, whilst the Elvenking rode his large elk. Days after the feast, the Wood-elves of Mirkwood were ready to depart from Lórien. But before anything else, the two lords had come into an agreement to divide the Woodland Realm between them. Thranduil's territory stretched from the whole Greenwood Forest and he was generous enough to offer a small portion to Celeborn.
"This southern part," Thranduil said, "will now belong to you, Lord Celeborn. It would cover the entire area in which Dol Guldur once stood."
Celeborn nodded. "I am grateful, King Thranduil. I might as well name is East Lórien as an extension of our own lands."
Thranduil chuckled a little. "Of course. You may do anything you want with your new land. As for me and my people, I would claim the northern forest as ours. The forest between East Lórien and Mirkwood will be offered to the Beornings. I have acknowledged their existence for a long time now. Also…" he glanced at Arestel who was busy cooing at her black horse, "I would like to serve it as thanks for rescuing Estel. Beorn's son did a great job." Thranduil then laughed.
"So I've heard," Celeborn added. "Still quite a troublemaker, that Estel."
"That will be all, Lord Celeborn," Thranduil concluded their meeting. His captain and warriors were waiting for him at the other side of the forest already. "From now on I would like to rename Mirkwood. It will be not known as Taur-e-Ndaedelos anymore; it will be Eryn Lasgalen."
"Lasgalen?" Celeborn echoed. "Like Legolas?"
Thranduil laughed yet again. "Yes, you see my reign over the kingdom will be over soon. My son and your granddaughter will take it sooner or later. It might as well be named after their family."
With a friendly tap on the shoulder, Thranduil bade farewell to both Celeborn and Arestel, and then as he turned away, he added, "Estel, I insist that you visit us soon."
"Will do, King Thranduil." Arestel smiled and waved them goodbye. She looked at Tauriel; the captain gave her a knowing smile, a friendly one, and then turned away with Thranduil's entourage.
The two of them returned to the river bank and mounted the lone swan-boat that docked there.
"What will happen now, grandfather?" asked Arestel.
Celeborn looked at her and smiled. "Rest will soon come upon us. But if I may tell you, an escort from Rivendell sets out as we speak. The House of Elrond will ride to the south, and there you will witness the coronation of your foster brother."
"I would love to see Minas Tirith."
Next Chapter: Aragorn's coronation, some evening party mischief with Arestel and the hobbits, and let's not forget—everyone's favorite princeling!
Author's Notes: I was planning to update last week, but then the exams were upon us and I was doomed! With the exam week done, the chapters will flow freely as usual! I'll try to update after a few days. Thank you for reading this rather short chapter.
*DeLacus: Thanks for stopping by! Hoped you like this one! Let's celebrate with more Dorwinion wine and cakes! *(:)
*gaarakabuto: I just realized that I'm actually routing for 'Del too! I get all tingly thinking about them as a couple, that's why they have more lover-dovey scenes more than Legolas! Haha. But we'll also see more of Legolas in the later chapters, because the war is over and all. Thank you for reading and hope to see you around! :)