۶ Ruse and Starlight
Noira's POV
Freya did my hair into a very simple, but elegant style. A little part was braided on the sides, but the most of it was hanging freely on my back. With the millions of little glimmering jewels on my dress, for a short moment, I felt like, I was a queen. I smiled at her, saying a thank you.
'You are beautiful. Just like my mom' she said smiling. Suddenly, I did not know what to say. I nodded quickly, and turned back to the mirror.
'Well, introduce me to her once' I said, making a last checking on my outfit.
The maiden did not response, just hold my hand and led me across the halls. She was stepping proudly next to me, wearing her pretty white dress, and that little flower in her hair.
Meanwhile, nearing to the point, I had to meet the king again, I just tried to hide the brand new wave of anger. My greatest problem was still not what the king of the dwarves said, but the fact, that the king of the elves didn't deny it. What is more, there was not a single guard at my door. I was searching for that twenty dangerous ellons in armor, and found none. The king simply lied to me. Because why not?
'Excuse me' someone tore me out of my thought by crossing my way. It was a busy servant, holding big plates full of food in his hands. When we turned and reached the great door, the guards opened them to us, immediately. Freya looked out cautiously. I did the same, but couldn't see anything from that far.
'Could you help me with the dress?' I looked down at the girl aristocratically. She nodded quickly. 'Follow me then' I commanded and we entered the hidden garden. A living miracle got place on the little glade. The light wind brought the soft music of a harp and flute toward our unsuspecting ears.
'They sound from the soul, don't they?' asked Freya enchanted. I stayed speechless. Tall trees grew in a big circle around us, and their white boles seemed blue in the dim moonlight. All of the elven guests were wearing glimmering white, silver, or golden robes. I took a longer look at them. Most of them had silver hair, as Thranduil has, noble face, and they were taller, than the ones, I've known. Taller, than me, or Tauriel for sure. They reminded me of the king instead, or the prince. Legolas glimpsed at me from the far, so I got a warm smile. They had to be the highborns – I thought. The Sindarians.
Since we were still standing at the door, on the top of the stairs, what led to the guests, all the heads turned toward us slowly. I reached behind my back, and tried to find my maiden's hand.
'Freya' I said quietly, not taking my eyes off of the elves. 'Why for God... for the... Valar are they looking at me like this?' The elleth blushed a little, showing, my question was rightful.
'Well, maybe for your ears, my lady... They are long. Or they have seen you as a gardener before... Or...' I waved, that I understood. It was more, than sure, I could not act like one of them and just simply survive the night, by sitting in a corner without a sound.
'I guess, nobody would mind, if you stayed a little and took a look around' I said, and after a grateful bow, she disappeared. I lifted my chin a little, and walked down with elegant steps. Their gaze followed my every move. I looked around in the beautiful garden once again.
The great oak tables were full of irresistible fruits and light meat. Wine was flowing in the big fountains, and their surface mirrored the light of the stars from the sky. It was like drinking stardust – I thought playfully. There were also lanterns and candles, but the smooth starlight painted all the robes pale blue.
'Ú i vethed na i onnad
Si boe ú-dhannathach
Ae ú-esteliach nad
Estelio han...'
An angelic voice reached my ear from the near. Turning there, I saw a tall, golden haired elleth singing the song to the others, looking up to the darkness. I had to go closer. As I thought, she was beautiful, like a living goddess.
'Nice to see you here' a male voice came from behind. I jumped a little.
'Am I so frightening?' asked Fräynn.
Yep.
'Of course, not' I lied. I had to confess, he looked beautiful in this silver tunic. And happy. He looked obviously happy. That warmed my heart too.
'This lady with the wonderful voice is Yndira from the forest of Lothlorien' he looked at the elleth, who was still singing 'I surmise, you've never been there, but you really should once' I nodded. That sounded great.
We started to walk slowly, and he explained everything, what could be new for me. I was honestly grateful for that. The unknown food on the tables was lembas, a traditional elven bread. Fräynn told me, one small bite from that was enough to fill the stomach of a grown man.
None of the guests have been eating yet, however. They were talking, or waiting at the entrance with a glass of wine in the hand.
'Are they going to dance?'
'Of course, all night long! But King Thranduil has to open the fest. Only the Valar knows, why he is late this time...'
Surely not because he was searching for me in the woods only an hour ago.
Just when we told his name, the crowd went silent, and turned toward the door. The crowned head appeared at the entrance, and everybody's look followed, as the king took his slow walk to the glade with authority in his every step. The elleth, I was listening to earlier, found a place to herself on my right. Next to her, I had a feeling, I was an orc.
Thranduil didn't look around, only forward. The guests bowed deeply. The captain and I followed their example. His red robes went royal purple, as the night air cowered his form. His hair seemed white, as the first snow in wintertime. He looked magnificent.
His deep voice broke the heavy silence, as he greeted his guests from Lothlorien. Some of the elves bowed again. Then he turned to the ones from Rivendell, and they did the same. I only tried to memorize the places, he was speaking about. I would have visited them once happily. I probably made a little daydreaming, because I just realized, he has finished his speech, and the ellon with the harp started to play a heartwarming melody.
Suddenly, Thranduil turned around, and looked at me directly. A barely visible question run through his face. I swallowed. The middle of the glade became empty, everybody stepped back a little. The king slowly walked toward me. I did not even dare to blink. As he neared, I honestly thought, I would faint. It was the same feeling, I felt in the garden. When he was so unbelievably close. Only remembering his look was enough to get lost again. He suddenly closed the gap, and held out his strong arm.
To Lady Yndira of Lothlorien.
I kept smiling, as an idiot, but it felt like a hit into my stomach. They walked to the middle, and bowed to each other. Both of them lifted a hand, their palms met, and they started to walk around slowly, as angels, dancing with clouds at dawn. Without taking their eyes off of the night sky, they lifted their other arms elegantly, and turned one alone just to meet again. I would have found it wonderful. I would have. If I could see it clearly through my held tears. I've never seen him with another elleth before. I've never even thought about its possibility, somehow. And now, I was forced to watch it from the first line. I knew, he wanted to hurt me with it. For my words, which left my mouth at our last quarrel.
'Instead of who?' they echoed in my mind. 'Monster' I added, remembering bitterly. I believed, what I have said then, but... Now... Or I have just misunderstood him? I have not meant anything to him actually? Of course, not. What would have wanted a king from a... gardener? Noira, use your brain!
As the others started to join the dancing couple, Fräynn kept reading my blank face for a while. A minute later, however, he broke the silence graciously.
'Let's drink something'
.
As the time passed and the lords and ladies enjoyed the party the most, I tried to find the best bush to hide in. Four glasses of wine was far from enough for me to relax, after I was asked to speak about myself again and again, and they asked questions I didn't want to answer. They touched my long ears, and looked into my strange eyes longer, than it would have been comfortable. Some of them asked me to speak about the king's private things too. About war, number of weapons, number of soldiers, attacks, protection, his next step with... I didn't even remember. Why should I have known about any of them? They had to be drunk already. I chose to sit down somewhere finally.
Looking around, what seemed like my brand new hobby tonight, I saw Thranduil sitting at his table. He was staring at the several empty glasses standing on the table in front of him. There was a bigger group with him of course, but I found an empty seat next to him. I tried to find another place, but the other option would have been the 'ear-touching' ellon, who probably thought, I was a dog, for he has not wanted to let go of my ear at all. It's so silky - he has said. I shivered, while walked to that cursed chair next to his cold highness.
'Why is it, my lord, that even the servants can enjoy your feast, but the great elven king is just sitting here, waiting for death?' I greetedhim. He took an irritated look at me. I could tell immediately, he was not that sober to just swallow my words. Damn. As I thought, he turned to the others at the table, and cleared his throat.
'Has Noira ever told you about her journey to our kingdom?' he smiled at me brightly. 'Or about her way of life before she arrived at the borders? I guess, that is far more interesting' And the guests, of course, looked at me curiously. My cheeks turned pink. I took a killer look at the king, and opened my mouth to say something, I've just fabricated, but then, he laughed and continued.
'Maybe, Lady Noira's silence came from the fact, her culture is not worth it... I mean, to even speak about it. Her kin, her land might be less interesting and glamorous, than ours' he sipped one from the wine. I could not believe, what I've heard.
My kin might be not that interesting... They might be not that glamorous...
Thranduil couldn't know, that I've lost all of the things, he was speaking about. But the knife had been in my heart already. I jumped up, and stepped in front of the table. He looked up at me drunkenly. After a long moment, I planned to response, I turned my back to him instead, and ran away.
I just stopped, when reached the river, and sat down to the dirty ground. The loud party was barely noticeable. Not even having the mood to cry for my loss, I hit the ground with both fists. Then, I leaned back, and let the silence cover me, as a blanket. It was better being alone now. Silently, I started to sing to myself that song, my kin always used to sing on these celebrations.
'Leave the sleep and let the springtime talk
In tongues from the time before man
Listen to a daffodil tell her tale
Let the guest in, walk out, be the first to greet the morn
The meadows of heaven await harvest
The cliffs unjumped, cold waters untouched
The elsewhere creatures yet unseen
Finally your number came up, freefall awaits the brave'
These words reminded me of the thousand beautiful years, I've spent on those lands. Definitely this was, that I needed. And that would have been needed for a very long time now.
'Come, taste the wine
Raise the blind
They will guide you from the light
Writing noughts till the end of time'
'Come, surf the clouds
Race the dark
It feeds from the runs undone
Meet me where the cliff greets the sea...'
As my sadness would have never existed, I smiled from ear to ear.
'Riding hard every shooting star
Come to life, open mind, have a laugh -'
I've heard some noise from behind. Turning back quickly, I saw Fräynn and a blonde ellon standing there, smiling with crossed arms.
'And the last phrases?' asked the blonde one.
'Er... Well... Come, surf the clouds, race the dark... it feeds from the runs undone... Meet me... where the cliff greets the sea'
'Brilliant, don't you think, Zarian?' smiled Fräynn at his friend.
'Absolutely' he nodded. 'Lady Noira, I have to confess, your land has to be one of the most wonderful places in the world. I just have no idea, why would you divest all the others from such a wonderful experience. Our highness, for example'
I stood up and stepped to them. 'Thank you guys, you're too kind. But, I am not sure, he would appreciate it. And... I better drink something before drying up' I laughed, skipping the topic. 'Would you join?'
Of course, they did. We walked back and started to destroy the elven wine. It was strong, as hell, I had to admit. Zarian, or what was his name, fell over after his twentieth dose. We chose to let him relax in the grass, till he was able to stand up on his own. We laughed so hard, my stomach has hurt already. Since every single quest was drinking, dancing on the table, I chose not to be that shy for once. I needed this little joy more, than water in the endless desert.
'Could I say thank you for the song with a dance? My voice is awful' Fräynn raised an eyebrow.
I laughed, nodded to the blonde ellon, who was still lying on the ground, and joined to the dancers with my captain.
'Does your kin have an own dance too, you would show me?' he asked. I shook my head. Of course, we had several dances, but... At that moment, the picture of the king and Lady Idontknowwho from Lothlorien burst into my mind again. I glimpsed at the king, who, for my surprise, was literally glaring at us from the crowd. I've changed my mind immediately.
'Let it be' I held one of his strong hands and placed onto my lower back. His eyes widened. I touched his shoulder gently and just smiled brightly. I swear, I've heard Thranduil swallow. Fräynn let go of me quickly, and stepped back. I shook my head and took his hand back to its place. Our other hands met, and as I stepped back, he stepped forward. I nodded.
'It is not that difficult, isn't it?' I smiled at him, and turned around in his arms. The color of his face reminded me of the wine, we've drunk all night long. When I saw the king ordering another glass, I was sure, it was totally worth it.