Chapter 29
It was dawn and the air was cold. They had all assembled at the front gates of the palace halls to send her off well. Leanna was leaving The Woodland realm.
"For you" Gwuineth smiled as she offered a sac to her.
"Oh, the servants already packed something for the road you didn't..." She paused as she opened the bag and glimpsed at its contents. "...Oh...There's lemon cakes..." she whispered thickly.
"We know how much you love them and wanted to make certain you would have enough for the journey home"
"We?" Leanna asked in surprise.
"Yes, the cooks at the kitchen wished to thank you for your deeds as did the storekeeper" Gwuineth said smiling as she gestured to the company standing by the entrance. Each one, a familiar face she worked with on different tasks. They had all come to wish her well at the hour of her departure.
"Thank you" she said to Gwuineth who nodded in return and looked at the others "all of you, thank you for your care, I...I shall miss you all dearly" she bowed as she gave her gratitude.
She looked around her and noted his absence. It was only a diplomatic custom to see the emissary of another kingdom off but then he was not one to simply follow customs.
"And this is also for you" Gwuineth handed a large cloak, much thicker than the one given to her, over. She knew this cloak, she had worn it on the last part of their journey here.
"This is..." She looked at Gwuineth who only nodded smiling.
"He thought the cold would be too much for you and wanted you to have it"
"I see...it must be a busy morning for him" Leanna said, her eyes asking a different question as she looked at Gwuineth.
"Regardless there is nothing he is not aware of and has made certain your journey will remain smooth" Gwuineth answered. If he did not wish to show himself then it was clear he had his reasons but that did not mean he wasn't watching. She unravelled the cloak which far more elegant than their regular ones and placed it around her shoulders.
"You may not see him but he certainly sees you" Gwuineth said stepping away as she watched Leanna get on her horse, her posture always as graceful and noble as ever. It was such a shame she could not stay any longer.
Leanna looked at her escort and was relieved Feran would be leading their company back to Dale, she could not see herself relaxing in a company of complete strangers as they took the journey to Dale. As always she was made to ride center. With everyone in position, they departed from the main palace gates. Leanna turned back slightly, feeling as though she would see his face if she turned around. It was as she expected, he wasn't there but then why would she care for his presence, she was finally leaving the Woodland Realm, to concern herself with an elf from another world would only bring her problems.
Silently she took out the pendant he had crafted for her. The blue jewel embedded in the silver encasing glowed as though it were alive. She tucked it in her bodice safely from view and resolved in her mind to look forward to live in Dale henceforth.
Well into the forest, their company stopped briefly as a figure descending from the trees. A guard beside Leanna alighted from his horse and stood aside as Tauriel got on it. With a nod from her, the guard was dismissed, quickly blending into the trees as though he was never there.
"So this is what you meant when you said you'd remain with me until the hour of my leaving" Leanna said to elleth. Tauriel smirked at her in mischief.
"I did not feel compelled to ruin the surprise"
"A pleasant surprise, I'm glad you're here Tauriel" Leanna looked at her friend, conveying her sincerity through her gaze.
"It looks as though I am not the only one who wishes to escort you home" Tauriel said jerking her head in the direction across Leanna. Leanna turned, smiling instantly as she sighted Tallahir close by. He was following their company.
His Lord had personally sought him out, a feat that did not occur unless it involved the protection his land or people. In this case, the king of the elves had requested he keep watch over his Lady as they moved through the forest and quickly alert him to any dangers should they encounter any.
They had reached the borders of the forest, Leanna looked back to find the great elk watching as it reached the end of the forest path, its gaze still on her as though it was sending a message.
' Be safe'
She nodded in assurance that she would be alright. Turning to face forward, she focused her mind on the journey ahead, it would take some time before they reached Dale.
!
!
He entered his study and proceeded to go over the reports his spies had placed over his desk. Leanna and her company had crossed to the end of the eastern borders. While he had taken care of any impending threats within the forests and monitored the roads leading towards Dale, going as far as changing the route to prevent any dangers, Thranduil was dissatisfied.
He had witheld from being present at her sendoff to merely to indulge his people before they set their tongue wagging and to make it a point, the nature of their relationship. He poured wine into his cup and sat back on his chair. He watched the red liquid slosh gently in his cup and wondered if things would return to normalcy, if she would not plague his mind now that she had left.
He glanced at the letter he had received from his scouts courtesy of the Lady Galadriel, he picked it up and ran through the contents once more before he throw it into the fireplace, already ablaze with fire. He watched as the edges crumbled, the fire eating into the very center of the paper. It's contents already etched into his mind and he noted with no satisfaction at all, how easily the once pristine paper had turned to ash.
He had sent word to the Lady Galadriel days before. His reply, if it was even to be considered one, remained unchanged as though he had not been explicit enough. Even if she was the eldest of the high elves left from the first age here on Middle Earth. It did not dictate that every mystery and every fundamental secret would be known to her or set in stone.
If the Valar was truly involved in his affairs as comical as he found it, then there must be some way to unravel whatever knot they created between himself and the Dale woman.
'Meddling in the affairs of others is not a habit known to the Valar. Your heart may be unbending and willful, but it is not without fire'
He gulped down the last remnant of his wine from his cup and slammed it back down on his desk. Grimacing as he stood from his chair and left the room. The only indication of his frustration being ever present was the finger marks indented on his cup.
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!
They had ridden all day and as the sun began to set, Leanna and her company searched for a suitable place to camp for the night. Once a scouting party returned with news of a safe location by the rocks near the river side, a perimeter was secured.
Leanna had sat down on a log facing the fire one of the elves made and took out the cloak that was given to her. The cold did not have hold of her still which made it pointless to wrap herself up for warmth. But she did so nonetheless. It was as she remembered it, warm and thick on the inside and most of all, it smelled like him. Her eyes fluttered closed as she took in the scent attached to the cloak.
"Here" Tauriel said as she handed a bowl of hot stew to Leanna.
"Thank you" Leanna took it with a small smile of gratitude and held the hot bowl in her lap, waiting for it to cool off as she examined it's contents.
"It is rabbit stew" Tauriel chuckled as she watched Leanna scrutinize over the contents of her food.
"Oh...I didn't think you'd find any around this parts"
"In the past yes, but now that the evil of Dol Gulder has been defeated, forest life is returning to these parts"
"That's good then..." Leanna said dazed as she thought back to the last conversation she had with Thranduil on the eve of her departure. She sighed as she looked into the fire, unconsciously drawing the cloak around her closer. Tauriel caught the act and smiled subtly.
"What will you do when you return to Dale?" Tauriel asked, breaking off the end of a twig as she threw bits and pieces in the fire.
"I thought I knew what I wanted at first, but now I'm not so certain anymore" Leanna murmured. They watched the fire in silence.
"You will be missed in the Greenwood" Tauriel said, speaking with a sense of caution in my mind.
"Haelros and Gwuineth maybe, the GreenWood elves didn't seem they would miss me all that much" she clutched the hem of the cloak and wondered at the ellon who had given her this cloak.
"And The King?"
"What about the king?" Leanna looked at the fire.
"I thought too once thought he was cold, uncaring and unfeeling"
"What changed?"
"You..." At this Leanna turned sharply to the elleth sitting next to her. She shook as peals of laughter fell from her lips, when she turned to face Tauriel, wiping beads of tears from her eyes. When she noted the bland look on the elleth's face, she paused.
"You're serious..."
"What's not to be serious about? The fact that you get away with acts that would land anyone else in the dungeons? Or the fact that you're wearing his cloak?"
"You're reading too much into things" Leanna said slurping from her bowl. It was good but not as good as the food in the palace halls. Either way, it was edible to eat.
"Deny it all you want, the rumours-"
"-Are rumours, nothing more nothing less" Leanna said sternly, not wishing to entertain this topic any further. All went quiet for a time until Tauriel spoke again.
"The rumours began the day you left the dinning hall, when the king announced you as his honoured guest"
"What?" Leanna whispered hotly as her eyes grew wide at the news. "Then the elves..."
"...Did not wish to invite their wrath of their king should any dishonour be shown to you" Tauriel filled in the gaps she had had for weeks. She frowned, what was she do with this information now? She had left the GreenWood with a bitter impression of Thranduil.
She was assured that their dealings with eachother had come to a conclusion and so it would be pointless to dwell any further on his actions or him as well.
"I never would've guessed he was capable of such a thing" Leanna murmured as she finished the last morsel of soup in her bowl. Tauriel took the bowl from her hands and nodding in a smile.
"He may be prideful but there are still many parts to him that even I have not seen" Tauriel said, rinsing out the bowls and handing them to another elf who took them and left.
"How long have you known him?" Leanna asked.
"Since I was an elfling, I was orphaned during the second age. Both my parents died in war, Thranduil found me and took me into his care, I've pledged my loyalty to him ever since."
"I'm sorry...I-I didn't know" Leanna said, her eyes bleeding guilt over a matter she felt should've been avoided.
"It's alright, it happened a long time ago. Get some rest, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow" Tauriel rose up from the log and went to meet with the scouts that had returned.
Leanna lay on the ground and watched the stars glitter faintly in the night sky. Her heart was torn, not knowing what to think. She was grateful for finally returning back to Dale, but then a part of her wanted to say goodbye to him. After all, it was the proper thing to do, atleast she had convinced herself that it was.
!
!
He had received a letter in the early hours of the morning. Letters from the Woodland realm had not come in for some time, so he was ecstatic to finally receive news from his aide.
However he had been surprised when he discovered that Thranduil had been the author of the letter in his hands.
He skimmed through the contents of the letter and beamed. He read it once more to make certain he was not hallucinating the words written on the paper.
He rushed out the door of his study and held the railings of his balcony overlooking the residents below.
"Madam Bertha! Percy" Bard called out in eagerness. The two came hastily as they were called, waiting for the next words.
"Send word to the guards of the gate and prepare the banquet hall at once!" At the order, Both Percy and Bertha left in haste to fulfil their duties. Bain and Sigrid hearing the commotion looked up to their father in concern.
"Da what's going on?" Sigrid said.
"Are we under attack again??" Bain called out. His sword in hand, ready to go at a moment's notice. Bain smiled as he looked at his children.
"She's coming home, Lady Leanna is returning home to us!" He yelled out for everyone to hear. Sigrid's eyes grew wide in excitement and Bain took off without a word.
All around the city, news spread, from the city Square to the lower levels. The whole city of Dale was buzzing.
Their white rose was finally returning home.