For WritersMonth 2021

Prompt: Tree

They sat at the foot of a great mallorn tree, the smooth grey trunk towering above them, the breeze rustling the golden leaves on the white branches high overhead. All around was green grass, yellow flowers, the smell of spring, of growing things, the promise of renewal and sunshine.

Kaylea Wolf leaned back against the tree, listening to the music of the clear stream running by her feet. Thorin was napping, his head in her lap. She had been putting flowers in his hair as he slept, he looked very peaceful, tiny yellow blooms around his head and clinging to his long locks. She let her head fall back, letting the magic of Lorien flow through her. There were other places in Middle Earth where you could feel the powers that had shaped the land, but in Lothlorien those powers still held sway.

Thorin stirred, he reached up to touch her face. "How long have I been asleep?"

"I'm afraid I've lost all sense of time," Kaylea told him. "A few minutes, maybe an hour."

"Time does pass differently here," Thorin said, closing his eyes. "Maybe because I am so happy."

"In the land of the Elves? Are you under some dark spell?"

Thorin laughed. "Well, it would be improved without the Elves. But I do not know when I have felt so content." He took her hand. "And I would never have come here but for you." He looked at the trees overhead thoughtfully. "These trees remind me of the columns in the halls of Erebor. Perhaps I will have some carved in the semblance of these trees, adorn the ceiling with branches."

"Your people will think you've lost your mind," Kaylea told him. "But I like the idea, walking through the hall will be like wandering in this forest." She was quiet for a moment. "My people believe there is a great tree at the center of the world, the roots and branches support the Nine Realms."

"Nine Realms? Like nine kingdoms?" Thorin asked, now wide awake. Kaylea had never before spoken about the beliefs of her people.

"Something like that," she smiled at him. "Nine places where others live."

"Do Elves live in this tree?"

"No," she picked another flower, put it behind Thorin's ear. "There is an eagle that lives on top, a dragon that chews on the roots, and a squirrel that takes messages between them."

Thorin's eyes followed her hand. "What would a dragon and an eagle have to say to each other?"

"That is not told."

"And why does neither of them eat the squirrel?"

"That also is not told," Kaylea laughed at him. "I suppose all your Dwaven tales make perfect sense!"

"I have found it is not the point of such stories to make sense," Thorin felt his hair. "You have been busy while I was sleeping."

"I think it is quite an improvement. I name you The King Under the Tree."

"In that case, my first act is to ban all Elves from my realm," he smiled up at her crookedly. "Do you suppose they will leave willingly?"

"That is not very magnanimous of you," Kaylea frowned. "After all, they did heal me, as you asked."

Thorin sighed. "Alright, I suppose they can stay." He caught hold of one of her braids. "And will you be my Queen Under the Tree?"

"Under the Tree, in this secret land, yes," Kaylea told him. "But not when we leave."

"Then I will not move from under this tree, my queen," Thorin pulled her head down to kiss her, for a very long time.