Chapter Four
The city gates stood before them like sentinels of stone, each wall lined with sashes of green, yellow, red, and brown to celebrate the festival of the sun. All along the tall stone gates sat elves with long golden hair that seemed to glow silver in the light of the morning sun.
"Welcome to the city of Thranduil, Lord of the Sindar of Greenwood, elves of Lorien." Limlias gestured inside the gates as they swung open to reveal the silver stone towers of the city. All about the streets were elves of various ages and sizes, all bearing the same fair skin and golden hair, all laughing and dancing in anticipation of the ball.
"You are all asked to rest in the chambers that we have prepared for your coming, the King will see you after the ball." Limlias brought them to a young maiden who led them inside the castle and to their rooms in the south wing.
^^^*^^^
"Your room my Lady. The ball will begin at the eve if…"
"I shan't be attending the ball; I've no dress to wear and I do not feel much like dancing. If you would be so kind as to give my regards to the King, I think I shall stay here." The young maiden made no move to leave, but stood as if transfixed in the doorway.
"My Lady should attend the ball, it is the wish of King Thranduil that you should attend. As for dresses, the maidens of the castle have made you a wardrobe from their own hands. If you should need anything, simply call." The maiden bowed out and left Candria standing alone in a world she did not know. For a moment, her will power denied her the tears that stung her eyes, and then she could contain her grief no longer. She wandered onto her balcony that opened into the courtyard below and wept as she sat down upon the cool stone. Her heart bled crimson tears that fell in her chest with great sobs as she surveyed her prison walls. How could Galadriel have been so cruel? To imprison her in a city of stone, never to see the lights of Caras Galadhon, nor climb the trees of her youth again, was the cruelest of fates. The city now in all of its glory paled to the beauty of Lorien, nothing was ever so fair as those woods, and now to be lost in castles of rock was unbearable.
She did not count the hours she spent on the balcony, only that morning passed to mid-day and from thence to dusk. The hour of the ball was approaching, and although she did not feel like merrymaking, she dared not refuse the bidding of her new guardian.
Candria opened the doors of her wardrobe and the sight that met her eyes caught her breath in her throat. There were rows of the most beautiful dresses she had ever laid eyes upon in her whole life, surpassing even the fair robes of Celeborn and Galadriel. Each outfit was stitched to the tiniest detail, each dress more beautiful than the last. She pulled her gloves off and reached out to touch the fine material of the dresses, finding them to be as light as her cloak.
Candria selected one of blood red hue that did not gather in any places; all of the lines were smooth and straight. The design was simple, and yet unlike any she had seen before. The neck opened in a square design and each sleeve fell away into a slender bell shape at the wrist. There were lengths of material and yet the dress was not heavy or cumbersome to put on. To match there was a pair of lace gloves, cream in color and more beautiful and fine than she had ever seen. Candria had never been raised as the royalty she was, yet as she pulled the gloves on she felt as though she was slipping into a crown. All of her inner grace and beauty poured out onto her skin and eyes, giving her the radiant glow of a deity.
^^^*^^^
The halls had been set as none who lived in that realm had ever seen. All around the walls were covered in swaths of material that lifted if so much as a dress ruffled the air nearby. A small group of minstrels were filling the hall with music so gay and lively that Candria forgot most of her troubles for a moment and delighted in gazing at the beauty of the hall.
"My Lady Candria of Lorien, we are pleased to see you here." Candria spun around to find herself facing the King. She bowed respectfully and righted herself, all the while never removing her eyes from his face. Thranduil stared into her eyes and she heard faintly: ^All of your questions shall be answered, for I see you have many. Do not let your heart be troubled, for tonight is a night of rejoicing. I shall send for you before the dance is over and you may then deliver your message. ^
"May I have the honor of this dance, my Lady?" King Thranduil offered Candria his arm and she bowed again, bringing her gloved arm to his. They walked onto the dance floor, Candria's heart beating so wildly that she could hardly keep her hands from shaking. The music began at a lively pace and King Thranduil bowed to Candria, she returning with a curtsy. They took hands and danced lightly across the floor, every step spinning Candria into happiness she had not thought possible only a few hours earlier. She found that her touch did not seem to affect the King, adding to her delight that he would be a good friend and protector; Galadriel had chosen well.
She danced all evening with many elfin Lords, each delighting in hearing stories of Lorien and the realm of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. Each time she touched a new dancing partner she seemed to hold the same strange power over him, a power that bound him to her for the short time they held each other's eyes. Candria was held in fear for the few moments when they would part, for the elves seemed to almost physically resist. She knew that her power had grown stronger as the night wore on, each departure more difficult than the last. She began to see why Galadriel forbid any elf to touch her skin, for what power might she hold then?
As the dance came to a close and the minstrels were replaced by songs and storytelling, Candria felt weariness creeping through her skin and she desired no longer to do anything but rest. She found her way onto the terrace extending from the ballroom, the light sound of laughter and music growing fainter behind her. The place was deserted and she found the first cool breeze she had felt in months roll across her face and lift her hair ever so slightly from her shoulders. Suddenly, it was as though the voice of Galadriel had been carried on this wind, and now whispered softly in her mind:
^You see I have brought you into a land where you shall be safe. Do not let your heart be weary with desire for Lorien, when these times have fallen into legend, you may yet still see Caras Galadhon. I miss you very much, and you shall never be far from home, for you have taken some of the light of the trees with you at your departing. Farewell Candria, we shall always meet again in our dreams.^
The breeze left and it seemed to carry away the weight on Candria's heart. Her eyes traveled across the miles of forest now cloaked in silver moonlight and saw how beautiful the trees looked in their cloaks of night. Smiling to herself she wandered across the terrace, watching small blossoms fall from the eaves above.
"How pleasant your smile makes the night my Lady." She quickly spun around, ashamed that she had been watched unawares. Her eyes ran along the darkened walls, revealing an elfin Lord sitting in the darkest corner, his eyes casually staring into hers. Candria was at a loss as to what to say, her awkward embarrassment compelled her to do the only thing she could think of- walk away. She hurriedly turned towards the ballroom and made her way quickly towards the light.
"No, wait…I wish to speak with you my Lady." Candria dared not turn around until she had reached the security of the ballroom. Her face was flushed and she declined an invitation to sing, much to the displeasure of the elves, as she made her way towards the doors that led into the halls.
The city gates stood before them like sentinels of stone, each wall lined with sashes of green, yellow, red, and brown to celebrate the festival of the sun. All along the tall stone gates sat elves with long golden hair that seemed to glow silver in the light of the morning sun.
"Welcome to the city of Thranduil, Lord of the Sindar of Greenwood, elves of Lorien." Limlias gestured inside the gates as they swung open to reveal the silver stone towers of the city. All about the streets were elves of various ages and sizes, all bearing the same fair skin and golden hair, all laughing and dancing in anticipation of the ball.
"You are all asked to rest in the chambers that we have prepared for your coming, the King will see you after the ball." Limlias brought them to a young maiden who led them inside the castle and to their rooms in the south wing.
^^^*^^^
"Your room my Lady. The ball will begin at the eve if…"
"I shan't be attending the ball; I've no dress to wear and I do not feel much like dancing. If you would be so kind as to give my regards to the King, I think I shall stay here." The young maiden made no move to leave, but stood as if transfixed in the doorway.
"My Lady should attend the ball, it is the wish of King Thranduil that you should attend. As for dresses, the maidens of the castle have made you a wardrobe from their own hands. If you should need anything, simply call." The maiden bowed out and left Candria standing alone in a world she did not know. For a moment, her will power denied her the tears that stung her eyes, and then she could contain her grief no longer. She wandered onto her balcony that opened into the courtyard below and wept as she sat down upon the cool stone. Her heart bled crimson tears that fell in her chest with great sobs as she surveyed her prison walls. How could Galadriel have been so cruel? To imprison her in a city of stone, never to see the lights of Caras Galadhon, nor climb the trees of her youth again, was the cruelest of fates. The city now in all of its glory paled to the beauty of Lorien, nothing was ever so fair as those woods, and now to be lost in castles of rock was unbearable.
She did not count the hours she spent on the balcony, only that morning passed to mid-day and from thence to dusk. The hour of the ball was approaching, and although she did not feel like merrymaking, she dared not refuse the bidding of her new guardian.
Candria opened the doors of her wardrobe and the sight that met her eyes caught her breath in her throat. There were rows of the most beautiful dresses she had ever laid eyes upon in her whole life, surpassing even the fair robes of Celeborn and Galadriel. Each outfit was stitched to the tiniest detail, each dress more beautiful than the last. She pulled her gloves off and reached out to touch the fine material of the dresses, finding them to be as light as her cloak.
Candria selected one of blood red hue that did not gather in any places; all of the lines were smooth and straight. The design was simple, and yet unlike any she had seen before. The neck opened in a square design and each sleeve fell away into a slender bell shape at the wrist. There were lengths of material and yet the dress was not heavy or cumbersome to put on. To match there was a pair of lace gloves, cream in color and more beautiful and fine than she had ever seen. Candria had never been raised as the royalty she was, yet as she pulled the gloves on she felt as though she was slipping into a crown. All of her inner grace and beauty poured out onto her skin and eyes, giving her the radiant glow of a deity.
^^^*^^^
The halls had been set as none who lived in that realm had ever seen. All around the walls were covered in swaths of material that lifted if so much as a dress ruffled the air nearby. A small group of minstrels were filling the hall with music so gay and lively that Candria forgot most of her troubles for a moment and delighted in gazing at the beauty of the hall.
"My Lady Candria of Lorien, we are pleased to see you here." Candria spun around to find herself facing the King. She bowed respectfully and righted herself, all the while never removing her eyes from his face. Thranduil stared into her eyes and she heard faintly: ^All of your questions shall be answered, for I see you have many. Do not let your heart be troubled, for tonight is a night of rejoicing. I shall send for you before the dance is over and you may then deliver your message. ^
"May I have the honor of this dance, my Lady?" King Thranduil offered Candria his arm and she bowed again, bringing her gloved arm to his. They walked onto the dance floor, Candria's heart beating so wildly that she could hardly keep her hands from shaking. The music began at a lively pace and King Thranduil bowed to Candria, she returning with a curtsy. They took hands and danced lightly across the floor, every step spinning Candria into happiness she had not thought possible only a few hours earlier. She found that her touch did not seem to affect the King, adding to her delight that he would be a good friend and protector; Galadriel had chosen well.
She danced all evening with many elfin Lords, each delighting in hearing stories of Lorien and the realm of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. Each time she touched a new dancing partner she seemed to hold the same strange power over him, a power that bound him to her for the short time they held each other's eyes. Candria was held in fear for the few moments when they would part, for the elves seemed to almost physically resist. She knew that her power had grown stronger as the night wore on, each departure more difficult than the last. She began to see why Galadriel forbid any elf to touch her skin, for what power might she hold then?
As the dance came to a close and the minstrels were replaced by songs and storytelling, Candria felt weariness creeping through her skin and she desired no longer to do anything but rest. She found her way onto the terrace extending from the ballroom, the light sound of laughter and music growing fainter behind her. The place was deserted and she found the first cool breeze she had felt in months roll across her face and lift her hair ever so slightly from her shoulders. Suddenly, it was as though the voice of Galadriel had been carried on this wind, and now whispered softly in her mind:
^You see I have brought you into a land where you shall be safe. Do not let your heart be weary with desire for Lorien, when these times have fallen into legend, you may yet still see Caras Galadhon. I miss you very much, and you shall never be far from home, for you have taken some of the light of the trees with you at your departing. Farewell Candria, we shall always meet again in our dreams.^
The breeze left and it seemed to carry away the weight on Candria's heart. Her eyes traveled across the miles of forest now cloaked in silver moonlight and saw how beautiful the trees looked in their cloaks of night. Smiling to herself she wandered across the terrace, watching small blossoms fall from the eaves above.
"How pleasant your smile makes the night my Lady." She quickly spun around, ashamed that she had been watched unawares. Her eyes ran along the darkened walls, revealing an elfin Lord sitting in the darkest corner, his eyes casually staring into hers. Candria was at a loss as to what to say, her awkward embarrassment compelled her to do the only thing she could think of- walk away. She hurriedly turned towards the ballroom and made her way quickly towards the light.
"No, wait…I wish to speak with you my Lady." Candria dared not turn around until she had reached the security of the ballroom. Her face was flushed and she declined an invitation to sing, much to the displeasure of the elves, as she made her way towards the doors that led into the halls.