A/N: Hey another chapter! I used some online research to find out what Tolkien said about elven engagements/marriage/courting and I added some of my own details
Chapter Thirty
Proposal
THRANDUIL'S POV
I was infuriated with Elrond, but I was even angrier with myself. Millie had seen battle up close in a way that most people had not and to her, that experience was still very near. We should all have foreseen that seeing so many injured would bring back memories.
After Elrond and Millie returned from the strangers' encampment, Elrond told me what happened. My immediate instinct was to go and make sure that Millie was alright, but Elrond was quick to inform me it was best that she had some uninterrupted rest. I knew he was right, but I still could not help but feel like there was something he was not sharing, although all that mattered to me was that Millie was safe.
Something about the strangers bothered me, but I could not quite put my finger on what it was. Their leader, whose name was Amras if I recall correctly, said they were travelling from the south. The Haradrim were known to the Eldar, but we had not had dealings with them in many years. During the War of the Ring they had sided with Sauron, but in its aftermath many of them were released from his dark magic and returned to their homelands.
Over the past few years, the Haradrim have mostly kept to themselves and seldom ventured outside the borders of their own. It made me wonder why they were making such a journey now and why orcs were pursuing them.
Elrond was also troubled by their sudden appearance and even though he had not said much about it, I knew the look in his eyes all too well. Even though he did not show it and it was hard to read if you did not know him, Elrond had always been an anxious elf. His empathy towards those of non-elven kin sometimes made it easy for him to absorb their fears and their worries. It was not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes it clouded Elrond's vision. This was something about which we had always disagreed.
Still, while it was certainly a matter to discuss, it would have to wait. I had other matters on my mind and to my annoyance, Elrond was the only person with whom I could speak about it. The thought had been lingering in the back of my mind for quite some time as background noise, but over the past few weeks and certainly the past few days, it had become much louder.
I could no longer ignore it.
"I wish to propose to Millie."
Elrond nearly knocked his chalice over and I rolled my eyes at his reaction. Surely, it would come as no surprise to him that those were my intentions. What would otherwise be the point of courtship? It had nearly been a year since Millicent's first arrival in Middle-Earth and I was no longer the same elf as I had been then. In fact, I would not even have considered falling in love with someone other than Legolas' mother an impossibility. My life was forever changed the moment Millie appeared and now I cannot imagine my life without her.
It has not always been easy and I am certain we will have our share of difficulties along the road, but every part of me knew it was what I wanted.
I loved Millicent Thomas with all my heart and I desperately wanted to share the rest of my lifetime with her.
"She will say yes." Elrond said matter-of-factly, "Of that I have no doubt. Do you know when you will ask her?"
"No." I shook my head, "All I know is that I want it to be soon, although I do not have any rings."
"That can certainly be arranged, although it might take a day or two. You would have to inform Millie of our betrothal customs as well."
Typical Elrond, immediately sorting out arrangements.
"Elrond, you are not hearing me. I do not wish to wait a whole year to marry Millie." I confessed, "I would marry her tonight if I could."
A smile tugged at Elrond's lips, but it wasn't his usual smugness.
This was a genuine smile.
"Well then, mellon-nin." said Elrond, "I best go find Fíli and light up the forge."
I was nervous.
No.
I was terrified.
I looked down at the silver ring in the palm of my hand. In just over a day, Fíli had managed to craft an intricately designed silver ring. It was no surprise that all dwarves were skilled craftsmen, but somehow I still found myself astounded by the detail of it. Another unlikely outcome of Millie's presence in Middle-Earth was my growing friendship with Fíli. I would have to find time to properly thank him, assuming everything went according to plan.
Two days ago, when I first informed Elrond of my intent to wed Millie, I had been very self-assured. I had not changed my mind, but my racing heartbeat reminded me of the very real possibility that Millie could still say no.
Then again, she had chosen to stay in Middle-Earth despite being given a voice to return home. Would she really have done that if what we shared was not real?
Millie sat on a bench overlooking the orchard. I had often found her sitting there and I guessed it was one of her favourite places in Rivendell. It was easy to see why, given its position. It was slightly secluded, but you could still hear the waterfall and it was an easy path back to Elrond's House.
I stood still for a while, admiring her from afar. Her short, blonde curls were effortless and Maggie once told me that Millie's hair was very typical of the year she was from in their world. The grey dress she wore glimmered in the reflection of the sunlight and I found myself entranced.
"Most people would consider staring rude, you know." Millie teased
"My apologies." I said, suddenly feeling like a fool, "Would you prefer to be alone?"
"No, I'd love your company."
I sighed with relief and sat next to Millie on the bench. She held a leatherbound journal in her hand which I had seen before, but never really asked her about. I could not help but be curious about the things she wrote on its pages, but I also knew it was none of my business.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, "I understand your visit to the encampment was a bit intense."
"Yes, you could say that." Millie replied, "I had a moment, but I'm fine now. I'm sorry if I worried you."
"Do not apologise. Yes, I was worried, but I would have been worried regardless. I am only happy that you are safe and that you were not alone."
Millie leaned against my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her. When she and Elrond went with Amras to their encampment, a part of me worried that maybe they would not come back. It was a ridiculous concern, of course, but a strange feeling hung in the air that I could not explain. Change was coming and I was not convinced it was the good kind of change. Perhaps that was also why I was keen to marry Millie sooner rather than later.
As she rested against me, Millie's heart was beating a little faster than normal. It was often a calm and steady heartbeat, but this was slightly different. Perhaps she was still getting used to the changing nature of our relationship. While my left arm was around Millie's shoulders, my right arm fiddled with the ring inside my pocket.
"Millie, there is something I wish to speak with you about." I announced and realised there was no changing my mind now.
Millie sat up again and turned to me, with one of her eyebrows slightly furrowed. I grabbed her hand and tucked my fingers between hers. Her hands were much smaller than mine, but they still seemed to fit perfectly together.
"Do you remember what you said to me back in Mirkwood, the first time we had a conversation?" I asked
"It can't have been anything nice." Millie joked, "I seem to remember us not getting along very well."
"That is certainly true. You said something that has always stuck with me. You told me you thought I was lonely and that I was angry."
"You were a different person then. We both were."
"Yes, but you were right. I was lonely and I was very angry. I was angry at my son for choosing to live his life so far away from home. I was angry with Elrond for seemingly abandoning our friendship to spend his life between Rivendell and Erebor. I was angry with the Valar for taking away that which was most precious to me. Most of all, I was angry with myself."
"Why?"
Why? A question I had asked myself many times over the centuries and millennia. A question that I did not have an answer for up until now.
"I was angry with myself because I had allowed myself to be consumed by feelings that made me more prone to heartache and sorrow. " I explained, "I believed that if I shielded myself and shut out the rest of the world, the only one that would have to deal with those emotions was me. For years, nobody ever challenged me, until you arrived and I was forced to look at myself and what I had become. If it was not for you, I would still be that cold, angry and distant elf you first met in Mirkwood and I am glad I am no longer that elf."
"So am I." Millie said, "I guess it's been quite a journey for both of us."
I reached inside my pocket and once again fiddled with the ring, deciding how to proceed next.
"I was going to wait." I continued, "I had a plan and I was going to wait, but then you went with Elrond to the encampment and I was suddenly afraid. What if you for some reason did not come back? And then I realised I could not wait any longer."
"Wait."
I was about to pull out the ring, but Millie put her hand on mine. At first, I was worried that she would tell me not to, but that is not what she said.
"Do the elves do this in a different way?" Millie asked, and I immediately knew that she knew what I was about to do.
"Yes, but you do not speak elvish." I replied
"Oh I don't know, you would be surprised at the things one picks up when one has time on their hands."
For a while, I did not know what to say, but I also ought not have been so surprised. From the very first day, I had known that Millie was remarkably sharp. Instead of questioning her, I inhaled and exhaled a deep breath. Then, I got down on my knees in front of her and held her hand in mine.
"Millicent, mi melin, ah aníron gi mestad. Ma i ind gîn?" I asked as my voice trembled.
"Thranduil, I ind nîn ben ind gîn. Gi melin ah aníron gi mestad." Millie replied
I pulled Millie to her feet and looked into her eyes. She blushed and returned my smile as I pulled her closer and kissed her. We had kissed before, but this was different. For an unknown amount of time we stayed there, arms around each other and in the same comfortable silence as we had so often shared.
I knew at that moment that my life would be forever changed and that I could not wait for Millicent Thomas to become my wife.
To be continued….
EEK
They're engaged! I wasn't originally going to have them be engaged until a little later, but it made sense considering what's been going on in the story. What do you think?
Elvish
Gi melin, ah aníron gi mestad. Ma i ind gîn?- I love you, and I want to marry you. What is your will?
I ind nîn ben ind gîn. Gi melin ah aníron gi mestad - My will is your will. I love you and I want to marry you.
