Chapter 11-
"My lord Silinde! You have returned!" said a young elf-maiden in an archers uniform.
"Yes, but not alone Lady Celeblaith! Send notice to my father that I have returned, and with guests." he said rather wolfishly, with a rather wide smirk wiped wide across his face.
"Lord Erualarion, it has been a long time indeed." the Lady Celeblaith said, "King Thranduil will be pleased."
All I could do was groan as I looked as my clothing in the torchlight. My beautiful gown, which only a few days ago was perfect, was now stained beyond repair, and the bottom was ragged and tattered. I cursed as I realized that my cirquelette was not in place. Erualarion laughed as I reached toward my head, and I thought I had lost it for good on the journey.
Erualarion reached in his pack and lifted the cirquelette out of the small bag. "Looking for this my love?" he said with a smirk as he placed the small band of silver on my head.
"I refuse to see anyone at least until I can use a comb." I said flatly, and Erualarion pulled that too out of his pack. Gently he began to run it through my hair, and pick the small knots out. I was incredibly grateful of him there, he seemed to understand my need to look somewhat presentable. I had nothing to pin my hair up with, so I placed the cirquelette back onto my head, placing a few tendrils here and there as neatly as I could, and tied the back of my hair into a 'lovers-knot,' a simple trick I had learned as a child. I was finally grateful for all of those lessons and quick preparations that I hated so much.
Erualarion gently ran his fingers through the trailing ends of my hair, and he turned my head and kissed me deeply. "You have been incredibly kind to me, thank you my love." I managed to choke out as tears began to spring into my eyes.
The Lady Celeblaith turned once more to make sure that we had not been separated, and I daresay she was surprised at the cirquelette that now rested on my head, and the simple design I had weaved in my hair in only a few moments. "We have reached the main entrance, you must leave the horses here." Celeblaith finished.
We dismounted and began to walk, by the amount of guards in place I figured we would be close to the Great Hall. When we reached the doorway, Sliinde looked as if he was about to speak, but I already knew what he was going to say. I stepped up to the door and placed my star-blades on the ground, as it is customary to never show your weapons to royalty unless asked to.
He smiled at me, and everyone around us already knew what to do by now. Everyone dropped their weapons, including Silinde, although there was no need for him to do so. He thought it was only fair. Then he opened the doors to the great hall, and we all made our way in. I forced myself not to tremble, and I also forced myself to look up and forward. I would not hide my gaze anymore, it was open for the world to now see. The violet mark of the dromondae.
"My dear son!" Thranduil exclaimed, "You have returned, and it seems the Lady Gliren has returned to us too." he gave Gliren and rather odd but warm look, and it made her blush. "Lord Erualarion, 'tis good to see you again!" and then he turned to me, and gasped in amazement as he noticed my eyes. "Who is this fair Lady?" he asked as he warmly grasped my hand and kissed it. I could have feinted at that very moment, and I daresay he noticed, and bellowed out a hearty laugh. He ran his eyes over the silver cirquelette that rested atop my head. "Welcome, I am King Thranduil, and you may know me as a friend if you should like." he finished.
"Please forgive me my lord, I am in no state for your eyes to rest upon." I said, my voice trembling.
"Oh I do not care of that, it is quite understandable if you have been traveling with my son." he said, fondly glaring at his son, "He has a tendency to not give anyone a moment to refresh themselves when he is anxious to get home." he said smiling.
"Now come then and tell me your name, and where you are from! There is much to know about you and I intend on hearing every bit of it!" the great King said with a hearty laugh and a warm smile.
"I am Oriavanim, the Lady of the lonely Isle of Tol Eressëa, but I shall leave you with only my name until I have had a bath if you do not mind. I am tired and weary and in now way fit or in a state to present myself to you and my tale." I said, giving a curtsy after I spoke.
He sighed as if disappointed momentarily and then his smile arose again, "Very well then! But I wish a private council with you after you have refreshed yourself!" he replied merrily.
I nodded and spoke lightly, "As you wish my Lord." Lady Celeblaith led me to the bath chambers where water was already prepared. Not surprised, I knew that Thranduil nigh expected that we would have a want for refreshing and relaxing after our journey from Rivendell and the flight through the forest.
Immediately I closed the doors and striped my clothing away. Staring in a mirror I examined myself, several scrapes and bruises appearing before my eyes, and, true to his word, Erualarion had been right. I would need a marquist to re-detail my marque, the bottom had been damaged with cuts and some ink had been removed along with small bits of skin.
I sighed and decided that it was the least of my worries, and I strolled over to the tub and let myself sink into it. Immediately I felt all of the grime, sweat and blood wash away from me. Something had been put in the water, I was sure of it. A relaxant of some sort of which I did not know. Bit my muscles loosened and I became more calm. The weariness that I thought would completely overwhelm me faded.
I did not forget my meeting with Thranduil, and as much as I wished to stay and relax, I kept to my word and quickly, but thoroughly bathed. I scrubbed every inch of my body, and then took my leave from the tub, and dressed myself in a garment that had been left for me on a stool. I decided that I should not waste anymore time, that Thranduil could have rejected my presence if he wanted, and I would not delay or make him wait.
Emerging from the bath chambers in a simple garment, not at all fancy, I stared in the mirror. I longed for my clothes that I had to leave behind in Rivendell, and stared at myself in the simple garment that had been left for me by the servants. It was a gift and I would not disregard it.
"When the lady Culmire returns she will mend your dress." I heard the Lady Celeblaith say, "She is quite a master and fixing things that seem quite impossible to fix." She finished calmly and quite shyly.
"You have no need to hold your tongue around me, until I arrived in Middle earth I was lucky if someone would take the time to curse my existence. Please come and speak with me, I would quite enjoy it." I said, trying to be merry, but I reckon that Celeblaith caught the pang of hurt in my voice.
"But you are. you are ROYALTY!" she said in utter disbelief, "They so boldly dare to disrespect you?" she continued, blatantly shocked.
"Yes I am, but my gift. it is rare, and has never been seen by any of my people. My people have lived in Isolation for ages, and people tend to fear things that seem abnormal or unordinary. I am so. 'Tis not surprising to me, and I understand why I have been treated so. They simply do not understand and they are afraid." I said. There it was, those words. They were afraid, and I had truly come to realize it. "I was afraid to come here Celeblaith, I feared rejection, but my lord Thranduil is kind, and I recognized his patience almost immediately. I am quite happy I came here. I've been here not even one night, and yet I already feel as if I am home." I said, smiling, and I meant what I had said. I felt as if I were home.
Remembering the promise I had made to King Thranduil, I realized that if I were to get any sleep tonight, that I must attend his council soon. "Forgive me Celeblaith, I must depart and attend to his majesty. I am in his debt for his hospitality and I have made him a promise." I said, "We shall continue this tomorrow?" I asked.
"Certainly!" she said cheerfully, "I would be most pleased."
"Then good night, may you have pleasant dreams and a wonderful sleep." I said to her, meaning every word of it.
"My lord Silinde! You have returned!" said a young elf-maiden in an archers uniform.
"Yes, but not alone Lady Celeblaith! Send notice to my father that I have returned, and with guests." he said rather wolfishly, with a rather wide smirk wiped wide across his face.
"Lord Erualarion, it has been a long time indeed." the Lady Celeblaith said, "King Thranduil will be pleased."
All I could do was groan as I looked as my clothing in the torchlight. My beautiful gown, which only a few days ago was perfect, was now stained beyond repair, and the bottom was ragged and tattered. I cursed as I realized that my cirquelette was not in place. Erualarion laughed as I reached toward my head, and I thought I had lost it for good on the journey.
Erualarion reached in his pack and lifted the cirquelette out of the small bag. "Looking for this my love?" he said with a smirk as he placed the small band of silver on my head.
"I refuse to see anyone at least until I can use a comb." I said flatly, and Erualarion pulled that too out of his pack. Gently he began to run it through my hair, and pick the small knots out. I was incredibly grateful of him there, he seemed to understand my need to look somewhat presentable. I had nothing to pin my hair up with, so I placed the cirquelette back onto my head, placing a few tendrils here and there as neatly as I could, and tied the back of my hair into a 'lovers-knot,' a simple trick I had learned as a child. I was finally grateful for all of those lessons and quick preparations that I hated so much.
Erualarion gently ran his fingers through the trailing ends of my hair, and he turned my head and kissed me deeply. "You have been incredibly kind to me, thank you my love." I managed to choke out as tears began to spring into my eyes.
The Lady Celeblaith turned once more to make sure that we had not been separated, and I daresay she was surprised at the cirquelette that now rested on my head, and the simple design I had weaved in my hair in only a few moments. "We have reached the main entrance, you must leave the horses here." Celeblaith finished.
We dismounted and began to walk, by the amount of guards in place I figured we would be close to the Great Hall. When we reached the doorway, Sliinde looked as if he was about to speak, but I already knew what he was going to say. I stepped up to the door and placed my star-blades on the ground, as it is customary to never show your weapons to royalty unless asked to.
He smiled at me, and everyone around us already knew what to do by now. Everyone dropped their weapons, including Silinde, although there was no need for him to do so. He thought it was only fair. Then he opened the doors to the great hall, and we all made our way in. I forced myself not to tremble, and I also forced myself to look up and forward. I would not hide my gaze anymore, it was open for the world to now see. The violet mark of the dromondae.
"My dear son!" Thranduil exclaimed, "You have returned, and it seems the Lady Gliren has returned to us too." he gave Gliren and rather odd but warm look, and it made her blush. "Lord Erualarion, 'tis good to see you again!" and then he turned to me, and gasped in amazement as he noticed my eyes. "Who is this fair Lady?" he asked as he warmly grasped my hand and kissed it. I could have feinted at that very moment, and I daresay he noticed, and bellowed out a hearty laugh. He ran his eyes over the silver cirquelette that rested atop my head. "Welcome, I am King Thranduil, and you may know me as a friend if you should like." he finished.
"Please forgive me my lord, I am in no state for your eyes to rest upon." I said, my voice trembling.
"Oh I do not care of that, it is quite understandable if you have been traveling with my son." he said, fondly glaring at his son, "He has a tendency to not give anyone a moment to refresh themselves when he is anxious to get home." he said smiling.
"Now come then and tell me your name, and where you are from! There is much to know about you and I intend on hearing every bit of it!" the great King said with a hearty laugh and a warm smile.
"I am Oriavanim, the Lady of the lonely Isle of Tol Eressëa, but I shall leave you with only my name until I have had a bath if you do not mind. I am tired and weary and in now way fit or in a state to present myself to you and my tale." I said, giving a curtsy after I spoke.
He sighed as if disappointed momentarily and then his smile arose again, "Very well then! But I wish a private council with you after you have refreshed yourself!" he replied merrily.
I nodded and spoke lightly, "As you wish my Lord." Lady Celeblaith led me to the bath chambers where water was already prepared. Not surprised, I knew that Thranduil nigh expected that we would have a want for refreshing and relaxing after our journey from Rivendell and the flight through the forest.
Immediately I closed the doors and striped my clothing away. Staring in a mirror I examined myself, several scrapes and bruises appearing before my eyes, and, true to his word, Erualarion had been right. I would need a marquist to re-detail my marque, the bottom had been damaged with cuts and some ink had been removed along with small bits of skin.
I sighed and decided that it was the least of my worries, and I strolled over to the tub and let myself sink into it. Immediately I felt all of the grime, sweat and blood wash away from me. Something had been put in the water, I was sure of it. A relaxant of some sort of which I did not know. Bit my muscles loosened and I became more calm. The weariness that I thought would completely overwhelm me faded.
I did not forget my meeting with Thranduil, and as much as I wished to stay and relax, I kept to my word and quickly, but thoroughly bathed. I scrubbed every inch of my body, and then took my leave from the tub, and dressed myself in a garment that had been left for me on a stool. I decided that I should not waste anymore time, that Thranduil could have rejected my presence if he wanted, and I would not delay or make him wait.
Emerging from the bath chambers in a simple garment, not at all fancy, I stared in the mirror. I longed for my clothes that I had to leave behind in Rivendell, and stared at myself in the simple garment that had been left for me by the servants. It was a gift and I would not disregard it.
"When the lady Culmire returns she will mend your dress." I heard the Lady Celeblaith say, "She is quite a master and fixing things that seem quite impossible to fix." She finished calmly and quite shyly.
"You have no need to hold your tongue around me, until I arrived in Middle earth I was lucky if someone would take the time to curse my existence. Please come and speak with me, I would quite enjoy it." I said, trying to be merry, but I reckon that Celeblaith caught the pang of hurt in my voice.
"But you are. you are ROYALTY!" she said in utter disbelief, "They so boldly dare to disrespect you?" she continued, blatantly shocked.
"Yes I am, but my gift. it is rare, and has never been seen by any of my people. My people have lived in Isolation for ages, and people tend to fear things that seem abnormal or unordinary. I am so. 'Tis not surprising to me, and I understand why I have been treated so. They simply do not understand and they are afraid." I said. There it was, those words. They were afraid, and I had truly come to realize it. "I was afraid to come here Celeblaith, I feared rejection, but my lord Thranduil is kind, and I recognized his patience almost immediately. I am quite happy I came here. I've been here not even one night, and yet I already feel as if I am home." I said, smiling, and I meant what I had said. I felt as if I were home.
Remembering the promise I had made to King Thranduil, I realized that if I were to get any sleep tonight, that I must attend his council soon. "Forgive me Celeblaith, I must depart and attend to his majesty. I am in his debt for his hospitality and I have made him a promise." I said, "We shall continue this tomorrow?" I asked.
"Certainly!" she said cheerfully, "I would be most pleased."
"Then good night, may you have pleasant dreams and a wonderful sleep." I said to her, meaning every word of it.
