Chapter 2 – Grief and Healing

Thranduil woke much later when the sun was streaming through the window. For a moment he lay at peace until the full horror of the events of yesterday rushed in on him. He leapt from the couch, kicking aside the throw, and ran down the short corridor into the bedchamber that he shared with Athiel.

She was sitting, propped up by pillows and looking wan. When she saw him, she raised her hands. He went to her, enveloping her in his arms. They both dissolved into tears, their sorrows mingling with their cries.

Hachon stood at the door; he had been watching them both all night. It was painful to see his lord and lady in such turmoil but the tears would help, help in the healing. He gently withdrew, leaving them together to draw comfort from each other.

'I'm so sorry Thranduil- the healer did everything he could but- but when the herald arrived and said that Oropher was slain- I thought how closely you always fought…I thought you had perished as well!'

'Hush mellîn*, it's all over now,' Thranduil soothed, stroking her hair. 'I'm here.' Inwardly, he cursed over and over…how many more innocents would pay for Sauron's wicked scheming?

'But the baby, he was so perfect!' Athiel's voice took on a hysterical edge. 'So tiny…he never even cried. He just lay in my arms and watched- watched everyone around him. It was a though he knew that he wouldn't be staying long in Arda. He was trying to see and remember everything for when he went to Mandos. But he never got to see you.'

'Shh,' Thranduil said again. 'He saw you. He knew he was loved. When we meet again you can tell him who I am. He'll have met Oropher and the others. He'll know why I couldn't be here.'

'But when we meet- will he still be a babe, or will he grow in Mandos? Who will look after him? How will we know him?'

'I don't know,' Thranduil replied, at a loss.

Then they both abandoned words, and the silence was broken only by Athiel's now muted sobs.

Their contemplation was disturbed by a soft tap on the door; a small worried face peered around the door. It was Riawen, a young child of nearly forty years. Her parents had both been killed the previous year by an Orc intrusion. Athiel, as was her way, had taken the child into her home until relatives could be found.

Thranduil beckoned her into the room and the door was pushed open wide. The small girl entered the room carrying what to her was an enormous tray. She was concentrating with such intensity that a small pink tongue could be seen peeking out between her lips. Thranduil leapt to the rescue before it and its load won the battle with gravity.

'Thank you, King Thranduil. I've bought you both some breakfast. You haven't eaten at all today,' she declared, hands on her small hips.

Athiel could not help but smile at the girl despite her sorrow. How many times had she nagged Thranduil for not eating properly? Even with her hands on her hips in the same manner!

'That was very kind, Riawen. I am a little bit hungry.' She patted the couch. 'Come and help us eat.'

Athiel could see Thranduil pulling faces at what was on the tray.

'I made it all myself,' Riawen proudly exclaimed.

'It looks lovely. I'm sure it will be delicious,' said Thranduil as he put the tray on the couch.

It was a disaster area. There were several unusually shaped lumps of bread which had been toasted to charcoal, some sliced apple which had been all but squashed to a pulp in its dish and a pot of lukewarm tea most of which had slopped out to mingle with the spilt fruit juice. The butter dish was full of tea and the preserve jar had fallen over.

'I used the sharp knife to cut the bread, and I didn't cut myself,' Riawen said.

Thranduil just nodded, chewing hard and trying to look like it was all delicious. They sat and sipped lukewarm tea, when there was another tap at the door. Hachon entered the room, smiling at the picture he saw.

'Hachon, how nice to see you! Please, you must join us for some of this excellent breakfast that Riawen has so kindly made,' said Athiel. ' Riawen, please pour some tea for our guest.'

Riawen, who was enjoying acting the host, presented the healer with a cup of tea. He took a sip and pulled a face. He hated cold tea. Thranduil hid a grin as he tried to hide his disgust from the attentive Riawen.

'Will you have some toast?' Athiel offered. One look was enough.

'No!' he said quickly, then saw the rather hurt look on Riawen's face at the refusal and hastily concocted an excuse. 'Ahem. No thank you. I've not long eaten. I couldn't manage another bite.'

Unfortunately his stomach promptly proved the lie by growling loudly.

* "My dear" although meaning is closer to 'my love'