NOTE: there are two lines here taken one each from TTT and FotR. Also, in the appendixes of RotK, it is mentioned that on the day of the Elves' New Year, Thranduil and Lord Celeborn met, renamed Mirkwood Eryn Lasgalen and divided it, as I incorporated into my story.
Chapter Seven: New Year's Resolutions
Míriel finally slipped into elven rest. Her eyes became glossy and her head lay on Aerandir's chest. He kissed her forehead, feeling ashamed. If he had not tried to enter her, he reasoned, none of this would have happened.
'I tried to soon.' he chided himself. 'She will be angry with me.'
Now that she was asleep (Elves rest by placing their minds in waking dreams), Aerandir examined Míriel more closely. Her back was covered with dark lines, scars of her torment. Even her hands and arms on the undersides were scarred. He knew now why her clothing had long sleeves—to hide the scars.
When morning came, Míriel awoke to find Aerandir resting. She smiled at his peaceful face. She lifted her head from his chest and was about to rise from bed when he awoke.
"Go to sleep." she said.
"I am rested." Aerandir replied.
"Then, I did not rouse you?"
Aerandir shook his head.
"I wish to apologize about last night." he told Míriel. "I meant not-"
She placed her fingers on his lips. She stared into his eyes.
"Ú-moe edvad, meleth nín. You must help me overcome my fear." she told him soothingly.
"Then you are not angry?" he breathed.
She replied by kissing him.
They bathed together for their maiden time ever, not caring how long they spent. After dressing, they went to the dining hall and found, to their astonishment, that the noon-meal, and not the morning-meal, was being served. Then Aerandir laughed.
"We awoke in the morning!" Míriel said.
"Our long bathing adventure." Aerandir whispered.
They ate and drank with the other Elves, conversing merrily. Aerandir noticed Thranduil watching Míriel, and a slight feeling of jealousy crept over him. Lady Galadriel, however, caught his eye, and he remembered her words.
' I cannot imagine aran Thranduil as the healer.' he thought.
Lady Galadriel only smiled.
After the meal ended, Aerandir and Míriel joined the four rulers as
they debated various issues. Among them was the renaming of Mirkwood, since the Shadow was lifted.
"It is a fitting day to rename Mirkwood, for today is our New Year." Lord Celeborn said. "Any name in mind?"
Elvenking Gil-celeb and Thranduil looked at each other before shaking their heads.
"Perhaps its former name, Greenwood the Great, should be restored." Aerandir offered politely.
Míriel objected.
"Aerandir's suggestion is possible." Thranduil said.
Míriel objected.
"Yet moments ago, you said you had nothing in mind, and now you like my husband's suggestion?" Míriel retorted carefully. "Is it because you wish no one except yourself to rename it?"
Thranduil stared at Míriel grimly.
"What name do you have, sell nín, in mind? And why do you refuse Aerandir's suggestion?" Gil-celeb asked.
"After you divided Mirkwood, adar, into two realms, Thranduil named it Greenwood the Great. Its name stayed until the Shadow came, and then Men called it Mirkwood. Greenwood the Great was a fitting name while it lasted because we were great. Then, we still were in our waxing years, though we were waning, but it is not like the present. Now, with the fall of the Enemy, the time of the Elves is over. The dominion of Men has begun. Therefore, we need a name more fitting, and because Thranduil gave the first name, it is only fair that we now rename it. At least, that is my opinion." Míriel said, her strong will showing.
Thranduil then understood what she had told him that night when they were alone. 'We both have strong wills and minds, and want our own ways. If we wedded and I disagreed with you over something, we would quarrel because we both want the opposite. It would be disastrous.'
"You speak the truth," he said, causing Míriel to smile, "Mirkwood needs a new fitting name, and you should rename it. It is fair and just."
"Therefore," Míriel continued, "I think the name of Eryn Lasgalen is fitting, for it is new, and yet it is similar to its previous name of Greenwood the Great. What say you?"
Lady Galadriel was the first to speak.
"Eryn Lasgalen," she said quietly, "The Wood of Greenleaves. Fitting indeed."
The elven-men agreed as well.
"So long as we are discussing Mirkwood—Eryn Lasgalen—there is something I would like to address." Gil-celeb said.
"Pray, what is it?" Thranduil asked.
"It concerns the Woodmen and Beornings. Long have they dwelled
in the region between our two realms and troubled us not. Should we give them that region?" Gil-celeb proposed.
Thranduil was silent for awhile.
"True," he began slowly, "they have dwelled there long and troubled us not, but it is our lands, and they are there without official consent."
"Think of it, though. You take all the region between the tow mountains: Ered Mithrin and the Mountains of Eryn Lasgalen, as they shall be called, and I shall take the region I currently rule. None of our people live in the area where the Woodmen and Beornings dwell, so we are not losing anything at all. Your realm will be known as Eryn Lasgalen forn, and mine as harad." Gil-celeb said. "It is wise, my friend."
All eyes turned to Thranduil. He seemed to be considering. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"So be it." he smiled.
Gil-celeb sent Aerandir to call his counselors. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel spoke in undertones. Thranduil looked at Míriel.
"I saw what would result if we wedded. You were correct. Yet my heart is glad that we remain friends." he said.
"As is mine." Míriel replied warmly.
The counselors soon arrived with Aerandir. The two Elvenkings of Eryn Lasgalen then recounted everything they had agreed upon: Mirkwood's renaming, its division into two regions, and of the Woodmen and Beorning's receiving land. The counselors were astounded.
"And Dol Guldur shall be destroyed. I will send a regiment to begin their work in two days' time. Let us go now and join the feasts in celebration of our New Year." Gil-celeb said in conclusion, rising from his seat, and dismissing his counselors.
"And I will send a portion of my army to help your people." Thranduil said, rising as well.
"As shall we." Lord Celeborn affirmed.
"Do we swear everlasting friendship and loyalty?" Gil-celeb asked, eyes shining. "We have made other resolutions this day, on our New Year, yet this may well prove to be the most important and sacred."
"So long as we remain on this Hither Shore, for the Power of the One has passed, and with it as well the Three." Lady Galadriel said. "The Ring-bearers will soon depart."
"So long as we all remain, everlasting loyalty and friendship is sworn to each other, we as rulers, and for the people of each land." Thranduil said.
Gil-celeb beckoned Míriel and Aerandir to stand beside him. The six Elves looked at each other intently before inclining their heads, thus pledging their loyalty and friendship. Then they placed their hands over their hearts.
As they emerged, with radiant smiles on their faces, Aerandir pulled Míriel into a strong embrace.
"Soon every person from here to Ered Mithrin will be uttering the
new name you chose for Mirkwood: Eryn Lasgalen." he told her.
"I chose it not. I suggested it only. My sire and the others, as well as you, chose it." Míriel replied.
"You chose it, through your strong will. Do you not recall the small argument with Thranduil?"
"I recall it. Indeed it is as you spoke, my strong will. Yet since when has my strong will won what I desire? Since our betrothal—very little. For you have a way of calmly suppressing me. you have taught me that my way is not always correct, though I am a Princess, and I will not always win. Blessed I am to have you, Aerandir."
"And I to have you, Míriel, meleth nín."
Elves, on their way to the celebration, pushed them forward. Aerandir and Míriel glanced at each other before laughing softly. It rang loud and clear in the corridor, delighting the passing Elves, who joined them merrily.
The New Year's celebration was spectacular in Gil-celeb's palace. Never in any of his subject's memory, neither before nor after, was there held such a grand celebration. Sweet soft music from all three elven realms were played together, so that they intertwined with one another. There was much laughter and talk, and oaths of eternal friendship and loyalty were sworn once more between the three people.
The merry-making and feasting lasted well into the night. Aerandir and Míriel participated in the celebration, staying beside each other the entire time. They did not notice Gil-celeb, who was watching them with a smile upon his lips.
"So blissful they look." he said quietly.
"Indeed." Lord Celeborn agreed.
Lady Galadriel studied them for awhile.
"Their love is very strong, and happiness they feel. Let them enjoy each other while it lasts. For the end has only begun." she said.
Lord Celeborn grew silent. Gil-celeb, puzzled, looked back at his daughter and Aerandir. He noted the way their eyes beheld each other, the peaceful and content looks on their faces. Yet he remembered the words the Lady told him the day she arrived, words he pondered still:
"The end will sadden him. It will come as a surprise to all, even to Míriel. She will lose what is most dear first."
Gil-celeb's brow furrowed as he thought over the Lady's words again, sentence by sentence.
"The end will sadden him" referred to King Thranduil. It was not this sentence that troubled Gil-celeb, but the last two.
"It will come as a surprise to all, even to Míriel. She will lose what is most dear first."
'So,' he thought, 'the end will surprise all. Why? Why will it surprise all? And what will Míriel lose that is dear to her? and why must she lose what is dear to her first?'
But he put this in the back of his mind as Míriel came and dragged
him to join her as danced with Aerandir. He forced a smile upon his face, though his heart and mind were troubled.
Later that night, in their bedchamber, Aerandir gave Míriel a necklace made of mithril. He saw her clasp it around her neck with trembling hands, and a smile upon her face.
"Aerandir…" she whispered, as he urged her onto the bed, her firm body between his arms. "It is beautiful."
They awoke the next day in the afternoon, after an enjoyable night of bed-work, which left Míriel completely exhausted. Aerandir, much to his dismay, still was not able to achieve his goal.
Gil-celeb was bidding his guests farewell when Míriel and Aerandir found him. Thranduil and Aerandir embraced, and the King bowed to Míriel. Lothlórien's rulers smiled at the Princess and Aerandir.
"Though all may seem peaceful, the end is approaching fast. Be careful, and take good care of Míriel." Lady Galadriel told Aerandir.
"I will not forget your words, Lady. Fate will separate us only." he replied, bowing low.
"Indeed. May Eru protect you."
"Míriel, my kinswoman, navaer!" Celeborn said.
And with that, the guests rode away together.
Sindarin Translations:
Forn: north
Harad: south
Navaer: farewell