Chapter Twenty-nine: Love Confessed

The next day Míriel awoke from her rest quite refreshed. It was the first time she had rested at night since her pregnancy. She had suffered no nightmares in her rest. She looked for Legolas, but he was gone. She smiled in memory of their passionate kiss the previous night.

Amorith and Giliath brought Celoneth to her when they sensed she was awake. Míriel surprised them by appearing quite cheerful. When she saw her daughter she nearly sang with happiness.

"Ai, sell nín! How I have missed you!" she cried, taking her infant in her arms as she prepared to nurse her.

Amorith and Giliath looked at each other quizzically.

"Is she alright?" Giliath asked quietly.

"She is returning to her normal self." Amorith said happily.

They stood by as the Princess nursed her daughter, whispering endearments into her ears softly. She caressed her smooth skin gently.

"Such beautiful creatures infants are." Míriel said.

"Indeed." Amorith affirmed.

"They are miracles sent from the Valar." Giliath added.

"True." Míriel said.

After nursing Celoneth, Míriel bathed. Then she was dressed and went to the dining hall for the morning meal. She found Legolas already seated. Her face flushed as she saw him.

"Maer aur, ernil." she said.

"Maer aur, hiril nín." Legolas told her.

He helped her into her chair.

"I hope you rested well." Legolas told her.

"I did." Míriel replied. "And yourself?"

"I rested like never before."

Míriel blushed. There was an odd strain between them. The Princess decided to concentrate on her plate of food.

"Hiril nín!"

Míriel looked up from her food to see Numbor hurrying towards her, an excited look on his face. He bowed quickly.

"Hiril nín, heralds from the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood have arrived. And some from aran Thranduil as well." he reported.

It had been a fortnight since the messages were sent.

Legolas looked at Numbor.

"My sire is coming?" he asked.

Numbor nodded.

"They are not far off—the Lórien folk and hîr Thranduil." he said.

Míriel lifted her head.

"Prepare for their welcome." she said.

Numbor nodded and hurried away. Míriel looked at Legolas.

"We have company." she said. "Let us finish our meal first."

When at last they finished their meal, the entire palace was alive with activity. Elves hurried to and fro in the halls. It was impossible not to take a step without attempting to squeeze through. By noontime, everything was ready. The Elves were waiting patiently. Legolas escorted Míriel to the gates. Everyone looked at them as they passed. They sensed something. Could their Princess be in love with Legolas?

The southern Eryn Lasgalen Elves did not wait long. Thranduil appeared riding alongside the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien. All bowed to them as they entered. They halted before Míriel.

"Princess Míriel!" Thranduil said, dismounting from his horse.

She curtsied to him. Thranduil took her hand and kissed it gently.

"Ion nín!" he said, turning to Legolas and embracing him.

Next came Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. Míriel and Legolas bowed to them for several moments.

"Míriel, my kinswoman." Lord Celeborn said.

Lady Galadriel looked at Míriel before saying:

"Suilaid, Princess."

Míriel felt the familiar feeling of being gazed upon by the Lady.

"Suilaid, hiril nín." she whispered.

They went into the palace and sat in a private room. There they remained until the evening, talking about Aerandir and Gil-celeb's deaths. Míriel remained composed, though her voice was low and she broke off several times. Legolas patted her hand soothingly.

"I miss them so much!" Míriel said softly, her eyes shining.

Thranduil looked at her with feeling.

"I told myself if Falathar killed your sire, Míriel, then I would hold myself accountable for his death. I sent my messenger to you with the realization that the survival of Gil-celeb and his realm depended solely upon him. I told him that I owe my kingship to your sire. 'Do not fail them. If you fail them, essentially it is I who fails them.' I told my messenger." the Elvenking wept. "And I failed him and Aerandir!"

He covered his face with his hands and wept. No one said a word.

"I told myself further that if you came to harm, I would not live." he added, having regained composure of himself.

He rose from his chair and knelt in front of her.

"I know I asked you this before, Míriel, but I will ask you again now, in front of everyone that is present. The death of your sire, my dear friend, the one who gifted me my kingdom, and Aerandir, your beloved husband and Legolas' esteemed mentor, has left me with a heavy and guilty conscience. I feel it is my duty to ask for your hand. You know how much I love you. Will you wed me?" Thranduil pleaded Míriel.

Legolas was struck dumb. His sire also loved Míriel! How shocked he must have been when Legolas informed him upon returning home that he loved Míriel! Would Míriel wed his sire?

Míriel looked at Thranduil's pleading face. She could not bear to

look into his gray eyes. She rose slowly from her chair and went to a window. As she passed Lady Galadriel, the Princess saw her give her a small, encouraging smile. Courage and strength entered her heart.

'Follow your heart, Míriel.' Lady Galadriel said into her mind.

"What is your answer?" Thranduil begged. "Will you say nothing?"

Míriel breathed deeply before facing the others. She saw Legolas looking at her, a mixture of fear and sadness on his face. She knew he feared she would accept his sire's wedding proposal. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel stared at her silently, yet with encouragement.

"I am deeply honored, dear aran Thranduil, by your proposal and the kindness with which you felt about my sire and husband's deaths. I have never doubted your honesty, unless it was under the shadows I was fed. Your proposal, I must admit, has shocked me somewhat, for I did not expect you to propose yet again. I thought I had made myself clear the last time we spoke about this matter. Yet, I know quite well that love is something not easily forgotten." she said, and smiled sadly.

Legolas looked at her questioningly.

"My heart, I must admit, lies with a Greenleaf." she said.

Lady Galadriel stirred slightly.

"Then you accept my proposal?" Thranduil breathed.

Míriel smiled sadly.

"It lies with Legolas, Thranduil." she whispered.

Thranduil gaped at her in disbelief.

"My son? How can this be? He is younger than you." he said.

"I am not the first to do so. Lúthien and Beren wedded, though Lúthien was undoubtedly much older and Beren was a man. Even now, look at Elessar and Arwen. To the heart, age matters not. It is the quality of the person that matters. And what is age to us, the ageless?" she said. "I am sorry, Thranduil. I was never meant for you. You know this."

The King rose heavily to his feet. He did not look at anyone as he passed. He opened the door of the room and left. Míriel watched him silently, then burst into tears. Lord Celeborn took Legolas with him.

"Weep not, Míriel." Lady Galadriel said once they were alone.

"I meant not to hurt him." the Princess cried.

"I do not think he had much hope you would."

The Princess laid her head on the Lady's shoulder and wept. Galadriel patted her head affectionately. Suddenly, there was a sweet trill, and a rush of wings announced the arrival of Annarámainen.

"Ai, here is my helper!" Lady Galadriel said.

Míriel blinked in confusion.

"Annarámainen? You know her?" she asked.

"Annarámainen? Her name is suitable. Of course I know her. I sent her to you. She has done her task well. It is almost complete."

"Then Legolas was right when he told me he saw her in Lórien. I felt you sent her to me. What is her task?"

"To help you find the healer of your past." Lady Galadriel said.