Chapter 86: Cield's Date

Cield had been worried sick. First, for no true reason, Haldir had beaten Cield. Cield's jaw had barely healed by the time Legolas had gone missing. Cield had been preparing for his date at the time, picking the finest flowers, having the chefs make a perfect supper, with great wine and great dessert, and dressing in his most elegant tunic, the fair golden robes trimmed with green that his father had had made just to fit Cield just a year ago for the celebrations of Cield's coming of age.

Cield had been told to cancel his date. Cield still wore the beautiful golden tunic (which matched his hair well), and brought the flowers, and a little piece of the palace's finest chocolate which would be served with dessert, both for Firelien. Cield truly meant to cancel, though he did not.

When Cield laid his eyes on Firelien, she looked beautiful. Her fair hair, similar to the hair of his own but lighter, her blue and silver dress so fair, and her smile... Cield got lost in his thoughts for some seconds. He could not let himself cancel, but instead insisted they had their date now. And so they did.

Cield gave her the flowers and chocolate and Firelien placed the flowers in her hair and nibbled at the chocolate, Cield receiving a kiss on his cheek for them, and of course, Cield blushed. He took her arm and walked her to the palace garden, which was private because of the trees surrounding it.

This was where Thranduil suspected Cield to have gone, and was heading to the gardens that moment.

Thranduil peered through the threes and could indeed see Cield and Firelien. They seemed happy.

Thranduil pushed aside some of the trees silently. Firelien and Cield where to distracted, as just some seconds ago Cield had lay his lips upon those of Firelien, and the two were kissing, and Cield was enjoying every second of it.

Cield was separated from the kiss when Thranduil's fatherly fingers took his ear, on the most delicate part. Cield winced as he looked up.

"Your... home early."

"Yes, indeed I am." Thranduil said calmly, but soon a smile spread across his face. Thranduil released Cield's ear and swiftly ran his fingers through his son's hair.

"I hope your date goes well ion-nin." Thranduil whispered for Cield's ears only to hear.

"I'm not in trouble?"

"No." Thranduil whispered. The king looked over at Firelien who seemed shocked and scared, but the king simply smiled at her.

"I hope I am not interrupting, I did not think you two would be in my gardens. No worries though, I am fine about that... perhaps you should tell me first though. Good day to you both." Thranduil smiled. As he turned to leave Cield smiled at his father, and Thranduil nodded his head, as an approval of Firelien.

Whence Thranduil had left, Cield slid an arm around Firelien's waist.

"Please forgive me for my father's interruption."

"It is fine Cield." Firelien smiled. This had been the first time Cield had not been referred by Firelien as 'my prince' or 'sire' before actually saying his name.

"I am glad you know say my name with out adding any royalty to it. Cield was the name my father chose for me, and he did not name me prince Cield at birth. Just Cield."

"Yes I know, and that is hard to believe."

"I cannot say prince Thranduil, for I have grown quite accustomed with King Thranduil, or Ada, since I was born at the time he was a new king." Cield smiled. "Of course, now I am trailing off, speaking of my father with you. I would rather not do all the speaking tonight-" Cield whispered before being cut of as Firelien's lips covered his.

Whilst walking back to the palace, Thranduil was beaming. He could not believe Cield had found someone he loved, or at least, was dating. It made Thranduil think and come to realize that... he was lonely. All he had left in his life was his baby son and daughter. Tonus and Cield where just as important, but had grown up and now they where of age and where no longer Thranduil's responsibility. Now only Legolas and Illiendal needed him, and if Thranduil lost them he would surly die. Thranduil knew now for certain: he wanted a wife, and wanted one badly.

Thranduil could recall when he was some years younger than Cield was; he had met his wife (and mother of all his children) whilst he was training for his father's army.

---Flashback---

Oropher had been nearly certain to allow Thranduil into his army, he just needed a test. Thranduil was practising for this test with his closest friend, Mellonar (who's name just happens to mean friend of royalty), and Mirlaic, father of a maiden watching from the side, helped Thranduil with wielding his sword.

Thranduil, as Oropher noticed when he was young, daydreamed much and had a short attention span, which was one of the reasons Oropher often was nervous of letting Thranduil battle or do anything to represent Mirkwood: once Thranduil had fallen asleep during the second meeting Oropher had allowed him to attend, embarrassing and angering Oropher.

Whilst sword-fighting with Mirlaic, Thranduil noticed Mirlaic's daughter watching from aside. She was watching her father as so it seemed, but secretly had her eyes fixed upon Thranduil whenever the elven prince was not looking her way. But Thranduil knew the maiden had been watching him, as he could see her from the corner of his eye, and he was gifted with wonderful blue elven eyes.

Whilst Thranduil was watching the maiden, who's name was Aldaril, from the corner of his eye, Mirlaic accidentally hit Thranduil unconscious with the side of his blade. Thranduil had not been harmed badly, just a large bump on his forehead.

When Thranduil awoke, his vision was blurry, but three heads surrounded him. Thranduil blinked and noticed that the head that's golden hair fell on his face (therefore blurring Thranduil's view) belonged to his father, the other two heads belonging to Mellonar and the female one being Aldaril. Aldaril held a cold, damp cloth to Thranduil's bump, and she seemed to be the one healing him.

"You aught to be more careful ion-nin. You could have been seriously injured." Oropher scolded, though Thranduil needed no lecture, he knew he was in love.

---End Flashback---

When Thranduil entered the kitchen, he gasped at what he saw... a flour covered elfling and a Haldir panicking in the corner of the kitchen.

To be continued...