Folks, those who are waiting for an update to "Number Nine," I've got a chapter almost ready for Dragonfly to beta.
Grumpy: Yes, Gandalf and Edwen Nana can be pretty funny together, although I don't want to squick anyone by getting too descriptive about how they spend their time together.
The essence of popsicles: Hmm. Would it be o.k. if I used that "harried to be married" phrase in a future chapter? Yes, at some point there will be another chapter with Tawarmaenas.
Legosgurl: Hope you have recovered from your celebration of the New Year. I gather that if you engaged in a drinking competition with Legolas, you would lose! About action: This chapter and the next won't be action chapters, but there will be one coming up fairly soon. I have some Orcs waiting for our Elves when they try to cross the Misty Mountains on their return to Mirkwood. I look forward to seeing your fic—but please tell me that it is not typed in caps! Hurts my eyes a little bit when there are a lot of caps! Hope you get your keyboard fixed soon! Take care.
Andi-Black: Yes, sometimes silence is golden.
Dragonfly: Well, if you were Legolas, wouldn't you be paranoid by now!? As for Thranduil, if he reacts as he typically does, he'll splutter a little and then shrug his shoulders. No doubt Gilglîr will carefully prepare him for the news.
Beta Reader: Dragonfly.
Chapter 59: Crafting a Marriage
The morning after her conversation with Gandalf, Edwen Nana sought out Legolas as he was dressing in his chamber. As she had never quite given over superintending this aspect of his life, he was not the least disconcerted when she entered his chamber, sans knocking, as he was pulling on his leggings.
"Good morning, Edwen Nana," he said cheerfully, adding slyly, "I trust you passed a pleasurable night."
"Very pleasurable indeed," she replied, quite untroubled by his meaningful glance. "I must say that the sleeping accommodations have been excellent, and I am sure that I shall pass several more such nights before we depart."
"I am glad to hear it," said Legolas. "I would not have any of your needs neglected."
"No, no more than you should neglect any of the needs of the Lady Caranlass."
"Nana!"
"I only meant," said Nana levelly, "that you ought to entertain her properly."
Legolas still looked at her suspiciously. "What do you mean by 'entertain' her?"
"Silly lad," she said fondly. "I merely mean that you should not bore her. Even if you don't intend to marry her, you ought to be thoughtful and considerate—as you should be to all and sundry."
"Oh, is that all you meant," said Legolas, relieved. "I assure you that I have been very polite and attentive."
"A polite and attentive escort can still be a boring one," Edwen Nana pointed out. "How have you been passing your time?"
"I believe that we have visited all the principle buildings in the Grey Havens. To be honest," Legolas admitted, "I am at a loss as to what we should do next."
"Have you explored the garden? I understand it is very beautiful."
"No," said Legolas, brightening. "No, we have not yet explored that place."
"The weather is exceptionally fine today. Perhaps this would be a good day to do so."
"Yes, Edwen Nana. I believe you are right. Directly after breakfast I shall ask her if she would be pleased to walk in the garden."
"There's a good lad," Edwen Nana said encouragingly. Then she took her leave and hurried off in search of Gandalf. "Excellent," said that wizard when she told him that Legolas and Caranlass would be in the garden that morning. "I am convinced almost to a certainty that Tathar will be in the garden this morning as well."
Tathar was intrigued by the ornate architecture of the Grey Havens, which exceeded anything to be found in Mirkwood, and he had resolved to incorporate some of its features into the Great Hall upon his return. It was for this reason that he was spending so much time in the garden: that place afforded him a good view of many of the buildings that most interested him. On a bench in the middle of the garden, he sat for hours, whittling small models of the structural elements he meant to copy. He preferred such three-dimensional models to the sketches that he could have drawn.
When Legolas and Caranlass entered the garden, Tathar was carving a model of a pillar. He arose and bowed to the couple, and then resumed his seat to continue working on the tiny replica. Legolas and Caranlass returned his bow and then began to wander up and down the pathways, exclaiming over the various flora. It truly was a marvelous place.
After they had wandered for a little while, Gandalf suddenly hastened into the garden.
"I am sorry to disturb you in your enjoyment of this enchanting refuge," the wizard said apologetically, "but I have need of Legolas. It is a rather urgent matter of state, I am afraid."
Legolas turned to Caranlass.
"My Lady, I beg your pardon. I do not wish to neglect you, but it seems I am wanted."
"Of course, Prince Legolas. I shall be quite content to remain in this garden."
"Thank you, my Lady."
Gandalf and Legolas both bowed, and together they took their leave.
Left to her own devices, Caranlass was indeed perfectly content. She had no more interest in marrying Legolas than he had in marrying her, but, like him, she had been acting in obedience to her elders. She drifted from flower bush to flower bush, watching with pleasure the bees that swarmed over the petals. At last her wandering steps brought her near to Tathar. As he glanced up to study the column that he was copying, he found her standing before him.
"I am sorry," she said, stepping aside. "I did not mean to mar your view."
"Nay, Lady, you do not detract from the view—far from it!"
She came to stand by his side and peered down at the piece of shaped wood he held in his hand.
"How well you carve!"
"I should hope so! I am, after all, by trade a carpenter."
"A carpenter?"
"Yes."
"The Prince is accompanied by his own carpenter? How very curious! Does he have you build furniture upon your arrival at each campsite?"
Tathar laughed.
"I do not travel with him because of my skill at woodworking. I am numbered amongst his advisors."
"Then why do you not say, 'I am the Lord Tathar, advisor to Legolas Thranduilion, Prince of Northern Mirkwood'? Is that not how Legolas styled you? Why do you instead give yourself the name of a carpenter?"
"I was first of all a carpenter, and I still think of myself as one. Happens I have a knack for designing fortifications as well as dwellings, and for building alliances as well as tables. So it came to pass that one day I found myself seated upon a chair that I had but lately crafted for the King's Council Chamber. Now, whenever I beg leave to return to my workshop, the King takes pleasure in saying, 'Tathar, you have made your own chair, now you must sit down upon it'."
Caranlass giggled.
"I think I would like this King. He has a sense of humor, and he recognizes the worth of a subject even if that subject's origins be humble."
"He is deserving of such praise. He is a fine King—a fine father, too. I hope that someday you shall have an opportunity to meet him."
"At present there is no occasion for me to travel to his realm—but I shall hope to soon have cause to do so."
"If I could in some way help you fulfill that desire, I would."
"Oh, I think that you could find a way," Caranlass said archly.
"I shall study upon it, Lady, and apply all my wit and skill to that endeavor."
The next day Caranlass again came to the garden. This time she found Tathar carving not a building model but a utensil—an ornately decorated spoon. Intricately interlaced tendrils curved their way up the handle, which was surmounted by the figure of a bird. As Caranlass exclaimed over it, Tathar explained that the bird was a redpoll.
"When I was little, Edwen Nana nicknamed me 'redpoll', on account of my hair. So I often use a carving of a redpoll as a sort of signature."
"Oh, yes, that is the perfect signature," enthused Caranlass.
"Do you like the spoon very much?"
"Truly, I do."
"Then I beg of you to accept it of me."
"It is too fine a gift," protested Caranlass, as was required by etiquette.
"It is but a trifle. Indeed, now I look upon it, I am ashamed. Tomorrow I shall make you something much finer to go along with it."
"I pray you, do not trouble yourself," declared Caranlass, although she was exceedingly anxious to see what he would carve next and reasonably sure that he would not be put off by her protests.
That evening Caranlass brought her spoon to the table with her and, putting aside the silver utensils laid by her plate, she used only the wooden one. Círdan took notice.
"Niece, that is a curious spoon you have there. Whence came it?"
"Tathar carved it for me. Is it not beautiful?"
Círdan took the spoon and turned it over and over in his hand.
"It is indeed a lovely piece of work. The design is a clever one, and it is carved with great skill."
He returned the spoon to her and said no more.
The next day Caranlass returned to the garden, where she found Tathar carving a bowl from the burl of a tree. Following the natural contours of the wood, he contrived to make it look as if it were a bird's nest with birds perched upon the rim.
That evening Caranlass arrived at the table bearing the bowl. Again Círdan examined it closely, and again he pronounced the work good.
The day after that, Caranlass brought to the table a lovely trencher, and the day after that a wooden goblet. The next day a lovely chair was awaiting her when she came to the table. The next morning Círdan sent for Tathar.
"You seem to be quite a handy carpenter," Círdan commenced.
"Thank you, my Lord."
"Thus far you have furnished Caranlass with a spoon, a bowl, a trencher, a goblet, and a chair. Can you craft a bedstead as well?"
"I have devised many."
"And a cradle?"
"That too."
"Tables and benches? Chests and wardrobes?"
"There is not one item of furniture that I have not crafted. Each has been both useful and beautiful."
"Can you build a dwelling that would be fittingly furnished with such objects of beauty and utility?"
"I have built sturdy and pleasant homes for many a family."
"And would you now construct and furnish one for yourself and a spouse?"
"I would."
"All that is needful, seemingly," said Círdan dryly, "is said spouse."
"I had hoped you might assist me in finding one who would appreciate my gifts."
"If it is within my power," promised Círdan, "I shall. I will at once make inquiries on the matter."
After dinner that evening Círdan walked with his niece in the garden.
"You have lately spent much time in the garden, niece."
"I have," Caranlass said demurely, her eyes downcast.
"Do you find the flowers such amiable company?"
"I have of course always enjoyed the presence of flowers, but they are not the only attraction to be found in a garden."
"No? And what else do you find so appealing?"
"The birds. I love birds."
"Any particular birds, niece?"
"I love all birds, but there is one in particular that I have grown exceedingly fond of."
"Indeed? And what bird would that be?"
"The redpoll."
"Ah, I see. But the redpoll is not native to these parts. The redpoll visits, but then he returns to his home territory. Do you love this redpoll so much that you would fly after him?"
"Yes, uncle, I do," Caranlass replied fervently.
"Then I shall not be the one to clip your wings. But your mother and father did not entrust you to me in hopes that I would arrange your marriage to a carpenter! I must send them a letter, and they may not be happy at the news."
"I think you may be wrong, uncle. They will be very glad to know that I am to be espoused to the future Seneschal of Eryn Lasgalen."
"How do you know that he will be Seneschal, niece?"
"Have you not observed Gilglîr? At all gatherings he keeps Tathar near to hand and is forever explaining this and that to him, as if Tathar were his apprentice."
"You are shrewd, niece—and that is an exceedingly valuable trait for one desirous of being the spouse of a Seneschal. In fact, Gilglîr has mentioned to me his desire to depart these lands someday, and he did say that he was training Tathar to take his place. Very well. I shall write your parents straightaway. They shall be happy, you and Tathar shall be happy, and Legolas will be ecstatic. The only one who will not be pleased by the news is Thranduil. His letter to me was quite insistent on the subject. Arrange a marriage for Legolas, he begged me, for he fears that if the Prince is not bound by a spouse he will be forever roaming."
"If Legolas is forced to pledge troth to an elleth for whom he feels no love, the espousal itself will be no bar to his roaming. A warrior can always find a reason to absent himself from his hearth."
"Indeed, my niece, you are shrewd! Tathar does well in choosing you, and you do well in choosing him."
The next morning Círdan dispatched a letter to Caranlass' parents informing them that she wished to espouse Lord Tathar, deputy to the seneschal of Northern Mirkwood and protégé of Prince Legolas Thranduilion, and that Lord Tathar was equally desirous of marrying her. "I assure you,' Círdan wrote, "that the Lord Tathar can furnish your daughter Caranlass with all that is needful for a most comfortable and pleasant household." He neglected to mention, though, that many of the things that were needful were likely to be crafted by Tathar himself. Círdan felt, however, that this was an unnecessary detail.
A reply conveying approval swiftly arrived, with the promise that the parents would soon follow to attend the espousal ceremony itself. The Elves of the Grey Havens threw themselves into preparations for the festivities, assisted, I might add, by a very enthusiastic Edwen Nana.
"A wedding! I love a wedding!" she enthused. (It should be mentioned that this would have been her sentiment had Caranlass married either Tathar or Legolas. A wedding was wanted; a wedding would take place. And Edwen Nana, superintending domestic arrangements, was in her element.)
Legolas was of course no less thrilled than Edwen Nana. He was happy for Tathar because his friend would be marrying Caranlass. He was happy for himself because he would not be marrying said elleth. Not that he had any objections to the maiden—he simply wasn't in love with her. This may have been a minor detail to Thranduil, but to Legolas it was anything but minor! Legolas was therefore amongst the first to congratulate Tathar.
"You are going to be very, very happy, Tathar," he said to his friend. "I do believe that you and Caranlass were destined for each another."
"Thank you," Tathar said blissfully. "I am a little anxious, however," he added a trifle nervously, "lest I do not make a good impression on her parents. I have brought with me no fine clothes for an occasion such as this."
"You and I are of a size," said Legolas. "You can wear something of mine."
"Indeed, yes!" Edwen Nana interjected. "There is that silk tunic of forest green with the gold embroidery. It would be just the thing, for it would do very well at bringing out the color of Tathar's hair. And, Tathar, do be sure to wear a matching gold diadem with it, not a silver one. Legolas, you have brought one with you, haven't you?"
Legolas winked at Tathar but otherwise kept his face straight.
"I have, Nana. I will fetch it at once."
With Edwen Nana superintending his wardrobe, Tathar put on a stunning appearance when he came forward to greet Caranlass' parents. They were clearly dazzled by the red-haired lord who dressed and spoke and behaved so elegantly. Indeed, they hardly paid any notice to Legolas Thranduilion, Prince of Northern Mirkwood, who stood nearby. Oh, they greeted him properly enough, but then they only had eyes for their soon-to-be son-in-law. To Legolas, this state of affairs was a delightful one.
'I need to marry off more of my friends', he grinned to himself. 'It is a marvelous device for diverting attention away from me!'
Gandalf enjoyed the spectacle as well.
'There now', he said to himself with satisfaction, 'I have done my part to keep Legolas unencumbered for the time being. His freedom of action will not be compromised—at least not in the near future. And as I am sure I shall soon have great need of him, that is all to the good'.
And so this part of the story ends with all satisfied with the turn that events had taken—save Thranduil, of course, but as he had not yet received the news, at the moment his thoughts do not signify. You may be certain, however, that he will have an opportunity to express his opinion in a later chapter!