Chapter 6: Funeral
Tonus stood up, brushed away his tears and slowly going down to the throne room. Thranduil stood near the door, Cield beside him, Legolas in his arms and Illiendal squeezing Elladan's hand a few feet away from the king.
"We can leave now that you are here." Thranduil said as Tonus approached him.
As they exited the palace they headed to the gardens, Thranduil's wife's favorite spot in all of Mirkwood, which would now be her burial spot.
"Are you sure you wish to make a speech concerning your mother Tonus? Are you comfortable doing such a thing?" Thranduil asked gently.
"I am ada." Tonus whispered. Thranduil could see the gardens ahead, and looked at Cield. He was shaking and clearly trying not to cry before the funeral.
"Cield?" Thranduil said softly.
"I-I am f-fine ada." Cield stuttered silently to his father, trying to avoid eye contact with everyone.
"I will not be near you at the funeral, Illiendal. I am sorry but you are the royal family and I have no right standing beside you. Stay near your father for comfort, and you will still be able to see me, no matter what." Elladan gave Illiendal's hand a final squeeze before the group of elves came to the gates to the garden. Illiendal kissed Elladan on his cheek before getting closer to her father, following him and her brothers into the gardens.
---Legolas' point of view---
It's weird. I've never seen my brothers like this. Cield is shaking and he looks like I do when I try not to cry in front of ada when I bleed. Tonus is scared too, and he's never scared.
Tonus just went away now. He's going up to talk in front of the elves. There are a lot of elves too, some I never saw before and I don't think nana knew. I see grandma and grandpa, nana's nana and ada. They are crying, and they cry more when Tonus starts to talk about nana. I felt something wet, it was Ada's tears. He never cries! Ada stopped crying when Tonus finished his speech, I think Tonus talking made him sad, Tonus should really stop talking, I will tell him that later.
Oh no! I am being given to someone, and I can't tell whom it is! It's not Cield or Tonus, not Illiendal and it's definitely not Elrond or the twins. I look at the elf and he looks sad.
I know who it is! It's Erestor, the twins told me a lot about him. Now ada is talking about nana, and Cield is still shaking, that's why he is not speaking. I asked Erestor who all the elves I never saw where, he said that all the elves who know my nana or could get to the palace in less than a day where in the gardens. The gardens are very big, so I guess they all fit.
I see Tonus and he is fidgeting. Ada tells me off for fidgeting; so later I will tell Tonus to stop fidgeting and to stop talking. Tonus sees someone else, and the black dots in his eyes go big, very big. It looks funny; I will ask him how he made them do that... I see who Tonus is looking at! There is a she-elf with an elfling who looks a lot like Tonus. I've never seen her or the elfling before; maybe he will be my friend. I'll ask him later.
Ada is coming back and up I go. Now ada is holding me again. Ada is holding me tightly against his chest and he is running his fingers down my hair. Ada does that when he is sad, tired or when I am sad or tired. Well I am sad and tired and I think ada is sad and tired, too.
Everyone's quiet now. I think that the people are done talking. Now we are going closer to nana... She'll be in the ground soon. Soon we will be close enough to see her, and touch her. My face is wet, but Ada's not crying, I made it wet. Oh no, I'm crying! Ada can tell that I am crying, and now we can see nana. Cield is shaking but ada wants to stop me from crying, so Tonus makes Cield feel better. Ada uses his finger – it's big but it's very soft and clean, and gentle too – to wipe away my tears and then he starts to rock me in his arms and now ada is whispering a song to me. I like it when he does that since it makes me happier.
Ada touches nana's cheek, and Tonus touches her too. Cield holds nana's hand and Illiendal strokes her hair. Ada kisses nana on her cheek and lets me close enough to kiss her too. I kiss nana and she's cold.
We go further away, and Ada's still looking at nana.
A little while later nana is in the ground, ada tells me quietly that we will not see her again. I'm crying again, but I'm trying to be quiet since ada will be upset if he hears me. But I am making whimpers, as Glorfindel calls them, and so ada can hear me, and so can other elves, but ada just wants to make me happier, so he tries his best. I kiss ada again and his cheek is wet, he was crying again!
---Cield's point of view---
Tonus is making a long speech. Ada is crying, but he is trying his best to hide it and prevent Legolas from finding out. Ada is trying to be strong for us and he does not want to fail.
Tonus whimpered a bit during his speech, he was crying too, his face was wet when he came back to stand beside me. Now ada leaves and gives Legolas to Lord Erestor to hold. Legolas seems so upset, and he should be. In a way I am glad that he is upset, as the past days he has been so absent-minded to what is happening that it's as if nothing has happened at all, and he was there at the scene of the death!
Tonus sees a she-elf in the distance, and he acts as if his heart stopped. The color is drained from his face quickly; it's odd, but not my business so I shall just ignore him.
We are approaching nana's body... I am scared and shaking more then before. Ada is sad once again, and Legolas is crying but he makes no noise.
---Tonus' point of view---
I am so scared and upset, and... and... nervous! I have to speak in front of so many about my mother... My dead mother! But I told ada I can manage, and I shall. It is time for me to go up. I look at ada for support, but obviously he will not smile at me like he did when I would make speeches and be nervous when I was younger. Ada nods his head, I know that is as close as I will be getting to a smile and I appreciate it just as much.
As I speak I stutter a lot, and I have been practicing this for one week with not a bit of stuttering. I also whimpered a bit, I did not mean to but the noise slipped from my lips with each pause. I feel tears on my face but I am thankful that I do not sob it would be too much. Ada is hurting, I can see that from here, and my speech seems to sadden him more and more. When I finally finish I am quite relieved that it is over.
---Illiendal's point of view---
This is so hard. Legolas, my wee brother, he is so confused and he looks sad and lost in thoughts. Nana will never see him grow up, and I know that Nana had dreams of Legolas being a mighty warrior; she knew Legolas would do wonderful things, and I know he will but nana will never see them be accomplished by him.
Cield is shaking and Tonus is speaking in front of all the elves. There are some from Rivendell, including my best friend Elladan, some from Lorien (and I have just noticed the rather stunning march warden, who stands beside his equally handsome brothers), men of lake-town that give my father his favored wine and the rest where all of Mirkwood, many of which I have never seen, some where my mother's friends, some where relatives, one of them was my father's brother who lives near the borders, close to southern Mirkwood, some friends of my father, many commoners and a good amount of servants.
---Thranduil's point of view---
Tonus is going up now and I can see how nervous he is, and I cannot blame him, as I will be making a speech just after he finishes with his own.
What Tonus says is so saddening, I can feel tears on my face and one just landed on Greenleaf's head, and now he is looking up at me with his beautiful eyes, they are filled with sadness.
Tonus is finished, I want to tell him how wonderful his speech was but now is not the time. I hand Legolas to Erestor, knowing that Legolas' brothers are far too nervous to hold him and Legolas knows Erestor well enough not to be scared by the elf. My speech concerning my wife will be hard to say.
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Thranduil slowly walked over to Tonus, who looked at the ground in complete silence.
"Tonus, your speech was wonderful, you did a great job and I want you to know that I am proud of you." Thranduil said, lifting Tonus' head gently, with no force at all.
"Thank you, adar, but you were much better then I was, I was stuttering and you did not make any mistakes nor did you show how upset you where at saying the speech." Tonus said shamefully.
"Maybe so, but now perhaps people think that I am not upset over this tragedy!" Thranduil forced a smile on his face for his eldest son.
"Where is Legolas?" Tonus asked, smiling back at his father though he smiled by force alike his father.
"I am not sure, last I saw of him he was talking with Elrohir. He wanted to talk to you, I believe, but since he could not find you he decided Elrohir would be another perfect victim." Thranduil watched as his eldest child went to find Legolas.
"Ada says you where trying to find me?" Tonus said gently as he prodded Legolas on his shoulder.
"Ya! I needed to tell you something! Ada was sad when you talked, so I think you should stop that, and you should stop fidgeting, ada says it's 'bad posture' to me all the time."
Tonus smiled sadly at his brother.
"And... can you take me to grandma and grandpa?" Legolas asked sweetly.
"Can I talk?" Tonus asked.
"Only if you carry me to grandma and grandpa."
"Certainly." Tonus lifted his little brother and placed him on his shoulders.
"Tell me if you see them." Tonus said, looking around to find his grandparents.
"Talking to Uncle!" Legolas said, pointing to his uncle, the brother of Thranduil, Calenmir.
Tonus approached them, Legolas waving.
"Greetings Legolas." Calenmir said softly to his nephew, then looked at Tonus.
"Do you find it very wise to carry your brother that way?" Calenmir asked the crowned prince.
"I always do, sir." Tonus moved Legolas into his arms and his grandmother took him.
"Oh my poor, poor little grandson! My poor grandchildren!" Aldaril's mother sobbed quietly, holding Legolas tightly.
"Squishing me! Squish! Squish!" Legolas gasped for air, and Calenmir carefully freed him from the she-elf's grasp.
"Tonus, do you have any idea where I could find you father?" Calenmir asked, handing Tonus the child.
"Drinking."
"I hope he is not getting tipsy. I will come with you Calenmir, I would like to speak with him too." Aldaril's mother said, following her son-in-law's brother to where Thranduil stood.
"I am sorry, brother." Calenmir said softly, trying to wrap his arms around his elder brother's wide chest.
"Do not pity me, Calenmir." Thranduil shook his head sadly.
"I should! You have lost so much, Thranduil, ada, nana and now your dear Aldaril!" Calenmir said, patting Thranduil's green crown of leaves.
"Naneth is in valinor, she is not dead." Thranduil whispered.
"I still feel your pain, brother, and I feel horrible for you." Calenmir rubbed his brother's back and Aldaril's mother embraced Thranduil tightly.
"She meant so much to you!" Aldaril's mother said softly and she dabbed her eyes with a cloth she had been keeping up the sleeve of her long ruby dress.
"She meant a lot to you as well, ma'am." Thranduil whispered, walking away for a few minutes and returning with something in his hands.
"I-I... I... I want you to k-keep this... In memory of... h-her... y-your d-daughter." Thranduil dropped Aldaril's crown into his mother-in-law's hands.
"Me?" The she-elf looked up at the king.
"I will miss her more than anything, but she is your daughter, and to loose my own daughter..." Thranduil looked up to scan the area in search of his own daughter, who was speaking with Erestor.
"I understand... Thank you, Thranduil."
Aldaril's mother's hands where shaking and Thranduil held them tightly.
"I have all I need to remember your daughter. I have four beautiful children and plenty of memories I shall never forget... Keep this; there will be more I can give you just not at this moment... You are staying for a while, correct?"
"Another t-two weeks, if it is alright."
"Lady Alya, you are the mother of my deceased wife! You have been like a mother to me, and you will no doubt be comforting my children, I welcome you to stay as long as you want!" Thranduil said, embracing his mother-in-law, Alya.
"You don't mind the fact that my husband, Landion, is staying with me as well? I know you two never... Got along well." Alya asked softly.
"I could not forget Landion chasing me around Mirkwood in rage when he caught me with Aldaril, trying to sneak her out of her home to spend an evening with me. I do not mind, the children will be grateful, they love him and you very much you know."
"I will go see Legolas, the poor child..." Alya left to see her youngest grandson.
Thranduil looked at Calenmir and sighed.
"Why don't we go inside?" Thranduil suggested, looking at his young brother with his sorrowful eyes.
"Certainly."
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"What are you doing here?" Tonus placed a firm hand on his wife's shoulder and she spun around with Florien in her arms.
"AD-
Tonus quickly grabbed his son's head and covered his mouth completely to muffle the scream of 'ADA'.
"Hush, hush Florien, do not shout so loud." Tonus gently stroked his son's cheek. Florien sadly nodded, tears filling up his eyes but he kept them there, not daring to cry in front of so many elves, including both his parents and the king of Mirkwood's family.
"Tonus, this is your mother's funeral, his grandmother, we come to pay our respect. You may want to hide it but the truth is he is related to you, I am your lover and if it where not for your mother you would not be here nor would Florien. I owe her, and the least I can do is be here." The she-elf said, angrily but gentle, as she knew how hurt her best friend was.
"Ai, but do not let... Anyone know. No kissing. No nothing to show our relationship... Nothing to let anyone who knows me know of... Of Florien, and such." Tonus said.
"I know Tonus... I know..." Tonus' wife longed to just caress her husband's cheek or give him a small hug or kiss, but she knew how mortified he would be if anyone saw and told Thranduil or his siblings.
To be continued...
I got my report card. I made it on the honor role. I guess it's happy dance time.
HappyFace 72: That will be a while... And the truth is that... Well I cannot tell you, but if you read 'Haldir's Here' you would know a wee bit more (not too much more) about this... But Haldir's here is over 130 chapters long...
Surf all day and do the hula: My aunt's dog was sick and ate her vomit, or at least we think it was vomit. She died some months later...
Mistopurr: Tonus likes pretty she-elves. And he always has thought that nobody loves him... I like English assignments, depending on what they are about. They are much better than geography assignments that are in French...
Rainbow Fish: We always get old guys. I really would like someone that will not die in like five years or that is an old hag...
Miss Telcontar: I thought it would make a fairly good chapter...
Haldir's Heart and Soul: If Tonus is going to marry a commoner it's going to be a lovely one... And yes, that would make a good reason why he won't tell...
Aranna Undomiel: Tonus is probably the sweetest of Thranduil's children, well, possibly it really depends on your opinion of Legolas since Tolkien did not say very much concerning Legolas or his behavior with his family... Tonus likes kissing she-elves, it makes him feel loved, and he doesn't feel loved very much even though Thranduil and Aldaril and his siblings love him more than anything.
Here comes the hockey puck: Well when you change, tell me who you are so I know! Poor thumb.