Hello, hugs on this very cold day (where I'm at...negative 20F wind chills...at least it's sunny though!) Here is our little chapter where we see if Thranduil gives his approval for Kili and Tauriel to be together~~ As always, would luv to hear what you think 3 B.
Chp 63
They walked arm in arm out of the Royal Dining Hall and each felt steadied in each other's arms. The Gallery of Kings was nearby, but the room they needed to get to was near the entrance to the Mountain so they walked slowly and tried to breathe deep with each step. Kili seeing all the pageantry set up in the Gallery for the Coronation tomorrow didn't help his nerves any, but Tauriel's sweet smile and firm hold in the crook of his elbow gave him the courage to continue on.
They reached the end of the Gallery and could see the finely carved double doors they were in search of a little ways away. Twain was on one side of the closed doors and he gave the couple a smile and bow as they approached. There was a tall, brown-haired elf in his silver fighting attire standing on the opposite side of the door. Tauriel recognized him as Lairin, a member of the King's Guard she had known for many a year. Lairin had a very shocked expression as he saw his old friend Tauriel and humble servant of the King, arm in arm with this dwarf Prince! Tauriel appraised his reaction and stiffened her back, Kili just looked at him squinty eyed. So she nodded her head and said, "Lairin, It is nice to see you again and you are looking very well." He was still in too much shock to give a reply and at that moment. Just then, Balin had opened the double doors from the inside of the room and bid them enter, so they left the Elf to his post.
Upon entering, Tauriel noticed it was a small room, but opulently decorated with busts and tapestries. On one side were four heavily carved chairs, that looked very dwarvish in origin. Lady Dis was already sitting in one of them, Balin returned to the seat on her right. He indicated Kili and Tauriel take the other two, which they did. Across the room from these chairs were others of such delicately carved airy beauty which could hardly be mistaken for dwarvish work, Kili noted. He sneered to himself and thought they had to bring in their own chairs and couldn't even sit on ones of ours. King Thranduil himself was sitting in the largest one. Carved out of very light wood, with many twists and shapes, almost like a buck's horns it seemed, Thranduil had the same crown he had on the day the dwarves were captured and imprisoned in his own Halls. He languidly rested back and his long silvery robes flowed to the ground. A table was next to him, a delicate pitcher and glass filled with some dark red liquid at the ready for him.
In the absence of the Prince, which Tauriel was disappointed to not see Legolas present at this meeting, the King's next in command, Feren, was sitting in another elf chair to the right of the King. Another elven guard Tauriel recognized was stationed between the two parties against the wall. A short few feet away, Dwalin was giving this trio of elves a scowling, and had his arms folded and his two favorite axes ever present at his back.
There was silence in the room as Kili and Tauriel settled themselves in. Once settled there was no mistaking where Kili's narrowed eyes were aimed at. He was not privy to the meeting between Kings back at Mirkwood, so this was the first time he had lain eyes on the King Thranduil. He appraised the long, lanky, but very imposing figure before him. Similar in appearance to his son, whom he had seen briefly at Bard's house, and of course on the Lakeshore the day he asked Tauriel to come with him; but appeared more stately in bearing, almost ethereal, he thought. He knew what the page meant about the elves glowing from within. He couldn't place it, but there just seemed an aura of white light surrounding the King. He wondered why his Tauriel didn't have that. He guessed maybe elves gain that as they age, but even Kili was unaware that Thranduil was a High Elf, who existence predated this Third Age, and whose age was in the uncounted thousands.
Tauriel meanwhile, held her head high, but was not exactly looking directly at the King. Thranduil for his part, had his usual outward haughty expression, but was returning Kili's gaze with an interesting twinkle in his eye. Lady Dis was trying her best to be diplomatic, but playing over in her mind the recent events involving her son and her brother and this particular pointy eared elf was just getting her dwarvish ire up, so she kept taking in deep breaths. Balin thought he should probably start the proceedings off, since no one else was talking. He walked in between the two parties and started out with introductions, and bowed to the two seated elves, "Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm, let me make introductions. I am Balin, son of Fundin, cousin of Thorin Oakenshield and counsel to the Royal House of Durin. Here is the Lady Dis, Son of Thrain, Granddaughter of Thror the Great and Sister to the last King Under the Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield." Dis remained seated but inclined her head with a steely gaze the elves way. Balin continued, "And now, let me present, Prince Kili, youngest son of Lady Dis, soon to be crowned King Under the Mountain, and Rightful Heir of Durin as returned by our Lord and Creator Mahal." Only with this, these last words, did Thranduil finally stir.
He leaned forward in his elvish chair and even he was a good distance away from the dwarves on the other side of the room, he looked directly into Kili's eyes and Kili almost felt like he could read his thoughts which was a bit unnerving to him. Thranduil began in his lilting drawl, "Yesss, Prince Kili...please...do tell me what it was like to be in the presence of the mighty Valar," he said as he sat very tall in his chair, which already was taller than any other chair in the small chamber. Completely thrown off by this line of questioning, Kili had a different speech prepared for right now. It took him a moment to think back to that time. "Well...err...yes...I mean...I do not remember much. Sometimes, when I dream, I see an immense Hall and hear a booming voice...but I can't make out what it is saying. I think Fili and Thorin are there, but i can't see them clearly, and then I get a sharp pain in my back or chest and I wake up."
Again, Thranduil was studying Kili very curiously and replied, "Ahhh...I see...my young Prince." Lady Dis narrowed her eyes at the King, wondering if he was trying to catch her in son in some type of lie. Balin, sensing the Lady's displeasure, countered, "My good King Thranduil, all that were here in the Mountain, including myself, were witness to what happened. We knew that the entire line of Durin direct descendants HAD been slain. As we mourned them on their slabs, a wondrous light appeared and then we all heard our Creator's voice, telling us the one most fit to rule would be returned. And there was this intense golden light that blinded everyone. As it receded, the golden light centered on one of the bodies on the slab, it enveloped him, and when it finally left, Kili woke up," Balin finished saying, as if this cleared any doubt in the matter. Thranduil slowly replied, "My dear dwarf...I was not doubting your account. For I can see that golden light even now, still present in your eyes, young Prince. I was merely interested to know the full tale of being in one's so mighty a presence. For as we returned to our own lands, not that far a distance away, did we feel the Earth shake and knew some tumult, was occurring, for only the Valar have that power." Balin looked up and down the row of chair's and it's occupants on his side of the room and replied, "Oh...well...a'rightee then, well...shan't we get down to the business at hand?" Thranduil replied cooly, "Yes. Let us."
Balin looked over to Lady Dis, who realized it was her turn to get up and address the King. Bow, she did not, but looked him directly in the eyes and began, "King Thranduil. As you well know, one under your charge, Lady Tauriel has been in the Company of my son the Prince, since they entered the boundaries of your realm, and were wrongfully imprisoned," adding in that last bit quite forcefully. Balin looked at the King for any reaction to these words and could pick up on nary a flinch, other than his eyes flashing for a brief moment. Dis continued, "My kin escaped with the help of Bilbo, the Halfling from the Shire realm. As they continued on their quest, Lady Tauriel and your son, Prince Legolas, pursued an orc band into Laketown, where my son, who had been almost mortally wounded by a black arrow, had taken refuge in a home there." Thranduil again sat up at this part in the tale and asked, "Young Prince...do you happen to use bow and arrow as your weapon of choice?" Kili looked a little surprised at the question, "Well...yes...I do." The King made a barely audible "hmmm," sound as he stroked the edge of his long silken robes, caught up in thought.
No one was speaking for a little while so Lady Dis continued again, "So, our Master Healer Oin, stayed to help my son, and of course, Fili would not be parted from his brother, so he also stayed in Laketown to help. It was looking very dire, until Lady Tauriel and your son showed up. After dispatching the orcs, I'm told Tauriel performed an ancient elvish chant that helped heal Kili, but also transferred some of her...life force, to save his." The elf sitting next to Thranduil sat bolt upright and made a scoffed gasp. Even Thranduil's demeanor changed slightly, but a sly smile was dawning on his face. Lady Dis continued to recount what had happened inside the Mountain after the Battle, and made sure to emphasize all the help that Tauriel had been. She concluded with, "And lastly, I have listened to my son's reasonings, and know his words...and his heart to be true in this matter. And in my presence, Tauriel has also confirmed her feelings for Kili, and I believe them to be genuine. I have given my consent for the couple to be bethrothed. But, in talking with Tauriel she has explained that you had taken her in and raised her, so we asked you here today to consider Kili and Tauriel's betrothal."
Kili also stood up at this time, wanting to convey his feelings to the King also. He slowly stood up and all eyes went to him. He seemed nervous, but the voice that came out of his mouth was clear and strong, "King Thranduil, much have I traveled and seen in Middle Earth in my relatively short life. And when my uncle, who was to me like a father, put out the call to join him on this important endeavor. The quest to regain our homeland, and I had no qualms or fear and knew that we would be successful, no matter the cost. But looking back, such a cost it was. Little did I know that Thorin would perish by the quest's end; and so too, my older, beloved and much wiser brother. Little could imagine that I would be the one left standing, the one expected to rule, and that is an incredible burden...one I'm sure you're all too familiar with. But in undertaking this quest, the course of my life changed, in many respects. Most surprising and unexpected to me was that my heart, that had known the love of family and beat strongly for the joy of battle and in helping to defend my kin, only finally came alive the moment I laid eyes on Tauriel. I know we had only spent a short amount of time together amidst all the turmoil going on; but she has become more precious to me than any gold or jewels that would ever hold sway over me. I have pledged my heart to hers, and she, to mine. I vow to you, King Thranduil, to one who had taken her in and provided for her for many long years, that I am ready and prepared to relieve you of this. I am a strong and brave warrior and can protect her from harm...even though she may think she does not need it," he said as he looked over to Tauriel and gave her a smirk. He continued, "And...I will, on the morrow, be crowned the King of all Dwarves, so I can provide for Tauriel, so that she will never be in want or need of anything the rest of her days. Therefore I ask you, Thranduil, one that has been a father to her from the beginning, for her hand in marriage." Kili finished with a grateful exhale of air and went back to sit in his chair. Dis gave him a warm smile and the tear in her eye told him that he had come up with the right words.
Again there were no words for moments while a heavy tenseness hung in the air. Everyone looked nervously around at each other...except for Thranduil, who had his usual cool, disconnected expression, but sat for awhile in his chair unmoving, knowing all eyes went to him. He paused for effect, then began, slowly, from his chair, "Tauriel, former Captain of the Guard," he started and Tauriel flinched at her admonition, "I caught you as you breathed your first air of Middle Earth. I have spent every day of your life looking after you, providing for you and training you to become the sufficient warrior that you are today."
He got up from his chair and very tall indeed he was, as he swished his long, sparkly robes purposefully behind him. He walked over to the dwarf's side of the room and stood pointedly in front of Tauriel, folding his arms and began again, "For many, many a year, I grieved for the loss of my beloved wife. Murdered by orc filth...and that rage and betrayal by the Valar had preyed upon my thoughts, becoming all encompassing for me," he said as he paced short distances back and forth in front of the assembled seated dwarves. Continuing, without looking at anyone in particular, "So much that, I neglected everyone and everything around me. Shutting in my realm and becoming distant to all others in Middle Earth. But much I have witnessed lately, that make me remember more lighthearted and carefree times...and it makes me sad for these things that cannot be once more. But...thinking back to the battle, on Ravenhill, as I searched for my son, and I came upon a grievously injured elf, reposed next to the body of a bleeding and broken dwarf. When that elf asked me to take all of her pain away, it did not remind me of when she betrayed my orders and went after said Company of Dwarves; nor even whe she drew arms against ME and accused me of having no love..." At these words, Tauriel hung her head in shame, with high color in her cheeks; and even Dis, Balin and Kili seemed moved by the King's words.
He continued as he returned to his chair, "No...all I kept thinking about was that sweet babe, with a swirl of red hair, fists curled up into tiny balls and who cried in my arms, and yes...I did want to take her pain away. I was ready to escort you to the Grey Havens myself Tauriel...because I knew your love for this...Prince, was indeed real; and since he was called home by his forbears; it would be a pain so deep, you wouldn't have been able to recover from. For I know...I have been there, and I should have sailed to Valinor after my wife was murdered; but I had a young son to teach and train, and would not abandon my realm, nor my people. The burdens of rule outweigh any personal needs or slights, my young dwarf Prince," he paused for effect to let his last words sink in. Quietly, but with purposeful slow speech, the King continued, "And then word came that indeed, one Durin had been returned by the grace of the Valar. And when, I heard it was you, Prince Kili...know that, I did rejoice, for I knew Tauriel's suffering was at it's end." Everyone in the Hall looked at King Thranduil with stunned silence. His stony expression seemed softened momentarily and everyone waited in anticipation for his next words.
The King held his head high and again waited until his audience was at their most rapt attention before he spoke, "Therefore, I come to this meeting today to give my blessings to you Tauriel and Kili." Everyone in the room finally let out their collective breath, and Tauriel quickly sucked in another gulp of after that, hope beyond hope that all her wishes and dreams have almost come true -then Thranduil spoke again, "However...I have two conditions that all present must hear..."