Quick reminder - there is a link in my profile to a picture of Belegorn. He's pretty cute, sooo...I recommend taking a peek ;)
The first thing I did when we returned was take a bath. It was only a few hours until the feast was to start, and I needed to utilize my time. And so I hurried, so that as I dried my hair in front of the fire, I could fill myself with hard-cooked eggs flavored with watercress atop fresh bread. Thranduil had cleaned up as well, and he was tying his tunic when he began to laugh at me.
I could only give him a dirty look, as my mouth was full and I was not about to be impolite for the sake for a retort.
"You might be elegant, if not for the crumbs on your face," he said.
I swallowed. "Don't be uncouth," I said. "I am only trying to strengthen my constitution so that I am not faint during the festivities. Then you would miss my company, and then you would be very sorry indeed."
"Strengthen your constitution? I doubt it needs it. I am sure I remember an instance in our youth that you boxed my ears on an empty stomach. I was under the impression that it was your hunger that contributed to the boxing…but even so."
I stuck my tongue out at him as I stood, shaking my dry hair behind my back. "I believe that is a fabrication," I said.
Another chuckle escaped my husband, but he said no more on the matter, and so I returned to my preparations. I dressed in the gown that he had given me the night before, which had been hanging to keep from wrinkling by our window.
"It does look quite becoming on you," Thranduil said. He had been watching me intently, though attempting to do so subtly.
"I thank you," I said, sitting in front of my vanity so that I could arrange my hair. "Might you fetch my blue cloak? I think it will snow tonight."
Thranduil complied, throwing my garment across the bed before retrieving his own blood-red cloak. "I agree with that," he said. "Though little snow comes through the trees here."
"Hmm," I said, my mouth full of pins. Normally I tied my hair back or pulled it up, and I was beginning to believe that the more complicated style I was attempting for the party was beyond me. Thranduil saw my struggle, did not offer to help until I threw down the pins in frustration, cursing.
"Let me," he said, and he stood behind me to gently remove the pins I had managed to secure from the mass.
"I should have learned hairdressing from someone with more experience than I," I said. "And now my repertoire is shameful."
"I would not be concerned of that," the king said. "You do not need fancy trimmings to catch anyone's eye."
"You are generous with your praise tonight, but I thank you again, nonetheless," I said, and then stopped in surprise. "How – how did you –"
He was finished, taking less time than I had spent in my failure. He only kissed the top of my head on response.
"There then," I said, mildly irritated. "I only need my cloak, and I am ready."
"Not quite."
I raised my eyebrows in response.
"You might forget such formalities at the watch posts," Thranduil said, adopting the staid tone he reserved for lectures. "But here we crown our queen."
"Oh, go on then."
He reached into a drawer and pulled a velvet box from it. Placing the diadem carefully on my head, he smiled at me in the mirror as he did so. His eyes shone with unconcealed pride and unfathomable fondness. "Now you are ready," he said.
"You and your formalities," I stood to kiss my husband on the cheek. "I suppose you do need something to keep you warm at night since you send me away so often."
My cheekiness won me a pinch on the rump, and we left together for the party.
Most of the guests were already tipsy when we arrived, even though the food was as yet absent. Long banquet tables stood, adorned with small treats which were disappearing fast. The twins were missing once more, and I tried to be serene as the king and I sat in our seats at the head of the largest table.
"Perhaps a different wine could have been chosen," I murmured to him. "One…not so strong."
"That is your opinion," Thranduil said, casually filling our glasses. "I need the assistance of spirits if I am to attend the full festivities."
I watered down my wine before sipping it and better observing my surroundings. Because of the season, tents had been suspended from tall branches of trees, so that we were mostly protected from the elements. Those in combination with the great hearth that had been temporarily built for the occasion, I began to grow warm. I shrugged my cloak from my shoulders as a call went up, and those in attendance that had been milling around and drinking, sat at the tables in a show of organized chaos.
Platters of vegetables, potatoes, fresh salads of winter greens, fruit, soups and more began to arrive, each dish large enough to hold an adult. I was amazed at the selection, and counted seventeen different types of bread.
"This is far better than your coming of age," I whispered to Thranduil.
"I am only one," he replied, equally soft. "Tonight there are two, and further, they wished for this."
The tables were soon full of food, but none yet began to eat, though many were fidgety. I felt similarly. Soon everything was settled and all were waiting patiently. Thranduil stood to address the crowd in a thunderous voice.
"Tonight we celebrate the coming of age of the sons of Thranduil Aran-istima and Caradel i Dinalagosseth!"
The general excitement of the day now manifested itself in applause, mostly likely to spur the king into hastening the formalities. My earlier sandwich was no longer filling my stomach, and my nose twitched at the smells wafting around me. Get on with it, I thought. Perhaps he heard me, for I was given a sideways glance of exasperation before he continued.
"The crown prince, Belegorn Roimë!"
Fists and cutlery banged on tables. So Belegorn was popular. I thought I heard a few female squeals as my eldest made his entrance, but I easily filtered out the high pitched noise.
He entered, dressed in light silvery blue tunic and with a circlet of silver on his brow. He cleaned up very nicely, and I was proud to have such a strong son. He stopped by the high table, and bowed to both his father and me before sitting Thranduil's side. The noise quieted, and the king made the second introduction.
"Legolas Tur-quinga!"
Legolas's cheers were not quite equal, but since he was so rarely in the city I was not surprised. I clapped extra hard, and I saw that the guards and wardens that we knew better whoop loudly. Legolas wore the green of the forest, with a gold circlet. He smiled openly, whereas Belegorn had not. I winked at him as he bowed and took his place by me.
"Behold the fruit of the hunt!" the king cried.
The climax of the feast was brought out, each of Belegorn's stags requiring a quartet to carry. They had been roasted, and as they were placed by the hearth to keep warm, I saw rivets of juice running down and spilling on the ground. My hunger was now becoming unbearable. The birds that Legolas had shot were on trays, and were placed on the tables.
"Very good," I whispered to my younger son as a turkey stuffed with cranberries and walnuts was placed before us. "If the award goes for numerical value only, you are far the winner."
"Thank you, Mother," Legolas replied with a wan smile. "But we both know that is not the reality."
"Even so," I said, shaking out my napkin and placing it primly in my lap as Thranduil said the words to begin the feast. "I am proud of you."
He turned a bit pink around the ears.
"Parsnips, my darling?"
I turned to smile at my husband, and to accept his serving onto my porcelain plate. "Your pronouncements were very much to my taste," I told him. "Short and efficient. I do enjoy parties, but the speeches are never quite agreeable."
"Fortunately they are not in order too terribly often," Thranduil replied, slicing into a roasted turkey. "And so we are left to enjoy our meal."
My mouth was too full to reply.