"Are you sure this looks presentable?" Naliah tugged at the three-quarter sleeves of her floor-sweeping blue dress. It was one of the nicest dresses she had, tied at the back with a white ribbon. She wore a similar blue flower in her hair. "I feel as though I should wear something fancier."
"You do look fancy," Pegallia insisted. She alone was accompanying Naliah to her first meeting with the boy king.
"I still cannot believe my father has set me up with the king of Gondor himself!" When her father had first come to her with the news, all she could think about was the smirking face of Thalassa and her eerie prediction.
"But Father," she had protested, "I am but sixteen. Nearly seventeen, but…"
"It is a fine match, my dear," her mother had insisted. "We're not ordering you to marry King Mithrennon, but I'm sure you'll like him if you give him a chance. He has asked to meet you tomorrow for a picnic. Isn't that thoughtful of him?"
Naliah fought the urge to roll her eyes, and held her tongue. "Yes Mother, it is quite considerate."
Her mother took her hand. "Naliah, the future is not as bright here for a young woman as it is for a young man. If you marry Mithrennon, opportunities will be opened for you that you could not imagine! You could become a queen!"
A queen, Naliah thought smugly as she and her friend raced up the narrow white alleys of the kingdom. She swung her arms a bit faster, like it might propel her forward. "We're going to be very late."
Pegallia sighed. "Tis not yet midday, Naliah, and he asked you for a luncheon." She looked up at the sky, which was brimming with clouds. "I'm not sure a picnic is in order though."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, a flash of lightning struck behind the mountain on which Gondor was placed. The two girls shrieked and clung to each other as they ran. Rain began to pour when they reached the very top of the city, and they huddled under the eaves of the king's hall. To the right, three guards stood talking to each other.
"Now remember, just be yourself, Naliah," Pegallia advised. "You look lovely. I am so jealous that you will be married to Mithrennon." She put a hand to her heart and pretended to faint dramatically. "He is so handsome!"
The two girls giggled, attracting the guards' attention. "Hush, Pegallia!" Naliah snorted through her laughter. "Nobody has said anything about marriage."
"Your father has. Your mother has. And Thalassa predicted this as well…"
"Oh, go away." Naliah playfully shoved her friend out of the eaves and back into the rain.
"Enjoy your luncheon, and don't be too naughty!" Pegallia cackled, and ran out of the courtyard.
Naliah smoothed her hair down and checked her dress for any muddy spots. There were none. Anxiously she looked around. What am I supposed to do? Knock upon the door? She approached the guards and cleared her throat.
"I…I'm here to see the k-king," she stammered.
The guards nodded. "Your name?"
"Naliah. Daughter of Diathor."
Recognition spread across the faces of the guards, and they stepped aside to let Naliah enter the door they guarded.
Always keep your head held high. Naliah's mother's voice echoed in her mind as she walked. The tall, wide hall seemed to drown out every sound. It was unbelievably quiet, save for the rain pouring gently onto the roof.
Nobody was around. Naliah's calm centre was suddenly unruffled when she realized there were three different halls ahead of her. One led to the left, one to the right, and one up a set of stairs. She began to panic. Which way should she go?!
To the left, she heard voices, and decided to trust her instinct. Even the paintings on the wall seemed to haunt her when she walked by them, and she avoided their eyes.
"Accept that you lost, my friend." The voice was cleared now; Naliah could understand full words. She wanted to call Mithrennon's name, but felt foolish, having not even met him face to face yet.
"I will not accept it!" A deeper, gruffer voice answered the first. "Final count, forty three. And from where I come from, forty three beats forty two!"
"Even after fifty years you will not let it go. You cheated. I killed at least forty men upon that oliphant!"
"And I clearly said that it only counted as one!"
The two voices started to laugh. Naliah followed them to an open door at the end of the hall, to her right. She was startled to find herself looking down at the two advisors that had been introduced at Mithrennon's coronation. They sat at a roughly carved table, each with a pint of ale and a plate of food in front of them. Naliah took note, the dwarf's plate was piled much higher.
She was about to leave when the dwarf raised his voice to her. "Aye, lass!" He stood up, and even then, reached only to Naliah's elbow. "It's the king ye be lookin' for?"
Naliah nodded. "I'm sorry to have interrupted you. I… I got lost." She felt foolish. "I'm sure the king is miffed by my lateness."
"Nay, Mithrennon will be understanding." The elf also stood in her prescence, placing a hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "As a boy, he once got lost in this castle for an entire day before the king and queen found him asleep in the cellar."
Naliah joined in their laughter. "Would you two be so kind as to lead me to him? I'd like to make a good first impression."
"Aye," said the dwarf. "Follow us."
The elf turned to Naliah. "So you are Naliah, the daughter of Diathor, would that be correct?" he asked conversationally.
"I am," she answered. They turned down several halls. She tried to keep track of it so she could get out later, but it was too hard to keep track of the lefts and rights. "My father served Aragorn for many years."
"Your father is a good man. Aragorn thought very highly of him, and as a result, thought highly of his family."
"What are your names?" Naliah asked, to be polite. "I don't recall them from the ceremony. I was quite far back."
"I am Legolas," the elf introduced himself. He prodded the dwarf. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin. We are advisors to Mithrennon, and friends of the Queen and the late king."
"Nice to meet you."
"Back at you, lassie," Gimli said with a smile.
The three of them walked into the throne hall, where Mithrennon sat, chin in hand. His eyes brightened when he saw the new arrivals.
"Legolas! Gimli!" He smiled and stepped down off the throne. He caught Naliah's eye and smiled even bigger. "Welcome to my hall, my lady." He bowed his head slightly, causing Naliah to blush.
"My king," she said, returning the bow. "I apologize for my lateness. I got lost within the walls."
"An understandable feat," Mithrennon said. "As my uncles may have told you, I used to always get lost here a lot."
Naliah smiled. "Yes, they did." She suddenly realized she hadn't properly introduced herself. "My name is Naliah."
"Naliah." The king grinned. "Well, you are certainly as beautiful as your father described. Even more so, I daresay."
Naliah's blush was even redder. And you are just as handsome as my friends and I have always thought, Naliah silently told him. He wore a dark gray tunic embroidered with the white tree of Gondor, and black leggings tucked into heavy boots. His eyes were bright and his hair dark brown and wavy, sitting on his shoulders. His smile was white and glowing. Truly, Mithrennon was everything a king ought to resemble.
The two teenagers stood smiling at each other until Mithrennon cast his eyes upon his two advisors. He cleared his throat slightly.
"Ah, well, we 'ave a match to be settlin'," Gimli announced, taking the hint. "Come on, lad." The two quickly walked away, leaving Naliah and the king alone.
"I regret that we can no longer have our picnic outdoors," Mithrennon said easily. He led Naliah to a blanket spread out on the marble floor beside the throne, covered with plates of food. "I hope this will do."
"It is splendid." Naliah sat down across from him, and the two ate in silence, smiling at each other every so often.
I must talk, or he will find me boring, Naliah urged herself. Casually she asked, "So those two, Legolas and Gimli… they are truly your uncles?"
Mithrennon laughed, dabbing at his face with a cloth. "No, not within blood. Do I resemble a dwarf or an elf to you?"
Naliah blushed again. "An elf, maybe. Your ears are slightly pointed… that must come from your mother's side."
"Yes, it does. I'm also expected to live a long time, having half-blood of the Dunedain, and half-blood of an elf." He took a sip of wine. "Legolas, however, is not related to my mother in any way. Nor is Gimli. But they were very close friends of my father, and have always been like brothers to him. Therefore, they are like uncles to me."
"Ahh, it makes sense." There was more awkward smiling. Naliah hadn't even been very hungry, but realized she'd finished her whole meal. So had Mithrennon. Now they had to talk.
"Tell me about yourself, my lady," Mithrennon invited.
"Naliah is a fine name, my king, if you would not mind," she said quietly.
Mithrennon smiled. "Only if you will not object to using mine."
"Not at all." She tried to look anywhere but his eyes. "Well, I am sixteen… I love to take walks in the fields. I find it peaceful. I also love to hear stories."
"Ah," Mithrennon nodded enouragingly. "What kinds of stories do you like? Myth? Legend? Monsters?"
Naliah shook her head. "Histories, moreso. I enjoy stories that have actually happened. There is so much history to Middle Earth, and I wish I could learn every piece of it."
"I am sure you've heard the story of the Ring then," Mithrennon replied.
Naliah nodded. "Parts of it."
"Well, I know a great deal of it from my father…"
For the next hour or so, Naliah and Mithrennon discussed the War of the Ring, trading stories they'd heard and separating fact and fiction. She declared so far, so good. He seemed engaged in their conversation and interested in the topic. She wondered what they might talk about when… or rather, if… they were ever married.
"Gimli and Legolas met with my father during the council of Elrond, and—"
"Forgive me," Naliah broke in, "but they met him back then?"
"Yes," Mithrennon said slowly.
"They were in the Fellowship of the Ring?"
Mithrennon nodded. "Yes, they were. They fought alongside my father at every battle." He gave her a sidelong glance. "I suppose if you really wanted to learn the details, you could ask one of them."
Naliah tried to contain her excitement. Surely she knew of the war, and knew some who'd been in it… her grandfather had fought bravely alongside many other Gondor men. But to speak with ones who actually knew the ringbearer? Who had been in the prescence of the ring? It would thrill her like nothing else!
"Perhaps I shall, sometime," she replied, trying to sound like she couldn't care less. "I wouldn't want to bother them."
"Nonsense." Mithrennon stood and offered a hand to Naliah. She grasped it. "They don't do much anyways," he confided. "They are my advisors, but I can take care of myself. Besides, what would I need advice on that I could not get from my mother, or the council?"
Naliah shrugged. "I know not, my king. I mean… Mithrennon." She smiled and they walked out of the hall. She realized he was leading her out and wondered if he would kiss her or shake her hand, or if she was supposed to bow when she left or …
"I regret I have some business to attend to, Naliah." Mithrennon stood at the door of the castle. The sun poured through the clouds, inviting Naliah back into its warmth. "I very much enjoyed your company. Please come back to visit me whenever you'd like, and I will try to make the time." Remembering what he said, he added, "Or if you would like one of my uncles to bore you with their tales, that can be arranged." He winked at her.
"Y-yes, I would like that very much. Both of those. Yes." Naliah shivered as Mithrennon took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"Until we meet again, Naliah." He nodded at the guards. "See the she makes it out safely."
"Goodbye, Mithrennon."
Hey guys, I hope you're enjoying my story!
sarahjean: thanks for your honesty! I know my first few chapters were sort of rushed.. I wasn't sure where I was going until now. I hope you liked this chapter!
jay: thanks, I will
ps. I know it seems like this is all about Mithrennon and not much Legolas, but trust me, it will get better! Thank you!