Chapter Five: Of History and Love
As she looked upon him, she pursed her pink lips together to remain silent, seeing the tense shoulders begin to fall in ease, but her husband's eyes still clouded with the remnants of the battle, and whatever else was troubling him. She could detect the hints of exhaustion he so expertly hid from everyone else. Yet she knew he would not retire until she bide him to. She also knew he had to remain for a while longer. They all did, save the youngest of their children who could be gathered in the arms of nannies and carted off with the excuse of needing rest.
They spent much of the rest of the night silent, fingers entwined together, overlooking the dancers, feast goers, children playing, their own children going about their business. Finally, she drew their linked hands out from under the table and looked to her husband whose increased sighs and placid expression were beginning to wane betraying his tiredness, and broke their silence.
"You are weary yourself from the toils of the journey and battle, along with grief. Let us retire so that you may rest undisturbed," she said in a quiet voice – yet being the queen, it seemed to echo about the room causing the hall to fall silent at her words.
He looked upon her with grateful but weary eyes, and nodded. "As you wish my love." It was all he could think of to say in his exhaustion, and stood, then both offering the customary gesture of farewell and good night, followed her, hand in hers out of the room and into the halls.
Servants lowered their eyes and bid them goodnight. People lingering in the halls for some reason or another bowed or lowered their eyes in custom as they passed. She was always aware of it. They had done much to banish certain useless, even demeaning things expected of their subjects, but some things held on. She and her husband ruled by their people's choice, not by default as many of the others in the realms beyond their borders did.
Her father was a lower class lord. Her mother had been a lady-in-waiting to her grandmother, descended from well-to-do merchants. Their marriage had been a struggle from the time they had caught each others eye. Both families objected out of reason for station. Her father and mother did not want her to deal with the issues they had when they decided to marry. She was not suitable for a prince in the eyes of the Elven courts. Another lord perhaps, but not a prince. His father and mother deftly agreed, and attempted to not only send her to Rivendell, but marry her off to someone else more suitable that Oropher and his wife, and her own parents considered more appropriate, gilded with promises that he would treat her well.
When this was revealed to both lovers, they stole away into the night, deep into the forests, nearly to Lothlorien, and spoke their vows to the other with the stars, moon, and blessed trees as their witnesses. They were found two days later, asleep in the others arms, and the consummation of their pledge to the other was apparent to those who had found them. They were brought back to the palace. Both parents raged at their children. Oropher even threatening to disinherit Thranduil. Hers just merely expressing their disbelief, but finally, knowing it useless as what was done was done, they had to relent. Oropher's rage softened finally by the understanding of his queen who could clearly tell it was love that bound them, not defiance. With Oropher's heart softened and finally giving his blessing, she was officially accepted as the princess and consort to the heir.
When war first drew her husband away from her, she had a horrid feeling of sickness. She knew something bad would happen. When word had reached them that Oropher was slain, she feared for her own husband. Yet he would be brought back to her, his body and heart carrying the scars of the battles he had fought, but alive, blessed be the Valar. He was crowned, and they started their regency as the rulers of the realm.
Now another battle had been fought. Unconsciously, she touched her free hand to the necklace about her neck. Feeling the hard jewels, she sighed, noting a touch of warmth to the crystals from her body heat briefly before taking her fingertips away. He had gone to help others, and hopefully gain more wealth to replenish that which had been spent over the years. Instead he was met with a battle. He and his allies had won the battle, but it seemed not the war.
A new war would be stirred upon the land. She felt it deep within. More Elvish blood would be spilled. She knew as well that both her husband and at least one of her sons would be brought into it. The idea of it sent a shiver through her body. She seen him cast a look at her as the tremor was felt by their linked hands, and gave him a reassuring smile.
Deciding to turn her thoughts to the here and now, she grasped his hand a little more firmly as they reached their chambers. While most courtiers did not share their chambers no matter how in love they were with the other, even Oropher and his queen had not, she and Thranduil always had. At first, it was because of the opposition their families had encroached upon them, but once that was settled they just continued to do so despite what their families tried to tell them about decorum. What was the point? They would just end up spending the night in the same room anyway.
As she considered all this, they entered, each shed their heavy cloak, and mercifully had found another warm bath had been drawn in the bath house. Their servants helped them out of their garments, and laid out their robes and night dressings before milling about lowering the light in lamps and adding more kindling to the fires. Her hair and his were braided before entering the bath for the night, then they filed out one by one with bows and curtseys finally leaving them alone in the bath house. They helped the other wash, delighting in the soft sensual sensations it would occasionally afford, but noting her husband's ever growing weariness, she did not let it become a burning flame to be extinguished by a union of bodily love. She knew he would oblige, even in his exhaustion, but his enjoyment of it would be tainted.
Finally, when the water began to lose it's warmth they left it, dried off, and dressed for the night refusing to call for servants to help them. As they each lay down to sleep in the way of the Elves, she drew herself close to him, and he gathered her in his arms.
"You are my life dearest," she whispered, not knowing if he had already fell with in the realms of sleep and dreams or not.
"As you are mine," he whispered back then went still and his breathing heavy, falling into sleep.
She let her mind wander, until dreams found her as well.
The sky was just turning pink with the uprising of the sun when his awareness roused him to the world about him. A dream mingled with the past and the present wove itself in and out of his consciousness for several long moments, before it disappeared altogether. He looked down, seeing his wife's black hair mingling with his white gold on his chest. Her arm was draped about his waist as she breathed in and out in steady, unheard intakes as she slept. Her eyes still open as Elves usually slept, but clearly in a dream state, he chose to look upon her and only stretch his muscles as needed. She continued to sleep for several more minutes as he stroked her hair and then she awoke. Nuzzling her face into his chest before blinking, and looking up at him.
He smiled sweetly at her as she lifted herself up on her elbow and rested her head on her hand. She returned his smile, and placed her other hand on his chest over his heart.
"Do you feel more at peace now that you have rested, my dearest?" she asked in a soft voice.
He nodded in confirmation, realizing that he did. He had not thought about much of anything else but his wife and children while he waited for her to awaken.
"I am glad." A suggestive smile came to her face, "You know, I never did give you a proper welcome home." Her hand slid beneath the covers and began to touch him in the intimate ways only she would know to coax him into a state of want.
Feeling the sensations begin to course through his blood and a smile coming to his own face he confirmed, "No, you did not."
She let a wicked laugh escape her lips at this.
He wound his hand about the nape of her neck and brought her lips to his as he rolled them over and lay her gently down beneath him. He kissed her in drawn out passion instead of an all consuming fiery manner, letting each small caress of the lips becoming deeper and filled with more longing. He kept his touches soft and lingering, roving about each part of her in the manner only someone who knew the others body like their own could, reveling in the joy of rediscovery of this beauty– though their time apart was short compared to some.
He took his time with her and she with him, relishing each touch and caress and kiss as if it would be the last. Days were going to come to their lands that he knew would either mark a new beginning for his lands and the indeed, the whole of Middle-Earth, or the end of all that was good and true would come to pass. But at that time and moment, he wanted to savor and cherish one of the things that he loved and held precious in the world and make every moment count.
It would be well into the day before they would be ready for the servants to come and see to their usual morning rituals.
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