Keeper 20
Wow, great response! Thank you so much, guys! I hope it's not been too melodramatic. The response to Thranduil was interesting - especially considering a lot of his POV was a very last-minute addition.
-XXX-
I manage to shake my followers a little further than halfway through the mountain pass. The started for the South when I curved that direction, though they missed me moving East again. Without Legolas and with a weary horse, it took me five more days to reach Rivendell. Tired and dirty, barely resembling the queen of any land, let alone Greenwood, I feared Elrond would not met me. I was happily mistaken.
As soon as one of the guards spotted me in the distance, entering the river valley on foot, leading my gelding, a party was sent forth to fetch me. I was given a fresh mount and lead to the pavilion where Lord Elrond was waiting. He regards me curiously as I slid from the saddle, inclining my head respectfully. Dressed in deep plum robes and with his long black-brown hair framing his warm face, he was far friendlier than I'd remember from my wedding so long ago.
"My lady," he begins. "I am surprised and honored to find you in our realm. Tis a welcome discovery. We had no notion that you were passing through. Where do you journey?"
"Ah, I am afraid that is not quite the case, Lord Elrond. If I might, I would seek a private audience with you, my lord, to better explain the matter…." I straighten as best I can, attempting to appear regal. Despite the several thousand years of practices, I do not quite have the knack for it.
"A private audience you shall have. But please, you must be hungry and weary, allow us to host you for a time. Unless I am mistaken, it would seem you've had several trying days," he says gently.
I resist the urge to reach up to brush my hair with my fingers. My clothes are dusty, boots muddy and scuffed, and I have no doubt of the state of my hair. In any case, my face is clean. I did make sure of that when I stopped on the bank of a river before entering the valley.
"That would be must appreciated," I say honestly, relief flooding my body. "Truly."
"Stay with us for as long as you need. Rest. Come, I will have someone show you to your rooms." He glides up the stairs. Behind me, a guardsman is removing the bags from Flick's saddle. "Do not hesitate to ask for anything you require. I will send for you after you have had the chance to rest and clean yourself."
"Thank you, my lord. I cannot say how much I appreciate your generosity."
"It is nothing, Queen Caladhiel," he assures me quietly as we stop at the landing. "You and your family are always welcome here."
At the mention of my family, I feel abruptly cold. But I simply smile, bowing my head, thankful that he is not pressing me with questions at the moment. I've no idea how I would phrase what exactly I've done into any kind of eloquent statement.
I am shown a pretty apartment. It's all white stone with many windows, a few light tapestries bringing some color to the walls, with cool pink silk drapes framing a balcony. A four-poster made of a pale wood stands center, with pink dressings as well. The whole lightness and openness is a stark contrast to the underground realm of the Greenwood.
A maid draws me a bath in the equally lovely bathroom, leaving a silk robe the color dawn's blush upon a nearby stool. It feels so wonderful to lay in the tub and soak for a time. When I finally remove myself once the water has cooled, I guiltily note the brown-ish tinge to the water.
After combing my hair, I explore my room further, the hem of the robe dragging upon the wood of the floor as I walk aimlessly. There is pretty glass inset in the boarder carvings surrounding the room at waist-height. The plaster of the ceiling has been decorated too with more designs, the occasional piece of white glass winking at me, reminding me of stars. All in all, it's a painfully pretty, airy room.
I dress once I am finished, pulling on one of my better gowns. It's the color of tender spring grass, simple but well-made. Arranging my still-damp hair and peering at myself in the looking-glass, I conclude that there is not much to be done about the slight bags beneath my eyes, nor the scratches on my cheeks – gained when I'd fled Thranduil's elves five days ago, the parting gift of a rude tree. I sigh. "Not too terrible, I suppose."
There is a knock upon the door. I hasten to answer, expecting a page or maid. Instead, a very pretty elf – noble, if the clothes were anything to go off of - with wide blue eyes, full red lips, and a waterfall of dark, wavy hair awaits me shyly. "Queen Caladhiel?" she asks.
"Yes?"
She scrambles to curtsey. "I'm to show you to dinner, my lady."
"Oh, well, then, please show the way," I say, slightly embarrassed. Despite the time I've put in as queen, I rarely have to exercise my nobility. Most everyone I'm around in the palace treat with a comfortable, casual manner. All of this "my lady-ing" feels quite out-of-place to me.
The girl leads me through a short maze of airy, open corridors that offer splendid views of the picture-perfect landscape that surrounds Rivendell's palace. I'm so distracted by the pretty scenery that I barely notice when we've stopped before an arched doorway, beyond which Lord Elrond sits. The girl hangs back, allowing me to enter before her. I curtsey to Elrond. He motions for me to rise, then, to my surprise, holds out a hand, which the girl accepts.
"I hope my daughter proved to be a good guide," he states. "Arwen knows this palace perhaps better than anyone."
"Forgive me, I did not know it was your daughter that lead me here," I admit honestly. "Well-met, Lady Arwen."
She doesn't meet my eyes right away. "Well-met, my lady," she replies softly. I offer her a gentle smile. She is probably near Tauriel's age, though far less bold in character.
We sit, dining on fish and a salad. It's over halfway into our meal when Elrond ventures to ask how my journey went. He's edging around the true question – "Why are you here?" I keep my attention on my pudding as I answer that it had been a fair trip, a little tiring at times, but overall quite good.
"I've not left the Greenwood in decades," I admit. "It is nice to see something of the world. And I do believe Rivendell is the furthest East I have been."
"Do you seek to go further, on this journey?" he asks me, eyes narrowing by a fraction. Arwen, who has been relatively silent throughout the meal, also has her quiet gaze set upon me.
"I do not know," I reply, attempting a breezy tone. "I've not yet decided."
Following dinner, Arwen leaves us, drifting from the dining room. Elrond's eyes follow her fondly as she departs. It is abundantly clear that he adores his daughter, and I've no doubt he feels an equal amount of love towards his two sons who are, he told me with a wry voice, visiting their grandparents and causing quite the ruckus in their wood. I've no doubt of it. From what I've heard of Elrohir and Elladan, they are quite spirited lads.
We make out way to the balcony, where the final golden rays of the evening's sunset beckon. I fold my hands, looking out over the beautiful valley. Elrond's gaze follows mine.
"I do not wish to be rude," he says softly. "But I do not feel as though I can turn a blind eye any longer. Why did you come here, Queen Caladhiel? What has pulled you from your forest."
The breeze tugs as my hair. I push several dark gold locks back, not looking away from the landscape.
"I will hide nothing from you, Lord Elrond. Though, this is not easy for me to explain." I pause, hesitating. "I have left the Greenwood. For – for a time, at least. It was with great haste and little planning. I must be honest, I don't really know where I am going or what I'm doing, only that I am seeking refuged from my throne."
He tilts his head. "What has caused you to so desperately seek distance from your realm? As queen, I would imagine that nothing could keep you from staying?"
I close my eyes tightly. "My Thranduil," I whisper. "He lets our lands waste away. He allows the dwarves to burn, uncaring of their fate. He refuses to eradicate dangers along our boarders. He will not listen to sense, nor reason. I cannot bear it." I bow my head. "Perhaps I should have taken a more active role in tending to our realm prior to the destruction of Erebor. But he did not ask it of me. And I was uncertain…there are those of our court who would question every move I made, disagreeable elves who would make my power tarnish….I was not brave. And now –" I cannot go on, heart in my throat. "Lord Elrond, you must not think that I do not love my husband!" I cry. "Or that I think nothing of abandoning my son. But I cannot stay with him while he disregards the safety of our lands. I thought that maybe…if I left, he might take me seriously."
Lord Elrond, to my surprise, offers me a hand. I accept it, grateful for the comfort.
"I received a letter from your husband two days ago," he starts quietly. "Warning me that you might be found within the territory, asking me to give you shelter and to send you back…or if not, to close my doors to you, in the hopes, I think, of sending you towards home. He was desperate to have you returned. It seemed, in his letter, that you would be quite helpless, a wayward child that needed guidance. I did not understand the nature of the conflict between you. Now, I do a little more, but I do not feel comfortable sending your back to him against your will."
Relief floods my body. "Thank you."
"With that in mind…where are you looking to go? Shall you take up with humans? Sail East?"
"I do not quite know," I say. "I just knew enough to leave. Foolishly, I did not think much beyond that."
It's not quite a lie – I hadn't planned on Elrond's hospitality, though I've hoped for it.
He peers at me, eyes keen. "We would be pleased to host you."
"Oh, but I cannot – I could not impose so!" I falter. "I do not know how long I shall be away…."
"Stay," he insists. "My lady, we would love to house you in this time of need. It would be our pleasure."
"Your children –"
"Would love the guidance of an older, gentle elf such as yourself." He pauses. "Arwen misses her mother a great deal. I may be asking much in this, but if she could benefit from your guidance, take her under her wing…the kindness would be so greatly appreciated."
He seeks me to be a mother-figure for his daughter, his beloved youngest child? I think of the quiet young woman, hiding behind a veil of dark hair.
"Of course."
"You would be family to us. Besides, unless I am mistaken, we are in fact kin. Elurín was your father, was he not? You are a descendent of Lúthien? If that is so, we must improve our connection. We are, after all, family."
I smile, so overwhelmed by kindness. "Lord Elrond, nothing would please me more."
-XXX-
"….Lord Elrond has been kind enough to grant me hospitality. He has been so gracious. I hope that your father might let you visit, if only for a few days. I know you would like Rivendell. It has a very tranquil atmosphere you would appreciate. And I would like very much to introduce you to your cousins, Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir.
I spend most of my days with young Arwen. She is delightful, a clever creature with a keen nature and tender heart. I am learning to use a loom, and read often. Elrond has an impressive library, bigger than ours. But, Rivendell does trade with a wide range of nations, so I am not surprised. I know you are not much into reading, my love, but I think even you would be quite fascinated with this library.
Give Beriana, Tauriel, Ulain, Kal, Arhiel, and Dorith my love. And, if your father will listen, pass some along to him as well. I miss you every minute of every day, Legolas…."
He had read through the letter four times by the time Tauriel found him, sitting on the edge of a bolder that overlooked a small brook. In this northeastern corner of the wood, not too far from his mother's cottage, where she lived before becoming queen of the Greenwood, he had hoped that he would not be discovered. But of course Tauriel missed him.
She crept upon him soundlessly, plopping down beside him, nudging her friend with her knee.
"Why the long face, Green Leaf?"
Legolas folded the letter, allowing a too-forced smile to stretch his lips painfully as he stows it in his belt. "Tis nothing."
She does not a believe him, but lets it pass. "And what brings you all the way out here, in this distant part of your father's wood?"
"I was seeking some privacy and peace."
"Then you did not go far enough," the young elf teases. "For it seems I have found you."
The prince smiles again with a touch of true sincerity. They sit together quietly, observing the goings-on of the forest. Several minutes pass before Tauriel ventures to speak again.
"Another letter from your mother?"
Slowly, hesitantly, Legolas nods.
Tauriel takes in his downturned lips and tight eyes. "I miss her too," she says. "Though, not nearly half as much as you, I am sure."
A small laugh escapes his lips. "But I do not miss her even a fraction as much as my father," he assures her dully. "Though he does not speak it, every fiber of him aches for missing her. For all the good it does him."
"Legolas…."
"He is the reason she is gone," he finishes bitterly.
"You should not say such things, Legolas," Tauriel whispers. She claims one of his fists, forcing the fingers to straighten and curl into her own. "He loves her."
"But not enough to listen!"
His tone causes her to recoil. Flustered, the prince quickly apologizes. He is swiftly forgiven, and they again fall into silence.
"She isn't coming home," he says abruptly after nearly twenty minutes of quiet have passed between them. "I thought this would be just a temporary thing, but it has been nearly a year, and she doesn't want to come back. I cannot blame her. But I do wish one of them would break and forgive the other. They miss each other so much."
"They are both stubborn," Tauriel sighs. "My mother says that's the only reason they took so long to court and wed – both of them were so hard-headed." She leaned over to hug her friend with a sigh, pushing back a few of his flaxen lock to press her cheek against his.
"They have to solve this eventually," he says quietly, lacing the fingers of his free hand with hers. "I just hope it's before the next age passes."
-XXX-
Poor kid (er, elf?).
Classes start this coming week, so I might update Sunday-Monday-ish, then wait until next the weekend to post again. It's going to be a very busy semester, so I am hoping to get the final 8 chapters wrapped up rather quickly. Fingers crossed!
As always, questions, comments, concerns or critiques, I will take 'em and answer them all eventually!