Iythrinel sat upon the steps leading up to Thanduil's throne, reading a book. They sat in comfortable silence when an elf came up with a letter in hand. "My king, I bring you a letter." Iythrinel looked at Thranduil who casted her a glance, huffing she stood and accepted the letter from the elf's hands. Walking back up she stopped in front of Thranduil.
"The letter my king." She said and whispered after. "One which you could have easily retrieved from him yourself might I add." His eyes gleamed.
"Why must I do it when I have you?" He asked and took the letter from her hands. Swiftly the elven king opened the parchment dismissing the elf and began to read. The more he read, the wider his eyes became, his mouth moving swiftly, but no words coming out, reading to himself. And then he paused...and then he read it again. Four times he read the letter, his eyes becoming more haunted with each reading.
"Thran?" Nel asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What is it?"
His heart threatening to burst from his chest, he cleared his throat, but spoke to her, his voice barely above a whisper.
"A Letter, from Mithrandir." He placed a trembling hand upon her own. "He has found it." Concerned for her friend and king, Iythrinel put aside the letter and kneeled in front of him.
"What has Mithrandir found?" He looked into her eyes.
"Mother's crown, The Advir of Moonlit Meadow Pearls."
Iythrinel lightly gasped, "But they were lost to the sea with." She stopped short, not wanting to fully talk about Thranduil's mother's demise.
"Some elves had found the crown washed up on the shore, they thought it a gift from Ulmo. Mithrandir tells that they are willing to part with it but," He paused thinking about the conditions to be met for their return, pain gripped his heart.
A hand placed itself on his face and he looked into Orange-brown eyes. "But what Thran?"
A stuttered breath, "A daughter, they request I marry her to protect her for she is the result of a forbidden union, one highly frowned upon."
Iythrinel lowered her hand from his face and grasped his own, feeling it tremble, "Must you marry?"
He bowed his head. "The Advir of Moonlit Meadow Pearls, is sacred Nel, they." he took in a shaky breath, his hand clenching her own. "They belonged to mother."
Iythrinel closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to his own. "Do what you see fit to bring your mother's crown back home Thran. If needed I will do whatever you ask of me." With a sigh she slowly stood letting his hands go from her own.
"Call upon Deslein." Thranduil said and looked up, eyes glimmering with determination, "I have a response I must get to Mithrandir before night's end."
Iythrinel bowed, "Of course my king."
"I must admit, you would not have been my first choice." Faeilân barely bothered to spare her grandfather a glance as she brushed her hair into parts, preparing it for a braid. His tone was light, trying for a joke.
"Oh? I wasn't aware any of your blood should have been a choice at all."
Sadness crept into his eyes, but she didn't turn to see. His hair, long and red brown, like fresh dark mud and red clay fell into his eyes as he let his head drop.
"Fae, I never meant-"
She cut him off, looking up and meeting his eyes in the mirror, "Rather you meant to or not, it has been done. I am going and Isarada is safe from your stupidity and selfishness."
For the first time, anger shone in the depths of Orome's eyes, and she prepared herself. Her grandfather's anger was legend, people went so far as to go out of their way to avoid angering him. she held her breath, counted to ten, released the breath, and he seemed to be doing the same.
"We are running out of time. Out of options. This, this is exactly why you would not have been my first choice. You lack discipline, you think you rule. Your word is not law. You are going to have Thranduil running for the hills in no time. You are too much like me. Isadara is sweet and-"
"And a child." Her voice was soft, and she went back to her braid, dismissing him with a, "I will do what I must, but not for you, and not for the Valar, but for my blood, because that is what family does."
When he was gone, she slumped forward, letting out a shallow breath that rattled in her lungs, burning. Unshed tears fought for release, but she shoved them back. Her thoughts went back to that room, the pale marble, cold, and in her opinion right now, cruel. Her sister's face, and the faces on the rest of the Valar when they'd turned to look at her. She was sure her own face matched their shock; she hadn't even been aware she'd spoken. But after a bit of silence, a small chuckle had left the unseen lips of Eru.
"It is decided then. Your sacrifice is accepted. forever will you be honored by all of Aman."
She'd ignored his words, ignored the looks of shock and horror on her parents and siblings' faces. And since then here she sat, in her room, wanting nothing more than to be alone. One couldn't say that she regretted her decision to take the place of her sister, but she did wish that there had never been the need. she stood slowly, finishing her braid, and turned just as another knock sounded on her door. Her shoulders drooped, and her head fell back. This was growing to be tiresome.
"Enter." She spoke softly, confident that her voice would reach whichever being waited patiently on the other side. The door opened, and a cloud of white hair brushed into the room. She sighed, then offered him a soft smile, "You, I can say, I am happy to see, Olórin."
The male smiled, giving a deep bow, his right hand over his heart, "The news has just come to me, my Lady, and though it saddens me deeply, I have been appointed not only to watch over you, but to actually...participate."
Chills spread up her spine, and she eyed him suspiciously. Things Gandalf the grey got involved in always got a little...messy. She cleared her throat, and grey eyes lifted to meet her own. She nodded to indicate it was alright for him to carry on with his explanation. He stood slowly, straightening himself.
"Word has already been sent, by Mithrandir," He gave a little smile at that, "And already he is sending word back. I expect his reply at any point in time now."
"How did you even get an elvenking to agree to this?"
"Ahh, and that, my Lady, is what I have come to show you."
From the left sleeve of his cloak, Olórin produced a small round crown, glittering and shining like a thousand stars. In the center, a larger pearl graced it, and to her it looked like the moon.
"What, in the name of Eru, is that?" her voice was full of wonder, taking a tentative step forward, fingers reaching out to caress the little pearls as if it were the most delicate thing in the world.
"This is an Advir of the Greenwood elves. More importantly, their king. It was his mother's. It's made from the pearls of the Moon Pearls, from the Moonlit Meadow flowers," He smiled as he started his story, her face lit up like a child, as if she were there in the meadow he spoke of.
"It was said the flowers, looked like little lilies, but were black like the night sky and from the center growing from the little stems are pearls that look like stars in the sky, pearls that held their light. They only bloomed at night, in the summer, when they sky was cloudless and the moon and stars shone brightly on the meadow. But that part of the Greenwood has been empty for thousands of years, now. The Advir of Moonlit Meadow Pearls, this crown, Isilme Rî. Ulmo retrieved it, as it was lost to sea when an orc of the war, who even in death, refused to let the Lady Oropher go, and dragged her down into the depths. His name was lost in time" He paused, and her eyes clouded over in sadness. For as beautiful as Aman was, it was full of such sorrow sometimes she could hardly stand it. And now she was to be a part of that.
" Aulë repaired this so I would have the honor of presenting it to you, and you in turn are to present this as incentive and wedding gift to Thranduil. The crown is his birthright, after all." The Maiar nodded wisely, and Faeilân gave him a soft, sad smile, lifting her hand to his face. The male bent forward so she could reach, as he was almost seven feet tall. Her fingers were light as they glided over his cheek, and his skin crinkled at the corners of his kind eyes.
"I am glad it will be you with me, and no one else."
"Should not be a problem, young Fae, so long as you remember to call me Mithrandir, and even old man will be acceptable on occasion." He was proud of himself with a genuine smile and soft peals of laughter filled her chambers.
Placing a kiss on her forehead, he dipped in a bow again, leaving the crown on the table next to her bed, and saw himself out, "Sleep well, my Lady, or as well as you can. For on the morrow, you will meet your new…" He trailed off, and really, there was no need for it to be spoken, so he gave her a weak smile, and finished his sentence with, "destiny." And closed her door.
Ainur purred softly, crawling into the bed as she lay down, curling around her protectively. For a moment, she stared into his celestial blue eyes, and she felt the connection there like an electric current as the tiger entered her mind.
Do not be troubled, do not hold a heavy heart. I will always be with you.
Her heart did lift, hearing Ainur's deep baritone, and he nuzzled his head against her neck, almost knocking her off the bed, making her laugh.
"If you don't kill me first."