The others abandoned their horses at the gate, leaving them to be taken to the stables, but Fae rode Ainur all the way through.
"Will you not leave your mount to be taken with the others, my Lady?" one of the males asked, and she gave a curt smile over her shoulder.
"He is no mere mount, and have you seen the size of him? He may get hungry." was her reply. Ainur looked at the guard over his shoulder and gave a "wolfish" grin. The elf paled and hurried off. Iythrinel walked to a guard and whispered to her, then turning to Faeilân, "Tauriel here is one of my trusted captains of the guard, she will see you to your room to freshen up as I inform my King that you have finally reached his realm." and with a bow Iythrinel left.
Faeilân had no time to thank the smaller woman, so she said nothing, smiling softly at Tauriel and nothing more. She did however, finally slide off the back of Ainur, keeping pace easily with the slightly taller elven woman.
"How long have you lived in this realm, Tauriel?" Fae asked her, turning to look at the elf with respect, instead of keeping her eyes forward as if she didn't care about her answers.
"Oh, all my life, my Lady. I train under Lady Iythrinel." She answered politely, looking first at the shorter woman's face then back to the ground.
"Do you? I take she fights well, then. I must admit it surprises me that your King has any female guards at all."
It looked like Tauriel tried to suppress a laugh, but smiled nonetheless, "I am sure you are not the first to have thought the same."
Faeilân grinned, then looked forward, minding her steps as the first descended, then ascended elaborate winding staircases. She was a graceful being by nature, but she was sure to fall to her death here. Even Ainur and Gandalf struggled along behind them, Ainur keeping close without stepping on the train of her gowns.
"What else can you tell me of this realm, young Tauriel?"
Tauriel seemed surprised that the other woman was talking to her, but she thought for a moment before she answered, "The King is very protective, very fair in his rulings. Iythrinel keeps a close eye on him, she has since they were children."
Fae found this amusing; an heir to the throne being watched over his whole life by a woman. it thrilled her if she were being honest, and thought that surely he had a soft side to him then. Tauriel told her of King Oropher's passing, how Thranduil had been all but forced onto the throne, the death of his wife, and Fae caught the impression that Tauriel was trying to prepare her, explain why her king was like he was.
"Are you trying to soften me towards your king?" she asked, half amusement, half censure. Tauriel's face turned red and she dipped her head. Gandalf made a coughing sound behind them that Faeilân ignored.
"No, my Lady, that was not my intent, I was only-"
"Answering my questions. I thank you for your honesty, Tauriel."
"Of course. Here are your rooms." the girl was probably relieved to be rid of them, and the effect would probably be worsened if they ever found out that Fae came from ancient beings.
Iythrinel sped past the guards as they bowed their heads at her and waltzed through the door to the throne room, pausing and taking a deep breath she walked at a normal pace this time to the bottom of the stairs, Thranduil looked down at her, Legolas' by his side.
"I see you've made it back, what of Mithrandir and the woman?"
Iythrinel raised a brow, "You would do well to learn your wife to be's name my king. Mithrandir is with her now in her rooms, escorted by Tauriel. I am sure the lady will be down once she has refreshed herself. Is there anything else I may do to be of use to you?" She asked blankly.
His eyes softened as he looked down at her, his usually ice blue eyes glancing over her face with warmth, "Leave me." he said softly, and as the rest started to file out, he called back to the redhead, "Not you, Iythrinel. You stay."
Nel held herself still, watching him as he stood and started his descent down the stairs. He stopped in front of her, his eyes still soft. Her heart beat quickened and she could only hope he could not hear, or at least thought nothing of it if he could. He lifted a palm, and pressed it to her face. Had her glamour not been up, he would have felt her scars. She was only slightly shocked that she could feel his warmth seep through those very same scars, something her own hands could not achieve. He leaned forward until they were eye level, his silvery hair falling around his face and shoulders.
"I want you to be the one to escort the woman around after dinner, I trust no other with my personal business."
"What of Legolas? Surely he cou-"
"I want you." Thranduil said, and let his hand drop, straightening his back. "Will you do this for me, Nel?" Iythrinel sighed from the loss of his warmth and closed her eyes. "Of course Thran, I shall escort her around the palace."
He gave her a soft smile and a nod, before slowly, his face fell back into the straight lines of a glacier. "So it shall be, then."
Fae took her time, taking an extra long time brushing her hair even as Mithrandir rushed her. She parted it into strands and braided it, the end result as thick as a mortal man's arm as it fell over one shoulder. Thinking of mortals, she smiled to herself as her thoughts turned to Bard, but Ainur interrupted her, chuffing. She made a face at him, sticking her tongue out, and he stood in offense, turning his tail in her direction for the second time and laying back down. Gandalf chuckled, shaking his head, but didn't ask what their disagreement had been about, to which Fae was thankful.
"Hurry now, he'll be expecting you."
"Let him wait. He only wants the crown."
"Faeilân Nyeri, did your parents raise such a disrespectful child?" Mithrandir's voice swelled with the power he held hidden within, a shadow growing, covering half the room, and then all of it as it grew. Ainur growled, low in his throat, and moved slowly towards Fae, as if to protect her.
Fae's fingers sank into her tiger's furs, her eyes wide as she stared up at the wizard. A breath she didn't know she was holding was released as he seemed to come back into himself, tilting his head at her, "You chose yourself for this. It is time to do your duty."
Anger rose swiftly, how dare he bring up her family. But, he was right. She'd taken responsibility for this, she'd volunteered in place of her sister, it was true. She nodded curtly, then disappeared into the bathing chamber. When she returned, it was with a fresh gown of coral color, rippling to the floor, the bodice like a waterfall, the sleeves off the shoulder, reminiscent of a butterfly's wings as they too, almost fell to the floor. She made a face at the two males, who looked at her as if in surprise.
"You clean up quite nicely." the wizard said, his voice teasing. Ainur laughed, a booming, full bellied laugh in her head.
"Shut up, the both of you. Let us go give the king his treasure."
She opened the door, and to her surprise, there stood two guards, turning towards her alertly, bowing. She suppressed an eye roll, and turned to Gandalf, "Really?"
"'Tis a precautionary measure, my dear. Every queen has them." He chuckled a bit to himself, holding his arm out for her and she took it with a sigh. He lead them up the stairs, Ainur behind them, and the guards at an even greater distance behind him, weary of the large animal.
Mithrandir prattled on about nothing in particular as they went, filling the cold, empty halls with his pleasantries. Fae listened, a serene smile on her face, and let slip a little giggle here and there, one bubbling up right before they entered the throne room. Her face fell as she looked up, and up, and up the staircase to see Thranduil perched on his throne, the cold guard at his side and his son off to the other, and she resisted the urge to hike up her dress and leave again. She'd much rather be...well...anywhere else. More specifically seated on a dirty wooden wine barrel having a conversation with a certain mortal.
"'Quel, my Lord. I bring you a gift." Fae spoke evenly, lifting her chin, and from the corner of her eye, she caught the proud look Mithrandir wore on his face, hiding his smile by looking down. Lightly, she clicked her tongue, and Ainur presented himself, stepping forward, chuffing as he came from behind her and to her front. Crouching down, she let her eyes leave the three figures up on their perch and travel to the leather bag fastened tightly to the tiger's side. She released the clasp, giving him a smile and a soft thanks, and he moved off to her left, staring with cold eyes up at the king.
"So Mithrandir tells me. Show it to me." his voice was smooth as silk and she wanted to slap the smirk that fell across his lips. Gritting her teeth, and cast a little glance at the tall male beside her, and he gave a tiny smile and nod. Grudgingly, she stuck her fingers into the bag, and pulled the glowing crown free. An audible, collective gasp echoed around the room.
"As promised, King of Greenwood." her voice was flat, devoid of any emotion as she held it out for them.
An idea struck her, and with a secret smile, and her silent communication with Ainur, he chuckled, and turned towards her. Gently, she placed the crown into the tiger's mouth, only to watch the horrified faces the elves wore. She would have laughed, and the reprimanding glare she got from Gandalf was more than worth it. Happily, Ainur padded forward and up the stairs half way, his tail haughtily in the air the whole time. His eyes never left Thranduil's.
With a look from her king, Iythrinel stepped forward and descended the stairs to meet Ainur on the midway platform. Going to one knee, she accepted the crown and slid a hand over his fur. Standing she bowed to Fae.
"We thank you for your gift Faeilân Nyeri, and you as well Ainur for your gift." Straightening, she made her way back up the stairs, wiping off the tiny bit of saliva from the precious crown. Ainur turned, making his way back to Fae's side only after gently nuzzling into Nel's fingers. Stopping before Thranduil who stood, she once again got to one knee, head bowed and presented the crown to him.
With wide eyes and his breath held, Thranduil looked upon that which he thought lost forever. Slowly he took the crown from Nel's hands. A hand placed on his arm pulled him out of his reverie and he turned to Legolas who had a silk inlaid box ready. Gently, he placed the crown in and Legolas shut the box, he could marvel at the crown later, for now he had a feast to inform Faeilân of.
"Do you know the customs of elven marriage, Faeilân Nyeri?" he asked, his eyes looking over her with judgement. She didn't, but the reasons he thought she did not were not at all the case. She assumed he thought she did not know because, one, she'd not been raised among conventional elves, which was true. Second, because she was still young, or so he thought. She smiled a little to herself, letting her head fall forward in a "bow", was he trying to embarrass her?
"No, I cannot say I do, your Highness."
A knowing smile crossed his lips, and he stood slowly, coming down the stairs. She lifted a brow, about to take a step back, had it not been for Mithrandir's knowing hand pressed into the small of her back, keeping her in place. Thranduil came to stand in front of her, his eyes scrutinizing.
"There is a feast, in which we will exchange rings. Silver. I will then recite to you; Guren bêd enni i gi melin a bestathangid aen. Man gureg bêd? (My heart tells me that I love you and we should wed. What does your heart say?) And then will present my ring to you. To which you will reply with; Guren be 'ureg. Na veth min în, bestathangid! (My heart is like your heart. At the end of one year, we shall wed!), and present me with your ring." He stopped his circling, looking at her, to make sure her slow mind could keep up. To be honest, she didn't even bother to hold up pretenses. She looked utterly sick. For the first time, he thought that perhaps she did not want this, no more than anyone else seemed to. But he continued. A deal was a deal.
"Then together, we will say, Ai onron adh onril! Ai muindyr a muinthil! Ai meldir a meldis! Bestathangid na veth min în! (Hail father and mother! Hail brothers and sisters! Hail male-friends and female-friends! We two will marry at the end of one year!)."
"My mother and father will no-"
"Mithrandir has informed me that they will risk to attend this feast and the marriage feast only. As customs demand. But, hopefully, in a year's time, your family will have found elsewhere to take you. The feast and the rings are for show only." his voice was like a whip, partnered with his words, and Fae found herself making a face at him without even realizing it. Gandalf cleared his throat again, and she looked at him sharply; he had no room to correct her when he had not even told her that her "parents" would be there for the feast. But she let it go, for now, and turned back to the elvenking.
"Will that be all, Highness?" she asked softly, though evenly and indifferent, dipping her head again.
"Hmm, for now. Iythrinel will escort you around the grounds, show you around. I have preparations to attend to."
She didn't know which was worse; the guard or Thranduil himself. The guard didn't seem to like her, and Thranduil would probably insult her with every step and breath he took. She sighed and dipped her head, looking at Gandalf in an "We will talk later" fashion, and Ainur pressed himself against her side, letting her drape an arm over him.
"We will follow you out, Lady Iythrinel." Iythrinel once again descended the stairs, nodding to her king in passing.
"That went better than expected." Gandalf's pleasant voice filled her ears, and she groaned out in her pillow as she collapsed on the bed.
"I don't know what tour you were on, but it could have gone much smoother." she griped, and Ainur nosed his two cents in, laying his head on the bed while his body sat on the floor.
I don't know. It wasn't that bad at all. Fae glared at him, and he gave the mental equivalent of a shrug. What?
"There is something wrong with both of you. She clearly hates me, though I do not know why," And at this, she lifted her head and glared at Gandalf. "Do you?"
His eyes widened, and he looked at her, clearly ruffled, being put in an awkward position. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, "Well I...you see…" he started, then waved his hand, chuckling awkwardly, dismissively. Faeilân stared at him pointedly, brow lifted; she would not let this go.
With a sigh, he gave in, "I may or may not have neglected to tell you…" he looked at her, face tight, before he let his shoulder droop, "Lady Iythrinel has been in love with Thranduil since she was a child." A look of sympathy washed over the old, withered face.
Faeilân sat up, gasping at the horror she felt. She was stealing the male this woman loved right from under her. No wonder the woman was so cold. No doubt she'd had to watch the first marriage take place as well. And then another thought to her, and Gandalf stiffened as her eyes fell on his again, turning a cold, hard brown.
"You knew this, so the Valar had to have known." She started, and the slight widening of his eyes gave truth to her musings. "I am right! The Valar knew and still they gave me to him. That poor woman! Her love stolen from her not once, but twice. You would have me be the ruin of their love?" she was outraged, by now she'd thrown herself from the bed, standing in the old man's face, as he was seated. Ainur watched warily from the corner of the room, having moved when she'd gotten up.
This time, instead of his power swelling as his anger took root, Olórin took a breath and let it out, his glamor falling as his hand pressed to her face, cupping it gently, and he gave her a sweet, sad smile, "I do only what my Master tells me. i never wanted this for you. None of us did."