All day, people had been arriving, from all over, and Faeilân stood valiantly by the King's side as he looked over last minute preparations, greeted and introduced her to their guests, and other business. She even held his hand, his palm facing upwards, and hers downward and flat upon his. They hadn't perfected it yet, but they had practiced their smiles, and standing, and though Thranduil had grown more and more impatient, she had laughed at herself, apologizing repeatedly, but never stopping her laughing. Now, whenever she was struggling to smile, as she faced the people who were to witness her publically sealed fate, all she had to do was think of Thranduil's desperate face or Bard's easy laughs.
She felt Thranduil stiffen next to her, and she instinctively stepped closer to him, looking up into his eyes, and he looked back down into her own, gesturing with a subtle nod of his head. She turned, plastering a smile back onto her face as she looked upon a tall blonde couple, walking gracefully towards them, their hand holding much more natural.
"And so this is your bride to be, Thranduil." It was a statement, not a question, from the woman. Thranduil stiffly bowed to her and her husband, then gestured towards them with a sweep of his free hand.
"Faeilân Nyeri, I give you the Lady Galadriel, and her husband Celeborn." The woman, Galadriel, glanced at Faeilân, and her eyes widened slightly, making Fae lift a brow. She felt her, prodding at her mind, and Fae tilted her head.
"I would enjoy your company when you have a free moment, Faeilân. If that will be alright with you." She smiled, though there was suspicion there, lurking in her eyes.
"Of course, my Lady. It would be my pleasure." She smiled, though this time, it was forced, and she felt Thranduil's fingers flex under hers. She didn't chance looking away from the couple to look at him and catch the look of alarm that crossed his face.
"The Lady Galadriel insisted we make haste here, as soon as she awoke from a dream. Imagine, the whole of both our guards, traveling in the middle of the night." Celeborn said, chuckling, looking with a slight amount of sympathy towards Fae. She gave him a little smile in return.
"Both?" Thranduil asked, and for a moment it sounded as if he'd hit puberty all over again.
"You did not think I would miss an opportunity like this, did you, old friend?" A dark haired elf stepped from behind the guard, a little private, secret smile across his features and he parted his companions and came forward. This time, she did curl her fingers in Thranduil's, as he swayed gently. And she did look up at him, a question in her eyes. He looked down at her, and gave a little secret roll of his eyes before addressing the male.
"Elrond! Welcome, old friend. Of course, all of you and your people are welcome. We are glad you could make it. We are honored to have your presence at such a...happy...occasion."
Elrond came forward, a grin splitting his face, and he took Faeilân's hand into his own, making Thranduil lift a brow.
"Thranduil, how is it you have come to be so lucky, not only once, but twice! She looks as if the Valar hand crafted her and sent her down to you themselves."
This time, Fae could not hold back the high pitched, borderline hysterical laughter that poured from her lips, and she took both of her hands from them, clapping them over her mouth as she stared with wide grey eyes at Elrond. He smiled, and Thranduil fumed. None of them had any idea how close he had come to the truth, except for maybe Galadriel, but she hoped the woman only thought she knew things. Thranduil shook her from her thoughts as he took one of her hands back, this time lacing their fingers, and she dipped her head to hide her grimace.
"Your words are too kind, my Lord Elrond." she replied.
"Indeed. Please, let my guard show you to your chambers. We are only awaiting the arrival of a few more guests before the feast begins. Iythrinel!"
Said guard heard her name called by her king and made her way to the gathered group of lords and ladies. Once she reached she bowed. "My king, Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn, Lord Elrond, welcome." She turned to Thranduil "What is it you would have of me?" she asked, slightly fidgeting with her sage dress and tucking her loose curls behind her ear. A woven crown of small blooms and leaves settled in her hair.
"Escort our guests to their chambers." He said, and she bowed turning to them.
"By your leave." Lady Galadriel nodded with a smile and walked to the guard, the lords followed and finally the two were alone for a bit again.
"This is terrible." Fae grumbled under her breath and through clenched teeth as she nodded towards the passing guards.
"You are only beginning to know what I go through on a daily basis. I did not expect them here, however. That is as big a surprise to me as it is to poor Iythrinel, who will have to scramble and find room for them."
She scowled at him, and he looked down at her with an innocent expression.
"She goes out of her way to care for you. You should not take that for granted." she said, and she almost missed his chuckle, as she turned her head and her heart caught in her throat. Thranduil, confused, followed her gaze, and then his eyes softened, and he looked back down at her.
"Shall we walk to meet them?" he asked near her ear.
There, clearing the threshold of the front gate, were her parents. Her father's skin was such a dark brown it was almost black, and her mother was fair and beautiful with glowing blond hair. They held hands much like Galadriel and Celeborn, faces serene and calm, until they saw her. She saw their hands visibly tighten, no doubt her father keeping her mother from running to her. Had Thranduil's arm not happened to snake around her waist, she was sure she would have fallen. It hadn't even been very long, as a matter of fact, it had only been three days, if even, but they reminded her of what she was losing.
They were standing toe to toe now, staring into unfamiliar eyes. Her parents were disguised, but they were her parents. Their arms were around her, and Thranduil released her to them with a slight smile. Gandalf, who had been walking behind them, came around them and stood off to the side with a large grin.
"Oh, little one, we've missed you so much." her mother cried into her hair. Fae hadn't realized it yet, but she was crying too. Her father's palm took up the entire back of her head it was so large, and he held both of the women to his chest, peppering kisses on their foreheads.
Thranduil made a soft sound after a while, and Fae was shocked that his patience had lasted so long. She pulled back, and three pairs of eyes settled on him, and he suddenly felt like he wanted to change his mind.
"You are Thranduil?" her father asked, and she wanted the earth to swallow her again. Thranduil lifted his brow, and opened his hand for Faeilân, and upon reflex, as she'd been doing all day, she took it, and her parents stared at her in shock. Thranduil smirked.
"I am." his voice was like silk, and he looked down into a disapproving Faeilân's eyes.
"I am Maeglad, and this is my wife, Anameleth. We are thankful to your for housing our daughter."
"The honor is mine. Tell me, is there news of your situation?" Thranduil asked, leaning towards her father with an expression he hoped was close to concern.
Her father lifted his brow, and tightened his fingers around her mother's. Which meant her mother wanted to slap Thranduil. Gandalf had rolled his eyes. She wished Ainur was here, he'd have something to say about this. But, Thranduil had insisted that he stay in the room lest he frighten the guests. Her father finally spoke, cautiously, clearing his throat.
"That is a matter of which we will have to speak of at more length with more privacy. But as of now it is looking," his eyes met Thranduil's, and both Fae and Thran froze to the spot. "Indefinite."
Fae chewed boredly at a piece of lettuce. Her mother leaned over in her ear, whispering things that would make her laugh every now and again. The families sat at opposite ends, with the betrothed at the heads, mother to the left, father to the right. In Thranduil's case, it was Iythrinel to his left, Legolas to his right. She was off in her own little world, imagining herself down by the river, laughing with a mortal she shouldn't be so infatuated with. Filling the seats between the two families were Gandalf, Elrond, Celeborn, and Galadriel. Rows upon rows of other guests and guards filled the other tables, the halls filled with merry making and cheer, but Fae jumped when Thranduil stood, lifting a glass of his fine Dorwinion wine. And she could say it was fine, even she, a Valar's daughter, was a little "tipsy." She'd even found herself catching, and then reading into, the little looks and touches Thranduil and Iythrinel gave each other. It was so obvious now. How had she not even noticed before?
Earlier, after their lunch, Thranduil and Fae, along with practicing their stances and smiles, had also practiced their lines. So she'd known it was coming, as he'd told her what the signal would be, but she'd still been in a little fantasy. But this was really happening. This was really now.
Her parents watched with sad expressions as she too stood, and she slapped on another fake smile as she lifted her glass with his.
"I would like to make a toast, to new family, new friends. Old friends, and to new futures." And then he took a sip, and she followed suit, and then the rest of them like mindless drones. She was getting sick to her stomach. She wanted to look at Nel with an apologetic expression, but she didn't have the balls to meet her gaze.
Thranduil made his way around the table, slowly, with the sure grace of a king, and Fae waited at the head of her side, patiently, with all the etiquette of a queen. She took his hand as he passed, and together, the two of them descended the small stair to a platform where they faced the expectant crowd. Gandalf had slipped her a silver ring upon his return earlier that day, and she clutched it in a fist in her left hand. Silence filled the room, and slowly, Thranduil turned to her.
"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?)" His voice, again, was like mithril, encased in silk, which was then encased in velvet, and she gave a delicate shudder, though what it was from she did not know. She held out her right index finger, and he slid the silver ring onto it. It fit perfectly.
"Guren be 'ureg…. Na veth min în, bestathangid. (My heart is like your heart. At the end of one year, we shall wed.)" She replied, hesitant, and she cleared her throat, her voice stronger as she went on. She presented him the ring, sliding it onto his finger, and wanted to snort, as it appeared a little snug. Gandalf looked pleased with himself.
They turned then, to face the crowd, again expectant, the excitement building for the second time, and again they spoke, "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!)"
Cheers rang out, and had Faeilân been any lighter in skin tone, she would have been pale as death. This was real, and this was now. Thranduil leaned down and kissed her cheek, his eyes saying the same as hers.
Iythrinel watched with a cold smile and dead eyes. Her hands gripped tightly onto her skirts. She breathed in deeply 'This is what your king has chosen Iythrinel, you have no right to feel slighted or angry, he is not yours and he never will be.' Those words she repeated to herself in her mind helped her to build a fortress around her heart once again. She was a guard and a friend, never a lover or a wife.
"They make a beautiful couple." She looked to her left and found Galadriel smiling at her and she made herself unclench her hands and force a less cold smile onto her lips.
"They do," and it was true, Thranduil stood tall and graceful with Lady Faeilân just as graceful next to him. "And as his guard I will do my best to now protect her as well, for she is to be my Queen." She dipped her head to Lady Galadriel.
Lord Celeborn looked around his wife at Thranduil's guard, "What of yourself Iythrinel? You are plenty old enough to have your own child by now. Does an elf not hold your own heart?"
Legolas held his comments to himself as he watched Nel be questioned by Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. Nearly laughing when she was questioned about her own love life, one sadly one sided and lacking. A twitch from a guard behind the pair brought his eyes up and he came upon the curious sight of the Lothlorien Marchwarden. His blue eyes would linger on Nel, and a small smile would lift his lips. He knew this warden as Haldir.
"I am afraid my work as the king's guard interferes with such things my Lord. I have not the time to find myself in love." Iythrinel answered. Haldir watched her from the corner of his gaze. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
Gandalf sat, watching Thranduil and Faeilân as they danced in the centre of the room. It was a merry gathering, but one filled with much sorrow. Her parents, though they clapped and danced themselves, even Legolas standing and forcing Iythrinel to dance with him. But still, the heavy hearts weighed down on him.
What is it you know, Mithrandir? Galadriel's voice filled his mind, and he looked at her pointedly from across the table.
I know that Elrond has taken quite the liking to our Lady Faeilân. He smiled at her, and she tilted her head, chastising him.
Now, Mithrandir, who is she? She is not who she claims to be.
Sweat started to bead on his brow, and he looked away, wiping his forehead with a pocket handkerchief, before he sighed and answered her.
It is the will of the Valar. If you value your life and the lives of your kin, you will leave it be.
She seemed surprised, so much so that she sat back in her seat as if she had been shocked. When Celeborn turned to first look at her, then to Gandalf, she asked her husband to dance. He accepted, but his eyes held questions.
The last thing they needed was for an outside force to know. Already things were changing. The meeting of the mortal Bard was not meant to happen, it just had. And things had already changed since their meeting, so there was nothing they could do now. From this point on they were, virtually…..completely blind. The Valar had no idea, and wouldn't allow him to inform Faeilân. Even now he watched with sadness as Thranduil learned of his and Fae's permanent living status, their faces grave as they spoke with her parents So, as always, Olórin did what he was told. He would watch over her, and do everything else he was told, including taking a small trip, to a small inn, in a few weeks time.