THE FORGOTTEN
Naur Thand Loss
True Snow Fire
Author's note: The chapter in which – Lothril gets her first winter holidays and Legolas shows her a little elven magic.
Winter came to the north of the world earlier than it had in Rivendell. In Rivendell, it had been cold and there had been snow on and off, but nothing seemed to stick more than a few days before the Fellowship had headed out at the end of the December. In the Woodland Realm though, which was a fair few miles north of Rivendell, snow had come three days after the incident with the splintered practice sword, which meant it was the very beginning of December when the first snow fell. It had only been about three inches deep and after four days it melted only to be replaced two days later with a deep snow that Legolas said when it started to fall that it was likely to remain and only get deeper until spring. This was quite fine with her for it made the view out her window a peaceful winter scene of black and white lace set against a grey sky and veiled by swirling snow. The snow had started late the night before and at breakfast the next morning Thranduil called for Naur Thand Loss.
"What is Naur Thand Loss?" Lothril asked. (True Snow Fire lit.: fire true snow)
"As the name suggests, it is a fire we have after the first snow of the year melts and the second one falls. We nearly always have an early snow that melts and then the second one that will stay till spring," Thranduil answered. "And so to mark the first proper snowfall of winter, we have a large fire and make merry."
"How does this differ from Turuhalmë?" she asked.
"Turuhalmë is longer and we have much storytelling and feasting and music and games and dancing. Naur Thand Loss only lasts a day at most and there is no feasting as such. It is mostly dancing and drinking and song and everyone comes and goes as they please – including us, in case you are wondering," Thranduil answered.
"Which means as soon as the snow stops, a fire will be lit and at your leisure we will don our warm cloaks and go out into the clearing and enjoy ourselves," Legolas said with a smile.
She looked out the window and saw the snow was slowing down. "It looks like the fire should be lit soon," she said, excitement creeping into her voice. She hadn't been this giddy about a snow since she went into the seventh grade and no longer had recess.
Thranduil looked out the window. "It shall be at that." He summoned Galion and said to him, "Have the fire pits cleared and wood made ready. I want the fires ready to be lit as soon as the snow ceases. Also see to it that the early season cider is brought out to be mulled first. The late season stuff was very nice this year and I want to reserve it for Turuhalmë and my table. Also bring out that wine we were gifted last year. It will be exquisite mulled, I think. How are our beer and mead stores?"
"Ample my king, and we have quite enough supplies on hand to make more," Galion answered.
"Excellent," Thranduil said. "Bring out some of the beer and mead also and then we shall set about brewing more over the next few days. And tell the kitchens to plan on soups and stews for our lunch and supper today so it will be hot whenever we are ready for it."
"I shall do so, my king," Galion replied.
"Thank you, that is all," Thranduil said then turned his attention back to Legolas and Lothril.
"So on a scale from slightly chilled to frozen solid, how cold should I expect to be by the end of today?" Lothril asked.
Legolas gave a short chuckle and said, "Neither. The fire will be hot and you can return inside whenever you feel chill, which shall probably not be very often."
"That is right, this is your first winter as an elf," Thranduil said. It was easy to forget sometimes it was only last August she showed up as a human and this was an odd reminder.
She nodded. "When we were climbing the Misty Mountains I was cold and miserable for weeks, despite fur cloaks and thick clothes."
"You shall not be cold and miserable today I think," Thranduil said with a slight and mischievous smile.
"Indeed, you shall not," Legolas said. "Come melethril, and I will show you what I have arranged for your warmth and comfort," he added as he stood and held out a hand to her.
"Enjoy yourselves," Thranduil said smiling.
The door hadn't even shut behind them all the way when Lothril asked, "What did he mean by that?"
"He knows my plans for today," Legolas said with a grin.
"So more than a quick trip to the tailor and a snow bonfire?"
"Maybe," he said, glancing at her before he pulled her into her room and went straight into her bed chamber with her. "Oh good! We have returned before Estelneth," he said as he glanced around. "Let me give you some idea then of what I have planned. First, I want to-"
Just then Estelneth came in and Legolas merely raised a brow and pressed his lips together. He should have known she would be swift.
"Your highness, I apologize I was not here when you returned, but I have gotten everything you requested," Estelneth said, and immediately she stepped aside and in came three more servants who were carrying various items. As soon as they set them out on Lothril's bed, they all bowed to the prince and left.
"Thank you, Estelneth. Prepare milady's things and she will be with you shortly. Come Lothril," Legolas said and pulled her out of the bedroom into the anteroom.
"Any particular reason you do not wish to speak in front of Estelneth of all people?" Lothril asked.
"I trust her implicitly, but that does not mean I wish to have her know every inch of my affairs. Goodness knows, she probably knows nine-tenths of them now that we are betrothed by virtue of the fact she attends you. I simply desire a little privacy. So first, I want to give you something. Second, before the bonfire I wish to take you somewhere and show you something that I particularly love in winter. Third, you look in that dress like the very queen of winter and I am desperate to show you my worship and obeisance as your adoring consort."
She looked at him with raised brows and an incredulous look. "Worship and obeisance as an adoring consort? Really, Legolas, oh prince of the realm?"
"I chose my words," he said as he drew her to himself and began kissing what parts of her neck and shoulders were exposed before moving up to her jaw and then her ears and then her lips. All the while he muttered sweet praises of her beauty and his desires towards her until he started to feel her melt in his arms. Then he slowly lowered her onto the couch and whispered in her ear, "Let us return to Estelneth so I may show you your gift."
"Legolas, you fiend! You make me melt in your arms and then expect me to be composed in front of Estelneth?!"
"I never said I expected you to be composed in front of Estelneth. In fact, I will dismiss her for the time being if you want."
"Ha! In this I think it is not what I want half so much as it is what you want and since today is going to be full of unexpectedness, I will let you choose," Lothril replied.
"Let us go into your bedroom then," he said with a grin.
They went into the room and true to form, Estelneth had everything laid out and waiting. "What do we have here?" Lothril asked, eyeing the bed.
"Clothes for the cold and snow, milady," she answered.
"And this," Legolas said as he picked up the small box on the end of her bed, opened it, and took out a brooch that looked like a beautiful piece of feathery hoarfrost swirling around a white gem that looked like a piece of ice. "To pin your scarf in place."
She carefully took it from his hand and examined it closely. "Oh Legolas! I have never seen anything so delicate and fair! It is like a piece of winter in my hand."
"And it goes perfectly with this," he said, picking up a soft white scarf that glinted with silver threads and handed it to her. "Estelneth, I believe we have this in hand. We will summon you if you are needed."
Estelneth gave a polite bow and quickly left the room.
"Goodness Legolas," Lothril said teasingly.
"Now here, change into this as that beautiful dress you are wearing is not at all suitable for being out in the snow." He picked up the outfit on the wooden hanger and handed it to her.
Grinning, she shook her head, took the outfit, and went behind her screen to change then immediately popped her head back out. "You dismissed Estelneth too soon. I need help undoing this dress."
"I can help you again, I think," Legolas said with a grin. "As long as you do not tell, I certainly will not."
She arched a brow at him. "I certainly will say nothing, but really Legolas! We have broken nearly every convention now, I think."
"Most likely," he said as he came around the screen. She turned her back to him and pulled her hair off to one side and he began undoing the series of delicate little buttons.
"I still cannot believe sometimes how comfortable I am with you," Lothril said.
"What brings this thought to mind?" he asked, slightly distracted by the long string of buttons and loops.
"That I so readily agreed to let you help me undress and I feel no shyness at all," she replied.
He balked in surprise. "None at all?"
She shook her head. "None at all. Though it probably helps knowing you have seen me in my swimsuit and that my underdress has more to it than a good many outfits you have seen me in."
Legolas gave a soft chuckle and said, "This is true." He undid a couple more buttons then asked almost feeling shy himself, "Do you feel shy or nervous at the thought of me seeing more?"
"No, not particularly," she answered easily.
That wasn't quite the answer he expected, but it pleased him to no end and caused him to blush a little. "I am done," he said and went out back in front of the screen.
"Thank you," she said. She quickly dropped the dress and flung it over the top of the screen and then took a good look at the new outfit. It wasn't quite a dress, but not quite a winter hunting or traveling outfit either. Sort of a happy cross between the two. It had a pair of soft wintry grey leggings that felt like thick fleece. Then there was a long, thick outer robe that came only just past the knees. It was a soft snowy white color with a full skirt and was lined in white and grey fur and had embroidery in feathery and frosty designs in silver and pastels that are so often found in snowy winters. Pinks, blues, purples, and yellows scrolled along every edge and leant it the appearance of sunset peaking above the soft clouds of fur. She quickly pulled on the leggings, then put on a warm but plain under tunic, a more decorative and longer pale blue tunic, and a long outer tunic that was fir needle green and the thick and warm and the white robe over all. She came out from behind the screen and asked, "What do you think?" as she spun around.
"I think I have good taste," he joked. He took her hands and gave her a kiss then added, "And you look as lovely as a winter day." He kissed her again. "Put on your scarf and boots and come with me and then we will head out."
"Lead on, my prince," she teased with a grin, grabbing some mittens off the bed and stuffing them in her pockets as he wrapped the scarf around her neck and pinned it in place.
"Your wish is my command, my winter queen," he replied and kissed her hand then led her out of the room. They stopped at his briefly so he could grab his coat, boots, and gloves and they headed out.
He was very excited about this! Two days ago before the snow started, the air had smelled like snow and after the tension and stress of the last few weeks, this was a much needed moment of respite. He had several guards come with him to survey and sweep the area to make sure it was clear and safe and then he had laid protective spells. This was something he had been planning to do with her before they were even betrothed and there was no way he was going to allow some crazed elleth to ruin his plans. It would just take additional ones, is all.
He practically had them jogging to the nearest gate that led outside and as soon as they were out, he took her out towards the river. They had only gone maybe a dozen feet or so before Lothril gently pulled on Legolas hand and said, "Wait a moment. I want to see how deep the snow is."
He stopped and said with a grin, "Please do."
She stopped and stomped down into the snow. "About a foot, I reckon."
"At least," Legolas replied.
She stomped around a bit more and left a circle of nice deep prints before stepping back up onto the surface of the snow where they left only inch or so deep ones.
"Alright, enough silliness. Let's go!" Lothril said.
Legolas laughed, "We are not in a rush. We can be as silly as we wish to be! But if you wish to continue on, we shall."
They went up river for a ways, seeing the occasional guard or footprints where one had passed not terribly long ago. The footprints stopped though after a certain point and Legolas almost sighed with relief. This is where the patrols ought to stop and without the footprints of so much as a chipmunk on the fresh snow, Legolas felt confident his precautions were paying off. The river bent away to the left and they passed through that little clearing he had dragged her to after her first sparring match with Thranduil and then on a little ways further, the land gently sloping upwards. There was a path he was leading her on and about a five minute walk from that clearing they came out of the trees to a more open space where the river opened up to them and they could see twenty foot tall stair step waterfalls.
"Oh Legolas!" she breathed. "What a lovely waterfall!"
"Not quite so large and thunderous as Tahquamenon perhaps, but I have always found them fair, especially in winter. I love seeing them like this, crashing and rushing against a fallen snow, but I also love it when they are quiet and frozen over," Legolas said. "Come with me."
He took her by the hand and led her closer to the falls but a little further away from the river. Lothril could see where the land split and part of it tumbled down a steep bluff into a narrow bank and into the river and the rest rose up then leveled out so they were even with the tops of the falls. He stopped at a place where they could both see the falls and the river below and above the falls.
"Alae! rîs rhîw nin, ro-vain vi ardhelen! Dafol nin peded anlen, reithron nin, o hannwegath a meleth nin. (Behold! my winter queen, very fair in your realm! Permit me to speak to you, my savior, of my thankfulness and love.)"
He almost looked completely serious except for his shining eyes and the smile that threatened to turn up the corners of his mouth.
"If it will make you feel better, oh prince of the realm who outranks me, you may speak to your heart's content," she replied with a grin.
He smiled and took her hands in his and began singing a song he had written for her to express just what she meant to him after the boar hunt. That she could very well die had sent him into a near panic and he had flown to her with only one thought in mind – save her! Then when he was gored by the boar and realized he was dying and she looked fine… he had been grieved that he would not be able to wed her next autumn, but she was safe… and he reckoned he would be reincarnated sooner or later and would find her and immediately marry her. He knew she would wait for him… and she was safe. That was all that mattered. Then she had begun healing him. He could not speak, he could barely see, but he could see her, shining like a star come to earth. The vision of her grew clearer and brighter and after a time he could see his father also and he began to realize that he could see the trees and sky above them too… then the pain grew worse and subsided at the same time. He could feel again, but there was simply less to feel, except for her. He could feel her everywhere as if she was water flowing over him and through him. He could feel her touch, he could feel her warmth, he could feel her fëa as if it were as tangible a thing as her hand that was cleaning his wound. She was healing him! He had been slow to realize it, but she was healing him and he knew now he would live. He could feel his fëa regain mastery of his hröa and almost as if a consensus had been reached between her and himself, he surrendered to unconsciousness knowing full well when he was ready he would awaken and she would be waiting. Then when he awoke and realized what all she had done for him… how his love for her grew exponentially! They had each risked themselves for the other without hesitation… he already held some feelings for her as a comrade in arms thanks to the battles they fought together, but that they each had willingly sacrificed themselves for the other… it brought a new closeness that he was sure not even love making could bring and he cherished the fact that there was another strong bond between them, binding them together.
As he sang and held her gloved hands in his, he could see her eyes become unguarded and that she understood. She even felt the same way. As soon as his song was over she pulled him into a hug and held him for a long while.
"I wish I knew what to say," she whispered at length as she continued to hold him.
"You need not say anything," he answered quietly. "Only stay with me and let me guard you and keep you safe. Let me love you as you deserve to be loved."
"I will do those things," she replied, nuzzling her face closer to his neck.
He smiled. He loved her being so close. This was where she belonged, where he belonged, in each other's arms.
He felt her suddenly stiffen in his arms. "What is wrong?"
"Is it safe for us to be out here like this without a guard?" she asked, sounding like she was teetering on the edge of being very nervous.
"It is safe. Before it snowed I came out here with a small guard and we thoroughly swept this whole place and then I laid spells around it to ensure no one could come here and cause mischief. I finished just as the snow began to fall and you saw for yourself there were no footprints. There is also a guard that regularly patrols this wider area, so we are safe here. I would not bring you here unless we would be. Not after what all has happened," he answered.
She relaxed again and he felt her nod against his shoulder. "I am glad you told me that. I feel like this is the first time in weeks I have been able to relax a little."
"When we go to bed tonight I will see to it you relax fully," he pledged. "It is wise to be on guard when there is a known threat about, but you cannot live like that for long and we both need to relax a little."
"What about naur thand loss? Will we not be open targets for whoever is after me?" Lothril asked, pulling away so she could look at Legolas.
He shook his head. "Only if our attacker is a tremendous fool. We are going to have guards present both in and out of uniform. If she is a great fool she may try something but it would be to her undoing."
Lothril nodded. "Then I may enjoy myself a little today."
"I hope you do. You need to. We both need to. This has been a difficult few weeks."
"It has," she agreed. "But in a way, I would not trade them. I despise the threat and the fear it has bred, but we have drawn closer through this, I think. I have seen your love for me in ways I would not have seen without these trials, and it is beautiful to behold. You love me. You truly, deeply love me."
"With all that I am, fëa and hröa. You are the most important thing in my long life, Lothril. You have given me a sense of completeness I did not know I lacked." He paused then asked, "Do you remember in Lothlórien how I told you I did not have a private name but wished to make one just for you?"
She nodded.
"I have settled on one at last. I was going to wait to tell it to you until our wedding night or perhaps the night before, but with all we have been through these last weeks, I have decided I would rather tell you now as sort of an early present for Turuhalmë. The name I have created is Mellothon."
"He who loves a flower," she said with a little smile teasing her lips. She looked very touched but also like she wanted to both laugh and cry with joy. "Legolas Mellothon – Greenleaf who loves a flower. I must have wrought a great change in you for you to pick such a name as this."
"More than you will ever know," Legolas replied with a gentle smile. "And it is a change most welcome. I take it you approve of it?"
"I very much approve of it. I am even more humbled now by it than I was when you told me wished to create one for my sake," she answered. "I wish I had one for you in return, but in a way, you have already given me one, though it is the name everyone knows me by."
"That I am one of the few that knows all of your names is honor and privilege enough for now, Jennifer Lynn Erickson Lothril Elrondiel," he replied with a smile.
"When did you learn my old middle-name?" she asked, wide eyed.
"Your mother told me," he answered.
"When we marry, shall my whole name be used like that in our ceremony?" she asked.
He shook his head. "We will go over our wedding traditions in detail soon, I promise. Once your adar arrives, we, you and I and my father and Elrond, will talk through things with him to make sure there is no dispute between our customs as there are some little variations between Sindar, Noldor, and Silvan. Nothing serious or problematic, but we wish to make sure there is no contention. In the meantime though – you and I shall not exchange vows like in your old world, but rather exchange blessings and then consummate. Whether or not we exchange those blessings in front of others or in private is a matter of preference we can decide upon as we draw closer to our wedding."
"I think my preference on that is going to be strongly based on what those blessings are," she answered.
He smiled. "That is why we shall go over this all in detail soon, so we may make these decisions together." He paused a moment then added, "I know we have discussed our wedding traditions before in brief, but I made some study of your customs while I was in your old world and I am afraid the two are more different than alike. However, I want you to know that I am open to incorporating as many of your customs and traditions as you like along with our own."
She nodded. "Thank you, Mellothon. I am not sure what I will want to do, but thank you for making room for them regardless."
He thrilled a little that she used his private name like that. "You are welcome." He leaned in and kissed her softly and was pleased when she immediately deepened the kiss and pulled him closer.
They stayed besides the falls for a while and talked quietly as the falls noisily splashed and rushed on beside them. This was very much what Legolas had been so longing to do with her – show her his favorite little places and share them with her. He hoped that whoever it was that was attacking Lothril was caught swiftly so he could resume showing her his world without fear. Especially now that it was winter. Odds were good the snow would be around for a couple months yet, but he was eager to do everything with her. He wanted to bring her to the meadow east of the palace that was along the river but was high up on a rocky outcropping and commanded a wonderful view of the river and Lake Long beyond and the Lonely Mountain off in the distance, and to the pond where they could ice skate, and to this one particular section where the beech branches would always hang low over the path when they were heavy with snow and create a tunnel and on nights with a bright moon, he would shine and create the most mesmerizing world of crystal and silver and white and black lace studded with stars! But how could he risk a nighttime venture with some crazed elleth on the loose trying to attack his betrothed? There were only so many winter moons… and he honestly couldn't think of anything less romantic and intimate than having a half dozen guards around. He didn't want to share such a moment with a crowd he wanted to share it with her and her alone.
But he kept his frustration set aside. Right now was perfect. Right now it was a soft grey winter day and they were beside this tuneful little set of falls, they were alone, she was smiling, and she was asking if she would hear any winter songs today. It still warmed his heart when she showed such interest in learning their songs and their ways. It reminded him of the joy of being able to watch his younger cousins when they were elflings and seeing and experiencing things for the first time but mixed with knowing this was the elleth he would spend the rest of time with. In some ways it was harder because he had to show her everything and explain everything because it was all new, but in others it was more joyful because he got to see her experience these glad things for the first time. He loved seeing her fall in love with his world, with his people – no, their world. Their people. She was one of them; just new.
She was telling him about a game she used to play in the snow when suddenly she trailed off and sniffed the air and a smile split her face. "The fires are lit. Shall we go join the festivities?"
Legolas smiled at her enthusiasm. "Yes, let us go join the others!"
He led her down the path they took to get there until they reached a place where it was clear many feet had been walking through and recently and there were more elves coming from the direction of the palace laughing, talking, and singing. They followed the other footprints until they reached a clearing with two large fires burning bright and hot with a low, long one against one edge over which were three cauldrons and a very large kettle suspended on either tripods or sitting on a large four legged grill that spanned the flames. Elves were everywhere drinking hot drinks out of the one of the cauldrons or the kettle, dancing, sitting in the snow or on a cleared off log, or singing, and on the far side from where they were, it looked like a three sided tent had been erected with a couple of warm stoves in it where musicians were playing. Here and there were elves and some elflings building foot high snowmen, or trying to. The snow was not quite packing snow, but if one was very careful, one could get a small snowman formed. There were even elves playing games in the trees between the clearings.
Lothril stopped on the edge of things and Legolas stopped with her for a moment. He looked at her as she beheld the scene with eyes aglow and a smile on her lips. Everyone was having fun and there wasn't a care in the world! Even with guards about! Though it probably helped most of them were not wearing visible armor but rather chain mail which was concealed beneath warm cloaks and coats. They were alert, but even they could not help but smile or even chuckle a little at elflings running past, scarves trailing like a kite tails, squealing with glee as they tried throwing snow balls at each other… with grown elves joining in and intentionally throwing wide or letting themselves get hit with the crumbling snow balls.
"Let us go join them," he said quietly in her ear with a smile. He took her hand in his and pulled her towards the middle and into a dance. The day was spent indoors and out, but mostly out, and with Lothril all smiles and merriment. It warmed his heart. Occasionally he would make himself stop and look around and see if there were any sour faces to be seen, especially ones pointed towards Lothril, but the closest he noted was a young elf who was upset his father was making him go inside to have lunch.
His father appeared in the early afternoon, dressed in a thick, knee length outer robe of silver and red, wearing a crown of holly and berries with hints of evergreen peeping out here and there around the neck, sleeves, and leggings before disappearing in dark brown boots.
"And how fares the prince of the realm and his betrothed?" Thranduil asked as he walked up with a wide smile.
"Quite well," Lothril answered with a smile.
"Well indeed," Legolas added.
"Lothril," Thranduil said as he took a step over so he was standing in front of her, "I have something I wish to give you. I was going to wait until closer to Turuhalmë but I decided today might be better and I think I made the right decision." He pulled a flat square box out from an inner pocket of his robe and opened it for her, presenting to her what was inside.
"Oh Thranduil! That is gorgeous!"
"It belonged to Lauríel and she would often wear it for the first snow and Turuhalmë. When she left she gave me a detailed list of things she wanted sent to Rivendell to sail with her and things that she wanted to give to kin. This however, she marked as something she wanted given to whomever Legolas might marry," Thranduil said. "May I?" he asked as he removed it from the box.
"Oh, yes! Of course. I am quite touched by the gesture," Lothril replied.
"I did not know Nane did that," Legolas said.
Thranduil gave a small smile to his son as he carefully set the circlet that looked like a circle of ice and snow upon Lothril's dark hair. "She did. She designated several things she wanted passed along to her daughter by marriage. She even noted what she wished to give as a wedding gift. I have had these things set aside for a long time just in case you did meet someone."
"How do I look?" Lothril asked with a smile, turning her head this way and that. Even though the sun was not out, her head glittered as it caught the light that there was.
"Even more like a winter queen," Legolas said with a grin.
"Oh you!" she said, blushing.
Thranduil straightened up and said with a slight smile, "Lady Lothril, will you do me the honor of a dance?"
"I would be honored, King Thranduil," she replied with a polite bow. He bowed slightly, took her hand and led her into the middle of the clearing where they began a lively winter dance that would often result in dancers sending the snow up in glittering clouds.
Legolas watched them with a smile. His father looked like the king of a winter Woodland Realm, but she looked like the queen of winter itself. Every time they spun around and sent out clouds of snow from their feet, some seemed to cling to the hem of her coat and boots, making her glitter and glow from head to foot. The song ended and the musicians immediately started another which was the second song in a trio of songs. Usually, if dancers started on the first dance they would do all three as they were sort of a story song. He watched them dance and as his eyes followed them around the clearing, he caught a glimpse of one of Gormes' friends… or at least, he assumed they were friends. He wasn't sure. He was almost certain he had seen them talking together, but generally if a lord or lady condescended to talk to you as a courtier, you would sit and talk to them whether you liked them or not. Lothril had mentioned the jilted lover, but nothing had happened until after the hunt, several weeks after her introduction to court… and goodness knows there had been plenty of opportunity in those weeks… but it wasn't until after the hunter's feast and after Tulussel parted ways from her mother and Gormes blamed Lothril for it that the first attack occurred…It could be coincidence, but…
Estelneth walked by, casually enough but with an eye that was observing and evaluating everyone present.
"Estelneth, may I have a word?" Legolas asked, casually enough not to raise suspicion of anyone nearby.
"Certainly, my lord," she answered.
"That elleth yonder who is wearing the blue scarf, do you know of her?" Legolas asked, his voice quiet but his face arranged to look pleasant and unconcerned.
"According to a friend of mine who served Gormes, she is a friend of Gormes and a frequent guest. Her name is Salabien," Estelneth answered, looking equally pleasant and unconcerned.
"Do you think you could procure for me a list of Gormes' frequent friends and confidants?" Legolas asked.
"I believe I can," she answered. "Shall I assume this is wanted immediately?"
"That would be appreciated and I believe we are well covered here," Legolas replied.
She gave a habitual bow and hurried off.
He turned his attention back to Lothril and his father. He really wasn't sure sending Estelneth off on this task was going to produce anything worthwhile. He wasn't even sure if this was even a wholly sensible track to follow, but it was a thought. At worst, he was wasting his time and the time of a couple servants. Not that he relished the idea of wasting their time, but they were all elves… they had plenty to spare.
The second song ended and Legolas turned his attention back to his father and betrothed who were standing and talking with smiles on their faces. It was nice seeing them both enjoying themselves and Legolas found he was enjoying watching Lothril dance with another partner. For someone who had only been dancing just over a year, she was proving to be quite a talented and elegant dancer and he loved watching her. He liked dancing with her more and feeling that connection with her as they moved together, but he did enjoy watching her too.
The third song began as lively as the first two and now that his father and Lothril had two songs behind them and they were starting to really fall into rhythm with each other, he could see Thranduil ask her something as they danced, she seemed to agree, and it looked like for the next couple measures he was telling her something until she gave a nod and as soon as the music allowed it, he picked her up and flipped her, sending a wild spray of snow up with her and drawing a general cheer from the onlookers and other dancers. Legolas smiled as he recalled how his father used to do that with his mother along with a few more acrobatic things. Given the very wide smile on Lothril's face, she clearly loved doing it and in another measure or so they tried something else. The execution wasn't quite as graceful as he remembered it being between his parents, but for a first attempt at such with them as partners, it went off fairly well.
Legolas made a note to himself to ask Thranduil how to do a couple of those spins and tosses. He and a couple of his female cousins were frequent partners, but they weren't always game to do some of the more risky things so he really never got a chance to practice. Lothril though was clearly game to try anything on the dancefloor and this was something he was very much looking forward to trying out with her.
The song ended and Thranduil escorted her back towards the edge and as soon as she got close she pulled away and ran up to Legolas with the biggest grin on her face.
"Did you see what we did with that third song? My, that was fun! I am sure I looked a bit clumsy as I have not done anything like that before, but oh, I do not care! That was fun!" She rushed as she took Legolas' hands.
"I did see and it did not look clumsy at all, especially for a first attempt," Legolas replied with a grin. How he loved seeing her so excited.
"Indeed, you did very well for trying something so ambitious when you are still so new to dancing," Thranduil said. "And you are very good about being light on your feet and throwing your weight around just right so as to make my job easier. You have a very naturally talented dance partner, Legolas."
"And a thirsty one!" Lothril added.
"Then I will fetch you something to drink. What would you like, pen mell nin?" Thranduil asked.
"Mulled cider sounds nice, thank you," she answered.
The rest of the afternoon went merrily by until supper when they all three decided to head in to eat together in their usual breakfast room. As they were all heading down the passage and about to turn down their hallway, Legolas saw Estelneth coming towards them and he told them to go on ahead for he would only be a moment.
"Here is the list my lord," Estelneth said with a quick curtsy as she handed a folded paper to him. "My friend included names, where they live, and how close they are to Gormes. Given what you told me about your current speculations on who or what the attacker may be, we omitted her married friends but they can be provided readily if you deem it necessary."
"Thank you, Estelneth," Legolas said as he unfolded the letter and gave it a quick glance. "You are as thorough and efficient as always. Did your friend happen to know if any of these friends have seen her lately?"
"No, my lord. She only sees Lord Himben and his family when they are here and knows nothing of their movements when they are gone unless they happen to mention something upon their return," she answered.
Legolas nodded, thanked her again, and informed Estelneth he would be with Lothril for the rest of the night and that she could go off duty now and then turned and headed towards his father's rooms. The list had six names on it, all of which lived in close proximity to the palace, but two of which were marked as particularly close with a notation of 'frequently invited to their estate'. Well there were two that were definitely going to be looked at first. He hurried down the hall, carefully folding and stuffing the list into a pocket before he reached the room where he was greeted with smiles.
"What was that about?" Lothril asked as he sat down.
"I had a thought earlier that perhaps the elleth we are looking for is tied to Gormes. Not necessarily acting under her orders, but tied to her. The timing of things made me think of it. So I asked Estelneth if she could get a list of Gormes' friends for me from her friend for me and this," he said as he produced the list, "was the result."
"Let me see that," Thranduil said, holding out his hand for it.
Legolas handed it to him and Thranduil flicked it open. "All of them are close, so it could be any one of them, but I think we shall start with the two marked as frequent visitors to the estate. But that will be in the morning. Who knows if they are home or out now!"
"May I see it?" Lothril asked.
Thranduil handed the list to her. "Do you recognize any of the names?"
Lothril slowly shook her head. "I cannot say that I do – oh, I do recognize this one. Thuringwen. She accompanied Gormes when we left for the hunt. Though as I recall there was another friend too, but I did not hear her name."
"She was with her as we left for the hunt?" Legolas asked.
Lothril nodded. "Yes, I remember Gormes addressing her directly while insulting basically everyone at the same time. I am sure though I have not so much as spoken to her, but if my guess is right, that hardly matters. Have you had anything to do with her?"
Legolas shook his head. "I recognize the name and I can picture her face, but that is all. I am not sure that I have ever held so much as a conversation with her."
"Well… that does not necessarily matter. If you can place her name and face, that means she's been close enough to observe you, at least at functions, which means she could have loved you from afar, so to speak," Lothril said. "Or we could be way off base and it could it be whoever that other elleth was."
"Either way, I shall look into it," Thranduil said, reaching for the list and taking it back from Lothril. "And if either of you happen to think of something else, let me know, but otherwise I do not want you thinking of it again tonight. We have had a very nice afternoon, a productive conversation about a very bad business, and I do not want it spoiling the rest of the night for any of us."
"Then pass the wine please," Lothril said.
After dinner Thranduil headed back out, but Lothril declared now that she had thawed out she wasn't in a rush to go freeze again, even though in truth she hadn't felt the cold a fraction as much as she had expected she would. She did, however, want a hot bath, which Legolas encouraged and told her to take as long as she wanted as he could happily preoccupy himself while she did.
She shut the bathroom door and he immediately went over to his half of the bed and opened the bottom drawer of the nightstand and smiled. He carefully removed a small plate covered in a cloth, checked beneath it, and carefully set it on top of the nightstand. She was going to love it! He stood and grabbed the plate and set it on the low table in front of the fire and then he went back to the bottom drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a small flat box, opened it, and pulled out two of the small little glass vials and set them on top of the nightstand then closed the box and replaced it in the drawer. He sat on her bed and thought a moment before making up his mind and ringing for a servant and requesting things be sent up for making tea and that the tea be a specific blend. If he was going to bother doing all this, he was going to do it thoroughly.
He still was a bit resentful that he couldn't execute his plans exactly as he had hoped, given the circumstances, but this was going to be nice and not terribly far off from his original vision. It might even be better and more intimate, depending on her mood upon leaving her bath.
The servant returned promptly with kettle, tea pot, cups and saucers, and the requested blend of tea and set them down on the table in front of the fire and left. Legolas double checked everything to make sure it was just so and put the water over the fire, which wasn't exactly roaring (nor did he want it to be), and then patiently waited.
He was glad to see Lothril didn't rush her bath and did, in fact, take a while. Not as long as she could have, but long enough to have relaxed, at least judging by the look on her face.
"What is all this?" she asked with a small smile as she came up to Legolas who was on the couch.
"Consider this the second half of our date earlier," Legolas said. "I had intended to do things a little differently today, but circumstances have caused me to improvise a little."
"Ooh, a date! And me with wet hair in my pajamas," she joked as she sat down beside him.
"I do not mind," he replied with a smile.
"So what do we have here?" Lothril asked, surveying the table.
"Tea, obviously, and these," Legolas said as he removed the cloth from the plate to reveal a dozen little round pastries.
"Those look cute! They look like little doughnut holes!" Lothril said with a grin.
"They do at that, but I think you shall find them more like those things… what were they called? Éclairs? With the chocolate icing and the cream in the middle."
"Oh yes, éclairs. I can see how that might be," she said reaching for one and taking a bite. It was very much like an éclair but instead of a cream filling this one had a preserve filling making it almost like a jelly doughnut. "Oh! This one is fruity! Are they all like this?"
"Some are cream, some are nuts, and some and preserves," he answered. "And you may have as many as you wish."
"Then let's split these in half and each have six," she said.
"As you wish," he replied. "And I also have tea made to go with it."
"I could use a little tea, thank you," she said.
He poured her a cup of a tea that looked rose gold and was very pleasant and fragrant. She took a sniff and her face relaxed into a contented smile.
"Ooooh! This is going to be nice with these desserts, I think," she said with a smile before blowing on the tea a little so she could take a test sip. "Yes, yes indeed!"
He smiled. "I am glad you like it!" They ate and talked and sipped tea for a while until all the little desserts were gone and then Legolas said, "I have one more thing for you, if you want it, but if you decide you would rather wait before indulging in it, I shall not be offended."
"Oh? I am intrigued," she said with a lopsided grin. "What is it, Mellothon?"
He smiled at her using his private name again. "It is just this – I have been taking lessons from Taraves the healer since we returned from the hunting trip to learn how to give massage properly. I would very much like to attend to you in that way tonight, but if for any reason you are not wanting to indulge in it, we may wait until you are ready."
"Oh Legolas… you do not know the dangerous thing you just told me… I am liable to demand it every other day!"
"And gladly will I oblige, melethril nin," he replied with a smile.
A/N: Anyone else notice that basically every Millennial girl named Jennifer has the middle name Lynn? I have known many Jennifers born in the late 80s and all but like two of them had the middle name Lynn. Anyway, I picked it as her middle name for that very reason – basically every Jennifer that age has that middle name. Or at least the dozen or so ones I know.
