THE FORGOTTEN
Turuhalmë
Author's note: The chapter in which – Lothril watches a hockey game and elves tell tales. If you are re/reading in real time, this is set for Winter Solstice which is generally December 20th or 21st. However, if you wish to read it as a Christmas chapter, that works too.
Lothril awoke a little before the sun and despite the fact the fire was little more than hot embers at this point, she did not hesitate to slip out of bed and throw another couple of smaller logs on the fire before checking to see if the clothes she laid out on her couch the night before were warm. She laid her hand on the thick flannel shirt… room temperature, which was just a little chill… she decided to wait until the fire sprang back up and warmed them a little more before changing. She quickly dove back into bed and under the covers which were still wonderfully warm, especially where Legolas was still lying. With a smirk she thought about what herself two years ago at this time would have thought of her sleeping in the same bed as Legolas without being married yet and chuckled quietly to herself. She would have had a fit. Or at least suspected herself of doing something naughty and wrong. Not that she hadn't had the odd pang of guilt early on, but when it became painfully clear their elven natures wouldn't let them get carried away, she was able to ditch the guilt, by and large.
As it stood, their behavior last night had been strongly encouraged by Thranduil, as he had sent them both to bed early telling them he had a few gifts sent up to her room. Those gifts being some apple ice wine, an absolutely decadent dessert tray, and a big, beautiful throw blanket that was incredibly soft and warm and looked like a piece of pale winter sky and blue smoke woven together. Lothril guessed it was wool, but if it was, it was without doubt the softest wool she had ever felt as it seemed closer to a fleece. Either way though, it was clear to her mind what Thranduil was hinting at, and being obedient children, they did as they were told.
As she snuggled in again close to Legolas he slowly closed his eyes and smiled as he put an arm around her and drew her closer before opening them.
"Good morning, melethril," he muttered quietly before taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips.
"Good morning, meleth nin," she replied with a smile before snuggling into his side a little more. She loved waking up like this!
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, turning onto his side.
She readily shifted to allow him to move. "Of course! I was with you, was I not?"
He smiled. "Any lingering doubts or regrets this morning from a perfectly sober Lothril?"
"None, though I do not think I was as drunk or bold last night as I was after the hunter's feast," she answered with a half-smile.
"Perhaps, but I see you still have not buttoned up my tunic and that seems rather bold to me," he replied before rolling her onto her back as he propped himself up on his elbow and gave her a kiss. "Should I consider it an invitation for more this morning?"
"Consider it however you like," she said as she smiled up at him.
"My word, I think you have firmly turned onto a new path Lothril! I cannot imagine you saying that back in laer (summer), but here you are in rhîw (winter) practically daring me to enjoy you." He leaned down and gave her another kiss.
"Perhaps I am," she grinned. "We have time yet, do we not?"
"We do, indeed," he answered with a grin. "Should I pick up where we left off last night?"
"Please do," she smiled.
"By the stars, I love you!" Legolas said before lowering his lips to hers again. He let his fingers trail down from her ear to her neck to her collar bone, and along it, moving the tunic aside as he did.
"I love you too," she returned, winding one arm around him and the other onto his neck and playing with the hair on the back of his neck at the base of his braid, pulling him down for another kiss.
He wrapped an arm around her as they kissed and when he pulled away he asked, "May I kiss you here?" as he dragged a finger down the unbuttoned part of his tunic she was wearing.
"If you can see it when I am wearing my swimsuit, you can kiss it," she answered with a grin.
"I know, but I truly am willing to hold off on certain places for a little while longer if you-"
"Anywhere you can see, you can touch and you can kiss," she insisted. "Just like I can with you. In fact… as I recall last night, it was my turn when you decided it was too late to carry on and we should sleep."
He grinned down at her. "I was hoping you would forget that."
"And why is that?" she asked with a raised brow and a smile teasing her lips despite her best efforts.
He leaned down low and whispered in her ear, "Because I enjoy exploring you."
"And I enjoy you doing so, but it is still my turn, Legolas Mellothon," she said, raising herself up a little in an attempt to sit up, but was hindered by his lips on her mouth. She pulled him down on top of herself and then rolled over with him and began letting her hand explore his bare chest and then down the side of his stomach. Despite her best efforts to explore him as much as he did her, things were lopsided as he insisted he loved her touch, but loved touching her more, and she was just greedy enough to let him have his way.
She had just started leaving a trail of kisses down his neck when there was a knock on her bedchamber door and it opened just a crack. It was all she could do to keep herself from screaming in surprise as she quickly rolled off of him and pulled her blankets up over her head.
"Shall I bring your things in here this morning, Prince?" came the voice of Alphon through the crack in the door.
"Please do, and bring them to the door. I will take them from there," Legolas answered.
"It shall be done. Anything else this morning?" Alphon asked.
"No, that is all. Thank you, Alphon," Legolas replied and with that the door shut.
"Oh my word! What was he doing here? What must he think?!" Lothril asked from under the blankets.
"My apologies, Lothril. It is all my fault. I told him when I started spending nights in your room after the attacks started that if I did not tell him where I would be or tell him not to come in that morning, to check and see if I was in your room and all was well. That was his way of making sure all is well without asking directly. I have forgotten to rescind that order," Legolas explained. "And as far as what he must think – he shall think nothing at all. He is every inch as discreet as Estelneth and knows better than to pry."
"Uugh," she moaned. Well… the guilt might be gone, but the shyness was still strong.
"Lothril, I promise, it is fine. Alphon will not tell tales nor will he think anything of it," Legolas pledged. "I will be sure to rescind the order when he returns with my clothes. And again, my apologies to you. I know you are not yet as comfortable with the servants being everywhere as I am."
She peeked one eye out from the covers and he could see she was blushing horribly. "Oh… it's fine," she muttered reluctantly. "Somehow I doubt anyone has reckoned we were in here playing chess all night anyway."
"Quite doubtful," Legolas agreed.
She lowered the blankets the rest of the way and sat up. "Probably for the best he interrupted us anyway. We should probably get ready for the day. The way everyone has been building up today, it is probably best we are up early for it."
"We have at least until sun-up and that is still a little ways off," Legolas said. "But today is going to be a full one. After breakfast we shall go out and there shall be games all day of all kinds and then as soon as the sun sets we shall all head inside and listen to songs and stories. For once I can hardly wait until sunset, for we shall play Línd Rhîw o Hilith Rand (Winter Songs of Starlight Cycle)and Gwî Morn Dae na Hilith (Black Lace and Shadows of Silver Light). I am very eager for you to hear them!"
"I do remember you mentioning them back at my parent's house," she said. "I have been looking forward to hearing them ever since."
"And you shall tonight! First shall come songs at a great feast in the large dining hall where you shall hear that and afterwards we will come back to be with our kin and sing more songs and tell tales all night. And if you have any winter tales to tell, we would love to hear them! Turuhalmë is a time for tales."
"I doubt I will have any tales to tell, but I look forward to hearing them," she replied.
Just then there was a soft knock at the door and Legolas quickly got out of bed and took his clothes from Alphon and spoke to him briefly before draping his things over the back of the couch in front of the fire and returning to bed with Lothril.
"There, I have rescinded my order and you needn't worry about him interrupting us again," Legolas said as settled in beside his betrothed.
"How long until we need to get out of bed?" Lothril asked.
"We still have an hour or so before we truly need to worry about it. Alphon knows though I usually rise early, hence his appearing so early. But we shall eat breakfast a little later today and with the whole family and the first games shall not start until the sun is well up, and the first games are all ones that shall go all day anyway. The shorter contests will begin later."
"This is quite the big deal, isn't it?"
Legolas nodded. "It is. It is one we look forward to all year and one I have been looking forward to with you since we were in Rivendell and I realized I loved you. I have been wanting to share this holiday with you since before we left there, hoping that all would go well and I would be able to declare my feelings to you and that somehow you would return them and come back here with me." His eyes glittered in the dim light as he told her this.
"So in other words – me being here with you today is Turuhalmë wish fulfilled," she said with a teasing little grin.
"Very much so," he replied as he reached over to her and pulled her close so he could kiss her. "You are many wishes fulfilled."
Breakfast was in the family dining room and it was packed full. They all fit in that room, but only just and a couple extra chairs had to be brought in to make sure everyone had a seat. The table barely had room for all the plates and food, though as things went along and servants removed empty platters, the over crammed feeling began to lesson. The room was loud with conversation and laughter and in a lull in the conversation for her, she sat back a little and looked around with a smile. It felt so homey! And she secretly loved seeing casual Thranduil with his family where he was and could be nothing more than a member of the family. No crown, no 'your majesty', just him being him. It seemed of late he had been more King Thranduil, and she was glad he could relax a bit. That and he and Gladhrion were clearly trouble and a half together as the two of them sat there joking and talking about ridiculous antics they had done in their youth in Doriath. It was also nice seeing Legolas relaxed and laughing with his kin, but she saw that side of him far more frequently than she saw the Prince Legolas side of him.
As she ate and looked around the table, she had to marvel a little… elves were just folk, or they could be. This was a scene that could be played out amongst any race of Free Folk in Middle-earth, and it wasn't wholly unfamiliar to her as a human from another world, but at the same time, hearing snippets of memories that were a few thousand years old definitely put an elvish spin on things. And there was something about their attitude… this was the something-thousandth Turuhalmë for most of the assembled, and they were all still as excited as children. Not because it was new or there was some surprise anticipated, but because this was their something-thousandth one.
After breakfast, everyone scattered to fetch coats and boots and winter gear and then hurried outside where it seemed festivities were already underway beneath the freshly iced over branches. Legolas, carrying a large bag over his shoulder, lead her off down a particular path that came out at a large pond where a number of elves were skating, and not far off there was another pond where about a dozen elves were playing what Lothril swore looked like a hockey game.
"Legolas! This is like that dream I shared in Ithilien!" Lothril exclaimed.
"It is, save it is daylight," he replied with a smile.
"That and I am afraid I am not as good of a skater as I was in my daydream," she confessed.
"I believe we can remedy that," Legolas said with a grin as he pulled her over to a felled log and sat down, setting the bag on the ground in front of him and opening it up.
She sat down next to him and watched as he pulled out two pairs of skates that reminded her more or less of hockey skates.
"Here you are," Legolas said, handing her skates of grey leather and with scrolling frosty design on them.
She thanked him and began pulling off her boots and putting on the skates. As soon as they were on, she stood up and made her way the two feet down a gentle slope to the pond and slowly began to skate. She knew how to skate, at least a little. She could go forward and sorta turn, stopping was dubious, but it had never stopped her from taking the odd turn around an ice rink or frozen over lake. It just kept her from going very quickly. She ventured out a little ways and gave a cry when she suddenly felt an arm around her waist.
"I am sorry, meleth nin," Legolas said with a chuckle. "You are not too bad, you just need a little confidence and practice. Come with me." He took her hand in his and began leading her along, coaching her a little to improve her technique. She did well and he helped her manage the turn. Despite the fact everyone around her looked like they were figure skaters making graceful turns and spins, she didn't let it bother her. She reckoned she'd get there and she always enjoyed herself skating even if she couldn't go very fast and turned corners awkwardly. Though, after a couple hours skating with Legolas, she was finding turning corners easier. Of course, the improved elven balance helped with that too…
After skating they watched some of the elven hockey game and Lothril would have sworn it looked like those grainy black and white clips of old school hockey if it were not for the fact the one goalie was wearing a metal helm that was clearly designed for the game but also looked like a silver wolf face with the mouth open where he could see out through a fine metal grate and the other one that looked like a bear and seemed to be bronze. Otherwise, padding was relatively sparse, though she could see under some of the sweaters (and the fact they were wearing proper knit sweaters made her oh so happy) were what looked like modified gambesons, the only other protective gear to be seen were thick leather bracers and greaves with the odd helmet.
Lothril couldn't help but start humming, "Good Old Hockey Game" and Legolas couldn't help but smile at the fact she was so utterly absorbed in the game. He had intentionally not told her they played hockey, or a very similar variation of it, just so he could see her surprised face and he was so glad he did.
"The only thing missing is a stadium organ, the smell of beer and a drunk guy three rows behind us, and overpriced pizza," Lothril commented with a grin during a timeout.
"I cannot help you with the stadium organ and if you are insistent on beer and do not mind a drunk elf over a drunk human, I am certain we can find one today. Perhaps by the next game day we can see about overpriced pizza," Legolas replied with a teasing little smile.
"I can pass on the drunk guy. And we can try with the pizza, but it'll never be Little Caesars*," she teased. "But we should make a pizza. It has been months since I've had one and now I'm in the mood."
"I-ken tell, my liddle Michigander," Legolas said putting on a Michigan accent.
"An' donchyou ferget it!"
Legolas laughed and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Gin melon! (I love you)"
She didn't say anything in return but she did give him a big grin before resting her head on his shoulder.
After the hockey game and before the next one could start, Legolas convinced her there was more to see and do than watch this all day, and so they left the skaters behind and wend their way over to where there was a wood cutting competition.
"Usually, we mark some trees or large branches that need taken down and our contests include that also, but what with the large amount of trees felled to create a fire break, and thanks to your warnings," Legolas said with a proud smile as they walked along, "we have more than enough felled timber. So this year we are skipping that part and moving on to the splitting and stacking of cords of wood."
"We had competitions like this back home," Lothril said. "I never saw one in person, but I know they were a thing. We used chainsaws though, largely."
Legolas winced comically and replied, "The noise must be horrible! One was too loud for me!"
"So, does the prince of the realm ever participate in these contests?" Lothril asked flirtatiously.
"I have been known to do so every now and again, but I have no intention this year. This year I decided I would rather accompany an elleth I met a year and a half ago and share Turuhalmë with her."
"Oh? How hospitable of you! How did you meet this elleth?"
Legolas' mouth quirked into a funny little half grin as he answered, "It was the strangest thing – I was out for a ride and came upon this hideously dull building and she fell right out of the window into my arms. And I have been falling for her ever since." He stopped her just long enough to kiss her and then they kept going.
"Hmm… do you think she has fallen for you?" she asked coquettishly.
"I am certain of it," he answered confidently. "Or else she would not be here beside me now."
"Perhaps she had nowhere better to be," Lothril teased.
"I think that cannot be the case," Legolas teased back.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Very simply, she was a queen with a palace by the sea and ballroom that overlooked the waves and she has chosen exile and to give up her throne and play consort to an elven prince even though I valiantly offered to do the same for her and first," he answered, grinning all the while.
"Oh you!"
Thranduil and a handful of family members were over near the clearing where the logs were waiting to be cut down to a more manageable size when Thranduil and Cîlwen saw Legolas and Lothril walking up, chatting with grins on their faces and her playfully smacking his arm even as she held onto it and him laughing.
"If there were ever two elves made for each other, it was those two!" Cîlwen commented quietly to Thranduil. "Look at them – they are two halves of a whole if ever I saw!"
"Indeed, they are," Thranduil agreed quietly. "She has made him very happy."
"And you," Cîlwen added. "It is written in your eyes how much joy she has brought to you. I have not seen you smile so much or so deeply since Lauríel sailed. I know her parting was hard for you, and you have borne it well, but it is nice seeing you like this again."
Thranduil's smile deepened but he said nothing, and Cîlwen did not expect him to either. She knew him too well for that.
The day was nearly spent and Legolas had made very sure Lothril saw a little bit of everything that was going on that day, sometimes with family members or friends along, sometimes alone, but as sunset began to creep up on them, she had slipped away quietly. Linnrien had casually marked her parting and when Legolas looked around and asked if anyone knew where Lothril was, she pointed him in the direction of the royal gardens.
It was quiet and hush in there with only a faint sigh of the wind in the naked branches and the snow muffling the rest. The sky was turning from pale blue into a rich pastel sunset aflame with purples, pinks, and golds. The garden had been untouched since the snow fell save for her shallow footprints that led to the tunnel of trees. And there she was – her white coat with the pastel embroidery blending into the scenery before him as she danced a solo waltz beneath the black and silver lace singing:
It's that time of year
When the world falls in love
Every song you hear seems to say
Merry Christmas
May your New Year dreams come true
And this song of mine
In three-quarter time
Wishes you and yours
The same thing too!**
As soon as she started in on a second verse of "It's that time of year" Legolas stepped in and joined her in her waltz, which startled her for a moment until he sang the next line of "When the world falls in love". She stared at him wide eyed for a second with a blush coming to her cheeks in addition to the rosy glow from being outside so long, but then she quietly resumed singing and they danced through the rest of the chorus as she sang it for them.
The last line faded to silence and they drew to a standstill and Lothril gave an embarrassed chuckle and said, "I did not mean for you to see that, but I am glad you joined me anyway, I think."
"I am glad you let me. I know you are trying your best to dive headlong into our ways and customs, but truly meleth nin, it is well if you want to keep some of these things. I know this was a very special time of year for you and holds deep meaning for you, and if you wish to hold onto it, I want you to do so and however you see fit," he replied, looking her steadily in the eyes.
She bowed her head a little and said, "Thank you, Legolas. I honestly have no idea if I do or not or how much or what though. It was just… I stole away here to have a moment and wandered back to this place and that song started going through my head and… I don't know… But enough of Christmas! This is Turuhalmë and there is feasting and singing and stories to be heard and I would hear them!"
She moved to head back towards the palace but Legolas, who still had her hands in his, gently pulled her back and said, "Hold a moment – Lothril, you need not justify your singing and dancing to me. I encourage it whenever and wherever you feel like it and whatever you wish to sing and dance to. And you can keep Christmas and Turuhalmë and at the same time if you wish, for I think everyone would find your Christmas stories interesting – both the true and the made up."
"Well, I do not know if I will tell any stories tonight or not. I want to listen and learn the sorts of tales elves tell amongst themselves."
"You may do whatever you wish, melethenin (my love)," Legolas said. "I simply wish you to know you are welcome to do both. And I do know Ada would be very interested to learn more about your holidays too."
"Well… maybe… but it's getting dark and cold and I am hungry, so let us go in," Lothril replied and began heading towards the palace again, this time Legolas agreeing and coming with her.
They were amongst the stragglers to come back inside through the main gate and as they had not left by that door, Lothril got to see how decorated the entrance was with garlands of pine and holly and dried cranberries and extra lights. He escorted her to the large banquet hall to find it absolutely brimming with elves and all the lights were lit including the great fireplace. Music was wafting through the room, though she could not see where the musicians were, and everyone was meandering or dancing towards their seats. A servant appeared out of seemingly nowhere and took their cloaks, scarves, mittens, and hats and then Legolas led her to their seats beside Thranduil who was wearing a crown of holly and looking very festive. Even though it had not been long since he had seen them last, he still grinned wide and greeted them both with a kiss.
"Lothril, pen mell, sit beside me this evening," Thranduil invited with a warm smile, taking her hand.
"Alright," she smiled and let him lead her to the chair beside his great one, Legolas taking the one on the other side of her.
"How are you liking the festivities?" Thranduil asked congenially as they sat down.
"Quite well! I have been having a very good time today," she answered cheerily.
"Excellent," he said with a smile. "I do hope you enjoy the feasting, songs, and stories this evening also. I understand from Legolas this is a little different from how your holidays were where you are from."
She nodded. "This time of year we did have songs and stories and feasting and so forth, but not quite like this, I think."
Their conversation was interrupted by servants coming around and uncovering dishes, starting with the king, of course, and drinks being served. Once first bites and drinks and the initial conversation lull that accompanies the beginning of a scrumptious feast subsided, the conversation continued.
"I understand from Legolas that your traditions this time of year include the giving of gifts," Thranduil said casually.
She nodded, swallowed her sip and said, "Yes, and lots of it! Gifts to friends, gifts to family, gifts to classmates and coworkers, we would even have these things we called 'white elephant' gift exchanges. What we would do is have everyone bring one gift, something cheap or useless or a joke and then we would do an exchange. All the gifts were wrapped and everyone would get a turn to open a random gift and then after a gift was opened, the person who opened it could choose to keep or trade it with someone else. At the end of the night, everyone ended up with something, usually something ridiculous that no one in their right mind would want, unless it was candy or something like that."
Thranduil smiled. "That sounds like fun."
"I always thought so… when I actually made it… I usually got sick around this time of year," she answered with a frown.
"Oh, pen mell, that sounds dreadful! But that is something you shall not ever have to worry about again," Thranduil replied.
Lothril gave an exaggerated comical sigh of relief and said, "And I could not be happier about it!"
The feast went on and not too long into the first course the minstrels began playing Línd Rhîw o Hilith Rand. Legolas told her what it was when it started and she paid a good deal of attention to it. It was a beautiful cycle that seemed to well encapsulate the many moods of winter. Some of the songs had words, some did not, some only had a stanza or two and that was all. When they reached Gwî Morn Dae na Hilith Legolas told her as much and took her hand in his. She set down her fork and sat back in her chair a little and listened carefully, hardly even sipping her wine. She could see why he loved it so. It was a flowing and subtle song yet full of expectation and promise of more, which found its fruition in the next song Silith ad Ithil (Starlight and the Full Moon). The two songs together were promise and longing followed by joy and fulfillment.
As Silith ad Ithil was played, he held her hand tighter and looked long at his beloved and realized he was on the cusp of such joy and fulfillment. For many long years he found great beauty in the veil of black lace and silver light upon the snow and had contented himself with that beauty, but now… he was about to see the unveiled starlight and light of the moon and would know the pure and unveiled beauty of the clear heavens… of love… of her…
Her face looked quite serious as she listened, and at the end of the song she turned her face to Legolas and said, "I see why you like it so."
"Will you come with me for a few minutes?" Legolas asked in reply.
"Umm… sure," she answered, a little confused at the abrupt question.
Legolas stood and came behind his father's chair and whispered in his ear that they would be back shortly and then took Lothril's hand and led her out of a side door to the banquet hall, down a short passage and out into the main hallway and out the doors.
"Legolas, where are we going? It is freezing out here! Even we shall get cold if we are out too long," Lothril said, almost jogging to keep up with his brisk pace.
"We are going somewhere I have wanted to since Naur Thand Loss but could not with Thuringwen on the loose. But I can now and I will for the night is clear and the moon is waning, it is giving off enough light," he answered.
"Enough light? For what?"
"You shall see."
A little ways to the left of the skating pond there was a path and despite the fact it had been a day or two since the last snow and elves had clearly traversed it all day, most of the branches were still covered in snow and ice. The waning moon shone down upon the path, causing it to glitter slightly, and Lothril looked around and then up, seeing a sky full of silvery stars shining through a black and white lace even as the waning moon caused the snow beneath them to glitter like the stars above between the lacy patterns on the ground.
"Oh Legolas…" she murmured as she walked slowly into the tunnel of trees. Some tears formed in her eyes. "It is like home, but I can see all the stars!" She spun around slowly, looking up at the diamond strewn black lace above her. The songs they had just heard in the banquet hall ran through her head and if it wasn't for the fact she had no cloak, she would have cast herself down onto the snow and laid there singing the songs to herself. Instead she turned to Legolas and threw her arms around him and he held her. Starlight above her, snow that looked like stardust beneath her, and her surrounded by glittering light and the warmth of her beloved. "This moment is a gift."
"One that is gladly given. I want to give you a thousand moments like this." He gave her a long, slow, soft kiss. "Shall we return?"
"Let us return," she agreed with a smile.
The hall was warm and the music was still being played and it seemed they only missed the end of one course and arrived just in time for the beginning of last one before dessert.
As they sat, Thranduil only smiled at their return but said nothing. He loved how happy his son looked these days and how very happy he looked now as they resumed their seats and that Lothril looked every inch as happy as his son did. What greater joy could there be for a father than to see his child so glad? Oh that Lauríel were here to see her son's joy! She would be dancing and singing for days if she could but glimpse the smile that took her son's face. Surely though… she must feel something even if it is dim… he was convinced he could faintly feel moments of great emotion from her and every so often in the silent watches of the night when he missed her greatest, he would focus all his mind and spirit on her and try to send her his love. What is more, at times he was convinced she would do the same. Perhaps even now she could tell he was very happy for their son… perhaps…
Music played, wine flowed, there was no lack of food, and every face looked happy. After dessert and a final song, everyone slowly began to filter out of the great hall and head towards their own dwellings to share tales and songs with kith and kin. With Lothril arm in arm between Thranduil and Legolas, they headed up to the drawing room where the entire family and certain close friends whom half the time they forgot weren't actually kin, were all packed in on couches and chairs and extra benches and seats brought in and thick cushions upon the floor and more than one wife sitting on her husband's lap. Several of the gathered relations and friends had instruments either in hand or near at hand and there were hot drinks all around.
"Uncle Thranduil! Come sit by me!" said one of the younger members present who looked he had barely reached majority and was still waiting for his shoulders to broaden.
"Gladly!" Thranduil replied, letting go of Lothril and shrugging out of his outer robe and handing it to one of the very few servants who was attending them. He settled down beside his young nephew and put an arm around him and began asking him how he was enjoying his first full Turuhalmë as he had only reached majority that past spring.
"Where shall we sit?" Lothril asked Legolas quietly.
Legolas peered over the tall back of an arm chair in front of him and answered, "We can sit here if you do not mind sitting on my lap."
"I… we…" she looked around and then said, "Okay."
He sat down and drew her down onto his lap where she managed to arrange herself comfortably. No one said a word, though a few warm smiles were thrown their way and the conversation of the room continued until those with instruments began to play and one of the musicians began a story.
Stories were varied from comical to serious, true to made up, and lore to personal history. How it went, was the first to tell a story then picked the next person to tell a tale. Some played and sang, some just spoke, and after a few Gladhrion was picked and he opted to tell a story about he and Thranduil as not quite reached majority elflings in Doriath which drew more than a few laughs, and once he was done he chose Thranduil to tell the next story.
Thranduil thought for a moment then began a story about a past Turuhalmë and himself, Lauríel, and a young Legolas. It was a sweet tale and Lothril had not heard many stories thus far of Legolas' young elfling days like that and she loved to hear it.
As Lothril listened to the story she felt Legolas hold her hand a little tighter. She glanced over at him and realized he was very much missing his mother. She squeezed his hand back and wished she could sneak her arm around him, but the chair really wouldn't allow it.
Thranduil finished his tale and said, "Lothril – I think you ought to give us our next song or story."
"Me?!"
"Of course, you!" Thranduil said, teasing her slightly. "Surely you have a winter tale or song to tell."
"Well…" the thought of telling a story about Santa or one of her own past Christmases or even the nativity story had crossed her mind prior but had decided setting up context for most of the stories that came to mind would bog down the entire story telling process. "There is a song I have been working on rendering into this tongue and I think I have it. I cannot play it though."
"What is the song?" Legolas asked.
"Song for a Winter's Night***," Lothril answered.
"Oh, the one that goes like this?" he asked and then hummed a little bit of it.
She nodded. "That is the one."
"I believe I can play it for you, if you would like. Someone hand to me a lute," Legolas said, and one of his cousins passed over theirs.
Lothril got off his lap and stood beside the chair as he began to play and she sang:
The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top I calar dosta tofen am thardh caw nin
The snow is softly fallin' I loss danna moe
The air is still in the silence of my room Eno i gwelu vi i dîn na sam nin
I hear your voice softly callin' Laron i glim gîn ialla moe
If I could only have you near Pi garathon aen gîn na nin
To breathe a sigh or two Thuiad i faw egor tâd
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love Ni gelir aen garad i cem melon
On this winter night with you Bo sen dû rhîw adh gîn
The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead I osp eriol vi i dae ordôl
My glass is almost empty Ylf nin nevui cofen
I read again between the lines upon the page adhennon im i tî am i palt
The words of love you sent me I bith na mel mennog nin
If I could know within my heart Pi istathon aen vi hûn nin
That you were lonely too Han ci ereb eithro
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love Ni gelir aen garad i cem melon
On this winter night with you Bo sen dû rhîw adh gîn
The fire is dying now, my lamp is growing dim I naur fôr thî, calar nin gala gwath
The shades of night are liftin' I gwaith dûren halar
The mornin' light steals across my windowpane I glaegal arduil lhôg ath henneth nin
Where webs of snow are driftin' Ias gwî na loss dannar
If I could only have you near Pi garathon aen gîn na nin
To breathe a sigh or two Thuiad i faw egor tâd
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love Ni gelir aen garad i cem melon
And to be once again with you A na admillú adh gîn
To be once again with you Na admillú adh gîn
Once the last note faded everyone asked for another song, which she patently refused and instead called on Linnrien who was the first person she clapped eyes on.
Thranduil caught her eye and used ósanwe to say, "Thank you for that song, Lothril. It was a gift to my heart."
She gave a slight smile and a nod. "You are welcome, Thranduil mell (dear Thranduil)."
Legolas gave back the lute which made its way to Linnrien who also was of a mind to sing, and Lothril resumed her seat upon his lap.
"You did a lovely job, meleth nin," Legolas praised her quietly in her ear.
She smiled and found his hand and gave it a squeeze as Linnrien began playing.
The songs and stories lasted long into the night and it was but a handful of hours before dawn when the last tale was finally told and those who had not fallen asleep where they sat threw blankets on the sleepers and then headed to bed. Legolas accompanied Lothril back to her room.
"What did you think of your first Turuhalmë?" Legolas asked as they headed back.
She smiled. "It was fun."
He smiled in return. "Did you have a favorite part?"
"Hmm… I liked it all. It was fun being outside all day and the feast was amazing! I am becoming incredibly spoiled by your father's table, by the way," she answered.
"Did you like the songs and stories?" he asked.
She gave a nod. "I did. It reminded me of that night in Rivendell before the council, just more so. We did not do anything like that back home but I like it. I like the feel of it. It just… I…" She drifted to silence for a moment as she tried to figure out how to put her thoughts. "Tonight is one of those nights where I have felt more connected to my elvenness and like I truly am apart… that I belong here. That this place is home."
Legolas smiled wide and thought his heart my burst with joy. "O Lothril! I am so happy you feel that way! I have been hoping for a long while now that you would. This is your home, my love, and those elves we just spent time with are your kin. This is your home and you do belong!"
She blushed a little and looked down at the floor for a moment before replying, "Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later with how welcoming your family has been. It feels nice though. Especially after everything. Tonight has felt very nice and if I may be so bold… I would like to spend whatever is left of it with you and sort of keep that warmth and belonging going."
"So would I," he replied and kissed her temple as he slid a hand around her waist.
Meanwhile, Thranduil headed up to his music room in his chambers and threw open the curtains on the westward facing window to reveal the forest below him looking like a thicket of ice beneath the silvery moon and the diamond strewn sky. He closed his eyes and focused inward to his fëa and the parts of it that most strongly resembled his wife and found the unbreakable thread that seemed to connect them even though the better part of Middle-earth and the Sundering Seas were between them. The sweet voice of Lothril had been reverberating in his heart all night…
…If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winter night with you…
What he would not give to have his beloved Lauríel there that minute…
Just then that little thread seemed to grow a little stronger and the latent presence he ever felt with her seemed ever so slightly more alive. Was she thinking of him too? Reaching out for him as he was for her? He looked up at the moon and for a moment it seemed to him that she was beside him, staring up at the same moon.
"Na admillú adh gîn, Lauríel...ú-anann thî…ú-anann."
A/N: The last line reads: To be once again with you, Lauríel… not long now… not long.
*Little Caesars is a Michigan based pizza chain and the family that started it also owns the Detroit Red Wings which would be the team Lothril/Jennifer followed as she was from Michigan, ergo having Little Caesar's Pizza at a hockey game. And may the record show, Little Caesars Pizza is generally not overpriced at all, save at sporting events where even a bottle of water is ridiculous. *author grumbles in cheapskate sports fan*
**The song referenced is "The Christmas Waltz" by Frank Sinatra.
***Song for a Winter's Night by Gordon Lightfoot. Translated by me! And it's actually singable with the original music! Was it slightly vain of me to put up translated song lyrics? Yes, probably. But I have no regrets. I translated it for giggles and then decided to throw it in here because I can. And if there just so happens to be any Gordon Lightfoot fans or elven enthusiasts amongst my readers, hopefully you enjoyed seeing this. My only hope is that the formatting is okay when I go to publish it.