24 – Receiving the Dwarves
A golden glow permeated the woods as the sun moved to kiss the horizon. From many of the Elven cottages, the scent of steam, herbs, and vegetables wafted through on the pleasant spring breeze. Linalda hobbled slowly to her family's kitchen table, still holding fast to her daughter's shoulder before settling slowly into a chair. Elluin soon brought her a bowl of the fragrant broth. She turned to give her father another bowl but suddenly froze, her gaze locked on something beyond the window.
"Elluin, what is it?" Linalda asked in surprise.
"The king approaches," she said, somewhat dazed.
"A second visit in as many days," Soronume remarked. "Daughter, you must admit that this is special favor, indeed."
"No, look," said Elluin, her voice revealing concern. "He comes with more guards and servants, he wears his crown, and there is tension in his brow… Something is wrong." She broke her gaze from the window to help her mother rise again.
Soronume moved to the door, opening it ahead of the knock. "Sire, welcome once more," he greeted with a bow.
Thranduil swept into the room, his formal robes trailing behind. "Good evening," he said somewhat hastily, nodding in response to Linalda and Elluin's curtsies and echoed greetings. "I have come on an urgent matter," he started. "The Dwarf company was camped off the Old Forest Road on the night of the battle. The unseen army attacked them on the same night, and they lost most of their group. They number only ten, now. They have come to the palace claiming that our people are responsible."
It was obvious the king was still seething as he gave them a brief moment to digest the news.
"Does Droin live, sire?" Elluin ventured.
"Yes," answered the king, and turned to her father to finish, "and threatens war. I am...obliged to request your aid."
Soronume quickly closed the lips he had parted in disbelief. "Very well, sire, I am happy to meet with the Dwarves on behalf of the people of Greenwood, if that is the king's wish."
"It is, Soronume. I thank you," Thranduil said. "I admit I do not have the patience to deal with them, marching into my kingdom spouting false accusations… Berenil nearly dragged me out of my own throne room and advised I turn the task to you instead of having them thrown in the dungeon for the insult." The way he clenched his jaw hinted that the latter option was still tempting to him. Belatedly, Thranduil realized he had shared much more of his thoughts than was appropriate for a sovereign, but hid his gratitude when a glance revealed only sober understanding on the faces of his audience. He sighed in resignation then turned to the younger elleth. "Elluin, I believe you may also be of help. Perhaps if Droin remembers you fondly, it may inspire him to reason."
"Yes, sire," she replied quickly, hiding her surprise as she bowed her head.
"Your wounds—" Thranduil said, remembering the healers' instructions.
"They should not give me trouble with just this short walk, sire," Elluin reassured.
The king nodded, relief overshadowing the doubt she could barely perceive in his eyes. "Come to the palace as quickly as you may. I have brought a servant to tend to Linalda while you are engaged." Thranduil waved his hand to summon Mileth into the house, an elleth that Elluin had befriended through her work at the palace.
"You are thoughtful, sire," Linalda said in thanks.
"I also leave a guard here to escort you back when you are ready," the king continued.
"We can leave now, sire," Soronume said, exchanging a nod with his daughter. "I would advise that this evening's talks be limited to a brief welcome and a promise to speak on the morrow. If it pleases the king, we can offer lodging for the night and a meal."
"Perhaps the large guest house in the east wing, sire," Elluin broke in. "It is on the ground as the Dwarves would prefer, as they would feel confined in the trees. And there is space to allow for extra cots to be brought in."
"Describe the requirements to my messenger as we go and it will be done," Thranduil said, turning to the door with a brief nod to Linalda as she curtsied unsteadily in farewell. Soronume and Elluin rushed to give Linalda a quick kiss on the cheek and bid Mileth farewell. In a moment of inspiration, Elluin darted into her room to collect a small parcel before following her father and the king out of the door into the fading light.
The company matched pace with Elluin, who walked slower to spare agitation to her wounds. As they walked, she and her father described to one of the messengers what specific preparations should be made to the guest house to cater to Dwarvish guests.
Once the instructions were given and the messenger ran ahead, Thranduil turned to them. "Our first aim is to prevent war," he said. "Our latest report suggests that the Dwarves of Khazad-dum are numerous enough to make a serious attempt. I wish to dissuade Droin from this intention."
"Very good, sire," Soronume acknowledged.
"Secondly…" Thranduil hesitated, as if it pained him to continue. "I am willing to investigate whether we could come to an agreement benefiting Greenwood in which the Dwarves could provide their services in the instruction of metal work, or to aid in strengthening our borders."
The Elves' eyes widened in surprise. "Of course, sire," Soronume said.
Soronume hoped silently that the Dwarves had been treated gently by the Silvan guards that brought them to the palace. Elluin fought to recall all the few memories of Droin from her childhood, clutching her parcel tightly in one hand and ignoring the feel of her stitches tugging at the skin on her thigh.
~.~.~
Lord Berenil met them as they entered the palace, relief obvious on his haggard face when he saw the two Mithlond Elves with his sovereign. After a bow to the king, he nodded kindly at Elluin and clasped Soronume's shoulder, falling in step beside him as they continued toward the throne room. "Friends, the matter grows more delicate. My efforts to placate the Dwarves have been worthless."
"What have you said to them so far?" Soronume asked.
"Little more than explaining the nature of the Unseen Enemy and our own losses. They accuse us of lying." Berenil became silent. Soronume nodded curtly in acknowledgment and the Elves asked no more questions. They knew that the memory of his wife's death at the hands of the invading Orcs was all too fresh on Berenil's heart, and the Dwarves' refusal to recognize the tragedy was salt on the wound.
Guards opened the large wooden doors at their approach. Walking into the throne room, Soronume and Elluin shared a concerned glance. The Dwarves were bristling with anger as they grumbled to each other and the Silvan guards were tense, their spears forming a defensive barrier around the company. It was certainly an unfair match, as the Dwarves had been disarmed and they bore the evidence of long travels on a rough road as well as grief.
Soronume whispered quickly to the king, "Sire, I may need to insult you before our guests in order to prevent hostilities. Do I have the king's permission?"
Thranduil bit back an outraged refusal hearing Berenil subtly clear his throat. "Very well." Thranduil took his place on his throne with his usual regal grace, though it was completely contrary to his inward fury. The Dwarves merely watched in silence, scowling even when the circle of guards retreated several steps at the Elvenking's signal.
"King Droin, I present Soronume and his daughter Elluin," he told them neutrally in the Common Tongue.
"At your service," Soronume and Elluin said in time as they bowed deeply.
"King Droin, it is a pleasure to see you again," Soronume began, knowing better than to expect the customary reply. He quickly elaborated. "We are from the Gray Havens, and I had the privilege of joining Lord Cirdan's council many times when your blessed father, King Durin the Fifth, favored of Mahal, would bring you as a young prince from the Blue Mountains to make trade agreements."
Droin and his company said nothing, but their stances relaxed slightly as they listened. Soronume gave his daughter a small, surreptitious smile indicating his relief that their audience at least appeared to remember Lord Cirdan with favor.
"It is long since I last saw you at such a council, King Droin," the ellon continued. "You were just a child, nearly the same age as my daughter, who was often your playmate during the more tedious parts of the meetings."
Droin's sharp eyes darted to Elluin, who smiled at him joyfully. Not wishing to waste the progress her father had made thus far, she lifted the parcel she had brought from home.
"King Droin, I know it has been many years, but I still have fond memories of our time under Lord Cirdan's table." Unwrapping the worn but sturdy cloth, she revealed a spinning top and held it up before her. It had once been stained green, but the color was now faded. Runes or images that were once carved around the edges had been smoothed with use and years. "You gave me this, right when the council adjourned after our first few play times."
A small smile started to grow on Droin's face, though mostly hidden in the substantial black and gray mass of his beard.
"It was the envy of all my friends," Elluin continued, "for toys of Dwarvish make were, and still are, especially marvelous. And its value only increased knowing it had belonged to the honored son of the great King Durin the Fifth."
Others of Droin's comrades were now beginning to stand straighter, their tension starting to dissipate in light of the elleth's praise.
"It has indeed been many years, Elf maid," Droin spoke at last. "I remember that top. My blessed mother had gifted it to me. It is a wonder that you kept it."
"I have treasured it," Elluin confirmed. "I had no wish to leave those fond memories behind when we came to the Greenwood."
"What led you to abandon the Havens for this place?" Droin asked, not bothering to hide his distaste as he looked around.
"Lord Cirdan urged my family here in a moment of foresight," Soronume said. "And we had heard from other travelers that the kingdom of the wood-Elves was prospering under the rule of its new king."
The Dwarves' expressions darkened again at the reference to Thranduil and they cast dark glances up toward the throne. Thranduil's expression remained neutral. Inwardly, he marveled at his luck that Elluin had shared a part of her childhood with this stubborn Dwarf leader. However, the fact did nothing to improve his impression of the impudent intruders.
Soronume worked quickly to regain a more positive reception. "Now, King Droin, as for your treatment thus far in the realm of the Elvenking, I beg your forgiveness on behalf of our new compatriots. The Elves of Greenwood are a secluded and simple folk, and though they are essentially goodhearted, they lack the finer parts of culture that allow peoples like ours to treat friends as they should be treated."
A few beards wagged in nods of understanding. A few grunts were the only remaining manifestation of the Dwarves' previous outrage.
"Friends, you say?" Droin said, noticing how the ellon had deliberately overlooked the reason for the Dwarves' presence in the palace. "Now, friends do not attack each other in the night."
"Quite right, King Droin," Soronume hastened to say. "If it is to your satisfaction, we shall discuss the business of identifying the enemy and plans for action in the morning. It would be disrespectful to your honored company to force you into such unpleasant conversation before you have been refreshed."
Droin, not completely convinced despite having softened considerably, crossed his thick arms across his broad chest. "Are we to be kept here, then?"
"We ask humbly and with hope that you accept our hospitality, King Droin," Elluin said sincerely. "We are having a guest house prepared for your venerable self and your esteemed company. You will find hot baths, hot food, good wine, and soft beds as befit the honored guests of the Elvenking."
Some of the Dwarves' faces lit up at the idea of such relief from the hard road.
Soronume dropped his voice to a murmur and leaned conspiratorially toward Droin to speak. "Although King Thranduil does not always demonstrate the sophistication before guests that he should, he at least had wisdom enough to grant my daughter and myself the privilege of serving as your hosts during the time you see fit to stay here in the palace." This remark earned him a satisfied nod or grunt from a few of the Dwarves.
Although his Elven ears heard Soronume's every word, Thranduil made no sign and successfully ignored the few haughty glances that some of the Dwarves shot his way.
"May I show you and your revered company to your lodgings, King Droin?" Soronume concluded, raising his voice again and waving for a servant to bring him a lantern at the Dwarf king's assent. Elluin smiled a farewell to the company and stepped back to allow them past.
"Let's have the lady along, as well," Droin said. "I would rest easier if my childhood companion verified the adequacy of the lodgings for such as we."
Elluin's smile faded briefly before she nodded. "As you wish, King Droin." She shared a glance with her father. They were both concerned with the effect of this much walking on her still-healing wounds, but they did not want to risk the displeasure of the Dwarves this early in their dealings. The two Elves made a point of turning toward Thranduil and bowing deeply before leaving the throne room. With relief, they noted that Thranduil and the Dwarf king nodded courteously to each other in farewell.