22. Prelude
…
- Somewhere in the dark -
Loitar and his Dark Generals were gathered in a war room as Fernor's emergency summit was on course.
"Are you absolutely certain of what you saw?" The elf-warlock inquired with a menacing expression.
"Yes, master." Fernor confirmed. "The projections of my flies are not as detailed as those of my hornets, but they clearly showed the Krisha and her company entering the Elvenking's Halls. See for yourselves."
Everybody went quiet when Fernor made a series of hand gestures and his flies' projections played in front of the whole group.
Loitar narrowed his gaze at the scene, and the other Dark General mumbled amongst themselves as they observed the events unfolding before them.
"I was able to avoid discovery thanks to the flies' fainter presence. Therefore, my insects were undetected this time, even by that Xandorian lieutenant who excels at sensorial skills." Fernor remarked, referring to the Sun-elf official known by the name of Eldrec, respectively.
"So now we have both the Krisha's power, and the Elvenking's army to contempt with?" Milco stated with a hint of disdain.
Moriel closed her eyes and sighed in resignation. "This scenario couldn't get any more troublesome for us now." She pointed out.
"Indeed. The Krisha and the Elvenking working together will become a nuisance, no doubt." Nerion stated in a similar manner.
"No."
All of the Dark Generals turned their attention to Loitar as he spoke.
"…Sire?" Nerion inquired, looking visibly confused by his master's sudden interjection.
"I do not believe that is to be the case. At least, not yet." The elf-warlock pointed out. "It is true that the Elvenking has acted against all my expectations since the Battle of the Five Armies took place, but I do not believe his coalition with the Krisha constitutes a strong alliance at this time."
"You don't?"
"I am almost certain of it." Loitar assured them. "That collaboration of theirs seems more spurred out of need and desperation rather than trust and loyalties, all things considered." He explained.
"Hmm... I see your point, master. What do we do, then?" Thoben asked.
"Let them to their schemes, for now." Loitar stated. "We will give them a proper welcome of our own soon enough." The elf-warlock remarked with a malicious smile as he looked at the map on the table.
…
- At Mirkwood -
Reiya found herself pacing through her guest apartment, followed closely behind by her puppy.
She didn't know what sort of involvement Thranduil had in the designation of her chambers, but the place had certainly exceeded her expectations in many regards.
The guest apartment was quite spacious, and it contained several areas, including a master bedroom; a natural bath pool empowered by the cavern streams; a small kitchenette with multiple utensils; and a large living room with a desk attached to the wall, among other spaces.
Perhaps the most pleasing surprise for her had been the living room balcony, which allowed for an extensive view of the royal palace surroundings.
Hence, Reiya stood on the balcony and glanced at the vast landscapes of the inner city as her mind kept wondering.
The infrastructure of the Woodland Realm was a bit too confined for the comforts of a Sun-elf, just like she'd pointed out before. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but appreciate the many views and wonders that the Elven settlement had to offer as the days went by.
Tauriel took her on a tour excursion the week prior, and to her delight, she found that the cavernous city was filled with trails, vines carved on wood and stone, river creeks, and groves that resembled those of a forest. Moreover, the palace was lighted up by intricate ceiling lamps and natural glows, which added a unique appeal to the place in spite of the dimmer atmosphere that seemed to lean over certain areas.
Thranduil had built his realm in an enclosed environment, but he made sure to honor the Mirkwood elves' bond with nature, as reflected in the scenery that distinguished their home.
Reiya was mentally going over her planned activities for the day, including her follow-up parlay with the king himself, which was scheduled to take place that afternoon.
However, her attention was drawn to the floor when she felt Toby's small paws on her shins.
Reiya smiled at the puppy and picked him up as he happily waggled his tail. She rested the small dog's body on her shoulder before she voiced her thoughts out loud.
"Well, this will be our home for a while, Toby." The queen stated. "We might as well make the best out of it."
Reiya chuckled when the puppy gently licked her face in a light gesture of affection.
…
The hours of the day passed by rather quickly, and the two Elven royals soon found themselves in each other's presence once again.
"These chambers will serve as our main headquarters." Thranduil stated as he led the female monarch into a room containing a series of tables, maps, and office items. "Thus, you and I will have our intelligence meetings here from this point on." He remarked.
Reiya nodded and took a brief glance around the room. The space had been clearly rearranged for strategic warfare planning, and everything was nearly organized.
She shifted her attention back to the king as he resumed his orientations.
"Other war rooms were habilitated for us to share intelligence with our military ranks and plan major warfare operations when needed. You will also have an office of your own so you can perform your royal duties in a more adequate space." He pointed out. "Tauriel will escort you there later this afternoon."
"Understood." Reiya responded, secretly appreciating the king's gesture.
"As far as our meeting times are concerned, I have been working on a shared schedule, which will serve as our monthly itinerary for intelligence gatherings." Thranduil pointed out.
He handed a scroll document to the queen following the statement.
Reiya took the scroll and opened it as she began reviewing the contents.
"You and I are to meet on the indicated days and times on that document in order to discuss the affairs listed under each item." The king explained. "Hence, you may use the rest of the time to attend to your other responsibilities as you see fit."
"Very well." Reiya responded. "How are we to proceed if any unlisted priorities or matters of urgency were to arise throughout the course of the war?" She inquired in an objective manner as she directed her attention back to the king.
"In such instances, we would gather at the earliest convenience and determine the best course of action to attend to such urgent matters." Thranduil explained. "The itinerary will be prone to changes at those times, respectively."
"Understood." Reiya replied. "We are having our first intelligence meeting next week then, correct?" She inquired, shifting her attention back to the contents of the document.
"Yes." Thranduil confirmed. "You may use the rest of this week to continue settling in and reviewing the itinerary accordingly. If you have any other questions in the meantime, feel free to address them with me."
"Sounds good." Reiya stated.
"Very well. You are free to resume your current endeavors." Thranduil instructed.
He bowed apologetically, then walked towards one of the tables behind Reiya in order to reorganize the documents on top of it.
However, the queen did not walk out of the room right away, as she continued reviewing the scroll contents further.
"Hmm…. Interesting."
Thranduil froze in place and widened his eyes slightly, sensing the notice in Reiya's voice.
"According to this shared itinerary of ours, we are required to attend a Welcome gala reception with your councilors a couple of weeks from now?" Reiya pointed out as she looked at the fellow monarch in a questioning manner.
Thranduil looked at the floor and let out a low sigh following her inquiry.
He would have preferred to discuss that one commitment at the end of their first intelligence meeting, but of course, that sort of detail wouldn't get passed the relentless Lady of Fire when it came to such matters.
Hence, Thranduil resigned himself to explaining the whole ordeal.
"Not by my orders," He stated as he turned around to face the female monarch. "But per their request."
Reiya raised an eyebrow at him in wonder.
"My councilors agreed to allocate resources of the realm to further support our intelligence operations, but they wished to meet the guest ruler we are to collaborate with in a more formal setting." The king clarified.
"I see." Reiya remarked as she continued listening to him.
"I told them that time would be better invested on other priorities, but they… insisted." He left it at that, looking slightly deflated by the outcome of such deliberations.
Reiya let out a discreet chuckle as she shifted her attention back to the document in her hands.
That was intriguing.
It seemed like even the great Elvenking was not completely exempt from more 'social' obligations spurred by the nobles of the realm, in spite of the seniority and prestige that he held as an Elven ruler.
Reiya remained quiet for a brief moment as she weighed the unforeseen commitment in question.
Thranduil, on the other hand, kept looking at the queen with a blank expression while his mind awaited in suspense.
Truthfully, Reiya was not obligated to attend the gala since that was never a part of the designated responsibilities for the role that she was fulfilling. Nevertheless, if she were to refuse the invitation, the action itself wouldn't look good in the eyes of the Mirkwood councilors, neither on his part or hers, for that matter.
Reiya gently closed the scroll document as she finally spoke.
"Very well." She stated in a calm manner. "If they want me to mingle, I'll mingle." She left it at that.
Thranduil widened his eyes at her response.
Was she actually agreeing to the whole ordeal? Just like that?
"Let's give them a gathering that they will never forget." The queen remarked with a light smile as she looked back at him.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at the statement.
He had no idea what Reiya had meant by that, but the fact that she was willing to attend the gala without putting up any resistance was actually a relief for him to some degree. Thus, he did not question her statement and just let it sly at that moment.
"Seems like we are all set for the time being then." The queen concluded with an agreeable smile.
Reiya bowed to him, then retreated without speaking further.
Thranduil kept his attentive gaze on the female monarch until she walked out of the door.
Well… That conversation in particular had gone much smoother than he expected, to be honest.
…
And so, Thranduil and Reiya began meeting on a weekly basis to assess matters of war while they gradually got used to each other's temperaments and working approaches.
Their exchanges were often driven by multiple predicaments, with Reiya usually being the one pushing for immediate action, while Thranduil remained the cautious contemplator.
The two Elven monarchs had already been faced with a series of disagreements throughout their assessments, but they had managed their differences well enough to find some common ground at the end of each gathering.
Thus, Thranduil and Reiya found themselves discussing yet another matter that prompted further scrutiny on the king's part.
"Cast a protective magic barrier throughout the boundaries of my lands, you say?" Thranduil asked while looking at the female monarch with a weary expression.
"Yes." Reiya confirmed, as she placed several pieces on the map table in front of them. "I am quite aware that the Enchanted River has helped protect your realm for millennia, but Loitar's monsters are growing more powerful as his magic evolves. They were already able to breach the protective boundaries of Imladris on the night of the hearing, as you know." She pointed out.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at the queen as she continued making her case.
"We also have that Dark General to contempt with—the one who propels insects to spy on us." Reiya stated. "My lieutenant has not sensed any unnatural insects on the prowl since I eradicated the hornet spies at Imladris. Nevertheless, the Dark General in question is still out there and might yet be conducting surveillance on us at this very moment." She remarked.
Thranduil hummed lowly before he spoke.
"Did you relay this information to Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond, as well?" The king inquired, wondering what the other Elven rulers would have to say on the matter.
"They already requested my counsel for such a purpose prior to my trip back to Xandor, actually." Reiya stated.
The king looked slightly surprised by the revelation, as he was not aware that his peers had already begun seeking Reiya's advice at Elrond's manor.
"I assume they are already taking measures to mitigate those risks with that in mind. Perhaps it is time for you to do the same?" The queen pointed out.
"Right…" Thranduil stated in a nonchalant manner, ignoring the female monarch's attempt at rushing him. "And how exactly are you planning on creating this protective magic barrier that you speak of?" He inquired. "As far as I am concerned, your fire spells could still destroy most of my forest and put my people in danger." The king pointed out with a hardened expression.
"Oh, I wouldn't be the one creating this magic barrier in particular, your highness; my Spellcasters would, under my supervision, of course." Reiya stated with a cordial smile, ignoring the king's remark on her power as well.
"Spellcasters?" Thranduil reiterated.
"Yes. They are Xandorian combatants who excel at magic and serve as a distinctive branch of my military to take care of such matters. Their abilities have been crucial in our efforts to counter Loitar's own dark magic in many instances." The queen explained. "Perhaps you might benefit from having a similar branch in your army, as well?" She stated with a discreet but proud smile.
"Perhaps, or I might actually be better off deciding how to best strengthen my own army, since I am both the monarch and lead commander of this realm." Thranduil emphasized with a sardonic tone.
Reiya raised an eyebrow at the king for a brief moment, then smiled politely and looked at the floor in a knowingly manner.
It seemed like Thranduil was not fond of advice from outsiders when it came to matters of his army. Hence, she made a mental note to herself not to push the topic unless the circumstances called for it.
"Fair enough." She left it at that. "How do you wish to proceed, then?" The queen inquired with a serious expression as she shifted her attention back to her peer.
Thranduil placed a finger on his chin as he weighed his options, while Reiya looked at him in a questioning manner.
Unsolicited suggestions aside, it wouldn't be the first time that the king had chosen not to follow her tactic recommendations whenever he believed other alternatives would better serve their aims.
At the end of the day, she was primarily deemed with the task of sharing intelligence, and Thranduil could act in any way he deemed most beneficial, whether his thinking was aligned with hers or not.
Reiya was well aware of that fact; however, she still believed the measure of further protecting the king's lands from Loitar's forces would highly benefit them both, regardless of his reasoning in that regard.
Having made up his mind, Thranduil finally spoke.
"You may go ahead and create the magic barrier in question." The king stated. "I will speak with my Patrol guards so your Spellcasters can perform the task accordingly."
A satisfactory smile was drawn on Reiya's face, as the fellow monarch opted to follow her recommendations that one time.
"Understood." She responded in acknowledgement.
"Well, I guess that concludes this meeting then."
The two Elven monarchs nodded to one another then walked towards the two opposite ends of the room.
"You know, sometimes I cannot tell if you are strictly providing counsel for me, or giving me orders to some extent." Thranduil commented in a casual manner while clearing the desk in front of him.
"My main task in this role is to advise you, King Thranduil, so that is what I am doing; advising you." Reiya emphasized. "Oftentimes, that requires me to be straightforward on certain matters, as you know." She stated, putting office items in one of the boxes on the table before her.
"That part I understand, but you have quite a pertinacious way of communicating your recommendations, I should add." Thranduil replied in a sardonic manner.
"That is because my recommendations are very specific and tailored to our aims, Elvenking." Reiya stated matter-of-factly. "If these are indeed your thoughts on the way I voice my advice for you, then you wouldn't like me at all when I give orders." She pointed out with a hint of irony.
"Wouldn't I?" Thranduil remarked, turning his attention back to the queen as he finished clearing the desk. "And what made you come to such a conclusion, may I ask?" He inquired as he walked towards her in a paced manner.
"You know the answer to that." Reiya replied with a nonchalant voice while her attention remained on the box.
"Do I, now?" Thranduil stood in close proximity behind her, not knowing exactly what she was talking about.
"Yes." Reiya replied as she turned around to face the king.
Thranduil chuckled lightly at her statement.
"There it is again. Your tendency to make quick assumptions about me and my capabilities." He pointed out with a sarcastic tone.
"I am merely making partial judgments based off first impressions, just like you would, my lord." Reiya emphasized, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Right." Thranduil stated. "Regardless, you should watch that little habit of yours in my presence, Red Queen. It might get you in all sorts of compromising situations if you do not measure yourself." He cautioned with his deep-toned voice.
"With all due respect,your highness, I can manage myself and the weight of my words just fine, even in the midst of your presence." Reiya stated in a firm manner.
"So you say."
"SoI know." She corrected him. "And you will be wise not to overstep in that regard, Elvenking." The female monarch stated with a polite smile, properly disguising the hint of warning in her voice as she looked back at him attentively.
Thranduil did not back away, however, choosing to remain in place while his piercing blue eyes scrutinized the female monarch even further.
For just the briefest of moments, his gaze traveled down to her pink full lips, curled in that taunting smile she so often liked gesturing in front of him, then back at the green depths of her gentle eyes as his mind got lost in a sort of trance.
Reiya's expression gradually turned to one of slight confusion as she wondered why Thranduil went so still all of a sudden.
Almost as if reacting to the shift in the unseen energies surrounding them, she averted her own gaze away from his piercing blue eyes, turning her attention to the long silver-blond locks resting gracefully at the sides of his chest.
That smooth-looking hair of his must have been gentle to the touch, she assumed...
Reiya widened her eyes slightly at the strange thought that invaded her mind at such an unforeseen moment. An effect of the king's attempts at dominance, no doubt; the constant challenge conveyed by his intense gaze, in conjunction with the ethereal poise that characterized his flowing demeanor.
No…She wouldn't let him have his way.
Feeling the king's gaze still lingering over her for no apparent reason, Reiya proceeded to stop the needless stupor.
"Well, looks like I am done here." The female monarch stated with a blank expression as she finished putting the last item back in the box and took the bins to one of the shelves.
Thranduil did not follow her with his gaze right away, as he was brought back from the sudden daze that had overtaken him at that moment.
He widened his eyes slightly at the realization, then sighed lowly at the subtle waves of frustration that followed.
Eru, that elleth…
She could be annoyingly distracting for him in so many ways. Her charms always at play, luring him effortlessly in the most unexpected moments; the constant pull of her spell looking to trap him; bend him to her will…
No…He wouldn't let her dissuade him from his cause.
Thranduil recomposed himself, then shifted the conversation towards other more important matters.
"Are you still on for the gala next week?" He inquired with his impassive expression as he turned his face to the female monarch.
"Yes." Reiya confirmed while her attention was on the shelves.
"Good." Thranduil responded.
"On a different note, I was wondering about something."
The king raised an eyebrow at the sudden interjection.
"I made notice of a trail that extends beyond the palace boundaries. I would like to take Toby for a walk on that one path, if it does not pose any inconveniences, of course." The queen stated.
"Toby?" Thranduil inquired.
"My dog pup." Reiya clarified.
The king's expression turned to one of wonder.
Right… That was the name Reiya gave to the puppy gifted by the hobbits back at Imladris.
By inquiring about that, he assumed the queen was asking for his authorization to go on that trail with her pet companion on their own, without the company of Tauriel or any other Mirkwood escorts, for that matter.
He knew for a fact that the trail in question was a public one, and the path extended throughout open spaces in the city grounds, which were often patrolled by guards.
Granted, Reiya was still a Krisha capable of burning everything in her path, but he did not foresee any major risks in allowing the queen to go for an open walk with her puppy at the time.
Thus, Thranduil complied.
"Yes, you may." He left it at that.
Reiya smiled lightly at the king's answer. "Good." She stated.
Once she was done organizing the bins on the shelves, Reiya approached the fellow monarch to bid her farewells.
"If nothing else calls for attention at this time, I guess we will meet at the gala, your highness."
Reiya bowed then made her way out of the room in a paced manner as the king watched her deep in thought.
Thranduil couldn't help but notice the elleth's seemingly aloof attitude towards the upcoming gathering with the Mirkwood nobles.
He made sure to tell Reiya about the importance of such an event in their previous intelligence meeting, since the gala would provide a unique opportunity for them to further encourage his councilors' support throughout the war.
Nevertheless, the Xandorian queen had seemed rather calm at the time, in spite of the high stakes at play.
Well… At least she was still willing to attend the event and put her best foot forward.
Hopefully, everything would go well enough with his councilors, for both their sakes.
…
A/N: Yep!
Pick your best outfits everybody, because we are attending a gala with Mirkwood nobles on the next one! (Oh dear lol). As far as Thranduil and Reiya are concerned... Be the judges yourselves ;)