19. The Thrill
…
- At Rivendell -
A whole week passed since the hearing took place, and the day set for the departure of the visiting Elven parties had finally arrived.
As expected, the Elvenking and the Red Queen informed their subjects about the upcoming collaboration between the Elven nations and the preparations that would take place throughout the following weeks once they returned to their home realms.
In spite of the new developments, Reiya did not request any follow-up meetings with Thranduil, nor did she relay any official updates to him regarding the next steps. Therefore, the king was completely in the dark about what the fellow monarch was doing in terms of planning.
Reiya was not obligated to share any information with him at the time since their coalition had not officially begun, so to speak. Nevertheless, Thranduil did notlike being kept in the dark regarding affairs that concerned his kingdom, no matter the circumstances.
In any case, the Lord of Mirkwood chose not to voice his on-going frustrations with the vexatious elleth as he continued fulfilling his royal endeavors.
Most importantly, he had to make sure that Reiya was still willing to follow through with the role that was assigned to her, rather than question her sudden retraction.
Everything else would fall into place. Or so he'd hope.
…
Reiya was walking back to her chambers after attending her last diplomatic endeavor at Imladris before the Xandorians' departure.
She was wearing one of her royal dresses at the time, but was on her way to change into her traveling outfit.
The queen made a brief stop in her tracks, however, when she noticed a black-haired elleth making flowing-like movements with her hands at the riverbank.
Reiya raised an eyebrow in curiosity as she discreetly stepped closer to the spot in order to have a better look.
To her surprise, the elleth in question was Arwen Undómiel, and she was performing some sort of water manipulation exercise, it seemed.
The maiden was actively reshaping water masses into different patterns and creating floating currents at will.
Sensing the other pair of eyes on her, Arwen turned her attention to the Lady of Fire and dropped the water shapes into the river quite abruptly.
"Queen Reiya!" Arwen mumbled, looking a bit startled by the monarch's sudden appearance.
"Apologies, Lady Arwen. I did not mean to disrupt your training." Reiya stated, bowing to the daughter of Elrond in a respectful manner.
"Not at all, my lady. I should be the one apologizing for not greeting you properly. That was not courteous of me." The elleth insisted, bowing back to her in response.
"You are way too kind." Reiya assured her with a light smile. "I couldn't help but notice the way you were manipulating those currents of water with such mastery. You have a talent for water spells, it seems?" The queen asked in a curious manner.
"You flatter me, your majesty, but what you saw was merely a display of mediocre skill at best. My ability is only but a shadow from those who hold true power." Arwen replied apologetically. "My water spells are an extension of my father's ring magic, truly. Therefore, my spells do not stand in pair with the power of ring bearers or your Krisha ability, for that matter." She explained. "Your fire spells are unlike anything I have seen, your majesty. I do not believe I will ever reach such heights."
Reiya looked at the younger elleth in a thoughtful manner, then smiled lightly and walked to her spot at the riverbank.
She stood next to the maiden at a respectful distance and contemplated the horizon in sight before she proceeded to speak.
"Lady Arwen, I know you and I are not acquainted with one another, and you are in your right to disregard this, but I'd like to suggest an alternative way for practicing your skill, if I may?" Reiya stated.
"Oh yes? What do you have in mind, my lady?" Arwen inquired, looking visibly interested in what the queen had to say.
"How would you feel about practicing your water spells away from the reach of Lord Elrond's ring?" Reiya proposed.
"Away from my father's ring..." Arwen pondered the suggestion in a thoughtful manner.
"Yes. I have a hunch, if you might call it that." The queen stated. "I do not think your elemental skills are tied to the power of Lord Elrond's ring alone. On the contrary." She pointed out. "I am inclined to believe that your ability comes primarily from your own will and determination, even when your father's ring power is not at play."
Arwen widened her eyes slightly at the queen's words.
Reiya then turned her face towards the elf-maiden and adopted a more serious expression.
"You see, Lady Arwen, there might be a time when someone you care about will be in great danger, and neither Lord Elrond nor Lady Galadriel will be nearby to help those dear to you." Reiya stated. "If that scenario comes to pass, it will be up to you, and you alone, to do something about it with the skills that have been bestowed upon you."
Arwen looked at the floor in a contemplative manner as she listened to the queen attentively.
"Hence, the alternative way of training that I speak of might be worth a try, don't you think?" Reiya inquired with a light smile once again. "Perhaps you might be able to practice your water spells at a safe location not that far from the manor in order to further develop your skill."
Arwen remained silent for a brief moment before she responded to the queen.
"I know a place or two that could serve the purpose." She stated in a reserved manner.
"Good. It looks like you are off for a great start then." Reiya stated with a light smile.
Arwen turned her attention to the queen as her mind kept wondering.
"I should finish making preparations for the journey back to my realm, my lady, but if Eru were to grant us both the opportunity to survive this war and meet at another time, I would be delighted to know the outcome of the suggested training, if you are willing enough to try it out, of course." Reiya stated in an agreeable manner, as her smile remained unchanged.
"I would like that as well, your majesty." Arwen responded in a polite manner while gesturing a kind smile of her own.
Reiya bid her farewells and retreated from the area as she contemplated her impressions of the elf-maiden.
Arwen was certainly an intriguing young lady.
She acted shy in her manners and seemed to feel overshadowed by the powers of her father and grandmother, understandably.
Nevertheless, the elf-maiden was not without talents of her own, and Reiya could see a great potential for growth in both her abilities and character, despite her apparent insecurities.
The last flowers to bloom were often the fairest and purest throughout the forest clusters.
Hence, perhaps Arwen Undómiel would find her own voice and perform deeds of great importance at the proper time.
…
It was already early afternoon at Imladris.
Whether by coincidence or deliberate intent, the elves from the two visiting parties were together at the gate area, getting their horses and carriages ready for the journey ahead.
Tauriel was carefully accommodating some of her bags in the Mirkwood wagon, but her attention was quickly brought back to her surroundings when her horse and the other Wood-elves standing nearby gasped at something behind her.
Reacting by instinct, Tauriel turned around rather quickly, looking for any signs of trouble. However, her eyes widened in startlement as a rare animal stood right in front of her, while gazing at her with a degree of interest, it seemed.
The beast was a feline-like creature that had an orange and white coat, black stripes, prominent fangs, sharp claws, and azure eyes.
The creature was not quite as tall as Thranduil's elk, but it came fairly close, judging from the height disparities between the horses at the site and the beast itself. Additionally, the animal had a decorative red collar with golden emblems, reins attached to a harness, and a golden saddle to match.
The Sun-elves did not seem appalled by the animal at all. In fact, some of them even acknowledged its presence with a welcoming smile.
Tauriel suddenly widened her eyes in realization.
Thranduil had mentioned that the Red Queen rode a beast of sorts, and they would let the animal roam the Mirkwood forest throughout the Xandorians' visit if he himself deemed it safe.
There was no question about it. The majestic-looking creature had to be Reiya's mount.
Tauriel was not entirely sure what the king's judgment would be on the beast, but the animal looked friendly enough in her eyes, despite its imposing appearance.
The creature emitted a deep chuff sound as it lowered its head closer to Tauriel's frame.
She raised her hand slightly, debating whether it would be safe to pet the rare animal or not. However, her dilemma was soon settled when the Red Queen herself arrived at the site.
"Captain Tauriel." Reiya addressed the younger elleth with a smile as she calmly approached both her and the rare animal.
The Lady of Fire was wearing her signature Krisha hooded cloak, over-the-knee laced boots, and a traveling outfit that was very similar to the one she had on when she first arrived at Imladris.
"My lady!" Tauriel exclaimed as she immediately bowed to Reiya when she made her presence known.
The Sun-elves and Wood-elves on site followed suit, further acknowledging the queen's station.
"Looks like you and Veryo are already acquainted with one another. He must have sensed that you are one of us somehow." Reiya stated while smiling at the beast. "This formidable creature is both my mount and a longtime friend of mine." She pointed out as she gently petted Veryo on its forehead.
The animal chuffed at the affectionate gesture.
"I see… Apologies for my lack of knowledge on the subject, my lady, but what sort of creature is he, exactly?" Tauriel pondered.
"No need to apologize, captain." Reiya reassured her. "My mount is not an endemic animal from Middle-earth, so I presume you have never seen a creature like him in these lands." The queen pointed out. "Veryo is a dire tiger from the rain forests in the Land of the Sun. I rescued him from the ruins of war when he was merely a small cub."
Veryo closed his eyes slightly when Reiya rubbed his ears with her fingers.
"Loitar's monsters destroyed his home, just like they did mine." The queen stated with a nostalgic tone. "Nevertheless, loss brought us together, and we have rallied to battle on multiple occasions since that fateful day." She pointed out.
Tauriel looked at the creature in wonder as she continued listening to the female monarch.
"Veryo has saved me more times than I could count. For that, I will always be grateful." Reiya stated while smiling as she placed her hand on the animal's forehead, seemingly a recurrent display of affection between the queen and her mount companion.
She then hopped on the creature and took the reins attached to the harness, standing tall above all the horses in the area.
The Wood-elves at the site glanced at the Red Queen in amazement, as the sight of her on the majestic creature made for an impressive scene.
Following suit, Tauriel hopped on her horse and stood in front of Reiya and the dire tiger.
"I look forward to meeting you at the Woodland Realm, captain." The queen stated with a light smile.
"As do I, my lady." Tauriel responded, smiling back at her in a polite manner.
"Tauriel." A deep, commanding voice suddenly resonated in the gate area.
The captain turned around at the call of her name and looked at the Elvenking as he emerged.
Thranduil approached the two ellith on his great elk, followed closely behind by the Mirkwood royal guards and their horses. Feren was also among the elves accompanying the king at the time.
All the elves on site immediately bowed to the lord commander of the Woodland Realm, looking slightly intimidated or stunned by the king's presence.
Zila and the rest of the Xandorian royal guards also took their own horses and stood close to the queen as the fellow monarch was on his way to meet her.
Reiya widened her eyes slightly at the sight, since that was her very first time contemplating the Elvenking's great elk in person.
The tales had definitely not done Thranduil's mount enough justice.
For one, the animal seemed to be highly experienced in battle, judging from his robust frame alone, and he was quite massive, even by the species standards.
Additionally, those giant antlers looked menacing, and they could inflict fatal blows, no doubt.
Veryo growled slightly and glared at the approaching animal, almost as if sensing an imminent threat in the elk's visible strength and potential to do harm.
However, Reiya petted his neck lightly, soothing him in a gentle manner.
"It is okay, Veryo. Be calm." The queen instructed with a gentle voice. "That great elk is quite sturdy, I know, but he is not an enemy."
Veryo relaxed following the queen's gesture, but kept a cautious look on the other creature.
Reiya took both of the reins once again and shifted her attention to the king when he stood in front of her.
Thranduil, on his end, directed his gaze to the queen's mount, as he was making speculations of his own.
The king's elk placed one of his hooves forward and shook his large antlers at the dire tiger in a wary manner, being aware of the fact that the large feline in front of him was a carnivorous creature.
However, the animal calmed down almost immediately when Thranduil placed his hand on the elk's robust neck.
Thranduil had witnessed war beasts from distant continents in previous battles. Nevertheless, he had never seen a creature quite like the Red Queen's dire tiger before.
The feline-like animal had sharp fangs and claws, further exhibiting its ferocious nature. The animal also looked quite strong, judging from the muscle dexterity of its frame.
Reiya's mount would definitely have the advantage in a contest of speed and hunting instincts. But his elk would still prevail in defensive power with its antlers and sturdiness, he presumed.
Thranduil was not entirely sure if the dire tiger would be safe enough to be allowed to roam his forest just yet, but that would be a judgement for another time.
Thus, the king refocused on the situation at hand and shifted his attention back to the two ellith in front of him before proceeding to speak.
"Your unit is waiting for you, captain." He instructed, seemingly wishing for Tauriel to go back to her squadron so he could have a word with the Red Queen himself.
"Yes, my lord. I will be there shortly." She acknowledged the order.
Tauriel turned to Reiya briefly and nodded at the queen with a light smile before taking her horse to the assigned spot.
Reiya returned the gesture, then shifted her attention back to Thranduil as her expression turned distant.
The rest of the Wood-elves and Sun-elves at the site mounted their horses and glanced at the two monarchs in anticipation as they awaited the exchange that was about to take place.
Reiya's childhood friends were among the elves contemplating the scene as well.
Eldrec kept a cautious look on the Elvenking, while Urien just observed the interaction with mere curiosity.
"Queen Reiya." Thranduil saluted her in formal fashion as he remained seated on his great elk.
"King Thranduil." Reiya returned his greetings in the same manner while sitting on her dire tiger as well.
"Having second thoughts on our arrangement?" The king asked.
"Not yet." She responded blankly.
"Hmm." Thranduil murmured, not looking entirely convinced by her affirmation. "I did not hear from you again after we spoke. I thought perhaps you were facing doubts?"
"I was merely occupied attending to other matters and beginning preparations for the upcoming endeavor, your highness. I assumed you were doing the same?" Reiya stated matter-of-factly.
"Indeed." Thranduil responded. "Do you still intend to follow through, then?" He inquired in a serious manner.
"Yes. I will journey to your realm and do my part as expected, Elvenking. I gave my word. That means something to me." Reiya stated firmly.
The slight hint of bitterness in the queen's voice did not go unnoticed by Thranduil, but he did not duel on it since he got the reassurance that he was seeking on her part.
"Very well." Thranduil responded in an objective manner. "Raise your banners and drop the concealment masks when you enter my forest. The Mirkwood watch squadrons should be able to identify you before they escort you inside the Woodland Realm. A measure of prevention, just in case."
"Understood." Reiya acknowledged the king's instruction.
"Beware of great spiders on your way in, as well. We have not seen them in months, but we are still keeping watch, regardless." Thranduil explained. "Could you handle those on your own if they emerge at the time of your arrival? A queen from distant lands might look rather appetizing in their eyes. Perhaps they might want to go for a bite?" He remarked with a sardonic expression.
Eldrec raised an eyebrow at the king's statement, and the rest of the elves looked either surprised or confused by his remark.
Reiya pursed her lips slightly before responding to the king.
"If those spiders wish to feed off me, so be it. I'll turn them to ashes the second they try." She emphasized, staring at Thranduil in an acute manner.
Urien was visibly startled by her friend's response to the king. Some of the other elves at the site seemed to have similar reactions, as they mumbled lowly among themselves.
Thranduil chuckled slightly at the queen's words, then he proceeded to speak.
"That is your intended course of action, then?" He remarked with a teasing expression. "Are you conspiring to burn down my forest when you fight the filthy creatures as well?"
"There is no need for you to be concerned about that, Elvenking." Reiya stated. "I will not destroy your lands with my fire spells, or you, for that matter." She remarked with a pretentious smile of her own.
"Oh, I am not concerned at the prospect of facing you, my lady." Thranduil stated in a nonchalant manner. "I will gladly accept a duel any time you wish to battle me, Red Queen." He pointed out as he smirked at her.
Reiya rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief following the king's remark.
Choosing to leave the Lady of Fire with the provoking statement, Thranduil gestured his company to follow him and leave.
"Until we meet again, your majesty." He stated with a smug smile before retreating with his elk and the rest of Mirkwood elves.
Reiya narrowed her gaze slightly at the king, but she recomposed herself briefly after and gave the order for the Sun-elves to depart as well.
"Xandorians, off we go." She instructed.
The Sun-elves acknowledged the order and began following the queen as she led them down a different road.
Once all the horses were galloping at a steady pace, the Xandorians began engaging in conversations with their peers or enjoying the sights in their surroundings.
Urien took advantage of that moment to approach her best friend, as she discreetly moved her horse next to the queen's dire tiger in order to speak to her.
"Urien." Reiya acknowledged her friend with a welcoming smile. "How is Toby doing? Is he alright?" The queen asked, wondering how the puppy was faring at the moment.
"He was sleeping in the wagon the last time I checked on him. Your ladies-in-waiting are taking good care of him." Urien responded with a light smile of her own.
"Good." The queen remarked in a content manner. "I will request the royal leathersmiths to create a custom puppy bag for me, so I can carry Toby with me on future travels." She pointed out.
A brief moment of silence transpired between the two ellith, before Urien addressed the intended topic.
"Um… Reiya? I do not mean to intrude on confidential matters, but I couldn't help but wonder. Your exchange with the Elvenking... what was that about?"
Reiya looked at her friend in wonder as she realized something.
That was the very first time the Xandorian and Mirkwood subjects had witnessed their monarchs speaking to one another in a public setting.
Naturally, most of them must have been either surprised or intrigued by the scene, given the unconventional way she and Thranduil engaged with words.
Reiya always kept Urien on the loop regarding her diplomatic affairs with other leaders in Middle-earth. Thus, it was only natural that her best friend would have questions of her own regarding her public exchange with the Lord of Mirkwood, even though there was not much to say on the matter, really.
"Apologies, Urien. I should have made you aware of some of the Elvenking's perks prior to our departure." Reiya stated while smiling cordially at her seneschal.
The elleth raised an eyebrow slightly at the statement.
Reiya shifted her attention back to the road, and her expression turned blank once again.
"That was just me and King Thranduil setting certain... expectations, you might say." The queen clarified.
"Hmm… I see." Urien responded in a contemplative manner.
The seneschal also shifted her attention to the road as she proceeded to speak.
"He was enjoying that, you know?" Urien stated.
Reiya raised an eyebrow at her best friend, wondering what she was getting at.
"Talking to you." Urien clarified. "He seemed quite engaged with your responses, in spite of his impassive demeanor." She pointed out.
"Oh yes. He is usually like that." Reiya stated.
"Is he, really?"
"Yes. He just likes the attention and being smug about things." The queen explained in a nonchalant manner.
"Hmm… Interesting." Urien pondered as she voiced her contemplations further. "I guess I am intrigued at the fact that King Thranduil was not seeking anybody else's attention but yours at that moment. I do not think I ever saw him actively approaching the other Elven rulers in quite the same manner?" She pointed out.
"That was to be expected." Reiya remarked. "I now stand as a monarch defying the full extent of the Elvenking's jurisdiction, Urien. Hence, that will not be his only attempt at provocation, I'm sure." She remarked. "No worries, though. I can manage." Reiya reassured her best friend with a light smile.
"Right." Urien responded, sounding somewhat skeptical. "Don't you think his rapport with you seems overly pretentious for mere politics, though?" Urien inquired in a thoughtful manner.
The queen sighed at the comment.
"I agree with you in that regard, actually." Reiya stated in a resigned manner.
"You do?" Urien stated, looking slightly surprised by her response.
"Yes." Reiya reconfirmed. "I am still trying to figure out that one perk of his. Eldrec seems to believe that King Thranduil is just conflicted, and he is being cautious in his own way, but I am not entirely convinced that is the main cause prompting his erratic behavior." She admitted.
"Wait. You and Eldrec talked about this already?"
"Yes." Reiya responded, smiling slightly at her friend.
"And why was I not included in that conversation, may I ask?" Uriend inquired with a jested expression.
Reiya chuckled slightly at her friend's remark.
"Eldrec said you would react this way." The queen stated.
"He did, huh?"
Urien directed a sarcastic look at Eldrec, who was galloping alongside his watch squadron at the back of the Xandorian company.
The lieutenant looked back at his childhood friend almost immediately, knowing quite well that he had gotten himself into some sort of trouble, judging from her accusatory expression.
He looked to his side while acting oblivious and began whistling his way out of Urien's sight.
The seneschal's attention was directed back to the other elleth however, as she continued to speak.
"Eldrec and I spoke by chance, to be honest." Reiya explained. "I was out in the courtyard late that night. I couldn't sleep, and neither could he, so we just made conversation, I guess."
"I see…" Urien responded in a thoughtful manner.
Even though the seneschal's statement had been merely intended as a jest, she was well aware that Reiya and Eldrec were both warriors, something that she would never be by any means, as the battlefield had never really appealed to her.
Understandably, her two best friends shared a mutual understanding on certain matters that she would never fully comprehend, drawing on her own life experiences.
Moreover, that wouldn't be the first time those two couldn't conceal their sleep due to worries concerning the war.
In any case, she was just glad that Reiya and Eldrec could confide in each other for such matters while she supported her best friend in other areas.
"I assume our dear Eldrec provided you with great advice, as usual?" Urien inquired, smiling lightly.
"He certainly did." Reiya replied, smiling back at her. "Eldrec's points were very useful in helping me gain clarity on our next steps, even though many things about this elf-king still remain obscure. I'm afraid I will have to figure those out as I go." She pointed out in a thoughtful manner.
"Perhaps a second opinion might help throw some light on the king's behavior, if you are willing to know my thoughts on the matter, that is?" Urien asked with a light smile.
"Yes. I would like that very much, actually." Reiya responded, sounding genuinely interested in what her best friend had to say about Thranduil and his peculiar ways.
"Good." Urien stated. "I agree with you and Eldrec to some extent. However, I believe there is much more to the king's interactions with you than just mere caution and royal ambitions."
"You do? What else could there be?" Reiya inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, judging from the public banter that transpired between the two of you, I am inclined to believe that Lord Thranduil is seeking the thrill of a good conversation with the elleth he fancies, it seems." Urien pointed out in a teasing manner.
"Wait…what?" The Lady of Fire retorted, looking visibly confused as she turned her face towards her best friend.
"He likes you, Reiya." Urien stated with a light smile. "Or he is attracted to you on some level, at the very least. Call it a hunch." The seneschal pointed out, shifting her attention back to the road once again.
Reiya widened her eyes slightly at her friend for a few seconds, but chuckled promptly after.
"Urien, you have a good sense with people, and you know I value your insights above all others, but I am going to have to differ with you on this one, my friend." The queen pointed out.
Urien hummed at the statement as her smile remained unchanged.
That was certainly not the first time she and Reiya had different thoughts on the males approaching her, as the Lady of Fire oftentimes chose to assess their actions strictly through the lens of diplomacy and matters of the crown.
In any case, Urien always provided a space free of judgement for Reiya to share her honest opinion on the males that had made their way into her life. Thus, she encouraged the queen to explain herself further so she could know her views on the fellow monarch more in depth.
"You do not agree with me on the king's likely desire to court you, your reason being...?"
"... his conceited personality, for starters." Reiya pointed matter-of-factly. "He does not like me, Urien. He likes himself. Trust me. There is a big difference. I've managed leaders with big egos in the past, but his tops all the others by quite a margin. That king's pride has pride." She remarked in a sardonic manner.
Urien chuckled slightly at her friend's comment.
She suspected that Lord Thranduil would be a recurrent subject of conversation given the king's apparent infatuation with her best friend.
Nonetheless, she would allow for things to unfold in the fated direction without pushing her own assumptions or biases on Reiya. Thus, she chose not to press the matter further, and her exchange with the queen came to an end.
Once the Xandorian company reached the open road, Reiya ordered her subjects to put on their concealment masks per their customary measures of protection as they continued their journey back to the realm.
...
A/N: Oh dear.
Urien speaking facts, but Reiya being stubborn lol.
We've all had that one friend who is highly intuitive and tells us things the way they are, but we are way too much in our heads to listen, haha.
Matters of love and attraction are definitely not one of the queen's strongest suits, ha.
Note on Reiya's mount
I believe we all agree that Thranduil's majestic elk empowered his grand presence in the Hobbit movies. Therefore, I did not see any reason why our queen couldn't have an epic mount of her own to do her justice, she being who she is and all!
A tiger seemed quite suitable for her, with that in mind :)
"Veryo" is a Quenya Elvish name that translates to 'Bold', which alludes to Reiya's attitude in some respects, as well as the tiger's nature, haha.
Just like Toby (Reiya's puppy), I consider Veryo to be a minor character with the occasional major role in the queen's life n_n