29. IF THE STORM DOESN'T PASS, LEARN TO DANCE IN THE RAIN
"My lady, you will have to postpone. The councilors will meet soon!" Galion said blocking their exit.
"What does this mean? I have never attended!" Hanna didn't understand. The butler had never warned her about such things.
"It is true. But it was they who requested your presence!" Galion confided moving nervously "And you can't be late. It would be very disrespectful in the face of such a concession!".
Hanna froze, before turning to Sara for advice.
"What are you waiting for? Move!" She urged her on.
"It's too early! He wanted to prepare me! He never taught me how..." "You stood up to him! Can you do it...can you do it?" Sara asked, turning to Galion, her smile dulled by uncertainty.
"I will be by your side my lady, I gave my word!" Said the butler grimly.
Hanna tried unsuccessfully to stay calm. But without success!
She went out and re-entered the room at least five times, because she had forgotten something. The shoes, the jewelry, the brushing of the hair...it had to be at its best!
He was well aware that the elves, members of the small council with which the King made arrangements for the kingdom, were all very ancient. Some had even served Oropher!
So it was only fair that he was on edge.
She knew very well that there were many problems and she wanted to avoid becoming the one who could magically solve them...due to the absence of the King, the backlog increased more and more. Approving trade agreements with other peoples, signing treaties and organizing patrol shifts was the King's job!
It was Galion who had been overwhelmed by backlog, but lacked skills to rival the ruler.
The same could be said of the advisers. Despite the extra work, they eagerly awaited the King.
Without Legolas to replace him, at the moment no one was taking care of the fundamental issues to keep the kingdom going and she certainly didn't want to be the one to replace them.
But Hanna had stood up to Thranduil! Of course, she had never turned to the King and perhaps this would have put a spoke in her wheels, but it would not have stopped her!
As soon as he entered the huge hall, the elves present stood up as a sign of respect.
Having all those eyes on her made her feel helpless as she was when her master exhibited her as a rare creature. He braced himself and went to sit on the chair indicated by Galion.
It was next to the empty one of the King.
As soon as Hanna took her seat, the councilors followed suit.
"Han manners, and no fool!" Her conscience told her.
"I am grateful to you for having granted me such a great honor, even if I confess I do not understand the motivation behind this choice!" He said, trying to sound solemn, not too shrill, but confident.
"We and the whole kingdom must show gratitude for saving our King!" Said an elf with long brown hair.
Of course, indiscretion seemed to be the watchword of the elves!
"We discussed and we wanted to share with you our choice since for now, the King will not be present!" He revealed another goblin.
What melodious voices they had. Bewitching, as if they sang all the time.
An elf who had not yet spoken stood up, walking towards the human slowly. Hanna tried to remain impassive, but fear still showed in her features, so much so that Galion joined her to show her and everyone that he would protect her.
He had never been afraid of Thranduil. They were both in chains and there had never been a reason to hurt her. But she knew that the elves of Mirkwood were more dangerous than their fellows in Rivendell, much more open and welcoming and without Thranduil, she felt lost!
"When the news reached us that King Thranduil was alive against all odds, the joy was immense. However, your presence created new shadows, piercing doubts about what your real intentions were!" Said the elf studying her with his eyes "Humans have always been greedy and opportunists!" The elves always sang the same song "But your gesture has torn the veil of uncertainty!" He revealed.
"The people see you in a different light now!" He specified another.
"And we, understanding the foresight that our sovereign had in choosing you, have decided to accept his decisions. Although they go against the traditions of our people!" Said an annoyed elf with long brown hair, darker than the other kind.
"Humans and elves have never united!" Another supported him.
"Never has a human being risked his life to save one of us!" After this statement everyone's eyes changed, as if they were trying to catch something in her that would explain her actions.
"Never have the people acclaimed a mortal as queen!" Wait...what?
"By now everyone in this kingdom, including us, sees you as the companion of the King. She to whom we would turn in case of the absence of the sovereign!" Said the one who spoke first.
"Wait!" Hanna said as she jumped to her feet and put her hands forward as if to defend herself "I know little about politics! And much less on that of the elves! I cannot replace the King. I would send this kingdom to ruin!" She tried to change his mind.
"We will take care of the bureaucratic aspects!" An elf who seemed to be the eldest of them all calmed her down. His eyes were ancient!
"You will have to express your opinion for the moment. Not having the official title yet, you have no executive power!" He said with a faint smile.
"But that doesn't mean we will treat you with less respect!" He stressed.
"The people need guidance. You will need to be aware of what is happening inside the kingdom as a representative of the royal family! This is of vital importance, especially for tonight's funeral ceremony!" He unveiled another.
"Thank you very much for the trust and loyalty shown to me. I'll do my best, I promise you!" Hanna said, bowing her head gratefully.
She had heard that the bodies of all the fallen had finally returned to their families and she knew it was only a matter of time before the inhabitants of Mirkwood paid their respects.
"How is the King?" That question sent his soul back into chaos.
"The sovereign is not well..." she said cursing herself for having left room for weaknesses. She couldn't divulge the slightest information!
"But I saw him recover from worse situations..." Hanna paused again, remembering that she was not comforting or reassuring anyone and was in no position to make false promises!
"You were with him!" Suddenly an elf said as he slowly stood up and Hanna tensed, fearing he would accuse her of abandoning the King on the battlefield "Do you know who made him a prisoner?" This was even worse!
Hanna stood still, staring at him with wide eyes, feeling the internal conflict increase.
"Thats enough!" Galion intervened "Lady Hanna is very tried by the sovereign's illness. You can satisfy these curiosities with his majesty!" He said urging the girl out.
"If the King dies, Princess Aranel will take his place!" Mister sympathy affirmed. He had to be an ally of Curunìr.
That sentence was the trigger, suddenly awakening Hanna "Aranel is still a child!" He growled.
"Exactly, but her education will be changed so that when she comes of age she is ready to take her father's place!" He made himself feel like another elf while remaining comfortably seated.
"Listen to me well!" Hanna said in a powerful voice taking a decisive step forward.
She placed her fingertips on the table, standing proud, knowing that she had to fight double for her children "Thranduil..." she smiled to see the discomfort of the elves in hearing the confidence with which she pronounced the name of the King, untitled "... he fought for a long time so that no one would decide on his daughter's life!".
Taking his cue from the angel of death, he began to walk around the table "Our daughter would have had a happy, worry-free childhood. She would have grown free to choose what to do in life and no one would have imposed anything on her!" Hanna saw an elf start to speak and continued, knowing full well she was being rude.
"I have seen him kill, maim and torture those who wanted to harm her. I will spare you the story of the sad fate that befell those who years ago kidnapped her and brought her to their camp just because she was a rare creature…" she said, clenching his fists in anger.
In the end she was back in her place.
"I know that now everything has changed! But before making any hasty decisions, remember that she is not the first in line of succession and that I will fight to respect the will of King Thranduil!".
"The succession to the throne must be respected, otherwise the kingdom could fall into chaos! With the Prince absent, it is inevitable not to turn to the Princess!" The elf insisted on something as powerful as royal blood.
Hanna glared at him "You asked for my opinion, here it is!"
"Lady Hanna is right!" Galion supported her "Prince Legolas has shown himself to be a wise and just ruler. And the fact that you support him despite their differences is a sign that you really trust in his attitude to command!" Hanna remained impassive not knowing if Galion thought she truly believed in the Little Prince.
The butler put his hands behind his back trying not to look tense "His Majesty is fighting the disease. We are in too delicate a moment to be able to give certain information, I trust you can forgive us if we refuse to be inappropriate, spreading news that could turn out to be false. If a misfortune happens, we will make decisions once the days of mourning have passed!" He said and then practically dragged Hanna away.
Couldn't believe it!
She was convinced that a mistake like the one made with Proximo would never happen again!
Yet if that had been the case, she would not have found herself running limping and avoiding colliding with the elves she passed.
Sara ran to the gates of the kingdom as soon as she heard the news from Luthien.
Arguing on their way back from the royal gardens it turned out that Lorien's elves were leaving.
For some reason, but part of her believed they would wait for the King's conditions to improve before leaving.
Without hesitation she had sprinted and narrowly saw Feren bow to Lorien's general, probably wishing him the best.
Haldir looked up at the huge staircase leading to the palace.
The line of soldiers from the Woodland Kingdom was perfect, willing to show gratitude for their help on the battlefield.
He turned, passing among his men to go to the horses and return to the kingdom to which he belonged.
Sara peeked out from behind the column as soon as she heard the marching steps widened by the sound of the armor.
He couldn't explain it, but as soon as he saw it, all the desire to talk to him had subsided, replaced by sheer terror.
What could he have said to justify his behavior? But was she the one who had to apologize?
Her leg throbbed with exertion, an annoying reminder of the reason that had brought her to the healing rooms days ago.
She had stayed in the royal apartments to help Hanna, but also to hide.
Part of her regretted what had happened.
He was still mourning Audial's death and hated himself for what he had done.
Already. Which was the only good thing that happened with that elf because as soon as she opened her mouth she wanted to strangle him.
Sara sighed unhappily, regretting what it might have been if she had braced herself.
She retraced her steps, not being able to say she was surprised when she took a tantrum from Hanna that she had for every single elf who was part of the royal inner council.
The two guards who guarded the entrance to the royal quarters exchanged amazed glances as they saw two little elves approaching shyly.
"I beg your pardon, I'm Annael, a friend of Aranel and Lucilla..." he introduced himself, trying not to look at the wealth of the castle with disrespectful disbelief "They didn't come to school and I wanted to know if they are okay!".
"Annael, what are you doing here?" A voice that the boy knew well made him regret having complied with the requests of his friend Lothìriel.
"Ada..." "This is the third time I repeat it to you, go home and never come back here!" His father took it back, apologizing with a gesture of his head to his comrades in arms.
Since Princess Aranel was kidnapped, her son had come looking for her several times. It was an example of loyalty, but it was important that the children remain unaware of what had happened. These were not suitable subjects for them.
"Is it true that the King is ill?" Lothìriel asked showing an unusual and admirable audacity for a child of her age.
His friend's father narrowed his gaze stiffening "Where did you hear that?" He asked cautiously.
"My grandfather says the King is dead. That's why we haven't seen him yet after the battle. My mother, on the other hand, thinks that he is just hurt because otherwise you would have told us right?" He asked with the innocence of youth.
Duinhir, Annael's father, knew well that her son's dear friend belonged to a lower social class and was aware of how urgent it was to appease and deny certain rumors, in order not to risk compromising the stability of the kingdom.
"What the King does is not your concern..." "Annael!" Duinhir jerked his head up to attention as he saw Princess Aranel running towards them.
"Aranel!" Lothìriel welcomed her with the joy of finally being able to see her again.
"What are you doing here?" Asked the friend who still hadn't seen them since she returned.
"We were looking for you! Where have you been?" Annael asked, lowering her head when her father cleared his throat threateningly.
"Aranel, are these your friends?" Sara asked, happy to be able to meet some of the girls' schoolmates, but understanding the urgency of the guard.
"Yup. Can they have a snack with us?" Aranel pleaded, clinging to Sara's skirt.
She rolled her eyes and replied with an "Okay!" Which made the children scream with joy "But only for a little while you have to finish your homework!" He recommended.
"My lady is not needed..." "And instead I find it a great idea to spend an afternoon with friends. Thank you for accompanying them this far, a distraction and company will be good for the Princess!" Sara interrupted Duinhir, not realizing that the royal guard had nothing to do with the appearance of the two friends.
It was a clear night, the moon made the newly fallen snow shine, which, like a ceremonial carpet, had covered the streets.
The clearing was full of elves, yet the silence was deafening.
Hanna and Sara shook hands, wanting to brace each other, while the twins clung to their skirts, confused by all eyes on them.
Aranel and Lucilla stood beside the maids, heads down, old enough to know what to do.
Hanna felt a pang in her heart as she saw her usually explosive daughter so composed. The more time passed, the more her mother could see Aranel's royal streak becoming more and more evident.
She had started to change right away, but now, the kind smiles she gave to those who bowed before them reminded her of her father.
A melody distracted her from her thoughts. It sounded more like a moan, but it was something magical.
Even though he didn't understand the words, he could feel the power of the message he wanted to convey.
Galion led them under a large tree, so that they could watch more closely and be seen by all present.
Hanna clenched her jaw as she saw mothers, wives, fathers and children despair over the bodies of their loved ones.
He felt like a worm at the thought of having cursed his luck. Aranel had been kidnapped, going through terrible experiences, but she always came back to her. Others had not enjoyed this tiny but splendid miracle ...
A little girl the Princess's age ran towards them, her face streaked with tears. Aranel and Lucilla did not hesitate to hug her.
Hanna saw herself again in that little elf. She was little more than her age when that terrible accident had made her an orphan ...
She knew that little girl, it was Lothíriel, a classmate of the girls who had gone to visit them that very afternoon, showing herself much more composed in Sara's presence. The father was among the fallen. A simple guard, but still part of the army that had fought against Azog's army.
The paternal grandfather, on the other hand, had survived without sustaining major injuries. Sometimes the future could be very mocking!
"Lothíriel's mother will soon leave for the immortal lands!" Calien whispered in her ear and received a warning from Luthien.
"And leave his daughter?" Astounded Hanna asked, turning slightly.
"If it stays it will vanish anyway. Lothíriel will remain with her father's father, but it is common for many children to be orphaned after such a huge loss! " Calien explained to her, ignoring the other maid.
Hanna lowered her head, hoping she had enough strength to get through this dark period for better days.
It was as if they didn't enjoy themselves when he wasn't screaming. He had passed out several times, now he was awake, but the sounds around him were distant, his vision blurred.
He closed his eyes in the hope that sleep would protect him from the next torture.
"Do you know what this is?" They knew he was conscious, they had learned to recognize his waking state even though his eyes were closed.
"It is an ally that will help us to loosen that forked tongue of yours!"
That night, in the moonlight, crescent moon, the silence lulled by the song of crickets, was broken by heartbreaking screams.
Hanna woke to the sound of the door being closed.
After a few seconds he heard Aranel climb onto the bed and lie down between them.
She was surprised to hear her coming, but despite her exhaustion she recognized that her sleep was restless and light.
Thranduil had been very ill in the days following the battle. It was the first night they could sleep together, her fever having subsided, without having to have the constant presence of a healer.
For this he had decided to allow his children to see him that evening, pretending that he was sleeping after a busy day at work.
Especially to appease the greatest. Aranel had experienced the absence of his father badly!
And she was too smart to be able to lie to her much longer ...
Hanna sighed in exhaustion.
The councilors had informed her about an imminent ceremony to which she would have to attend with the Princes, delivering a speech that she would have given to reassure the people who, in the face of silence, could have agitated believing the King passed away.
It didn't have to be said that the stress only increased and she was now exhausted by the amount of commitments that had suddenly been imposed on her.
Hanna closed her eyes, but when she opened them again, waking with a start, she would have bet it hadn't been long. He was having a dream he couldn't remember, but it was certainly not something cheerful.
He absolutely had to calm down, he could not continue to be at the mercy of his anxiety.
Aranel slept peacefully in the arms of his father who was lying on his side.
Seeing them so relaxed next to each other, she envied them, but at the same time she remembered a memory that time should have already erased.
Her mother advised her to imitate her when she felt upset and act like her before a concert. Do calming breathing exercises to relax the muscles and stretch the nerves.
It hadn't worked then. Maybe now, with any luck, he would help her.
She sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to take deep breaths. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. You make an annoyed grimace...
He sneezed several times having deeply inhaled the fumes of the herbs placed on the sides of the bed in order to fight the lung infection of the king.
It didn't seem to work much, so the girl's mind wandered through the sounds of the room.
The waterfall inside the palace was a sound that from the beginning of her stay she had found almost annoying, but now it could be said that it was keeping her company.
He lay down again, moving closer to the two and closed his eyes trying to fall asleep.
He snapped them open when his hearing caught an alarming detail.
Thranduil was breathing strangely!
Hanna started counting her partner's breaths, but what she noticed was certainly not reassuring: Thranduil's breathing rate was at least three times faster than hers.
For the first few days she and Sara would put their hand on the fire that the elf was suffering from pneumonia, but without knowledge of epic medicine they had been forced to trust the chief healer.
Even with her little medical knowledge, Hanna knew this was not a good sign.
He messed with the relaxation techniques and stormed out of the room.
He slammed into the heavy door of the sitting room in front, finding himself staggering backwards, massaging the injured part with one hand, while the other helped not to lose his balance.
After two seconds and recovered, opening the door with so much energy that it slammed against the wall despite its weight.
He left the room like a hurricane at the height of his destructive power and looked around frantically.
For a long time he had cursed healers by finding them in front of the King's chambers, feeling their privacy violated by their superhearing. Now that she was satisfied, she found herself cursing them double, realizing how inappropriate her complaints had been.
She turned to the two guards who watched the rooms and was shocked to see them flinch before coming to attention.
But what did they all have! He had saved the King, not threatened to kill anyone!
They stared at each other for a few minutes.
The two poor people were more and more agitated as the silence dwindled.
Hanna, in a nightgown, with unkempt hair and not at all presentable.
But she didn't care! Priorities had changed!
"What are you doing impaled them!" Hanna exploded, unable to relieve her frustration at the chance "Go call the healers, NOW!"
The elf, after having winced, dispelling all myths about elven control, ran away, preparing to obey.
Hanna returned to the room and stared at Thranduil, feeling the terror she felt on the lake, overwhelm her.
He clenched his fists as he felt the anger rise. The elves were immortal creatures, why did she have to suffer so much ?!
She saw her daughter still sound asleep in her father's arms, but she was too afraid to take risks by moving him.
A shouting anticipated the entry of Galion who stopped on the threshold. His gaze, strangely, immediately fell on her.
"You look fine?" Asked the worried butler. Hanna shook her head.
He approached the sovereign, slowly, but as soon as he noticed the Princess he didn't hesitate a second.
He made the King lie on his back, accompanying the movement with his arms.
A sad smile lit up Hanna's grim face as she saw the delicacy used by the one she knew was a close friend to Thranduil.
"Mellon (My friend), you have to fight!" Galion whispered knowing his lord couldn't hear him "For them!" He said giving him a firm handshake.
The butler picked up Aranel, inviting Hanna out as soon as the healers arrived.
"We knew it could happen!" Sara tried to console her.
"You risk dying of suffocation!" Hanna cried, squeezing the pillow tighter.
"No, the healers are looking after him!" Sara made herself heard who was barely fighting the nervousness born as soon as she learned of the crisis.
"Should I have helped him?" Hanna asked sitting down abruptly.
"I could have…" "Do anything! The physique is too tired. Calling the healers was a wise choice!" Sara stopped her.
"What if I didn't wake up? In the morning I would have had a corpse beside me!" Hanna said looking at her hands "My daughter would have woken up in her father's arms..." the look she turned to her friend was one of absolute terror and Sara took a deep breath, to regain her strength and calm down.
"It didn't happen!" He only said at the end.
"No!" Hanna yelled violently shaking her head "Do you know why it didn't happen?" He asked her "Why do I stay awake to hear her breathing in case...it stops...I feel the need to control it..." Hanna did not finish the sentence, covering her face with her hands to be able to despair in peace.
"Hanna..." Sara called, placing her hands on her shoulders.
She waited until her friend raised her head "You acted like no one could. You kept your mind clear, when you would have had every right to despair..." "I'm desperate!" Hanna yelled at her.
"Then find the calm you had while you restarted his heart!".
Silence fell into the room and Sara worried as Hanna's anger escalated.
"Calm?" She whispered furiously "I was yelling at him not to abandon me!" He shouted crying "I urinated him to breathe!" She said pushing her friend "I begged him to come back to me!".
"And he did it!" Sara reminded her as she raised her hands to protect herself from any subsequent blows.
"How can I keep calm when I have had to give my husband mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?" Shouted Hanna pushing her again "When did I have to jump on his chest because he was dead?!".
"Tell me how!" Hanna yelled out of her mind.
"You have no idea what it is like! You don't know I'm afraid of falling asleep because I keep seeing him dead!" Sara let her scream, cry and despair, waited until she calmed down, to get her up and escort her to the royal rooms.
Hanna didn't say or do anything else, following her like an automaton.
Luckily the healers were gone, so he sat down beside the ruler with Hanna, taking her hand to accompany her to lie on the King's chest.
Thranduil's breathing had returned to normal and he seemed only to be sleeping peacefully.
"What are you doing?" Hanna asked without objecting.
"Do you feel it?" Sara asked with admiration "A strong and constant beating heart..." she whispered in her ear "...that beats thanks to you!".
The girl smiled when her friend hugged her eagerly, moved.
"We will fold you elf! You will kneel in front of us calling us masters! "
They waited for an answer, they got only silence.
The wrists were bound with iron chains, the arms raised. It was too high for his feet to touch the damp cell floor. Every inch of his body sent pangs of pain.
The cold wall of the cell on which his back rested gave him light relief from his healing wounds as he rubbed against the swollen and infected ones.
He was alone, he could raise his head slightly and see the blue sky beyond the bars, or the stars illuminating the dark sky.
Waiting for death, waiting for a comfort that would never come!
He was not afraid of dying, soon he would meet his ancestors, his friends killed in battle, his wife ...
The only thing he regretted was having to die like a prisoner.
Alone, helpless, broken.
His people would elect his son as king, this was the only certainty that made the ghost of a smile appear on his face when no one was looking.
Hanna woke up suddenly, flailing her arms and legs in an involuntary frightened gesture, feeling she was falling as the mattress disappeared from under her.
She found herself on the ground, confused and in pain, still sleepy.
That night seemed to never end.
She had railed against Curunìr when he, dry, had explained to her that the crisis was due to the herbs and it was expected that a difficult therapy would prove to be difficult.
They had waited a few days for her to recover from Sara's first operation, but this hadn't averted any problems.
Hanna shivered with the anguished scream that reached her from the bed.
Now awake she stood up to see Thranduil stirring in a nightmare.
The elf alternated cries of anger with others of pain, never ceasing to move, he seemed to be fighting against someone ...
The exhausted elf that had appeared before her eyes after the crisis was gone, replaced by one in full force and extremely combative.
Hearing that melodious and powerful voice crack and break tore her heart.
The doors snapped open showing the chief healer who ran to the bed and together with two other elves tried to block the King.
It turned out to be a bad idea, because Thranduil reacted badly to being touched.
As if he were a wounded animal cornered, he fidgeted even more than before fighting against those he identified as enemies.
The elves were thrown like rag dolls and fell to the ground in pain.
Hanna looked at the ruler, his forehead was wrinkled in a grimace full of pain, he was panting as if he were running and sweat was soaking his forehead.
It stopped Alyon from trying a second time to calm the King knowing they would have the opposite effect.
He looked the healer in the eye, trying to get some authority out of his voice "We have to wait for him to calm down!"
When the gaze returned to King Hanna felt a stab in the heart in seeing his eyes open from which transpired only despair. He kept fidgeting and seemed not at all aware of his surroundings.
"Thranduil !?" Hanna called him softly but he didn't seem to see or hear her.
Hanna realized, putting a hand on his forehead and removing it immediately as he reacted violently, that he was in the throes of feverish hallucinations.
Had he always fought against his tormentors? Or after a while, he'd let them do it in hopes of putting an end to it all?!
What had they done to him to numb the pain?! If injured he suffered, but his tolerance threshold was very high!
How many scars did she keep hiding from her thanks to magic?!
How had he managed to hold out for so many years? How could he let her touch him? He had never moved at her touch, not even when they had just met!
How could he be so strong?!
Hanna felt a tear stream down her cheek as Thranduil collapsed into a weary sleep, fainting and relaxing his muscles.
"Give him something for the fever!" She ordered. Seeing Alyon's hesitation he decided to clear up any doubts "Don't you dare to say what happened with a living soul!" She hissed before returning his attention to Thranduil.
In the morning Hanna was still asleep, as was the ruler.
He opened one eye at the voices of the healers, but closed it again, refusing to move.
Fortunately, she was not disturbed further and barely heard the elves come out.
When she woke first she stared at Thranduil, lifting her head from his pillow-filled chest.
He slept soundly, as if nothing had happened a few hours ago.
Hanna lowered her head lulled by the elf's gentle breath.
Distant voices finally convinced her to get up. He stole a kiss from Thranduil before getting out of bed and going to get dressed.
Once she was ready she sat down beside the King.
The mattress sagged under his weight, but the elf didn't seem to notice his presence.
"They already consider me their queen..." Hanna whispered staring straight ahead.
"It was what I wanted, that is, I was hoping!" She corrected himself "But not like that! It didn't have to be something immediate and overwhelming!" She said waving her hands in nervousness "I would have gained their trust slowly, I would have done the right things and calmly..." she reasoned alone.
"Maybe they think it's suitable, but I don't know anything, nothing about how to run a kingdom, what to do in case of danger, even just giving orders is new!" She listed by counting with his fingers.
"Well not really...the rebels obeyed me because you terrified them...anyway..." she said smiling as he thought about it "Now everything has changed!".
"Thranduil..." she cried stroking his cheek "You're an elf, so you should be much stronger than us humans!" She said grabbing his hand.
"I don't know if I can..." she said taking a big breath of air "No, I can't! I can't do it without you!" She pressed his hand to his chest, as if with that gesture he could keep it with him "Come back to me! Wake up!" She pleaded with him.
"You meant..." Hanna screamed as a voice rang out in the silence of the room "..that without him she won't be able to get the title she aspires to!" She was sure that Curunìr deliberately did not knock before entering.
Hanna opened her mouth to reply "She misunderstood my words!" Only to realize that she owed him no explanation.
She got up, but stood at the foot of the bed, aware how much her presence bothered the chief healer.
With a kindness that seemed impossible to possess, Curunìr put a hand under the head of his King, lifting it slightly to make him drink the uninviting contents in the glass he had brought.
Once finished, he went out.
"I'm afraid to be seen around because I know Galion is lurking, but I have to go!" Hanna said giving the sleeping King a kiss.
She didn't notice the tired look that followed her until she disappeared through the door.
The councilor waited for the butler to accompany the guest of honor outside in order to expose the new problems encountered, but an unexpected confusion made everyone turn towards the large doors which opened shortly after revealing an unexpected intruder.
The chief healer dodged the guards, going straight to the head of the council.
"What are you doing here?" He asked sour. In his long centuries of office, a similar situation had never happened to him.
"You have no right to be present!" Another protested.
"I heard you want to know her majesty's condition. Who better than me can find an answer to your questions?" Asked the mellifluous intruder.
"The gossip?" Someone joked, earning a few restrained laughs.
"We have been informed that the King is recovering and we hope he can join us soon!" Minaothon, the head of the council, answered him.
"How sad. The long life granted to us by the Valar does not repair some gaps where pride dominates!" Curunír sighed feignedly distraught.
"You have to get out!" Another took him back.
"You are blind to impending calamities and deaf to warnings!" The chief healer answered piqued.
"Stop speaking with the tongue of a snake and tell us the calamities you fear are about to overwhelm us!" Ennòn, the youngest in charge, showed very little patience in the face of such insolence.
"I find it funny to have to say that it has already happened!" Curunír said, not careful to hold back a loud laugh.
"This is too much!" Mìnaothon was indignant "Guards!".
"His Majesty did not go to Ravenhill alone!" He declared the chief healer's powerful voice as the two soldiers tried to drag him out "That day on the mountain there was only Lady Hanna!" The last sentence brought dead silence and stopped the guards rushing to lend a hand.
"What would you like to insinuate?" Mìnaothon asked not understanding why this information should have such importance.
"I didn't think I had to explain!" Curunír replied offended, extricating himself from the soldiers' intrusive grips.
"Prince Legolas has released a very detailed report!" He remembered someone.
"Exactly. And you can see with your own eyes that he writes that he came after the accident!" The intruder did not give up.
"You can't believe a human could have defeated the ruler!" Ennòn resumed it not understanding, like everyone else.
"No?" Curunír asked stepping forward.
"I found signs of a concussion on the right side of her majesty's head. It means he was unconscious when the waters swallowed him!" He said knowing full well that he finally had the full attention of the entire board.
"King Thranduil has awakened, if it were as you affirm so ardently, he would have acted accordingly!" Amdir confidently stated that he had even served the great Oropher.
"The ruler is still very weak and confused. I asked him if he remembered and unfortunately the damage to the head erased part of the events from his memory, as I feared!" The truth, it could be used as a double-edged sword.
The head of the council rose to his feet with the grace of his own race, asking for silence with a simple wave of his hand.
"There are topics we need to discuss. I would never give little importance to the safety of the King, so I demand that he be well guarded. Curunír, tomorrow you will return and we will try to find a mutual agreement to decide the fate of Lady Hanna, but remember...if the memory of her majesty does not return, in her eyes it could be betrayal!" Mìnaothon said, being supported by all present.
Curunír bowed, showing for the first time that he was not a barbarian, and a slight smile came across his face.
But not for the joy of having been listened to, just for the pleasure of what it would cause.
That afternoon Hanna pondered some intriguing topics.
It was very inspiring to attend the meetings of the councilors as well as helping her learn their ways. The last meeting was over sooner than she thought and they had been kind enough to dismiss her so as not to bore her with financial issues.
He entered the King's study wanting to reflect in peace.
"An owl brought a message from Kalos!" Sara greeted her beaming, waving the piece of paper, destroying her plans.
"Can you believe I forgot about him?" Hanna asked, frowning but still deciding to stay.
"Let's say you had a lot to do!" She justified it.
"You're right. I have to find a way to appease the chief healer!" Hanna began to think.
"Aren't you going to tell him?" Sara asked widening her eyes.
Hanna rolled her eyes. While it was assumed that Thranduil would come to her aid once he recovered, it was odd that Sara believed it could be his first and only defensive weapon.
"He's not my father and I can take care of myself!" He closed the conversation.
"But..." "Listen, if as soon as I find an obstacle I take advantage of my position I would be much worse than him!""Or I would agree that it's even worse!" Hanna thought.
"He doesn't respect you, he hates you and I'm afraid he's maneuvering against you!" Her friend tried to enlighten her.
"I'll know how to feel the blow!" Hanna answered, not at all alarmed.
"No, you think you can do it! But you don't understand that if it puts you in a bad light in front of the people, you will also put your children in danger!" Sara decided to move it.
"Don't you dare throw them in the middle!" Hanna reacted instinctively.
Sara pretended to think "Aaah...I think they've been in the middle since they started growing in your belly!"
"Listen to me carefully..." Hanna whispered trying to stay calm "...that elf will learn to respect or fear me, without the help of the King!" Decree.
"What if he finds out?" It also raged Sara who, knowing the King well, doubted that she would not notice or have such information.
"It won't happen because of me...or yours!" Hanna added when she saw a sly smile spread across her friend's face.
"WHAT?" Sara gasped finding herself trapped.
Hanna smiled victoriously.
"I hate you!" Sara growled annoyed by so much pride.
"Not as much as he!" Hanna answered.
Thranduil fell on all fours to the sand. The door behind him was closed with a loud noise that rang through the dark corridors.
The roar of metal and the screams of many people clouded his senses for long minutes.
A glint made him lift his head. A blade. The blade of a sword.
Weapon!
It was there a few steps away from him. It was badly made, the edges blunt, who knows how long it hadn't been sharpened.
He picked it up and the idea of ending his existence with it was destroyed as soon as his skin came into contact with the hilt.
He was a warrior! An elf! He wouldn't give up! Coward is the one who says goodbye when the road gets dark ... and he was not a coward!
No, from the ashes the fire would have flared up and from the shadow in which he had been confined the indomitable spark would have sprung that would have made humans repent of what they had done to him!
One of them stood in front of him, also holding a sword.
She gave him the proud and contemptuous look common to those of her race.
His attack was halted in the middle and the lifeless body fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Thranduil smiled. A bold and menacing smile.
He would return to his kingdom! He would go back to his son!
Thranduil opened his eyes and found himself blinking hard to bring his surroundings into focus.
Hanna was sitting beside him on the bed, while Sara was standing on the opposite side. He was no longer in a cell!
He sighed feeling foolish for having confused dreams with reality.
But that reality had been her world for years, lucky that none of what she had experienced had been a dream.
The elf narrowed his eyes in pain at hearing the high tone used by the girls.
They were arguing ...
"For me it fits, but that you can't be alone with him is absurd!" Sara complained "Trust me! It's just the tip of the iceberg. As soon as he discovers that we have disobeyed he will invent other...restrictions!" He said mimicking the quotation marks on the last word.
"How did you manage to get us in by the way?" He then asked.
"A guard named Felagund has a thing for me!" Hanna made an amused grimace at the surprise on her friend's face "It's just loyalty! How I earned it is a mystery. In case he finds out I wish I could use it against that infamous pig!" He joked as he felt his anger boil.
He forced himself to calm down "We will prove to ourselves that we are superior!" Hanna claimed that with her eyes closed, she took deep breaths to calm herself.
"We will be superior!" Sara affirmed putting her hands on her hips with pride.
"The King's safety is not jeopardized by my presence!" Hanna repeated in a deep voice to convince herself of the opposite with respect to what Curunìr had reiterated with conviction.
"For your safety?! He said for his safety!" Sara exploded, opening her mouth aghast.
"Don't interfere! I am superior..." "SUPERIOR ONE HORN! I'll kill that elf!" Sara screamed outraged to death.
"I am superior ..." Hanna opened one eye "I don't want to be interrupted while I rise!" She admonished her, "Because that would make me like him! And I'm not like him!" She remembered and then resumed the relaxation exercise.
"No, he is a very rare elf. A lonely predator who, like a good coward, looks for the weak link to gloat once..." Hanna opened her eyes as soon as she heard Sara's voice waver, convinced that the subject of the speech had appeared without knocking as usual .
But her friend's gaze led her to turn away from the door and her heart jumped through hoops as soon as she crossed those beautiful blue eyes that had been missing since day one!
"Thranduil!" She screamed full of joy practically jumping on him "I knew you'd wake up! I was sure of it!" She said before looking him in the eye and exchanging a long kiss.
Sara sat next to the two as soon as they parted, unable to stop smiling.
He finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel!
"Which elf were you talking about Sara?" The girls froze and then exchanged uncertain glances.
"Shut up!" Sara whispered holding the twins by the hand, with the other two laughing accomplices.
The guards pretended not to see them, but opened the door anyway, letting the Princes in.
Needless to say, once in the master bedroom, the little ones flung themselves onto the bed amidst shouts and leaps.
"Ada!" Aranel screamed as she passed her brothers and managed to be the first to throw herself into her father's arms, beating Lucilla for a few thousandths of a second.
Thranduil was sitting against the headboard. Huge pillows supported the ruler, making him look just tired.
Hanna, sitting next to her partner, welcomed the twins who crawled towards her, to get between their parents.
Sara sat on the edge of the bed, silently thanking the gods for being able to enjoy that moment of peace again.
"Ada are you okay?" Aranel asked, hugging his father with unusual apprehension.
Thranduil exchanged glances with the girls before asking "Why shouldn't I?" Frowning.
"Annael and Lothìriel have said that you are sick. But elves don't get sick, right?" She asked visibly worried and confused.
Hanna rolled her eyes. Aranel hadn't gone to school. She had made sure of it personally. So where had he met his friends?
Noticing Sara's discomfort, he understood who had broken the barrier she had erected in an attempt to protect her children, heroically refraining from casting her a death look.
Thranduil sighed in resignation. Sooner or later his daughter would find out. She was too bright for anything to be hidden from her.
"I was bad. But now I'm healing!" He consoled her by surrounding her with his mighty arms in a warm embrace.
Lucilla threw herself on them and with a breakthrough technique worthy of a ram, she too found a space where she could lie down in the elf's arms.
Aranel responded by pushing her away in a fit of jealousy, but Thranduil was quick to quell the fight by squeezing them both, before all three collapsed from exhaustion.
Even the twins had fallen asleep so Hanna and Sara could only engage in a fight of looks, enough to give rise to a dispute that lasted until Sara gave in, leaving the room furious, but as silently as possible.
Sara pouted in an attempt to make that elf understand that she didn't like him taking advantage of it that way.
Hanna had managed to change the subject immediately after her first awakening and the few strength she had had forced the ruler to doze off shortly after.
But that morning, Sarah had cursed what she considered a blessing as Thranduil had forced her to tell her everything.
"Thanks to your order now the guards are no longer breathing down our necks...if you want to help us you have to rest to regain your strength..." Sara stepped aside, however, unable to avoid the contents of the glass ended up on her.
The King had always been unpredictable, but he knew very well how to use the few forces at his disposal...
"How dare the council question my foresight!" He growled, clenching his fists and then collapsed exhausted on the pillow.
"I don't think so..." Sara hesitated seeing the fiery gaze that he reserved for her. He was no longer afraid, but he knew he didn't have to pull too hard.
"Curunír probably told a story of his own invention...I just wonder how he managed to convince all the guards...almost all..." the girl reflected, finding no answer "Wait ... did you say advice?" He realized suddenly.
"Only the council has the power to give orders to the guards. Not even the chief healer would be heard for such nonsense!" The King pushed back the covers with a sharp blow "It is a priority that I go..." "Nowhere!" Sara stopped him.
"I'm going to call Galion, but as much as you hate to agree with Curunír, you are not yet able to attend the council!" He said as he headed for the door to the room.
Sara gasped as she heard a loud thud behind her.
Because of the past, she whirled around and unsheathed her dagger, the only weapon she and Hanna had agreed to carry around in case of an unforeseen event.
They were too close to the King to be bothered, but unwelcome intruders like the dwarves had convinced them not to take everything for granted.
He let out a strangled sound, sheathing his weapon, when he saw the King lying prone on the ground.
He must have tried to get up, exactly as he was advised not to do...amazing how the slightest provocation set him in motion...
Sara rolled her eyes and after checking that he was okay, maybe just a little bruised, she called the guards for help.
Once back in bed, he took a basin and filled it with water, wanting to give some relief to his face, certainly aching.
As soon as the wet cloth touched the king's forehead, he opened his eyes.
"Sara..." he whispered confused, blinking hard as if he couldn't quite focus on his surroundings.
"Why do you get the brilliant idea of acting without thinking!?" She growled in frustration.
"I didn't think I was left without energy. Lying down has clouded my perceptions" Thranduil said moving his arms and legs as if testing his strength.
"A piece of advice my lord!" Sara warned in a deep voice "Give yourself time to heal!" He warned by pointing a finger at him.
"Yes you are right!" He replied, laughing at the demonstration of her friend's true character, present under a thick layer of insecurities.
"I have a special gift too, elf! A bad temper never breaks me down!" Sara said raising her head proudly, returning his smile.
The girl left as soon as the chief healer entered and the King's mood deteriorated further.
Hanna sat in the library, enveloped in peaceful silence.
The daughters were at school and the younger ones with the maids. She and Sara had enjoyed lunch before it disappeared who knows where and had decided to relax.
The hope was that Galion wouldn't drag her somewhere so that she could reassure the people or just to be seen busy even though she really did nothing but follow the butler.
Reading had the power to calm her down as well as provide a distraction and the upside was that it allowed her to progress with Sindarin.
He had read about the battle of Dagorlad and could only imagine how difficult it had been for Thranduil to have to react coldly in the face of grief like this.
Now she was caught up in the Battle of the Thousand Caves, finding herself reading an extremely detailed fantasy, hard to imagine as real as she had recently entered the world of the elves ...
"My lady..." she was so frightened that the book fell from her hand, but she managed not to scream "I beg your pardon, I think it is my duty to inform you of an extraordinary advice!" The butler warned her with a respectful bow.
She nodded, picked up the book and walked out at a brisk pace.
"Have you prepared a lineup of topics on which we will discuss as I asked?" She asked, braking abruptly when the elf stepped in front of her.
"Follow me!" This change in the elf's respectful manner caused her to hesitate, but in the end she did as requested, unable not to put a hand on the hilt of the dagger cleverly hidden among her rich clothes.
Life with the rebels kept her on guard, especially now that she knew someone was moving against her.
They entered the King's study and after closing the door, Galion joined his hands, appearing unconvinced of what he was doing.
The alarm bells seemed to go crazy in Hanna's head and her nerves were tense, ready to pick up even the slightest movement of air that would warn her of a further presence.
"The council has already met, my lady!" Finally the butler said.
"Really?" Hanna couldn't believe it, they had lied to her!
"It seemed to me that my presence had been requested by the people!" The girl tried not to make it sound like a moan of a spoiled child and highly doubted that she had succeeded...
"They have decided to privately educate the Princess and send you to Lorien to give you the proper education a queen needs!" Galion confessed nervously as if he had suggested it all.
Hanna stared at nothing in front of her for a few seconds before fighting back "They won't separate me from my children!" He threatened.
"Feren has orders to escort you, leave tomorrow!" Galion made her take a hit with that further elucidation.
The poor elf seemed to hesitate again, but added "Rebelling against the council is not wise..." "And the King?" Hanna yelled.
"Do you think Thranduil will be thrilled when he finds out about my departure?"
"The ruler has been given a powerful sedative. He won't wake up for several hours. I'm afraid Curunír may have been lying to persuade the council quickly, considering how likely they were to support you just a few days ago!" Whispered the elf more and more visibly agitated.
"What does it mean?" Hanna asked fearing she knew the answer.
"Disobeying the council would put you in a bad light in front of the people who admire you so much. And the opponents could increase. In the absence of the King it is our duty to answer to the elves of the small council!" Galion said, wringing his hands in nervousness.
"I understand!" Hanna said meditating "Curunír played his cards well! But if a war could not divide us, then not even an elf will!" He said crossing his arms over his chest.
He stared intently at the butler not having understood which side he was on "Why warn me of all this?" She asked cautiously.
"My lady, I believe in the love that binds you to the King. I am sure that once you regain your strength he would call you back immediately, but I fear this could hurt him and honestly, I would like to avoid it!" Galion said as he relaxed as he spoke of his beloved ruler "Furthermore, we have suffered heavy casualties in battle and will not be able to provide you with adequate escort for the journey. If anything happens to you..." the elf paused, wisely deciding not to finish the sentence.
"Thranduil suffered more than you and I can imagine...before our paths crossed. I was afraid such a thing could happen, even if I hoped to be able to avoid it...if I refuse to leave what will happen?" She asked knowing full well that he had to move carefully.
"The people may believe the stories of Tauriel and his supporters, seeing that you do not respect our traditions, doing what you decide on your own...like your people, acting only guided by a lust for power and lust!L Galion explained dryly.
"Great move!" Hanna complimented "Do you know who would support me despite this transgression of mine?" She asked knowing she must have that vital information.
"I my lady. Captain Feren was also opposed and I believe that your maids can convince many of the servants to cover you!" The butler said placing a hand on his heart "How do you want us to act? The army is large, but first you will have to convince the people…" the elf stopped speaking when the girl raised her hand.
"I'll do what the council has decided!" unveiled Hanna making the faithful butler's eyes widen "But then I'll retrace my steps as quickly as possible so I can confer with the King!" She decided.
"I don't think I understand!" Galion admitted puzzled.
"Endangering my children is not what I want and although I have repeatedly stated that I do not want to take advantage of my position, I fear that Thranduil is the only one who can remind the people of my place. If I have to do my best to become a good queen, leaving the kingdom that I will have to rule does not seem like a wise move!" She said before leaving followed by a new ally.
Lorien or Lothlórien, by these names was known the elven kingdom east of the Mountains.
In the land of Rhovanion, between the Anduin and Celebrant rivers, on the side of the Misty Mountains, was the home of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn.
Few mortals had seen this ancient land, there were only stories about it among the common people.
Sindar elves had joined their Nandor cousins who already lived there.
Some, like Oropher, embarked on a journey east, wanting to found a kingdom for the Sindar.
Crossing the Misty Mountains followed by his people, he reached Boscoverde, then inhabited by a large population of Nandor, his kinsmen as belonging to the lineage of the Teleri, becoming the ruler of Boscoverde the Great.
A Lorien Dama Galadriel guarded and protected her people thanks to the power of her elven ring, Nenya.
The largest trees in Middle-earth could be found in Lothlórien.
Mallorn was the most imposing of all, home to the palace of Celeborn and Galadriel.
The golden tree, given to the Elves by Tar-Aldaron during the Second Age, was an evergreen, much like birch trees.
Its imposing size made it reach a height of sixty meters.
The bark was smooth and silvery and the leaves turned golden in autumn.
The new leaves were green on the top and silver below.
During the winter, they remained on the branches and fell in the spring, completely covering the ground.
Caras Galadhon (city of trees) was the only city in the kingdom of Lórien.
It was devoid of buildings, the elves lived in dwellings made in the mallorn called talan. All the paths that were outlined on the hill on which Caras Galadhon stood led to the summit where the palace of the elven lords stood.
The famous garden of Galadriel was located next to the southern borders of the city, close to the circle of walls.
These fortifications were not made of stone, but consisted mainly of earth, and there was also a small moat as a further defense.
Haldir bowed deeply before his lords "I am sorry to be the bearer of distressing news!" The general said with obvious concern.
"I know what you saw!" Galadriel's solemn voice did not surprise Haldir who listened in silence.
"The half-elf is alive, as is the mother!" Celeborn said sounding like he was pondering aloud "I wonder until their confidence is broken. The inhabitants of Mirkwood risk precluding the only possibility given to us by the Valar!" He said in a dark voice.
"Have you met the human?" Lady Galadriel asked with the hint of a smile on her face.
Haldir bowed his head nodding "They are still little girls. Rash, arrogant and lost, without the guidance of a parent!" He stated with brutal sincerity.
"The race of men is weak. They are divided, forget their ideals...Yet something has misled my cousin's judgment!" Celeborn, a relative of the ruler of Mirkwood, judged them severely.
Galadriel shook his companion's hand in the name of that eternal affection that would always bind them "The Valar have brought us someone different!" She said remembering the slender figure that had appeared before her eyes years ago.
"The human person has a history, a past and a future, but in history she is not alone. It is still a seed, but soon the passage from dark to light will take place and will guide his fellow men towards it!".
Here I am! Yes, late as always!
As Hanna begins to understand what her future queen life might be like, Sara gets lost more and more!
Aranel has found friendships that will last forever, it seems!
Finally, after a hard recovery, Thranduil is on the road to recovery!
But we lacked someone to oppose and decide to reveal themselves when Hanna's position seems to be confirmed...how will this story end ?! Some idea? Suspected? Expectation?
Luckily Hanna discovers some hidden allies that she doesn't hesitate or to side with her!
What meaning is hidden in Lady Galadriel's words ?!
Unfortunately due to graduation, a lot of work to do and a block, I am overdue with the job, but I hope to meet the monthly deadline with the next update!
Soon,
X-98
