A short story collection featuring Thranduil, Legolas, Halbrand, Galadriel, Túrin, Finduilas, Galion, Elrohir and Elladan. There will be a dragon duel, an arranged marriage, a Dark Queen and a Dark Lord and much more. New stories and snippets are ad...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
♡
The Librarian and the Elvenking – Part 4 of 5: The Elvenking
With new books to keep Centalissë company, time passed much faster in her confinement. In the morning, when she was deeply engrossed in the Sindarin history book, Galion unexpectedly walked up to her cell. She had not seen the ginger guard since she was brought here three days ago.
"I have orders to take you to the king."
She nodded. The request was not wholly unexpected.
When entering the throne room a while later, Centalissë instantly recognized it from the art book. The artist had not quite made it justice; it was magnificent, every surface smooth and gleaming, and the sheer size was intimidating.
Her eyes were drawn to the throne and the ellon who sat there, and she was not surprised when she saw who it was. Ú-eneth really did have a name, and that name was Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm.
He wore much finer clothes now; an elegant robe woven in silver threads, and on his fingers were all the extravagant rings she had seen that first time in Dale. An uncomfortable looking crown rested on his pale hair, constructed of thorny branches and autumn leaves. Underneath it, his face was stern, and he made no sign of recognizing her.
So this was the game he was playing. Centalissë decided to play along, for now – but king or no, she wouldn't let him bully her. King Thranduil had kept her locked up for no reason at all, and since he obviously had had time to come speak with her incognito, he could have summoned her officially much sooner than this. For some reason he had wanted to delay that – and she thought she knew why, too, and could even pardon it – but before she did, she wanted an apology.
Galion brought her to the foot of the steps leading up to the throne. She bowed politely, and then met the king's cool gaze, having to stretch her neck to do so.
"My guards tell me you have trespassed on my land, and even interrupted my people's feast."
"I have, my lord, but accidentally, and with no ill intent." Again Centalissë described how the warg had chased her into the forest, forcing her to abandon her library.
The king assumed a thoughtful face. "I see." He turned to a group of well-dressed elves on his right side; courtiers or advisors presumably. "It seems the librarian is truthful. Can someone bring the items we found when tracking the warg?"
One of them bowed and left. Meanwhile, the king's penetrating eyes landed on Centalissë again. "Even so, you have trespassed, and the law is firm in such matters. There must be consequences."
Despite knowing his other, softer side, she felt a twinge of unease. He wouldn't really punish her, would he?
The courtier returned, carrying a large tray. Centalissë couldn't hold back an excited squeal when she saw what was on it: a stack of her books! They looked no worse for wear.
