LOTR/Hobbit Imagines

Thranduil - Dance With Me

Your face scrunched up in disgust after you swallowed the last bit of Dorwinion wine from your glass. How all of your friends and kin could be so hooked on the red fluid, you'd never understand.
You didn't care for these celebrations. Elves found any reason to party, it could be the Feast of Starlight or a celebration because the guard had returned from their weekly patrolling. It wasn't for you. Not the dancing, not the music, the people or the food and wine. Definitely not the wine.

The only real reason why you were here - and at every other feast, gala or celebration for that matter - was currently dancing their heart out on the floor, laughing and clearly having a much better time than you were. Your younger sibling who couldn't go out yet without a chaperone, and who you loved so dearly, you were willing to tolerate this year's edition of... by Elentári, you couldn't even remember what they were celebrating.

One of the guests of the party came towards you and stood by your side, silently watching the Elves on the dancefloor twirling about, but you were so focused on keeping an eye on your sibling that you didn't pay him any further attention.

"You do not seem to enjoy yourself," he stated after a few moments.

The snort you couldn't hold back was muffled by the cheering of the guests when they brought new barrels of wine in the room.

"Is it that obvious?" you asked, stepping aside a little so you could see where your sibling was headed. Ah, of course... Wine.

"Perhaps I can ask you to join me for a dance?"

You waved your hand at him in a dismissive way, shaking your head to emphasize your refusal. "Oh no, I don't dance."

"Are you sure?"

"Believe me, no one could convince me to go on that floor."

"Not even your King?"

"Not even King Thranduil."

"Is that so?"

You couldn't help but notice some amusement in his voice. How dare he? Why did everyone have a problem with you not wanting to dance? And what did your King have to do with all of this?

You finally looked towards the Ellon next to you and if you hadn't placed your empty glass on a sidetable already, you would've dropped it to the ground in surprise.

Thranduil turned his head to look at you and couldn't help the smirk on his lips, before he gave you a genuine smile that made you a little weak in your knees. Not that you would admit that to anyone.

"King Thranduil!" you gasped, before you remembered your manners and made a small curtsy. "Forgive me, I-"

He took your hand in his, effectively silencing you before he leaned in and asked, "If you do not dance and you are clearly not enjoying the festivities, may I invite you to join me outside? My gardens are especially beautiful under the starlight."

You looked back at the party, trying to locate your sibling. Once you saw they were still enjoying themselves and very obviously not in need of your assistance, you nodded, accepting his invitation.

Thranduil guided you through the gardens, your arm hooked in his as you admired the beautiful flowers and plants. You completely missed the loving looks Thranduil gave you every time you smelled a flower or asked him a question, curious about a particular flower you'd never seen before.
When you came across a little arbor covered with white roses, you paused for a moment to take it all in. You were walking through the Royal Gardens, with none other than the King himself on your arm.

Thranduil let go of your arm and took your hands in his.

"Dance with me?"

"Aran nin, I already told you I do not dance. There is no music here," you tried, too ashamed to explain to him you didn't dance because you weren't a very good dancer. You were an exceptionally skilled toe-stepper, yes, but you had a feeling King Thranduil wouldn't appreciate that particular skill.

"Unless you'd rather have a glass of wine first?" He smiled knowingly at his last words.

"Please, anything but that!"

Thranduil chuckled. He loved your honesty, most of the other Elves wouldn't even dare to tell him he had a poor choice of wine.
He took one of your hands in his and guided your other hand to his waist and did the same with you, silently asking you if this was okay.

"There's no need to be afraid. We are alone here," he said, thinking you were just too shy to dance with a crowd around you. "Now, edlothia nin, close your eyes and follow my lead..." (my flower)

Needless to say Thranduil quickly learned the reason why you didn't dance. After endless apologies from you, he assured you he was fine and he would be honored to take you for a walk again, just maybe not yet the next day.

If the Elves of the court noticed their King walking a little funny the next morning, they didn't utter a word.