Encounters with the Elven King

First Meeting

First Meeting

It was another busy day in the palace, and a female elleth found herself with kitchen duty for the first time in her young age. Well, she wasn't too young per mortal standards. She was one of the three ranked and proud knights under The Captain of the Guard, Tauriel. She was by far the youngest to reach such a high position so quickly. Her name was Isilmë.

The female was currently washing dishes, filling in for her sister who had fallen ill. It was rare when an elf got sick, or poisoned in her sister's case. She hummed a tune that filled the quiet cave-like system the Elf-King commissioned long ago by the dwarves. Twas before she was even a thought in her parent's conscious. They were like ants in a tunnel.

She easily forgot where she was before Isilmë began placing lyrics to the tune. Unbeknown to her, a certain King was making his usual rounds around the palace. Curious, he walked closer to inspect where such a voice was coming from before he heard loud and rushed footsteps running toward his direction. The song he heard ended abruptly as a clatter was heard from the kitchen.

Not quite sure what was happening, the Elf-King saw a lad running across another tunnel before Tauriel's auburn hair dashed past him in chase. His footsteps rushed forward to see what was going on before the lad from earlier crashed into an elleth with long raven hair. The bowl she was holding with clean silverware spilled everywhere, much to Isilmë's chagrin.

"Isilmë! Watch out!" Tauriel yelled as she dashed around Isilmë following the running suspect.

Without much question or hesitation, the Elf-King saw the elleth named Isilmë pick up two of the knives from the floor before she flung them towards the lad with ease and precision. He could see how displeased her features were as the lad yelped and fell over his feet. She grumbled under her breath as she collected the fallen silverware.

It was needless to say that he was impressed with the scullery maid, and though he knew all of his faithful subjects by name and face, he had never met Isilmë in person.

Tauriel stepped closer to Isilmë, the lad tied and with bloodied shins as she passed the elleth the two spread knives she had tossed. Isilmë looked up and smiled before she gave the lad a hard look. She stood with the bowl in hand, most of the silverware collected. "Always one to shoot first and ask questions later," Tauriel chuckled. "Isilmë, might I ask what you are doing here? Today is your day of rest, is it not?"

Isilmë smiled before responding, "Tis so, but my dear sister fell ill to a spider's bite. I am filling in for her, lest her duties fall behind" Isilmë shrugged, always the doting and elder sister. Another glint shined in her peripheral vision and she turned to collect it. Isilmë stopped mid-stride, placed her hand over her heart and bowed to her king, whom she had not noticed before. Tauriel looked past her friend and bowed her head in reverence, for her hands were currently tied. "My Lord, King Thranduil."

Isilmë kept her gaze low before she noticed a pale hand extend and give her the few remaining pieces of silverware. She thanked him under her breath before she tentatively looked at his face. This was by far, the closest and probably scariest moment of her life! She'd never been this close to the king before. She was normally a good twenty elves behind to see him.

So he was wrong then, the elleth was not a scullery maid after all. His face was placid and voic of emotion as his hard blue eyes fell on the lad from earlier. "What are his charges?"

"Besides breaking from prison," Isilmë muttered under her breath as she glared at the lad. The king's eyes glanced at her for a mere moment. Had she forgotten how sensitive elven ears were? Surely, that was not the case.

"He was caught hunting near our crops and injured one of the Great Elks before we were able to catch him and sound the alarm. He was not working alone. His two companions are still in the dungeons." Tauriel informed their King. It had happened that very day actually, the paperwork was still being completed and had yet to get to their king.

Thranduil rose an eyebrow as he gazed at the lad. His attention broke as Tauriel spoke again. "Well, since you are here, would you mind helping me with this one?" She looked at Isilmë with a smile.

Isilmë's eyes fell on the redhead before she nodded. "Of course, Captain. Let me return these then. I shall wash them again upon my return." The raven haired elleth smiled as she turned to leave back into the kitchen. "Oh," she turned quickly and bowed to her king once more. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you," Isilmë beamed him a beautiful smile before turning and disappearing.