The next day seemed to pass away quickly. As evening fell, I was in my chambers watching the sky turn from violet to black as the stars seemed to light the sky one by one. I thought to send word to Êlúriel when my mother burst into my room.
"Thranduil," I heard my name called. "Thranduil!"
I turned around to see my mother in my chambers. I rose as she came to me. I bowed.
"Yes, Mother," I asked. "I heard you. Is there something the matter?"
"No, but you do realize that after tonight you must prepare for your wedding day and you will not see your bride for some time."
"What does that mean," I asked in fear. "Where is Êlúriel going?"
Mother smiled at me and laughed. I must have seemed foolish.
"My dear son," she began. "I remember when you came into this world. You were the most perfect elven child I had ever seen. And watching you grow into what you have become, I have no words. Just thoughts. And they are beautiful. I am very proud of you, Thranduil."
She waved and my doors opened and Nenduriel entered with Valdúril.
"Come, Thranduil," Valdúril said.
I looked at my mother worried but she nodded and I walked toward them. Mother followed us out and down and corridor away from the great hall. We stopped before two chamber doors and they opened.
It was elaborately decorated in the finest white muslin. Before me, Êlúriel was dressed in a flowing white dress. Her hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. She never looked more beautiful, if that were even possible. Beside her was Ardúin, Aryávë, Nenloth, Árendil, Sinomë, and Linurial. Sildúriel stood alongside Elarían and Elenlúin who had grown much since their arrival in Eryn Galen with Êlúriel and the Nandor.
Elenlúin walked up to me, her little nose in the air as far as it could reach with her sister Elarían close behind.
"Êlúriel, he seems fine to me," Elenlúin said, sizing me up with her deep eyes of dusk, pushing her dark golden hair out of her face.
I could hear the women quietly laughing.
"Thank you, Elenlúin," I said. "I am glad you think so."
"Come, Ladies," Nimeithel said. "Let Thranduil have a moment with Êlúriel."
As they began to leave, Elenlúin's sister Elarían gave me the same look. They both seemed interested in my hair.
"Girls," Sildúriel said. "Come now."
They ran out the door behind her. When I heard the doors close, I was alone with Êlúriel. I did not know what to say or do. She mesmerized me as usual, but this time was different.
"Thranduil," she said looking at me. "What are you thinking?"
"To be quite truthful, I cannot say," I began. "Everything runs through my mind right now. Like rushing water from a spring in all directions." I walked over to her. "Washing over me with an indescribable feeling."
She smiled at me.
"I love you, Thranduil," she said. "But that was the silliest thing I have ever heard."
"It is not," I said sitting down on her bed. "I have said far sillier things before and you fell for every one of them."
"I did not," she said sitting beside me. "I am just very good at convincing you that I did."
"If that were true, I doubt you would be here right now, preparing to marry me."
"Do not flatter yourself, Thranduil," she said, looking at me deeply in my eyes. "I only agreed to be your wife because I felt sorry for you."
YOU ARE READING
Book II: The Saga of Thranduil
Fanfiction"I am Thranduil, I was born to rule." The Saga of Thranduil has been called many things by those that have read it--from Fan Fiction to a Continuation of the stories of Middle Earth given to us by the legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien. It is the story...
