CH. 12 - BENEATH THE STARS

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=THRANDUIL =

I ushered Aeverie deep into the heart of the forest, where an ancient stone stairwell our people had built in the first age, spiralled out of the Earth towards the heavens. It was considered a sacred place but centuries of neglect, rendered it messy and overgrown.

Together we climbed its narrow steps, I find myself recalling the higher we rose, how me and my son Legolas has so often ventured here when he was still a young elfling boy. The stone tower wasn't any tall than the walls of my kingdom, but yet, the sky was clearest from this viewpoint. I have loved coming here, even when I was still a young ellon, centuries ago.

Soon, we reached the top which opened onto a wide terrace. I spun around to face Aeverie. The look of amazement and delight on her face warmed my heart unexpectedly. The light of the constellations were dazzling from here, but not as much as it is in the reflection of her eyes.

♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦

=AEVERIE =

The enormity of the sky was overwhelming after being without its counsel for quite some time. I wasn't concerned with the king judging my reaction. But in all honesty, seeing the night sky so full of stars, shining like diamonds, warmed my heart intensely and I felt the tears forming in my eyes while staring at the heavens. It reminded me so much of my home, of my beloved Willowmere, but it wasn't the memories of Willowmere that makes me want to tear up, its the beauty of it all that overwhelms me.

'Its all right Aeverie..' I heard Thranduil mumble beside me.

'It's beautiful...' I exclaimed with so much emotion, not worrying about if the elven king regard me somewhat, ignorant.

♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦

AEVERIE's lips stretched into a smile. She stepped closer to the edge, the bright constellations casting a blue-tinted outline along her slim frame. Thranduil steered forward out of the shadows and into the clearing, standing a few distance away from her.

The princess managed to avert her eyes from the sky and turned to look at the elven king beside her. For a heart pounding moment, she was left breathless at what the night sky transcended before her eyes.

King Thranduil's hair turned a glistening white, his complexion translucent and as delicate as porcelain. The embroidered details of his robes, from his chest to his long train, were suddenly dotted with crystals. And when he too turned his head to look at her, his eyes were the most disarming of all. Luminous and blinding, like two sheer, pale blue diamonds, cutting through the darkest night.

She found herself stuck staring at the beautiful creature in front of her. Just as how she reacted to the beauty of the dimly lit halls of the palace, she seem to be equally amazed at the beauty that its ruler beholds.

Her eyes fixed into the elven king. Quite unaware that he was also studying her in detail. His intense eyes soaking in her many fine features that had been made more brilliant by the constellations overhead. Her black hair, as dark as the night, shimmered like the night sky. Her amber eyes were no longer clouded, but filled with warmth that bore unapologetically into his. Her fair skin, shined smoothly, sharpening her rose-tinted cheeks and soft lips.

His eyes lingered on her lips. It took him quite some time before he finally came to and forced himself to look away from her.

♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦

=AEVERIE=

I suddenly realized what I was doing and slowly, with agonizing effort, tore my gaze away from the beautiful elven king to peer up at the sky once again. For all I know, minutes could have passed before we finally unlocked eyes and I feel the tension starting to build up inside me.

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