The Earth's Creation- A Thranduil fan fiction

Gifts From A King

Naur sat in the king's garden. Her red eyes were closed, guarded safely behind dark lids. The wind kissed her near black hair as it breezed by, and the sun's rays shone upon her locks, making them shine a dark red. She was sitting on her favorite bench, a simple stone slab with legs meant to look like ivy. This bench was beneath an enormous tree with silver blossoms that smelled of honey. When the sun shone on the tree, it looked as if  the tree was covered in a most delicate and stunning armor.

A few of the glittering petals were shaken from their branch by the wind and one landed in Naur's lap. Naur opened her eyes and lifted the flower to her nose, breathing in the sweet scent. She then placed the flower flat in her palm, letting the wind carry it away once more.

She looked out before her at the twisting rows of flowers. Her vision was dotted with the pinks, purples, reds, blues, oranges and yellows of hundreds of flowers. The flowers all shivered gently in the breeze, making them dance. Naur studied the flowers as they danced, wondering if she could dance like a flower.

Naur rose from her stone bench, the pastel yellow of her elven dress rippled as she did so. Naur fixed her gaze on one tall orange flower, and began to copy it's movements. When the flower bent and fought the wind, Naur moved with it. Her steps were fluid but filled with strength. Her feet did not move, as if she too was rooted into the ground. The rippling silk of her yellow dress and her shimmering garnet hair combined with her fluid movements truly made her look like a flower.

Naur had been at the palace of King Thranduil for nearly two weeks now. She had taken to wearing the dresses gifted to her by the king, as she enjoyed the smile it brought upon his pale face to see her in the garments of his people. Each day, she ate with the elven king. They took breakfast, morning tea and lunch in his gardens while afternoon tea was in his study. Diner was in the king's hall, and Thranduil had Naur sit by his side so the two could talk.

This friendship between the king and the vagabond had not gone unnoticed by the elves;  courtiers, warriors, and servants alike. Even outside the palace word had spread of the strange fire mage who had caught the king's fancy.

The sun fell behind a cloud and the wind picked up, its sweet voice turning to a foul hiss in Naur's ear. The dark lady stopped her dance and looked at her orange flower with great sadness. Unbeknownst to Thranduil, tomorrow she planned to leave the woodland realm. She would have to inform him of the fact today.

As Naur contemplated her departure in the gardens, Thranduil hurried through his palace. His meeting had gone over and now he was late for his lunch with Naur. He carried two things with him; a book of maps and a beautiful dagger. Yesterday during tea Naur was listing off all the places she had been and the places she wished to go, but mentioned she did not have a map of middle earth. And then during diner the two had been speaking of combat, and Naur told him she possessed no weapon other than her fire.

So after diner Thranduil had torn through the palace library trying to find a book of maps that was small enough for travel and detailed enough to be of great use. He then went to his royal armory and carefully selected a dagger to give to Naur as a first weapon.

When Thranduil finally reached the garden he could hardly stop himself from running. He was so looking forwards to presenting his gifts to Naur. He knew exactly were she would be, at the ivy bench under the silver tree. The same place she had met the great elk.

The elven king slowed his walk when he saw her. She was sitting on the ground, leaning against the silver tree, her knees pulled to her chest. Her face was forlorn. He frowned a little. Thranduil had never seen Naur sad, he didn't even think she was capable of sadness.

"Good day your grace," she said, turning her head to him and smiling. The smile did not reach her eyes.

"Good day to you as well Vagabond," Thranduil said, tipping his head. He shifted a little, fiddling with his robes. "Are you alright?"

Naur smiled a little more now, flattered by the king's care.

"I am fine, simply taking in the sight of the day. I wish to remember this place forever, this tree, this bench and these flowers. If I had any talent for it, I would paint this scene," Naur said, standing and brushing the dirt from her yellow dress.

"I am sure you are a fine painter. I have seen you dance and heard your song. I am sure you can paint as well," Thranduil said, sitting on the bench and placing the book and dagger on his lap.

Naur laughed and sat beside the king, the fabric of their outfits touching.

"No one is good at everything your grace," she said.

The two sat for a moment in silence. Thranduil studied the landscape before him, while Naur now studied the king. Her eyes traced every line and curve of his regal face. She wanted to remember every single detail of his angelic facade.

"It is rude to stare, especially at a king," Thranduil said, turning his head to look at Naur. The girl smiled, not moving her gaze.

"I apologize my king."

"You apologize yet continue to do so," Thranduil said in a teasing tone.

"As I said, I wish to remember this scene forever. This tree, this bench, these flowers and," Naur stopped, looking away from the king.

"And what?" he asked, gently placing a long finger under her chin and turning her head to face him again.

"And you," she said.

Thranduil felt his heart constrict at her words. Each stared into the others eyes, fire meeting ice, warm meeting cold. Her lips tempted him, pale pink flower petals amidst her dark face. A loud bird's cry broke them from their trance and Thranduil removed his finger from her chin, turning to look straight once again. It was then he remembered his gifts.

"Here, I have brought you some things," Thranduil said, placing the book and dagger on the bench between them. Naur's eyes widened when she picked up the book. She delicately opened the pages, awing at the detailed and beautifully drawn maps.

"Thank you your majesty," she said, closing the book and holding it to her chest.

"I thought it would be useful in your travels, if you choose to continue them that is," Thranduil said, adding the latter as an after thought.

"It will be of great use," Naur said.

"Good," Thranduil said with a thin smile. "And here, this is for you as well," he said, unsheathing the dagger and holding the hilt out to Naur.

"Oh, your grace it is very pretty but I do not know how to use any weapons," Naur said, not taking it.

"I shall teach you. Even if you have your fire, basic arms knowledge will always prove useful," Thranduil said, placing the dagger in Naur's lap.

"That is a very generous offer but," she handed the dagger back to Thranduil. "I am afraid I must decline. You see, I plan on departing from your kingdom tomorrow."