I Am My Own (Reader x Thranduil)

Chapter 19

"Nearly finished, just a few more."

I stood as still as possible in hope that the process would go even faster. My legs were stiff and my head was dizzy from standing on this pedestal for so long. Queen Daealla had met me this morning with a chest full of tiny dark maroon gems that were to be quickly sewed onto my wedding dress. Now I would match the color scheme I had chosen for the wedding.

"I assure you My Queen, this wasn't necessary," I said peeking over my shoulder at a light haired elleth who was at the base of my dress with a needle and thread.

"Nonsense! We can't have you not matching the color scheme! Besides there is plenty where this came from so you don't have to worry about being a bother."

That wasn't what I was really concerned about. Just a handful of those gems could pull my home city out of the red for at least a couple of months. I sighed, though it wasn't as quiet as I had hoped.

"Is everything alright," my mother asked from the far corner of the room where she was sitting back and observing the scene.

"Of course," I smiled, "This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life, why wouldn't I be happy."

She gave me a quizical look as if she was sensing some sort of sarcasm. There wasn't any but from our previous conversations about Thranduil, I could understand why she would think I was being difficult.

"I really am happy, Naneth," I said again.

She returned my exhausted smile and nodded, finally being pleased with my statement.

"There! All finished," Queen Daealla exclaimed.

I looked down again at the jewels that adorned my dress. At any slight movement, light would catch the gems and reflect brightly on the walls.

"It's beautiful," I said mostly to myself.

I heard the door open and shut again softly. The sound of clinking dishware made it's way across the room. It must be the tea the queen had called for.

"Right there will be fine, Valori."

At the mention of her name, my head snapped up. I thought maybe my ears had been playing tricks on me but of course there she was, adjusting tiny silver cups and carefully pouring tea into them.

What was she doing here?

"Here you are My Queen," she said handing Daealla a cup of tea while keeping her head low.

"Thank you Valori. Could you get (Y/N) a cup as well."

I wanted to refuse but I was too stunned to say anything. I watched closely as she poured a new cup, walked the cup across the room, and made quick eye contact with me right before the tea found its way all down my wedding dress.

The entire room gasped at once. Myself, my mother, the servant elleths, everyone.

Valori lay face down on the floor from her fall. The cup she had held was on the far side of the room. No one moved, they just stared at the giant brown spot running down the front of my dress.

"I...I...I don't... I'm so sorry," Valori squeaked.

She seemed so sincere in her apology that I was coming close to believing she didn't purposely spill tea all over me. Except there was a flaw in her perfect performance. Elves don't simply trip and fall.

Valori crawled slowly to her feet.

"Valori, I must ask you to leave the palace. We have given you a second and chance and this is how you repay us? By pouring tea all over my son's bride-to-be? You no longer work under this family, please leave," Queen Daealla spoke calmly.