Everlong

32

Liruliniel sat with her eyes shut, she was simply enjoying the content surroundings that she was in. Music could still be heard, lilting and melodious, calming and so very familiar; she had heard similar songs being played beautifully back in Imladris. Her eyes slowly opened at that thought. Since returning from her original travels, this was the first starlight festival she was attending for many years, in her home.

Looking downwards, yet keeping her head comfortably tucked under Thranduil's, Liruliniel's gaze drifted to her hands; or more the hand that was within her grasp. Every so often his thumb would stroke across her knuckles, and she couldn't help but watch the movement. It was as surreal as it was tender. They had held hands before, more in a sign or act of reassurance; but this was so much different. And it was definitely that, Liruliniel's head and heart were trying to make sense of everything. It just felt all very false, not his words or actions, but this situation. Like she should be dreaming, soon to awake and none of it would've happened at all. Liruliniel should be so lucky, her dreams never were good, very seldom in fact. He was still beside her, she half thought he'd gone to sleep. Maybe he was thinking everything over too?

Don't get her wrong, her heart was elated. Truly, she could not recall ever feeling like this; it was a new feeling of emotions which came with new thoughts too. She felt like she should be grinning from ear to ear forever more. However, her head was more rational. Other's opinions were at the forefront of her mind. She knew some would not look fondly on this. And that made her feel increasingly uneasy. She had just discovered she was a princess, she was in no rush whatsoever to be a queen. In fact; she didn't want to be that, period. Now that was surely going to be a hard topic to talk about, that much was obvious.

Another stroke to her knuckles had her blinking slowly and looking down again. It was amazing, in a way, how someone who was so strong, could also seemingly be so gentle. It was an interesting contradiction. Guaranteed, she knew that this peaceful side was likely to disappear as soon as they were around others. That just made him more special to her, if that was possible; he'd keep to the usual icy, disjointed and sometimes disinterested exterior, yet alone he would be like this. To be honest, Liruliniel had to admit when they had been alone together in the past, Thranduil had seemed contented and at peace. Was that honestly the affect she had on him?

Moving her hand slowly, she trailed her fingers down and over his, her fingertips tracing the intricately designed rings on his fingers as they carried on in their journey. She was just enjoying being able to simply do this action, although she couldn't help but pout when he turned his hand and with ease he enveloped her fingers. His longer fingers encased her smaller ones without much hesitance or struggle. Liruliniel just allowed it, she didn't want to move her hand from his, it felt right being there.

Both sat upright a bit when a rather ruckus call came from below. With a raised eyebrow by both, they looked at each other questionably. Looking back to the railing, neither seemed too fussed to go explore and find out what exactly had happened, what had made whoever call out like they did. Liruliniel frowned in thought, "I hope someone hasn't just fallen into the river." She mused, the river ran through the middle of their home, the fast waters could be deceptive at times. Even in its stillest days in the heat of summer, the underneath could have a wicked current that would take the strongest of swimmers off with it. For the most part, it was a body of churning pale blue rapids. They had many bridges travelling over it, but that didn't mean the waves didn't still sometimes crash against the underneath of the wood.

"I would hope someone wouldn't be so foolish as to think going near the river tonight was a wise idea." Thranduil countered quite easily. The woodland river was a formidable thing, a look but don't touch or venture near sort of thing. It was used for trading with those down in Esgaroth, but no one from here really travelled down it. There was simply no need for anyone to leave the kingdom.