Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Hearts of fire, souls of ice	By : Nuredhel Category: -Fourth Age to Modern times and beyond > Het - Male/Female Views: 2339 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, it belongs to Tolkien, and i do not earn any money from this work of fiction, it is solely written for entertainment and not for profit at all.I do not own Lord of the Rings, it belongs to Tolkien,

Chapter List
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A great ball and a revelation, the two of them meet and perhaps the counsellors plan wasn’t needed after all? A rather peaceful chapter, no warnings.
Chapter Four: A glimpse of light
Nireariel was a bit shocked by the changes she now realized were about to happen in her life, she had never anticipated that there were so many new persons she had to meet and get to know and she felt like a lost child. Although she had read a lot that wasn’t the same thing as having experienced anything for real and she was deathly afraid of disappointing anyone. She was so eager to learn and the healers who had been in utter shock by her appearance and strange condition were starting to understand that she was a rare treasure. It was as if her presence removed anything dark or depressing, she brought with her a light as pure as that of the very stars themselves and the healers noticed that even those who were close to giving up and fading away suddenly got a lot better. Yes, they gave her just simple jobs like packing bandages and sorting out their storage of herbs but just by being there she almost radiated a strange sort of power. Everything seemed to be almost renewed and filled with life.
She loved helping out and she could see that her father was busy too, and he had soon gotten a fair amount of respect due to his skills with herbs and ointments. He was such a gentle soul and his soothing voice and relaxed attitude made the patient trust him immediately. She saw how he treated a small child with a nasty burn on her hands and the child was almost forgetting about her pain. Nireariel just hoped that she would develop that kind of gift one day. When she was done with her work that first day a tailor did show up at their door and he appeared to be just as stunned as the others by her looks. She felt so self-conscious and embarrassed but the ellon was a very friendly and almost paternal type and got her measures without causing her any embarrassment. He was promising that she would outshine the very sun itself and caused her to giggle and look down. She had never had a really nice gown and after all, she was a female. She had dreamt of looking great wearing beautiful things.
Her father joked a little about it, he meant that she would cause a lot of broken hearts and amorous attention and she felt how his words made her blush. Who would want her? She was faulty, a freak! But the thought did give her a few new dreams, what if she was to meet that special one? What if someone really liked her in spite of her condition? The idea of having her own family had become very tempting when she watched how the other elves there interacted, and the children, she adored children! But could she ever dare to dream such dreams?
The tailor had met with Lendarion earlier that day, the counsellor had given him very specific orders and the tailor was at first in doubt, Lendarion was many things but no fashion expert but after he saw the young lady he had to admit that the counsellor’s idea was brilliant. She would look truly exceptional and he was already in awe of her. He had never encountered anyone like her and he knew that if he did this well all the ladies of the court would come pleading for him to sew their dresses. Lendarion had asked him to make a dress which would be very decent and proper but still a bit revealing although in an innocent way. He did in fact have the right fabric too and he had some problems believing that the counsellor paid for this just because of his friendly nature. Lendarion had a plan or else he was a toad, he just wondered if the young lady was aware of it or not? The dress would be expensive and rare and he had to sit down and start working right away, it would take him two full days to complete it even if he had the help of three seamstresses and five others who did the embroideries.
Thranduil had been walking around in a sort of haze the last couple of days, he still remembered what he had seen in the garden and he could not get her out of his mind, it was as if the vision had become glued to his mind. His counsellors behaved as usual but everybody else noticed the far-away look in his piercing blue eyes and he tried to do his job as usual but all too often he failed to notice that someone spoke to him. His son had returned from patrol for his birthday celebration and he did notice his father’s weird behavior right away. He got suspicious and worried and tried to pry and coax his father into telling him what it was that was ailing him but to no prevail. He could have tried to make a rock sing and have greater success.
The party was to start in the evening and the servants were running around like crazy in order to get everything ready for the great evening. Everybody would be there to honor their crown prince and since elves only celebrated the fiftieth or hundredth year birthday it would be at least fifty years until the next time they would celebrate him thus. The ladies were busy preparing and the butler was almost spinning around his own axis trying to remember if he had forgotten something important. He never did but he always feared that he would and his servants took great pride in doing everything perfect. The great hall was a sight to behold and it would be a very special evening indeed.
Thranduil was getting ready too, he had taken a bath and his servants were arguing whether or not he should wear his hair lose or braided and he almost wanted to snap at them but did not. He felt like some darn mannequin doll when they were around and although they never failed in making him look both regal and perfect he didn’t really appreciate all the fuss. He was already looking forward to the end of the party when he could retire for the night. He was almost longing for it, a good book, a glass of his best wine by the fireplace and then off to dreamland. He was finally done getting dressed and the servants placed some jewelry on him and told him he looked amazing. He could not have cared less, all that he could think about was that wonderful pale creature in the garden. He cursed the fact that he never had had the time to investigate if she had been real or not.
Nireariel had gotten the dress just a couple of hours before the feast was to begin and she was in shock of it. She had never seen a dress of that fashion before and it was so beautiful it almost made her cry. Her father stared at it with wide eyes and she could see that he was a bit puzzled by the fact that the counsellor had given her something this valuable. And it was clearly made only for her, nobody else could wear this well, the colors were put together just for her and when she put it on it brought tears to her father’s eyes. “You look like a goddess my child, there will be no elleth as beautiful as you this evening”
She blushed and put on the only jewelry she had, a very simple necklace with a single ruby in the middle and a ring which had belonged to her mother, it had some very small emeralds and looked nice but worn. Astar thought that she didn’t need any other jewelry, she looked amazing no matter what she was wearing. She felt nervous once more but he calmed her down, she would eventually have to get out there and make her presence known, she could not hide away forever and within the palace there was little sunlight to harm her skin. She would be safe and he playfully teased her claiming that there would be no dancing for him, he would be too busy guarding his precious daughter from all the young Ellyn. He swore that they would swarm around her like ants around a bowl of sugar and she felt a little nervous and scared. She had no idea of what she should say to Ellyn who spoke to her? Conversation was not her strong side and she feared that she would insult anyone or come out of it looking like a moron. Astar assured her that she would be fine and when he had gotten his best clothes on they walked towards the great hall.
The party was starting, people were gathering in small groups chatting merrily and some minstrels were singing or playing, the wine was flowing and everybody was enjoying themselves. Thranduil sat on the throne placed on top of the great table of this particular hall, he was feeling a bit blue. He did not have the energy to even pretend to be enjoying himself but he could see that Legolas was. He had given his son an amazing black stallion he had bought from a trader from Rohan and Legolas had been thrilled by the gift. Thranduil thought that the stallion would come in handy in other ways too, their herd of horses needed some new blood and if the animal was even half as good as he looked he would improve their bloodlines very much. Legolas was already dancing with several young ellith and Thranduil had to smile at his son’s happy face and joyous laughter. Why was it that he couldn’t remember ever being this young and carefree? Was it because he never had been like that? He was glad he could give his son this and that Legolas would know that his father loved him no matter what and always would be there for him.
Thranduil was almost contemplating getting up to go to the balcony for some fresh air when he noticed that the guard standing next to the throne had gotten a most peculiar look upon his face, his jaw had dropped and he was staring as if he had seen something rather impossible. Thranduil frowned and turned his head, he almost let out a loud yelp when he saw her. “It is her! It is HER!” his inner voice was screaming at him and he realized that he looked just like the guard, well, just like almost every elf in the room as a matter of fact. They were all staring at the elleth who walked into the hall holding the arm of an ellon Thranduil found strangely familiar.
He swallowed, tried to look calm and serene as always but he felt like sitting down once more. She was for real, no doubt about it and she looked absolutely terrified, as if she was a doe trapped in front of a pack of rabid dogs. He wanted to run to her, hide her from all the staring glances, make sure that she felt safe. His heart went out to her and he looked down and saw his own hand shiver like a leaf in the wind. There was a whisper in the air of disbelief and wonder and he understood why, she looked even more lovely in the brightly lit hall than she had in the dark garden. Her amazingly long white hair was braided up in a complex pattern which allowed the end braid to almost touch the floor and she was wearing a dress in a very thin and almost veil like fabric, it was made from several layers and the very pale purple color of it made her lack of color even more striking. The many layers made the color more apparent some places and since the fabric was very thin it was possible to see the shadows of her legs through the lower parts of the dress. It looked very unique and the ellith of the hall were staring with huge eyes.
It was nothing vulgar about the dress, as a matter of fact it was more prudent than those of the other ellith there, it did not reveal as much cleavage as the normal party fashion did and the layers were arranged so that she almost reminded them all of a rose. A pale and beautiful white rose and Thranduil just wished to stand there and stare at her forever. How could any living being be so beautiful?
His counsellor had stood by his throne the whole time and he was staring too but the king realized that Lendarion knew who this was, he would have had to have met the elleth face to face and felt a bang of intense jealousy. “That my lord is Astar, I presume that you remember him? And his daughter Nireariel. “
Thranduil took a deep breath, now there was the name of that ellon. Of course he remembered Astar, he had saved his father’s once and Thranduil had in fact fought side by side with this warrior on a couple of occasions. He made a sudden decision, Astar was a person he had known many years ago and it was nothing weird or peculiar about it if he went down and greeted him. After all, everybody had known who the warrior was back then and he could see that the years and the battles fought had taken its toll on the ellon. Legolas had come to the table for a drink when the two entered the hall and he was staring too, but he was staring more at his father. He had never seen that expression on his father’s face, it looked as if he suddenly was transformed to a child who was promised a very nice gift but not really able to believe that it is true. He could understand him though, that elleth looked amazing and Legolas could see how scared and uncomfortable she was. She had to be a refugee from the border areas and she had probably never seen so many other elves assembled in one place before. Poor thing, he almost wanted to go down and comfort her himself but he could see that his father already was starting to walk down towards the couple. Legolas smirked, was this really his calm and cool father? He did not look a bit like the cold and calculating ellon he usually was, one could almost believe that he was falling in love? Legolas gasped to himself, was he? Oh by the gods, he was! He could almost swear it to be true, his father was obviously taken by that strange elleth, he looked as if he had been hit by lightning or something and Legolas wanted to either laugh or scoff. This would get very interesting.
Then he remembered his mother’s dying words, pure as snow? This was the elleth she had spoken of, there could be no other! Legolas bit his teeth together, his mother had wanted the best for them both and her vision of the future had been true, this one elleth was his father’s true soul mate, the question was if his father realized this? Legolas had sworn to help, he got a very determined look upon his face. His father deserved to be happy, to live in a loving relationship and not in a constant battle as the marriage to his queen had been. He would do everything in his power to bring those two together and he smirked and felt how the idea was a bit exciting. He had a task to do, and he would enjoy doing it.
Thranduil walked down towards Astar and Nireariel with his usual calm and ethereal expression, Astar bowed his head and Nireariel curtsied, she immediately knew that this was the king, he did not have to wear a crown because it was rather obvious. Thranduil tried not to stare at the young elleth, he felt his heart shudder in his chest and he tried as hard as he could to behave as he normally would when he met someone of lesser stature but important none the less. He smiled at Astar. “Astar, it has been too long since I saw you last, how have you been? I see that you have family?”
Astar swallowed and smiled, a sad smile. He had moved from the palace area after he got badly injured and the king probably knew naught of what had happened afterwards. “My lord, this is what is left of my family I fear. And what is left of myself.”
He grinned and knocked his lower leg against a chair, the king could hear the sound of wood against wood and his eyes got wide and filled with confusion and compassion. “What has happened to you my old friend? I remember that you moved after the captain ordered you to retire from the guard, but I never heard anything of you after that until now?”
Thranduil stared at the girl out of the corner of his eye, she was staring at the floor, shivering slightly and he could see that her eyes had the same pale nuance of purple as her dress. He realized that she was an albino, that she had just a small hint of pigment left and that it had ended up in her eyes, making them purple instead of red. The poor thing, how delicate and fragile she was, how exquisite and exotic.
Astar smiled and tried to look optimistic. “I made a living as a carpenter until I was attacked by orcs and a warg, the warg got my leg and the orcs, well, I am not what I used to be. Now I work with herbs and ointments. I had a wife and a son and another daughter but they have all gone to the halls.”
Thranduil just stared, that was in fact tragic and he felt how a strange sensation of deep compassion made his heart swell. “I am deeply sorry to hear that, is there anything I can do?”
Astar shook his head. “No my lord, we are safe here now and that is more than enough for now. Here my daughter has a future, I could not ask for more than that.”
Thranduil turned towards her, she was still staring at the floor and he wanted to take her into his arms, hug her and tell her that she was safe but he could not. Staring at her he felt young again, filled with a renewed energy. It made him feel strong, brave, he could have challenged a dragon if that was what she wanted him to do. She shivered and he gently took her hand with his own, it was the polite thing to do and he bent down and kissed it lightly. She yelped and stared at him with her eyes wide open, she had no idea of the customs of the court and he pitied her. She had probably grown up knowing very little of the world. Her eyelashes were white too, and very thick and long, almost unbelievably so, they shielded her eyes a little. He knew that people said he had piercing eyes, but his were nothing compared with hers. She would have been able to stare straight into the very soul of anyone had her eyes not been gentle and filled with tenderness. “My lady, I hope that you will enjoy your evening here?”
Nireariel swallowed, his voice was very deep and soft and he sounded sincere, she really had no idea of how to address a king. “I…my king, I do not know, I have never been at a party before.”
Astar nodded, his eyes were sad. “It is true my liege, I fear there were few reasons to celebrate back home. Pardon me but she is really not accustomed to being around others.”
Thranduil tried to pretend as if she was just another elleth but he could not, his very fea seemed to soar now that he was this close to her. “Then I am glad you brought her to this place, someone as special as her should not be hidden away in the shadows but be allowed to shine as all stars are supposed to. “
Astar blushed slightly, he knew how people reacted to the sight of his daughter, most did not even thing that she was real. Thranduil did on the other hand seem to react to her in a very unusual way, Astar could have sworn that the king was close to tears. She was of course a rare beauty and he was not so stupid that he didn’t realize how other Ellyn would react to the sight of her stunning appearance, but the king seemed to be utterly taken by her presence. “I was prepared to act as a living shield tonight, I am sure that the Ellyn will be standing in line to ask for a dance.”
Thranduil smiled but there was something odd about the smile, it did not really reach his eyes, he looked a bit worried for a second. “Be sure that everybody here knows how to behave in a most proper manner. “
Nireariel blushed and it made her look even more stunning. “Oh father, you know very well that I don’t know how to dance!”
Astar petted her hand. “It is time you learned to behave like a lady my dear, dancing is a part of it.”
The king saw a chance and he jumped at it. “Do not worry my lady, I can show you the steps if you don’t mind? I feel like moving a little and I can teach you the basics?”
Astar stared at the king in disbelief, had he heard what he thought he heard? The king had offered to teach his daughter how to dance?! He knew as a fact that Thranduil almost never put a foot onto a dance floor and if the ellon hadn’t changed in a most dramatic manner he also knew that he always had hated dancing. What was this?
Nireariel swallowed hard, she had trouble believing his words too. The king offered to dance with her? At least that would hold the others at bay and she slowly nodded, not because she wanted to dance but she knew that it would be very rude and impolite to deny the king anything. Thranduil smiled and looked relieved. “I am honored my lady, do not worry, I do not have the habit of stepping on the feet of others.”
She had to giggle a little and looked up for a short second. He was so much taller than her and although he looked very intimidating there was something within his gaze which told her that he really cared for her, why she had no idea of. He grinned at Astar. “Do not worry my friend, I will make sure that your daughter isn’t overrun by a horde of Ellyn eager to become her dance partners.”
Astar had a strange feeling when he saw the two of them together, there was something tender in the king’s eyes and he appeared to be in awe of her. Astar frowned, he got a strong suspicion and his paternal instincts were kicking in. Could it be that the king had gotten interested in his daughter? It was no wonder, no living red blooded Ellyn could remain utterly unaffected with Nireariel close by but by the Valar themselves, the king? That would cause huge problems, she was no noble so he could not possibly marry her without breaking almost every rule there was and Astar would rather lose another leg than see her honor being ruined by a short affair. If anyone were to bed her then that ellon would have to wed her first.
On the other hand, if the king really was a bit interested in her it would give them great possibilities and his interest would keep others at bay. The girl was too innocent for this court with all its schemes and hidden agendas, it would protect her to a certain degree. But there was no way that he would allow anyone to get too intimate with her, that he swore.
Nireariel tried to smile but her chin trembled as he gently brought her over to the dance floor by her elbow, everybody was staring at her in disbelief and she wished that the floors could open up and swallow her whole. Thranduil smiled at her, a very gentle and comforting smile. “I will have to admit something for you, it has been centuries since I last danced, but I just didn’t like the idea of leaving you unprotected. The Ellyn of the court are a bunch of rascals I fear. “
She tried to smile once more. “Then I am honored by the fact that you do use your precious time to teach me how to dance.”
He took her hand, his eyes were shining. “No my lady, the honor is all mine. This court have never seen the likes of you, nor have I”
She blushed and he gave a signal to the musicians. “Nireariel, just look at me, don’t think about the crowd, it isn’t here. Just listen to the music and forget about our surroundings.”
She nodded and he placed her right hand on his shoulder and took the left one in his own hand. She shuddered, his hand was so warm and her own almost disappeared within it. The brocade fabric of his beautiful autumn red tunic felt rough to her touch and she tried to look at his face but could not, not without blushing. Instead she stared at the broche attached below the collar of the tunic, she tried to appear as if this was something she did almost every day but she knew that she looked terrified.
“Just listen to the rhythm and follow me. “His voice was calm and she nodded and to her shock she realized that it wasn’t all that difficult at all. The steps were easy and he was whispering instructions to her along the way. She started to relax and dared to look at his face, he smiled and looked overjoyed whenever she did and she started to enjoy the whole experience. She did block out the rest of the crowd and laid her entire attention on him and the moves.
Astar was staring at them, he wasn’t believing his own eyes, the king was dancing with his daughter and it did not appear as if he was ready to let go of her soon. He jumped when he heard a voice straight behind him. “Now that is a sight I haven’t seen before, is the world coming to an end?”
He turned around and saw the king’s son standing there with a small smile and look of utter disbelief within his eyes. Astar bowed and Legolas nodded towards him. “It seems that your daughter has made my father forget how much he hates to dance, if I am not completely mistaken he appears to have good time.”
Astar swallowed hard. “I do believe that you are right your majesty.”
Legolas turned towards the ellon, he smiled very gently. “Do not worry Astar, my father is a very honorable ellon, he would never even dream of compromising a lady’s honor in any way.”
Astar bit his teeth together. “I know, but seeing them together makes me worried somehow. He seems to be a bit…infatuated by her.”
Legolas frowned, yes, it was that obvious and everybody could see it. “Astar, if my father really start to feel something special for your daughter be assured that he would do the honest and prober thing and wed her. “
Astar sighed. “I cannot believe you, he is our king damn it, she is nobody, the daughter of a wounded warrior and a common healer. It would be unheard of!”
Legolas nodded. “Yes, it would but believe me, if my father really wants something he usually gets it, rules or no rules. Do not worry, I will keep an eye on them. As beautiful as your daughter is she would be perfect for my father, he needs someone special in his life and she is rather special, even the blind can see that.”
Astar sighed. “That my highness she is, she is indeed very special. “
He just hoped that the truth of how special she really was never would be known. His daughter as the king’s consort? The idea almost made him rear back like a horse, he knew that Thranduil had a terrible temper and he knew of the rather unusual marriage he had had with his late wife. He feared that allowing the king to court his daughter would be like placing her in harm’s way but on the other hand, she was nothing like the dead queen. Nireariel was soft and pliant and gentle, she would never cause anyone to feel anger and all she seemed to live for was to make others happy. Yes, it was a possibility but even if the king really fell for her and wanted to marry her would the rest of the inhabitants agree and accept her? His daughter as a queen? He had to be mad to even think about it but he had to admit that some part of him liked the idea. She would be safe, live a life of peace and luxury and never again feel sorrow or loss. Still the idea of her in the king’s arms made him cringe, he just had to wait and see where this was heading, it could be that the king just felt curious about her unusual appearance and he prayed the Valar for support and wisdom. But if the king wanted her in his bed he would have to marry her, Astar would see to that.
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Hearts of fire, souls of ice