Your Hands Are Cold

His Warning

I spent the entire morning placing the four attires that I have made for Thranduil in four different silver boxes. I wanted to make sure that there weren’t any creases on the fabrics, and it took me quite a while. With the boxes held on my hands, I headed towards the king’s chambers and held my head up high. I was sure that the past week I have given much more effort to these four garments than any other clothing I have made in the past. Arandur, who was currently guarding the king’s chambers, greeted me.

 “Gi suilon,” I smiled. “May I enter?”

 “You may,” Arandur grinned from ear to ear.

 Thranduil was sitting at his desk chair, and he seemed to be thinking of something again as usual. He stood up once he took notice of my sudden appearance, and I greeted him with a good morning and a smile.

“You seem content,” Thranduil stated.

 “Melda tár, I do not know why you would think that,” I replied.

 “I see that you have finished the attires I requested. Lay them before me on my bed, and then I shall review them,”

 I didn’t give him a reply and laid the clothes out straight away. I didn’t take a good enough look at his face to see whatever sort of reaction he gave to the clothes I created for him, but I crossed my fingers that I deeply hoped that it would make a good impression on Thranduil. He remained silent for a moment as he observed the clothes, and then said something unexpected,

 “Agoreg vae, Maeneth,” he stated in a shy voice, as if he didn’t want me to hear his words. “They are perfect,”

 My cheeks flushed red and a wide grin appeared on my lips, but I tried to hide it from him. Thranduil then told which of the attires he preferred, but then told me to keep the other two that he didn’t accept for Prince Legolas.

 “Before you leave, I would like to ask you a few questions,” Thranduil spoke. I nodded and then we both paced towards his workplace, and we both sat down.

 “If I’m not mistaken, you were with Arandur yesterday evening after the palace staff feast?”

 Thranduil’s question alarmed me, but I went and answered honestly. “Yes I did, my king,” I replied. “Why do you ask?”

 “This is just a gentle reminder, Maeneth, but Arandur is not a good person. It is best that you try to speak to him as little as possible, for he will try to take advantage of whatever relationship you have with him,”

 I became furious, of course, and asked in a tone that may seem improper to use with a king. “Why not?”

 “Are you disobeying my orders?”

 I grew red with anger, but I calmed myself then and simply told Thranduil, “No, my king. I shall stay away from him as far as possible,”

 “Good. You may leave,”

 I left his chambers in a hurry before Thranduil saw the tears that were filling up my eyes. I had wanted to run back to my room, and as I was about to lie down on my bed and let the pools of tears flow out, Arandur entered the room. It seems that he caught me crying and followed me back to my room, and I hadn’t noticed. Arandur sat next to me, and then asked again:

 “What’s wrong, Maeneth?”

 “He told me to stay away from you,” I said furiously. “How dare he? He cannot possibly tell me who should I and should not talk to! He may be the king but he has no right to control me in such a way,”

 “Why would he ever tell you to stay away from me?”

 “I don’t know,” I replied. “He didn’t give me a reason. He confuses me, that’s what he does,”

 “Come, Maeneth. Everything is going to be fine, I’m sure. Calm yourself,”

 I leaned my head on Arandur’s shoulder, and at that very moment I felt the first feeling of blissful composure after I left home. Arandur wrapped his arms around me as he waited for me to stop crying and calm myself completely. Without him, I would not have known what suffering I would have to endure the next few years as the king’s personal seamstress.

 “Man cárat?” I asked him, as he caressed my cheek and gazed at my lips. 

“I’m going to kiss you, Maeneth,” 

A/N: Gi suilon means I greet you, Agoreg vae means you did well, and Man cárat means what are you doing.