With You

Chapter 29

It was nearly twenty years after they returned from their anniversary trip, the year 3319, that they awoke in the midst of a great earthquake. Thranduil wrapped his body protectively around her immediately without thinking until the quake was over. They both stared into each other's eyes, full of fear and anxiety. In the next moment, they had leapt out of bed to dress quickly.

"I've got to go to the infirmary. They will need me," Celebelen told him in a panicked tone as she quickly pulled on her tunic and tied it securely.

"I will meet with father. I will want to go for a ride around the kingdom to check on everyone," his voice was soft, though full of fear as he jerked on his pants.
Once they were both dressed and his sword attached to his belt, he grabbed both her hands and kissed her quickly and fiercely before he let go. They both sprinted down the hall together, only to split into different directions at the end.

Thranduil met with his father at the doors before the throne room. Oropher looked grim but pleased to see his son. "What news?" the prince demanded.

Oropher lifted the letter in his hand, and shook it while he explained, "The world is now changed, my son. Gil Galad says Numenor has been destroyed, and the survivors now roam Middle Earth."

"I must ride to check on our people. We must assess the situation," Thranduil responded. When Oropher nodded, he ran towards the stables. His elk was deeply shaken, but he took just a moment to murmur soft words of comfort before he mounted him and dashed forward.

It took several days for him to make his rounds throughout the kingdom. Many captains came to report to him as he rode, keeping him updated on all the news flowing around the many communities dotted among the trees. He was grateful there was no structural damage to any buildings and the only injuries that had been sustained had been from things that had been precariously perched and fell with the quake. They all assured him they would visit the infirmary, some of them expressing hope to be treated by the princess.

After five days of being away from the palace, he had finally checked with every community within their boarders. Letting the relief that things hadn't gone badly flood his system, he made his way back home. He was looking forward to seeing Celebelen again as he had not had much sleep in the last few days. As he approached the gate and dismounted, he heard the horn being blown to announce his arrival.

The gates swung open, and his beloved wife walked out to meet him with a bottle of wine in her hand and a blanket hanging in the crook of her elbow. Two books were in her other hand, ones that he had recognized as the ones they had been reading most recently. His hands slid across her cheeks to hold her face as he kissed her in greeting. Her arm that held the wine bottle wrapped around his shoulders as the arm holding the blanket wrapped around his back, holding him close.

She broke the embrace to lean back to shake the bottle of wine and ask, "Shall we celebrate? I've already updated King Oropher."

He agreed and breathed a sigh of relief as she put the books in the crook of her arm. She took his hand to lead him out towards a comfortable clearing they had frequented. Once she picked a soft portion of grass where the sunlight streamed down between the trees, she sat tucking her legs beneath her. She put down the books and the bottle of wine to grab the blanket and drape it across her knees and thighs.

Smiling up at him, she gestured for him to lay down. He gave her a crooked smile and complied, letting her settle his head in her lap. She handed him his book, then took the bottle of wine and opened it with a little effort. Her eyes twinkled down at him as she handed over the bottle to his free hand, allowing him the first sip.

"No glass?" he teased.

She rolled her eyes and nudged him to encourage him to take a drink. It was not the first time they had forgone glasses and just shared a bottle, but it was nice to tease her back every once and a while. His lips curled in a small smile around the lip of the bottle as he tipped some of the contents into his mouth then passed it to her.