Connected (a fanfic starring Thranduil from the Hobbit)

26 important decisions

I'm still elaborating, gesticulating like I tend to do  when we come across Helia. She smiles sweetly but her eyes are cold. "Ah Sophie, you have returned and you have brought a friend along." She hugs the two of us, but it's a very light hug, stiff and as unwelcome as possible. Of course, how could I forget her? 

"Our home is a beautiful place, you agree?" We nod automated, the tension is strong, "occasionally parasites find their way in though," she carries on, looking up into the vaulting, "and then it is very important that we act fast and make sure that these parasites are removed, otherwise, our beautiful home might start to crumble." She turns back towards us, smiling broadly, devilish in a way, "I will have to leave you now, my king has requested a meeting and all of a significance are to attend." 

BAM what a message, it couldn't be more direct. My up to now contend feeling crumbles, just like Helia said the elven home will if parasites such as Gina and myself are gnawing at its existence. I wonder how many elves think the same way, not everybody seems to be pleased to have us here, I'm recalling some of the looks we encountered. 

Gina looks at me with concern: "I wouldn't say that this is a friend of yours!" She brings it to a point. Nope definitive not! 

I shake my head: "You know sometimes the odds are so against our relationship! I wonder if he is not better of without me!" 

Gina seems cross:" How can you say that Sophie, Thranduil truly loves you, I can see it in his eyes and in his behavior and I know for sure that you love him too! Love will always find a way!" I hope she is right. I love this place, it is beautiful but by now I also feel a certain weariness when it comes to Middle Earth. A lot of things seem to want to have me either gone or dead in this place. Perhaps I should stay away? But stay away from Thranduil? Never, I can't, it would feel like ripping my heart out. 

Somewhat a little downhearted we run into Fellin. Fellin immediately sets out to mother us! And so thankfully she manages to restore some of my faith in the elves. 

Gina wants to leave just before dinner, unfortunately, for her, (and fortunately for me) she has to wait until we meet Thranduil so he can send her home. She says she has to go to church in the morning. It makes me think of the book of life, I wonder if it is still lying on that field where I left it behind. I'm sad she has to go, I somehow felt a little more confident with her around.

Now we're waiting in front of the great dining hall. I'm all dressed up in a dark green silken dress, with matching silver-elven accessories. I believe that the green stones set into the jewelry are actually real smaragds, I don't think the elves would do fakes. It is a rather hot night, thankfully the silk feels cool on my skin. At home, I would have probably put on the smallest summer dress I possess because of the heat, I can't stand heat really because I tend to sweat easily. Well, let's hope that's not going to happen tonight. So far so good. Here the elleth's wear long dresses at all times, with long sleeves too! Imagine....Unless they are like Tauriel. I have to think about her for a moment, I really want to see her again, she had been friendly!

Finally, an elven servant or something like that beckons us to go in. Thranduil and Legolas are waiting for us.  This room is so very grant. Only once have I been here before, during the banquet then there had been so many different beings here that I fitted in somehow. A friendly dwarf had talked my ear off all night and so I never felt at a loss. I'm glad Gina is still with me, her presence makes me feel a little more confident but she will be gone in a minute. I know really that Thranduil loves me just the way I am but for his sake, I want to be grander! I try to move elegantly, of course, I stumble, so I stick with plain old Sophie walking. 

Thranduil and Legolas are very sweet, they sort of bow in front of us and after exchanging posh greetings and sending Gina back to the human world, Thranduil guides me to my place at the table. Very soon I pick up that something is burdening him, I can feel it, he is trying to hide it, though. Legolas too doesn't seem to be as lighthearted as he usually appears. He seems to make up for Thranduil's quietness. All in all the meal is a little strained and in the end, Thranduil takes my hand. 

"Would you care to take a walk with me in the gardens?" He asks me. Anything as long as he doesn't leave me alone. We walk for a while. I would like to take his hand but I think we can't hold hands, people, I mean elves could see us. We come to a spring. The whole garden is beautiful but this place is truly stunning, the warm evening light is providing the perfect backlight. Thranduil comes to a standstill, for a while neither of us talks. I love the sound of the water trickling along but I can't fully enjoy this fact, I'm aware that Thranduil wants to talk to me about something and I'm not sure whether it is something good or not. Judging by the mood at the dinner table it is probably something not good. Arg, the suspense! 

"Sophie, today I called in a meeting," he pauses slightly, "I announced to the council that I intend to make you my wife. The response I got was very divided. I am deeply pained to say that most were not in favor of making a human their queen. " I stare at him. This was intense information! 

So he wants to MAKE me his wife BUT how about he would ask me first! (Of course, I would say YES but just out of principle.) I want our relationship to be that of equals even if he is a king and I'm a commoner. I'm a headstrong commoner! And secondly, the information that most of the elves do not favor me as their queen, sort of confirms that I'm not welcome here. All in all, I'm not happy. I'm confused and a little freaked out. What if Thranduil can't do an equal relationship, will he forever boss me around and decide things over my head. 

I think I must have been very distant and quiet because Thranduil eventually asks: "You are not happy Sophie?" Or perhaps it was more like a statement. No, I'm not! 

I am exceedingly uncomfortable to address this but I have too, I love him enough. " Thranduil, I would have really appreciated if you had asked me first." He looks surprised and perhaps a little panicky.

"Is it not your wish to be my wife?" He looks heartbroken. 

I take his hand: "I love you Thranduil but I am a woman who likes to be considered and who likes to have a say in things, especially important things such as this!" Thranduil studies my face for a while.

"Please forgive me, Sophie, you are very right, I have presumed that this would be your wish, perhaps because my own desire is so strong that it blinds me. I can not imagine myself without you by my side but if it is not your wish I will have to accept this." I nearly roll my eyes. 

"Why don't you just ask me," I say. He is thinking and then he clicks, I think, yep he does. He goes down on his knees he takes one of his own rings of his fingers, the smallest one as a matter of fact and then he asks me: "Sophie of the human world, would you allow me to walk by your side as your betrothed." Much better! 

"Yes, I would very much like you to be my husband." THAT last word had a wonderful feeling to it! He jumps up cups my face into his hands and places a passionate kiss onto my lips. I grab him and hold him tide. I nearly cry, I am a little exhausted with all the events that are happening and the strange way I have to behave as the kings 'girlfriend' and, and, and....but in this moment none of that counts even the fact that we could be seen doesn't seem to bother Thranduil and I'm really really glad that he reacted this way, it showed me that he values me more than his rules as a king. 

But can our love survive? What is he going to do about this thing that most of the elven council don't want me? Is he going to do it anyways? That's not going to make me more popular!