The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Imagines

White Clover pt. 1 -Thranduil

Ever since you were young, you have always loved the tree in your backyard and how it changes color in different seasons. You loved it the most when autumn comes and the leaves turn into the warmest shades of red, brown, and yellow.

This tree holds a special place in your heart that one day you decided to dig near its roots and bury a metal box with a letter for your future self in it. The letter held your hopes and dreams and some memories you would like to look back on that were captured in pictures and other things that you considered important.

So your 10 year-old self started to dig and when you thought it was deep enough, you carefully placed the box in the hole and covered it up again. Hoping that in ten years time you'd still be the ones who owned the house, you went back inside with a happy smile on your lips.

There were times that you have forgotten about the time capsule that you had buried but whenever autumn came you were always reminded of it. You have forgotten what you have written and what other things you have put in there but you looked forward to growing up and being able to retrieve its contents.

By the time you turned 20, you have completely forgotten about the time capsule. You were caught up with all the things that was going on with your life. You were focusing on your studies, worrying about your future, and fussing about packing up because you and your family were going to move out of the house.

The only thing that reminded you of the time capsule was when your beloved tree's leaves did not grow back and turn green in spring. Instead, the tree remained bare.

On the night before the day you had to move, you walked up to the tree and stared at its roots. For some reason, you could tell that there was something not quite right. The tree wasn't like this because it was just dead. You felt something odd the moment you got closer to the roots.

One moment you were standing in the dark, the next there was light that seemed to come from under the tree.

Of course your mind told you to back away. Could it be something dangerous? Could it cause you harm in any way? But for some reason the light made your heart ache with longing. Your throat started to hurt and you had the urge to cry.

You stepped closer and as the distance between you and the tree, the light started to dim. You kneeled by the roots and the light went out.

That was when you remembered what you had buried here ten years ago.

Frantically you started digging until your hands met something solid. You took the box and the moment you realized it wasn't the metal box you had buried before, tears started to run down your cheeks. You wiped them away as you stood up and walked towards the light by the backdoor.

It was a wooden box with the most beautiful and intricate carvings on its lid. There were also words engraved on it but you assumed it was from another language since you couldn't understand. Your hand caressed the figure of a couple in each other's arms at the lower right corner of the lid.

Curious as to what the contents of this box (that was clearly not yours) was, you sat on the ground and opened the box.

You remembered that you had put a letter, a few pictures, and other things that you seemed important in your box. The person who owned this did the same. There was an envelope inside, as well as a preserved white clover, a bracelet, and a drawing of a person that looked a bit like you.

Taking the envelope, you opened it and read the letter in hopes of finding out who this box belonged to. You also wanted to know where yours was.

"I asked the Valar to have pity on my heart, that I may find peace and happiness whilst I stay in this land without my beloved. I had only asked to be able to look back on memories without having to clutch a bleeding heart. I had only asked to be able to look back on memories without having to shed tears. Yet they have given me more than what I asked for.

They have given me a chance to love.

Someone began appearing in my dreams and she never spoke to me. I could only watch her as she directs the loveliest smiles she could muster. My heart would feel sudden happiness, a happiness I had not felt since I met my wife and my son had been born. Even when I wake up, I could still see her image and it was an image I have to admit I did not want to forget.

She came to me and I did not know what to do. My feelings I could contain no longer, but I was scared. I felt as if I was betraying my wife. I had let myself slip and I have done actions that were clear messages of how I felt for her. But I have not told her, have not put into words my feelings.

Before I could do so, she had already gone.

They had given me a chance to love.

They had also given me another reason to grieve.

I hope wherever her home may be, she will still remember me as I remember her."

A teardrop fell on the letter, smudging some of the words. The elegant handwriting seemed so familiar to you and strangely enough you could hear someone's voice in your head. It was as if you were hearing the voice while you were underwater so you weren't sure whose it was. But as you looked at the white clover in the box, you remembered a beautiful shade of blue.

You closed your eyes—maybe you were going insane? Maybe it was because of how much you love reading books and how much you wished for someone to love you someday that the letter moved you to tears. Maybe it was because of the questions you have. Where was your time capsule? Where was your letter? Whose is this? How did they bury this in your back garden?

So many things running through your head, but no answers came to mind.

You decided it would be best to just forget and continue on with life.

But suddenly your head started spinning and you had to place your hand on the ground to steady yourself. You let go of the box and the letter, panicking that this wouldn't stop. You didn't know anymore if you were still upright or if you were lying on the ground. You could only hope that this would end.

And it did end. The spinning stopped but you still felt queasy and weak. You then realized you were lying down on the ground. With effort you pried your eyes open.

You were greeted by the sunlight peeking through the canopy.

Canopy?

Sunlight?

You sat up, your heart racing at the unfamiliar environment. What was supposed to be the mowed grass was replaced by the uneven ground of a forest floor. What was supposed to be the night sky was replaced by the patches of sunlight that found its way through the leaves.

Where were you?

In the middle of panicking, someone placed a hand on your shoulder. You jumped and turned your head to see who it was.

Your eyes met blue ones.

Familiar blue ones.

His eyes were as wide as yours, as if he knew you like the way you had a hunch who this person was.

"Who are you?" he asked. You knew he was speaking in another language but you could understand him, and it suddenly clicked in your mind that what he was speaking was the same language on the box you had found. "How did you get here?"

You said your name and looked around you. "I do not know how I got here. I don't even know where this is."

He pursed his lips and got up, offering you his hand. You took it without question and got on your feet. You waited for him to let go, but he never did. He led you through the trees, knowing where to go even without a clear path. And you followed him even though you were skeptical.

Something was telling you that this was supposed to happen.