Mary Goes to Mirkwood

Mary Goes to Mirkwood

Chapter 20/?

Authors: Mary, Malinorne and Sheraiah

Disclaimer: Just playing with Tolkien's characters for fun, not profit. Thaladir is our own creation.

Warning: NC/17/ adult sexual situations/ mild fem-slash/ nudity

Summary: The king issues his first royal command to Mary and Mal, Sheraiah meets Gimli

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mary ~

It was nearly lunch time and Mal and I still sat at the breakfast table discussing the king, and we were at an impasse. Mal was sure that Thranduil had sent me away to Rivendell because I was more valuable to him, while I was sure that he had kept her beside him, while foisting me off on the accommodating Homely House denizens, because he desired her company more than mine.

"Maybe," I told her, "he could only protect one of us here at a time? And he picked you, Mal, to stay here with him." But she did not seem satisfied with my explanation. Her face grew solemn and she appeared about to cry. "But, he is obviously happier, Mal, than before I left," I protested. "He isn't the same and you can't deny that!" I did not notice that it brightened her mto rto realize that.

But I was not completely convinced that he had not come to reclaim me from Rivendell more as just another stray piece of his private property than because he truly desired me back in his halls. Or because he did not want Lord Elrond to have his own little bridge to play with.

As we talked, the hard-as-rock seats in the dining room, as all chairs in Thranduil's realm seem required to be, grew more and more uncomfortable. I shifted around and tried putting my feet up on another one of them and tried sitting on my knees and nothing worked.

"Mal, let's go talk in my room," I finally suggested. "I can't take sitting in here for another minute."

The two chairs in my room were padded and soft. I fell into mine with a sigh of relief but Mal sat on the edge of the one beside me and stared pensively into my small fireplace.

Miriel fairly danced around us, happy to have both us to herself, or so she told us. She brought us some slices of fruit, cheese and bread on a tray, for breakfast was long past. The king and his seneschal were closeted in the throne room, she informed us, and we would probably not see either of them before dinner time.

She poured us some wine and then went to fuss around in my dressing room. It is possible that was a mistake, the wine. I had not had any since the night before I jumped aboard the eagle and flew with Legolas to Rivendell. You would think I would have learned to be more careful.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Sheraiah ~

Legolas crossed the distance separating him from the dwarf in three strides to clasp arms with his friend. They looked so happy to see each other that I decided to go ahead into the house and leave them to catch up on each other's doings during their time apart. As I was about to turn to leave, the elf prince stepped back to my side and took my hand, drawing me over to Gimli.

"Gimli, this is Sheraiah," he said tucking my hand into the crook of his elbow and turning to face the dwarf again. Legolas looked down at me with a smile. "Rai, this is my dearest friend, Gimli, son of Gloin."

"'Tis a pleasure to meet you, lass," the dwarf rumbled with a smile.

"Likewise, Master Gimli. Legolas has told me a lot about you." I couldn't help but smile back at him. He guffawed.

"Now, don't let that pointy-eared princeling steer you wrong, lovely lass! I don't bite. Much." His eyes twinkled, and he joined me in laughter as Legolas snorted in a very un-princely fashion. He fell into step beside us as we continued into the house.

I don't know what I had expected from Legolas' stories of his time with the Fellowship, but Gimli was a bit of a surprise. Well, not his height at least, I could just see over the top of his head. He had evidently shed his armor as soon as he had arrived, and was clad in a rich tunic and breeches. His long red hair hung freely down his back, and gold beads were braided in elaborate fashion into his long beard. His stocky frame just radiated sheer physical power, his prowess with his chosen weapons evident even without demonstration. I could see just by looking at him that Gimli could kick ass and take names, thoroughly enjoying himself in the process, yet I could also see the warmth and humor in his eyes. I liked him immediately.

Legolas and Gimli walked me to my door, providing me with much amusement at the steady stream of good natured insults they threw at each other's head. They both bade me a courtly farewell, Legolas stating that he would be back later to escort me to dinner.


~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~* ~

~ Mal ~

Mary and I remained in the king's dining room for what must have been hours, and I was more than happy when she suggested that we move to her room. In a way, I would have been even happier to end the discussion completely, because it didn't seem to lead anywhere.

No matter what I said, she seemed firmly convinced that I was the one better off in the royal household, as the king had kept me with him, while she was sent away. That would have been true if Thranduil had indeed spent more than the minimal time with me, but as it was, I had not been completely reassured by his affectionate behaviour after our stormy encounter when the trade delegation left. But I had missed a friend to talk to, and if she wanted to continue, I was not against it.

When we went into her rooms, it struck me how totally different they felt from when I had last been there, the day she left. All the candles were lit, and the glow and the crackling sound from a fire in her sitting-room added to the warm and cosy atmosphere. It felt like a home again. Miriel was there too, dancing around Mary, equally eager to please and to make her do as the elleth said. 'Sit here, eat this, are you comfortable like that?'

She reminded me of my grandmother, but the flashback from the outside world was gone as soon as she mentioned the king. He would be occupied until late, she said in a light tone, as if it made her immensely happy that he would not steal either of us away from her nurturing hand for the nearest hours.

We ate, and drank from the sweet wine Miriel poured us, and continued talking, sitting in Mary's comfortable chairs that made me wish I had some in my room too. The conversation turned to Helca and I was surprised that Mary was so calm about the shocking episode already. It wasn't like her to not fume at the thought of the icy elleth still being the king's trusted aide after her evil schemed bed been exposed, but apparently Thranduil's explanations had satisfied her. Which made me wonder exactly how he had delivered this information to her the previous night to satisfy her so. It was probably better I didn't know.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mary ~

Mal asked if it bothered me that the king had not seen fit to cast Helca out of the palace for her nasty underhanded behavior. I was, of course, not really happy to find out the truth about that whole episode, but the king had told me that I would have to accept the icy-eyed elleth's existence in his halls. He did, however, promise to keep her as far from me as possible until he was sure she was able to overcome her animosity towards me. Which, he assured me, she would do.

"She was his bridge before I came here, that is what was bugging her the most," I told a thoroughly suspicious Mal. "She was raised among humans, in Dale, because for many years her father was some type of official overseer assigned to the region to look out for Mirkwood investments there."

"Investments?" Mal asked. I explained that the king had purchased property in Esgaroth, vineyards mostly, at one time long ago. This was before the influence of Sauron had crept back over the land and infested the minds of the local people with superstitious fears about the Elfking, especially when he barred all free travel within his Mirkwood forest borders during the dark years.

Even though the king's borders were now reopened, the fertile land by the Long Lake lay unused, for none of the local folk would work on it and the elves were still regarded suspiciously and not made welcome there, but it was legally in possession of Thranduil. "And why did the king tell you all of this?" she asked.

"Well, he didn't tell me, exactly," I answered slowly as it dawned on me that the king had barely said more than a few words to me, yet I now knew much that I did not know before. "It was more like he showed me, like with pictures in my mind. It was interesting, how he did it, I could just know what had happened without him having to say very much." Mal drew in her breath and straightened her spine as if prepared, finally, to do battle for the truth. She started to speak but paused and exhaled, shaking her head at me in defeat. "He has never done that with you?" I asked. She shook her head harder.

I continued, "It is so interesting, Mal. For instance, he would say something like, 'Helca was my bridge for many negotiation seasons,' and in my head I saw how had had been raised mostly among humans who craved profit and the possession of things, and how she is still an elf, but she knows the way a mortal mind operates more than any other subject in Mirkwood."

I told how he showed me that she guards his treasury more jealously, and defends it more fiercely, than she would any lover, including him. The treasure house is her territory and she tends to it as carefully as any human mother tends to a babe in arms. She is perfectly suited for the job and that was all the king considered important to the situation.

According to what the king actually told me out loud, and without pictures, Helca is as much of a treasure to him as the pile of jewels, trinkets and coins she stands guard over and there is no way he could purchase that type of devotion. He would never throw her aside for trying to protect her territory; he admires that in her. That was why she keeps her head, he had said to me, and her position, but not her seat at the table. She had suffered just that one consequence and I just had to accept that. No matter how much I wanted to see her fed to the spiders.

"And you want me to believe that he showed all of that to you?" Mal sounded incredulous. "Without saying a word?"

"He was braiding my hair," I explained as if that should end the argument, as it made sense to me that if the king was touching me then he could show me anything he wanted me to see. But she looked as if I had slapped her.

"Thranduil braided your hair?" She looked away from me suddenly but not before I saw a flash of doubtful anguish in her eyes.

"Mal, please, I can't take it anymore!" I cried. "I'm the one who should be upset here. I got sent away while you got to stay and be with Thranduil every minute of the dayShe She shut her eyes, groaned, and murmured something about how I just did not understand.

"And I think it's so unfair," I continued. "To act like I am suddenly stealing him away from you just because he seems a little bit happy to have me here again." And she was right. I did not understand. She was the one who was responsible for his cheerful mood, of that I was convinced.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Sheraiah ~

Duiniel was waiting for me when I walked into the room. After a bit of discussion, we decided that my royal blue satin wench vest over my black satin shirt with matching skirt would be the best outfit for tonight. I'd still be showing enough cleavage to draw Legolas' eye, but the outfit would be warmer than my usual corset over bare skin as the weather was getting colder, especially at night, not to mention being slightly more modest. We pulled the hair around my face back into a silver barrette studded with blue crystals, leaving the rest to hang down my back, and around my neck we tied a black ribbon from which hung an oval cabochon lapis set in silver filigree. I studied the effect in the mirror and grinned at my assistant.

"Thank you so very much, Duiniel. I know perfectly well that helping me dress for dinner is not in your job description, and I appreciate that you do it anyway." I had come to like her very much during my stay in Rivendell, due in no small part because I knew that she went above and beyond her duties for me. She smiled but waved my thanks away in a self-deprecating manner.

"It is no trouble, I assure you. Rai, you give me far less grief than most of the individuals that are placed in my care, even if you do not always follow the instructions that you are given. I also enjoy seeing you dressed in a manner that compliments you and I know that you would not be if you were left to your own devices.\r smr smile turned into an impish grin. "Besides, I rather enjoy watching the twins' eyes widening at the sight of you. They are remarkably like babies in that they cannot get past the sight of a breast. So unfortunate for them that the prince is not inclined to share." Her voice dripped irony and we both laughed. A knock at the door forced us back to seriousness but Duiniel gave me a sly wink as she crossed the room to answer it.

My escort looked stunning and regal in a deep forest green velvet over-tunic that was embroidered with leaves and vines in silver thread, a silk shirt of green a few shades paler than the tunic, dark brown breeches, and a circlet made of mithril that had been fashioned to look like a garland of leaves. His hair was free of its usual side braids, the single one holding his hair from his eyes also holding the circlet in place.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mal ~

Reluctantly, I began to find Mary's tale about Helca's past more and more interesting, as it seemed to explain quite a lot about Mirkwood and its inhabitants, as well as the relations to the human settlements of Dale. I did still not understand the talk about 'bridges', but I found myself almost friendly disposed towards the frosty financial advisor. I could see how her greedy nature would make her a shining treasure in the eyes of the possessive king, a brilliant diamond in his crown for more centuries than I dared imagine. It was no wonder that she felt threatened by us, if it was indeed true that our presence aided Thranduil in his negotiations.

Mary's declaration that the king had braided her hair put a swift end to my softening mood. To me, that was a sign of uttermost affection and it made me very jealous. He had never done that with me, which meant that he loved her more, and that it was her he really wanted at his side, not me. It made me sad to realize, but Mary became upset and started shouting again about how she was right and I was wrong. I didn't understand her at all. Perhaps the wine was already affecting both of us.

Suddenly, Mary jumped up and asked me to come into her adjoining bedroom while she changed. It was odd to see her wearing non-elvish clothes, it didn't seem right to wear jeans here, and the contrast created when she sat on her beautiful bed made it outright improper. It was almost scary how much I had gotten used to the customs of the elves, but I was happy with my dress. Not that I would have had anything to change into, had I wanted.

Miriel filled our glasses a last time before she left us, and finally Mary told me what I had longed to hear all morning. Her tale of Erestor, but most of all Glorfindel, was absolutely fascinating and the silly thought that I might be an elf made us both giggle like crazy. I nearly swooned when she said that the legendary elf wanted to meet me; the mere thought of what means he might employ to examine me made me dizzy and warm inside.

Until I remembered the part of my protocol instructions with Thaladir where he had informed me of the various aspects of being a concubine to the king. "Royal concubines are not exposed to the outer realm," he had said in his dry voice, "but remain on their lawful master's property, secluded, protected, and awaiting his return." Not much of a chance for me to see more of Middle-Earth, it seemed, but Mary said Thranduil would take me anywhere if I asked him. I emptied my glass in one mouthful and wished I could believe her.

And then she did something that made me giggle again, a silly re-enactment of what she meant had happened at that disastrous lunch, with the fringe of her silk shawl playing the part of Helca's hair. We laughed until we cried and had some more wine and laughed again. She was really a good friend, and I loved her for making me laugh.

I told her that was the reason the king loves her more, because she makes him laugh too. She protested, and I tried to explain again, but she refused to listen and then started yelling at me. I burst into tears, confused, frustrated, and not very sober. Not only did the Elvenking not love me, but now Mary didn't want to be my friend either.

I was in complete misery until she handed me one end of her shawl as an oddce oce offering, showing that she wanted us to be friends after all. It didn't feel right to wipe my nose with fine elven silk, but I did it anyway.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mary ~

I was feeling too warm next to my fireplace in the floor length, long-sleeved gown I was forced to wear and it occurred to me, like a bolt of lightening, that I was in my own room at last, and did not have to conform to Mirkwood protocol while there and I could put my own clothes on.

"Come into the bedchamber and sit on my bed," I said as I picked up the wine bottle and my glass. "I want to get out of this dress while I can." My small dressing-room was just off of my bedroom, I left the door open so I could talk to Mal while I changed.

I explained how I had found my suitcases in the wardrobe the day before I left, again not scoring any points as she claimed she had never seen her own clothes again after the day she had arrived. Miriel poured Mal some more wine before she followed me into the dressing-room, helped me out of my gown, and then left as I changed into jeans and a tee-shirt. I wrapped the silken, fringed shawl the king had given me around my shoulders and came out humming my favorite Mirkwood elf dance tune.

"Okay, Mal," I said as I flopped down next to her on the bed. "I refuse to talk anymore about how wrong you are and how right I am about the king. We both know he is better without me here, but since I don't want to leave again, let's not discuss it anymore."

I sent Miriel out of my chambers and then proceeded to tell Mal about Glorfindel and Erestor, because I knew she was curious about them, and all the new information I had gathered from them about elves in general and our king in particular.

"We glow, did you know that?" I told her. "In their vision I mean, humans have a light about them the same way they do for us...okay, I know you think I am kidding but that isn't as bad as Glorfindel thinking you are an elf, too."

I knew that would grab her attention. I told her about his "elf with altered ears" theory and we both laughed about his long distance assumptions. Until I told her that he wanted to meet her, to find out for himself. She became grave again.

"Thranduil will never take me to Rivendell," she said with a sigh. "According to Thaladir, an elf-king does not officially take his concubine out into the world, ever."

"Well, you have this particular elf-king wrapped around your little pinkie finger," I protested. "He will take you anywhere you want to go, I bet, if you asked him. You have to learn how to ask, now that you have him where you want him." It was so hard for me to believe she did not know her own strength here within the palace. But, although I would never take Thaladir's word for anything, I decided to change the subject as I felt I might be working against my own best interest.

"Look, Mal, pretend this is Helca's hair," I held up an edge of the shawl in front of my face. "And pretend this is me." I said as I pointed to myself. "I mean, pretend it's me the day we had lunch before I ran off." I tried to appear drunk as I demonstrated with the fringe how the hair had flipped into my face and then showed her the way I had directed it into the soup.

"And do you know what Canath did?" I remembered out loud. "The king's treasurer? That cute, quiet little elf? He gave me the biggest grin when I did that, just like this." I flashed the barest trace of a smile across my face which made Mal giggle and that made me giggle. And then she laughed which made me laugh harder and soon we both had tears streaming down our faces as we fairly shrieked while I continued to slap both her and myself in the face with the fringed shawl.

The memory of that awful day was swiftly receding as we took turns imitating Canath's innocent grin or the seneschal's stern reproachful glance. I tried pulling a Thranduil face which made Mal laugh even harder and then we were both trying to sober up enough to give each other the king's best evil-eye glare without any hope of success.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Sheraiah ~

Legolas' reaction to my attire did not disappoint either of us. His eyes gleamed that particular gleam that I had come to associate with desire as they fixed on the skin just above the top of the vest. I could see my assistant stifling a laugh behind Legolas' back. 'Just like babies', she mouthed at me when she knew that she had caught my eye. I almost choked trying not to laugh, knowing how right she was especially in the case of a certain Mirkwood prince. Legolas patted my back, clearly concerned.

"Rai? Are yot wot well?" he asked, his worry showing clearly. Duiniel stepped in then to rescue me from having to up up with an explanation, as well she should have since it had been her fault to begin with.

"She is fine, Prince Legolas. A sip of water should set her to rights." She poured a glass and handed it to me, her face carefully neutral. I sipped dutifully, mindful of Legolas' watchful eye on me as the elleth went to the wardrobe to get my cloak. She draped the rich blue velvet, a gift from the twins, over my shoulders and took the glass from me.

"Shall we go?" I asked an expressioninnoinnocence on my face. He gave me a suspicious look, but offered his arm and we exited, making our way towards the dining hall.

The twins and Gimli met us at the door of the dining hall, bickering almost as much as he and Legolas did. The twins were drop dead gorgeous in matching outfits of midnight blue and silver, with identical circlets of mithril gracing their brows. Gimli was even more richly dressed than he had been that afternoon in a tunic of warm brown, embroidered in with a repeating pattern in gold around the sleeves, neck, and hem, and breeches several shades darker brown than his tunic. Gold ornaments and jewels were braided into his beard. All three of them eyed me appreciatively and I was even gladder that I had chosen this outfit.

"Blue becomes you, lass," Gimli stated with a smile, taking my hand and drawing me away from Legolas. "Makes your eyes look like fine sapphires." I laughed, delighted and thoroughly charmed, and allowed him to tuck my hand into his arm and escort me to the table. The twins snickered, and said something in Elvish to Legolas, who muttered something about flirtatious dwarves. Gimli evidently heard him as well, and he patted my hand in a paternal manner and gave me a wink and a grin when he caught my eye, wordlessly assuring me that he wasn't after anything but my companionship and the opportunity to annoy Legolas. I grinned back at him. This was going to be a fun evening.

I was seated between Legolas and Gimli, opposite the twins. The food was wonderful, as always, and the conversation especially lively. All of us were giving as good as we got and I don't think I've ever laughed quite as hard as I did that night.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mary ~

After we finally calmed down, and had some more wine, Mal said with a chuckle, "That is why the king loves you more, you make him laugh." That sobered me up.

"The king," I firmly informed her. "Does not love me more than you. I might make him laugh, Mal, but you make him happy. And it seems like you made him very, very happy while I was gone."

"He wasn't very happy with me here when you were gone," she spat out, suddenly cross. "You are so wrong about that."

"I don't care, Mal!" I said a little more loudly than necessary. "And I don't care if he wasn't happy while I was gone because I wasn't here, so why should I care? But I know when he came to get me, and ever since I have been here, that he is not the same king that I left behind me."

She tried to speak but I just talked louder, "And don't tell me it's because those men have gone back to the Long Lake!" I think I was shouting at this point, I blame the wine. "Or that you think it's because I came back again!" Before she could answer, again, I put my finger in her face and warned her sharply, "Don't say it!"

So she burst into tears. Which made me feel just awful. So I burst into tears, too. And there we were, sobbing and sure we were the two most unloved mortal females in Middle Earth. At least I had my fancy shawl to wipe my nose with. I offered some of it to Mal, but she looked horrified at the idea. For a moment, anyway. Then she relented and we both soaked our individual edges as we each tried to convince the other that the king surely loved the other one more.

"You have changed him, somehow, Mal," I pleaded with her to believe. "He is, well, not nicer, that's not the word."

"No," she barely breathed out. "No, not nicer. He is calmer, perhaps." I really felt bad for her, I knew she was in love with him, with an elf. And that was never a good idea.


~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mal ~

Our tears dried and we started speaking about the king again. She insisted that I was the cause of his milder behaviour and dn'dn't know what to think anymore. She was going to say more, but was interrupted by the realization that the object of our conversation was standing right in front of us.

I gasped, shocked and feeling somewhat guilty, but, as usual, Mary found herself quickly and I almost died with shame when she asked Thranduil straightforward who of us he wants more.

What followed shocked me even more. Contrary to my fears, he did not choose, but sat between us and said a lot of things that made me realize again that he was in total control of the situation. And he wanted us both. And he wanted us to be friends and not argue over him. It was not difficult to obey when he asked me to agree. Mary agreed too. And then he stood and told us to undress.

It must have been the wine. There was something about him then, perhaps his intonation, that made it clear that he had in his mind to teach us something. That short moment he sounded very much like Thaladir. Not that the seemly elf would ever command two ladies to undress right in front of him. The thought of it was so funny that I began to giggle again, almost hysterically, until I looked up into the king's face.

He looked very serious, and incredibly handsome, and it sobered me at once. I took a deep breath and willed myself not to think about other things than what was happening here and now. Here was the king of my heart and my desire and he had told me to take off my clothes. I looked at Mary, who had already stripped, leaving her jeans and tee-shirt on the floor, and despite what Thranduil had just said about wanting us both, I feared that she would have more favour with him than I, now that she had obeyed immediately while I just stood there.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mary ~

I was about to tell Mal that, according to Glorfindel, elves do not fall in love with mortals, if they can help it, but I did not get the chance, because the king had entered the room. As usual, he was so silent that neither one of us had even noticed until he stood before us and assumed a lordly pose with arms crossed over his chest, but with a bemused smirk on his incredibly handsome face. Mal gasped and I blame the wine for what I said next.

"So, who do want here more, Mal or me?" I was that determined to prove her wrong, which was probably not wise. The king shook his head, but a glint of amusement flickered briefly in his eyes before he lifted chinchin and spoke.

"And why do you ask me to choose, when I do not have to?" I could not reply. He sat on the bed, between us, and drew us both to him with his arms around our shoulders, one at either side. "You are both here with me, that is how I want it to be and that is how it shall be."

"But I know you had to be happier when I was gone," I managed to say. Then I added, "After wreaking all that havoc in your halls."

"And I know you were not happy until Mary came back," Mal said sorrowfully.

"Ah," said Thranduil with a chuckle. He drew us both even closer to him and his voice grew reassuring as he continued, "What I know," he said to Mal. "Is that you fear being neglected and ultimately abandoned." She made a small sound like a gasp or a sigh, but I could tell by her face that he had hit home with that comment.

He turned to me. "And you," he said. "You fear being overlooked, and left behind." Which was true, I hated feeling like a third wheel around his magnificently-behinded, Elvish-speaking concubine.

"Do you both doubt me so highly that you believe I would invite you here to neglect and overlook you? I can see no purpose that would serve." He moved his hand down my arm and took my hand into his large one, holding it firmly. He did the same with Mal.

"And you have both taken vows to serve me," he said to both of us and we agreed that we had. "Do you both intend to keep those vows?" We eagerly expressed our continued desire to do so.

"Good," he said as a hint of mirth flickered again within his gaze and then disappeared. "Then I have a royal command for both of you. From this moment on, you will no longer compete for my affection." He looked at Mal and then back to me, his eyes piercing into my soul.

Neither of us could do more than nod our heads feebly under his heated regard. He continued, "And you will begin to demonstrate more affection for each other instead." His voice became firm as he added, "Is that understood?"

I looked at Mal; she looked at me; we both looked at the king and answered, "Yes."

"Can you obey?" he said to Mal and she whispered her agreement. Then he turned to me and said, "Will you obey?"

"Yes, sire," I replied.

"Good." Thranduil stood and drew both of us to our feet beside him. "Get undressed," he commanded. A familiar naughty glitter entered his stern gaze despite his serious tone of voice. "Both of you. Now."

He did not have to say it to me twice.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Sheraiah ~

After dinner, we all adjourned to the Hall of Fire for singing and dancing. Between them, Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas, and Gimli made certain that I did not sit down for most of the evening. Only Lord Elrond managed to steal me away from them long enough for a dance. Gimli pr to to be quite a good dancer, surprising me once again. Add to that his habit of telling me embarrassing tales about Legolas while we danced, and he swiftly became my preferred dance partner that night. It was all in fun, of course, and we both took care not to truly injure the prince's feelings.

Elladan and Elrohir almost caused a major diplomatic incident by switching Gimli's pipe wit with some noxious herb, much to the amusement of Legolas. The original contents of his leather pouch reappeared quickly, however, once the dwarf started looking for his axe. That and a promised pouch full of Longbottom leaf mollified Gimli sufficiently that the twins were no longer in danger of losing body parts and the doors and windows were opened to clear out the remaining fumes. Of course, that also made the room considerably colder and provided me with the opportunity to drag Legolas into a warmer alcove for some naughtiness, which he enthusiastically agreed to.

We rejoined our companions, Legolas wearinsmugsmug smirk. Gimli gave us both a knowing look, but held his tongue. Elrohir handed me a glass of fruit juice with a wink, stating that he knew that dancing created a considerable thirst. I blushed furiously, but thanked him and sipped the juice as I listened to the four of them reminisce.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mal ~

I began to fiddle with my dress, turning this way and that in an attempt to reach the fastenings at my back. I managed to unhook some of them, but most were hopelessly out of reach. I looked at the king again. He seemed expectant now, eagerly waiting for whatever he had planned. He did not appear willing to assist me, so I turned to Mary and asked her to help me, which she did. It took her a lot more time than if the king would have done it, but he didn't seem to mind waiting at all. The smile that tugged at corners of his mouth showed that he was quite happy with watching one of his mortal females, naked, undressing the other.

As soon as I felt the dress loosening its hold around my body, I concentrated on getting out of it as fast as possible, urged on by the sight of Thranduil drawing Mary close to him. I wanted to get rid of the garment and make sure he paid me some attention too, but I froze in my motions when I saw his arm around her waist.

He pulled her close to him, her back against his chest, as if he wanted to tease me by displayinr bor body and how deliciously he treated it to make her moan and writhe according to his wishes. His hand seemed to have a life of its own as it travelled up and down her front, fingers stroking the side of her breast, caressing her thighs, moving over her skin while she positively beamed with happiness and made little sounds of pleasure, which he soon quenched with a kiss. She protested faintly when he let go of her mouth, but seemed quite content with what his hand was doing with one of her nipples.

All this time, his other arm hung motionless at his side, telling me more clearly than if he had spoken with words, that there was a place for me with him that I only needed to come and claim; a place that would otherwise be unoccupied.

"Mal," the king said serenely, "undress and come to me." I literally jumped out of the dress and my knickers and glued myself to his free side. He ran his hand over my skin, just as he had done with Mary, and then he kissed me too.

I could feel that he had turned Mary around so that we were both clinging to him, and I was sure that the firm grip of his right hand around my backside was mirrored by a similar hold of Mary's. The king backed a little and then sat on the edge of the bed, legs wide spread, and pulled us with him, so that we were both seated in his lap, each of us straddling a powerful thigh. The delicious friction created by the slightly rough suede of his leggings when he rocked us made us both gasp with pleasure, and the king chuckled deep in his throat at hearing these sounds.

I slipped one hand between his legs, wishing to pay back some of the treatment he had given us, and was not surprised at finding Mary's hand already there, stroking the prominent bulge under the leather. She made room for me, and together we caused Thranduil's chuckles to turn into gradually deepening growls. Suddenly, he fell back onto the bed, and and and I looked at each other. There was no doubt that we were both thinking about the same thing.

Simultaneously we began to divest the king, who did not exactly help us. His hands and mouth seemed to be everywhere at the same time, making it extremely difficult to concentrate, but our united efforts eventually succeeded. I felt that the king had wanted to show us that there was more of him than any of us could possible handle alone. And that lesson had only just begun.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~* ~

~ Mary ~

I was undressed first, and was glad I had thought to take my gown off earlier. Mal had trouble getting her dress off for a few moments until the king finally allowed me to help. Then he drew me to his side and took my breath away with his caresses and kisses while a seemingly stunned Mal stood and watched us for a few moments, as if mesmerized by his behavior, and then quickly removed her undergarments to join us.

Once we were both completely naked, Thril bil beamed approvingly and with his arms around us he sat on the bed in such a way that we each straddled one of his suede-clad knees; an interesting sensation to feel without anything between his leggings and those most sensitive areas. He chuckled at us as we stroked at the hardness between his thighs and pleasured ourselves on his bouncing widespread legs.

We wanted more, though, than just rubbing ourselves against him so when he stretched out on his back I dove for his pant-laces while Mal struggled to pull off his tunic. We had a mock battle to see who could remove his clothes the fastest while the king amused himself by fondling us freely in an effort to divert our attention.

Badly frustrated with his leggings when I realized that I had forgot to remove his boots first, I swore under my breath as I was sure I was going to lose this contest. Luckily, for both of us, Mal was having her own problems ridding him of his tunic while he caressed las lasciviously. She bit her lip and moaned in obvious sexual distress from his stroking hand as she fumbled with his sleeves.

I yanked his boots off so hard that they flew across the room to land with soft individual thuds somewhere behind me. I was finally able to pull his skin-tight leggings over his feet just as Mal triumphantly let his tunic sail through the air to join his boots on the floor.

Mal and I both reached for his lordly object of our mutual desire which seemed to beckon us with a single weeping eye at the tip of it's glorious rock-hard length. But, before either of us could gain advantage with our individual grasp, the king stopped our hands and made us lie next to him, at either side.

"Now," he said before pausing to lick his lips. "I will have you demonstrate some affection for each other first, as I have commanded you." He crossed our arms over his chest as he placed our hands on each other, then he slipped his arms beneath us and held us at the waist while we touched each other in compliance with his wishes.

Unlike the first time we had all three lain together, I felt no hesitation to participate, royal command or not. And, I was to quickly discover, neither did Mal. Her skin felt wonderfully smooth as I stroked her and the weight of her breast felt marvelous as I cupped it with my hand and teased her nipple with my fingers.

She paid similar attention to me while she let out a slow, ragged sigh as I continued to explore the wondf hef her soft skin. The king's own hands had traveled from under us over our bellies and between our legs; his fingers worked their own magic and more than once I had to close my eyes as wave after wave of heat swept over me. Mal's hand on my skin was gentle and her touch delicate compared with Thranduil's, but deft and sure nonetheless. It was an exciting combination to be caressed by both of them.

This time, I did not feel as if I were an afterthought or a useless appendage in our mutual lovemaking. I was as eager to please Mal as I was my king. I wanted her to know how much I cared about her and her feelings about our shared existence in an enchanted realm. Maybe Thranduil was able to influence my thoughts and desires with his own special elf-king technique, or maybe it was the wine, but it feltgoodgood to make love to her that I did not care or wonder at the reason why.

He guided us into a suitable position, with her lying before me and he behind me, after putting me on my hands and knees. He stood on the floor with his hands at my waist and entered me slowly while I parted Mal's nether lips with my fingers as if they were the soft, pink petals of a nectar-filled flower waiting to be explored with my tongue.

I remembered her scent, her taste, and the sweet noises she made as she allowed me to excite her this way, but this time there was something different about her responses, an undefinable difference. It was as if she was less reserved, less reluctant to give in to her own lusty desires for more and more pleasure. One of the king's hands was between my legs now as he began to thrust into me more forcefully; he seemed driven by the rythym of his concubine's moans which increased in tempo and tenor as I brought her to climax with my mouth and fingers.

The king's own caressing fingers had brought me to the edge of release but then he withdrew his hand to take a firmer grasp of my waist as he spilled himself deeply within me with a mighty shout. I collapsed on Mal's belly and she stroked my hair while he joined us on the bed and wrapped us both in his arms. Then he turned us to face each other beside him, breast to breast and thigh to thigh as he drew her hand down to caress me to my own climax. I marveled at the sensation of her soft yielding body against my legs and torso while I trembled afterwards in our mutual embrace; so different from the firmness of Thranduil's chest behind me.

"Thank you, Mal," I whispered into her ear.

"No, thank you," she whispered back happily to me. But neither of us had forgotten our glittery-eyed king who lay so proudly with us and we turned our attention back to him without hesitation. Before he would kiss us, though, he made us kissh oth other and he ran his fingers through our hair as we complied with his command although it nearly started another giggling fit.

Thranduil did not disappoint his concubine or me as he vigorously claimed us each in turn, again and again. Afterwards, as we lay sweating, panting, and exhausted on either side of him, he assured us both that neither stood any higher or lower than the other in his royal household or in bed. And then he gave us another command, although we boesitesitated for a moment.

"Say it," he gently prompted me first.

"I love you, Mal."

"Now you," he said.

"Yes, I love you, Mary."

"There, it is settled," said the king.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Sheraiah ~

I don't know how much later it was that I felt someone lift me from the chair I had fallen asleep in. I drowsily opened my eyes to see Elladan smiling down at me.

"Hush, sweetling, it is only me. I am going take you back to your room and make sure you get tucked into bed." He shifted me into a more comfortable position against his shoulder, making sure that my cloak was ed sed snugly around me and carried me from the room.

"I can walk on my own, Elladan," I protested, struggling a little.

"I know you can, Rai. Just indulge me, please. I am rather enjoying myself at the moment." He grinned wickedly at me and I slapped his shoulder lightly.

"Don't even try to convince me that either you lrohlrohir are doing without. I happen to know better." I smirked at him and he laughed.

"That is what I like best about you, Rai, your directness. No, we are not lacking in companionship of that sort. However, we both enjoy your company in any fashion you care to give it." He kissed my forehead and smiled down at me again. "Of course, should you tire of the princeling, just let us know."

"I'll keep that in mind," I replied, giggling sleepily. I could feel his laughter shaking his shoulder under my cheek.

He set me on my feet in my room. Duiniel was nowhere in sight, so he insisted on helping me into my night clothes, despite my insistence that it wasn't necessary. He behaved himself, for the most part. He also insisted on tucking me in, stating that he had given his word to do so.

"Gave your word to whom?" I asked, yawning, as I rolled onto my side, curling into a fetal position.

"Legolas, of course," was his reply as he brushed his lips across my temple. "Sleep well, sweetling." I mumbled something in response, too comfortable to make any more of an effort to reply and too sleepy to react to his words.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mal ~

The following morning, the world outside the Elvenking's halls was white. So much snow had fallen during the night that every inch of the courtyard was covered, even in the places were elves had walked. The sky was blue and the sun made the crystals of the white carpet glitter invitingly.

I hadn't been able resist it for a second after Ithilwen told us about it during breakfast, but Mary didn't want to gtsidtside at all. The elleth had duties to attend to, so she lent me her grey woollen cloak and I went out on my own.

I stood on the bridge, watching the water and tried to determine if perhaps it looked just a little thicker and would soon freeze and disappear under a coat of ice. I wondered if the Mirkwood elves were familiar with ice-skating, and decided they must be, as they seemed to love having fun. All except for the one who was approaching me in a quick stride.

"Your present attire is insufficient for a mortal under the present weather conditions," the seneschal said. He was so funny, but it was cute that he was concerned with my health.

"Good morning to you too, Thaladir," I said, choosing not to pay attention to his complaint. It wasn't that cold after all, and I was comfortable under the leant cloak as long as I kept my hands inside. Elves did not wear gloves.

"Neglecting your physical limits is disrespectful, my lady, as it would lead to inconvenience for His Majesty, should you be indisposed and unavailable to serve him. I insist that you retreat to the halls immediately." He looked, and sounded, as if he would take it as a personal insult if I should catch a little cold. Which I would not. I wanted to stay outside in the bright sunshine for just a little while more before rningning to the torch-lit halls.

"May I ask you something, Your Excellency?" I said it more to distract himn ben because I really had something to ask. As usual, the formal address made him perk up, and he stood beside me, watching me expectantly. I got the feeling that he wouldn't be averse to putting his arm around me, but wasn't surprised the dhe didn't. After all, public display of affection was distasteful to him.

"You may," he replied, "what is it you wish to know from me?" I think I could detect some curiosity in his speech, but was at a loss for a second until I realized that there was something that bothered me that he might help me with.

"Do concubines of elf-kings really never ever get to travel to other parts of Middle-Earth?" I had told Mary it was so, but secretly hoped that Thaladir would come up with some historical example that would help me convince the king to take me to Rivendell in spring.

The seneschal wrinkled up his forehead as if he went through millennia of history in search for any such occasions. "It is unheard of in the chronicles," he finally replied. "However, concubines are usually elves, wherefore observing customs may not necessarily be imperative in your case. I assume the reason for your query is personal more than an expression of a general thirst for knowledge on the matter."

"I would like to see Rivendell," I said. "Mary has told me so much about it and I would like to see it for myself." I did not think it necessary to tell him that I was dying to get a glance at Glorfindel.

"I see little need for you to undertake such a journey," he declared. "Elrond's realm is extensively described in literature." It was quite clear that he found my interest odd.

"I don't doubt that," I said. "But do you think Thranduil would take me there if I asked him very nicely?"

"My lady, I do not speculate in the wishes of His Majesty." I should have guessed that it would be pointless to ask him, but it did make me a little sad nevertheless. He could at least told me politely that he thought so, and left it up to me to believe it or not.

"The pleasure of travelling is a pastime much overrated," he continued in a milder voice, as if wanting to comfort me. "Though the rootless young, such as His Highness the Prince, find enjoyment in rushing from place to place in a haste, most of us have no inclination to submit ourselves to the woes of the road."

"Except for when duty so requires," he added hastily, as if afraid I would think him unwilling to follow the king anywhere he went.

"There is but one place for which my heart yearns," he said, sighing deeply. "I am, however, not free to go there." It was not difficult to guess what he meant. He would stay in the king's service, true to his word, and not sail to the Undying Lands for as long as Thranduil remained in Middle-Earth.

"Nan Annúo tho the West]?" I whispered.

"Nan gir fain ar i lonnath vithrin [To the white ships and the grey havens]," he said with a nod, and his gaze was dreamy when he continued: "Nan ndór in edair nín, i arnad thenin in-edhil i deritha na vethed-en-amar hen [To the land of my fathers, the true kingdom of all elves that shall remain until the end of this world]."

His voice grew wistful and he looked into the distance as if he was already making tjourjourney in his mind. I wondered if a wood-elf like him could hear the call of the sea as strongly as the Noldor and the Sindar, but I didn't think it would be appropriate to ask. The seneschal blinked and his expression returned to normal.

"If you would accompany me to the study, my lady, I believe you might find some of the scrolls of interest," he told me. "Purely scientific interest, naturally," he added.

"No Sindarin lessons?" I asked, pouting slightly. I didn't think that was what he had in mind, but it was fun to see how he would react.

"Certainly not," he replied with a smirk. "His Majesty will see to the continuation of that part of your education in person." That said, he turned towards the gate and I followed him to the king's study, where he took out several scrolls from a chest. He motioned for me to sit and then began to tell me about all the places on the maps and what he had seen during his life before settling down in Mirkwood. I got the feeling he wasn't as averse to travelling as he had said.

That day I felt happier than I had for a long time. Mary was back and we were true friends instead of rivals, the king wasn't going to neglect or send away any of us, and there was an ocean of knowledge to be had from the seneschal. I sat beside him at the desk, studying the ancient maps until the torches began to flicker and my bottom was numb from the hard chair.

And when the king came, with Mary at his side, to inform us that he required our company for dinner, I didn't even think of what they might have been doing. Thranduil winked at me, and I knew that he had read the question in my mind and would not let me miss out on anything.

t b c

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