About Saelbeth

Chapter 6

Saelbador walked the stairs up to the private chambers of his king.
He had only been back in the realm of King Thranduil for three weeks and he worried to ask again for another leave.

He needed to make his king understand, that he wanted to bring his wife to be with him.
The halls were barely lit at the noon of the day and Saelbador hesitated for a moment before knocking on the heavy oak door that led to his king's library. He inhaled deeply before knocking and then his knuckles rapped the wooden door, twice.

The door was slowly pulled open by another servant. He motioned for Saelbador to enter and take a seat on the wall until it was his turn to speak to the king this morning. A handful elves stood in a row before him but he could already see that Thranduil was in a very good mood. This was actually a good sign for him. Normally, Thranduil listened to the problems of his subjects in the stone hall, but on this day he had changed his mind, taking the matters in the library.

Finally Saelbador was called, he stepped forward, quickly. He bowed slightly, touching his heart and kissing his fingers afterwards to greet Thranduil.

"Speak Saelbador, captain of the guard of my southern borders!" Thranduil's melodic voice filled the room from floor to ceiling, as he stared straight into the guard's eyes, looking deeply into his soul.
"My king. I just returned from the south, but I beg you to grant me a leave," Saelbador said.
"And why is that so?" Thranduil narrowed his eyes and took his goblet of water to take a sip.

"I have wed. I would like to lead my wife home." Saelbador sustained his king's look, but straightened his back to appear wiry.
"And why do we learn so late this news? From which house is she?" The king needed to know more information before he would make his mind up.
"My king as I have said. I just returned to your palace and I had not known that I should report the change of my status instantly. She is from no known house," Saelbador informed.

Thranduil closed his eyes for a second. His light blonde hair cascaded over his dark tunic. His head was crowned only by a simple circlet which was wrought of fresh fern.
"Of no known house? How is that possible?" Thranduil swallowed another sip of water.
"The wife I took is not from our kindred. She is a woman of the Edain," Saelbador quietly answered the question.

A gasping was heard throughout the still waiting elves. All eyes were fixed on the king now.
"A mortal? You laid down beastlike, with a mortal?" Thranduil's voice did not change it's sound, as the words cut through Saelbador's heart.

"I wed her and now she carries my child!" Saelbador raised his voice as he stood firm.
Silence came over the library. Nothing was heard, not even the breathing of the elves within the walls. Most of them just held their breaths.
Thranduil stood up, stared at Saelbador and after minutes, which seemed like ages, he smiled. "Well, then we shall raise some peredhil with our children! You can leave now. Go and I want to meet her."

Saelbador bowed again and left fast. He had feared the worst, but he was happy to learn different. As soon as he had left the library, he started to run. Quickly he descended to the stables. He called his horse's name and the mare instantly answered her master.

He dressed the horse and left her for a minute to turn to the kitchens. He needed to get way bread for the long trip to the dwelling and back. Saelbador wondered though, if he would have to rest through the hard winter months in Imladris. Crossing the Misty Mountains during heavy snow would be dangerous for him and his family.

And Saelbador let his horse fly through the forests and over the mountains. He only rested when the horse needed too. And within two months he had returned to the forest where he had met Marigold for the first time. He took a bath in the creek that flowed quietly, gurgling through the trees before mounting his horse again.

Saelbador was not recognized by the villagers until he was in front of Marigold's house. Suddenly people around him started to scream and he saw how women jerked their children into the little cottages and how they shut all the windows and doors in panic. Chicken and ducks were running forth and back, not knowing where to go between the upset people.

Saelbador knocked once on the door and pushed it open. Frozen in terror Marigold's father jumped to his feet. Her brothers grabbed pans and forks to defend themselves against the elf that had come into their house.
"I am Saelbador of the Mirkwood Realm. I am here to take my wife with me. Where is she?" He asked looking around the house.

The people stood as close they could together, trying to back each other up just in case the elf would attack them. "Watch out father, he will cast spells on you as he did on our sister!" Marigold's oldest brother cried, trying to chase Saelbador away with a fork . But the ellon brushed his attempts simply to the side. "I ask you again, where is she? I do not sense her. What have you done to her?" Saelbador's heart became heavy.
He suddenly knew she was not within the dwelling.

Dark thoughts entered his mind and wanted to ask again. And then he was hit in the back of his head. Saelbador tried to turn around as he was hit harder. He heard the bones of his head cracking. Still he tried to grab his sword. But as his hand reached for it, his back was pierced with a hayfork and a mace came down on his head again.

The elder of the town cried out "We brought him down. We brought the beast down! Our honor is regained!" Quickly Marigold's brothers dragged the body of the elf out. "We need to burn him, before the other elves come looking for him!" And they built a stake and destroyed Saelbador's body.