((OOC: this will be loooong-- i had not realized there was so much to the party!))

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elvish news: the party finally ends *lol*

Thranduil understood what I was saying and stood, offering me his hand. We walked to the tables and I fixed a bowl of food. Everything looked wonderful and the servants were all grinning from ear to ear. I glanced at the king and noticed that he was staring at me again and had not yet picked up a bowl. I was concerned; Thranduil clearly enjoyed the strong wine but had not eaten anything all evening. "Are you
not eating, my lord? Does nothing you see please you?" He shook his head as if awaking from some reverie and told me his thoughts were elsewhere. As he hurried to choose his food I told him I wished to renew acquaintances with those I remembered from my earlier days in the kingdom. Of course, I had no true desire to do any such thing. Yet, with my present and past positions of favor in the king's eyes I could hardly be remiss in my social obligations.

We worked our way from one side of the crowd to the other, greeting countless elves until my poor hand was nearly bruised from being clasped so often and so hard. Amused, I told the king as much and he kissed my hand. Thranduil was just beginning to tell me how much he would treasure our evening together when the Lord and Lady of Lorien left. We watched for a moment and the king snidely commented that Celeborn had wearried of dancing (no wonder since he had been at some young elfling half the night) and Galadriel was ready to take her shoes off. I laughed, wondering if perhaps old age had gotten the best of Galadriel at last. (She is one of the few beings older than myself and ever finds ways to remind me.) In my hilarity I bravely called for another goblet of wine.


As we walked through the throng I felt the curious eyes searching me, taking in my flushed face and swollen lips. No one even had to wonder what had gone on. I looked at the king and saw that Thranduil was beaming at everyone as if this were an every day occurence for him. It seemed as if nothing I had said bothered him in the least. Of course, I could not hang my head as I wished either. I walked with Thranduil holding my head high and seeking out my human friend, Amroth, singling him out for a smile. I also made it a point to smile at the White Lady, who looked rather smug at having interrupted things. Quickly forgetting her, I turned to look at my golden king and found him already watching me as we approached our seats.

I was grateful that Thranduil remembered my earlier embarassment and seated me in the chair next to his gilded throne. He passed me a goblet of dark, rich-looking wine and managed to sneak in another kiss in the process. I took a small sip, wary of its strenth; I had seen the effects of it on the partying elves. Indeed, I nearly choked trying to swallow it. I had to smile when I saw Thranduil watching me, followed by a serious of small sips as I watched the dancing and feasting. As I drank I thought to msyelf, For a moment I thought of his words in the garden, and wondered how much of it came from the wine. To distract myself, and guard against the effects of such strong drink on an empty stomach, I suggested politely, "My lord, are you not hungry?" He understood at once, and we moved to the edge of the clearing.

All of the food looked wonderful and I took my time filling a bowl with the most tempting morsels. I glanced in the king's direction and noticed that he had not even picked up a bowl. His eyes were fastened to my face and I frowned. "Are you not eating, my lord? Does nothing you see please you?" Thranduil was startled out of his reverie and began to choose his food at once. I decided it was time to deal with my responsibilities.

"I believe I would like to visit with some of those I knew before." Of course that was the last thing I wished to do, but my past position in the household of King Oropher and my standing with Thranduil made socializing an obligation. We began circulating, greeting old friends and bringing to mind a variety of warm memories.

Once we worked our way to the other side it was time to toast the occasion. The king was kind enough to bring out a more potent wine. I watched him drink two goblets while I sipped my own. For some reason he seemed to think I did not feel well and offered to escort me to my chambers. I was shocked and quickly told him, "It would be a shame to wasted such a lovely evening indoors."

We talked for a while longer, and the conversation turned to his son, Legolas. The king was very proud of his son and I told him I only wished I could meet him, but did not intend to stay. "Maybe I shouldn't say this because it doesn't sound good in the mouth of a father, but Legolas is a fine warrior and knowing him as I
think I do, he will be pleased to meet you, Turelie. Stay with us as long as you want, if there's nothing you need to take care of first, of course." I had known he would ask, but until that moment was unsure of my answer. Gazing into those emerald eyes I could not say no. "If it pleases my lord, I will stay for a couple more days at least." To my amazement, Thranduil suggested that I make my stay several months, until the turn of the seasons. Under the heat of his gaze I found myself agreeing to at least a couple of weeks. I justified it by telling myself Amroth was not yet ready to travel and that I wished to see him off on whatever path he might choose.

The wee hours were moving steadily toward morning light when we left the party. A chill breeze stirred from the river and the king removed his own cape to cover me. As he walked me to my rooms I noticed that he seemed nervous. In light of all that had happened that night, I was concerned and wondered what was on his mind...