~The Elvenking's Halls~
Thorlind brought the guests from the Golden Wood to King Thranduil. The Elf-king stood from his throne to greet them.
'Welcome, musicians of Lórien,' said the king. 'I am so very glad that you have come. Please enjoy your stay. We will meet again this evening at supper.' With that the king returned to his attention to his attendants.
The Elves of Laurië Lassi were shown to the quarters. There they refreshed themselves and, after a period of rest and relaxation, joined King Thranduil for the evening meal.
The evening meal was relatively simple; the great feast would follow the performance the following evening. The king, as he often did, dominated the conversation.
'These halls were carved under the direction of my father Oropher. Alas, he and many of our folk were slain in the Dark Land,' Thranduil explained.
The musicians hung their heads sorrowfully.
'But,' the king continued, 'many refinements have been made to these halls since the Dark Lord was thrown down. Not the least of which is the addition of my wine cellars.'
Thibinoriel, whose mind had begun to wander during Thranduil's lengthy narration, once more gave her full attention to the king. 'Wine cellars, lord? Word of their magnificence has even come to us in Lothlórien.'
Thranduil laughed. 'That caught your attention did it, fair Thibinoriel? Word of your fondness for wine has come even to this hall!' The king thought a moment. 'Come to think of it, I was told of this fact during my visit to Caras Galadhon. Regardless, you may rest assured of a personal tour during your visit.'
Calentauriel interrupted the king's oratory with a question: 'Lord, did Dwarves aid your people in carving and decorating these halls as they did for King Thingol with Menegroth?'
For a moment Thranduil's face became flushed with rage. However, for the sake of his guests, the king endeavored to master his anger.
'Friends, for many reasons, not the least of which is the murder of King Thingol...' Thranduil began. However, reading the dismay in the musicians' faces, he stopped short of airing his many grievances against the Naugrim, as he called them. 'Yes, yes, I know! The Dwarves of Belegost were not Longbeards, but I do not like Durin's Folk all the same.' Thranduil continued to fume despite his best effort to calm himself.
The astonished visitors looked aghast.
'Please, lord, pardon my careless speech,' said an unusually somber Calentauriel. 'My tongue is too quick and my thoughts too slow.'
'You are forgiven, dear Calentauriel,' replied Thranduil. 'Please, let us speak no more of it.'
The rest of the meal was filled with the king's tiresome dialogue but, fortunately, there were no more angry outbursts.
The next evening the members of Laurië Lassi gave the performance for which they had come. All in attendance were greatly appreciative.
'A marvelous performance!' cheered Thranduil. 'A marvelous performance indeed!'
'Thank you, lord,' replied Thibinoriel with her usual humility. 'Your praise makes the long journey worthwhile.'
The other musicians curtsied or bowed as appropriate to their gender.
'I observed that there are only five of you,' said the king. 'There were seven in Lórien. Did you lose two in the Greenwood? If so, why was I not informed of this?' He looked at Thorlind accusingly.
'Your pardon, lord, if I might explain?' answered Thibinoriel.
'Say on,' said Thranduil curtly.
'We five are the members of the travelling company. The other two...
'My brother...' said Thalinras.
'And our daughter...' said Calentauriel, taking the hand of Thalinras.
'...seldom, if ever,' Thibinoriel continued, 'leave the Golden Wood.'
'I see,' said Thranduil. 'So no one was lost?
'Thankfully, no,' answered Thibinoriel with a sigh of relief. 'Moreover, in Lothlórien you heard the very best of our repertoire for seven parts. Here in your halls you are able enjoy the very best of our five part arrangements. This is Lady Galadriel's will.'
'That makes sense to me,' answered the king. 'The Lady is immensely wise, even in the smallest of matters.'
The musicians murmured their agreement. Observing this, the king continued...
'My one regret is that not all my people were able to be present for this performance,' said the Elf-king. He paused a moment to gauge the musicians' reactions. 'I was hoping that I could persuade you to give a second performance.'
Thibinoriel observed her kin to see their response to the king's request. They appeared willing.
'Yes, lord,' she answered, 'we would be honoured to give another performance, provided we had some time to rest, of course.'
'Excellent!' exclaimed Thranduil. 'A small number of my folk live down river. Their labours facilitate trade between the Woodland Realm and the Men of Long Lake,' he explained. 'I wish to reward their efforts.'
Celebthondir appeared concerned about journeying further through the woods. 'Lord, will Thorlind again be our guide?'
Thranduil, who seemed caught off-guard by the question, sputtered, "Oh--yes, of course. Thorlind is very familiar with the route. He will guide you as no one else could.'
'Then, yes, we will gladly travel to visit your folk down river,' Celebthondir said.
As promised, a great feast followed the performance. Wine from the king's cellar was served with cuts of boar and venison, a variety of breads, fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
'How wondrous are your halls, King Thranduil!' gushed Thibinoriel, who had been enjoying the wine very much. 'If the journey was shorter and less perilous, I would make it more often, if only to sample more of your wine!'
'Then perhaps it is better that it is long and perilous!' jested Thranduil. All the Elves laughed.
King Thranduil's cellars contained vast quantities of wines from various regions. His favorite, and most potent, was from Dorwinion in the region of Rhûn to the south and east.
'Thibinoriel,' asked Calentauriel,'how long would it take you to drink all this wine? One year? Perhaps two?'
'Come now, nésa, it would take three years at the least,' responded Thibinoriel in a mock serious tone. Again they all laughed.
