Liruliniel hadn't ever met another elf-Lord before. But then again, she hadn't exactly met her king until these recent years. Those in the position of being higher-up, were allusive to her. Seeing them from a distance was the usual, never being up close and personal. How times had changed now, she stood with her arms crossed behind her back still in her guard attire. She had made an effort to make herself more presentable, that and Thranduil had said that if she was going to be discussing serious matters with the Elrond, then she'd have to look ready for it.
She didn't get what he meant, and it took Vanadessë blatantly telling Liruliniel with a laugh that she had smudges of dirt on her cheeks, no doubt remnants from the spider's egg that she then itched her face and it transferred over. Not only that, her hair looked a bit tangled and windswept. Vanadessë had insisted on sorting that out, but she was not going to be like a mother hen and clean her dirty cheeks. That task was on Liruliniel, and Liruliniel alone.
For about half an hour Liruliniel sat wincing, grumbling, and looking annoyed while Thranduil took up reading his book again. Though he raised an eyebrow every now and again, and his eyes flicked sidelong at the pair. He had said that if she combed her hair regularly, she wouldn't have tangles. Which led to Liruliniel's response of: "Not all of us can have perfect hair, like you." This had made Vanadessë laugh behind her, she was clearly trying to keep her laughter down but with her laughing, Liruliniel joined in. Especially considering the blank look which came from Thranduil.
Liruliniel had done a lot of rushing about, she did comb her hair regularly, not that she was raising to the bait which he set out. She took great efforts to present herself, despite what others may think or say otherwise. Her hair was a rich auburn that seemed to simmer like a low ebbing fire, in the sunlight there were lighter streaks, some varying from brown to almost blonde in certain light. The thick locks travelled down her back, and rested against her hips. Most of the time she'd braid it all together, many small braids leading into one. Having it down and out just wasn't practical in her mind, so why everyone didn't follow her thought process, she just didn't know. But she now had to allow Vanadessë to sort her hair out, and she seemed to not put it in her customary style.
Vanadessë's nimble fingers had combed and braided and then patted her shoulders, deeming her ready. Most of Liruliniel's hair was down, two braids ran from her temples downwards and even as she stood in the small study she could feel the rest of her hair weighing against her neck. It just didn't feel right to her, but if the two royal elves nodded in agreement that she was ready, then who was she to question them? Although to be fair, they were perhaps two elves she could get away with questioning.
In all honesty, Liruliniel was not sure what she was expecting; Elrond was not as she expected, but by the way his eyes assessed her, it was clear the feeling was mutual. She wasn't expecting such a serious faced elf, just like he wasn't expecting someone so young - that much was clear to both. Although his expression was serious, almost severe as he clearly thought to himself, there was a lightness in his eyes that deducted the aura of graveness that was around him. Much like Oropher, Elrond's eyes were a light blue colour, although in this light they seemed to be verging more into a light lavender. Either way, it was a beautiful colour, that she couldn't deny. Unlike Oropher however, Elrond's hair was brunette in colour, the two when standing side by side couldn't look more opposite.
Was she expecting someone like Oropher? Liruliniel wasn't sure. Each elf had a lineage hailing from somewhere, sometimes even of a different source. So of course the two important elves before her weren't going to appear to be similar. This silence was getting to her, and her eyes flicked to Oropher who just stood there expressionless with his arms by his sides. She frowned slowly, someone had to break this silence and she had hoped it would be her king.
Liruliniel sighed softly, "I feel awkward and uncomfortable." There was no point denying this fact. She did, she really, really, did. Something about her frank words had Elrond's lips tilting slightly upwards in an amused smile. Whereas Oropher just seemed to look at her with hardened eyes, was he expecting her to just stay silent? She thought he knew her better than that.
Elrond slipped a hand out from his long earthly coloured robe. He clearly had changed from arriving. Liruliniel knew a small handful of facts about the lord, one being he was as skilled a fighter as he was a healer, being such things. Considering the outside world and what could be happening, he of course arrived in armour. It would be foolish not to. But regardless, he gestured to the fireplace which burned steadily in the room. Oropher followed suit and it became frighteningly apparent to Liruliniel that this whole thing was now out of his hands. He invited Elrond here, and anything from this point was in his hands, not Oropher's.
Liruliniel wasn't sure how she felt about that; knowing her fate was now in a stranger's hands. She sat down, fidgeting on the edge of her seat as Elrond sat opposite to her. Oropher instead came and stood behind her chair, which had her looking upwards with confusion. He just rested a hand on the back of the plush chair and looked towards the fire. He looked thoughtful, distant and resigning. Liruliniel would go as far as defeated, it was a look she didn't quite like on his face.
"You are aware as to why I am here." Elrond started, earning her face turning to look at him. He sat back in the chair, seemingly being totally at ease within a place he clearly had never been before. Liruliniel frowned unsurely, the elves from Imladris seemed more relaxed. "A letter can only express so much, and I know it may seem a bit much to come all this way; but I would like to hear it from you. So, what have you seen, Liruliniel?" Elrond asked, no pressure in his voice at all as he just looked at her patiently.
So she relayed the dreams, all of the details she could remember from the several she had from over a number of years. The relaxed posture of Elrond slowly dissipated as he sat straight backed, even leaning his chin against his palm as his eyes stared at her unwaveringly. His reaction was much the same as Oropher's, there was no way to keep the hesitant worry and fear from both of their expressions. She got it, what she was saying could well and truly bring them all into conflict. But a conflict that they couldn't avoid.
"I know this evil of which you speak of, I have encountered it before." Elrond said at length after she had finished. He sighed defeatedly as he rubbed his forehead, he seemed hugely troubled. Liruliniel shifted in her seat, did he hope that she would come out with something else? That what Oropher scribed and wrote to him was a lie? Some falsity that she made up just for attention or something? "You are not the only one who has seen this coming too." Elrond continued on after a few moments of silence, Liruliniel glanced up at Oropher before looking back at Elrond, so far her king had remained stony faced and silent.
"You?"
Elrond smiled at her blatant confusion. "Yes," he replied, shifting forwards to sit on the edge of his seat too. He rubbed his hands together before simply resting them in his lap. "There is more going on beyond your palace walls than I think you know. There is unrest, not so much civil, but there is something causing a tension in the air."
"All encompassing and suffocating," Liruliniel said slowly and quietly, her eyes growing distant as Elrond looked at her expectedly. She blinked and looked at him, "I have met that already. It made me unwell." She explained, Elrond seemed to understand with a knowing look. His eyes darted behind her before settling back on her. Liruliniel didn't like it, it was like they were having a separate conversation. She did feel a bit out of the loop. "I am to come with you when you leave tomorrow, am I not?"
Elrond seemed a little surprised with how simply she posed this question. Oropher let out a quiet chuckle behind her, "You're going to have to get used to that. Liruliniel here has a habit of not holding back." Oropher explained, which was true. Something was on her mind? Can bet she'd come out with a flurry of questions to make sense of whatever was troubling her. Ask for her opinion? Too right she'd give it, sometimes bluntly too. If Elrond was going to take Liruliniel under his wing for perhaps the foreseeable future, he should probably get used to some of her traits now.
"Yes," Elrond replied to her question though he took Oropher's words in as he nodded in his direction. "It is for the best."
"But do I have to leave? I mean, this is my home and although I have already said farewell to everyone I'd really rather not go."
Elrond looked sympathetic over her words. He could understand, with everything that happened within his life, he totally understood her hesitance. "You have already crossed paths with this darkness, if you continue to stay and have contact it will affect you, it can kill you or use you for its own means. Long exposure will lead to perhaps catastrophic events."
Liruliniel winced at that, she didn't want to fade and be taken over as an instrument of evil. "Imladris is safe?"
"It is." Elrond nodded, by far safer than this forest home. He was more surprised others couldn't feel the growing darkness. He felt it as soon as he entered.
"Will I be able to come back?"
"Yes. I don't know when, but yes."
Liruliniel pressed her lips into a thin line and looked at her hands. Flexing her fingers, she couldn't help but sigh. "I will come and learn, train and live under your care then." She knew it was happening, but it still wasn't fully sinking in.
"You will be all right." Oropher said from behind her, she looked slowly up at him. "It is not the same, but you can stay in touch."
She frowned and hesitantly nodded, "That is true." Although writing a letter definitely wasn't the same.
Oropher rested a hand on her shoulder, she looked back at him. "Remember, the first step will always be the hardest. This is for your own good, your safety, Liruliniel. If there was another way, wouldn't you think we would take it?" He for one had grown fond of the young elf, and he didn't want to see her get bought down by whatever maybe festering and growing within his forestry home. Not only that, if she had anymore dreams, who best to tell and discuss them with then someone who'd understand?
Liruliniel merely nodded, "It is all very daunting. I am scared, I will admit to that. But it is a fear of leaving here, alone. I will not have anyone with me, well, I know I will, but no one I know. I know I wanted to travel, and to help those within the land, but I did not think it would happen this way."
"It seems that there is something set into motion with you. But you aren't alone walking this path, the moment you believe you are is the moment when you are at your weakest and open to susceptibility." Elrond said while shifting and standing up slowly, Liruliniel jumped up too and Oropher moved around to stand beside her. "We are all in this together. And we are best working together, then shutting each other out." He said, though his eyes did glance at Oropher briefly before looking back to Liruliniel.
She awkwardly smiled. She knew as well as anyone that the elves that dwelt here were quite content with staying by themselves, and to themselves. The outside world did not concern them, and they'd rather not know what was happening beyond their walls. Liruliniel didn't understand ignorance, nor did she like it. She for one was aware that yes, Elrond was right; they were all in this together, the only way to succeed was to be together. Not one person was singular and able to win a war alone.
"Come, you must be hungry after your journey; we have perhaps delayed enough in going to dinner." Oropher decided that whatever matters were left to discuss, could be done tomorrow. He could see Liruliniel was still a little overwhelmed and would need space to think, and Elrond was surely being looked for by those which had come with him.
Liruliniel bowed to them both before leaving first, she practically ran down the corridors. She got the feeling that they wanted to discuss something else, so she went. She slowed down when she saw the communal area, the hall seemed to be buzzing with noise. There were visitors, of course that was going to cause some commotion. No one here had seen any of their kin since moving down this way. Maybe some knew each other? She wasn't sure really. They were strangers to her, for now. The thought of trying to get to know a whole new group of people had her inhaling sharply. It was a daunting prospect.
Stepping forwards and turning into the hall, she wasn't surprised no one glanced her way. She looked around before moving over when she saw a hand shoot up and wave her way. She jogged over and sat down, Thalion looked at her seriously. He hadn't taken her spontaneous leaving very well. He didn't agree with it, and he was close to disputing it. Only Hérion had shot him down and Thranduil had said that she would be looked after. Elrond was not going to see harm done too Liruliniel. But it still didn't help matters that the siblings had only just got close again, and here she was having to leave.
"So?" Thalion lowered his cup and looked at her expectedly. He felt like he was losing control of a situation, but when he mused over it; it was a situation that he didn't fully have a grasp on in the first place. This seemed to be something that was going to come to a head sooner or later.
"Lord Elrond believes if I stay, I may end up coming to harm." She didn't say that she could end up harming others if she was taken over. Thalion didn't need to know that.
Thalion let out a scoff, Liruliniel frowned and looked around at the table before him. There seemed to be quite a few empty glasses, and bottles. There had evidently been others drinking with him, but they had disbanded. "We wouldn't let that happen," Thalion's words had her looking away from the empty containers and back to her brother.
She placed a hand on his arm. "Brother, there is nothing you can do to deter mental harm. This thing comes to me when I am at my most vulnerable, when I am sleeping. There is nothing anyone can do to protect themselves, or someone else, when that happens."
Thalion turned in his seat and looked at her, "Do you feel it up there?" He asked, lifting a shaky hand and tapping her temple, she shook her head slowly. "Exactly, so how do we know this isn't some ploy?"
"I think you're drunk." Which was some feint to be honest considering how much he must've drunk to become so. Elves had a very high tolerance for alcoholic substances.
"How could I not sit here and drink my sorrows? My sister is leaving on a trip which is as in the dark as the matters you proclaim to dream about. Even father doesn't know many if any details, and here I thought King Oropher would at least keep him in the loop."
"Can you not see that by keeping quiet, less people are likely to grow concerned and panic?" Liruliniel said, she leaned heavily against the table and stared at him. "It would cause civil unrest."
Thalion sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I get it. But..." He trailed off, his eyes looking tiredly at her.
"I know," Liruliniel said softly, she placed an arm around him. "I know," he didn't want her to go. He didn't need to physically say it, she knew. She felt exactly the same, she didn't want to leave here, or anyone. But if constant exposure could led to a downhill spiral, it would be foolish of her not to take the chance to go. Elrond was supplying the ability for her to grow, to learn, to train under new tutors while also keeping an eye on her. It was house arrest really, but it looked quite appealing.
Thalion sniffed, he reached out and took a clean cup, or at least one that hadn't got remnants in it and filled it with wine. Handing it to her, he toasted them both before smiling softly. "You better stay in touch, or else I'm going to come over."
Liruliniel laughed and sipped at the wine. "Yes, not too sure how that would go down."
"I'll probably get banned entrance."
"Or kicked out entirely." Liruliniel pouted and laughed when he nudged against her shoulder. She placed her cup down, she traced the simple patterns which adorned the goblet shaped cup before her. She didn't feel much like drinking, not that she ever did. Sighing she looked up and just watched those around her, familiar faces that she may not know all the names of, but they were familiar nonetheless. She looked around the hall itself, memorising the details which made up the high ceilings and pillars in the corners. It was so familiar, homely, she didn't know anything really about Imladris.
Patting her brother on the shoulder, she stood and left. She ditched her cup back on his table, knowing he'd probably drink what remained. She shuffled past small groups of people, before tapping the elf on the shoulder. Thranduil looked down at her, he was just standing there watching. Liruliniel raised an eyebrow, the elf he was watching was just talking away to Vanadessë, from the way he was clothed she guessed it was one that came with Elrond.
"You don't seem happy to have guests." Liruliniel looked up at him.
"I am content to see everyone pleased with them being here." Thranduil replied at length, Liruliniel just looked at him sceptically. Thranduil rolled his eyes with a sigh, "We were all together at one point in time, then we all disbanded. They are strangers, yet familiar. It gives everyone something to talk about, to focus on."
Liruliniel patted him on the arm, "There, there. When we leave, everyone will be focussed on you and your wedding again, don't you worry." She joked, Thranduil double took at her with a deep frown and narrowed eyes. Liruliniel just laughed, "I never knew you liked having all attention on you so much!" Liruliniel just continued joking, and laughing, much to his displeasure.
"I didn't mean it like that," he said in a rushed tone and sounding really quite annoyed.
Liruliniel sighed, she looked at him apologetically although he just turned his face and looked away. Liruliniel moved around and appeared in his line of sight, still looking very sorry and Thranduil just frowned and tried to look elsewhere again; of course it didn't work out, because there she was looking very disheartened. With a quiet groan, Thranduil flicked his eyes down to her. She smiled slowly, "I am uncertain whether I will be allowed to return for it."
"I know."
"No front row seat for me."
"Or no standing and going to sleep through it."
Liruliniel smiled softly and nodded, "I wouldn't sleep through your wedding." Thranduil raised an eyebrow, not believing her. "Well, maybe I would if it dragged on a bit." She sniffed and scratched her neck in thought. He rolled his eyes, again, now that wouldn't surprise him. Liruliniel looked at him seriously, it was sudden and he looked curiously at her. "I wish you luck, Thranduil. I really do. I hope you get all you want, and the future is good for you, and to you." Liruliniel said, totally sincere. She couldn't think of harm coming to him, or sorrow. She didn't want to think of it. "You best look out for yourself because I'm not going to be here to do it for you." She said while grinning and pointing a finger his way.
Thranduil smiled, "Not that you've really done anything to warrant that." Which was true, she was a guard yes, but she hadn't actually had to guard him. "And anyway, your swordsmanship skills are still requiring some refining." He shrugged and looked around the bustling hall.
"The next time you see me, I'll prove you wrong." Liruliniel said seriously.
Thranduil looked at her, "You've constantly proved me wrong, Liruliniel. For as long as I have known you, you have always done that." Mainly because she always succeeded when she said she was going to do something, yes he may have had doubts here and there, but she would prove him wrong. Liruliniel just smiled his way, turning fully and looking at her, Thranduil reached up and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him with a confused frown. "I wish you luck for your future, Liruliniel. I thank you for your kind words, and all I can do is hope your future is similar. Don't annoy anyone, somehow I get the feeling Lord Elrond's anger is as dangerous as my father's." Thranduil said pointedly, Liruliniel smiled and nodded slowly, somehow she got the same feeling.
Silence flitted in between the pair then, they looked away from each other and around the space. "You know, Thalion said he'd come visit if I didn't write to him, would you be the same?"
Thranduil smirked slowly, "What, and disrupt the peace?"
Liruliniel gasped and went to hit him on the shoulder, he caught her hand with a sidelong look. "Take that back! I know you'll miss me, you already said so. It's pointless changing your tune now, especially to you enjoying the peace which will be left in my wake."
Thranduil let go of her hand and tucked his back behind his back. "You know I am joking. I am trying to make your last hours fond ones, full of laughter and joy. Don't go ruining it by starting a possible argument."
"You could've said you were joking! By the Valar, you're very annoying at times." Liruliniel huffed and crossed her arms.
Thranduil sighed and looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "And you're not? Now this is something which is a mutual understanding between us both I believe." Thranduil just listened to her guffaw slightly over his words yet pout and stay silent. Although that didn't last long before she quietly chuckled, Thranduil's lips turned slowly up into a smirk, he wouldn't join in with her laughter, but he found amusement within the moment regardless.