Chapter 4. We are Quandy!
The dawn was already gaining strength when Trandyil was coming back from his next walk, sneaking through the corridors of Elrond's house to his chambers. He would meet someone and run into the king's curious questions without smiling at all. However, all the participants of the Grand Council have already gone to their lands, it is only he who is still the only one pulling away with the departure. And in the spring, heading from Myflond to this "dwelling Noldor", he swore to his ears that he was already suffocating without forest air and will not spend a minute in these stone walls. Probably all the inhabitants of the House are already aware of its night away and quietly laughing at the forest savage, who dared to reach out to one of the most beautiful flowers of Noldor. No, it's time to end it! Nothing good will come out of friendship with Noldeh anyway, and the king of Great Greenwood has no right to make fun of himself. And the house has accumulated a lot of business for sure...
Suddenly, the side door opened, and Istannen, an advisor from his entourage, stepped in to meet Trandyl.
- Lord Thranduil, good morning! Our Lord loved the night walks under the starry sky of Imladris... - On lips Nando slipped a barely noticeable smile. - Obviously, you will not see such clear stars in our forests!
Thranduil flashed to the roots of his hair and wanted to answer with sharpness, but still held back and tried to pass by in silence. But the advisor did not hurry to clear the aisle. Suddenly Istannen became serious and started talking:
- Emperor, the time of autumn storms is approaching. I spoke yesterday with Lord Elrond about the road to the east, and he warned that the nearest passes across the Mglistye Gory were destroyed by recent earthquakes. The new trails, which have been built recently, are unreliable and have already become icy in some places, and it is too dangerous to get down there in windy weather. We will have to bypass the mountains from the north, the road is much longer but safer, especially now, after the Last Union war, when the orcs have humbled and hidden. But autumn comes into its own, and we can't wait any longer to leave. Lord Thranduil, we have everything ready, a group of forest elves is waiting only for your order.
"Well, it's all decided by itself," Sinda looked closely into Nando's eyes, but no sparks of ridicule flashed in the emerald depths. The advisor was right, he was apprehensive about the long journey back.
- We are speaking... Tomorrow," the king said with a short pause. And he added resolutely, - At dawn!
"That's all! - Thranduil thought, having finally found himself in his chambers. Without undressing, he rushed to the bed with a great deal of effort - they would call for breakfast soon anyway. "Break up - so right away! In the evening I will stay in the rooms, even in the garden, it will not go down. I have a legitimate reason to get ready. And this story will remain a bright memory, will turn into a beautiful song ..."
* * *
The last night at the Last Home Shelter, as they sometimes called Elrond's possession...
All-day long, the king held himself together and talked to Lord Elrond and his advisers for a long time. He spent the rest of the day with his nador discussing the road ahead. It was only when everyone had gone into bedrooms that Thranduil realized that he could no longer twist his painful longing into a knot. He pressed his flaming forehead against a cool wall. So was washed at least to look into the gap between the curtains - whether the familiar light figure in the garden will flash. "No! You can't give in to weakness! Why deceive yourself?! For Ellerian it was just an interesting and informative conversation with a representative of another nation, an opportunity to discover something new for themselves. Passion for new knowledge is the hallmark of the Noldor people. It was you, like a boy, who allowed yourself to dream about the unattainable! Have patience now!
Proud Sinda, in order to distract himself somehow, took a harp, gently ran his fingers over the strings... and suddenly I felt that unbearable bitterness was flowing into the melody... Then came the words...
In the black evening sky
Silver is the star.
Lights up in the heart
It's a dream come true.
But the heat does not bring
That ghostly light.
And he cannot be dispelled
In a world of darkness and misery.
Foments hope
A little bit of beauty.
And fly straight into the sky
The light is beckoning,
But it won't keep you warm on the way,
Doesn't go through the night,
Silver light, ice-covered
Can't help it!
And the dream will break,
Before reaching the sky!
Can never wait
The heart of light wonders!