Chapter five. Tree and stone.
This is the news so news! The King returned from Imladris with his young wife! The King of the Great Greenwoods chose Noldeh as his life companion! To say that the forest elves were shocked means not to say anything. The gossip didn't stop for many days. Some Nandor was deeply indignant at the choice of their king. Many wondered how a maiden from this arrogant people came down to live in the forest. And everyone was wondering, burning with curiosity, how did Sinda and Noldeh manage to get close enough to become husband and wife. Moreover, everyone remembered Orofer's hatred for the nodor.
The forest elves looked carefully at the new queen and her cousin Laurenaro, whom Ellerian asked to escort her to the new place of residence.
Despite the prejudiced opinion of the forest people, Noldor was very friendly and simple. No arrogance or contempt from them has ever been seen. The Queen and her brother tried their best to understand the life of the underground palace and fit into it organically.
Laurenaro - Lorinor, as quickly remade his name forest elves, was interested in the work of the Nandor - songs, fairy tales, legends. And always listened to the storyteller so carefully and enthusiastically that quickly won the hearts of many Nandor.
The Queen also soon found a way to win the love of the forest people. There was a traditional autumn holiday. The feast was over, elves were sipping wine out of the cups and listening to the singers. Suddenly, Ellerian got up from her seat and took the harp in her hands. All those present, including her husband, looked at the queen with surprise and suspicion. And she put her thin fingers on the strings and the song sounded. It was a favorite nandor song, glorifying their native forests. And when did she learn it? Nolde's voice, deep and faithful, rose to the very vaults of the underground palace, the melody was flowing slowly full-flowing river ... For some time everyone was silent, shocked. Then the festive hall exploded with greetings and enthusiastic cries. The forest elves jumped from their seats, glorifying their queen. And she modestly returned to her place near Trandyl, smiling at her husband tenderly and slightly guilty. The king looked at his wife without finding words - how many more surprises will this amazing, incomprehensible girl present to him? His love for Ellerian grew day by day...
From this evening the queen entered the hearts of the forest people. All mistrust and aversion disappeared without a trace. Ellerian and Lorinor did not fail to take advantage of this. They began to tell the Nandor about their people, sang their songs, told stories, generously shared all the knowledge available to them. It was not easy to overcome the aversion accumulated over the centuries, but, drop by drop, the Noldor achieved its goal.
Not so much time passed and the forest kingdom flew over the joyful news - the queen carried, the Lord of Great Greenwood will have an heir!
Of course, Thranduil was the happiest about it. Only for a short time. With the onset of pregnancy, Ellerian seems to have been replaced. Where did her benevolent calmness and boundless patience go?! The Queen forgot all her favorite activities, almost never left her rooms, but there was no place for herself. Runnin' without knowing where to go, irritated by trifles, angry or cryin'. Thranduil tried to talk to his wife, somehow to calm down, but almost always these attempts led to new ridiculous resentments and tears. Lorinor and Istannen persuaded the bewildered husband to endure, swore that with the birth of a child all this will pass, the birth of a son will return the lost joy to both parents and make forget all the troubles. The king waited and hoped.
As it turned out, in vain. The child was born in due time, strong and healthy. But this act took the last strength from the poor woman. It was as if she had lost all interest in life. Soberly refused to participate in the celebration of the birth of the heir. The Queen's only joy was the baby. She spent days and nights at her son's crib, not allowing anyone to touch the child. She herself fed, bathed, swaddled. Walking into half of his wife, Thranduil often heard her whispering something to the baby, leaning over the cradle, or, picking up his arms, gently sings a lullaby in the tongue of a nodor. King Zelenolesia did not like it, he even tried to make a remark to his wife that the young prince lived among the forest elves, so it is not worth raising Noldo out of him. The conversation only led to the fact that Ellerian began to avoid her husband and to watch closely so that he did not hear what she whispered to the child. However, the queen did not object when Thranduil solemnly gave her son a name in Nador.
So two months passed. The king of the forest fell into more and more despair: the young mother's condition did not change anything. He sought advice from healers. The answer was one thing - constant fatigue. And how to treat this fatigue - no one could tell.