But one night, Allerian spoke to her husband herself.
Thranduil sat in a chair by the fireplace, all in the power of oppressive yearning, gloomy-looking at the dancing flames. The queen slipped into the room quietly, like a breeze of wind, slipped down on the carpet by her husband's chair, gently hugged his knees. The king looked into the grey eyes of the king's radiant eyes. And Ellerian gently spoke:
- My dear, I see that I torment you, I feel that I hurt you... But I can't help it... I feel bad... But I think I found a way to heal... As long as you agree! Honey, please let me go back to Imladris! Not for long at all! It's the end of spring, I'll spend the summer there, and on the first day of autumn, I'll go back. And I will return to you the same way - healthy, cheerful, loving!
Thranduil sat there like a thunderbolt. Yes, he suffered because of his wife's condition, but the thought that she would want to leave him did not even occur to the king.
- Ellie... Ellie, how so? What are you saying?! And Legolas?
- The son, of course, will come with me. I am breast-feeding him. Don't worry, Laurenaro will help me. Now all the lands are blossoming and prosperous, the roads are quite safe. And if you're worried, send us a small group of warriors.
- Ellie, no! This is unthinkable! It's crazy to go on such a long journey with your baby. I don't allow it, no!
Ellerian's eyes clouded with pain and stubbornness.
- Thranduil, understand, I need it now! Everything strange to me here, cold, evil. I will only get worse in the underground palace...
- But why the strange?! - The king cried out with desperate pain. - After all, everyone loves you! Forest elves take care of you, worry! How will they perceive your departure?! You yourself tried so hard to conquer the hearts of the Nandor. And now, when you have succeeded, the forest people do not have a soul in you, you want to destroy everything with your own hands?
- Do you know how much this effort cost me? - Ellerian, too, got turned on, her voice rang with resentment and anger - how much mental strength did I have to invest to break the distrust and prejudice? - Suddenly, she suddenly fell off the hook and started talking quietly, with sadness. - Of course, I was to blame myself, I wanted to bring the royal heir to the world as soon as possible and consolidate my victory ... I wanted to please you... And I just really, really wanted to become a mother... So I hurried up, did not calculate my strength... But now what do I do? I feel that it will help me: just to live where everything familiar from childhood, dear... Walk around my favorite places, breathe in the fragrant air of the Hidden Valley, sit in the mantelpiece room and listen to my favorite songs... Thranduil, my favorite, please... Well, let's go together, stay in Imladris for three months and come back!
- Ellie, honey, I can't leave now - the important issue of establishing trade relations with the big human city is being resolved. The well-being of our country depends largely on these relations. Tomorrow I have to go to negotiations. You understand, I am the king and I am responsible for my people. Ellerian, I love you very much, I am ready to do everything for you, but I simply cannot let you go on this crazy trip with my two-month-old son! Don't ask for it!
Ellerian's face became cold and distant. She took her eyes off, silently went up and left for herself. And Trandil stayed seated, torn apart by contradictory feelings. It was painfully painful for him to refuse his wife's request. But such a trip was really crazy. We need to find another way to cure the queen. As soon as possible! After all, you can think of something! Tomorrow we will have to leave for a few days... But then he will do his best to heal his wife!
* * *
Upon his return from the negotiations, the king promptly went up to his quarters, threw off his cloak, opened the door to half the queen... Silence... Complete... The rooms were empty, the traces of hasty gatherings everywhere: the furniture was moved, the cupboard doors were open, things were lying around in disarray... Thranduil rushed to the cradle - a crumpled blanket, a forgotten nipple...
- Ah!... No!!! Ellie!...
On a small table - a sheet of parchment... Noldorskie runes, but the language of the nador: "Trandil, my dear husband! Forgive me, but I can't do it any other way! If I don't leave now, I'm going to die, and I'm just going to die like a burned-out candle. I know how angry you are at me now, and I beg you again - sorry! I promise that on the first day of autumn we will leave Imladris and go to Zelenolesie. The same way you and I used to go on our honeymoon - you remember... And no later than on the Harvest Festival, I will hug you! I love you very much! Your Allerian.