4. Star Feast
Overlooking the hill hiding the palace of Lord Thranduil, the Royal Beech stretched almost half of Erin Galen. The mighty tree was woven together with other branches like a father who stretched out many hands to his children, reaching out for his growth. The tree trunks had grown high in the sky and mighty in the hill. As they branched deeply into the depths and cracks, they could walk along with them like paths and stairs from the golden throne room to the lower tiers and dungeons. At a time when Liholessie remained a green forest, but evil did not threaten from the south, the people of Thranduil arranged on the branches of the Royal Beech Gallery and a platform, like the ancient Chirilorna[*]. They rose to the tops of openwork lace, covering the entire crown, and in the glow of golden luminaries, under the canopies of woven branches and embroidered fabrics, lived, feasted, learned crafts and watched vigilantly for the native forest. From here one could see the surrounding rivers, the distant mountain chain, the lonely white peak of Erebor, and even the ruins of a dark fortress barely visible far to the south. Now that the people of Thranduil have come down to live in the cave citadel, the beech is an orphan. In the Upper Chertogi, only sentries rose. The wind was walking along with the deserted galleries, and only nightingales were singing here. Tauriel came up here to be alone.
The field at the foot of the beech was visible in the palm of her hand. The Feast of the Starlight was held there every year. The branches of tall trees framed the dark sky, covered with Elbete's lamps, and sitting down on the embroidered bedspreads, one could see their radiance, remembering what had been lived. The people of Trandil gathered here to sing songs, dance, and feast on the Valhars and their king. Tauriel loved this holiday, but today she became sad. The night passed and the feast ended without her, reminding her of herself with ribbons tied to her branches and silk canopies that were still in place. It was deserted and quiet. The brightest of the stars still looked at the glade, the forest remained in the shade, but the sky was lighter, announcing the approaching morning.
Tauriel stopped at the first of the beech decking, putting her hands on the carved railing. The polished, cool wood was braided with ivy. Once it was green and blossomed, but now it is completely dry. His eyes turned to the deserted throne in the glade, carved into a thick tree trunk.
- You were delayed.
Tauriel turned around and raised her head. The palm instantly squeezed the handle of the dagger but immediately weakened. Only one elf in Liholessie managed to catch the chief of the guard by surprise. Legolas settled down on a branch above the site where Tauriel was standing and only now gave himself away. The stellar light silverened his hair, which fell on his back and shoulders as if it were his own soft glow. The grey cloak, embroidered with silver, covered the shoulders, but underneath it remained the same hiking, green tunic. The prince did not go to the feast? Tauriel looked away. Breathing became more frequent, and the smell of night flowers made her dizzy.
- I thought I was alone.
- I was bored at the feast without you. I decided to wait here," Legolas jumped down.
- Did you know I was coming? - Tauriel was truly surprised. No matter what the king said, since she became one of the commanders, the friendly panic between her and the prince had been left to meet in private for rare occasions, looks, smiles, and fleeting touches. How soon would she have understood if it hadn't been for the king? The truth hid from her like starlight in a ripple on the surface of the water.
Legolas stood next to her and looked through the branches into the sky, and a fleeting smile softened his eyes and features.
- We used to be here together, remember?
Tauriel nodded.
- Now you often go up to the Upper Devil by yourself, and sometimes you go further," Legolas used to say so as if he wouldn't let her out of his sight for a moment. He turned around, and a smile flashed in her eyes in response to her silent question.
- Didn't your father send you to prison in vain? Anything to say?
- If only the Lord is interested in the impressions of the dwarf from his journey along the northern road, his mother and his brother's jokes... - Tauriel smiled and shook her shoulders.
- You were curious," said the prince. The guard looked questioningly at the friend and turned her back, perplexed. In his tone, there was a strange reproach.
- Did you see me talking to the prisoner?
- I followed you, thinking of keeping you company, but it turned out that you already had company - Legolas looked worried and annoyed - I was worried about you, Tauriel.
- What could the prisoner do behind bars? And then, they're not as bad as we used to think. They want to go home, they have families and lovers, too...
Tauriel tried to imagine dwarf virgins, but something so absurd came out that you wanted to laugh. She suppressed the laughter.