Light in the dark

NINE

The next morning I was awoken by a knock on my door. Groaning, I got up from my bed and wondered who would have the guts to disturb me this early in the morning.

I opened the door, and said in a rusty morning voice: "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

When I looked up, I found myself face to face with the King. Suddenly aware of my messy bedhair and only wearing a bathing robe plus my ill manners, I felt flustered. "Forgive me."

"I see you've been sleeping well," he said. "It's already evening, Roan."

"Oh," I said. I had no idea I had been sleeping this long. "Is there anything I can do for you, my Lord?"

"Get dressed," he told me, smiling slightly. "There are more clothes in the closet on the right."

"Right. Uhm... I'll be back in a minute. Maybe more," I said, and quietly closed the door.

I felt a little paralyzed. I stood there, my back against the wooden door, and unable to move. Why did the King come to my room? Was there something going on? Or was he going to ask more questions?

Taking a deep breath, I walked away from the door, towards the closet. When I opened it, I saw that it was filled with all kinds of clothes in all kinds of colours, some of which I had never seen before. Why didn't he tell me how I should dress? I hated to be underdressed for something.

Fighting the urge to yell through the door what I should pick, I took a long, dark green robe and brown leather boots to try on.

Combing my fingers through my dark brown hair, I quickly braided it. This should do it.

I stepped outside my room, closing the door behind me and seeing the King waiting with his back against the wall.

"May I ask what we're going to do, my Lord?" I asked.

"Well, you may, but you'll see, little one, so I'm not going to waste any words on that matter for now," he said, leaving me in riddles. This Elf was such a mystery.

We walked through halls I thought were unfamiliar, but as everything looked alike to me, I could've been there before.

This definitely didn't seem familiar, however, when we walked into the stables. I definitely hadn't been here before; I would remember that.

Horses, in stables from left to right, turned their head to look at us when we entered. There were so many of them, and all beautiful, just like the Elves.

An Elf with long hazelbrown hair approached us, leading a horse on either side of him.

"My King," he said and made a small bow.

Thranduil walked to the horse on the left, a light brown stallion with big black eyes. He went with his fingers through the manes of the horse and whispering something in Elvish in his ears. Then he elegantly stepped onto the saddle.

"Get on, little one," he said, gesturing to the chocolate brown horse the Elf was still holding.

"Wh-what?" I asked, startled.

"Get on your horse," the King said.

I felt my jaw drop, and recomposed myself to not look like a complete idiot, and did my best to get on my horse as elegantly as he did. I knew I failed.

The gate at the end of the stables opened, and the two horses walked towards the light coming from outside.

When the sunshine hit my face, I realized it had been a while since my skin had felt the bright rays of sunshine.

"You've ridden a horse before, Roan?" the King asked.

"Never," I admitted, slightly emberassed. I was glad my horse seemed to know which way we were going and was utterly calm, because I had no idea what I should be doing. I thought I was already doing a good job not falling off his back.

"Thought so." Thranduil seemed rather amused.

The leaves crunched under the horses' hooves while it slowly got darker in the forest. What were we doing at this time in a forest? Hadn't the King be the one who didn't want me here?

"I must admit, Roan, I liked the stories about your world you told me yesterday," he said, turning his face towards me.

"I'm glad," I said. "What did you like, my King? The pollution or the cars?" I asked jokingly.

"Neither," he simply said. "The natural phenomenon were interesting though. I would like to see these Northern Light you told me about."

"Isn't there anything like it here in Middle Earth?" I asked.

"No, but there is something else I would like you to see."

We kept on going straight for a while, when I saw in the distance a lake glistening. It had already turned completely dark, and the moon was reflected in the water of the lake. But that wasn't what took my breath away.

I looked up at the sky, that was beautifully visible as there were no trees to take away the view. The dark blue sky looked like velvet, covered with stars looking like silver diamonds. I had never seen such a view in my life. I couldn't tear my eyes away and it literally left me speechless.

"The Stars of Estel," Thranduil said and looked sideways to see my reaction.

Finally finding back my voice, I said: "I don't think you ever want to see the Northern Lights, my King. It would only disappoint you. This, by far, exceeds it."

The King smiled. It was the same smile as the one he gave me the evening before, at the party. The same smile that gave him such softness and that reached his eyes.

Suddenly, a horse came running towards us between the trees, and I recognized its rider as the Kings son, Legolas.

"My King, orcs have been seen crossing the borders and are coming this way," he said, stopping his horse in front of us.

Oh shit.

The Kings smile had disappeared while he pulled out his sword from beneath his cloak. The sight frightened me a little as I hadn't known he had been armoured all this time.

"Then let them come."