#Tilda just making friends with the whole Woodland Realm as well | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

beaulahmae · 6 years

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Part II of “Two Thrones Series,” following “What Makes a King.”

(It's the first winter after the Battle of Five Armies, and Bard and the rest of the Men of Dale are working hard to build as much as they can, with the help of the Elves and the Dwarves. Thranduil is looking after the women and children of with Galion's and Hilda's help.

Everyone is busy, but it doesn't stop them from wishing they were all together again... When will Spring finally come?)

The Woodland Realm, 2nd of January, 2942, T.A.

That first night after Bard left, Thranduil was asleep in his chambers, when he felt something shake his arm. He opened his eyes and blinked several times, only to see in the glow of the fireplace, a very sad little girl, clutching her doll and stuffed elk, sniffling.

The Elvenking sat up, prepared for this. He had made sure to wear modest night clothes, in case he had nighttime visitors.

“Tilda? What is it, Tithen Pen? Are you hurt, or ill?

She screwed her face up and started crying in earnest, so he quickly gathered her into his long arms. “Tell me what is the matter, and I shall try to make it better.”

Tilda hid her face in Thranduil’s neck. “I want m-my Da!”

He rubbed her back. “I know, Hênig, I miss him as well. Did you have a bad dream?”

“No. I w-woke up, and then I remembered Da w-went away!” She began to cry again, as her arms tightened around neck. “I want him to come back!”

“I am sorry you feel so sad. We must try to be brave, and rely on each other, while your Da works to get Dale ready for your people. When you return, it will look much better, will it not?" He pulled her away from his shoulder, and looked into her face, and stroked her hair. “But I think that is small comfort for a little girl, who has never been away from her Da.” He hugged her again, and continued to rub her back soothingly, until she had begun to settle down.

“Did you know, when Legolas was small, and he had bad dreams, he would often sleep with my wife and me? Would it make you feel better if you stayed with me, tonight?”

Tilda, still hiccupping, said, “Yes, p-please. I don’t want to be b-by myself, and S-Sigrid is asleep.”

“Do you need to visit the necessary, before you go back to sleep?”

“Could you come with me? Things look scary here in the dark.” She started to cry again.

“Shh… Shh…” he rubbed her back. “I understand, Tithen Pen. This is a new place, and shadows can seem frightening at night until you get used to them,” he told her as he stood up with her in his arms. “Here, let me put Charlotte and Daisy down, and they can wait for us, all right?” She nodded, as she handed him the toys, and then he carried her to the necessary. “We could leave a lamp burning in your common room at night. Would that help?”

She nodded, still hiccupping.

He lit the lamp for her in their necessary room, then waited outside for her take to care of business, before he carried her back to his chambers and settled her in Bard’s side of the bed. He tucked an extra quilt around her, then went around to the other side and crawled in, sitting against the headboard. Still sniffling, she leaned against him, clutching her toys tight.

“I just miss my Da.” She whispered, sadly.

Thranduil stroked her head. “I understand how you feel, Tilda, I miss him, too. Perhaps we can help each other, when we are sad. I can make you feel better when you miss him too much, and when I feel lonely, you can help me. What do you think about that?”

“How can I help you?” Tilda asked.

“Well, if I tell you when I am sad, you can give me a hug, or draw me a picture, or you could tell me a story.”

“Me, tell you a story?”

“Certainly. You have known your Da longer than I have, and you could tell me stories about when you lived in Laketown, with your brother and your sister. I would like that very much.”

“Maybe you could tell me stories of when Legolas and Tauriel were little.” Tilda offered. “Or when you were little with your Mam and Da.”

“I could do that. Shall I tell you of the time, when I was small, and my friend Feren and I tried to ride my father's warhorse?”

“You mean, Feren who works with you and Da? You knew him when you were little?”

“Oh, yes! Feren is my oldest friend. That is why he helped your Da and me get married. Feren’s father worked for my father, King Oropher.”

Tilda thought about this. “So, he must be old, too. But not as old as Auntie Hil.”

The Elvenking laughed. “I am afraid he is much, much older than your Auntie Hil. And when we were young, we got into quite a bit of trouble together.”

“You did? Like ride your Da’s horse when you weren’t supposed to?”

“Indeed. We had our own, smaller horses, but we liked to pretend we were fierce warriors, and we often wondered what it was like to ride those enormous horses into battle. Those beasts are especially strong, and trained to protect our fathers in combat.”

“Like your Elk did? I heard he was mean.”

“Bara-Maethor was only mean to those who wanted to hurt me. My father’s horse was the same way. He could be scary to those who want to harm us, but he was kind and gentle to me, when I would feed him an apple or a carrot."

“Was he smart?”

Thranduil nodded. “He was very smart. Galvorn did not tolerate foolish young Elflings who went sneaking around behind their parents’ back. That day, we rode him because I did not want to practice my sword work, and even worse," Thranduil made a face. "I told a lie."

"You lied? Da and Auntie Hil call it 'fibbing,' and that's bad."

"'Fibbing' is a good word, is it not? And, yes, it is a very bad thing to do. It got me into a lot of trouble that day. Shall I tell you that story?”

The little girl nodded.

“Close your eyes and settle back, and I will begin.”

She did, so, he did.

~o0o~

It was late summer, and Thranduil and Feren had just finished in the practice yard with their wooden swords. The Prince was furious. Feren had beaten him! Again!

He kicked open the gate, and stomped out of the practice arena.

“Thranduil! What is the matter with you?”

He whipped around toward the other Elfling. “YOU are NOT supposed to beat me!”

“I will BEAT you at anything I want!" said an outraged Feren, who stuck his finger in Thranduil's face. "YOU cannot tell ME what to do!”

This incensed the young Prince. “I can so! My father is the King and you will do everything I say!”

“I will not, and you cannot make me! Just because you are lousy with swords, does not mean you can take it out on me!”

“I am NOT bad with swords!”

Feren laughed. “Then why I did I win? Three times! Princes are not supposed to be sore losers. If you would practice like you are supposed to, I would not beat you! Three times! But you do not, so I did! Three times! Ha Ha!”

Thranduil couldn't stand the idea of Feren making fun of him, so he had to think of something. “Well... I did not practice because…" A thought popped into his head, and was out of his mouth before he knew it. "I was busy riding Galvorn!”

“You were not! You are lying!”

The blonde Elfling drew himself up to his fullest height, stuck his nose in the air, and said, “I was, too! It is not my fault that your Ada will not let you ride his horse. But I can ride Galvorn anytime I want!”

Feren narrowed his eyes, and crossed his arms. “Prove it.”

Thranduil was not expecting that. “What?”

“You heard me. If you can ride the King’s warhorse, I want to see you do it."

“I... cannot ride him right now, because he is out grazing.”

“So, go get him. He likes you when you bring him apples. Let me see you ride him. Otherwise,” Feren grinned evilly, “I will ask your father about it!"

Gulping, Thranduil said, “Fine! I will! But only if you ride him, too! Or are you scared?”

The prince was hoping Feren would be frightened, so they could just forget the whole thing.

No such luck.

Feren stomped towards the barns. “I am not afraid, you are! Let us go.”

They made their way into the barn and, as it turned out, Galvorn was not in the paddock as Thranduil had claimed; he was in his stall. They managed to get a saddle and bridle on him, while the great horse waited patiently, biding his time. The horse’s calmness and cooperation eased the Elflings' trepidation. Feeling emboldened by their success so far, they began to laugh together and look forward to their big adventure. They were going to be true warriors!

They led him into the paddock and stopped by the fence, so they could use it to leap into the saddle, with Thranduil in front. Thranduil took the reins, and they were off! They rode around the paddock a few times, feeling bolder with each step. Then they took him to the center, so they could pretend to wave their swords and fight off the terrible Orcs.

But when Thranduil rode him over to the gate and unlatched it, Galvorn had had enough of this foolishness, and saw his chance. He reared up, tossing the boys onto the ground. They landed hard on their behinds, bewildered, then got up and started to brush themselves off. But, the horse wasn’t finished teaching them a lesson. He neighed, then turned and backed up toward them.

Thranduil and Feren ran for their lives, but Galvorn managed to get them each in the buttocks several times, and the last kick sent Thranduil flying and screaming through the air, only to land, face-first, in to a pile of manure.

~o0o~

At this last part of the story, Tilda began to giggle, and so did Thranduil.

“What happened then?” she asked.

“The horse went through the open gate, and ran to the barracks where our Adars were.”

“I’ll be they were mad.”

“Well, they were not pleased." he smiled. "We had to stand at attention while our Adars shouted at us. To make matters worse, I had to take a bath, which I did not like to do.”

Tilda giggled again. “Your bottom must have really hurt."

“Oh, it did!" Thranduil laughed. My Naneth took us to the Healer, to make sure we were all right. I was bruised all over my bottom and so was Feren, but our Adars would not allow the Healers to help. They said the pain would teach us a lesson.”

“Did it?”

“Yes. We could not sit down for days. In addition, Feren and I had to polish every single piece of tack in that barn, and clean out the all horse stalls for a month.”

"Did you ever do it again?"

"Would you have?" He smiled down at her.

Tilda shook her head, then yawned.

He kissed her on her hair and asked, “Do you feel better now, Tithen Pen?”

"Mmm-hmm." She yawned again, and snuggled down. “Good night, Thrandool.”

He sat for a long time and watched her sleep, smiling, before he finally drifted off himself.

#The Hobbit #Hobbit fanfiction #Barduil #Bard #Thranduil #Tilda of Dale #Sigrid #Tilda #Bain #Hilda of Dale #Percy of Dale #Wenderful52

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