Elsabet - Saturday, June 01, 2002, 8:00 AM

------------------------------------------

 

 

The King's Audience Chamber

This is a much smaller, more intimate room than the reception hall outside. The room is carpeted with plush, beautifully designed rugs done in jewel tones. Comfortable chairs are arranged in a semi-circle in front of a subdued throne atop a small dais. On the walls are the seals of Nargothrond and its nobles, with that of the King being centered on the wall above the throne. Gilt trim lines the wall where it meets the ceiling and a warm light is thrown from shaded lamps set in the walls around the sides of the room.

 

The audience chamber of Nargothrond is crowded in the mid-morning. Advisors and military leaders stand along the side walls of the chamber whispering amongst themselves, while servants move among them bearing trays of food and drink. There are guards at the chamber doors and a pair of guards behind the king's chair. Finrod is dressed formally, with the silver crown of Nargothrond on his head and the Nauglamir around his neck. His expression is calm and, unlike the others present, he sits in silence, watching the doorway. Only one ranking member of Finrod's Court is conspicuously absent -- Celvir Quenaldar.

 

Elsabet walks slowly through the doorway, having already been announced by the page. She pauses just inside the room, startled by the number of people within the audience chamber. She self-consciously smooths her charcoal-gray skirt and then looks up at the king. "You called for me," she at last says, clasping her hands behind her back. "I am here."

 

The king rises from his great chair and gives Elsabet a smile. The whispering around him fades into silence, and Finrod's quiet words carry across the large room. "I did indeed call for you, and I thank you for answering my summons. Step forward please and stand before me."

The king's smile does little to calm Elsabet's apprehension, but nevertheless she straightens her shoulders and smiles back. Her gaze flickers for a moment over the others assembled there, but she soon returns her gaze to Finrod and walks forward, coming to stand before him.

 

Finrod remains silent as he watches Elsabet cross the room. When he speaks again, his voice is soft, almost apologetic. "Many are the responsibilities of a king, and some less pleasant than others. Perhaps the most important of those duties is the protection of the people of the realm. Dangers can take many forms. They can come from without bearing the weapons of an enemy army. They can come from within on the lips of a spy. But perhaps the most dangerous of all threats is the rumor of doubt and distrust, the rumor that can divide kin and drive artisans to madness. Such rumors now run unfettered around my kingdom and I would put a stop to them before they grow worse. Please forgive me for what I ask of you, Elsabet. You have done naught to earn mistrust from any in this realm and yet mistrust has been sown. Will you help me end these rumors? I ask leave to search your thoughts and your heart to discern the truth. Will you give me leave to do so? This is a request, not a command, and you may refuse."

 

For a few moments, Elsabet is silent, bringing her hands in front of her to trace the quickly healing scars that cross each palm. After a minute or so of leaden silence, the healer puts her hands behind her back once more and nods. "Please do," she says with a slight nod. "I want it to end, too..."

 

"Then take my hands and and look directly at me." Finrod opens his hands and holds them out to her. "Do not be afraid. Your willingness to take this test is an answer in itself, for no servant of the enemy would willingly undergo such scrutiny."

 

Elsabet obediently steps forward once more, placing her cold hands into the king's. Still acutely aware of the other members of the court in the room watching, she lifts her gaze to meet Finrod's. For a moment, her gaze turns down again, unwilling to meet the king's glance, but she steels her resolve and lifts her eyes to meet his. For the most part, her eyes are open and honest, yet there is still something guarded in their depths...

 

The room grows silent. The spectators stand like shadows along the wall, watching the trial begin. Finrod clasps Elsabet hands firmly, but gently and stares at her, his gaze unwavering. After a few moments, he announces softly, "You pass the test. No evil do I see within you, Elsabet, daughter of Gonduin. You have withstood a terrible ordeal that few here could endure and your faith held strong." Raising his voice to address the hall, he adds, "Let all dark rumors about Elsabet be ended now! She is a loyal servant of this realm and no traitor. Anyone who persists in spreading falsehoods about her will answer to me!" He drops his hands and inclines his head to her. "You have my leave to go now, but I would ask you to sit by my side and talk with me for a while." He beckons to a servant. "Bring the lady food and drink."

 

Elsabet relaxes slightly, now, smiling gratefully at the king as she drops her hands to her side. At his request, she wavers, one foot sliding behind the other as though to step back and leave. After a moment, however, she nods. "Of course I will," she says quietly, taking an empty seat next to the king. She clasps her hands together in her lap, hiding the cuts from Rhifnass's attack, and turns her gaze attentively to Finrod.

 

The tension in the room ebbs with the king's announcement, and the advisors go back to their conversations. Servants hurry over with tea and a tray of food. Finrod gives Elsabet a warm smile as he sits down, but he waits for the servants to finish their work before he speaks again. Finally, when the table is set and the king can speak in relative privacy, he asks, "How are your wounds? The guards search ceaselessly for Rhifnass, but still he eludes us. I am sorry for what happened to you."

 

"They're healing normally," Elsabet returns calmly, though her face reveals that she is surprised by the king's knowledge. "THey weren't that bad, it really wasn't that big a deal... I didn't think it was important to tell anybody." The healer pauses for a moment, and then continues. "I tried to heal him, but he ran away before I could finish.... he no longer has his sword, though, that was left behind. I destroyed it... I didn't like the way it felt."

 

"I must speak with Rhifnass before it is too late," Finrod says with a sigh, "before he causes an injury that is too serious to be forgiven. If only he could be caught..." His words trail off and he takes a piece of bread from the tray. "Did he say or do anything after the attack to give a hint as to where he might have gone?"

 

"No, he didn't," Elsabet says with a frown, shaking her head. "I wish he had. I hope I have at least started him on the path to recovery... something tells me that he will not do such harm again, though he may continue to hide for a while..."

 

"He will be found eventually, for good or for ill," Finrod replies, breaking the bread and offering a piece to Elsabet. "But sooner would be better than later. But let us speak of happier topics. I understand that you have plighted your troth to Morthalian. You have my congratulations. I wish you both every happiness."

 

"I have," Elsabet says with a smile, taking the offered piece of bread. "Thank you for your congratulations." The healer pauses for a moment, taking a bite of the bread. "He's been rather upset by all that went on yesterday... I promised I'd go see him and his father after answering your summons. So if you don't mind, I'd better be off to do that... Namarie."

 

"Of course. Please go with my leave and my blessing." Finrod smiles and stands up, inclining his head in farewell to her. "Please give my congratulations to Morthalion and tell him that he is the most fortunate individual in the kindgom to have a betrothed such as you. Namarie, Elsabet."