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The sounds of laughter and signing were slowly beginning to die down as the celebrations of Yestare ran into the wee hours of the morning. The wine was running low, too, but that would be remedied shortly. There was one instruction the staff knew to follow above all others: the wine at the king’s table was never to run out. Especially tonight. Especially with their honored guest.
Officially, this rule was in place to ensure good hospitality. Unofficially, however, it was simply to ensure that the king never ran out of drink. And tonight, with Celeborn beside him for the first time in ages, he simply could not do without a constant supply of his blessed Dorwinion—especially when the Lord of Lothlorien was casting increasingly bold and lengthy glances at him.
“I wish we could enjoy each other as we once did, in Doriath,” Celeborn said wistfully.
Thranduil nearly choked on his wine.
We can! he screamed inside, but he knew better than to voice such a thought. Celeborn’s damned sense of loyalty and propriety wouldn’t allow him to give in, and they’d only end up arguing.
Instead he said simply, “As do I.”
A moment passed by in silence. Then Celeborn’s face lit up suddenly and a smile tugged on his lips. Thranduil wondered what memory had worked its way out of the depths of his mind, but he couldn’t be bothered to ask. He’d find out soon enough anyway.
“Do you remember that time we watched the clouds?”
Damn him.
“We often watched the clouds,” Thranduil said dispassionately. “It was our favorite pastime.”
“You know the time I’m talking about,” Celeborn replied, laughing, and Thranduil’s chest warmed at the sound.
Of course he remembered that time. It was one of the most humiliating times in his life—in the most wonderful way.
“I was very imaginative with what I saw in the clouds that day,” Thranduil said.
Celeborn laughed again. “Very—It took me long enough to figure out what you were up to.”
Thranduil turned to him, brow furrowed, and saw nothing but genuine affection and mirth in Celeborn’s grey eyes. “I thought you knew—that you were having fun at my expense.”
“Only for a moment, at the very end. And mostly to be certain I had come to the right conclusion.”
“You are serious?” All this time Thranduil had thought Celeborn had been toying with him when he’d been at his most vulnerable.
“Aye,” Celeborn said. “I truly was trying to see the things you said you saw. The heart I thought I could make out, but the mating bunnies...”
Thranduil covered his face with his hands. “Elbereth, I was such a lost cause!”
“But it worked...”
It had. They’d been busier than bunnies for weeks afterward.
Celeborn dragged the back of his hand thoughtfully along Thranduil’s sleeve. This simple action sent a shiver up Thranduil’s spine. Celeborn had always been intrigued with Thranduil’s fashion choices. (And invariably, he’d always concluded that as stunning as they were, he looked best naked.)
“I never stopped loving you,” Celeborn said, removing his hand reluctantly. “I hope you know that.”
“Nor I you.”
Fate was cruel, Thranduil thought bitterly. But he would accept what little bit of happiness he could find here tonight.