paradisalogs | Deck the Halls

Entry tags:

Deck the Halls

Who: Thranduil and you!
What: Thranduil arrives! Kissmas shenanegins likely.
When: Now
Where: Floor 3
Rating: ... kissmas shenanegins likely. PG-13 to be safe?

When Thranduil had taken a step forward and found himself somewhere entirely different from where he had intended to be, the first thing he did was stop and examine his surroundings. Behind him was an open door of fine wood, behind that was an entirely unfamiliar hallway, in front of him was a room. It was furnished richly - too much so for his tastes, especially after having spent the past several thousand years becoming accustomed to the constraints and realities of living in Mirkwood, and even longer away from those whose business was crafting luxurious items that fulfilled no other purpose; the wood-elves made many beautiful things, but rarely anything so needlessly opulent. The sheer extravagance of his surroundings was in itself off-putting. Luxury was all well and good, but this....

Half because of the room and half because he should have been in a forest, and was beginning to wonder if the creatures he had come to attempt to dissuade from disturbing his people had somehow managed to reflect his magic back at him (but he was not asleep), Thranduil had turned and walked into the hall. It was nearly as rich as the room had been, gold and rich fabrics strewn everywhere, expensive woods and stones and glass as clear as water unfolding like a painting.

This was not home. This was nowhere familiar.

Exploring further was probably a good first step.

The door behind him had, in graceful script, his name on it, which was both thought-provoking and rather disquieting. It did, however, make him decide that it was as good a place as any to set down the bowl half-full of Dorwinion wine he was still holding, from the feast which he should still have been at; he had no real desire to carry it everywhere he went. Which left nothing to do but explore.

He both did and did not fit in with the grandeur of the castle - his robes were fine enough when the source was considered, but still rougher than what he was surrounded by, and there were a few dead leaves caught near the hem. He was crowned in leaves, with flowers braided through his hair, and although beautiful gems and gold and silver were winking at his belt and collar and fingers, they were not what lent him the aura of splendor that he carried with him. It was how he held himself which turned this all into a place where he could belong.

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Damn it, Thranduil. It couldn't be helped, she supposed. If he had just arrived there was no way he could know. But what abysmal luck the two of them had.

Possibly the only thing more horrifying than him kissing her is the fact that she's kissing him back, her hands resting on his shoulder and against the small of his back. She is going to have a lot of explaining to do once the magic wears off, isn't she?

Yes, she will, especially because she seemed to know what she was talking about, just before all of this. At the moment, of course, talking was difficult - both of their tongues were otherwise occupied. Not that it really mattered, in his case; he was at this point so confused that he wasn't sure he'd know what to ask first.

She was standing near the wall - somehow he found himself pushing her against it, pinning her as he kissed her.

Oh. Her hands find their way to his face and hair and, for a few moments that seemed longer than they probably were, she actually kisses him harder. But then the magic fades enough that she recovers her senses and she pulls back.

She's going to need a few seconds to catch her breath and to fight the blush that's spreading across her cheeks.

"If you would kindly step back, Thranduil, I would be most grateful."

As she finally pulls away, and as he finally feels like he can let her, about the only thing that Thranduil finds he can think is what just happened? Then she speaks, asking him to step back, which makes him first realize that he hasn't. And that needs immediate correcting. He does so as quickly, almost hurriedly, stopping a much more acceptable distance of several feet. He's trying hard not to look too disheveled, or bewildered, or unsettled. It's surely a bad idea to look as truly lost and unnerved as he actually is, but disguising that is also much more difficult than it would otherwise be.

He's hotter than normal, and struggling not to look it.

"What was that?"

"As I said," she starts, smoothing down her dress and her hair as she speaks, "it is best to avoid that particular plant. It is enchanted- do not bother removing it, either. It will return."

It's disturbing, in a way, how calmly she speaks of it. She's not complacent, by any means, but after over two years here, she's learned to pick her battles.

Well, that is important information. If frustratingly vague. He forces himself to remain patient - because no matter how that information is presented, he does need to know it. And no matter how complacent she seems to be in the face of what happened, he has no desire to repeat it. "Galadriel, there are many plants all around. Knowing which is enchanted would seem an important step in avoiding it."

Edited 2013-12-10 00:36 (UTC)

With an expression that speaks more to mild irritation than anything else, she gestures upwards to the sprig of mistletoe hanging in Thranduils door way. "The mistletoe, Thranduil. I speak of the mistletoe."

His own expression very nearly mirrors hers, mild irritation, partially because he is sure she is deliberately being difficult. He looks to where she indicates, taking a moment to memorize the size and approximate position. "Is it always in doorways, and is it always so visible?"

"One never knows with this place. It seems to be most prevalent in doorways. However, were I you, I would take nothing for granted."

She is not responsible for any kisses resulting from him not paying attention to where he's going. He has been warned.

The attitude is annoying him. "How, then, am I supposed to avoid it?"

"Perhaps you might look where you walk, as the rest of us do." He's not the only one getting annoyed. "Obviously, it is not fool-proof, but it can do much in the way of prevention."

"If it is left hanging in nearly every doorway, it seems it would be difficult to avoid walking under - unless, of course, you propose I begin walking through the walls. If that is the case then please advise me in how it might be done, I fear it is a skill I have never mastered." His voice is, by now, slightly acid.

She sighs, as if she's dealing with a petulant child. "Pass through the doorways alone and keep others at a distance while you do so."

This is, of course, part of the problem - he resents being treated as a child, and she frequently seems determined to do so, assuming that none but she have anything of substance to contribute. Still, despite the manner, at least she's sharing the information he needs.

"The effects wear off with distance?"

Not much of a spell, were it meant to compel others, but that was just as well.

"They do."

Despite her irritability, she is genuinely trying to be helpful. She may not like Thranduil, but she certainly bears him no ill will. And the fact that he would be useful ally hasn't escaped her either. It's better for both of them if they work together, however much they may clash.

There is a pause as he internalizes the information, looking all around himself for more sprigs. Elvish eyes are very sharp, and he was able to catch more than most would have been able to, but he wonders if he has missed something regardless.

Time would tell, he supposes. The thought leaves him slightly disgruntled. But the look encompasses the rest of his surroundings as well, which once again are unsettling. He tries to conceal that as well, but there's a trace still in his eyes and manner when he looks back to her with another question.

"Do you know where we are?"

She nods. "Both the castle and the land are called Paradisa. All you will meet within these halls have been brought here as we have, in much the same manner- and suffer the same indignities." That last bit is accompanied by a pointed glance at the mistletoe- though, really, that's the least of it.

"None have yet found a means of leaving this land and few have ventured from the castle for long." For a variety of reasons, but she'll pause there and let him ask his own questions.

"What do you mean? Why have they not done so? What is outside, that so few leave for long?" He looks around at his surroundings again, eyes lingering briefly on the mistletoe. It seemed that there were many advantages that could be gained from leaving, even if the distance was brief.

"Or are the same tricks practiced outside these walls?"

"It is difficult to explain." She frowns and purses her lips; this is going to sound more cryptic than usual, even coming from her, simply because there is so much that no one knows.

"We are bound to the castle from the moment we arrive, whether we will it or no. One may only travel so far before one becomes keenly aware of that fact- it calls to us, for lack of a better term, and it seems more than capable of simply returning us here at a whim. There are some, of course, who live outside the walls- in the nearby town or the forest. Yet even they are not always spared these tricks, as you put it."

It is vague, cryptic, but in this case does not sound as though it is intentionally so, as though she is deliberately withholding information. He listens, expression neutral, until she has finished with her explanation.

"Still, it seems a forest would be pleasanter, even if it is not wholly spared. If nothing else, these halls and rooms are somewhat... over done, to my taste."

Her expression does not change.

"You are free to do as you like, of course." It's not as though she particularly cares.

They had been beginning to calm down, to speak instead of fight. Unfortunately all that progress that they'd made went right out the window, and Thranduil was back to all but bristling, albeit in about as regal a way as someone could bristle.

"It is kind of you to give me your permission. Do you know of any reason why I should not?"

Why is speaking with Thranduil always so exceedingly frustrating? She's bristling a little now too, at that tone.

"Do you insist on misunderstanding me? I am well aware that you have no need of my permission, Thranduil. I mean to say only that the forest will likely serve you as well as the castle; it is more a matter of preference than aught else."

"Only sofar as you insist on acting in such a manner as will lead you to be misunderstood." The remark is somewhat biting, and Thranduil huffs slightly in irritation after he speaks, forcing himself to be courteous again.

"I thank you for the information on the Castle and what is happening, it has been illuminating."

"I am glad I have been of some assistance, despite my easily misunderstood manner." She has a few more biting remarks, but she decides against voicing them.

"There is more I could yet tell you, but perhaps I should instead direct you to your son. He, no doubt, will be capable of explaining matters in a more acceptable way."

No way, this one is tots his fault

omg galadriel how is this possibly his fault he just arrived okay

BECAUSE

BECAUSE ISN'T AN ANWER

BECAUSE THE LADY SAYS SO

THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER EITHER

IT'S GOOD ENOUGH

IT IS NOT

IT IS FOR HER

WELL SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO MATTERS IN THIS CONVERSATION

:p

:|

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