#moryo

It didn't take you as long to prepare your basket as it had taken you to decide which eyeshadow look would be the best for the occasion. Green and pink? Yellow with sunflower theme? Baby blue? And the list went on as you sat at your vanity and stared at your reflection. Thinking long and hard about what would be the best combo for today. It was a well know fact to everyone who knew you that you loved colors and everything pretty. A magpie of sorts, attracted to shiny and beautiful things. And there was nothing wrong with that. Though perhaps your extensive collection of skincare would have liked to protest, if it had a voice to do so. Because skincare was another love in your life. Meticulous routines, extensive research on active ingredients and what was the best one for which skinconcern....you knew a lot. A walking skincare encyclopedia.

That same morning you had done everything as usual. Your morning skincare, haircare and all the little odds and ends you enjoyed before starting your day. Your day would however turn out very far from your comfortable routine. You were going to be in for a Rollercoaster and you weren't even remotely aware of it as you grabbed your bike keys and picnic basket. You didn't notice the slightly charged buzz in the atmosphere nor the way everything seemed to be so....on edge. Like something was about to burst, like a can of fruit preserves that's got too much pressure.

You took one last look in the hallway mirror, you had your comfy jeans on and a favorite t-shirt that gave you joy every time you looked at it. The makeup you wore was a pastel pink and green look inspired by the pretty tulips you had seen at the store yesterday. It brought out your eye color and gave you a boost of confidence to tackle the day.

You arrived at the meadow in no time. The sun was already high in the sky, making it pleasantly warm. The flowers of the field bloomed and lifted their fragrance in to the air, making it smell sweet. You had found your spot quickly and sat down. Enjoying your picnic for a long while.

The enjoyment of sitting down didn't last long however. Soon enough your mind began to itch for a little adventure. Getting up from your spot you ventured out further in to the meadow. On the hunt for pretty trinkets. You often found colorful rocks and small trinkets here. There was a river nearby as well. Since it was warm enough today, you decided to venture out to the river. Maybe read a little by the riverbank.

Standing by the riverbank you didn't get any time to recollect your bearings as in a split second the ground beneath you fell away in to the river. Throwing you in to the waters. You had no idea what was happening and panic started to set in. Flailing wildly against a current that you were certain was not so strong just a moment ago. You were dragged under the water roughly and struggled against the current. The temperature of the water suddenly became multiple degrees colder. As if you had jumped in to an icy lake instead of a warm spring stream.

You managed to come up for air and screamed as loud as you could for help. Through bleary eyes you could just about vaguely make out something or someone speeding towards you on what seemed to be a horse? You heard a deep masculine voice call out to you in a language you couldn't possibly understand even if you tried. But the urgency in his voice was universal. Withing moments your freezing, soaked body was hauled out of the waters on to dry land. You were shaking from both the cold and the adrenaline that was still coursing through you. When your eyes finally adjusted you saw to your great horror that you were not in the meadow anymore. But in some vast plains that resembled a winter landscape with an even larger river that was deep and dark. And you were sorely underdressed for the frigid temperatures.

You would later find out that you had nearly drowned in the river Gelion. Close to the border of Thargelion, kingdom of Caranthir the dark. You finally lifted your gaze and were met with a sight that made you freeze up. You were being held up by what looked to be a man who could put models to shame from back home. A long thick mane of unruly pitch black curls cascaded down his back and shoulders. His eyes reminded you of the blueish frost on the windows during a snowstorm. And his skin was soft and even. Aside from one large port wine stain birthmark, marring his beautiful features. But even that, to your half delirious state from nearly drowning, looked more like a peony than an ugly mark.

Caranthir spoke to you in a language you didn't understand. Which did not make any of this easier as he was after all the harshest of his brothers and the quickest to anger. And this man's patience....it grew thin. To Caranthir's great relief you could understand common. Which gave you some leeway in to calming him down. But he was not going to let you off easy. You had nearly drowned on his lands, were severely underdressed for the season and looked completely out of your mind. At least to him.

"Who are you and what ails you? Why were you in the river Gelion in this time of year?" Caranthir spoke through gritted teeth. He had to try his best not to kickstart his temper as it was already starting to smolder under the surface. Who in their right mind, dressed as such, would venture out in to an icy river? In the dead of winter! Caranthir was exasperated with you already, but he still had kindness in him. So after you spent 10 minutes explaining your situation he wordlessly hoisted you up and on to his horse. Wrapping his cloak around you to protect you from hypothermia.

The ride to Thargelion was not too long, but it was agonizing in more ways than one. First of all you were still soaked through and freezing. Secondly you were pressed up against what to you was possibly the most handsome man you could imagine. You were definitely not okay. It was unfortunate that this handsome man was also a cactus personified. The whole ride through he kept pestering you with questions and occasional barbs that made you think that perhaps he was entirely made out of poison. Caranthir wasn't too good at holding his tongue.

In the healing wing of Thargelion you were soon warmly accommodated and cared for. A healer was always close by to check on you and a maid kept you company for as long as her schedule allowed. Soon you had learned her name; Lanyarë, and became friends. Though for the most part of your friendship you'd end up calling her Lanya.

After your first encounter with Caranthir you had not expected him to be so generous. He had ordered a room to be prepared for you and for all your needs to be perfectly met. By nightfall you had cozied up in some pajamas after a warm bath and a filling meal. Any wounds you had gotten were treated and were healing quickly.

"What a day...I think I'm slowly going mad." You muttered under your breath. You by some sick twisted fate nearly drowned and ended up in Middle earth. "It might be best if I just go to sleep. Hopefully this is just one really realistic hallucination..." you mumbled before drifting off to sleep, surrounded by the many smells and sounds unfamiliar to you.

Come morning you awoke with the sorest limbs you'd ever had in your life. Not so unexpected after the events of the previous day. The day went by in an uneventful fashion; mostly staying in bed and being treated by healers. And the occasional interrogation from the elf you now knew was Caranthir. "He should have a plaque on his forehead; beware, barbed tongue & volatile." You'd grumble time and time again.

The next few weeks passed by speedily. Much to your surprise you'd come to like your grumpy host more than you'd dare to admit out loud. And after 2 months, it looked a lot like it was mutual. You'd find random flowers on your bedside table at ungodly hours of the morning. Which at first was admittedly creepy, but he was perhaps more emotionally constipated than you had thought. You frequently found yourself lavished with favors and privileges some other guest weren't getting. And the small embroidered squares of fabric here and there with sweets in them were puzzling. Until you one day had come to ask Caranthir for help, finding him in his office. Handling a needle and square of fabric with impressive precision. The silence in his office felt heavy, stifling, almost. He had all but sunk in to the floor. All it had to do was open up beneath him and Caranthir would've jumped straight in. This was by far the most red you'd ever seen the face of the lord of Thargelion. A cherry would be ashamed if it had to compete with him. The needle clattered on to the floor. A sound that was now much louder than it should've been. And a slight tremor could be seen in his hands as he rather abruptly stuffed the embroidered fabric into a pocket of his robes.

"What business do you have in my office at this time mortal? Have you no sense whatsoever?" He barked out. But it lacked conviction. He stubbornly held your gaze, unwilling to show weakness even in the face of being discovered.

"So...you are the one who's been sending me those pretty embroideries? Not Lanyarë?" You asked quietly. A little confused, you hadn't expected it to be him. Of all people.

"Yes. Yes it was me! What of it? Who did you think it was you obtuse creature-" His usual snide remarks started to resurface. It seems like he can't hold his tongue even with those he loves. Perhaps even more so with those he loves. He doesn't like deceit after all.

"I thought it was Lanyarë...you know, her name means weaver in your language, right? So I thought-" you were cut off soon after by an exasperated caranthir.

"No! By illuvatar you obtuse, dense, senseless mouse! It was not my maid. It was ME. How do you not recognize the handiwork of the lord of Thargelion? I sought counsel from my brothers, and asked countless elven ladies!-" Caranthir ranted for five minutes straight about you being denser than celegorm after too much elvish liquor. And you'd be tempted to believe him considering you had almost glossed over the fact that he had just confessed his feelings to you.