Chapter 341: The Magnificent Palace of the Thousand-Stone Cavern
Lucien was gentle and kind, and Kalanthriel lively and lovely. The two elven princesses walking together instantly became the most dazzling sight in the Elven City.
All the elves who passed by and saw Lucien and Kalanthriel respectfully saluted them. Most of the male elves who looked at the two princesses carried affection in their eyes.
As for the human, George, walking behind the two princesses, the elves merely cast a curious glance his way and then paid him no further attention.
In the eyes of the grey elves, humans were no different from stray cats and dogs on the roadside—not worth their concern.
Upon entering the towering Elven City and crossing the long, wooden-paved street, they arrived at the Palace of the Thousand-Stone Cavern, built by the dwarves for the Kingdom of the Grey Elves. Lucien turned to an elven guard and asked:
"Where is Father now?"
"He is in the palace hall. Twenty-two nobles are currently requesting an audience."
The elven guard replied respectfully.
In the elven kingdoms of Middle-earth, the king did not hold absolute power. The king was merely the greatest noble of the nation, with many other elven nobles beneath him.
If any decision made by the king was opposed by all the nobles, then that decision could not be carried out.
In George's memory, in the original tale, when Maedhros, the eldest son of Fëanor, heard of Beren and Lucien successfully stealing one of the Silmarils, he rekindled hope in the struggle against Morgoth.
Thus, he summoned his brothers—the other sons of Fëanor—and formed an alliance with the High King of the Noldor, Fingon, as well as with humans and dwarves, to launch another attack on Angband.
Because two of Fëanor's sons, both notorious wastrels, had once tried to kidnap Lucien, Thingol again refused the invitation to join the alliance.
Moreover, those two fools had also swaggered and deceived their way through Nargothrond, ruled by Fingon, which led the nobles of Nargothrond to oppose forming an alliance with Maedhros's faction.
Due to the opposition of the nobles, even the High King of the Noldor, Fingon, was left with no choice but to bring only his personal guard to support his friend Maedhros.
The result was tragic. The alliance suffered a crushing defeat. The High King Fingon fought to his last breath and, utterly exhausted, was slain by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, while beset on both sides by two Balrogs.
Thus, to get the Kingdom of the Grey Elves to go to war, one not only had to convince Thingol but also at least half of the elven nobles.
And since the nobles were all gathered, it was perfect timing.
"Hmph, these guys banding together—it's surely no good. I bet it's about marrying you off to one of their useless heirs again!"
Hearing the elven guard's words, Kalanthriel snorted coldly.
The Kingdom of the Grey Elves had long enjoyed peace and stability, with no wars to speak of. An event that could gather all twenty-two nobles could only mean one thing: they were once again seeking Lucien's hand for one of their sons.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
Firstly, Lucien was universally acknowledged as the most beautiful elven maiden. There was no unmarried male elf who didn't wish to wed her.
Secondly, Thingol had only one daughter. Whoever married Lucien would become the future king of the Kingdom of the Grey Elves. The power of that noble house would soar within the realm.
However, Thingol's standards were extraordinarily high. He looked down upon the children of the nobles. Even among Fëanor's seven sons, Thingol believed not one was worthy of his daughter Lucien—let alone the children of lesser nobles.
Hence, the nobles always returned empty-handed.
Of course, there were many suitors for Kalanthriel as well, but Thingol had no say in her affairs. As for her own standards in a partner, she demanded that he be stronger than herself.
Many noble youths had thus challenged her, only to end up with faces beaten into pig heads.
Except for her cousin, Celeborn—the bookish type who loved reading more than fighting.
Celeborn's grandfather, Elmo, was the younger brother of her maternal uncle Thingol and her maternal grandfather Olwë, which made Celeborn her younger cousin.
"Father won't agree to marry me off to them. Let's go in—since the nobles are all here."
Lucien, understanding her father well, smiled and shook her head. With Kalanthriel and George, she crossed the stone bridge and entered the Palace of the Thousand-Stone Cavern.
"It truly is a magnificent palace!"
Upon stepping into the subterranean palace and gazing at the vast halls and private chambers hewn from natural rock, with countless night-pearls and gemstones embedded in the stone, George could not help but sigh inwardly.
When Morgoth was imprisoned in Valinor and the Noldor had not yet come to Middle-earth, the Grey Elves were considered the rulers of the continent, with countless treasures gathered here.
However, after the dwarves conquered the place, they looted all the palace's wealth. The great riches of the Dwarven Kingdom occupied by Smaug in the Third Age could be partly attributed to the spoils taken by their ancestors.
Led by Lucien, they arrived at the most magnificent main hall of the Thousand-Stone Cavern.
On the throne at the heart of the hall sat a male elf with long silver hair, wearing a golden crown inlaid with rubies and gleaming crystals. He was a head taller than the average grey elf and possessed a breathtaking beauty.
He was one of the three great Elven Kings once invited by the Vala Oromë to witness the Two Trees in Valinor—also the only Grey Elf to have bathed in the holy light of the Trees, and the only one to have wed a Maia.
Upon seeing his daughter Lucien appear at the hall's entrance, his face immediately lit up with the kind smile of a doting father.
"My daughter Lucien, as brilliant as a pearl—you have returned!"
"Good afternoon, Father. This is George, the human hero Kalanthriel brought back. He is a man of great wisdom, and I think you should hear what he has to say."
Lucien curtsied to Thingol, stepped forward, and spoke from beside his throne.
Kalanthriel also lifted her skirt and quickly stepped to the other side of the throne:
"Your Majesty, I mentioned him to you before."
"Oh, I recall. That child Finrod—I've already made myself clear, but he still refuses to give up."
Thingol smiled and shook his head, then turned to George below:
"Very well. Since my daughter holds you in high regard, and all the nobles of the kingdom are present, I shall give you a chance to speak."
If it hadn't been for Lucien and Kalanthriel putting in a good word for him, George, as a human, would never have been granted audience with the exalted King of the Grey Elves—one of the firstborn elves.
Thingol had initially thought that if the human sent by Finrod arrived at the Thousand-Stone Cavern, he would simply have someone send him away.
Now, the twenty-two elven nobles and the heirs standing behind them all turned their eyes toward George.
Some were curious, others admiring, and a few, seeing Lucien and Kalanthriel—two of the most beautiful elven princesses—speak up on behalf of a human, were filled with jealousy.
(End of Chapter)