Moon of the Sea by pandemonium_213

Chapter 9: Audience

Hot and tired, she longed to step out into the rain and join the lush green leaves and exotic flowers that fluttered in the enclosed garden. The rain that washed away the dust would ruin her delicate gown, so she remained under the loggia, a temporary escape from the stiff reception that followed the matrimonial audience with the King.

She had quailed when they entered the hall of the throne –- the scale of columns and the soaring dome above overwhelming, reminding her that the arts of the Fays had contributed to its construction. Elendil had squeezed her hand in his.

“We will be fine, my love,” he had whispered before they began the long walk to the throne. Her heart had pounded like drums at the Festival of the Summer Moon, and her stomach was as tight as knots in a fishing net. Then it was over, and she and her husband had been escorted to the King’s House where she watched the rain now.

Then someone was standing by her side. She looked up into the sea-grey eyes of Tar-Palantir. Her tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth, but she ripped it away.

“My Lord King...”

He stopped her with a smile and lifted her hand, kissing it. But a fey look glazed his eyes; his focus became remote, yet bored into her. Frightened by this spell, she tensed. He spoke, his voice coming from far away like wind from the West.

“Isilmë. Mother of kings.”

The spell passed. He released her hand.

What did he mean by mother of kings? What had he seen? Neither she nor her husband was in the line of succession. She shivered in spite of the humid warmth that shrouded her.

“Forgive me, Lady Isilmë! Sometimes the Sight takes me unawares.”

The King of Númenórë stepped to the edge of the loggia and cupped his hand to catch the rain.

“We needed the rain," he said, letting the captured droplets slip through his fingers to fall onto the terrazzo floor. "Now we will be blessed with a bountiful harvest.”

He left her to watch the raindrops fade on the stone surface where no seed would ever sprout.