A/N …Austin's Notes:
Those of you who have not read What's My Name Again? I suggest you do so before beginning this story. Things will make more sense.
Disclaimer: I own Jocelyn and Edeline and anything else you do not recognize from J.R.R Tolkein's works. Anything you do recognize from the LOTR trilogy belongs to him.
-Jocelyn and Legolas felt more pain in each other's absence than either could ever imagine feeling again. But when the repercussions of their actions start arriving, how will their relationship fare? This story answers that very question. And others you haven't even thought of asking yet.
Family Matters
Chapter 1 - Returning
The last we saw of Jocelyn and Legolas, they had reunited happily in Mirkwood.
"You tell me. I was in Michigan." Jocelyn wrapped a cunning hand around the back of his neck as Legolas grinned, and she pulled him to her once again.
He smiled into her kiss as they let themselves be absorbed into the moment. They didn't care how scandalous they looked. It just felt so good to feel each other again. The air was filled with such passion you could've cut it with a knife. And Legolas felt as if his chest would burst if he did not carry out what his mind had conjured upon feeling Jocelyn so close to him. He burned from the inside for her.
But, in the back of his mind, he also knew that he could not act on those feelings. Not yet. He hadn't even courted Jocelyn officially. Personally, at the moment, he was ready to give up the time honored tradition if he could have her just once. Jocelyn's hands traveled in all places, causing an uncharacteristic blush to rise to the Prince's face.
A sound from down the corridor brought the couple from their bliss. They saw the forms of two Elves walking toward them, chattering. Legolas took Jocelyn's hand and dashed down the hall. She giggled as he threw open the first door they came to and shoved her inside. He closed himself in as well. The room was dimly lit with candles, and the shades were drawn over the windows.
Legolas stood with an ear to the door, to wait until the Elves had passed. Jocelyn, however, walked about the room. It was a small bedroom, probably one of the servant's.
Legolas heard the Elves' chatter pass the door and fade down the hallway.
"Come on." He said to her, opening the door. "Let's go speak to my mother and father."
Jocelyn drug her feet and made a face. "Do we have to already? I just got here." She ran her finger up his chest and tapped his nose with an impish smile.
"The sooner we get this talk out of the way, the sooner we can enjoy ourselves." He said suggestively, his voice heavy with desire as his arms encircled her small frame.
Jocelyn smiled and walked with him down the hall.
"But what if they says I can't stay here with you? Shouldn't we enjoy ourselves now before the bad news?" She said, surprisingly cheerful. Legolas gave her a scolding look. He knew she was looking for an excuse, any excuse to get him alone that very moment.
"The longer you wait the better it will be. And once we have my parents' blessing, it will be that much sweeter. We can give in and not worry about anything at all." Jocelyn thought he resembled a school teacher, lecturing on abstinence. She sighed, and gave up.
The large tapestries on the wall were familiar to her, especially the one of King Thranduil. Legolas led her to the same room Tyron had led her to her first day in Mirkwood. King Thranduil was there, looking at something on the table, with Queen Edeline hanging over his shoulder. Upon hearing them enter, the royal couple looked to them and got very confused smiles on their faces.
Their son had told them the whole story, and knew the half-Elf he had fallen in love with was in fact his former fianc's twin sister. They weren't quite sure who this was, and Queen Edeline was the first to find her wits.
"Uh, Legolas? What can we do for you?" Her eyes shifted curiously to Jocelyn. Legolas caught the movement, and realized his parents predicament.
"Mother, father, this is Jocelyn." The royal couple's eyes lit. They knew what this meant. Thranduil gestured for them to sit, and they complied.
"Jocelyn, so good to meet you. Legolas has told us much about you." Edeline said politely, even though she'd been introduced to this girl before, only with a different name.
"Yes, my dear, wonderful that you're back!" Thranduil said, realizing the importance of Jocelyn's presence there. She just nodded to them with a smile.
"Ada, nana, Jocelyn will be staying here with me." He stated, rather than asked. After all, he was his own person, not an elfling. But, he made sure his eyes looked pleading enough that they'd not be angry with his disrespect. Edeline smiled, but Thranduil's expression did not change.
"Do you plan on marriage?" Thranduil asked, looking seriously at Legolas.
Legolas, in turn, looked to Jocelyn. She set her eyes on his for a moment. She realized he was asking her permission. Jocelyn turned to Thranduil and said with a smile,
"Yes."
Thranduil sighed deeply and looked to his wife, who had set a hand on his shoulder. She whispered something in his ear.
"You do realize you will not live forever? And your death, in turn, will result in my son's death?" Thranduil asked bluntly, gaining a blank expression from Jocelyn. The question took her off guard. Of course she'd thought about it. But hearing it put so frankly made her second guess herself. How could she tell the man that loved Legolas so much that she was going to eventually, inadvertently kill him.
"Of course I realize it. It pains me to think, but it would pain us both much more if we could not be together. Our marriage would prolong our lives and make us happy, if just that much longer. For we would surely die if we couldn't be together." Jocelyn's eyes pleaded with the King. Legolas looked with admiration on his love. He then turned his attention to his father as he spoke.
"You make a good argument. I suppose my son could use a woman like you to keep him in line." Thranduil tried stifling a smile, but couldn't. Jocelyn giggled, and Legolas took her hand. Edeline beamed from behind her husband.
"So we have your blessing, then?" Legolas said cheerfully as he stood. Jocelyn stood next to him.
"Aye. You do." Thranduil smiled. Edeline could not help herself anymore. She hurried to Jocelyn and took her into a surprisingly strong hug. The Queen kissed Jocelyn's forehead a few times and held her face in her hands, looking at her.
"Yes. You will make a wonderful Princess!" She exclaimed, and hugged her son as well before returning to her post beside Thranduil. Legolas laughed at his mother's fervor before retiring Jocelyn and himself from the room.
Jocelyn had been in the palace for a half a day, and she already felt like she was at home. Elves brought clothes for her to Legolas's room. Beautiful silk dresses, sleep wear and leggings and tunics for riding. Shoes for every occasion, jewelry, and everything she asked for. She was Princess-to-be now, and she was treated as royalty.
For a few days, Jocelyn and Legolas were always together. You never saw one without the other by their side. They walked around in the gardens, holding hands, kissing and giggling in the shade beneath the trees. There was a youthful air about them, and made the Elves happy to see. Thranduil and Edeline were particularly happy, though something upset the King more than he let on. Edeline, being Thranduil's wife for so long, noticed the apprehension he held toward his son's relationship.
"Thranduil?" She asked one day not long after Jocelyn's arrival. "Is something troubling you, mellamin?" The King looked from the garden to his wife and flashed her a quick, soft smile.
"I can only pray that Legolas is making the right decision. She was raised human. She will live as a human, die as a human. When the day comes that she will pass away, it hurts me to think how broken our son will be." He finished, with a pained look on his face. Edeline gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Legolas is not an elfling, Thranduil. He knows what he is doing with his life. And, like Jocelyn said, they will die without each other anyway. Seeing how they look at each other reminds me of how I still look at you." Edeline smiled, placing a hand on her husband's face. Thranduil smiled and kissed her palm.
Edeline sat on her husband's lap, her arms around his neck, his around her waist. She continued,
"Seeing him so happy fills me with such joy that couldn't be matched if he lived even half as happy forever and ever."
Thranduil smiled impishly, "You are right, my wise Queen." Edeline raised her head regally.
"Of course I am!" She laughed and kissed him. "So you can stop worrying." She concluded. Thranduil just humored her with a smile.
"No. I'll never stop. The thought will stay in my mind until the day creeps slowly upon us. Then my fears will come true." He said, cryptically. Edeline furrowed her brow at him.
"A risky Elf may die young, but a cautious Elf never truly lives. Legolas is taking a chance that makes him happy, even if it is for a short time. But the happiness it gives him is so true and pure that it would be a crime for him not to take it. We know the day will come, so we can prepare for it."
Thranduil nodded and led his wife back inside. He didn't like talking about his beloved only son's death.
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A/N…well what did you think of the first chapter? They are engaged now, but Thranduil still has his doubts.
It took me a while to get into the 'Jocelyn and Legolas' state of mind, after finishing my other story. Hope you're all still interested.
Preview into later chapters: A jealous Elf creates problems, and a visit from her twin sister brings more bad news than Jocelyn would've hoped.
-Austin B.