A Difficult Bride
AN: So this is a story that I wrote about 11 or 12 years ago and I had forgotten about, but found it on another site. I decided to publish this on this site, even though I am a bit embarrassed about it. I was so young and naïve when I wrote this and still young enough to believe in the fairy tale of love which you will see in this story. I think it is interesting to see how I have changed as a writer and how I have matured as a woman.
This story reads like a Harlequin romance and it is slightly juvenile. But it is a sweet story and I have a great deal of affection for it as it was the first fan fiction story that I ever wrote and published. I hope you all will enjoy it!
Chapter 1
Galadriel, Celeborn, and Haldir sat in Thranduil's private chamber. "So you wish for my daughter to be a guest at your city for the next season my Lady?" The Mirkwood King asked.
"She has never seen our vast city. I think she would enjoy her time there." Galadriel looked to Haldir, "It would certainly give her time to get to know the elf she is to marry."
Thranduil laughed. "I knew there was more to this." The King nodded his head, "Yes. I think that would be a splendid idea for her to see more of Middle Earth. This is a most convenient time as well. Legolas had promised he would allow her to ride to Gondor with him when he takes his leave in a few days to accompany Aragorn and Amras. However, I think he has changed his mind for her to travel openly with only three to protect her. The Uruk- hai have been moving more rapidly around our forests these days. She will be devastated of course, so I think perhaps this visit to your city would raise her spirits."
"When will Legolas tell her this?" Celeborn asked.
"Oh he is telling her now I am sure. She will not be pleased. I only hope that he does not give into her whining and foot stamping. He can never say no to her. He is not strong to her ways as I am." Thranduil said with much affection in his voice.
The Lord, Lady, and March Warden rolled their eyes.
Thranduil gulped his wine, "No, a trip to the White City is too perilous. She will visit your city."
"She will need an escort Thranduil." The Lady's tone was sly.
Thranduil looked thoughtful a moment. "Yes, well Legolas will not be able to bring her. I suppose I shall have too…"
Galadriel quickly interrupted him. "We leave tomorrow. Why not send her with us? We have several wardens here to escort us. Our March Warden would be more than happy to provide your daughter with the escort she needs."
Thranduil laughed again. "You try harder than I do to marry her off."
Galadriel laughed, "She is a delightful little elleth! I would enjoy having her reside in my lands as the wife of my March Warden. Perhaps some of the havoc she wields for Lord Elrond would bring laughter to our lands."
"Very well then Galadriel, I thank you and Celeborn for the invitation and I happily entrust my daughter to you for the next few months as a guest of your city. Haldir?"
Haldir stood. "My Lord?"
"Would you be kind enough to fetch my daughter and bring her here?"
Haldir bowed, "It would be a pleasure my Lord."
Thranduil's brow shot up, "Indeed?" Haldir grinned and took his leave.
Haldir could not wait for the elf maiden to hear the news. He knew she would throw one of her infamous tantrums. He hurried out of the castle to find her. He did not have to search long for he heard her whines and followed the sound. He found her in the stables with her brother.
Elbereth fumed. "But you promised next time you went I could come!"
Legolas sighed, as if he had repeated himself several times, "Ella, I have told you that it is too dangerous at this time. And you have never ridden so far and we would have to travel quickly. I do not think you could make the journey."
"But I have thought of nothing else since you have been gone! What am I to do with myself why you are away?" She asked in a huff.
Haldir found this most amusing and wondered if she would try these antics on him.
Legolas grabbed his sister's hand, "I swear to you, when we go with a larger party to protect you, I will take you to see the White City."
She looked up at him, her blue eyes wide and sad. Legolas frowned. "Do not give me that look sister, you know I cannot hold my resolve when you look at me that way."
"I think that is the idea." A cold voice boomed from the entrance. Legolas smiled upon seeing his friend Halidr. Elbereth's face fell into a frown.
"You wish to ride with me this afternoon Haldir?" Legolas asked smiling warmly.
"Perhaps another time Legolas, as I have been sent by your father to bring your sister to him."
Legolas grabbed his sister's hand and gave it to Haldir, "Then by all means Haldir, take this maiden from my sight before she gets her way yet again!"
She scowled at her brother as Haldir dragged her from the stable. Legolas and Haldir both chuckled at the struggling she-elf. "Let go of me! I am not a puppy! I do not need to be led!"
Haldir ignored her. She began hitting his hand with her tiny balled fists. "You cannot drag me around my own home. Let me go! I will tell my father!" She shrieked at him as they passed Aragorn and Amras both man and elf shaking their heads.
"What a pair they will make." Amras said as both laughed in amusement. "The dour March Warden and the free spirited Princess of Mirkwood."
"Aye free spirited!" Aragorn agreed. "But it is the free way that she speaks that might cause strife with Haldir."
Halidr's brothers Rumil and Orophin approached Aragorn and Amras snickering at the sight of the big elf dragging the shrieking Princess of Mirkwood behind him.
Haldir however was not amused. He stopped and whirled around on her. "If you do not stop struggling my lady, I will carry you to your father in a not so dignified position."
She guffawed, "You wouldn't dare!"
He merely shrugged and hauled her over his shoulder in one swift movement. This infuriated her. She shrieked even louder causing the man and three elves to stop in their tracks and look back once again.
Legolas stepped out of the stable, his hand coming to his face. "She will never learn." He grimaced, while everyone laughed robustly at the screaming, squirming she-elf over the shoulder of the March Warden.
When inside the castle, she quieted down. She was mortified and did not want the house elves to come running. She still struggled against his hold and finally out of patience, yanked his hair hard.
"Ouch!" He snapped, grimacing as he pried her small hand from his hair "You should not have done that Ella"
"Do not call me that! Only my brother and father may call me that!" She snapped, jerking his hair again.
Haldir growled in annoyance and brought his hand down hard on her upturned bottom and the slap echoed of the walls. She yelped from the sting as it had hurt fiercely with the thin material of her dress.
She reached back for his hair again, but he sat her on her feet, holding her at arm's length. His eyes narrowed, "If you yank my hair again, I shall sit down in this chair, pull you over my knee and you will receive the spanking you have so sorely needed. Believe me, you would not soon forget it."
She glared at him, "You cannot do that to me! I am a Princess. I out rank you, March Warden. My father would have your head if you touched me in an undignified manner."
He sneered and stepped toward her. She shrank away from him as a wicked grin crossed his face. "But you will not be under the protection of your father much longer, love. You will be my wife. Perhaps I shall save the pleasure of spanking that deserving backside of yours for when we are married?"
She swallowed hard and her eyes brimmed with tears, "You are a despicable, mean elf and I will never marry you!" She turned on her heels and ran from him.
A pained expression crossed his face. This wooing was not going as planned. He looked up to the ceiling in exasperation!
Eru deliver me from these silly, simpering little elleths…
Perhaps he was going to need more help than he realized with this. He decided he would speak to his Lady about it when they reached Lorien. He turned and walked back to the King's study.
"He is mean and cruel! Why would my father have me marry such an elf? He never smiles and all he does is bark and shout at his wardens. He never finds anything amusing and never wants to do anything fun. I will be miserable married to him!"
Nessa stroked her friend's hair as she tried to comfort her. "Maybe his bark is worse than his bite. I think he is an honorable elf. He would not hurt you."
"He said he would spank me!" She said as fresh tears were falling into her pillow.
Nessa grimaced, "But you did pull his hair, Ella."
"Nessa he would not put me down! I am the Princess of Mirkwood and I out rank him in my father's home. He was supposed to do as I told him."
Nessa grimaced. She was a young elleth herself, but quite a bit older than Ella. Sometimes she forgot just how childish her dear friend could be. She clicked her tongue and tried to change tactics.
"Perhaps it will not be so bad. Your father loves you and would not give you to an elf that is cruel to you. Do you not think Haldir handsome?" Nessa asked.
"No! He is vile!" Elebereth shouted, rolling over to look at her friend. "Oh Nessa, it is not just that it is Haldir. I do not want to marry an elf that will take me from my home. I do not want to leave father or Legolas."
"But Ella, Rumil is dear to you and he is from Lorien. Would you leave our home for him?"
Ella wiped her eyes, "Nay Nessa. He is dear to me, but I could not marry him. I could not leave father! Legolas is never home. Who will take care of father if I leave?"
Nessa kissed her friend on her forehead. "Do not despair, all will be well."
Elebereth wiped her eyes and sat up. "I just do not think it fair that my father choose my husband. He has never insisted Legolas marry. He would marry me off to this elf that I do not even know because of his prominent status. There will be no love between us." She choked back a sob, "I cannot bear the thought of his hands on me, on my body, when there no love. All of my life I have heard the many tales of how the valor would always lead an elleth to her true love. Some elves were lucky enough to have mated souls… one elf that was chosen to be bound to another forever before they were even born. Their souls would burn for one another and their hearts would meld into one."
Elebereth dabbed at her eyes and sighed deeply, "That is what I want Nessa, that is the love that I want. I want a soul mate. I want an elf that is consumed with his love for me, as I would be with him. I want a gentle elf. One to laugh with, play with, sing too, and walk with. I want an elf that I can share my heart and body with. I want a husband who can find the simple pleasures in coming home to his wife and children."
She rolled back over onto her stomach, her face buried in her pillow, her cries softer now. "I shall never have it Nessa. My own father has seen to this when he promised me to that cold Warden."
There was a soft knock at the door. "Go away!" The Princess screamed. The door opened slowly and her father entered.
"What is this, child? Why do you cry? Why is your heart breaking?" Thranduil asked coming to sit beside his daughter.
Elebereth rolled back over and sat up. Her eyes and nose was red from her crying.
"Will you leave us Nessa?" The Princess asked. Nessa bowed to the King and left the room.
Thranduil gathered his daughter into his arms. "Now, tell me what this is about. Why did you not come to me when I called?"
"Father…" She said with a voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yes child."
"I am begging your mercy. Please do not make me marry the March Warden. I am frightened of him."
Thranduil laughed softly, "Why are you frightened of him?"
"He is cold and harsh. I will be miserable with him. I do not love him."
He sighed. "You are being childish and silly. Love will come. You will see, if you open yourself to it."
"I do not even know this elf! Why him father? Why not someone from our own lands?"
He tightened his arms around her. "All will be revealed to you soon daughter. You must trust my judgment. I would never give you to someone who would mistreat you. You are my heart! I love you more than my life."
His finger wrapped around one of her curls. How was he going to break this to her? "Daughter, I do see your reason. You do not even know this elf. The Lady and Lord of Lorien desire you to be their guest for the upcoming season. Since Legolas will not be able to take you with him to the White City…I thought perhaps…"
She pulled away, her color gone from her face. "You will send me away?" Her eyes were horrified at the thought.
Thranduil frowned. "I am not sending you away. I am merely sending you for a visit to a lovely city which you have never seen before. You enjoy traveling. You will make new friends and enjoy this visit. You like spending time with the Lady Galadriel and she desires your company. As her guest, you could take the time to get to know Haldir. You will see he is not what you think he is."
Elebereth stood and turned away from her father. She played and tugged at her fingers as she did as a child when uncertain or afraid. Her face was still drained of color when she turned her back to her father.
Thranduil stood and pulled her into his arms. "You told the Lady only this morning that you wished to see her home. She will be disappointed if you do not come. Legolas cannot escort you as he will be leaving soon himself. The Lord and Lady leave tomorrow escorted by their Wardens and Sentinels. You will leave with them and spend the next season with them. I will visit you soon, of course, as will Legolas. Nessa will accompany you."
"Father?"
"Yes daughter?"
"Is there no one else you would let me marry? If it is for status, Lord Elrond's sons are…"
Thranduil frowned and became angry. "I do not marry you off for position! Do you not think I love you more than that? No Ella, my mind is made up. You will marry Haldir. He is the elf for you."
He hugged her to him and she was stiff in his arms. "I will send Nessa in to help you pack. Do not dread this daughter. You will enjoy yourself if you allow yourself too.
The King sent Nessa back into his daughter's room. He frowned as he heard the sobs coming from her. He began to doubt his decision again. No! He shook his head. He knew this was right. He would trust what his vision. He strode away her room, the sounds of her cries growing faint as he walked further down the hall.
So what did you think? Too silly? Anyways...leave a review and let me know your thoughts:)
Cheers!