Title: Lady of Mirkwood
Author: KittenEm
Setting: Mirkwood and Imladris
Rating: M
Summary: Mina, lady and warrior of Mirkwood, knows what she wants to do with her life. That is until the twin sons of Elrond step into her life and turn her world totally upside down.
Notes/Warnings: So, this is a story I have had in my head for quite some time, and finally decided it needed to be written down. This will be slightly AU, because I like bending the rules for my own purposes (for example, having sex does not always mean that the two elves are married. I always thought that when elves live forever that this idea didn't really make sense). This is also a cross between movie- and book-verse since I tend to pull from both might be other things, but I will point them out as I go along. I also apologize for any mistakes, it has been a long time since I read the books, and I keep forgetting the names of things… oops.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The Lord of the Rings. I own my own original characters and ideas... but I am just playing with Tolkien's genius.
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Part One
"I am not going!" she proclaimed throwing herself down on the bed.
Her companion chuckled as he sat down beside her.
"All I am asking is for you to wear a dress. Why is that so difficult?" he asked calmly.
"Because I have not worn a dress in probably a decade or more, Legolas and I am not going to start now!" Her voice was muffled by the pillow.
"Are telling me that you plan to greet the Imladris ambassadors dressed as nothing more than a common warrior?"
"It is what I am!"
"You are also the daughter of a lord, Mina."
She groaned. She hated it when he was right, prince or not.
She lifted her head and peeked out of the corner of her eye at her childhood friend. The afternoon light caught his golden blonde hair and his sapphire blue eyes sparkled. He was dressed in his ceremonial robes of forest green with his mithril circlet upon his brow. Legolas was by far the most attractive ellon she had ever met, but they were strictly friends and would forever remain so. They had spent their entire childhood together, like brother and sister since neither had a sibling. Their fathers encouraged the relationship since her father was the commander of his father's armies.
"I am still not wearing the dress."
"And disgrace your father in front of a Lord from a different realm?"
She bit her lip and groaned in the most unladylike matter.
"Fine! I will not bring shame to my father. It is for his sake and not yours that I will wear that stupid thing."
Legolas grinned. "I shall wait outside while you dress. Once you are finished, inform me and I shall help you arrange your hair."
She stuck her tongue out at his back as he headed out the door. Once he was gone, she sighed heavily and pushed herself from the bed.
Mina stared long and hard at the deep purple gown Legolas has left behind. She had to admit it was a pretty color with pretty little leaves embroidered on it. With a grimace, she changed out of her robe and pulled the gown on. It felt tight and restricting even if it fit her figure perfectly.
She called out to Legolas as she sat in front of her vanity and pulled out the brush her father had given to her for her last begetting day.
Legolas stopped behind her and crossed his arms as he watched her vigorously brush her long corn silk hair. Shaking his head, he chuckled and plucked the brush from her hand.
"If you keep brushing in such a fashion, I am afraid you will not have much hair left," he remarked as he took a more gentle pace.
"I hate you."
Legolas just grinned and continued his work. Twenty minutes later he had her hair twisted and braided into a lovely style that accentuated her unusual almond eyes and high cheekbones. Mina grimaced as she saw her reflected. He had made her look far too feminine for her taste. She was used to looking like just another one of the guys that this was different.
"You really did not have to do this, Legolas."
He leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek. "I know. I also know how much you hate it, but Mina, you need to see just how beautiful you truly are."
"I have no need to be pretty when killing Orcs. Actually, being pretty then is a distraction."
"There is more to life than simply border duty."
"But I like border duty. It gives me a sense of purpose, because what will I do if I stay in the palace? Sit with the other ladies and gossip and do needlepoint all day? No, that is not the life for me."
He knelt down by her side and took her hand in his.
"You know that is not what I would ever expect you to do. But Mina, it has almost been two hundred years since you last took a lover." He kept his voice low and even, trying not to alarm her.
She jumped out of her chair and was on the other side of the room in a flash. She glared at him.
"Don't you dare speak to me of such a matter, Legolas Thranduillion! I will do as I please," she hissed through her teeth.
"Mina, please. I am only concerned about your happiness," Legolas tried to rationalize with her as he tried to step closer.
"Father put you up to this didn't he? Because he knew that you would be able to convince me to look like a lady. Why? So he could parade me around in front of the Imladris elves, hoping to find one that would agree to bind with me and tame me? I will not be made a fool! Get out!"
Legolas froze and stared at her. Never had she spoken to him in such a manner. Not since they were very small.
"I said get out!" she yelled at him again.
Legolas left without a word, his handsome face set.
Mina threw herself down on the bed and cried. She knew she had only a few minutes before her father arrived; having no doubt that was where Legolas was going to go. She didn't care. She would tell her father the same thing she had been telling him since she reached majority at fifty years of age.
She would dedicate her life to king and country. She didn't want a lover or a mate. She didn't need anyone to tell her what to do or where to go. She would be in charge of her own destiny.
She froze when she heard the door to her room open and close without a knock. The bed shifted below her before she was pulled into a strong pair of arms and pressed against a broad chest. She breathed in his familiar woodsy scent and knew in a heartbeat that it was not her father.
"Hush, child," whispered a gentle voice.
Mina pulled back and wiped the tears from her face with the sleeve of her dress. She was completely mortified.
"My king!" she exclaimed when she saw him.
Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, smiled softly down at her. She noticed that he too was ready for the feast honoring the Imladris elves. How Legolas had convinced his father to come and see her, she had no idea.
"What has you cry so, Minaethiel?" he gently touched her cheek.
"Nothing, my king," she whispered, noting that even her own words held no conviction.
"I do not believe you. You forget that my son tells me everything."
Mina ground her teeth. Did Legolas never learn to let things go?
"Legolas thinks that he has my best interests at heart, but he did not need to send you, my king."
"But I came anyway. So, will you not tell me of your problems?"
Reluctantly, Mina rested her head on his shoulder like she would do when she was small and her father was on duty. Her mother had sailed shortly after her birth, having never fully recovered from it. Her father's main duty was to his king and the realm. As a result, Thranduil had become like a second father to her, especially when she grew so close to his son.
She told him everything that had transpired between herself and Legolas, not being able to keep the resentment from her voice.
"What is so funny?" she asked when she noticed that his eyes danced with mirth.
"You simply assume that Legolas and Nendir had something to do with this."
"They do not?"
Thranduil shook his golden head. "I had no idea that Legolas would say such a thing to you, but the dress… that was my idea."
"Excuse me?" She felt like the wind had been knocked from her lungs.
"I do not know how much Legolas has told you about the negotiations with Imladris."
"Next to nothing, my king. He keeps that information a secret from me."
Thranduil nodded as he thought.
"I would have you know that an agreement has been drawn up between my realm and Elrond's. We will each swap eight warriors for the period of five years. For the purpose of training and the expansion of knowledge outside one's own realm. I will be sending Legolas with the group to travel to Imladris." He paused for a moment and looked at her intently. "I want you to go as well."
"Me?" she squeaked. "Why me?"
"I think you would benefit from being out of Mirkwood for a while."
She gapped at him.
"Are you trying to get rid of me, my king?" she whispered.
He lightly touched her cheek, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"Absolutely not! You have grown to be an exceptional warrior and I want you to be able to learn everything you can. Going to Imladris will aid in that goal."
"If it is my king's wish, I will go. But I do not understand what this has to do with a dress!"
"I want the element of surprise when I present you as one of the elves of the group to Lord Erestor and Elrond's sons. They will not believe I would send an elleth as lovely as you along with the other warriors. Tonight you will show them how charming you are and tomorrow how deadly."
She couldn't help but giggled.
"If that is why you want me in a dress, I would do it wholeheartedly. I can even simper and giggled if you wish," she replied with a smile.
Thranduil pulled her closer for a moment and kissed the top of her head.
"If you ready to go down now, I am sure Legolas is anxious to make sure he has not offended you."
She nodded her ascent and together they headed down to the hall. By the time they had arrived, the feast was already underway.
To Be Continued…