Title: Kings, Queens, and Corsets
Rating: T
Genre: Humor/Action/Adventure
Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings… There I said it happy… humph
Summary: When a neighboring King and Queen come to Rivendell Aragorn and Legolas are assigned to protect them, but when trouble begins to brew and things become dangerous for the Queen, life is about to become a bit more… feminine… for the two.
Authors Note: This story has no OC romance between any cannon characters. Just thought I'd get that out of the way. Also Aragorn will be known to the elves as Estel, since he's in his Elven home he gets his Elven name.
Aragorn and Legolas walked in silence down the long corridor. Normally, the Elf and Ranger would be talking and laughing about anything and everything, but not today. Today, they were facing their doom. The pair had been assigned to look after 'King' and 'Queen' of Gladden Fields.
Truth be told Gladden Fields wasn't very populated, but its people had wanted Royalty to govern them so Lord Frenit and Lady Githil had been elected to the position of King and Queen and held that very seriously. The couple had come to Rivendell to discuss possible trade and to get a bit of rest and relaxation. For some unknown reason Frenit insisted that he and his wife have individual security from the top warriors of Rivendell. Immediately Aragorn and Legolas had been called, the prince was visiting from Mirkwood and the Ranger was on one of his visits home, and although the two had accepted they were much less then thrilled that their time together would be interrupted. So, as the two had made their way down to where they would meet their charges a comfortable silence had settled that left the two to sulk in peace.
Aragorn finally broke the spell by clearing his throat. "So… who do you think that they will assign us to?"
"I do not know." Legolas replied. "I suppose that they will give us each a different person each… that way they will both receive personal security."
"Oh…" There was a long pause. "You'll get the girl… you always get the girl."
Legolas laughed. "That is because ladies prefer to be with people who bathe regularly." He held is nose high in the air mockingly. "It is no wonder they choose a refined elf over a smelly Ranger."
Aragorn rolled his eyes and laughed but said nothing more as they continued.
Several moments passed before the duo made it to the Entrance Hall where Lord Elrond was already speaking with a man, woman, while several handmaidens and servants bustled around them.
The couple was tall, a blonde man and woman surrounded by dark haired servants. Both had strong features and a hard build. The woman was admittedly smaller than her husband but still seemed to be of strong build with sharp blue eyes and cold features.
Her husband's face was hidden behind a long beard but he seemed to be slightly warmer than his wife.
Lord Elrond turned around to see the two. "Ah and here they are now. This is my 'son' Estel and his friend Legolas Thrandrillion, Prince of Mirkwood." Both gave a sweeping bow which was soon returned. "They will be your guards during your stay. You may choose either you like to accompany you."
"Go on my dear, Githil, you may choose first, love." The man, who was most likely King Frenit encouraged warmly.
Githil looked at the two disapprovingly and began circling them, looking each straight in the eye as if to see who would break first, but neither did. After a long length of time she spoke.
"I will take the elf, Legolas was it?" He nodded and bit back a smile as he heard Aragorn whisper an 'I told you so' under his breath.
"Ah excellent, then I shall get your boy Elrond! Pleasure to meet you my lad, I'm King Frenit but there is no need for formalities you may simply call me Frenit!" He clapped a hand to Aragorn's back. "I really do appreciate what you're doing for my wife and myself. I feel much safer already."
Elrond smiled. "It is no problem. I am glad that I can accommodate your needs. Now, I do not mean to hurry to but we really need to be getting along to the morning's council. I expect that you shall show Queen Githil to her room, Legolas?"
He nodded and extended an arm to her. "This way milady."
She looked at it for a moment before pulling a handkerchief from her bodice and running it over the length of his arm. Then she rested her already gloved hand lightly before walking along with him, trailing hand maidens behind her.
"I hope that you find your accommodations here suitable, my lady." Legolas tried to make conversation.
"Hm. We shall see. I have yet to stay in the home of an elf with comfort." She drawled. Legolas winced inwardly. Why had she chosen him then? What was her purpose if wasn't comfortable with elves?
"Oh? Well I assure you that Lord Elrond will do everything in his power to make your stay relaxing." He offered.
She snorted. "The day an elf helps me relax is the day mordor freezes over."
The elf beside her said nothing to this, biting his tongue until it bled. They continued in silence, Githil turning her head about to get a better look at Rivendell, but mostly her gaze rested on Legolas. Finally, after what seemed like hours to the prince, they arrived at her quarters.
"Here you are, Milady." He smiled his best and opened the door for her expecting her to go in and close it letting him wait outside, but instead she remained attached to his arm, looking him over critically. "Er… Right this way." He led her into the bright room and to the bed as if to give her a seat, however she still would not let go. The hand maidens followed them in and stood on either side of her, and all six of them had their eyes glued to Legolas.
Now, Legolas was usually a very calm elf. He was renown throughout Mirkwood for having a level head in even the most pressing of situations, however now, under the stare of seven silent females he was beginning to become unnerved.
"Is there anything I can fetch for you, Milady?" He cleared his throat nervously.
"No." Githil answered coldly.
"Is there anything at all that you require of me?" She didn't answer for a moment but soon lifted the hand that wasn't on his arm and grasped on of the thin braids dangling by the side of his face.
"Err… do you want me to braid your hair like mine." He asked, hopeful she would drop his hair and get off of him, but he had no such luck.
Instead she tightened her grip on the braid and tugged sharply looking at him with cold eyes and an angry face. "Of course not, guard! My hair is much too beautiful to resemble anything like yours." She turned her head to one of the hand maidens. "Prithit, close the door! I don't want anyone to hear us."
A girl stepped forward and curtsied, "Yes your majesty." And shut the door quickly before standing back in place.
As soon as the door shut Githil released Legolas' hair and pulled her hand off of him. Then, with surprising force, pushed him into a sitting position on the bed, leaving the elf to gape at her as she took a commanding position in front of him.
"I did not want to come with my husband on this little errand, after the recent events in our country I am less than thrilled to leave the safety of my own home, however now that I am here I am going to make the best of it. You will not only be protecting me on this little, how shall we put this… 'Episode' but you will also be my entertainment." She pressed her lips tightly together as the elf looked blank.
"And… should I refuse…" Legolas wasn't threatened by this woman. She was young, a baby to him though well into her adulthood for her own people, and didn't seem the least bit intimidating.
"I shall simply tell my husband that I am being mistreated and that I wish not to continue trade with this filthy Elven city." She spat. "So what shall it be?"
Legolas blanched. This was bad. He really didn't want to just give himself to her, but he couldn't let Lord Elrond down on the trade agreement so he knew he really had no other alternative. Lowering his head slightly so blonde hair spilled in front of his face he sighed. "As you wish, Milady."
Legolas went the rest of the day without seeing Aragorn or Frenit. His time was spent, singing, dancing, telling stories, and having his hair styled by the restless Queen. Normally he loved to entertain in such ways but when your audience continuously yells out how horrid you're doing, or tries to dislodge your hair from your skull these things can grow tiresome. To make matters worse the girls that followed Githil everywhere all seemed to be continuously looking at him and giggle amongst themselves, flirting every chance they got. It was greatly beginning to wear old.
"Guard." She called from her seat on the bed as Legolas stood one handed balancing a stack of books and a flower vase on his feet. "I grow weary of this. In fact I grow weary period. I want you to fetch me my night clothes and you may be excused for the evening."
The elf nearly fell over with relieve but remembered the tower he was balancing and managed to get it down without breaking anything. "Yes, Milady." He bowed and grabbed her night clothing, hastily setting it on her lap before walking briskly out the door but not without first hearing a chorus of 'Good bye Leggy!' from the hand maidens. All the elf could think about was getting to his room and into his bed.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A shrill scream woke Legolas as he bolted out of bed grabbing his bow and quiver and strapping his knives on and running to its source. The King and Queen's room.
When he got there he found things a shambles. The bed was uprooted, the candle holder was broken, books and clothing were strewn about and it looked as if a struggle had taken place. Sitting in the center of the bed was Lady Githil looking wide eyed and frightened.
"DON'T JUST STAND THERE DO SOMETHING!" she yelled. "KILL HIM! KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM!" She clutched a sheet tightly to her looking around frantically.
Legolas drew his bow. "Kill… what?" He glanced around the room until his gaze rested on the open window. "Milady, what ever there was is gone now."
"I DON'T CARE GO AFTER HIM!" She screeched. Legolas heard footsteps approaching at a fast pace before Aragorn, Elrond, and Frenit burst in.
"MY LOVE! WHAT HAS DONE THIS TO YOU?" Fernit rushed to his wife's side. "Are you injured!"
She took a shaky breath and shook her head no. "I… I did not see his face… but I know it was a man… he was strong."
"Elrond…" Frenit rose and turned to the Elven lord. "I thought that you said you had the finest warriors protecting my wife…"
"I assure you, your highness, I do. We will take care of the situation for you." Now you should take your wife to the kitchens and get her something to calm her nerves."
"Calm my nerves? CALM MY NERVES! NOTHING WILL 'CALM MY NERVES' UNTIL YOU CATCH THE MAN THAT ATTACKED ME!"
"I assure you, Milady, that we will do everything in our power to keep you safe." Elrond turned and ushered them out the door before facing Legolas and Aragorn. "We have a problem."
Aragorn looked at the glass and clothing covering the floor. "No kidding. Who would want to do harm to her… she seems kind enough."
Legolas snorted. "Wait until you get her behind closed doors. She is a terror. She told me that if I did not serve her she would bar trade. I spent the afternoon singing and dancing on my hands for her."
"Well whether the trade falls through or not we need keep her safe. The Gladden Fields may be small but they have a powerful army and although I know our elves would be able to take them, needless blood shed should not be had." Elrond turned away from them looking at one of the gowns on the floor. "We need to keep a closer eye on her. I would like to place you both as her guard since King Frenit doesn't seem threatened. He was no where to be seen the time of the attack." He bent down and picked it up running his fingers over the red lace. "But it is dangerous for her to be about and I do not want whoever is doing this to know we are watching them. So I am sending you both under cover."
The two friends exchanged excited, if not nervous glances. "What will we be, Ada?" Aragorn finally piped up.
Elrond smiled and turned to them throwing the gown at Legolas. "Women."
Author's Note: Oooh first chapter done!I'll do my best to get the next one up soon and hope to have it by Thursday at the absolute latest. I hope you liked it!
Fiery Mango