It was a promise you were supposed to keep. It was a promise between Dale and Mirkwood. A promise and an arrangement that would benefit the two parties. You were scared however. You were terrified. How were you supposed to marry someone you had only seen once, or twice at the most.
And now you were supposed to be married.
"Y/N, he is here." Legolas. Your betrothed was here. For you. To get married. You sighed and fixed the bottom of your dress. You turned in front of the mirror, one more time, and then finally you left the room. You descended the stairs, one hand on the railing and the other clutching the locket at your chest. It had been your mothers and it was all you had to remember her by.
"Y/N, you look as beautiful as the stars in the heavens." You blushed and looked down as you stood in front of the handsome prince. It was not like you to be shy, normally, but you were scared. Why would a prince find you worthy to be his future bride? Why would he find you worthy to be his future queen?
"Melamin, do not hide your face from me and do not bow. You have no reason to bow. Not to me. Not you." A hand was under your chin, softly raising your head to look at the handsome prince. He smiled softly at you and leaned in, his mouth brushing your cheeks.
"I'm sorry my prince." Again, you lowered your head, but this time there was a blush dusting your cheeks and nose.
"Please...call me Legolas. You do not need to be so formal with me. We are to be married." You nodded and once again looked at him. You held trepidation in your heart and mind. You didn't want to lose your heart so easily to Legolas, and you feared that you would. And your mind, you knew you should've gotten a choice. Or at least the illusion of a choice. But you had neither.
"My Prince, we should be leaving." This was it, you were now going to leave your childhood home for Mirkwood, a place you had only dreamed about. Sighing, you turned to your father and siblings, trying to keep your emotions in check.
"I'll miss you." You bit your lip and hugged your youngest sister, your eyes watering. You had watched her grow and wished to continue to watch her grow. She had become so independent and fiery.
"Don't go, Y/N. I don't want you to leave." Your arms tightened around her frame, your head coming to rest on top of hers.
"I have to go. And you have to promise me something." You kneels in front of her, dress be damned. You placed your hands on her arms and smiled.
"You promise me that you will be good. You will be respectful and kind to all you meet. You will give them a chance to be good. But promise me you won't be walked all over." Your sister nodded and you gave her another tight hug before standing.
"Tilda, let your sister go." You frowned and stepped back. Sigrid wasn't looking st you, not because she didn't want to, but because she would cry and that would make you cry.
"Bain..." You gave him a tight hug and then gave Sigrid one. You didn't care if you cried, she'd need this.
"My prince..." You heard Legolas snap back in elvish and you smiled and mentally thanked him.
"You will be okay. Legolas will treat you well and you will be taken care of. Do not be afraid. You will not be harmed." A hand came to rest at your waist.
"We will come back and visit. I am not cruel. I would not keep her from her family." You felt relief washing over you in waves. Legolas would let you return.
"You need to go." Her father pressed s kiss to her forehead and then stepped back. Your eyes wandered over your family and you bit your lip, hard. You couldn't say goodbye. You couldn't leave. You were scared.
"My lady, we must hurry if we want to make good time." You frowned and stepped away from your family. Inch by inch felt like miles by miles.
"It's okay, melamin. You can return, so don't be upset." You sniffled and nodded your head. You grabbed Legolas outstretched arm and followed him out of your house and to the horses waiting for you.
"Go on. I'll be behind you." You placed one foot on the stirrup and pulled yourself on. You felt the saddle shift and then warmth from behind you.
"I will protect you. You will be safe with me." His voice sounded like silk and you couldn't stop the shiver from running down your spine, as he spoke into your ear.
"Thank you."
You lie awake inside the tent while Legolas was on guard. He thought you sleeping, but you couldn't sleep. Your mind was running a mile a minute. You couldn't stop thinking of your future life in Mirkwood and what it would include.
"Melamin?" You turned your head as Legolas stepped into the tent and frowned deeply. He stood at the entrance, watching you for a moment before he came to lie beside you.
"I can't sleep. I've tried." Plus you were used to sharing a room with sigrid. You were not used to being alone.
"I'm sorry." When Legolas lay beside you, you turned to face him and then slowly inched closer until his arms wrapped around you, pulling you flush against him.
"It's okay. I'm here." You had started to cry, the toll of the day finally hitting you. You grabbed his tunic tightly in his hands as you sobbed into his chest. His arms tightened aroind you, creating a caccoon.
"It's okay to cry, Y/N. You are going to be living in a strange place with people like you but unlike you. You will be a princess. It will strange and different but don't worry. I will be there for you." Your eyes started to close as you started to calm down to the sound of his voice.
Legolas placed a hand on the back of your head and slowly brushed his fingers through your hair. You sighed and closed your eyes, focusing on the way his hands felt in your hair.
"Goodnight melamin." A kiss was placed on the top of your head and then, finally, you were asleep.
Thanks for reading these! I've gotten one request I'm working on and hopefully will be able to post in the next few days!