Hello again, guys! I guess that was kind of (very) evil of me, leaving you guys off with a cliff-hanger! So I typed this up as fast as I could to get this finished and posted right away for you guys! I hope that I haven't compromised the quality of this chapter for the sake of time. Hope you all enjoy this chapter, and thanks for all of the reviews and follows!
Chapter 9:
The room was brightly lit, filled with many tables and elaborately decorated for the occasion. With her chin up as she entered the Hall, he caught the curious stares of the elves closest to the front of the room. All were standing up at their tables for the entrance of the prince and his guest. The prince and her. Shifting her gaze, she looked straight ahead, avoiding their prying eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat and told her feet to keep walking, in time with Legolas' own footsteps. Through the music that played, Alassë could hear the hushed voices of the crowd. The voices of the older elves, happy for their prince, and the confused whispers of those who tried to figure out if they knew her or not. But above all the other voices, she heard those of the jealous elves, wishing that they had caught the prince's eye instead of her.
Though she was still shaking as they neared the centre of the stage, she was managing to keep her cool. She squeezed Legolas' arm as they came to a top in front of the crowd. Glancing down at her, she smiled reassuringly.
"I must speak a few words, stand here."
Alassë nodded and reluctantly released her grip on his arm. Putting a smile on her face, she looked out at the crowd and watched as the prince raised a hand and the room fell silent. Smiling, Legolas lowered his arm and began to speak, holding the attention of the entire room. Alassë concentrated on keeping her breathing even as she listened to his short speech. She was captivated, wondering how he was able to talk in front of the entire kingdom with such grace an ease.
"I would like to introduce to you all my guest for this evening, Alassë."
At the mention of her name, she felt her body go rigid. Feeling the eyes of every single elf in the room on her now, she straightened up and smiled politely, desperately wishing that Legolas would speak up so that their attention would be diverted. Though she had been avoiding looking at the crowd, luck was on her side, as the first pair of eyes that she met belonged to her cousin. She allowed herself to relax as Anira smiled encouragingly from where she was standing with her friends. She was so focused on her friend that she missed the last part of the prince's speech and he was soon back by her side, his hand on her waist.
Soon after Legolas' speech had finished, the music changed and all eyes were diverted to the doors on the opposite side of the stage as they were opened. King Thranduil strode out to join them at the centre of the stage. As his father made his way out, Legolas pulled gently on Alassë's arm and they stepped back a few paces. Thranduil came to a standstill centre stage and raised his arm, silencing the room immediately. While she said a few words of welcome, Alassë admired his robes. They were a rich maroon colour, with many images and designs of nature sewn in golden thread. Thankful for a moment that he held the room's attention, Alassë allowed herself to laugh inwardly. No matter what her dress had looked like, it could never have bested the King's wardrobe.
"And so I invite you all to drink and eat your fill."
As he finished his speech, he tipped his head slightly and stepped back, turning to join Legolas and Alassë at the table as they took their seats. The rest of the elves followed suite, sounds of laughter and chatter filling the air. As she got settled in her chair, Legolas began speaking with Thranduil. Not wanting to eavesdrop, she busied herself with tracing the designs on her dress, losing herself in their delicacy. She lifted her head quickly as Legolas laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Ada, I would like to introduce you to Alassë." Legolas said, smiling widely. Alassë smiled shyly as Thranduil turned her way, a regal smile on his lips.
"It is nice to meet you, Alassë."
"It is an honour, your grace." She spoke quietly, finding her voice for the first time since entering the Hall. The king raised a hand to his jaw, seemingly pondering something for a moment. His gaze was intimidating, though she knew he meant not to scare her.
"You are the stable master, are you not?" His voice was deep and full of authority, and for a fleeting moment Alassë was worried that she had done something to displease the king. Raising her eyes back up to meet his, she found them soft and curious. She pleaded with herself to get a grip. This was to be a joyous occasion, she needed to try to loosen up a bit. Nodding her head, she smiled.
"Yes, that is correct, aran nin"
The king smiled and nodded his head, pleased that he had remembered correctly. "Wonderful. I hear you take great pride in your work."
Alassë smiled and nodded, starting to warm up to the king. She had always thought of him as all business, not one for small talk, but thankfully he was fairly easy to talk to. She was surprised that he would have heard of her at all.
"She has a great gift of horsemanship," the prince chimed in.
"The horses are my life, aran Thranduil," she added passionately. She was thankful for the casual topic of conversation, and was able to forget the crowded room before her.
Soon there were servers arriving with the meals. They bustled about, carrying many plates and bowls of foods. Salads, vegetables, fruits, breads, meats and wines of all varieties were set upon the table in front of Alassë, who suddenly realised just how hungry she was. Before the feast had begun, she had had visions in her mind of sitting at the table, silently picking at the food before her, but now that she had relaxed, her stomach was growling. Glancing in the prince's direction, she watched him attentively, making sure that she didn't do anything out of place. Was she supposed to wait for them to eat first, or not? She decided to play it safe, opting to do things in the same order as Legolas.
The food was delicious. Alassë had never in all her life seen so much of it in one place. It was piled high on top of the table, a beautiful centrepiece of bright colours. It almost made Alassë sad whenever a part of it was removed to be eaten. All too soon, Alassë found herself wishing that she could have tried everything at the table, but she feared that she would become much too full. As she nodded her head in response to a server asking if she would like some more wine, Legolas nudged her playfully in her side.
"I take it you are enjoying the wine, Alassë?" He had a playful smile on his lips. Alassë poked him back and picked up her cup, refilled, and took a sip.
"I have never had the pleasure of drinking the king's finest wines before," she replied after she swallowed.
"They are quite wonderful, aren't they?" Thranduil said in approval as he had his own cup refilled by the server. Legolas chuckled, glancing between his father and Alassë. He had had quite a bit to drink himself, but he had been drinking the rich wine for many years. He knew that the she-elf at his side had not had nearly as much experience with the drink as he had. Turning towards her, he leaned in towards her.
"How many times have you had your cup refilled, mellon?"
Alassë looked at him. "I fear I cannot remember, but it does not matter. I am sure there is plenty left," she said, smiling widely. She was clearly enjoying herself now. She did not drink much, and after a couple of cups, she had found that she was no longer feeling anxious of the crowd before her. She welcomed the feeling with open arms. Legolas shook his head, telling himself that he would have to watch over her more closely for the rest of the night.
Soon, the food was being cleared away and elves were starting to rise from their seats to dance. Performers were welcomed to come to the stage and sing, recite poetry, or play instruments. The plates before Alassë were cleared away at surprising speed, leaving nothing but the goblets should they chose to have more wine. With a sigh of content, Thranduil leaned back into his chair and observed the scene unfolding before him. Taking this as a cue that she could be a bit more casual now that the meal had finished, she leaned forward and rested her chin on her hands, watching the elves in the room dancing gracefully.
"Alassë, would you care to dance?"
Alassë turned her head to look at Legolas, who had his head tilted slightly as he waited for her answer. Straightening up slowly, Alassë's cheeks warmed slightly as she looked at him.
"Of course, Legolas."
The prince stood and walked around to Alassë's other side before offering her his hand. Smiling nervously, she reached out and took it as she stood up and followed Legolas down the steps and onto the dance floor.
She had never been one for dancing. Since she had worked with the horses her whole life, she never really had much room for grace. Giggling to herself, she thought about how inefficient the stables would run if she tried to do everything gracefully. Legolas looked at her curiously as she laughed.
"Do I look funny?" he questioned her as he led the dance, pretending to be hurt. Alassë laughed again and shook her head.
"No, it was simply a thought I had."
The prince didn't question her further, not wanting to invade her private thoughts. As they danced to the music, Alassë was thankful that Legolas seemed to be taking it slow for her. His movements were slight and smooth, always careful not to take things too fast. Still, she found herself wishing that she had been taught to dance. Legolas moved with such elegance that she feared she was making a fool of herself. Looking around the room, she saw a blur of rich colours and forms. Blues, reds, greens, and all the colours of the rainbow mingled with the golden, brown, red, and black hair of the elves around her. She soon turned her gaze towards Legolas' face, her head feeling fuzzy because of the dizzying scene around her. The prince was looking back at her, his features relaxed and a smile at his mouth. Alassë smiled too, and leaned in closer to him as they danced. She closed her eyes for a moment and thought about how the night had gone so far. She was dancing with the prince of Eryn Lasgalen! Her heart fluttered excitedly as she was led through the last steps of the dance. As the next song started, she looked up at Legolas.
"If you will excuse me for a moment."
Legolas nodded and turned away, heading back up to the table where his father sat, watching the night unfold. Alassë made her way to the doors of the Hall and towards the toilets, her mind not thinking as clearly as she would have liked. She hurried, as she did not want to miss a moment more of the festivities, which she could tell were starting to draw to a close. For the first time in her life, she had been able to enjoy herself at the event, and she took great pride in knowing that she had breached that wall.
Finishing up, she hurried back through the halls, opting to use the door that she had entered through with Legolas. Navigating the halls with only minor issues due to the wine, she was allowed through by the guard that stood at the door to the room where she had waited. The door closed quickly behind her and she had to think for a moment to remember which of the two other doors led to the correct hallway. Fairly certain in her decision, she headed off down the corridor and came to the door to the Hall. She could hear the music and knew that she had managed to find it. Proud of her accomplishment, she pushed the door open, surprised at its weight. She had not opened it too far when she heard Legolas' slightly raised voice and halted to listen, unsure if she would hear something that she shouldn't.
"She is loyal and hard-working. She has a beauty all her own. I have never met an elleth quite like her."
Though she could barely hear him, she could make out these words. Her heart swelled as she took in his words, and she smiled, hearing the passion behind Legolas' words.
"I cannot allow you to court her, ion-nin. She is of Silvan blood, not suitable for you."
Alassë froze as she heard Thranduil interject. Her heart dropped as she took in what he had said, her breath caught in her throat. She took a step backwards and closed the door, making sure to not make a sound. Turning, she leaned her back on the door and closed her eyes, feeling tears threatening to spill. She willed them not to, for she knew that she would have to return to the table eventually, and she would have to pretend that she had not heard their conversation.
Opening her eyes, she looked around the room in exasperation, looking for an answer as to what she should do next. He was right, of course. She had known it all along. She was too lowly for the prince of Eryn Lasgalen, she had feared this since the day she had started to have feelings for him. Clenching her fists, she took a deep breath, gathering herself. Standing up straight, she opened the door, quicker this time, hoping that they had shifted to a different topic of conversation.
As she entered the Hall, she immediately looked towards Legolas' noting as his expression changed immediately to hide his displeasure. As she neared the tabled, she faked a smile and decided that she couldn't stay any longer. She needed some air, and time to think. Not bothering to take a seat, she picked up her cup and emptied it quickly. Despite the fact that she had bigger issues, she found herself sadly wondering if she would ever drink wine so wonderful again. It had clearly taken up a large part of her mind. Setting the goblet down, she glanced at Legolas, not wanting to meet his eyes.
"I am terribly sorry, ernil nin, aran nin, but I must take my leave." She felt tears spring to the corners of her eyes as she spoke, and did not wait for either of them to reply before she curtsied quickly and made her way out of the Hall. She tuned out all sounds and sights as she hurried away from the king and his son, her thoughts mashing into each other in her head.
She managed to make it outside of the Halls before Legolas reached her. The cool night air hit her hard as she stepped out into the darkness of the night. She wondered what time it was. Surely it must be past midnight, for the feasts normally lasted long into the nights. She heard the voice behind her, but she did not stop. She didn't want to face him, not now. Maybe never. She stumbled slightly as she stepped off the cobblestone path and onto the grass. Which way was her cottage, anyways?
To her dismay, she felt the gentle hands on her shoulders and stopped, frozen cold as she tried to decide what to do next. Her mind was muddled, distraught from what she had heard and foggy from the alcohol.
"Alassë! Alassë, mellon-in. Please, it is okay." She turned as Legolas spoke to her, his voice as calm as he could manage despite being so alarmed. Alassë noticed then that tears ran cold down her cheeks, and she reached up to brush them away, embarrassed that she had been caught crying. She sobbed and attempted to remove his hands from her shoulders.
"No!" She shouted, startling the prince, who removed his hands from her immediately, not wanting to frighten her. "It is not okay. Nothing is okay!" She spoke without thinking, in a fit.
Legolas attempted to calm her, his eyes begging her to be calm. He reached for her slowly, and Alassë took a step back, not wanting him to touch her. "I heard what he said," she said, fresh tears falling down her face, her heart falling. Legolas followed her, stepping towards her slowly.
"He did not mean any harm, Alassë," he said desperately, trying to figure out what to do. Alassë simply stared at him, momentarily caught off guard. She shook her head, knowing that the king had meant to keep his son from making a mistake. She was a mistake. She couldn't allow Legolas to dishonour his father.
"I am sorry, Legolas," was all she could manage before she turned on her heels and ran away. She did not look back, and sobs racked her body as she made her way across the city. The cold night air felt harsh on her tear-stained face, but she ran hard until she somehow managed to find her way back to her cottage. Bursting through the door, she slammed it shut behind her and ran to her bedroom, where she collapsed on her bed. There she lay, her thoughts filled with Legolas and Sirdal and dresses and wine. Sirdal, who belonged to someone she now couldn't bear to look at. She had longed her whole life for someone to love, to call her own. And the one love she had managed to find had been a huge mistake. She cried until the tears no longer fell, and she found herself stumbling through dreams filled with a thick fog.
She awoke the next morning as the light shone in through the window above her head. She lay in bed, unmoving, as she decided whether or not she wanted to get out of bed. Her head throbbed with every beat of her heart. Alassë moaned, trying to remember the last time she had had a headache. She decided that it had been a very long time, when she had been thrown from one of the young horses. Rolling over, she heard a strange noise as the fabric of her night gown shifted. Lifting her head from her pillow, she looked down and noticed for the first time that she was not in her sleeping attire, but instead in her purple dress from the Feast of Colours. Suddenly, the events from the evening came rushing back to her and she fell back onto the pillow, her head heavy with sorrow and guilt.
After a moment, she forced herself to get out of bed. Though it took a great deal of effort and her head throbbed throughout the process, she eventually found herself standing at the edge of her bed, looking across the room at herself in the mirror. Her dress was wrinkled and flat, and her hair was falling out of its braids, loose strands sticking out in every direction. She sighed and made her way out of her bedroom with a heavy heart. She had felt this way before, after her ada had died. Grief filled her heart in much the same way, knowing that she couldn't have done anything to avoid the situation. She loved Legolas, she had come to realise this as she dreamed, and that was wrong of her. She could not let him disappoint his own father.
Stepping out of her bedroom, her eyes immediately focused on a figure sitting on the table in her dining room. It was a crystal vase, filled with flowers. Startled, she looked around, making sure that she was alone, before hesitantly making her way over to investigate. The flowers were beautiful, clearly grown at the greenhouse since they were spring flowers. They were purple, matching her dress, she noticed. Tentatively, she reached out and pulled a small card that was placed between the flowers. Taking a deep breath, she turned it over.
"Alassë,
I wanted to leave these for you. I had intended on giving them to you once the Feast of Colours had ended, but I suppose this will have to do. I am sorry that you heard what you did. I am deeply sorry that I failed to offer you the support that you needed afterwards. I am sorry that I let you down.
I hope that you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me, and I hope that we can remain friends.
If you ever wish for more, my heart will be waiting for you, Alassë.
Legolas."
This chapter KILLED me to write! Blah, what a sad turn of events… I hope that this wasn't too hard on you guys, I promise that things will work out in the end. I'm shaking in my boots as I type this, hoping that this won't cause any of you to turn away from the story, haha! Thanks for reading it, reviews are very much appreciated, I am very interested to hear what you guys thought of this chapter!
Thanks,
-Eru
