"She is the daughter of Lord Elrond. We first met when you sent me to Rivendell fifteen years ago." Legolas informed his father quickly. Thranduil stood by the edge of the platform, his hands resting on the stone as he listened to his son. Legolas stood a few metres behind him, his voice wavering and wary as he spoke, not truly knowing what he should say to his father about Evelyn. He had been silent ever since Legolas had told him that he had wanted to call off his wedding.
"Evelyn is her name. She is a very charming elf. I am sure you would like her, Ada," Legolas promised Thranduil who snorted once and shook his head, his fingers pinching his nose shut as he listened to his son. "She is the one who I want to marry."
"Why did you not know this fifteen years ago?" Thranduil wondered, turning around to look at his son. His hair caught the moonlight as his eyes narrowed in Legolas's direction and the bowman felt like a small child being told off. His hands clenched into fists and remained by his side firmly. "If you love her so much why are you only saying this now?"
"I do not know," Legolas spoke simply. "I have known for years, father. I just did not know if my feelings were reciprocated. On my return to Rivendell I realised that they were."
"I cannot believe this," Thranduil complained. "The wedding is expected, Legolas."
"No one else knows of my betrothal, Ada," Legolas quickly shot back. "No one is aware. It can stay that way. Loriett does not truly love me."
"She cares deeply for you," Thranduil informed his son. "She was eager to see you return safely. I think that she does love you."
"Caring is not the same as love," Legolas shook his head. "I cannot bring myself to love her, father. I do not love her. It is as simple as that."
"Do you think so?" Thranduil spat at his son, moving from the wall and staring down at Legolas, his eyes full of annoyance with his son.
"Yes," Legolas assured his father. "You knew that I did not love her yet you went ahead with arranging this marriage."
"I thought that you would grow to love her, my son," Thranduil said, his eyes softening under Legolas's stubborn glare. "I thought that time would teach you to love. You had never expressed an interest in love and Loriett looked at you with longing that I thought maybe you would come to see that you can love. I never knew how you felt about this Evelyn of Rivendell. You never mentioned her. How can I be expected to read your mind, Legolas?"
"You cannot be," Legolas told his father. "I am aware that I should have said something at the time. I should have told you about her. I did not think...I was thinking about the kingdom...I was thinking of how it was expected of me to marry."
"My son," Thranduil sighed as he heard Legolas and saw the pain which was growing across his son's face, his head shaking back and forth quickly. "You should have spoken up."
"I know," Legolas agreed. "I cannot go through with this marriage, Ada. I do not love her like I love my Evelyn."
Thranduil rested his hand onto Legolas's shoulder before turning away, taking his time to think about what was being asked of him. He only wished his son had said something before so that they could have avoided all of the arrangements which had been made.
"I saw only marriage," Legolas continued speaking to his father. "I saw the future of the Kingdom and I did not want to disappoint, Ada. I did not want to abandon Mirkwood when you saw me as being the future King. I never through that I would see Evelyn again. I never imagined any of this would happen."
"I just cannot understand it, Legolas," Thranduil admitted to his son, still not looking him in the eye. "You went fifteen years without her. If you truly loved her then you would have said something. You have never mentioned her before."
"That is the issue," Legolas snapped, his voice curter than he had intended it to be. "I did not know she loved me...I look back now and I realise that I loved her from the moment I met her. I just did not know it was love."
"You know when it is love, Legolas," Thranduil promised him. "I loved your mother from the first moment I met her. That is why I worry that you and the daughter of Lord Elrond are not in love. You managed to be parted from her for all that time."
"Do not tell me what I feel," Legolas snapped quickly. "I left her because you demanded for my return."
"And you never went back to her, did you?"
"I longed to," he retorted. "Not a day passed when I did not wish to go back to her. But...I had duties...I had things which needed to be done."
"This is an issue which worries me, Legolas. This arrangement shall be good for Mirkwood."
"I do not wish to marry for the people of Mirkwood," Legolas snapped. "Loriett may not be of royal blood and I know the marriage would be publicly pleasing. I just do not wish to go through with it when I know that she is not the one who I want. Surely she does not love me. You said it yourself that she cares deeply."
"It seems to me that your mind has been made up regardless of what I say," Thranduil told his son and arched a brow, looking at his son. "Is that not right?"
"Aye, it is," Legolas nodded. "I love Evelyn, Ada. I want for you to understand. I want your blessing. I do not want to argue with you about this."
"No. The time for arguing is finished, my son," Thranduil promised Legolas. He moved closer to him, a look of hesitance on his face as he watched his only child look so hopeful. Thranduil nodded at Legolas, his frown still in place of his lips. "You are old enough to make your own decision. I know that. I simply wish we had had this discussion earlier."
"I know," Legolas retorted simply. "Hesitance is something which I should have never had."
"I shall need to speak to Aubrey about this. I doubt he shall be happy and he is my closest advisor."
"It will work out in the long term. I am sure of that. Loriett shall find someone else. She is an attractive elf and I am sure she has many admirers." Legolas said, trying to remain optimistic for his father. He nodded in agreement at hearing his son.
"I would like to meet this Evelyn," Thranduil nodded. "If this is the female who has captured your heart then I wish to meet her."
"You will," he promised quickly, his eyes lighting up. "Would you like me to tell Aubrey myself?"
"No," Thranduil spoke. "I shall tell him the arrangement has been cancelled. He will probably resent me but what I can do?"
"Nothing," Legolas said. "I love Evelyn, Ada."
"Then there is nothing more to say," Thranduil said, his voice soft and saddened. "Go to her. We shall speak in the morning. For now I have matters which need attending to."
"Yes, father," Legolas said, his face holding the smile which Thranduil hadn't seen in a long time. He watched as his soon turned around and walked back into the hall, sighing and pressing a hand to his forehead as he thought about what was happening.
Legolas did not look at Aubrey or Loriett as he wandered through the great hall with haste. The two of them followed the Prince of Mirkwood, their gaze never leaving him until he was out of their sight and then they turned to look at each other.
Legolas ignored their blatant gawping and moved up the staircase to where he knew Evelyn was in the chambers of the West. He knocked softly on the wooden door, waiting for a response before he entered.
"I thought it might be you," Lord Elrond spoke as he opened the door and looked at the blonde elf. Legolas took his turn to remain puzzled, wondering if he had the wrong room.
"What did you say to him?" Evelyn's voice spoke and he saw her poking out from around her father, her head by the side of Elrond's arm as she looked pleadingly at him. "You did tell him, did you not?"
"I did," Legolas said and looked to Elrond. The Lord understood the message which was being conveyed to him.
"I shall leave you two to talk it through," Lord Elrond told them, looking sceptically at Legolas and then down to his daughter, his gaze stern. She moved to the side, allowing Legolas to enter the room whilst Elrond left, the frown still on his face as Legolas closed the door.
"He gave his blessing," Legolas told her and Evelyn looked at him as he stood before her. She slowly raised her hand and placed it over her mouth as she gasped. Legolas beamed in her direction, walking closer to her and holding his hands to her waist.
"Honestly?"
"Would I lie to you?" Legolas spoke.
"You would tease but never lie," she concluded. "What did he say? What did you say? What needs to happen?"
"One question at a time, my love," Legolas soothed her, taking her by the hand and leading her to the four poster bed in the room. They perched on the edge of it, both of them looking confused yet happy. "I told him that I would not marry Loriett. I said that I did not love her. He seemed dubious to begin with. He doubted what we had was really love considering we went for years without each other."
"You told him though, did you not? You told him that we simply needed time to understand? Love is such a foreign emotion to both of us."
"I told him," Legolas promised her. "I explained everything. He was not joyful about having the wedding called off. I could sense he was annoyed with the fact that I had never said anything about my feelings for you."
"You were simply doing your duty. You were trying to please your father," Evelyn spoke soothingly, her hand resting on his cheek and Legolas closed his eyes with contentment upon him.
"I know," he said. "Anyway, I told him that I would not marry Loriett regardless of his wishes. He told me I was old enough to make my own decisions. He wishes to meet you tomorrow morn."
"So sudden," Evelyn mumbled. "Will he not resent me?"
"We need to give it a chance, Evelyn," Legolas urged her. "Even if he does, it matters not. You and I are all that matters. Our happiness together."
"I should suppose so," Evelyn smiled softly.
...
"He does not want me," the blonde girl snapped. She sat on the edge of her bed, leaning forwards with her fingers laced together. The dark haired elf paced in front of her, his hands behind his back as he thought about the events of the day. It had started out with optimism and soon taken a downwards turn. She couldn't particularly believe it.
"It is not a matter of what he wants. It is a matter of what we want," he spoke back to her. "We had an agreement. We had an agreement which should be honoured."
"I do not see why," she huffed, flouncing backwards on the bed, closing her eyes as she thought. "He has his own mind. We cannot go against the Elfking. I know that you are his advisor but that is all you are, Ada."
"It matters not," Aubrey shook his head. "He cannot truly love this elf."
"I believe he does," the blonde one spoke, kicking her legs out in front of her and wrinkling her nose as a sudden itch came upon it. "He never loved me, Ada. He never really did care. I tried to make him. I was charming, sweet and caring. We marry for love in the end and Legolas did not love me."
"Legolas went fifteen years without this Evelyn," he spat back, his voice full of venom and annoyance. "You cannot tell me that is love. No. She must have simply infatuated him or placed a spell upon him."
"Stop being ridiculous," the girl snapped, sitting back up and looking at her father with anger. "Why can you not listen to me? He loves her. You saw how Lord Elrond dragged her from the hall. She was in shock. She loves him."
"And do you not?"
"I do not know what I feel for the Prince," she shrugged, dragging her fingers through her blonde hair as she mumbled. "I thought that I loved him...but maybe...he clearly is not the one for me. I was mistaken."
"Do you not want revenge?" the elf wondered. "She has taken him from you. She has taken your chance of future happiness."
"I can be happy some other way."
"With some commoner?" he spat. "With someone who cannot provide for you and the ways which you have been accustomed to?"
She remained silent, still pulling her fingers through her hair and looking contemplative. He looked at his daughter, knowing how vein she was. She was like her mother in that respect.
"You love him, Loriett. You love him and you cannot deny that no matter how much you want to." He whispered soothingly, his hand rubbing up and down her back and she remained silent, listening to his words. "He has your heart and has taken it from you. I know that you are hurting."
"I am-"
"-Do not pretend with me, my daughter," the man shook his head. "I can see through you. It hurts, doesn't it?"
She kept silent, not saying anything for she did not know how she truly felt. A part of her longed to have Legolas back with her. She thought that she loved him. She could imagine the two of them further down the line with children and a future ahead of them in Mirkwood. She had honestly believed it to be possible.
"My daughter," he spoke in a whisper, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek. "It will all be fine. We shall find a way for him to come back to you."
"How?" she spat out, a small tear falling down her cheek as he drew her into his arms.
"Believe me when I say that I shall find a way."
...
"Ada," Legolas spoke, his voice excited as he rushed ahead of Evelyn who stood by her father's side, looking onto the blonde elf in front of her. He looked so much like Legolas that Evelyn had to look between the pair of them. Their blonde hair was identical along with their bright eyes. "May I present to you Lady Evelyn of Rivendell."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, King Thranduil," Evelyn said, her voice clear and calmer than she felt. Thranduil watched as the brunette dipped down, curtseying politely in front of him. He observed the exquisite blue gown on her body, the sleeves flowing as they passed her elbow. Her hair was tamed for once, pulled back into a simple clip on the back of her head, her brown tresses pooling down to her waist. He nodded once back at her as she stood and looked him in the eye.
"And so you are the elf who has bewitched my son," Thranduil said, his face emotionless as he observed her and Legolas stepped back to stand by her side. She looked across to him and he smiled back to her, the back of his hand stroking her cheek as Thranduil observed the motion and he nodded.
"Lord Elrond," Thranduil said clearly and Elrond turned his gaze onto the man stood opposite him. "It has been a long time."
"Alas, it has," Elrond nodded. The two elves did not make a move to greet each other, keeping their distance as Thranduil nodded as he saw Legolas's hand move down Evelyn's hair in a calming motion.
"You did not tell me how lovely your daughter was," Thranduil commented. "I cannot remember meeting her when I last came to Rivendell."
"She was with Galadriel when that time was upon us," Elrond spoke to him.
"Ah, the Lady Galadriel. How does she fair?"
"She fairs well," Elrond nodded.
"That is good to hear," Thranduil said. "Legolas tells me that his love for your daughter has been with him since he attended your annual ball in my honour."
"I believe that to be true," Elrond said, slyly looking to the couple at the side who were remaining silent, the only comfort coming from their simple touch on each other through the bumping of their arms. "The fifteen years which they spent apart were spent with my daughter simply pining after your son."
"Ada!" Evelyn snapped at her father, slightly embarrassed whilst Elrond simply smirked.
"Yes, well," Thranduil grinned as Legolas looked at him with wide eyes. "I think anyone can see that they care for each other. My son clearly loves your daughter and your daughter obviously loves my son."
"This is true," Elrond nodded. "They both have my blessing."
Thranduil took another look onto the pair of them and he nodded once.
"As they have mine. We are at liberty to marry who we love and I should not be the one to stop this now I see it to have taken place in front of my eyes," Thranduil told them, smiling softly at the pair of them.
"Come, Thranduil, let us talk for a while. I am sure there is much to discuss," Elrond said before the atmosphere became uncomfortable. Thranduil nodded and moved alongside Elrond whilst Evelyn felt relief sweep through her veins and Legolas held her in his arms tightly.
"There is nothing more," he promised her and she nodded against his chest, her arms clutching at his midriff. "There is nothing more to fear."
...
A/N: Not totally an accurate statement to finish on, I suppose. Anyway, thank you to Ortholeine, Jillo, gilmorefreak23, xX-MissyMoo-Xx, bntjammer and thanks to Aranel Mereneth for telling me of the way of elves! It really did help! So thank you! Anyway, please let me know what you think!
Anyway, this is possibly the last update until after the weekend because I'm heading home for the weekend so will be busy! Anyway, until then, let me know what you think, pretty please?