He wasn't even sure when he had nodded off, but by the time his eyelids twitched and blue eyes opened, they were met with bright sunlight streaming in his windows. Legolas winced, rolling over. His arms instinctively went out to pull back the warm, comforting body of his mate. When met with an empty side of the bed however, the elf shot up, panic suffusing his blood. His mind went on an instant replay of everything that had happened the day before. He had said they were going to find a way out together... she was asleep. Where could she have went?
The Sindarin elf suspected he had never dressed as fast as he did that morning. Not bothering with his usual strappings, the male pulled on his brown leather breeches, green tunic with brown leather vest, hastily combed his long blond locks and dashed out the room.
Not met with anyone was already a confusion to him. Since he had arrived at the Dragonborn Isle the day before, there had always been someone waiting to guide him. While they said it was so he wouldn't get lost in the warren the castle was fashioned after, Legolas half suspected that it was also partially to guard him.
So when no one was at his door, suspicion flared along with a mild dose of fear. Where was Rosalind and what was going on?
The eerie silence of the passage had him frowning. Digging through the recesses of his memories, and after making a few wrong turns, he finally found the main hallway that led to the throne room. Metres before the steps ascending into the largest cavern of the castle however, Legolas already could hear loud voices. Hastening his steps, he entered the marbled area just in time to hear a familiar voice going "Well, I deny the offer."
"Hianag!" the Queen's outraged voice immediately came after. From where he stood, Legolas could see a straight-backed Rosalind glaring at a surprised and rather offended looking Prince Feanor.
"What is the meaning of this, Queen Sylvanna? I thought we had an agreement. I did not come on a visit to your valley to be ridiculed this way." his offended tone came. The way it grated made Legolas feel like strangling him.
"My deepest apologies, Prince Feanor. I'm sure it is simply too early in the morning and my daught-"
"No, it isn't dask. I am of perfectly sound mind. The life is mine, and as such the decision should be mine as well, and I refuse to accept your offer of marriage, Prince Feanor." Rosalind steadfastly repeated. Pride blossomed in his chest at how decisive his mate sounded, yet fear also creeped in.
"Queen Sylvanna?" Feanor asked, his tone expectant. The hard glint in his eyes made Rosalind hide a gulp, but she refused to show weakness in the face of adversity.
Her mother however, was not happy. Rage was clear on the elder queen's face, as she gripped her armchair tightly. "Dout decision tiliw levnim dout xiekivi, levnim udoka shio, hianag. qe ssej, vur gethrisj mrith wer decision. tir ti harkaj jacion!" Your decision could harm your people, harm us all, daughter. Be silent, and go with the decision. Do not anger him! Her mother hissed at her in their tongue. Rosalind's heart ached at going against her mother, who had single-handedly brought her up. But she refused to step back, not when she had found actual love. She had no wish to leave Legolas, and her stubborn nature meants he wasn't about to meekly bow down to any decision made for her.
"Si tepoha creolna si itov, dask. si shilta ti feqad ini dout decision." I have someone I love, mother. I cannot abide by your decision. While regret tinged her tone, her decision did not change.
Fury suffused her mother's brown eyes, but she did not expect her next reaction. "Galathil, bring Princess Orelinde to her room and make sure she does not leave your sight!"
It was a command that was not to be ignored. Rosalind could see the reluctance in her friend and commander's eyes as he started moving to carry out his monarch's orders. Before he could reach Rosalind however, a sword whooshed through the air between her and Galathil, embedding itself and quivering after in a pillar right next to Rosalind. A body did a double somersault immediately following, and it was only when the body landed directly in front of Rosalind, did she recognize the blond head she now faced. "Legolas!"
"You'll have to go through me, Galathil. And I'd hate to fight you, when I thought we were now friends." It was said with a gentle smile, but Legolas did not budge from his position.
The Vanya elf's eyes widened at the act, rage making his nostrils flare in anger. "Queen Sylvanna, our agreement is off, and for the embarassment you've brought me, you will see the repercussions. I did not come here to be double timed." Obviously, Legolas's little act was more then enough proof to Feanor. Ignoring Sylvanna's stumped calls for him to wait, he left in a flurry.
A pregnant silence filled the cavernous throne room, before her mother's voice broke the silence with a thunderous roar. "What is the meaning of this, Rosalind!"
Guilty looks were exchanged between the two. "Galathil, could you bring everyone out please?"
As if realizing the situation things were in now, the commander of the aerial troops wasted no time in herding everyone out. When the door closed with an echo behind the last advisor, was when Rosalind turned to her mother. And to the queen and Legolas's surprise, Rosalind fell to her knees in front of the Dragonborn Queen. Getting over his surprise, Legolas quickly followed suit as Rosalind began to speak. "I'm sorry, dask. Legolas is... I met him in the Middle Earth. I wasn't lying when I said he is the son of the elven King Thranduil nalopsola had met when he first journeyed to Middle Earth."
"And what does he have to do with all of this?" the queen hissed, eyeing Legolas, who had his head bent, with suspicion.
"He-"
"I am your daughter's mate, Queen Sylvanna." he paused, looking up and gulping when he saw the shock and building anger in her eyes. "In every way."
"Adalinda!" The queen's summon of her dragon surprised the elf, who flinched when the massive red dragon unfurled herself from the pillar she had been resting under. The ground beneath shook, and the air around them heated as the red dragon hit her tail harshly against the ground. Reacting instinctively, he crouched backwards and held an arm up as the neck extended towards him, the red veins glowing brightly.
The blow never came however, and when he looked up, Legolas realized Rosalind had somehow ended up in front of him, defiantly glaring at her mother. "Si itov jacion. zi kiarf. jaci ui sgos, svelah, froneel si tepoha rinov imagined." She paused, as if considering her words. "Froneel papa used ekess qe." I love him. Very much. He is brave, passionate, everything I have ever imagined. Everything Papa used to be.
"You mated with him, daughter. How could you, when I've told you of the realities in Middle Earth." Sylvanna growled back, even if she had held her arm up to hold back her dragon's attack from her rage.
"You married Papa. You surely understand love, Mama. I cannot explain. But I've lived centuries in the Valley, and no one speaks to me like he does. He cares for me."
He looked up from behind her, and daringly looked at the queen's angry gaze directed at him. "Si itov jacioniv."
"You learned our language, how did you?" Sylvanna was obviously surprised when he curled his voice in draconic.
"I would learn anything to be able to stand by Orelinde's side, both as her partner and her mate." While it was said in halting draconic, and with a few grammatical errors, it was understood. "I will protect her with my life."
As if their words were finally being heard by her mother, the queen's eyes gentled as they switched back to Rosalind. "Wux nafl itov jacion?" You really love him?
"Throdenilt hak si shilta imagine." More than I can imagine. She responded, equally softly, but pleading.
Finally conceding, the queen bent to tilt her daughter's face up. "Do you plan on returning to Middle Earth, vaecaesin?" Legolas winced at the way the queen addressed him. It was a vast difference from the day before, but he'd take that over an attacking fire dragon. He shook his head. "Nae. Her home is here, and if she wishes to remain, so will I. I do... need to return to notify my father and finalize some other stuff. But... she loves it too much here."
At that, the queen did give a soft small. "Aye, my daughter has bonded to Dragonborn Isle more then I ever had. And I doubt Syralth would let you bring her way from him." It was a wry laugh, but a vast improvement from earlier. The two lovers shared a triumphant look, before they got up from kneeling to meet Sylvanna's now worried look.
"I may agree to the union of you two, but that doesn't solve our immediate issue. Prince Feanor has returned to Noldor, and I doubt his father, King Finarfin would be happy."
"I'll ex-" Legolas started.
"Explanations will not work, Legolas. I think." the queen muttered, but attention focused elsewhere. As she fell into silent thought, Adalinda crouched closer, growling as she peered at Legolas. "Adalinda, do leave him be. Mama has given her agreement." Rosalind muttered anxiously. Legolas was already sweating at the sheer proximity the red dragon was, sniffing every inch of the Sindarin elf. "She has. Does not mean I have. Does Syralth go with this?"
"He will not agree with any mate I choose. But he did not deny Legolas." Rosalind replied with a dry laugh.
As if satisfied by her answer, the red neck retracted , but yellow slitted eyes glared at Legolas in a warning that needed no words, before Sylvanna spoke again. "I will send Casimir to have a talk to Finarfin. Vemel will bring him. But as a precaution... Galathil!" Sylvanna summoned loudly. As if he was just standing before the door, the commander appeared quickly. "Prepare the ground troops. Get them ready. And hianag," she turned to Rosalind then, her look deadly serious and suddenly showing Legolas just how could a woman as Sylvanna rule a bunch of dragons and their bonded so well. "Get your aerial troops ready."