yay! 10 chapter people!:))
i am so sorry this was a few days late. i had to read and reread it again.. i had to get our main char's backstory out. don't worry, there is still more things to be revealed.
warning: this chap is long. like really long.. 22 pages on my doc to be exact..around 13k words. *stares wide eyed*
there is a lot of time jumps, so hold on to your seats...
disclaimer: i don't own anything. i am not affiliated in any way, shape of form with tolkien or any other references mentioned.
enjoy!
Chapter 10
-somewhere North, Third Age 2946-
"Try this."
"It smells funny." Wrinkling her nose for effect,
"It is the most delicious thing you'll ever eat." For now, his thought added. They had been in search for hours. In search of this girl's pet leading them walking further and further. But there was no sign of the any animal nearby. Granted that Aragorn was still not a skilled tracker and was also still finishing his training, but still.
Looking warily at the pale bread before her, Alex had to hesitantly reached out to pluck the thin bread out of the boy's hand and took a small bite from it. "What is it?" Her eyes widening at the flavors in her mouth from the small bite.
"Lembas. Elvish whey bread."
Alex continued to nibble on the bread, her frilly skirt already torn at the sides. Looking around her in between bites to study her surroundings. "Where am I?"
Ignoring her question not wanting to scare the lost girl, Aragorn handed her another one, "Eat."
"I am a long away fwom my Nana's garden am I?"
"There is a mortal village southwest from here, we could leave her there and rid us of a liability." A cold, calculating voice cut through the silence.
A whimper escaped her lips at the thought that these boys are going to leave her behind.
"Havo dad, Legolas." Aragorn's soft voice, waving his hand to direct the elf to an empty log and turned to hand him another one of the bread.
"She is going to slow us down, Aragorn. She is better off in the village." Even whispering, the elf's voice held firmness to it.
Watching the two boys argue about what to do with her, Alex caught on one of the boys name, "Awagorn." Turning her eyes shyly at the two boys who had now stopped talking as was looking at her, one with suspicion and another with a kind smile.
"That is my name." Aragorn smiled, looking at the girl with striking green eyes.
"Aragorn, we have to let her go. We do not know her nor is our journey suitable for someone of her gender or age." Legolas was not letting up. His expression had turned sour, his stance defensive.
Aragorn shook his head. For a two thousand year old elf, he was still a young prince at that. Slowly walking towards his friend, Aragorn turned to sit beside him, looking up his face held nothing but patience, "Mellon nin, faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."
As if he was punched to the gut, Legolas stared at Aragorn, his gaze flickering to the tiny girl plopped on the other side of the little bonfire they had managed to keep aflame. Embarrassment flooded his system, how could he be so cold towards a tiny girl?
"My apologies. I did not mean to come off so rude." Lowering himself beside the ranger. "It seems, that even with all my years, I still have much to learn." Once again, looking towards the little girl. "I am Legolas." Placing his hand over his chest where his heart would be, nodding his head to the fragile tiny being who now was watching him warily. Ever so slowly, a small smile graced her lips and the elf could have sworn something flickered with in him. Something strong but yet fleeting that the sensation already seemed lost to him as soon as it made its appearance known.
"Nice to meet you both, Sir Awagorn and Mr. Legolas." Alex took to stand and managed a decent courtesy to her two rescuers. Turning to the lembas in her hand and continuing to nimble on it, her eyes glancing briefly to Aragorn, "It's not so bad." Before placing the last piece entirely in her small mouth and giving the ranger a smile, sending Aragorn into a silent chuckle at her silly expression.
"What are you saying?" Alex' small voice interrupted the pair, their voices lowering and their gazes falling to her small form. "It sounds lovely."
"Elvish." Aragorn answered,
"Will you teach me? I like the sound of it." Alex's innocent smile capturing the ranger's heart.
"Why do you want to learn?" Legolas' cold voice cut through,
"You have to learn the rules of the game, and play the game better than anyone else."Alex answered shrugging her shoulders, oblivious to the shocked stares of her unlikely companions, "that is what my Nana taught me."
Laughing silently beside the elf, Aragorn casted his friend an amused glance. "She'll keep us on our toes." Pulling his pipe out to settle deeper into the seat he had carved for himself.
It has been almost five hours since the young Alex stumbled upon a strange world. Aragorn and Legolas took turns in carrying the still sleeping child, the location of her pet still unknown to the trio.
They were walking in circles and the little girl was still fast asleep. It was midday on her third day in middle earth that Alex heard the sound she had been searching for. A bark, it was faint and sounded faraway but she heard it. Both Aragorn and Legolas were looking at the girl confusion in their faces at what Alex was referring to. I t was not until Alex decided to run towards the source of the sound that both the ranger and elf panicked. Not expecting the peculiar little girl to run that fast they were astonished to find her missing. Not a sound. Not a trace. Not a hint of were the little girl went.
-somewhere North, Third Age 2947-
"Is he back yet?" Alex asked, her face hidden partially by the shadows of the golden glow from the fire.
Legolas glanced at her again, observing her features. She looked much older now, her hair a bit longer, but it was her clothes that made attracted his attention the most. What in the Valar's name was this peculiar girl wearing? Not offering Alex any answers, he gestured to the half eaten porridge the elf made. It was leftover from yesterday, it was the only thing he had since Aragorn left last night, to venture and look for meat. Legolas had ran out of lembas, and he was not expecting company at this hour. His worry for his friend apparent, but he could not bring himself to leave the little girl behind.
Alex wrinkled her nose at the bowl of sticky soup, "You tasted it." As if that would give him the answer as to why she had not touched her food. "Besides, I'm not hungry." Placing the bowl down.
Legolas pursed his lips at the attitude he was getting from this girl. Nobody talked to him that way. Remembering all the fawning and attention he got when he was home, Legolas tried to suppress the shudder at the memories that bombarded him. That was more than two thousand years ago. He has not been home since after the events of the battle at Erebor and he was sure his father was anxiously waiting for his return.
"You don't talk very much, do you?" Alex's attention now solely focused on the elf.
"Why do you say that? I am speaking to you now, am I not?" Raising one brow at the the girl, Legolas' irritation slowly being tested. How can one girl have so many questions?
"Because.." Alex drawled, rolling her eyes, "you don't talk. At all." Shaking her head as if she was the one speaking to a child. Grabbing her pack and pulling out her pad and pencil, "Mind if I draw?"
Glancing at the girl again, Legolas' only grunted in response. His attention at the now cold poor excuse of a porridge. Not needing to give the girl anymore reason for her to talk to him, he silently agreed that his cooking skills indeed require some training. Well, back home he did not need to cook. He was startled however, to find the girl standing close to where he was sitting, her hand grabbing onto his left ear. "How did you get over here so quick?"
Alex gasped, ignoring the elf's question, "Your ears! What happened to them?"
"Nothing happened." Legolas tried to shake the girl off, but she would not move.
"You're an elf aren't you?" This time it was Legolas' turn to roll his eyes, holding in the urge to shake his head.
"You know my Nana told me stories about you." Alex's excited tone wafted to his ears, her grin stretching from ear to ear at discovering she was hanging out with an elf all this time.
"About me?" Legolas' icy stare turned towards the girl, how many from the race of men really knows who he was, and what stories about him were they speaking about?
"Not you you, silly. I meant elves!" Exasperated at the denseness of the the elf she was talking to. "Is it true, you can see far?" Alex's face only inches from his, her eyes gazing intently at his blue eyes. From this proximity, Legolas noted how strikingly green her eyes were. Green with specs of gold, that sparkled like emerald jewels when hit with sun light. All of a sudden, that same stirring occurred within him again. "How far can you see?" The girl's focus was unperturbed, as she continued to study his eyes.
"Sit down, girl." Pulling her aside to seat beside him. As soon as her eyes where out of view, Legolas felt the air rush out of him. He was not even aware he was holding his breathe.
"How much can you hear?" Alex pressed on, "My Nana said, elves have exceptional hearing. Can you hear this?" Opening her mouth and taking a large gulp of air, Alex was about to scream when her mouth was covered by Legolas' hand. His fear that someone might hear them should the girl try to scream.
"Yes, I can hear you perfectly well." Whispering to get his point across. Hoping to distract the girl from interrogating him any further he turned to open her parchment, "What are you drawing?"
"Mostly anything."
Astonishment crossed his features at the images he saw, flipping the peculiar contraption of white parchment paper sewn together, he saw drawings of different kind. From images he recognized of horses and trees, to images that made him question the true origin of the girl. "These are magnificent."
"They're not that bad." Alex answered feeling proud of herself, her Nana had always been a great fan of her drawings.
"I beg your pardon, but how old are you? And who taught you to draw like this?"
"I'm eight and my tutor taught me the technique but I have always loved to draw. When I grow up, I'll be the best artist there is!" Alex proudly announced.
"Does your Nana draw?"
"No." Alex sighed, sadness taking over her form, "But she joked that maybe I got my talent from my Great Grandfather. She said he was a great painter, but I've never met him."
"How about your mother and father?" This time Legolas' curiosity about the girl's family seemed to have peaked his interest. Without realizing it, they have been talking for hours and have seemed to get along quite well.
"My father died when I was two. My mother," Alex paused, not seeming to know how to describe her mother, "well, I hope someday to make my mother proud." Nodding her head satisfied with her answer.
Legolas felt the uncertainty and sadness at the girl's enumeration of her parents and felt a singular affinity with her regarding loosing a parent and making them proud at the same time. Suddenly, the elf felt like he was not alone in this world anymore. Turning to the girl beside him, he offered her the first kind smile, "Well, these drawings are magnificent."
"If you'll be a good elf, maybe I'll draw you someday." Blushing at the admission and trying to hide her face with her hair.
Legolas laughed heartily for the first time since visiting the North. Glancing at the girl beside him who by now had her nose buried in her parchment, maybe this mortal girl is not so bad after all.
-somewhere North, Third Age 2960-
"What book again?"
"Utopia."
"Haven't read it." Aragorn answered, watching Alex try to maneuver her way around the slippery rocks that littered the riverside.
The pair had accepted long ago, that Alex was not some mortal girl from middle earth as evidenced by her strange garb and the things she always carried with her. How she'd always know where they are, he was not sure, but she would always find her way. He had been planning to talk to Gandalf about it, but the wizard had almost seemingly disappeared off the the face of Arda. No-one has seen the grey beard, no word, no sighting, nothing. Something is keeping Mithrandir busy and Aragorn could not shake the feeling that something big was just over the horizon. Something opposing and menacing was simmering just beneath the surface. They are still orcs that run free on some parts, stories of rogue nomads scavenging far flung villages, goblins and trolls ransacking hidden mountains. Rumors of a brewing evil in the East has people started talking about dark power lying in wait.
"You should, someday, it's actually good book."
"What is it about?" Genuine curiosity crossed the rangers face, they have not seen anyone for miles. The elf would usually stay on the outskirts while Aragorn tried to barter with some folk in small villages for supplies and a good meal. Elves are revered in certain mortal villages, the unwanted attention would surely raise a few brows. But they have not come across a village for a while now.
"Its about a place, where everyone is happy, everyone is treated equally, with equal rights and under good governance." Alex explained nonchalantly, her attention on not slipping. Oblivious to the surprised gaze of Aragorn on her.
"You read books about governance?" Aragorn asked, exchanging a look with Legolas who was easily moving around the rocks.
"Mind you, it was not easy. It was written so long ago, and the copy my Nana had was in Latin. I had to find a translator to understand it."
"What is a girl like you doing reading books about governance?" Legolas asked, amusement in his tone.
Scowling at the haughty elf, Alex continued with out a hitch, "Let's say, a servant is forced to steal for food due to unjust compensation, is that suppose to be his fault, or should his employer answer to his negligence?"
"It is his decision to steal, what does his employer have to do anything with it?" Legolas countered, amused at indulging the young girl with her fantasies of equal rights.
"A servant is not a thief, and those who cannot help themselves."
Scoffing at the direction of their conversation, Legolas played along. "By all means, enlighten me."
"We stop here." Aragorn announced, finding a perfect spot to hunt fish, and possibly start a small fire, all the while being quietly entertained by the back and forth banter of his two companions.
"If you let your people suffer because they're uneducated, and their manners corrupted since birth, then what else is to be concluded, that you first make thieves and then punish them."
Legolas was silenced. His mind breaking down the logic of Alex' statement. Aragorn on the other hand, sat amused, watching the elf try to decipher what Alex just said.
"Alright. So as a prince, I decree to let that particular man go. Does that represent sign of good governance or a sign of weak reign?" Humor lacing his tone,
"Well, you might have given one man back his life, but did you even look at the others?"
"Honestly, how old are you?" Aragorn laughed this time, his amusement at the current discussion evident.
"Thirteen." Turning her attention to the elf, Alex refused to back down, "So, being a prince, I sense you have a feel of what your people need, right?"
"Need? They're elves, what else would they need?" Another scoff escaping him.
"I guess you have servants, don't you talk to them?"
"Certainly not. No, naturally." A smirk gracing his face.
Feeling disappointed at the her friend's thinking, Alex decided to leave them. Slowly walking to the river's edge, Alex took off her shoes, and socks and slowly lowered herself to the clear water.
"Where are you going?" Legolas asked, "You are angry with me."feeling guilt overcome him at his snobbish attitude. He realized he shouldn't have been so mean to the poor girl who was only sharing a book she read.
Alex remained silent, trying to ignore the elf who was coaxing her into a debate about 'good governance'. Pfft! Alex was very well aware of her age and her gender, she does not need men who think they are more superior and knowledgeable, much less an elf, to ridicule her on her ideas.
Unable to help herself, and not one to admit defeat, she rose up, her hair dripping, "There is nothing natural about it. A country's character is defined by its everyday struggles. The hard work of the common folk are the legs you stand on and that position demands respect!"
"Yes, but they're common folk, that is what they do." Legolas looked baffled by Alex's temper, but he would be damned to admit comeuppance that the banter did not excite him.
"You are hopeless." Shaking her head at the utter absurdity that is this elf.
"And you, are a walking contradiction and I find that rather fascinating." Legolas countered, a smile gracing his lips.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. You spout the ideals of a perfect society and yet you refuse to see the reality that not everybody thinks like you do, or will follow the philosophies you have."
"And you own all the land there is and yet you take no pride in working them, is that not also a contradiction?!" Alex could feel her anger rising, but the elf just would not stop.
"First I am arrogant, now I have no pride. However did I manage that?" Amusement coloring his features. How can one girl manage to insult him in his face, without actually insulting him?
Exhaling loudly through her nose, Alex refused to back down. "You have everything and still the world holds no joy! And yet you insist on making fun of those who would see it for its possibilities."
As if he had been slapped, Legolas smile was erased, in its place was shock and admiration. Had he not said the same thing to an elleth once? How he had ridiculed those in court for being dense and petty and now here he is being schooled by a girl about looking at the world from a different perspective.
"How do you do it?" Legolas whispered, awe struck at the girl, "How do you live each day with this kind of passion, do you not find it exhausting?"
"Just today, because of you. You're irritating." Alex turned, diving under the water and leaving the elf with his thoughts.
Aragorn smiled, silently observing the pair in their banter. Admiration for the brave girl for standing up to the elf. Alex made some very good points, her ideas of a society free from oppression and equal rights are something that would make any country prosper.
Suddenly, something flickered across the elf's face that made Aragorn stood to attention. He recognized that look and he doubted the elf knew what was happening then.
-Greenwood, Third Age 2966-
"I know you're there." Thranduil asked to no one in particular, facing the bushes that lead to the deep part of his late wife's garden.
The rustle of bushes on his left caught his attention, to his surprise emerged an young lady, her hair covered in leaves. "I'm sorry sir. I did not mean to scare you."
"Who are you? And what are you doing in my garden?" Bewildered at the strange girl, but felt that she offered no immediate threat, he lowered his staff.
"I'm looking for Legolas, is he around?"
Rolling his eyes, another one of his son's conquests, "Aren't you too young to be looking for my son?"
"I—I beg your pardon?"
"You look to be too young to be acquainted with my son." Raising one sardonic brow,
"Oh, I have known him since I was five." Alex smiled, undeterred by the elf's question. "Nice to meet you sir." Offering her hand for a handshake, but Thranduil just stood and stared at her offered hand, unsure with what she wanted him to do with it. "Oh right, you don't shake hands."
"Shake…hands?" Intrigued at the vocabulary of the girl, Thranduil turned to sit on the nearest bench. It was a rare occasion for him to have time for himself. Lately with the increasing threat of evil surrounding his borders, his time has been consumed more and more with tightening the security. The call of the sea has been increasingly abundant over his people yet most still refused to leave for fear of the evils of the outside world.
Regret and guilt consumed the Elf king, for it was his own fear that lead to the decision to hide under the mountain. His memories suddenly were bombarded of images of the old Greenwood. The luscious field of trees as far as the eye can see. Tall, thick trees of different kind, of his people contented, sunlight in the morning and magnificent starlight that blanketed Greenwood at night. Memories of his wife and of his young elfling—Legolas.
But those images were but all memories now. For with those memories, interlaced are memories of horror and massacre. Of endless sea of dead bodies, of rivers flowing red with blood. Horrifying images of his mate, beaten and battered while holding off a small scout of goblins just south of their border, while her son managed to ran away calling for aid.
Looking at the girl beside him, engrossed with her pen and parchment, Thranduil remembered the time when Legolas was still innocent then, but the pressures of ruling a kingdom, of following in his footsteps, had overcome his once joyous son. He had become cold now, his moves calculating, his decisions not without cause. The battle at Erebor had changed Legolas and Thranduil could see how different he had viewed the world now. Gone was the simple dream of a boy wanting to please his father. In its place was a grown elf needing an escape from his duties. His son had seen the world, and as much it had brought him immense joy, it has also brought him immense pain that they were growing apart. His son grew to view the world with his own eyes, and with it came a bigger understanding, but also a different ambition to his now restless son.
It was a humbling surprise, the turn of events however, to discover that his son had made a friend. An unlikely friend in a young girl. A young mortal maiden, who had been his friend since she was still a mere babe herself. A warm feeling spread over his heart that this maiden might have a chance at softening his son. Studying her again, he could see that she was untainted by the horrors of their world. The old Thranduil would have scoffed at a lesser being, but not now. Now, he had come to respect that all life had meaning and all life had purpose and all life are all connected and intertwined to form a much bigger portrait of life.
Over the course of the year, Thranduil and Alex formed a bond of friendship. For her strong wit and humor had entertained the old and tired Elf King. His afternoons are now filled with stories and adventures of the mortal girl from a strange time. Gone were the times he would spend with court. They would talk about books and games and sports that intrigued and peaked the Elf king's imagination. He had not laughed in along time, and he found in the girl, a daughter he never had. He never asked how or when or why, but he simply accepted that this girl was a gift from the Valar to his son and him. His heart blossoming at the thought that his son had found an honest friend in her.
But what he did not intend, was that for a mortal to spend so much time with an elf—like his son, she was still mortal. Her mind and heart grew, and attraction played its part. A brutal consequence of that friendship and to his dismay found out how fragile a mortal heart could be—over the next two years—and its similarity to an elf's.
-Greenwood, Third Age 2967-
Moving her pencil over her paper, her brows drawn together, she moved her gaze between her sketchpad and the glorious setting sun. From where she was perched, high on a tree top, Alex admired the magnificent burst of colors. The orange and the red, the contrast of the summer leaves and the gold and green glimmering. The view was one of her favorites.
"Will you give me that drawing, now?" Legolas' playful voice interrupted her, not hearing him land behind her and peaking over her shoulder at her drawing.
"Stop distracting me." Alex scolded, but her voice tinged with her concealed laughter. "If you behave, maybe I'll give this to you." Looking over her shoulder and giving him a playful smile. Her smile was frozen in place to find his face much closer than what she would have anticipated. Their noses almost touching. From this distance, Alex could almost see how blue his eye are, like ice from the pictures of the Arctic she had seen during her class. His eyes are a stunning blue, ringed with silver. All of a sudden, she felt butterflies in her stomach. A fluttering feeling she was unfamiliar with but had grown to experience more and more whenever she was with him. Lowering her head to hide her embarrassment and the telltale sign of a blush by the warming of her cheeks.
Legolas also had to move a step back, he was not expecting her to turn her head, and he was not expecting the proximity to be so close. The warmth was there again, his eyes glued to her emerald ones. It was impossible not to look away.
He glanced again, finding Alex hunched over her 'sketchpad', he tried to shake his head of the impulse he had. He had the sudden desire to kiss her!
By the Valar! Not only was she his friend, but the age difference would surely have him crucified. Reminding himself once again, that this was Alex, trying to remember the images of her as a lost little girl, and shortly thereafter of her debating the ideas of a Utopian society.
But all he could think about were her eyes. Her deep green eyes, that held nothing but innocence and laughter and understanding.
He tried to convince his self that this was not a good idea but all he could think about was her. Her presence, her laughter, her stories. The tilt of her head when she was concentrating, the blush on her cheeks whenever she was annoyed, embarrassed or angry., and the sound of her voice. She consumed him and Legolas felt bewildered by everything.
She was far from the young girl, throughout the course of their friendship, she had grown before his eyes. He'd see her constantly for a months and then years would jump and he'd see her again, and every single time it was a different her, a more grown her, a more mature her and he would be lying if he was not looking forward to a time when he would finally get to witness what she would be once she reached her full magnificence.
Suddenly, panic ran through him along with fear. Fear that over the bounds of their friendship, the world would rightly claim her. She had a place in the world, a place or a duty that may not include her not having him in his life or him with her. A deep sadness fell over him at the thought that he might even see her grow old. He had lived two thousand years, had witnessed to losing a few known mortal acquaintances die and he would continue on living long after she is gone.
As consumed he was of the endless possibilities and where their roads may lie or whether they'd meet again in the future, another thought caught his attention. She will not remain his little Alex forever, at a certain age she would marry and as startling as that thought came, a panic started to rise within him. A feeling of pain and panic he could not identify why started to blossom within him. Would he be ready to meet the man to complete her? Would he have the same patience to treat her offsprings? Images of a small replica of Alex started to dance before his eyes, a young girl with dark hair and flowing skirt, but he was startled to find the girl with blue eyes. Eyes he recognized for it was his. Suddenly the image blurred, faded until another image walked into it—a man— moving closer and closer until he reached out his hand and picked up the girl with ease, bringing her small arms around his neck she nestled her head by his shoulder his face obstructed by the girl's hair. But the flowing golden mane belonging to the man was unmistakeable. Suddenly, the girl turned her eyes to him, as if seeing Legolas peaking from within his vision. Her eyes held him, and the stare froze him in place—
"Legolas?"
Legolas was startled to find Alex sitting across him, her face contorted in concern. Shaking his head to rid of the haunting image, he focused his attention to her.
"It's not yet done. Maybe next time?" Her smile caught his breath suddenly. How had he not foreseen this? Or had he and was denying every time? Had Aragorn noticed it?
"What is?" He asked. He has never been this confused before. Especially not over a girl.
"The drawing."
"Oh, yes." Taking a large gulp of air, Legolas tried to play it off, but his inside was still swimming with warmth. The images refusing to leave his clouded mind.
"Are you okay?" Alex's eyes refusing to leave his form.
"I am fine." Suddenly looking around him and realizing that the sun had already set. The sky now covered with multiple diamonds of starlight. "Do you want to go down?"
"Is it okay if I could stay just a little bit longer? I like it out here, it's quiet." Alex answered her brow furrowing at a memory she would not voice out. She's fifteen now, on the verge of turning sixteen. Her life at home had slowly become troublesome as her relationship with her mother had become harder and harder. Alex could not shake the feeling that she was a disappointment to her own mother. Had all the lessons and tutors and courses not enough? Her mother had dictated her most of her life, is she even aware that her daughter liked to draw? That she loved sitting and just being be?
The pair sat in quiet darkness, both consumed with thoughts in their head. Thoughts of each other and of the future, of their families and of their duties. Both not realizing that they were the same.
The summer that year, Alex would only meet Legolas. The first time she arrived she went looking for Aragorn, to her surprise she had stumbled into the elf's home in Greenwood again, right into his late mother's garden. Surprised by the sudden turn of events, she went looking instead for his father which further surprised Legolas more. He observed that during his absence, the two had gotten close. They would sometimes laugh by themselves and Legolas would catch himself smiling at the pair. His father had never been carefree like that. It was a sight to behold, that the Elf King held a particular fondness over his best friend.
It was dark on the last night of summer that Legolas made a startling admission. The pair sat by the fire just in the middle of his mother's garden. He had refused to attend that night's feast. He'd rather be with her than be surrounded by the court. Her stories interest him more than gossips and politics.
Alex was laughing beside him, they had been playing rock, paper and scissors, a game from her world that he had seemed to enjoy for it betted on the chances of guessing the chosen weapon of his opponent. The game in itself was about betting on chance, and he was losing.
"It's your turn, and it better be good." Alex snickered again, reaching for the cup that only held water. Legolas watched enthralled, as her lips wrapped around the rim of the cup, her long, slender neck moving in time of her swallowing the liquid.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he blurted out, "I have no desire to be King." His deepest, darkest secret revealed only to her. He had never had the courage to admit it no anyone.
Shock crossing her features, complete sadness and understanding battling inside her. She was no royalty, far from it, but to be pressured into becoming one when one has no desire of being is something she is definitely familiar with. "But, think of all the things you can do. For your country and your people."
Legolas felt a rush of relief flood him, for the first time in his life he did not feel any judgment. No reprimanding, no condescending filled speech. "But to be so defined by your title." Scoffing at all the time people only wanted to be close to him just because of what he is, not who he is, "I will never be seen for who I am, but what I am. You have no grasp how insufferable that is." unable to meet her eyes, he looked away. How can thousands of years worth of repression be only expressed in a few words. He hated his title as soon as he understood what it meant.
For him, it meant endless politics, meaningless connections, gossips, back stabbing and hidden agenda. He never once enjoyed being a Royal, but what little fulfillment he enjoyed was to be counted among the soldiers of Greenwood. He was never viewed in the Greenwood army as a prince, to them he was simply 'Legolas', and he relished in that, he welcomed it like a flower welcoming the first rays of the sun.
"You might be surprised." Alex murmured, hiding her face behind her now empty cup.
Glancing at the young lady before her, he saw only understanding and mirth in her eyes. His own mirroring her smile. Silently asking what she meant by her statement.
Exhaling through her nose, Alex expounded. "A ranger, for example, is rarely painted as anything else. They are defined by their status as your title defines you, but that is not who they are." A kind smile gracing her lips, unaware that they had both moved closer to each other now, their words barely a whisper, "You have been born into privilege and with that comes specific obligations."
All of sudden, just like that day but the river, Legolas felt his world shift. His view like an eagle's, almost like looking into spy glass, his focus sharpening and in his view he only saw, her.
"How do you do that?" Legolas whispered completely in awe of her,
"I am so sorry. I never should have said that." Alex felt embarrassed by her words, who was she to lecture an elf about how he should see himself? He was much more knowledgeable, much more skilled. She should just had offered comforting words instead of shutting him down.
"You have more conviction about life than I have, in my entire being." A humorless laugh came out huskier than he intended, his awe filled gaze lingering more on her face. She had offered him another view of the world, a more clearer view, a more open view. A purpose he had never felt before bloomed in him. Wasn't she the one to share her ideas about a society free from tyranny and oppression? Middle Earth is not only battling the threat of evil but discrimination and injustice, everywhere unfairness reign and the elves have only concerned themselves with themselves. They could do so much more.
Alex continued to stare on, seeing different emotions passing over his blue eyes. She could not look away, caught between wanting to say something and nothing at the same time. His face held the expression of wonderment at what she said.
It took both of them a while to realize they have been staring at each other for a while now, and slowly, a deep shade of blush crept in Alex's cheeks, making her look more younger but alluring at the same time.
Alex felt the telltale signs of the fluttering in her stomach again. It has increasingly become more frequent as of late. A feeling she could not describe warming her from her chest, spreading towards her toes. This place has always held wonder for her, magical beings like the stories her Nana had always told her about.
Suddenly, the feeling became all too clear for the young Alex. She had already felt it before, but each time it grew and grew, what started out as a simple admiration that then evolved into a school girl crush has become something she could no longer deny. Casting another furtive glance at the elf beside her, his own thoughts plaguing his mind, Alex did something that would change the course of their future forever.
"Legolas?" His questioning gaze swept over her, undeterred but the confusion swimming in his eyes, Alex continued. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For everything." A kind smile settled over her face as she regarded him, "I don't have any friends back home, and this place—you—have brought me so much happiness." A sense of bravery she had never felt before reared its head within her. She would trade her world for this world, this world with him, that gave her so much joy and provide an escape when her world had done nothing but suffocate her.
"Alex.."
"And for that, I bind myself to you."
"You do not know what you are talking about.." Legolas stood abruptly, turning his back and facing the now clear dark sky, full of stars. Closing his eyes and trying to slow the thunderous beating of his heart at her declaration. How could he have been so blind to her feelings?
"I bind myself to you." Alex whispered, certain that he could hear her. Her tone held no room for discussion.
Logic screaming at him, but his heart would not let go. Something in him had stirred, something he had not felt before, not with any other of his conquests. Stopping his self at the thought, Alex was never a conquest. She was never a prize to be won, a badge of honor or any other representation of games and intrigue. Looking up at the sky again, he saw one lone star fall, his eyes widening at the view. He felt warm all over. Everything is crisp and clear suddenly, the wind sharper against his skin, his eyes keen, his hearing loud. He entire being feeling rooted and centered.
For the first time in his long life, the Greenwood Prince felt like he was on the right track.
"You cannot do this." Turning around to look at the young lady before him, she was still sitting on the Talan, her pad forgotten beside her. Her face held innocence, but it was her eyes that capture him. "You are too young.."
"I will not be young forever."
"Alex." Panic and doubt replacing his earlier emotions.
"I will not take it back." Regret threatening to spill to the surface. Alex could sense his disappointment.
"Let's head back." Holding out his hand for her to take, Legolas lead her to the ladder, making their way down.
"Where are we going?"
Feeling her smooth hand clasp around his, that all consuming feeling content sweeping through him again. "We have to talk to my father." was all he said.
-Greenwood, Third Age 2968-
"Alden," the King said, nervously pacing the length of the throne room in his silver gown. "Do you suppose I made a mistake in bringing the younger woman to teach Alexandria how to go about in Elven Society?"
Turning from the mirror, where he had been needlessly rearranging the intricate folds of his pristine green tunic, Alden smiled sympathetically at the King's last minute panic over Alexandria's debut tonight. "It's too late to change that now."
The Elven King was never one to show weakness, and vulnerability but on rare occasions such as this, it was a shock that his highness would still feel such emotions. The Elven King had been through so much in his long life. So much joy yet also with it, so much pain and suffering. Loosing his father, his mate. Being a witness to countless wars and slaughter of his people has brought the King so much sorrow that he is now forced to hide under the mountain.
"Well, who could possibly be better suited than I to teach her how to behave properly? I am," the King reminded him bluntly, reversing his earlier opinion, "after all, is regarded as a paragon of proper behavior by Society, am I not?"
"You mean, no one would dare question the King's decision to accept his son's unlikely and untimely betrothal? Let alone, take the poor girl under his wing to acclimate the young child—in such a short amount of time—to the customs and culture of elven society? You are indeed." Alden said, refraining from reminding the King that he'd told her once from the outset Alexandria shouldn't be taught to emulate an elf of almost four thousand years.
"I can not go through with it," the King remarked suddenly and sank into a chair his expression positively dire.
Alden tried but with no luck, to suppress the chuckle that bubbled out of him at the King's unprecedented display of doubt and uncertainty, the ice cold glare sent his way immediately silenced him.
Now I know where Legolas learned that look.
"You will not be laughing a few hours from now, " Thranduil predicted darkly. "Tonight, I will persuade the haughtiest of Elven society to accept a female without name, without fortune, nor family connections or ancestry within their circle." Releasing a sigh he had been holding, "I love her like a daughter, but she will be like dead carcass to vultures. They will eat her alive."
"Perhaps, it is not wise to be so morbid, your highness." Alden turned to look at the King fully this time, "Being escorted by the King may still yet to bring her luck, no one would dare oppose you by ostracizing Alexandria, even if they'll suspect her origins or the suddenness of their betrothal."
"You forget how vicious they can be." Barely glancing at his advisor, "and who she is bonded to." Thranduil closed his eyes, even without Elrond's gift of fore sight, he can already predict a disaster in the making. "I heard all the gossips about my son."
"Does she have any idea?" Alden asked cautiously, of all the things the prince should have discussed with his mate, it should have included his dalliances.
"My guess, is no."
"By the Valar.." Alden muttered under his breath. A stirring of some kind had started in his abdomen slowly spreading over his diaphragm and onto his chest, rendering him unable to breath properly. "This is going to be a disaster."
The icy glare that sliced his way silenced him for the second time that night. "You will not leave her side, do I make my self clear?"
Alden's eyes widened at the command of his King. "I cannot be with her at all time, but you can and you will. Keep the vultures away from my daughter."
"But how..?"
"I trust you are competent enough for the task?" Thranduil's voice had turned a deadly cold tone.
"But the society will be bound to know something is of concern once they notice she is never left unattended." Alden tried to wiggle his way out of this impossible task but to no avail.
Oh! To be on the line of fire when the Prince's past paramours find out he's bonded.
"Where is Alex?" The King asked, interrupting Alden's thoughts.
"In the parlor. I do not know how we will make this work. She is barely of legal age and a mortal at that!" Alden's despair was clear in his voice, his earlier mirth at the King's doubt seemed distant now.
"How is she?"
"Nervous. She is so thin, I could almost see right through her." Oh Legolas, I could strangle you right now. "You should have never sent Legolas to check on our Northern Border."
"The safety of Greenwood will always be on the top of my priority and Legolas is aware of that. As General of the Greenwood army and their crowned prince, it is within his duty to ensure our borders are never breached. Those retched abominations should know better than trying to cross our land." Another resigned sigh escaped passed the Kings lips.
"A more heavy priority than having him escort his own mate on her first introduction to Elven society?" Alden questioned, pinching the bridge of his nose for the circus that is about to unfold, "The gossip mongers are going to have a field day."
"Go away, Alden." Thranduil sighed, "You are depressing me. Go and see what is keeping Alexandria—it is almost time to leave."
In the hall outside her bedchamber, Alex stood before a portrait of Legolas. The painting was done a few hundred years ago, the image a spitting copy of the real elf. He was sitting with his back against a tree, one leg drawn up, one wrist atop the knee, his face twisted away from the painter, his eyes trained on something far away, his brows drawn as if in serious contemplation or concentration. Alex loved the life-like, unposed quality of the painting, but it was his expression that held her like a moth to a flame and made her pulse quicken — because Legolas looked like how he would always look when he regarded her, when he talked to her or simply when they together just bantering. Reaching up, Alex touched her trembling fingertips to his ears, slowly dragging down his neck. "Even if you are not here, meleth nin," she whispered, "You will not be ashamed of me, I will make you proud—I promise."
From the corner of her eye, she saw Alden walking towards her and hastily snatched her hand away. Without taking her eyes from Legolas' compelling features, she asked, "The painter who made this is wonderfully talented, but I can't quite make out his name?" Squinting her eyes at the signature at the bottom right of the frame, "Who is he?"
Sweet Elbereth! Alden inhaled and exhaled sharply trying to calm his beating heart at her question. "Lady Enyelwen."
"Oh. I assume there are plenty of 'Lady Enyelwens' at court, so which one?" Alex pressed on, noting how Alden had not offered a last name or any other title following the elleth's name. "So that I may thank her and send praise for her talent is surely magnificent. Being able to capture Legolas' profile like that and being able to have him hold still long enough to be painted." Smiling at the conjured up image of Legolas' complaining to stay still every step of the way while the artist try to capture his visage.
If only elves could sweat, Alden would be drenched by now. By the Valar! Is she suppose to know? If yes, then how? When? No? That painting had been a subject of gossip and intrigue since it was first displayed at the royal wing of the palace, only accessible to members of the Royal family. Stories of the Prince's dalliance with the Lady in question and her marital status when that painting was procured was a source of entertainment to the elven high society for a few hundred years. It may live down in history as one of the most prominent paintings ever of a royal for the backstory held much more intrigue than the subject of the artist.
It was rumored, that the Prince had a long standing affair with the artist during the time of the production of the painting and upon appreciating the product of her talent, his highness had gifted her with an emerald incrusted necklace—one that she would wear even at the presence of her lowly soldier husband, who is also not innocent in it all for he was also rumored to have bedded the Prince's intended which lead to the cancellation of the betrothal not long after it was discovered. The Prince's ruthlessness was then demonstrated, not only in battle, but in his choices of paramours, for he kept up the affair long after Filwin—the soldier and Lady Enyelwen's husband—had cut off any ties with the distraught supposed royal bride.
The ruckus the painting caused when it was heard that it was put up for display on the royal wing made even more a subject of horrifying gossip when it was heard that the Lady might be taking the place of the embarrassed previous fiancé of the Prince. But not one word of affirmation from the Royal family was heard, especially from the Prince who, after his fill of Enyelwen—and her supposed claim to the title—moved on to the next elleth that interested him. Leaving the poor Lady Enyelwen to nurse her wounds, while his husband travelled to Lothlorien and decided to serve there, leaving her alone in Greenwood. Unable to accept suitors for her marital status still stood firm and legal despite having not lived with her husband for long time.
"There is only one Lady Enyelwen, your highness." Clearing his throat and trying to loosen the neckline that took him hours to put to place.
"Alex. Just Alex." Waving Alden off and smiling shyly at the King's adviser, "Titles make me uncomfortable."
Alden's eyebrow shot up to his hairline at the request. This was a first in a thousand that someone had waved off being called their proper title and having someone prefer to be called by their name.
"How do I look?" Gesturing to herself and spinning around to give Alden a proper view of her, "Look at me Alden, do you think Legolas will be pleased if he could see me now?"
No. But of course he would not say it out loud. Alex looked completely different form the paramours the Prince had paraded in the past. The elleths were all tall and slender and pale. The child in front of him however, looked malnourished for elven tastes. If not for her striking green eyes and dark, thick mane on her head—that was uncommon in Greenwood— he would not have provided her with a second glance.
But Alden soon found out, after spending hours with the young lady that what Alex lacked in beauty, she made up for her wit, perceptiveness and kind spirit paired with a sharp tongue and right then Alden knew that with time and given the right schooling, the future Princess of Greenwood would be a force to be reckoned with.
The only question that lingered in his mind after that thought was, when?
0-0-0
At first hour and a half of the Grand Feast of Starlight, Alden's prediction seemed to have faded in the background. Alden had deliberately preceded them into the grand hall so that he could watch the King and his daughter by law make their grand entrance. The King marched into the hall like a protective mother hen shepherding his chick— his stance aggressive, his eyes cold sweeping the crowd that had gathered and suddenly grown silent at their arrival—daring anyone to question his judgement at lending his enormous influence to Alexandria or to anyone who will consider ostracizing her.
For a full minute, three hundred of the elven society's most illustrious, languid and sophisticated personages stopped talking to gape at Greenwood's most respected and influential royalty, who seemed to be hovering surreptitiously over a young lady—much too young— no one recognized. Whispers broke out among the guests as attentions shifted from his highness to the gaunt, pale girl who is currently standing with wide eyes beside the King.
Beside Alden, Lord Callon lifted his arrogant brow and drawled, "As advisor to the King, I trust you will enlighten us about the identity of the dark haired lady-child beside his majesty the king?" His eyes still on Alex, as his laughter filled the small circle that some of the other members of the the King's court had currently positioned themselves in.
"Prince Legolas' mate." The bland announcement leaving a bitter taste in his mouth as he watch Lord Callon turn red at the information, his coughing fit garnering the attention of the surrounding elves as he was simultaneously being whacked in the back by Lord Idril— another one of the King's advisors— as he choked on his wine at the shock of the sudden turn of events.
"By the Valar it can not be true!" Lord Idril exclaimed looking around him and finally settling on Alden, "So it's true then? The Prince had finally found himself a bride?" Laughing quietly while his eyes bellied his astonishment at the news.
"A naive witless chit, if I recall the story I heard from his paramour at the time… who was it then?" Lord Callon asked to no one in particular, his eyes still examining the young lady in question as Alex and Thranduil made their way down the staircase.
"How should I know." Lifting his shoulders in defense, Idril rambled on, "his majesty the Prince changes paramour like he changes his trousers. It's hard to keep track." Another ruckus of laughter erupted from the group, earning them a few glances from the nearby aristocrats.
"Alden, you looked like you could use a drink." Callon handed him a wine,
"Nay. I say, he looks like he's going to pass out. Have a seat, mellon." Idril moved to the side, trying to drag Alden with him to the nearest cushion they could find.
"Where is Prince Legolas, if I may be bold to ask?" Callon turned his attention to Alden, who by now had drained his cup in swift gulp.
"At the Northern Border, his presence was requested at the last minute. Reports of spiders coming in from the North had needed his immediate attention."
"And leave his bedraggled little sparrow to face the wolves alone? My night just turned interesting." Callon continued on, oblivious to the unadulterated glare sent his way by none other than Alden.
Alden's irritation at the ridicule Alex was unknowingly being subjected to had hurt his feelings. He knew this was a bad idea from the start, but to actually be a witness to it has his heart pinching in pieces for the poor girl. She did not deserve any and all criticism that is coming her way. He was sure, no one would dare make that comment around the King and certainly not around the Prince, if they have no plans of being his majesty's target practice. "She'll improve with age." Alden tried to counter the onslaught of criticism Alex was already receiving.
"They are about to begin dancing. Come introduce me to the girl. I claim right of her first dance." Lord Callon commented, completely ignoring Alden's protests not to upset the King's daughter by law.
It took Alex most of the dance before she began to relax and stop counting off the steps in her head. In fact, she had just decided that she was not likely to miss a step and tread on well-shod feet of her elegant and bored looking dance partner when he said something that nearly made her do exactly that. "Tell me, my dear," he said in a sardonic drawl, "how have you managed to snag the Crown Prince of Greenwood?" Mirth dancing in his brown eyes as he glanced down at the lady-child currently in his arms.
The music was building to a crescendo as the dance neared its end, and Alex was certain she must have misunderstood him. "I—I beg your pardon?"
"I was only expressing my admiration for your cunningness in snagging the coveted Crown Prince. I daresay you have my sympathy for what you must have endured and have gone through just to gain the title that you now hold." His condescending tone not not left unnoticed by her.
Alex, who had no experience with the sort of sophisticated, brittle repartee, did not know it was considered fashionable, so she reacted with shocked loyalty to the elf who had first began to be her friend before becoming her husband. "Obviously, you are not well acquainted with his grace."
A muffed laugh escaped the elf's lips, "I certainly hope not!"
"I do not need your sympathy sir, and you cannot know him well enough to speak of him like that."
"By the Valar! And he got himself an ignorant one too." Lord Callon stared at Alex with cold displeasure,
"He is generous and kind!"
"I am sure he is. And you," he said with a jeering smile, "are either afraid to speak the truth or you are the most naive chit alive."
"And you," Alex countered with a look of glacial storm that would discredit even the Elven King himself, "are either too blind to see the truth, or your are extremely vicious." As that the dance came to an end, and Alex delivered the unforgivable—and unmistakeable- insult of turning her back on him and walking away.
Unaware that everyone was watching them, Alex returned to where she previously stood to find only Alden standing there and the King engaged in a private meeting—but her actions had indeed been noted by many of the guests, several of whom lost no time in chiding the proud Lord for his lack of success with the young princess. In return, Lord Callon retaliated by becoming her most vocal detractor that same night and expressing to his acquaintances his discovery, during their brief dance, that the future Princess of Greenwood was a vapid, foolish, vain chit and a dead bore without conversation, polish or wit.
Within the hour, Alex innocently verified to the guests that she was certainly excruciatingly foolish. She was standing amidst a huge group of elegantly attired people, most are discussing the recent musical performance of the most beautiful elf who played the harp, that was played the night before by Lady Aredhel. Turning to Alden, Alex raised her voice slightly in order to be heard over the din and had innocently asked if Legolas had enjoyed the musical too. Two dozen people seemed to stop talking and gape at her with expression that ranged from embarrassment to derision.
Lady Aredhel had been the beautiful blonde elf who had a long tumultuous affair with the Prince after the scandal involving him and Lady Enyelwen. The two elleths had never seen eye to eye after the rumors blossomed since both elleths still had it in their heads that the Prince would come around and have his pick from both of them who were regarded as his most beautiful conquests from the parade of elleths in his young life.
The second incident occurred shortly thereafter. Alden had left her with a group of people, including the above mentioned two elleths, when Alex's gaze was drawn to them, the two of the most beautiful elleths she had ever seen. They were standing close together—a first in two thousand years of ignoring each other for having a sordid affair with the same Prince—with their back turned against each other, both scrutinizing the young mortal. One was a blonde and the other a lush brunette.
Legolas always praised her drawings and paintings when they were alone on the woods of Mirkwood since she was young and like the painting she saw on the royal wing, Alex felt compelled to capture the image the two beautiful elleths provided into canvas. Lord Idril had been speaking to her, Alex begged his pardon for her lack of attention, and inclined her head toward the two elleth who had distracted her. "Are they not the two loveliest elf maidens you've ever seen?" She asked with a smile of sheer admiration and no jealousy.
Horror crossed Lord Idril's features before he schooled them into a calm one, and felt pity for the young princess' innocent question. His horror was magnified ten fold however, as he struggled to interrupt her as Alex slowly maneuvered her way towards the maidens, her attention focused on the brunette wearing an attention grabbing emerald encrusted necklace. "I am sorry, but I could not help but notice how beautiful you ladies are, and that necklace!—truly one of a kind." Alex offered a friendly smile on her face.
Not giving the maidens any time to react, Lord Idril came swooping in, in the hopes of saving Alex from the vultures. "Come on, my dear. I think they have started to serve sweet cakes."
The elves surrounding them looked to the two maidens, then at her. Brows shot up, eyes widened, and glasses lifted up to conceal amused smiles. Alex was unknowingly complimenting two of Legolas' most prominent paramours, Lady Aredhel and Lady Enyelwen.
By the end of the feast, two hundred of the three hundred in attendance had heard of the Princess admiring two of the Prince's paramours. So amusing was that fact that the ladies in question themselves were seen laughing uproariously together like the best of friends.
Alex was blissfully unaware of her latest gaffe, but she was acutely aware as the evening progressed that people seemed to be laughing at her, not with her, behind their hands.
After the feast and the guests had cleared out, Alex had pleaded with Alden to tell if something has gone awry, but he merely patted her hand and told her that 'she was a great success', while the King remarked that she had given 'an excellent account' of herself.
Despite that, Alex knew instinctively despite her young age, that something was very wrong. During the following week of dinners and musicals, sardonic sidelong glances directed at her became almost unbearable. Hurt and bewildered, she sought refuge among the King's closest adviser, Alden, Lord Idril and Lord Callon, whom although was decades older than her, did not seem to eye her as an amusing, peculiar, pathetic creature.
Unfortunately, it did not dawn on Alex that the polite Lord Callon, whom she had already forgiven for their unfortunate first dance, who listened to her glowing accounts of Legolas' skill and generosity was concluding that she had been sadly and ludicrously was besotted with Greenleaf— or that Lord Callon would repeat his observation to his other acquaintances who in turn repeated the accounts to their younger relatives, who in turn spread the word to their friends.
On the rare occasions that Alex would be asked for a dance, she sensed that none of the elves actually liked her and she did the only thing she could think of to hide her confusion and misery with the very people and place that used to bring so much magic and joy to her when she was younger. She'd put her chin up and with cool politeness and made it infinitely clear that she preferred to remain by the King's side, who welcomed her and eyed the vultures with distaste when Alex was not looking.
As a result, Alex was dubbed the Ice Princess, and the unkind sobriquet stuck. Jokes circulated amongst the elven society which implied that Legolas may have thought of patrolling the borders preferable than in his wife's company. It was recalled with considerable relish—from Lady Enyelwen—that the Prince had made a serious comment about being forced to perform the duty of his crown. Moreover, it was remarked upon length by the same mistress laughingly that Legolas had succeeded in his plan of wedding a 'naive witless chit right out of schoolroom eager to do his merest bidding.'
Within two weeks, Alex was painfully aware that she was a hopeless outcast, but as she did not hear talk, she had no way of discovering why. All she knew was that the elite elven society treated her either with patronization, amusement or occasionally outright scorn—and that she had failed Legolas greatly. It was the latter that hurt her the most. She spent hours standing in the hall in front of his painting, trying not to cry, silently apologizing to him for her failure and asking him to forgive her for embarrassing him and marring his name.
By the night of Lord Gildor and Lady Nienna's dinner party, during her third week after her debut, Alex was so miserable and so tense that she felt numb inside. She felt as if, she would never laugh again with joy or find solace in tears. On that fateful night, she did both.
Exiting the tall panels of the great hall, Alex had successfully escaped unnoticed into the gardens, her usual solemn mood improving slightly at the sight of flowers in full bloom under the starlight. For the first time in weeks, Alex thought of her Nana and the her Nana's garden. It had almost been three weeks, would they be looking for her? Or would time have stood still in her absence?
Maneuvering her way around the tall bushes and trees, Alex found a lone bench situated under a lone Mallorn Tree with a perfect unobscured view of the night sky.
Sitting on the bench and releasing a deep sigh, she contemplated her predicament and if it was a good idea to have stayed so long in a place that obviously held no warmth to her.
Legolas, where are you?
Feeling a single tear fall from her cheek, Alex hastily wiped it away, looking around her to make sure that no other wandering elf saw her. Traumatized by the sidelong glances and hidden laughs directed her way.
"My apologies milady, I did not know you were there." A young elleth bend down, and then quickly scurrying away from where she came from.
"It's okay. No harm, no foul." Alex said softly, obviously bewildered by the sudden treatment of the elf maiden.
Turning around to look at the lady sitting alone, studying her features more clearly this time, the elleth's eyes widened at the realization at who the lady is. "You are 'her' aren't you?"
"Who?" Alex's confusion at the maiden's question clear on her face, but a ghost of smile on her lips.
"Princess Alexandria."
Sadness quickly danced across her green eyes, her shoulders dropping slightly, "I am not a princess." An apologetic smile gracing her lips at having to break the maiden's expectation.
"Oh I am never wrong." Quickly moving towards Alex and plopping herself beside Alex, she rambled on, "I maybe just the maid, but maids are never wrong." Her smile almost blinding in her excitement at meeting the princess.
Alex smiled for the maid's smile was infectious, her excitement rubbing off on Alex, "What's your name?"
"I knew you were different from those snobs." A snicker escaped her lips, " I am Alvena." Standing back to curtsy properly and returning to her previous position beside the princess. "What do your friends call you and what are you doing here all alone?"
I don't have friends anymore, was what Alex wanted to say but chose to ignore the first question, "I..um.. I needed fresh air." Alex lied,
"Tsk. Do not let them get to you. They are petty and frivolous, that is what they are." Alvena gestured with her arms towards the general direction of the hall. "It does not matter what they think. All that matters is that your people love you."
"M..my..my people?" Alex's eyes were wide at the information, disbelief and shock swimming in them.
"Yes. Your people." Alvena continued unperturbed by the Alex's confusion over the information. "The people of Greenwood." Alvena smiled, proud to have delivered the news herself to the princess. "We all saw you last week, when you visited the market—no royal has ever gone there before—and we were all quite shocked that you were there alone. You talked to the vendors like they were your closest friends and you were not afraid to laugh with the elflings."
Alex was shocked that this person seemed to regale something that felt completely normal for Alex. She was struggling for an escape that day and venturing to the market was one her fondest memories of Greenwood for she had not felt outcasted by the people she met.
"You laughed and talked with the rest of us commoners and we could not have been more grateful. It was exciting to be able to talk to a royalty, much more, to have a chat with Greenwood's Princess. Your maids speak highly of you, and your insistence to forego titles. It is truly refreshing." Alvena was completely in her element talking to Alex, "and during your walk with the King himself, you stopped to receive the flowers being offered and had a talk with the crowd that had gathered. No one has ever done that before!"
Horrified that Alex might have insulted another elven ritual, Alex moved to apologize but was waved by Alvena. "I am truly sorry if I have offended any of your protocols in any way. It was never my intention. I truly did not know." Alex's sad eyes and her open expectation of another ridicule at her expense of misinformation about elven ritual brought pity to color the maid's eyes.
"There are a great deal of things you do not know, milady." Alvena could not help herself. Hearing all the insults and ridicule circulating about the princess and her devotion to her prince, made Alvena pity the lady that nobody took the time to inform of the reality.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Alex intrigued, hoping that finally someone would give her a clue to what was going on around her. An unexplainable premonition of dread slowly crept up her spine. But her gaze remained polite as she regarded Alvena with interest at what the girl is about to share with her.
"Milady, you are aware of the Prince's skill at bow and arrow?"
"Yes, but what has that got to do with how the society has been treating me?"
"His majesty's skill at aiming for his target and hunting his prey is not only displayed during battle but also in his conquests. His faultless eyes and the ability to ensure his prey before his prey even knows it's in danger." Leaning closer Alvena continued on, "My lord Legolas got his reputation not only from his ruthlessness in battle as a warrior but also in his hunt for his next conquest. Many years ago, he made a conquest of a particularly proud young beauty for whom half of the bachelors in the Elven Kingdom had been longing for for months. The Prince did it in one evening by asking her to dance." Looking worriedly at the silent princess before her, Alvena continued on with the story.
"Milady, you have convinced yourself that you are in love and was loved by a prince you consider incapable of sin, when in fact he is the opposite. The truth is, he never gave fair treatment where women are concerned, and everyone knows it. Do you understand me?"
"I..I'm not sure that I follow.." Alex stuttered, the maiden's words not seeming to compute in her head.
"Every single person who has heard you speak of him so highly, knows you're just another one of his victims. Just another one of the countless women to fall prey to the Prince's fatal attraction. He did not try to seduce them—half the time, he was more irritated than pleased when women fell in love with him, but they did it anyway, just as you are doing now. But unlike his other victims, you are too guileless to hide it from anyone."
Alex tinged pink with embarrassment at how obvious she had been with her admiration. She also did not think Legolas would be blamed that women fell in love with him.
"I respect and adore the Royal family, their dedication to uphold order and protect their people are surely admirable, but that does not change the fact that his prince was a notorious rake with a well deserved reputation of profligacy." Swearing under her breathe for the princess' obvious loyalty and innocence, Alvena plowed on, "You do not believe me, do you? All right here is the rest of it —on the night of your first ball, you publicly commented Lady Aredhel and especially Lady Enyelwen for their beauty. Both of them were his paramours. Do you understand what that means?"
The color slowly drained from Alex' face. A paramour shared a man's bed while he did intimate things to them that Legolas had never engaged with her. "I even complimented her necklace."
Alvena saw the color drain from the princess' face and forged ahead, "During that same ball, you asked Lord Alden if his prince enjoyed the musical—harp— and everyone laughed their sides off because everyone knew Lady Aredhel was his mistress until she got requested in Rivendell and he moved on with Lady Enyelwen without so much as a glance back. Milady, it was Lady Enyelwen who told everyone that the prince had told her long ago that should he be required to fulfill his duty to the crown and marry, he would pick a naive witless chit."
Alex jumped from her seat unable to hear anymore, "You are wrong! You don't know him like I do!" Unbidden tears Alex was oblivious to was making its way down her cheeks.
"Milady, I know it hurts but you needed to know. Everyone is talking about it. About you. You have been the subject of ridicule for weeks that even the servants know your stories. They talked about you so openly I am surprised you are not aware of any of this." Alvena felt pity for the Greenwood princess whose humiliation was clear as the sky. "The people of Greenwood adore you, your highness and we could not bear to see you treated like this. I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, but I had to say something." Alvena bowed her head in shame. "They were laughing at you."
Alex covered her face with her hands, her sobs wracking her frame at the realization that everything had just been a dream. "How could they not tell me?" Alex asked to no one in particular.
"We only wanted you happy." A deep voice interrupted the pair, as King Thranduil emerged from the shadows. "We wanted you to know but we do not know where or how to begin. If this night is to be of truths, know in your heart that you have always been special to my son."
"Enough!" Alex was too battered to worry about her tone with Thranduil, "I am going home."
"No. My child, please stay. Wait for him. Let him explain."
Alex stood, her eyes red and her cheeks wet from all the tears, not knowing which way to go but knowing she would always find her way home, Alex marched to the opposite direction of the hall.
"Anel nin."
Alex stopped, turning around to face the King one last time, "Thank you for everything Sir. Really. But I can't stay." Humiliation and anguish running rampant inside her. "I don't belong here."
How could she had been so stupid?
Removing the jewelry and hair ornaments, Alex returned every last borrowed item. Placing every last item on the nearby bench, Alex picked up the ends of her long gown and ran.
Thranduil watched his daughter slowly become a shadow of the happy child he met years ago. His heart breaking at the thought that he will never see her again but there is no stopping her, his heart bleeding more for his son that would discover his mate gone and the wrath that was sure to erupt should the news of what happened to his mate reach him.
Alvena's tears would not stop. Her self loathing palpable with the realization that she had caused their Prince to lose his mate. Turning towards the King, she knelt with her head bowed, "It is all my fault, your majesty, if I had kept quiet none of this would have happened. I will accept the punishment bestowed." Alvena's sobs shaking her slender frame.
"You did nothing wrong. My daughter deserved to know and you were the only one brave enough to do it." Thranduil answered, his gaze still at the path Alex took, but he could not see her anymore, "This was all my fault. Her protection was my responsibility and I failed her. I failed them both."
"My King—" Alvena turned to plea but was interrupted by the King's stern voice.
"You will speak of this to no one. All will be revealed in time." With that Thranduil pulled the maid to her feet, and swiftly turned to return home leaving Alvena alone.
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AN: *hides in embarassment* what do you think?
can anybody guess where i borrowed the utopian conversation from?:)))
lemme know what you think, i need reviews..*begs*