RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
***START A/N*** One more before I go, and maybe another tonight… Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! This one's only 14 chapters long.***END A/N***
6.
Isabella's father greeted them at the doorway of the cottage when they returned, his eyes full of questions, and she tried to play the part of a happy bride-to-be. "Father… May I-" she paused and looked at the prince. "May we have a word with you?"
"Of course, Isabella. Come inside. Everyone is in the stables, getting ready to leave in the morning."
Just smile, she thought to herself. Smile and do not think and do not feel. Pretend that you are happy. Isabella clenched the fist that was not in Legolas' hand in frustration. She had never been good at lying, but she forced a soft smile onto her lips and a spring into her step as they walked inside and sat down. "I have-" her voice caught in her throat and she laughed nervously, looking down at the floor. "I have happy news, Father."
"Is that so?" he asked cheerfully.
"But of course you already know that Legolas –" she clapped her hand over her mouth and turned to the prince. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not mean to refer to you so familiarly."
He smiled at her, unabashed joy in his eyes. "You may call me Legolas if you wish, My Dear."
She nodded, knowing that she should give him permission to drop her title as well. But, she just could not bring herself to do it. "Father, Legolas has asked for my hand in marriage. He wishes for me to become Princess of Mirkwood."
Her father's pleasant laughter filled the room. "And did you grant it, Isabella?"
She cast what she hoped appeared to be a loving glance upon her betrothed and replied, "Of course, Father. Who am I to deny any request of the prince?"
"Good girl!" shouted Narulas. "Good! You are right. I did know that he would ask, and I must say that I could not be happier! See, I have already packed your trunk and summoned your cousin Hwestawen who will accompany you to Court."
The sadness that washed over her at that moment was like a great wave that threatened to drown her, and she could not keep the tears from falling. She had to think fast, lest her charade fail. "I… I will miss you, Father," she croaked, letting go of Legolas' hand and falling into her father's arms, sobbing.
She could not see the look that her father exchanged with the prince. "Take good care of her," he mouthed silently as he held her trembling form in his arms. "Do not let her sorrow last for too long."
Legolas had grown very serious and nodded gravely, his eyes softening with empathy for Isabella. He longed to take her in his own arms to tell her that everything would be all right, but he dared not. She would understand soon enough, and she would be the happiest bride that Mirkwood had ever seen. At least, that was his sincere hope.
***
Morning dawned bright and wintry, for the first frost of the year had fallen in the night. Along with the sun arrived Lady Hwestawen and her mother, Narulas' sister who fussed over Isabella like a mother hen.
"Why look at you, My Dear! Pale and puffy-eyed. Whatever is the matter? It just will not do for the future princess. Did you not sleep well?"
"No, Auntie," she replied truthfully, knowing her eyes were swollen with the many tears she had shed in the night. Upon waking, she had vowed to shed no more, and so far she had succeeded.
"Well! You will tonight, Isabella. And I hope you will not fall asleep on your horse. Hwestawen! Hwestawen dear!"
The tall, honey-haired she-elf came at once, abandoning the horses she had been admiring. Always the Lady, Hwestawen was dressed in a sturdy yet feminine traveling outfit, her hair done up in intricate braids. Her green eyes looked around her in wonder as she greeted her cousin with a hug and kisses on each cheek. "Where are they?" she whispered.
"Preparing for the journey," answered Isabella, unable to keep a smile from her face. Her cousin's enthusiasm was always contagious. "Do not worry. You will meet them soon."
"In the meantime, Hwestawen, take this and help your cousin dress properly for the journey," said Isabella's aunt, handing a bundle to her.
***
Hwestawen made short work of helping Isabella with her traveling outfit, and braiding her hair in the same fashion as her own.
"You do not seem overly happy, Cousin," she said softly as she worked. "What is it that worries you?"
As she laced up her sturdy boots, Isabella sighed. "I am glad that you are coming with me, Hwesta. You are my dearest friend."
"You did not answer my question," she replied.
Isabella looked up at her. "I will tell you, but you must swear to me that you will never tell another soul."
"Of course," she answered, real concern showing in her eyes as she helped with the other boot.
"To make a long story short, I love Calen, the captain of Prince Legolas' guard, and Calen loves me. But the prince asked for my hand and I could not refuse. Calen made me promise, for he and the prince are as close as you and me, and he could not stand the thought of breaking his friend's heart."
"Oh, Isa. What will you do?" asked her cousin.
"What else can I do but accept it?" replied Isabella. "But come, it will be easier to feign happiness with you at my side. We shall have a grand adventure on the way to the palace and I shall teach you how to shoot and fence."
Hwestawen's eyes lit up. "You will?"
"Yes. But you must teach me how to be a proper Lady in return."
She laughed. "That is why your father summoned me, Lady Isabella."
***
When the two young Elves descended the stairs and appeared outside the cottage, Narulas and his sister looked at them with satisfaction. The elder Lady smiled at her niece. "Your mother would be so proud, my dear. How lovely you have grown. No wonder you captured the prince's heart!"
She could not help but blush at the compliment, though her heart was still heavy.
"And look! Here he comes now!"
From the stables, Calen and Legolas strode toward them, smiling and talking animatedly about some aspect of the journey. "…father will love her," was all she caught from the prince.
"He will indeed," replied Calen as they stopped short before the party that had gathered.
Hwestawen was so excited that she could hardly breathe. Her mother, on the other hand, had approached Calen and curtsied deeply. "Your Highness," she intoned softly.
Isabella's heart beat faster when he smiled at the elder Lady in mirth. "My Dear Lady, has it been so long? It is I, Calen! Here is your prince!" He motioned to his friend, and the Lady blushed and curtsied again.
"Forgive me," she said with an amused smile, "Your Highness, you have certainly grown since I last saw you!"
"I was only a child when you last were at my father's court," agreed Legolas. "But well met, and thank you for bringing your lovely daughter Hwestawen to help on the journey. I fear my Isabella would be quite lonely among ten males for three days."
At the mention of her name, Hwestawen sank into a curtsy as well. "Lady Isabella is my dearest friend and I would follow her anywhere, Your Highness." she said.
Their eyes met and seemed to linger just a little bit longer than necessary. "A pleasure meeting you, Lady Hwestawen!" he said sincerely, kissing her hand gently. "Now we shall have two lovely Ladies to accompany us home."
Isabella's heart skipped a beat. Was that admiration that burned in the prince's eyes as he gazed at her cousin? For they held an interest that she had never seen when he looked at her. Hope welled up in the future princess, and she managed a real smile for the first time since the previous day. "Well then, shall we be off?"
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
***START A/N*** One more before I go, and maybe another tonight… Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! This one's only 14 chapters long.***END A/N***
6.
Isabella's father greeted them at the doorway of the cottage when they returned, his eyes full of questions, and she tried to play the part of a happy bride-to-be. "Father… May I-" she paused and looked at the prince. "May we have a word with you?"
"Of course, Isabella. Come inside. Everyone is in the stables, getting ready to leave in the morning."
Just smile, she thought to herself. Smile and do not think and do not feel. Pretend that you are happy. Isabella clenched the fist that was not in Legolas' hand in frustration. She had never been good at lying, but she forced a soft smile onto her lips and a spring into her step as they walked inside and sat down. "I have-" her voice caught in her throat and she laughed nervously, looking down at the floor. "I have happy news, Father."
"Is that so?" he asked cheerfully.
"But of course you already know that Legolas –" she clapped her hand over her mouth and turned to the prince. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not mean to refer to you so familiarly."
He smiled at her, unabashed joy in his eyes. "You may call me Legolas if you wish, My Dear."
She nodded, knowing that she should give him permission to drop her title as well. But, she just could not bring herself to do it. "Father, Legolas has asked for my hand in marriage. He wishes for me to become Princess of Mirkwood."
Her father's pleasant laughter filled the room. "And did you grant it, Isabella?"
She cast what she hoped appeared to be a loving glance upon her betrothed and replied, "Of course, Father. Who am I to deny any request of the prince?"
"Good girl!" shouted Narulas. "Good! You are right. I did know that he would ask, and I must say that I could not be happier! See, I have already packed your trunk and summoned your cousin Hwestawen who will accompany you to Court."
The sadness that washed over her at that moment was like a great wave that threatened to drown her, and she could not keep the tears from falling. She had to think fast, lest her charade fail. "I… I will miss you, Father," she croaked, letting go of Legolas' hand and falling into her father's arms, sobbing.
She could not see the look that her father exchanged with the prince. "Take good care of her," he mouthed silently as he held her trembling form in his arms. "Do not let her sorrow last for too long."
Legolas had grown very serious and nodded gravely, his eyes softening with empathy for Isabella. He longed to take her in his own arms to tell her that everything would be all right, but he dared not. She would understand soon enough, and she would be the happiest bride that Mirkwood had ever seen. At least, that was his sincere hope.
***
Morning dawned bright and wintry, for the first frost of the year had fallen in the night. Along with the sun arrived Lady Hwestawen and her mother, Narulas' sister who fussed over Isabella like a mother hen.
"Why look at you, My Dear! Pale and puffy-eyed. Whatever is the matter? It just will not do for the future princess. Did you not sleep well?"
"No, Auntie," she replied truthfully, knowing her eyes were swollen with the many tears she had shed in the night. Upon waking, she had vowed to shed no more, and so far she had succeeded.
"Well! You will tonight, Isabella. And I hope you will not fall asleep on your horse. Hwestawen! Hwestawen dear!"
The tall, honey-haired she-elf came at once, abandoning the horses she had been admiring. Always the Lady, Hwestawen was dressed in a sturdy yet feminine traveling outfit, her hair done up in intricate braids. Her green eyes looked around her in wonder as she greeted her cousin with a hug and kisses on each cheek. "Where are they?" she whispered.
"Preparing for the journey," answered Isabella, unable to keep a smile from her face. Her cousin's enthusiasm was always contagious. "Do not worry. You will meet them soon."
"In the meantime, Hwestawen, take this and help your cousin dress properly for the journey," said Isabella's aunt, handing a bundle to her.
***
Hwestawen made short work of helping Isabella with her traveling outfit, and braiding her hair in the same fashion as her own.
"You do not seem overly happy, Cousin," she said softly as she worked. "What is it that worries you?"
As she laced up her sturdy boots, Isabella sighed. "I am glad that you are coming with me, Hwesta. You are my dearest friend."
"You did not answer my question," she replied.
Isabella looked up at her. "I will tell you, but you must swear to me that you will never tell another soul."
"Of course," she answered, real concern showing in her eyes as she helped with the other boot.
"To make a long story short, I love Calen, the captain of Prince Legolas' guard, and Calen loves me. But the prince asked for my hand and I could not refuse. Calen made me promise, for he and the prince are as close as you and me, and he could not stand the thought of breaking his friend's heart."
"Oh, Isa. What will you do?" asked her cousin.
"What else can I do but accept it?" replied Isabella. "But come, it will be easier to feign happiness with you at my side. We shall have a grand adventure on the way to the palace and I shall teach you how to shoot and fence."
Hwestawen's eyes lit up. "You will?"
"Yes. But you must teach me how to be a proper Lady in return."
She laughed. "That is why your father summoned me, Lady Isabella."
***
When the two young Elves descended the stairs and appeared outside the cottage, Narulas and his sister looked at them with satisfaction. The elder Lady smiled at her niece. "Your mother would be so proud, my dear. How lovely you have grown. No wonder you captured the prince's heart!"
She could not help but blush at the compliment, though her heart was still heavy.
"And look! Here he comes now!"
From the stables, Calen and Legolas strode toward them, smiling and talking animatedly about some aspect of the journey. "…father will love her," was all she caught from the prince.
"He will indeed," replied Calen as they stopped short before the party that had gathered.
Hwestawen was so excited that she could hardly breathe. Her mother, on the other hand, had approached Calen and curtsied deeply. "Your Highness," she intoned softly.
Isabella's heart beat faster when he smiled at the elder Lady in mirth. "My Dear Lady, has it been so long? It is I, Calen! Here is your prince!" He motioned to his friend, and the Lady blushed and curtsied again.
"Forgive me," she said with an amused smile, "Your Highness, you have certainly grown since I last saw you!"
"I was only a child when you last were at my father's court," agreed Legolas. "But well met, and thank you for bringing your lovely daughter Hwestawen to help on the journey. I fear my Isabella would be quite lonely among ten males for three days."
At the mention of her name, Hwestawen sank into a curtsy as well. "Lady Isabella is my dearest friend and I would follow her anywhere, Your Highness." she said.
Their eyes met and seemed to linger just a little bit longer than necessary. "A pleasure meeting you, Lady Hwestawen!" he said sincerely, kissing her hand gently. "Now we shall have two lovely Ladies to accompany us home."
Isabella's heart skipped a beat. Was that admiration that burned in the prince's eyes as he gazed at her cousin? For they held an interest that she had never seen when he looked at her. Hope welled up in the future princess, and she managed a real smile for the first time since the previous day. "Well then, shall we be off?"