A/N: Good day good people! I was going to stop writing for a while because
I am to go on a holiday next week and will have to spend my time buying
some things and packing my clothes (not to mention finish reading the
fellowship of the ring because it's due back to the library very soon)
But no! I could not do it! I have tried to keep away from the computer as
much as possible but I am a weak human and it has a great power over me
that draws me to it whenever I pass it. So I decided to surrender to
temptation and write another chapter before I leave for my (4 days and 3
nights) holiday.
I would also like to add as a warning to my most beloved critics that the
rest of the story may contain some things that are not completely according
to Mr. Tolkien's view of Middle Earth:O I hope you will bare the shock as
best as possible.
But I hope that at any rate, you will still read and enjoy my story (and
review!!!)
Legolas sat waiting under the tree near the river. 2 weeks had past since he first brought Layla here yet it felt like a lifetime. Since that day, they had spent many hours alone near the river talking and laughing.
He had never in his life met anyone like her. She was so fun and easy going yet there was something mysterious about her. She was often cheerful and radiant and always laughing. Yet, some moments she was very quiet and though she didn't say anything of it, Legolas could feel that there was something troubling her. He could see it in her eyes.
The day before, he had taken her to Baton D'Logue, a hill on the other side of Moltolas River. They were getting along fine until the issue of love came up.
'I am determined that nothing less than the deepest love with lead me to matrimony' he had said.
'You are luck then' she had said to him bitterly, 'there are others in this world who cannot marry for love even if they wished'
He laughed and said 'why not. Everyone has a choice whether to marry for love or for other reasons'
'Some people don't have a choice. There are other things that are involved' she said
'Like what?'
'I do not wish to discuss it with you' she said to him coldly. Legolas tried to reconcile but she remained silent and there was a strong sense of discomfort in the air between them.
After a few minutes she said 'I must go' and left him.
So there he sat, under the tree, thinking about what he should do.
"I knew I'd find you here" came her voice suddenly.
"Hello Layla. You look beautiful today"
"Thank you" she said blushing. She was her normal self again. She walked over to him slowly and kneeled down right in front of him.
"It was you, wasn't it?" she said softly looking at him straight in the eyes.
"I do not know what you are speaking of" Legolas said looking away, unable to stop himself from smiling.
"The dress! I cannot keep it!" she said raising her voice a little.
Legolas had asked Adelaide to find him a gown suitable for the ball. Something that was both unique and simple. Then he wrapped it up in a big box ad left it on Layla's door step before he came to Moltolas. He thought that maybe this gift would persuade her to forgive him for what he said the day before.
"It is yours!" he said with a serious face, "you cannot give it back"
"You have been so kind to me already"
"Then there's no need to take it back! You have got a dress and now you must come to the ball!"
"You are such a good friend to me" she emphasised the word friends but Legolas took no notice, "We have been spending so much time together and yet, you still have not told me your real name"
"You will see tonight" he said giving her a sneaky look.
They heard a horse coming toward them. It was Adelaide. She dismounted from her horse and ran to Legolas.
"You are wanted Legolas" she said as she handed him a letter. He quickly read it and then said "I must go Layla, I will see you tonight" he jumped on his horse and was gone.
"We finally meet" Adelaide said taking Layla's hand.
"Yes. It is nice to see you. I have hear much of you"
"And I you" Adelaide said with a wink. Legolas would not stop talking about her.
"Will you be attending the ball tonight?" Layla asked.
"Yes of course" Adelaide said, astonished by her question, "You have not met the royals of Mirkwood I take it?"
"I have not. But I am hoping to see them at the ball. Although, now I do not wish to go"
"Why not? You have a dress!"
"Yes, but all the maidens there will look to be like princesses. And I will be nothing compared to them."
"Come with me. I will help you if you like. You will be the belle of the ball!"
Legolas stood staring at himself in the looking glass. 'Tonight is the night' he kept saying to himself. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Banquo walked in and looked at his friend. "Very nice!" he teased. "Tonight is the night" Legolas said, not taking his eyes off the looking glass.
Banquo looked at him in astonishment.
"Don't you think you're rushing this a little bit? You hardly know her"
"No, but I feel like I know her", he said and walked over to Banquo and grabbed him by the shoulders; "She is the one Banquo! The one!" he said as he shook his friend violently.
Then they heard another knock on the door and Reza came in.
"Come on Legolas! We are about to make the grand entrance!"
LATER AT THE BALL:
Legolas bowed to each girl as his father introduced them but he took no notice of their names or who their fathers were. He looked around the hall but could not see Layla anywhere. He was beginning to have doubts that she would even turn up when Adelaide came to him. She gave Legolas a big hug and said "look there, on the stairs"
Legolas looked up and saw her. Layla was wearing the dress he had bought her and it fitted her perfectly. It was long sleeved and sliver and had a single line of diamonds on the edges. Her golden curls hung down over her dress, her eyes bright with excitement.
Legolas wanted to run to her but saw that Banquo had received her at the bottom of the stairs and they made their way toward him.
When they approached him, Layla looked at him smiling. She truly looked angelic.
Banquo cleared his voice and announced in a loud voice, "Prince Legolas, I would like to present to you, Lady Layla" and he gave her hand to Legolas.
Layla was quiet embarrassed as she notice that everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward her.
Legolas pulled her closer to him and said, "Would you like to dance with me, my lady?"
Without waiting for an answer he put one hand on her waist and took her hand in the other and began dancing.
"You really are the prince!" Layla whispered excitedly.
"I am! And all this time you did not believe me!"
"I am sorry! I am so embarrassed. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" she said sincerely.
"Of course", he said with a laugh and they continued dancing.
"Will you look at them! They look so perfect together don't you think?" Adelaide said to Banquo.
"Not as perfect as we are together", he said, bringing her hand to his lips. He kissed it softly and said "let's dance" and then led the way to the dance floor.
Legolas danced the whole night with Layla and everyone around them began to talk about it.
'Who is she?' they all wondered. 'Who is her father' the king asked.
No one knew who this mysterious girl was and where she came from.
Halfway through a dance Legolas said, "I am tired do you mind if we take a break?"
"Not at all, can we go out into the garden. I really wish to see it" Legolas led her out into the garden.
After a while, Legolas said "Layla, I have to tell you something important"
"And I you. But you can go first"
"Very well. Layla, I have known you less than a month but I already feel a deep connection with you", he leaned over to her and gently kissed her soft lips. He leaned back out again to look at her face and, taking her hands into his, he said "will you be my wife?"
She looked at him in absolute shock and did not say a word.
Legolas tightened his grip on her hands and smiled nervously. "Say something" he said. This seemingly moment of great joy now looked to be a complete disaster.
She paused a while, he could tell she was holding back tears. She gently pulled away from him. "I am sorry Legolas"
There was another moment of silence.
"I tried to convince myself that we were just friends." She began to cry softly "I cannot marry you"
Legolas turned away in disbelief. He tried to be angry at her but couldn't bring himself to. All he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and never let go.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and rested his head on her forehead "why?" he pleaded "I love you!"
"No! Please do not say such things!" she yelled pushing him (gently) away.
"Give me a reason! I thought you felt the same way"
"It is not because I don't want to marry you. I can't marry you! I am betrothed!" she wept. She looked at him bewildered for a few seconds, then ran out of the castle crying hysterically.
WOW! THAT' WAS DRAMATIC C U GUYS IN A WEEK! MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Legolas sat waiting under the tree near the river. 2 weeks had past since he first brought Layla here yet it felt like a lifetime. Since that day, they had spent many hours alone near the river talking and laughing.
He had never in his life met anyone like her. She was so fun and easy going yet there was something mysterious about her. She was often cheerful and radiant and always laughing. Yet, some moments she was very quiet and though she didn't say anything of it, Legolas could feel that there was something troubling her. He could see it in her eyes.
The day before, he had taken her to Baton D'Logue, a hill on the other side of Moltolas River. They were getting along fine until the issue of love came up.
'I am determined that nothing less than the deepest love with lead me to matrimony' he had said.
'You are luck then' she had said to him bitterly, 'there are others in this world who cannot marry for love even if they wished'
He laughed and said 'why not. Everyone has a choice whether to marry for love or for other reasons'
'Some people don't have a choice. There are other things that are involved' she said
'Like what?'
'I do not wish to discuss it with you' she said to him coldly. Legolas tried to reconcile but she remained silent and there was a strong sense of discomfort in the air between them.
After a few minutes she said 'I must go' and left him.
So there he sat, under the tree, thinking about what he should do.
"I knew I'd find you here" came her voice suddenly.
"Hello Layla. You look beautiful today"
"Thank you" she said blushing. She was her normal self again. She walked over to him slowly and kneeled down right in front of him.
"It was you, wasn't it?" she said softly looking at him straight in the eyes.
"I do not know what you are speaking of" Legolas said looking away, unable to stop himself from smiling.
"The dress! I cannot keep it!" she said raising her voice a little.
Legolas had asked Adelaide to find him a gown suitable for the ball. Something that was both unique and simple. Then he wrapped it up in a big box ad left it on Layla's door step before he came to Moltolas. He thought that maybe this gift would persuade her to forgive him for what he said the day before.
"It is yours!" he said with a serious face, "you cannot give it back"
"You have been so kind to me already"
"Then there's no need to take it back! You have got a dress and now you must come to the ball!"
"You are such a good friend to me" she emphasised the word friends but Legolas took no notice, "We have been spending so much time together and yet, you still have not told me your real name"
"You will see tonight" he said giving her a sneaky look.
They heard a horse coming toward them. It was Adelaide. She dismounted from her horse and ran to Legolas.
"You are wanted Legolas" she said as she handed him a letter. He quickly read it and then said "I must go Layla, I will see you tonight" he jumped on his horse and was gone.
"We finally meet" Adelaide said taking Layla's hand.
"Yes. It is nice to see you. I have hear much of you"
"And I you" Adelaide said with a wink. Legolas would not stop talking about her.
"Will you be attending the ball tonight?" Layla asked.
"Yes of course" Adelaide said, astonished by her question, "You have not met the royals of Mirkwood I take it?"
"I have not. But I am hoping to see them at the ball. Although, now I do not wish to go"
"Why not? You have a dress!"
"Yes, but all the maidens there will look to be like princesses. And I will be nothing compared to them."
"Come with me. I will help you if you like. You will be the belle of the ball!"
Legolas stood staring at himself in the looking glass. 'Tonight is the night' he kept saying to himself. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Banquo walked in and looked at his friend. "Very nice!" he teased. "Tonight is the night" Legolas said, not taking his eyes off the looking glass.
Banquo looked at him in astonishment.
"Don't you think you're rushing this a little bit? You hardly know her"
"No, but I feel like I know her", he said and walked over to Banquo and grabbed him by the shoulders; "She is the one Banquo! The one!" he said as he shook his friend violently.
Then they heard another knock on the door and Reza came in.
"Come on Legolas! We are about to make the grand entrance!"
LATER AT THE BALL:
Legolas bowed to each girl as his father introduced them but he took no notice of their names or who their fathers were. He looked around the hall but could not see Layla anywhere. He was beginning to have doubts that she would even turn up when Adelaide came to him. She gave Legolas a big hug and said "look there, on the stairs"
Legolas looked up and saw her. Layla was wearing the dress he had bought her and it fitted her perfectly. It was long sleeved and sliver and had a single line of diamonds on the edges. Her golden curls hung down over her dress, her eyes bright with excitement.
Legolas wanted to run to her but saw that Banquo had received her at the bottom of the stairs and they made their way toward him.
When they approached him, Layla looked at him smiling. She truly looked angelic.
Banquo cleared his voice and announced in a loud voice, "Prince Legolas, I would like to present to you, Lady Layla" and he gave her hand to Legolas.
Layla was quiet embarrassed as she notice that everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward her.
Legolas pulled her closer to him and said, "Would you like to dance with me, my lady?"
Without waiting for an answer he put one hand on her waist and took her hand in the other and began dancing.
"You really are the prince!" Layla whispered excitedly.
"I am! And all this time you did not believe me!"
"I am sorry! I am so embarrassed. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" she said sincerely.
"Of course", he said with a laugh and they continued dancing.
"Will you look at them! They look so perfect together don't you think?" Adelaide said to Banquo.
"Not as perfect as we are together", he said, bringing her hand to his lips. He kissed it softly and said "let's dance" and then led the way to the dance floor.
Legolas danced the whole night with Layla and everyone around them began to talk about it.
'Who is she?' they all wondered. 'Who is her father' the king asked.
No one knew who this mysterious girl was and where she came from.
Halfway through a dance Legolas said, "I am tired do you mind if we take a break?"
"Not at all, can we go out into the garden. I really wish to see it" Legolas led her out into the garden.
After a while, Legolas said "Layla, I have to tell you something important"
"And I you. But you can go first"
"Very well. Layla, I have known you less than a month but I already feel a deep connection with you", he leaned over to her and gently kissed her soft lips. He leaned back out again to look at her face and, taking her hands into his, he said "will you be my wife?"
She looked at him in absolute shock and did not say a word.
Legolas tightened his grip on her hands and smiled nervously. "Say something" he said. This seemingly moment of great joy now looked to be a complete disaster.
She paused a while, he could tell she was holding back tears. She gently pulled away from him. "I am sorry Legolas"
There was another moment of silence.
"I tried to convince myself that we were just friends." She began to cry softly "I cannot marry you"
Legolas turned away in disbelief. He tried to be angry at her but couldn't bring himself to. All he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and never let go.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and rested his head on her forehead "why?" he pleaded "I love you!"
"No! Please do not say such things!" she yelled pushing him (gently) away.
"Give me a reason! I thought you felt the same way"
"It is not because I don't want to marry you. I can't marry you! I am betrothed!" she wept. She looked at him bewildered for a few seconds, then ran out of the castle crying hysterically.
WOW! THAT' WAS DRAMATIC C U GUYS IN A WEEK! MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!!