The journey to Mirkwood was a pleasant and peaceful experience. It had
been a week of traveling and a week where Legolas and Aidyn could be alone
together.
As they approached the gates of the Mirkwood palace on Legolas' white horse, Liere, Aidyn's body stiffened and Legolas sensed it.
"What is it, melamin?" Legolas asked.
"Nerves I suppose," Aidyn replied.
"No matter what, remember what I said. We will be together."
Aidyn sighed heavily. She knew what she would do if King Thranduil did not give his blessing. She would not make Legolas choose between his father and her. Leaving him would hurt him, but so would disappoint from his father. They would have tonight, however. Tonight they would always remember, for eternity, if they went their separate ways.
"Legolas, I have missed you my son," Thranduil said when Legolas and Aidyn entered his personal chambers.
"I have missed you as well, father," Legolas replied embracing the King.
Thranduil then turned to face Aidyn, "This couldn't be little Aidyn. The Princess of Terror from Kalwood. I remember when you were very little. You would run my servants ragged."
"I have grown my lord, but I do remember running you ragged as well," Aidyn replied smiling, embracing him as well.
King Thranduil had been friends of King Valon and Queen Niere for many centuries. The visits to Mirkwood had been few and every time she was here Legolas was always off on some adventure. Legolas and Aidyn hadn't met until the War of the Ring, but remembered the King of Mirkwood talking very highly of his son the Prince.
After dinner, they once again retired to the King's chambers to talk some more.
"Legolas, do not tell me you have dragged poor Aidyn all the way here without good reason?" King Thranduil said as they sat by the fire.
"Of course not father. There is always a reason," Legolas replied smiling.
"And what might it be?"
"That is for tomorrow father. Aidyn and I have traveled a long way and would like to go to sleep now."
"Alright, we will speak of this reason tomorrow my son. Good night to you both."
Aidyn and Legolas walked silently down the hall to their rooms. They first reached Aidyn's and she turned to face her love.
"This is goodnight Princess, until the morning," Legolas said. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, then her lips.
"Stay with me Legolas," Aidyn said pulling back and leaning her forehead against his.
"I do not wish to rush you. We have all our lives. I want it to be special," he said kissing her forehead.
"It is not a question of pressure, my love, but of need. I need you, tonight, if not forever," she replied.
Legolas had not caught the hidden meaning in her words. She took his hand and led him inside. Aidyn was afraid for this was her first time and possibly her last. Legolas, however, was experienced and she knew this.
"I do not want to hurt you, Aidyn," Legolas whispered.
"I know. I trust you."
His heart swelled with those words. Legolas had been waiting to hear them ever since they were in Kalwood. Trust was just as important to him as love. For without trust there was no love and when Aidyn gave her trust to him, Legolas knew she was giving him everything she had.
"I am giving you everything I am Legolas. Everything. I want you to know that no matter what happens, there will never be another. I will live remembering this night forever," Aidyn said softly.
"As will I. And there will be many more."
And with that Legolas and Aidyn became one that night. Vulnerable they both were. They knew each other's secrets now. Each other's insecurities, fears, and passions. They realized how deep their love was for one another and knew that the gift they gave each other tonight was greater than the gift of immortality bestowed upon all of their kind.
The next morning Aidyn awoke slowly, afraid of what they day would bring. Legolas wasn't there when she awoke. He had left her a note saying that he went to speak with his father about them. Aidyn dressed and went in search of Legolas. Her elven hearing picked up raised voices down the hall. After finding the door, Aidyn realized it was Legolas and King Thranduil arguing about her. She stayed outside the door and listened.
"How dare you? You would try and bring a mixed blood into our family? What is wrong with you Legolas? I have taught you better than this," Thranduil bellowed.
"I love her father and I will marry her with or without your blessing," said Legolas trying to keep his temper under wraps.
"I forbid it, Legolas. I will not let you throw away everything I have worked so hard for to give you. You are to send her away immediately and you will never set foot in Kalwood again. Though we will keep peace between our kingdoms. I will find an excuse why you will not be returning."
"I am old enough to make my own decisions father. As much as I love you, I will not let Aidyn go. True love only comes once and I will not let you get in the way of mine over some ignorant tradition," Legolas said fiercely.
"Ignorant tradition! It is a tradition that has been in our families ever since Mirkwood began. I will not see it thrown to the gutter for some mixed blood who is beneath us!" Thranduil yelled loudly.
"Beneath us? Father she is still the same girl you let visit our kingdom centuries ago. Nothing has changed. Just because her heritage is different doesn't make her beneath us," Legolas replied.
"This discussion is over. I will have a guard escort Aidyn back to Kalwood, but you are never to see her again. Never, do you hear me?"
"I'm sorry you feel that way. Goodbye father." Legolas turned towards the door to leave.
"Guards!" Thranduil said, "Do not let him pass," said the King.
Looking at him in shock Legolas yelled finally letting his anger lose; "What are you doing? You would keep me locked up here? Have you gone mad?"
"I'm doing this for your own good. I will have someone tell Aidyn she must leave now and when she has left and is at safe distance so you won't be able to track her you may have your freedom again. I am sorry my son."
Tears fell down Aidyn's cheeks rapidly as she ran. Part of her knew this was the reaction to expect, but another part of her had hoped.prayed. She did not want to be humiliated or looked down upon because of her heritage. Leaving on her own Aidyn felt was for the best; although, she would not return home. She did not want to cause any problems between Mirkwood and Kalwood.
Writing a letter to her parents, King Thranduil, and Legolas, Aidyn took a horse from the palace stables and left. She was going to the only home she felt she had left. Gondor.
As they approached the gates of the Mirkwood palace on Legolas' white horse, Liere, Aidyn's body stiffened and Legolas sensed it.
"What is it, melamin?" Legolas asked.
"Nerves I suppose," Aidyn replied.
"No matter what, remember what I said. We will be together."
Aidyn sighed heavily. She knew what she would do if King Thranduil did not give his blessing. She would not make Legolas choose between his father and her. Leaving him would hurt him, but so would disappoint from his father. They would have tonight, however. Tonight they would always remember, for eternity, if they went their separate ways.
"Legolas, I have missed you my son," Thranduil said when Legolas and Aidyn entered his personal chambers.
"I have missed you as well, father," Legolas replied embracing the King.
Thranduil then turned to face Aidyn, "This couldn't be little Aidyn. The Princess of Terror from Kalwood. I remember when you were very little. You would run my servants ragged."
"I have grown my lord, but I do remember running you ragged as well," Aidyn replied smiling, embracing him as well.
King Thranduil had been friends of King Valon and Queen Niere for many centuries. The visits to Mirkwood had been few and every time she was here Legolas was always off on some adventure. Legolas and Aidyn hadn't met until the War of the Ring, but remembered the King of Mirkwood talking very highly of his son the Prince.
After dinner, they once again retired to the King's chambers to talk some more.
"Legolas, do not tell me you have dragged poor Aidyn all the way here without good reason?" King Thranduil said as they sat by the fire.
"Of course not father. There is always a reason," Legolas replied smiling.
"And what might it be?"
"That is for tomorrow father. Aidyn and I have traveled a long way and would like to go to sleep now."
"Alright, we will speak of this reason tomorrow my son. Good night to you both."
Aidyn and Legolas walked silently down the hall to their rooms. They first reached Aidyn's and she turned to face her love.
"This is goodnight Princess, until the morning," Legolas said. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, then her lips.
"Stay with me Legolas," Aidyn said pulling back and leaning her forehead against his.
"I do not wish to rush you. We have all our lives. I want it to be special," he said kissing her forehead.
"It is not a question of pressure, my love, but of need. I need you, tonight, if not forever," she replied.
Legolas had not caught the hidden meaning in her words. She took his hand and led him inside. Aidyn was afraid for this was her first time and possibly her last. Legolas, however, was experienced and she knew this.
"I do not want to hurt you, Aidyn," Legolas whispered.
"I know. I trust you."
His heart swelled with those words. Legolas had been waiting to hear them ever since they were in Kalwood. Trust was just as important to him as love. For without trust there was no love and when Aidyn gave her trust to him, Legolas knew she was giving him everything she had.
"I am giving you everything I am Legolas. Everything. I want you to know that no matter what happens, there will never be another. I will live remembering this night forever," Aidyn said softly.
"As will I. And there will be many more."
And with that Legolas and Aidyn became one that night. Vulnerable they both were. They knew each other's secrets now. Each other's insecurities, fears, and passions. They realized how deep their love was for one another and knew that the gift they gave each other tonight was greater than the gift of immortality bestowed upon all of their kind.
The next morning Aidyn awoke slowly, afraid of what they day would bring. Legolas wasn't there when she awoke. He had left her a note saying that he went to speak with his father about them. Aidyn dressed and went in search of Legolas. Her elven hearing picked up raised voices down the hall. After finding the door, Aidyn realized it was Legolas and King Thranduil arguing about her. She stayed outside the door and listened.
"How dare you? You would try and bring a mixed blood into our family? What is wrong with you Legolas? I have taught you better than this," Thranduil bellowed.
"I love her father and I will marry her with or without your blessing," said Legolas trying to keep his temper under wraps.
"I forbid it, Legolas. I will not let you throw away everything I have worked so hard for to give you. You are to send her away immediately and you will never set foot in Kalwood again. Though we will keep peace between our kingdoms. I will find an excuse why you will not be returning."
"I am old enough to make my own decisions father. As much as I love you, I will not let Aidyn go. True love only comes once and I will not let you get in the way of mine over some ignorant tradition," Legolas said fiercely.
"Ignorant tradition! It is a tradition that has been in our families ever since Mirkwood began. I will not see it thrown to the gutter for some mixed blood who is beneath us!" Thranduil yelled loudly.
"Beneath us? Father she is still the same girl you let visit our kingdom centuries ago. Nothing has changed. Just because her heritage is different doesn't make her beneath us," Legolas replied.
"This discussion is over. I will have a guard escort Aidyn back to Kalwood, but you are never to see her again. Never, do you hear me?"
"I'm sorry you feel that way. Goodbye father." Legolas turned towards the door to leave.
"Guards!" Thranduil said, "Do not let him pass," said the King.
Looking at him in shock Legolas yelled finally letting his anger lose; "What are you doing? You would keep me locked up here? Have you gone mad?"
"I'm doing this for your own good. I will have someone tell Aidyn she must leave now and when she has left and is at safe distance so you won't be able to track her you may have your freedom again. I am sorry my son."
Tears fell down Aidyn's cheeks rapidly as she ran. Part of her knew this was the reaction to expect, but another part of her had hoped.prayed. She did not want to be humiliated or looked down upon because of her heritage. Leaving on her own Aidyn felt was for the best; although, she would not return home. She did not want to cause any problems between Mirkwood and Kalwood.
Writing a letter to her parents, King Thranduil, and Legolas, Aidyn took a horse from the palace stables and left. She was going to the only home she felt she had left. Gondor.