When the rumor of Aidyn's sudden departure from Mirkwood got to Legolas he
ran as fast as he could back to her room. That is after his father decided
to let him leave the presence of the guards. Opening the door, Legolas'
eyes searched for any trace of her, but there was none. It was as if
nothing had happened the night before. He walked closer the bed and saw
three pieces of parchment on the pillow. One had his name, his father's
name, and the last one had 'Mother and Father' written on it.
Picking up the letter with his name on it, Legolas sat on the bed and began to read.
Legolas, my love I am so sorry to leave you like this, but we both know it is for the best. I overheard the conversation between you and your father this morning. As I said before I know how much he means to you and I would never come between the two of you, no matter what your choice would have been. Last night meant more to me than words could ever express. There will never be another, my love, please believe that. I gave you my trust, my heart, and my innocence because they belong to you, only you for eternity. I will always remember you, Legolas, Prince of my Heart. One day we will meet again and hopefully fate will not be against us as it was this time. I wish for you to do me a favor. Please give the letter to your father that is marked with his name. There were some things that had to be said. You may read it if you like. Also, I know your father has forbidden you to enter Kalwood again, but if you would please have a messenger deliver this to my parents I would be grateful. Oh, my love, what will I do without you with me. I will love you until the end of the earth, Legolas, and I will miss you so much.
Yours Truly and Forever, Aidyn
Anger and sadness washed through Legolas as he let a few tears fall down his face. Why did things have to be this way? They should be together. His first thought was to go after her, but knew that his father's guards would be watching him for awhile. Plus, he had no idea where she was going. If Aidyn had written a letter to her parents, then she obviously was planning not to go home.
Opening the letter marked to his father, the Prince of Mirkwood began to read again:
King Thranduil,
I do not know quite what to say to you. For I do not understand how a person who once treated me as their daughter could completely change their mind over one small factor. Yes, I am a mixed blood, but I am not ashamed of it as you are. I did not choose my parents or where I came from and I wouldn't change that even if I could. It may have made my life easier to be a pure blood, but life was never meant to be easy, your highness. After hearing the conversation between you and Legolas this morning I decided to leave on my own. I know you would like to keep peace between Mirkwood and Kalwood so I have written a letter to my mother and father telling them that I have gone to stay with the King and Queen of Gondor until their baby arrives. I did not mention what happened, nor will I ever. There will not be hostility between your kingdom and mine because of who I am. I want you to know something, King Thranduil, and that is how much I love your son. He was willing to give up everything to be with me, but I would not allow it because you mean everything to him as well. Legolas loves you very much and I could not let something as insignificant as me come between the two of you. You are family. He is your son and I know that you just want what's best for him. You seem to think tradition comes before love. Part of me wonders why that is. How father and son could have totally different viewpoints on such an important matter. I gave up my true love because I know how much family means to him. And also because I care about you. When I visited Mirkwood in my youth it was as if I had two fathers. I do not wish for you to hate me because of what I am, but that is your opinion and I cannot change it. I would have never hurt your son, Thranduil, and I wouldn't have let him give up on Mirkwood.
Sincerely, Princess Aidyn of Kalwood
Awhile later, after gaining his composure, Legolas went to search for his father. He found him sitting on his throne looking deep in thought.
"Father," Legolas said.
King Thranduil looked up and motioned for him to come in, "What is it?"
"A letter from Aidyn," Legolas replied handing it to his father.
Taking it Thranduil then opened it and began reading. When he was finished he folded it back up and set it on the table beside his throne.
"Well," Legolas said impatiently.
"It was considerate of her," Thranduil replied.
"Considerate? Is tradition that important to you father? Do you think me marrying someone who is not a pure blood would make you a lesser king?"
"Tradition has always been priority in this family, Legolas, you know that."
"And that will change when I am king."
"Then you may never be King," said Thranduil.
"I do not take that as a threat. That would be a blessing. Then I would be free to marry Aidyn. What do the elves of Mirkwood have against those who are not pure blood? I want to know the truth father, there has to be a reason," Legolas said.
"There is no real reason except that it has been so since the kingdom of Mirkwood came into existence. Our family has continued it for centuries and I plan to keep it that way even if I have to stay King until the end of Middle-Earth."
"It is not only our family that is against mixed bloods father. It is the entire kingdom. I want to know why. You made my give up the only person I will ever love. I deserve to know the truth."
King Thranduil turned away from his son and shook his head no. Legolas was furious. It wasn't fair. There was something that his father was not telling him. Once again another secret was being kept from him.
Aidyn got off of the horse she had taken from Mirkwood and stumbled through the gates of Gondor. She hadn't stopped riding since she had left the Woodland Realm. She had not eaten or slept in 5 days.
"State your business, my lady," a guard said as she stepped in through the gates.
"I'm here.....to....to see Queen Arwen and King Aragorn," Aidyn replied hoarsely.
"Who are you?" the guard asked.
"Princess Aidyn of Kalwood," said Aidyn before passing out.
When Aidyn finally awoke, she found that she wasn't alone. Arwen and Aragorn were standing in the room with her looking tired and concerned.
"I am so glad you are awake Aidyn," Arwen said hugging her tightly.
"You scared us both, little one," said Aragorn also hugging her hard.
"Forgive me. I had no where else to go," Aidyn replied.
"What happened?" Aragorn asked.
The pain was still in her heart and Aidyn was sure she was ready to tell anyone what happened yet. Her love was gone and her heart was breaking with every thought of him.
"Perhaps you should leave us for a little while, Aragorn," Arwen said.
Arwen looked into Aidyn's eyes and knew immediately what was troubling the Princess of Kalwood. A broken heart. For when Aragorn had left to go on the Quest of the Ring, Arwen's face was the same.
Aragorn nodded, kissed his wife, then gently kissed Aidyn's forehead before leaving the two alone.
"Oh Arwen," Aidyn cried wrapping her arms around her friend's neck.
"Tell me what happened," Arwen said simply.
Picking up the letter with his name on it, Legolas sat on the bed and began to read.
Legolas, my love I am so sorry to leave you like this, but we both know it is for the best. I overheard the conversation between you and your father this morning. As I said before I know how much he means to you and I would never come between the two of you, no matter what your choice would have been. Last night meant more to me than words could ever express. There will never be another, my love, please believe that. I gave you my trust, my heart, and my innocence because they belong to you, only you for eternity. I will always remember you, Legolas, Prince of my Heart. One day we will meet again and hopefully fate will not be against us as it was this time. I wish for you to do me a favor. Please give the letter to your father that is marked with his name. There were some things that had to be said. You may read it if you like. Also, I know your father has forbidden you to enter Kalwood again, but if you would please have a messenger deliver this to my parents I would be grateful. Oh, my love, what will I do without you with me. I will love you until the end of the earth, Legolas, and I will miss you so much.
Yours Truly and Forever, Aidyn
Anger and sadness washed through Legolas as he let a few tears fall down his face. Why did things have to be this way? They should be together. His first thought was to go after her, but knew that his father's guards would be watching him for awhile. Plus, he had no idea where she was going. If Aidyn had written a letter to her parents, then she obviously was planning not to go home.
Opening the letter marked to his father, the Prince of Mirkwood began to read again:
King Thranduil,
I do not know quite what to say to you. For I do not understand how a person who once treated me as their daughter could completely change their mind over one small factor. Yes, I am a mixed blood, but I am not ashamed of it as you are. I did not choose my parents or where I came from and I wouldn't change that even if I could. It may have made my life easier to be a pure blood, but life was never meant to be easy, your highness. After hearing the conversation between you and Legolas this morning I decided to leave on my own. I know you would like to keep peace between Mirkwood and Kalwood so I have written a letter to my mother and father telling them that I have gone to stay with the King and Queen of Gondor until their baby arrives. I did not mention what happened, nor will I ever. There will not be hostility between your kingdom and mine because of who I am. I want you to know something, King Thranduil, and that is how much I love your son. He was willing to give up everything to be with me, but I would not allow it because you mean everything to him as well. Legolas loves you very much and I could not let something as insignificant as me come between the two of you. You are family. He is your son and I know that you just want what's best for him. You seem to think tradition comes before love. Part of me wonders why that is. How father and son could have totally different viewpoints on such an important matter. I gave up my true love because I know how much family means to him. And also because I care about you. When I visited Mirkwood in my youth it was as if I had two fathers. I do not wish for you to hate me because of what I am, but that is your opinion and I cannot change it. I would have never hurt your son, Thranduil, and I wouldn't have let him give up on Mirkwood.
Sincerely, Princess Aidyn of Kalwood
Awhile later, after gaining his composure, Legolas went to search for his father. He found him sitting on his throne looking deep in thought.
"Father," Legolas said.
King Thranduil looked up and motioned for him to come in, "What is it?"
"A letter from Aidyn," Legolas replied handing it to his father.
Taking it Thranduil then opened it and began reading. When he was finished he folded it back up and set it on the table beside his throne.
"Well," Legolas said impatiently.
"It was considerate of her," Thranduil replied.
"Considerate? Is tradition that important to you father? Do you think me marrying someone who is not a pure blood would make you a lesser king?"
"Tradition has always been priority in this family, Legolas, you know that."
"And that will change when I am king."
"Then you may never be King," said Thranduil.
"I do not take that as a threat. That would be a blessing. Then I would be free to marry Aidyn. What do the elves of Mirkwood have against those who are not pure blood? I want to know the truth father, there has to be a reason," Legolas said.
"There is no real reason except that it has been so since the kingdom of Mirkwood came into existence. Our family has continued it for centuries and I plan to keep it that way even if I have to stay King until the end of Middle-Earth."
"It is not only our family that is against mixed bloods father. It is the entire kingdom. I want to know why. You made my give up the only person I will ever love. I deserve to know the truth."
King Thranduil turned away from his son and shook his head no. Legolas was furious. It wasn't fair. There was something that his father was not telling him. Once again another secret was being kept from him.
Aidyn got off of the horse she had taken from Mirkwood and stumbled through the gates of Gondor. She hadn't stopped riding since she had left the Woodland Realm. She had not eaten or slept in 5 days.
"State your business, my lady," a guard said as she stepped in through the gates.
"I'm here.....to....to see Queen Arwen and King Aragorn," Aidyn replied hoarsely.
"Who are you?" the guard asked.
"Princess Aidyn of Kalwood," said Aidyn before passing out.
When Aidyn finally awoke, she found that she wasn't alone. Arwen and Aragorn were standing in the room with her looking tired and concerned.
"I am so glad you are awake Aidyn," Arwen said hugging her tightly.
"You scared us both, little one," said Aragorn also hugging her hard.
"Forgive me. I had no where else to go," Aidyn replied.
"What happened?" Aragorn asked.
The pain was still in her heart and Aidyn was sure she was ready to tell anyone what happened yet. Her love was gone and her heart was breaking with every thought of him.
"Perhaps you should leave us for a little while, Aragorn," Arwen said.
Arwen looked into Aidyn's eyes and knew immediately what was troubling the Princess of Kalwood. A broken heart. For when Aragorn had left to go on the Quest of the Ring, Arwen's face was the same.
Aragorn nodded, kissed his wife, then gently kissed Aidyn's forehead before leaving the two alone.
"Oh Arwen," Aidyn cried wrapping her arms around her friend's neck.
"Tell me what happened," Arwen said simply.