Chapter 3
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
~*~ Legolas ~*~
"Thank you for being there again, Legolas..." Then with hesitation, she added, "Once again."
"Thank you for being there, Legolas..."
"You are welcome, Mithwen. Take a bath and sleep well now, I will call you for dinner." Mithwen nodded a thanks, then walked away.
I stood up abruptly, annoyed at the flashback, maybe? But no, I have never called her Mithwen... "wait! What do you mean by 'once again'?"
"You will find out soon enough, Legolas..." She turned around to face me once again, "And... I am leaving..."
I frowned, "Manke naa lle autien?" (Where are you going?) I asked.
I saw her smile faintly, her eyes shining a bit with happiness, "Away from here... For a while." She turned around, then started walking away. I had no idea why all these words were so familiar to me... I had no idea... Some sort of past memory... But... I cannot seem to place them all.
"Will you return?" I finally asked.
"Uma, mellon..." She shouted back, then whispered something so very quiet, that not even my sensitive elf ears could pick up. Perhaps she needed a bit more time to think, perhaps she was confused. Whatever it was, she would not leave... After all, she has only been here for a day... She would not leave so soon. Or would she?
"Manke naa lle autien?" I asked. The sun has not yet risen and the sky was still dark, but the sky was slowly turning brighter each passing second. I had gone to the horse stables for some unknown reason, but I saw her there, getting ready to leave.
"Away from here... For a while." She answered quietly.
I frowned, "I know that you have been through a lot... But will you return?" I saw her nod her head while a bright beautiful smile painted her entire face, making her look angelic. "Lle vesta?" (Do you promise?)
She nodded again, smiling, "Uma, mellon." (Yes, my friend.)
Without warning, even shocking myself slightly, I pulled her into a tight hug and held her there and touched her ears softly, yet lovingly. I love her... "Amin mela lle", (I love you) I heard her say to me. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my mouth any moment, but thank Valar it did not do that.
"Amin mela lle, Mith... Namaarie, melamin." (I love you, Mith. Farewell, my love.)
I felt myself go into shock suddenly. Were those memories of another person? Of course... The person that forgot about Lady Mithwen could not be me, could it? I did no remember a single thing like that... It had to be someone else's memory... But how could I, even explain my voice? It was clearly my voice that was saying all those... But... Why can I not remember?
Father would know... I am going to look for Father right now, and make him tell me everything. I spent around ten minutes walking around, thinking to myself before I had the courage to go to my father's study. I walked there slowly, not even paying attention to the hallways and when I reached his study, I stood in front of the door, thinking whether or not I should go in. My eyes widen as I pick up a few yells inside.
"He is getting married, Thranduil. He does not remember me. I do not see the point in my staying."
"Give him some time, Mith... It is not his fault -"
"I know it is not his fault, it is my own fault at that... For leaving. But you understand, do you not? They are getting married soon, and I do not want to see that. I would like to think he still loves me."
Suddenly, there were loud footsteps and Lady Elanor arrived. I bet she did that on purpose... Father opened the door suddenly and looked disapprovingly to Lady Elanor.
"Lady Elanor, as a maiden, you should not walk so ungracefully."
She gave a protest, "But Lady Mithwen there always walks ungracefully!"
"Lady Mithwen is a guest, Lady Elanor." I said quietly, looking straight into her eyes.
"She is not a guest, Legolas. She is the King's daughter."
I lifted my eyebrow at that, "You seem to have mistaken something, Lady Elanor. She is treated as the King's daughter, but she is not. No matter what, I have something to talk with Father right now, so will the two of you please excuse us."
"All right, Legolas... Do you want to walk in the gardens with me later?"
No! "I apologize, Lady Elanor. I have already promised Lady Mithwen that I would go to the market with her after this." The market was a place where Lady Elanor would never follow. She hated that place. I cast a glace at Lady Mithwen, who seemed to understand what I was doing.
Lady Elanor bit her lips, then sighed, "Very well, I shall see you later tonight, Legolas." Then she left the hallway.
"Thranduil, I shall finish our conversation with you later... Namaarie."
"Wait! Do you want to go to the market with me, Lady Mithwen?"
She looked thoughtful for a while, then nodded slightly, "It would be nice to see them again after such a long time..."
"Them?" She waved her hand, dismissing the question, then walked away. I turned around to face Thranduil, "Father... I want to know... I want to know everything."
"What do you mean, my son?"
I signalled him to go back to the study and we did that, then I closed the door silently. "You know what I am talking about, Father. Lady Mithwen said that it was not 'his' fault and it is her own fault for leaving. Then she said 'he' was getting married soon and she did not want to see it..." I took a breath of fresh air.
"So?" Father's face was now blank, covering all emotions.
"...I want to know... If that man... That man she says that forgot about her... Was that me?" He lifted his eyebrow as if saying, 'what makes you think she will love you?' "Father... I... I am the only one getting married soon... And I can remember a few things... Like... How she had bid farewell."
He lifted his eyebrow, "You remember?" I nodded, "Even if you remember everything,
I will not tell you anything at all. It
is her choice to tell you."
"Father!" I shouted, he waved his
hands, dismissing me.
"Go, Legolas. Lady Mithwen is waiting for you." That ended the conversation.
* * * * *
It was noon, Lady Mithwen and I were walking silently towards the market. I couldn't help but notice all the glance our ways. Usually, I did receive glances when I came to the market, but there was so much surprise in those glances today that it was getting me nervous. Especially when they started pointing at the two of us. Suddenly, a she-elf came running towards us, actually, towards Lady Mithwen.
Her eyes were widened in surprise as she came over and hugged her, "Mith! It has been forever!"
"Nessa... Is that... really you?"
"Of course it is me! Did you forget all about me?" The she-elf I assumed to be Nessa asked. Mith shook her head and smiled another faint smile, suddenly, Nessa looked at me, "Dear... Is it you Legolas?"
I frowned, I could not remember her, nor could I remember anyone by the name of Nessa, "I apologize for being rude, my Lady, but who are you?"
Her face fell immediately, "So the rumours are true... You... you really forgot about... us?" She signalled herself and Lady Mithwen, "So you do not remember the time I would threaten you to talk to Mith and tell her how you felt because -"
Lady Mithwen slapped her hand on Lady Nessa's mouth, "Do not listen to her, Legolas..."
I frowned yet again, "Lady Mithwen, I would like to know what she wanted to say."
"Legolas..." Lady Mithwen said. I gave her a stare and she released her hand from her mouth.
"What did you want to say, Lady Nessa?"
Lady Nessa looked at her foot uncomfortably, "Nothing, my highness... My name is Nessa Inglorion. Nice to meet you."
I frowned, but shrugged it off, I could always ask her when Lady Mithwen was not around, "Legolas is fine," I told her, "I do not like being called 'Prince' or 'your highness'. A bit too formal for me."
We had spent the next hour talking until I had felt that the two of them wanted to be alone for a while. After all, she has not been in Mirkwood for a thousand years. Slowly, I walked back to the palace, having a thousand thoughts about Lady Mithwen cross my head. I could really be the person that loved her... It was not impossible... And the looks she had given me, though emotionless most of the time, they spoke. The actions she had done, switching from 'Legolas' to 'your highness', hoping she would not get too close.
I sighed yet once again, and if I had loved her and she had loved me, how much had we both loved each other? Perhaps enough for a childhood crush, or enough for marriage, or even more?
Without knowing, my legs had carried me back to Father's study again. Lady Elanor was there waiting for me, her arms crossed and tapping her foot. "Where were you, Legolas?"
"I was at the market with Lady Mithwen, as I have told you before." I forced a smile. "Anyways, I have to talk with father, so if you may, please leave."
"But..."
I held my hand, cutting her speech off, "Lady Elanor, I wish to see my father for some business. It would be wise of you to go."
She huffed angrily, "I do not see you pushing that stupid guest away like that!"
"She is not a stupid guest and her name is Lady Mithwen."
"She is a guest though!"
I shook my head, "she is a guest no longer, Lady Elanor. The room that has been emptied, the room beside mine is now hers."
"WHAT?!" She shouted, enraged, "The room I was never allowed to even look, let along step inside is hers?! That bitch!"
"Watch your language, Elanor," I said, dropping the 'Lady'. "It was her room a thousand years ago and it has been untouched since then, except for people cleaning it and Father visiting it once every so often. I think it would fit to have her stay in her old room."
She shook her head slightly, "I am sorry, your highness," she said, all her politeness returning, "I should not have say that. For that, I truly apologize."
"You may leave." I said, then turned around and opened the door to his study. I have been bothering quite a lot today, but I had to.
"Ah, Legolas. I thought you went to the market with Mith?"
I shook my head, then out of nowhere, the words came out of my mouth, "Father, can I not get married to Lady Elanor?" I winced, mentally waiting to be screamed at yet again. It was not the first time I had asked that question, every time, he had started shouting at me and giving me a big lecture, I do not know why I still try.
Surprisingly, he said nothing of the sort, just looked up at me and sighed, "Very well, Legolas. You shall not be married to Lady Elanor."
"Are you kidding me?" I asked.
"No... I think... You should have the freedom to choose your own wife, but do it soon. Or I shall choose another wife for you."
I gaped in shock, "Why did you just say that?! I asked you so many times before... But..."
"Things are quite different now, Legolas. I have been interrupted several times today. I will announce the news about the marriage tonight at dinner. You should leave."
I nodded and left, quite not understanding why things have been different, but I think, in my heart. At the very bottom, it had to do with Lady Mithwen and my relationship with her. Suddenly, I being her love did not sound very impossible, instead, it sounded very possible.
Prantis – Queen of Hearts – Yupperz... He's still in denial and confused though.
Urebriviel – Ah, thanks for looking it up. I appreciated it a lot!
Elvish Fairy – Thanks! I'm happier for Mithwen though ^^
Stary Night – Of course ^^
Imaginator – Arigatou, liked that story ^^ I'll update at least once or twice every week.
Silver Fox – Thanks a lot! It's great knowing my character's not a Mary Sue ^^
flaming-amber – Yeah, he remembers... some anyways.