Chapter 3
Legolas was speechless.
Thranduil took pity on his son, seeing the shock and confusion that were expressed on the younger elf's face. "Come my son, sit."
Legolas allowed himself to be led over to the chair and sat.
"A husband? But it has been only one night," he managed finally.
"One night is enough," Thranduil stated.
And indeed Legolas had to agree. One night had been more than enough for him to fall completely for the young man Aragorn. Ai, Aragorn, Legolas thought to himself. How to tell his father about his hopes.
"Father," he began hesitantly. "Last night, at the ball, I met someone, a young man. We spent much of the day talking and wandering the streets of Minas Tirith."
Thranduil frowned, this was an unforeseen complication, yet he did not wish to cause pain to his son. "What was this young man called?" he questioned, in the hopes that the young man would be Elessar and save them all some bother.
"He is called Aragorn," Legolas said smiling, and Thranduil noticed the starry expression in the eyes of his son.
"He gave you no title, no claim to nobility?" Thranduil queried.
Legolas bit his lip and frowned. "None," he admitted.
Thranduil sighed, "Then he is most likely no one of importance." Thranduil held up his hand to forestall the denial that was about to burst from Legolas' lips. "I am sorry my son, but in the society of men, they value station and rank more than we elves do. Had he been anyone of importance I am sure that he would have made this known to you." Thranduil saw the dejection come over his son as his shoulders slumped and his face fell. "I am sorry my son, yet you know why it was we came to this event. We must forge a strong alliance, and this marriage will do just that."
Legolas looked up and sighed. "To whom am I to be wed father?"
King Thranduil smiled again, "To Prince Elessar of Gondor. 'Tis only fitting of course that a Prince of Mirkwood be married to his equal in rank. I spoke to Lord Denethor earlier today so that we could begin making the arrangements, the ceremony is to take place in just a short time from now, before the Prince's coronation. It was agreed of course that heirs were important, and the offspring that you create between you would be heirs to both Mirkwood and Gondor."
Legolas froze, a thought coming back to him of a man holding him tightly as they danced, and asking in a blunt and cruel voice if he was fertile. No, Legolas though to himself. It cannot be that the very man to whom he had been promised for the first dance was Prince Elessar. Legolas felt his mind recoil in horror.
Thranduil had not noticed the sudden change in his son as he continued to talk about arrangements for the wedding. Finally though he noticed that no response had been forthcoming to his last question.
"Legolas, can you hear me? What is wrong?"
Legolas shook himself free of the despair that threatened to pull him under, and focused again on his father. "I am sorry father. I was merely overwhelmed by how fast this is all to take place. I had expected lengthy negotiations with a return to Mirkwood."
Thranduil frowned, "I too had not expected things to occur this swiftly. I should hazard a guess that Prince Elessar is eager to create stability for his kingdom by begetting an heir as soon as possible after his coronation." Thranduil noticed Legolas blanch. He pulled the young elf up into an embrace. "I am sorry my son. I forget sometimes that this is not the fate of your own making. I regret the necessity, please forgive an old elf. I do want you to be happy." Thranduil noticed Legolas' silence and paused. He pushed Legolas away slightly so that he could look at his face. "Will this arrangement suit you my son. If it makes you so unhappy I will call of the agreement with Prince Elessar, and we will look for an alliance elsewhere. I do not wish you to fall into grief over this arrangement."
Legolas forced a smile for his father. "Nay, t'will be alright father. I merely need a little time to get used to the idea."
Thranduil smiled once more. "Very well. Lord Denethor and I will carry out the arrangements between us, you must relax and enjoy your last days of freedom," Thranduil joked, not realising how very true Legolas thought those words to be.
"If that is all father, I think I will retire to my room for a while. I have much to think about."
Thranduil nodded, then a thought occurred to him. "Legolas." The younger elf paused in the doorway. "Next time you go wandering outside the gates of the palace make sure you take your body guard with you. We do not know the dangers that are to be found outside the palace walls. I know you can defend yourself," he said cutting of his son's rebuttal, "However an elf alone outside of the palace can easily be outnumbered. Am I understood?"
"Yes father," Legolas muttered sullenly and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn barely remembered making his way back to his rooms his head was so high in the clouds. He entered his private sitting chambers, and was brought up short by the sight of his foster father sitting at ease munching from a small plate of sweet treats.
"Father!" Aragorn exclaimed in surprise.
"My son," Elrond acknowledged. "How was your day?"
Aragorn grinned, "Wonderful. It was without doubt one of the happiest days of my life."
"So I would be correct in my assumption that you spent your day with Legolas."
Aragorn felt a blush steal across his face and cursed himself. His foster father was still the only person with the ability to embarrass him so, or to make him feel as though he were still a young child. Which Aragorn reflected he would probably always be to Elrond, not even considering the age difference, how could you possibly not be reduced to a child like state by someone who had nursed your childhood ailments, not to mention changing the soiled undergarments of a baby.
"I took Legolas with me into Minas Tirith," he said finally. "We spent the day wandering the city."
"Ah, then I think you will appreciate my news."
Aragorn looked at Elrond with interest. "What news?"
"I was speaking with Lord Denethor a short time ago. He informed me that he spoke to King Thranduil this morning."
Aragorn felt his breath catch in his chest and his heart began to drum out a more rapid beat. "And?"
Elrond smiled, "He has given you permission to wed his son. Congratulations Aragorn."
Aragorn could not restrain the excited exclamation of joy.
"I see this is indeed good news," Elrond said wryly with a fond smile on his face as he watched Aragorn dance about the room.
Aragorn laughed, "I was in error with my earlier statement. This is definitely the happiest day of my life thus far."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thranduil looked up in surprise as Lord Denethor's elder son Boromir was announced.
"Your Highness," Boromir began, bowing to Mirkwood's King.
"What can I do for you sir?" Thranduil queried placing aside the book he had been reading.
"I have come to ask your leave to pay court to your son," Boromir stated formally.
Thranduil smiled gently. "I thank you Lord Boromir, however I regret that a marriage union has already been arranged for my son."
Boromir's face tightened and he tensed for a moment. Then he forced a smile. "I see. May I enquire as to who the fortunate person is?"
Thranduil frowned. "Unfortunately it has been agreed at this time that the union will remain something of a secret until a public announcement is made. I must ask that you keep this information to yourself."
"Of course," Boromir stated, and then bowed again. "Very well your highness, since my visit has not met with the ending I had hoped I will take my leave of you. Have I your permission to call upon and pay my regards to your son?"
"I am afraid that my son is at rest presently. You will no doubt see him at dinner tonight."
"Very well, I thank you for your time," Boromir said and left.
Thranduil sat thinking for a moment. Surely today must have set a record for the most marriage proposals one person could receive. Thranduil smiled to himself. Legolas of course was no ordinary elf, something everybody must have noticed, that was explanation enough for the attention he had received. However Thranduil was happy with the way events had occurred and was satisfied that the coming alliance with Gondor was in the best interest of both kingdoms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things had not gone according to plan. He had hoped to be among the first to pay court to the Elven Prince, and yet he found that someone had gotten there before him. He had to find out to whom Prince Legolas was now engaged. Once he knew for sure there were ways and means to attempt to dissolve the engagement.
After thinking about this for a moment the dark figure strode off into the night.
Legolas was speechless.
Thranduil took pity on his son, seeing the shock and confusion that were expressed on the younger elf's face. "Come my son, sit."
Legolas allowed himself to be led over to the chair and sat.
"A husband? But it has been only one night," he managed finally.
"One night is enough," Thranduil stated.
And indeed Legolas had to agree. One night had been more than enough for him to fall completely for the young man Aragorn. Ai, Aragorn, Legolas thought to himself. How to tell his father about his hopes.
"Father," he began hesitantly. "Last night, at the ball, I met someone, a young man. We spent much of the day talking and wandering the streets of Minas Tirith."
Thranduil frowned, this was an unforeseen complication, yet he did not wish to cause pain to his son. "What was this young man called?" he questioned, in the hopes that the young man would be Elessar and save them all some bother.
"He is called Aragorn," Legolas said smiling, and Thranduil noticed the starry expression in the eyes of his son.
"He gave you no title, no claim to nobility?" Thranduil queried.
Legolas bit his lip and frowned. "None," he admitted.
Thranduil sighed, "Then he is most likely no one of importance." Thranduil held up his hand to forestall the denial that was about to burst from Legolas' lips. "I am sorry my son, but in the society of men, they value station and rank more than we elves do. Had he been anyone of importance I am sure that he would have made this known to you." Thranduil saw the dejection come over his son as his shoulders slumped and his face fell. "I am sorry my son, yet you know why it was we came to this event. We must forge a strong alliance, and this marriage will do just that."
Legolas looked up and sighed. "To whom am I to be wed father?"
King Thranduil smiled again, "To Prince Elessar of Gondor. 'Tis only fitting of course that a Prince of Mirkwood be married to his equal in rank. I spoke to Lord Denethor earlier today so that we could begin making the arrangements, the ceremony is to take place in just a short time from now, before the Prince's coronation. It was agreed of course that heirs were important, and the offspring that you create between you would be heirs to both Mirkwood and Gondor."
Legolas froze, a thought coming back to him of a man holding him tightly as they danced, and asking in a blunt and cruel voice if he was fertile. No, Legolas though to himself. It cannot be that the very man to whom he had been promised for the first dance was Prince Elessar. Legolas felt his mind recoil in horror.
Thranduil had not noticed the sudden change in his son as he continued to talk about arrangements for the wedding. Finally though he noticed that no response had been forthcoming to his last question.
"Legolas, can you hear me? What is wrong?"
Legolas shook himself free of the despair that threatened to pull him under, and focused again on his father. "I am sorry father. I was merely overwhelmed by how fast this is all to take place. I had expected lengthy negotiations with a return to Mirkwood."
Thranduil frowned, "I too had not expected things to occur this swiftly. I should hazard a guess that Prince Elessar is eager to create stability for his kingdom by begetting an heir as soon as possible after his coronation." Thranduil noticed Legolas blanch. He pulled the young elf up into an embrace. "I am sorry my son. I forget sometimes that this is not the fate of your own making. I regret the necessity, please forgive an old elf. I do want you to be happy." Thranduil noticed Legolas' silence and paused. He pushed Legolas away slightly so that he could look at his face. "Will this arrangement suit you my son. If it makes you so unhappy I will call of the agreement with Prince Elessar, and we will look for an alliance elsewhere. I do not wish you to fall into grief over this arrangement."
Legolas forced a smile for his father. "Nay, t'will be alright father. I merely need a little time to get used to the idea."
Thranduil smiled once more. "Very well. Lord Denethor and I will carry out the arrangements between us, you must relax and enjoy your last days of freedom," Thranduil joked, not realising how very true Legolas thought those words to be.
"If that is all father, I think I will retire to my room for a while. I have much to think about."
Thranduil nodded, then a thought occurred to him. "Legolas." The younger elf paused in the doorway. "Next time you go wandering outside the gates of the palace make sure you take your body guard with you. We do not know the dangers that are to be found outside the palace walls. I know you can defend yourself," he said cutting of his son's rebuttal, "However an elf alone outside of the palace can easily be outnumbered. Am I understood?"
"Yes father," Legolas muttered sullenly and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn barely remembered making his way back to his rooms his head was so high in the clouds. He entered his private sitting chambers, and was brought up short by the sight of his foster father sitting at ease munching from a small plate of sweet treats.
"Father!" Aragorn exclaimed in surprise.
"My son," Elrond acknowledged. "How was your day?"
Aragorn grinned, "Wonderful. It was without doubt one of the happiest days of my life."
"So I would be correct in my assumption that you spent your day with Legolas."
Aragorn felt a blush steal across his face and cursed himself. His foster father was still the only person with the ability to embarrass him so, or to make him feel as though he were still a young child. Which Aragorn reflected he would probably always be to Elrond, not even considering the age difference, how could you possibly not be reduced to a child like state by someone who had nursed your childhood ailments, not to mention changing the soiled undergarments of a baby.
"I took Legolas with me into Minas Tirith," he said finally. "We spent the day wandering the city."
"Ah, then I think you will appreciate my news."
Aragorn looked at Elrond with interest. "What news?"
"I was speaking with Lord Denethor a short time ago. He informed me that he spoke to King Thranduil this morning."
Aragorn felt his breath catch in his chest and his heart began to drum out a more rapid beat. "And?"
Elrond smiled, "He has given you permission to wed his son. Congratulations Aragorn."
Aragorn could not restrain the excited exclamation of joy.
"I see this is indeed good news," Elrond said wryly with a fond smile on his face as he watched Aragorn dance about the room.
Aragorn laughed, "I was in error with my earlier statement. This is definitely the happiest day of my life thus far."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thranduil looked up in surprise as Lord Denethor's elder son Boromir was announced.
"Your Highness," Boromir began, bowing to Mirkwood's King.
"What can I do for you sir?" Thranduil queried placing aside the book he had been reading.
"I have come to ask your leave to pay court to your son," Boromir stated formally.
Thranduil smiled gently. "I thank you Lord Boromir, however I regret that a marriage union has already been arranged for my son."
Boromir's face tightened and he tensed for a moment. Then he forced a smile. "I see. May I enquire as to who the fortunate person is?"
Thranduil frowned. "Unfortunately it has been agreed at this time that the union will remain something of a secret until a public announcement is made. I must ask that you keep this information to yourself."
"Of course," Boromir stated, and then bowed again. "Very well your highness, since my visit has not met with the ending I had hoped I will take my leave of you. Have I your permission to call upon and pay my regards to your son?"
"I am afraid that my son is at rest presently. You will no doubt see him at dinner tonight."
"Very well, I thank you for your time," Boromir said and left.
Thranduil sat thinking for a moment. Surely today must have set a record for the most marriage proposals one person could receive. Thranduil smiled to himself. Legolas of course was no ordinary elf, something everybody must have noticed, that was explanation enough for the attention he had received. However Thranduil was happy with the way events had occurred and was satisfied that the coming alliance with Gondor was in the best interest of both kingdoms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things had not gone according to plan. He had hoped to be among the first to pay court to the Elven Prince, and yet he found that someone had gotten there before him. He had to find out to whom Prince Legolas was now engaged. Once he knew for sure there were ways and means to attempt to dissolve the engagement.
After thinking about this for a moment the dark figure strode off into the night.