Disclaimer: I disclaim.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The feast lasted late into the night. I sat alongside Legolas smiling, pretending to be happy, and graciously thanking all the well wishers. Several times I felt Daekano's eyes on me and avoided his gaze.
"Luinuial. The hour has grown late and it is time to retire. May I walk you to your rooms?" Legolas asked. He had grown much in the years, as was expected, and now he was a courteous young gentleman. Yet still I was reluctant to enter into this commitment.
I swallowed and realized he was still waiting for an answer. "Yes, my lord. It would be-"
"Your pleasure." He finished, smiling. I blushed in embarrassment and stood as he did, and allowed him to take my hand. We walked to a lesser hallway leading off the Royal Hall and I was uneasy as Legolas and I walked past Daekano, who's face was taunt with barely controlled anger and his blue eyes aflame.
I clutched Legolas's arm tightly and turned away from the commander.
"What is it?" Legolas's face was concerned.
"Nothing. I am just tired."
He eased into a polite smile. "Of course. You just arrived in Mirkwood today. You must be exhausted."
I simply nodded, and we walked to my room in silence. We took numerous twists and turned through the halls of Mirkwood- they were a true labyrinth- until finally we reached a set of double doors.
"These are your rooms." There was a tense silence for a short while, then my future husband spoke.
"I hope you find a home here, Luinuial. And I hope that someday we come to love each other." The prince kissed my cheek gently, his lips like a flutter of butterfly wings. "I'll be down the hall if you need anything."
I entered my room as he turned to leave. I first saw what appeared to be a sitting room with soft couches and chairs, along with a low table. I shut the door behind me and gently ran my hand over the white satin upholstery. I turned and walked to another door and upon opening it my eyes widened. Within was a large canopy bed dressed in blue silk and a set of a matching silver chest and armoire. My bags were laid beside the chest, and I knelt down and began to unpack. I froze as I came along the parchment Lord Celeborn had given me.
He had told me I must give it to King Thranduil upon arrival. I rushed from the room while cursing at myself in both Elvish and the common tongue. I weaved through the hallways set on getting the parchment to the King, but I slowed as I realized that I did not know where I was. I collapsed against the wall- if I were not an Elf and learned in controlling my emotions, tears of frustration would have rolled down my face.
"Lost?" I turned to see Daekano leaning against the wall down the hall, his arms crossed lazily.
"I told you never to speak to me again."
He pushed away from the wall and began to walk slowly towards me. "I could not help it. I am drawn to you as the flower to the sun. I long for you as the earth longs for the sun in the dead of winter. I need you as one needs his soulmate, his love given to him by the Valar themselves."
I close my eyes and sigh as I force his words from my heart and mind. "I am no gift to your from the gods, Daekano. Tell me how to reach the Royal Hall."
"If you give me a kiss, I will give you your information." He grinned.
I snorted in disgust. "I'll find my own way." And with that I spun on my heel and walked down the hall.
"You're going the wrong way." He called.
I turned and glared at him. "Then, praytell, which is the correct way?"
"Give me a kiss."
"No." I growled, longing to touch him but exhibiting impeccable self- control.
"I know you want to Luinuial. I can feel it in your heart."
"Then your heart is malfunctioning. I feel nothing."
"You feel nothing for the Prince. I know that. I could tell by looking at you."
"It is important that I bring this message to the King. Commander, and I insist upon it!"
"Just as I insist upon a kiss." He grinned.
I was flustered. "We're in the middle of the Halls of Mirkwood." I said as a last attempt on leaving this hallway with my dignity and self-respect. "It's impossible."
Daekano grabbed my arm and pulled me into a room. Shutting the door he pulled me into his strong arms and held me close. His deep sapphire eyes looked into mine and I began to tremble. He smile sweetly and tenderly brushed his lips against mine.
"Was that as bad as you thought, Luinuial?"
I didn't answer.
I felt his sigh heavily. "I'll show you the way to the King."
He walked out the door and I followed him, once more berating myself as my heart beat quickly.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The feast lasted late into the night. I sat alongside Legolas smiling, pretending to be happy, and graciously thanking all the well wishers. Several times I felt Daekano's eyes on me and avoided his gaze.
"Luinuial. The hour has grown late and it is time to retire. May I walk you to your rooms?" Legolas asked. He had grown much in the years, as was expected, and now he was a courteous young gentleman. Yet still I was reluctant to enter into this commitment.
I swallowed and realized he was still waiting for an answer. "Yes, my lord. It would be-"
"Your pleasure." He finished, smiling. I blushed in embarrassment and stood as he did, and allowed him to take my hand. We walked to a lesser hallway leading off the Royal Hall and I was uneasy as Legolas and I walked past Daekano, who's face was taunt with barely controlled anger and his blue eyes aflame.
I clutched Legolas's arm tightly and turned away from the commander.
"What is it?" Legolas's face was concerned.
"Nothing. I am just tired."
He eased into a polite smile. "Of course. You just arrived in Mirkwood today. You must be exhausted."
I simply nodded, and we walked to my room in silence. We took numerous twists and turned through the halls of Mirkwood- they were a true labyrinth- until finally we reached a set of double doors.
"These are your rooms." There was a tense silence for a short while, then my future husband spoke.
"I hope you find a home here, Luinuial. And I hope that someday we come to love each other." The prince kissed my cheek gently, his lips like a flutter of butterfly wings. "I'll be down the hall if you need anything."
I entered my room as he turned to leave. I first saw what appeared to be a sitting room with soft couches and chairs, along with a low table. I shut the door behind me and gently ran my hand over the white satin upholstery. I turned and walked to another door and upon opening it my eyes widened. Within was a large canopy bed dressed in blue silk and a set of a matching silver chest and armoire. My bags were laid beside the chest, and I knelt down and began to unpack. I froze as I came along the parchment Lord Celeborn had given me.
He had told me I must give it to King Thranduil upon arrival. I rushed from the room while cursing at myself in both Elvish and the common tongue. I weaved through the hallways set on getting the parchment to the King, but I slowed as I realized that I did not know where I was. I collapsed against the wall- if I were not an Elf and learned in controlling my emotions, tears of frustration would have rolled down my face.
"Lost?" I turned to see Daekano leaning against the wall down the hall, his arms crossed lazily.
"I told you never to speak to me again."
He pushed away from the wall and began to walk slowly towards me. "I could not help it. I am drawn to you as the flower to the sun. I long for you as the earth longs for the sun in the dead of winter. I need you as one needs his soulmate, his love given to him by the Valar themselves."
I close my eyes and sigh as I force his words from my heart and mind. "I am no gift to your from the gods, Daekano. Tell me how to reach the Royal Hall."
"If you give me a kiss, I will give you your information." He grinned.
I snorted in disgust. "I'll find my own way." And with that I spun on my heel and walked down the hall.
"You're going the wrong way." He called.
I turned and glared at him. "Then, praytell, which is the correct way?"
"Give me a kiss."
"No." I growled, longing to touch him but exhibiting impeccable self- control.
"I know you want to Luinuial. I can feel it in your heart."
"Then your heart is malfunctioning. I feel nothing."
"You feel nothing for the Prince. I know that. I could tell by looking at you."
"It is important that I bring this message to the King. Commander, and I insist upon it!"
"Just as I insist upon a kiss." He grinned.
I was flustered. "We're in the middle of the Halls of Mirkwood." I said as a last attempt on leaving this hallway with my dignity and self-respect. "It's impossible."
Daekano grabbed my arm and pulled me into a room. Shutting the door he pulled me into his strong arms and held me close. His deep sapphire eyes looked into mine and I began to tremble. He smile sweetly and tenderly brushed his lips against mine.
"Was that as bad as you thought, Luinuial?"
I didn't answer.
I felt his sigh heavily. "I'll show you the way to the King."
He walked out the door and I followed him, once more berating myself as my heart beat quickly.
