Disclaimer-Refer to Chapter One
Thank you for all your reviews guys! I loved them.
A/N- I love Elrond and Celebrian so that is why they appear so much in this story. Please indulge my little whim, I hope it doesn't make the story too boring for you, it's only a little part this chapter.
Morning
Elrond woke to light kisses being trailed across his jaw line. A smile came to the elven lord's face as he wrapped his arms around Celebrian. She settled into his arms, nestling her head under his chin.
'Elrond?'
'What is it melamin?'
'What chance do you think Legolas has of winning the tournament today?'
'You wake me up in such a fashion with thoughts of another elf on your mind?'
Celebrian laughed softly. 'Are you jealous my lord?'
'Should I be, my lady?'
Celebrian wiggled out of her husband's arms. Propping herself up on her elbow, she cocked her head at Elrond and fingering the ends of his hair. 'I believe I asked first. Perhaps you need convincing to answer?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Slowly she moved closer to Elrond till her face was inches away from his. Her lips hovered just above Elrond's, teasingly close. Elrond felt her breath on his skin and shivered but Celebrian did not satisfy his desire.
'Do not torture me so Celebrian.'
With a small smile, she brushed her lips over Elrond's and began to move away. However, Elrond had already anticipated her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down to him and claiming her lips in a sweet kiss.
Elrond was the first to pull away and watched Celebrian's face with pleasure as she kept her eyes closed, revealing in the feel of his touch. When she had left for the Valinor at the beginning of the third age, it had torn his heart in two. Only their reunion thousands of years later had mended all the hurt and loneliness.
'My lady is very persuasive. I will not hold back my thoughts anymore. Yes, I think there is a very good chance that Legolas will win.'
Elrond saw Celebrian's face light up and he stroked her cheek. 'What is passing through that pretty head of yours, beloved?'
'I was just thinking about who he would choose to be the Lady of the Stars if he wins.'
'You already have someone in mind?'
'Indeed I do.'
'And do I dare ask who the lucky elf maiden might be that you would want him to choose? Although I dare say I already know who you are thinking of,' Elrond smirked.
'I am sure you do. Do you not think that they would make a wonderful pair?'
'I do not think that she would accept the honor of being chosen as the Lady, no matter who picked her.'
'Why not? She surely would not refuse a prince, and Legolas at that. The boy has every elven maiden in your kingdom smitten after only arriving three days ago and he has not even tried to do so. She must have at least noticed him.'
'Celebrian,' Elrond said in a warning voice. 'Do not raise your hopes too high, my love. She is not like every other elven maiden and you know what she thinks of marriage.'
'Yes, but perhaps she simply needs to find the right elf to change her mind on the matter.'
'I highly doubt that. She is not interested in what the typical female elf is. Do not force something upon her that she does not wish.' Elrond sat up and moved his legs over the side of their bed.
'I am not forcing anything upon her,' Celebrian stated heatedly, springing out of the bed. 'It is her choice to accept him or not, I am simply aiding her a bit.'
'I meant no offense, my lovely one,' Elrond soothed, standing up as well. 'Besides, we are only speculating. Nothing has even happened yet, and from what I observed at lunch the other day, it is very likely that nothing at all will happen. She did not seemed pleased to be in the company of the prince. I suspect that something happened when they first met to make her angry with him.'
Elrond walked over to his wife and placed a kiss on her forehead. 'If we continue this discussion we shall miss the tournament all together.'
Celebrian smiled. 'You are right, as always Elrond. I only wish for what is best for her. She is very dear to my heart.' Celebrian kissed Elrond on the cheek. 'I am going to have my bath drawn and will meet you at breakfast when I am done.'
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Sun filtered into the window, warming Valia's face. She groaned and her eyes slowly began to focus.
She was completely unprepared for the sight that met her eyes and shrieked in surprise, jumping out of her bed. Tandir flopped onto her bed in a fit of laughter.
'You should have seen your face! You looked like a silly elven maiden who has just been told there is a spider in her hair. Is my face truly that horrifying sister dear?'
'Yes,' Valia snapped, moving to the next room to change before she could not contain her desire to seriously maim her brother. She called out to him in the other room. 'Your face is truly horrifying when it is one's first sight in the morning and merely inches away from my own face. I do not know how Gléwiel can wake up to that every morning, but you do know what they say,' she said in a singsong voice.
'No, I do not, enlighten me O Wise One.'
Valia giggled. 'Since you asked so nicely I shall. You cannot tell me you have never heard that love is blind.'
'I am hurt,' Tandir said, sitting up in her bed with a pout on his fair face. 'If I loose today, I shall place all the blame on you for shattering my self confidence.'
'Do not place the blame on me brother.'
'And why should I not?
'Because it shall be your poor skills and not my true words that make you loose the tournament today,' Valia said, placing her hands on her hips as she walked back into her bedroom, dressed for the day.
'That is it, little sister,' Tandir exclaimed, leaping off her bed. 'You have sealed your fate with those words. He lunged at her, but Valia was too fast, moving out of the way just in time.
'Do not make idle threats you cannot follow through with,' she laughed as she raced out of her bedroom and down the hall. Tandir was out the door and trailing after her in an instant.
Hoping to loose him, Valia made a sudden turn, pushing open a door and racing outside. She glanced over her shoulder to find Tandir right behind her.
'I shall catch you,' he declared with certainty.
'I do not doubt it,' Valia yelled back as she raced across the front lawn, dodging an unsuspecting servant. She could not move nearly fast enough to outrun Tandir in a dress so she swerved in and around trees and shrubbery to gain time. 'The question is, what will you do with me once you have caught me?' she called over her shoulder.
She felt Tandir grab her from behind a few moments later and she was scooped up into his arms. 'What shall I do with you?' Tandir repeated her words, glancing around as he walked back towards the house. Valia squirmed, but to no avail. He had a firm hold on her and there was no escape.
'You would not do anything to your little sister,' Valia said in a sugary voice, changing her tactics.
'And why should I not?'
'Because she loves you and is going to the tournament today to cheer you on.'
'I am sorry, but your excuses are not good enough,' Tandir said, coming to a halt. Valia only had the time to see a glimmer of something shiny before Tandir threw her out of his arms.
A loud splash was heard as Valia dropped into the large pond on their front lawn. She came up sputtering unintelligible words and water. Tandir stood on the bank with a satisfied smirk on his face. 'I think that evens the score now.'
'Did you see what he just did to me?' Valia called to someone behind him. Tandir turned to see his entire family standing on the lawn watching.
Valia struggled out of the water and came to stand beside Tandir, a murderous scowl on her face.
'What has come over you Tandir?' Gléwiel asked.
'Your husband decided it would be funny to throw his little sister in the pond to wake her up,' Valia accused, pointing her finger at Tandir.
She glanced around at her family and noticed they were all ready to leave. Earuviel looked dazzling in a sapphire dress that suited her hair and eyes. Her hair was down and graced with large curls. Valia's mother and sister-in- law were also impeccably dressed in stylish new clothes. Her father held Tandir's bow and a quiver of arrows. They all stared at her with a horrified expression on their faces.
With a meek look, Valia addressed her mother. 'I am sorry. I will hurry and change.'
'Valia,' Narawen sighed. 'We will be late if we do not leave now. You do not have time to change, my dear. If you wish, you can put a new dress on and meet us at the palace, but we cannot wait for you.'
'No, I will just go like this. It looks as if it will be warm today. I will dry out quickly.'
Tandir smiled and pulled his sister into a hug. 'No hard feelings?'
'No,' Valia said. 'I deserved it.'
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Legolas and Isondil walked out of the palace and down the steps. Bows in hand and quivers on their backs, they headed towards one of the enormous lawns that surrounded Lord Elrond's home.
'I hear there are several good archers here,' Legolas said to his friend.
'None that could compare with you, I am sure. Just promise me you will not make them look to bad, my prince, or Lord Elrond may decide to kick us out of his realm for injuring his pride.'
'I am not that good, Isondil,' Legolas replied modestly. He was about to say something else, but was silenced by the level look from Isondil.
'Do not be so humble. You know very well that you are a legend when it comes to archery. You will win today and will not even have to try.'
'Perhaps,' Legolas said with an incline of the head.
'You have heard of the tradition at the tournament, have you not?'
Legolas shook his head, blond hair swaying from side to side. 'Of what do you speak?'
'I speak of the Lady of the Stars. Lady Silia was kind enough to inform me of the yearly tradition on our walk yesterday.'
'Ah, yes, Lady Silia,' Legolas interjected. 'Now there is a topic that interests me, or should I say you?'
Isondil glared at the prince. 'I do not wish to speak about Lady Silia right now,' he said shortly.
It made Legolas smile. 'Very will Isondil, we shall not speak of her, for now at least. What was it you were saying before?'
'I was trying to tell you about the Lady of the Stars, since there is a very good chance that you will be the winner. Traditionally, every year the winner at the end of the first day is granted the honor of choosing the Lady of the Stars. He is given a long pole with a silver star on a chain hung at the end of it. He may choose any female elf out of the crowd that he wishes to be the Lady.'
'When he had decided who it shall be, he reaches the pole out to her. If she accepts the honor, she will take the necklace off of the end of the pole and come down to the competition field. The winner takes the lady and presents her to Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian. Lady Celebrian places the necklace around the she-elf's neck and she is then declared the Lady of the Stars.'
Legolas was listening intently now. 'And is that all?'
'No,' Isondil said, taking a deep breath before continuing. 'Whoever wins the tournament the following day will have the pleasure of escorting the Lady to the celebration banquet held in the evening. Apparently it is quite an honor among the she-elves to be chosen as the Lady. For the competitors, the highest glory is to win so that he may escort the Lady to the banquet. The Lady of the Stars and her escort dress in their finest clothes and before the feast begins, Lady Celebrian takes a beautiful crown made of mithril and stardust and crowns the Lady of the Stars.'
'But what if the winner's choice to be the Lady refuses to accept the honor?' Legolas asked.
'I do not think that has ever happened, Legolas. What she-elf in her right mind would refuse such an honor, or you for that matter? I would be willing to bet that any elven maiden you ask would accept.'
'I can think of one who would refuse,' Legolas mumbled under his breath, but with his keen elven ears, Isondil heard him, though he chose not to comment.
'Is that Lady Silia I see ahead?' Isondil asked. 'She is heading this way.'
Legolas peered into the crowd of people ahead, spotting the maiden Isondil spoke of. 'I think you are right, Isondil. It appears to be her, though I think you would be the better judge of that than I would ,' Legolas teased.
'My friend,' Isondil countered still staring ahead, 'if you were not a prince there would be a black eye on that fair face of yours that would make even you look ugly. Besides, I believe the maiden walking next to her holds a certain interest for you.'
'I highly doubt that,' Legolas said, but looked up anyways to satisfy his curiosity.
He had been wrong. Lady Valia was next to Silia, weaving in and out of the crowd and heading his direction, although she did not realize it.
'I take your silence to mean you were wrong and I was right,' Isondil said with a satisfied grin on his face.
'Take it to mean whatever you wish it to, but that does not mean you think correctly. I believe the Lady Valia thinks me a rather arrogant elf who is also a pampered prince.'
'Well if she does, it is your fault,' Isondil said. Before Legolas had a chance to defend himself, Isondil yelled into the crowd and waved his arms in the air. 'Lady Silia!'
Silia's head snapped up and she scanned the crowd, her gaze coming to rest on Isondil. A wide grin spread over her face and she grabbed Valia's arm and dragged her forward before she could protest.
'Lady Valia, Lady Silia,' Isondil said. 'What a pleasure to see you two here today.'
Isondil offered Silia his arm, which she readily took, and led her into the crowd and away from Legolas and Valia.
Legolas turned to find Valia steadily staring at the retreating backs of her friend and Isondil. Legolas did not mind, for it gave him a chance to observe the maiden in front of him. Her hair and clothing were soaked. She barely looked decent by most she-elf standards which intrigued him, having known few elven women who would willingly be seen in public in such a state.
'Lady Valia?' he said, breaking into her thoughts.
She turned to him, but would not look him in the eyes, something that perturbed him greatly since he feared it was because she was still offended by his comments. He was about to apologize when the lady spoke.
'My lord,' she declared formally, making a deep curtsey to him. 'If you will excuse me, I must be in search of my family.'
'Wait a moment, please,' Legolas' mind raced for something to say that would make the maiden stay. 'Will you be watching the tournament today?' was all he could think of. He immediately scolded himself for saying something so stupid. Why else would she be here and had she not told Lady Celebrian at lunch the other day that she would be here?
An unreadable expression passed over Valia's face before she made a move to answer. 'Yes, my lord,' was the only thing she said. Legolas could feel the tension in the air, which grew with each passing second of silence.
To his great relief, someone interrupted them.
A she-elf, tall and willowy, gracefully walked up to Valia. She wore an expensive dress that showed off her figure and complimented her pretty features. 'My dear Valia,' she said in a sickeningly sweet voice, 'whatever did you do this morning? You look positively dreadful. Did someone try to drown you?'
'Good day to you too, Hadrielia,' Valia replied as civilly as possible, but Hadrielia had already turned her attention elsewhere.
'Prince Legolas, what a pleasure to see you again,' she said, a seductive smile upon her face.
Legolas looked at the maiden in front of him, but did not recognize her at all. 'I apologize profusely, my lady. I seem to have forgotten our meeting before. Would you please refresh my memory?'
Hadrielia's smile faded a little and Valia reached up a hand to discreetly cover her own smile. Legolas had just offended Hadrielia in the worst possible way. Unknown to him, he had just been forgiven a little for his offensive words a few days ago at the archery field.
'That is quite alright, your highness. I understand that you must meet many insignificant elves with your work,' Hadrielia said, giving Valia a pointed look, 'and you cannot be expected to remember everyone after only one meeting. You introduced yourself in passing two mornings ago. I believe you were on your way to the practice archery field.'
Valia could see Legolas think hard. The poor elf honestly did not remember ever meeting the lady who stood before him.
'Well, let me introduce myself again,' Hadrielia continued. 'I am Hadrielia, daughter of Lord Celylith. Perhaps you have heard of him? He owns the company that produces the silks for many of the elven lords and ladies clothing. Lady Galadriel herself buys the material for her dresses from him.'
'That is indeed impressive,' Legolas said with an interested expression upon his face, though inwardly he cringed. He could not stand another elf maiden throwing herself at him unashamedly.
His thoughts wandered as she continued on about her family. Legolas observed her appearance closely. She was attractive. He had to grant her that.
Valia could see that she had been quite forgotten and slowly started to edge away from the two elves, hoping to quietly make her escape. However Legolas, who had not forgotten the Lady at all, noticed her departure out of the corner of his eye and broke into Hadrielia's speech.
'Forgive me Lady Hadrielia, but I must take my leave of you. The tournament will be starting shortly and I must find where I am to go.'
Hadrielia smiled at the prince and fluttered her eyelashes. Looping her arm through his, she stood close to him, looking up. 'I shall take you to where you need to go, Prince Legolas.'
Legolas tried to suppress the frantic feeling that began to creep into him. To his relief, Valia had stopped her retreat when Hadrielia had latched onto him, but was looking on in amusement. She thought they made a perfect couple and was about to turn around and walk off when she was stopped.
Legolas sent her a pleading look, hoping she did not have a heart of stone. 'Thank you for your kind offer, Lady Hadrielia,' he told the elf maiden, disentangling himself from her grasp. It proved harder than he had expected since she kept grabbing onto him again. 'But Lady Valia already agreed to assist me in finding where I need to go.'
Without a glance, Legolas broke free of Hadrielia and took Valia's arm, weaving it around his own and holding it firmly in place with his hand. He expected to feel her try to pull away, but was amazed when she did not.
Valia was too busy observing Hadrielia to think of pulling away. The maiden had turned bright red and shot Valia a dirty glance. Then, without the bat of an eyelash, the Lady's entire countenance changed to complete loveliness.
'Another time, Prince Legolas,' she said.
He nodded his head. 'If you will excuse us?' He then turned with Valia held securely on his arm and walked away.
When Hadrielia could no longer see them, Valia swiftly pulled her hand away from the prince's grasp.
'I do believe that Lady Hadrielia can no longer see you, my lord. You have no further need of me, and I think that you know very well where you are supposed to go. If you will excuse me?' she spoke, emphasizing the last sentence which he had uttered only moments before.
'A moment, Valia. I wish to thank you for your kind services. I do not think I recall ever having to have a she-elf rescue me before,' he said with a smile, 'but I thank you all the same.'
Valia started to see in red as the anger towards him grew again. What did he mean by the chauvinistic comments he made all the time? Did he think she thought them funny? She no longer cared that he was a prince and could very well have her punished for showing disrespect towards him.
With a face deadly calm and a voice dripping with sarcasm, Valia addressed the Prince. 'I daresay you will probably never have to fear tarnishing your male pride again by having to be rescued by a 'she-elf' so lowly as myself. You seem quite capable of taking care of yourself, so if you will excuse me, my lord?'
Then, just like he had done to Hadrielia, she turned before he had a chance to say anything and disappeared into the crowd.
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Thank you for all your reviews guys! I loved them.
A/N- I love Elrond and Celebrian so that is why they appear so much in this story. Please indulge my little whim, I hope it doesn't make the story too boring for you, it's only a little part this chapter.
Morning
Elrond woke to light kisses being trailed across his jaw line. A smile came to the elven lord's face as he wrapped his arms around Celebrian. She settled into his arms, nestling her head under his chin.
'Elrond?'
'What is it melamin?'
'What chance do you think Legolas has of winning the tournament today?'
'You wake me up in such a fashion with thoughts of another elf on your mind?'
Celebrian laughed softly. 'Are you jealous my lord?'
'Should I be, my lady?'
Celebrian wiggled out of her husband's arms. Propping herself up on her elbow, she cocked her head at Elrond and fingering the ends of his hair. 'I believe I asked first. Perhaps you need convincing to answer?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Slowly she moved closer to Elrond till her face was inches away from his. Her lips hovered just above Elrond's, teasingly close. Elrond felt her breath on his skin and shivered but Celebrian did not satisfy his desire.
'Do not torture me so Celebrian.'
With a small smile, she brushed her lips over Elrond's and began to move away. However, Elrond had already anticipated her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down to him and claiming her lips in a sweet kiss.
Elrond was the first to pull away and watched Celebrian's face with pleasure as she kept her eyes closed, revealing in the feel of his touch. When she had left for the Valinor at the beginning of the third age, it had torn his heart in two. Only their reunion thousands of years later had mended all the hurt and loneliness.
'My lady is very persuasive. I will not hold back my thoughts anymore. Yes, I think there is a very good chance that Legolas will win.'
Elrond saw Celebrian's face light up and he stroked her cheek. 'What is passing through that pretty head of yours, beloved?'
'I was just thinking about who he would choose to be the Lady of the Stars if he wins.'
'You already have someone in mind?'
'Indeed I do.'
'And do I dare ask who the lucky elf maiden might be that you would want him to choose? Although I dare say I already know who you are thinking of,' Elrond smirked.
'I am sure you do. Do you not think that they would make a wonderful pair?'
'I do not think that she would accept the honor of being chosen as the Lady, no matter who picked her.'
'Why not? She surely would not refuse a prince, and Legolas at that. The boy has every elven maiden in your kingdom smitten after only arriving three days ago and he has not even tried to do so. She must have at least noticed him.'
'Celebrian,' Elrond said in a warning voice. 'Do not raise your hopes too high, my love. She is not like every other elven maiden and you know what she thinks of marriage.'
'Yes, but perhaps she simply needs to find the right elf to change her mind on the matter.'
'I highly doubt that. She is not interested in what the typical female elf is. Do not force something upon her that she does not wish.' Elrond sat up and moved his legs over the side of their bed.
'I am not forcing anything upon her,' Celebrian stated heatedly, springing out of the bed. 'It is her choice to accept him or not, I am simply aiding her a bit.'
'I meant no offense, my lovely one,' Elrond soothed, standing up as well. 'Besides, we are only speculating. Nothing has even happened yet, and from what I observed at lunch the other day, it is very likely that nothing at all will happen. She did not seemed pleased to be in the company of the prince. I suspect that something happened when they first met to make her angry with him.'
Elrond walked over to his wife and placed a kiss on her forehead. 'If we continue this discussion we shall miss the tournament all together.'
Celebrian smiled. 'You are right, as always Elrond. I only wish for what is best for her. She is very dear to my heart.' Celebrian kissed Elrond on the cheek. 'I am going to have my bath drawn and will meet you at breakfast when I am done.'
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Sun filtered into the window, warming Valia's face. She groaned and her eyes slowly began to focus.
She was completely unprepared for the sight that met her eyes and shrieked in surprise, jumping out of her bed. Tandir flopped onto her bed in a fit of laughter.
'You should have seen your face! You looked like a silly elven maiden who has just been told there is a spider in her hair. Is my face truly that horrifying sister dear?'
'Yes,' Valia snapped, moving to the next room to change before she could not contain her desire to seriously maim her brother. She called out to him in the other room. 'Your face is truly horrifying when it is one's first sight in the morning and merely inches away from my own face. I do not know how Gléwiel can wake up to that every morning, but you do know what they say,' she said in a singsong voice.
'No, I do not, enlighten me O Wise One.'
Valia giggled. 'Since you asked so nicely I shall. You cannot tell me you have never heard that love is blind.'
'I am hurt,' Tandir said, sitting up in her bed with a pout on his fair face. 'If I loose today, I shall place all the blame on you for shattering my self confidence.'
'Do not place the blame on me brother.'
'And why should I not?
'Because it shall be your poor skills and not my true words that make you loose the tournament today,' Valia said, placing her hands on her hips as she walked back into her bedroom, dressed for the day.
'That is it, little sister,' Tandir exclaimed, leaping off her bed. 'You have sealed your fate with those words. He lunged at her, but Valia was too fast, moving out of the way just in time.
'Do not make idle threats you cannot follow through with,' she laughed as she raced out of her bedroom and down the hall. Tandir was out the door and trailing after her in an instant.
Hoping to loose him, Valia made a sudden turn, pushing open a door and racing outside. She glanced over her shoulder to find Tandir right behind her.
'I shall catch you,' he declared with certainty.
'I do not doubt it,' Valia yelled back as she raced across the front lawn, dodging an unsuspecting servant. She could not move nearly fast enough to outrun Tandir in a dress so she swerved in and around trees and shrubbery to gain time. 'The question is, what will you do with me once you have caught me?' she called over her shoulder.
She felt Tandir grab her from behind a few moments later and she was scooped up into his arms. 'What shall I do with you?' Tandir repeated her words, glancing around as he walked back towards the house. Valia squirmed, but to no avail. He had a firm hold on her and there was no escape.
'You would not do anything to your little sister,' Valia said in a sugary voice, changing her tactics.
'And why should I not?'
'Because she loves you and is going to the tournament today to cheer you on.'
'I am sorry, but your excuses are not good enough,' Tandir said, coming to a halt. Valia only had the time to see a glimmer of something shiny before Tandir threw her out of his arms.
A loud splash was heard as Valia dropped into the large pond on their front lawn. She came up sputtering unintelligible words and water. Tandir stood on the bank with a satisfied smirk on his face. 'I think that evens the score now.'
'Did you see what he just did to me?' Valia called to someone behind him. Tandir turned to see his entire family standing on the lawn watching.
Valia struggled out of the water and came to stand beside Tandir, a murderous scowl on her face.
'What has come over you Tandir?' Gléwiel asked.
'Your husband decided it would be funny to throw his little sister in the pond to wake her up,' Valia accused, pointing her finger at Tandir.
She glanced around at her family and noticed they were all ready to leave. Earuviel looked dazzling in a sapphire dress that suited her hair and eyes. Her hair was down and graced with large curls. Valia's mother and sister-in- law were also impeccably dressed in stylish new clothes. Her father held Tandir's bow and a quiver of arrows. They all stared at her with a horrified expression on their faces.
With a meek look, Valia addressed her mother. 'I am sorry. I will hurry and change.'
'Valia,' Narawen sighed. 'We will be late if we do not leave now. You do not have time to change, my dear. If you wish, you can put a new dress on and meet us at the palace, but we cannot wait for you.'
'No, I will just go like this. It looks as if it will be warm today. I will dry out quickly.'
Tandir smiled and pulled his sister into a hug. 'No hard feelings?'
'No,' Valia said. 'I deserved it.'
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Legolas and Isondil walked out of the palace and down the steps. Bows in hand and quivers on their backs, they headed towards one of the enormous lawns that surrounded Lord Elrond's home.
'I hear there are several good archers here,' Legolas said to his friend.
'None that could compare with you, I am sure. Just promise me you will not make them look to bad, my prince, or Lord Elrond may decide to kick us out of his realm for injuring his pride.'
'I am not that good, Isondil,' Legolas replied modestly. He was about to say something else, but was silenced by the level look from Isondil.
'Do not be so humble. You know very well that you are a legend when it comes to archery. You will win today and will not even have to try.'
'Perhaps,' Legolas said with an incline of the head.
'You have heard of the tradition at the tournament, have you not?'
Legolas shook his head, blond hair swaying from side to side. 'Of what do you speak?'
'I speak of the Lady of the Stars. Lady Silia was kind enough to inform me of the yearly tradition on our walk yesterday.'
'Ah, yes, Lady Silia,' Legolas interjected. 'Now there is a topic that interests me, or should I say you?'
Isondil glared at the prince. 'I do not wish to speak about Lady Silia right now,' he said shortly.
It made Legolas smile. 'Very will Isondil, we shall not speak of her, for now at least. What was it you were saying before?'
'I was trying to tell you about the Lady of the Stars, since there is a very good chance that you will be the winner. Traditionally, every year the winner at the end of the first day is granted the honor of choosing the Lady of the Stars. He is given a long pole with a silver star on a chain hung at the end of it. He may choose any female elf out of the crowd that he wishes to be the Lady.'
'When he had decided who it shall be, he reaches the pole out to her. If she accepts the honor, she will take the necklace off of the end of the pole and come down to the competition field. The winner takes the lady and presents her to Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian. Lady Celebrian places the necklace around the she-elf's neck and she is then declared the Lady of the Stars.'
Legolas was listening intently now. 'And is that all?'
'No,' Isondil said, taking a deep breath before continuing. 'Whoever wins the tournament the following day will have the pleasure of escorting the Lady to the celebration banquet held in the evening. Apparently it is quite an honor among the she-elves to be chosen as the Lady. For the competitors, the highest glory is to win so that he may escort the Lady to the banquet. The Lady of the Stars and her escort dress in their finest clothes and before the feast begins, Lady Celebrian takes a beautiful crown made of mithril and stardust and crowns the Lady of the Stars.'
'But what if the winner's choice to be the Lady refuses to accept the honor?' Legolas asked.
'I do not think that has ever happened, Legolas. What she-elf in her right mind would refuse such an honor, or you for that matter? I would be willing to bet that any elven maiden you ask would accept.'
'I can think of one who would refuse,' Legolas mumbled under his breath, but with his keen elven ears, Isondil heard him, though he chose not to comment.
'Is that Lady Silia I see ahead?' Isondil asked. 'She is heading this way.'
Legolas peered into the crowd of people ahead, spotting the maiden Isondil spoke of. 'I think you are right, Isondil. It appears to be her, though I think you would be the better judge of that than I would ,' Legolas teased.
'My friend,' Isondil countered still staring ahead, 'if you were not a prince there would be a black eye on that fair face of yours that would make even you look ugly. Besides, I believe the maiden walking next to her holds a certain interest for you.'
'I highly doubt that,' Legolas said, but looked up anyways to satisfy his curiosity.
He had been wrong. Lady Valia was next to Silia, weaving in and out of the crowd and heading his direction, although she did not realize it.
'I take your silence to mean you were wrong and I was right,' Isondil said with a satisfied grin on his face.
'Take it to mean whatever you wish it to, but that does not mean you think correctly. I believe the Lady Valia thinks me a rather arrogant elf who is also a pampered prince.'
'Well if she does, it is your fault,' Isondil said. Before Legolas had a chance to defend himself, Isondil yelled into the crowd and waved his arms in the air. 'Lady Silia!'
Silia's head snapped up and she scanned the crowd, her gaze coming to rest on Isondil. A wide grin spread over her face and she grabbed Valia's arm and dragged her forward before she could protest.
'Lady Valia, Lady Silia,' Isondil said. 'What a pleasure to see you two here today.'
Isondil offered Silia his arm, which she readily took, and led her into the crowd and away from Legolas and Valia.
Legolas turned to find Valia steadily staring at the retreating backs of her friend and Isondil. Legolas did not mind, for it gave him a chance to observe the maiden in front of him. Her hair and clothing were soaked. She barely looked decent by most she-elf standards which intrigued him, having known few elven women who would willingly be seen in public in such a state.
'Lady Valia?' he said, breaking into her thoughts.
She turned to him, but would not look him in the eyes, something that perturbed him greatly since he feared it was because she was still offended by his comments. He was about to apologize when the lady spoke.
'My lord,' she declared formally, making a deep curtsey to him. 'If you will excuse me, I must be in search of my family.'
'Wait a moment, please,' Legolas' mind raced for something to say that would make the maiden stay. 'Will you be watching the tournament today?' was all he could think of. He immediately scolded himself for saying something so stupid. Why else would she be here and had she not told Lady Celebrian at lunch the other day that she would be here?
An unreadable expression passed over Valia's face before she made a move to answer. 'Yes, my lord,' was the only thing she said. Legolas could feel the tension in the air, which grew with each passing second of silence.
To his great relief, someone interrupted them.
A she-elf, tall and willowy, gracefully walked up to Valia. She wore an expensive dress that showed off her figure and complimented her pretty features. 'My dear Valia,' she said in a sickeningly sweet voice, 'whatever did you do this morning? You look positively dreadful. Did someone try to drown you?'
'Good day to you too, Hadrielia,' Valia replied as civilly as possible, but Hadrielia had already turned her attention elsewhere.
'Prince Legolas, what a pleasure to see you again,' she said, a seductive smile upon her face.
Legolas looked at the maiden in front of him, but did not recognize her at all. 'I apologize profusely, my lady. I seem to have forgotten our meeting before. Would you please refresh my memory?'
Hadrielia's smile faded a little and Valia reached up a hand to discreetly cover her own smile. Legolas had just offended Hadrielia in the worst possible way. Unknown to him, he had just been forgiven a little for his offensive words a few days ago at the archery field.
'That is quite alright, your highness. I understand that you must meet many insignificant elves with your work,' Hadrielia said, giving Valia a pointed look, 'and you cannot be expected to remember everyone after only one meeting. You introduced yourself in passing two mornings ago. I believe you were on your way to the practice archery field.'
Valia could see Legolas think hard. The poor elf honestly did not remember ever meeting the lady who stood before him.
'Well, let me introduce myself again,' Hadrielia continued. 'I am Hadrielia, daughter of Lord Celylith. Perhaps you have heard of him? He owns the company that produces the silks for many of the elven lords and ladies clothing. Lady Galadriel herself buys the material for her dresses from him.'
'That is indeed impressive,' Legolas said with an interested expression upon his face, though inwardly he cringed. He could not stand another elf maiden throwing herself at him unashamedly.
His thoughts wandered as she continued on about her family. Legolas observed her appearance closely. She was attractive. He had to grant her that.
Valia could see that she had been quite forgotten and slowly started to edge away from the two elves, hoping to quietly make her escape. However Legolas, who had not forgotten the Lady at all, noticed her departure out of the corner of his eye and broke into Hadrielia's speech.
'Forgive me Lady Hadrielia, but I must take my leave of you. The tournament will be starting shortly and I must find where I am to go.'
Hadrielia smiled at the prince and fluttered her eyelashes. Looping her arm through his, she stood close to him, looking up. 'I shall take you to where you need to go, Prince Legolas.'
Legolas tried to suppress the frantic feeling that began to creep into him. To his relief, Valia had stopped her retreat when Hadrielia had latched onto him, but was looking on in amusement. She thought they made a perfect couple and was about to turn around and walk off when she was stopped.
Legolas sent her a pleading look, hoping she did not have a heart of stone. 'Thank you for your kind offer, Lady Hadrielia,' he told the elf maiden, disentangling himself from her grasp. It proved harder than he had expected since she kept grabbing onto him again. 'But Lady Valia already agreed to assist me in finding where I need to go.'
Without a glance, Legolas broke free of Hadrielia and took Valia's arm, weaving it around his own and holding it firmly in place with his hand. He expected to feel her try to pull away, but was amazed when she did not.
Valia was too busy observing Hadrielia to think of pulling away. The maiden had turned bright red and shot Valia a dirty glance. Then, without the bat of an eyelash, the Lady's entire countenance changed to complete loveliness.
'Another time, Prince Legolas,' she said.
He nodded his head. 'If you will excuse us?' He then turned with Valia held securely on his arm and walked away.
When Hadrielia could no longer see them, Valia swiftly pulled her hand away from the prince's grasp.
'I do believe that Lady Hadrielia can no longer see you, my lord. You have no further need of me, and I think that you know very well where you are supposed to go. If you will excuse me?' she spoke, emphasizing the last sentence which he had uttered only moments before.
'A moment, Valia. I wish to thank you for your kind services. I do not think I recall ever having to have a she-elf rescue me before,' he said with a smile, 'but I thank you all the same.'
Valia started to see in red as the anger towards him grew again. What did he mean by the chauvinistic comments he made all the time? Did he think she thought them funny? She no longer cared that he was a prince and could very well have her punished for showing disrespect towards him.
With a face deadly calm and a voice dripping with sarcasm, Valia addressed the Prince. 'I daresay you will probably never have to fear tarnishing your male pride again by having to be rescued by a 'she-elf' so lowly as myself. You seem quite capable of taking care of yourself, so if you will excuse me, my lord?'
Then, just like he had done to Hadrielia, she turned before he had a chance to say anything and disappeared into the crowd.
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