A/N: Hey all. I'm writing this and listening to ttt soundtrack so I keep braking off and shouting "I know what happens at this bit!!" lol. So I know I promised Heidi the last chp would have Áruinne and Celorfiwyn in but OOO RIDERS OF ROHAN I got sidetracked! Well in this one I PROMISE they will appear!
And Kat? Elwing won't declare his undying love for ANYONE! MALE OR FEMALE! Lol. Raiden's behind is that of a… mouse. Lol.
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*just an ickle time skip, Nilmadë was apprehended and is facing Legolas with her dad Nildur and Elwing*
The blonde elf looked at his daughter, his face drawn in fury. The two were stood with Elwing outside the great hall in angry silence. Cornflower blue eyes flicked at each other occasionally, both sparking with animosity. It was obvious that there had been arguments like this before.
The sound of the continuing practise floated up from the courtyard, taunting Elwing. Because of her he wasn't out there, he was stuck inside to get a telling off for something he hadn't done. He leant against the cool wall with his arms folded over his chest his eyes fixed firmly on the ceiling. At least his family hadn't been there to see his embarrassment; he thanked the heavens that they had chosen to arrive later.
A few minutes after and the doors were opened by two guards. Nildur stepped through leading his daughter. Elwing followed. Sat directly in front of them on the two highly wrought thrones of the Kingdom were the King and Queen. Elwing had only been in the great hall a few times in his life and even now its beauty awed him. He recalled clearly the first time he had seen it when he was barely older than Celen.
The music played clear and soft and the gentle laughter of the elves filled his ears. The hall was awash with elves in fine clothes of so many colours that he couldn't name them all. From his height everything was towering and a little domineering but it couldn't overcome his wonderment. Fine silk dresses swirled by him and he clutched tightly at his father's hand, wanting to see everything but afraid of getting lost. He heard his father's voice clearly, talking to someone above his height.
Turning his head Elwing tried to take in everything. Like in a dream two elves moved apart in front of him and his path was clear. He could see quite plainly the two wooden thrones of Érinan Lethainne, their elaborate designs capturing his eye. The patterns of intertwining lines holding him entranced, his eyes followed them all the way to their apex where, at the top of the thrones, was carved a delicate picture. On the left hand throne was a rearing horse splayed across an eight-pointed star and on the other an archer on a background of the Greenleaf.
The occupants of these magnificent chairs had absorbed the young elfling as well. Never before had he seen such beauty, it was like he was looking at them from afar. A heavenly glow falling all about their shoulders and wisdom so deep that it showed in their eyes. Blue and green, blonde and auburn. So different yet entirely one.
He was being brought closer to them, steered by his father's guiding hand, his eyes still wide and rapt. He could hear them speaking with his father.
"Lord Legolas Lady Kĩyara, my eldest son Elwing."
"He must be the same age as Fiarén?"
"Yes he is my Lord."
Then the elf lady had leant down from her seat in the bejewelled night sky and spoken directly to him. His eyes widened even further in fearful curiosity. Her hair fell over her shoulder, so it was like he was looking down a hall of rich auburn locks and into her never-ending emerald eyes.
"What is your name son of Elviondel?"
For a moment the young elf had been unable to answer, then he whispered.
"Elwing star lady."
She had laughed then and so had the elf sat next to her but Elwing hadn't felt embarrassed. She hadn't laughed at him. He smiled back at her and she spoke again.
"Well Elwing you must meet my son Fiarén and his friend Celorfiwyn."
Now the scene was very much different. The room was still the same but it looked less grand from his new height. The thrones were just as they had been, but the occupants were very much different. Legolas was sat upright and his face was a picture of the harangued. Elwing suspected it could be very much to do with the elf on the throne next to him. She wasn't sat, so much as sprawled with her back against the armrest and her booted feet hanging over the other side. She still wore her leather armour and was smiling insatiably.
"An explanation please as to what happened out there?"
Legolas' voice was serious but was steeped in curiosity.
"Elwing refused to accept my apology for something I had done and I wanted to get even."
Nilmadë spoke without remorse and looked Legolas in the eyes. Nildur nudged her sharply for her impertinence and she looked away.
"She acted childishly and irresponsibly My Lord, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault Nildur, so don't be sorry. I have no excuse for the things she does." He nodded at Kĩyara who looked up in mock innocence.
"Look My Lord, Elwing had no involvement in this. Can he go? I can see he wants to get back to the practise." Nilmadë spoke casting a sidelong glance at the elf.
Legolas nodded his consent and Elwing turned to go, as he was walking out of the room Kĩyara spoke.
"By the way, nice underwear Elwing!"
She burst into laughter so violent that she fell from the throne with a thud and curled up on the floor, tears of mirth running down her face in streams. Legolas looked at her and shook his head.
"Out Kĩyara! If you can't take this seriously get out."
Struggling the she-elf got to her feet still laughing.
"Oh Legolas can't you see how hilarious this all is?" She said through bursts of laughter. "Well I suppose you can't but…" She trailed off as she reached Elwing and slung her arm over his shoulder, whether leading him back out or using him for support Legolas couldn't decide. He watched them go his face impassive before he turned back to the two elves in front of him.
"You can decide whether or not to punish her Nildur it's all rather inane anyway. Let's all go back out, consider the matter dropped." He said offhand.
He got up and walked with them. Nildur looked at him confused.
"I thought you just sent her Ladyship out for not taking it seriously?"
"Secretly I do find it funny, but I'm not going to let her know she's right am I?"
Nildur smiled back shaking his head at the absurdity of the two.
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"I'm due in the sword ring. You'll be alright on your own?"
Celorfiwyn looked at Isorfir patronisingly.
"I think I can manage without you holding my hand."
Isorfir grinned at his friend and turned away from the archery butts. Celorfiwyn watched him go; when he was about twenty paces away he was accosted by a blonde elf. Celorfiwyn frowned. He recognised the spring in the step and the toss of the hair but he thought Nilmadë was inside getting reprimanded for her earlier prank. Then the elf turned her head to speak with his friend and Celorfiwyn's jaw dropped. Héthien? Since when did she walk with that little skip of Nilmadë's and when had she become so beautiful? He stared in silence until they disappeared. Shaking his head he turned back to the targets. He couldn't wait to tell Elwing what he had just witnessed. Héthien had been flirting with Isorfir. Quiet, dependable, sensible Héthien. It was a revelation that demanded a lot of thought on how to tease Isorfir. Lost in mischief he didn't hear the footsteps approach him or the rustle of a dress.
"Hey Celorfiwyn."
The honey haired elf jumped at the apparition. Áruinne's face looked back at him, she was smiling. He resisted the urge to smile back and turned to the targets, drawing an arrow all good thoughts driven from his mind. Áruinne didn't seem to notice his change of mood and watched intently as he took aim.
"Come into the forest with me."
Celorfiwyn's arrow flew wildly off course and landed well outside the target. He whirled around to face her and looked quickly over his shoulder.
"I can't Ári."
"Why not?" She said ruefully tugging at his sleeve.
"Because I'm practising for the games."
"Your good enough as it is. Why waste good arrows?" She put her hand on his cheek and twisted his hair in her fingers, her lips tempting him. Celorfiwyn gave in to her for a moment but soon remembered where he was and drew back before he could kiss her. The princess gave him a perplexed look.
"What's wrong Celorfiwyn?"
"Nothing…"
"Then come with me!"
"No! I can't! I can't."
"This is like last night isn't it? You didn't want to then did you? What's wrong with you Celorfiwyn, you just give me everything then take it away!"
Celorfiwyn was painfully aware of the rise in her voice and the interest they were attracting. He licked his lips nervously.
"It's not like that Áruinne, I swear."
"Then tell me what it is like!"
"Alright! Alright, but not here."
Reluctantly she followed him into the forest until they reached a clearing where she rounded upon him like a wolf.
"So what's going through your mind? Why can't you be like last night?"
Celorfiwyn listened to her insulted tones. She was making it seem like he had abused her in some way. The whole way she was standing said that she was offended at him. Anger began to nibble at him; she went off like that before even giving him a chance to explain?
"I can't be like last night Miss Princess because there's a real world! A real world where there's not just you and me. A world that will stare and point and place blame. And you know where it'll all fall? On me. Because it's a lot easier to pick on the defenceless elf who hasn't precious parents and a whole army to protect them!"
"Don't you dare bring my parents into this! That has nothing to do with how you treat me!"
"It's everything to do with how I treat you! Áruinne can't you see? You're a princess, a royal with Aithianne and Greenleaf blood. What about me? I don't even bear a second name. Not Celorfiwyn Aithianne or Greenleaf or Halfelven." The blonde elf sagged and looked at the ground, biting his lip in despair. "Just Celorfiwyn."
Áruinne was moved; she looked at him stood before her like a fallen angel his head bowed in misery. She hadn't realised how much she had affected him.
"You see Áruinne I want you and I want to be with you. But everything is set against me, right from the start the whole world and its damned etiquette is hostile. All this tradition! I'm too young to fight it all alone. I mean look at what your mother and father went through to get to where they are! They had much more experience of life than either of us have had and it nearly broke them!"
Áruinne moved towards him and took his hands in hers looking him in the eye. Any resentment she had felt was pushed aside by the feeling that she had to protect him. She wanted to make him feel better and wipe that hurt off his face. She didn't matter now just him. The strength of her feelings surprised even her.
"It did, but look at them now. It's disgusting! You don't have to live with them."
Celorfiwyn laughed sadly.
"But what I said still stands Áruinne. I can't face the whole world alone while you hide, albeit unwillingly, behind your title. It's best if I don't start what I know I can't stop."
"Look I'll destroy my title! I'll…murder a cousin or something!" Áruinne fished around desperately. Celorfiwyn laughed again, more honestly this time.
"You don't have any cousins."
"Well whatever, but please Celorfiwyn, for me?"
Celorfiwyn felt his brain give into his heart's demands. The dam was broken and the full force of his feelings flooded him entirely. How could he say no to that earnest and angelic face? She believed so fully in everything she did he couldn't help but be infatuated. Instead of answering her he dipped his head to her.
"You make me laugh."
She reached up and pulled his lips to hers smiling.
"Just as long as your father doesn't find out." Celorfiwyn muttered between kisses.
"Agreed." She breathed back.
He entangled one hand in her hair and let the other wander over her back and Áruinne lost herself in his kisses.
"One cannot love and be wise" – Eliot Middlemarch
A/N: And by popular demand…chapter eight! Thank you kind readers!
