LOVE'S CHANCE AT FATE



PLEASE REVIEW SO I CAN POST THE NEXT CHAPTER!! I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT ^_^



**AHEM** Please don't sue me for changes in plot lines, the use of Tolkien's world, or Elvish translations. Word translations made possible by:

So please don't sue me. I CITED!



Chapter Two: Angry Answers



Angry voices echoed loudly in the brightly-lit halls, reverberating every syllable.

"Where is she? Where in the Valar is she?!" Demanded an outraged Elf. His wife tried to calm him.

"Don't yell so loudly! The whole Kingdom is going to hear you!" She held onto his arm. Elwen loved her husband dearly, though at times he acted a *little* over-ecstatic.

"She'll be home soon... she always is..." Elwen tried to comfort him. He looked at her incredulously.

"I think you give our daughter too much credit. This is no ordinary 'party'. The Prince will be here in a week and she decides to go wandering off NOW?" He shook his head. "I knew something like this was going to happen... I KNEW it! I should've locked her up when I had the chance." Elwen shook her head at him.

"You wouldn't really have done that, would you?" She asked him, putting her hand on his arm. He seemed to be calming down a bit, but he was still fuming.

"I don't know... we should have known after what she said last night. That whole, 'I am my own' speech she gave us after we mentioned the Royal Court's visit. She needs to learn her place! She can't run away every time she doesn't like the way things are going! What is she going to do in life when she's on her own, and something bad happens? There are only so many places to run to before you're trapped."

"Perhaps she has cold feet... it isn't uncommon you know. I felt the same thing before I met you, and look how it turned out. I have faith she'll turn up." Elwen looked out the window, as if Vilisse would suddenly jump through it. "Which," she added quickly, "I am sure she will. You needn't fret."

"What are we going to say to the King of Mirkwood when he and his sons show up at our door looking for Legolas' wife-to-be and she isn't here? 'Sorry, she's out at the moment, may I take a message?'"

"Wife-to-be? Don't be foolish! You didn't promise that... did you? You know you cannot give out your daughter's heart to whomever you wish."

"Elwen, it was decided long ago that Thranduil and I had made a contract with Legolas and Vilisse in mind... whether it be a mere friendship, or a passionate marriage, it is what it is."

"You made a contract to promise Vilisse's hand in marriage?"

"Not a contract, but a bond. It isn't that uncommon, you should know. Though we live endless years, eventually it weighed on my mind that I want someone to take care of my only child... I want her to be happy Elwen, and for a maiden as fair as she, it wouldn't be easy, nor safe for her to be on her own. I dwell on the thought of our journey over the sea many times... I don't want her to be left here alone. We both know she wishes to remain in Middle-Earth until her years are spent and is ready to cross the sea to join us. I did not arrange a marriage, but rather encouraged it."

Elwen shook her head in dismay. She understood this worry for their daughter, and her well being. However, she also knew Vilisse did not want to be forced into something she did not concur herself. Her daughter's flight had occurred to Elwen the previous night when all three of them were in conflict over this...

'Father, do you not understand? My heart is my own! It cannot just be thrown to whoever you desire! I am not ready to bind my heart to anyone!'

'Daughter, understand that I am in no way binding your heart to anyone! I only ask that you try, nay... consider the possibilities in front of you. You will not be under our care forever, and one day your mother and I will leave these shores to the Havens. You have made it clear that you will not come with us, and for that I give you leave. But I will not leave you here utterly alone and unprotected! I fear for you, Vilisse...'






Translations:



Vilisse: (meaning in Quenya) a person's "spirit", meaning his or her general personality and attitude.



Huore: Heart-vigor, aggressive in the ways of the heart (traditional spelled with two dots above the e, however my computer doesn't know the codes).



Istima: Knowledge, learned.



Elwen: Hearted- to have heart.



Arandur: A King's servant, Steward.



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