A/N: allo allo! I went skiing today! WHEEEE! :) Anyway, another chapter for you to read! :) Enjoy!
A Love in the Mist
Chapter 2: Upcoming Celebrations
After Elenya's welcoming celebration into the family, many happy years ensued. Elenya got along very well with Elladan, Elrohir and especially Arwen. As promised, none of them spoke of how Elenya came into the family, although they came close to it many times. Thankfully, Elenya never questioned it. She believed her healing abilities came from Elrond, the dark hair from Elrond and the silver blue eyes from a distance relative. Elrond and Celebrian truly loved Elenya as if she were their own, and many times forgot she wasn't. She could have easily passed for being a member of their family; the dark hair, healing abilities, fair complexion; the only thing that separated her from everyone else was her Sapphire eyes that seemed to have endless depth that were always shining and bright and joyful. Her eyes often caught many local elves' love interest, but Elladan and Elrohir were just as protective of Elenya as they were of Arwen, if not more so.
At Celebrian's death Elenya cried for many days, often falling asleep only out of exhaustion. With the help of her family, they all overcame their sadness and grief, and began to rebuild their 'normal' lives.
Many centuries passed, and Elrond watched his children grow up. Elladan and Elrohir became excellent warriors, trained in bow and sword, which pleased him to no end. Arwen became so beautiful and fair, and was called the Evenstar of her people. Elenya... Elenya had become a very beautiful elf maiden herself. Many referred to her as the "norundeil", which meant 'Starlight', taking note of her unusual eyes. (note: I know, it's supposed to be gilgalad, but I find it so boring! needs to be prettied-up! :D) Elrond was happy to have one of his children follow in his footsteps of being a healer, which of course, came as no surprise, regarding Elenya's true healer elf background.
However... Elenya concerned him. While she had a 'manners' tutor, she just wasn't quite the lady Arwen was. He knew she tried, and he loved her all the same, but he tried to talk to Elenya about it, she simply explained she didn't intend to become a proper lady. She preferred to go about in the woods with her brothers and learn to fight. Moreover, despite her great beauty, she had no suitors. What Elrond didn't know, was that Elenya had frightened them all away, threatening to kill them if they tried anything.
Elenya spent most of her days training, using Sword and Arrow, and studying healing. She soon became a master of both. She was excellent at Sword and Arrow fighting, but preferred the bow, and had become even better than her brothers, which was saying a lot. Elenya had become known as the best Archer of Rivendell and an accomplished healer... All this at the young age of 600.
A few years later, it was almost Elenya's 650th birthday, and Elrond had ordered a special 3 day ball to be prepared, since the 650th birthday for elves were importance. It represented 'coming of age' and was an event to be remembered. Of course, there would be dancing, singing and the happy jovial festivities, but for most of it, Elenya would HAVE to wear a formal gown, to be respectful and show that she honored the elven tradition. To have Elenya in her normal short hunting skirts would be ridiculous.
Elrond was about to have a talk with her about this when he saw her walking past his study... in a formal dress! She was normally wearing rather short skirts, saying that long dresses hindered her movement.
"Elenya!" Elrond called, and after a few soft footfalls, Elenya was at the doorway of his study.
"Yes atar [father]?" She asked, Elrond turned to her, smiling. She was beautiful. She was wearing a silverish blue dress that complemented her eyes and shimmered as she moved. It was tight around the chest, torso and most of her arms, belling out at the wrists and hips. It had a square neck that made her neck look as graceful as a swans. Her long, straight, dark hair was loose, although several strands had been braided in thin lengths. Completing the outfit, she was wearing a pendent much like Arwen's, and it lay on a fine silver chain at her thoat, along with a silver circlet atop her head. It made her look every part of the lady she was expected to be.
"You're all dressed up? Why?" Elrond asked. Elenya rolled her eyes.
"Don't think I did this of my own free will. It's only because of my love for Arwen that I'm in this. She begged and pleaded, so I just wore it so she'd stop pestering me." Elenya explained, turning around once.
"Are you telling me I'd have to beg and plead for you to wear a dress?" Elrond clarified. Elenya giggled.
"no Atar. I normally wear dresses when you ask me to." Elenya said, giving her father a hug. "Atar, I still don't understand why the 650th birthday is so important." Elenya remarked.
"You know, because it's embarking on you becoming a woman." Elrond said, giving his daughter a proud smile.
"no, I know that. But there's got to be more to it than that." Elenya said, tilting her head to one side. Taking a deep breath, Elrond sat his daughter in a chair, as he walked about the room. He knew she wasn't going to like what was about to be said. Elenya eyed her father nervously, because he seemed so serious.
"You always were a bright little elf, you know." Elrond said, making Elenya smile a little. "You're right. There is more to this. At the last ball, your husband will be decided." Elrond counted to 3.
"My... my what?" Elenya's smile had faded and in it place was a slight frown.
"Your future husband." Elrond said again and Elenya sighed. "Elenya, you knew you would have to get married eventually." Elrond chided gently. Elenya stood up, pacing the room.
"I know, but I always thought it would be later! Arwen isn't even married yet!" She exclaimed.
"It will be later, Pen-neth. [little one]" Elrond said smiling, making Elenya smile at the use of her childhood nickname. "At the party we will meet your betrothed. You don't have to get married right away." Elrond explained. This relived Elenya greatly, but another question plagued her mind.
"What... what if I don't like him or vice-versa?" She asked. Or what if I don't want to get married... ever. she added in her mind.
"You don't need to worry about that. Elven divination almost always results in happy marriages. You will be paired up with the one who is most compatible with you, because of similar personal traits. It's almost guaranteed you'll be happy." Elrond smiled at his youngest child, tilting her head up.
"Lord Elrond! The chef wishes to speak with you." A guard said. "He wants to know if the cake should be strawberry mousse, or cherry or vanilla, or..."
"I'll see to it." Elrond said leaving the room, leaving Elenya to her own thoughts. Shortly, she returned to her room and shed the long dress for something more comfortable.. like her short hunting skirts. She fastened her quiver of arrows to her back and headed out for the archery range. Archery always helped her to focus and think.
She didn't want to marry. The thought of being dominated by a male made her blood boil. She was... afraid. Afraid that she'd lose her sense of freedom and individuality.
Well, if this elven divination is as reliable as father makes it seem, it probably shouldn't be a problem. She thought.
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In Mirkwood...
"Legolas! Legolas?! Oh... where is that reckless boy?!" King Thranduil wondered, looking for his son. Thranduil was nearly frightened to death when his son swung down from a tree right in front of him like a monkey.
"Yes father?" Legolas answered smiling at his flustered fathers face upside down.
"Get down here!" Thranduil said, and Legolas easily jumped down. "Are you ready? We leave tomorrow for Princess Elenya's 650th birthday." Thranduil said.
"Yes father, I know. You told me about a million times, and I am not exaggerating." Legolas mumbled, rolling his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me! I honestly don't want to imagine you as King of Mirkwood when I'm gone!" Thranduil scolded.
"Then don't. I certainly don't want to." Legolas shrugged. His father's face softened.
"Legolas... you have to. You're the only son I have, so automatically the kingdom is yours." Thranduil said softly, knowing how much his son loved adventure. Like he did, once. Being a king wouldn't allow him to do much exploring.
"Just be glad that I still have a few thousand years as king." Thranduil laughed, patting his son on the shoulder. Legolas smiled a little, and began to walk back home. "And Legolas!" Legolas turned around. "Be on your best behavior to the Princess!" Legolas rolled his eyes again.
"Father I'm the perfect gentleman!" Legolas turned back to walk home. Although, he thought, I don't even know what she looks like! I guess I'll have to be nice to every lady I see.
~A/N: PHEW! Long chapter for me to write! ... of course, it only took you 5 seconds to read. . lol. Ah, oh well. Please R&R!! :) ~Feathers of the Wind [12.29.02]
Word count: 2320
