Authors note- I don't own Legolas or Lord of the Rings, in fact, I don't
own anything that has to do with Tolkien or Lord of the Rings. Ithilwen is
my own character though.
Forbidden By: Vanima Edhel
Chapter 2
The next morning Legolas got up after an almost sleepless night. It was early in the morning and almost no one was up yet. Legolas made his way down to the kitchens. A pot of Oatmeal was bubbling gently over the hearth for anyone that was up before the cooks had gotten a chance to make breakfast. He ate a small bowl of oatmeal and took with him some bread and cold meat for his lunch.
He got to the stables and mounted his horse as fast as he could. Half an hour after he had arisen Legolas had disappeared into the shadowy depths of Mirkwood.
Ithilwen rose later than normal. She had had funny dreams that night although she couldn't remember them she knew that they were not happy. She rose and went to breakfast looking for Legolas. He had obviously been in a bad mood yesterday and she wanted to know what was wrong. When she didn't see him at breakfast she went to his room. He wasn't there either. Asking around she found that no one had seen him all morning. Then she remembered. Where did he always go when he was thinking? To his favorite spot in Mirkwood, a place where the river pooled into a small lake. They had nicknamed the pool "Vision Lake". She smiled and ran to get her horse.
She arrived at the pool and saw just what she expected to see. Legolas was sitting on a rock that overhung the pool. He had his knees curled up to his chest and was starring into the water giving no indication that he had heard her arrive. She sat next to him in silence for a minute. Then they both turned to each other and tried to talk at the same time.
"Look we need to talk."
"What's wrong with you?"
Legolas smiled and said "you first."
Ithilwen grinned and shook her head. Legolas turned until he was facing her and she did the same for him. "What do you think of our relationship?" he asked her.
She was momentarily taken by surprise. It wasn't what she had expected. "I think we get along together well. We know what the other needs without asking and can predict each others moods and feeling. We have a steady friendship that could never be broken."
Legolas nodded. "Do you ever feel that sometimes we are more than just friends? And I'm asking you this straightforward because I feel like we owe each other to be honest about this."
Ithilwen shifted. Did she think of Legolas as more than a friend? Sure their relationship had passed just a normal friendship long ago, but love? Did they love each other? She wasn't sure. "I'm not sure." She admitted. "I know we don't have just a normal friendship anymore but I don't know if it's anything more. Sure there is attraction here but who wouldn't be attracted to you?"
Legolas blushed at her last statement but nodded. "It's just that lately I've been thinking of you not as simply a friend but as more."
She nodded slowly. "I suppose you could think of it that way." Then she bit her lip. "But you can't get involved! You know that. Your father would have my head!"
Legolas slowly nodded, "Now you see the predicament." They sat in silence for awhile.
"We could always try to keep it a secret." Ithilwen suggested. Legolas gave her a hard look. "Keep it secret until when? Until I have to marry the elf I'm promised to? Then what? We run off? I just can't do that. I have a responsibility to this kingdom."
Ithilwen saw the pain in his eyes. "We don't have to do anything right now." She said softly. "We just now realized what we had between us. Another couple of months won't kill us."
She smiled and Legolas felt his heart melt. 'If only I could tell you.' He thought. 'If only I could tell you about my father.' Legolas' father was dying, slowly of a broken heart. Very few people knew of the king's lover after the queen, Legolas' mother, had died. She had been a very well guarded secret. Then she had died a tragic death at the hands of raiders. From the day that she had died Thranduil had died just a little every day. Soon nothing the healers could do would be able to hide the fact that the king was not well. As soon as it was public knowledge that the king was dying Legolas would be forced to marry and get ready to accept the throne.
That was why he couldn't relax as Ithilwen thought they could. 'It's not fair' Legolas thought. 'I finally have feelings for a girl and now I will have to ignore them to get married to an elf I've only met once in my entire life. He hit his hand against the stone he was sitting on softly.
Ithilwen saw him hit his hand on the rock and raised an eyebrow, for Legolas who was normally in complete control that move was like a normal human beating his head against a wall. She wondered what was bothering him now. She was about to press him about it when he changed the subject to the upcoming ball. She had forgotten entirely about it. She told him that she had forgotten about it and he told her that he thought she would have. They chatted about this and that for awhile before Legolas said. "I must be getting back." Ithilwen nodded. They mounted their horses and rode back.
Once he arrived Legolas was called to his father's room. Legolas entered quietly and moved to where his father was sitting in a chair. "My son. Please sit down." Thranduil said indicating a chair. Legolas sat. He looked closely at Thranduil, he noticed how his skin had paled and he walked with less vitality than before. Soon everyone will be able to notice what only those closest to him have noticed, even when Thranduil wore the makeup to cover it up. Thranduil remained standing and spoke as soon as Legolas was seated. "I have news. My healers say that I have less than a week before people begin to notice that my health is failing. After that I will have maybe a year at most half a year at least. That is why I've decided to invite Princess Ninquelótë to attend the upcoming ball. You will be her escort and guide, you will attend the ball with her and show her around everywhere she wants to go."
Legolas sat stunned for a minute. 'This can't be happening.' He thought. "I thought your healers said you had months to a year until the signs began to show." King Thranduill just shook his head. Legolas was speechless. He wasn't supposed to have to deal with this right now. He didn't want to have to deal with this for another few months at least. "Sir, I know this is hard for you but please, don't have princess Ninquelótë come for this ball. Let us organize another one, a grander one to welcome her to our realm."
Thranduill smiled. "Had you mentioned it before I would have probably said yes to your idea but unfortunately we have already sent an invitation and I have just gotten back the answer." He handed Legolas a letter.
My Lord Thranduill,
I would be pleased to join you and your son for a month and be present at the ball. I'm looking forward to meeting your son again and getting better acquainted before we are brought together for the rest of our lifetime. Please pass along my regards to Legolas. Thank you again for the invitation,
Sincerely yours, Princess Ninquelótë.
Legolas read the letter with a sinking heart. He had been looking forward to spending a lovely evening with Ithilwen. Now however it looked like he was going to spend the evening playing host to this princess Ninquelótë, 'no' he thought 'My future wife'. He handed the letter back to his father. "When do they arrive?" he asked dully.
"In a week." Thranduill answered. "I was hoping that you could get the palace ready to welcome our guests?" he asked.
Legolas sighed; he should have been expecting this. "Yes sire, I will see that our guests have a welcome appropriate for their status."
"Very good. Now go so I can get some sleep so I can be ready to deliver a speech about our most important guests."
Legolas knew a dismissal when he heard one. "Yes sire." He said with a bow and walked out of the room. He walked as fast as was acceptable to Ithilwen's room. He knocked quietly on her door. She opened it and he slipped inside without a word. He gestured for her to sit on the bed. She did. Legolas began to pace. 'Where to begin' he thought. Instead of thinking it through though he just started talking. "She's coming to the ball. That means you and I can't go together. He is so mush sicker than they thought he won't last much longer. I have to put up with real royalty now." He kept rambling on like this for awhile then stopped and looked at Ithilwen. "Well?" he snapped.
She shook her head. "You are going to have to start at the beginning." She said. Legolas sighed and sat down in a chair. He explained how he was promised to princess Ninquelótë and how his father was sick and dying and how Thranduill had invited the princess to the ball and how Legolas was supposed to escort her everywhere. When he finally finished he looked at Ithilwen nervously. He stood up and paced again.
Ithilwen just looked at Legolas for a few moments then walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. He was shocked for a moment then returned the hug. They stood like that for awhile then broke apart. "I will help you get through this." Ithilwen told Legolas. "And thank you for trusting me with this information."
They gave each other another quick hug and then Legolas left. Ithilwen sat on the bed with a sigh. 'Now the only problem is how I'm going to help him.' She thought before getting dressed for dinner.
Forbidden By: Vanima Edhel
Chapter 2
The next morning Legolas got up after an almost sleepless night. It was early in the morning and almost no one was up yet. Legolas made his way down to the kitchens. A pot of Oatmeal was bubbling gently over the hearth for anyone that was up before the cooks had gotten a chance to make breakfast. He ate a small bowl of oatmeal and took with him some bread and cold meat for his lunch.
He got to the stables and mounted his horse as fast as he could. Half an hour after he had arisen Legolas had disappeared into the shadowy depths of Mirkwood.
Ithilwen rose later than normal. She had had funny dreams that night although she couldn't remember them she knew that they were not happy. She rose and went to breakfast looking for Legolas. He had obviously been in a bad mood yesterday and she wanted to know what was wrong. When she didn't see him at breakfast she went to his room. He wasn't there either. Asking around she found that no one had seen him all morning. Then she remembered. Where did he always go when he was thinking? To his favorite spot in Mirkwood, a place where the river pooled into a small lake. They had nicknamed the pool "Vision Lake". She smiled and ran to get her horse.
She arrived at the pool and saw just what she expected to see. Legolas was sitting on a rock that overhung the pool. He had his knees curled up to his chest and was starring into the water giving no indication that he had heard her arrive. She sat next to him in silence for a minute. Then they both turned to each other and tried to talk at the same time.
"Look we need to talk."
"What's wrong with you?"
Legolas smiled and said "you first."
Ithilwen grinned and shook her head. Legolas turned until he was facing her and she did the same for him. "What do you think of our relationship?" he asked her.
She was momentarily taken by surprise. It wasn't what she had expected. "I think we get along together well. We know what the other needs without asking and can predict each others moods and feeling. We have a steady friendship that could never be broken."
Legolas nodded. "Do you ever feel that sometimes we are more than just friends? And I'm asking you this straightforward because I feel like we owe each other to be honest about this."
Ithilwen shifted. Did she think of Legolas as more than a friend? Sure their relationship had passed just a normal friendship long ago, but love? Did they love each other? She wasn't sure. "I'm not sure." She admitted. "I know we don't have just a normal friendship anymore but I don't know if it's anything more. Sure there is attraction here but who wouldn't be attracted to you?"
Legolas blushed at her last statement but nodded. "It's just that lately I've been thinking of you not as simply a friend but as more."
She nodded slowly. "I suppose you could think of it that way." Then she bit her lip. "But you can't get involved! You know that. Your father would have my head!"
Legolas slowly nodded, "Now you see the predicament." They sat in silence for awhile.
"We could always try to keep it a secret." Ithilwen suggested. Legolas gave her a hard look. "Keep it secret until when? Until I have to marry the elf I'm promised to? Then what? We run off? I just can't do that. I have a responsibility to this kingdom."
Ithilwen saw the pain in his eyes. "We don't have to do anything right now." She said softly. "We just now realized what we had between us. Another couple of months won't kill us."
She smiled and Legolas felt his heart melt. 'If only I could tell you.' He thought. 'If only I could tell you about my father.' Legolas' father was dying, slowly of a broken heart. Very few people knew of the king's lover after the queen, Legolas' mother, had died. She had been a very well guarded secret. Then she had died a tragic death at the hands of raiders. From the day that she had died Thranduil had died just a little every day. Soon nothing the healers could do would be able to hide the fact that the king was not well. As soon as it was public knowledge that the king was dying Legolas would be forced to marry and get ready to accept the throne.
That was why he couldn't relax as Ithilwen thought they could. 'It's not fair' Legolas thought. 'I finally have feelings for a girl and now I will have to ignore them to get married to an elf I've only met once in my entire life. He hit his hand against the stone he was sitting on softly.
Ithilwen saw him hit his hand on the rock and raised an eyebrow, for Legolas who was normally in complete control that move was like a normal human beating his head against a wall. She wondered what was bothering him now. She was about to press him about it when he changed the subject to the upcoming ball. She had forgotten entirely about it. She told him that she had forgotten about it and he told her that he thought she would have. They chatted about this and that for awhile before Legolas said. "I must be getting back." Ithilwen nodded. They mounted their horses and rode back.
Once he arrived Legolas was called to his father's room. Legolas entered quietly and moved to where his father was sitting in a chair. "My son. Please sit down." Thranduil said indicating a chair. Legolas sat. He looked closely at Thranduil, he noticed how his skin had paled and he walked with less vitality than before. Soon everyone will be able to notice what only those closest to him have noticed, even when Thranduil wore the makeup to cover it up. Thranduil remained standing and spoke as soon as Legolas was seated. "I have news. My healers say that I have less than a week before people begin to notice that my health is failing. After that I will have maybe a year at most half a year at least. That is why I've decided to invite Princess Ninquelótë to attend the upcoming ball. You will be her escort and guide, you will attend the ball with her and show her around everywhere she wants to go."
Legolas sat stunned for a minute. 'This can't be happening.' He thought. "I thought your healers said you had months to a year until the signs began to show." King Thranduill just shook his head. Legolas was speechless. He wasn't supposed to have to deal with this right now. He didn't want to have to deal with this for another few months at least. "Sir, I know this is hard for you but please, don't have princess Ninquelótë come for this ball. Let us organize another one, a grander one to welcome her to our realm."
Thranduill smiled. "Had you mentioned it before I would have probably said yes to your idea but unfortunately we have already sent an invitation and I have just gotten back the answer." He handed Legolas a letter.
My Lord Thranduill,
I would be pleased to join you and your son for a month and be present at the ball. I'm looking forward to meeting your son again and getting better acquainted before we are brought together for the rest of our lifetime. Please pass along my regards to Legolas. Thank you again for the invitation,
Sincerely yours, Princess Ninquelótë.
Legolas read the letter with a sinking heart. He had been looking forward to spending a lovely evening with Ithilwen. Now however it looked like he was going to spend the evening playing host to this princess Ninquelótë, 'no' he thought 'My future wife'. He handed the letter back to his father. "When do they arrive?" he asked dully.
"In a week." Thranduill answered. "I was hoping that you could get the palace ready to welcome our guests?" he asked.
Legolas sighed; he should have been expecting this. "Yes sire, I will see that our guests have a welcome appropriate for their status."
"Very good. Now go so I can get some sleep so I can be ready to deliver a speech about our most important guests."
Legolas knew a dismissal when he heard one. "Yes sire." He said with a bow and walked out of the room. He walked as fast as was acceptable to Ithilwen's room. He knocked quietly on her door. She opened it and he slipped inside without a word. He gestured for her to sit on the bed. She did. Legolas began to pace. 'Where to begin' he thought. Instead of thinking it through though he just started talking. "She's coming to the ball. That means you and I can't go together. He is so mush sicker than they thought he won't last much longer. I have to put up with real royalty now." He kept rambling on like this for awhile then stopped and looked at Ithilwen. "Well?" he snapped.
She shook her head. "You are going to have to start at the beginning." She said. Legolas sighed and sat down in a chair. He explained how he was promised to princess Ninquelótë and how his father was sick and dying and how Thranduill had invited the princess to the ball and how Legolas was supposed to escort her everywhere. When he finally finished he looked at Ithilwen nervously. He stood up and paced again.
Ithilwen just looked at Legolas for a few moments then walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. He was shocked for a moment then returned the hug. They stood like that for awhile then broke apart. "I will help you get through this." Ithilwen told Legolas. "And thank you for trusting me with this information."
They gave each other another quick hug and then Legolas left. Ithilwen sat on the bed with a sigh. 'Now the only problem is how I'm going to help him.' She thought before getting dressed for dinner.