Forbidden
By: Vanima Edhel
Chapter 3
A few weeks later everything was ready for the arrival of the envoy from Lothlorien including Princess Ninquelótë. Legolas had spent the past few weeks getting the Halls ready for their arrival. The place was decorated in a summer fashion with garlands of flowers and chimes that rang with the breeze. All the old fountains that had fallen into disrepair had been fixed and were now flowing, giving off soothing sounds. The gardeners had planted new flowers around the walkways and the windows had been opened to let the warm summer air in.
Legolas stood on a balcony letting the cool air blow in his face. He was glad for a chance to rest. He had been up for three days now. Although it was not necessary for Legolas to sleep every night he knew he should sleep soon. He heard footsteps behind him; he turned and saw his father's doctor coming up behind him. "Your father is about to announce to the elves about his health. He requests your presence."
Legolas nodded and followed the doctor to the chamber were his father was waiting. His father motioned for him to sit down next to him. Legolas quickly complied.
"Legolas. I'm prepared to announce the state of my health. I will also announce your engagement to princess Ninquelótë."
Legolas nodded but didn't say anything. His father continued. "I'm also going to announce that when you are married to princess Ninquelótë that I will be passing my kingship on to you. Hopefully I will still be alive at that point." Thranduil smiled sadly. "Amin hiraetha (I'm sorry) my son but I cannot wait any longer."
Legolas smiled sadly. "Amin rengwa, Heruamin (I understand, My lord)."
Thranduil smiled. "I will announce it tonight at dinner. Will you join me at my table tonight?"
"I would be honored." Legolas said.
"Then I will see you then. I'm going to rest for tonight." Thranduil said as he got slowly to his feet. Legolas stood and left the chambers.
He went immediately to Ithilwen's chambers. He knocked quietly on her door. It was opened almost instantly. Ithilwen smiled at Legolas and admitted him into her room. She knew something was wrong as soon as he sat down on the bed. He lost his composed state and let his head fall into his hands. Before she could ask what was wrong Legolas spoke. "My father is going to announce my engagement to princess Ninquelótë tonight at dinner. He is also going to announce that as soon as I am married I will be king."
Ithilwen sat down next to Legolas. She didn't say anything just simply wrapped her arms around him. After a minute she turned his face so she could look at him. She smiled at him. "I'm sure it won't be that bad. Remember, what ever you do I'll always be here for you."
Legolas shook his head sadly. "But I can't promise the same for you. Once I'm king and married then I'll have so many duties that we won't be able to spend much time together, not to mention I'll be expected to spend my free time with my new wife." Legolas almost choked as he said the last word.
Ithilwen smiled sadly. "It matters not. I will always be yours even if you cannot say the same for me."
Legolas lowered his head. "You shouldn't promise that. I would not want you to give your happiness for my sake. I'm sure you will find another love, given time."
"I might, but you will always be my one true love. I knew from the moment we met. Do you remember that?"
Legolas gave a soft laugh. "Yes. The day after we met you told me that we were going to be married when we were older."
"Yes, I loved you even then, although I didn't know it."
"I didn't even realize that I loved you until about a year ago. I was too blind to see it." Legolas's voice turned bitter. "If I had we might not be in this situation right now. You could maybe be the queen in waiting now."
"Don't blame yourself." Ithilwen gently took one of his hands in hers. "You can't rush love, if you had then maybe we would be hating each other right now."
"I know, but now we can never be together." Legolas pointed out.
Ithilwen forced herself to laugh. "You are making too big a deal out of this." She told him. "Come on, it's almost lunch time and you still have to get ready. Let's go back to your chambers and get you ready. You don't want to look like a slob at your own wedding and coronation announcement, now do you?"
Legolas smiled bitterly. "I guess I don't." he said and slowly stood up. "Come on then."
Ithilwen shook her head and followed Legolas out of her chambers.
Chapter 3
A few weeks later everything was ready for the arrival of the envoy from Lothlorien including Princess Ninquelótë. Legolas had spent the past few weeks getting the Halls ready for their arrival. The place was decorated in a summer fashion with garlands of flowers and chimes that rang with the breeze. All the old fountains that had fallen into disrepair had been fixed and were now flowing, giving off soothing sounds. The gardeners had planted new flowers around the walkways and the windows had been opened to let the warm summer air in.
Legolas stood on a balcony letting the cool air blow in his face. He was glad for a chance to rest. He had been up for three days now. Although it was not necessary for Legolas to sleep every night he knew he should sleep soon. He heard footsteps behind him; he turned and saw his father's doctor coming up behind him. "Your father is about to announce to the elves about his health. He requests your presence."
Legolas nodded and followed the doctor to the chamber were his father was waiting. His father motioned for him to sit down next to him. Legolas quickly complied.
"Legolas. I'm prepared to announce the state of my health. I will also announce your engagement to princess Ninquelótë."
Legolas nodded but didn't say anything. His father continued. "I'm also going to announce that when you are married to princess Ninquelótë that I will be passing my kingship on to you. Hopefully I will still be alive at that point." Thranduil smiled sadly. "Amin hiraetha (I'm sorry) my son but I cannot wait any longer."
Legolas smiled sadly. "Amin rengwa, Heruamin (I understand, My lord)."
Thranduil smiled. "I will announce it tonight at dinner. Will you join me at my table tonight?"
"I would be honored." Legolas said.
"Then I will see you then. I'm going to rest for tonight." Thranduil said as he got slowly to his feet. Legolas stood and left the chambers.
He went immediately to Ithilwen's chambers. He knocked quietly on her door. It was opened almost instantly. Ithilwen smiled at Legolas and admitted him into her room. She knew something was wrong as soon as he sat down on the bed. He lost his composed state and let his head fall into his hands. Before she could ask what was wrong Legolas spoke. "My father is going to announce my engagement to princess Ninquelótë tonight at dinner. He is also going to announce that as soon as I am married I will be king."
Ithilwen sat down next to Legolas. She didn't say anything just simply wrapped her arms around him. After a minute she turned his face so she could look at him. She smiled at him. "I'm sure it won't be that bad. Remember, what ever you do I'll always be here for you."
Legolas shook his head sadly. "But I can't promise the same for you. Once I'm king and married then I'll have so many duties that we won't be able to spend much time together, not to mention I'll be expected to spend my free time with my new wife." Legolas almost choked as he said the last word.
Ithilwen smiled sadly. "It matters not. I will always be yours even if you cannot say the same for me."
Legolas lowered his head. "You shouldn't promise that. I would not want you to give your happiness for my sake. I'm sure you will find another love, given time."
"I might, but you will always be my one true love. I knew from the moment we met. Do you remember that?"
Legolas gave a soft laugh. "Yes. The day after we met you told me that we were going to be married when we were older."
"Yes, I loved you even then, although I didn't know it."
"I didn't even realize that I loved you until about a year ago. I was too blind to see it." Legolas's voice turned bitter. "If I had we might not be in this situation right now. You could maybe be the queen in waiting now."
"Don't blame yourself." Ithilwen gently took one of his hands in hers. "You can't rush love, if you had then maybe we would be hating each other right now."
"I know, but now we can never be together." Legolas pointed out.
Ithilwen forced herself to laugh. "You are making too big a deal out of this." She told him. "Come on, it's almost lunch time and you still have to get ready. Let's go back to your chambers and get you ready. You don't want to look like a slob at your own wedding and coronation announcement, now do you?"
Legolas smiled bitterly. "I guess I don't." he said and slowly stood up. "Come on then."
Ithilwen shook her head and followed Legolas out of her chambers.