Rejected
Chapter 3
Back in the hall, Thranduil wondered angrily where Legolas was. He was supposed to be dancing with Dulorime , but he seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Had he known what was wrong, the king would have had no sympathy whatsoever. All that mattered was the alliance - Legolas's feelings didn't come into it. Thranduil excused himself from the banquet and went to look for him.
Meanwhile, Legolas was staring aimlessly out of the window in the antechamber. His gaze rested upon the riverbank, the pool, the old flet in the Great Oak of Mirkwood; all of them places he had been to with Eliana. The tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought of her; the way she looked in the sunlight, the way she smiled, her beautiful face glowing with radiance. Suddenly, Legolas's thoughts were interrupted by Thranduil bursting through the door, his eyes blazing and his hand slamming the door shut behind him.
"Where have you been? Do you realise how much you are embarrassing me with your childish stupidity? What do you mean by running away like that? I will not tolerate this sort of behaviour any longer! You've been like this for weeks!" Thranduil paced up and down the room.
"I wanted to be alone for a while." Legolas replied quietly.
"I don't care what you do in your own time. I don't care if you hang yourself from the palace walls! But when I request your presence at a banquet, I expect it. Especially at the banquet that has been put on to celebrate your marriage, which I have gone to a lot of trouble to secure."
Legolas turned and faced his father.
"I don't want to marry her!" he shouted. In response, Thranduil swung around and hit him across the face. Legolas gingerly felt where his lip had split and wiped away the trickle of blood. His father put his face close to his son's.
"You will marry her, or you will wish you had never been born." Thranduil turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing the coldness of his words.
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Early next morning, under the glare of the bright summer sun, the court gathered outside to bid farewell to their guest, Lord Tarumil. Dulorime approached Thranduil and made a deep curtsey, and he bowed in response and kissed her on the cheek. He then glanced meaningfully at Legolas, who stepped forward and kissed her also, a look of reluctance plain upon his face. As she stepped aside and mounted her horse, Tarumil came forward and slapped him on the back.
"Well, Legolas, I'll see you in a month's time. I'm sure my daughter will bear the separation!" He gave a hearty chuckle, and bowed to Thranduil.
The party eventually set off and the court returned to their duties. Legolas, needing solitude, picked up his bow ready for practise, then changed his mind and headed for the library. As he entered, the sounds of the forest coming through the open window calmed him. He wandered around the large room, idly glancing at the tarnished books, and came to the spiral staircase leading upstairs to a sitting room. As he came to the top, he realised somebody else was already there. All else was forgotten as he smiled at his beloved elder sister, Darlena, who was curled up in an armchair reading a book. The faded words on the red cover read "A History of Mirkwood". Legolas sat in the chair opposite and studied her thoughtful face. She reminded him of his other sister, Galimdra, but in her fair looks only. She had been the fun-loving baby of the family, whereas Darlena was the comforting elder, the one you could turn to in any situation, knowing she would have sound advice. She was the one who had taught Legolas how to judge fairly, how to keep a level head, and how to act wisely. Also, as Legolas was the eldest son, she was the elder brother he never had, teaching him sword fighting, tree climbing, and how to ride a horse. Darlena was loved by all, but none loved her so much as Legolas.
Darlena looked up from her book, her long fair hair hanging loose down her back. Her turquoise dress, partly covered by a cream shawl, set off her clear blue eyes.
"Legolas, what are you doing here?" She smiled back at him.
"All I want is some peace." He replied, squeezing into the armchair with her and laying his bow and arrows on the table next to it.
"I can understand that." Darlena put the book down. "My poor baby brother, having to marry her. I had to spend four hours showing her around, and believe me, four hours is more than enough."
"How come you didn't have to stand outside and waves them off? I noticed you weren't present just now." Legolas lightly traced the words of the book with his fingers and looked up at his sister.
"I told father I had a bad headache. The physician recommended I remain indoors and rest." Darlena laughed at her brother's dismayed face. In return he punched her playfully on the arm and began to tickle her.
"No, you know I hate being tickled-" she shrieked and scrambled off the armchair.
Legolas was about to reply, when a voice from below startled them.
"Legolas! Where are you? I want to speak with you."
"Oh no, it's father." Legolas leapt out of the chair and looked over the banisters to the library below. Thranduil was heading for the stairs.
"Legolas, go through the door over there. I'll stall him. Head for the forest and along the stream, and I'll meet you there in a minute."
Legolas smiled gratefully at his sister before picking up his bow and quiver and racing through the small door at the back of the room. Thranduil appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Ah, Darlena. Where is Legolas?" He glanced around the room, fortunately not noticing that the door was still gently swinging back and forth.
"I haven't seen him since breakfast, father. Have you tried the gardens?"
Thranduil merely grunted in response, and went back downstairs and out into the hall. Darlena, checking he was out of sight, ran through the door, this time shutting it firmly behind her. As she approached the courtyard outside, she saw that Thranduil was now headed in the opposite direction. She ran towards the forest and in the direction of the stream.
"Legolas? Where are you?" Darlena cried as she pushed her way through the thick branches and undergrowth. The tangled leaves caught at her hair and held onto her clothes, forcing her to stop and free herself. Grumbling, she ripped off the leaves and headed forward.
Suddenly, a deep growl rose from the bushes. Out of the corner of her eye Darlena saw a rustling, and she froze on the spot, as a large wild boar emerged, sniffing the air. He picked up Darlena's scent, gave a deep growl, and lunged at her. She screamed loudly, and as her senses flooded back to her, ran as fast as she could. As the forest whipped by, her sharp elven eyes picked out a few leads as to the direction she was headed in. She realised she was running towards the river, and she knew she'd be safe if she crossed the water, for the boar would never get across. But as the riverbank approached, Darlena tripped on a large rock that jutted out from the ground and was sent flying. As she landed heavily a few feet away, she could see the boar racing straight towards her. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth to scream, but she knew it would be futile. The boar was almost upon her, its stout legs sending up a cloud of dust behind it. Darlena could feel the sweat dripping down her forehead, as the grunts of the beast drew ever closer. Just a few more strides, and-
Darlena opened her eyes. The boar lay next to her, an arrow protruding from between its eyes, and a trickle of blood slowly seeping into the earth. She let out a great sigh of relief, and looked wildly around. Legolas came running up, panting heavily and carrying his bow.
"Oh no, Darlena! Are you hurt? Did it get you?" Legolas crouched next to her and checked her for wounds. He gave a cry of dismay as he saw a long, shallow gash running down her calf.
"Don't worry, Legolas. That wasn't the boar; it was when I hit the ground. I'm alright, honestly." She took his hand and tried to stand up, only to collapse back to the ground.
"My ankle. it hurts." Darlena winced in pain. "I must have twisted it."
Legolas swung his bow around his shoulder and picked her up.
"Come on then, invalid. Let's get you home." She laughed and put her arms around his neck as he carried her through the sunlit forest.
As they approached the palace entrance, Thranduil came running up from the gardens, closely followed by a large group of courtiers and servants.
"Where have you been, Legolas? And what have you done to your sister?" His anger was clear in his tone of voice, and his face carried an expression of extreme annoyance.
"Don't get angry, father. We arranged a walk in the forest, and I was chased by a wild boar on the way to meet him," explained a worn out Darlena. " Legolas managed to shoot it, and I was hurt by a fall, not the boar."
"Well then-" began Thranduil, but was cut off as Darlena tried to stand, but instead collapsed and fainted. Legolas caught her and the royal physician carried her up the palace steps as a crowd gathered around, ushering him inside. The elf watched his sister until she was hidden from view behind the great oak doors, and headed back towards the woods.
Chapter 3
Back in the hall, Thranduil wondered angrily where Legolas was. He was supposed to be dancing with Dulorime , but he seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Had he known what was wrong, the king would have had no sympathy whatsoever. All that mattered was the alliance - Legolas's feelings didn't come into it. Thranduil excused himself from the banquet and went to look for him.
Meanwhile, Legolas was staring aimlessly out of the window in the antechamber. His gaze rested upon the riverbank, the pool, the old flet in the Great Oak of Mirkwood; all of them places he had been to with Eliana. The tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought of her; the way she looked in the sunlight, the way she smiled, her beautiful face glowing with radiance. Suddenly, Legolas's thoughts were interrupted by Thranduil bursting through the door, his eyes blazing and his hand slamming the door shut behind him.
"Where have you been? Do you realise how much you are embarrassing me with your childish stupidity? What do you mean by running away like that? I will not tolerate this sort of behaviour any longer! You've been like this for weeks!" Thranduil paced up and down the room.
"I wanted to be alone for a while." Legolas replied quietly.
"I don't care what you do in your own time. I don't care if you hang yourself from the palace walls! But when I request your presence at a banquet, I expect it. Especially at the banquet that has been put on to celebrate your marriage, which I have gone to a lot of trouble to secure."
Legolas turned and faced his father.
"I don't want to marry her!" he shouted. In response, Thranduil swung around and hit him across the face. Legolas gingerly felt where his lip had split and wiped away the trickle of blood. His father put his face close to his son's.
"You will marry her, or you will wish you had never been born." Thranduil turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing the coldness of his words.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Early next morning, under the glare of the bright summer sun, the court gathered outside to bid farewell to their guest, Lord Tarumil. Dulorime approached Thranduil and made a deep curtsey, and he bowed in response and kissed her on the cheek. He then glanced meaningfully at Legolas, who stepped forward and kissed her also, a look of reluctance plain upon his face. As she stepped aside and mounted her horse, Tarumil came forward and slapped him on the back.
"Well, Legolas, I'll see you in a month's time. I'm sure my daughter will bear the separation!" He gave a hearty chuckle, and bowed to Thranduil.
The party eventually set off and the court returned to their duties. Legolas, needing solitude, picked up his bow ready for practise, then changed his mind and headed for the library. As he entered, the sounds of the forest coming through the open window calmed him. He wandered around the large room, idly glancing at the tarnished books, and came to the spiral staircase leading upstairs to a sitting room. As he came to the top, he realised somebody else was already there. All else was forgotten as he smiled at his beloved elder sister, Darlena, who was curled up in an armchair reading a book. The faded words on the red cover read "A History of Mirkwood". Legolas sat in the chair opposite and studied her thoughtful face. She reminded him of his other sister, Galimdra, but in her fair looks only. She had been the fun-loving baby of the family, whereas Darlena was the comforting elder, the one you could turn to in any situation, knowing she would have sound advice. She was the one who had taught Legolas how to judge fairly, how to keep a level head, and how to act wisely. Also, as Legolas was the eldest son, she was the elder brother he never had, teaching him sword fighting, tree climbing, and how to ride a horse. Darlena was loved by all, but none loved her so much as Legolas.
Darlena looked up from her book, her long fair hair hanging loose down her back. Her turquoise dress, partly covered by a cream shawl, set off her clear blue eyes.
"Legolas, what are you doing here?" She smiled back at him.
"All I want is some peace." He replied, squeezing into the armchair with her and laying his bow and arrows on the table next to it.
"I can understand that." Darlena put the book down. "My poor baby brother, having to marry her. I had to spend four hours showing her around, and believe me, four hours is more than enough."
"How come you didn't have to stand outside and waves them off? I noticed you weren't present just now." Legolas lightly traced the words of the book with his fingers and looked up at his sister.
"I told father I had a bad headache. The physician recommended I remain indoors and rest." Darlena laughed at her brother's dismayed face. In return he punched her playfully on the arm and began to tickle her.
"No, you know I hate being tickled-" she shrieked and scrambled off the armchair.
Legolas was about to reply, when a voice from below startled them.
"Legolas! Where are you? I want to speak with you."
"Oh no, it's father." Legolas leapt out of the chair and looked over the banisters to the library below. Thranduil was heading for the stairs.
"Legolas, go through the door over there. I'll stall him. Head for the forest and along the stream, and I'll meet you there in a minute."
Legolas smiled gratefully at his sister before picking up his bow and quiver and racing through the small door at the back of the room. Thranduil appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Ah, Darlena. Where is Legolas?" He glanced around the room, fortunately not noticing that the door was still gently swinging back and forth.
"I haven't seen him since breakfast, father. Have you tried the gardens?"
Thranduil merely grunted in response, and went back downstairs and out into the hall. Darlena, checking he was out of sight, ran through the door, this time shutting it firmly behind her. As she approached the courtyard outside, she saw that Thranduil was now headed in the opposite direction. She ran towards the forest and in the direction of the stream.
"Legolas? Where are you?" Darlena cried as she pushed her way through the thick branches and undergrowth. The tangled leaves caught at her hair and held onto her clothes, forcing her to stop and free herself. Grumbling, she ripped off the leaves and headed forward.
Suddenly, a deep growl rose from the bushes. Out of the corner of her eye Darlena saw a rustling, and she froze on the spot, as a large wild boar emerged, sniffing the air. He picked up Darlena's scent, gave a deep growl, and lunged at her. She screamed loudly, and as her senses flooded back to her, ran as fast as she could. As the forest whipped by, her sharp elven eyes picked out a few leads as to the direction she was headed in. She realised she was running towards the river, and she knew she'd be safe if she crossed the water, for the boar would never get across. But as the riverbank approached, Darlena tripped on a large rock that jutted out from the ground and was sent flying. As she landed heavily a few feet away, she could see the boar racing straight towards her. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth to scream, but she knew it would be futile. The boar was almost upon her, its stout legs sending up a cloud of dust behind it. Darlena could feel the sweat dripping down her forehead, as the grunts of the beast drew ever closer. Just a few more strides, and-
Darlena opened her eyes. The boar lay next to her, an arrow protruding from between its eyes, and a trickle of blood slowly seeping into the earth. She let out a great sigh of relief, and looked wildly around. Legolas came running up, panting heavily and carrying his bow.
"Oh no, Darlena! Are you hurt? Did it get you?" Legolas crouched next to her and checked her for wounds. He gave a cry of dismay as he saw a long, shallow gash running down her calf.
"Don't worry, Legolas. That wasn't the boar; it was when I hit the ground. I'm alright, honestly." She took his hand and tried to stand up, only to collapse back to the ground.
"My ankle. it hurts." Darlena winced in pain. "I must have twisted it."
Legolas swung his bow around his shoulder and picked her up.
"Come on then, invalid. Let's get you home." She laughed and put her arms around his neck as he carried her through the sunlit forest.
As they approached the palace entrance, Thranduil came running up from the gardens, closely followed by a large group of courtiers and servants.
"Where have you been, Legolas? And what have you done to your sister?" His anger was clear in his tone of voice, and his face carried an expression of extreme annoyance.
"Don't get angry, father. We arranged a walk in the forest, and I was chased by a wild boar on the way to meet him," explained a worn out Darlena. " Legolas managed to shoot it, and I was hurt by a fall, not the boar."
"Well then-" began Thranduil, but was cut off as Darlena tried to stand, but instead collapsed and fainted. Legolas caught her and the royal physician carried her up the palace steps as a crowd gathered around, ushering him inside. The elf watched his sister until she was hidden from view behind the great oak doors, and headed back towards the woods.