Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. It belongs to Tolkien. However, Vanadil and all other characters not in the original story are mine.
A/N: Here's chapter 2! Chapter 3 will be up soon! As always, please read and review! I'm getting a major idea surge with this story. I guess my muse has been working overtime.
Chapter 2
A Cunning Mind
Walking briskly down the long corridor, Vanadil stopped when she saw her mother's familiar figure before her. Smiling slightly, Vanadil made her way to her mother's side. She had always gotten along well with her mother, unlike her father. She knew her father loved her mother dearly and vice versa, but she couldn't help but want to pull her mother to her side of the battle.
"Mother, what is this nonsense with father and Prince Legolas?" she asked tentatively, hoping she could acquire as much information about the dilemma as possible.
Her mother turned to her and smiled a welcome, "Vanadil, 'tis time for you be wed to your betrothed. Many long years have gone by of waiting for the right time, and your father and I have decided that the time has come."
"What if I refuse?" was Vanadil's next question. Her mother saw the resistance in her eyes and knew Vanadil would not give into their wishes so easily.
"You have no choice, my daughter. This was a decision made long ago, a contract not easily broken."
Although she felt a wave of despair wash over her, deep inside Vanadil had a small shimmer of hope. Such an agreement was not easily broken, but not impossible. She would merely have to find a way to make her parents agree to annul the arrangement.
"There's to be a banquet tonight in order to welcome Prince Legolas's arrival. You're to be there as you're the reason he's here." Her mother continued.
Vanadil managed to hide her feeling of dismay and nodded, "Very well then."
Her mother looked at her and replied, "Try to act accordingly, Vana. You know if you don't, you shall be spending the rest of the week easing your father's temper."
"Nay, Mother. I only add fuel to the fire. You're the one to ease his temper, not I." Quickly, bidding her mother a parting, she continued to her original destination of the stables.
Once she entered the dim light of the stables, Vanadil began to relax, inhaling the smell of sweet straw and horses. It was true that she was more at ease around animals rather than people, a quality that she actually took pride in. Walking silently along the aisle, she was relieved to find the barn empty, the stable hands gone for the day, leaving Vanadil alone.
Sending out a long, low whistle, she stopped a few feet in front of a stall. A tall bay horse nickered a greeting as he quickly stuck his head out over the top of the half door. Smiling to herself, she reached into the pocket of her tunic and pulled out a lump of sugar, strategically swiped from this morning's tea ingredients. The bay colt eagerly took it from her outstretched palm. Her father had always accused Vanadil of spoiling him, but she didn't care. This horse was special.
Quickly unlocking the large wooden trunk in front of the stall, she retrieved a soft brush and walked into the stall, careful to fasten the door behind her. He was a master escape artist and would have already been out in the aisle, given the chance. Softly humming to herself as she began to brush the thin layer of dust from his sleek coat, she thought about her feelings when she had first seen him four years ago.
He had been born in this very stable, but his mother had died not long after his birth. Vanadil had taken an instant liking to him from the first time she laid eyes on him. She refused to give the small colt up for the dead and insisted on bottle feeding him goat's milk. The young foal flourished under her care and she christened him with the name, Eledhwen, meaning "Elven Light". It was said that her talent with animals, due to the bit of Elven blood in her, gave this colt a new light to live by. Before long, Eledhwen formed a strong bond with Vanadil.
Her father had finally relented and made the horse hers on her next birthday. Vanadil had been overjoyed. She had feared that he would have been used in battle, which was just as risky for the horses as it was for the warriors. Gently whisking away the veil of dust that had settled upon him, she smiled in contentment.
"You look much more pleasant when you are smiling." A voice cut through her thoughts. Startled, she dropped the brush she was holding and in the process, spooked Eledhwen who retreated to the corner. Whirling around, she was ready to dish out a sharp retort to the intruder, but stopped short when she saw who it was. It was Legolas.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded. She hated to be surprised by anyone, let alone someone she did not wish to see.
"I was merely seeing to my horse. I could ask that very question to you, Vanadil." Legolas replied, either oblivious to her harsh tone or ignoring it. Vanadil couldn't tell which was accurate.
"Well, in that case, Prince Legolas, I'm seeing to my horse." She motioned to Eledhwen, who was cautiously making his way to the front of the stall.
Smiling, Legolas remarked, "Magnificent animal. Please, feel welcome to call me Legolas. I feel uncomfortable when you address me so formally."
Giving a curt nod, Vanadil reached down to pick up the brush that had fallen from her grasp. "I suppose you wish to escort me to the banquet tonight." She asked tentatively.
"Aye, if you so wish it of me." He answered.
Vanadil looked at him for a moment, as if considering his offer, then shook her head, "Nay, Legolas. I need no escorting in my own home. Do not trouble yourself with such a burden."
She quickly turned back to Eledhwen and continued to work on his coat. She knew her actions were rude, but it worried her not. Vanadil could feel his eyes on her as she worked, but she ignored him in hopes that he would take the hint and leave. After a few minutes, she stole a glance over her shoulder and saw that her betrothed was gone. Smiling to herself, she felt elated. She had won this round.
Later that evening, Vanadil sat in her room, as one of her handmaidens wove fresh blue flowers into her hair. The banquet would not be starting for another hour, but she wanted to be ready in plenty of time to leave early in case Legolas decided to escort her anyway. That way, she could be gone before he arrived at her room.
As the handmaiden finished and gently brushed out her hair, Vanadil couldn't help but feel awkward. She hated being dressed in such clothes. The long gown felt strange as it clung to her legs, and she felt as though she was tangled in her bedsheets after a horrific nightmare. At least some good would come from her being dressed in such garments. It would give one less thing for her father to chastise her for.
She couldn't help but wish, for the hundredth time that she had been born a son instead of a daughter. She had often heard that her father had longed for a son but in turn, received a daughter. Vanadil figured this was another cause for tension between them.
Her thoughts quickly turned back to the approaching banquet as the handmaiden draped a soft blue mantle over her shoulders, matching the color of her gown. She had to admit she looked very elegant. However, elegance mattered not to her. Sighing, she knew that there was no way around it. Nay, nothing was settled yet, she reminded herself. Although she had not found a way out of tonight's festivities, she should not surrender so easily to her "impending doom."
Hearing the door close behind her, she knew she was now alone. Calmly gazing out her window at the setting sun, she refused to give in so easily. It was not her style to quit without a fight. Whereas she might be forced to marry Legolas in the end, she would certainly not give either him or her parents an easy time in the meantime.
Making her way toward the door, Vanadil grimaced as she felt the excess material that she wore swish around her legs as she walked. Pulling open the door as delicately as possible as to make the least amount of noise, she silently slipped out of her room and down the large staircase to the banquet hall.
A/N: As said before, Chapter 3 will be up soon. I'm really enjoying writing this and I think Vanadil is a fun character to write. I'm sort of having a poll for these first two chapters. I know there are only two chapters but what do you think of Vanadil so far? Do you think she's: A.) Fiery and independent B.) A spoiled brat C.) Confused and misunderstood D.) All of the above E.) None of the above. If there are any other comments you want to add about her, I'm all ears. I'm still experimenting with her personality so let me know!