***Back at Hardane Castle***
"I had hoped you might wear this tonight, dearest."
I struggle into the new gown my father has had specially made for me and try not to cry. It's either that or I will fume with anger and the King will see what it's like first hand to plummet from a four storey window. I am at the end of my tether with him.
He stands outside the screen I am dressing behind. Two maids pull at my corset. I'm supposed to be dining with Rumar tonight. How can I, when I'm struggling to breathe as it is?
Under my pillow sits the most recent letter I have received from Legolas. I am truly interested as to what he has to say - the bravest Hobbit in the whole of Middle Earth! Indeed, Frodo is that, and more. Such a large burden for such small shoulders. I admire him deeply.
I struggle into the gown and bat away the hands of the maids. Sometimes they annoy me so much! I do the rest myself, almost breaking my spine in the painful process. But when I exit the screen, my father looks at me, and I see real admiration and affection in his eyes.
Too bad he decides to show me affection when I don't want it. He is only proud of me because he now knows what he can gain from me, out of me. And that is not the kind of father I wish to have.
"Here I am."
"Yes. Daughter, you look beautiful."
I hang my head. It is not Rumar of Clothden I wish to be beautiful for. Still, I sit still at my dresser as the maids fuss with my hair. My father is walking around my room. He appears to be inspecting my furniture.
"Eden?"
I see he has something in his hand. My heart leaps into my throat. "Father, where do you see that going through my personal belongings is your right? Those are my possessions and should be treated as private!"
I'm really outraged. My face is probably turning red.
"I thought I could smell elf paper," he mutters through clenched teeth, his eyes sweeping over Legolas's fervent declarations of love. I had three letters under my pillows. There were two more under my bed, in a little niche I had carved over several weeks with a hairpin. If he found them I would surely be confined to my room. No matter. I would stay true to my love if my life depended on it. "You are to cease all communication with that elf now, do you understand? I do not wish to hear his name ever again."
"But father, I-"
"You WILL obey me!" He bellows, and leaves the room, slamming the door. The maid give me sympathetic looks and scurry out after him. I move around in my room a bit, and discover he has taken the letters,. My three favourites. I would read them by candle light and hold them close to my heart.
I swallow back tears and remind myself I have a banquet to go to. My father will not be angry tonight. He never shows the public he is angry with me,. As long as I do not humiliate him in public, everything will be sort of fine again.
I hope.
I slip on my court shoes and head down the stairs, hoping that Rumar will think me presentable. Having him complain about my appearance will just make this whole horrid thing go on twice as long. And I want time to write a reply to Legolas this evening.
My father can shut me in my room. I don't care. He doesn't know about the little bluebird that goes between my lover and myself, carrying those secret letters on feather light elf paper.
He'd better not find out, or there will be hell to pay.
I take my seat and Rumar compliments me on my dress. I try not to vomit as he kisses my hand. I can't stand the feel of his lips on my skin,. I help myself to a hot bread roll and hope that eating will make me less likely to have to speak to him. But Rumar has other ideas.
"Do you look forward to our impending nuptials, princess?"
"Yes," I lie, and flutter my eyelashes. This seems to satisfy him. The fact that he cannot see beyond my all-to-obvious façade tells me that he will not make a good husband,. He can hardly judge character, let alone rule a Kingdom,.
My place is now, and forever, beside Legolas.
I begin to hatch a plan.
"I had hoped you might wear this tonight, dearest."
I struggle into the new gown my father has had specially made for me and try not to cry. It's either that or I will fume with anger and the King will see what it's like first hand to plummet from a four storey window. I am at the end of my tether with him.
He stands outside the screen I am dressing behind. Two maids pull at my corset. I'm supposed to be dining with Rumar tonight. How can I, when I'm struggling to breathe as it is?
Under my pillow sits the most recent letter I have received from Legolas. I am truly interested as to what he has to say - the bravest Hobbit in the whole of Middle Earth! Indeed, Frodo is that, and more. Such a large burden for such small shoulders. I admire him deeply.
I struggle into the gown and bat away the hands of the maids. Sometimes they annoy me so much! I do the rest myself, almost breaking my spine in the painful process. But when I exit the screen, my father looks at me, and I see real admiration and affection in his eyes.
Too bad he decides to show me affection when I don't want it. He is only proud of me because he now knows what he can gain from me, out of me. And that is not the kind of father I wish to have.
"Here I am."
"Yes. Daughter, you look beautiful."
I hang my head. It is not Rumar of Clothden I wish to be beautiful for. Still, I sit still at my dresser as the maids fuss with my hair. My father is walking around my room. He appears to be inspecting my furniture.
"Eden?"
I see he has something in his hand. My heart leaps into my throat. "Father, where do you see that going through my personal belongings is your right? Those are my possessions and should be treated as private!"
I'm really outraged. My face is probably turning red.
"I thought I could smell elf paper," he mutters through clenched teeth, his eyes sweeping over Legolas's fervent declarations of love. I had three letters under my pillows. There were two more under my bed, in a little niche I had carved over several weeks with a hairpin. If he found them I would surely be confined to my room. No matter. I would stay true to my love if my life depended on it. "You are to cease all communication with that elf now, do you understand? I do not wish to hear his name ever again."
"But father, I-"
"You WILL obey me!" He bellows, and leaves the room, slamming the door. The maid give me sympathetic looks and scurry out after him. I move around in my room a bit, and discover he has taken the letters,. My three favourites. I would read them by candle light and hold them close to my heart.
I swallow back tears and remind myself I have a banquet to go to. My father will not be angry tonight. He never shows the public he is angry with me,. As long as I do not humiliate him in public, everything will be sort of fine again.
I hope.
I slip on my court shoes and head down the stairs, hoping that Rumar will think me presentable. Having him complain about my appearance will just make this whole horrid thing go on twice as long. And I want time to write a reply to Legolas this evening.
My father can shut me in my room. I don't care. He doesn't know about the little bluebird that goes between my lover and myself, carrying those secret letters on feather light elf paper.
He'd better not find out, or there will be hell to pay.
I take my seat and Rumar compliments me on my dress. I try not to vomit as he kisses my hand. I can't stand the feel of his lips on my skin,. I help myself to a hot bread roll and hope that eating will make me less likely to have to speak to him. But Rumar has other ideas.
"Do you look forward to our impending nuptials, princess?"
"Yes," I lie, and flutter my eyelashes. This seems to satisfy him. The fact that he cannot see beyond my all-to-obvious façade tells me that he will not make a good husband,. He can hardly judge character, let alone rule a Kingdom,.
My place is now, and forever, beside Legolas.
I begin to hatch a plan.