Author's Note:

As you may have noticed Part 8 was a little longer than the parts Prologue to seven. This story was actually hand-written before it was typed, so I came to realize eventually that the chapters I am uploading are far too short. Part 8 was actually two hand-written chapters combined for my uploading on ff.net (therefore the second half of Part 8 would have before been this chapter). I am just writing to say that most of the chapters will now be longer, as I will begin to combine two chapters at a time, except for those hand-written chapters which will be important on their own.

I hope you have enjoyed the story thus far!

Fëaruin

The Tale of Fëagurth

Part 9: Last Resort

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Again supper was eaten in silence as Thranduil, Fëaruin, Avardelothien, Legolas, Ninrusco and Menellómë sat around the feast table respectively. Again Thranduil and Fëaruin silently wished a healthy conversation took place, feeling highly uncomfortable, and again Legolas was looking with amusement at the glances all were exchanging. Though this time, Avardelothien and Ninrusco had better things to do than to glare at straight across the table at each other; they glared at Menellómë instead.

Also, they could not look upon each other at all. Each were ashamed and sorrowful to discover the other only loved them after hearing that they were loved by the one themselves, when the words came out of wrong and deception. Sadness enveloped their hearts… a sorrow which realized that the other perhaps did not love them genuinely after all. They did not even bicker or throw small objects at each other as they used to do in their attempt to mask their fear of the arranged marriage. They were silent, embarrassed that they had confessed love to one that they should loathe, one who maybe… maybe did not truly have the feelings they had promised…

Menellómë grunted, as she saw the pairs of eyes upon her. "Look, Ninrusco, Avardelothien. I told you already; I may have tried to before but this time I did not purposely plan this as a match-making jest. How was I meant to know that Avardelothien was listening to my words with Ninrusco? And how would I know Ninrusco was dropping his eaves whilst my words with Avardelothien took place?"

Ninrusco swallowed his piece of dried fruit and turned his glare away from the Hobbit-child. "Just maybe you told her to come and secretly listen. I know this not, do I?"

"And you tried to match us up last time," Avardelothien cut in pointedly. "How are we meant to believe that you would not do the same this time?"

Thranduil and Fëaruin gave each other uncomfortable looks, noting the harshness in each of the three voices. Wiping their mouth with a piece of cloth they quickly stood and left, not desiring to be part of the argument.

Menellómë watched at the King and the Princess leaving, before turning her eyes back to the remaining Dúnadan and two Elves. "Obviously I didn't, Ninrusco, for Avardelothien would have reacted differently to your comment; perhaps making a remark to confirm that I'd told her to eavesdrop which I didn't. On the other hand Avardelothien, why would I use talking to Ninrusco who I did not force to say he loved you- and who wouldn't if I had anyway seeing how much he claimed to depise you- as a plot against you?!"

"I don't know!" Avardelothien yelled, rising from her chair. "Only one who desires to lose trust would play a cruel jest alike this!"

Ninrusco rose from his chair as well. "And who would trust you then, if you ask to lose their trust? I pray next time your actions be chosen wisely before it wounds someone's heart!"

Menellómë groaned, and hissed in frustration. "I told you once, I told you many times…" she snarled, but it was too late. By the time she uttered the first word of her next phrase Ninrusco and Avardelothien had already stormed out of the building, heading for different directions through the two doorless arches on opposite sides of the room.

Menellómë sighed in embarrassment and sat back down, hoping Legolas- who was giving her an amused look- would not make any comment about what just happened. But being her secret sire, he understood. He did not wish to further embarrass the young one, so he began a careful conversation instead, just as Thranduil had before.

"Worry not, Alatamoth. I am on your side," he reassured, biting into a strip of dried meat. Menellómë moaned in despair.

"Thank you, Legolas," she muttered. "'Tis good that at least someone believes my innocence."

Legolas laughed softly. "Since when did I say I believed your innocence?"

Menellómë raised an eyebrow, giving the Elf a pointed look. "Very funny, Legolas. Let me commend you on being the first jester not to make me laugh."

"Well forgive me then, beautiful Lady," the Elf whispered as he stood, reached over and took the Hobbit's hand, which he tenderly kissed. "I cannot help jesting, for many of the young like to yield to merriment. I have been thinking about many things these days…"

"Like your sister's betrothal?"

"…Aye. There were other things on my mind of course, but Fëanna has really reached the point of attention-catchingly dangerous courage where I cannot look at her without sighing in frustration. Ninrusco is fair-hearted and true… but she does not seem to see that, until recently, then her anger turns on another. I am beginning to think that the only way to bring them together is to trap them in a room and then lock it."

Hearing this, Menellómë's face melted into a mischievous smirk.

"Hmm… trap them…"

* * * * *

"I cannot believe such a young one would be brave enough to do that," Avardelothien protested accusingly as she noticed the Human walking towards her at an angle.

This made Fëaruin flinch as she reached the Elf-Princess' side. "But she didn't do it, Fëanna. Menellómë is usually honest, and I do not wish to go against your words, but of this I'm fairly sure she is not lying."

"Yes, I understand why…" Avardelothien sighed, pouting a little. "I guess it is impossible for her to plan to have Ninrusco listening whilst she was speaking to me. For all that matter, he only heard a part and not the rest."

"There we go!" smiled Fëaruin. "…Well not impossible, just really difficult. If you understand, I'm not taking sides, but…"

"Believe me Urulókë, I understand," the Elf-Princess laughed. Suddenly she turned, grabbed the Dúnadan by the shoulders and said, "Fëaruin, do you see something between Menellómë and my brother?"

Fëaruin snapped. "YES! The other day, I had seen them riding on a horse together. He was taking her for a ride with him, and they were laughing together as if they'd grown really close… not that I'm saying they haven't, because I know they have…"

"Riding… on a horse…" Avardelothien had not take the words in completely.

Fëaruin nodded. "Together."

"On… a horse…"

"On the same horse."

Silence was dominant for a few moments as the two princesses looked at each other with raised eyebrows. After a long pause only one word escaped their mouths: "…Woah."

"Woah what?" said a voice. Avardelothien whirled around to see Menellómë leaning against a tree casually, a smirk upon her face. The Elf sighed in despair.

"Oh, 'tis you Menellómë," she muttered with a not-so-enthusiastic voice. "What do you want?"

Menellómë wrinkled her nose at this, but she understood completely how angry and upset the Elf was. "I wish to make amends, Lady Fëanna," she bowed, a beautiful smile adorning her face. "I never meant to hurt you, and if you were offended, I must apologize you feel that way. But your brother and I have prepared a great feast for you as a gesture of peace."

"A feast for me?" Avardelothien beamed, starting. "Well, come on, Fëaruin! You and I, we should go."

"No, no," Fëaruin quickly shook her head, for Menellómë had already spoken to her of her intentions. "My stomach is content from dinner in the last hour; you should go ahead alone, Avardelothien. It is your feast; I desire not to intrude."

"Oh, are you sure?" Avardelothien offered a final time. Fëaruin grinned.

"Absolutely."

"Then let us go!" cheered the Mirkwood Princess to Menellómë. "Lead the way, little one!"

* * * * *

"A feast for me?" Ninrusco brightened. Menellómë smiled at the Dúnadan, making Legolas beside him smirk.

"Sure, sure Ninrusco. I know exactly what a lover of wolfing down food you are and, I desiring to make amends, it all fits. There is no catch behind this…" Menellómë crossed her fingers behind her back.

"No catch, eh?" Ninrusco stared suspiciously, as she cheerfully linked arms with him and skipped through the Mirkwood trees, dragging him along. "I find that hard to believe."

"Look, do you want the feast, or do you not?"

Ninrusco shut his mouth, allowing the Hobbit to lead the way He did not know where they were going, and he put his trust in her completely; though as they walked on, he noticed that the trees loomed above their heads taller and darker. Soon enough, they came to a little outdoor room, much like a hut- which, in fact, it truly was. The door was, rather eerily, shut fast.

"Right here," Menellómë looked at the door. Ninrusco raised an eyebrow at the little one, who walked forward and began picking at the lock.

"Are you sure?" he asked, as Menellómë slammed the door open. "It looks a place so shoddy for a feast to take place."

"I am surprised, brother. You are intelligent," Fëaruin's voice suddenly came. And the last thing Ninrusco saw as he whirled around was his sister pushing him inside with a great strength; and the two maidens smirking as Menellómë slammed the door shut and locked it again.

=MEANWHILE=

Avardelothien was sitting alone in the shadows when she heard a muffled cry from outside, and suddenly the door swung open and the Slender Fox Of Gondor shoved into the room with her before the door was slammed shut once again. She neutrally stood and walked over to Ninrusco, half-lying on the floor, completely bewildered.

"What in the name of Ilúvatar…?" Ninrusco uttered, and whirled his head around quickly as he heard footsteps behind him.

Avardelothien narrowed her eyes. "For a good purpose, I guess we have been trapped."

* * * * *

Ninrusco wiped the sweat from his brow and removed his cloak, his actions already taking most of the energy from him. As he prepared himself to proceed; he glared at the door and rolled up his sleeves, determined to complete what he had begun- to achieve utterly whatever he desired. Raising his clenched fists, he pounded hard on the door and yelled "LET ME OUT!!!!"

Avardelothien merely stared at the queer nature of her betrothed, and soon enough she could stand this no more. "Ninrusco, stop that horrible noise!" she complained. "I wish not to think of the pain that my fellow Elves outside are suffering- with their sensitive Elven ears and all."

"Well if they were suffering from my loudness, unless they are not of a right mind I believe it is their cue to come to our aid," he protested, continuing to pound on the door.

Avardelothien sighed, rose from the small box on which she had been sitting for the past hour and caught Ninrusco's arm. "Stop, Ninrusco," she said firmly. "I believe there is a good reason for Menellómë to trap us here that we can actually put to use rather than to constantly complain. Have a seat."

Ninrusco turned and raised his eyebrow. "Seat? There is nothing here but wooden boxes."

"Just sit, will you."

The Human sighed, and sitting down he prepared himself for whatever Avardelothien was planning to say. She gazed at him thoughtfully, piercing his mind with her brilliant eyes.

"What shall we do about our betrothal?" she asked neutrally. "Are you going to marry me, or are you planning to return home to your parents as you had wished before?

Ninrusco flinched, not perceiving what answer she expected from him. "I know not at this moment in time. Perhaps I will remain, for the greatness of Mirkwood is pleasing to me and I desire not to leave behind its splendor. But whether we will end up wedded… I know not, for the determination I had to be able to make a decision for myself has been lost."

Pain surged through Avardelothien's heart at the words. "So you might not wed me?"

Ninrusco was surprised at how upset Avardelothien sounded, and tried not to be too hostile with his former foe. "I said, I know not. It is good for strengthening the bond between Gondor and Mirkwood. But a loveless marriage can be to an Elf a deadly grief, so I would not wed you unless you loved me or unless I wanted you dead. And neither of the two is true."

Avardelothien sighed, and spoke honestly. "I would not hate being married to you, Ninrusco. I would not die of grief because for certain I do not hate you at all. I was wrong, Ninrusco, and I regret it so much. All this time I loathed you just because I did not think you were worth marrying me, and instead I dreamed of belonging to someone who I loved and who loved me in return. But then I saw a different side of you. I saw your heart when you told Menellómë that maybe you loved me… and I was sure you were being sincere."

Ninrusco nodded, confirming her words. Avardelothien, sighing, smiled a little and continued. "What you said to her, It meant more to me than anything anyone else had ever said about me, and it means so much. I know that it is wrong that we were deceived and we should not wed. But I care not, for I find it good a deed in my heart that someone who loathes me so much can say words that echo sweeter than a lyre. I am sorry… I did not mean to be so bitter."

"Nay nay, Fëanna," Ninrusco interrupted, "I never said that we should not wed, just that it may feel wrong because we were chosen and chose not each other. If you agree to this wedding, I would not hate being married to you either, even if it shan't be easy for us to make friends first. And do not apologize! We both agreed not to an arranged marriage and that was why we loathed each other so much. Should we not have been betrothed I am sure our feelings wouldn't have been the same… but then again, since I came only for the betrothal, we wouldn't ever have met. Legolas and I would never have met… and you would never have met my sister."

"Frightening thought, isn't it?" Avardelothien agreed. "So… what will happen between us?"

Ninrusco looked at the young face, which was… so innocently beautiful. He never realized it before but a glimmer of sadness and fear in her eyes seemed to take away the radiance that shone from within most Elves. Without it this beautiful maiden who seemed always so strong of wit and defense seemed vulnerable, something easily hurt… and needed protection.

So he took her smooth, pale hands, and held them tight in his own as he stared her directly in the eyes to emphasize what he was saying. "If you love me Avardelothien daughter of Thranduil, I will wed you freely."

Avardelothien gasped. She hadn't expected this to come along so easily and she was shocked rather than thrilled, shaking her head quickly.

"You cannot, Ninrusco! I do not want you to feel as though you are obligated to marry me. I do not want you to feel sorry for me and wed me only for that reason for you… you are throwing your future away by saying so! I refuse to wed you if it is only out of sympathy, because I am only going to end up worse than before, than during our arguments when we first met."

"I said I will wed you freely, at my own choice! You asked me what is to happen, did you not?" Ninrusco exclaimed, hurt at her words. "You are irritating and always know how to hurt my feelings, but I still like you very much for the maiden that you are!"

Suddenly Avardelothien burst into laughter, making Ninrusco look at her in confusion. "You are sweet," she said, grinning. "And I admit something had gone through me that first day, something I could not understand. You are also very strange and annoying, but in a good way I guess."

"Thanks," Ninrusco smiled sarcastically. "I guess Elves always think of the Dúnedain that way. Just because Elves are so fair, and shall remain eternally so in Arda unless they are slain or die of grief… they think of us mortals as not to even dare loving someone high above us."

"Not true, Ninrusco. Remember Beren and Lúthien of the First Age. And some Elves are not as arrogant as you say; most of us do not care that Men are not as superior a being as we are. We love our brothers, whether they are fairer than we are or not. And you have been given a very valuable gift from the great Ilúvatar, for whilst Elves remain in Arda forever dealing with weariness and pain for the rest of our immortal lives you have been granted eventual death. So do not say that Elves are more privileged in this world for the ones that remain for many millennia in weariness wish they have what Eru gave you."

Ninrusco was stunned. "I guess we are so different then in thought, and yet can learn from each other. It is strange how from each perspective we see the other race as having the advantage. But once we hear their views… feelings can change so quickly."

"That is exactly what my father and your stepfather intended. This is why they arranged for us to be married. Though I detest them for it I can now understand that it is for our people. You and I, Ninrusco, we are privileged to be reared in noble families, for the purpose of a monarchy is to ensure that the safety and value of our kingdoms remain. As Prince of Gondor and Princess of Mirkwood our people do come a priority before love, which was what our fathers knew already. Though I do in some ways love you, believe me."

"…Hennaid Evyr, Avardelothien."

Avardelothien smiled and clapped his shoulder. "So, are we or are we not going through with this betrothal?"

Ninrusco grinned mockingly. "Do you or do you not want to marry me?"

"I wouldn't mind at all, my friend. I just hope that this relationship will not be an experience so terrifying that both of us will end up fleeing from here towards opposite directions."

"…Hannad, Fëanna…"

"Lle creoso, Ninrusco." (You're welcome.)

"You never tire of jests, do you?"

"Come now, even you know me better than that. Now, shall we make my father very happy and tell him of our decision?"

"As soon as we escape," Ninrusco raised an eyebrow, and a smirk appeared on his face.

* * * * *

Legolas, Menellómë and Fëaruin were sitting outside the little solid hut when a very familiar sound reached their ears; the contact of Ninrusco's fist with the door.

"Let us out!" Ninrusco and Avardelothien's voices cried from inside. Fëaruin and Menellómë looked briefly at each other, before smiling and shaking their heads.

"Not until you have come to an agreement," Menellómë declared.

"But we have!" protested Avardelothien, her voice from inside sounding muffled. "Ninrusco and I have talked about this issue thoroughly and we have decided to wed of our own free will. Now open the latch so we can go tell the King of our resolution."

Immediately the Elf, the half-Hobbit and the Dúnadan sprang from the rocks on which they sat, shocked half to death. "YOU WHAT?!"

* * * * *

It was five years later, only five years after they met, that Avardelothien and Ninrusco had a grand wedding in Mirkwood. All the Elves of the kingdom came to celebrate, ambassadors and other representatives of Gondor were sent to the occasion, and the Royal Company of Gondor and Mirkwood stood beside the Elven Princess and the Human Prince as their hands were clasped, finally accepting each other in love and friendship; the first of the two Human-and-Elf marriages to be explained specifically in this account.

It was true that indeed that their wedding strengthened the bond of Mirkwood and Gondor for years to come, and Eärnur- though he could not come- even sent an exclusive letter to the couple to voice his congratulations. A great feast was held, and so was a ball that lasted many nights, bringing joy and boundless pleasures to those that attended it.

And so the relationship of Avardelothien Fëanna and Ninrusco- which was not a loveless one- was created, and never again to each other did they ever say a cruel or spiteful word save in jest.

To be continued…