Second Verse
~
Hello, so I've heard I can't spell lately, I'm sorry, I've been so into writing the stories I don't go back and proofread (I'm the absolute worst at that!) I promise I will try to catch said mistakes better from now again, again my apologies!
~
The date of the wedding drew closer and closer with each passing day, the inhabitants of Mirkwood were growing more and more excited as well. It had been years since there was a royal wedding in Mirkwood. The last royal marriage was of that of Thranduil and his wife, many, many years ago.
Nuquer and Flora had succeeded in planning a most elegant and exciting wedding. Of course everyone in Mirkwood would attend and there would be feasting and dancing, of the most extravagant sort and festivities that would last late into the night.
Nuquer could hardly contain her excitement and nearly tried on her newly made dress everyday, and had a little something changed nearly everyday too. The seamstress was happy enough to fix the little details though and smiled all the while she did it.
Legolas too was excited his robes were made and fit him well, though he did not try them on everyday, he didn't want to somehow ruin them. Thranduil too, was excited, it would be the day he could formally announce Legolas's place on the throne after he himself had renounced his rule, he would wait to renounce until the first grandchild arrived then leave the throne to Legolas and head to the undying lands. Yes, the wedding would be a day of many things. And undoubtedly after the royal wedding many other smaller weddings would take place, weddings weren't extremely common among the elf- kind and when one happened usually a few others followed.
~
Legolas still went to his guard duty over the creature Gollum daily and talked to the other guards of their beloved ladies waiting at home for them, some were married and some were just courting, some even had no lady to call their own. The feelings of romance could be felt throughout Mirkwood, amid feelings of something rising.
The only thing to dampen the festive moods were the ever present sense that danger was rising in the distance, in Mordor. Thranduil ordered the guards to keep close watch over all borders all through the day and night.
~
One week before the wedding date an unexpected visitor arrived in Mirkwood, Bragolfin. She had traveled by herself back from Lothlorein, she had heard strange rumours of Mirkwood and wanted badly to return.
Upon hearing the news of the marriage between Legolas and Nuquer she sulked in her lavish house. She hated Nuquer with all her feelings right now but knew that she couldn't dare to get to her now that she was to be the princess of Mirkwood. Thranduil undoubtedly had close watch over her and the people of Mirkwood would be incensed if anything were to happen. She sat on her balcony staring at the looming Mirkwood castle, longing to be in Legolas's arms and to be princess of these people. It would never happen, she had given up on love completely, everywhere she went the elves knew the stories of her and avoided her like a plague. She returned to her room and looked at her multitude of possessions. There were so many, so many things she had accumulated over the long, miserable, years of her life. She was done. This world was beginning to become foreign and withdrawn from her. She packed one bag of her most prized belongings and left without saying goodbye to anyone, including her father. She was never again seen in Middle Earth.
~
Nuquer and Flora remained happy in their own reverie, not even knowing that Bragolfin had return and left once again.
"Flora, this is it." Nuquer said, it was the night before the wedding. Nuquer knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. The wedding was scheduled for mid-morning. The preparations had been set out earlier that day and would be ready tomorrow when the guests arrived. Nuquer lie in bed, she wouldn't see Legolas until the ceremony, she held the mortal belief of seeing the bride a day before the wedding was bad luck. Legolas laughed but indulged in his brides' wishes.
He sat in his room with Nilhisie at his side, thinking of nothing but his future queen.
"Are you ready?" Nilhisie smiled at Legolas.
"More ready than I have ever been in my life." Legolas smiled back.
"I am happy for you. I never thought this day would come so soon." Nilhisie laughed.
"I hadn't even thought about it until I meet Nuquer." Legolas admitted.
"Funny how short it takes for things to change so much." Nilhisie thought nearly just to himself.
~
The sun rose early the next morning and shined its rays happily upon the field the wedding was to be held in. It was more beautiful than anyone imagined. The chairs for the guests were set out and they came in groups for the wedding. The last guest to arrive was King Thranduil and his escorts. He waited at the aisle for Nuquer, he would be handing her off seeing as how her father no longer made his home on Middle Earth.
Legolas stood at the head of the aisle waiting Nuquer's arrival. The ceremony started soon enough and seemed to fly by to both the bride and groom. Soon enough they were walking arm in arm back down the aisle, officially pronounced man and wife.
Nuquer felt her heart fluttering with happiness as she watched the guests talking among themselves at the ceremony.
"Lady Legolas, how are you feeling?" Nilhisie smiled at Nuquer.
"Like a princess." Nuquer smiled back and laughed. Flora smiled proudly at her sister and couldn't resist a warm embrace.
"My princess, you're more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine in my wildest dreams." Legolas wrapped his arms around his beautiful bride and kissed her.
Four guards ran in the receptions breaking up the happy reverie.
"My lord! My lord, the creature Gollum has escaped and there are orcs advancing towards Mirkwood, we believe they are going to attack!" The guard called out and immediately men begin to run to gather their weapons to fend of the orcs. The maidens retreated to the safety of the palace and Nuquer threw a look of horror at her groom.
"I will be back for you tonight, stay safe in the castle!" Legolas kissed his bride and followed the guards.
Nuquer ran along with the other maidens towards the castle. Thranduil cursed himself for having the wedding so far from the castle.
Without any warning a band of unspotted orcs can running out of the woods and towards the maidens. There screams were heard by the guards and the ran towards the noise, only to be assaulted with more orcs.
Nuquer and Flora were near the back of the group and Nuquer's dress was slowing her pace down and she kept stepping on the hem of her dress.
"Flora!" Nuquer screamed as an orc's arrow skimmed her arm and blood flowed from in onto her dress.
"Nuquer, run! They're right behind you!" Flora screamed to her sister, she didn't see the orc in front of her but felt it when his knife cut into her leg.
Flora let out an agonizing cry the same time another one of the maidens fell at her side, an arrow through her chest, "NO!" Flora screeched and tried her best to keep running. The orcs were surrounding the maidens and one by one they fell at the cruel hands of the orcs. Nuquer was picked up and was being carried by one of the orcs, he though she might be of some value. The other orcs returned to their course towards the castle, leaving the maidens behind. Only one-third of the maidens now remained, the others lay broken and battered on a bloodstained field. Flora still stood though she felt weak and couldn't see straight she was bleeding from many cuts and wounds but pushed herself towards the castle in came into site and the warriors and guards were seen fight off the onslaught of orcs.
Flora collapsed near the gardens and blacked out. She remained there, hidden among red roses until the orcs had been defeated and the guards and unhurt maidens searched for the bodies of their fallen comrades.
"Flora!" Nilhisie gathered his fallen maiden into his arms and kissed her dirtied face.
"Nuquer," Flora stuttered, "Nuquer, she's gone." Flora fainted once again her blood loss grievous.
Nilhisie didn't say anything but carried her inside. The casualties from the battle were high. The number of maidens lost was not as horrendous as previously thought, most of the ones found in the field were not dead but fainted. The number of deaths of maidens came to be a total of one dead and one missing. Nuquer was missing.
~
"Find her!" Legolas commanded his guards and they searched throughout the night.
Legolas prayed to the Valar she would be found. Finally when the morning light was beginning to show she was found. Lying, forgotten among fallen branches in the depths of the forest, her dress torn and tattered and nearly changed from white to red from her blood, she was dead.
Legolas stood, frozen with shock, staring down at his beautiful, cold bride. How could this be? He broke down into a fit of tears and rested his head upon her still chest.
He lifted her gently and carried her back to the palace, where she was placed upon an altar. Legolas retired to his chambers for the rest of the night and was not seen again until the next morning when all signs of the battle had been rid of except the dead which were laid in the healing rooms to ready for their burning.
Legolas stood over Nuquer's body; she was so beautiful, even in death. Nilhisie stood at his side, not saying anything but there for support.
"She is still the most beautiful thing in the land." Legolas whispered.
"She always will be." Nilhisie calmly stated.
"I just don't know what to do." Legolas felt the hot tears gathering in his eyes.
"Let her go." Nilhisie knew it was what Legolas needed to hear now.
"You're right, but not until the burning." Legolas nodded. He would let her go but never forget the memory of his beautiful Nuquer. He knelt down and kissed her lips, one last time, "I love you forever." Legolas whispered to his bride.
~
Legolas couldn't bring himself to be present at the burning, but after it was down and the bodies placed into the ground he stood over Nuquer's fresh grave and placed flowers on it for her. He turned to see a line of elves with their offerings.
"For our princess, may she live forever on in our stories." The foremost elf smiled sadly at Legolas. Legolas watched as one by one flowers were left on her grave.
Finally it was all over and Legolas sat in her room, holding Nuquer's favourite red robe, this he would keep.
~
"Nilhisie, how it Legolas doing?" Flora said in a hushed voice from her resting-place in the infirmary bed. She had lost a lot of blood. The healer helped her to an early pregnancy to retrieve the children from in her in case they had died in the battle. They were both living and healthy but Flora was not getting any better.
"He will be all right, give him a year or so. But, you, you need to get better." Nilhisie sat by her side.
"I can't stay here." Flora sat with a small sob.
"What?" Nilhisie looked at her.
"There is so much pain here for me, I lost my whole family while I was here. I can't stay any longer. The memories are too much for me to bear. I'm so sorry, some day I promise to come back." Flora sniffed back more tears.
Nilhisie didn't say anything but knew it was the best for her, "When are you leaving?"
"When I can walk again." Flora smiled, "It'll be okay, you'll always be in my heart. You were my first love, and my last." Flora promised.
"No, not your last. I want you to be happy, go find yourself a good husband and bring him back here, back to your sons." Nilhisie smiled, though it was through tears.
"Maybe Nilhisie, maybe some day." Flora looked out the window at the wickedly happy sun, it felt no pain the elves did today.
Legolas walked by the doorway but neither Nilhisie or Flora had the heart to stop or say anything to him. Though he came in to talk to them, "I have to go." He simply stated.
"Where?" Nilhisie was worried for his friend.
"There is to be a meeting in Rivendell and I am going." Legolas sighed.
"It will be the best for you." Flora pointed out.
"Yes, and Mirkwood needs this." Legolas nodded and left the two.
"I think Nuquer was his last love." Flora said sadly to Nilhisie.
"You are right. Know hopefully he will find some other purpose to fulfill his life with." Nilhisie shook his head.
"Who will become King?" Thranduil said as he stood in the door. He had been listening to their conversation for a while, "I know he couldn't bear to do it now without his bride." Thranduil came in and sat on a chair near Flora, "That is why I want to talk to you Flora."
"Yes, sir?"
"I know you are planning on leaving, when you do, leave your sons with me, I will raise them and they will be the princes of Mirkwood, one of them can become king." Thranduil suggested.
"Is that what you want?" Flora looked at Thranduil.
"Yes, Legolas can't, I know that. But, you are Nuquer's sister and your sons are half-elven, they can chose to become mortal or immortal, which ever one makes that choice will be king. And if they both do then they both become king." Thranduil stared at the floor, thinking of the possibilities.
"Of course, they are yours." Flora agreed immediately, they couldn't have a better life than that.
~
Legolas mounted his horse and slowly urged it on towards the borders. When he reached the borders he took one last look at his home. He thought of Nuquer and started out on his way. A small strip from her wedding dress tucked into his tunic, next to his heart where she would forever remain.
~
The End.
~
Hello, so I've heard I can't spell lately, I'm sorry, I've been so into writing the stories I don't go back and proofread (I'm the absolute worst at that!) I promise I will try to catch said mistakes better from now again, again my apologies!
~
The date of the wedding drew closer and closer with each passing day, the inhabitants of Mirkwood were growing more and more excited as well. It had been years since there was a royal wedding in Mirkwood. The last royal marriage was of that of Thranduil and his wife, many, many years ago.
Nuquer and Flora had succeeded in planning a most elegant and exciting wedding. Of course everyone in Mirkwood would attend and there would be feasting and dancing, of the most extravagant sort and festivities that would last late into the night.
Nuquer could hardly contain her excitement and nearly tried on her newly made dress everyday, and had a little something changed nearly everyday too. The seamstress was happy enough to fix the little details though and smiled all the while she did it.
Legolas too was excited his robes were made and fit him well, though he did not try them on everyday, he didn't want to somehow ruin them. Thranduil too, was excited, it would be the day he could formally announce Legolas's place on the throne after he himself had renounced his rule, he would wait to renounce until the first grandchild arrived then leave the throne to Legolas and head to the undying lands. Yes, the wedding would be a day of many things. And undoubtedly after the royal wedding many other smaller weddings would take place, weddings weren't extremely common among the elf- kind and when one happened usually a few others followed.
~
Legolas still went to his guard duty over the creature Gollum daily and talked to the other guards of their beloved ladies waiting at home for them, some were married and some were just courting, some even had no lady to call their own. The feelings of romance could be felt throughout Mirkwood, amid feelings of something rising.
The only thing to dampen the festive moods were the ever present sense that danger was rising in the distance, in Mordor. Thranduil ordered the guards to keep close watch over all borders all through the day and night.
~
One week before the wedding date an unexpected visitor arrived in Mirkwood, Bragolfin. She had traveled by herself back from Lothlorein, she had heard strange rumours of Mirkwood and wanted badly to return.
Upon hearing the news of the marriage between Legolas and Nuquer she sulked in her lavish house. She hated Nuquer with all her feelings right now but knew that she couldn't dare to get to her now that she was to be the princess of Mirkwood. Thranduil undoubtedly had close watch over her and the people of Mirkwood would be incensed if anything were to happen. She sat on her balcony staring at the looming Mirkwood castle, longing to be in Legolas's arms and to be princess of these people. It would never happen, she had given up on love completely, everywhere she went the elves knew the stories of her and avoided her like a plague. She returned to her room and looked at her multitude of possessions. There were so many, so many things she had accumulated over the long, miserable, years of her life. She was done. This world was beginning to become foreign and withdrawn from her. She packed one bag of her most prized belongings and left without saying goodbye to anyone, including her father. She was never again seen in Middle Earth.
~
Nuquer and Flora remained happy in their own reverie, not even knowing that Bragolfin had return and left once again.
"Flora, this is it." Nuquer said, it was the night before the wedding. Nuquer knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. The wedding was scheduled for mid-morning. The preparations had been set out earlier that day and would be ready tomorrow when the guests arrived. Nuquer lie in bed, she wouldn't see Legolas until the ceremony, she held the mortal belief of seeing the bride a day before the wedding was bad luck. Legolas laughed but indulged in his brides' wishes.
He sat in his room with Nilhisie at his side, thinking of nothing but his future queen.
"Are you ready?" Nilhisie smiled at Legolas.
"More ready than I have ever been in my life." Legolas smiled back.
"I am happy for you. I never thought this day would come so soon." Nilhisie laughed.
"I hadn't even thought about it until I meet Nuquer." Legolas admitted.
"Funny how short it takes for things to change so much." Nilhisie thought nearly just to himself.
~
The sun rose early the next morning and shined its rays happily upon the field the wedding was to be held in. It was more beautiful than anyone imagined. The chairs for the guests were set out and they came in groups for the wedding. The last guest to arrive was King Thranduil and his escorts. He waited at the aisle for Nuquer, he would be handing her off seeing as how her father no longer made his home on Middle Earth.
Legolas stood at the head of the aisle waiting Nuquer's arrival. The ceremony started soon enough and seemed to fly by to both the bride and groom. Soon enough they were walking arm in arm back down the aisle, officially pronounced man and wife.
Nuquer felt her heart fluttering with happiness as she watched the guests talking among themselves at the ceremony.
"Lady Legolas, how are you feeling?" Nilhisie smiled at Nuquer.
"Like a princess." Nuquer smiled back and laughed. Flora smiled proudly at her sister and couldn't resist a warm embrace.
"My princess, you're more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine in my wildest dreams." Legolas wrapped his arms around his beautiful bride and kissed her.
Four guards ran in the receptions breaking up the happy reverie.
"My lord! My lord, the creature Gollum has escaped and there are orcs advancing towards Mirkwood, we believe they are going to attack!" The guard called out and immediately men begin to run to gather their weapons to fend of the orcs. The maidens retreated to the safety of the palace and Nuquer threw a look of horror at her groom.
"I will be back for you tonight, stay safe in the castle!" Legolas kissed his bride and followed the guards.
Nuquer ran along with the other maidens towards the castle. Thranduil cursed himself for having the wedding so far from the castle.
Without any warning a band of unspotted orcs can running out of the woods and towards the maidens. There screams were heard by the guards and the ran towards the noise, only to be assaulted with more orcs.
Nuquer and Flora were near the back of the group and Nuquer's dress was slowing her pace down and she kept stepping on the hem of her dress.
"Flora!" Nuquer screamed as an orc's arrow skimmed her arm and blood flowed from in onto her dress.
"Nuquer, run! They're right behind you!" Flora screamed to her sister, she didn't see the orc in front of her but felt it when his knife cut into her leg.
Flora let out an agonizing cry the same time another one of the maidens fell at her side, an arrow through her chest, "NO!" Flora screeched and tried her best to keep running. The orcs were surrounding the maidens and one by one they fell at the cruel hands of the orcs. Nuquer was picked up and was being carried by one of the orcs, he though she might be of some value. The other orcs returned to their course towards the castle, leaving the maidens behind. Only one-third of the maidens now remained, the others lay broken and battered on a bloodstained field. Flora still stood though she felt weak and couldn't see straight she was bleeding from many cuts and wounds but pushed herself towards the castle in came into site and the warriors and guards were seen fight off the onslaught of orcs.
Flora collapsed near the gardens and blacked out. She remained there, hidden among red roses until the orcs had been defeated and the guards and unhurt maidens searched for the bodies of their fallen comrades.
"Flora!" Nilhisie gathered his fallen maiden into his arms and kissed her dirtied face.
"Nuquer," Flora stuttered, "Nuquer, she's gone." Flora fainted once again her blood loss grievous.
Nilhisie didn't say anything but carried her inside. The casualties from the battle were high. The number of maidens lost was not as horrendous as previously thought, most of the ones found in the field were not dead but fainted. The number of deaths of maidens came to be a total of one dead and one missing. Nuquer was missing.
~
"Find her!" Legolas commanded his guards and they searched throughout the night.
Legolas prayed to the Valar she would be found. Finally when the morning light was beginning to show she was found. Lying, forgotten among fallen branches in the depths of the forest, her dress torn and tattered and nearly changed from white to red from her blood, she was dead.
Legolas stood, frozen with shock, staring down at his beautiful, cold bride. How could this be? He broke down into a fit of tears and rested his head upon her still chest.
He lifted her gently and carried her back to the palace, where she was placed upon an altar. Legolas retired to his chambers for the rest of the night and was not seen again until the next morning when all signs of the battle had been rid of except the dead which were laid in the healing rooms to ready for their burning.
Legolas stood over Nuquer's body; she was so beautiful, even in death. Nilhisie stood at his side, not saying anything but there for support.
"She is still the most beautiful thing in the land." Legolas whispered.
"She always will be." Nilhisie calmly stated.
"I just don't know what to do." Legolas felt the hot tears gathering in his eyes.
"Let her go." Nilhisie knew it was what Legolas needed to hear now.
"You're right, but not until the burning." Legolas nodded. He would let her go but never forget the memory of his beautiful Nuquer. He knelt down and kissed her lips, one last time, "I love you forever." Legolas whispered to his bride.
~
Legolas couldn't bring himself to be present at the burning, but after it was down and the bodies placed into the ground he stood over Nuquer's fresh grave and placed flowers on it for her. He turned to see a line of elves with their offerings.
"For our princess, may she live forever on in our stories." The foremost elf smiled sadly at Legolas. Legolas watched as one by one flowers were left on her grave.
Finally it was all over and Legolas sat in her room, holding Nuquer's favourite red robe, this he would keep.
~
"Nilhisie, how it Legolas doing?" Flora said in a hushed voice from her resting-place in the infirmary bed. She had lost a lot of blood. The healer helped her to an early pregnancy to retrieve the children from in her in case they had died in the battle. They were both living and healthy but Flora was not getting any better.
"He will be all right, give him a year or so. But, you, you need to get better." Nilhisie sat by her side.
"I can't stay here." Flora sat with a small sob.
"What?" Nilhisie looked at her.
"There is so much pain here for me, I lost my whole family while I was here. I can't stay any longer. The memories are too much for me to bear. I'm so sorry, some day I promise to come back." Flora sniffed back more tears.
Nilhisie didn't say anything but knew it was the best for her, "When are you leaving?"
"When I can walk again." Flora smiled, "It'll be okay, you'll always be in my heart. You were my first love, and my last." Flora promised.
"No, not your last. I want you to be happy, go find yourself a good husband and bring him back here, back to your sons." Nilhisie smiled, though it was through tears.
"Maybe Nilhisie, maybe some day." Flora looked out the window at the wickedly happy sun, it felt no pain the elves did today.
Legolas walked by the doorway but neither Nilhisie or Flora had the heart to stop or say anything to him. Though he came in to talk to them, "I have to go." He simply stated.
"Where?" Nilhisie was worried for his friend.
"There is to be a meeting in Rivendell and I am going." Legolas sighed.
"It will be the best for you." Flora pointed out.
"Yes, and Mirkwood needs this." Legolas nodded and left the two.
"I think Nuquer was his last love." Flora said sadly to Nilhisie.
"You are right. Know hopefully he will find some other purpose to fulfill his life with." Nilhisie shook his head.
"Who will become King?" Thranduil said as he stood in the door. He had been listening to their conversation for a while, "I know he couldn't bear to do it now without his bride." Thranduil came in and sat on a chair near Flora, "That is why I want to talk to you Flora."
"Yes, sir?"
"I know you are planning on leaving, when you do, leave your sons with me, I will raise them and they will be the princes of Mirkwood, one of them can become king." Thranduil suggested.
"Is that what you want?" Flora looked at Thranduil.
"Yes, Legolas can't, I know that. But, you are Nuquer's sister and your sons are half-elven, they can chose to become mortal or immortal, which ever one makes that choice will be king. And if they both do then they both become king." Thranduil stared at the floor, thinking of the possibilities.
"Of course, they are yours." Flora agreed immediately, they couldn't have a better life than that.
~
Legolas mounted his horse and slowly urged it on towards the borders. When he reached the borders he took one last look at his home. He thought of Nuquer and started out on his way. A small strip from her wedding dress tucked into his tunic, next to his heart where she would forever remain.
~
The End.