****Disclaimer: I am a poor college student. All I own are Moddyn and Celemirë. Tolkien owns all the rest.
Note: This is my second attempt at a romance involving Legolas. In this story, Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Eryn Lasgalen (formerly Mirkwood) weds Celemirë, daughter of King Elessar. Celemirë is given immortal life by the Valar. I know this conflicts with Tolkien, but I felt that the Valar have this power. If this angers you, please do not read my story. You have been warned. I will be using Elvish-Sindarin-words throughout the story. I will italicize them and provide their translation at the end of each chapter or within the story itself. I will provide the translation for each word once, even if one word is used in another chapter. You may want to take note of them for your own reference. Also, I have used the song "Into the West", sung by Annie Lennox for RotK, though I have modified it slightly.****
Chapter One
Gimli and Legolas stood in the great sitting room of the Citadel of Minas Tirith. They were smiling broadly at each other, and their eyes shone brightly.
"Ai, Legolas! It has been some time since we last saw each other." Gimli said gruffly, embracing Legolas.
"Indeed, friend Gimli!" Legolas replied, embracing him as well.
The two friends were silent for some time as each inspected the other for any change in appearance. Last they had been together was when they rode through Fangorn Forest and they took fond leave of each other before going to their homes. That was nearly twenty years ago, and much had changed.
Gimli was now Lord of the Glittering Caves. He had led several thousand Dwarves from the Lonely Mountain to the Caves. They had turned their new home into a living palace of crystals.
As for Legolas, he led a large number of fair Elves from the southern portion of his sire's real, Eryn Lasgalen (or Mirkwood, as it was formerly called, to Ithilien. They made it the fairest place of mortal lands.
"Well, you have not changed." Gimli said at last.
"You have, though! You have become much more lordly, and do I see you have put on a little weight?" Legolas replied, with a smile.
"Ah, yes, that is true!" the Dwarf said.
The pair smiled once more at each other before footsteps were heard. The door of the room opened, and a young woman came swiftly towards them. She was tall and fair, resembled Arwen very much, save for her hair, which was full of soft curls and was lighter in color.
"Hîr nín, Legolas. Gimli," she said curtly. "My father awaits you in his private sitting chamber, along with my mother."
Legolas and Gimli were dumbstruck. They stared at the maiden before them, speechless.
"My lords?" she asked, puzzled. "You are Gimli, the Dwarf, and Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Eryn Lasgalen, correct? Or am I mistaken?"
"We are, my lady. We thought you were Queen Arwen Undomiel, for you look like her." Legolas said.
The maiden laughed softly.
"Many mistake me for my mother. Nay, I am not Arwen Undomiel, but Celemirë, her daughter." she said.
Then she turned and beckoned them to follow her. She led them into a magnificent hall before they went up a winding staircase and entered a chamber to the right.
"Father, mother, lords Gimli and Legolas have arrived." Celemirë said upon entering.
King Elessar rose from his seat and went forward, smiling.
"At last, we meet again!" he cried, embracing them. "I have waited so long for this day!"
"As we did." Gimli said.
"Suilaid, hiril nín, Arwen." Legolas said, bowing deeply.
"Suilaid, Legolas. Manen le?" Queen Arwen replied.
"Im vaer."
King Elessar motioned for Gimli and Legolas to sit. Celemirë took a seat between her sire and Legolas.
"We thought at first that Celemirë was Queen Arwen, for she has her mother's beauty and resembles her closely." Legolas said.
Celemirë was silent. She lowered her head and blushed profusely. Her parents looked at her with love in their eyes.
"Yes, Celemirë does resemble Arwen very much. We felt you would mistake her for her mother. Many people do." Aragorn said.
Celemirë looked at the floor in embarrassment.
"Tell me, Lady Celemirë, do you speak Elvish?" Legolas said.
Celemirë lifted her head and looked at Legolas with her gray eyes. Legolas felt that his breath was stolen.
"My mother is teaching me Elvish. I do not know very much yet. I would love to speak it fluently, as well as read and write it. Perhaps you can teach me?" she said.
Legolas replied quickly:
"That would be an honor, hiril nín,"
He did not notice Elessar give Arwen a knowing look.
Talk then turned to news. King Elessar wanted to know from Gimli how Rohan was faring. The Dwarf reported that everything was fine. The Rohirrim were preparing for Eomer's son's wedding. The Dwarves were allowing the wedding to be held in the Glittering Caves.
"I wish for the son of Eomer many blessings and a joyous wedded life." King Elessar said. "I will send a letter to him."
"He has sent one with me." Gimli said, and handed Aragorn a sealed envelope.
"What news from Ithilien? How do its Prince, Faramir, and his Lady Eowyn fare?" Elessar asked.
"They are well. Faramir and the Lady Eowyn send their well wishes to you. Their son Theodred seeks for a wife. He is Celemirë's age.
"As for Ithilien, it is well. The land is green and fair after we planted it with elven plants and tended to it. Even we have seen Ents there!" Legolas replied.
Celemirë looked excitedly at Legolas.
"Ents, you say? Oh, how I would love to see one!" she cried. "My sire told me you passed through Fangorn Forest, and that you even met Fangorn himself!"
Gimli muttered under his breath.
"Indeed, we passed through Fangorn Forest and we have met him. My lady, you are welcome any time to Ithilien. It is very fair, and I am quite sure you will like it." Legolas said.
Celemirë smiled. Then she stood up.
"I must take leave of you now. My mentor for riding will arrive shortly, and I must go and prepare myself. It was a pleasure meeting you, Gimli, and you, Legolas. I await to see you at dinner. Farewell, for now!" she said.
She kissed her parents before inclining her head slightly to Legolas and Gimli. The Elf felt that her eyes seemed to shine brightly as his gaze met hers. He bowed to her and said, "Navaer!"
"Legolas, I feel there is more to what you have said about Theodred seeking a wife and being Celemirë's age than you shared. Was it because of Celemirë's presence?" Aragorn said, when his daughter left.
His wife looked at Legolas. Even Gimli raised his head in wonder.
Legolas nodded, then drew out an envelope from within his tunic. It was sealed with a tree, the royal emblem of Ithilien. The Elf handed the envelope to Aragorn, then drew his chair closer to his friend.
"Prince Faramir said to read the envelope as soon as you can." Legolas said.
Arwen took the envelope from her husband's hands and opened it quickly. She took out the letter and read it silently to herself. When she finished, she looked at Elessar.
"What does the letter say, or is it private?" he asked.
"Theodred desires Celemirë's hand." Arwen said.
Aragorn was silent. Then he turned to Legolas.
"Has he spoken to you about this?" Aragorn asked.
"He asked if I knew her, and I told him that I did not. That was why he sent me. He felt embarrassed to come himself, since he does not know you well." Legolas replied.
Aragorn looked at Arwen for some time, as if they were communicating through their minds. Legolas and Gimli waited patiently. At last, Aragorn said:
"It is time I paid a visit to Eomer, and Faramir."
Arwen rose.
"I will inform Eldarion and Celemirë," she said.
Gimli and Legolas remained with Aragorn. The King was deep in thought, brow furrowed. From somewhere below, a bell rang. The sound brought Aragorn from his thoughts.
"Come now. A banquet has been prepared." he said, rising.
Legolas and Gimli followed their friend to a large dining hall. A long table made of white marble ran the length of the hall, set with many platters of food and vessels of drink. Aragorn sat at the head of the table. Eldarion, his son, was to his left, Arwen to his right. Legolas was between Eldarion and Gimli. Across from the Elf Prince was Celemirë. A fair man with dark hair was seated beside her.
"Moddyn, my friends Gimli and Legolas." Aragorn said. "Gimli, Legolas, this is Moddyn, Celemirë's riding mentor."
Moddyn gave Legolas a cold nod of his head and smirked at Gimli.
"So, this is Legolas, the one who kept Celemirë's thoughts occupied from me as I tried to teach her today. And a Dwarf!" he said, with a slightly annoyed voice.
Celemirë blushed.
"Nice to meet you." Legolas and Gimli said stiffly.
Eldarion whispered to Legolas:
"Do not mind him. He is jealous; he fancies my sister."
Legolas met Celemirë's gaze. She held it steadily.
During the dinner, Moddyn attempted to engage Celemirë in conversation. The Princess answered him shortly, trying to end all talk with him as politely as she could. Yet, her mentor kept persisting to speak with her. No one noticed this but Legolas, who was now seated across from Moddyn, having switched seats with Gimli earlier.
"Master Moddyn, Celemirë can not enjoy her meal if you persist in speaking with her." Legolas finally told him.
Celemirë smiled thankfully at Legolas. Moddyn glared at him.
When the dinner finally ended, Celemirë rose to leave. Moddyn hurried after her. Legolas followed. He paused at the doorway.
"Tell that Elf he will have to fight me!" Moddyn said.
"Legolas does not care for me, Moddyn. As for you, I will choose my own husband!" Celemirë said.
"We shall see!" he hissed, then hurried away.
Elvish (Sindarin) Translations-
Hîr nín: my lord
Hiril nín: my lady
Suilaid: greetings
Manen le: how are you
Im vaer: I'm fine/well
Navaer: goodbye