Chapter Four

Celemirë was now completely happy. She and Legolas were in love, deeply in love. The Elf Prince began to teach her Sindarin Elvish. He soon found that Celemirë was an intelligent maiden. She picked up Sindarin very fast. Very soon, she was speaking it fluently, though she was still learning how to read and write it. Legolas was quite pleased.

"Maer aur, meleth nín Celemirë." Legolas told her one morning, as he woke her with a kiss.

"Maer aur." Celemirë replied.

"Manen cuil?"

"Im vaer."

Legolas smiled as Celemirë threw back the covers. He gasped softly as he had a quick glimpse of her white thighs before they disappeared under the folds of her nightdress. She stood up and stretched.

"Naughty Elf Prince!" she teased.

Legolas lunged at her. She stepped backwards and fell onto her back on the bed. Legolas landed on top of her. Their bodies became tense as each felt the other's sweet spot brush together. Legolas looked at her.

"Oh Legolas, no. Not unless I am your wife." Celemirë whispered. "Do not tempt me."

Legolas' eyes glowed.

"I greatly desire to call you hervess nín." he said.

Celemirë looked at him unbelievingly.

"You desire me to be your wife?" she gasped.

Legolas kissed her passionately in reply.

There was a knock on the door. Celemirë looked nervous.

"Who is there?" Legolas called.

"Legolas?" King Elessar replied in slight surprise.

"I am giving Celemirë an early lesson." Legolas said smoothly.

King Elessar chuckled.

"Very well. Hurry, though. We leave for Ithilien soon." he said.

Celemirë waited until her sire's footsteps died away before she burst out laughing.

"Early lesson?" she said.

Legolas got off of her. Celemirë wrapped her legs around his and brought him down onto his knees. She then wrapped her legs around his waist. Legolas groaned as her chest pressed against him.

"Perhaps the mentor needs assistance from his loving pupil?" she asked, ruffling his blond hair.

Legolas slowly rose and wrapped his arms around her. Celemirë unbuttoned his tunic and ran her hands up and down his chest. Legolas closed his eyes and nipped her neck gently. They both moaned.

How they managed to stop without going further they did not

know. Legolas remained in Celemirë's room as she dressed, his eyes flickered frequently towards her bed. They went to the dining hall and seated themselves quietly.

"How did the early lesson fare?" King Elessar asked, with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Very well." Celemirë said in a low voice.

"My congratulations, my dear sister." Eldarion said to Celemirë.

"For what, Eldarion?" she asked.

Legolas smiled.

"I told them we are betrothed." Legolas said.

"Yet, we did not have a ceremony!" Celemirë said in surprise.

Legolas then explained to her in Elvish that for Elves, once the Elf-man gave the one he loved a gift, they were considered betrothed.

Celemirë smiled.

"Henion, hîr nín." she replied.

"Well, it seems that you have learned Sindarin well, sell nín. Your uncles will be very proud of you and extremely happy." Arwen smiled.

"They will be, naneth."

"I will send a message by pigeon to Faramir and his son informing them that Celemirë is no longer available." Aragorn said.

Celemirë looked at her sire in question.

"Theodred wanted your hand." Eldarion told her.

Celemirë was silent.

"I must go now and wake Siana." Eldarion said.

After breakfast, Legolas and Celemirë went to the stables. There they found Moddyn.

"Good morning, my Princess and Legolas. My well wishes to you for your love." he said.

Celemirë was astonished by this unexpected turn of events.

"I am surprised to see that you have repented." she said.

Moddyn bowed, then went to prepare horses. Legolas watched the Man go. He frowned as he led his beloved horse, Arod, out of the stall.

"I do not trust him." Legolas said in Elvish, stroking Arod's nose.

"He has repented. Estelio nín." Celemirë told him.

Legolas embraced her, breathing in her sweet scent. A great fear came over his heart. He felt Moddyn was planning something very evil.

Soon they were all ready to go to Ithilien. King Elessar, Queen Arwen, Eldarion, and Siana were going. Moddyn and a group of the King's men were with them as well. Legolas and Celemirë rode behind, sitting together astride Arod.

"I spoke with your sire the day after I gave you the betrothal gift, and he agreed that we shall be wedded in Ithilien as soon as we arrive. He sent messengers to inform my sire. You will meet him, Celemirë." Legolas said with pride.

Celemirë, seated before Legolas, laid her head back onto his chest. He placed an arm around her and kissed her softly on her forehead.

They stopped that night in a thicket of beech trees. Legolas and Celemirë climbed a large tree and spent the night admiring the stars.

"Legolas, tell me of your home." Celemirë said.

The Elf Prince was excited. He told Celemirë the entire history of his home, as well as its geography and climate. When she ceased her questions, Legolas looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep in his arms. He admired her soft features.

It took them two more days to reach Ithilien, for the company was traveling somewhat leisurely. Prince Faramir and Theodred were waiting for them. Theodred greeted Legolas warmly, without any trace of hatred. He smiled at Celemirë.

"I see you are happy. I am pleased." he said.

Prince Faramir took them to his castle. The Lady Eowyn greeted them pleasantly. King Elessar nodded his head curtly to her. Theodred, the children of Aragorn, Siana, and Legolas were seated together.

"Eldarion, when are you going to be wedded?" Theodred asked.

Eldarion put down his goblet.

"We are not sure. We just become betrothed a fortnight ago. My other sisters will be wedded soon. Father thinks we should be wedded all on the same day." he answered.

Theodred asked Legolas the same question.

"Tomorrow." the Elf Prince replied.

"So soon?" Theodred asked, in mild surprise.

"It is the Elvish way." Celemirë told him.

"I do not know much about the Elves, save that they are the fairest and wisest beings in Middle-earth." Theodred said.

"That they are." Celemirë replied.

The Elf and young people stayed up late into the night talking. When the maidens started yawning politely, the group bade their goodnights. Legolas helped Celemirë to her room, which was next to his.

"Up so late?"

Moddyn stood in the doorway of a room right next to Celemirë's. Legolas frowned.

"We are going to bed. Goodnight." the Elf Prince said.

Moddyn nodded, then closed his door.

"Meleth nín, I feel something is about to happen to you. Moddyn…I do not trust him." Legolas said.

Celemirë, who had slipped out of her dress and now stood in her under-dress, looked at Legolas and shook her head. She placed her arms around his neck and kissed him. Looking down, Legolas could see her cleavage. His heart fluttered.

"You worry too much. Avo 'osto." she whispered.

Legolas held her against him. He felt the sweet spot between her legs come closer to his. He fought to control himself as he laid her in bed.

"Maer fuin, Legolas." she murmured sleepily.

"Gerich veleth nín, Celemirë." Legolas replied.

He locked the door from the inside before closing it. Moddyn's room was dark. Legolas hesitated before entering his own room.

All was silent. Legolas was still uneasy. A slight noise came from outside. He stirred nervously. Celemirë turned in her sleep. There was a pause, then she gasped. Legolas went to his door and tried to open it. It was locked. The door to Celemirë's room opened, and heavy footsteps went running down the corridor. Fear struck Legolas.

Again, he tried the door. It would not open. He gave up, then ran to the balcony, grabbing his bow and quiver of arrows. With one graceful jump, he landed on Celemirë's balcony. The curtains were pushed aside. Fearing the worst, Legolas rushed inside. Celemirë was gone.

Legolas ran back to the balcony and looked around. He noticed rope and nodded grimly as it traced back to Moddyn's balcony.

"The dirty fox! He knew I locked her door so if he attempted to break in he would be heard. He locked mine!" Legolas said to himself.

A horse whinnied from the stables.

"Arod!" Legolas exclaimed.

The next instant, a figure shot out from the stables on a black horse. The light from the moon fell upon Celemirë's face, hidden under a cloak. Arod bolted after them.

"Celemirë!" Legolas cried.

He jumped down from the balcony, landing on the ground on his feet. The castle doors were opened slightly. Without a moment's hesitation, Legolas ran after Arod.

The Elf followed Arod's gleaming white coat, thanking the Valar he was following. There was the sound of an arrow, and Arod fell. Legolas saw the arrow lodged in his steed's neck.

"Gurth am Moddyn!" Legolas said sharply. "Death to Moddyn!"

The Elf continued on in the night. Though he ran fast, Moddyn had a good head start. Soon, the horse's beats died away.

"Valar, help me!" Legolas cried.

He fitted an arrow onto his bow and went forward silently into the trees. He could see hoof prints leading into the heart of the forest. Legolas quickened his pace.

The Elf came upon a small cabin an hour later. A light came from within, and the curtains were drawn. Legolas went to the door, which was ajar. From inside, he heard Celemirë weeping.

"No one will find you here!" Moddyn was telling her.

There was a cold laugh from him as Celemirë gasped. Legolas knew what has happening. His eyes flashed dangerously as he became angry.

"Easy now, almost there." Moddyn said evilly.

Celemirë was whimpering. Then she screamed.

"Now, I have touched you. Tomorrow, when you wed that damned Elf, you will be bearing my child. Let this be your payment for not loving me. Curse you!" Moddyn said.

Legolas could stand it no longer. He pushed open the door.

Moddyn was leering over Celemirë in a bed. He turned. Legolas let his arrow fly. Moddyn fell on top of Celemirë. He was dead.

"Oh, Celemirë! I feared-" Legolas wept.

"Do not touch me! I am no longer suited to be yours!" she cried.

"Do not say that! Moddyn poisoned your mind. You are safe now!"

Celemirë whispered:

"I have paid for not believing you. Forgive me!"

"Ú-moe edvad, meleth nín."

Legolas wrapped Celemirë in his cloak. He noticed that she was bleeding. Her breathing became slow and rhythmic. When they neared the castle, Legolas saw a small crowd gathered: Eldarion, King Elessar, and Theodred. The trio looked fearfully at Celemirë.

"Moddyn." Legolas said flatly. "I killed him."

The men nodded grimly and made way for the Elf Prince. He took Celemirë to her room and found the Queen waiting. Tears and grief were in her eyes; she was pale.

"She is asleep." Legolas said.

Arwen noticed Legolas' anxiety. She guessed.

"He touched her?" she asked in his mind.

Legolas looked away. Arwen understood.

"This will be kept secret." she said.

Legolas clutched Arwen's arm.

"Hiril nín, I do not wish to lose her." he said.

"You will not. Not now." Arwen responded.

"I do not wish to lose her even in the future. I wish she could live like an edhel, to be immortal."

Arwen paused. She looked at Legolas strangely.

"When I gave up my immortality, my sire foretold that one of my children would desire to be an Elf. He said the Valar would grant her immortality, since I gave up my own." she said. "She will not turn Elf."

Legolas smiled. Arwen left him with Celemirë. The Elf Prince looked at Celemirë, stroking her face lovingly.

"I cannot believe what I heard. I must be dreaming." he whispered.

Legolas thanked the Valar. Then he removed his quiver and bow and set them aside. A breeze blew in from the balcony. Legolas kissed Celemirë before he went forth from her room. He knew Eldarion, King Elessar, and Theodred were waiting for him, wanting an account of what had happened. Legolas took a deep breath as he stepped outside.

Sindarin Translations-

Maer aur, maer fuin: good morning, goodnight

Henion: I understand

Ú-moe edvad: there is nothing to forgive

Hervess nín, sell nín: my wife, my daughter

Edhel: elf

Naneth: mother

Estelio nín: trust me

Avo 'osto: do not worry