AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, before I begin this chapter, I think I may need to explain some things. I did some research before writing this (wow, I did research without being forced to for school? I think I may need a doctor. ok neways.) and I found that while there are several theories on 'elf sex' and elf marriages, I chose to use the one that was most supported by Tolkien's work(duh). According to the essay that I read this from, to elves, sex=marriage. This is how many elves married while in exile or in other difficult situations. Be this as it may, it is also believed that elves would have someone conduct some kind of ceremony when it came to royalty or noble elves. This, of course, does not mean that they are not already 'married' when the official ceremony takes place. Some of you may have already known all this and may be thinking how stupid I am for stating the obvious, but since I myself was not sure before looking it up, I thought that there may be others like me reading this. Ok, I think that's about it for now. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

The Summons:

Legolas raised his head and looked into Kika's tear-filled eyes. He felt a fear stronger than any he had ever felt before creeping into his heart.

"What is wrong? Have you changed your mind? Do you no longer wish to become my wife?" Kika saw the fear in his eyes and reached up to touch his face.

"No, that is not it at all. I love you, and I wish to spend as long as eternity will allow with you." She paused. "It is just. I am not ready yet. I love you, Legolas, but I cannot do this - not yet." Legolas's face showed a conflicting mixture of relief and disappointment; relief that she had not changed her mind, and disappointment for obvious reasons. He sat up and pulled her into a gentle embrace.

"I do not deny that I wish otherwise, but I love you and want you to be happy more than anything else." His eyes twinkled mischievously as he continued. "However, the moment you are ready, you must inform me, be it in the wee hours of the morning or during a meal." Kika laughed at the thought of leaning over and whispering something into his ear during dinner, then him scrambling to excuse himself from the meal.

"Of course," she laughed. She searched his eyes with her own. "So you are not angry?"

"How could I be angry at you for speaking the truth instead of doing something that you do not wish to do? I would have been angry if you had not told me! You must always speak freely to me. I never wish to cause you any grief." Kika sighed and settled into his arms.

"You wish to never cause me grief? Then will you swear that you will always love me as you do now?"

""No, I will not," came his surprising reply. He felt Kika stiffen with shock. He hastily continued. "For I have found that the longer I am with you, the more I love you. If my love continues to grow as it has so far, I would be breaking that oath." Kika once again relaxed, obviously relieved. "But I will swear that I will never leave you, that my love for you will never diminish, only grow to a magnitude unimaginable."

They stayed in the library and decided on holding the ceremony one week hence, which would give Thranduil plenty of time to invite whomever he deemed necessary. It was after this was decided that Legolas brought up the topic of where they would live.

"I really have not thought about it," replied Kika when he brought it up. "I am content being with you, I care not where it is." Legolas was thoughtful for a moment.

"Have you ever been to Ithilien?" he asked.

"No," replied Kika. "I thought that it had been ruined by the war."

"It was," he confirmed. "But with some work, it could possibly be returned to it's former beauty. I have wanted to return there with some elves and restore it ever since I saw what the war did to it. What would you think of living there for a time?" Kika smiled.

"I think that it would be well worth the effort. Going to Ithilien would be wonderful." Legolas's smile broadened as he leaned in for yet another kiss.

"I had wanted to go before, but something always seemed to stop me. Now I am glad I stayed this long, for if I had went any sooner, I would never have found you." He looked out the window at the sun's position. It was nearly noon. "A! It is nearly noon, and I was supposed to go check on Deregond this morning to make sure that he is sufficiently guarded. I must leave. Shall I escort you to your room?"

"No, you obviously must hurry. I know the way back." With another quick kiss, Legolas left and Kika watched his retreating form hurrying down the hall.

How did I come to deserve someone like him? she thought, but quickly shook such thoughts from her head. I should be thankful that I have his love, not wondering how I acquired it. She turned the opposite direction down the hall to go to her room, but as she turned the corner at the end of the hall, she bumped into a stout figure.

"Oh! I am sorry, please forgive me, I was not paying attention!" She quickly apologized. She saw that it was Gimli who she had run into.

"That is no matter, lass, but I need to tell you something important. Remember that elf the king sent to Lothlorien with the message about Deregond? Evidently that was not his only assignment. He-" The dwarf stopped short as an elf came around the very corner where they had collided.

"Lady Kikania?" He said, and then continued when Kika nodded. "The king requests your presence immediately." Kika thought she heard a grumbling coming from the dwarf as the elf said this, but she chose to ignore it.

"I am sorry, Gimli, I must go now, but perhaps we can continue later?"

She thought she heard him mumble something about 'too late' but, he only said, "Yes, of course," aloud. Kika turned to follow the elf to where the king was awaiting her. She wondered what he would want, but assumed it had something to do with the ceremony. but why her? Why would he not summon Legolas? She mentally shook herself and took a deep, calming breath before entering the king's council chamber.

As she entered, she curtsied and rose to face Thranduil, who had a troubled look evident on his face.

"Lady Kikania, please sit," he said, gesturing to a chair. She would have preferred to stand, but she was not about to dispute what the king said. "I have some troubling news for you, my dear," he began. "My son just came by and spoke with me." Kika immediately went on guard. What could be wrong? Everything was going so well! Too well, she thought. I knew that nothing could be this easy. "It seems," the king continued, "that when Legolas asked you to become his wife, he was not aware of your. rank." Kika's breath stopped in her throat. What is this leading to?

"I thought he had known before he asked," she began, "and when he asked, I made sure he knew." The king shook his head sadly.

"My son has a kind heart, and sometimes it gets the best of him. He had not known of your social status before he asked, and when you told him, he felt like he could not withdraw the question. That is why he came to me." By now Kika was having to fight for each breath, struggling to maintain her composure. When would he get to the point? "He did not wish to be the one to tell you." here the king hesitated. Kika could take it no longer.

"Tell me what?" she asked softly.

"That he cannot wed you," he finally replied. In that moment, Kika's heart stopped its regular rhythm in her chest. She could not speak, she could not cry, however much she wanted to. "I wish it were otherwise," continued the king, though Kika could not even hear him. "But for a prince to wed a maiden with no rank is. well, it is simply not done. You understand what I mean, do you not?" he asked kindly. It was several moments before Kika found her voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty." She paused, then became stoic. She could not stay here, could not see him, not even once more. "Sir, I do not mean to be presumptuous, but I now wish to return to Lothlorien. Could I possibly borrow a horse? I will send it back with the next messenger that comes here." The king smiled warmly.

"Of course. But do not worry about sending it back; I have been informed that you instrumental in the recapture of Deregond, this is the least I can do. You may take the horse you used before, it is yours." She nodded and stood.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. You have been kind to me, I am grateful. I should go." Thranduil smiled.

"Of course. I will have someone prepare the horse for you." Kika curtsied one more time before hurriedly exiting.

As she closed the door behind her, silent tears streamed down her face. How could Legolas do this to her? He said he loved her, that her rank did not matter. And she had believed him. She reached her room and quickly changed into the shirt and pants she had worn before. She quickly found some paper and something to write with, scribbled a quick note, and grabbed up the book she had borrowed from the library. She ran into Legolas's room and dropped the book and note on his bed. The bed where he had kissed her. he had told her he loved her in this room. Kika once again mentally shook herself. She was strong; she would not let this overcome her. She would return to her home. Once there, she did not know what she would do, but she would start a new life, away from Mirkwood, away from Legolas. She would push the past week out of her mind; act as if it never happened. She returned to her room where she grabbed her bow and knives before hurrying out. She saw Gimli coming down the hall and tried to avoid him, but he had seen her.

"What are you doing?" He cried. "I must tell you what I was trying to before," he began, but Kika cut him off.

"It does not matter. I am leaving. I cannot stay here." She continued waling down the hallway, leaving the dwarf behind, but not for long. He rushed to catch up.

"Agh, Lass, where are you going? Does Legolas know?" At his name, Kika whirled around angrily.

"I have not told him, but I am sure that this is what the prince wants," she spat heatedly. She turned and ran swiftly down the hall, and this time Gimli could not catch her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As Legolas left the library, he felt as if he were flying rather than walking. He would marry Kikania. He loved her. And, perhaps more importantly, she loved him. They would be together forever.

When he reached where Deregond was being held, he exchanged his goofy- feeling smile for a stern look. When he entered, he saw that Deregond was being held in a locked room. There were four guards at the door, who let Legolas in, accompanied by one guard. The room was dark, with no window, and Deregond was shackled, with one leg chained to the floor.

"Ah, the almighty Prince Legolas," sneered the man as Legolas entered. "Where's that belligerent she-elf? Too frightened to come to pay me a little visit?" Legolas did not answer, so he continued with a malevolent grin. "That is fine, though. She was a pretty thing; I may pay her a visit when I get out of here. She threatened me, you know, and I never forget things like that." By now Legolas was seething. He would 'pay her a visit' would he? Legolas would die before this man laid a hand on her.

"You may find that a little difficult, Deregond, considering the fact that you will never see the light of day again. You will spend the rest of your days in this room. I hope you are comfortable." Legolas noticed that this did not wipe the evil grin off of his face, but thought nothing of it. He evidently had too much faith in the ability of his men to rescue him.

Now Legolas smiled, albeit contemptuously, and said with mock brightness, "Enjoy your stay!" as he turned to leave.

As he closed the door behind him, he heard Deregond call, "Don't forget to tell the girl what I told you since she won't come visit me herself!" Kika would never hear of what Deregond had said, Legolas decided. There was no reason for her to worry about something that was not going to happen anyway. Truth be told, she would probably only laugh at the threat, but he would keep it to himself anyway. As he reached his home, he saw a horse galloping away out of the corner of his eye.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A/N: Oh don't you hate me right now? Well I couldn't just let them live happily ever after, that would be too easy. But no, this is not the end. There is more to come! And no, this is not even the last twist; there is no 'happily ever after' coming for quite some time. if ever. mwahahaha. You really do hate me now don't you lol? Well, how about pressing that purpley- blue button down there and letting me know!