One Summer in Rivendell

Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. The theme is based on Much ado About Nothing which was written by Shakespeare not me!

Summery- Legolas and the King return from war with the intentions of having a peaceful summer, things do not go to plan. Chaos, romance, trickery and misunderstanding ensue.

Thank you to the following:

Gionareth: Sorry you are having trouble with chapter 5. Please let me know if you still can't open it and I will email it to you :)

Cold Crystal Tears *hides Dad's new kettle* Har har what ya gonna do now! Thank you for the nice comment!

Vikki: Thanks hunny! No one else likes the Harry Potter one! I think you are the only person reading it!!! I am not gonna tell you if they find out! (although that is kind of sorted out in this chapter) :)

Grumpy: Thank you very much for reviewing.

Cerridwen: Thanks for reviewing!

Sandrea: Thank you for reviewing:)

Copperstring: Elladan and Elrohir are very good at staying unnoticed but I agree with you, Legolas is being thick! Thank you for reviewing!

Kit Cloudkicker: I just read chapter 8 and it's great! Thank you for the loan of the slayers by the way. I really need them as I am having a lot of trouble writing a sequel to 'You Can't Trust Elves.'

Chapter 6

The decorations really were exquisite, it was a shame, Legolas thought, that today would not be the happy occasion every body expected. He glanced down the alter and briefly at the guests that sat on the flower adorned seats. Quite by accident, he met Aragorn's gaze. He saw concern there but the King offered a small smile of encouragement.

He was surprised that he was still standing. His heart was broken and he had been deceived in the most terrible manner. How would he ever trust another again? But today anger would be the stronger of his emotions. He would announce to all here that Hero was a fake and not Rivendell's darling as she seem to be portrayed. He had not told the King of his plan. He knew that he would try and talk him out of it. He was a prince and he could not be seen to allow this kind of thing to happen to him. She would have to be punished.

He was oblivious to the music when it began to play and Hero's beauty was lost on him as she approached him down the aisle. His vision was obscured by a red shroud of anger.

Soon the Lady was by his side, smiling that beautiful smile of hers. She offered Legolas her hand, he took it roughly and turned her towards Lord Glorfindel who would begin the wedding vows. Hero flinched and regarded Legolas with shock.

"It seemed not too long ago that Middle Earth would never see such happy occasions of as this. It warms my heart to be able to join the Prince of Mirkwood to Imladris's own princess. It is a day of much joy and one that will signify hope to all generations. Elf and Man." Glorfindel began, nodding towards Aragorn.

"Legolas are you here today to marry this lady?" He continued.

"No." Legolas replied shortly.

There was an audible gasp from the congregation. Elrond laughed, "Indeed Glorfindel, have you not been performing these ceremonies for years? You come to marry her, Legolas is to be married to her?" The guests joined in his laughter.

Glorfindel turned to Hero and asked. "Are you here today Hero, to be married to Legolas?" He asked.

"I am." Hero replied laughing.

"Very well, now before I continue with this ceremony, is there anybody here that knows of any reason why this wedding should not go ahead?"

Legolas turned to Hero, his eyes burning with anger. "Do you know any reason we should not be married?" He asked her.

Hero shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "No Legolas." She replied. "I know of none."

"Legolas what is going on? Why are you speaking to her like that?" Arwen asked.

"Indeed, Glorfindel added. "Legolas now is the time to speak if you do not wish the wedding to go ahead."

"There is no reason they should not marry!" Elrond said becoming agitated.

Legolas shifted his gaze to Elrond. "He speaks of what he does not know!"

"Do you not wish to marry my Hero?" Elrond asked.

"I understand why you are so eager to be rid of her!" Legolas cried. "For if I had a daughter such as her I would be shamed into the ground." He turned to Hero who had begun to sob audibly.

"Please Legolas I have no idea what you are talking about!" She cried.

"Of course you don't! Legolas snapped. "You see Elrond, your daughter assured me that her love for me was true. Never were such evil lies told. It could have been breathed from the very fires of Mordor!"

"Legolas!" Aragorn cried.

"And you," Legolas continued. "You saw it did you not? You saw Hero cavorting with a mere servant? Why do you not speak of it?" He cried.

"Aragorn is this true?" Elrond said stunned.

Aragorn could say nothing but he nodded.

"So I will not have your daughter Elrond," Legolas said coldly. "Take her back!" He said pushing Hero back to her father. Hero collapsed to her knees. Legolas walked past them tears prickling his own eyes, Arwen watched in shock as he passed her.

Elrond kneeled down to his daughter's height. "Never have I been so ashamed Hero."

He said coldly.

"You do not believe I would do this?" Hero cried.

"I would never have believed it of you Hero." Her father began. "But the Prince and the King both saw you with their own eyes. Do I call them liars Hero?" He said with mounting fury in his voice. "Well do I?"

Hero sobbed loudly. "I did not do this Father, you have to believe me. Please?" Elrond shook his head. "You disgust me! I did not raise my daughter's to behave this way." He stood and walked away, leaving the guests stunned.

Hero collapsed to the ground crying so it seemed she would never stop. It was almost possible for the guests to hear her heart split in two.

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Arwen cried so hard she fought for her breath. What kind of spell was the Prince of Mirkwood under to behave in such an unforgivable way? She ran down the halls of Rivendell her tears echoing off the walls as she did. Hero had passed from tears of grief into a deep sleep and none had been able to rouse her.

She pushed open the doors to the gardens and a breath of cool air dried her tears to her face. Hero sweet Hero, who had been their light in dark times. What had she done to deserve such treatment?

There were no answers to her questions.

"Why would anybody do this? How could anybody do this?" She whispered to the moon. Arwen had always believed that her main strength was her ability not to let things get to her. Not this time. This time the tears just would not stop. She fell to her knees and finally let the deep sobs overcome her. Not caring if anybody heard. Not caring about anything but Hero.

It was in this state that Aragorn found her. Weakened.

"I..." He began. Arwen started and wiped the tears from her face furiously. She met Aragorn's gaze with anger. "I was looking for you." Was all he could say. Arwen's look softened and more tears replaced the anger. Aragorn knelt by her side. "Why do you weep so?" He asked.

"Do you need to ask?" Arwen said bitterly. "Today a great injustice has taken place." Aragorn offered her his hand and helped her up. She was still breath-taking in spite of the tears that had streaked her face.

"Indeed it has." He agreed. Arwen looked deep into his eyes and for a moment could not look away. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Arwen..." He said. "I..."

"I should get back to Hero." Arwen stated.

"There is nothing you can do for her now. You should get some rest." Aragorn informed her. "It would be no good if you fell ill with grief also." Arwen sighed.

"Why do you care?" Came her harsh reply. "You would not care if I were living or dead."

"Why such cold words?" Aragorn muttered beneath his breath. "If the lady knew how I felt for her then...." He paused. Perhaps it was time to tell her. "Arwen. If you were dead and not living, my world would seem as cold, dark and empty as the mines of Moria." Arwen gasped and began to speak but Aragorn placed his finger to her lips to stop her. "For Valar's sake woman, for once in your life would you cease your strife and let me speak?" Aragorn demanded. "For years have I watched you, for years has my heart longed to be near you and since the moment I saw you, I have loved you."

It was difficult to gage a reaction from Arwen. The Lady had not hit him, retorted with an unreasonable sarcastic comment or run away as he had half expected her to. Instead she fell to her knees and wept some more. "Have I said something wrong?" Aragorn asked hurriedly, "I mean no offence Arwen." In response to this, Arwen merely wailed louder. "I promise you Arwen, every word I speak is the truth!" He proclaimed.

"I... do.... not ... doubt you." Arwen began through sobs. "Indeed I take you at your word and return your feelings with so much of my heart there is little room for argument." Aragorn embraced her.

"For seemingly endless years has my heart longed to hear those words." He said softly, and placed a chaste kiss upon her lips.

"I cannot do this now." Arwen said. "Not with Hero near to death in her chamber."

Aragorn embraced her tightly. "You are right. Now is not a time to woo."

Arwen pulled away. "I am filled with such anger!" She cried, throwing her arms up. "Is it possible for one to be so happy and sad all at the same time?... Indeed my heart swells with happiness that you love me Aragorn but at the same time..... It longs for the person who caused this fate to befall my dear sister to be put to death..... for their life to end in such an abrupt cruel way as her happiness was ended today....." She paused as an idea presented itself in her mind. Indeed it was wrong of her to suggest such a thing to Aragorn, a King, but at times such as these when anger ruled her decision making and not common sense there seemed no way of stopping her from speaking her dreaded request. "Aragorn.....If you love me as you claim to, then you will find Legolas, hunt him down and kill him for what he has done to my sister."

"I shall not!" Came Aragorn's immediate reply. "Are you out of your mind, I would not kill Legolas for all the world, he is my friend!" He added with disgust.

"Well then you will not avenge Hero and prove your love to me?" Arwen cried.

"Indeed no!" Aragorn said with disbelief. "I will not prove my love by death."

"Well then think you that Hero is guilty of the crimes that she has been accused of?"

Arwen asked. "Indeed you must for...."

"I saw her with my own eyes." Aragorn finished. Arwen hung her head.

"There is no hope for us." She said coldly.

"There is always hope." Aragorn said taking her hand gently.

"Have you not known Hero all these years?" She asked. "Is she not the one you said you treasured as a sister that you had never had?"

"Indeed, Arwen, she is." Aragorn replied.

"Then is it not so that deep in your heart you know that she would not do those things that you think you saw? She is wronged. She has been slandered!"

"I know what I saw, Arwen it was her, or if not an exact duplicate of her!" Aragorn cried.

"A copy of Hero, yes! Not Hero herself!" She sobbed. "Did you see her face Aragorn?"

"I did not." The King admitted.

"Then you were deceived. I know it in my heart.... You were so quick to judge and now Hero will likely never waken to see us again. You put her there Aragorn, in that cold, dark. lonely place she dwells. You and your charming woodland friend!" Her grief mixed with anger had now taken control of her and she fought to remain standing. "If, you love me as you proclaim to then you will go and find Legolas and kill him....If you do not then prepare me a grave aside the one that they have prepared for Hero for I will have need of it presently."

Aragorn watched in silence as tears engulfed the love of his life. He sighed. "I have no joy in this." He whispered. "Can you not see that none of this is Legolas's fault? He was also deceived."

"It was his cruel words that have made her ill. His hate that may end her life." Arwen sobbed. "You must kill him."

"Not for all the stars in heaven." Aragorn replied.

"You will avenge Hero if you love me." Arwen repeated. "I will hear no other argument. If you do not kill Legolas, there is no future for us." She said vehemently before leaving Aragorn more lonely than he had ever felt before in his life.

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