Okay ONE more chapter hopefully after this. I think. I was going to make this the last one but I couldn't, too many loose ends to tie up. Hope you don't mind!
Disclaim is the same.
~*~ The Namelss Elf: You shall see if his ass gets whipped soon. Promise.
~*~ Soccer-Bitch: I understand, my computer is a dumbass too. I wondered where you went but now I know. Its cool.
~*~ Tiffiany-45: You would think they would think that wouldn't you? Man, parents just don't understand! Hopefully one more chap after this and then farewell! Enjoy!
~*~ Orli's babe: Here ya go!
~*~ carlie: Will do and have done!
~*~ Legolas/SailorMoonLoverBonita: Do you need another tissue? (*Hands her a whole Kleenex box*) Does my story really infuse that much emotion? That's cool. I didn't realize it did. Is it too depressing?
On with the story!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 14
Several months had passed since that day in Legolas' chambers. He and Zara had barley seen each other as Zara had been locked up in her home so nobody could see her growing stomach and start rumors. Most of the time Legolas himself was locked up. Only he was in a conference room with their fathers, Aragorn, and Rinarmo.
The terms were going painfully slow. Rinarmo would not budge, nor would Legolas. They both wanted Zara for their wife, only Legolas wanted it for the right reasons.
Rinarmo, though he did not state it in so many words, wanted Zara to cook, sew, have sex whenever he wanted it, and have dozens of children. Legolas wanted Zara because he loved her and would allow her to the things she wanted to do on her terms, and he made that clear.
Thranduil had finally seen his son's point of view and was being more supportive of him. It had taken him several days but when he say the two together tucked away in a corner, he knew it was not a game.
Bryioum, on the other hand, still supported the arranged marriages. Aragorn was the only somewhat cool head in the room. He was appointed as the negotiator and keeper of the peace.
"Lord Rinarmo, why do you dangle the minor detail of Zara's biological parents over the heads of her and the prince? What gain will you have if, by faith, you do get to marry Lady Zara?" He asked patiently as he rubbed his eyes with his hand. "I want a obliging wife who is fertile and will keep my name going."
"Why Zara then?" Legolas snapped from the other side of the table. "She is far from tame and will not yield to your petty requests." "It is a matter of dowry." Rinarmo replied silkily. "Her father has promised me much with the marriage of her."
"And what would that be Bryioum?" Thranduil asked curiously. "Well,...I.." Bryioum stammered. "Yes?" His old friend pressed. "I promised him several old heirlooms, some land, some money, and some property." "Such as..." Thranduil continued. Sweat began to pour off Bryioum's face. He wiped it off nervously.
"Well Thranduil, you know how this goes. You love your child deeply and you only want the best for them." "And..." Thranduil pressed again. He was getting more and more curious by the syllable. "I promised Rinarmo several of my mother's old jewels, some land that my family owns at the border, and thecottagebythelake." "The what?" Thranduil dared to ask. "The cottage by the lake." Bryioum said softly.
"You can't do that!" Legolas cried from his seat. "No you cannot." Thranduil added. "Why not?" Bryioum asked confused. "Because it is my cottage." Thranduil stated plainly. "No it is mine." Bryioum insisted. "No mine." Thranduil retorted. "It is mine my family has been there for years." Bryioum argued red in the face. "Mine have been there longer and as King of Mirkwood I say you cannot!" Thranduil was now on his feet with his palms flat on the table, a vein bulging on his forehead.
"Gentlemen!" Aragorn yelled from his seat at the head of the table where he stood. "We are here to discuss your children's welfare, not a house by the lake. Are your children's feelings less important than a piece of property that will eventually fade into old? Has society gotten so vain that one will trade a child's smile for a title?"
Aragorn paused and rubbed his eyes and stretched his back. He could hear it crack and pop from stiffness. The pressure of this situation was beginning to take its toll on him. "I am here to help negotiate the delimna between Legolas and Zara and Lord Rinarmo, not to determine who owns what. I am leaving now and do not expect me back for awhile. Good day gentlemen."
With that Aragorn turned sharply on his heel and made for the door. "Estel." Legolas called after him but he ignored him. Aragorn slammed the door behind and angry footsteps pounded down the hall after him.
Thranduil stole one icy glare at Bryioum and left for his chambers silently while Bryioum stalked out the door. Legolas stood stiffly and crossed to the open window. He had heard enchanting sounds from it for the last hour.
He glanced down into the private courtyard to find Zara waking with Xavier. Apparently he was telling her an amusing story because her sweet laughter wafted up to the window and her smile radiated from her form. Her rounded belly had become more apparent these past months but she was still quite small.
"She's a lovely creature is she not?" Legolas heard behind him. "Yes she is Rinarmo." He answered. "Too bad you'll never know." He then followed the suit of everyone else and made for the door.
"I have a proposition for you." Rinarmo called after him. Legolas stopped in his tracks. "Such as?" He asked, looking so much like his father with his eyebrow raised. Rinarmo walked around the wooden conference room gazing at the weaponry that adorned the walls.
"I challenge you to a duel." He finally said. "What are the terms?" Legolas asked interested. "The terms are: If I win, you will accept the invalidly of your marriage and release Zara from your poisoned grasp to marry me. If you win, I will step out of the picture and allow both your lives to be destroyed."
"And what of the child?" Legolas asked with his eyes boring into Rinarmo's, as if seeking for a hidden plot. "If I win, the child will be executed. Why would I want a bastard child in my home? If you win you may do whatever it is you want with it. I do not care. Choose wisely your highness." Rinarmo glared at the prince as his mind raced at the offer. There was so much to gain, yet so much to lose as well.
"If I win, you have to agree to leave this land, and to never return." Legolas demanded, his eyes hard as stone. "Agreed." Rinarmo said as he held out his hand. Legolas took it and shook it firmly. "Tomorrow at sunrise in the courtyard." Rinarmo instructed as he brushed past Legolas and out the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I am so glad you have stayed by my side Xavier." Zara sighed as she and Xavier walked through the courtyard with her arm linked through his. All afternoon he had told her amusing stories to make her laugh. The sun was now setting and they were headed back to her home by means of a hidden pathway so nobody could see Zara.
"Where else would I have gone?" He laughed as he lead her through the leafy trail. "I don't know. It just seems that I am being shunned by everyone because I fell in love. Not to mention with child." She rubbed her belly automatically and smiled at the feel of it.
"I couldn't be happier that you and Legolas finally admitted your feelings to each other and better yet, you are going to have a child. There is nothing to be ashamed about it. As a matter of fact, I should have given you these back a long time ago." In his hand were Zara's rings.
"Oh Xavier!" She cried and hugged him around his neck. "Where did you find them?" "Well, when we found you and took you to the healer I took them off. I had figured out what had happened and I didn't want everyone else to know until you and Legolas were ready. With the chaos that followed, there wasn't a good time to give them back. I'm sorry."
"Don't be Xavier." Zara said as she put them back on eagerly. "You only did what you thought was right. Thank you so much." He helped her up the back stairway to her home. "I now leave you milady. Sleep well." "You to Xavier and thank you." "My pleasure your highness." He said as he bowed mockily and began to walk to away.
Zara laughed softly to herself and went inside her empty home. At least, that was how it felt. Not one person would look her in the eye anymore and her parents avoided her. She sighed and grabbed a piece of fruit off the table and went to her chambers. In her cozy room she undressed and slipped into a blue gown and laid on the bed.
She stared at her ceiling until she heard a plinking sound on her balcony. She gasped excitedly and raced to the opening to find Legolas climbing up the tree to her room. When he landed she embraced him immediately.
"I missed you so much." She said as he lifted her chin up to meet her lips with his. "Nothing can keep me away." He said softly. He lead her to the bed and sat with down with her on his lap.
"What happened today?" She asked timidly because she knew this was a sore subject with him. "Estel stormed out." "What? Why?" Zara cried confused. Legolas silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. It would do them no good if they woke the entire household.
"Because our fathers got into an argument over your dowry." "What's wrong with it?" "Apparently your father included the cottage by the lake." He confessed. "But I thought that belonged to your family." "We did too but your father claims otherwise. Do not worry though. All will be solved tomorrow." "How?" Zara asked with her eyes narrowing.
"Rinarmo challenged me to a duel. If I win he will leave and never return to torment us again." "And if he wins." Legolas took a deep breath. "Do not worry about that because it will not come to that. Rest well tonight. I must get back." He brushed his lips over hers and made for the balcony.
"Legolas." Zara called after him. "Yes." He turned to face her. She stood and walked to him slowly. "Make love to me one more time. Just in case" She whispered when she reached him. "I will not refuse your request even though you have nothing to fret about. I promise."
~*~*~*~*~*~
There ya go. Tell me how it is!
Disclaim is the same.
~*~ The Namelss Elf: You shall see if his ass gets whipped soon. Promise.
~*~ Soccer-Bitch: I understand, my computer is a dumbass too. I wondered where you went but now I know. Its cool.
~*~ Tiffiany-45: You would think they would think that wouldn't you? Man, parents just don't understand! Hopefully one more chap after this and then farewell! Enjoy!
~*~ Orli's babe: Here ya go!
~*~ carlie: Will do and have done!
~*~ Legolas/SailorMoonLoverBonita: Do you need another tissue? (*Hands her a whole Kleenex box*) Does my story really infuse that much emotion? That's cool. I didn't realize it did. Is it too depressing?
On with the story!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 14
Several months had passed since that day in Legolas' chambers. He and Zara had barley seen each other as Zara had been locked up in her home so nobody could see her growing stomach and start rumors. Most of the time Legolas himself was locked up. Only he was in a conference room with their fathers, Aragorn, and Rinarmo.
The terms were going painfully slow. Rinarmo would not budge, nor would Legolas. They both wanted Zara for their wife, only Legolas wanted it for the right reasons.
Rinarmo, though he did not state it in so many words, wanted Zara to cook, sew, have sex whenever he wanted it, and have dozens of children. Legolas wanted Zara because he loved her and would allow her to the things she wanted to do on her terms, and he made that clear.
Thranduil had finally seen his son's point of view and was being more supportive of him. It had taken him several days but when he say the two together tucked away in a corner, he knew it was not a game.
Bryioum, on the other hand, still supported the arranged marriages. Aragorn was the only somewhat cool head in the room. He was appointed as the negotiator and keeper of the peace.
"Lord Rinarmo, why do you dangle the minor detail of Zara's biological parents over the heads of her and the prince? What gain will you have if, by faith, you do get to marry Lady Zara?" He asked patiently as he rubbed his eyes with his hand. "I want a obliging wife who is fertile and will keep my name going."
"Why Zara then?" Legolas snapped from the other side of the table. "She is far from tame and will not yield to your petty requests." "It is a matter of dowry." Rinarmo replied silkily. "Her father has promised me much with the marriage of her."
"And what would that be Bryioum?" Thranduil asked curiously. "Well,...I.." Bryioum stammered. "Yes?" His old friend pressed. "I promised him several old heirlooms, some land, some money, and some property." "Such as..." Thranduil continued. Sweat began to pour off Bryioum's face. He wiped it off nervously.
"Well Thranduil, you know how this goes. You love your child deeply and you only want the best for them." "And..." Thranduil pressed again. He was getting more and more curious by the syllable. "I promised Rinarmo several of my mother's old jewels, some land that my family owns at the border, and thecottagebythelake." "The what?" Thranduil dared to ask. "The cottage by the lake." Bryioum said softly.
"You can't do that!" Legolas cried from his seat. "No you cannot." Thranduil added. "Why not?" Bryioum asked confused. "Because it is my cottage." Thranduil stated plainly. "No it is mine." Bryioum insisted. "No mine." Thranduil retorted. "It is mine my family has been there for years." Bryioum argued red in the face. "Mine have been there longer and as King of Mirkwood I say you cannot!" Thranduil was now on his feet with his palms flat on the table, a vein bulging on his forehead.
"Gentlemen!" Aragorn yelled from his seat at the head of the table where he stood. "We are here to discuss your children's welfare, not a house by the lake. Are your children's feelings less important than a piece of property that will eventually fade into old? Has society gotten so vain that one will trade a child's smile for a title?"
Aragorn paused and rubbed his eyes and stretched his back. He could hear it crack and pop from stiffness. The pressure of this situation was beginning to take its toll on him. "I am here to help negotiate the delimna between Legolas and Zara and Lord Rinarmo, not to determine who owns what. I am leaving now and do not expect me back for awhile. Good day gentlemen."
With that Aragorn turned sharply on his heel and made for the door. "Estel." Legolas called after him but he ignored him. Aragorn slammed the door behind and angry footsteps pounded down the hall after him.
Thranduil stole one icy glare at Bryioum and left for his chambers silently while Bryioum stalked out the door. Legolas stood stiffly and crossed to the open window. He had heard enchanting sounds from it for the last hour.
He glanced down into the private courtyard to find Zara waking with Xavier. Apparently he was telling her an amusing story because her sweet laughter wafted up to the window and her smile radiated from her form. Her rounded belly had become more apparent these past months but she was still quite small.
"She's a lovely creature is she not?" Legolas heard behind him. "Yes she is Rinarmo." He answered. "Too bad you'll never know." He then followed the suit of everyone else and made for the door.
"I have a proposition for you." Rinarmo called after him. Legolas stopped in his tracks. "Such as?" He asked, looking so much like his father with his eyebrow raised. Rinarmo walked around the wooden conference room gazing at the weaponry that adorned the walls.
"I challenge you to a duel." He finally said. "What are the terms?" Legolas asked interested. "The terms are: If I win, you will accept the invalidly of your marriage and release Zara from your poisoned grasp to marry me. If you win, I will step out of the picture and allow both your lives to be destroyed."
"And what of the child?" Legolas asked with his eyes boring into Rinarmo's, as if seeking for a hidden plot. "If I win, the child will be executed. Why would I want a bastard child in my home? If you win you may do whatever it is you want with it. I do not care. Choose wisely your highness." Rinarmo glared at the prince as his mind raced at the offer. There was so much to gain, yet so much to lose as well.
"If I win, you have to agree to leave this land, and to never return." Legolas demanded, his eyes hard as stone. "Agreed." Rinarmo said as he held out his hand. Legolas took it and shook it firmly. "Tomorrow at sunrise in the courtyard." Rinarmo instructed as he brushed past Legolas and out the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I am so glad you have stayed by my side Xavier." Zara sighed as she and Xavier walked through the courtyard with her arm linked through his. All afternoon he had told her amusing stories to make her laugh. The sun was now setting and they were headed back to her home by means of a hidden pathway so nobody could see Zara.
"Where else would I have gone?" He laughed as he lead her through the leafy trail. "I don't know. It just seems that I am being shunned by everyone because I fell in love. Not to mention with child." She rubbed her belly automatically and smiled at the feel of it.
"I couldn't be happier that you and Legolas finally admitted your feelings to each other and better yet, you are going to have a child. There is nothing to be ashamed about it. As a matter of fact, I should have given you these back a long time ago." In his hand were Zara's rings.
"Oh Xavier!" She cried and hugged him around his neck. "Where did you find them?" "Well, when we found you and took you to the healer I took them off. I had figured out what had happened and I didn't want everyone else to know until you and Legolas were ready. With the chaos that followed, there wasn't a good time to give them back. I'm sorry."
"Don't be Xavier." Zara said as she put them back on eagerly. "You only did what you thought was right. Thank you so much." He helped her up the back stairway to her home. "I now leave you milady. Sleep well." "You to Xavier and thank you." "My pleasure your highness." He said as he bowed mockily and began to walk to away.
Zara laughed softly to herself and went inside her empty home. At least, that was how it felt. Not one person would look her in the eye anymore and her parents avoided her. She sighed and grabbed a piece of fruit off the table and went to her chambers. In her cozy room she undressed and slipped into a blue gown and laid on the bed.
She stared at her ceiling until she heard a plinking sound on her balcony. She gasped excitedly and raced to the opening to find Legolas climbing up the tree to her room. When he landed she embraced him immediately.
"I missed you so much." She said as he lifted her chin up to meet her lips with his. "Nothing can keep me away." He said softly. He lead her to the bed and sat with down with her on his lap.
"What happened today?" She asked timidly because she knew this was a sore subject with him. "Estel stormed out." "What? Why?" Zara cried confused. Legolas silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. It would do them no good if they woke the entire household.
"Because our fathers got into an argument over your dowry." "What's wrong with it?" "Apparently your father included the cottage by the lake." He confessed. "But I thought that belonged to your family." "We did too but your father claims otherwise. Do not worry though. All will be solved tomorrow." "How?" Zara asked with her eyes narrowing.
"Rinarmo challenged me to a duel. If I win he will leave and never return to torment us again." "And if he wins." Legolas took a deep breath. "Do not worry about that because it will not come to that. Rest well tonight. I must get back." He brushed his lips over hers and made for the balcony.
"Legolas." Zara called after him. "Yes." He turned to face her. She stood and walked to him slowly. "Make love to me one more time. Just in case" She whispered when she reached him. "I will not refuse your request even though you have nothing to fret about. I promise."
~*~*~*~*~*~
There ya go. Tell me how it is!
