Chapter 6: The proposal
Jasolen waltzed around the dance floor with the graceful Serenola in his arms.
"Si, I want to show you something. Can you follow me please? It won't take long. We'll be back before the closing speeches of the ball." Jasolen said remembering a promise to Legolas.
"Sure, My father is too busy trying to gain more political connections!" Sure, let's go!" Serenola smiled.
Taking hold of Serenola's hand, he led her towards the western gate. AS they past through the archway, the guard didn't attempt to stop them but merely nodded then roped off the exit after they had past through.
*I'll have to thank Legolas later, I forgot all about the departure from the ball. * Jasolen thought.
They walked slowly in silence for fifteen minutes. When they reached the garden house, Jasolen held the door open while Serenola entered. Just as he closed the door behind them, he heard her gasp and he hurried down the short hallway towards the circular room that had been set-up.
AS he entered, even he was shocked at the layout Legolas had designed. *You must admit, Legolas has quite the creative imagination! * He thought as he saw the shocked Serenola take a good look around.
The old hole-filled shade cloth on the roof had been removed and the light from the full moon and the stars lightly illuminated the room. In the centre of the room, the flowers formed the outline of a heart with the bottom point missing so that they could enter the heart and sit on the pillows in the middle. The pillars surrounding the heart were wrapped with flowering vines. Behind the pillars, large flower design's were positioned on large green leaves and hung between the gaps of the pillars and attached to the wall.
"Oh ... wow ... Jas ... " Serenola said still breath-taken.
"Is it too much?" Jasolen asked nervously.
"No, no. Nothing like that. It's perfect. Is this what you wanted to show me?" she said, tearing her eyes off the flowers to look into her boyfriend's emerald green eyes.
Jasolen stared into the pure silver eyes of his girlfriend. A stray lock of fire-red hair feel onto her face. Lightly, he brushed it behind her ear.
"Si. This, all of this, is for you. I love you Serenola." he smiled as small tears of joy formed in her eyes as she too smiled. He led her onto the pillows and knelt down on one knee. As he took hold of her left hand, she made a slight noise between a hiccup and a sob; one of her eyes released a tear that flowed down her cheek.
"Vanimle sila tira! Cormamin il-quanta yassinn'e lle! Amin mela lle! Kai lle veri' Nin? (Your beauty shines bright! My heart is not whole without you! I love you! Will you marry me?)" Jasolen said slowly sending all the love he has, is and will feel for Serenola into his voice and look. He withdrew the ring from his pocket and offered it to her.
Serenola choked. Her voice seemed to fail her. The tears that had held in her eyes now cascaded down her cheeks.
"Yes!" She gasped out nodding. "I love you Jasolen and I will marry you." She smiled even wider as he leapt to his feet with a whoop. He slipped the ring onto her finger and they shared their first kiss as an engaged couple.
The happy moment was interrupted as the door made a sudden jolt as something rammed it. Jasolen looked down into the uncertain eyes of Serenola. He knew that this wasn't good. Legolas would have ensured that they wouldn't be interrupted but even if they were friendly, why were they trying to knock the door down? Maybe Legolas is playing a trick. However, deep down, Jasolen knew that even Legolas knew when to be serious, Jasolen was now very worried, the door was about to give way and the only weapon they had was Jasolen's show sword. His father gave it to him on his 1000th birthday but he had never used it in battle because it was as its name suggested a sword used for show. Serenola couldn't carry a weapon as she had no where to conceal it in her dress. He was there only defence against whoever was trying to get through the door.
Jasolen drew the show sword; it positively glistened in the moonlight. He tried to push the shocked Serenola behind him.
"Si, hide in the shadows in the back of the room. Whoever they are, they may not realise you are there." Jasolen said trying to convince Serenola to do as he said.
"I can fight!" Serenola exclaimed trying to break away from his protective arm.
"No, you have no weapon. I will protect you, please, hide in the shadows." Jasolen pleaded.
A brief look at the fear and determination in his eyes melted her resolve. With a nod, she moved as far away from the entrance as possible and crouched down trying to hide in the shadows. At that moment, the door hinges gave way and at least a dozen dark figures ran down the short corridor and entered the room. They were all clad in black and had only slits in the hoods for their eyes. There weapons hadn't been drawn yet and the separated to create a gap for their leader to walk through. He was also dressed in black, however, instead of a black hood, he had a simple black bandanna concealing his hair yet leaving his human face uncovered. His hair was pure white yet his emotionless eyes were black.
"Well, if it isn't the Prince's best friend. How convenient, and here I was thinking that I would have to break into the palace to get you and your little girlfriend." the leader said smugly.
Despite what he had said, Jasolen found it highly unlikely that they just happened to find them here. They were looking for Serenola and himself and they knew where and when they would be alone. It didn't look too good, so Jasolen opted for silence. After a moment in silence, the leader spoke again.
"The silent type, eh? Oh well, here's the thing. I was told to get you and Lady Serenola. Now, here's the options, you surrender, I take you to my master and you and her stay safe and healthy, however, if you don't, then we take you by force, and I can't guarantee your safety or her's for that matter. Which is it?" the leader said in a bored, monotone voice. Unsure of what to do, Jasolen tried a bluff.
"Nice try. However, your missing one important detail, Serenola isn't here. I came here to make sure that everything was in order for later tonight." Jasolen attempted.
The leader just closed his eyes and softly laughed at Jasolen.
"You fool. I know that she is here. I'm not stupid. Now which way are you going to choose? Either way you are coming with us, it's up to you whether it's unscathed or not." The leader said opening his eyes and glaring at Jasolen.
In response, Jasolen steadied himself in a defence position and returned the glare.
In response to this action, the leader just sighed.
"Get him." He said simply to his men as he backed out to block the entrance even though he knew that the elf wouldn't try to leave without his girlfriend.
Jasolen barely had time to assess the situation when the first stroke was aimed at his arm. Although he knew that they were men, they all used elvish swords, light in weight yet tough and strong. All were extremely well trained with them too. They used short, quick thrusts and strokes, which could easily be shifted into a strong lunge when an opening was available.
Jasolen had to counter each stroke with a defensive style. As he was grossly outnumbered, any attempt at a killing stroke would need to be avoided. If he did attempt one, it could present another fighter the opening in his defence to injure him and he needed to remain unscathed to protect the weaponless Serenola. So far, the only strategy that he could think of was to make them wear them down so that there moves would become slower and he could then inflict some damage and grab Serenola and make his escape.
******
Serenola cowered in the shadows at the back of the room. She hated being so helpless, having to rely on someone else to protect her. This was exactly the reason she had forced herself to learn the weapons, a lot of good it did her. She knew she should have at least bought a dagger, enough if it did look strange hidden under her dress.
*Never again will I be helpless. Never again will I be caught weaponless. * She silently promised herself with a fierce passion.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. She heard the soft yet confident stride of someone approaching. She tried to make herself smaller and hide deeper in the shadows but she knew it wouldn't help. She looked up and saw a flash of white hair when something hard struck the side of her head and she fell into the abyss of unconsciousness.
******
Jasolen saw several figures, including the leader, break off from the attacking group and circle around to where Serenola was hiding. However, preoccupied as he was, he could do nothing to stop them.
The ferocity of the attack seemed to increase dramatically and he was hard pressed to keep on top of it. Suddenly, all the attacking men jumped backwards and formed a semi-circle away from the door.
Not too long after that, the leader walked into the light.
"Well Jasolen. I must say that I am impressed. You fought well. However, if I hadn't been under the strictest orders to keep you alive and unharmed, you wouldn't have survived." he said.
"Mani uma lle merna? (What do you want?)" Jasolen demanded.
"You and your girlfriend of course. I would've thought that would be obvious. You are close personal friends to the prince. I know this. AS does my master." The leader stated.
*So they hope to get to Legolas through me? Not likely! I'll die before I let that happen! * Jasolen set his resolve.
"You should kill me then. For I shall not be a bargaining piece against me prince." Jasolen said readying himself for the attack.
The leader laughed quietly.
"How noble! Yet my master foresaw this would happen." The leader chuckled again. "So, I will tell you something else I didn't mention about me orders. They were to bring you both in alive. However, I had only more specific orders to bring you in unharmed."
Jasolen's heart sunk. *Serenola! * He thought desperately as though he could connect his mind with hers.
"Bring her!" The leader snapped and a large man dragged the limp form of Serenola into view and dumped her at the feet of the leader. Her hair was messed and her dress was dirty from the ground. A trickle of blood was flowing onto her face from behind her hairline and her eyes were closed.
A powerful hatred boiled inside his blood.
"If she is dead ... " Jasolen started to threaten through clenched teeth.
"Relax! She is merely unconscious!" The leader said as though he was commenting on the weather. He knelt down beside her and ran a finger down her cheek.
"She's quite beautiful isn't she?" The leader said softly. Slowly, he drew a dagger from his belt and rested the flat side of it against her up-turned cheek. "Pity if something should ruin that beauty." The leader said slyly looking Jasolen directly in the eye and applied a little pressure on the blade. "As I said before, I an only under orders to bring you in unharmed. If you would drop your sword and come quietly, I'm willing to leave this beauty unscathed. "
Jasolen stared in shock for a moment. He would willingly give up his life for his prince. But he couldn't condemn Serenola as well. If he resisted, then he would hurt Serenola and take them both any way. If he didn't, then both her and him would be unharmed and may be able to escape later.
Hoping that he chose the right thing to do, Jasolen let his sword clatter uselessly to the ground. He didn't resist as two men came forward and bound his hands behind his back. All the time, he simply stared at Serenola until they secured a blindfold in front of his eyes.
He began to worry how he was going to explain the situation to Serenola when she awoke as he was roughly led out of the house and into an awaiting cart.
Jasolen waltzed around the dance floor with the graceful Serenola in his arms.
"Si, I want to show you something. Can you follow me please? It won't take long. We'll be back before the closing speeches of the ball." Jasolen said remembering a promise to Legolas.
"Sure, My father is too busy trying to gain more political connections!" Sure, let's go!" Serenola smiled.
Taking hold of Serenola's hand, he led her towards the western gate. AS they past through the archway, the guard didn't attempt to stop them but merely nodded then roped off the exit after they had past through.
*I'll have to thank Legolas later, I forgot all about the departure from the ball. * Jasolen thought.
They walked slowly in silence for fifteen minutes. When they reached the garden house, Jasolen held the door open while Serenola entered. Just as he closed the door behind them, he heard her gasp and he hurried down the short hallway towards the circular room that had been set-up.
AS he entered, even he was shocked at the layout Legolas had designed. *You must admit, Legolas has quite the creative imagination! * He thought as he saw the shocked Serenola take a good look around.
The old hole-filled shade cloth on the roof had been removed and the light from the full moon and the stars lightly illuminated the room. In the centre of the room, the flowers formed the outline of a heart with the bottom point missing so that they could enter the heart and sit on the pillows in the middle. The pillars surrounding the heart were wrapped with flowering vines. Behind the pillars, large flower design's were positioned on large green leaves and hung between the gaps of the pillars and attached to the wall.
"Oh ... wow ... Jas ... " Serenola said still breath-taken.
"Is it too much?" Jasolen asked nervously.
"No, no. Nothing like that. It's perfect. Is this what you wanted to show me?" she said, tearing her eyes off the flowers to look into her boyfriend's emerald green eyes.
Jasolen stared into the pure silver eyes of his girlfriend. A stray lock of fire-red hair feel onto her face. Lightly, he brushed it behind her ear.
"Si. This, all of this, is for you. I love you Serenola." he smiled as small tears of joy formed in her eyes as she too smiled. He led her onto the pillows and knelt down on one knee. As he took hold of her left hand, she made a slight noise between a hiccup and a sob; one of her eyes released a tear that flowed down her cheek.
"Vanimle sila tira! Cormamin il-quanta yassinn'e lle! Amin mela lle! Kai lle veri' Nin? (Your beauty shines bright! My heart is not whole without you! I love you! Will you marry me?)" Jasolen said slowly sending all the love he has, is and will feel for Serenola into his voice and look. He withdrew the ring from his pocket and offered it to her.
Serenola choked. Her voice seemed to fail her. The tears that had held in her eyes now cascaded down her cheeks.
"Yes!" She gasped out nodding. "I love you Jasolen and I will marry you." She smiled even wider as he leapt to his feet with a whoop. He slipped the ring onto her finger and they shared their first kiss as an engaged couple.
The happy moment was interrupted as the door made a sudden jolt as something rammed it. Jasolen looked down into the uncertain eyes of Serenola. He knew that this wasn't good. Legolas would have ensured that they wouldn't be interrupted but even if they were friendly, why were they trying to knock the door down? Maybe Legolas is playing a trick. However, deep down, Jasolen knew that even Legolas knew when to be serious, Jasolen was now very worried, the door was about to give way and the only weapon they had was Jasolen's show sword. His father gave it to him on his 1000th birthday but he had never used it in battle because it was as its name suggested a sword used for show. Serenola couldn't carry a weapon as she had no where to conceal it in her dress. He was there only defence against whoever was trying to get through the door.
Jasolen drew the show sword; it positively glistened in the moonlight. He tried to push the shocked Serenola behind him.
"Si, hide in the shadows in the back of the room. Whoever they are, they may not realise you are there." Jasolen said trying to convince Serenola to do as he said.
"I can fight!" Serenola exclaimed trying to break away from his protective arm.
"No, you have no weapon. I will protect you, please, hide in the shadows." Jasolen pleaded.
A brief look at the fear and determination in his eyes melted her resolve. With a nod, she moved as far away from the entrance as possible and crouched down trying to hide in the shadows. At that moment, the door hinges gave way and at least a dozen dark figures ran down the short corridor and entered the room. They were all clad in black and had only slits in the hoods for their eyes. There weapons hadn't been drawn yet and the separated to create a gap for their leader to walk through. He was also dressed in black, however, instead of a black hood, he had a simple black bandanna concealing his hair yet leaving his human face uncovered. His hair was pure white yet his emotionless eyes were black.
"Well, if it isn't the Prince's best friend. How convenient, and here I was thinking that I would have to break into the palace to get you and your little girlfriend." the leader said smugly.
Despite what he had said, Jasolen found it highly unlikely that they just happened to find them here. They were looking for Serenola and himself and they knew where and when they would be alone. It didn't look too good, so Jasolen opted for silence. After a moment in silence, the leader spoke again.
"The silent type, eh? Oh well, here's the thing. I was told to get you and Lady Serenola. Now, here's the options, you surrender, I take you to my master and you and her stay safe and healthy, however, if you don't, then we take you by force, and I can't guarantee your safety or her's for that matter. Which is it?" the leader said in a bored, monotone voice. Unsure of what to do, Jasolen tried a bluff.
"Nice try. However, your missing one important detail, Serenola isn't here. I came here to make sure that everything was in order for later tonight." Jasolen attempted.
The leader just closed his eyes and softly laughed at Jasolen.
"You fool. I know that she is here. I'm not stupid. Now which way are you going to choose? Either way you are coming with us, it's up to you whether it's unscathed or not." The leader said opening his eyes and glaring at Jasolen.
In response, Jasolen steadied himself in a defence position and returned the glare.
In response to this action, the leader just sighed.
"Get him." He said simply to his men as he backed out to block the entrance even though he knew that the elf wouldn't try to leave without his girlfriend.
Jasolen barely had time to assess the situation when the first stroke was aimed at his arm. Although he knew that they were men, they all used elvish swords, light in weight yet tough and strong. All were extremely well trained with them too. They used short, quick thrusts and strokes, which could easily be shifted into a strong lunge when an opening was available.
Jasolen had to counter each stroke with a defensive style. As he was grossly outnumbered, any attempt at a killing stroke would need to be avoided. If he did attempt one, it could present another fighter the opening in his defence to injure him and he needed to remain unscathed to protect the weaponless Serenola. So far, the only strategy that he could think of was to make them wear them down so that there moves would become slower and he could then inflict some damage and grab Serenola and make his escape.
******
Serenola cowered in the shadows at the back of the room. She hated being so helpless, having to rely on someone else to protect her. This was exactly the reason she had forced herself to learn the weapons, a lot of good it did her. She knew she should have at least bought a dagger, enough if it did look strange hidden under her dress.
*Never again will I be helpless. Never again will I be caught weaponless. * She silently promised herself with a fierce passion.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. She heard the soft yet confident stride of someone approaching. She tried to make herself smaller and hide deeper in the shadows but she knew it wouldn't help. She looked up and saw a flash of white hair when something hard struck the side of her head and she fell into the abyss of unconsciousness.
******
Jasolen saw several figures, including the leader, break off from the attacking group and circle around to where Serenola was hiding. However, preoccupied as he was, he could do nothing to stop them.
The ferocity of the attack seemed to increase dramatically and he was hard pressed to keep on top of it. Suddenly, all the attacking men jumped backwards and formed a semi-circle away from the door.
Not too long after that, the leader walked into the light.
"Well Jasolen. I must say that I am impressed. You fought well. However, if I hadn't been under the strictest orders to keep you alive and unharmed, you wouldn't have survived." he said.
"Mani uma lle merna? (What do you want?)" Jasolen demanded.
"You and your girlfriend of course. I would've thought that would be obvious. You are close personal friends to the prince. I know this. AS does my master." The leader stated.
*So they hope to get to Legolas through me? Not likely! I'll die before I let that happen! * Jasolen set his resolve.
"You should kill me then. For I shall not be a bargaining piece against me prince." Jasolen said readying himself for the attack.
The leader laughed quietly.
"How noble! Yet my master foresaw this would happen." The leader chuckled again. "So, I will tell you something else I didn't mention about me orders. They were to bring you both in alive. However, I had only more specific orders to bring you in unharmed."
Jasolen's heart sunk. *Serenola! * He thought desperately as though he could connect his mind with hers.
"Bring her!" The leader snapped and a large man dragged the limp form of Serenola into view and dumped her at the feet of the leader. Her hair was messed and her dress was dirty from the ground. A trickle of blood was flowing onto her face from behind her hairline and her eyes were closed.
A powerful hatred boiled inside his blood.
"If she is dead ... " Jasolen started to threaten through clenched teeth.
"Relax! She is merely unconscious!" The leader said as though he was commenting on the weather. He knelt down beside her and ran a finger down her cheek.
"She's quite beautiful isn't she?" The leader said softly. Slowly, he drew a dagger from his belt and rested the flat side of it against her up-turned cheek. "Pity if something should ruin that beauty." The leader said slyly looking Jasolen directly in the eye and applied a little pressure on the blade. "As I said before, I an only under orders to bring you in unharmed. If you would drop your sword and come quietly, I'm willing to leave this beauty unscathed. "
Jasolen stared in shock for a moment. He would willingly give up his life for his prince. But he couldn't condemn Serenola as well. If he resisted, then he would hurt Serenola and take them both any way. If he didn't, then both her and him would be unharmed and may be able to escape later.
Hoping that he chose the right thing to do, Jasolen let his sword clatter uselessly to the ground. He didn't resist as two men came forward and bound his hands behind his back. All the time, he simply stared at Serenola until they secured a blindfold in front of his eyes.
He began to worry how he was going to explain the situation to Serenola when she awoke as he was roughly led out of the house and into an awaiting cart.