A/N: I do not own LOTR and never will. You all must know right now that this chapter has a bit of suicidal themes. That is your warning, you may blame my friend Danielle for this. She came up with it in our first period. ***** scene changes. Ok enjoy! - Naur
The Princess Unknown
Chapter 8
The Challenge
Aragorn had left Sírien after she had asked him that in hopes of finding Legolas. He had come to the door Sírien had told him was Legolas's. It had to be, it had the royal symbol on it. He was just about to knock when the door opened and he was met with the site of Nordithen coming out.
"You…" Aragorn hissed.
"My name is Nordithen, captain of King Legolas's guard. You will do well to turn around now and return to your kingdom tomorrow. Thanks to myself Legolas has finally gotten over you," Nordithen told him with a smirk.
"That is not true. He told me so himself just a couple of hours ago," Aragorn replied. Nordithen's smirk disappeared and his eyes became hard.
"You will stay away from Legolas or I shall make sure that you die a horrible death," Nordithen snarled.
*****
Legolas watched out the corner of his eye as Nordithen walked out of his room thinking that he had finally fallen asleep. True he was halfway asleep but he was not gone enough to not do what he did every night. Nordithen had never seen his scars, usually they healed very quickly and only left thin scars Nordithen thought were from the fellowship…if they didn't heal quickly he just wrapped them and to his surprise had never been questioned about it.
Slowly and with a steady hand Legolas opened the drawer beside his bed and pulled out one of his white daggers. With a sigh he brought the sharp side to his arm just above his wrist and then…he cut. The wound wasn't deep but it was enough for his red-slivery blood to come out. Legolas watched in fascination as the blood dripped from his arm onto the floor, he just didn't understand how so much could come from just a small wound. So he made another…and another…again until he had three on each arm, all bleeding that beautiful…blood.
He heard raised voices outside his door and wondered what could be happening. Legolas tried to stand and only then realized how much blood he had lost, his legs didn't want to support him but he forced them to work. Finally he made it to the door and for a moment leaned against the door praying for help. And then with some effort he opened it only to be greeted with the scene of Nordithen and…and Aragorn fighting.
*****
"I would like to see you try!" Aragorn exclaimed. The door behind Nordithen opened and a Legolas without a shirt looking quite tired stared at them.
"What the hell in the name of Elbereth is going on out here?" He demanded weakly but none seemed to notice.
"You do, do you? Well then I challenge you to an auth ned meleth. We shall see who loves Legolas more. Whoever wins this battle between us gets the rights to his heart," Nordithen finished before walking off. Aragorn looked back at Legolas and was alarmed to see his eyes a bit cloudy.
"Legolas? Are you alright?" He questioned.
"What have you done Estel?" Legolas whispered before pitching forward unconscious.
"Legolas!" Aragorn exclaimed catching him.
*****
After Aragorn had picked up Legolas's extremely light body and had carried him to his bed he ran to get Thranduil. The elf came without hesitation and brought a healer with him, he demanded that the healer find out what was wrong with his son.
"He has lost a lot of blood my lord from the cuts on his arms," The healer said wrapping them.
"How did Legolas get cuts on his arms?" Thranduil wondered looking at all the scars that were scattered on his sons arms. It was then Aragorn looked around and to his alarm saw a bloody dagger laying on the table and blood dripped on the floor.
"Himself…" Aragorn whispered. Thranduil looked at him and then to the healer who had lowered his eyes.
"He speaks the truth my lord…from the angle of the cuts it does seem that they were inflected by the king himself," He said.
For the next few hours they sat and talked watching over Legolas, hoping…praying that he would awaken but it didn't happen. Sírien came in and took Thranduil's place a few hours later so that he could get some rest. It was now that Aragorn decided to ask his daughter about this duel he and Nordithen would be fighting.
*****
"What is this Battle of Love that I will be fighting?" Aragorn inquired.
"A Battle of Love…if two men desire to pair with the same person then a battle is held to see who would be most skilled to be by that person's side. Before the battle can even be considered the King must pass judgement on the two fighters. If the king is who they are fighting over then the king before him must make the decision. Only then can the two fight," Sírien explained.
"What is so bad about this duel? Why did your ada ask me, what have you done? Before he went unconscious?" Aragorn questioned.
"Any person in their right mind should fear a duel to the death. A Battle of Love is just that, a duel to the death," Sírien replied. Aragorn gulped. "Ada knows how good Nordithen is in battle, as you are his love his is worried that you will not survive. The auth ned meleth is not a primal display of brutality, but a test of devotion, honor, skill, obligation, and loyalty. If two Silvans pair then they remain pair mates until death claims them both."
"You don't have annulments?" Sírien looked at Aragorn.
"Divorce adar, divorce. Silvans do not tolerate it at all. If the man dies then the woman never pairs again. Grandfathers wife was killed by orcs and he has remained alone since. Those who compete in the auth ned meleth must prove themselves worthy through battle. The one that desires them most must fight as fiercely as he can allow to prove that he is dedicated and is strong enough to protect his love and offspring and provide a secure living condition for them all. Only the strong will survive. Only the most devoted will be allowed to marry. In Mirkwood we do not tolerate dishonorable loves. That would explain why you got so many dirty looks when you arrived," Sírien paused and stared at a mural covering one wall of Legolas's room.
"I am not allowed armor?" Aragorn questioned.
"No, you must fight Nordithen on his own level," Sírien replied.
"How strong of a warrior is he?" Aragorn asked.
"It is not easy for one to become captain of the kings guard without proving yourself, if that is what you mean," Sírien said matter of factly.
"Sírien, what will happen should I fail?" Aragorn whispered. Suddenly Sírien pun on her heal her hands on his shoulders with a hard look in her eye.
"Under any circumstances you must not fail!" She hissed.
"What?" He exclaimed shocked.
"You know not what Nordithen plans! He cares not for my ada but only for power!" Sírien said. "You cannot let this happen please!" She started to walk out the door, he could use some time alone with her ada.
"Sírien, when should I expect you to return?" Aragorn called after her.
"It doesn't matter. Take as long as you need. Train your ass off for all I care. Just prepare yourself. The match is in two days," She replied walking away. Aragorn stood there for a moment and then looked back at Legolas's still form and he clenched his fists.
"I am so going to enjoy kicking your ass Nordithen..." He thought.
Elvish Translations
auth ned meleth – battle of love
adar – father
ada- dad
Review Replies
Spellcastre – Haha you sound like Yoda! Haha yes men should never think, nothing good ever seems to come from it. *patches Nordithen up* You must be ready for your fight in the next chapter! Glad you liked the father-daughter thing. I thought it was sweet as well, I good way to end the chapter. Yes I had this chapter done and now I have 9 done which is the battle. But you will not get for three days! Mwhahaha!
Knight Kenobi of Eryn Lasgalen – Sorry but Nordithen is all Aragorn's, as you probably can tell from his last line in this chapter.
Legolas19 – Sorry for the quick update, Spellcastre was on AIM bugging me to so I did. Oh well! I am gonna make you guys wait three days or even a week for the next one! Even if it is finished!
HalandLeg4ever – You know what…I think you may be the only one to have a soft spot for the guy.
Ivory Novelist – The *Man*! Hahaha! I think that it was one of my fave chapters to write.
Triptych – Thank you!
castor from france - Bien je suis content cet a attiré l'attention et merci! Sorry I couldn't resist!
Eowyn - *bows* Thank you!
Crazy1 – Hahaha! It's ok she didn't mind. You were reading my mind on how their second kid would look! I have run into one problem that I don't know will please some in the sequel but that shall be revealed in the last chapter in an author's note! Permission to sell tickets is granted! It's the next chapter so you have three days to one week to do so, GO!
jacobs_angel86 – *bows* What can I say? Thank you for loving it!
VaniaHepskins – I'm sorry you cried…hope this is fixing it slowly…
Magda – Yes, it was quick. I was be bugged on AIM by a certain first reviewer! Glad you like the place tbc is in.
Starlit Hope – Haha it's ok. I just didn't know if it was a good or bad "hmm…"
*NiCoLe – Wasn't it sweet? You want to hurt me now yes?