Chapter 2: Council of Elrond, Wedding, and Sorrowful Parting
*The Week before the Council of Elrond*
Legolas was in his study when Emilia came into the room. "Brother, Elrond is calling for you to attend a council. Father has guessed why too," Emilia said. Legolas looked at his sister, confused. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"The One Ring has been found, Legolas," Emilia replied.
Legolas sat back in his seat in shock. The One Ring has been found the enemy's tool to control all of Middle-Earth. "Get my horse ready; I'll leave now," Legolas said. Emilia ran out of the room to get a stable boy. Then, Silinde, Legolas' loyal advisor stood at the door. "Your father orders for me to accompany you on this journey, Prince Legolas," Silinde said.
"I thank you for following the order," Legolas said.
Then they went to get onto their horses.
Arwen was lying in her chaise when she heard two pairs of hooves coming up the path of Rivendell. She looked at her engagement ring, remembering that three ago from that day was the day Legolas proposed to her. She sat up to see who was coming and gasped to see Legolas getting off his horse. She got up from her chaise and ran down to greet him.
Legolas arrived at Rivendell and jumped from the saddle. He looked around to see that Rivendell was still the same since the last time he saw it. He then saw Arwen running down to greet him. "LEGOLAS, LEGOLAS!" She exclaimed. Legolas smiled and took Arwen into his arms. He spun her around and held her close. "Arwen," he sighed. When they pulled from the embrace, Legolas looked into her eyes with a gentle smile. "Still so beautiful," he whispered. He stroked her cheek with a sigh. "I have missed you, my love," he said.
"And I you, I thought I wasn't going to see you again," she said.
"I wouldn't have allowed it, we are to be married," he said.
Arwen nodded and smiled to see Aragorn standing there. "I hope you remember Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Arwen said. Legolas looked at his friend with a smile. "Aragorn, it is so good to see you again," Legolas said. The two friends hugged with smiles on their faces. Then Legolas looked to see dwarves coming. Once the two friends let go Arwen grasped Legolas' hand. "Come with me, Legolas, we have to speak with father," she said. Legolas followed Arwen to speak to Elrond.
Elrond was speaking with Gandalf when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Elrond said. He smiled to see Legolas and Arwen coming into the room. "Ah! Legolas, welcome to Rivendell," Elrond said.
"I'm sorry if we're interrupting anything, father," Arwen said.
"It's all right, we were just finishing the subject," Elrond said while looking at Gandalf.
The old wizard bowed to Elrond and left the three alone. "How can I help you two?" He asked.
"Father, Legolas has returned to Rivendell and you said once he returns we are able to marry," Arwen said.
Elrond nodded and looked at Legolas. "Your father also agreed about this, Legolas, that was in his last message he sent me," Elrond said as he held up a piece of paper. Legolas nodded and wrapped an arm around Arwen's waist. "Arwen, Legolas has come to talk about the One Ring, what if he goes out to battle and he dies. What will you do?" Elrond asked. Arwen looked at Legolas before holding onto his hand. "I'll keep on living for him and the child I would bear," she said. Elrond knew that Arwen was just as stubborn as he was. "You shall marry the day after the council," Elrond said.
"Thank you, father," Arwen said. Legolas was then pulled out of the room before he could speak to Elrond. Gandalf came back into the room; he had overheard the conversation. "You have made your daughter happy, Lord Elrond," Gandalf said.
"No, if Legolas dies, I have made her go into grief," Elrond said.
During the Council of Elrond, Legolas listened carefully to every word. When an argument was stopped when a hobbit by the name of Frodo Baggins came forward saying that he would take the Ring to Mordor. "Though, I do not know the way," Frodo said. Gandalf then walked over to the hobbit. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear," Gandalf said. Legolas watched as Aragorn stood up from his chair. "By my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword," Aragorn said as he went down onto one knee before Frodo. Legolas then walked over to the hobbit as well. "And you have my bow," he said.
"And my axe," Gimli, son of Glóin, said.
Legolas watched as Boromir, son of Denethor, walked over to them. "You carry the fates of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, and then Gondor will see it done," Boromir said.
"HEY!" Someone called.
Legolas' eyes widened when another hobbit ran over to Frodo and stood next to him. "Mr. Frodo's going nowhere without me," Samwise Gamgee, known as Sam, said.
"No indeed, it is highly impossible to separate you. Even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not," Elrond said.
Legolas choked back a laugh when two more hobbits came running out. "OY! We're coming too. You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us," Meridoc Brandibuck, known as Merry, said.
"Anyway, you need someone intelligent on this sort of mission, quest, thing," Peregrin Took, know as Pippin, said.
"Well that leaves you out, Pip," Merry said.
Legolas rolled his eyes and looked at Elrond. "Nine companions, so be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," Elrond said.
"GREAT! Where are we going?" Pippin asked.
Once the council ended, Legolas walked into his room while Arwen followed him. He took off his poncho and sighed. "I leave the day after tomorrow," he said. Arwen's eyes widened. "Legolas, we are to marry tomorrow," she said. Legolas nodded and looked at Arwen. "I'm doing this protect you," he said. Arwen couldn't believe his words and tried to block them out. "I'm not listening to this," she said. Legolas walked over to her and grabbed her hand. "If it wasn't important I wouldn't have joined the Fellowship, but it is important. If it will keep you safe," he said. Tears fell from her eyes and she hugged Legolas tight. Legolas hugged her back and sighed. "I will make you my wife. I will come back to you," he said. Arwen nodded and looked into his eyes to see the truth. He pulled her into a passionate kiss to seal his promise to her.
The next day, Legolas and Arwen were getting married like they planned to do. Legolas looked into Arwen's eyes with a gentle smile. Arwen smiled back and then when it came time for them to exchange the rings, Legolas took one of the mithril rings into his hand and held Arwen's hand up as he slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. "With this ring, I take thee Arwen Undómiel, as my wife," he said. Arwen pushed back her tears as she began to slip the other mithril ring onto his left ring finger. "With this ring, I take thee Legolas Greenleaf, as my husband," Arwen said. Then they held onto each other's hands with gentle smiles on their faces. "By the power of the Valar, I now pronounce you husband and wife," the Elven minister said. Legolas pulled Arwen into a deep passionate kiss and held her close to him. Everyone then congratulated the newly weds with smiles on their faces. "I'm sorry that your father couldn't make it to the wedding," Aragorn said.
"My father has his reasons for not coming; I forgive him no matter what. He's happy as long as I'm happy," Legolas said.
Arwen placed her head on his shoulder and sighed happily. Legolas kept Arwen close and kissed the top of her head. (AN: If you're wondering what they were wearing at the wedding, let's just say they're wearing the same clothes in The Return of the King if any of you have seen it. I couldn't describe it so just be patient.)
That night, Legolas led Arwen up to the honeymoon suite of the House of Elrond. Arwen was nervous, happy, and sad. She was nervous because she never did this before, she was happy that she was with Legolas, and she was sad because Legolas was leaving the next morning. Once he closed the door, he could see that she was nervous. "We can wait, my love," he said. Arwen looked up at him to see that he knew that she was scared. "I just want it to be perfect," she said. Legolas walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You make everything perfect, my Undómiel," he said. Arwen sighed and looked at him. "I just don't know how to start," she said. Legolas lifted her face up when she turned from him. "We kiss and take it from there. All you have to do is tell me to stop if you don't want to keep going," he said. Arwen removed her crown as he did with his and set them on the dresser. Legolas then placed his hands on the side of her neck and pulled her into a gentle kiss. A shiver went down her spine as he kissed her and put her arms around his neck. His arms left her waist and went up her dress until it reached the buttons on her gown. Legolas gently undid each button, just in case she wanted to stop. She only encouraged him when she undid the clasps on his tunic. He let the dress drop the floor to reveal her under gown and smiled at her. Arwen smiled back before sliding the tunic of his shoulders. Legolas just stood there was she ran her hands over his arms, chest, back, and stomach. Arwen then stood closer to him and got his arms to go around her waist. "Touch me," she whispered. Legolas then lifted her up into his arms and placed her on the bed. He stayed on top of her and looked into her eyes. "Are you sure?" He asked. Arwen nodded and held onto his hand. "Make me yours," she said. Legolas then slowly undressed her, hoping that he wasn't rushing her. Arwen gasped as he kissed every inch of her bare skin and she was breathing faster. Legolas then removed the rest of his clothes before pulling the blankets of them. He looked at her with a smile. "Le ier vanima," he said. (You are beautiful.) Arwen smiled at him and placed her arms around his neck. Once he turned and she was on top, she began to explore him. Legolas closed his eyes and sighed as she repeated the same actions. When she came back up to his face, he pulled her into a passionate kiss and turned so he was on top again. Once Legolas entered her, Arwen cried out in pain and dug her nails into his back. "Amin hiraetha," he said. (I'm sorry.) Legolas was on the verge of going into tears for hurting his beloved treasure when Arwen got him to face her. "Im thel an pan fair," she said. (I will be all right.) Legolas knew it would take some time for her to get used to the feeling so he began to move within her slowly until the grip on his back was gone. They called out each other's names once they came together. Legolas put some weight on his arms so he wouldn't hurt her. Then he rolled beside her and took her into his arms. "Amin mela lle," she said. (I love you.) Legolas held her closer to him and kissed the top of her head. "Amin mela lle ad," he said. Arwen didn't want to go to sleep, she knew once she went to sleep she wouldn't be able to wake up until morning. That was when Legolas was leaving. Legolas could see that she was tired, but she was fighting it. "Go to sleep, my love," he whispered. Arwen shook her head. "Once I fall asleep, morning will come and you'll be leaving," she said. Legolas sighed and wiped her tears away. Arwen couldn't fight it any longer; she finally fell asleep in her husband's arms. Legolas stroked her hair until he fell asleep.
The next morning, Legolas woke up and slid out of Arwen's embrace. He walked over and got dressed into his traveling attire. Arwen got up and got dressed into a beautiful purple dress. She placed her crown on her head and tried to tie the sash around her waist, but sadness was plaguing her, so it was impossible. "Awartha anim, Arwen," he said. (Let me, Arwen.) Legolas tied the sash for her and placed his hands on her waist. Arwen turned and began to buckle his quiver when her hands began to tremble again once she placed the bow over his quiver. Legolas turned and grasped her hand. He wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead. "Everything is going to be all right," he whispered. Arwen sighed and knew that she had to do something. "Take this," she said. She removed the Evenstar Necklace from her neck and snapped it around his neck. Legolas looked at her confused. "Arwen, I gave this to you as a gift," he said.
"I know, but the light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane. It is mine to give to whom I will, like my heart," she said.
Legolas held onto her hand and sighed sadly. "Don't worry about my life, if my time comes, it is because I have died protecting my beloved wife," he said. There was a knock on the door, the cue for Legolas that it was time to go. They walked out of the room together, while Arwen tried to push back her tears.
In the courtyard of Rivendell, Legolas let Arwen's hand go and walked over to the Fellowship. Arwen tried so hard to hold back her tears, but knowing that Legolas was leaving was making it impossible. Legolas then walked over to Arwen one last time to say goodbye. The placed their hands on their own shoulders before placed their hands on each other's faces. "I will miss you," she whispered. Legolas then hugged her tight and sighed. "I will miss you too," he said. Arwen pulled away and looked into his eyes. Legolas pulled her into a gentle kiss before leaving. She watched as the Fellowship left Rivendell. Legolas was the last to leave and gave her one final glance before leaving. Arwen sighed sadly and Elrond placed a hand on her shoulder.