A/N: Sorry about the long wait for this chapter... it has been very hectic getting back into the groove of living in a dormitory. That and the entire server we have at school is down, so I can't use the web connections. Anyway, enough of my complaining. Onto the new chapter.
Chapter 32- Ominous Beginnings and Almost Happy Endings
He woke early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to turn a lighter blue outside of the opening in the ceiling of his room. Had it really happened? Had he finally been able to pledge to Emlin what he had wanted to for all the years since he beheld her in Lórien? Had Haldir given his consent, his own father accepted Emlin as his princess and really made love to her as the evening drew to a close only a short time ago? Was she really the elleth now that had an arm draped across his chest with her smooth, unblemished body pressed against his side?
She shifted in her sleep ever so slightly, scooting closer to him. He turned to gaze at her still resting form, and found himself smiling, completely pleased with himself. He was now happy to say that his lifelong aim had finally been fulfilled- to have bound with a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent elleth. Well, he still had a few more, but one of those would wait until Aragorn gave up his life, and the other until Emlin decided she was ready to have children. He had decided a month ago in Ithilien that if they did bind, there would be no begetting of children for a long while, no matter his urges to create a family was. Emlin was still young and needed to experience life a little more before he burdened her with the caring of children. It was the least he could do after she gave herself up so willing to him the previous eve.
Again, she moved, the bed covers slipping down over her shoulders to slightly bare a breast to him. With careful movements, he reached over and pulled the covers up slightly, though only for his own selfish gain of grazing her breast. She sighed contentedly as he slipped an arm around her shoulders and she rested her head upon his chest. Her eyes still remained closed, however, and she wrapped her arm more securely about his waist while laying a leg over his, her thigh brushing against his quiescent member.
He felt himself tense at that action, and he looked down at her face to see if she had just done it to tease him and of she was actually awake, but she indeed was still asleep. Unfortunately for her, he no longer had to restrain himself when presented with a caress such as that. Now that they were bound together, Elbereth help her anytime she tried to tease him.
He chuckled lowly to himself, thinking of all the time they had lost already. But that caused her to stir some more, and her eyes to flutter open. She yawned quietly, and then smiled up at him, "Good morning, hervenn nín."
"I do like the sound of that, meleth." He replied, placing a kiss upon her lips.
Emlin traced her fingers across his chest, stopping at a small scar on his shoulder. "Where did you receive this scar?"
"When I was thirty, I was climbing a tree and fell out of it. On the way down, I got this cut on a branch." He explained. "I was the most ungraceful elf-child."
"I doubt that you were ungraceful." She laughed, her leg brushing against him again. "Possibly accident prone, but not ungraceful."
Legolas chuckled and then let out a long sigh. "As much as it pains me to say this, they will expect us this morning for the morning meal."
"They?" She questioned.
"Our family." He said, "Hopefully they will not keep us very long. I wish to keep you to myself this day."
Emlin giggled and sat up, the bed covers falling away from her chest, but her long hair replacing them. "Will you join me in the bath?"
Legolas raised a brow, and looked at her for a long moment, "Are you suggesting what I think you are?"
"I am not so innocent, Legolas." She said with a sly grin and removed herself from the bed, walking across the room in a remarkably unabashed fashion with nothing covering her, and opened the door to the bath chambers. Not having to be asked twice, he followed quickly behind her and joined her into the soothing, warm water of the bath.
He watched her closely as she dipped her head beneath the water, and then came back up, brushing the droplets of water from her eyes. He came to her, pushing her against the side of the basin and kissing her soundly upon her lips. After a few moments, he pulled away and looked at her, "You are not sore from last eve, meleth?"
She smiled, running her fingers along the tips of his ears. "I told you that it was not bad, Legolas. It would suit you to start trusting my judgment."
Never had he expected her to speak in such a snippy manner, but it made him laugh nonetheless. "I do trust you judgment, meleth. I am only making sure that any soreness you may have is not being neglected so that you can please me."
"Have you ever known me to be one who would please you because it would be charitable of me?" Emlin questioned.
"Nay, I have not." He replied with a laugh, "But would you not rather do this upon a comfortable surface?"
"There will be plenty of time for that." Emlin said, placing her lips to his, resting there. "But there is no bath house like this in Ithilien. And your mother told me that I must try this."
Legolas closed his eyes for a moment and then shook his head. "That was information I did not need to know."
She giggled, and removed her hands from the water, smoothing his hair away from his face. "It bothers you to think that your parents may have decided in this very pool of water to bring you into being?"
"It would not have been in this pool." Legolas said with a smirk. "My father was king when I was brought into the world, so it may have taken place in the second pool, but not this one."
"Perhaps." Emlin smiled as though she knew a secret, but was not going to tell him.
He laughed, "But this is enough talk for now. You have teased me far too much this morning."
Emlin sighed as she pulled a gown over her head and straightened out the layers of the skirt over her body as it dropped down from her waist. She reached behind her back, tying the ribbons there slowly, but felt warm hands cover hers. Letting go of the ribbons, she turned slightly as Legolas finished with the knots and then wrapped his arms about her, holding her close. He kissed her ear and whispered, "I love you, Emlin."
She smiled, "And I love you, Legolas."
He squeezed her tightly, before stepping back a few steps to pick up the circlets that were still resting upon the chair he had placed them upon last eve. Emlin watched him carefully as he again came to her and placed her circlet on her head. "You will not be required to wear this all the time, as you know I only wear mine for special occasions, but I like to see you with it on."
"It is an unnecessary object that you use to give me a false feeling of grandeur." She replied. "I do not wish for the special designations and titles you give me, Legolas. I would be too much like Nindë if I did wish for them."
"Emlin, meleth, I do not wish to take you to parade you around because I think that is what you want." He said, caressing her cheek. "I want you to wear this to show my claim upon you... that you are my princess. It also reminds me that this all actually happened- that we wed in ceremony, and then I bedded you- and that I am still not floating along in one of our realistic dreams."
She sighed lightly, and adjusted the circlet on her head, "So now I am a trophy?"
He looked at her for a long while, apparently trying to discern if she was being serious or jesting. But he finally smiled and let out a chuckle, brushing his lips across her forehead. "You are my prize of long toils, Emlin. I have lived through so much to get to this point and bind myself to an elleth like you."
Emlin smiled, "We should be going, especially if we are expected. They will know what we have been doing this morn that has kept us from them."
Legolas quickly placed his own crown upon his head and followed quickly after her towards the door. He stopped her before she reached out for the handle, and whispered into her ear, "You think they do not already know, meleth?"
She blushed and rolled her eyes as she reached out to open the door. They stepped out of the room to find two guards posted outside. Legolas gave each equally confused looks, obviously not understanding why they were there. Emlin knew, even from her short time here in the caverns, that the only rooms guarded were Thranduil's study and the King and Queen's personal chambers.
"Why have you been posted outside my door?" Legolas asked, "I did not request such a thing."
"By the order of your father, Legolas." One of the guards spoke to him, and then glanced at the other guard. "We are to accompany the princess wherever she goes without your protection."
She suddenly did not feel very well, and knew the only basis for such a thing being done was for one reason. One reason only. "What has happened?"
"The elleth, Nindë, escaped from her holding cell last eve after your ceremony." The other guard replied. "Well, that was when it was noticed that she was gone."
"Rhach!" Legolas said under his breath, and spoke a few more curse words, though they were unintelligible. "How did this happen? Did someone let her out for air and to climb trees? Did a little hobbit with a gold ring come in and let her out? Did she escape in barrels down to the Mannish villages? Why can the guards not seem to keep a prisoner within this stronghold? I now I have trained each of the guard members better than this!"
His anger was something Emlin had never witnessed before, but she supposed she would be as livid as he was if she did not feel so unwell with the situation. The first guard spoke slowly and calmly, "My lord, you have taught this guard very well, as has your father, but this time an escape was inevitable. We had only one guard standing watch at the cells, but he was assaulted, and the best we can figure is that his head was knocked back on the stone walls. She had help because it was unlatched on the outside without force."
Legolas was silent for a few moments, glaring at each of them, though neither of them probably deserved it. Finally, he sighed, "Who was standing guard?"
"Cúmor, my lord." The guard spoke, "He is recovering with the healers."
Emlin watched Legolas look towards the ground, shake his head disgustedly and sigh heavily again. He looked up at her with forlorn eyes then, and walked to her to take a hold of her arm and whisked her off down the corridor. The guards followed them, but at a more languid pace as Legolas rushed her along ahead of them. He leaned over to her and said, "I am sorry that I have let you down, meleth."
"You have not let me down, Legolas." Emlin replied. "I have to say that I expected as much from the Abominable One, but it makes this news no less worrisome."
Legolas nodded and looked back down the corridor as they walked. Today should have been an even more joyous day than the one before, and here they would be entering his father's court as one, with dour looks upon their faces. They entered the dining area of the cave, to find that everyone as they had suspected was gathered around the long table, Thranduil and Tuilindë at the head, all eating their meals solemnly and without any talk. Thranduil looked the most angry and perplexed of them all.
Everyone glanced up at the entrance when they entered, all somehow managing bright smiles upon their faces as they stood and bowed respectfully to them. Legolas took her to the two empty seats beside his father, and helped her into one of the chairs. Tea was poured for them and Emlin quickly took a drink for her cup, wishing to quench the dryness now in her mouth. They filled their plates and ate quietly for a few moments, the others slowly picking up conversation, until Thranduil cleared his throat and looked at Emlin.
"I suppose you have heard?" Thranduil asked quietly.
"We have, Thranduil." Emlin nodded.
Thranduil sipped his tea and then said, "I am very sorry, Emlin. This is not a normal occurrence for this realm."
Emlin smiled warmly and placed her hand on Thranduil's arm. Legolas had acted very much like him earlier, and that, for some reason, made her smile. "While this is a horrible thing, I am not frightened. Legolas will protect me very well. And Nindë would be very unscrupulous if she showed her face anywhere around here again."
"Nonetheless, I will ask that the guards accompany you when Legolas cannot." Thranduil said and sat back in his chair. "In the meanwhile, we have the entire guard out looking for any sign of her, and who helped her."
"I understand." Emlin nodded and glanced towards her family. She spoke quietly, "What of my parents and brother?"
"They have guards as well, though I am sure your father is very capable of that duty. As are your uncles." Thranduil replied.
Emlin nodded her head in agreement and went back to her meal, glancing down at the people around the table. Her entire family, the contingent from Gondor including the King and Queen, Gimli and a few of his people, and then the remaining members of the House of Elrond from Imladris. No one there seemed to be in cahoots with anyone who would know about the disappearance of Nindë, but she remembered Eruanne a few days before commenting on how she was once friends with Nindë. Would she know?
They were finishing up their meal when a loud commotion could be heard coming in from the main corridor from the outside. There were angry commands being shouted at someone, who turned out to have the voice of an elleth as she grumbled and tried to get away from whoever was commanding her. But as the commotion came out into the main dining area, Emlin not only found a bound Nindë, but also a bound man with eerie blue eyes, a pink scar running down the side of his cheek and in the dress of a high-ranking Gondorian soldier. She knew him almost instantly. He was the soldier who stood guard outside Aragorn's office, and the one who very openly looked over her body every time she walked by him. But why was he bound? Had he been the one to free Nindë? Had Nindë planned this since they left Minas Tirith? She must have, considering that there was no way she would have had contact with him besides the point.
The room quieted again as soon as everyone realized who the guards had in their detention. Thranduil jumped up, as did Aragorn, obviously in complete surprise as to the man they had detained. She had never seen the look now on Aragorn's face, but it scared her. With a flip of his wrist, and not saying anything, Thranduil motioned for the guards to take them away down the halls. Thranduil glanced around the table, and nodded towards Aragorn to follow him, as well as Legolas. They disappeared then down the halls and Emlin let out a long sigh.
Tuilindë looked over at her and sighed, "There is nothing to worry about, Emlin."
"I am not worried." Emlin replied, "I just find this all very tiring."
They went back to eating, Legolas reemerging from the halls and walking over to the table. He leaned over Emlin, "We will not be holding a council like we had planned, Emlin. But my father still wishes for you to decide what punishment they deserve."
Emlin nodded and Legolas helped her from her seat. Everything seemed to be in such a rush now, that she really did not know what was going on around her, that was until she ended up in Thranduil's study, with the prisoners, guards and kings. Her eyes met Nindë's as she entered the room, and an uncomfortable shiver went up her spine. Emlin then moved her eyes to that of the man standing beside Nindë, finding that she had to look away from him quickly, his gaze even more disconcerting than Nindë's.
"Emlin, we will not hold a council as originally planned." Thranduil said, "I feel that this issue must be dealt with in a decisive manner, to prevent any more misdeeds. Have you thought at all about the punishment you would like see bestowed upon Nindë? You will also be responsible for what we should do with King Elessar's guard."
Emlin nodded and gazed at Nindë again, suddenly feeling very powerful. And Nindë did not seem very pleased with the fact that it would Emlin handing down her fate. She sighed and glanced at Aragorn, "I give King Elessar the duty of reprimanding his own guardsman, in which ever way he deems fit."
Aragorn nodded, "It will be dealt with harshly, my lady."
"And as for Nindë?" Legolas asked, placing a hand on Emlin's back. Emlin chuckled, as she watched Nindë's nostrils flare slightly.
Emlin sighed, "First, I would like to ask a few questions that may help both King Elessar and I decided the best actions. What did you originally have planned with this man, Nindë? It is apparent to me that you must have planned this before Legolas and I left Minas Tirith."
"I asked him to help me be rid of you." Nindë replied quietly, almost submissively. "I saw many times his eyes following you when you were around, so I figured he would do anything." Emlin closed her eyes for a moment, letting that sink in, and felt dirty again. Nindë sighed, "We had no plans, but he was to come find me when he came to Mirkwood for the wedding. I promised him myself if I ended up needing his help."
"And with your escape? Were you still planning upon damaging me in some way?" Emlin spoke as evenly as she could. Was it too good to order that Nindë be eaten by orcs?
"I had no plan." Nindë said, gazing up at her. For the first time, in a long time, Emlin felt as if she were genuine and sincere. "I just wanted to escape from here before I was taken to council and my fate was decided."
Emlin, going against all the despicable things that had been accomplished by Nindë, suddenly felt a great amount of sympathy for the abominable elleth. "You speak the truth?"
Nindë nodded, "I was hoping to finish you before you bound with Legolas, but I would have ceased once you were bound. Even I know the connection between two elves when they are bound and what can happen if it is severed."
"Nindë, I know this probably would go against others' advisement, but I wish to have you released on a few conditions." Emlin said quietly, glancing between everyone. "It would have been my pleasure to see you die a horrible death a few days ago, but it seems that my binding with Legolas has made me more forgiving."
The handmaid looked up at her with wide eyes, as though she were in complete disbelief. "My lady? I do not understand."
Emlin sighed and looked at Nindë, holding her eye contact for a long while. Just the fact that Nindë had addressed her appropriately was enough to let Emlin know Nindë was truly grateful. "You will be released today, to either sail West, find another place to live, or to stay here in Mirkwood working as a handmaid to the King and Queen. They may see fit to place you in other services than handmaid duties, but that will be up to them. Secondly, you will not have nay contact with any member of my family and you will not be permitted to travel back to Ithilien or to go to Imladris while my parents are still there. If any of these wishes are disobeyed, then you face penalties that you are free of today."
Nindë looked utterly surprised. "My lady, you are serious?"
"I am, Nindë." Emlin nodded, "Even the most corrupt person can change. It is up to you to do that, though."
"Thank you, my lady." Nindë replied, her eyes moving to the ground. Aragorn bade his farewells, and the guards left with the remaining prisoner.
Emlin looked up at Legolas, and then at Thranduil. She felt brave for some reason. "May I please speak to Nindë alone?"
"Emlin, meleth," Legolas said in an exasperated chuckle, "I would have to advise against that. She may seem pacified, but you must remember all that had happened. No person can change that fast."
Thranduil nodded his head in agreement, "What ever needs to be said, can be said in front of us."
Emlin glanced at Nindë and let out a long sigh. "Please, you may stand outside the door if you wish, but I must speak to her alone."
"Emlin..." Legolas said.
She raised her eyebrows. "If you trusted me enough to make the decision alone of how she should be punished, then I will be fine for a few moments."
Legolas nodded and stepped back, motioning for his father to follow him. They stepped outside the door, though she knew that their ears would be pressed to the wood, listening into the conversation. Nindë sighed again and adjusted herself in her seat slightly, her hands still bound behind her back. Emlin walked around and untied the ropes and came back to sit facing Nindë.
Nindë sighed and met her eyes. "The past few days in the dungeons has given me a new perspective, my lady. And I am truly sorry, though I do not expect you to believe me now. I have ruined that trust."
"Please, Nindë, it is Emlin." She said quietly, "You must not call me 'my lady'. And Emlin is better than what you have addressed me as in the past."
Nindë let out a short laugh and hung her head again. "I must also thank you for being so lenient with me. I do understand what Legolas sees in you. He would have been very unhappy with me, and I with him, even with all of the grandeur I would receive as his wife."
"Leniency is not why we bound ourselves to each other." Emlin replied, "But love is. I wish I could show you what wonders love can give you, more than any station or treasure in the world."
"I knew that once, Emlin." Nindë said, "But it was a long time ago when I was in love with an ellon in Lórien. I was about your age, I believe. He nearly broke my heart by telling me he would be binding with another. I could not persuade him otherwise, and I watched him commit himself to a despicable elleth who only cared for his higher title. I figured that acting like that elleth was the only way to keep love and get all that I wished for."
Emlin looked over Nindë and sighed to herself. She could not believe that Nindë was actually telling her this, but it made perfect sense as to why Nindë had developed such a lifestyle of trying to persuade ellyn of high ranks to fall in love with her. And the sympathy Emlin felt before, now had grown tenfold. "I am sorry to hear that such a thing happened, Nindë, I truly am. But what I must say, even though I am young and have married my first love, is that the ellon you speak of was not worth it. If the elleth he bound himself to was like you in anyway, then he had a very weak mind. He did not deserve you."
Nindë nodded her head slightly and laughed, "You speak as though you are my age and have the wisdom someone my age carries."
"I am far beyond wise." Emlin said, sitting back in her seat. "But you are free to go, with the conditions in place. If you do disobey them, and this polite conversation has all been a farce, I warn you now that your punishment may result in far worse things."
"I understand, my lady." Nindë said and stood from her seat, walking towards the door. She paused with her hand on the doorknob. "I know it may not seem like much now, Emlin, but I am glad it is you and not I with that circlet upon your head. You deserve it more than I. And the same goes for your mother. Your father deserves someone like her."
Emlin watched as Nindë opened the door and stepped out between the father and son standing by the door. Nindë bowed slightly to each of them and disappeared down the hall. Though it was still unknown if Nindë would revert to her old self, the conversation that had just happened being a farce, Emlin felt a sense of closure come over her. Really, she believed that Nindë was being truthful in her repentance. Only time would tell if that was the case.
hervenn nín- husband
meleth- love
rhach- curses
PLEASE NOTE: This is not the end of the story. About a chapter and an epilogue to go, so stick around for more. I promise to try to update soon.