A/N: Hi. Sorry this chapter is so late but it is a lot longer! Homework,
coursework, life – they get in the way! Vikki (smells) wanted her name here
so there it is. Thanks for reading and I promise I will try my hardest to
update it weekly!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a few hours before sunrise and Legolas waked Faranthir.
"I need to tie you up again; it would seem a bit suspicious to Medethran is she found you loose," he whispered. Faranthir nodded as she pulled herself up to the same tree and put her arms behind it again. He tied the bonds a lot less tightly than before and sat himself down by Medethran.
Medethran awoke half an hour later and proceeded to make some sort of a breakfast, but only giving Faranthir some lembas. Legolas explained who she was to Medethran and part of what he had found out about her.
"What are we going to do with her?" Medethran asked.
"I think we should release her. She has learnt her lesson, haven't you?" Faranthir quickly nodded. Medethran pondered for a while, but finally agreed.
"Very well, but I never wish to see or hear of you in Northern Mirkwood again."
She got up and went to pack away her belongings. Legolas moved over to Faranthir and began to untie her again.
"Last night," he began, "You never told me what happened to you. Please, would you tell me?"
"No-one knows of this, not even my father. I am not about to reveal my problems to the Prince of the North," she exclaimed.
"I cannot force you," He touched her hand, "But let no-one harm you. Go back to your home."
"Thank you," she replied, "It was nice to meet you."
"And you," he replied, "Go safely."
Faranthir got up and whistled loudly into the depths of the forest. After a short while a faint whinnying could be heard. A few minutes later Larendil trotted up to Faranthir, who quickly mounted the horse and rode away swiftly only looking behind once at Legolas.
* * * * *
It was May. Faranthir was still suffering in the hands of Tethril and was still dreading the wedding. Harathnor called her into his study. He held a piece of paper in his hand and was re-reading it.
"Ah, Faranthir, here at last child!" he said.
"Yes father. I am here now. What is so urgent?" she asked.
"I received this letter earlier this morning," he flagged the piece of paper, "It is from the King Elessar (A/N: That's Aragorn if you haven't read the books!); it's an invitation to stay in Minas Tirith for a month. I wish for you to accompany me."
"Yes, I will come, but who will be in charge while we are away?" she questioned.
"That has all been arranged, Tethril will be ruling in my stead," he replied. Faranthir's heart leapt. A month away from Tethril would be heaven, "Nilrathean and Sindreth will come too." They were her father's advisors and friends.
"Fine. When are we leaving?" she asked.
"Tomorrow."
* * * * *
It was dawn and Faranthir had already washed and dressed. Tethril pretended to be asleep, waiting for a chance to pounce. She busied herself packing a few items and moved beside the bed to find her necklace. It was her most precious item. A small silver plate encrusted with tiny diamonds in the shape of a feather, the family symbol. She leant over to take it from the bedside table when Tethril suddenly grabbed her. She gasped and froze.
"Don't I get a goodbye kiss?" he asked with a huge smirk on his face.
Not looking at him she replied, "You should get up. I presume my father will wish to speak with you before he leaves."
He moved his hand to her chin and slowly turned her head to face him.
"I will deal with your father later, but now I am speaking to you. Do as I say."
She stared at him, his grey eyes tainted with a wicked gleam.
"I hate you," she breathed and kissed him quickly on the cheek. He grinned again and proceeded to get dressed. Faranthir put on the necklace and left him alone.
As she walked downstairs, she found Harathnor waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase.
"Are you ready?" Not waiting for her to reply he continued, "Is Tethril up?"
"Yes. He will be down shortly."
"Excellent. I suggest you go and prepare Larendil. It will be a long ride."
"Yes father."
She walked down to the stables and began to tack up the mare.
* * * * *
It had been a three-day journey to Minas Tirith and the Elf was very tired but excited to be in Gondor. She ascended the city's circles where people stared at her, not because she was an Elf but because of her beauty. She rode to the stables where she left Larendil in the care of a groom.
She was shown to a guest lodging in the sixth circle where she stayed until her father came to take her to dinner. There was to be a large feast to celebrate the arrival of the King's guests. Many had been invited – Men, Elves and even a few Dwarves. Faranthir was wearing a deep blue satin-like dress that effortlessly hung off her shoulders and accentuated her perfect figure. Her usually draping hair had the front swept behind her ears and had been plaited at the back.
They arrived at the feast hall and greeted the King and Queen. There was a very long table with around thirty places laid out. It was very wide too, which it needed to be to hold all the different foods that had been put on it. They were shown to their seats and Faranthir was surprised to find that they had been placed opposite the Northern Mirkwood Elves; almost like they had been forced together. She was directly facing the Elf she had met a few months ago, Legolas, but noticed that he was not with his fiancée. He was sat between his father and one of his brothers, both of whom were watching her. Faranthir gave Legolas a discreet smile and he responded with the same, which caused his brothers to raise an eyebrow and instantly began quizzing him on who she was, although he pretended to know nothing of her.
The feast seemed to last for hours. Both were becoming tired of politely speaking to other guests and for Faranthir, her father's whispered sarcastic comments about the Northerners. She desperately wanted some time away from the celebrations.
"I need some fresh air, I won't be too long," she told Harathnor. Both him and Thranduil, King of the North and Legolas' father, were getting rather merry and were not really listening. Instead of ignoring each other, they had started to talk and even joke. Faranthir got up and left, and leaning against a wall took in a deep breath. Legolas saw her leave and quickly followed, his father too busy drinking from a large chalice to notice.
Legolas quietly approached her.
"Hello. I have been waiting to speak to you all evening," He said.
"Good evening," came the reply she straightened up and made herself look a little more presentable.
"You look beautiful tonight, you really do."
Faranthir looked at the ground and blushed, "I think perhaps you've had too much to drink like our fathers!"
"I have never seen them like this, since this whole rivalry started. I don't even think they remember how it began. And I have hardly drunk a drop all evening for your information. You must learn to accept a compliment." He answered.
"Where is Medethran tonight?" she enquired.
"She could not come. A family crisis or something." She watched him as he explained to her about Medethran. There was something in his eyes that made her tingle inside; a warmth radiated from them.
"How long have you been here?" Faranthir asked.
"Only a few days, but I have been kept busy," He replied. He wondered whether it would be right to ask her up to the wall to see the view.
"Come with me, I want to show you something." He held out his hand and she took it acceptingly, knowing he wouldn't hurt her.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," He said as he led her to the circle wall. They stood by the edge and looked out onto the vast expanse of land before them, only visible by the moonlight. It was a stunning view. The city below them was quiet apart from the dull roar of the feast. A few lights from the houses were lit like fireflies. Osgiliath and the river could be seen and the snow covered mountains in the distance. There was not a single cloud.
"I have never seen the stars so bright." She exclaimed, "It's amazing. You can see every constellation. The world looks so peaceful."
They stayed still just watching the river flow noisily (to Elven ears), until Legolas broke the silence.
"Have things changed since our last meeting?" he asked. He still didn't know what had happened to her and wanted to find out.
"No." Thoughts of Tethril flooded back.
"Do you trust me?"
After a pause she replied, "Yes."
Gently he tried to encourage her to tell him and eventually she did.
"I am engaged to be married this summer. I hate the man I am to be married to. He..." She trailed off.
"He what?" Legolas pursued.
"No-one knows of this, not a soul. You can never tell anyone this."
"I swear to you, I will not say anything," he promised.
"He treats me like an animal. If I do not do as he orders me to, I am punished."
"Punished?" he questioned.
"Hit, kicked, beaten, slapped, pushed..." she was becoming tearful, but stopped, as she didn't want to do that again in front of Legolas. She was so relieved to finally tell someone.
"Why have you not told your father?"
"He would not believe me. He thinks the world of Tethril, like he is his own son. If I dared to say anything Tethril would literally kill me. He does not want to marry me for love or even for wealth. He just wants power..."
"I am sorry that someone so gracious is being given to someone so evil." Legolas said. She looked at him and saw such sympathy in his face.
"Thank you for listening to me." She leant forward and kissed him softly on the lips. She quickly turned around to head back towards the celebrations when Legolas caught her hand and spun her back round.
"I hope to see more of you over the next month."
Faranthir smiled and went off, leaving Legolas musing over what she had told him.
Back at the feast hall, Faranthir found her father had gone. In fact only a handful of guests were left including King Thranduil and his other two sons. They were both now a bit more than tipsy. She said goodnight to the King Elessar and left the hall, not realising the second eldest Prince had slipped out after her. She walked slowly back to the lodging; she was tired now and was thinking of Legolas. Was there any truth behind the rumours about him? It didn't seem right.
She lost her thought when someone grabbed her arm. He pushed her up against the wall.
"Where are you going, Princess?" She could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Get off me!" she protested. The Prince tried to kiss her as she struggled to get away, but his grasp only tightened, "Get off!!"
"Laigolin!" a voice yelled from behind, "Leave her alone!"
It was Legolas. Laigolin immediately released her and ran off. Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder to see if she was okay.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes. Thank you." She straightened herself up.
"Let me walk you back to your lodgings," he offered.
"Please, I have already asked too much of you tonight, I –"
"Really, it's no trouble."
"Alright."
They walked together speaking quietly for a few minutes, until they arrived at her door.
"Thank you for everything this evening. I suppose I'll see you tomorrow," she said.
"I hope so. Goodnight Princess Faranthir."
"Please, just Faranthir. Goodnight."
She opened the door and stepped inside, heading straight for bed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a few hours before sunrise and Legolas waked Faranthir.
"I need to tie you up again; it would seem a bit suspicious to Medethran is she found you loose," he whispered. Faranthir nodded as she pulled herself up to the same tree and put her arms behind it again. He tied the bonds a lot less tightly than before and sat himself down by Medethran.
Medethran awoke half an hour later and proceeded to make some sort of a breakfast, but only giving Faranthir some lembas. Legolas explained who she was to Medethran and part of what he had found out about her.
"What are we going to do with her?" Medethran asked.
"I think we should release her. She has learnt her lesson, haven't you?" Faranthir quickly nodded. Medethran pondered for a while, but finally agreed.
"Very well, but I never wish to see or hear of you in Northern Mirkwood again."
She got up and went to pack away her belongings. Legolas moved over to Faranthir and began to untie her again.
"Last night," he began, "You never told me what happened to you. Please, would you tell me?"
"No-one knows of this, not even my father. I am not about to reveal my problems to the Prince of the North," she exclaimed.
"I cannot force you," He touched her hand, "But let no-one harm you. Go back to your home."
"Thank you," she replied, "It was nice to meet you."
"And you," he replied, "Go safely."
Faranthir got up and whistled loudly into the depths of the forest. After a short while a faint whinnying could be heard. A few minutes later Larendil trotted up to Faranthir, who quickly mounted the horse and rode away swiftly only looking behind once at Legolas.
* * * * *
It was May. Faranthir was still suffering in the hands of Tethril and was still dreading the wedding. Harathnor called her into his study. He held a piece of paper in his hand and was re-reading it.
"Ah, Faranthir, here at last child!" he said.
"Yes father. I am here now. What is so urgent?" she asked.
"I received this letter earlier this morning," he flagged the piece of paper, "It is from the King Elessar (A/N: That's Aragorn if you haven't read the books!); it's an invitation to stay in Minas Tirith for a month. I wish for you to accompany me."
"Yes, I will come, but who will be in charge while we are away?" she questioned.
"That has all been arranged, Tethril will be ruling in my stead," he replied. Faranthir's heart leapt. A month away from Tethril would be heaven, "Nilrathean and Sindreth will come too." They were her father's advisors and friends.
"Fine. When are we leaving?" she asked.
"Tomorrow."
* * * * *
It was dawn and Faranthir had already washed and dressed. Tethril pretended to be asleep, waiting for a chance to pounce. She busied herself packing a few items and moved beside the bed to find her necklace. It was her most precious item. A small silver plate encrusted with tiny diamonds in the shape of a feather, the family symbol. She leant over to take it from the bedside table when Tethril suddenly grabbed her. She gasped and froze.
"Don't I get a goodbye kiss?" he asked with a huge smirk on his face.
Not looking at him she replied, "You should get up. I presume my father will wish to speak with you before he leaves."
He moved his hand to her chin and slowly turned her head to face him.
"I will deal with your father later, but now I am speaking to you. Do as I say."
She stared at him, his grey eyes tainted with a wicked gleam.
"I hate you," she breathed and kissed him quickly on the cheek. He grinned again and proceeded to get dressed. Faranthir put on the necklace and left him alone.
As she walked downstairs, she found Harathnor waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase.
"Are you ready?" Not waiting for her to reply he continued, "Is Tethril up?"
"Yes. He will be down shortly."
"Excellent. I suggest you go and prepare Larendil. It will be a long ride."
"Yes father."
She walked down to the stables and began to tack up the mare.
* * * * *
It had been a three-day journey to Minas Tirith and the Elf was very tired but excited to be in Gondor. She ascended the city's circles where people stared at her, not because she was an Elf but because of her beauty. She rode to the stables where she left Larendil in the care of a groom.
She was shown to a guest lodging in the sixth circle where she stayed until her father came to take her to dinner. There was to be a large feast to celebrate the arrival of the King's guests. Many had been invited – Men, Elves and even a few Dwarves. Faranthir was wearing a deep blue satin-like dress that effortlessly hung off her shoulders and accentuated her perfect figure. Her usually draping hair had the front swept behind her ears and had been plaited at the back.
They arrived at the feast hall and greeted the King and Queen. There was a very long table with around thirty places laid out. It was very wide too, which it needed to be to hold all the different foods that had been put on it. They were shown to their seats and Faranthir was surprised to find that they had been placed opposite the Northern Mirkwood Elves; almost like they had been forced together. She was directly facing the Elf she had met a few months ago, Legolas, but noticed that he was not with his fiancée. He was sat between his father and one of his brothers, both of whom were watching her. Faranthir gave Legolas a discreet smile and he responded with the same, which caused his brothers to raise an eyebrow and instantly began quizzing him on who she was, although he pretended to know nothing of her.
The feast seemed to last for hours. Both were becoming tired of politely speaking to other guests and for Faranthir, her father's whispered sarcastic comments about the Northerners. She desperately wanted some time away from the celebrations.
"I need some fresh air, I won't be too long," she told Harathnor. Both him and Thranduil, King of the North and Legolas' father, were getting rather merry and were not really listening. Instead of ignoring each other, they had started to talk and even joke. Faranthir got up and left, and leaning against a wall took in a deep breath. Legolas saw her leave and quickly followed, his father too busy drinking from a large chalice to notice.
Legolas quietly approached her.
"Hello. I have been waiting to speak to you all evening," He said.
"Good evening," came the reply she straightened up and made herself look a little more presentable.
"You look beautiful tonight, you really do."
Faranthir looked at the ground and blushed, "I think perhaps you've had too much to drink like our fathers!"
"I have never seen them like this, since this whole rivalry started. I don't even think they remember how it began. And I have hardly drunk a drop all evening for your information. You must learn to accept a compliment." He answered.
"Where is Medethran tonight?" she enquired.
"She could not come. A family crisis or something." She watched him as he explained to her about Medethran. There was something in his eyes that made her tingle inside; a warmth radiated from them.
"How long have you been here?" Faranthir asked.
"Only a few days, but I have been kept busy," He replied. He wondered whether it would be right to ask her up to the wall to see the view.
"Come with me, I want to show you something." He held out his hand and she took it acceptingly, knowing he wouldn't hurt her.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," He said as he led her to the circle wall. They stood by the edge and looked out onto the vast expanse of land before them, only visible by the moonlight. It was a stunning view. The city below them was quiet apart from the dull roar of the feast. A few lights from the houses were lit like fireflies. Osgiliath and the river could be seen and the snow covered mountains in the distance. There was not a single cloud.
"I have never seen the stars so bright." She exclaimed, "It's amazing. You can see every constellation. The world looks so peaceful."
They stayed still just watching the river flow noisily (to Elven ears), until Legolas broke the silence.
"Have things changed since our last meeting?" he asked. He still didn't know what had happened to her and wanted to find out.
"No." Thoughts of Tethril flooded back.
"Do you trust me?"
After a pause she replied, "Yes."
Gently he tried to encourage her to tell him and eventually she did.
"I am engaged to be married this summer. I hate the man I am to be married to. He..." She trailed off.
"He what?" Legolas pursued.
"No-one knows of this, not a soul. You can never tell anyone this."
"I swear to you, I will not say anything," he promised.
"He treats me like an animal. If I do not do as he orders me to, I am punished."
"Punished?" he questioned.
"Hit, kicked, beaten, slapped, pushed..." she was becoming tearful, but stopped, as she didn't want to do that again in front of Legolas. She was so relieved to finally tell someone.
"Why have you not told your father?"
"He would not believe me. He thinks the world of Tethril, like he is his own son. If I dared to say anything Tethril would literally kill me. He does not want to marry me for love or even for wealth. He just wants power..."
"I am sorry that someone so gracious is being given to someone so evil." Legolas said. She looked at him and saw such sympathy in his face.
"Thank you for listening to me." She leant forward and kissed him softly on the lips. She quickly turned around to head back towards the celebrations when Legolas caught her hand and spun her back round.
"I hope to see more of you over the next month."
Faranthir smiled and went off, leaving Legolas musing over what she had told him.
Back at the feast hall, Faranthir found her father had gone. In fact only a handful of guests were left including King Thranduil and his other two sons. They were both now a bit more than tipsy. She said goodnight to the King Elessar and left the hall, not realising the second eldest Prince had slipped out after her. She walked slowly back to the lodging; she was tired now and was thinking of Legolas. Was there any truth behind the rumours about him? It didn't seem right.
She lost her thought when someone grabbed her arm. He pushed her up against the wall.
"Where are you going, Princess?" She could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Get off me!" she protested. The Prince tried to kiss her as she struggled to get away, but his grasp only tightened, "Get off!!"
"Laigolin!" a voice yelled from behind, "Leave her alone!"
It was Legolas. Laigolin immediately released her and ran off. Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder to see if she was okay.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes. Thank you." She straightened herself up.
"Let me walk you back to your lodgings," he offered.
"Please, I have already asked too much of you tonight, I –"
"Really, it's no trouble."
"Alright."
They walked together speaking quietly for a few minutes, until they arrived at her door.
"Thank you for everything this evening. I suppose I'll see you tomorrow," she said.
"I hope so. Goodnight Princess Faranthir."
"Please, just Faranthir. Goodnight."
She opened the door and stepped inside, heading straight for bed...