A/n: My muses are joining up and pushing for the story. They're
clamouring!!! AAAIIIIIIEEEEE!!!! THE CLAMOUR!!!!!!! *faints* *wakes up*
Ehehehehee... well.... er.... yea. *grins stupidly* Love me anyways?
Lol.
Ach, baisically, my muses are working when I have long weekends. *glares at muses* Grr... Well, they were hibernating before, so I'm glad to have them back. *hugs her muses* The story of how we met is in Labyrinth.
Muse: *hugs Larien* We would never abandon you permanantly, Larien. We were just vacationing from Rose's Bloom once we finished it!!!
Me: ... that's no excuse...
Muse: :P
Me: Oi!
Well, without further ado, here's the popular story you all know and love... Intrigue!!! *as if.*
Disclaimer: I want it. I don't have it. That's my life, right there.
Chapter Four: Beautiful
Legolas climbed the last few stairs at a run. He was wearing his least favorite color today, and not out of choice. He wrinkled his nose. Ick. Pink. At least it was pale pink, and not too bright and cheery.
He walked sedately along the corridor of the third floor, to the head of the main stairs. He was supposed to wait here. //Adar said that I was to be powdered, even my hair. It is pewter colored, again. It is pretty this way, but I wonder if any of the delegates knows my real hair color?// He sighed heavily. //And my skin is paler than flour.//
He waited serenely at the head of the stairs, his white-pink dress swaying only the tiniest bit. His hair was pulled back from his face, and it was cascading down his back in sausage-roll curls.
His brother appeared by his side. Legolas let out the breath he did not know he had been holding, and smiled at him. Romul winked back at him cheekily.
The booming voice of their adar rolled up the stairs and met their ears. He had begun to bring the delegates up the long, spiralling stairway. "Welcome, delegates from Lorien. How was your journey, may I ask?"
A softer voice made a reply, and Legolas closed his eyes, praying that by some freak chance the delegates would be women, and Romul would have to be the one to choose. But as they came into view, that hope went out like a light.
They were three in number. The first two, Legolas did not know, but the third was the rider who saw him fall. He allowed the briefest flash of recognition to flare in his eyes. The elf did the same, and a small smile passed between them. It was, unfortunately, brief.
The trio were paying little attention to him, the princess. It was clear to him that they were not interested in looking for a wife at the moment. Instead, they were picking over the details of the Prince's face. Legolas spared a brief glance at Romul, and was relieved to see that he was holding up under their scrutiny. He looked every inch the Prince, clothed in a deep and mysterious black, which was, like his own, gilded with silver.
In the following half-hour, Legolas learned that the elf he had waved to was named Haldir, and from the way he acted, he was probably the one that Legolas was intended to choose. Legolas raised a mental eyebrow. The other two, Rumil and Orophin, were his brothers. They didn't seem too close, for brothers. Legolas guessed it was because they lived apart, and had different professions. Haldir was a Marchwarden, Orophin was one of Galadriel's commanding officers, and Rumil was the Seneschal. Each of them were highly appropriate as husbands.
Then began his own scrutiny, and he realized that Rumil and Orophin looked as though they were sorry they were not Haldir. They were thinking thoughts that many had before, and Legolas knew suddenly and clearly that he was going to pick Haldir, whether the older two were higher in status or not.
//I know their thoughts. I can see it in their eyes. All I am to them is a thing. A possession to be had and used and called "wife" only as a formality. They would never see me as their equal. But with Haldir, I sense hope. I can only pray that he is trustworthy.//
Legolas's feet ached when they were finally dismissed. //I suppose I am thinking too far ahead. First, of course, they must ask for aid. And adar will have to suggest the alliance. Then they must pretend to dicuss this with the Lady Galadriel. Then the alliance-marriage will take place, and what luck, Thranduil has a daughter. Then, the troops will be sent over. I will have to go with them, I suppose. It will be hard, I think, to keep secrecy in Lorien. But of course, Haldir will have to protect me as my husband... thinking ahead again!//
He walked slowly down the stairs with Haldir to his left, and Orophin to his right. Romul was talking with the third brother, Rumil, which struck Legolas as being funny. Romul, Rumil... well, their names were incredibly similar. He smiled, and politely ignored Orophin, turning his head to Haldir.
Haldir looked nervous, and Legolas couldn't help feeling sorry for him. After all, he was talking to a princess, probably for the first time. Pity must have shown in his eyes, because Haldir stiffened and looked away, pointedly. Legolas sighed. This was not going well.
He had an idea. Quickly, he turned to Orophin, and smiled his sweetest smile. "Orophin, would you like to speak with your brother? I'm afraid I might be in the way." Orophin opened his mouth, and then closed it. Obviously, Legolas was trying to politely leave. He smiled with a pained expression.
"Thank you for your courtesy, Princess Legala." Legolas gave a mental cheer. Now for the part where he did a confusing thing. Instead of leaving, he simply walked around Haldir so that Haldir was in the middle. Orophin looked a bit confused, and then sheepish.
Legolas cackled inside. //Ho ho ho. Score one for letting Orophin know he isn't wanted, and score two for making him wrack his brain, searching for the rules of protocol. Probably an extra half point for making him wonder whether the rules are completely different here. It appears to me that I am winning.//
Haldir looked cooly at him. He smiled genuinely this time, and wrapped his arm around Haldir's. //Well, Orophin, I think this about as clear a message as I can give that I want you to leave. Think fast, boy.//
Orophin smiled again. "Of course, I would like to speak with my brother. I take my leave, Your Highness." He walked back to where Rumil and Romul were conversing. Legolas blinked. //Wow. Points for finding the loophole, Orophin. But I'm still better at this than you.//
Haldir looked icily at him. "Yes, milady?" Legolas was thrown off guard. //Huh? Ice? What just happened?//
"I apologize for getting rid of your sibling, Haldir, but he was having less than appropriate thoughts. I do not wish to become acquainted with people who do not view me as a person," Legolas said in cool tone.
Haldir blinked, and then laughed softly. "That is the sort of thing Orophin would do, isn't it? I see," he said softly. He looked at him again, this time without the coldness. "I suppose I wouldn't want a man thinking that way about me either." His voice was soft. Legolas felt a surge of emotions coming from the Elf beside him. Sadness, anger, hurt, and resignation...
Legolas paused, and whispered back. "You suppose?"
Haldir whipped around and glared at him. "Do not trouble yourself, Princess. My worries are not your concern. I was sent here to be married to you for an alliance-"
"I know," Legolas interrupted. "I was the one who figured that out."
Haldir smiled without humor. "Then you, of all people, should know that my feelings do not matter. Neither do yours, as hard as that may be to grasp. We are pawns in this game, Legala. We cannot make our own choices."
Legolas stared after him as he strode away, wishing that he had something to say. But he could think of nothing. Only...
//Damn the secrets. Damn them. I can't gain his trust while he thinks of me as a girl, and I cannot tell him I am a man if I do not have his trust. We are at an impasse.// He walked after Haldir, a bit in a daze. He didn't know what to think.
//I hope that he isn't too mad at me when he finds out. On our wedding night, he'll have to.//
Legolas shrugged. Well, for a lifetime partner, Haldir wasn't so bad. He just thought he was marrying a strange princess. Although he would have loved to correct the mistake, it was not an option. Politically, it would be impossible. Practically, it would be illogical. But emotionally, and physically, it was necessary. //I can never escape paradox, can I?//
Legolas walked into his room and shut the door behind him, not caring about protocol for once. He had to think.
//Haldir. He makes me sad. He makes me feel like crying. He also makes me feel like I have never seen the world the way it was meant to be seen. Love could not be possible at first sight. It would also not be practical to love him before he knew I was a male... I wonder... did he leave a love behind? Does he even like men? Does he hate me?//
Legolas sighed, and began to comb his long hair out. //He's so vague... I wish I knew what he was thinking.// He smiled. //Dummy. Don't waste time on wishes. You can wish the day away, but it will do no good. You could wish that you had been raised as the prince, for Eru's sake! That will not make it happen.//
Legolas changed out of his pink dress and into a lovely red brocade, with black lace in a flower trimming. He had made it himself. It looked all right on him, but what he really wanted to make was a pair of leggings and a tunic. //I don't think I've ever worn leggings.//
Legolas looked at himself in the mirror, and sighed. The powder had been wiped out of his hair. He looked a bit mismatched. //No,// he decided. //As long as Mari is out, I will be wearing something I can wear my hair down in.//
Legolas rummaged his way into his gigantic closet, something he didn't do often, looking at dresses he hadn't even known he had. //Wow... That's a pretty one...// He came across a pale yellow dress, that had the feel of mist over flowers to it. He blinked. //Why haven't I worn this yet? Rather, why haven't I seen it?//
As he wandered farther into his closet, he came upon dresses that were more and more old fashioned. Legolas sniffed. They smelled like honeysuckle, a favorite flower of butterflies... Eilphdi...
//That was the name of my mother. These were my mother's dresses. So this is what she was like.//
The dresses were all stunningly beautiful. They were elegant. They were light and shimmering and somehow, they were sad. Legolas remembered his father saying that Eilphdi had made all her own dresses. //Did she know she was going to die?//
Legolas's eyes widened as he came to the back of the room. Behind all of the dresses and the shoes and the petticoats, there was a chest of drawers. He walked over to one, and pulled it open. There was another dress inside. This one was different.
It was simple, plain, and obviously handmade. But it was just as pretty as the others. It was blue, with a long collar crocheted on made of white wool. Its sleeves were short, and there were long cuffs of the same lace on it. Beneath it was a petticoat, with a lace hem.
Inside the other drawers, there were simple objects. Gloves, stockings, a pair of nail scissors... Legolas took out the dress. A note slipped out. He picked it up. :For my darling daughter, when she finds it. I hope you grow into it.: Legolas leaned against the wall and held up the dress. He smiled sadly.
It was exactly his size right now. //I suppose Eilphdi was expecting to die. And I suppose she wanted a daughter. She had wanted a real daughter. A real daughter would have looked at all of her old dresses as soon as she could walk.// Legolas sighed, and two tears slipped out of his eyes.
//I'm not her daughter. I'm not what she wanted. She would have been so disappointed to find twin sons when she woke up.// Legolas sighed, and looked at the dress again. //But she would have loved me anyway. And I can wear the dress. I don't think mother would have minded.//
Legolas smiled. The dress was perfect for informality. It was full of childlike innocence. //All right, I'll wear it tomorrow. I have a ball to attend today. But first...//
He slipped on a blue dress of his own. //I should ask adar if I can wear her dresses! He might not want me to.//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*****tbc*****
A/n: Woot. Reviews please. *shakes her little collection tin*
Ach, baisically, my muses are working when I have long weekends. *glares at muses* Grr... Well, they were hibernating before, so I'm glad to have them back. *hugs her muses* The story of how we met is in Labyrinth.
Muse: *hugs Larien* We would never abandon you permanantly, Larien. We were just vacationing from Rose's Bloom once we finished it!!!
Me: ... that's no excuse...
Muse: :P
Me: Oi!
Well, without further ado, here's the popular story you all know and love... Intrigue!!! *as if.*
Disclaimer: I want it. I don't have it. That's my life, right there.
Chapter Four: Beautiful
Legolas climbed the last few stairs at a run. He was wearing his least favorite color today, and not out of choice. He wrinkled his nose. Ick. Pink. At least it was pale pink, and not too bright and cheery.
He walked sedately along the corridor of the third floor, to the head of the main stairs. He was supposed to wait here. //Adar said that I was to be powdered, even my hair. It is pewter colored, again. It is pretty this way, but I wonder if any of the delegates knows my real hair color?// He sighed heavily. //And my skin is paler than flour.//
He waited serenely at the head of the stairs, his white-pink dress swaying only the tiniest bit. His hair was pulled back from his face, and it was cascading down his back in sausage-roll curls.
His brother appeared by his side. Legolas let out the breath he did not know he had been holding, and smiled at him. Romul winked back at him cheekily.
The booming voice of their adar rolled up the stairs and met their ears. He had begun to bring the delegates up the long, spiralling stairway. "Welcome, delegates from Lorien. How was your journey, may I ask?"
A softer voice made a reply, and Legolas closed his eyes, praying that by some freak chance the delegates would be women, and Romul would have to be the one to choose. But as they came into view, that hope went out like a light.
They were three in number. The first two, Legolas did not know, but the third was the rider who saw him fall. He allowed the briefest flash of recognition to flare in his eyes. The elf did the same, and a small smile passed between them. It was, unfortunately, brief.
The trio were paying little attention to him, the princess. It was clear to him that they were not interested in looking for a wife at the moment. Instead, they were picking over the details of the Prince's face. Legolas spared a brief glance at Romul, and was relieved to see that he was holding up under their scrutiny. He looked every inch the Prince, clothed in a deep and mysterious black, which was, like his own, gilded with silver.
In the following half-hour, Legolas learned that the elf he had waved to was named Haldir, and from the way he acted, he was probably the one that Legolas was intended to choose. Legolas raised a mental eyebrow. The other two, Rumil and Orophin, were his brothers. They didn't seem too close, for brothers. Legolas guessed it was because they lived apart, and had different professions. Haldir was a Marchwarden, Orophin was one of Galadriel's commanding officers, and Rumil was the Seneschal. Each of them were highly appropriate as husbands.
Then began his own scrutiny, and he realized that Rumil and Orophin looked as though they were sorry they were not Haldir. They were thinking thoughts that many had before, and Legolas knew suddenly and clearly that he was going to pick Haldir, whether the older two were higher in status or not.
//I know their thoughts. I can see it in their eyes. All I am to them is a thing. A possession to be had and used and called "wife" only as a formality. They would never see me as their equal. But with Haldir, I sense hope. I can only pray that he is trustworthy.//
Legolas's feet ached when they were finally dismissed. //I suppose I am thinking too far ahead. First, of course, they must ask for aid. And adar will have to suggest the alliance. Then they must pretend to dicuss this with the Lady Galadriel. Then the alliance-marriage will take place, and what luck, Thranduil has a daughter. Then, the troops will be sent over. I will have to go with them, I suppose. It will be hard, I think, to keep secrecy in Lorien. But of course, Haldir will have to protect me as my husband... thinking ahead again!//
He walked slowly down the stairs with Haldir to his left, and Orophin to his right. Romul was talking with the third brother, Rumil, which struck Legolas as being funny. Romul, Rumil... well, their names were incredibly similar. He smiled, and politely ignored Orophin, turning his head to Haldir.
Haldir looked nervous, and Legolas couldn't help feeling sorry for him. After all, he was talking to a princess, probably for the first time. Pity must have shown in his eyes, because Haldir stiffened and looked away, pointedly. Legolas sighed. This was not going well.
He had an idea. Quickly, he turned to Orophin, and smiled his sweetest smile. "Orophin, would you like to speak with your brother? I'm afraid I might be in the way." Orophin opened his mouth, and then closed it. Obviously, Legolas was trying to politely leave. He smiled with a pained expression.
"Thank you for your courtesy, Princess Legala." Legolas gave a mental cheer. Now for the part where he did a confusing thing. Instead of leaving, he simply walked around Haldir so that Haldir was in the middle. Orophin looked a bit confused, and then sheepish.
Legolas cackled inside. //Ho ho ho. Score one for letting Orophin know he isn't wanted, and score two for making him wrack his brain, searching for the rules of protocol. Probably an extra half point for making him wonder whether the rules are completely different here. It appears to me that I am winning.//
Haldir looked cooly at him. He smiled genuinely this time, and wrapped his arm around Haldir's. //Well, Orophin, I think this about as clear a message as I can give that I want you to leave. Think fast, boy.//
Orophin smiled again. "Of course, I would like to speak with my brother. I take my leave, Your Highness." He walked back to where Rumil and Romul were conversing. Legolas blinked. //Wow. Points for finding the loophole, Orophin. But I'm still better at this than you.//
Haldir looked icily at him. "Yes, milady?" Legolas was thrown off guard. //Huh? Ice? What just happened?//
"I apologize for getting rid of your sibling, Haldir, but he was having less than appropriate thoughts. I do not wish to become acquainted with people who do not view me as a person," Legolas said in cool tone.
Haldir blinked, and then laughed softly. "That is the sort of thing Orophin would do, isn't it? I see," he said softly. He looked at him again, this time without the coldness. "I suppose I wouldn't want a man thinking that way about me either." His voice was soft. Legolas felt a surge of emotions coming from the Elf beside him. Sadness, anger, hurt, and resignation...
Legolas paused, and whispered back. "You suppose?"
Haldir whipped around and glared at him. "Do not trouble yourself, Princess. My worries are not your concern. I was sent here to be married to you for an alliance-"
"I know," Legolas interrupted. "I was the one who figured that out."
Haldir smiled without humor. "Then you, of all people, should know that my feelings do not matter. Neither do yours, as hard as that may be to grasp. We are pawns in this game, Legala. We cannot make our own choices."
Legolas stared after him as he strode away, wishing that he had something to say. But he could think of nothing. Only...
//Damn the secrets. Damn them. I can't gain his trust while he thinks of me as a girl, and I cannot tell him I am a man if I do not have his trust. We are at an impasse.// He walked after Haldir, a bit in a daze. He didn't know what to think.
//I hope that he isn't too mad at me when he finds out. On our wedding night, he'll have to.//
Legolas shrugged. Well, for a lifetime partner, Haldir wasn't so bad. He just thought he was marrying a strange princess. Although he would have loved to correct the mistake, it was not an option. Politically, it would be impossible. Practically, it would be illogical. But emotionally, and physically, it was necessary. //I can never escape paradox, can I?//
Legolas walked into his room and shut the door behind him, not caring about protocol for once. He had to think.
//Haldir. He makes me sad. He makes me feel like crying. He also makes me feel like I have never seen the world the way it was meant to be seen. Love could not be possible at first sight. It would also not be practical to love him before he knew I was a male... I wonder... did he leave a love behind? Does he even like men? Does he hate me?//
Legolas sighed, and began to comb his long hair out. //He's so vague... I wish I knew what he was thinking.// He smiled. //Dummy. Don't waste time on wishes. You can wish the day away, but it will do no good. You could wish that you had been raised as the prince, for Eru's sake! That will not make it happen.//
Legolas changed out of his pink dress and into a lovely red brocade, with black lace in a flower trimming. He had made it himself. It looked all right on him, but what he really wanted to make was a pair of leggings and a tunic. //I don't think I've ever worn leggings.//
Legolas looked at himself in the mirror, and sighed. The powder had been wiped out of his hair. He looked a bit mismatched. //No,// he decided. //As long as Mari is out, I will be wearing something I can wear my hair down in.//
Legolas rummaged his way into his gigantic closet, something he didn't do often, looking at dresses he hadn't even known he had. //Wow... That's a pretty one...// He came across a pale yellow dress, that had the feel of mist over flowers to it. He blinked. //Why haven't I worn this yet? Rather, why haven't I seen it?//
As he wandered farther into his closet, he came upon dresses that were more and more old fashioned. Legolas sniffed. They smelled like honeysuckle, a favorite flower of butterflies... Eilphdi...
//That was the name of my mother. These were my mother's dresses. So this is what she was like.//
The dresses were all stunningly beautiful. They were elegant. They were light and shimmering and somehow, they were sad. Legolas remembered his father saying that Eilphdi had made all her own dresses. //Did she know she was going to die?//
Legolas's eyes widened as he came to the back of the room. Behind all of the dresses and the shoes and the petticoats, there was a chest of drawers. He walked over to one, and pulled it open. There was another dress inside. This one was different.
It was simple, plain, and obviously handmade. But it was just as pretty as the others. It was blue, with a long collar crocheted on made of white wool. Its sleeves were short, and there were long cuffs of the same lace on it. Beneath it was a petticoat, with a lace hem.
Inside the other drawers, there were simple objects. Gloves, stockings, a pair of nail scissors... Legolas took out the dress. A note slipped out. He picked it up. :For my darling daughter, when she finds it. I hope you grow into it.: Legolas leaned against the wall and held up the dress. He smiled sadly.
It was exactly his size right now. //I suppose Eilphdi was expecting to die. And I suppose she wanted a daughter. She had wanted a real daughter. A real daughter would have looked at all of her old dresses as soon as she could walk.// Legolas sighed, and two tears slipped out of his eyes.
//I'm not her daughter. I'm not what she wanted. She would have been so disappointed to find twin sons when she woke up.// Legolas sighed, and looked at the dress again. //But she would have loved me anyway. And I can wear the dress. I don't think mother would have minded.//
Legolas smiled. The dress was perfect for informality. It was full of childlike innocence. //All right, I'll wear it tomorrow. I have a ball to attend today. But first...//
He slipped on a blue dress of his own. //I should ask adar if I can wear her dresses! He might not want me to.//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*****tbc*****
A/n: Woot. Reviews please. *shakes her little collection tin*