Of Such Sweet Love
A.N ok, here is chapter 8-no wait, chapter 9. Yes that's right, 9. In this flashback, Arwen and Legolas are about 16. Ok?
Chapter 9. Betrayal
Legolas staggered up to bed two hours later, being carried by 3 men of his royal guard. Singing loudly, and off tune, he warbled while waving the wine bottle that was tightly grasped in his hand, in time to the song.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
When Arwen woke the next morning she had a splitting headache. She put a hand to her head and groaned. She lay still as she digested what she could remember from last night. Legolas. Ciryaher. Wine. Lots of wine. Dancing. A tall elf. Dancing. An awful lot of champagne. AND LEGOLAS KISSING CIRYAHUR!!! She narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Ciryaher..."
After a lengthy contemplation of how much effort it would take to kill Ciryaher, and make it seem like an accident, Arwen figured it would be too much effort and decided to see if her legs would work.
When Ciryaher woke the next morning she yawned, and delicately stretched her arms over her head. She stumbled out of bed and over to her mirror. She set about tidying her hair. She mulled over the ball last night. She smiled evilly at the mirror as she thought of Arwen's face after Legolas had kissed her. "Quite a satisfactory night overall."
She walked over to her wardrobe and selected which dress she would wear that day.
"One with a low neckline," she decided, "Very low."
She thought Legolas was completely enamoured with her. She called for a maid to come dress her and sat impatiently tapping her foot as she thought how; soon, the greatest prize in Mirkwood would be hers. Another evil smile.
Legolas woke late, woken by the sun streaming through his window. He yawned grumpily; he wasn't a morning person at all. He yawned and turned over. Then went back to sleep, untroubled dreams of Arwen, waltzing through his head, unaware of the scheming elleths lurking all over then House.
Arwen slowly descended the marble stairs, occasionally stopping to put a hand to her aching temple. She wasn't used to being drunk. The only other time she had gotten drunk had been a few centuries ago...
(-Flashback-)
Arwen turned at a knock on her door. She crossed the room and opened it to admit a scowling Legolas.
"Goodmorn-" Arwen was cut off by Legolas striding through her doorway and flinging himself down on a chair.
"Are you alright Legolas? You don't look very happy."
Legolas glared at the ceiling. His gaze softened when Arwen took his hand. "Is something wrong Legolas?"
"Well, yes, but it's not important, I can tell you later."
Arwen agreed and they proceeded down to the kitchen to beg some food from the head cook, Linny.
They walked through the beautiful water gardens of Imaldris, Arwen with her arms full of blankets to spread for a picnic, and Legolas holding a full picnic basket. When they had reached one of their favourite picnic spots, they laid out their generous fare. Neither was quite hungry, so they lay on their backs, staring up at the sky.
Arwen turned onto her side, and propping up her head with one hand, she questioned Legolas. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Oh, that, its nothing."
Arwen raised her eyebrows at him, "Nothing? Nothing Legolas Greenleaf? It hardly seemed like nothing when you nearly knocked down my door this morning."
Legolas laughed. "Fine, fine, fine." He took a deep breath. Then exhaled. Arwen watched him expectantly. He stood up. Arwen stood up to, and clutched his arm, worried. "Legolas? Is something wrong? You can tell me. You can tell me anything." She laughed. "And I have something to tell you as well!"
The previous night, Arwen had heard her father discussing her with some of his friends. They had been talking about her getting married. Her father hadn't wanted her to marry any time in the near future, but his friends were discussing possible matches.
They had finally narrowed down the choices of who she was to marry, when Arwen flung open the door. They had all whipped around to face her. She had stood still, glaring at them. Then coldly, serenely, had informed them that she had decided whom she would marry.
Lord Ondoher, who was there on business, had turned to Elrond as if she was not even in the room. "You should sent her to the court of Lorien, my lord. She can learn to be a lady, while getting to know her fiancé." He had sneered at her. "Her REAL fiancé." Elrond had bit his lip. But Arwen, over come with fury, had smashed her hand down on her Ada's desk.
"You will do no such thing! You will send me nowhere! You send me to Lorien and I will run away! You keep me here, and I will run to him. I love him and I will stay with him."
"Who are you talking of Arwen? Which elf? Is he here? In Imaldris?"
Arwen had stared at her father. Perfectly aware that if she told him, he would send her away. Legolas' smiling face swam into her mind. She decided to take her chances.
"Legolas Greenleaf."
She had left the study, leaving a stunned silence in her wake. She had swept down the hall, then when she turned a corner, slumped down to the ground. She would have to tell Legolas. They could run away. And be together. Forever.
Arwen was pulled back to the now as Legolas took her hand.
"No Niareth, You tell me first." Arwen pursed her lips.
Legolas sighed. He sat down. Arwen sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. Imagining how happy he would be when she told him-
"Arwen...Arwen I'm, I'm." He took another deep breath. "Arwenimgettingmarried."
"WHAT?" Arwen jerked her head off of his shoulder. "You're WHAT? YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED! HOW COULD YOU? I WAS GIVING UP EVERYTHING FOR YOU! HOW COULD YOU?" Arwen found herself on her feet, facing Legolas. Legolas bit his lip. Arwen drew back her hand and slapped his face as hard as she could. Then she slapped the other side. Then again. She tried to punch him in the stomach, but ended up hearting her hand more than his stomach. He had very nice abdominal muscles.
Legolas grunted. Then he grabbed her hands, restraining her from hitting him. "Arwen, I didn't-" He wasn't able to finish as Arwen jerked herself from his hands and ran up the path towards the house. Legolas followed.
He followed her up the walk, into the hall. Up the stairs, and to his apartments. When Arwen got to his rooms she went to his dresser. She threw open a drawer, and emptied it onto the floor, she flung open a door and began to throw all of his clothes out.
"Arwen! What are you doing? Are you alright?" Legolas took a step towards her, and tried to take her hand. She drew back from him.
She grabbed a vase off of a table, and threw it has hard towards his head as she could manage. It hit the wall behind him. Legolas threw his hands over his face as she threw another ornament.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU LEGOLAS GREENLEAF! I WANT YOU OUT!"
Arwen ceased throwing ornaments. She took deep breaths. "I want you to leave. Now. Get out of Imaldris. Today. Don't come back. Ever." Legolas just stood there. Stunned.
"Leave? Arwen, you can't be serious!" He looked warily at the tiny elleth, just in case she reached for another ornament.
Arwen just reached up to her neck. True to her word, she had never taken it off. Now she ripped the chain from her neck and dropped it, ring and all, on the bed. Then she left his rooms. Breaking into a run, she left a distraught Legolas in her wake.
Three days later, Elrond had confronted Arwen. She had been hiding in her room, having all her meals sent to her room, but eating hardly anything.
She was buried under her quilts and pillows. Sobbing into her pillow. Now she was cried out. When Elrond sat on her bed she peeked her head out of the quilt. "Ada? Is it true? Is he getting married?" Elrond sighed. "Yes amarie. Legolas is engaged."
Arwen's face crumpled again. She flung herself forward into his arms and cried.
When she had calmed down enough to breathe, she asked, "Who? Who is he married to?"
"He isn't married yet amarie. Just engaged. I don't believe he has met her yet. She is the daughter of Ondoher. I don't believe they have met yet." Elrond stoked her hair for another little while, and then left her.
It hadn't quite sunk in yet. Then it did. The words finally got through to her brain. Daughter of Ondoher. CIRYAHER! She seized a goblet of punch from her bedside table and flung it at the wall. Then she got an idea.
An hour or so later, a passed out Arwen was being carried up the stairs by a member of her royal guard. She had hidden herself in the drink cuboard. And hour or so was more than enough ime for her to sample enough of the drink to subdue a grolm. She had been found when she had begun singing, loud raucous songs, while filling her glass in a barrel of ale. She had passed out before they reached the door of the kitchens.
(-End Flashback-)
When she finally reached the bottom of the staircase, Arwen was met by Legolas.
"Good morning Arwen. Did you have a good sleep? Good. Lets go for a picnic." Legolas pulled Arwen down the hall, while he hurriedly tried to explain something to her while peeking around corners. Her brain was still too fuzzy to process most of it, but she heard something about Ciryaher, and stalking.
END OF CHAPTER 9!
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Thanks!
Spencer