King Thranduil sat in his throne, speaking to his minister about his son. That seemed to be his main topic these days and the main topic of gossip in the palace.
"I am going to the temple of Riathallon today to pay my respects to my people," he said. "It is a place of charity and spirituality. Perhaps that is where I will find a good wife for my son."
"Perhaps sire, but the temple has also been known to attract swindlers," said Sairil, "I warn your majesty to be careful."
The king laughed. "Never in my long years has anyone ever swindled me and I don't intend to let it happen any time soon."
Silivren sat on a Mirkwood cloth-covered couch, pouting.
"What is wrong?" her parents asked.
"I need an arrow," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest and looking very angry.
"Why in the name of the Good King would you need an arrow, my dear?" asked her mother, worried.
"Yes, I am wondering the same thing," her father said. "I hope you're not expecting me to buy it for you."
"I need one!" she cried. "So I can shoot the bastard! And I won't have dinner until I shoot him!"
"What happened?" her mother asked, sitting beside her on the couch. "Who is this elf?"
"Just some stupid elf who insulted me in front of everybody!" Silivren cried.
"How?" asked her father, sounding genuinely uninterested.
"He held me before everybody!" she cried.
"Held you?" her father looked up, worried, "What did he do?"
"He did.......nothing," she said, softly.
"So how were you insulted?" Asret rolled his eyes.
"Do not pester our daughter!" her mother cried, stroking her hair. So what if he did nothing? That is worse than if he actually did something, in Silivren's eyes. How is it that with one look, one gesture, he could make her feel so unwanted and ugly? She loathed him for it.
At the temple of Raithalon, King Thranduil gave out beautiful fabrics to the poor and each elf thanked him and bowed before his feet. Some even kissed them.
Suddenly, many of the poor ran over to the other side of the temple. The King looked on in confusion and wonder as the huge entourage of Asret Silverbranch gave out money to the poor souls. Some kissed his feet and the ground he walked on as well. He smiled down on all of them and then walked very close to the King who stood, staring in wonder.
"Oh, by the Valar, I have almost all the riches of the world," he cried out so that the King could hear him, "And yet I cannot find a proper husband for my beautiful and intelligent daughter. Oh, what is an elf to do? I give all I can to my fellow elves and I just know that one day, I will find a match for my beloved daughter." Tears filled Asret's eyes as he said this. The King smiled to himself and contemplated on talking to him about Legolas, but decided not to.
As the King was getting ready to leave, the carriage driver shook his head. "I'm sorry, your highness, but the wheels have fallen apart!"
Asret tried to look surprised as he came over and bowed before the King.
"I am most grateful to be in the presence of such an ethereal being," he said with tears in his eyes.
"Might I offer you a ride in my own carriage?" He motioned to "his" carriage which was painted a beautiful blue color and gleamed in the sun light.
The King and Asret loaded the carriage and as they started to ride, a band of the poor elves were chasing their carriage, holding the money in their hands.
"They must really love you," said King Thranduil.
"Yes," Asret laughed nervously as he heard "This is not real money, you bastard son of a pig!"
"But why don't you tell me something about yourself," said King Thranduil," You seem like a very important and noble being."
"Oh, well some might consider me so, but of course, I will tell you all about me," and so Asret begun to spin a web of lies for the King.
And so over the next few months, the two became good friends. Then the fateful day came, when Asret decided to "reel him in."
He had invited him for a drink at the most expensive restaurant in all of Mirkwood. As they sat together, tears filled Asret's eyes.
"What is wrong, my friend?" asked King Thranduil.
"Well, it is just that I was talking to my wife and she wants our daughter to marry an elf just because of his stature and wealth, but I want a good and meritorious son-in-law," cried Asret.
"I see, well might I offer a suggestion?" asked the King.
"Of course, your majesty, of course," said Asret. "It is surely in your right."
"I know an elf exactly like the son-in-law you want," said the King.
"Who is he? Where is he? I'll be obliged for life!"cried Asret.
"He is my son," smiled Thranduil.
"Your son?" Asret raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," said Thranduil. "Why are you quiet? This is just a suggestion.."
"This is the end of our friendship," said Asret darkly.
"What?" the King was quite taken aback.
"Because we're relatives from today!" Asret cried and ordered another round of drinks. "I will let my friend check the star charts if they are a good match."
He called over Gauriy who pretended to be an astrologer and held an astrology book. Flipping through it, Gauriy said, "Ahh yes, perfect match! Perfect alignment! We haven't seen this since the days of Elbereth!"
And so it was sealed. The two were to meet.
As Silivren danced, she held her head high and was ever so graceful. Her hips swayed to the drums and flutes and her arms moved gracefully. Her bun had come loose and her long hair now spilled in every direction that she danced. This was her favorite class in school and one of her talents. Legolas, however, was not good at any kind of dancing besides ballroom and that is merely because he was forced to do it since he was very young.
He sat, slumped in his desk, watching her and then a smile spread across his face. Pulling a piece of fruit from his bag, he peeled it and ate it slowly, all while watching her dance. Then he threw the peel near her feet. Silivren was too caught up in the dance to notice and Legolas stared with glee as she danced closer and closer to the peel and then "AIIII!!" She had slipped and fallen on her rear and Legolas and his friends laughed the loudest. Her face turned red and she stalked up to him.
"You'll regret that!" she said through gritted teeth.
"Will I now?" he smiled mischievously, leaning over his desk so that her eyes were looking straight at his. "Prove it."
"Oh, I'll prove it!" she cried. "You just wait and see." She walked away to join her other friends, who glared at him. She couldn't take it.
"Who do you think you are to think you can do this to me?" she yelled at him. He walked up to her slowly and revealed a half-eaten piece of fruit.
"A lone fruit," he sighed and the rest of his friends laughed.
"Oh its so easy to make fun of others," she scoffed, "You can't even dance nor can you uphold any sort of etiquette which is surprising for a Prince. If you were the real ellon that you claim to be, you would do so AND be able to dance."
"I told you before, I don't buttress a girl's mouth," he smirked.
"How can you buttress a girl's mouth if you are not an ellon?" she said haughtily and started to walk away, when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him. They held each other's glare for a moment until she took back her arm and walked away.
Of course, Silivren and Legolas did not have all the same classes, but they did share three and one of them was Legolas's favorite: archery. Silivren, however, was less enthusiastic about this class for her own reason. She, to put it simply, sucked at it and she knew she sucked at it. She knew the basics. She could string an arrow pretty quickly, but as far as hitting it on the actual target, she usually missed the entire thing.
As the class met in front of the archery grounds, they eyed the professor since it was not their usual one.
"I am Professor Fitzworth," said the tall elf, "I know, not very elf-like name but deal with it." The class laughed slightly. "I am your new archery teacher and since I don't know anyone of you, I think I will assign partners, but just for today. Tomorrow you can choose who you would like to work with. So bear with me while I pair you up. Your last teacher left me a list of the skill levels of all of you so I will be pairing up people with low skill with people with high skill."
"Alright, Mallorn and Gerat, you will be together," Professor Fitzworth called out. Silivren fidgeted impatiently. She hoped she would get Vellon. He was amazing at archery. But unfortunately, this did not happen.
"Silivren and.....hmm.....let's see," he pondered. The suspense was killing her and her and Vellon smiled at each. "You will be paired up with Legolas...err that is Prince Legolas. Wow. I heard you were an amazing archer. Your teacher said you were the best in the class. Silivren, you are very lucky."
But Silivren was not smiling nor did she consider herself lucky. She continued glaring at the teacher and then snatched up her bow and walked to their assigned station, grumbling to herself about how unfair her life was. She removed an arrow from the quiver and strung it, carefully eyeing the target.
"You're going to miss," said Legolas suddenly. She jumped slightly at the sound of his voice and lost her concentration. She looked at him harshly.
"If I wanted your assessment, I'd ask for it," she said and then tossed her hair back over her shoulder and notched her arrow. She steadied her feet and released.
It hit the target....or the edge of it anyway!
"Yay!" she cried in jubilation, clapping for herself. Legolas stood to the side, trying not to laugh. Silivren looked over at him angrily.
"What?" she smirked. "I hit the target. Isn't that good enough?"
"Step aside," he said, a proud smile on his face. He strung an arrow and released it. Bull's eye.
"Yay," he said, in a less enthusiastic fashion than Silivren.
"Well you probably have more time to practice," she said. "And besides not everyone is as good as you. Don't be so arrogant."
"You're only saying that because you're the worst one in the class," Legolas said.
"Am not!" she cried.
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Whoa!" Proffesor Fitzworth interrupted. "What's going on here?"
"He's being a.....mean elf," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Lady Silverbranch, if you will treat the Prince in this manner...," their teacher started to say.
"But he was the one.....," but then she was interrupted by the teacher.
"Oh shutup, stupid girl," he growled, "Don't you ever talk to our Prince like that. Consider yourself lucky that he is here to help you!" Then he turned to Legolas and said in a sweet voice. "Now then, my boy, go on with what you were doing before." Then he turned to Silivren once more. "Apologize to your future king."
"But...," started Silivren.
"Right now!" Fitzworth barked. Silivren sighed. She curtsyd and said in a quiet voice, "Please forgive me, your highness. I forget my place."
"Indeed," smirked Professor Fitzworth and walked away. She watched him walk away and then turned to Legolas.
"I couldn't give a fuck if you're a Prince," she hissed," That gives you no right to treat me like trash and if I go down to the dungeons for it, so be it, because there is no way in hell I'm going to let you treat me like that without me having a say about it." She then turned and started to string an arrow. She started to pull back when she suddenly felt stronger hands encompass her own and a hard, warm body pressing close behind her.
"Steady your elbow," she felt Legolas's breath as he whispered into her ear. "And watch where you are pointing the arrow."
"I am," muttered Silivren. She did not realize what an impact having him that close was having on her. She hoped she smelled nice.
"No, you're not," said Legolas, his tone turning a bit frustrated. "Here." He then proceeded to move her elbow slightly downward and made her hands hold onto the arrow.
"Owww," she said, "It's rather painful holding it this long. When can I let go?"
"When I tell you to," said Legolas sternly, "Now pay attention. Pull it back farther and you don't have to hook it with your thumb. You can also use each finger on either side of your middle one. Now when I tell you, you will let go."
"Now?" asked Silivren.
"When I tell you," Legolas said through gritted teeth.
"It always has to be about you, doesn't it?" muttered Silivren.
"Keep your mouth shut and pay attention," said Legolas, impatiently.
"Now that is exactly what I am talking about," said Silivren in a matter-of-fact way, "You-"
"Silivren, I'm trying to help you so just shut up," he said loudly.
"Alright alright, point taken," she sighed.
"Let go when I tell you," whispered Legolas. She swallowed hard and then breathed in, still eyeing the target. "Now, let go."
She let the arrow go and in less than a second, it was at the center of the target. Perfect Bull's eye.
Silivren stared at her arrow, her mouth slightly open.
"Don't get too excited," said Legolas arrogantly, "You still suck." He strung arrow and let it go, making his arrow knock hers off the target.
Silivren's expression turned to anger and she slammed her bow down to the ground, saying "Arrogant bastard," as she walked past him quickly. The class looked from Silivren stalking away angrily to Legolas, glaring knives after her.
The a few days later, Asret brought his daughter to one of Thranduil's many palaces, although Silivren did not know this was the King's palace. She resisted.
"But father!" she cried. "How can I marry someone I don't even know?"
"You can and you will!" he said through gritted teeth. "This will bring us riches and a social status!"
"Father I really do not wish....," she started, but a sideways glance shut her up for the moment. Then she started again. "But father, if you would only listen....." She was interrupted by the slap across her face.
"I will hear no more from you, do you hear me?" he said quietly through gritted teeth. She had now started to form tears in her eyes. One hand wrapped around her throat. "If you make one sound, I swear I'll..."
"Asret, what is going on here?" asked Thranduil walking up to the beautifully decorated table. Asret quickly embraced his daughter.
"Oh I was just embracing her and before that checking if she has any blemishes," he smiled nervously, "Wouldn't want to bring you damaged goods! But anyways, where is your son?"
"Oh he will be here shortly," the King said, "He is coming back from the archery range. Your daughter is very beautiful." Silivren smiled and turned away, trying to hide her tears.
"Indeed she is," smiled Asret, "Thank you, my Lord.".
"Good afternoon, Father," Legolas walked into the scene with a bow and quiver on his back.
"Good afternoon," the King stood up. "I would like you to meet your future father-in-law, Asret Silverbranch." Legolas and Silivren had not noticed each other yet and so Legolas smiled and shook Asret's hand, thinking about how familiar the last name sounded. "And this is his daughter and perhaps your future wife, Lady Silivren."
Suddenly, Silivren and Legolas turned towards each other in surprise and horror.
"You!" both cried in unison.
"So you know each other?" the King asked.
"You're going to marry me to this scoundrel?" Silivren cried. " I won't even have him marry my dead dog!"
"I'd rather marry that bitch instead of you," scowled Legolas.
"You dare call me a bitch, you self-righteous arsehole!?" Silivren yelled.
"Oh look!" said Asret smiling, "They're fighting like they're already married!"
"Will you shut up!?" Legolas said to Asret.
"Don't say that to my father!" cried Silivren. "I can't believe you were actually thinking of marrying me to this bastard!"
"And you're pure milk!" spat Legolas.
"Why are you wasting my efforts?" said Asret through gritted teeth, "For the sake of the Valar, keep quiet." But Silivren pushed him out of the way.
"Move father, I'll set this snake straight," she said, advancing on Legolas.
"You dare call me a snake, you bitch?" said Legolas, doing the same thing. But they were held apart by each father.
"I refuse to marry this beast," she spat and walked away swiftly, with her pleading father trying to grab her arm.
A/N: No reviews make this author very sad.