Disclaimer: I own nothing.

(((((((((((((((Chapter 10)))))))))))))))))

Eressa stood as still as a stature in front of her mirror, her eyes wide in both awe and complete fear. She had her wedding dress on. Just a few hours from now she and Legolas would be married…bonded together…forever.

Eressa reached up and lightly touched the edge of her collar. It was beaded and decorated with glittering white gemstones and diamonds. She had known this moment had been coming for a long time now. She had looked forward to it.

So why was she so scared?

Looking down at herself, Eressa observed the fabric of the dress. It was by far the most luxurious fabric she'd ever seen. Not even the fabric from her Rivendell dresses were like this. The fabric poured over her form delicately, clinging to her in all the right places, falling to the floor in a cascade of satin.

White was the color of purity. She thought. That was why the elves chose it as the wedding color. To symbolize the start of a new, pure relationship.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the doorway behind her. It was a male figure, and at first Eressa thought it could be Legolas…but that was impossible. The Groom and the Bride were not to see each other on their wedding day until the actual ceremony.

"Hello?" Eressa asked, turning her head over the shoulder of her dress. "Who is it?"

The figure moved forward, and Eressa saw that this elf was indeed not Legolas. He was tall, like he was, but his hair was a bit lighter in shade. And he had brown eyes, instead of piercing blue ones.

He bowed. "Forgive my intrusion, Lady Eressa." He began. "But I wanted to give you you're wedding crown myself."

Eressa smiled as the elf pulled out a box from behind him and opened it to see a beautifully made tiara. She turned away from her mirror and walked to it, reaching out to touch it.

"It is very beautiful," She said, breathless with awe. "What is your name?"

"Eryndil, milady." The elf replied shyly. "I'm glad you like it. I worked very hard on getting every detail correct."

"It's perfect, Eryndil." Eressa told him, taking the crown out of the velvet lined box. She turned towards her mirror and placed it on her head.

Eryndil took a sharp breath. "It suits you." He said.

Eressa smiled slightly and looked at herself in the mirror. The crown fit comfortably in a ring around her brow, but it was crafted intricately to creat small, swirled shapes that accented it perfectly. The crown dipped low right in the center of her forehead, and hanging from it was a small teardrop-shaped jewel that gleamed as if the light of the stars themselves were captured inside.

"It's so beautiful, Eryndil." Eressa exclaimed. "Please tell me what I can do to thank you."

Eryndil blushed. "Just hearing your thanks is enough for me, milady. I am most honored."

Eressa turned towards him and smiled softly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." The elf answered politely. "I'll take my leave, you have much more to prepare for."

"Yes, I do." Eressa replied. "Thank you again. Goodbye."

Eressa watched as the elf bowed, turned and left the room. She sighed and walked to the corner of the room and sat in a fluffy chair, careful not to crumple her dress as she sat. Placing a hand on her stomach, she thought of her child once more.

Only a few short months and I'll be a mother.

Eressa looked down and turned her hand palm-up, tracing the lines of skin with her fingers. She wondered briefly what her child would look like. Closing her eyes, she imagined a small boy that looked like a miniature version of his father.

Eressa smiled. He's so adorable…she thought with delight.

Sighing, Eressa slowly dragged herself up out of the chair. Her white form floated like a ghost to the mirror again. The sun was barely at it's highest point. She still had a few more hours, and had to do nothing but wait.

She wondered what Legolas was doing now.

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"Do you need me to brush your hair for you?"

"Bite your tongue, Hathol."

"Aren't you grumpy, now? You should be happy, this is your wedding day!"

Legolas whirled around on his chair. "Do not make me hit you."

Hathol chuckled. "Sorry, Legolas. I just realized how much I missed annoying you."

"You are certainly making up for the time you lost." The elf prince said quietly as he brushed his hair. He had just finished bathing, and his hair was snarled awfully. He was sitting in front of his mirror with his morning robe on trying to untangle it. It didn't help that Hathol had barged in and bothered him about it either.

"But truly, why are you so…" Hathol searched for the words. "…why are you so cold today? What I said was true, you should be happy."

"So says the elf who hasn't been married." Legolas replied.

"See? That's exactly what I mean." Hathol. "You're snapping like an old turtle."

Legolas turned around and set the brush down. "I'm nervous."

"Why should you be nervous?"

"It's my wedding, Hathol." Legolas said. "Why shouldn't I be nervous?"

Hathol shrugged and drummed his fingertips on a desk nearby. "Because…you've known Eressa and loved her for a very long time now. She's having your child. I assumed marrying her wouldn't seem so important."

"It is important. You only can get married once." Legolas said, turning back around. He looked in the mirror and began to braid his hair like he always did.

"True." Hathol agreed, rubbing his chin. "I suppose I'll understand when I get married."

"If you ever get married." Legolas jested.

"Hey!" Hathol grabbed a pillow from a nearby sofa and threw it across the room at Legolas's sitting form. It hit him square in the back of his head and then bounced off onto the floor.

"Hathol!" Legolas cried, whipping around, yet another annoyed look on his face. Quickly before his friend could react, he reached down and grasped the pillow, throwing it back.

Hathol was to busy laughing to dodge the blow, but the pillow didn't do anything to him except knock him down to the sofa it came from. It was then that Legolas's father walked in.

"What is going on in here?" He asked. He was dressed in ceremonial wedding robe, with his crown placed high on his forehead. "Legolas, why are you not dressed yet?"

Legolas groaned. "Sorry, Father. Hathol has been distracting me." He shot his friend a killing glance.

"And it has been quite fun, Your Majesty, let me assure you." Hathol chuckled, getting up.

The King smiled at his son's friend but gave him a stern look from his eye. "Hathol, you are the Captain of the Guard here and leader of my armies. Why are you not overlooking the security for Legolas's wedding?"

Hathol promptly stood up straight and became serious. "I overlooked them just a minute ago, my Lord. They are all in place, everything is perfect."

"Well, in that case…" The King stepped forward into the room. "…go and check on them once again. I would like to speak with my son alone now."

Hathol nodded. "Yes, sir." He bowed, shot Legolas a comical look, and left hastily.

Legolas looked over his shoulder. "What would you like to speak to me about now, Father?"

"Nothing, actually." The King confessed. "I just said that to get Hathol away from pestering you."

"Ah…thank you."

"Normally you enjoy that. What makes today different?" The King asked.

Legolas shot his father a look. "Why is everyone else in this palace but me oblivious to the fact that today is my wedding day? I am nervous because this is the most important day in my life up to this point and I do not want to have anything go wrong."

The King laughed. "I'm just playing with you, Legolas. Do not worry. It will be alright."

"I want to see Eressa." Legolas spat out, confessing the truth. "I haven't seen her since early this morning."

"Legolas, you know it is custom for couples to not see each other at all on their wedding day until the actual ceremony. You were lucky you were able to see her this morning." The King explained.

"I know." Legolas answered shortly. "I miss her."

"You cannot see her until the ceremony. Do not worry. It is only a few hours away."

"That is far to long."

Thranduil chucked. "You are far too serious, my son. Go now. Get dressed. I will be in the courtyard."

"Thank you, Father." Legolas replied politely.

"You are welcome, Legolas." The King answered automatically. "I will see you later."

"Bye…" Legolas said half-heartedly as his father left the room. He finished braiding his hair and then looked over to the stand where his wedding robe was hanging.

It was a light but extravagant garment made from the finest, softest silk and satin. He had a small undershirt, a tunic, and a jerkin that fit over everything. And then he had white leggings, and even a pair of handsomely died white leather boots. A long white cape made of fur threw the whole outfit together. Sitting on the dresser in front of him was his wedding crown. It was made of silver, and fit his brow exactly to measure. It curved over his eyebrows to make a leaf pattern. Legolas put it on and gazed at himself in the mirror.

"Very handsome indeed." He said to himself and then chuckled. It felt good to laugh a little. Legolas decided that Hathol visiting had done some good after all. His mood had improved, despite his friend's teasing.

Legolas sighed and looked over at his wedding robe again. He felt ashamed to where such a thing, even if it was his wedding day and he was a Prince of Elves. He had seen seamstresses work endlessly on the garments the day before, and only to have he and Eressa wear them for a few hours on one day.

On this one day.

Legolas inhaled deeply as his nervousness began to creep up on him again. He hoped everything when all right. Not only for today, but for the rest of his and Eressa's lives as well.

For somewhere in his heart, a shadow had formed and began to darken. Deep in his soul, Legolas secretly knew that he wouldn't get his wish. The darkness still had one more trick up it's sleeve.

Legolas closed his eyes. This world has one more challenge for me…I can feel it.

(((((((((((((Personal thing)))))))))))))))

It is short, I know. But next chapter will be the wedding ceremony and the following stuff, so that should be longer. Oh, and I broke 100 reviews on this story!! Thank you for all of your support! I love you all!

Random Author Blog: For those of you who were wondering how my night went with the British guys, it was really great. We eat homemade pizza and talked about the differences between American and British customs and I swooned at their accents. (Btw, one of them was really cute, and they could both play piano and sing wonderfully, and that's a big turn-on for me) Then we took them to a baseball game, cuz they had never seen one before in their life, and we had to tell them what a "ball" and a "strike" and a "grand slam" was. Then we took them out for ice cream and they tried Blue Moon and hated it (they said it tasted like bleach smells) so they got my fave, Cookie Dough instead and loved it. Then we went back to Matt's (my friend's) house and they taught me how to play Uno and played the piano a bit and even let me sing with them. They said I had a lovely voice. swoon It was really nice. If any of you guys ever get the chance to meet people from Britian, do it, cuz they are so nice and really interesting, intelligent, and polite. I highly recommend it. As for those of you who are British, hats off to you!