Thranduil grinned somewhat sheepishly, helping his wife of his lap, to stand beside her.
"Ardenia, as you are no doubt curious who your family is, we will keep you in the dark no longer."
Legolas then entered the roo, keeping his line of sight very carefully aimed at the floor. He had known Ardenia a long time, but he had never realised what beauty had lain beneath her hardened personality. And now, after all he had seen (Grin) he wasn't sure whether he trusted himself to look at her again with out staring. Thranduil cleared his throat, forcing Legolas to look up.
"Come my son, would you care to tell Ardenia the news?" Legolas looked up at last, to see the amusement in Ardenia's eyes, and he couldn't help smile himself. He mounted the dais, to stand next to his father.
"Ardenia, to put it simply, I am your half brother. Your father is my father, the King of Mirkwood, and your mother, his new bride, Alimra. It was us you were sent to kill, and we welcome you as the lost daughter and much longed for sister we regard you as."
Ardenia stood still, her hand, firmly in the grip of Haldirs, was white, as was the rest of her. She looked from each of the three smiling figures upon the dais, to Haldir, who nodded. She fought the tears that threatened to spill onto her cheeks. Her family. They had wanted her. They had loved her!
Thranduil went on then, to tell her the story of her past, the story of how she had been the much longed for and loved princess of the new bride and king, and how she had been so cruelly stolen from them. A shadow passed over Thranduils face, as he managed to then tell her of how after such long years of searching, they had never given up hope that she would be returned to them, for they would know her upon sight, by both the fall of bright hair that she had inherited from her mother, and her very presence. Ardenia slowly absorbed what was being said, never having felt truly loved for the longest time, then have Haldir, and now a family, it was nearly too much.
"Ardenia?" spoke up Alimra, no...her mother, quietly, desperate to have her daughter accept her family, and her as her mother. She had wanted a child for so long, and having Ardenia stolen from her nearly was enough to make her fade, had it not been for Thranduils steadfast presence. Ardenia raised her eyes to meet her mothers for the first time since she had heard the news. Then, a smile lit her face, a smile so much like Alimra's own, that there was never any more doubt as to who Ardenia could be. Ardenia threw herself up the stairs, and into the arms of her mother and father. The mother and father, that now, if she remembered back far enough, without Malanions' presence clouding her mind, she could vaguely remember as being always there. She held them tightly, Legolas coming to stand behind her. She broke away from her parents, smiling a them, to turn and embrace Legolas tightly.
"Now aren't you glad you didn't succeed in seducing me?" She asked him, laughing through her tears. He pulled away. he had hoped she wouldn't remember that! Thranduil and Alimra both laughed, both knowing full well of their sons somewhat amorous nature, and his popularity amongst the elleths.
"It must have been a real novelty for you to have had someone reject your advances my son!" exclaimed Thranduil, still laughing. Haldir looked somewhat thunder struck.
"He what!" He demanded, turning to Legolas. "You what!"
"Stop being possessive Haldir. You tried the same thing. You just succeeded. Come here."
"Yes, my brother. Come here" said Legolas, glad to have the focus taken off his personal life. Haldir climbed the stairs to the dias also, clasping the shoulder of his new brother, embracing his mother in law and father in law, before turning to Ardenia, and seeing the smile that lit her features, swept her in to a passionate embrace.
"Haldir! Put me down!" She laughed, as he reluctantly let her go.
"I have something top tell you all, whilst we are all telling news."
"What is it my daughter?" asked Thranduil, not getting enough of those two words.
"Well….Haldir, I don't know how to say this, so I suppose I'll just come right out with it. I'm with child."
The room went deathly silent. Everyone was lost for words, until, Haldir let out a loud cry of joy, and swept her into his arms, spinning her around, and as the shock wore off from the others, they too were overcome with joy, all of them talking excitedly about the latest new addition to the family. Except for Haldir. Having finished spinning her through the air, he was holding Ardenia close with an amazing tenderness that he had never shown her, not even last night when he had made love to her so sweetly. She was held to him as though she would never have any harm come to her again. The happy celebration was suddenly interrupted, as two figures, both of them blind roaring drunk (on Thranduil's best Dorwinion, he was later to discover in disgust) and singing a loud song about a bar maid and a wayward bard. (Which wasn't fit for anyone's ears)
"Wha' happnen', wha's wrong?" Rumil slurred, wanting to know why they were all staring at him in shock, and then promptly collapsed in the corridor, promptly followed by Orophin.
'Well, if they must insist on drinking!" muttered Haldir, shaking his head in disgust. "Your majesties, I apologise for my brothers behaviour. It would seem that they had to celebrate in advance."
"That's alright March warden. I have quite suddenly found myself in a somewhat mellow mood, considering I no longer have to pressure my son in to marrying so that I may at last have a grandchild and heir."
Legolas looked relieved. "But don't let that make you think I won't still be expecting you to marry sometime soon, Legolas, considering your sister is already wed." Legolas looked downcast once more.
"For now though, I think we an let the matter remain unsolved. Come my daughter, there is much to be discussed." And with that, Ardenia reluctantly left Haldirs embrace (which was probably a good thing, considering that his hand had slipped further and further down her back until it rested on her behind, not a way to have ones parents find them in.)
Thranduil, Legolas and Haldir watched them leave.
"You'll not take her away from me so soon will you Haldir?" Thranduil asked softly, his voice betraying the longing he felt, at odds with his emotionless face. "Not after I have only just found her, and not with your first child on the way."
Haldir considered this for a moment.
"My Lord, I wouldn't dream of making her unhappy. If this is what she wants, then this is where we will stay until the babe is born. I will send my brothers back to relieve me of my duties, and will remain here temporarily with my wife."
Thranduil smiled, relieved that he would have the chance to get to know his daughter after so long.
"Thank you." He whispered, as Haldir turned to leave.
"No my Lord, it is I who thank you, for her." Haldir replied, hauling one of his brothers up.
"Yes!" declared the momentarily conscious Rumil. "And we thank you for th' wine!" Before promptly falling in to a wine induced stupor. Again.
A/N : the story will be finished within the next few chapters. Am currently considering a new storyline. Tell me, who do you prefer to be the hero, and object of our heroines affections?
Haldir?
Legolas?
One of the Elven Kings (excluding Celeborn, he's taken. Lol)
Elladan/Elrohir
Rumil/Orophin
Gimli? (lol) just kidding. I normally only do elven fic.
Now obviously, we all love Haldir, and Legolas has been 'done' (lol! lets face it! Who wouldn't 'do' him!) so any other ideas? Although at this stage, it may very well be another Haldir fic. Or what do you think of a new hero entirely?
Now. Have the idea in mind, but it will definitely be very different to most other fan fics. Hopefully you will like. Keep your eye out.
