Hey once again! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm glad you guys liked the last one. Thank you very much for the reviews! As always, I love to hear from you!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris.
Note: Dialouge in bold is spoken in Elvish and dialouge in italics is telepathic communication between Amaris and Legolas.
Number 51: Meeting the King
They rode down the hill to the city gates. Upon seeing their prince the guards immediately opened the gate. Legolas bowed his head to them and continued to ride into the city. The elves that were running suddenly stopped and either curtsied for bowed to Legolas. He smiled and bowed his head a response and when they reached the palace door, two elves came from the stables and took the reins of Arod and Marisal. Legolas dismounted and walked over to Amaris he helped her down and smiled at her. "Welcome home Amaris," Legolas said through their connection and Amaris smiled at him. She turned to get her things when Legolas stopped her. "They will be taken care of. Do not worry. Come." Legolas took her arm and led her up the steps to the entrance to the palace.
As Legolas led her inside she smiled to herself remembering one of the visions that scared her in the past. She remembered seeing Legolas leading her in a building of stone and she was wearing a gown like she is now. Legolas looked at her and smiled before he turned his attention back ahead. "What is it Amaris? Why are you smiling so?" Amaris smiled even bigger as they walked and elves bowed their heads and whispered back and forth to each other.
"I am just remembering a vision I had long ago. It has come true. I saw you leading me down a corridor and I was wearing a gown just like I am now." Amaris said through their connection and Legolas smiled as well. They soon came to a giant set of wooden doors. The corridors were lit by sunlight and torches and the two guards bowed their heads and opened the doors. Amaris gripped tightly to Legolas' arm as he led her inside. The hall was large and surprisingly it felt warm and inviting and not cold like she had expected. Sitting at the other end of the hall on his throne was King Thranduil. His hair was dark unlike Legolas but his eyes were the same sapphire blue. He was speaking to another ellon who was nodding his head as the king spoke. As the doors closed behind Amaris and Legolas the King's attention was brought to the door and he stood quickly upon seeing his son. King Thranduil smiled and quickly made his way down the hall and Legolas slowly walked with Amaris on his side. When the King reached them Legolas let go of Amaris as his father embraced him tightly.
"Welcome home my son," King Thranduil said. Amaris was surprised by the King's affection towards Legolas. For some reason Amaris had the impression that he was usually colder to his son. The King pulled away and smiled. Legolas returned the smile.
"It is good to be home father," Legolas said. King Thranduil nodded but stopped as he looked into his son's eyes. Legolas just smiled and glanced at Amaris taking her hand and pulling her close. "Father, I would like to introduce you to someone of great importance to me." Amaris squeezed Legolas' hand as she looked at the King, whose eyes were wide as they met hers. "Father, this is Amaris, daughter of Lord Elrond." The King looked away from Amaris to his son.
"The only daughter to Lord Elrond is the Evenstar, Lady Arwen," the King said with his brow furrowed. Amaris smiled at the King and he looked at her.
"Father, Amaris is the adopted daughter of Lord Elrond. As you can see, we are bound and she is my match Father. I love her dearly and upon our return from Minas Tirith after Aragorn's coronation we plan to wed," Legolas said as he looked at his father with his face unmoving from his serious expression. Thranduil looked at Legolas and then at Amaris. His brow furrowed and he pulled Legolas from Amaris and walked away. She just furrowed her brow and watched as Thranduil led Legolas away towards the balcony.
"Legolas, what's going on?" Amaris asked him through their link.
"I do not know, meleth nîn, but do not worry," Legolas responded as he disappeared outside with his father. Amaris stood in the hall alone looking around completely confused.
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King Thranduil led Legolas outside and stopped when they were outside. "Father, what is the meaning of this? Why did you drag me from the hall?" Legolas asked just as confused as Amaris was. The king turned from his son and rested his hands on the railing taking deep breaths before he turned to face Legolas. "Father, what is it?"
"My son, why are you bound to her already?" Thranduil asked as he looked at his son concerned. Legolas was taken back by the question he thought his father would be happy.
"We were bound long after we met. I met her in Imladris and she was part of the Fellowship. I fell in love with her father and she with me as we traveled." Legolas paused as he looked at his father. "She was untouched before our union, father. She gave herself to me completely and I gave myself to her. We bound ourselves to each other and once that bond was complete it was revealed that we were each other's half." Thranduil looked at his son and Legolas could tell that he was not happy. "Father, I love her. She is a wonderful elleth and she fought along side me and the others of the fellowship." Thranduil sighed and placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"Legolas, I am happy that you have found love but I wish you would have waited before you bound yourself to her." Thranduil paused when he saw the look his son gave him. "I would have liked to have known her better before I agreed to your union. How do I know that she is in good standing?" For the first time in his long life Legolas felt unbridled anger at his father.
"Her standing? Father, she is the daughter to Lord Elrond and he would not have taken her as such if she was not worthy of that title. To me, it would not matter if she was a simple maid or a princess. I love her father and that should be all that matters. I know my own heart and right now I can feel her fear. She feels that you do not approve and from what you just told me you do not approve." Legolas paused to take a breath as his anger seemed to just boil. Thranduil put his hand up to stop his son from continuing.
"My son, I meant no ill words towards your betrothed. I only wish to understand why you would bind yourself to her before introducing her to our people." Legolas sighed and turned to look inside. He saw her standing there, where they had left her, looking at her hands as they fiddled with the hem of her sleeve. Legolas smiled at her then turned his attention back to his father.
"I bound myself to her because, as I have told you, I love her with my heart, my soul, and my body. I know that if I was to be without her I would fade even if I was not bound to her. Father, I know you felt this way once and you still feel this way." Thranduil's eyes softened at Legolas' words. He knew his son was right. He threw caution to the wind when he fell in love with Legolas' mother and he nearly faded himself when she passed into the Halls of Mandos. If it wasn't for his young son he would have. "Father, when you get to know her you will love her like the daughter you never had and you will be proud to call her your daughter when we are formally joined." Thranduil smiled at his son and Legolas returned his smile.
"Forgive me, my son. I understand." Legolas bowed his head slightly at his father and looked back inside. Thranduil smiled at the longing look that passed across his son's face. All of his doubts of this young elleth seemed to leave him and he knew that if Lord Elrond cared for this elleth as his daughter than she must indeed be special. King Thranduil turned and went back into the hall his dark green robes swishing to his movement. Amaris looked up as he entered and watched as Legolas was following close behind his father. Amaris felt apprehension come from Legolas and her heart started to race. The king walked over to her and looked down into her eyes. He saw her fear shine brightly in them, fear that he would send her away and break apart their union. Even he could never be that cold. He gave her gentle smile and slowly her lips curved up and she smiled back at him. Legolas watched with a smile of his own when his father took her right hand and gently kissed the back of it. "I wish to welcome you home, Lady Amaris as this will be your home once you have formally wed my son and I look forward to that day." Amaris' smile grew and she bowed her head.
"Thank you your majesty. I am looking forward to the day that I can call this beautiful realm home," Amaris said her voice just barely betraying her and showing the king her nervousness. The king smiled and looked at his son. He held out Amaris' hand to Legolas and Legolas quickly made his way over and clasped her hand into his. Legolas kissed her forehead and looked at his father.
"I will have the quarters across from yours readied for Amaris, Legolas. While you wait for your quarters to be prepared, would you like to see the palace and our beautiful gardens?" King Thranduil asked with a smile as he looked at his soon to be daughter. Amaris nodded her head.
"I would love that my lord," Amaris said with a smile. The King gave her a knowing smile as he looked at her and then looked at Legolas.
"My son, would you do the honors and give your betrothed a tour of the palace?" Legolas smiled and looked at her as she looked at him.
"Yes. I would gladly do just that," Legolas said. Amaris could feel his excitement and happiness and she knew he was feeling the same from her. The king nodded before he turned and left the hall and went into his study. Legolas took Amaris by the arm and led her from the hall as they stepped outside, Amaris let out a deep sigh. "What is it, meleth nîn?" Amaris smiled and looked at him.
"I'm just glad that's over with." Legolas laughed lightly at her before kissing her once more on the forehead and leading her around the palace.
