Not wanting to hurt Thranduil's feelings, Vanyaleuthil decided she had better go to the dance. In the mid-afternoon, Vanyaleuthil started to prepare for the evening. She searched her walk-in closet full of beautiful gowns and dresses. Choosing a silk dress with an extremely low and tight bodice with a scoop neck, Vanyaleuthil pulled it out of the closet. It was shimmering lavender and had a dark blue (with tiny silver flowers embroidered carefully on by Vanyaleuthil herself) sash and underskirt. The billowing belle sleeves, which had 1-carat aquamarines on the end of the sleeves, were also this color and pattern. On the low collar sat a 27 carat diamond, in the middle of 4-carat sapphires, amethysts, and aquamarines that lined the collar in a beautiful and complicated pattern. The skirt shone with tiny bits of crushed diamonds and a few bigger ones, evenly spaced. Vanyaleuthil put on her dress. It slid on as perfectly as a glove over her slender, perfect body. She tied the back over her flawless skin. She pulled the plummeting collar over her delicate yet muscular shoulders. Her pale, slender shoulders were not covered by much at all.
Vanyaleuthil brushed out her hair until it shone like a million suns. With quick, deft fingers, she swiftly braided two strands in the back and without even looking, wove purple, midnight-blue, sky-blue, grayish violet, and royal purple ribbons through them and pulled them into a fountain bun on the mid-top of her head. No bits of hair stuck out of the bun, which was so smooth and shiny you could see yourself in it. A few golden strands fluttered around the smooth, luminous skin of her face. In the soft, wavy hair that hung down she placed tiny amethysts, sapphires, blue topazes, and alexandrites in its seas of silver and golden beauty.
Vanyaleuthil had an 80-carat, an unbelievably brilliant crystalline diamond, brilliantly cut by herself, surrounded by every color of faceted gems, smooth colorful opals, and soft pearls of every variable pastel of 1—15 carats. It hung on a chain woven of mithril, copper, gold, and silver. The necklace was called Harma Mela. Treasure Love.
Vanyaleuthil donned several diamond rings mounted in mithril and platinum, and delicate pure gold-and-silver (woven) bracelets that held several alexandrites. She clasped earrings that were small, delicate chains of mithril in her pointed ears that each held a heart of purpley-pink diamond that were surrounded by brilliant blue topaz and turquoises.
Finally, Vanyaleuthil pulled out fine, black velvet slippers that each had a flower with a diamond center and petals of blue topaz and alexandrite.
Vanyaleuthil adjusted the Harma Mela, and looked in her crystal-clear mirror at her face. Her ivory skin was soft and smooth. Her eyebrows were dark golden blonde with (natural) silver highlights, long, perfectly sculpted. The rainbows inside the stars in her eyes glittered. She had amazing ruby-red lips, plump and full of color, and totally kissable. With one perfectly manicured and slender finger, Vanyaleuthil twisted two little ringlets of her stunning silver-blonde with golden highlights hair in front of her ears.
She was now ready.
Vanyaleuthil walked slowly and gracefully to Thranduil's palace in the caves, where the dance would soon take place. She spotted Anya, in a sweeping gown of dark gold and crimson. Her hair was in a intricately braided hairdo. Anya was chatting with Lirimalas, who was in a dark turquoise dress with silver lace on the collar and sleeves and skirt. Her beautiful hair was left loose and flowing with tiny flowers placed in it. Vanyaleuthil stopped under a tall tree and watched as the sky clouded over.
From afar, Vanyaleuthil noticed a group of Elf lords coming her way. Being so sensitive and kind, Vanyaleuthil walked gracefully over to them and greeted the lords.
One was holding the hand of a maiden with dazzling turquoise eyes like a cat's and dark blonde hair. She wore a gown of forest green and pale pink. The maiden had a mithril crown off of which a beautiful peridot dangled. The girl was quite fair and slender.
The Elf lord immediately let go of the girl's hand.
"Earuilë!" she cried. "We are engaged!"
"Threwyn …I….I want to break the engagement off!" Earuilë stammered, seizing Vanyaleuthil's hand.
"My Lady," he said, "you are SO beautiful! Are you…Vanyaleuthil?"
Vanyaleuthil nodded. Threwyn burst into tears and stormed away. The rest of the lords swarmed around Vanyaleuthil. Vanyaleuthil felt very sorry for Threwyn, but her pity was soon lost in the swarm of Elf lords' words.
"I knew she was beautiful…but not this beautiful!" cried another one, and put his hand on her waist, claiming her for the night.
"Lady Vanyaleuthil, with you be with me tonight?"
Vanyaleuthil trembled.
"No, she won't," snarled another. "She will be with me."
"Vanyaleuthil," said Earuilë firmly, still holding her hand, "You will stay with me tonight."
"She will not! She is mine!"
"No she's not, she's mine, you—"
"Vanyaleuthil is my treasure!" boomed a new voice.
"Barantincoion," murmured Vanyaleuthil musically.
"Vanyaleuthil," he said and smirked. He grabbed her shoulder. This started an uproar.
"Let go of her, you dirt!"
"Stop it! You'll scare her!"
"Leave Vanyaleuthil alone! She is mine!"
Earuilë made a grab for her as she pulled away.
"I am a skilled warrior! I deserve her!"
"I am better than you!"
"She is mine!"
"I am not some prize to be won!" cried Vanyaleuthil, tears springing to her beautiful blue eyes.
"Why, Vanyaleuthil," Barantincoion simpered, "you are. You are the reason I live."
Barantincoion grabbed the Harma Mela and held it up to his face. "Will you give your heart to me, Vanyaleuthil?"
"She won't. She is mine—"
"No!" cried Vanyaleuthil in her beautiful voice that would make a nightingale sound like a dying cow, grabbing the Harma Mela from Barantincoion with the lightning-fast speed that amazed the lords.
In a moment, Barantincoion seized Vanyaleuthil around the waist and picked her up, holding her with one hand under the top of her back and the other on her backside.
Vanyaleuthil cried out.
Barantincoion tossed her up in the air and caught her, holding her tighter. He seized the Harma Mela again and whispered in her ear, "You will. You will give your heart to me."
He moved to kiss her, but a arrow sailed through the air and landed in the tree, less than in inch from his ear.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" someone bellowed.
Barantincoion dropped Vanyaleuthil.
The archer who had saved Vanyaleuthil had gorgeous blonde hair and deep blue eyes that flashed angrily. He was very, very fair.
"Prince Legolas…" Barantincoion squeaked.
Four burly guards appeared behind Legolas. "Arrest him!" Legolas yelled.
They seized Vanyaleuthil's would-be captor.
Legolas ran to Vanyaleuthil. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry, arwen en amin. Are you all right?"
He pulled Vanyaleuthil to her feet. She nodded weakly, stunning sliver tears in her gorgeous eyes. "Yes," she said quietly.
"He won't bother you anymore. His trial will be in 4 days time, Lady…"
"Vanyaleuthil," Vanyaleuthil said.
"Lady Vanyaleuthil, he will be punished—" Legolas glared at Barantincoion. "Severely. I will tell my father of this crime."
Vanyaleuthil smiled graciously. "Thank you, Prince Legolas."
It was growing dark.
"Doyouwantmetotakeyoutothedance?" Legolas said quickly, looking deep into Vanyaleuthil's eyes. She was so beautiful.
The was an awkward silence as Vanyaleuthil nodded.
"Your eyes have little stars in them, Lady Vanyaleuthil. I've never seen anything like—" Vanyaleuthil expected him to say "your beauty" and go on about it, but he didn't say that. "—your eyes."
"Oh, thank you," said Vanyaleuthil, blushing daintily and giving a perfectly dazzling, beautiful smile.
Legolas continued, "You were very brave, Lady Vanyaleuthil."
"Oh, no, Prince Legolas. You were. You saved me from that horrible situation." Even though Vanyaleuthil had training that would have enabled her to kill Barantincoion before he would even realize what was happening, she did not brag. She was incredibly humble.
Vanyaleuthil and Legolas glided inside together, to the angry muttering of the cluster of Elf lords.
Inside, Legolas brought Vanyaleuthil to Thranduil.
Thranduil stood to greet her. "Hello, Lady Vanyaleuthil. I'm pleased to see you; I thought you were not invited."
"I'm sorry," Vanyaleuthil said, a beautiful blush gracing her soft ivory cheeks.
"Never mind. I suspect some of the lords invited you to see you and get a chance to dance with you." Vanyaleuthil started to leave, but Thranduil said, "Stay."
"My Lord?" Vanyaleuthil asked, puzzled.
"I want the Elf lords to be happy, so I want you to make them want to stay. If you leave, they'll all leave as well."
Legolas looked worried. Vanyaleuthil, being so kind and caring, decided to stay. Thranduil stood to make an announcement.
"Every lord who wishes to dance with Lady Vanyaleuthil, please put your name into this basket." A gold basket was brought out. "She will draw fifteen of you."
Elf lords surged forward clutching parchment and quills, and those who didn't have any tried to wrestle it away from those who did. Finally, after about sixty lords submitted their names, Vanyaleuthil picked fifteen. Out of the corner of her eye, Vanyaleuthil saw Legolas was fuming.
Elithrawyn of Mirkwood
Firthralion of Lórien
Elranion of Lórien
Fiothel of Imladris
Isthradë of Mirkwood
Lómawyn of Imladris
Malasîr of Lórien
Findecáno of Mirkwood
Vondíon of Imladris
Imannomoin of Mirkwood
Valaraukovion of Lórien
Meullier of Imladris
Tarondorastar of Mirkwood
Loronasion of Imladris
Cintarion of Lórien
Vanyaleuthil read out the names as she picked them. Groans resounded after she read Cuntarion's name, the last one. Legolas chewed his lip and looked angry. Fifteen fair Elf lords stepped forward. Ëthíathenfírawen smiled at Vanyaleuthil from afar. She was in a gown of pale morning blue and her hair was in beautiful braids.
Each one paid Vanyaleuthil many compliments.
"Your hair is like gold silk made during the full moon in spring," one said.
"Your eyes are like pools of endless light in the sky of a setting sun with stars just beginning to appear," exclaimed another, who danced with Vanyaleuthil for nearly twice his time limit.
As Vanyaleuthil began to dance with Loronasion, ("You are like an angel, Lady Vanyaleuthil!") she saw Legolas go to Thranduil and talk with him.
She overheard some of the conversation: "Yes, after Cintarion is finished."
Legolas smiled at Vanyaleuthil over Loronasion and the crowd of Elf lords chattered angrily.
Loronasion let go of Vanyaleuthil's hands and scowled at Cintarion.
Cintarion seized Vanyaleuthil's hand and said, "You are so beautiful. I could never have dreamed that anything could be so beautiful…"
Legolas could not help flinching as Vanyaleuthil danced with Cintarion. Once, Cintarion leaned close to Vanyaleuthil as if to kiss her, but decided against it.
Finally, Legolas strode over to Cintarion and Vanyaleuthil. Cintarion frowned and departed. Instead of immediately grabbing Vanyaleuthil's delicate but strong hands, Legolas smiled warmly and said, "Do you care for a dance?"
Vanyaleuthil smiled. She was so beautiful. "You're different, Prince Legolas. The others aren't like you. Not like you at all."
Vanyaleuthil took Legolas's hand and they danced for the rest of the night.