Chapter Three: Vanyaleuthil's Compassion

Vanyaleuthil woke up, suddenly remembering what day it was. That day was Barantincoion's trial. Vanyaleuthil had to attend. She was the victim.

She looked through her enormous closet for a nice dress. She chose a light pink silk dress that had silver bands (with tiny white and peach-colored pearls) at the elbows before the belle sleeves and around the waist as well as the collar. The collar was high but the bodice was tight and form-fitting The silk material had thin, twisting blue ivy patterns on the skirt and sleeves. Vanyaleuthil wore a silver tiara with a rare, 4-carat pink diamond surrounded by alternating white, peach, and deep blue pearls. She wore blue-silver heart earrings with tiny pink diamonds in the center, and as always the Harma Mela. The magnificent heart diamond sparkled on the end of the woven chain. She braided two strands of hair along the side of her hair and tied them together neatly with a sky blue ribbon with mithril threading. She wore ocean-blue heeled slippers with champagne diamonds along the top. She was so beautiful.

Vanyaleuthil left her house and walked to the court where the trial would take place. She nervously twisted her silver blonde hair in her long, slender fingers.

The courtroom was very large. Benches and benches held about ¼ of the Elves in Mirkwood. Ëthíathenfírawen, Anya, and Lirimalas were there, too. Barantincoion sat in the middle of the room, chained to a chair. Thranduil appeared to be the judge. Next to him was Legolas, looking livid. As soon as Vanyaleuthil entered the room, all the males turned towards the door and the whispering rose to a crescendo.

"Vanyaleuthil, now that you are here, we can began Barantincoion's trial," said

Thranduil. Vanyaleuthil nodded, becoming nervous. Legolas smiled at her, and she became calm.

"We have reason to believe that Barantincoion has harmed and frightened the beautiful Lady Vanyaleuthil. He also demanded that she love him. Is this true, Barantincoion?" Thranduil said.

Barantincoion looked puzzled. "No! I greeted her, and barely touched her. I complimented her on her necklace, and she screamed. Then he came—" Barantincoion pointed at Legolas, "and he began to…overreact. He had the guards seize me and take me away. Vanyaleuthil is getting to used to having guards all around her. She needs to get married and stop acting like a princess."

He gazed lustfully at Vanyaleuthil, picturing what she looked like naked. She was so beautiful. Legolas glowered at him.

One of the four guards spoke, "He lies. He picked her up and took her necklace, demanding she love him. Legolas made him drop Lady Vanyaleuthil."

The others nodded.

"Well, Legolas?" Thranduil said. "What happened?"

"Barantincoion held Lady Vanyaleuthil against her will, and attempted to steal her necklace, demanding her heart."

Thranduil nodded. "Thank you, Legolas."

"And finally, Lady Vanyaleuthil. What happened? Are you still frightened? Get Vanyaleuthil a glass of water, Lómawien."

"Barantincoion picked me up and demanded I give him my heart. He grabbed the Harma Mela. That's my necklace. Prince Legolas came and shot an arrow at Barantincoion, and he dropped me. The guards took him. Legolas escorted me to the dance. He was very kind." Her long eyelashes batted in a slight, gentle, beautiful way and two male Elves fainted, hitting the ground with "thuds".

"Well, jury?" Thranduil asked.

"Guilty!" they cried.

Barantincoion yelled. "She lies! I only complimented her! I asked her to marry me!" he screamed.

"He is sentenced to death," Thranduil boomed.

The executioner took an ax and prepared to swing it down on Barantincoion's throat. At that moment, Vanyaleuthil rushed forward. She flung herself onto Barantincoion amidst cries of "What are you doing Lady Vanyaleuthil? No! He is not worthy!"

Vanyaleuthil gave a beautiful sob. "Don't kill him! It's not right!"

"Move, you silly girl! He deserves death for what he did to you!" cried the executioner. Elf lords muttered angrily at the executioner's words to Vanyaleuthil and began to worry if Vanyaleuthil and the executioner, Dimadeion, were in love.

"No!" sobbed Vanyaleuthil beautifully.

"Move now!" snarled the executioner.

"No! You'll have to kill me too!" Vanyaleuthil cried musically. This began pandemonium. Elf lords gushed forward. Vanyaleuthil sobbed, a sound beautiful and terrible as waves of the sea. Barantincoion yelled. The executioner roared.

Seventeen lords managed to pull Vanyaleuthil from the squirming Barantincoion.

"No, Lady Vanyaleuthil! He is not worth your life!"

"You are too gorgeous!"

"Will you marry me?"

"Let the executioner do it! That foul monster won't touch you ever again!"

"But I will!"

"No you won't! I'm going to marry her!"

"Vanyaleuthil is mine!"

"You'll scare Vanyaleuthil! Stop this arguing. Vanyaleuthil is mine anyway."

"NO!"

Legolas strode over to Vanyaleuthil and the throng of lords. He took her hand and pulled her away.

"I'm sorry, Vanyaleuthil."

"Never mind, Legolas. Just don't let them kill anyone for me!" Vanyaleuthil sobbed.

As the executioner tried again, Vanyaleuthil threw herself onto Barantincoion, who was liking having Vanyaleuthil all over him.

"NO!" Vanyaleuthil screamed.

The room fell silent.

"She is so humble. So caring. If this her wish, do not kill him!" cried Legolas.

"Banish him, if you must!" said Vanyaleuthil, crystalline tears of compassion springing to her eyes, like a mountain brook with a single beam of sunlight hitting the surface, in early spring after a snowy winter.

Barantincoion was dragged away by guards, who would force him to leave Mirkwood forever.

Legolas took Vanyaleuthil's hand. "You were so brave, my Lady" was all he said before leaving Vanyaleuthil and going back to the palace.