Chapter Eleven: Vanyaleuthil and Legolas in Lórien
Vanyaleuthil smiled as she drew nearer to the woods of Lothlórien. The others were not far behind, but Vanyaleuthil decided not to tell them how much faster she could be. She wore a light yellow-gold riding dress with long, sweeping sleeves and a relatively high (but not turtle-neck) collar of darker gold. The skirt, which was sewn with detailed rays of golden sunlight, was long and tight with slits up the sides. Underneath she wore shimmery golden tights and light brown boots adorned with golden topaz. The top layer of her beautiful, silky hair was in a braided fountain tied with a thin golden ribbon dotted with small topazes. The rest of her hair was down in rivers of gleaming curls. She wore a thick, leafy golden tiara that crept around her head like ivy that held another tear-drop-shaped topaz. The stars in her eyes shone of all colors as she observed the forest.
"Vanyaleuthil! Wait!" cried Frodo, slogging through the tall grass that made it nearly impossible to see him. The other hobbits were lagging too. Only Boromir was anywhere near Vanyaleuthil, but then…Legolas appeared next to Vanyaleuthil.
"Do you know anyone from the Golden Wood, Vanyaleuthil?" Legolas asked Vanyaleuthil.
A tremor passed through Vanyaleuthil's body. "No, I don't."
"Oh, I see. Well, we're sure to be welcome. After all, you are Princess Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower. Everyone knows you are good and true, Vanyaleuthil."
"I hope so, Legolas."
And they kept their pace up, until they reached a soft gold wood. Vanyaleuthil reached out and touched a tree. "I think we have reached Lórien, Legolas."
He nodded, and they waited for the rest of the Fellowship. As they proceeded, Vanyaleuthil thought about the last time she had—
"Oh!" she cried. An arrow was in her face, and behind it, a blonde Elf warrior Lord she knew so well…
"Vanyaleuthil? Princess Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower?" asked the Lord.
"Haldir?" Vanyaleuthil whispered.
"Lower your weapons. It is Vanyaleuthil!" Haldir called. A swell of Elven voices carried to the Fellowship. Legolas stared at Vanyaleuthil.
"Vanyaleuthil?" he whispered. "What's going on? You know Haldir?"
Haldir scowled at Legolas, whose hand was on Vanyaleuthil's tiny waist, robed in her fine yellow riding dress.
"Yes, I know Haldir," Vanyaleuthil said musically.
Haldir gave Legolas an angry look as he saw how close he and Vanyaleuthil were.
Suddenly, Haldir grabbed Vanyaleuthil's hand and looked deep into her eyes. She was so beautiful. He smiled.
"You know, Legolas," he said softly, "the Lady Vanyaleuthil is engaged to me."
Legolas felt a stab of fear in his heart. No! It couldn't be. Not Vanyaleuthil…He loved her…
Vanyaleuthil tried to pull away gently, but Haldir tightened his grip of her. She stayed. Haldir looked pleased.
"Let her alone," growled Legolas.
Haldir merely smiled and pulled Vanyaleuthil closer to him. "We are engaged, Legolas. I believe I don't have to."
In an instant, Legolas whipped out an arrow and aimed it at Haldir's head.
"Let her go, Haldir!" he roared. "She is not engaged to him!" Legolas said, his oceanic blue eyes shining with tears. "Are you? Vanyaleuthil?" he whispered, feeling his heart shatter.
"No," she said. "I thought I might, but I did not love him. I could not marry unless I truly loved someone."
She broke away from Haldir and continued to lead the Fellowship into Lórien.
Legolas couldn't help wondering if Vanyaleuthil had meant him when she spoke.
Vanyaleuthil lead the Fellowship to Galadriel and Celeborn, the rulers of Lórien.
"Nine there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell," Celeborn said, "Tell me, where is Gandalf the Grey? For I much desire to speak with him."
"He has fallen into shadow," Vanyaleuthil whispered to Galadriel and Celeborn.
Galadriel spoke to Vanyaleuthil in her head: "Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower, you have much destiny to fulfill, I see. But more is at stake that the fate of Middle-earth."
Vanyaleuthil's beautiful eyes shone, and the stars in her eyes glowed, and the brilliant array of colors flashed magically.
"I mean the love of the prince."
Vanyaleuthil gave a little gasp. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that he is losing faith in your love for him. He believes you still love Captain Haldir."
"I never really loved Haldir…" but Vanyaleuthil knew she was lying. She had considered marrying Haldir…but then…she had never really known his heart like Legolas…
"I know what happened between you and Haldir. The same thing will happen with you and Prince Legolas if you are not careful, Vanyaleuthil."
Vanyaleuthil nodded, earning weird looks from Frodo and Sam.
Vanyaleuthil looked to Legolas, who averted his eyes from the beautiful Elf and Vanyaleuthil felt a sinking in her heart.
Vanyaleuthil avoided Haldir at all costs; she didn't want Legolas to think that—
A small tear trickled down Vanyaleuthil's beautiful face and she sat down to cry. She did love Legolas. Now more than ever. Vanyaleuthil wanted to be with Legolas, and she knew he wanted to be with her…No. Vanyaleuthil wasn't going to let Haldir stop their love. Vanyaleuthil and Legolas's love was the most powerful force in Middle-earth. Haldir was not like Legolas. Legolas was kind to Vanyaleuthil, and not because she was so incredibly beautiful, or because she had a perfect, sexy figure, or she was more skilled with a bow than Legolas, more skilled with a sword than Aragorn, wiser than all the Maiar put together, more gracious and enchanting than Lúthien or Melian could ever even dream to be. He loved Vanyaleuthil for who she was. Vanyaleuthil. Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower.
Vanyaleuthil was wearing a silver nightgown sewn full of glittering and shimmering white sequins that made lovely star patterns. It had no sleeves and a train that went to the ground. Her flowing hair was left down. She wore the sparkling Harma Mela, and tiny diamond earrings shaped like stars. She was so beautiful. Vanyaleuthil went to find Legolas.
Barefoot, Vanyaleuthil walked over to the hobbits. "Have you seen Legolas?" she asked them.
Sam said, "No, I'm sorry, my Lady." He almost thought he would faint because of her dazzling, stunning beauty.
"He went over to the archery field to practice," Frodo answered, staring into her unbelievably beautiful eyes.
"Thank you," Vanyaleuthil said and went off to find Legolas.
The archery field was huge and surrounded by trees. Vanyaleuthil spotted Legolas right away. He aimed his bow at a target. The arrow spun off, nowhere near the target. Legolas sighed and sat down on a stone bench.
"I should have known…some Elf would have captured her heart before me…I am a fool for thinking she would ever love me. It's as likely to happen as me seeing a shooting star right now."
His head in his hands, Legolas sighed.
Suddenly, Vanyaleuthil touched Legolas's shoulder. He whirled around. She said nothing, but pointed upward. A beautiful gold shooting star streaked across the sky and was gone in seconds.
Vanyaleuthil sat down next to Legolas, who was spellbound by her divine beauty.
"You love me, you really love me," Legolas whispered into Vanyaleuthil's ear. He nibbled the side of her face and she threw her arms around him and began to cry.
"I love you, Legolas," whispered Vanyaleuthil. "I never want you to think I don't."
"Oh, I did, but now I know you will never leave me!" Legolas whispered back.
He pulled Vanyaleuthil on top of him and kissed her radiant face. She kissed back and they embraced. Vanyaleuthil entangled her hands in Legolas's hair. He kissed her very hard. Vanyaleuthil felt her nightgown inching farther and farther up…