Chapter 19: Nathaniel's Message
Lailomeiel slowly opened her still hazy eyes. It was all a dream, she thought, a dream she knew she never wanted to end, but as she moved her arm to search for his warmth, it wasn't there anymore, nor was her beloved. She moved her body but her thighs ached as she moved, slowly, she gathered herself and bolted upright, suppressing the realization that he left, never to be seen again. She bit her lower lip, trying hard not to cry as she looked to where he used to lay with her and was not surprised to see the three yellow roses that Legolas left there for her. Her fingers ached as she picked it up, thinking that those roses were last touched by Legolas's fingers. She traced the parts of the roses whom he touched, trying to imagine that she was touching his fingers instead. She stood from the bed, trying to cover her body with the used sheets but was surprised when she was wearing her robe. Legolas had dressed her up that night. Lailomeiel smiled, although that smile only lasted for a moment for her heart was still heavy with the pain of his leaving. Clutching the roses to her heart, she walked towards the open balcony and looked at the direction of Mirkwood, hoping against hope that Legolas was looking back at her at that moment, which he did.
"My Lord, we cannot delay." Said the attending elf as Legolas stopped at his tracks and was looking back at the direction of Rivendell.
"I know Lurnaal, but spare me this moment, even for awhile." He replied, solemnly.
Lurnaal bowed his head. "We will start again when you decided to do so my Lord."
"Thank You." Legolas said to him as he turned his horse around as if going back to Rivendell. He turned to the direction of where Lailomeiel was looking back at him. She's awake, Legolas smiled at the thought. He felt her need for him. He felt her, from deep inside him, the pain of his leaving. "Be strong my love, for I'll come to you whenever you call for me." Legolas mentally said to her. He can still hear her soft and even breathing, feel her warmth. The memory of the night before when they shared their love passionately to each other is still fresh in his mind and Legolas knew that he would never forget it. He would be forever holding that memory, playing it over and over again in his mind until the next time that they would make love, that she would be his again... if that time would still come. But as for now, he can only hope. Blowing a kiss at her direction, Legolas sadly turned and started his journey back to Mirkwood.
Lailomeiel thought she heard the horses neighing and starting their rigorous journey. Silently, she prayed for Legolas's safety and this time, she wasn't able to take the pain. She allowed herself to cry for him. To cry for her loss. She ran to the edge of Legolas's bed and cried. She cried so hard that Legolas felt her tears. Many times he wanted to go back for he was feeling her tears but stopped himself. "I am sorry Legolas, oh Gods, I'm so so sorry." She berated herself as she cried. Her cries were stopped by a soft knock on the door. Lailomeiel went pale. She wasn't supposed to be there... heavens, nobody should know what she'd done or else Legolas would suffer the consequences Isendor might let him have. She stood and ran to hide behind the wooden divider. The soft knocking continued as the knob opened and the elf entered.
"My lady, my lady I know you are here, it's me, Ilweth." Ilweth said as quietly as she could muster, closing and locking the door behind her.
Hearing Ilweth's voice, Lailomeiel crept out of her hiding place and ran to Ilweth who gasped when she saw her mistress wearing only her robe, her naked body translucent.
"Oh Ilweth, he is gone." She said to her friend as she assisted him to sit on the edge of the bed. "How'd you know I am here?" she asked her friend.
"I saw you leave your room last night when I was about to bring you some new sheets, I noticed your bewildered look so I thought that something might go bad so I followed you, but when I saw you come to my lord Legolas's room, I was calmed for I know you are in good hands." She said as a matter-of-factly.
Lailome smiled and clutched her friend's arm. "Did anybody else know that I am here?"
"Nay madam. Nobody else but me, and you can be assured, I would keep this a secret as long as you want me to."
"Thank you, Ilweth." Lailomeiel smiled, sadly. "Why are you here anyway?"
Ilweth drew a deep breath. "Lord Isendor is looking for you since this morning, he wants me to give you this message: the wedding is moved to this afternoon..."
Lailomeiel was appalled. The pain of Legolas's departure and now, her marriage to the man she doesn't even love. It was all too soon.
"Is that all he said?"
"Yes, my lady."
Lailomeiel stood up. She remembered Legolas's promise that he would come back for her. This she would have to have faith in. For she knew that Legolas also told her to be strong, but she wasn't sure of that, but that is what she would have to do in order to keep herself alive for Legolas to come back and take her again as he did last night. Last night. She thought, painfully.
"Is that all that your lord Isendor wanted me to know?"
"Ay, madam."
"Go now, Ilweth. If anybody comes looking for me tell them that I am coming for I took a long night's rest. I will follow in a short while." She said, sadly.
"Ay madam.
Ilweth closed the door as Lailomeiel looked around Legolas room. She picked up her nightgown, which Legolas laid at the couch before he left and tucked it to her arm. She looked around the room once again, thinking that this is just a dream that Legolas didn't really leave at all. She opened his closet and drawers only to find lose things. Nothing could justify anything that might prove of Legolas's presence but the roses and the memory he has left her. Utterly devastated, she ambled towards the door, for the last time, she looked back but in vain. She then bowed her head and closed the door. She would leave too, only with Isendor and not her beloved Legolas. With this thought in mind, she strode towards her room to ready herself for the afternoon's wedding.
It was already early afternoon when Legolas and his companions stopped their journey so that they could have lunch and the horses to have a rest when they heard the sounds of horses hooves coming their way.
"It's coming from Caras Galadhon's direction." Said one of his attendants.
"They are headed this way milord."
"Then we must meet them for we are not in such a hurry." Legolas said as he straightened his tunic.
"As you wish milord." Lurnaal curtsied.
It didn't take long for the horsemen to arrive and his attendant wasn't wrong. They did come from Caras Galadhon. There were eight of them and the one atop the white horse went down and bowed before the Prince of Mirkwood.
Legolas bowed back. "Whither to would thee go?" He said as he looked at the Lorien elf... it didn't take him long enough to realize that it was their friend, Nathaniel.
"Legolas, thank heavens, I thought I would never be able to caught up with you." Nathaniel said as he catched his breath. Then he looked at his friend again this time wearing a serious look on his face, my friend, dear Lailomeiel, she is in grave danger." Legolas frowned at the mention of his beloved's name. "Caught up with me? Lailomeiel danger? Is there anything wrong my friend? Pray tell me sir, what is with Lailomeiel in danger?" He said angrily as he took his friend by the arm. "What is wrong Nathaniel?" Nathaniel looks at his enraged friend. "Legolas, we must ride back to Rivendell now. I would tell you on the way." With this, Legolas released him and all of a sudden, a group of horses rode back to Rivendell as fast as a raging tempest.
Arwen looked at Lailomeiel as she sighed. She didn't know what to say to her friend for the look on her face blatantly tells of her aching feelings. Even though Lailomeiel looked very lovely on her white lace gown, she still couldn't hide the fact that she wasn't' at all agreeing with her marriage to Isendor.
Lailomeiel looked at Arwen through the mirror and smiled consolingly when she saw her friend's thoughtful face looking back at her.
"Please don't make it any more hard for me dear friend." She said, still smiling although Arwen knew that her smile still deliberately hurts her.
"I am sorry Leigh, it's just that, I know you don't want this. I know you love—"She couldn't bear to mention Legolas's name for she knew that this already hurts Lailomeiel more than she knew and that she decided to keep silent.
Lailomeiel stood up and walked towards the door. "Let's go Arwen, they might be waiting for us now."
Lailomeiel and Isendor's wedding would be held in the gardens of Rivendell, overlooking the waterfalls. The preparation was so splendid that the guests admired the decorations rather than the wedding itself. Isendor wore a fine silver tunic and a wrought gold band on his head, symbolizing his will-soon-be-earned power and influence. He waited at the wood carved altar beside Glorfindel, Thranduil and Elrond. Gandalf was standing in the middle of the wooden gazebo were the wedding vows would be said. The servants arranged all the last necessary bits and pieces that needed to be pruned when the wedding march began to sound. The guests parted to make way for the bride. Lailomeiel wore an elegant white lace gown; her long veil reached a few good meters highlighting her beauty. Isendor smiled palpably at his bride. Lailomeiel looked backed at him and strained a smile on her face, deep inside her, she still longs for Legolas to come and save her that moment but that was only wishful thinking. When Lailomeiel reached Isendor he took her hand and led her to the altar where Gandalf was waiting. "This is a big mistake." Arwen whispered to Aragorn who was standing beside her. Aragorn squeezed her hand when his excellent sense of hearing made him know that a band of horses coming from some direction is headed this way. Instinct made him decide to check on the horsemen... just in case.
"Arwen, I'll go check something will you stay here for me love?" Aragorn said in a low voice to Arwen as he kissed her on the cheek.
"What is wrong mellamin?" Arwen said to her husband as she pressed back his hand.
"Nothing love, if my gut feeling is right we might still have a chance to save our friend over there." Aragorn said to her, waving his head at Lailomeiel's direction. Arwen frowned and then nodded. "Just make it quick, you don't want to at least not support her in this."
"I'll try." Aragorn replied as he ran towards the gates.
"Legolas, are you sure they would start at afternoon... we can't afford to be late." Nathaniel yelled at Legolas who was riding as fast as the wind.
"I heard the lady servant awhile ago, no wonder that that bastard is so persistent with the wedding." He spat as he and his escorts reached the gates of Rivendell, to his surprised, Aragorn stood there, waving his hands, signaling them to hurry when at last they stopped to gather information from Aragorn.
"I knew it was you." Aragorn said as he closed the gates.
"Lady Lailomeiel, where is she?" Nathaniel said as he panted.
"Nay is there something wrong alright? Well the wedding already started about awhile ago, you should go there now if something bad is indeed amiss--"
Before Aragorn could finish his sentence, Legolas and the other horsemen flew to the gardens to stop Lailomeiel's marriage.
"...Do you Isendor, take –"Gandalf said as he paused to focus his sight on the band of horsemen who went down and sprinted towards their direction... "By Elbereth," he whispered under his breath.
Lailomeiel looked at Gandalf and frowned, she had never seen Gandalf with that look before. "What is wrong Gandalf?" Isendor seethed, "Old man, what is taking you..." His speech was stopped when he felt a sword pointed in his back.
"Legolas!" Lailomeiel exclaimed as she looked at the man who many times this day she wanted to see again. She was about to hold him when Legolas told her to stay back.
"Legolas, what in the name of Elbereth is this!" Thranduil roared as he started to walk towards Legolas and Isendor when Elrond stopped him. "Thranduil, I think we should listen to what he would say." Elrond said, consolingly. This somehow had an effect on Thranduil, as he took a deep breath and stepped back. "This should be a good one Legolas!" He threatened.
"This man is a traitor father." Legolas seethed as he twisted the blade closer to Isendor's skin.
"What madness are you talking about?" Isendor mocked.
"Show's over Penckarkaon." Nathaniel said as he moved towards the center, as he pointed an arrow to Isendor's direction.
"Penckarkaon... what madness is this! Penckarkaon is DEAD!" Isendor said as he laughed sardonically. "Really now Prince of Mirkwood, you call upon your friends to dig some dirt on me to claim my would be wife." He spat as he looked at Lailomeiel.
"I'm afraid not Penckarkaon. Isendor happened to be your brother and he died at Helm's Deep. No wonder your face became familiar to me."
Isendor stood up and held his head up high and laughed insultingly at Legolas. "You sirrah, have a loose screw in your head. Yes, that you see in Helm's Deep is indeed my brother, Penckarkaon." He said as he laughed again.
The elves that were watching the unpredicted exhibit now looked bizarrely at Legolas. When Nathaniel spoke, holding out a sealed letter who was sent by the Lady of the Woods. "Lord Elrond, Lord Thranduil, I have proof that would justify the matter. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn want to send you these letters." He said as he handed Elrond and Thranduil each a parchment. He then turned around and and bowed at Lailomeiel and then at the guests. "My apologies to you, dear friend Lailomeiel for the delay, sirs and madams, I'm afraid this wedding is a mistake, I therefore seek your apologies, you can all go now for this wedding is void as the council said so."
"This is an outrage!" Isendor said as he moved forward to Gandalf, Legolas close behind with his sword still pointed at him.
"Gandalf, continue the vows!" He raged at Gandalf as he tried to grab Lailomeiel's arm but Legolas stepped in between pointing the arrow at his throat.
"I'm afraid that it is what Sir Nathaniel have said, Penckarkaon." Elrond said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"This is ABSURD!!! COMPLETE MADNESS!!! YOU TOO ELROND!" Penckarkaon boiled with rage, his eyes wild.
Thranduil was the last one to finish the letter and when he did, he coughed and smiled lightly at Lailomeiel and Legolas as he turned his eyes on the enraged charlatan. "I'm afraid, that there is no such wedding indeed. I am sorry for all these and the troubles caused but as can you see, a death in a vow forfeits it, therefore Lailomeiel, you are now free, and as for you Penckarkaon, you would be punished for taking your late brother's place and your punishment would be dealt by the council accordingly." Thranduil sighed as he closed the parchment and scratched his forehead. He couldn't believe what just happened for it all happened too quickly for him to comprehend.
Penckarkaon was indeed enraged. His green eyes were hard and one could see his temper rising up, but as if he was just acting it all up, he exhaled and his face showed a sardonic smile.
"Indeed..." He whispered to himself.
"Penckarkaon Windspell, you are going to be punished because of your rash actions, these horsemen would accompany you to Caras Galadhon for your trial." Elrond said as he ordered the guards to seize Penckarkaon and take him to Caras Galadhon. At first he tried to struggle but only for a short time when he decided to put on his calm façade once again. Looking at Lailomeiel and Legolas for one last time, his eyes glinting with malice and determination. "One day you two will suffer the consequences. Listen Lailomeiel, I did loved you, and you Prince, the time will come when you will lose her forever." He said threateningly as the guards dragged him. He laughed like a madman as he was being taken away.