A/N: Hi guys, back again finally. I've been busy but I somehow managed to
write 2 whole chapters for you guys. Hope you enjoy them,
Cheers.
Chapter Six: Preparations
The Queen organized a ball that was to be held a week later in which the whole kingdom would attend and at the ball the Queen was going to announce the wedding of Legolas to Celebfaer.
But the day after the council, the same day that the ball was announced, Celebfaer went to see her mother.
"Mother, I beg you do not announce me as your heir. Elysa hates me enough as it is and I wish for her to be a friend to me, though I see now that it will never be so. But if you do not give her what she wants then I fear something bad will happen. If need be Legolas and I shall leave the realm and never return. We shall forget about the Fairy Realm and I shall cut off my wings to honor that choice."
"Cut off your wings when I and many others worked so hard for them to be cleansed? That is as good as spitting in my face daughter. Do you wish to shame me so?"
"Nay mother I just want what is right for the peace of our race." She said, her voice slightly shaky. She did not want this responsibility. She did not even want to be Queen of Eryn Lasgalen as she would be one day when King Thranduil departed and Legolas took the throne.
"As do I daughter. You will be much better suited to rule after me, as we both know Elysa is not fit enough to rule. She can barely keep her own husband happy, let alone the whole kingdom. And how do you think it will look when it becomes known that the queen has been taken as concubine?" Asura said and Celebfaer gasped. She had known about Elysa's lover of course, but she did not know if the Queen had and to hear her speak of it in such a manner was quite a shock.
"Of... of what do you speak your highness?" Celebfaer asked, bowing her head slightly.
"I speak of Fiash, Celebfaer."
"How long have you known?" Celebfaer asked and her mother laughed.
"Elysa thinks me a fool but my eyes and ears see her. She will disgrace us, but I knew I should never had let her wed Sabin. He is too good to waste on my second-daughter."
"Can you not do anything mother?" Celebfaer asked and the Queen laughed.
"Exile my own daughter?" She asked, amused. "I cannot and I will not. So I shall just take all of her rights away from her, one by one until he is all she has left. As a Queen you will learn that you must endure some things for the better good of the kingdom."
"I believe the kingdom would see it as the other way around. That she was keeping him to warm her bed, not the other way around."
"You would have Sabin, the rightful King of the Fairies shamed that way?" Asura said and Celebfaer bowed her head in shame. She had not intended for her words to be taken that way.
"I cannot take back my marriage to Legolas, mother and if given the choice, neither would I want to. I do not regret marrying him and if the kingdom will not accept him as King beside me then I shall not be Queen." Celebfaer said and the Queen nodded, touching Celebfaer's face and bringing it up so that Celebfaer was looking straight at her mother.
"I would have it no other way my daughter. It is unfortunate that your heart chose an Elf, and not Sabin or Mildred, but some things must be endured and overlooked for the sake of the kingdom. The fairies will follow you because the Council and I support you. Now I suggest you enjoy the week of freedom that I have given Legolas until the ball, because after the ball you shall be busy with preparations for the wedding."
Celebfaer knew that she had just been dismissed and that the topic was no longer open to discussion. So she bowed to her mother then departed from her rooms.
Legolas was easy enough to find and when she found him she persuaded him to come for a ride with her.
They rode for a while, heading for the back corner of the Realm, Celebfaer did not want to be disturbed and she did not want any ears to hear what she had to say. When they eventually stopped, she leaned over and kissed Legolas, without dismounting from her horse.
"Melamin, you will be King one day." She said.
"Of Eryn Lasgalen and you shall be Queen beside me, Celebfaer." He said and she dismounted from her horse then took the reins of his horse as he dismounted.
"You misunderstand me Legolas." She said, tying the reins of the horses together so they could graze.
"Forgive me, but how do I misunderstand? Will you not be my Queen when I succeed the crown after my father?"
"You will also be King of the Fairies beside me Legolas and the responsibility that we shall have as King and Queen is greater than you will know." She said and he frowned.
"I shall make sacrifices if only to be by your side for eternity."
"Surely you cannot mean..." She started, but he cut her off.
"I shall not travel west. My father and brother will go, but I shall not. It is the price I pay to be your husband. A small price to pay for loving one not of my race." He said and she shook her head.
"No. You will go to Valinor with your kin, I dare not stop you.."
"Not all Elves will travel to the west. Celeborn will not and those that are left shall dwell forever with the trees. I shall forever be with you, melamin." He said and she looked down but he cupped her face with his hands. "Do not despair. My father knows and expects this so he will leave me Eryn Lasgalen and whichever of her people that wish to stay."
"I am not worthy of this sacrifice Legolas."
"You are worthy of my love are you not? You are worthy of me." He said then he leaned forward, so that their foreheads were touching.
"But..." She started, but he placed a finger to her lips.
"Hush, let us not speak of this again. I have made my choice and nothing will sway my decision." He said then he kissed her.
Several hours later, Celebfaer stood up, brushing the grass out of her hair and trying to straighten it, while Legolas lay there, propped up on one elbow, watching her with sudden curiosity.
"Legolas you insist on getting grass in places that grass should not be, not to mention ruining my hair. How will it look when we return as though he have come straight from the marriage bed?" She asked him and he laughed, but still did not say anything, watching her walk around in the field. "But you make me so happy that I feel like dancing!" She said then she jumped upwards, fluttering her wings slightly so that she was lifted off the ground, where she twirled around easily.
It made him smile to see her so happy and it was what he lived for. That smile on her face and the twinkle of light in her eyes that appeared whenever he made her laugh or smile. But today the aura around her looked slightly different than he was used to. In fact it took him a small while to work out what it was and he smiled when the thought occurred to him.
She stopped dancing suddenly, then flew down to where he still lay propped up on one elbow watching her with a content smile on his face.
"Has my love nothing you say?"
"Nay, I am content to look at you." He said and she smiled, then offered him her hands, which he took before she pulled him to his feet.
"Say something at least." She said when he was standing in front of her and he kissed the top of her forehead then pulled her close.
"You are with child." He said and she rolled her eyes then pushed him away slightly.
"With child? Legolas how can I be with child when you know as well as I that today was the first.."
"I know you are with child." He said smiling and cutting her off. "Do not argue with me for I know it to be the truth and if you wait a few weeks we shall fetch a doctor and he shall prove me right." He added. "Now, let us return to the palace before we are late for dinner, yet again."
"How can one argue with that? But I shall prove you wrong in two weeks Legolas." She said, then she ran off to fetch the horses, while he walked slowly behind her, watching her aura once again. What he had seen before was still there, but it was only very faint. He was sure that once the baby began to grow the aura that surrounded her would become much stronger. But for now he was content to wait for her.
*****************************
Soon enough the ball came around and the Queen announced that Celebfaer and Legolas were to be wed. She would wait until they were married before she would announce that Celebfaer was the first-daughter. The kingdom had to be handled one small step at a time so she would not spring that on them yet, she would wait for Legolas and Celebfaer to gain the favour of the people first.
Though Legolas had already been accepted for the marriage, the people of the city cried for a challenge to be issued. So at the ball she made both Celebfaer and Legolas stand in front of her, Legolas kneeling and Celebfaer standing beside him looking very scared for Legolas.
"Is it true that you are best archer among all of the Elves?" The Queen asked and Legolas nodded.
"In Eryn Lasgalen, that was once called Mirkwood, I am the best archer your highness."
"And you are well known for this reputation?"
"I am?"
"Then I propose a tournament." The Queen said. "You will compete in a tournament against all the arches in the Fairy realm and you will lose." She added and Celebfaer turned to look at her mother in surprise.
"Pardon your highness, but did you say I should lose?" He asked looking up at the Queen and she nodded.
"Yes. To prove that you love my daughter above everything else you must be willing to cast aside your reputation as the best archer. Arrangements will be made and the tournament will be held exactly one month from this date." She said and the room of people cheered.
"Legolas it will be alright." Celebfaer said and he sighed.
"How hard can it be to lose?" He asked but he looked as though he was already shamed.
"Legolas you do not have to take the challenge." She said and he shook his head.
"If it will make them accept me then I shall."
So preparations were made for the tournament and Legolas dreaded each day as it drew nearer.
"I will have to lose to Mildred melamin." He said one night as he stood by her door, bidding her a goodnight. "And the shame that I will endure because of it will kill me." He added burying his face in her shoulder and she sighed, stroking his head gently, running her fingers through his hair.
"But Legolas you will forever have my love and that is the one thing that losing a tournament cannot change. I love you and no other." She said and he looked up at her.
"I have been an archer since I was but 20 years old Celebfaer. And when I was 21 they entered me into my first tournament and I won. I have bettered everyone I have ever come up against Celebfaer. I have never lost." He admitted and she sighed then untangled him from her arms.
"I shall see you in the morning my love." She said then she opened her door and entered, shutting it behind her.
******************************
Before long the tournament was almost upon them. Celebfaer had been so busy preparing for the wedding that would take place on the first full moon after the tournament finished, if Legolas was successful. She had been so busy preparing for the wedding that she had not spent much time with him. In fact it was the day before the tournament when she had a spare moment and she ran around the entire city looking for him before she tried the training yards. He was there, practicing his aim.
As she approached he looked away from the target as he shot, then sighed as he heard the solid thunk of the arrow hitting the target. Frowning she turned to look at the target, only to see that the arrow he had shot so blindly had hit the target directly in the center.
"Legolas!" She called and he turned in the direction of her voice, his face downcast and full of despair. She looked at him and he looked at her, readying another arrow and shoot it while he still looked at her.
She could not resist, she turned to look at the target and that arrow that he had just shot had split the one he had shot seconds before.
"How?" She asked because she was now close enough for him to hear her.
"I told you I have never lost. The only time my aim was bad was when I was near to death." He said sadly and he pulled her closer to him then buried his head in her shoulder then she heard him begin to weep. "I cannot lose this tournament for you Celebfaer, no matter how hard I try." He said.
She stroked the top of his head, starting to despair herself. "I can help you Legolas. Let me try before you despair." She said softly and he looked up at her, his face wet with tears. The sight scared her because she had never seen him like this. He never showed his emotions unless they were good and this was not something she wanted to see. Except when he had been close to death but even then he had been cold and emotionless. She kissed him softly then continued. "Have one more shot and I will see if I can help."
He nodded then picked up his bow and arrow, readying an arrow. As he let it go, Celebfaer whispered some words, calling air and the arrow moved slightly to the side, but it still hit the target.
"What bow do you shoot with?" She asked and he offered it to her. "This is the bow from Lothlorien. Have you tried another bow?"
Legolas nodded. "I have, with the same result."
"Aim for the ground straight in front of you." She said.
"It is the only thing that works, but I must look like I am trying... I cannot bare the shame of shooting arrows straight into the ground."
"Then aim for your opponents target. If you aim for a different target, then the shot does not count and you could very well get disqualified."
"But the Queen has said that I must loose."
"Do not draw back as far and your arrow will not hit the target! Legolas you have to do something because I will not wed any other by our lore and we must wed this month." She said and this time he frowned.
"Why are you so eager to wed? Melamin they will not force you to wed another will they?"
"Nay, Legolas." She said then she looked down at her feet then took his hand in hers, tears coming to her eyes. "You were right Legolas. I am with child." She said and he smiled broadly.
"That is fantastic news melamin!" He said then he kissed her and she pushed him back.
"We must get back to Eryn Lasgalen before it comes. I do not want the child born here." She said and Legolas frowned.
"Why not?"
"I do not know how it will be received." She said and he frowned once more.
"I shall not let anyone hurt our child Celebfaer."
"You may not have a choice Legolas. Just promise me that you will complete this challenge, for as long as you have your reputation with the Elves, your reputation with the Fairies should not matter. Once you wear the diamond in your left ear none will care that you lost to them in an archery tournament. As long as you rule kindly and justly." She said and he sighed.
"I shall try for you Celebfaer and we will depart on our journey back to Eryn Lasgalen two days after we are wedded." He said and she smiled then hugged him.
"I thank you Legolas."
Cheers.
Chapter Six: Preparations
The Queen organized a ball that was to be held a week later in which the whole kingdom would attend and at the ball the Queen was going to announce the wedding of Legolas to Celebfaer.
But the day after the council, the same day that the ball was announced, Celebfaer went to see her mother.
"Mother, I beg you do not announce me as your heir. Elysa hates me enough as it is and I wish for her to be a friend to me, though I see now that it will never be so. But if you do not give her what she wants then I fear something bad will happen. If need be Legolas and I shall leave the realm and never return. We shall forget about the Fairy Realm and I shall cut off my wings to honor that choice."
"Cut off your wings when I and many others worked so hard for them to be cleansed? That is as good as spitting in my face daughter. Do you wish to shame me so?"
"Nay mother I just want what is right for the peace of our race." She said, her voice slightly shaky. She did not want this responsibility. She did not even want to be Queen of Eryn Lasgalen as she would be one day when King Thranduil departed and Legolas took the throne.
"As do I daughter. You will be much better suited to rule after me, as we both know Elysa is not fit enough to rule. She can barely keep her own husband happy, let alone the whole kingdom. And how do you think it will look when it becomes known that the queen has been taken as concubine?" Asura said and Celebfaer gasped. She had known about Elysa's lover of course, but she did not know if the Queen had and to hear her speak of it in such a manner was quite a shock.
"Of... of what do you speak your highness?" Celebfaer asked, bowing her head slightly.
"I speak of Fiash, Celebfaer."
"How long have you known?" Celebfaer asked and her mother laughed.
"Elysa thinks me a fool but my eyes and ears see her. She will disgrace us, but I knew I should never had let her wed Sabin. He is too good to waste on my second-daughter."
"Can you not do anything mother?" Celebfaer asked and the Queen laughed.
"Exile my own daughter?" She asked, amused. "I cannot and I will not. So I shall just take all of her rights away from her, one by one until he is all she has left. As a Queen you will learn that you must endure some things for the better good of the kingdom."
"I believe the kingdom would see it as the other way around. That she was keeping him to warm her bed, not the other way around."
"You would have Sabin, the rightful King of the Fairies shamed that way?" Asura said and Celebfaer bowed her head in shame. She had not intended for her words to be taken that way.
"I cannot take back my marriage to Legolas, mother and if given the choice, neither would I want to. I do not regret marrying him and if the kingdom will not accept him as King beside me then I shall not be Queen." Celebfaer said and the Queen nodded, touching Celebfaer's face and bringing it up so that Celebfaer was looking straight at her mother.
"I would have it no other way my daughter. It is unfortunate that your heart chose an Elf, and not Sabin or Mildred, but some things must be endured and overlooked for the sake of the kingdom. The fairies will follow you because the Council and I support you. Now I suggest you enjoy the week of freedom that I have given Legolas until the ball, because after the ball you shall be busy with preparations for the wedding."
Celebfaer knew that she had just been dismissed and that the topic was no longer open to discussion. So she bowed to her mother then departed from her rooms.
Legolas was easy enough to find and when she found him she persuaded him to come for a ride with her.
They rode for a while, heading for the back corner of the Realm, Celebfaer did not want to be disturbed and she did not want any ears to hear what she had to say. When they eventually stopped, she leaned over and kissed Legolas, without dismounting from her horse.
"Melamin, you will be King one day." She said.
"Of Eryn Lasgalen and you shall be Queen beside me, Celebfaer." He said and she dismounted from her horse then took the reins of his horse as he dismounted.
"You misunderstand me Legolas." She said, tying the reins of the horses together so they could graze.
"Forgive me, but how do I misunderstand? Will you not be my Queen when I succeed the crown after my father?"
"You will also be King of the Fairies beside me Legolas and the responsibility that we shall have as King and Queen is greater than you will know." She said and he frowned.
"I shall make sacrifices if only to be by your side for eternity."
"Surely you cannot mean..." She started, but he cut her off.
"I shall not travel west. My father and brother will go, but I shall not. It is the price I pay to be your husband. A small price to pay for loving one not of my race." He said and she shook her head.
"No. You will go to Valinor with your kin, I dare not stop you.."
"Not all Elves will travel to the west. Celeborn will not and those that are left shall dwell forever with the trees. I shall forever be with you, melamin." He said and she looked down but he cupped her face with his hands. "Do not despair. My father knows and expects this so he will leave me Eryn Lasgalen and whichever of her people that wish to stay."
"I am not worthy of this sacrifice Legolas."
"You are worthy of my love are you not? You are worthy of me." He said then he leaned forward, so that their foreheads were touching.
"But..." She started, but he placed a finger to her lips.
"Hush, let us not speak of this again. I have made my choice and nothing will sway my decision." He said then he kissed her.
Several hours later, Celebfaer stood up, brushing the grass out of her hair and trying to straighten it, while Legolas lay there, propped up on one elbow, watching her with sudden curiosity.
"Legolas you insist on getting grass in places that grass should not be, not to mention ruining my hair. How will it look when we return as though he have come straight from the marriage bed?" She asked him and he laughed, but still did not say anything, watching her walk around in the field. "But you make me so happy that I feel like dancing!" She said then she jumped upwards, fluttering her wings slightly so that she was lifted off the ground, where she twirled around easily.
It made him smile to see her so happy and it was what he lived for. That smile on her face and the twinkle of light in her eyes that appeared whenever he made her laugh or smile. But today the aura around her looked slightly different than he was used to. In fact it took him a small while to work out what it was and he smiled when the thought occurred to him.
She stopped dancing suddenly, then flew down to where he still lay propped up on one elbow watching her with a content smile on his face.
"Has my love nothing you say?"
"Nay, I am content to look at you." He said and she smiled, then offered him her hands, which he took before she pulled him to his feet.
"Say something at least." She said when he was standing in front of her and he kissed the top of her forehead then pulled her close.
"You are with child." He said and she rolled her eyes then pushed him away slightly.
"With child? Legolas how can I be with child when you know as well as I that today was the first.."
"I know you are with child." He said smiling and cutting her off. "Do not argue with me for I know it to be the truth and if you wait a few weeks we shall fetch a doctor and he shall prove me right." He added. "Now, let us return to the palace before we are late for dinner, yet again."
"How can one argue with that? But I shall prove you wrong in two weeks Legolas." She said, then she ran off to fetch the horses, while he walked slowly behind her, watching her aura once again. What he had seen before was still there, but it was only very faint. He was sure that once the baby began to grow the aura that surrounded her would become much stronger. But for now he was content to wait for her.
*****************************
Soon enough the ball came around and the Queen announced that Celebfaer and Legolas were to be wed. She would wait until they were married before she would announce that Celebfaer was the first-daughter. The kingdom had to be handled one small step at a time so she would not spring that on them yet, she would wait for Legolas and Celebfaer to gain the favour of the people first.
Though Legolas had already been accepted for the marriage, the people of the city cried for a challenge to be issued. So at the ball she made both Celebfaer and Legolas stand in front of her, Legolas kneeling and Celebfaer standing beside him looking very scared for Legolas.
"Is it true that you are best archer among all of the Elves?" The Queen asked and Legolas nodded.
"In Eryn Lasgalen, that was once called Mirkwood, I am the best archer your highness."
"And you are well known for this reputation?"
"I am?"
"Then I propose a tournament." The Queen said. "You will compete in a tournament against all the arches in the Fairy realm and you will lose." She added and Celebfaer turned to look at her mother in surprise.
"Pardon your highness, but did you say I should lose?" He asked looking up at the Queen and she nodded.
"Yes. To prove that you love my daughter above everything else you must be willing to cast aside your reputation as the best archer. Arrangements will be made and the tournament will be held exactly one month from this date." She said and the room of people cheered.
"Legolas it will be alright." Celebfaer said and he sighed.
"How hard can it be to lose?" He asked but he looked as though he was already shamed.
"Legolas you do not have to take the challenge." She said and he shook his head.
"If it will make them accept me then I shall."
So preparations were made for the tournament and Legolas dreaded each day as it drew nearer.
"I will have to lose to Mildred melamin." He said one night as he stood by her door, bidding her a goodnight. "And the shame that I will endure because of it will kill me." He added burying his face in her shoulder and she sighed, stroking his head gently, running her fingers through his hair.
"But Legolas you will forever have my love and that is the one thing that losing a tournament cannot change. I love you and no other." She said and he looked up at her.
"I have been an archer since I was but 20 years old Celebfaer. And when I was 21 they entered me into my first tournament and I won. I have bettered everyone I have ever come up against Celebfaer. I have never lost." He admitted and she sighed then untangled him from her arms.
"I shall see you in the morning my love." She said then she opened her door and entered, shutting it behind her.
******************************
Before long the tournament was almost upon them. Celebfaer had been so busy preparing for the wedding that would take place on the first full moon after the tournament finished, if Legolas was successful. She had been so busy preparing for the wedding that she had not spent much time with him. In fact it was the day before the tournament when she had a spare moment and she ran around the entire city looking for him before she tried the training yards. He was there, practicing his aim.
As she approached he looked away from the target as he shot, then sighed as he heard the solid thunk of the arrow hitting the target. Frowning she turned to look at the target, only to see that the arrow he had shot so blindly had hit the target directly in the center.
"Legolas!" She called and he turned in the direction of her voice, his face downcast and full of despair. She looked at him and he looked at her, readying another arrow and shoot it while he still looked at her.
She could not resist, she turned to look at the target and that arrow that he had just shot had split the one he had shot seconds before.
"How?" She asked because she was now close enough for him to hear her.
"I told you I have never lost. The only time my aim was bad was when I was near to death." He said sadly and he pulled her closer to him then buried his head in her shoulder then she heard him begin to weep. "I cannot lose this tournament for you Celebfaer, no matter how hard I try." He said.
She stroked the top of his head, starting to despair herself. "I can help you Legolas. Let me try before you despair." She said softly and he looked up at her, his face wet with tears. The sight scared her because she had never seen him like this. He never showed his emotions unless they were good and this was not something she wanted to see. Except when he had been close to death but even then he had been cold and emotionless. She kissed him softly then continued. "Have one more shot and I will see if I can help."
He nodded then picked up his bow and arrow, readying an arrow. As he let it go, Celebfaer whispered some words, calling air and the arrow moved slightly to the side, but it still hit the target.
"What bow do you shoot with?" She asked and he offered it to her. "This is the bow from Lothlorien. Have you tried another bow?"
Legolas nodded. "I have, with the same result."
"Aim for the ground straight in front of you." She said.
"It is the only thing that works, but I must look like I am trying... I cannot bare the shame of shooting arrows straight into the ground."
"Then aim for your opponents target. If you aim for a different target, then the shot does not count and you could very well get disqualified."
"But the Queen has said that I must loose."
"Do not draw back as far and your arrow will not hit the target! Legolas you have to do something because I will not wed any other by our lore and we must wed this month." She said and this time he frowned.
"Why are you so eager to wed? Melamin they will not force you to wed another will they?"
"Nay, Legolas." She said then she looked down at her feet then took his hand in hers, tears coming to her eyes. "You were right Legolas. I am with child." She said and he smiled broadly.
"That is fantastic news melamin!" He said then he kissed her and she pushed him back.
"We must get back to Eryn Lasgalen before it comes. I do not want the child born here." She said and Legolas frowned.
"Why not?"
"I do not know how it will be received." She said and he frowned once more.
"I shall not let anyone hurt our child Celebfaer."
"You may not have a choice Legolas. Just promise me that you will complete this challenge, for as long as you have your reputation with the Elves, your reputation with the Fairies should not matter. Once you wear the diamond in your left ear none will care that you lost to them in an archery tournament. As long as you rule kindly and justly." She said and he sighed.
"I shall try for you Celebfaer and we will depart on our journey back to Eryn Lasgalen two days after we are wedded." He said and she smiled then hugged him.
"I thank you Legolas."