A/N: Hi guys, sorry it took so long to update, but uni has been so busy
that I haven't had a chance to write! Oh well I hope this makes up for it,
it's a long chapter (9 pages in a word document) and I hope it lives up to
the expectation.
Also one of you asked how to pronounce Celebfaer, it can be pronounced as either Kel-eb-fair or Sell-eb-fair, whichever you find better or easier to pronounce.. Although Kel-eb-fair is the Elvish way of pronouncing it, I think! Anyway I hope you like the chapter.
Enjoy!
Louise Blue.
Chapter Eight: To Be Bonded As A Fairy
The three days before the wedding flew past and Celebfaer rarely had a chance to see Legolas, as he was busy getting fitted for new clothes that he could wear to the wedding and Sabin was guarding him, making sure she could not see him. It was part of the tradition. Once the challenge had been completed the bride and groom were banned from seeing each other until the next full moon. But to Celebfaer it was also torture.
The City had celebrated the results of the tournament for two whole nights, but as with tradition on the night before the wedding the city was silent. Celebfaer could not sleep so she stayed up most of the night watching the stars and the moon, wondering what would become of her and Legolas and any children that they might have.
She had been moved to another room, smaller with less of a view of the gardens and stars, but she was still able to see some of the night sky. Her rooms were going to be cleansed because she could not bring her husband into rooms that she had been sleeping in. It needed to be blessed and aired out. And the servants were supposed to ready it and prepare it for what was to take place there the next night. Though what that meant Celebfaer had never been told. All she knew was that her mother had selected items to be placed in the room and Celebfaer, nor Legolas were allowed to see them before they were wedded.
So the next day when the sun started to rise, the servants came into the room, surprised to see her up.
"Your highness." They said bowing and Celebfaer allowed them to take her to the bathing chamber. As the servants set about their job of cleaning her hair and making sure she was clean in general, they chatted happily to each other, though Celebfaer did not say much. They took her silence to be nerves and started telling her things she ought to do.
"Princess, do not be frightened. The marriage bed is not something to be feared and he looks as though he would be gentle." The eldest one, Rosa said. She had been happily married since Celebfaer could remember and she smiled now as she thought about her husband. Rosa had also been allocated as Celebfaer's servant once she had come back to the realm and now that she had come back again with Legolas, Rosa was the head of Celebfaer's servants.
"It is improper it is." Said another of the maids. "Women should not have to endure such torture. It ruins their pureness." The maid's name was Mia and she had never been married and had happily announced that she did not agree with such goings on.
"Sush. She is the princess of our land and therefore it is her place to produce many children. Otherwise we would not get a succession. And so far the Lady Elysa has been no good in producing any children and she's been wedded for nearly two millennia." Dana, another of the maids said. Dana was slightly older than Mia and Celebfaer tried to stifle her laugh at what her maid had just said. Dana was actually younger than Elysa, though she herself was married and had already borne two children.
"Some are beginning to think that Lady Elysa, bless her soul, may not be capable of having children at all. And thank the Valar for that, if there were more like her.. Could you imagine it?" Julia, the youngest of the maids that tended Celebfaer, said.
The Queen had made sure that all the servants that attended Celebfaer, except Rosa, were either not favored or openly showed their dislike for Elysa, among the other servants only of course. It was the Queen's way of assuring that Celebfaer would not be spied on for Elysa. But it was not too much of a guarantee because anyone could pretend to hate someone, though Celebfaer found it amusing to listen to. When the maids had first started bickering about her sister they had thought Celebfaer was not listening. They had been caught out and Celebfaer had told them that if they were to serve her they were to speak freely around her. She did not have many friends and she enjoyed listening to her maid's gossip. They comforted her and it was a good way to work out things that happened when Celebfaer had not been at the realm or any feuds that she could avoid.
"Why do they say that? Could it not be my brother-in-law that is incapable?" Celebfaer asked and the servants laughed at her question.
"My Lady, everyone knows that Lord Sabin has fathered a child. Though both mother and child died within hours of each other after the birth. It happened before Lady Elysa was born and a few years after you disappeared. They say it was she that seduced him and he being so wrapped up in his grief could not resist. Of course it was denied when your dear sister, Lady Elysa was born."
"You should not believe the rumors Elsie." Rosa said and the maids stopped chatting and continued about their work in silence. Rosa clearly was in charge and she allowed gossip to a certain degree, but she knew when to stop it. The servants could be killed for treason if they weren't careful, although Celebfaer would never let one of her servants be killed, but Rosa liked to be safe, not sorry.
"I am not infertile." Celebfaer said softly after a brief silence, thinking of the baby that was even now growing inside her, and the old maid laughed.
"My Lady, you shall not know until you are with child, may we be blessed for that to happen, although it would be a miracle. A union such as yours my Lady has never conceived a child." Rosa replied.
Celebfaer looked at the other servants wearily before she decided better against saying anything. But Rosa was sharper than most servants and she sensed Celebfaer's hesitation. So she sent the other four off to get the dress because she was capable for finishing. Rosa was not only sharp, but she was also one of the most loyal servants in the palace. She did not believe the rumours and not a single thing happened in the City that she did not know about and everything she knew was the truth.
When they were all gone and their laughter could no longer be heard in the corridor outside the bathing chamber, Rosa looked at Celebfaer, not pausing in her work. "My Lady?" She asked, curiously. She had a knack for knowing when Celebfaer wanted to talk in private.
"Legolas and I were wedded by Elvish lore a whole year ago now." Celebfaer said. "I am no stranger to the marriage bed." She said bluntly and Rosa nodded, Celebfaer guessed she had suspected as much. Besides, Rosa was the one that did her laundry, so she would have known that Celebfaer was going to have a child.
"My Lady, are you with child?" Rosa asked now, as Celebfaer had suspected she would. Rosa was not stupid and Celebfaer's monthly courses had not come for over a month and a half.
Celebfaer turned to look at the servant. "Yes Rosa, I am."
"Then it is true."
"What?"
"They say that the blood of the royal line prevents any of the children born after the first from having children, unless the first-born is killed, my Lady. Though I did not believe that such a union would be able to create a child..." Rosa started, but Celebfaer cut her sentence short.
"There is one among us that is proof of a union between Elves and Fairies." Celebfaer said and Rosa looked around putting a finger to her lips.
"Your highness that is never spoken about. His mother did not want him to know and I respected her wishes." Rosa said, bowing her head in respect for the dead. "It is best for most to believe that such a union cannot happen. Although if it is to happen to the first-daughter then none will think it odd. They will just think it is good fortune for we have not had any newborns in the realm for over a millennia." Rosa said and Celebfaer nodded to her.
"You are smarter than you make out Rosa. Tell me would you consider leaving the realm?"
Rosa smiled. "I serve my Queen, though I have dreamed of leaving the realm and seeing the world outside once more before I die." She said and Celebfaer nodded, just as the other servants came back, chatting loudly about how nice the dress was and whatever else. They were talking so loudly that Celebfaer was sure that the whole kingdom would have heard them and Rosa scoulded them when they arrived. Then with a smile they helped Celebfaer out of the bath and began work.
Her hair they put up, leaving half of it down, but through her hair they weaved small moonstones so that when the moonlight hit them they would sparkle. At her request they weaved some carnelians through it as well so that her hair was littered with white and orange stones. The half of her hair that was up had so many twists and turns and pins in it to hold it up that she thought she would never get it out. But she did not protest, as they knew what they were doing and she did not.
So quite a few hours later Celebfaer was standing dressed in a white fairy- styled wedding dress, revealing a little more than she was used to at the top and leaving her legs bare from mid thigh downwards. When she allowed herself to look in the mirror she went profusely red. She had never had showed so much skin before.
Rosa laughed when she saw her reaction. "My Lady you are redder than the deepest rose. You have showed much more skin than this in your younger years. In fact your mother used to have to chase you with a cloak. Those friends of yours liked to dress you very inappropriately and many of the men would not be able to concentrate when you walked by. Especially those that were wedded."
"I did no such thing!" Celebfaer said turning an even brighter shade of red, because she could not remember ever doing this. Her maids laughed to see her. "Thank the Valar that it will be night." She added softly, as their laughter died down, then she turned to face Rosa but another voice spoke before she could.
"Let me see her!" He called and the servants hurried to stand in front of her, using their wings to lift themselves off the ground so that she could be completely hidden, while Rosa grabbed hold of Celebfaer by the arms so that she would not fly to him.
"LEGOLAS!" Sabin called then and Celebfaer tried to call out but Rosa put her hand over her mouth.
"You must not my Lady." Rosa whispered.
"Celebfaer, we cannot do this! These clothes and the ceremony are indecent!" Legolas called and she bit her lip. She desperately wanted to call out to him, but knew she could not. Rosa nodded, then she let go of Celebfaer, knowing she wouldn't do anything she shouldn't do and then she flew up above the rest of the servants and flew down in front of them.
"Where is my wife?" Legolas asked when the servant landed in front of him. He was enraged. Sabin had spent most of the past three days preparing Legolas for the wedding and most of the traditions he had balked at, but Sabin had just told him that she had endured an Elvish wedding, so he must endure a Fairy wedding. He knew it was true and he knew that Celebfaer had probably prepared Sabin for his arguments, but what Sabin had just told him several minutes before had made Legolas' temper flare even more. It was unacceptable and he would not do it. He could not do it and then return to Eryn Lasgalen. He would be shamed more than he was losing the archery tournament.
"Legolas. She is not your wife yet!" Sabin said through gritted teeth, praying that the Elven prince remembered his place and that he was not in his own castle anymore.
"We are wedded by Elvish lore Sabin and it is not right to keep me from my wife, and any who try are given the penalty of death. It is bad enough that you cut off the bond that I share with her for the past three days, but you will let me see her." He said to Sabin then he turned to look at the maid in front of him. "Now if you would be so kind to call your servants off and show me my wife."
"Lord Sabin, you failed. You were supposed to prevent this from happening." The maid replied, completely ignoring Legolas, which made him angrier. She had a command in her tone that suggested that even though she was merely a maid, she had a lot more command than Sabin did.
"Rosa, he is not as heavily guarded as Celebfaer. Not many of the men wish to attend him as of late because he has had a short temper." Sabin replied, glaring at Legolas, who glared back.
"Do not talk about me when I am standing here! Will you let me see my wife?" Legolas asked Rosa and Sabin shook his head but Rosa just looked at him for a few seconds before she spoke.
"Master Greenleaf, you have already broken tradition by being in the room, please do not break it further." Rosa said, her brown eyes boring into his and he felt as though he was back in Lothlorien, being stared down by the Lady of the Wood.
"And Legolas, remember for you she endured an Elvish wedding, it is only fair that you shall do the same." Sabin said softly, hoping this would calm him down and Legolas sighed.
He had weighed the risks and decided that it was not worth starting a feud to get past the wall of four fairies that was between him and his wife. "Melamin I do this only because it is what you want." Legolas said in Sindrian, the tongue of the woodland elves. "Though I think some of the traditions are indecent and very outrageous. You endured, so I shall endure." He added and Celebfaer smiled, behind her wall of servants, though none saw it. She knew that none there, save maybe Sabin would have understood this. "I am sorry Rosa for disturbing the peace." Legolas said switching back to Common Speech.
"So you should be." Elsie said from directly in front of Celebfaer and Mia grunted.
"Yes. It is enough that you are taking my Lady's pureness from her and now this. The Queen should rethink her decision!" Mia added, agreeing and Celebfaer rolled her eyes.
Legolas looked up at the fairy that had spoken, frowning at her and Sabin grabbed his shoulder, trying to prevent the Elf from saying something that was known to a select few, but never spoken of.
"I am already wedded to her." Was all Legolas said and Mia's mouth dropped open in shock, as did the rest of the servants and Sabin sighed, finally realizing that it had gone too far, and seeing as Legolas insisted on being like a child, he would get treated like one, so Sabin picked Legolas up as he flapped his wings, lifting Legolas up off the ground and flying off.
"Rosa I am sorry." Sabin called back as Legolas tried to resist him, but Sabin refused to let go. He had taken it too far, so Sabin would treat him with the same way any that acted like that was treated, like a child, not an equal.
"Stubborn Elf." Rosa said once they were out of sight and the servants moved out of the way so that Rosa could see Celebfaer. "It will be the doom of the kingdom." Rosa told Celebfaer and Celebfaer bowed her head.
"He is determined. It is hard to stop him once his heart is set." Celebfaer said, smiling as she remembered. Then she smoothed her face over so it was calm once more. "He also forgets that there were many things I endured for the Elvish wedding, though I too objected, I did not break tradition." Celebfaer said, touching the ring on her left hand as she spoke. "Do not worry Rosa, this will not go unpunished." Celebfaer added and Rosa laughed.
"Come, we must present you to your mother so that she can eat supper with you." Rosa said and Celebfaer nodded.
"My Lady, is it true what he said?" Mia asked as they were walking.
"Nay. It is a sin to come to the marriage bed impure." Celebfaer said so innocently that they all believed her. All except Rosa, who just nodded, then smiled at Celebfaer. But seeing as Celebfaer had gone to the marriage bed pure when she and Legolas had wedded in Eryn Lasgalen she was technically not lying.
At the supper with her mother, Celebfaer was given her crown. Her mother had taken it from Elysa, though Elysa had not protested, as she had promised when she had linked with the council a month earlier. The small gold crown was in fact Celebfaer's anyway. The designs had been drawn up for it at her birth and when she had turned 500 years old she had been presented with it. Though she had not been allowed to wear it until she was wedded. Her servants had taken the small silver crown that she had worn every day for the past year off her head when they had bathed her. It was the crown that symbolized that she was to be Queen of Eryn Lasgalen one day, and she had received it when she had wedded Legolas. But they had removed it and now Celebfaer's mother placed the gold crown on her head.
"Thank you mother." Celebfaer said and the Queen smiled.
"So as soon as you are seen tonight it will be known that you are the rightful first-daughter. And those that do not see the crown shall know from the ceremony." Asura said and Celebfaer nodded. "Now my daughter, we wait."
********************************
Sure enough it did not take long and Celebfaer and her mother feasted on fruit and all sorts of sweets and drank wine while they waited for the sun to go down.
A bell chimed when the halls were dark and Celebfaer began to feel nervous. She hoped that Sabin had managed to keep Legolas under control. Celebfaer's mother rose and invited Celebfaer to do the same.
"Come, we walk."
So they walked from the castle out into the woods until they came upon a clearing. There was a small hill in the clearing and servants had decorated the hill with beautiful flower arrangements and the road leading from the woods to the top of the hill, where Ryan, Annook and Jenya were sitting, was alight with torches. Ryan and Annook had a chair between them, the chair that the Queen would take eventually. Jenya was sitting next to Ryan and there was another empty seat next to Annook. When any of the heirs were to be wedded, the man, or woman that wanted to wed them was to approach last so Legolas and Sabin were probably not there yet. The moon was bright enough for them to see their way, but the torches were supposed to represent the fire spirit, which Celebfaer could call most easily, so fire dominated the decorations.
The entire city was standing, waiting for their arrival and Celebfaer shivered, knowing that soon all their eyes would be on her.
"Do not be afraid daughter. This was meant to be." Asura said, then she kissed Celebfaer on the top of the head. "And he is worthy of you, otherwise I would not have allowed this day to come."
"Yes mother." Celebfaer said then she took a deep breath.
"Mia." The Queen said and Mia looked up at her.
"Yes, your highness?"
"Go find and tell Sabin that we are ready to proceed."
Mia rushed off to do that and the queen beckoned Elsie and told her to go up the hill and tell Annook,, Ryan and Jenya that they were ready to begin, while they stood on the edge of the wood, waiting for the signal.
All of a sudden there was silence and Ryan stood up and addressed the kingdom, his voice carrying easily down the hill to the wood where they stood. "The Queen and her daughter approach." He said then he sat back down.
The Queen nodded to Celebfaer then took a step forward and Celebfaer came one step behind her mother, her servants went in front, throwing flower petals on the ground so that the Queen and her daughter could walk over them.
When they made it to the top of the hill Annook stood up from her seat. "Who presents this fairy?"
"I do." The Queen said.
"Do you give your blessing to the union that will soon take place?"
"I do."
"The Queen has spoken." Annook said, then she turned to Celebfaer. "Rydia." Annook continued using Celebfaer's fairy name and she looked at her, her chin raised high. Because she was now the first-daughter she did not have to bow to any, but her mother. "Do you wish for this union to take place?"
"With my whole heart." She said and Annook nodded.
"So be it." She said then she sat down in her chair, as the Queen walked up the hill until she was in front of the chair that had been reserved for her.
When she reached her chair she turned around to face the people of the realm.
"You are all here to witness the wedding of the first-daughter. Let it be said than none will contest her right to the throne and that he husband will be followed as though he were one of our own." The Queen said and then she looked down to Celebfaer. "Let he who wishes to take my daughter's hand come forward." She said and then she sat down.
Celebfaer turned around and waited, but she could not see anyone down at the edge of the wood. They waited maybe ten minutes until Legolas and Sabin appeared and began to walk up the hill to where Celebfaer stood.
Legolas was wearing a tunic with fairy embroidery on it, but he was not wearing the shorts that Sabin was wearing. Instead Legolas was wearing a pair of leggings that also had fairy embroidery. But Celebfaer almost did not recognize him because someone had cut his hair. It was now as short as Sabin's and Celebfaer gasped, loudly. Now she understood why he had been so angry. His hair was his pride and if he were to go back to Eryn Lasgalen with hair that short he would be frowned upon. Celebfaer turned briefly to look at her mother, but her mother's face was expressionless. So she turned back to watch Legolas approach her and despite what they had done to his hair he was smiling at her the same way he had smiled at her on the day they had been wedded by Elvish lore. Then as the moonlight hit him she noticed a something sparkle in his left ear and she gasped once more though this time it was not as audible as the first. That sparkle could only mean one thing and as he came closer she realized that it was in fact a diamond stud in his left ear. A symbol of a King, or future King of the Fairies.
Sabin and Legolas stopped a few meters away from when she was standing and both kneeled before the Queen, neither looking at her.
Annook stood up then and addressed them. "Who comes before the Queen?"
"I am called Sabin, husband to Elysa, the second-daughter to the Queen Asura, and I bring Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm who wishes to wed Rydia, first-daughter of the Queen Asura." Sabin said lifting his head to look at Annook.
"Do you speak for he who wishes to wed the first-daughter?"
"I do." Sabin said and the Queen stood up.
"Do you give your blessing for this union?" The Queen asked Sabin as Annook sat down.
"I do."
The Queen then turned to Legolas. "Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm you have been tested and found worthy for the first-daughter. Do you wish for this union to take place?"
"With all my heart." Legolas said and Celebfaer smiled. She did not think he would have said the same thing that she did. 'I do' was all that was required but the Queen was obviously impressed that he had said the same thing that Celebfaer herself had said, the smile on the Queen's face said more than words ever would.
"So be it." The Queen said and Sabin and Legolas stood up as the Queen walked towards where Celebfaer stood as Jenya stood up this time.
"Those that speak for these two people who wish to be joined, do they come into this union with a pure heart?" Jenya asked and Celebfaer felt her heart stop.
To lie about such a question was unforgivable and Celebfaer knew that the only acceptable answer to this question was yes.
"Rydia has been cleansed and she comes into this union with a pure heart." The Queen said and Celebfaer's heart began to pound again. That had been the reason for the very long bath that morning.
"Legolas has been cleansed and he comes into this union with a pure heart." Sabin said and Jenya nodded.
"Do any wish to speak against this union?" Jenya asked and the silence that followed lasted a few heartbeats, but to Celebfaer it seemed as though it lasted eternity.
When it was clear no one would object to the wedding, Jenya nodded again and the Queen took Celebfaer's hand as Legolas and Sabin came to stand beside them. Once there, Sabin took Legolas' hand.
"Now, I give Rydia's life into your hands." Asura said and she and Sabin pressed her and Legolas' hands together, but once they had found each other's hands they did not need to be guided. Legolas clasped her hand and she grasped his just as tightly.
The Queen nodded then she took Sabin's hand and they took a few steps up the hill and stood above Celebfaer and Legolas.
"I consent to this union." The Queen said and Rosa walked forward with the basket of rose petals and the queen took a handful of the rose petals and threw them over Legolas and Celebfaer, then she turned and sat down in her seat once more.
Ryan stood up after she was seated. "The Queen has consented." He said approaching the basket of rose petals and picking up a handful he threw them over Legolas and Celebfaer. "And so have I."
Annook came next and then Jenya, before Sabin was allowed to do the same and then he went to sit in the empty chair beside Annook.
When Sabin was seated the Queen stood up again. "This union has been consented and now it shall be made." She added and she closed her eyes and Celebfaer did too.
'Celebfaer do you give yourself completely and wholly to this Elf?' The Queen asked her in her mind and she nodded.
'I do.'
Then she heard the Queen ask the same for Legolas, but she did not hear his answer, because they were not yet bonded. All went quiet then and Celebfaer gave herself completely to her mother's mind and she felt her mother's mind twisting and melding Celebfaer's mind to Legolas'. It was a weird sensation, but it did not last terribly long and when she was finished the Queen smiled and Celebfaer could once again feel Legolas inside her head, although this time it was more intense than it had ever been. It was almost as though she were him and he was her, she could not exactly tell where her thoughts ended and his began. It was the strangest thing she had ever felt.
'Legolas you have her soul. Celebfaer you have his soul. You have now been bonded and this union is completed.' The Queen sent and then she withdrew from their minds.
"It is done." She announced and a cheer rose up from the people of the city.
But the ceremony was not completely over yet. There was still one thing to do.
Rosa stepped forward again and this time the basket she was carrying had a gold crown in it. The crown was the same size and design as that which now sat on Celebfaer's head.
"By way of marriage to the first-daughter Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm has earned the right to be heir. He will rule along side my daughter when I am gone." The Queen said lifting the crown out of the basket and Legolas bowed so that she could place the crown on top of his head. Then she kissed him on the top of the head as she had kissed Celebfaer before. "Welcome son." The Queen said so softly that Celebfaer barely heard her.
Then it was over. And Celebfaer and Legolas were instructed to lead the way back to the banquet room in the castle where the celebration would continue. The Queen and her advisors, with Sabin would follow and then the rest of the city.
As Celebfaer and Legolas disappeared through the wood, leaving everyone to follow behind them, Celebfaer put her hand up to his hair and ran her hand over it, her hands coming to rest on the diamond stud in his left ear lobe.
"I am sorry Legolas. I did not know.." She said, looking away in shame, but he sighed then cupped her face in his hands.
"It is alright. It will grow back. I can get used to the diamond." He said with a smile and then he kissed her quickly. "I did not get a chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight. Fairies certainly know how to dress a woman for her wedding night." He said with a smile and she laughed, then she kissed him quickly and they continued walking back towards the city, hand in hand and neither could stop smiling.
The feast went on well into the night and it was not until the sun came up that Asura allowed them to retire to Celebfaer's rooms.
When the got there the bed had been pulled out to the middle of the room and red silk curtains surrounded it. A drape had been put up over the window to stop any sunlight from coming in and in a small pile on the floor in the corner of the room were the gifts that her mother had chosen. Burning scented candles littered the floor where there weren't any gifts and each candle had been lit just before they had come into the room so the fresh scent of jasmine filled the air.
The gifts they had been given were small things like enough food for the rest of the day, mainly consisting of fruits, and cheeses and all sorts of delicacies. There was a pitcher full of wine and two beautiful gold wine goblets with the most delicate embroideries Celebfaer had ever seen on them. Celebfaer had also been given more dresses and Legolas had been given more tunics and leggings. But the unexpected gift was two bows that had an intricate design carved into them as well as matching arrows in quivers. There were also two bone knives with the same pattern as the bows carved into their handles.
Legolas smiled when he saw the weapons and he instantly went over to where they were and picked them up, testing them and Celebfaer smiled.
"Melamin this is amazing." He said as he picked up the knife. "It is so light." He added awe in his eyes and his voice.
But Celebfaer did not care for the weapons she walked over to the bed and opened the curtains, touching the silk bed spread before she sat on it and turned to look at Legolas. "Come." She said to him and he laughed, but he did not linger.
A/N: Hope you all liked that and please don't kill me about the hair! It will grow back!
Also one of you asked how to pronounce Celebfaer, it can be pronounced as either Kel-eb-fair or Sell-eb-fair, whichever you find better or easier to pronounce.. Although Kel-eb-fair is the Elvish way of pronouncing it, I think! Anyway I hope you like the chapter.
Enjoy!
Louise Blue.
Chapter Eight: To Be Bonded As A Fairy
The three days before the wedding flew past and Celebfaer rarely had a chance to see Legolas, as he was busy getting fitted for new clothes that he could wear to the wedding and Sabin was guarding him, making sure she could not see him. It was part of the tradition. Once the challenge had been completed the bride and groom were banned from seeing each other until the next full moon. But to Celebfaer it was also torture.
The City had celebrated the results of the tournament for two whole nights, but as with tradition on the night before the wedding the city was silent. Celebfaer could not sleep so she stayed up most of the night watching the stars and the moon, wondering what would become of her and Legolas and any children that they might have.
She had been moved to another room, smaller with less of a view of the gardens and stars, but she was still able to see some of the night sky. Her rooms were going to be cleansed because she could not bring her husband into rooms that she had been sleeping in. It needed to be blessed and aired out. And the servants were supposed to ready it and prepare it for what was to take place there the next night. Though what that meant Celebfaer had never been told. All she knew was that her mother had selected items to be placed in the room and Celebfaer, nor Legolas were allowed to see them before they were wedded.
So the next day when the sun started to rise, the servants came into the room, surprised to see her up.
"Your highness." They said bowing and Celebfaer allowed them to take her to the bathing chamber. As the servants set about their job of cleaning her hair and making sure she was clean in general, they chatted happily to each other, though Celebfaer did not say much. They took her silence to be nerves and started telling her things she ought to do.
"Princess, do not be frightened. The marriage bed is not something to be feared and he looks as though he would be gentle." The eldest one, Rosa said. She had been happily married since Celebfaer could remember and she smiled now as she thought about her husband. Rosa had also been allocated as Celebfaer's servant once she had come back to the realm and now that she had come back again with Legolas, Rosa was the head of Celebfaer's servants.
"It is improper it is." Said another of the maids. "Women should not have to endure such torture. It ruins their pureness." The maid's name was Mia and she had never been married and had happily announced that she did not agree with such goings on.
"Sush. She is the princess of our land and therefore it is her place to produce many children. Otherwise we would not get a succession. And so far the Lady Elysa has been no good in producing any children and she's been wedded for nearly two millennia." Dana, another of the maids said. Dana was slightly older than Mia and Celebfaer tried to stifle her laugh at what her maid had just said. Dana was actually younger than Elysa, though she herself was married and had already borne two children.
"Some are beginning to think that Lady Elysa, bless her soul, may not be capable of having children at all. And thank the Valar for that, if there were more like her.. Could you imagine it?" Julia, the youngest of the maids that tended Celebfaer, said.
The Queen had made sure that all the servants that attended Celebfaer, except Rosa, were either not favored or openly showed their dislike for Elysa, among the other servants only of course. It was the Queen's way of assuring that Celebfaer would not be spied on for Elysa. But it was not too much of a guarantee because anyone could pretend to hate someone, though Celebfaer found it amusing to listen to. When the maids had first started bickering about her sister they had thought Celebfaer was not listening. They had been caught out and Celebfaer had told them that if they were to serve her they were to speak freely around her. She did not have many friends and she enjoyed listening to her maid's gossip. They comforted her and it was a good way to work out things that happened when Celebfaer had not been at the realm or any feuds that she could avoid.
"Why do they say that? Could it not be my brother-in-law that is incapable?" Celebfaer asked and the servants laughed at her question.
"My Lady, everyone knows that Lord Sabin has fathered a child. Though both mother and child died within hours of each other after the birth. It happened before Lady Elysa was born and a few years after you disappeared. They say it was she that seduced him and he being so wrapped up in his grief could not resist. Of course it was denied when your dear sister, Lady Elysa was born."
"You should not believe the rumors Elsie." Rosa said and the maids stopped chatting and continued about their work in silence. Rosa clearly was in charge and she allowed gossip to a certain degree, but she knew when to stop it. The servants could be killed for treason if they weren't careful, although Celebfaer would never let one of her servants be killed, but Rosa liked to be safe, not sorry.
"I am not infertile." Celebfaer said softly after a brief silence, thinking of the baby that was even now growing inside her, and the old maid laughed.
"My Lady, you shall not know until you are with child, may we be blessed for that to happen, although it would be a miracle. A union such as yours my Lady has never conceived a child." Rosa replied.
Celebfaer looked at the other servants wearily before she decided better against saying anything. But Rosa was sharper than most servants and she sensed Celebfaer's hesitation. So she sent the other four off to get the dress because she was capable for finishing. Rosa was not only sharp, but she was also one of the most loyal servants in the palace. She did not believe the rumours and not a single thing happened in the City that she did not know about and everything she knew was the truth.
When they were all gone and their laughter could no longer be heard in the corridor outside the bathing chamber, Rosa looked at Celebfaer, not pausing in her work. "My Lady?" She asked, curiously. She had a knack for knowing when Celebfaer wanted to talk in private.
"Legolas and I were wedded by Elvish lore a whole year ago now." Celebfaer said. "I am no stranger to the marriage bed." She said bluntly and Rosa nodded, Celebfaer guessed she had suspected as much. Besides, Rosa was the one that did her laundry, so she would have known that Celebfaer was going to have a child.
"My Lady, are you with child?" Rosa asked now, as Celebfaer had suspected she would. Rosa was not stupid and Celebfaer's monthly courses had not come for over a month and a half.
Celebfaer turned to look at the servant. "Yes Rosa, I am."
"Then it is true."
"What?"
"They say that the blood of the royal line prevents any of the children born after the first from having children, unless the first-born is killed, my Lady. Though I did not believe that such a union would be able to create a child..." Rosa started, but Celebfaer cut her sentence short.
"There is one among us that is proof of a union between Elves and Fairies." Celebfaer said and Rosa looked around putting a finger to her lips.
"Your highness that is never spoken about. His mother did not want him to know and I respected her wishes." Rosa said, bowing her head in respect for the dead. "It is best for most to believe that such a union cannot happen. Although if it is to happen to the first-daughter then none will think it odd. They will just think it is good fortune for we have not had any newborns in the realm for over a millennia." Rosa said and Celebfaer nodded to her.
"You are smarter than you make out Rosa. Tell me would you consider leaving the realm?"
Rosa smiled. "I serve my Queen, though I have dreamed of leaving the realm and seeing the world outside once more before I die." She said and Celebfaer nodded, just as the other servants came back, chatting loudly about how nice the dress was and whatever else. They were talking so loudly that Celebfaer was sure that the whole kingdom would have heard them and Rosa scoulded them when they arrived. Then with a smile they helped Celebfaer out of the bath and began work.
Her hair they put up, leaving half of it down, but through her hair they weaved small moonstones so that when the moonlight hit them they would sparkle. At her request they weaved some carnelians through it as well so that her hair was littered with white and orange stones. The half of her hair that was up had so many twists and turns and pins in it to hold it up that she thought she would never get it out. But she did not protest, as they knew what they were doing and she did not.
So quite a few hours later Celebfaer was standing dressed in a white fairy- styled wedding dress, revealing a little more than she was used to at the top and leaving her legs bare from mid thigh downwards. When she allowed herself to look in the mirror she went profusely red. She had never had showed so much skin before.
Rosa laughed when she saw her reaction. "My Lady you are redder than the deepest rose. You have showed much more skin than this in your younger years. In fact your mother used to have to chase you with a cloak. Those friends of yours liked to dress you very inappropriately and many of the men would not be able to concentrate when you walked by. Especially those that were wedded."
"I did no such thing!" Celebfaer said turning an even brighter shade of red, because she could not remember ever doing this. Her maids laughed to see her. "Thank the Valar that it will be night." She added softly, as their laughter died down, then she turned to face Rosa but another voice spoke before she could.
"Let me see her!" He called and the servants hurried to stand in front of her, using their wings to lift themselves off the ground so that she could be completely hidden, while Rosa grabbed hold of Celebfaer by the arms so that she would not fly to him.
"LEGOLAS!" Sabin called then and Celebfaer tried to call out but Rosa put her hand over her mouth.
"You must not my Lady." Rosa whispered.
"Celebfaer, we cannot do this! These clothes and the ceremony are indecent!" Legolas called and she bit her lip. She desperately wanted to call out to him, but knew she could not. Rosa nodded, then she let go of Celebfaer, knowing she wouldn't do anything she shouldn't do and then she flew up above the rest of the servants and flew down in front of them.
"Where is my wife?" Legolas asked when the servant landed in front of him. He was enraged. Sabin had spent most of the past three days preparing Legolas for the wedding and most of the traditions he had balked at, but Sabin had just told him that she had endured an Elvish wedding, so he must endure a Fairy wedding. He knew it was true and he knew that Celebfaer had probably prepared Sabin for his arguments, but what Sabin had just told him several minutes before had made Legolas' temper flare even more. It was unacceptable and he would not do it. He could not do it and then return to Eryn Lasgalen. He would be shamed more than he was losing the archery tournament.
"Legolas. She is not your wife yet!" Sabin said through gritted teeth, praying that the Elven prince remembered his place and that he was not in his own castle anymore.
"We are wedded by Elvish lore Sabin and it is not right to keep me from my wife, and any who try are given the penalty of death. It is bad enough that you cut off the bond that I share with her for the past three days, but you will let me see her." He said to Sabin then he turned to look at the maid in front of him. "Now if you would be so kind to call your servants off and show me my wife."
"Lord Sabin, you failed. You were supposed to prevent this from happening." The maid replied, completely ignoring Legolas, which made him angrier. She had a command in her tone that suggested that even though she was merely a maid, she had a lot more command than Sabin did.
"Rosa, he is not as heavily guarded as Celebfaer. Not many of the men wish to attend him as of late because he has had a short temper." Sabin replied, glaring at Legolas, who glared back.
"Do not talk about me when I am standing here! Will you let me see my wife?" Legolas asked Rosa and Sabin shook his head but Rosa just looked at him for a few seconds before she spoke.
"Master Greenleaf, you have already broken tradition by being in the room, please do not break it further." Rosa said, her brown eyes boring into his and he felt as though he was back in Lothlorien, being stared down by the Lady of the Wood.
"And Legolas, remember for you she endured an Elvish wedding, it is only fair that you shall do the same." Sabin said softly, hoping this would calm him down and Legolas sighed.
He had weighed the risks and decided that it was not worth starting a feud to get past the wall of four fairies that was between him and his wife. "Melamin I do this only because it is what you want." Legolas said in Sindrian, the tongue of the woodland elves. "Though I think some of the traditions are indecent and very outrageous. You endured, so I shall endure." He added and Celebfaer smiled, behind her wall of servants, though none saw it. She knew that none there, save maybe Sabin would have understood this. "I am sorry Rosa for disturbing the peace." Legolas said switching back to Common Speech.
"So you should be." Elsie said from directly in front of Celebfaer and Mia grunted.
"Yes. It is enough that you are taking my Lady's pureness from her and now this. The Queen should rethink her decision!" Mia added, agreeing and Celebfaer rolled her eyes.
Legolas looked up at the fairy that had spoken, frowning at her and Sabin grabbed his shoulder, trying to prevent the Elf from saying something that was known to a select few, but never spoken of.
"I am already wedded to her." Was all Legolas said and Mia's mouth dropped open in shock, as did the rest of the servants and Sabin sighed, finally realizing that it had gone too far, and seeing as Legolas insisted on being like a child, he would get treated like one, so Sabin picked Legolas up as he flapped his wings, lifting Legolas up off the ground and flying off.
"Rosa I am sorry." Sabin called back as Legolas tried to resist him, but Sabin refused to let go. He had taken it too far, so Sabin would treat him with the same way any that acted like that was treated, like a child, not an equal.
"Stubborn Elf." Rosa said once they were out of sight and the servants moved out of the way so that Rosa could see Celebfaer. "It will be the doom of the kingdom." Rosa told Celebfaer and Celebfaer bowed her head.
"He is determined. It is hard to stop him once his heart is set." Celebfaer said, smiling as she remembered. Then she smoothed her face over so it was calm once more. "He also forgets that there were many things I endured for the Elvish wedding, though I too objected, I did not break tradition." Celebfaer said, touching the ring on her left hand as she spoke. "Do not worry Rosa, this will not go unpunished." Celebfaer added and Rosa laughed.
"Come, we must present you to your mother so that she can eat supper with you." Rosa said and Celebfaer nodded.
"My Lady, is it true what he said?" Mia asked as they were walking.
"Nay. It is a sin to come to the marriage bed impure." Celebfaer said so innocently that they all believed her. All except Rosa, who just nodded, then smiled at Celebfaer. But seeing as Celebfaer had gone to the marriage bed pure when she and Legolas had wedded in Eryn Lasgalen she was technically not lying.
At the supper with her mother, Celebfaer was given her crown. Her mother had taken it from Elysa, though Elysa had not protested, as she had promised when she had linked with the council a month earlier. The small gold crown was in fact Celebfaer's anyway. The designs had been drawn up for it at her birth and when she had turned 500 years old she had been presented with it. Though she had not been allowed to wear it until she was wedded. Her servants had taken the small silver crown that she had worn every day for the past year off her head when they had bathed her. It was the crown that symbolized that she was to be Queen of Eryn Lasgalen one day, and she had received it when she had wedded Legolas. But they had removed it and now Celebfaer's mother placed the gold crown on her head.
"Thank you mother." Celebfaer said and the Queen smiled.
"So as soon as you are seen tonight it will be known that you are the rightful first-daughter. And those that do not see the crown shall know from the ceremony." Asura said and Celebfaer nodded. "Now my daughter, we wait."
********************************
Sure enough it did not take long and Celebfaer and her mother feasted on fruit and all sorts of sweets and drank wine while they waited for the sun to go down.
A bell chimed when the halls were dark and Celebfaer began to feel nervous. She hoped that Sabin had managed to keep Legolas under control. Celebfaer's mother rose and invited Celebfaer to do the same.
"Come, we walk."
So they walked from the castle out into the woods until they came upon a clearing. There was a small hill in the clearing and servants had decorated the hill with beautiful flower arrangements and the road leading from the woods to the top of the hill, where Ryan, Annook and Jenya were sitting, was alight with torches. Ryan and Annook had a chair between them, the chair that the Queen would take eventually. Jenya was sitting next to Ryan and there was another empty seat next to Annook. When any of the heirs were to be wedded, the man, or woman that wanted to wed them was to approach last so Legolas and Sabin were probably not there yet. The moon was bright enough for them to see their way, but the torches were supposed to represent the fire spirit, which Celebfaer could call most easily, so fire dominated the decorations.
The entire city was standing, waiting for their arrival and Celebfaer shivered, knowing that soon all their eyes would be on her.
"Do not be afraid daughter. This was meant to be." Asura said, then she kissed Celebfaer on the top of the head. "And he is worthy of you, otherwise I would not have allowed this day to come."
"Yes mother." Celebfaer said then she took a deep breath.
"Mia." The Queen said and Mia looked up at her.
"Yes, your highness?"
"Go find and tell Sabin that we are ready to proceed."
Mia rushed off to do that and the queen beckoned Elsie and told her to go up the hill and tell Annook,, Ryan and Jenya that they were ready to begin, while they stood on the edge of the wood, waiting for the signal.
All of a sudden there was silence and Ryan stood up and addressed the kingdom, his voice carrying easily down the hill to the wood where they stood. "The Queen and her daughter approach." He said then he sat back down.
The Queen nodded to Celebfaer then took a step forward and Celebfaer came one step behind her mother, her servants went in front, throwing flower petals on the ground so that the Queen and her daughter could walk over them.
When they made it to the top of the hill Annook stood up from her seat. "Who presents this fairy?"
"I do." The Queen said.
"Do you give your blessing to the union that will soon take place?"
"I do."
"The Queen has spoken." Annook said, then she turned to Celebfaer. "Rydia." Annook continued using Celebfaer's fairy name and she looked at her, her chin raised high. Because she was now the first-daughter she did not have to bow to any, but her mother. "Do you wish for this union to take place?"
"With my whole heart." She said and Annook nodded.
"So be it." She said then she sat down in her chair, as the Queen walked up the hill until she was in front of the chair that had been reserved for her.
When she reached her chair she turned around to face the people of the realm.
"You are all here to witness the wedding of the first-daughter. Let it be said than none will contest her right to the throne and that he husband will be followed as though he were one of our own." The Queen said and then she looked down to Celebfaer. "Let he who wishes to take my daughter's hand come forward." She said and then she sat down.
Celebfaer turned around and waited, but she could not see anyone down at the edge of the wood. They waited maybe ten minutes until Legolas and Sabin appeared and began to walk up the hill to where Celebfaer stood.
Legolas was wearing a tunic with fairy embroidery on it, but he was not wearing the shorts that Sabin was wearing. Instead Legolas was wearing a pair of leggings that also had fairy embroidery. But Celebfaer almost did not recognize him because someone had cut his hair. It was now as short as Sabin's and Celebfaer gasped, loudly. Now she understood why he had been so angry. His hair was his pride and if he were to go back to Eryn Lasgalen with hair that short he would be frowned upon. Celebfaer turned briefly to look at her mother, but her mother's face was expressionless. So she turned back to watch Legolas approach her and despite what they had done to his hair he was smiling at her the same way he had smiled at her on the day they had been wedded by Elvish lore. Then as the moonlight hit him she noticed a something sparkle in his left ear and she gasped once more though this time it was not as audible as the first. That sparkle could only mean one thing and as he came closer she realized that it was in fact a diamond stud in his left ear. A symbol of a King, or future King of the Fairies.
Sabin and Legolas stopped a few meters away from when she was standing and both kneeled before the Queen, neither looking at her.
Annook stood up then and addressed them. "Who comes before the Queen?"
"I am called Sabin, husband to Elysa, the second-daughter to the Queen Asura, and I bring Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm who wishes to wed Rydia, first-daughter of the Queen Asura." Sabin said lifting his head to look at Annook.
"Do you speak for he who wishes to wed the first-daughter?"
"I do." Sabin said and the Queen stood up.
"Do you give your blessing for this union?" The Queen asked Sabin as Annook sat down.
"I do."
The Queen then turned to Legolas. "Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm you have been tested and found worthy for the first-daughter. Do you wish for this union to take place?"
"With all my heart." Legolas said and Celebfaer smiled. She did not think he would have said the same thing that she did. 'I do' was all that was required but the Queen was obviously impressed that he had said the same thing that Celebfaer herself had said, the smile on the Queen's face said more than words ever would.
"So be it." The Queen said and Sabin and Legolas stood up as the Queen walked towards where Celebfaer stood as Jenya stood up this time.
"Those that speak for these two people who wish to be joined, do they come into this union with a pure heart?" Jenya asked and Celebfaer felt her heart stop.
To lie about such a question was unforgivable and Celebfaer knew that the only acceptable answer to this question was yes.
"Rydia has been cleansed and she comes into this union with a pure heart." The Queen said and Celebfaer's heart began to pound again. That had been the reason for the very long bath that morning.
"Legolas has been cleansed and he comes into this union with a pure heart." Sabin said and Jenya nodded.
"Do any wish to speak against this union?" Jenya asked and the silence that followed lasted a few heartbeats, but to Celebfaer it seemed as though it lasted eternity.
When it was clear no one would object to the wedding, Jenya nodded again and the Queen took Celebfaer's hand as Legolas and Sabin came to stand beside them. Once there, Sabin took Legolas' hand.
"Now, I give Rydia's life into your hands." Asura said and she and Sabin pressed her and Legolas' hands together, but once they had found each other's hands they did not need to be guided. Legolas clasped her hand and she grasped his just as tightly.
The Queen nodded then she took Sabin's hand and they took a few steps up the hill and stood above Celebfaer and Legolas.
"I consent to this union." The Queen said and Rosa walked forward with the basket of rose petals and the queen took a handful of the rose petals and threw them over Legolas and Celebfaer, then she turned and sat down in her seat once more.
Ryan stood up after she was seated. "The Queen has consented." He said approaching the basket of rose petals and picking up a handful he threw them over Legolas and Celebfaer. "And so have I."
Annook came next and then Jenya, before Sabin was allowed to do the same and then he went to sit in the empty chair beside Annook.
When Sabin was seated the Queen stood up again. "This union has been consented and now it shall be made." She added and she closed her eyes and Celebfaer did too.
'Celebfaer do you give yourself completely and wholly to this Elf?' The Queen asked her in her mind and she nodded.
'I do.'
Then she heard the Queen ask the same for Legolas, but she did not hear his answer, because they were not yet bonded. All went quiet then and Celebfaer gave herself completely to her mother's mind and she felt her mother's mind twisting and melding Celebfaer's mind to Legolas'. It was a weird sensation, but it did not last terribly long and when she was finished the Queen smiled and Celebfaer could once again feel Legolas inside her head, although this time it was more intense than it had ever been. It was almost as though she were him and he was her, she could not exactly tell where her thoughts ended and his began. It was the strangest thing she had ever felt.
'Legolas you have her soul. Celebfaer you have his soul. You have now been bonded and this union is completed.' The Queen sent and then she withdrew from their minds.
"It is done." She announced and a cheer rose up from the people of the city.
But the ceremony was not completely over yet. There was still one thing to do.
Rosa stepped forward again and this time the basket she was carrying had a gold crown in it. The crown was the same size and design as that which now sat on Celebfaer's head.
"By way of marriage to the first-daughter Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm has earned the right to be heir. He will rule along side my daughter when I am gone." The Queen said lifting the crown out of the basket and Legolas bowed so that she could place the crown on top of his head. Then she kissed him on the top of the head as she had kissed Celebfaer before. "Welcome son." The Queen said so softly that Celebfaer barely heard her.
Then it was over. And Celebfaer and Legolas were instructed to lead the way back to the banquet room in the castle where the celebration would continue. The Queen and her advisors, with Sabin would follow and then the rest of the city.
As Celebfaer and Legolas disappeared through the wood, leaving everyone to follow behind them, Celebfaer put her hand up to his hair and ran her hand over it, her hands coming to rest on the diamond stud in his left ear lobe.
"I am sorry Legolas. I did not know.." She said, looking away in shame, but he sighed then cupped her face in his hands.
"It is alright. It will grow back. I can get used to the diamond." He said with a smile and then he kissed her quickly. "I did not get a chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight. Fairies certainly know how to dress a woman for her wedding night." He said with a smile and she laughed, then she kissed him quickly and they continued walking back towards the city, hand in hand and neither could stop smiling.
The feast went on well into the night and it was not until the sun came up that Asura allowed them to retire to Celebfaer's rooms.
When the got there the bed had been pulled out to the middle of the room and red silk curtains surrounded it. A drape had been put up over the window to stop any sunlight from coming in and in a small pile on the floor in the corner of the room were the gifts that her mother had chosen. Burning scented candles littered the floor where there weren't any gifts and each candle had been lit just before they had come into the room so the fresh scent of jasmine filled the air.
The gifts they had been given were small things like enough food for the rest of the day, mainly consisting of fruits, and cheeses and all sorts of delicacies. There was a pitcher full of wine and two beautiful gold wine goblets with the most delicate embroideries Celebfaer had ever seen on them. Celebfaer had also been given more dresses and Legolas had been given more tunics and leggings. But the unexpected gift was two bows that had an intricate design carved into them as well as matching arrows in quivers. There were also two bone knives with the same pattern as the bows carved into their handles.
Legolas smiled when he saw the weapons and he instantly went over to where they were and picked them up, testing them and Celebfaer smiled.
"Melamin this is amazing." He said as he picked up the knife. "It is so light." He added awe in his eyes and his voice.
But Celebfaer did not care for the weapons she walked over to the bed and opened the curtains, touching the silk bed spread before she sat on it and turned to look at Legolas. "Come." She said to him and he laughed, but he did not linger.
A/N: Hope you all liked that and please don't kill me about the hair! It will grow back!