A/N: Here's some review responses.
Manwathiel – How is Sky being mean? She is in mourning! Of course she's going to Mirkwood.
Lady lorethei – Hey, long time, no reviews! What's been happening over the pond! Legolas is just trying to protect Sky by taking her somewhere where he thinks Suiadan can't touch her.
Orlando's Hot Chick – I know killing Star was evil but Suiadan is evil (and slightly cuckoo). As for Beorn going to Mirkwood, are you nuts? He's the leader of his people. It'd be like Aragorn deciding to leave Gondor because of some orcs running round in Ithilien.
Chapter 8
A wedding…and spiders!
Legolas ran after Sky and found her sat on her bed, crying. Legolas closed the door behind him and sat down next to her. He placed an arm around her. Sky wiped her eyes. "I know you're just trying to protect me," she said, "But my sister just died! I can't abandon my family!"
"What do you think they'd prefer?" asked Legolas, "You to stay here, in plain sight of Suiadan or come with me, where you'll be safe?" Sky was quiet for a moment. She stared at her hands. Legolas placed one hand over hers. She began to cry again. "They would want me to be safe," she said.
"Come with me," he said, "I can and will protect you. I love you." Sky looked up at him. He bent down and kissed her. He coaxed her lips open and slipped his tongue into her mouth. She moaned against his mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck. The instincts of the pair were to abandon their inhibitions and take what they wanted but Legolas' mind kept bringing Star's dead face to his mind. "Legolas, please," said Sky. Her hips were rocking against his, making his trousers incredibly tight and uncomfortable. He tore himself away. "Sky, no!" he said, "I can't."
"Why not?" asked Sky.
"I can't forget your sisters face," he said, "I can't do this, not now." Sky smiled at him and kissed him again. He sat up and pulled her up too. Sky smiled again and began to undo his tunic. When she had removed it, he stopped her hands. "What are you doing?" he asked. "We may not be able to make love tonight," she said, "But that doesn't mean I cannot feel your skin." She slowly pulled his shirt off. She ran her hand down over his body and kissed him. Their tongues gently teased each other. There were moans and whimpers coming from them. His hands slipped to the back of her dress and began to undo the laces. "It is only fair I get to feel your skin too," he whispered. Sky smiled against his lips as he slipped the dress off her shoulders. Legolas pulled away from her as the dress pooled around her waist. "I think we should get some rest," said Legolas. Sky nodded. She pushed her dress off and heard Legolas' breathing increase. She looked at him. He was looking down, his eyes closed, his hands were balled into fists and she could see a bulge appearing in his trousers. She pushed him back so he lay beneath her. She fiddled with his trousers and pulled them down. His erection sprang free as she pulled them down. "I think I can help you," she whispered into his ear.
"Oh, please Sky," he whispered. She slipped her hand down and grasped his arousal. He groaned. She began to stroke him, producing a low, feral growl from Legolas. Her strokes became harder and more masterful. Legolas began to move against her. He began to buck against her. His breathing got faster and his eyes closed. "Ai, Sky!" he cried out, "I can't last much longer!" Sky continued to stroke his erection. Realizing this wasn't having the desired effect; she bent down to his face. She took her hand from his arousal, much to Legolas' displeasure. She turned her head to the side and gently bit his ear. She ran her tongue along the shell of his ear, causing Legolas' grip on her tighten. She continued to tease his ear with her tongue and teeth. She felt Legolas shudder and moan beneath her and knew her task was complete. She looked down at him. His breathing was erratic and his eyes were dilated from arousal. She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Well done, my prince," she said softly, "I never expected you to last so long." She crawled away from him. Legolas quickly freed himself from the remainder of his clothes and followed her. He followed her under the blankets. He couldn't believe this was him, the Prince of Mirkwood, the leader of his father's armies, trailing after a mortal woman like an extra shadow. Sky laughed at him when she saw the desire in his eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry Legolas," she said, "But not tonight. As you said, my sister just died." She turned over and closed her eyes. She felt Legolas drop down onto the bed and heard him moan into the pillow. 'Sky, you have definitely picked something up from Suiadan,' thought Sky to herself, 'You are being evil to him!' She smiled and fell asleep. She dreamt of her perfect wedding but knew it wasn't likely to happen. Suiadan would make sure of it.
Three days later…
"Sky, it's tradition," said Serena, as she held the dress out to her sister. Sky couldn't believe her father had been planning this with Legolas behind her back. It wasn't exactly her dream wedding but it was close enough. "It's disgusting and old," said Sky.
"The women on fathers side of the family have been wearing it for generations," said Serena. "Exactly," said Sky, "And it's hardly tradition for a Beorning to marry a Mirkwood elf now, is it?"
"Well I guess not," said Serena.
"Look, my dear sister," said Sky, "As much as I appreciate this, I'd much rather wear our mother's wedding dress than our grandmothers."
"It's your wedding," said Serena.
"Yes, it is," said Sky thoughtfully.
"And your husband is one whom many desire," said Serena. She sat down next to her sister. "After what Suiadan did, you truly deserve him. I must say, I'm very jealous. Very few mortals have won the hearts of elves. I can count them on my hand and still have fingers left over."
"Beren, Earendil and Aragorn, all Men who won the hearts of she-elves," said Sky.
"You are the first mortal woman to win one," said Serena.
"I know but I can't help but feel that the Valar have not allowed it before for good reason," said Sky, "And that my marriage will be short-lived. I feel that death is coming on swift-wings and that I should make sure I live every moment to the fullest."
"You are just nervous," said Serena, "You have nothing to worry about. Legolas will take care of you, father knows that."
"Why did he go against it then?" asked Sky. Serena smiled coyly.
"Do not tell father but I overheard him talking to Gandalf," said Serena, "It was just after he granted Legolas permission to marry you. He said that you were the most precious out of all his children to him, his baby girl, and he didn't want to lose you. He had always believed you would be the one who remained behind and cared for him when he was old and weak. Now he's cursing the loss of you and Star because in his old age, he is to be left in my clumsy care." Sky laughed.
"He is truthful though," said Sky, "You are clumsy." Serena feigned shock and playfully hit her sister. The two young women started laughing. "Come, we should get you ready for your wedding," said Serena.
Legolas sighed as he looked out over the morning sky. He smiled when he remembered the look on Sky's face when he had told her what he had been planning with her father. Finally, she was to be his wife. A soft chuckling came from nearby. Gandalf was smoking his pipe and watching the elf. 'The lovesick fool,' he thought, 'She fills his thoughts.' The elf appeared to be daydreaming, his eyes unfocused and staring, a slow smile spreading across his fair face. "She's ready." Beorn's voice brought Gandalf and Legolas back to reality. Legolas turned and looked upon the youngest daughter of Beorn. She was wearing a simple white dress and her black hair had been braided so it was held back from her face. Legolas thought that she didn't look right, not without her dusty brown tunic, her old battered boots and her hair a black, untamed curly mess around her face. He realised he never wanted her to change from the way she had been the day they had first met. But he would stand the change for now. He didn't hear the words Beorn and Gandalf were saying, he couldn't take his eyes off Sky. The only words he heard were when Gandalf said, "You may kiss your wife, Legolas Thranduilion." Legolas bent forward and kissed Sky. She wrapped her arms around his neck as their kiss deepened. He pulled away from her and whispered into her ear. "I think I prefer your tunic," he said, "It gives me far more for my imagination to work with." Sky smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I love you," Legolas whispered. He turned and looked at those bearing witness. Serena had hidden her face in Beorn's arm, she was clearly crying.
Like they did for funerals, the wedding traditions of the Beornings called for a party after wards. Unlike funerals however, there was loud and lively music. The dances of the Beornings were fast-paced and it took Legolas a while to get the hang of it but soon he was dancing with his wife. She was laughing truly for the first time in days. Legolas even saw Serena getting into the spirit of things and dancing with as many men as she could get her hands on. Gandalf and Beorn sat quietly in one corner muttering and drinking together. The food was good too. Someone had prepared a ham and it had been glazed with honey made from Beorn's bees. Legolas finding himself regretting that the elvish ceremony would be a more somber occasion. The party went on all day.
There wasn't much time afterwards. There was enough time for them to change before they had to be off on their journey to Mirkwood. Serena refused to free Sky from her grip. Beorn had to pry his eldest daughter off her sister. Quill was stood, patiently waiting for his mistress and her new husband; his tail swished trying to rid himself of the flies that swarmed around him. Sky was wearing her old tunic again, much to Legolas' enjoyment. After saying their goodbyes, Legolas and Sky got onto Quill, who didn't seem to mind the extra weight. Legolas took the reins and led the way from Beorn's lands. He knew the journey was going to take two weeks. Sky was starting to drop off as the sun set. She was fighting sleep. Legolas bent forward and whispered into her ear, "Sleep, my darling, the wedding was hard on you. Sleep." Sky leaned back against him and closed her eyes. Legolas listened to her even breathing and smiled as he urged Quill on.
Apart from a brief encounter with the spiders, which had resulted in Sky being frozen to the spot in terror, their journey was very uneventful. Twice on their journey they had almost given in to temptation but they made a promise to wait until after their elvish ceremony. Legolas saw the cave in which his home was ahead of them. He gently shook Sky awake. "Sky, my love, we are here," he said softly.
"Halt!" shouted a voice, "Who goes there?"
"Tis I, Legolas Thranduilion and my wife Sky, daughter of Beorn," shouted Legolas.
"Prince Legolas?" said the voice, "Just a moment my lord, we'll open the door!" Sky jumped slightly when the elvish door opened. Legolas urged Quill inside. Once in, the door slammed shut. Torches were lit to give some light. Legolas got down from Quill and helped Sky. Two soldiers came up to them. "Mae Govannen," said one, "It is good to see you again, my prince." He and his companion bowed.
"And you," said Legolas, "Please have this horse taken to the stables. Make sure he is cared for well, he is my wife's." The two soldiers looked at Sky, who was partially hidden by Legolas. She was nervous. These were only the second and third elves she had ever met. "She does not appear to like us, sir," said one of the soldiers.
"It is not that I don't like you, kind sirs," said Sky, "I haven't known you long enough to make that assumption, this is my first time in a elvish settlement of any kind and I'm somewhat nervous." During this time, she didn't move from behind Legolas. The soldiers nodded. The second one took Quill's reins and led him away. The other spoke again, "My lord, your father requested you be brought to him immediately." Legolas nodded and followed the soldier. Sky took Legolas' hand and linked her fingers with his. He gave her a gentle squeeze. She watched as all the elves they passed stopped to stare at her. Many of them had never seen a Beorning before and to see one holding the hand of their prince was quite a shock. The soldier led the way to a pair of tall doors. "Your father awaits you, prince Legolas," said the soldier before departing. The doors before them opened to reveal a hall with a throne at the far end. Upon this throne sat an elf, tall and strong like Legolas with the same blond hair but his eyes were different. This was King Thranduil. Legolas walked towards his father, pulling Sky along behind. She moved so she was hidden behind Legolas again. Thranduil frightened her but she couldn't explain why. Legolas stopped in front of his father. Thranduil looked at his son and smiled. Then he noticed a pair of sky-blue eyes watching him from over Legolas' shoulder. From the head those eyes belonged too came curly black hair. 'This must be the daughter of Beorn he has told me about,' thought Thranduil. He stood up and looked down at his son and Sky. "Welcome, Sky," he said softly, "It has been too long since one of the Beornings has come to my home."