Through A Nightingale's Eyes
Disclaimer I do not own any of Tolkien's creations. I only own my characters and most of the storyline
RATED "R"
Author's Note: Thanks to all my faithful reviewers. And now…CHAPTER 23! Well…I was able to get out 2 chapters again. Don't know how I accomplished that. lol
Chapter 23: The Wedding
"I must say, my Lord…you're a sight for sore eyes," Amder stated as he straightened Legolas' tunic collar. The elf prince smiled and looked into the mirror. His sky blue tunic and dark leggings beneath his matching dark indigo cloak looked amazing. It was better than he had expected. He watched as his friend brushed some specs of dust off the velvet fabric of the cloak. This was it. This was his wedding day to Nessa. He had waited many long years, and now he was ready to take the throne. He had been looking forward to assuming his position, but what of marriage?
Shouldn't he have been happier? That was the one thing Legolas noticed in his own face. His blue eyes were a faded shade of periwinkle and there was no true smile on his lips. He straightened the silver clasp that held the cloak up and then felt his heart ache. He recalled giving Kayla one just like it, except the one he had given her had small diamonds lightly decorating the silver. The one he wore today would be simpler. He wanted everything to be simple and quick, much like he would slay an enemy. It was not that he didn't want to marry…he just didn't want to bond with someone who meant nothing to him. "Amder," he said, "I think you should head down to the ballroom and await my arrival. I need some time to go over my vows."
"Yes, melonin (my friend). I will see you there," Amder replied as he walked out of Legolas' chamber silently, leaving the elf prince to his thoughts.
Legolas lifted the single-jeweled circlet from his dresser and placed it upon his head. It was the one he had worn to Aragorn's coronation, and he would wear it again until his father placed the circlet of a king on his brow. He drew in a deep breath and sighed before walked over to his bed and sitting down. This was the moment where someone should have been there to give him words of encouragement. He had hoped his sister would have been there to embrace him and wear one of those award-winning smiles she always had as a child. It was one of the few things today that could make him smile.
Just then, his eyes turned to his bedside table. He gazed at the small pentacle necklace Kayla had given him and then slowly picked it up. Running his fingers over it, he could recall all the lovely moments they had spent together. He had removed it for he was marrying another, but a part of him kept saying to put it on. Yet…he couldn't. Legolas had to force himself to forget the mortal he had fallen for. He had to move on and start his life as the King of Mirkwood.
"Knock, knock," a soft voice whispered from the door left slightly ajar. Legolas looked up and for a second his eyes lit up. He thought he had seen Kayla, but instead it was Lúthien. Then again, she was better than Nessa. His eyes stayed focused on her as she entered and closed the door. She looked incredibly stunning. She wore a dark maroon cloak over what looked to be a skin-toned dress, but he could not tell, for her clothing was mostly concealed. She wore the headdress she had upon her arrival, with little pink jeweled flowers entangled in her dark hair. "Well, Legolas…today's your day, I see," she said gently.
"Aye, melonin (my friend)…it's my wedding day."
"And yet you seem sad." It was more of a statement than a question. "How could the future King of Mirkwood look so glum on the day he is to wed the maiden of his dreams?"
"He can look so sad, my Lady," the elf prince stated as he placed the pendant back on his dresser, "Because he wants to live his life alone for a while longer. Yet, his father will not allow it and insists he weds a maiden today. 'Tis not an easy life."
"I understand," Kayla stated, keeping her voice more Elven than she cared to, "But it isn't easy for those of us who have yet to find their soul mates. I have yet to find true love, Legolas."
"You will, my Lady Lúthien." Legolas stood and walked over to her, gently bringing one of his hands to her blushing cheeks. "You will find an elf that loves you and will spend every moment of his life pleasuring you until you can no longer hold back your passion. I know I am lucky to have reunited with you." This would have been perfect time…Kayla knew that. She decided to speak.
"On that note, Legolas…I feel I should tell you something."
"Go on…" he whispered.
"You should know that I am quite glad to have reunited with you as well. You are a dear friend and will always be in my heart." She paused for a second when her ears picked up on soft music echoing from the ballroom. The wedding was to start anytime now. She knew she had to make this quick. "And…I will never forget the times we have spent together; those of friendship and those of comfort."
"Before you go any further, Lúthien…I feel that I should say that I wish our affair could have continued in ignorant bliss. However, I must take my leave for the ballroom. I am to be married now."
"Legolas…" Her voice was desperate as she raised her hands and gripped his biceps. "Legolas, my friend…please listen to me. There is something you must know."
"It will have to wait until after the wedding. Tell me tonight at the banquet."
"Legolas, please…I-"
"I will always care for you, Lúthien. I'm sorry," he whispered as he gently brought her face forward and kissed her brow right below the jewel that hung from her headdress. He noticed a small tear ran down her cheek, but did not wipe it away. "Save me a dance tonight. I'll see you at the ceremony," were the last words the elf prince said before he walked passed the Imladris Princess and out his chamber door. Kayla clenched her fists are her sides until her knuckles were as pale as a ghost. She had missed one chance, but she had one more option…
Legolas stood in the ballroom holding both of Nessa's hands in his own. They were beneath a gold and wooden arch that had been decorated with white flowers. King Thranduil stood behind them facing the crowd of elves, men, and dwarves that all took part in attending. He would occasionally glance down at Legolas' best man, who in this case was Gimli. It wasn't fitting that a dwarf was upholding such a part in an Elven wedding, but it wasn't as big a deal. All that mattered to the king was that his son was finally marrying. Gandalf stood beside him, two crowns on a velvet blue pillow in his hand.
Legolas had completely zoned out during the wedding. He would glance at Nessa, whose hair had been tied back and up in loose braids and woven with white beads. Her dress was conservative, yet showed off her curves slightly. It was mostly made of lace and hung off her shoulders loosely, like waves on rocks of the shore. She looked beautiful to him, but not nearly as beautiful as the elleth his eyes scanned the crowd for.
He had met the gaze of his sister, who sat in the front row and kept her eyes down. She upheld the look of both frustration and sadness, and refused to make full eye contact with her brother. It was clear that she did not approve of their father's choice for the future queen. Legolas also met the eyes of Elrond, Elrohir, and Elladan. They were all smiling on, but it was clear that something was troubling them. They looked somewhat distraught about something. However, it was unclear as to what could have been on their minds. King Elessar and Queen Arwen, Legolas' dearest friends, had taken seats up front as well. They were holding hands and smiling reassuring smiles to the prince, to which he returned a nod. There was nothing else he could do.
He was snapped back to his senses when he heard his father say, "If there are any would object to this long awaited bond of two elves, speak now." The pause seemed like forever. Legolas scanned the crowd, hoping that someone would step up and object to the wedding. He felt a tear rise, but pushed it away as he finished looking through the crowd and noticed that Lúthien was indeed not present. I must have broken her heart. I should have let her finish what she was saying in my room, but I didn't. Way to go, Leggy! he thought, recalling the name that Kayla had given him. That brought a slight tweak to his lips. He slowly turned to face Nessa again, but then he heard loud and obnoxious music begin to play. It reminded him of the club he had attended in Kayla's time.
"I have an objection!" a voice shouted. Everyone turned to stare at the large doors at the back of the ballroom as they opened and Lúthien stepped inside as a song started playing. Legolas gasped softly as she started singing:
"Seems
like just yesterday
You were a part of me
I used to stand so
tall
I used to be so strong."
Lúthien began walking down the pale pink carpet that had been laid down on the floor. She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes as she continued her song.
"Your
arms around me tight
Everything, it felt so right
Unbreakable,
like nothin' could go wrong
Now I can't breathe
No, I can't
sleep
I'm barely hanging on."
Her eyes abruptly opened and she began to sing with such force that it echoed throughout the room even more so than before. She took a few more steps toward the alter.
"Here I am, once again
I'm
torn into pieces
Can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you
were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see
the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes."
Legolas dropped his hands to his sides and turned his body to face Lúthien. He was shocked at her, but what made him feel like fainting was the fact that this music was from Kayla's time and Lúthien had always reminded him of Kayla. It couldn't be true! Lúthien couldn't have been Kayla…could she? He found himself walking over to where the rows of chairs began and stared intently at her. Lúthien strolled up rather forcefully and circled him like a buzzard circled its prey, eyeing him up and down carefully.
"I
told you everything
Opened up and let you in
You made me feel
alright
For once in my life."
She stopped again when she was in front of him and raised her arms slightly as she sang. Her eyes were a darker blue than normal. She looked angry.
"Now
all that's left of me
Is what I pretend to be
So together, but
so broken up inside
'Cause I can't breathe
No, I can't
sleep
I'm barely hangin' on."
With that, Lúthien unclasped her cloak and let it fall to the floor. A slight scream came from Nessa as she saw what the Imladris princess was wearing. Her dress was practically see-through, leaving barely anything to the imagination. It hung off her shoulders just above her breasts, and there was a large gap around her hip, almost showing off her entire waist. The bottom of the dress was thin fabric and very flowing. Legolas' eyes were wide in shock. This isn't something that Lúthien would do. She wasn't like that in public.
"Here I am, once again
I'm torn into
pieces
Can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you were the
one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I
cry
Behind these hazel eyes."
Suddenly, Kikilien came walking over to Lúthien and took out a large knife. She handed it to her and went back to her seat, a smile creeping up on her face. Legolas looked back and forth between them and then his eyes widened. He assumed that Lúthien was to kill herself, until she grabbed a hold of her hair all to one side of her neck and chopped her gorgeous locks. They fell to the floor in a heap and her hair now rested just above her shoulders.
"Swallow
me then spit me out
For hating you, I blame myself
Seeing you
it kills me now
No, I don't cry on the outside
Anymore...anymore…"
Legolas took a few steps forward until he was within a foot of Lúthien. Everything hit him like a dull bullet. How could he have been so blind…so stupid? This was Kayla Sparrow! The Kayla he fell in love with. "K-Kayla? Is that you, melamin (my love)?" he managed to choke out. His questions were answered when he watched her eyes in awe. They flashed with sparkles a few times and then turned to a dark shade of brown.
"Here I am, once again
I'm
torn into pieces
Can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you
were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see
the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes."
Then, Lúthien's hair began to take on lighter highlights of caramel color. It stayed short. Her face and eyes stayed of an Elven look, but it was obvious who this was now. This was not Lúthien of Imladris. Kayla sang her heart out in the last chorus of the song, letting all her emotions pour into it.
"Here
I am, once again
I'm torn into pieces
Can't deny it, can't
pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep
inside
But you won't get to see the tears I cry
Behind these
hazel eyes..."
Kayla took in a deep breath and looked over to Kikilen, who lifted a small black remote into the air and pressed one of the red buttons. The music stopped playing and everyone in the room was staring at Kayla in shock and dismay. She glanced from Legolas to Gandalf, who was smiling slightly beneath his beard. "Kayla?" She looked back to Legolas at the sound of her name. She nodded.
"What in the name of the Valar is going on here!" King Thranduil shouted as he walked over and stood beside his son, "Who is this?"
"Ada (Father), this is Kayla Sparrow…apparently."
"And who is Kayla Sparrow, my son?" he stated firmly, his eyes never leaving the stranger he had believed to be Lúthien of Rivendell.
"Excuse me, my Lord…but I am the granddaughter of Elrond Half-Elven. My mother was Lúthien of Imladris and my father was Mr. David Sparrow of the modern era."
"And why are you wrecking my son's wedding to Nessa, here? Wait…if you are the daughter of Lúthien, where is she!" Kayla looked around at everyone and swallowed a lump in her throat. "Well?" he asked again.
"My Lord…Lúthien died in my era. I'm sorry." Everyone suddenly began whispering to each other about how this was possible, for it seemed unfeasible.
"She speaks the truth," King Elessar said as he stood and walked over to Kayla before placing a hand on her shoulder. Gimli and I accompanied Legolas to her time by accident. She followed us back and was present at my coronation as King of Gondor. I've been waiting long for her to come clean about her identity."
"Lassie!" Gimli shouted as he ran over as fast as his short legs would take him. He pushed Legolas aside and hugged Kayla firmly. "I missed ya, Lass. Am I still a good dancer?" The dwarf began doing his silly dance from the club again, causing Kayla to laugh slightly and a smirk from Aragorn. It brought back some amusing memories.
"You're a great dancer, Gimli. It's great to see you again."
"Made a splash entrance, I see?" he asked.
"Always," Kayla replied with a smile.
"Enough of this!" Nessa suddenly screamed as she walked forward and pushed Gimli aside. Her eyes were flaming with fury. "I trusted you, Lúthien…well…whoever you are!"
"Kayla," Legolas answered softly.
"Yes," Nessa continued, "Kayla. Well, it seems you've lied to all of us now. How could you do such a thing? What did any of us ever do to you?"
"One of your kind stole my heart and gave me his. I've come to get it back," Kayla replied as she looked up into Legolas' eyes. There was held back rage and depression in her eyes. "Did you hear me, Legolas? I want my heart back."
"Legolas, what's this about? You love me!" Nessa screamed.
"I'm sorry, Nessa…but I gave my heart to Kayla when she gave me hers. We never even proclaimed our love. It was more or less just known," Legolas said as he took Kayla's left hand in his right. He watched as a small smile graced her lips and just as quickly faded. Normally, he would have been quick to react, but he was so shocked that he didn't notice Kayla's backhand come into contact with his cheek. Many of the elves gasped as Legolas just let go of her hand and touched his face. "What was that for?" he asked calmly.
"You're an asshole!" Kayla almost yelled as she turned on her heel and walked to the doors before turning around again. She flipped her shorter hair over her shoulder and locked eyes with the Elven prince. "And that's how I say farewell." Kayla instantly left the ballroom and ran down the hallway. Legolas quickly followed her out into the hall, but when he reached it, she had disappeared.
"She's gone?" Legolas asked himself quietly.
"So…do we still have a wedding?" Amder asked as he strolled out into the hall and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Tell my father that the wedding's off…for good."
Author's Note: Well, that certainly was interesting, wasn't it:smirk: I'll crank out the next chapter when I can. I'm getting towards the end of the second semester of college, so I'll be kinda busy. Still, I'll do what I can.
Next: Chapter 24…What is to be done now? Will any relationships survive? Where did Kayla disappear to? And what will Legolas do?