Forever is a Long Time
Legolas first went to Thranduil. "Ada, do I have your permission to punish Alqua as she deserves?"
He nodded and reminded Legolas, "Be fair, son. I know what Alqua did was wrong, but remember my mistake when I punished Fiondra's father."
"I will Ada," Legolas said, and he went over to Aglarsîr and his captive.
Alqua's face was alarmingly white. "Please highness, have mercy on me! I only did it for love of you!"
Coldly Legolas said, "You mean for love of my social status. You nearly destroyed something sacred to our kind, true love. You would have killed not only me, but also Fiondra. I can take a threat to myself, but you will not threaten those that I love. For this, you shall be punished."
"What are you going to do, kill me?" she sneered, and Aglarsîr pushed his sword closer against her neck.
"I have half a mind to," Legolas said seriously. "But I will not kill another unless it is in self-defense of my self or those around me. No, you shall spend day and night under heavy guard until my father leaves for Valinor. Then you shall leave with him, and spend the rest of your days there, alone and separate from everyone else."
Alqua cried, "Forever! What kind of punishment is this? You cannot keep me alone forever!"
"You will be kept alone until all can be sure that you have changed your ways and are no longer harmful to us." Although Alqua continued to protest, Legolas firmly said, "I have given your punishment. Now it shall be carried out." He beckoned and two strong ellyn took a defeated Alqua by the arms and led her out of the room.
"You have no idea how good that feels," Legolas said in a tired voice to Aglarsîr.
The other ellon laughed nervously, and wryly said, "Actually, I do." Aglarsîr grew sober, and said, "Legolas, I'm sorry. I never broke our friendship. It was all a huge misunderstanding. That vixen and I never slept together. It was just another of her many lies. If I could do everything over again..."
Legolas smiled sadly. "But you can't. Regardless, I'm sorry too. It was wrong of me to accuse you, especially when I didn't even know your side of the story. Please forgive me."
Aglarsîr warmly said, "All is forgiven. Friends?"
Legolas grinned. "Friends." He clasped Aglarsîr's shoulder. The other elf did the same, but then laughing, he pulled Legolas into a hug.
When they had finished their renewal of friendship, Legolas slyly asked, "So what's this I hear about you and Lady Arien?"
Never missing a beat, Aglarsîr replied, "What's this I hear about you and Lady Fiondra?"
Legolas chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's go finish our food. There's flowers to give and kisses to collect."
X X X X X
Thranduil stood up. "It is time for the flowers to be presented. Will the ellith please come to this side." He gestured to his right and then continued. "And will the ellyn please come to the other side, with their flowers."
Every elf went to their place, except for the young elflings, who could not yet participate in the tradition. The male elves had various looks on their faces, ranging from nervousness to confidence. The females on the other hand, were giggling and whispering excitedly about possible meanings of the flowers that were seen in their ellon's hand.
"I wonder if Aglarsîr even got me a flower," Arien whispered to Fiondra.
In reply, Fiondra murmured, "I know Legolas has a flower; I caught a glimpse of it. I just didn't see it well enough."
"What are you going to ask for if you guess its' meaning?" Arien asked her.
"Well...If I ask for what I really want, we'd have to be married first!" Fiondra said wickedly. The two ellith giggled hysterically until Thranduil again called for attention.
"Who would like to give their flower first?" Thranduil asked the group of male elves.
An arrogant-looking ellon came forward with a delicate flower. He called out the name of an elleth, who came up to him laughing.
"Guess the name and meaning if you will," Thranduil told her. "But do not forget that you have the right to refuse it."
Still giggling the elleth said, "That's an orchid and I do believe it means, You are beautiful."
Another elf behind the king looked it up and nodded. "That is correct."
"Very well," Thranduil said approvingly. "What do you wish of this ellon?"
"A kiss will do," the elleth said coyly. She rushed to the ellon and pulled him into a long kiss.
"All right," Thranduil chuckled. He watched the happy couple stroll off arm in arm. "Who's next?"
Elf after elf came forward until only Aglarsîr and Legolas were left. "Royalty last," Aglarsîr said to Legolas with a grin. The dark-haired ellon went to the front of the room. "For the Lady Arien," he said, and held out a cheerful, yellow flower.
Arien went to join him. "I know that flower is a daffodil. Perhaps it means great joy?" she asked hopefully.
The elf with the book looked it up and said, "No. It means..."
Aglarsîr interrupted. "It means, You are the only one."
Arien blushed heavily as Aglarsîr leaned in to kiss her. They too walked off to the side, holding hands.
Legolas swallowed and went to face the elves. Hoarsely, he called out, "For the Lady Fiondra."
Fiondra came up to him and smiled. "A lilac...How perfectly lovely," she murmured and held it up to her nose to inhale its' sweet fragrance. "But I'm afraid that...I don't know what it means."
Legolas smiled and said playfully, "It means enchantment." He took Fiondra's mouth with his and the months of bottled-up passion fueled his mind for the next minute. Fiondra too seemed to let all of her emotions into the kiss, and everyone watching them sighed with pleasure.
When the kiss had lasted for too long, Thranduil came to his son and gently pulled him and Fiondra apart. "I believe it is time for the dancing to start." Music immediately filled the air and Thranduil smiled. He bowed to Fiondra and asked her, "May I have this dance?"
She curtsied back and tucked her lilac into her hair. "Of course highness!"
Thranduil laughed at his son's woebegone expression and whirled the small elleth into a lively dance. "Don't worry, my dear lady. I mean to steal only one dance from my son," he cheerily informed her.
"I'm hardly worried," Fiondra laughed. "I have no doubt that Legolas will come to snatch me back quite soon."
Sure enough, as soon as the dance had ended, Legolas hurried to dance with Fiondra, but he was not quick enough. "Time to claim my dance," Aglarsîr told him, and he too spun Fiondra out of sight.
After Aglarsîr had finished, Legolas again tried to get Fiondra, but another ellon asked her, then another, then even Gimli, who was a good two feet shorter than her. Finally, Legolas stormed up to the blond ellon that Fiondra was curtseying to, and grated, "Enough. I mean to dance with Fiondra now."
The other elf backed away slowly and Fiondra held back a giggle. At Legolas' fast-paced dancing though, she gasped, "Legolas! Don't be so rough!"
"I haven't danced with you at all," he said slyly. "I'll be as rough as I want."
The song ended and Fiondra stumbled, something that elves rarely do. "Are you all right?" Legolas asked in concern. Was I too rough on her?
Fiondra took in a shaky breath and tried to laugh. "After that whirlwind of a dance, I feel rather warm, that's all."
Seeing his opportunity, Legolas suggested, "How about a walk in the gardens?"
She replied, "I was thinking more of a cool drink, but a walk would be fine as well."
Legolas led her to the door, first grabbing her a goblet of wine. "Better?" he asked.
Fiondra gulped the rest of the red liquid down and nodded. "Quite." Outside, she broke the silence. "I'm flattered by the flower that you gave me; in fact it is one of my favorite kinds. But there was a more appropriate one you could have given me."
Legolas asked curiously, "What flower is that?"
"A dogwood," Fiondra said. "It means, love undiminished by adversity. Of course the adversity in our case would have been Alqua."
Legolas laughed. "That would have worked." He led her over to a bench and they both sat down. "I have something to say to you now," he told the elleth. "Please hear me out before you say anything."
She gave him a puzzled look, but she nodded slowly. Legolas drew in a deep breath and continued. "I've come to realize what a change you've been in my life. I was happy before, but you've made me complete. I cannot imagine waking up one day, without you sleeping by my side. I can't comprehend the fact that you might not be there in my bed at night, welcoming me into your arms. I love you Fiondra. Will you have me for your husband?"
He took out the wooden box carefully and handed it to her. There was a soft intake of breath as she opened it. "It once was my mother's," Legolas explained. "My father gave it to her when he learned that she carried me, and recently he gave it to me to offer to you. Will you be my wife?"
Fiondra looked up to him, her great eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Oh Legolas. I love you too. I was so afraid tonight. I thought everything would turn out wrong, and I'd be left without you. Of course I'll marry you. I thought you would never ask." She threw her arms around him and they sat there for a moment.
"Let me help you put this on," Legolas said to her. He fastened the necklace about her throat, and sat back to admire the glistening emerald on the slender breastbone. "It suits you," he told her softly.
Fiondra touched it and quietly said, "It's beautiful. Thank you." They kissed, finally recognizing that they were finally betrothed to each other.
"I hope the wedding's not too far off," Legolas said. "I don't know how much longer I can wait." He kissed Fiondra again until she playfully pushed him away.
"That all depends on you," she said. "Did you forget that you and Gimli were going to have more adventures? Because he certainly hasn't."
He swore under his breath, and Fiondra laughed. "Do not worry about it now. Let us stay here for a while and celebrate our betrothal." She listened to his sigh, and whispered, "Im meleth le. "
Legolas whispered back, "Ar Im meleth le. " He kissed her again and the trees sighed with pleasure at the romance beneath them.
X X X X X
Ellyn – male elves (plural)
Im meleth le – I love you
Ar Im meleth le – And I love you
Sigh...I do love a good romance. That scene makes me happy. Let me know how you think I handled the proposal and I'll be grateful. Please review; you have my thanks.