A/N: OH MY GOSH? IS THIS AN ACTUAL UPDATE!
Orli: AND AM I ACTUALLY BACK TO COMMENT ON THESE THINGS!
Me: And Orlando's back... sigh due to popular demand. If reviews were people, I would have a bunch of reviews protesting outside my door with signs and pitchforks because Orli disappeared fora few chapters. ;)
Orli: Haha. Because they all hate you.
Me: THEY DO NOT. duct-tapes Orli I'm already sick of you again... Anyway, notes on the chapter is at the bottom...
Disclaimer: I'VE STOLEN THE WORLD! runs away BWAH HA HA HA HA!
NK 26: Reformations
"Fanya!"
"Up here, Lenwe!" Fanya called, stirring the stew she was brewing for her next few meals.
"I've heard rumors," Lenwe started saying as he greeted Fanya with a backbreaking hug, "that you are engaged to a certain royal someone," he quirked an eyebrow.
"Maybe..." she said, blushing. Fanya had only been back for a week and already the news that they were going to have a new princess had leaked out. After talking with Thranduil almost daily, she had decided that even if she and Legolas fought every hour of every day, having Thranduil for a stepfather would be worth any torture. He was such a kind ruler when you broke through the tough façade. Thranduil was sending out a messenger to inquire of the Fellowship's whereabouts with a message for Legolas telling him of her acceptance and that if Legolas didn't come back to marry her that Thranduil would be forced to disown him and take Fanya as a daughter anyway.
" 'Maybe'. What does that mean?" Lenwe smirked.
"It means 'yes'," she answered finally, smiling. These days Fanya almost never stopped smiling, especially because every time she moved, the chain and Legolas' ring would bounce against her chest reminding her of her promise.
"So tell me," Lenwe said casually, testing her stew with the ladle and nodding his approval, "Is this Legolas worthy of such a wonderful half-elf such as yourself?" Fanya nodded. "Is this Prince going to pamper you like you should be pampered?" Fanya nodded again. "And is he a good kisser?" Fanya gasped indignantly and slapped his arm.
"Lenwe!" she protested.
"Well is he? Because if he isn't, he isn't worthy of you," Lenwe continued as if nothing had happened.
"Yes, he is, if you really want to know," Fanya said, turning in the other direction so he couldn't see her blush.
"So you spent months away from Mirkwood delivering a message. It can't have taken that long to talk to Denethor. Where else did you go? Did Legolas go with you? Did you sleep with him?"
This time Fanya really slapped him. Hard.
Lenwe smirked and helped himself to a sip of the stew.
oOo
The letter reached Legolas in Rohan. The messenger arrived back in Mirkwood as Fanya was having one of her long talks with Thranduil, this time about flowers.
"Milord," the elf bowed to Thranduil, "Milady," he bowed again to Fanya. "I encountered your son along with Estel the Ranger, and a dwarf. I gave him the message, and he was overjoyed. He asked me to accompany them to Meduseld in order that he could write a return message to you and his betrothed. I did go with them, and I brought you these," he handed each of them a scroll, "And he also said for me to give you this," he bent down and pecked Fanya on the cheek. She beamed at him and thanked him. He left the room after he finished speaking, informing Thranduil about conditions of Mirkwood and what dwelt within it outside of the palace borders.
Both Thranduil and Fanya opened their messages, then the immediately had to switch, because the boy had given them the wrong ones. When each had the right message, Fanya read her own.
Fanya, my love,
The plains of Rohan are visible out my window, and beyond that the mountains... beyond that, who knows. The grass all over the plains is dead with the scorching heat from the sun. I am glad that I am inside right now.
I am overjoyed that you accepted my proposal... actually, I'm thrilled inside and out. So thoroughly happy, that I actually kissed Estel. On the cheek! I swear! Will you start working on preparations for our wedding with Father? I know you can't ever know when I will return... but do start thinking about it. I can't stop thinking about you, I hope you're cursed the same.
I guess you're wondering why I want to marry you. Well first, I think I knew the first time I saw you that you would be difficult to work with, and so many maidens are too easy; they just surrender. You're a challenge for me, and I love it. Second: no maiden has ever left me without sleep for days on end like you have. I'm sure that means something. Third... I love you. That's what's important, is it not?
Be nice to Thranduil, he can be like a fly on the tip of your sword that won't come off sometimes.
Until I see you again, remember how I loved you in the forest,
-Legolas
"Apparently I'm difficult," Fanya said with a chuckle as she folded up the letter.
"Well, you are," Thranduil agreed. Fanya kicked him under the table.
oOo
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. About a month after Fanya's return to Mirkwood, Thranduil invited Fanya to live in the palace.
Lenwe dropped by while she was packing, and started to help her.
"I can't believe that you're leaving us behind to live in the Palace!" Lenwe pretended to be indignant.
"Lenwe, you live in the Palace," Fanya reminded him.
"Well... that isn't important. So where in the palace are you going to live, anyway?" he asked. He opened up her closet and started collecting dresses to fold.
"In the Royal wing," she said dismissively. She had argued with Thranduil that she didn't need such an honor. Thranduil assured her that she would be living in it soon enough, and moving rooms would be much easier this way after she was married to Legolas.
"The Royal wing! But that's on all the way the other side of the Palace! I know you're abandoning me now," Lenwe said.
"I'm not abandoning you!" Fanya cried exasperatedly. "I'll be living in the same buildings as you now!"
"Yes you are!" Lenwe pretended to cry. He stopped. "Is there another bag I can use to pack? These ones are full already."
"Yes, over there on the table."
"Oh, thanks," Lenwe paused, grabbed another bag, and then started to wail again.
Fanya rolled her eyes and buttoned up another bag full of her books, and lobbed a lightweight binding at Lenwe's back. As soon as he looked up in mock shock, she laughed,
"Serves you right!"
oOo
"Fanya, this room is twice the size of mine!" Lenwe said, his jaw dropping.
"And three times the size of my Talan..." Fanya added, equally blown away.
"Well, you'll be living in it for a while," Thranduil said, laughing at the face on his combat trainer. "It all depends on when that stuck-up, hero son of mine decides to come home," he added lightly.
"Thank you, Thranduil," she said, walking across it and examining the design on the bed.
"It is my pleasure," Thranduil beamed. "Shall I call for some servants to collect the rest of the bags from your house?" he asked.
"Yes, that would be lovely," Fanya said, hardly hearing what he was saying. She had just opened a door. Before her was another bedroom. Thranduil left to find a couple servants.
"What's in there, Fanya?" Lenwe asked. He came to peer over her shoulder. "Ooh... It's someone else's room..." he commented, walking in.
"Lenwe!" Fanya hissed. "We shouldn't be going in there if it's someone else's room!"
"It doesn't look as if anyone has lived her for a while..." he said, running a finger over a desk and showing it to her. It was covered in a thin layer of dust.
"I wonder who lives in here..." he said, walking around and opening things. Fanya joined him reluctantly, but she was very curious to find out.
It was Fanya who discovered. She opened the drawer to the person's desk and peered at a few things. She drew out a letter on top of a neat stack in a drawer. It was addressed to...
"Legolas!"
"Dear, I know you're in love, but my name is Lenwe, not Legolas," Lenwe pointed out.
"No, no. This is Legolas' room," she explained. Lenwe's face broke out in a grin.
"Legolas's room! Ooh... let's continue snooping!" Lenwe cackled. Fanya replaced the letter and shut the drawer. She walked over to Lenwe and grabbed his shirt sleeve, dragging him back into her room and shutting the door.
"He's a clever one, that Thranduil," Lenwe chuckled as he straightened his shirt.
"Why?" Fanya asked.
"He's probably kept this room open for centuries. Waiting for a young elf maiden like you to come and occupy it to tempt his son," Lenwe continued. Fanya blushed.
Elves started coming in through the door and depositing bags and boxes. After they were through, Fanya and Lenwe thanked them and the left. Fanya crashed on the bed, and Lenwe sat on the desk in the corner. Fanya was exhausted, and all she wanted to do was sleep.
With closed eyes, Fanya said to Lenwe, "You don't have to stay, you can go and do something else if you'd like."
"It's alright, I'll stay," Lenwe declined.
"Alright..." Fanya yawned. She fell asleep within minutes. Lenwe watched her sleep for a while. He didn't feel like going back to his room and to his duties. He stood up and opened a bag he knew contained clothing. He opened the wardrobe and found some empty hangers and started hanging her dresses for her. He shelved books and he put things in drawers. Soon there was only a handful of stuff he didn't know what to do with, so he left without a word. He hoped she would be able to find everything...
oOo
The Elves of the forest were growing restless with the feeling of impending danger. Too often skirmishes would occur, calling soldiers to one side of the wood, and then the other side. They quickly became more frequent, and with their frequency mounting, so did the number of the dead mount.
Too soon, an all-out war broke out.
Thranduil called Fanya into his chambers the first morning. "Fanya, somebody needs to lead the people into battle," Thranduil said as he put on Elven armor. It was a golden metal inlaid with designs and verses from Elven lore of great heroes.
"Send your warriors, but do not go yourself, Thranduil!" Fanya begged, realizing that he meant to fight too, instead of simply commanding. Thranduil shook his head. He sheathed his weapons. Fanya was already in half a mind that she would go grab Nessme'a and steal some armor from the armory. Thranduil, almost sensing her thoughts, gripped Fanya's shoulders and looked her straight in the eye.
"Fanya, if there is anything I do not want it is you out there fighting, too. They need someone to govern the Palace. I leave you in charge. Do what you have to and if you are unsure of a decision send an errand soldier to me," he said. "I trust you, Fanya. Think of this as your first chance to rule Mirkwood. Legolas has done it before, I'm sure you can fulfill the duty." He kissed her cheek and gave her a brief hug. With that speech, he rushed out with his commanders at his side.
'He wants me to run his country?' Fanya thought after he left. 'I don't think I can run a country! ...and anyway, Legolas has been raised to rule... I haven't!' But there was nothing to be done about it. Thranduil trusted her. So she tried.
Battles raged for days on end. Fanya was constantly busy with issues mainly concerning healing. There were about four dozen maidens who were healers in the palace. Many large rooms were converted into hospitals within the palace, including a few caves way below ground level. Everybody listened to Fanya's orders, if she ever issued them, though many elves did it with wariness; never with the prompt "Yes" that Thranduil received, Fanya noticed. She wished to confide in Lenwe, but as he was commander of his own hand of Elves, his time was spent fighting.
Mirkwood suffered much. There were great fires that destroyed entire villages. Fanya's old talan had been burnt down, same with her Father's. Fanya had given him a guest room in the Palace until his talan could be rebuilt. He did not want to live in a palace, he constantly reminded Fanya, and so he would not make himself comfortable in a permanent room. "Or maybe I should go West..." he had suggested one afternoon, drinking tea with his weary daughter.
"Not yet, Adar. You can't leave until I'm married... and even then, who will baby-sit my children when Legolas and I want time alone?" Linque answered her comment lightly enough, but his mind did not stray from the West for long. He knew his time was almost up.
But Linque and Fanya were not the only ones at loss. There were at least two hundred elves that were now homeless to find homes for.
Fanya felt like she almost understood the stress a ruler goes through. So many people with so many problems... Fanya wished that she could have more time to herself nowadays.
"How do you do it, Thranduil?" she asked the floor, sitting down and massaging her head.
"A little bit of patience and a lot of wine," came her answer.
"Thranduil!" Fanya exclaimed happily, jumping to her feet and hugging the king. "You're alive! I'm so glad you're here! I swear, I've done all I can! There are so many houses burnt down, and then so many wounded, and I don't know what to do. I need help," she finished, sinking back into the chair.
"From what I've heard, you've been quite the stand-in ruler, Fanya," Thranduil said, sitting down next to her. "You've organized healing elves and you've even found a few foster homes for the homeless. That's a lot for a week and a half," he said.
"Do not worry. I'm back now. The fighting is over," Thranduil assured.
"Oh," Fanya sighed. She wanted to sleep until next year. She felt as if she hadn't slept for more than two hours.
"Now. Go sleep," Thranduil said, once again seeming to read her thoughts. "You will have to remember to rest more, when you rule this forest. Even Kings and Queens need sleep, my dear. And that includes Princesses-to-be. Off with you, then!" he said kindly. Fanya hugged him tightly, thanked him again, and slowly made her way to her bedroom.
oOo
Five months passed slowly. Most of it included building repairs and rebuilding talans. Many elves moved in with other families. Some even left for the Havens, feeling like their time on Arda was spent, and this was their proof. Thranduil and Celeborn met, divided Mirkwood into three, renamed it Eryn Lasgalen, and went their own ways. Thranduil's kingdom was to the north of the mountains, Celeborn received the southern portion, calling it East Lórien. The middle section belonged to Men of the forest.
Peace was finally restored to the world. Fanya learned from Thranduil that around the same time as Mirkwood was attacked the One Ring was destroyed! For four months straight Fanya prayed that Legolas would return. She busied herself with little things like gardening or helping Thranduil reorganize his study, (it really was a mess). Every night she would dream of his glorious return, imagining how he would look or what he would say to her... but the more she thought of it, the more it became a mystery to her. He was a mystery to her.
Fanya sighed, and spoke her thoughts aloud to the rosebush she was tending to one afteroon. "If only he would return and all would be well..." she pressed her nose against the rose, inhaling its sweet scent. The rose bush quivered in the wind. Fanya knelt beside it, speaking to it as she watered the bush. "Can you believe that this time last year I hated the Prince? So much has happened since then..." she paused, staring at the petals of the rose in front of her. "But you can't know anything about love. You repel anyone who tries to love you with your thorns."
oOo
"Wedding plans, wedding plans, wedding plans..." Fanya muttered to herself, walking through the familiar halls to Thranduil's study. "Another day sure to be full of wedding plans..."
"Good morning, Fanya!" Thranduil greeted cheerfully, kissing her cheek. "And what a lovely morning it is!" he practically sang. He opened a window and let the crisp morning air into the room.
"What has put you in such a good mood?" Fanya asked. She was in quite a sour mood, having slept badly and knowing that another day of wedding planning was ahead of her. She loved the fact that she was to be married; she hated the fact that she had to plan the marriage.
"I have no idea," Thranduil winked. "Something of how the birds sing every morning, probably," he shrugged, sitting behind his desk and pulling out a stack of papers that looked all-too familiar. Fanya sighed, resigning herself to hours of tedium, and pulled up her chair to the desk.
"Today, we ignore the paperwork and we get to fit your dress," Thranduil said.
"Finally! Something that I enjoy!" Fanya leapt out of her chair, her own spirits rising a great deal.
"Let's go, then," Thranduil smiled. This was the first real sign of life Fanya had shown in many days. He felt sorry for her to have to do this without Legolas. It must be tough on her.
oOo
"You are so thin!" Exclaimed Bellana, the palace's head dressmaker. She had an eastern accent, probably from Rivendell, Fanya noted.
"Probably due to Thranduil locking me away in his study for so long every day," Fanya said, glaring at Thranduil, who laughed.
"Blame my son. He's the one who initiated it all," Thranduil said.
"He's too far away to blame. Anyway, this is all your fault, Ow! Because... ow! These pins are killing me! Bellana, are these necessary?" Fanya asked, turning her conversation to Bellana, who was sticking pins into the dress every two inches or so. Some of them were sticking Fanya.
"Yes," Bellana smiled. "They're absolutely necessary," she winked at Thranduil from behind Fanya and continued to pin the dress.
"Come back in two days and it'll be finished to wait for that Prince to return," Bellana announced. Fanya slipped the dress off and slipped on her dress again, leaving with Thranduil to walk the corridors.
"That dress is old," Fanya commented when Thranduil asked her about it. "And it's been worn before. By whom? Do you know?"
"It was my mother's dress," Thranduil said. "She wore it to her wedding, and then my wife, Rienna, wore it when we were wed... it is only right that you wear it now," he stopped talking, deep in thought, probably thinking of how his own wife looked wearing it. Fanya was already diving into her own thoughts... 'Legolas' Grandmother's dress? It's probably at least 6000 years old...' That's ancient... especially to Fanya, who was only 72 years old. Thranduil started talking again, but Fanya was only half listening.
"...don't worry, you don't have to worry about anything else today, Fanya. Go and have some fun, away from my study," Thranduil winked.
"As much fun as your study is..." Fanya muttered. "Thank you Thranduil," Fanya hugged him tightly and then went in search of Lenwe... she wanted to train with him for a while, to take her mind off of things.
oOo
In the dead of night, Legolas dismounted his horse and crept into the Palace, unseen. He took several little-known passages that he knew and made his way to the Royal hallway. He opened the door to his chambers. The door adjacent to his room was open. This puzzled him. He walked through the door and gasped softly. There on the bed slept Fanya. He silently thanked his father and walked over to her bed. He took off his boots and slipped into the bed, to sleep next to Fanya. He planted a kiss on her cheek and she moved. Her hand found his in her sleep and gripped it tightly. He settled down beside her and fell asleep, content to be beside his love.
oOo
A/N: Eh? Whaddaya think? Corny ending, I know, but I can't keep Legs and Fans away from each other! I swear... they keep meeting up behind my back and going to parties. Without me! scoffs
Orli: Well it's not my fault. It's Fanya. She's the one to initiate all the parties.
Me: Didn't we agree that you weren't the same thing as Legolas in Chapter 8?
Orli: Oh shut up.
Okay... some notes:
1) THIS STORY IS DONE. FINISHED.
(Haha I had you worried, didn't I?)
This story has three more chapters to go, AS WELL AS an epilogue! So everybody get in your reviews so MAYBE I can break 250 reviews! Maybe? ...Please?
2) Chapters will only arrive as fast as my beta (THE MOST AWESOME GIRL IN THE WORLD... SHIVVERS!) can crank them out. She has all of the chapters in her inbox and will someday edit them when she has time and then will send them back. :)
3) I'm really sorry, but I can't remember all who has reviewed, and it's too late for me to figure it out! Believe me, you will be recognized in the end! And I promise holds up hand to swear that I will do review responses next chapter. Although I've been doing my best to email you whenever you review to thank you, so I do hope that's enough for some of you.
Now... I turn you loose to CLICK THE PURPLY-BLUE BUTTON AS SOON AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN... it's a race, right? Be the first to review the chapter... ready? 1... 2... 3...
NOW!
-Ivy, 9/28/05 11.12pm-
P.S. Don't know if ya'll noticed, but this story officially passed the TWO-YEAR mark since I published it on August 27, 2003. See how long I've been doing this for you? I love you guys too much... :D
