The Guest List

The next couple of weeks were busy around the palace. The news quickly traveled in a matter of days to the rest of the Elven Lands. Legolas and Reylien met with their parents and agreed that the wedding would take place three months.

There were many things to prepare for and invitations to be sent. Legolas wasn't much of a planner so he left it to Reylien and his mother. He knew the celebration itself was more important to them than him. If he had it his way, the ceremony would be small with only family members and close friends in attendance. But, of course, there were no such things with royal weddings.

Everywhere Legolas turned he was congratulated and told that he picked a good bride to be his queen. Many of them knew it was going to be Reylien as they were seen almost everywhere together. It was only a matter of time until it happened were the whispers behind his back.

The only ones that weren't thrilled of the news were the elf-maidens who lost their chance on becoming the next Queen of Mirkwood. The prince knew of their with competitions with each other, so in case they plot anything against Reylien, he had a guard stay close to her, but far enough to give her space.

There also wasn't much for Legolas to do on his part except make appearance for his garment fittings and dinners at night with their families. Due to the hectic schedules the wedding put on the entire kingdom, the two elves rarely spent time together as the ceremony was top priority in Greenwood the Great. It was fine with the prince as he and his soon-to-be queen would have plenty of time to catch up once everything went back to normal after the wedding.

He thought about his proposal and everything that had gone on in Eryn Lasgalen, yet it still hadn't completely fazed him. Legolas's mind was numb as it finally gave up on arguing with him about his decision. It was going to be a new life for them. He would care for the elf-maiden and in time, he hoped to love her as much as he did Le'ariel.

"My sweet distraction..." Legolas smiled to himself. The elf-prince was on his way to the archery range when he and a servant both bumped into each other while turning the corner at the same time.

"Prince Legolas! I am sorry, Your Highness, I should have watched where I was going," he bowed low and quickly gathered the rolled up parchments that were scattered on the ground.

"No need to apologize. I was not paying attention myself." He bent down to help pick up the remaining pieces that the servant tried to balance in his arms. "Can I ask what these are for?"

"These are the wedding lists that Lady Reylien asks to be made into invitations, Your Highness," he replied, dropping another one on the ground. Legolas picked it up and opened it to see some of the names. "That is a list of names in Rivendell, sire."

The prince's eyes grew wide. "Some of these names must be removed," he told the servant firmly.

He glanced at the list Legolas held and gave him an apologetic look. "I am sorry, Prince Legolas, but the invitations to the elves on that list have already been sent." Legolas shook his head and shoved the parchment into the servant's arms causing him to drop even more on the ground that slipped through his hands. "Thank you." He mumbled as the prince stormed away.

"Where is Reylien, mother?" Legolas found her in the garden. His voice was impatient.

"I do not know, my dear. The last time I saw her was this morning for tea."

"I need to speak with her...now!" he said, his tone demanding as if the queen must produce the elf-maiden's whereabouts.

She saw he was clearly upset about something. "What is the matter, Legolas?"

"I have just seen the list of names for the invitations that were sent to Rivendell. Why was I not told?" He made short, quick paces in front of his mother with his hands on his hips.

Terulien folded her hands in front of her and sighed. "Do not be upset with Reylien, Legolas. I am the one who approved the list."

"Why, mother?" he stopped pacing and faced her in frustration.

"I did it because in order for you to live a good, happy life, Legolas, you must not carry such burdens from your past. Everything that you have gone through in the last two decades happened for a reason. This is something you need to overcome. Be thankful that you are the elf you are now. You may have not realized it, but you have grown and matured in so many ways."

Legolas started pacing again. "You could have at least warned me."

"You were the one who left everything up to us because you did not want to deal with the preparations, therefore, that gives us the authority to make any decisions we see fit and most of all, invite any elf we feel should be there…especially family," she replied sternly. Her voice carried the authority of not just his mother, but the queen. "You should have already expected it, Legolas. And you do not even know if they will attend. Whether they do or not, it is a practice of good courtesy to our other Elven Realms."

"I know, mother! I just..." he replied defeated, letting his words trail off.

"Look, my dear," she squeezed his hand. "I know this is your wedding and should be a special day for you and Reylien. But, to truly move on and start with a fresh page to fill the next chapters of your lives, you must also make sure that the previous pages have not been forgotten. For when we do, we lose memories of how we got to the good parts that have made us laugh, smile and even cry."

"So, you are saying I should face this head-on?"

"Yes. Make amends or do whatever it is you have to do before you take that journey with Reylien. Do not bury your past but embrace it." The prince eventually nodded for his mother was right. She was always right and it was hard arguing with her when she threw things at him to consider. "Forgiving is also accepting the present, my son." She kissed his cheek and abandoned him to think.

Legolas pondered her words and finally headed toward the archery range. The elves saw this to be a joyous occasion and basked in it more than he did. This was their wedding but he soon realized it was for his people as well, and it was only right to share it with them...all of them. It was an uneasy time for the elf-prince, but he managed to keep his false appearance of being nonchalant about things, and that was how he planned to act about it.

However, looking back at the last few years, Legolas didn't do so well with the facade. He had to make sure to practice it more before the big day. He also didn't want Reylien to worry about anything or find him acting strange on the day of the wedding. Thanks to his mother, she told the elf-maiden that he would be okay with their relatives attending.

"Great..." he muttered to himself.

I I I

"Where have you been?" Keldir threw his arms in the air and kept them there as he waited for an answer.

"I had a brief talk with my mother," Legolas sighed.

Keldir finally put his arms down. "From the looks of you, it does not seem to have been very pleasant."

"Adanion and Le'ariel were invited to the wedding without my knowledge," he bitterly shook his head.

"Ah...I see." Keldir gave him a sympathetic look. "When were the invitations sent?"

"Just yesterday."

"Messengers usually take about three days to get to Imladris but I know of a few short cuts if you are looking into intercepting them."

"No, that will not be necessary," Legolas dismissed the idea with his hand. "What has been done has been done. As my mother pointed out, there is still a chance that they may not come at all."

"And what if they do?"

"Then, I will deal with it properly and...welcome them. It is my wedding after all, a time to act civilized, would you not agree?"

"Unwaveringly," the captain suppressed a smile.

"Legolas are we going to start soon?" One of the elven-children yanked on his sleeve.

Legolas kneeled down next to him and smiled. "Yes, Dimas, go get your arrows ready." The little elf-boy smiled and ran back to his target. "Duty calls," he looked up at Keldir. They parted ways and headed to their own side of the archery range where their students waited.

And as it turned out, the conversation with his mother actually lifted his spirits. The thought of being able to be free of the heavy load his heart carried made him feel somewhat better. Legolas wasn't going to worry about his cousin or Le'ariel unless he really had to, although he was still going to work on his nonchalant look for those 'just in case' moments.

The first of the guests were scheduled to arrive three days prior to the wedding. There was a little time left until Legolas's life would change forever.

I I I

After the elven-children's lesson, the elf-prince headed back to his chambers and stared out the window to watch the market place. It was busy as usual with vendor trying to sell their goods. At least some things remained the same, he thought. He kept telling himself that he won't let her presence there bother him.

It was a bit ironic, he thought, as she was the one he planned to marry, and now, she was the one invited to his wedding. That is, if she accepted the invitation. Legolas also wondered who she would bring with her…Adanion, perhaps? Would they come together as a pair, separate or with other elves?

Legolas promised his mother he would keep peace between him and his cousin while he was in Mirkwood, but he didn't promise to fully interact with him. If Legolas could help it, he would rather avoid his cousin...most of all, if he came with Le'ariel.

The sight of them together would be too strange and awkward so Legolas wanted to keep them a good distance away. To execute this, he added his opinion on the seating arrangements, which Reylien found a bit odd that he was only now taking an interest in helping out with something. But, nonetheless, she was happy with whatever he wanted. Her goal was to please her soon-to-be husband.

The following days after that, the elf-prince found himself helping out more than he originally intended. He told Reylien that since this is their wedding, they should make decisions together on making it as memorable as possible.

"I want elves to talk about it for centuries!" he laughed.

Reylien threw her arms around his neck and gave him a lingering kiss on the lips. They had kissed many times since he proposed to her. "I am so happy that you have finally come around, Legolas!"

"What do you mean, my love?"

"Well, you know how special this is for me and I appreciate you letting me have it the way I want it to be, but...I also wished you were into it just as much as I was," she confessed.

Legolas kissed her cheek. "I know and I am sorry. I do want to marry you and have this be a special day for the both us. I realize now that if we are going be in each other's lives, we should always share as many experiences as we can together and be there for each other...for eternity."

Reylien snuggled her head against his chest. "I love you, Legolas..." she whispered. He smiled and kissed her hair and for now, that was enough for her. Reylien would have a lifetime with him for his love to grow for her, and knowing that fact kept her content. She finally shooed him away when the seamstress arrived to get more measurements for her dress. "It is tradition for the groom to wait to see his bride's dress until the day of the wedding," she informed him.

"Very well," he chuckled. He gave her another kiss on the cheek and left her with the seamstress.

I I I

In the Northern Kitchen, the elf-prince looked over the menu for the wedding and asked the only elf he could think of to assist him with refining it—who happened to be Keldir. The captain was his best friend who also liked to eat as much he did.

"You must keep the stew on there. Dalorien only makes it for special occasions. You think she could make extra for your wedding?"

"Make extra of what?" The cook walked into the kitchen with a basket of apples she dumped on the counter.

"Keldir is looking into indulging in your stew," Legolas grinned. Keldir grinned even wider when she glanced at him.

Dalorien chuckled at two goofy-looking elves. "It is your wedding, Legolas. If you want extra stew, I will make it."

"Do I not have any say in this?" Keldir pretended to look hurt.

"Is it your wedding?" Dalorien raised an eyebrow.

"Well, no..."

"Then there is your answer!" Legolas softly laughed. Keldir rolled his eyes.

"If you ever get married again, Keldir, it would be the same for you," she said to him to ease the elf-prince's teasing.

"Well, thank you. At least then I know my opinion would count for something," he replied sarcastically. Legolas rolled his eyes with a smile. "Have fun with your menu." The captain exaggerated his bow and proceeded to leave.

"Where are you going?" Legolas asked.

"Guess? Dusk is approaching."

"Oh, I see. Have fun on your patrol," he smirked. The king put the prince off patrol duty to better concentrate on the wedding.

"As I always do..." Keldir gave a short wave and disappeared out the doors.

"Is there anything else you want more of on your menu or add...remove?" Dalorien asked. "It is your big day, Legolas, so I want to make sure everything is perfect for you...you deserve it."

"Thank you, Dalorien. I appreciate it coming from you," he half-smiled. "Did you know that…umm…Le'ariel was invited to the wedding?"

"Yes, your mother told me."

"Of course she did," he laughed at himself for his stupidity. "Have you...heard from her?" He was curious to know, but he thought maybe he shouldn't have asked.

Dalorien nodded. "From time to time. But nothing about the wedding, if that is what you are asking."

Legolas blushed for the first time in decades. "I actually do not know why I am asking." He softly laughed at himself again for bringing up an uncomfortable conversation.

"It is all right to ask, Legolas," she smiled warmly. "But I think it is best for you if I do not tell you about her life in Rivendell. For the most part she seems happy. I will tell you that much."

"I see...that is good to hear," he forced a smile to hide his aching disappointment.

The head cook placed her hand over his that was resting on the counter. "You do not have to pretend with me, my boy. I know how much you both loved each other and how hard this step was for you. But you are doing a good thing, Legolas. Reylien is a fine elf-maiden and I know she will do whatever it takes to make you happy. And I know you well enough to know that you will do the same."

"Of course I will," he assured her.

"Then that is all that matters," Dalorien smiled again.

He looks into the cook's eyes and saw a glimpse Le'ariel in them. "Thank you…" he whispered.