Chapter 8: Unforeseen

"So, I know you met with Legolas already. But did you have a talk with my son about your future together?"

Rin froze. She did not want to act like she acted while talking to Dregonas.

"We had a small talk." She said, "Last night after I left. It was nothing though. We shall discuss this arrangement again soon, I think."

"Arrangement? It is marriage, princess. I must make myself perfectly clear to your ears when I say that I really hope you won't upset my son by referring your life together as such."

Rin looked at him her confusion evident in her eyes and answered with a cold tremor in her voice which she could not hide. "I shall do my best."

Thranduil was nerved again by her tone, but did not want to press the subject. He had more important things in his mind. 'Let them solve this between themselves' he thought and said "I hope you will. I will see you tonight at dinner. I think my brother will keep you all to himself for luncheon. You had your breakfast, did you not?"

"Not really." Rin answered, "But I am not hungry and…"

"Nonsense! You did not eat anything last night as well. You will have breakfast!" replied the King and before Rin could say anything else he was already giving orders for preparation of her meal.

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The sun shone brightly when Legolas returned to the city. He headed for the woods early in the morning like he had done it for centuries. But today the woods seemed different to him like he was seeing them from the eyes of another. He thought to himself 'not many flowers grow here, I wonder why?'

The shadow of the east had cast back when Sauron was defeated but the woods remained to be misty and dark even under the brightest sunlight. Legolas loved his homeland but his heart started to falter away, he knew it. 'But, the calling of the sea is not on me, yet'

On his way back he met some of his old friends, who saluted him respectfully and gave their best wishes for the upcoming marriage. Although they never appeared to question his motives in this matter, it was obvious that they were surprised. He could sense the astonishment and curiosity in their eyes. Although the bonds between elves and men have been seen in the past, there were none for thousand years except for Aragorn and Arwen, whose immortal love for each other was known in every corner of Middle Earth.

As he turned around the corner to his chamber he saw Rin down in the gardens of the palace, sitting on a bench and reading some book. Pausing for a moment he studied her, the lady had altogether an elegant air about herself, the way her head moved, the way her hands brushed her hair. He noticed that her eyes were focused on her book and that she was chewing her lower lip unknowingly. Decided what to do, he lightly jump down and with a noiseless landing he walked towards the maiden, still unaware of his closeness.

"Is it really that interesting?"

Rin was more than surprised by his sudden appearance. 'A dashing sight' she thought, he was wearing a black tunic, ending just above his knees, intricately embroided with silvery lines and black boots to go with it. His hair was loose on his back, a braid was holding it. A playful look was on his face, and she figured that this was his way of getting rid of the tension. She met his eyes and answered nonchalantly:

"Not at all, I was just pretending to read it" Rin put the book down next to her. She was not eager to play games with him but against him she felt she could not be her normal self.

"Than you are a great pretender, you fooled me" said Legolas, his blue eyes narrowed and he looked at her leaning on one foot.

Rin looked up at him and made a decision if her faith was to be with him; she was not going to spent her entire life fighting. So she decided and softly spoke:

"Won't you sit down? We have so much to talk and I fear we started on a wrong foot yesterday." She was looking at her hands in her lap "I am to blame, too. I know. I acted so immature and you were so..." She did not want to spoil this again. If she said something wrong they would start to argue again. She was so tired.

Legolas was surprised by the sudden change of heart in the princess but he was pleased with this, so without hesitating he sat next to her taking her book in his hand and said:

"... inexcusably rude? I am worried my Lady, that I did not show you the understanding you need at the time. I apologize, it was wrong of me" Than he turned his eyes from the book and look intensely at her, his left hand above his heart. "If the Lady accepts my apology?"

"Thank you, my Lord, I do. It is so gracious of you and of course I accept, as long as you accept mine." She stopped here to collect her thoughts. "I had a talk with your uncle, which only strengthened my thought that last night should be erased from our minds."

She looked at him with hope in her eyes: "Do you not think so? If we are to live together as friends and companions. …I shall live my whole life with you. It is not the same for you, of course. You had many lives before me and you shall have many more after I am... But even so, you would not like to come to your home and see an unfriendly face, I deem."

He was wordless at this. The hopeless truth spilling from the princess's lips easily had left him confused. His mind drifted to his lonely years before her, had he really had many lives before her? Many battles, many losses that was for sure. But he was never married before. 'Was she not aware of it? Did she not know the way of the elves? There were none who would marry after the loss of their partner. Marriage was sacred to the elves. He wondered if he should explain all this to her or leave it be? For he was sure that she would be more confused if she knew that she would be his only companion.

He took a deep breath, trying to understand the whole meaning of her words. It was apparent that she was not seeing him and most probably would never see as her husband. He tried to imagine the life in front of them, leaving together and being alone.

This thought shook him slightly. Although he would not expect the princess fall in love with him he had thought the words of last night were spoken in anger. Just to make him feel desperate but it was clear to him now that this maiden really meant it.

"Of course" he said, rising to his feet. "Excuse me"

Rin looked at him perplexed. Was he angry? She must have said something wrong. Then she remembered:

"Oh, my Lord, I offended you." She got up as well."Your father had told me that I should not talk of our marriage this way. But I actually thought that he was being... I did not think that he meant it."

This was unbelievable. Whatever she tried to do, it seemed she was at fault. She was wrong the day before when she was harsh with her words and she was at fault right now, while trying to make amends. 'Just unbelievable' she thought.

Then her aggression and honest streak won over.

"I do not know what to say to you" she exclaimed

"I just don't know. I do not know your ways, your thoughts." Her voice started to tremor, so she exhaled softly. "You must tell me what I am doing wrong. Because if I am to live my life here with you and with your people; I can not go on like this. This is not fair to me. The only person with whom I can talk without fear of saying something wrong, in this whole realm is your uncle and that is not enough!" That was the moment she realized she had raised her voice and stopped abruptly.

Legolas was looking at her strangely. At first his heart had softened at her words, he knew she was right. It was altogether wrong, forcing her to marry him, live in a foreign city, be apart from everything she knew and love.

But he felt something in him; something he could only decipher when he heard her words about his uncle, her closest friend here.

Unbeknownst to him Legolas was jealous and his pride was hurt again by her honest expression of her feelings.

He turned to her, his eyes burning with anger: "I am sure that you never shouted at my uncle or teased him, as you are constantly doing when talking to me?" He laughed bitterly. "What do you expect me to say? Accept the one who should meet me in grace as a pupil and teach you how to be more civil?"

Rin did not know what to say. The things he was saying…She felt herself harden with every word. How dared he? She knew what she was. She was descendant of Rhun dynasty. How dared he talking to her like this?

"No, of course," she said her voice cold as ice, "Who can ever say that I can match you in grace? Or anyone of your kind, for that matter. I am a lowly human after all, who was educated in human ways. You must pardon my barbarity. I wish I could do better but really how can I; it simply is not in my nature, is it?" Her face had become a lovely shade of pink with her anger. Her breathes were quick and shallow. But she could not stop. "But let me tell you this, Prince of Mirkwood. I assure if I had made the confession I just did a moment ago to any human being, he would have the decency to feel at least some compassion towards me. You on the other hand are not capable of feeling anything at all, apparently. So, forgive me for being a fool and opening up to you. I promise, it shall never happen again."

With this she pulled her book from his hands and turned to leave.

But before she could move one step a strong hand on her arm stopped her. Legolas turned her to himself. Rin could not understand what he was saying under his breath, but she could swear the look on his face looked like he was about to explode.

He drew her against him and with the strength of the pull she had to put her hand on his chest to stop herself from falling. The book in her hands fell to the ground. Not understanding she looked up at him and her eyes grew with surprise when she saw his head neared hers. The fierce kiss itself was completely unexpected.

She was shocked, could not move, her hands crumbled his tunic unintentionally.

His lips were pressing against hers while he put his hands on both sides of her face and caressed her cheeks with his thumbs.

Then he stopped and his face moved away from hers. He looked down at her.

She was shaken. She knew she should be angry, screaming even. It could even be seen as the perfect moment to fight back. But all she could do was to look in his eyes.

It felt like the colour was changing in every second with his emotions. She could not breathe. She did not felt like moving. She was not sure that she could. Her hands on his tunic tightened and she leaned towards him, while her head fall on his chest. He put his left hand on the side of her face caressing her cheek while his other hand was holding her closely on her waist. Legolas murmured something elvish, that Rin could not understand again. It was so hard to concentrate right then.She felt that his hand slowly made his way to her neck, and grabbing the end of her neck, he pulled her head slowly back, making her look at him again.

Legolas could not believe what he did. Taking advantage of her like this… He was angry, yes, it had started like that; but right now looking at her flushed face all he can think was how beautiful she looked.

She was leaning on him and he thought that maybe this move showed a little trust on her part.

Rin opened her eyes like waking up from a dream and saw Legolas looking down on her with a puzzled look in his eyes. She was against his chest, breathing in his scent, her hands still on his tunic, holding on. But than Legolas slowly drew himself back and while still looking down at her he slowly let her go.

"I am sorry, you must excuse me" he said.

It was Rin's world shattered once again. She remembered where she was; the things he said and could not take it any more, 'not again' she thought, tears coming to her eyes

"You seem to be sorry quite often these days, Prince Legolas" said Rin with a bitter voice and unable to look at his ashamed face, she turned and left quickly leaving him alone.