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Thanks to Elfluver13 and Luvthefluff. They majorly helped me in this chapter.

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To Elfuver13 and Luvthefluff thanks for all your support with this story and your input. Thanks for helping write this chapter. Also to all those who have birthdays today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The Double Edged Romance

Chapter 12

How could she be doing this? Why was she doing this?

Today, a lovely midsummer's eve, she would be getting married. And no, not just anyone, Lindariel of Lothlorien, the one who had previously vowed to love no other than Lothlorien's own March warden, Haldir.

But she was to wed Legolas, son of Thranduil, heir to the throne of Mirkwood. One could only imagine how the wedding night was going to be…

Lindariel sat nervously in a guest bedroom in the palace of Mirkwood. She clutched her under dress with anxiety and checked her reflection constantly in the mirror.

She would be called to the feast any second. Apprehension and uneasiness hovered over her like a cloud on a rainy day.

She heard footsteps and looked up to see her aunt, the Lady Galadriel, enter the room with her head held high.

"Lindariel, do not be nervous," she said.

"Who told you I was nervous? I am not nervous. Why would I be nervous?" She stuttered frantically.

"Do not fret, all young brides sense worry on the day of their wedding. It is a common thing."

"Yes, but not all brides are pushed and prodded into a marriage with an elf they barely know."

"More than you would think, child." Galadriel smiled warmly and all of Lindariel's fears seemed to abate. Silence passed for a few seconds before Galadriel moved again.

"Come now; let us get you out of that dress and into that lovely gown on the bench over there." The Lady stepped over to the bench and picked up the glimmering white gown. It was made of the finest silk and was embroidered delicately along the hemline. She quickly clothed herself, desperately trying not to muss the elaborate hairstyle that had taken hours to arrange.

With a delighted smile, Galadriel led the way to the Great Hall in the palace.

Upon entering, Lindariel was almost struck dumb. The hall was decorated elegantly and elven nobles could be seen everywhere you looked. Many turned when she entered, and welcomed her with homely smiles. However, a certain group of ellith in a corner of the hall glared at her and gave her dirty looks. 'How nice,' she thought, 'he has a vicious fan club'. She looked around trying to find the comfort gaze from Arwen but sadly she new she was not going to find one. Arwen told her she would not be able to attend Lindariel's wedding.

She caught sight of her beloved uncle, the Lord Celeborn, and he too gave her an encouraging smile, before turning back to talk to Thranduil.

Next to him stood the last person Lindariel wanted to see at the moment. Legolas stood tall and proud dressed in a strikingly handsome dark green tunic. Black leggings complemented the blonde hair falling down his back.

He too had turned when she had entered, but as she noticed, he had refrained from taking his eyes off her since. Those clear, blue eyes stared back at her with an unknown intensity.

He walked towards her. Galadriel gave her a little nudge and went to join her husband.

"My lady," Legolas bowed, his eyes not leaving hers.

She did likewise with a similar greeting.

"How do you fare in Mirkwood as of yet?" He asked, trying to encourage friendly conversation.

"Oh, very well my lord," she did her best to sound excited.

An awkward silence ensued. This was going to be a long first night.

After the ceremony, Lindariel was feeling quite out of it. She barely remembered the blessings or the duties described to her. She vaguely remembered hearing something about providing heirs, supporting the prince, and staying faithful before she was led off by a bunch of giggling maids to what she surmised to be her bedchamber.

Oh sorry, their bedchamber.

A feeling of numbness came over her as they undressed her and clad her in some ceremonial nightgown. They left all of her hair down except for two braids.

With oddly cheerful smiles, they left her in the bedchamber sitting at the chair of an exquisite oak table. With a sigh, her eyes traveled around the room. She couldn't deny it, it was a beautiful chamber. Finally, she saw what had been laid out on the table. A bottle of wine and two glasses. Did they really think she was going to enjoy this that much?

She shrugged her shoulders and opened the bottle, pouring for herself a glass of the gleaming red wine.

"A toast, to the insufferable prince of Mirkwood!" She exclaimed and heartily drank some of the wine.

"Getting started without me already?" She jumped, almost spilling the wine all over herself, and turned to see Legolas leaning against the doorway to the bath, dressed in a casual tunic and loose leggings.

"I apologize, my lord, I did not see you." Her face turned red from the blush rising up from her neck.

He laughed and went to sit down next to her. Pouring a glass for himself, he continued to smile.

"Now, what were we toasting to again? Ah yes, that's right, the insufferable me. Off we go then." He too drank his wine heavily and set the glass down in a matter of moments, still half-way full.

After realizing his joke, she glowered at him.

"So help me if you were not my husband or the prince of Mirkwood I would throw this wine glass at you!" Highly irritated, she drank more of her wine for comfort.

With an amused smile he did the same.

"There, there. No need to be angry. A spot more wine, my dear?"

She nodded and he refilled her glass.

"Wait, are you trying to get me drunk?"

"Why ever would I do that, meleth?"

She refused to drink another drop, sliding her glass away from her.

"Will my new wife even be kind enough to grace me with a kiss?"

Hesitantly, she looked at him and realization dawned on her. She would be spending the rest of her life with him. It was time to put her past behind her; Haldir was no longer her love interest, just a friend.

She took in his handsome face and caring eyes. He was beautiful, and all this time she had been pushing him away. Of course, one could not simply fall in love with someone because of their looks, but it helped immensely.

She leaned towards him tentatively, and he boldly moved as well. Taking her lips with gentleness, he slowly caressed her cheek. Before she knew it, he'd pulled her closer, his body the dominating presence in her mind. Lindariel could feel his tongue teasing her lips and eagerly responded to his kiss. Before she knew it, she found herself on the great four-poster bed, giving in to the burning inside of her. She stiffened a little as Legolas slipped the gown off of her shoulders, but that was soon forgotten as the fire of passion took over...

Birds sang happily and bright, clean sunlight filtered in through the open window. She breathed quietly and contentedly, snuggling into the bed.

Wait, that wasn't a bed, it was a body. Come to think of it, she also felt a delightfully warm breath on her neck as well. Turning slowly, she faced Legolas who was sound asleep and had his arms around her.

It all came back to her in that one moment. The previous night. Joy, then embarrassment, then…completeness.

TBC…to be continued.

Meleth means Love