Chapter 8
Hours later, the two Durin brothers and Legolas were found in the Great Hall. There were hundreds of guests dancing around them, but each man only awaited one guest; Ariava. Finally she was announced to the crowd. A beautiful woman began to descend the stairs, auburn hair in curls, wearing a blood-red dress with rubies decorating her frame.
"Oh-" Kili breathed.
"My-" Legolas managed.
"Mahal," Fili finished. All three stood there dumbstruck. Before long she was in front of them, smiling.
"Prince Fili, I believe I promised you a dance?" she had gold lining her eyes and an incorporating the intricate drawing on her bare arms, with rubies appearing in the design every so often.
That night passed too quickly. After dancing with Fili, Ariava danced with Legolas, Thorin, Kili, Ori, Nori, Balin, Kili, Kili, Dwalin, Dori, Kili, Oin, Fili, Thorin, then the last dance went to Kili. Legolas burned with jealously as Kili escorted her to her room. Over the next few weeks she spent much of her time with Kili, or Kili and Fili.
Wherever she showed up at dinner she usually went on and on about her day with the dwarf prince or princes. Legolas wanted to vomit. Finally he had to remove himself from the sight of her and them. So saying good-bye one summer day he set off for Rivendell or Imladris.
Spending a few months here did nothing to ease the feelings the prince was experiencing. Elrond advised him about letting go – how her destiny was always entwined with the Durin line. Until one day Legolas received a marriage invitation. Legolas snapped.
In a fit of fury he rode to Erebor. He rode until he sighted the door to the Lonely Mountain. Upon entering this gold-ridden dwarvish town he stormed into the throne room. Thorin, Bilbo, Fili, Kili, and Ariava were situated here, around a large table.
"Legolas!" Ariava called, looking up at her friend. "Come join us!" He took note of her and Kili's entwined hands, and felt his fury grow. "We are making wedding plans!"
With a growl he grabbed Ariava. Holding his hands around her throat, he slammed her into the stone wall. Her eyes were wide with fear, though he took no notice. All he could think about was her betrayal to him.
"How could you?" Legolas yelled. "Marry someone other than me?" He was dragged off the princess who gasped for breath, before looking up at him sadly. Kili rushed to her side.
"Are you okay, darling?" he fussed and looked over her red neck. They all knew it was going to bruise; in fact it was already starting.
"I'm fine Kili," Ariava's eyes were filled with sorrow and tears.
"I hereby declare, Legolas of Mirkwood, son of Thranduil, guilty of attempting to assassinate Princess Ariava, betroth of crown prince Kili," Thorin said. "The penalty of such a crime is death."
"No!" Ariava cried, her voice lower from the abuse her neck had withstood.
"Are you insane?" Kili asked, incredulously looking down at her surprised. "He attempted to kill you!"
"Thorin, please let me take his memory of this. It will still be a cruel fate, but this way Thranduil will not have cause for retribution." Ariava pleaded.
"It shall be as you ask," Thorin said. She nodded and quickly said something, before placing her hands on his head.
"Guards have an escort take him to Laketown. When he awakes tomorrow he will not remember this. Let him live in ignorance of this day." She said softly before Legolas fell asleep.