The entire crowd turned to face Raelyn. Every single dignitary and honoured soldier from Gondor and Rohan crammed the pews of the citadel to witness the event. At the very front sat Raelyn's father and brother, Neome. They had not seen her since her mother had passed and were anxious to find her well.
The crowd fell into complete silence - all that could be heard was the echo of Raelyn's every step on the white marble floor. As she passed each row the guests would stand, though Raelyn tried her best not to catch their gaze by keeping her head down. She could not bear the attention so with every step her eyes brimmed with more and more tears. Raelyn hid the conflict she felt behind the veil until she reached the very front of the citadel where she obediently stood beside Harrin. He wore velvet attire of blue and white with a long, thin, decorative sword at his hip. He took a single fleeting glance at her before the ceremony began.
"We are gathered here today to witness the long awaited union of King Harrin of Gondor to Princess Raelyn of Rohan…" began the host.
Within the crowd Legolas churned in indecisive torment – never before had he felt such uncertainty. Raelyn had not even noticed he was there. She had made her way past him without as much as a glance. He had planned to look deep into her eyes so he could be sure that this wedding was what she wanted all along but the veil shielded any emotion. Everything he had told her was wrong. After all these years, it was he who discovered that the prophecy was mistranslated. He would have stopped her then and there were it not for how determined her steps were. They were strong and fast, in rhythm with his quickened heartbeat. When Raelyn reached the front he was almost certain that she was gladly going through with it.
But that was when he heard it. His keen, pointed ears caught the sound of a single teardrop falling to the marble floors of the citadel. It was all the indication he needed. Immediately he stood in the centre of the crowd, drawing their attention which was a mixture of confusion, disapproval and a hint of anticipation.
Legolas's throat dried up so he just stood there and mouthed "Raelyn".
Raelyn's lip trembled yet somehow she managed to hold back the tears. He is here! What is he doing?! Raelyn thought.
"Sit! You fool." Harrin commanded in his booming voice. He turned his back on the elf so that the ceremony might continue.
"I cannot not sit by and watch this mistake unfurl before me." Legolas said steadying himself.
Slowly Harrin turned again. "In case you haven't heard ELF, we are destined. We are nothing but RIGHT for each other." He said menacingly.
The crowd watched on, stunned, but none were more shocked than Raelyn.
"I command you to ignore this fool, Wife." Harrin spat in Raelyn's ear. It took all the courage she could muster not to run and hide, but she carefully removed her veil.
"You will all be the first to know that the prophecy – was wrong." Legolas continued, staring deep into Raelyn's eyes. "From its very beginning it was mistranslated. Raelyn, you were not destined to join the other family,but actually the other…group…kind…species…race."
Harrin was bewildered that Raelyn appeared so moved by the nonsense. He needed to up his ante and appeal to her if he was not to be made the fool. "You seriously believe that she will listen to a man who talks more of old parchment than love?"
The crowd gasped in unison; secretly eager for the elf's response. Raelyn was visibly shaken and with her head spinning she could not decide what to think.
"You are right, Harrin," Legolas admitted, "and that is why I must tell you… Raelyn… that I do love you." He finished visibly overcome.
Raelyn lost her composure letting out a sob. "No…" she whispered as tears ran down her face.
Raelyn's father, King Jodol, stood immediately "Can't you see that you are upsetting her, elf…" but he was cut off by Harrin's rageful spatter "This will not be born! I have not sacrificed the better part of my life for nothing. I will have the Princess that I was promised… I have waited,twenty one yearsforthis!"
Legolas slowly made his way to the front of the citadel and just metres from Raelyn he replied "And with all due respect, King Harrin of Gondor" Legolas bowed, switched his gaze to Raelyn "I have waited thousands."
Raelyn covered her mouth to stem the sobs that were escaping from her.
Neome stood nearby in solidarity with his sister, who was clearly overwhelmed by what was transpiring around her. "Sister," He said softly, "All I am going to say is what our mother would have told you. Follow your own path… Who do you choose?"
Legolas got down on one knee before her, his gaze solemnly fixed on the floor beneath Raelyn's feet.
The citadel fell silent and Raelyn trembled.
Looking at Harrin she saw a proud man. Despite being visibly jealous and interested in getting what he long 'deserved' yet she also saw politically ingenuity, sacrifice, standing, power, and leadership – qualities of a fine husband, albeit combined with human flaws. Raelyn knew all too well that, she too, was flawed.
But turning to Legolas she could not help but see a loving and gentle companion; honest, dutiful and loyal. A man who understood her more from these few days than Harrin ever had. She saw someone who sought her love and forgiveness.
"Legolas…" Raelyn whispered, just loud enough for his keen hearing to catch. Legolas's eyes shot upward in fear only to be met with a smile. Relief washed over him as he rose.
"Oh Raelyn, lle naa Melamin! Lle naa Mela en' coiamin!" (Oh Raelyn, you are my love! You are the love of my life!) Legolas stammered as he was overcome with joy, spilling out whatever words came to him.
"What?!" Harrin roared in rageful disbelief. "This will not be born! Guards! Drag this dog away!"
"Saurar! (foul one!) Wethrinaer! (Deceitful one!) Unguer! (Hollow one!)" Legolas yelled in utter disgust as he was set upon from behind by six armed guards.
"No! Stop! Legolas? Legolas!" Raelyn shouted frantically flinging herself between Legolas and Harrin.
"Harrin, stop this! Immediately!" Raelyn's father demanded.
Legolas managed to throw off the guards, manoeuvring from their grasp, narrowly avoiding their deadly strikes. This only escalated Harrin's anger and in retaliation he grabbed Raelyn, dragging her backwards. Unsheathing the sword at his hip Harrin held it to her throat.
The crowd started to panic, frantically crying out unintelligible things. Legolas instantly raised his hands in surrender, allowing himself to be shackled, yet Harrin still refused to release Raelyn.
"Steady yourself Eorlingas! (Riders of Rohan)" Neome yelled "None want to see the Princess harmed."
"Let go of me!" Raelyn pleaded.
"I will never let you go." Harrin spat.
Looking from her panicked Father, to her agitated brother, across the astounded crowd to the fearful and virtually overcome Legolas - somewhere inside herself… Raelyn found her courage. She let go of her fear… and all her inhibitions.
"You will let go, now." She replied sternly.
Hearing Raelyn's renewed determination Harrin hesitated for just a second and that was all she needed. Raelyn tore the train of her dress clean off, throwing it over Harrin's face; blinding him. He stumbled slightly before she punched him square in the jaw with all the strength she had. He lunged with his weapon but it did not prevent him from toppling backwards.
For that split second every single being in the citadel was astonished. Mouths gaped, jaws dropped and eyes had never been wider.
Everything began to move in slow motion as Raelyn screamed "Ruuuun!" in Legolas's direction. He sprung from his group of captors to join Raelyn as they raced hand-in-hand down the aisle.
Harrin tore at the silk that clung to his face, swiftly slicing it into pieces with his sword. He had never before experienced such furious rage.
Looking over her shoulder Raelyn saw how lethal Harrin's demeanour had become. She kicked off her shoes so that she might run faster when, all of a sudden, the aisle filled with people. Although Harrin tried to push through the crowds, clambering over the pews with his sword in hand the hundreds of peasants, dignitaries and soldiers kept him at bay.
"Eorlingas!(Riders of Rohan!)To your Princess's aid!" Raelyn heard her brother yell above the commotion.
Raelyn and Legolas pushed through the exit quickly making their way to the weapon area. Legolas had been obliged to surrender his bow there earlier before being allowed to enter the ceremony.
"Elvish Longbow, please." Raelyn stated with a smirk.
"All over… already…?" A guard mumbled turning to face the duo in cloud of pipe-smoke. Seeing the shackled elf with the grinning runaway bride in her torn gown the guard bewilderedly stuttered "W-what..?" before Legolas made off with his bow; Raelyn in tow.
The two mounted their horses and bolted from The White City followed not far behind by the protective and loyal Riders of Rohan.