Here is another chapter, lovelies! :)
Enjoy and review if you would like!
~:Elven Kat:~
Rìan did not go to the trials of Giwen nor did she go to witness the execution of the man who had captured her. She stayed in her chambers with Nyvyan, holding her son close to her.
"I never thought I would see you again," she murmured, kissing the top of the Elfling's head.
Nyvyan twisted in his mother's arms, smiling widely up at her. His blue eyes sparkled with happiness. Rìan, in turn, smiled down at him. Legolas returned to them after the execution. He stood in the doorway for a moment, taking in the sight before him. Nyvyan squealed when he saw his father and reached his little arms towards him as Legolas came over.
"Melamin, Aragorn has ordered that a feast be held to welcome my father," Legolas said, taking Nyvyan from Rìan. "You two shall meet him."
~:✿:~
Rìan walked with Legolas to the hall, carrying Nyvyan on her hip. Rìan had dressed in a light green gown, matching the color of her son and husband's tunics. They paused in front of the doors. Legolas nodded to Rìan as encouragement. The guards opened the doors for them. Thranduil sat next to Aragorn, standing as the family approached. Rìan could feel the Elven King's eyes on her as if he were sizing her up, making sure she was fit for his son.
"Ada. I wish for you to meet Rìan and our son Nyvyan," Legolas said.
Rìan bowed her head.
"It is good to meet you, daughter," Thranduil said to her.
"And it is good to meet you as well, Father."
Legolas took Nyvyan from her and presented Thranduil with his grandchild. The Elfling hesitated for a moment before reaching towards the Elf King. Thranduil accepted him and his stern look softened as he held his grandson for the first time. Inwardly, Rìan breathed a sigh of relief. She had feared they would not be so readily accepted.
Now we have to win over the citizens of Mirkwood, she thought to herself as they sat at the table.
And she worried that it would be no easy task. Legolas seemed to pick up on her internal struggles.
"Melamin," he whispered. "Why do you fret?"
"Is it so obvious?" she whispered back.
"When you worry, your brow creases," he told her, stifling a chuckle.
"I fear we will not be so accepted by the people of Mirkwood," she confessed. "A Prince, marrying an escaped elleth from Mordor, and having a child with her. And without any proper ceremony."
Legolas placed his palm on her hand, weaving his fingers between hers.
"Do not fear, melamin. They will love you," he reassured her.
Despite his words, Rìan still felt uneasy. She turned to Thranduil, who still held Nyvyan. Her son was squirming in the Elven King's lap, tugging on his long hair. Thranduil did nothing to stop the Elfling, but his face seemed to twitch slightly at each pull.
"Nyvyan!" Rìan hissed quietly to her son. "Do not pull on his hair."
Reluctantly, Nyvyan let go and pouted, his tiny bottom lip pushed forward. A smile pulled the Elven King's mouth upwards.
"I am sorry, my lord," Rìan apologized as she took Nyvyan onto her own lap.
"It was nothing. I had not held a child in many years and I had forgotten what a handful they were," Thranduil said. "The last child that pulled on my hair was Legolas, although his tugs were hard as he had a habit of twisting my hair around his fingers."
Rìan could not help but laugh. The thought of Legolas as an Elfling was too much. The Elf Prince glared at his wife and father.
~:✿:~
The feast lasted for a long while. It was only attended by people with a fairly high social status as it was a feast for King Thranduil. Nyvyan had been taken to bed by Braedia. Thranduil wasted no time in questioning Rìan about her past. Though she was a bit taken aback by this, she knew he was only trying to protect his son.
"Yes, my King, I did live in Mordor for a time," she said. "I had been captured and forced to fight for Sauron."
She continued with her tale but left out the rape, the torture, and the humiliation. She thought if he knew, he would think of her as unfit to rule beside his son. She was surprised to learn that he did know what had happened when he spoke.
"Rìan, it pains me to know the torture you went through. Had I been able to prevent it, I would have. Legolas as well, I'm sure. He tells me that your nightmares have stopped however."
"Yes. They stopped on the eve of the fall of Sauron," she said.
He smiled at her.
"Now is not the time to remember such horrible things. Feast and be merry. Tomorrow we leave for Mirkwood," he told her.
~:✿:~
They left as the sun rose, tinting the sky pink. Rìan held Nyvyan tightly as she said her goodbyes. He was staying in Minas Tirith, in the care of Braedia and Eowyn. The Shieldmaiden of Rohan was staying with Faramir, who was to take over rule in Aragorn's absence. The King and Queen of Gondor were riding with the Elves to Mirkwood as they were to attend the ceremony where Rìan and Legolas would be properly joined.
"Naneth," Nyvyan repeated over and over. "Ada."
At the moment, those were the only words he could say.
"I will be back Nyvyan," she whispered into her son's ear.
Legolas had his turn saying farewell to his son. He whispered something quietly to him so no one could hear. Nyvyan smiled widely.
"Ada! Ada!"
And then they were off. Legolas and Rìan rode Arod, their trusty steed who had carried them throughout their journey. Arod had returned to the camp of the Rohirrim after bolting from the door of the dead. He was brought to Minas Tirith after the battle of Pelennor Fields along with Aragorn's horse, Brego. The journey to Mirkwood was long and lasted for days. Though most of the Orcs were wiped out, many still plagued the countryside. The travelers had run into a few, but they were quickly picked off by Elven archers, Legolas included. No one matched his skill with a bow. They would camp at night, hidden among a glade or large rocks. In the morning, they would return to their horses and continue riding.
Legolas sighed as a forest came into view.
"Melamin, look!" he said, pointing to the trees. "Within the forest lies my home."
As they entered, Rìan looked up at the canopy. Sunlight shone through the leaves, emitting a soft, green glow. Birds chirped and flew overhead.
"It is beautiful," she said.
Ahead of them, a small group of males appeared. Rìan could see they were Elves, with the same hair and eye color as that of Legolas and his father.
"King Thranduil," they said in unison, bowing their heads slightly and placing their hands over their hearts.
"Legolas!" one of them exclaimed upon seeing the Elf Prince.
"Brevyan!" Legolas chuckled.
He leapt down from Arod and embraced the other Elf.
"I would like you to meet my wife," Legolas said.
Brevyan raised his eyebrows slightly in amusement. Now Rìan could see that his eyes were more gray than blue.
"Rìan, this is my childhood friend Brevyan," Legolas said, pushing Brevyan to Arod. "Brevyan, this is my wife and mother of my child."
Brevyan bowed gracefully.
"My lady, it is a pleasure to meet you," he said. "Though I wonder how one as beautiful as yourself had the misfortune of finding such an Orc-looking Elf as my friend."
Rìan laughed as Brevyan dodged Legolas' hand that flew out to strike him. Thranduil groaned.
"If you two are done with your childish antics, I would like to keep riding," he said.
"Yes, my lord," Brevyan apologized. "Sorry, my lord."
He winked at Rìan as he headed to the front of the group. Legolas mounted Arod behind Rìan.
"Brevyan seems wonderful," she whispered back to him.
"Indeed he is. I have known him for as long as I can remember," Legolas whispered back. "He is more like a brother to me."
As they reached Thranduil's palace, they were greeted by more Elves. Rìan's eyes caught a familiar face.
"Gimli!" she cried, dismounting and hugging the Dwarf. "Why are you here?"
"You didn't think I would miss this ceremony, did you lass?" Gimli asked.
Rìan looked down on his ruddy face and laughed.
"No Gimli, I did not."
Legolas greeted their Dwarven friend.
"It is good to see you," Legolas said.
"Aye, and it is good to see you," Gimli replied. "An Elvish princeling with a wife and child. I could not be more happier for you lad. Where is my nephew?"
"Nephew?" Rìan asked.
"Yes, nephew. For I am Uncle Gimli!" the Dwarf declared.
This time neither Legolas nor Rìan could contain their laughter. Behind them, two small voices could be heard, calling them.
"Legolas! Rìan!"
The two Elves turned to see Merry and Pippin scurrying towards them, followed by Frodo and Sam. Pippin flung himself at Rìan, hugging her skirts tightly.
"Pippin! Don't be rude!" Merry yelled.
But his manners departed when he saw Legolas smile. He wrapped his small arms around the Elf Prince, almost knocking him over. Rìan looked up to see Gandalf, accompanied by Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, walking towards them. Pippin let go of her so she could greet them.
"Naneth. Ada," Rìan said, bowing her head.
In the next moment, Galadriel had swept Rìan into her arms. Both the Lady of Light and her daughter had tears openly flowing down their cheeks.
"Naneth. I have missed you so," Rìan cried.
"And I have missed you, my child."
Forgetting all sense of nobility, Lord Celeborn held his daughter tightly to him as she greeted him next. A single tear coursed down his face.
"Ada," Rìan whispered.
They parted ways after that. Legolas led Rìan to his old room. She was told that she would be staying in his room. The room was big, bright, and beautiful. A large bed with a canopy of soft white curtains stood on one side. A desk and wardrobe were placed along the opposite wall. An archway lead to a smaller, adjoining room with a bath. Rìan was amazed at all the beauty. Pushing her down onto the bed, Legolas kissed her gently.
"Does it satisfy you, melamin?" he asked.
"It is wonderful. Breathtaking and peaceful," she replied.
And indeed it was. Curled up in each others arms, the two Elves rested comfortably against each other. A slight warm breeze swept through the open window, wafting the scent of flowers around the room. The sound of a fountain could be heard outside. Soon, Rìan was lulled to sleep by the sound of the gardens. Snuggling against Legolas' chest, she slept safe and undisturbed.