Chapter 3 – Aftermath

A/N: Sindarin translations are in <  . . . >

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Thranduil left a stunned Legolas in the garden; his son refused to understand and he did not have the time or patience to sit and coax him.

Legolas sank onto the nearest bench as soon as his father had left and tried to process what had just happened. Try as he might, his thoughts could not get past a single thought – he was going to get married to a complete stranger.

Legolas buried his head in his hands; Elven composure completely deserted him. An image of Arwen smiling at Aragorn flashed in his mind and his heart twisted with bitter envy. Now he would never know what it felt like to have a lover smile at him.

He knew his father, if Thranduil said the marriage was necessary it probably was. That in itself frightened Legolas, more than he cared to admit. What had happened in this last year or so that had made his father so anxious? Why this urgency?

*~ Who is the woman he is planning to tie me to? ~*

Legolas suddenly became aware of another’s presence in the garden. Not wanting to be disturbed, he sharply said, “Kela!”            <Leave! >

“Hmmm, so now a prince presumes to order me to go away. Times must have changed since I last blinked.”

Legolas almost fell off the bench when he heard the Lady of Lorien’s voice. “My lady, I did not know it was you.” Legolas’ fair cheeks burned crimson.

“Obviously.” Galadriel’s voice was amused and her mouth smiled. Legolas calmed down when he saw that the Lady was not offended. “Though I am obliged to point out, most of the human servants would not be able to understand Sindarin anyway.” Galadriel’s voice almost shook with the effort not to laugh.

Legolas smiled at her, “Once again you are absolutely correct, my Lady. I will be more careful next time.”

She chuckled lightly, causing Legolas to smile even wider. “May I ask what bothers the Prince of Mirkwood so much that he becomes so careless?”

“The King.”

“Amin elea.”                < I see >

Galadriel did not want to pry but Legolas seemed so downcast that she could not leave him. “Do you wish to speak of it?” She asked gently.

Legolas looked at her, and for a moment, allowed himself to wonder. Would his mother have been so gentle and firm at the same time? Would she have looked at him with the tenderness Lady Galadriel was showing?

*~ With this and more, little one. Now tell me, what bothers you so? ~* Galadriel’s thoughts were calming and sweet to Legolas.

“My father wishes me to get married.”

Galadriel smiled, “That should be the cause of much rejoicing, not this despair.”

“Rejoice at the thought of marrying an elleth I do not know?” Legolas could not keep the bitterness that out of his voice.            <She-Elf>

“Have you asked your father who your intended is?”

Legolas shook his head.

“Than how do you know she is a stranger?” Galadriel patiently asked.

“He would have told me if I knew. I would have been less . . .” Legolas trailed off, not wanting the Lady to know of his fight with Thranduil.

“Less vehement? Amin n'sinta My guess is that you were too angry to let him explain anything.” Galadriel’s voice was knowing; Legolas realised she had probably heard the angry words between Thranduil and him.      <I do not know>.

“I . . . he . . .” Legolas fell silent. Thranduil’s threat still rung in his ears and he was not ready to repeat it, even to himself.

“Thranduil loves you, more than you can imagine. If he asks you to get married than it is for the best.”

“How can it be?” Legolas forlornly asked, his eyes seeking guidance.

“That you must ask him. But remember this, he would not hurt you. If for no other reason than, you are all he has left of Eruante.”

Galadriel got up to leave; Legolas stood and offered to escort her back.

“No my child, you need to think about what has been said.” Galadriel smiled at the young prince.

“Diola lle.”            <Thank you>

“Ta nae amin saesa.”             <It was my pleasure>

With that, Galadriel left the thoroughly confused prince alone.

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Legolas wandered about in the garden for another hour; the words of the two conversations rolling around in his head.

*~ I want you to get married ~*

*~  . . . should be the cause of much rejoicing . . . ~*

*~ I am not ready ~*

*~ If he asks you to get married than it is for the best. ~*

*~ I cannot marry someone I do not love ~*

*~ He would not hurt you ~*

*~ I will not allow this to happen ~*

*~You are to get married soon after we return to Mirkwood. I will brook no disobedience in this matter ~*

Legolas halted; this pacing was getting him no answers. He needed to clear his head and start all over again.

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Instinctively, Legolas found himself at the archery grounds. He picked up a long bow and caressed the wood in his hands. He drew back the sting, pleased to see that it was taunt and well kept. He released it and his blood thrilled at the sound it made. He knew that sound like his own breathing, it was familiar and at this point very comforting.

He picked up a quiver of practise arrows lying next to the bow. If he could not think his way through this mess, maybe he could block it out of his mind.

Legolas drew back the arrow.

*~ So father wants me to get married. ~*

Gracefully, he let the arrow fly.

*~ I know father loves me. ~*

The arrow landed in the centre of the target with a loud thump.

*~ Lady Galadriel is right; he would never deliberately hurt me. But unintentionally . . . ? ~*

Legolas picked up another arrow,

*~ He does not understand. ~*

 The arrow split the first – another bulls-eye.

*~ He does not know how desperately I yearn to love, be loved – the way Aragorn loves Arwen. He does not know how I ache to look at someone the way Faramir looks at Éowyn. ~*

Four more arrows flew to join the first two, each one splitting the one before. Legolas did not even notice.

*~ He does not understand! ~*

“A little more circumspection, Legolas. Otherwise, I will be out of arrows very soon.” Aragorn’s voice cheerfully scolded.

Legolas blinked, and only then noticed that he had already gone through a whole quiver of arrows. He grinned apologetically at Aragorn and shrugged.

“So what bothers you, my friend?”

“Am I that transparent?”

“Only to those who love you.”

Legolas smiled and shook his head. He really did not want to talk about it – again.

“Do you know, I heard the most unusual thing today?” Aragorn casually mentioned, picking up another bow.

Legolas did not say anything, though he quirked his eyebrow in curiosity.

“I heard two elves screaming at each other – a most extraordinary state for any of the Firstborn, but especially between father and son.”

Legolas glared at Aragorn, “So you heard?”

“I could not help it. You and the King were  . . . loud.” Aragorn smiled, “Needless to say, Lady Galadriel and I were most surprised.”

“Then please do not say it.”

Aragorn laughed at the discomforted elf. “Be of good cheer Legolas, it will not be so unpleasant. I am sure Thranduil will choose well for you.”

“At this moment, that is of little comfort to me.”

“Then would be a comfort?”

“Having someone understand how I feel?” Legolas took aim again.

“I understand.”

“How can you? You have Arwen.” Legolas shook his head, his beautiful voice full of loneliness.

“And one of these days I will lose her, knowing that because of me she will die.” Aragorn’s voice was as heart rendering as he took aim at another target. “And as your father, pointed out, none too gently, you have a duty to perform, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood.” Aragorn’s arrow flew straight and true.

“I am beginning to hate that word.” Legolas’ arrow casually split Aragorn’s, which was only slightly off-centre.

“Do not hate what you cannot change Legolas, it is a waste of energy. And unworthy of one such as you.” Aragorn turned to face the blond elf.

“Your people need you; they have suffered much. How can they move on with their lives without an example? And what better example than the marriage of their beloved prince.”

“I hurt Aragorn.” Legolas looked at his friend, allowing him to see the loneliness that lurked behind that calm exterior. Aragorn swallowed and stepped forward to clasp his friend’s shoulder.

Legolas’ blue eyes bored into the human’s brown ones. “I do not know whether I can live without love Aragorn, as Arwen could not.”

“You have all of eternity to learn to love you wife.” Aragorn offered – a weak defence but a true one nonetheless.

“All of eternity . . . You would be surprised at how short a time that can be Aragorn. Now let us talk of something else.” Legolas determinedly turned away.

“What would you have me talk about?”

“We could start with the reason why was King Elessar was up so early, walking in the gardens, without his wife?”

Aragorn grinned; Legolas would survive.

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