Fan Fiction ❯ Legolas ❯ The Deal ( Chapter 2 )

Legolas' New Love

A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter. R&R!

As they entered Rivendell, Legolas found that it was just as beautiful as it had been the last time he had been there, those ten years ago. Probably even more so, without the feeling of impending doom.

"Andraya? Is that you?" Elrond said, walking over to them followed by a man with the same honey colored hair and bright green eyes as Andraya.

"Oh, Grandfather I'm fine," Andraya said in exasperation.

"Yes and we're very glad," the other man said, "However, you deliberately disobeyed my wishes and your grandfather's. What in Middle-earth possessed you to leave your escorts?"

"Father, I need room to breathe. Besides, I'm a better warrior than any of those buffoons you sent with me!" Andraya yelled. Her father gave her a stern look and she sighed. "I am sorry, but I'm also disappointed. Why did you not search for me? I almost starved in the lands of Mirkwood! Why, if it hadn't been for Legolas, I would have!"

"Legolas?" Elrond looked over her shoulder and saw Legolas standing but a few feet behind her and looking quite uncomfortable. "Ah, Legolas! Come, come. The others have already been assembled."

"Uh… Grandfather, might I come?" Elrond turned and gave Andraya a hard, searching look. "I wish to see Arwen and Aragorn. Oh, please may I come, please?"

Elrond's face softened and he sighed. "All right then. Just remember to behave as a lady should."

Andraya silently cheered as she ran to walk beside Legolas. He smiled at her. As they walked out into the sunlight she shielded her eyes. She sat beside her mother and father.

Legolas was bombarded by four very excited hobbits. He laughed whole-heartedly as Merry thumped Pippin on the head for asking about food. As Gandalf cleared his voice the hobbits sat down.

Legolas seated himself in the vacant spot between Aragorn and Gimli. Gimli turned to his friend and laughed.

"Ah, Legolas! A long time since I saw you last. There is much catching up to do!" he said gruffly.

"Yes Gimli, of course," Aragorn said, "But after the counsel, perhaps?"

Legolas heard neither of the two men beside. His attention was fixed on Andraya as she ran to Arwen and hugged her. He smiled at the heart-warming reunion.

"Aunt Arwen! I'm so happy to see you again!" Andraya exclaimed.

"Oh, and I'm happy to see you, too," Arwen said.

"Uh… Arwen, would you mind telling me who this young girl is?" Aragorn said.

"Her name is Andraya, and she is Amelia's daughter. Your niece, Aragorn," Legolas said without thinking.

"How do you know all this?" Aragorn asked him.

"We met in Mirkwood. I was lost and Legolas found me. We rode here together," Andraya said.

"Oh, you did?" Arwen asked.

Legolas nodded earning a smile from both women. Gimli snorted.

Elrond cleared his throat, commanding attention. "We have only three things to discuss. Let us start with the destruction of the mines of Moria. Gimli, what do you have to say about this?"

"I say destroy them! Who needs such a beast as the Belrog loose? Destroy it, so that no person shall ever have to face the same peril as my comrades and myself, or face such a demise as our good friend Gandalf almost did," he replied.

"Good. Let's move on to the punishment of Sarumon, for his acts of treason. Gandalf?"

"I have taken care of that. His staff has been snapped and melted, and he has been exiled from Middle-earth. He shall not be a problem for Middle-earth," Gandalf said.

"He deserves no less. Now our treaty of peace between races. I shall explain what the terms of the agreement are, and how it will affect the trade and lifestyles of each specific race." Elrond continued with this for quite a while.

Legolas and Andraya kept exchanging secretive glances throughout the entire time. Gimli and Aragorn noticed this and made a mental note.

"Will everyone sign the treaty?" Elrond asked. There were murmurs of agreement and Elrond smiled. "Good, now to get everyone's signature…" He stopped mid-sentence, with quill in hand, and stared ahead.

Everyone followed his gaze and saw an elf with raven black hair coming towards him. Legolas frowned at the man. He got a bad feeling from him. He was too confident, as he went to stand before Elrond.

"Hello Halomir," Elrond said, "It's lovely to see you here."

"Very nice to be here," he turned to Andraya, "And the fairest of all elves, the Lady Andraya." He picked up her hand and kissed it.

She yanked it away. 'Ugh! Disgusting!' she thought. "How dare you touch me in such a way? Grandfather! Do something!"

"Have you not told her?" Halomir asked Elrond.

"I thought we discuss it after the counsel. In private?" Elrond said pointedly.

"Well, now is a perfect time to announce it!" Halomir turned to everyone, "Andraya and I are going to be married."

Aragorn and Gimli looked at Legolas in time to see him blanch at the somehow painful words. He looked horrified.

Arwen stood up in the same instance that Andraya did. Both looked furious. Arwen spoke first.

"Father! You know how I feel about arranged marriages!" she said.

"Yes and that is why I didn't arrange for you to be married, and allowed you to marry Aragorn and give up your immortality," he said.

"Well, if you paid a little more attention you would know that Andraya feels the same way!" Amelia said, "And why wasn't I confronted first?"

"Uh… dear, please stay out of this," Orland said, sheepishly.

"No I will not! Andraya is my daughter, too! And I say that she will choose who she marries. Halomir, it's not that you are a bad person, or that we don't like you, it's just that I do not want my daughter to be forced into a marriage she will not be happy with," Amelia said.

"And whose to say she wouldn't be happy with me?" Halomir said defensively.

"Me!" Andraya said. Legolas smiled. "I do not love you, Halomir! And I do believe you love yourself much more than you would ever love me!"

Legolas fought to keep from laughing. Aragorn, on the other hand, lacked a certain self control, and was snorting with laughter, along with Gimli.

"Andraya! Couldn't we talk about that in private?" Orland said.

"There is nothing to talk about! She will marry Halomir and like it!" Elrond said.

Andraya's eyes misted over. "I will not marry that over-bearing, big headed, idiot! Ever!" She turned and stormed out of the room in tears.

Legolas made a move to get up but Arwen's hand steadied him as she stood up. She stood over him and he nodded in agreement. Arwen went after her niece. Elrond, Orland, and Amelia followed her.

Halomir tried to follow but Elrond told him it was a family discussion, so he stayed. When they were out of sight he turned to the others.

"So… you're the Fellowship of the Ring?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes, we are. And you think yourself to be worthy of Lady Andraya?" Legolas said coolly.

"As a matter of fact I do. I happen to be a duke!" Halomir said, proudly.

"I am the Prince of Mirkwood. And I challenge you to find out just how worthy you are!" Legolas stood up and drew his sword.

"What does it matter to you who Andraya marries?" Halomir said, suspiciously.

"Are you going to talk or fight!" Legolas said, not wanting to talk about how he felt for Andraya.

Halomir drew his sword and faced Legolas defiantly. Aragorn observed them and knew, just by looking at their stance that Legolas was the better swordsmen. He was perfectly at ease and comfortable. Halomir was much too tense.

[At the same time]

"Andraya! Get over here and look me in the face!" Elrond yelled.

She turned to him, tears falling from her eyes, and silently challenged him. "Why? So you may force me to marry that- that- man? I won't! Do you hear me? I refuse! I don't love him! I love- someone else."

"Who?" Elrond asked, "What is his social stature?"

"Does it matter, Father?" Amelia said, "Why is it that you want her to marry Halomir? Will it be good for the family? No, don't answer that. I don't want to know."

"I don't want to hear it. She will marry Halomir, end of discussion," Elrond said, turning from them. He entered the counsel room to see Legolas and Halomir battling it out. Legolas put his sword to Halomir's throat and Elrond decided it was time to interfere. He cleared his throat. "Is there a problem here?"

"No, none at all! Just some friendly training," Halomir said, "Right Legolas?"

"Yeah, training," Legolas glared at him.

"Well, we should all get some rest, and you can sign the treaty tomorrow," Elrond said leaving the room and rushing past the still teary Andraya.

As they all departed to their rooms, and Legolas told Gimli and Aragorn he would meet them in an hour, Andraya still stood, frozen. Halomir bowed to her and left also, leaving only Legolas and Andraya. He walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder, making her jump.

"Hey, calm down. It's only me," he said, gently.

"Oh, Legolas. Sorry," Andraya wiped her eyes, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. You're crying. People don't cry when they're fine," Legolas said.

She looked at the ground. "I don't love him. Why can't my grandfather understand that? I could never love him. And I would rather die than marry him. I- I'll run away if he makes me. I'll go with Aunt Arwen back to Gondor, or with- with you, to Mirkwood."

He lifted her chin to gaze into her eyes. "No, you won't. Your grandfather loves you. As does your father. They only have your best interests in mind," seeing that she wasn't bending, he said, "I'll talk to Elrond, and convince him to let you choose your own husband."

A light came into her eyes. "Will you really?" she said hopefully, "Oh thank you! He'll listen to you, I know he will." She gave him a quick hug and ran from the room.

Legolas smiled. He walked towards Elrond's sleeping chamber. He knocked delicately on the door. Elrond opened it and glanced out.

"Legolas? Come in! Come in! What is it?" Elrond said.

"I have come to speak to you about your granddaughter Andraya. I do not believe you should force her to marry that- er… Halomir. She doesn't love him," Legolas said, uncomfortably. Elrond was giving him a very scrutinizing look.

"What," he said slowly, "are your feelings for her?"

At that very moment Andraya was passing by the door and she stopped, leaning in to better hear Legolas' answer.

"Honestly?" he said, "I- Well I love her."

Andraya's eyes widened in shock. He what? He loved her? He honestly loved her? She flattened herself to the wall and closed her eyes, smiling.

"And she returns these feelings?" Elrond asked him.

"Yes!" Andraya wanted to scream, but kept silent and listened.

"I think so," Legolas said, thinking, 'I hope so.'

"Well then, you have three months to court her, and propose. If she does accept willingly, she will marry Halomir. Deal?" Elrond held out his hand.

Legolas shook it. "Deal," he said.

'Three months? Grandfather thinks it will take him that long? Hardly!' Andraya thought.

She heard approaching footsteps and ran swiftly back to her own room. Legolas emerged full of smiles. He walked to his room and flopped onto his bed, dreaming of how he would court Andraya, never imagining that Andraya was dreaming the exact same thing.

A/N: What do you think? What do you think? Review! Please review! I count on your reviews to inspire me! The more the merrier! Tanky-tanky!