~Legolas sees Lasriel in a new way, but suddenly everyone doubts the strength of his feelings. He shows them how determined he is.~

~♕~

"I'd like to thank you all
for coming to my wedding.
But first I'd better go in there
and propose to the girl."

– Gaston, Beauty and the Beast

~♕~

7. Pool

Thank the Valar for Gimli! A friend in need was truly a friend indeed; Legolas didn't think he could have managed another such awkward walk as the one in the rafters' village.

The three of them had just reached the palace court, and Gimli was enthusiastically entertaining Lasriel with a description of his favorite mountain. "After we had rebuilt my home in Erebor I thought it was the most beautiful grotto in Middle-earth, but the Glittering Caves are beyond imagining. Much as a person can enhance the beauty of a place, nature will always outdo our hand by far."

"That may be true, but just look at this!" She indicated the pool. A servant was lighting the street lamps for the night and their warm glow was reflected in the still surface. "Is it possible for a natural lake to be as magical?"

Her obvious delight made Legolas a bit proud; his father had designed all this, and though he personally preferred natural forests he had to admit it was quite impressive.

"There was a natural lake in the Glittering Caves, so I would definitely say 'aye' to that."

"Then I want to go there."

Legolas smiled at her longing look. Perhaps he could create a similar pool and surrounding park in Ithilien, but a natural one? He would have street lamps too, and water lilies that likely thrived even better above ground.

He felt the usual thrill of excitement as whenever he thought about Ithilien. He would get free reins to restore that once so great forest to its full glory, and when he was done he was certain it would be more beautiful than Greenwood, perhaps even a match for fair Lothlórien itself! In the future when he and his kind had left this shore, Men would look at his life's work and fondly remember the Age of the Elves.

"Let us watch the fish." Lasriel strode over to the pond and kneeled, squinting to see them in the meager light. At that moment she looked so much like the child version of herself he remembered that it was uncanny. The sight brought back memories of family outings, carefreely roaming the woods, looking at birds hatching, reading together and running to their nanas for a snack...

He turned his gaze away. Those happy days were long lost in the distant past.

"Oh, are those jets on the bottom?" asked Lasriel enthusiastically. "Then this can be turned into a fountain?"

"Yes, on special occasions," he replied.

"Where is the pump? I have been thinking of doing something similar back home, but I couldn't work out the mechanism. Wait, I think I see–" Her voice was interrupted by a loud splash as she lost her balance.

Legolas hurried to reach out a hand to help her, but the water was not deep and she quickly scrambled back up on her own. "This is so typical of me. Sorry... I'm ruining everything with my curiosity."

She was soaked to the bone and shivered with cold, and to Legolas' shock he noticed her dress had become almost transparent. Quickly he pulled his cloak off, wrapping her in it. "You need to change clothes," he mumbled, beyond embarrassed.

Gimli appeared to be struggling to contain his laughter and he frowned at him. This was not funny! Lariel's exposed curves had instantly become etched on his memory and he fervently hoped nobody else had seen anything. And that included his best friend.

"I will put on another dress," she said between chattering teeth.

Lasriel and her mother were to stay the night in a palace guest room and their things had been carried there. Legolas and Gimli waited outside while she cleaned herself up and changed.

"Do you still think she will be an elegant Gondor wife?" asked Gimli, voice full of mirth.

"Yes! She told me she could cook, sew, and entertain guests," he replied a bit irritably.

"Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but I saw her looking at you during supper..." His voice became soft. "She adores you, lad. She will say anything you want to hear."

He had noticed her eyes on him as well, so Gimli's words confirmed what he already suspected. Yet he couldn't help feeling a slight warmth at the thought of being adored.

"If so, then she has all the more reason to learn. She will do her best to help me and become the wife I need as a community leader with all that entails. Where there is a will there is a way, and she was always very strong-willed."

Gimli didn't look convinced. "Strong-willed, you say? Hm..."

"Look, I know you probably mean well, but I have already made up my mind. I need a wife to keep my house in Ithilien and to melt in among the humans there, and I also need an elfling to ease my father's loneliness when I am gone – and she is willing. I see no problem with this."

"That sounds awfully pragmatic. Don't you want love?"

"Are you saying there cannot be love if the reasons for the match are pragmatic? Both her and my parents' marriages were arranged and they fell in love."

"Did they? Perhaps it is different for elves, then. Do you care about her?"

He hesitated before replying. "I don't know. But she seems nice, and I guess she is pretty..." He forced away the memory of what he saw by the pool. "I have a book about marriage that says love usually comes later."

"Book?" He raised his bushy eyebrows. "Elves truly are strange. You need books to learn about love?"

"Of course not, I just found it helpful, and–"

Before he could explain more fully, Lasriel came out and he quickly shut his mouth. It was time to return to their parents anyway.

Thranduil and Thuriniel had relocated to more comfortable chairs by the fireplace in the living room and looked relieved when they entered.

"There you are!" Thranduil poured wine and gave them a goblet each. "Lasriel's naneth and I wanted to talk some more about the engagement."

"Oh." He tried not to yawn. If his father hadn't enjoyed planning feasts so much he would have insisted on a speedy ceremony without guests.

Frowning slightly, Thranduil asked: "Are you certain you still want to go through with this? You seem so disinterested."

"It is not too late to cancel," Thuriniel added.

"Or at least postpone it. That way you have time to think it through more thoroughly."

Legolas blinked. What was this about? His father and Lasriel's mother had eagerly planned the ceremony all evening and now this strange turnaround came out of the blue. Why did everyone seem to question the match all of a sudden today?

"I have already thought it through," he said firmly. He didn't want a delay; the sooner he was wed, the sooner he could beget a child, see it grow up, and then travel west to the sea... If he closed his eyes he could still hear the seagulls calling, urging him to leave these shores. "I just don't care what food is served on the feast or how the rings look. Anything is fine with me." He turned to Lasriel. "Do you want to wait?"

"No."

"That is settled then. We proceed as planned."

"I know Lasriel wants this; I was talking about you, Legolas," said Thranduil. "Marriage is a big step and if you are not quite–"

"I am."

"Do you love her?" asked Thuriniel bluntly.

His mind went blank. First Gimli, and now she. Right in front of Lasriel too... How could he answer that?

Then he knew what to do. He would show them all he was serious! Taking Lasriel's hand he pulled her close enough to cup her cheek and turn her face up.

Her brown eyes widened when she realized what he was doing, and then she closed them in anticipation.

Resolutely, he bent down and kissed her.

~♕~

His lips were soft and tasted wine, but that was all Lasriel had time to register before he broke it and turned to her mother. "Trust me, I want this marriage too, and as soon as possible." A bit stiffly, he put his arm around Lasriel's shoulders.

Thuriniel's eyes became misty. "I can see that. Sorry for doubting you."

Thranduil seemed touched as well. "I suggest we lose no more time. Let us announce the match tomorrow and celebrate the engagement already next week." He put a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "I am so happy for you, son. And for you too, daughter." He smiled warmly at Lasriel.

She couldn't reply, her emotions were too overpowering. Warmth spread from Legolas' strong arm around her, and this close she sensed his pleasant scent more clearly. On her lips, the ghost of his kiss lingered.

It was really happening. Her childhood dream was finally coming true.

~♕~

The grand throne room was crammed with people. Lasriel waited in the shadow of the throne, more nervous than she had ever been – but her mother was worse affected; she seemed near panic. The throne stood on a raised dais and Thuriniel claimed she was just anxious about the height, but Lasriel suspected it was the huge crowd that frightened her the most. She feared someone would recognize her.

On his throne, Thranduil looked very different from his private self. Majestic and stern, he was frankly quite terrifying, especially when he spoke to the people in a booming voice that echoed between the walls and pillars.

The Elvenking began by introducing the subject; his son had good news to share, but he would leave it to Legolas to tell it himself.

When Legolas stepped forward he looked decidedly less regal than his father. It was obvious he didn't like being the focus of attention, and with a flutter Lasriel realized he was nervous too. Somehow she always found him the most endearing when she could glimpse a weakness in his otherwise so self-assured pose.

"I am getting married," he said simply.

His words were greeted with an enthusiastic cheer from the gathered, and the vast emptiness of the room enhanced the sound so much Lasriel felt a need to cover her ears.

Reaching out a hand in her direction, Legolas urged her to come. She took it, or clutching it rather, mouth dry as dust and heart pounding painfully as she joined him in the spotlight.

The sound of the assembled hushed to a whisper as many hundred eyes turned to her. She swallowed thickly. What would they think of her? Would they find her a suitable match for their prince? At least she was not expected to say anything for which she was hugely grateful.

"This is Lasriel Finmoriel, a resident of the rafters' village," Legolas introduced, using the made-up name for her father she had given. She tried not to feel bad about the lie; he would learn the truth when the right time came but the people didn't need to know. "She is a relative of the late King Amroth of Lórien." That was true, at least.

Lasriel could see the closest bystanders nod approvingly to each other and part of her nervousness waned. It appeared she had passed the test and was deemed worthy of Legolas.

Now Thranduil took over, addressing the practical information such as the date for the engagement feast and the wedding that would follow a year later. He also mentioned that the couple would live in Ithilien, and that Legolas needed help to restore that forest if there were any volunteers.

Then the announcement was over and Lasriel could finally retreat to the Elvenking's private, secluded quarters. Her legs felt like jelly but the worst was done. All that remained now was parties, and that couldn't be half as scary as this, she figured.

A/N:

Translations: Sell nín = my daughter. The suffix '-iel' after a name also means 'daughter', and '-ion' means 'son'. Thus, Finmoriel means Finmor's daughter. Another, possibly more grammatically correct form of the name Finmor ("dark hair") would be Morfin, but I decided against using that variant. ;)