Chapter Text
The feast was half an hour away of starting, the gown you were supposed to wear still lay spread out on your bed. For some reason you were nervous, which was something you didn’t experience a lot. You realized you had been feeling like that of late, but at the moment you couldn’t stop walking in circles.
Unlike many women who made their own clothing, you had been too busy with training to make time for such thing, so you had it made. A special event like this that drew in the entire Elven community, required a special dress.
It was made of special Elven thread that was woven into a fabric that was light and delicate, but still warm for a chilling winters night. The long sleeves stretched out to reach even your knuckles, the neckline formed into a deep V-neck that was modest enough for a feast like this. A silver line was threaded into it with fine subtlety that formed a curling pattern. Your hair was made into a complicated bread with silver strings through it, who came together on your forehead.
After thoroughly looking at yourself in the mirror, you had to admit that you looked stunning. It wasn’t often that you took the liberty of wearing beautiful things and now that you did, you were happy with the end result.
A thought crossed your mind that made you worry, Legolas. Would he like it? What a stupid question you thought to yourself, why would you care what he thinks. Sure he’s your friend, but whether or not he would like it you should be content yourself, Y/N. You look fabulous and no one was going to tell you otherwise, not even Legolas.
You headed out to the grand feast room that was made for the Winterfest celebration and other special occasions. It lay on one of the top floors of the Elven Halls, your chambers where located on the ground level causing you to have to take many winding stairs up.
When you arrived the massive open floor, the level was already crowded with elves in their finest clothes. The underground was made entirely out of one big disk of a huge tree trunk, like a slice of a banana only a hundred times bigger. As most of the Elven Halls, except for personal chambers and lower levels, the room had no walls. And if you looked over the edge of the floor you could see the web of paths and chambers, which formed the entire realm, underneath you.
Since it only was a few rare times a year that you came up here, you took your time taking in the miraculous city below. When a horn was blown from the middle of the room, commanding everyone to be silent. You turned around and saw that the crowed had dispersed itself, to form one big ring at the edges of the space, making the middle visible for everyone.
In the center of the big tree where its first circles should be, was now a hole carven in like a bowl. In that basin blazed a white fire with blue sparks flying off in the air at the end of its flames. In front stood King Thranduil emitting a demand of respect and obedience he always radiated. Without saying a word the entire crowd bowed as if one, to their king.
“Arise my kindred.” He gestured his hand up. “Tonight will mark the end of Winterfest, but brings forth the beginning of a new season. Many we have seen, nonetheless beautiful as always they will be. But perils lurk in the shadows, dark things are stirring and safety is needed. Thus I advise you not to go out into the woods on your own and without notice.”
“Fear not, for I have kept you safe for long and tend to do so for another long time. For now let us celebrate and thank nature for all its glory and gifts. Here by do I, Thranduil King of the Woodland Realm, give my grace to the pale fire of Winter.” He raised his cup and poured its silver like liquid into the pit, the flames immediately roared up and lightened the room brighter in a flash.
It was now that you could really see the place about you. The stone beams that resembled trees rose to the roof and in between the grooves a bright blue light flowed, like water in veins of leaves. In the middle of the roof a circle was cloven out where a full moon was seen through, around the edges branches of threes framed the hole.
The music started and around the fire elves were dancing along to the music. At your right a table full with delicious snacks and ferrous drinks, many containing liquor, stood. You took a cup of your own and walked with it to the fire, giving your respects. You turned around and searched for Legolas, but you couldn’t find him in the crowd.
After many drinks that were needed to get you a bit more loose, you started to dance along the music. Joining the group which was dancing together, tapping your feet and clapping your hands simultaneously, caused it to be even more fun. At the end of the one of many songs you laughed and went to get another drink.
“My lady, you look as beautiful as the morning I first found you.” You heard a soft voice saying, when you turned around your hopes were right and Legolas bowed before you. He was cloaked in noble clothing as he usually did at events. The front strains of his hair braided and merged as one at the back.
“Thank you kindly, my prince.” You jokingly said while curtsying. After many years Legolas and you forgot the royal things, and only in public acted rightfully.
“May I say that the blueness of your dress compliments your fairness even more.” He smirked and even though it’s hard to detect with elves, you guessed he had drunken quite some.
“Would you allow me to have this dance with you, Y/N.” He held out his hand. “Of course.” You took his hand and he lead you to the middle of the room, where people were still dancing merrily. Your long gown swirled about your feet as you stepped along the music in gracious movements.
You watched as a smile played over Legolas’s lips while dancing with you, and you couldn’t help but do the same. And even though you tried to hide it well, a blush made your cheeks red every time your hands would touch or your bodies were pressed together.
As you spun around you caught a fast glimpse of the king, his icy eyes were set on you and his expression told you he wasn’t pleased in the slightest. Your smile faltered and the image worried your mind for the rest of the evening.
The moon was long out of site of the open roof window, but the feast was still merrily going on. The musicians took a short break and after that much dancing around, you felt you needed one too. You were still a little out of breath, when you felt Legolas taking your hand into his.
“Let us seek a place more quiet.” He whispered to you and pulled you after him. You left the feast and walked down some stairs that crossed passed each other intricately. After a few minutes you came in a very peaceful space where not many elves were found, merely passing through.
Taking a curling path to the left, remoting you even more from the others, you came to a halt. The sound of rushing water was hard to ignore, but it wasn’t so loud you had to yell at each other. A balcony marked the end of the small passage way, stopping right in front of a waterfall that plunged down into the lower cellars.
“This water flows from both the Forest River and the Enchanted River. Be careful you would not want to touch it, the magic in this water may be dulled but it is still enchanted.” Legolas told you, as you gaped at the falling water.
You felt his gaze linger on you, slowly you turned your head to meet his sharp blue eyes. You two stood there watching each other, like it was the most natural thing in the world. You saw his eyes slowly lowering down to your lips, wondering carefully.
“Legolas.” You breathed, it barely came out of your mouth at all. You were completely terrified to say what you were going to say, but half of you didn’t even know what you were doing. “Something has been bothering my mind of late.”
“I know we have been good friends for all our lives and I am grateful for that. But I cannot help but sense this change in my feelings towards you. And I know how your father thinks of me, I see the way he looks at me when I am around you.” His brows furrowed at that sentence and he averted his gaze to the water.
You sighed as you tried to recompose yourself, your emotions running around like crazy. You know why this was such a hard thing to say, because it was real.
“I tried, but my mind cannot be silenced any longer. Legolas, my feelings for you have grown into more than a friendship.” A relieve fell of your lungs, but the anticipation still made the air thick. He shut his eyes and this time you didn’t know if it was a good sign or a bad one.
“Y/N. You have been a faithful companion. But I fear that that is as far as my feelings reach for you,” You let out a big breath, a tear escaped your eye but you quickly whipped it away. “I am sor- ” His apology was cut off when a guard came running in.
“My Prince, Y/N, I am sorry to bother you. But the foul spiders have raided the entrance hall and making their way to the throne room, we need your attention quickly!” The elf men said completely out of breath.
You whipped away the remaining tears and put on your battle face. You ran as fast as you could to the battlefield, Legolas and the guard next to you.
When you arrived you couldn’t believe what you saw, a blazing fray awaited you.