'Torynn, why not just wear your white gown?' Eva said in an exasperated tone, massaging her temples. Torynn was flitting around, being completely neurotic, when she was supposed to go to the palace in only thirty minutes. Torynn shook her head, pacing the room.
'I can't. He's already seen me wear it! Tonight is special, I need to look special, but I have nothing special, what am I going to do!?' she said, frantically throwing clothing around her small room.
'Torynn, sit down, before you make my ears bleed and force me to render you unconscious.' Eva said standing up and crossing to stop her anxious companion. Torynn nodded.
'I know, I'm just….. I want to look perfect.' She said pulling at her tattered dress. 'He is the prince of Mirkwood, after all…..'
'And he should love you no matter what you wear.' Torynn and Eva turned to the door, where Piphony stood, the corners of her thin mouth turned up slightly. Eva gawked while Torynn frowned. 'Don't look at me like that child, I've known for a long time now.' She said as she hobbled into the bedroom carrying her leather sack.
'And you didn't stop me?' Torynn asked disbelievingly. The last person she thought would let her be happy was Piphony. And yet she had not said anything. Piphony smile grew larger.
'No matter what I said, child, would you have listened?' Torynn did not say a word, and stayed still as a statue. 'You see, you remind me of your mother. She and your father were in love, and nothing could have stopped them.' Piphony's eyes glazed, as if she were remembering a time long ago.
'Love?' Torynn said, sinking onto the bed. Piphony nodded. 'You think Legolas and I – '
'I may be old, child. But I'm not dim. I know what a girl in love looks like.' She said patting Torynn's knee. Then she bent down and opened her bag and lifted something from it. Torynn gasped. 'Try it on. It was your mother's.' Torynn took the dress and felt the soft velvet in her fingers.
'It's beautiful.' She whispered looking to Piphony. Piphony nodded.
*********************************************************************************
'You invited the human here? Tonight?' Orthonelle said following Legolas down into the main foyer. Legolas was becoming irritated by how Orthonelle and Remus seemed to constantly refer to her as 'the human'.
'Yes. I want to be with her.' He said trying not to sound too harsh with his friend. Orthonelle frowned and looked at his friend, obviously confused.
'Why?'
'Because she is beautiful!' Legolas said turning to look at Orthonelle. 'And kind hearted, and intelligent and witty and unique!' Orthonelle continued to stare at Legolas as if he were mad.
'No, honestly, why?' Orthonelle said crossing his arms. Legolas shook his head.
'Just leave. I want to be alone with her. She is very important to me.' He said motioning toward the door.
'Who's important to you?' Both elves turned at the sound of the voice coming from the hallway, and both elves stood astonished at the sight before them. Torynn stood with her hair loose, though it was straight and curving inwards, framing her face. She was wearing a wine colored gown that fit her perfectly, and hung on the edge of her shoulders. She smiled nervously, obviously not aware that both men thought she looked gorgeous. 'Well?' she added anxiously. Legolas finally found his tongue.
'I was just talking about you.' He said in a strange croaky voice. He cleared his throat and walked closer so that he took her hands and held them in his. 'You look beautiful tonight.' He whispered, bending down slightly. Torynn's face flushed and she looked down at their joined hands, having trouble thinking straight.
'T-thank you.' She stuttered out, smiling weakly, feeling as though her knees were going to buckle. 'You always look handsome.' She said faintly, though she knew he could hear her. He smiled and squeezed her hand, as she looked up at him dreamily. They barely noticed that Orthonelle was still watching them. Legolas turned and frowned slightly.
'Shouldn't you be off with Remus somewhere?' he said a little coolly, noticing how Orthonelle was staring at Torynn a little too openly. Orthonelle nodded and turned swiftly, gliding out of sight. Legolas returned his attention to Torynn, who was still looking at him, smiling. They stood there, looking at each other affectionately.
'So, are we going to eat, or simply stand here all night?' Torynn said a little mistily. Legolas smiled and backed away, though Torynn seemed to want to stay huddled together. But Legolas took her hand and led her down the hallway and up a set of stone spiral steps and down another hall until he came to a stop in front of the familiar oak doors. Legolas opened them to reveal his chambers and a small table with candles set upon it. Sweet meats, bread, greens and the finest elven wine was set out on it and two chairs were stationed in front of the table. Torynn's eyes lit up as they entered and Legolas felt himself smile.
'It's beautiful.' Torynn said as Legolas led her toward the table and chairs set out, and sat down. 'But you did not have to trouble yourself so much for me.' Legolas shook his head as he sat across from her.
'It was nothing.' He said raising his hand. Torynn bowed her head, smiling to herself.
'I cannot believe I am having dinner with Prince Legolas of Mirkwood.' Torynn said in mock admiration. Legolas raised an eyebrow and smirked.
'Is that so?' he said leaning forward. Torynn nodded still smiling.
'It is. It's been my life long dream!' she said with an exaggerated shrug. 'I cannot lie to you!' She placed her hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon. 'Oh, Prince Legolas! I must be with you!' Legolas chuckled slightly at this and reached across the table and took her hands in his.
'Well I suppose I couldn't deny you that.' He said looking into her eyes. Torynn's mouth drooped open a bit, feeling her chest tighten as he smiled at her. All she could hear was Piphony's voice, how she'd said that she and Legolas could be in love. It seemed so unlikely that the heir to the throne of Mirkwood, an elf, would fall for her, an outcast in an elven world. It was almost unbelievable.
'Legolas, I have to ask you something and I need your honesty.' She said squeezing his hand nervously. Legolas frowned a bit, but he maintained his reassuring smile. Torynn took a deep breath and smiled. 'Why are you doing all this?'
'What do you mean?' Legolas said frowning a bit more.
'You're a prince. A prince of elves. And I …..' She said staring deeply into his gray blue eyes. She took away her hands and stood, and walked toward his window. 'This may be too bold. But you're so perfect in every way and I just want to know ….. why me? What makes me so special?'
'You still don't understand?' Legolas asked looking confused, following her to the window. Torynn turned and shook her head. 'I love you because you're different. Special. Unique.' Torynn's eyes grew a little wide at his words.
'You – love me?' she managed to stutter out. He smiled and nodded, circling his arms around her and pulling her closer to him, so that he felt he couldn't breathe. It was the first time he'd ever been uncertain of anything, and it was driving him insane.
'Do you think me crazy to have fallen so helplessly in love with you in so short a time?' he asked leaning in slightly so that they're faces were only inches apart. Torynn felt as if her stomach had flown away. Here he was, offering her his heart on a silver platter. It made her want to laugh and cry all at the same time.
'Yes.' She said softly, running her hands across his shoulders. 'But we can be crazy together.' With that she leaned in and caught his mouth with hers. It took only a few seconds before Legolas had tightened his hold around her and was crushing his lips to hers. The heat was intoxicating and Torynn was drowning in it. But all that mattered was that they were kissing and she could never stop. She raked her fingers down his arms and wrapped her hands around his wrists.
She pulled away, leaving them both gasping for air. Legolas looked puzzled by her breaking away from him. But soon she had taken him by the hand and was leading him to his bed. When they reached the foot of the bed, Torynn placed her hands on his chest and pushed him onto the bed, climbing on top of him.
'Tell me you love me.' He said catching her wrists and forcing her to look into his eyes. 'You'll never leave me?' He asked, smiling. Torynn shook her head, her eyes an intense green.
'Never. I love you too much to ever leave.' She whispered feverishly before leaning down above him. Legolas couldn't survive her being so far away from him. He pulled her down, almost too hard and kissed her again, his hand dragging threw her hair, the other rubbing soothing circles on her lower back. But almost as soon as they began, Torynn pulled away again. 'Do you love me?' she asked cupping his pointed ears in her soft hands. Before he could answer she leant down and nipped at his earlobe, sending chills down his spine. This one little action drove him insane and made him impatient, two traits that were rare for an elf.
'You know I do.' He said as she leaned her forehead against his, their eyes never leaving each other. Torynn smiled.
'I know.' She whispered back before caressing his cheek, looking down at him with undaunted adoration and love. She then leaned down and Legolas' breath hitched as she placed butterfly kisses along his jaw and along his throat.
'Stay with me tonight.' He whispered hoarsely, squeezing his eyes closed. Torynn's head shot up and she looked at him, looking for reassurance.
'Are you certain?' she asked, laying her hands on his heaving chest. He nodded, his eyes opening slowly. Torynn looked around, anywhere but into those loving eyes. 'I don't know…..'
'Stay. Please.' He begged, though his smile did not falter, and Torynn could not fight the urge to look back down at him, and her heart melted at the sight of him, at the sound of him actually begging for her. 'Stay with me.'
Torynn smiled as she leant down and her lips brushed his eyelids, then his cheeks, then finally nipped at his lower lip, before she leant back and ran her soft hands threw his blonde hair. 'Alright.' She said quietly, smiling down at the man she loved.
'I can't. He's already seen me wear it! Tonight is special, I need to look special, but I have nothing special, what am I going to do!?' she said, frantically throwing clothing around her small room.
'Torynn, sit down, before you make my ears bleed and force me to render you unconscious.' Eva said standing up and crossing to stop her anxious companion. Torynn nodded.
'I know, I'm just….. I want to look perfect.' She said pulling at her tattered dress. 'He is the prince of Mirkwood, after all…..'
'And he should love you no matter what you wear.' Torynn and Eva turned to the door, where Piphony stood, the corners of her thin mouth turned up slightly. Eva gawked while Torynn frowned. 'Don't look at me like that child, I've known for a long time now.' She said as she hobbled into the bedroom carrying her leather sack.
'And you didn't stop me?' Torynn asked disbelievingly. The last person she thought would let her be happy was Piphony. And yet she had not said anything. Piphony smile grew larger.
'No matter what I said, child, would you have listened?' Torynn did not say a word, and stayed still as a statue. 'You see, you remind me of your mother. She and your father were in love, and nothing could have stopped them.' Piphony's eyes glazed, as if she were remembering a time long ago.
'Love?' Torynn said, sinking onto the bed. Piphony nodded. 'You think Legolas and I – '
'I may be old, child. But I'm not dim. I know what a girl in love looks like.' She said patting Torynn's knee. Then she bent down and opened her bag and lifted something from it. Torynn gasped. 'Try it on. It was your mother's.' Torynn took the dress and felt the soft velvet in her fingers.
'It's beautiful.' She whispered looking to Piphony. Piphony nodded.
*********************************************************************************
'You invited the human here? Tonight?' Orthonelle said following Legolas down into the main foyer. Legolas was becoming irritated by how Orthonelle and Remus seemed to constantly refer to her as 'the human'.
'Yes. I want to be with her.' He said trying not to sound too harsh with his friend. Orthonelle frowned and looked at his friend, obviously confused.
'Why?'
'Because she is beautiful!' Legolas said turning to look at Orthonelle. 'And kind hearted, and intelligent and witty and unique!' Orthonelle continued to stare at Legolas as if he were mad.
'No, honestly, why?' Orthonelle said crossing his arms. Legolas shook his head.
'Just leave. I want to be alone with her. She is very important to me.' He said motioning toward the door.
'Who's important to you?' Both elves turned at the sound of the voice coming from the hallway, and both elves stood astonished at the sight before them. Torynn stood with her hair loose, though it was straight and curving inwards, framing her face. She was wearing a wine colored gown that fit her perfectly, and hung on the edge of her shoulders. She smiled nervously, obviously not aware that both men thought she looked gorgeous. 'Well?' she added anxiously. Legolas finally found his tongue.
'I was just talking about you.' He said in a strange croaky voice. He cleared his throat and walked closer so that he took her hands and held them in his. 'You look beautiful tonight.' He whispered, bending down slightly. Torynn's face flushed and she looked down at their joined hands, having trouble thinking straight.
'T-thank you.' She stuttered out, smiling weakly, feeling as though her knees were going to buckle. 'You always look handsome.' She said faintly, though she knew he could hear her. He smiled and squeezed her hand, as she looked up at him dreamily. They barely noticed that Orthonelle was still watching them. Legolas turned and frowned slightly.
'Shouldn't you be off with Remus somewhere?' he said a little coolly, noticing how Orthonelle was staring at Torynn a little too openly. Orthonelle nodded and turned swiftly, gliding out of sight. Legolas returned his attention to Torynn, who was still looking at him, smiling. They stood there, looking at each other affectionately.
'So, are we going to eat, or simply stand here all night?' Torynn said a little mistily. Legolas smiled and backed away, though Torynn seemed to want to stay huddled together. But Legolas took her hand and led her down the hallway and up a set of stone spiral steps and down another hall until he came to a stop in front of the familiar oak doors. Legolas opened them to reveal his chambers and a small table with candles set upon it. Sweet meats, bread, greens and the finest elven wine was set out on it and two chairs were stationed in front of the table. Torynn's eyes lit up as they entered and Legolas felt himself smile.
'It's beautiful.' Torynn said as Legolas led her toward the table and chairs set out, and sat down. 'But you did not have to trouble yourself so much for me.' Legolas shook his head as he sat across from her.
'It was nothing.' He said raising his hand. Torynn bowed her head, smiling to herself.
'I cannot believe I am having dinner with Prince Legolas of Mirkwood.' Torynn said in mock admiration. Legolas raised an eyebrow and smirked.
'Is that so?' he said leaning forward. Torynn nodded still smiling.
'It is. It's been my life long dream!' she said with an exaggerated shrug. 'I cannot lie to you!' She placed her hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon. 'Oh, Prince Legolas! I must be with you!' Legolas chuckled slightly at this and reached across the table and took her hands in his.
'Well I suppose I couldn't deny you that.' He said looking into her eyes. Torynn's mouth drooped open a bit, feeling her chest tighten as he smiled at her. All she could hear was Piphony's voice, how she'd said that she and Legolas could be in love. It seemed so unlikely that the heir to the throne of Mirkwood, an elf, would fall for her, an outcast in an elven world. It was almost unbelievable.
'Legolas, I have to ask you something and I need your honesty.' She said squeezing his hand nervously. Legolas frowned a bit, but he maintained his reassuring smile. Torynn took a deep breath and smiled. 'Why are you doing all this?'
'What do you mean?' Legolas said frowning a bit more.
'You're a prince. A prince of elves. And I …..' She said staring deeply into his gray blue eyes. She took away her hands and stood, and walked toward his window. 'This may be too bold. But you're so perfect in every way and I just want to know ….. why me? What makes me so special?'
'You still don't understand?' Legolas asked looking confused, following her to the window. Torynn turned and shook her head. 'I love you because you're different. Special. Unique.' Torynn's eyes grew a little wide at his words.
'You – love me?' she managed to stutter out. He smiled and nodded, circling his arms around her and pulling her closer to him, so that he felt he couldn't breathe. It was the first time he'd ever been uncertain of anything, and it was driving him insane.
'Do you think me crazy to have fallen so helplessly in love with you in so short a time?' he asked leaning in slightly so that they're faces were only inches apart. Torynn felt as if her stomach had flown away. Here he was, offering her his heart on a silver platter. It made her want to laugh and cry all at the same time.
'Yes.' She said softly, running her hands across his shoulders. 'But we can be crazy together.' With that she leaned in and caught his mouth with hers. It took only a few seconds before Legolas had tightened his hold around her and was crushing his lips to hers. The heat was intoxicating and Torynn was drowning in it. But all that mattered was that they were kissing and she could never stop. She raked her fingers down his arms and wrapped her hands around his wrists.
She pulled away, leaving them both gasping for air. Legolas looked puzzled by her breaking away from him. But soon she had taken him by the hand and was leading him to his bed. When they reached the foot of the bed, Torynn placed her hands on his chest and pushed him onto the bed, climbing on top of him.
'Tell me you love me.' He said catching her wrists and forcing her to look into his eyes. 'You'll never leave me?' He asked, smiling. Torynn shook her head, her eyes an intense green.
'Never. I love you too much to ever leave.' She whispered feverishly before leaning down above him. Legolas couldn't survive her being so far away from him. He pulled her down, almost too hard and kissed her again, his hand dragging threw her hair, the other rubbing soothing circles on her lower back. But almost as soon as they began, Torynn pulled away again. 'Do you love me?' she asked cupping his pointed ears in her soft hands. Before he could answer she leant down and nipped at his earlobe, sending chills down his spine. This one little action drove him insane and made him impatient, two traits that were rare for an elf.
'You know I do.' He said as she leaned her forehead against his, their eyes never leaving each other. Torynn smiled.
'I know.' She whispered back before caressing his cheek, looking down at him with undaunted adoration and love. She then leaned down and Legolas' breath hitched as she placed butterfly kisses along his jaw and along his throat.
'Stay with me tonight.' He whispered hoarsely, squeezing his eyes closed. Torynn's head shot up and she looked at him, looking for reassurance.
'Are you certain?' she asked, laying her hands on his heaving chest. He nodded, his eyes opening slowly. Torynn looked around, anywhere but into those loving eyes. 'I don't know…..'
'Stay. Please.' He begged, though his smile did not falter, and Torynn could not fight the urge to look back down at him, and her heart melted at the sight of him, at the sound of him actually begging for her. 'Stay with me.'
Torynn smiled as she leant down and her lips brushed his eyelids, then his cheeks, then finally nipped at his lower lip, before she leant back and ran her soft hands threw his blonde hair. 'Alright.' She said quietly, smiling down at the man she loved.