Entanglement

Entanglement

Chapter 1
Author: Frosty the Junior Mint
Rated: NC-17
Codes: Legolas, Haldir, Elrond, OC, AU, N/C
Summary: Novlomiel is sentenced to marriage, but it doesn't work out as planned.
Disclaimer: Tolkien's stuff isn't mine.
Author's Notes: Yes, another one of those fics from Frosty. Please R&R!


*

Novlomiel studied herself in the mirror and sighed heavily. Her stomach was twisting into knots at the thought of what lied ahead. Her father, King Thranduil's second-in-commahad had promised her to one of the leaders of Lothlorien. She was the next-best-thing, considering King Thranduil himself didn't have any daughters. She licked her lips and wrapped her arms around herself. She couldn't believe something like this was happening.

Sitting down on her bed, she went over what was expected of her at this first meeting. She was to be amicable, say nothing rude, and be warm and friendly. She snorted. This was nothing short of slavery. Of course she felt bad for her father and King; Mirkwood's relations with Lothlorien and Rivendell were less than stellar at the moment, but she didn't think a marriage between the upper houses of Lothlorien and Mirkwood would alleviate any of the tensions. Besides, she didn't want to marry someone she had never met. It made her feel cold inside. And she was scared.

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, Novlomiel thought about what this meant to her father. She would be saving their kingdom, he had told her. She knew her duty as royalty. But still she felt so used.

Gathering her strength, she got up and left her house, walking into the sunshine of Mirkwood. The air was warm and breezy, but she kept her arms around herself anyways. She felt protected that way.

Walking towards the meeting place, she thought about what she would do afterwards. She had plans, that was for sure. There would be no lying around, waiting for this...this...elf to tell her what to do. And, eventually, she hoped to be rid of him. Come back to Mirkwood and live in peace. Maybe she could kill him without anyone noticing.

A small smirk played at her lips. "That's not something I thought I'd be seeing today," came a voice, and Novlomiel turned to see Legolas walking towards her. "I would have thought it would be a frown kind of day."

Novlomiel scowled. "It is," she replied, knitting her brows, "Just planning my revenge."

The elf smiled. "Ah," he said, "Well, I would expect no less." He placed a hand on her back and rubbed gently as they continued walking. "So, how are you holding up?"

She sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. I'm scared, Legolas. I don't want to do this." She looked up at him, her eyes worried. His were compassionate, but that didn't help her feel any better. "I wish this wasn't happening."

He smiled and pulled her inward. "Me too," he said, "I tried to talk them out of it, too, but they are admanent." Novlomiel heard him exhale deeply and knew he was frustrated.

"You'll come visit me in that place, won't you?" she asked, smiling, trying to lighten the mood. didndidn't want Legolas feeling bad about this, too.

"Of course," he replied, "Even if I have to break in!" He paused, then continued in a slightly anxious voice. "Not that you're going to be a captive or anything."

Novlomiel smirked and slapped him on the stomach. "I know what you mean," she said. It had occured to her that she'd perhaps be a prisoner, but she knew that Legolas, if not anyone else, wouldn't allow that to happen.

He rubbed rhythmically at her arm. "Maybe you'll like him," he said softly, "Maybe he'll turn out to be the nicest guy you'd ever meet.\
No
Novlomiel felt her eyes sting at that, but held back any tears. "Yeah," she said, "But it still doesn't make it any better." Licking her lips, she looked up as they approached the meeting area. She could see the King and her father waiting. She took Legolas' hand and squeezed it. "Don't leave me alone, okay?" she said, looking up at him.

He smiled back and said, "Don't worry, I won't leave." With a deep breath from both of them, they continued to their fathers, hand-in-hand.

*

Novlomiel and Legolas didn't say much as they stood waiting. Their fathers were quiet, too. She was glad of that, though. Talking to them wasn't on her list of priorities.

When they heard horses in the woods, Novlomiel stood up straight, preparing herself for her duties. She had to make a good first impression.

Several elves came down the path, and stopped in front of them. They dismounted, and the King and her father stepped forward with a few of their company to greet the Lothloriens. Novlomiel and Legolas stayed back, both staring at the newcomers. She wondered which one was her husband-to-be. The thought of that made her stomach turn.

Suddenly, her father turned towards her and came forward with a blonde elf. Novlomiel tensed and licked her lips as they approached. "Novlomiel," he said, smiling softly, "This is Haldir, your intended." She blinked and curtsied, nodding her head towards him. The whole thing felt so surreal. The elf called Haldir nodded towards her in turn, and if Novlomiel wasn't mistaken, he looked a little uncomfortable, too.

"It is good to meet you, Novlomiel," he said, and she managed a small smile. "I hope our union will bring strength to Lothlorien and Mirkwood." His voice was stiff and monotonous, and the speech sounded rehearsed. She looked at him with searching eyes. She had expected some disgusting old elf who wanted nothing more than to shag her on the spot. But Haldir didn't seem to be or want any of that. He looked sad.

"As do I," she replied, and at that, her father led Haldir off to show him around Mirkwood. The King and other Lothlorien elves followed. Novlomiel sighed and sunk her shoulders. This was definitely a lot different than what she had been expecting.

Legolas stood close to her and watched them disappear down the path. "So what do you think?" he asked. She really didn't know how to answer.

*

Haldir sat down in his guest quarters and exhaled a deeply held breath. The day had been exhausting, with the tour and the dinner and the talks and the meeting of his future bride. He clenched his jaw at that thought. He didn't want to get married to someone he didn't know any more than she looked like she wanted to. He felt very sad for her, when he had met her. Her eyes had been full of worry and fear. If Celeborn hadn't instilled in him the need for this, he'd have nothing to do with this marriage.

But it was his duty, and he accepted that he would have to make the best of it. And that meant getting to know this girl. Perhaps that wouldn't be such a difficult thing; she was a pretty thing. Seemed nice enough. He just hoped she wouldn't hate him too much.

Sighing, he got up from his chair anlkedlked out the door. He needed a walk and some fresh air - talk of treaties always made him tense. He looked around the forest as he made his way down the path; Mirkwood was indeed a beautiful place. But so empty. He had been told that most of the elves were guarding the gates, keeping a lookout for any signs of visitors from Rivendell. He understood that. Lothlorien was at odds with Elrond's city, also.

Haldir clasped his hands behind his back and continued walking. He heard a waterfall up ahead, and when he found it he sat down on a rock and listened; the sound was soothing to him. It had been a long journey from Lothlorien, and he missed it.

He heard the steps coming up behind him before she appeared at his side.

Haldir turned and smiled. "Hi," said Novlomiel, "I'm sorry, I didn't think there would be anyone out here this late. Would you like to be alone?"

He sighed at how tired she looked. "No, please, join me," he said, sliding over. She took a seat beside him and stared at the falls.

The seconds were long and quiet before she spoke aga"I "I was actually hoping I'd see you," she said, still looking at the water, "Our...situation. It's something that I'm going to have to accept, so I'd like to make the best of it. I don't know how you feel about this marriage, but I'm hoping you're not looking forward to it." She smiled softly and turned her eyes to him. "Maybe then we'll have something in common."

He smiled back at her, feeling infinitely grateful for her honesty. And for her bravery. "Then I think we have something in common," he said, his tone light, and her smile broadened, "I would also like this to not be something we both despise."

"Maybe...," she said, taking a deep breath, "Maybe we should just start by getting to know each other." Haldir noticed she seemed to be more comfortable now. Not as tense.

He felt that way, too. "I'd like that."

*

When Legolas saw her in the morning, he was suspiciously surprised. "You look cheerful," he said, sitting down across from her at breakfast. "What happened?"

She looked at him lightly. "I had a good night," she said, "I mean, this marriage thing still isn't what I want, but I feel better about it." She paused and looked thoughtful, "Like maybe it's not the end of my life, you know?"

He stared at her bright face and smiled. "That's good," he said, his voice soft. He was happy for her, that she wasn't as sad as before. Butstilstill worried for her well-being. "What happened last night?"

"I met Haldir by the waterfall. We were both out for walks." She paused and smiled, "We talked, and it made me feel a lot better. He's actually kind of a nice guy." She took a long, deep sigh and licked her lips. "This really isn't how I thought my life would be, you know? I thought I'd fall in love and all that sappy stuff. But at least Haldir isn't the evil elf I had envisioned. Maybe we'll at least be friends."

Legolas stared at his friend. She looked hopeful, and that made him feel better. He just wished she didn't have to deal with this at all. "That's good," he said, smiling back at her, "You don't know how good it feels to hear you sounding a little happy, again. I want you to be happy."

He touched her hand and squeezed it, and Novlomiel smiled back shyly. "I know. Thank you." Sitting back, she looked around the dining hall. "This is just all so surreal."

Legolas grimaced. "I know. I really don't approve." He cast a glance at the head table, where the King was sitting with his entourage. "I wish my father had decided on a different approach to this conflict."

Novlomiel nodded, but said nothing. She didn't want him to feel guilty for any of this. Several minutes passed in silence before a group of elves entered the hall from the far entrance. Haldir was among them, and Novlomiel found herself smiling at him as he walked by. He smiled back.

Legolas eyed the girl across from him as she watched the Lothlorien elf join the King at his table. He was glad ee hee her more at ease with this marriage, but a part of him felt ill at seeing her getting along with this Haldir. Like she was consorting with the enemy. Being taken to their side. Eventually, she might not need him anymore.

Shaking his head to rid himself of his selfish thoughts, he went back to his breakfast. This was going to be a very long week.

*

Legolas crossed his arms and leaned back against a rock, watching Haldir and Novlomiel. It had been three days since she had first told him she felt better about her impending marriage, and things seemed to have only gotten even more amicable between the two.

It wasn't that he didn't want Novlomiel to be happy. Nothing made him more miserable than to think of his best friend being forced into something she didn't want to do. But something turned his stomach when he looked at the pair of them, talking and laughing, that almost made him wish she was sad again, and talking to him about it. Legolas was seeing less and less of her as the days progressed. It was beginning to wear on him.

To make things even worse, his father had just informed him that several Rivendell elves were going to be visiting Mirkwood, to talk about treaties. He snorted at this. Rivendell elves were famous for their unreliability. He was sure they just wanted to scope out the place.

Still, thought, the foremost thing on his mind was the fast-approaching wedding, and the fact that his best friend was going to be leaving Mirkwood. It hadn't really sunk in before, that she would be gone, and he wouldn't see her very often anymore. They had grown up together; he didn't know what he'd do when she left.

Legolas took a deep breath and swallowed his pride. He needed to be strong for her. This marriage was going to happen, no matter how he felt, no matter how she felt. And it was his duty as her friend to help her and support her.

Uncrossing his arms and pushing himself up, he started towards the two elves he had been staring at. His fists balled in anxiety at his side, but he relaxed them when he came near.

"Novlomiel," he said, smiling and nodding to Haldir, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the dressmakers have summoned you."

Her eyes widened, and Legolas could have sworn he saw a flash of disappointment in them. "Oh," she said, looking back and forth between the elves, "Okay. I'm sorry, Haldir, can we meet again later?"

He smiled and touched her arm. "Of course," he said, "Have a good time." With a nod at each of them, he left, and Legolas squinted at him as he watched him go. He didn't like that Haldir was so nice.

Novlomiel looked up at him in curiousity and apprehension. "You okay?" she asked, and he mentally chided himself.

"Yeah," he smiled, taking her hand, "Let's go get your dress."

*