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Fifteen Years	By : Ertia Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 14168 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Not my garden, I just play in it. Ah, but isn't it full of such lovely flowers to play with?
Fifteen Years

Chapter 10: Caras Galadhon

Legolas woke to a light rain that dripped over his cloak and muddled the world in a grey mist. All too soon, horses were saddled, and it was time to ride on. Feanal had not said a word to Legolas since the bath the night before. He rode now beside him now, silent, his hood drawn down against the rain.
Legolas sighed heavily. This was not how he anticipated coming to Lothlorien. They crossed the brook and rounded the hill and came at a steady trot to the tree line. Glorfindel had no sooner ridden beneath the trees when a hard voice called out.

"Who seeks to enter the Lady's Wood?"

Glorfindel held up both hands, "I am Glorfindel, Seneschal of Imladris. I ride in escort of the Courtesans Exchange."

Legolas caught a glimpse of blond hair in the trees, and counted no less than three armed Elves amongst the leaves. He had no doubt there were at least a dozen his eyes were not sharp enough to reveal. One elf dropped to the ground in front of Glorfindel's horse, hand outstretched in greeting although he did not smile.

"Welcome, Glorfindel of Imladris. I am Haldir, Warden of these woods and you are expected." The elf's shining blue eyes perused the riders and tallied them up, "An escort of ten, plus two courtesans. Please, Follow me. My brothers...." at his gesture two more blond elves dropped to his side. "Ride with the Courtesans and see that there is no mischief."

With that he gave Legolas and Feanal a fierce look that scanned from their booted feet to their cloaked heads before turning bruskly away to retrieve his own horse from it's hiding place. Legolas felt his gorge rise. If he were at home, he would have... but he was not at home, and he was no prince to automatically assume respect. With a sigh, he lowered his hood as the other elves approached.

Feanal, who had leaned forward eagerly in the first sign of interest he had shown all day at Haldir's appearance, set back in the saddle and frowned. "Mischief?" He hissed to Legolas, "Does he think we are elflings?"

Legolas, remembering the twins' attempted trick, merely shook his head and swallowed his own irritation. "Perhaps so."

"I am Rumil," the elf who came to Legolas' side said kindly. "If you would allow me?"

Legolas kicked his feet from the stirrup and scooted back onto the horses rump to allow Rumil to take his place in the saddle. Rumil sprang lightly up, tossing his leg over the animal's neck to settle in the saddle. "I apologize for my brother, Courtesan. He means no harm."

As the slim Elf nudged their horse forward again, Legolas considered before replying diplomatically, "I am sure his responsibilities call for such care."

Rumil gave a bare nod, but did not speak as the escort moved under way again.

Even with the glistening rain, or perhaps especially with the glistening rain, the woods were beyond beautiful. A sense of peace and warmth blanketed the wet forest as moss grew thick upon the ground and the great mallorn trees hung their damp leaves above the traveler's head. Legolas felt the sway of the wood as no other and he smiled, gazing up at the great trees, and the down at the tiny flowers that grew at their bases."

As if he could sense his companions wonder, Rumil leaned back a little. "It is magnificent, isn't it?"

"Aye." Legolas murmured, his nervous fears forgotten for the moment. "It is like no other place I have been."

"Nor will be again, lest we pass to Valinor." Rumil whispered back.

The escort fell silent as they reached in the heart of the wood the city of Caras Galadhon. Elves sang lightly from the talans in the trees in greeting as they stopped at the gates and dismounted. Rumil and Orophin stayed directly behind Legolas and Feanal as they were lead into the city and towards the glade where the Lord and Lady of the Wood awaited their arrival.

"Like we're going to run for it or something..." Feanal hissed bitterly to Legolas.

Legolas nearly smirked, answering with an honest whisper, "The thought has crossed my mind."

Indeed, his palms were sweating, and in spite of the calm of the wood around him, he felt his heart pound in nervousness.

Feanal gave him a frowning glance before admitting, "Mine as well."

Legolas thought back to leaving Mirkwood, and the tall blond courtesan waiting for his father. Verdean, Mirie had called him. Recalling how confident and calmly he had stood, Legolas loosened his grip upon the scroll in his hand, and lifted back his hood. Taking a deep breath, he assured himself that he could do this, that whatever faced him ahead was not so dire. After all, these were Elves, excellent Elves of an excellent realm. What harm could come to him here?

Then he heard Glorfindel announce in a clear voice, "Sarnlass, Courtesan of the House of Thranduil."

Somehow, he managed to keep his knees from buckling as he stepped forward and knelt on one knee, offering his contract on upraised palms, not daring to look up. Then the most amazing voice he had ever heard; melodic and powerful, sensual and kind, terrifying and delighting in one, reached his ears over the pounding rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Rise, Sarnlass, and look upon me."

Forcing his trembling thighs to raise his body, he lifted his head at last. Before him stood Lady Galadriel. Her gown was white, her hair glowing golden. Her smile was sweet and beatific and he gasped to see her. Her smile turned warmer, almost teasing in an intimate manner. "I see King Thranduil sends a royal gift indeed."

Before he could wonder that she knew his true identity, she gestured for him to move to the side and allow Feanal to approach. Contracts accepted, she bid Feanal to rise also, then looked out over the small gathering. "Where is Haldir, Warden of Lothlorien?"

Haldir stepped forward and Legolas felt his stomach clench. Was the rumor true then? Was one of them meant for the cold, disdainful Warden? He tried to hold back the ugly fears that quaked him. He was a warrior, every bit as strong as Haldir. There was nothing to fear. Although in looking at Haldir's broad chest and his tall frame, Legolas realized that he was indeed bigger, taller and stronger than Legolas himself.

"Will you, Haldir, choose a Courtesan for your own, in recompense of the damages you have suffered?" The Lady asked sweetly. Feanal started to back a step behind Legolas, but something stayed him and he remained, eyes downcast.

Legolas, too, dropped his eyes as the Marchwarden's cold green eyes trailed over them. He found himself thinking, 'Please, not me.' Then the warm sweet voice of the Lady rang in his head, "Be still, Courtesan. It is his choice."

Shamed, Legolas stood still, willing his mind to silence. At last, Haldir spoke. "You are most generous, Lady. I would accept the dark one as my boon."

Legolas felt, rather than saw Feanal's shudder as the Lady spoke aloud. "I, Lady Galadriel, allow the transfer of contract of Feanal, Courtesan of Imladris, to the hands of the Marchwarden Haldir of Lorien for a term of five years of the fifteen years of contract."

Feanal shuddered again, but then he seemed to bolster his resolve, and he stepped forward and knelt before Haldir as his contract of exchange was handed over. He took Haldir's hand and kissed it, and Legolas, watching his expression change, knew that the Lady must be speaking in his mind as well.

Still, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for Feanal as Haldir turned and gestured for him to follow. The Lady's voice drew his attention back to her. "My Husband, will you accept your boon?"

Legolas gasped as possibly the most beautiful, powerful male he had ever seen stepped from beside the Lady. With grey eyes the color of storm-clouded summer skies and straight silver hair that streamed across formal robes of blue and silver, Lord Celeborn favored Legolas with an appraising stare.

If Haldir had seemed intimidating, Celeborn seemed to melt every bone in Legolas' body with his powerful gaze. His words were calm and measured as he replied to his wife. "Aye, I will accept this boon."

All of the awkwardness and nervousness fell away from Legolas, replaced by stark fear. The last thing he wanted to do was to disappoint this great lord. Mirie's words sang in his head, 'What you must make certain of is that he loves you.' Without another thought, he found himself stepping forward and dropping to his knees, head bowed before Lord Celeborn.

There was a movement at his collar, a tiny clicking sound, and Legolas reached up of his own accord to finger the small charm in the shape of a many-branched tree. He did not need a mirror to know that it was silver. He was claimed.

Galadriel raised her hands and the crowd began to disperse. Lord Celeborn gestured for him to rise and spoke in the same melodious measured voice as before, "There will be time later to acquaint yourself with your new home, Courtesan. Come now."

Legolas pushed himself to his feet and kept his head bowed as he followed Celeborn through the glade, and up a flight of stairs. He kept his eyes focused on the silver and royal blue trim the Lord's robe as he was led through a small archway, and up a spiralled flight of steps into a raised talan. A portion of the royal talan, he realized somehow, although how he deduced this he did not know. His heart had ceased it's painful hammering, although he still felt his stomach clenched in knots.

A door was opened and the Lord ushered him in before closing it. Legolas heard the lock click, and wondered who the Lord was trying to keep out. It was several more moments before his brain recognized that the Lord was most likely trying to keep him in.

"Please, be seated." The gracious request was the last thing Legolas had expected and he turned to find Lord Celeborn lowering himself to a chair at a small table.

He complied, even as he chastised himself for his bashfulness. Yes, here was a great and powerful Elf Lord. Legolas was no stranger to greatness and power. Was he not Thranduil's son? Taking a deep breath, he looked across the table at Lord Celeborn and smiled. "Thank you, my lord."

Seeing the open bottle of honey wine and the goblets, Legolas gestured and waited for Celeborns slight nod before he poured for them both, handing Celeborn's goblet to him with a light grip about the bowl, leaving no chance for the fingers that grasped the stem to touch his own.

"Sarnlass," Celeborn began, in soft melodious tones, "We must have a few words, to discuss your new place here."

Silently, Legolas waited, his glass of wine sitting untouched before him.

"I have, at current, four courtesans within the city and six more at border stations. The loss of Verdean has left a gap in my household that I am hoping you will be able to fill."

"I shall do my best, my lord." Legolas replied as seriously and reverently as if his father had just ordered him to take a battalion out and destroy an ungol's nest.

"I am certain you will. However, I will caution you once and only once. Whatever is said, done, overheard, or discovered within these walls will stay within these walls. I will not have another incident such as the one that has removed Verdean from my service." He gave Legolas a significant look and waited.

"I am unaware, my lord, of the circumstances surrounding Verdean's departure," Legolas said quietly, "But I assure you that my discretion and obedience to your house are utmost in my mind."

"As it should be." Celeborn nodded. "Now, expectations. Each realm does things a bit differently. Here in Lorien, I have claimed you as mine. Hence none shall approach you without my leave, and you may approach none without my leave." He paused until Legolas nodded his understanding. "There is one exception, and that is the Lady Galadriel." Here the grand lord actually smirked, his eyes dancing with humor. "My wife is fond of playing with my toys."

Legolas found himself smiling back.

"You have my leave to attend her whenever she should like, even if it directly countermands one of my orders. I promise to take such issues up with her, and not with you." Celeborn tilted his glass towards Legolas and changed the subject.

"Now, you will be housed in the room across the hallway. Illiene, our Head Courtesan, whom you will meet later tonight, is housed in the room beside yours. Any questions you may have about household procedures you may ask her. These are my rooms, and through that doorway," he gestured, "lie Galadriel's chambers. I will expect you to attend me at Evening Meal, and I expect you to check in with me each morning at breakfast for any daily requirements. Provided you are not still in my bed, of course."

The look that those glowing grey eyes lavished upon Legolas sent a shiver down his spine, and he felt his breath catch. The Lord smiled graciously and tilted his head. "You have not touched your wine? Is it not to your liking?"

Legolas swallowed hard and tried to raise his eyes to meet Celeborns. "No, My Lord. I am sure it is excellent. As I do not know it's strength I felt it best to be cautious."

"Caution is for the weak, or for the frightened." Celeborn said, tilting his own goblet generously to his lips. "Are you frightened, Sarnlass?"

Legolas raised his cup and took a judicious swallow, then smiled. "May I be honest, My Lord?"

Celeborn nodded his head, leaning one elbow on the table.

Legolas tried to give what he hoped was a nonchallant smile, the kind that often disarmed his father. "Then, My Lord, you should know that I am absolutely terrified."

Celeborns eyebrows shot up in surprise before he burst into a hearty laugh. "Finish your wine, Sarnlass, and then you shall face your fears."

A relief surged through him at Celborn's calm acceptance of his words, and Legolas lifted his goblet and drank, glad of the sweet honey wine that cooled him and soothed his trembling hands. At last, he looked to Celeborn, meeting the lords eyes with an assurance he did not feel. Setting his goblet firmly upon the table, he rose and stood before Celeborn, deliberately balancing on the balls of his feet as he dropped his hands to his side and bent his head in respect. "I am ready, My Lord."

Ta da! (Yah, I'm a wicked tease, ain't I?

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Morier: Yeah, that Feanal has a wicked sense of humor. I'll see what I can do about the Legolas statue, but wouldn't you just rather put Legolas out and pose him for an hour or so a day?

Minerva Ann McGonagall: thanks for reading! I've added you to the updates list, so let me know if you don't get the update notice for the next chapter!

nikkiling: Thanks. Had very good weather the whole time I was up north. As for Legolas making ammends with Feanal, that may take some doing!

Soda: Oh? Do tell? What did Haldir say? Or did you untie him and take the gag off long enough for him to say anything at all? ;)

Emmess: lol Here! Here it is! Sorry! I wanted it to be perfect, just for you, darling! I think you should save all that abuse you want to heap on Feanal...wait 'till he really earns it!

Tuxedo Elf: Thanks for catching up! :) Glad your enjoying it! Yes, what is a story without a little bit of mystery? :D

No hot courtesan action quite yet... but very soon. Very very soon! Very hot..very soon.. uh..Celeborn, melleth nin, could you slide over just a bit...No, it's just hard to type with your..um.hmmmm..right now?
Maybe a little later than expected, dearies. Something important just..hmmm.. came up...
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Fifteen Years