~The story of Elora and Legolas~

Chapter 13:~The marriage and the rape~

(Flashback)

"Philip,"Cirdan began, "If you wanna have a life together. A family. Then there's one thing you must remember. You always have to do what's best for your children," And Philip smiled, "I understand. That's what you're doing now," And Cirdan looked up at him, "Yes, it is," And he ripped Philip's heart out. "FATHER!,"Elora exclaimed. And Philip fell to the ground. "NO!,"Elora screamed and knelt down beside him.

Cirdan let the dust of Philip's heart fall to the ground. And Elora looked up at him, "Father! Why have you done this!?," And Cirdan looked down at her, "Because this is your happy ending!," And Elora looked at him crying, "What!?," And Cirdan smiled wickedly, "You have to trust me, Elora. I know best,"

(End of flashback)

Elora walked through the garden with the wizard Kadir, Cirdan had decided she would marry.

Elora glanced at Kadir who suddenly grabbed her, "I won't wait until your father has talked to your mother!," And Elora looked at him and panic, "Stay away from me!," And she pushed him away and run into the hall.

"Elora, what's wrong?,"Cirdan interrupted. And Elora turned to the wizard, "Please, don't make me marry Kadir! He was just trying to rape me!," "What?,"Cristiana asked shocked, "Cirdan, you can't let her go through this marriage!," And Cirdan looked at his wife, "I won't! I promise! That wizard shall out of my castle! Now!,"
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Elora watched Kadir leave from her balcony and he was looking at her angrily and wickedly. And she swallowed.

(Two weeks later)

Cirdan had left this night after dinner to do something with Emersion in the misting mountains. Only Elora and Cristiana and some guards were left in the underground castle.

Kadir and four of his soldiers snuck into the castle in the dead of night. Kadir was going to have his revenge on Cirdan by killing him and then he would force Elora into marrying him.
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Elora slept peacefully in her room when Kadir and his men stormed into the room and she woke up and quickly got out of the bed when one of the men grabbed her and put his hand before her mouth and held his knife against her neck, "Scream and I'll kill you,"The man threatened.

Kadir turned to two of his men, "Find Cirdan! Now!," And his two men left and Kadir turned to Elora, "If you behave, maybe you keep yourself alive to see his death," And Elora swallowed.

(Some minutes later)

Elora stood quiet, facing Kadir and his men, "It's taking too long,"She finally said, "Your men may have been caught. They could be coming for you right now without warning!," "Shut up!,"Kadir said angrily. And Elora looked at him confused, "If you have as many men as you say you do, the whole castle should be filled with the sounds of battle," And Kadir turned to her, "It's the dead of night! They'll hold your guards and cut them down and they'll find him!," "Cirdan isn't here!,"Elora exclaimed, "Your mission has failed! And you will die! If you leave now, even if you are caught, I will spare your lives!," And suddenly, the third man stormed into the room, "One of the servants says Cirdan left the castle earlier!," "He could be lying!,"Kadir explained. And the man sighed, "I'm telling you. We've brought us as long as we dare! But one of our men has been killed! And one of Cirdan's may have survived! We're leaving now!," And Elora swallowed.

The man turned to Elora, "They killed all the other witnesses. Kill her before she can scream!," And Elora swallowed. And Kadir turned to her, "I'll do it!," And Elora shook her head, "Don't! No wrong we have committed against you will be remedied this night!," And Kadir knocked her to the ground. "Don't speak to me of wrong!,"Kadir exclaimed, "You refused to take me as your husband! You and your father has been caught by something evil! And now you're going to pay for it!," "It was your house Cirdan burned down!?,"Elora groaned. "Kadir!,"One of his men said, "She's a princess! Cirdan's daughter!," And Kadir smiled wickedly, "But she doesn't look like a princess now, does she?," And he grabbed her ankles and forced her to turn to him and held her down as he was trying to open her nightgown, "You destroyed my home! Destroyed me!,"Kadir exclaimed. "Cirdan said it was a real fire that burned down!,"Elora screamed in panic and she screamed as the other man grabbed her arms. "Hold her down! Hold her down!,"Kadir commanded and strangled Elora who looked away, trying to breathe.

Kadir let go of her when she had closed her eyes and Elora immediately began to cough. And the other man grabbed his knife when Elora hit him the head with something hard and fought him off and stood up and run out of her room.

Elora run through the corridor when guards and Cristiana showed up.
"By the Valar, it's the princess!,"A guard said. And Cristiana noticed the fear and hurt in Elora's eyes, "Back to your posts! The princess will be with me!,"

(Cristiana's office)

Cristiana brought her adoptive daughter into her office, "Elora! Where's Cirdan? Do you know?," And Elora turned to her and swallowed, "Ehh, they said he wasn't in the castle. That he wasn't here at all. And when Kadir realised they had failed, that's when he...," And she looked down.

Cristiana looked up at daughter, quickly realising what happened, "Oh, my dear child," "NO!,"Elora protested, "No!," And Cristiana sighed, "What did he do to you?," And Elora swallowed, "Kadir came looking for Cirdan. And he was going to kill him. I fought them off. I hit one of them in the head and Kadir...," And Cristiana sighed, "My child, I'm only gonna ask you this once... so we're both clear of what you've endured this night. Were you raped?," And Elora started to cry and sat down on the floor.

Cristiana slowly squatted down in front of her, "I know you don't want to be touched, that's alright. But you're safe now. I don't know how you managed to escape, but you did. You are alive! You will survive this! I know this... because I survived and you know that too. He tried to destroy you by taking your pride and your strength! But those things cannot be taken, not from you! Not ever! We're going to change your clothes, fix your hair! We're going to erase any mark of their hands on you," "Please, leave me be!,"Elora begged. "We are,"Cristiana said, "We're going to do this for you, and for your dragons! And for The Light Kingdom! Kadir tried to diminish a wizard tonight by degrading his adoptive daughter! And he will not succeed! Because the world will never know what he did to you," And Elora shook her head,"That's not possible," And Cristiana shook her head, "It is! Because you will walk out of here and you will face his court as this never happened!," "NO! I can't! I can't!,"Elora exclaimed. "Yes, you can,"Cristiana insisted, "You have to! Elora, the guards saw you! You must put a-rest any rumours immediately! This next few moments of your immortal life will either describe you as a victim! Or a powerful future Queen untouched by a failed assassination attempt! He will define who you are perceived to be! Your place in history! Do not let Kadir win! Trust me! Trust me and let me help you," And she stretched out her hand to Elora, "Trust that I can get you through this because I swear to you that I can!," And Elora swallowed and took her hand.