Ithildin - Legolas x OC

Chapter 42: Crowning the King

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I spend the morning helping Arwen prepare herself for the coronation, making sure she looks absolutely perfect...and it does not take a lot—as she is always perfect.

I step back after placing the coronet across her head and smile, the jewels hanging down over her ears. We clasp hands, our dresses similar, but not the same. Hers is white whilst mine is a pale blue and our long hair falls down in waves, hers dark, mine light.

A knock on the door has me turning, watching as Legolas steps in holding a small wooden box, his face lighting up the moment he sets eyes on me. He's dressed in his silver ceremonial tunic and looks breathtaking, his hair braided back as usual but does not hang in front of his shoulders, rather to his back. I glance up at the thin silver band twisting across his head.

"You look beautiful." He says lightly. "Both of you."

"Thank you," Arwen smiles.

I smirk at him. "You could not let Aragorn have his moment?"

Legolas tilts his head at me. "I am a Prince, Amariel. This is part of the title."

"Yes, so I am told."

He takes a deep breath, then holds out the box to me. "And this...is for you." I look to it, then back to his face as he watches me nervously.

"Well." Arwen nudges me, smiling. "Open it, or I will."

Glancing to her, I step forward and tentatively open the lid of the box. My eyes flying wide at what it holds and I quickly close it again, looking up to him.

"I cannot. Are you serious?"

"Very." He nods.

"Legolas—"

"Please, Amariel." He says strongly, dipping his brow. "Do me this honour."

"I am a Lady, not a Princess."

Arwen steps forward then out of curiosity, opening the box and gasping at the diadem inside. "Oh, Legolas, it is beautiful! Amariel, you must wear this, it is a moonstone. It is perfect for you."

I watch Legolas very carefully as he says to me, "It was made for you. I had it made for you. Many years ago."

Startling, I blink at him. "What?"

He frowns faintly. "You...remember your last visit to Mirkwood?"

I nod. "You invited me."

"I had this made before your arrival. I...wanted to gift it to you, as a token." He hesitates, as if ashamed to admit, "It was then that I told my father my intentions to betroth you. To court you at the very least, as I did not know if you felt the same as I."

"And he denied it." I breathe out, sighing as everything now makes sense. "Then insulted me upon my arrival...so that I would leave."

"I shamefully accepted his denial of my request." Legolas nods. "And did not defend you when I should have, much to my regret. Though, you do not need me to defend you, you are more than capable..." He trails off, frowning at the box and looking back to me. "This is yours, Amariel, should you wish to wear it or not."

I look down at the diadem, almost identical to his except for the small, circular moonstone in the middle. Smiling, I look up to him and nod. "It is beautiful, thank you, Legolas."

He smiles in relief as I carefully lift it out of the box, Arwen taking it from me to place it on my head. She beams, looking between us.

"The pair of you," She shakes her head as she brushes a curl of my hair over my shoulder, "how things could have been different."