One-shots/Short Stories

Legolas

His Betrothed
"Legolas!" Thranduil called, halting his son from training. Legolas lowered his loaded bow, turning to his father and King.
   "Yes, Ada?"
   "It is time." Thranduil stated with an air of authority. Legolas' curious face faltered into one of dread, knowing what his father meant. It was time to pick his wife.
   Walking alongside his father, thoughts ran a mile in his head. What if none of them like me? Of course they like me, I'm the Prince and I have riches. So what if I don't find one that will love me for who I am? What if I don't love them?
   "Legolas." Legolas blinked rapidly, facing his father who was waiting for him. He didn't realise he had stopped walking until Thranduil called for him.
   "Sorry." Legolas murmured, quickly catching up with him.
   "Don't fret about this." Thranduil assured his son. "This will be good for you. You'll understand."
   Hopefully, Legolas thought glumly. They entered the throne room to see four elleths already waiting for them. The she-elves were all dressed in their finest clothing, hair and face to perfection, their posture straight and screams out nobility. Legolas hated it.
   "My son," they stood before the women; Thranduil in his throne, Legolas beside him. "I give you the ones you are to pick. However -" he frowned at them, "-there were supposed to be five, last I recall."
   "She bailed out?" Legolas suggested hopefully. Thranduil shook his head. They heard a ruckus from outside the throne room.
   "You can't do this all the time! Running around the forest, and skipping important meetings! This is important for your future -" The door was pushed open to reveal a flustered elleth, and a bored-looking elleth. The flustered-looking one blushed furiously at the attention they got from the royal family and the other elleths. The other elleth looked mildly amused.
   "My lord," she bowed, the other one following reluctantly, "forgive me and my daughter. We stumbled a bit during our way -"
   "No matter, Andriel." Thranduil waved off. "I understand." And he did. Andriel and he are good friends; he remembered the times he'd visit her and he'd see his friend's young daughter running around as if on an adventure. He then knew that she would be the perfect wife for Legolas. He hoped that his son would choose her out of the five.
   "Let's begin, shall we?" Thranduil announced.

***

"Thank you, for your time." Legolas told the fourth elleth, escorting her out of his study. When the door closed behind her, he slumped against it with a sigh.
   "So? Do you have an idea on who you want to marry so far?" Thranduil asked from deep in the room. Legolas rubbed his face in exhaustion as a reply.
   "No," he admitted, "they're too. . .polite. They don't speak from their mind. They just want to impress me for my riches and title."
   "Hmm, good." Thranduil murmured, confusing the young elf. "That's why I decided to pick a different elleth. The fifth one."
   "The one that came late?" Legolas rolled his eyes. "If I were to marry her, she'd come late to important meetings. Would you really want that?"
   "No," Thranduil's lips quirked in a smirk, "but out of them all, I think you will like this one." A knock came from the door. He cleared his throat and called out to the person who knocked. "Come in!"
   Andriel came in looking flustered and embarrassed again. "My lord, she's gone again!"
   Legolas made a pointed look to his father as if proving his point. Thranduil merely smiled, looking out the window in the room. "Legolas, why don't you find her?"

***

Legolas trudged into the forest with a grumble, not liking his day. First he had to choose a wife, and now he has to find an elleth that could be his wife?
   Legolas continued grumbling curses under his breath when he suddenly heard the sound of an arrow being released into the air and hitting a target. Curious, he followed the sound, leading him to a small clearing in the forest. And he stumbled upon his potential wife. And there he saw her. . .