"How many lovers did you have before me?"
"Twelve," Legolas admitted.
"Who were they?"
"I cannot tell you that"
"Why not?" she interrupted. "I told you about
mineand, besides, I need to know."
Legolas sighedshe was right. "There was an elleth
my tutor hired," he said, "after my coming of age ceremonyshe
was the first. There was the daughter of my father's Chief
Counsellor. Four ladies at court. An elleth Ierknew
in one of the settlements to the north of Mirkwood. And a
serving elleth"
...
'My son,' wrote Thranduil.
'My messenger has returned from Eryn Carantaur and told
me how things are with you. And I must say that I am disappointed
by your behaviour. You admitted to me that you had performed
a travesty of the harvest rite with this mortal, but Aerandir
tells me that you are now calling her your wife. Do not be a
fool, Lassui! Both Lord Galdor and Lord Nevlondeion have, quite
separately, assured me that this cannot be the case.
'Whatever words you may have exchanged with her are not
sufficient to bind an elf to a mortal. There is therefore nothing
to stop you leaving her if you have since come to your senses.
Oh Lassui, if you could not keep your leggings laced, why did
it have to be a mortal? Could you not at least have chosen one
of your own kind?
'Aerandir, of course, extols her charms and says that all
of your Counsellors adore her. I have heard about human women
and their unique ability to pleasure an elf. Are you absolutely
sure that she is not demonstrating her talents to them? Your
choice of lovers has never been fortunate, Lassui.'
"He tried to seduce them?" whispered Eowyn.
"To prove to me that they did not love me," said Legolas,
hugging her fiercely.
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