XXIII. Wedding Crashers

            The wonderful music that had been playing stopped abruptly. Screams were now the music in our ears as was panicked murmurs. Loud shouts from the Men told me that there were not just a few crashing this event.

            Legolas left my side, most likely searching for his father or Nikita. I blended into the crowd, hoping to find Halian. Others bumped into me, trying to flee from the threats around them. I was nearly knocked to the floor but was caught by Halian. I gave her a watery smile.

            The familiar noises of battle made Halian and I look. We watched in horror as the king and Legolas were torn apart from each other, herded away by several armed Men. Legolas had a rare look in his eye, one that his father looked to have more often. Halian cried out in agony, burying herself into me. I pulled her away as I saw what she did.

A guard lay limp, his blood pooling on the floor. I bet he is not the only one. But the guards should be experienced fighters. How can the Men have an advantage over them?

The king shouted something in Elvish, but he stopped when he noticed he was circled by Men, one with a whip, an archer, and one that was ready to pull out a sword he had hung on his side.

            Panicked Elvish ran through the air around us. They have hostages. I swallowed, trying to see if I could spot any. Halian grabbed my arm, clinging to me as though I were the only thing separating her from death.

            “Call whatever is left of your guard off or we’ll kill them,” a low voice growled. It belonged to the archer.

            The king did not meet the archer’s eye but did as he was told. My heart leaped in pain. They had control of the room.

            “No Man should be able to breach the security here,” the king spat. His body looked extremely stiff, like he was dying to have a weapon in his hand to dispose of the Men surrounding him. “How is it possible?”

            “We had a little help from the inside. One of your own, I believe.”

            “She was taken care of. She is most likely driving herself mad in the forest right now.”

            The archer looked puzzled. “I think you and I aren’t talking about the same She-Elf. She’s here with us.”

            “What do we do?” Halian whispered to me.

            “Keep calm,” was all I told her.

            “But something has to be done!”

            “Someone will do something.”

            “No one would dare rebel against their king,” the king said strongly, bringing me back to the tense situation. “None have ever tried.”

            “I think you are missing one tiny detail, Thranduil,” a new voice spoke, a female voice. This was the first I had heard the king’s real name. “You were never my king.”

            A terrified group of Elves parted as Nikita came onto the scene. Her wedding gown was marvelous, bringing out her body. Her hair was done up nicely. She looked like royalty. I stole looks at other Elves; they were confused and stunned by Nikita’s statement.

            Legolas’ lips parted, as though he too was caught off guard. The king did not show his surprise on his face, but I was sure his ice-blue eyes would give him away.

            “It took you long enough to get here,” Nikita told the archer. “Speed is not a quality of yours, is it?”

            “Sorry if we’re not Elves,” the archer spat at her. Nikita did not look angry at the archer, but she did not look fond of him either.

            “I demand an explanation!” the king interrupted.

            “Oh, you will get one, if you will let me speak. Appearances can be deceiving, can’t they? Someone can look as innocent as a child but yet have the darkest heart you will ever come across. They can look ordinary but can be someone extraordinary.”

            “What is the meaning of all this?”

            “It is simple, how can you not guess it by now? I want to rule over Greenwood.” She shrugged. “The only way I can do it is by killing you.”

            “You attempt to, and the guards will strike you down.”

            “No, you have it wrong. If they attempt to kill me, your guests will pay the price.” She smiled wryly, pacing before the held-hostage king.

            “How did they get into here?”

            “Oh, I helped. When you explore Greenwood for some time, you find things hidden.”

            “Nimalia was right,” Legolas murmured. Nikita’s gaze went to her husband.

            “She is here?” She sounded more delighted than annoyed by the news. “Huh. I guess she could not stay away from you, Legolas. Who could blame the girl, you are a looker.” She winked. “It will be a shame once I slay you as well.”

            My jaw locked in anger. So, it was not enough for Nikita to murder the King of Greenwood, she had to include the Prince as well. Whether or not she tells the truth, she may be saying it to make me come out of hiding. My hands became fists at my sides.

            “But I think your father would be the best place to start,” Nikita sang. The Elves continued to watch in mute horror. “After all, once a king dies, the throne falls to his heir. Since we are now married, I can easily inherit the kingdom should something happen to you. Once you are out of the way, this will all be mine.”

            “Not unless you are struck down or this is prevented,” Legolas growled.

            “But neither will happen.” Nikita laughed. “I have come too far to let this fall apart. I have waited too long, done all that I had to do to get to this point.” She refocused on the king. “No one will stop me. No one can save you, Your Highness.” She said it mockingly.

            I jumped as I felt Halian press the dagger hilt into my hand. She gave me a nod, as though she was reading my thoughts. If anyone could stop Nikita, it would be me. I was a loophole in her threat; I was not part of the royal guard. No one else would dare cross her; no one looked to be that brave. I was the only one to ever challenge her before but not intentionally.

This time, I meant to, with all my being.

            Nikita snapped her fingers, and one Man handed his sword to her. Her blue eyes lit up with mischief and hunger, the all too familiar emotions that I often saw in the Men’s eyes when under their care. I closed my eyes, inhaling.

            “I am surprised you are not gloating about this more,” I said bravely. I left Halian and the crowd behind me as I introduced myself.

            Nikita snorted, facing me entirely. “You cannot seem to go away. No matter what I do to push you away, you keep coming back like the pest you are!” She laughed. “And what do you expect to do with that meager weapon? If you do not realize it, I hold the superior weapon.”

            “There is part of the gloating,” I crooned. I started creeping my way towards Legolas. If I could somehow get him free, then maybe I would have a better chance of stopping Nikita and preventing more bloodshed. “Keep going, I am sure we would all love every single detail of your plan.”

            “Ah ah, not wise.” She tsked, nodding towards the Men who held Legolas. I stopped as one held a blade to his throat. “I am not an idiot, Nimalia. But it is sweet, how you go after him.” Her expression turned sour. “You are the worst obstacle I have had to come across. Everything was going smoothly until you arrived. You put a wedge in my plans.”

            “How did you get them to help you?” I gestured towards the Men. “Did you bat your eyes at them? Did you use intimacy to get what you wanted?”

            She laughed. “No, I would never dare become intimate with them. We share a mutual desire to rule over others. I have to thank you, Nimalia, I really do. If it weren’t for meeting you, I would have never met them. I was in this alone until they came along. In a way, you were a blessing and a curse to me. You are still those.”

“How did I…?”

“The attack in Lórien. I went looking for them after they invaded. They were more than eager to ally with me when I mentioned you.” A smile played on her lips. “I must say, it was harder to pull Legolas and Thranduil onto my side. I had to use a bit of extra help there.”

            “Magic,” Legolas realized.

            “Yes. I had to use it even more so once Nimalia came into the picture. I was losing you, I saw it from the moment I saw her. I had to keep you close to me. And you”—she turned around to look at the king—“you were even more difficult to recruit to my side. You fought my magic well, but in the end it did not do you good.”

            It explained why the king agreed to let Legolas and Nikita marry in the first place. I would have never known she was gifted with magic. That means—

            “That is how you got them all in here as well, with magic,” I said aloud.

            Nikita nodded. “Very good, Nimalia. Like I said before, appearances can be deceiving. I dropped their cover once the time was right. By that time, you did not react fast enough, and your guards were slain.” She tutted. “And here I thought our kind were not easy to fool. Yet, look at where we are right now. As much as I would love to continue telling tales, I have work to do.”

            I did not know what came over me. I felt the sudden need to throw myself at Nikita to protect the king, as though I were a part of the royal guard. I lunged for her back, but the Man who held the whip struck at my face. I hissed, and Nikita spun around, her sword aimed for my neck. I ducked, colliding into her.

            We were both quickly on our feet, but we were not the only ones engaged in battle. Legolas followed my lead; he dispatched his captors with ease, without receiving so much as a scratch.

I did not take into account that the hostages would pay for my misconducts.

            But it seemed as though the others followed my lead as well. I was the spark that fed the flames. Though they were without weapons, they were strong in numbers. The guests who were here to enjoy a wedding were now taking down Men threatening their king and prince.

            Nikita kicked me away, I skidded across the floor. With labored breathing, she got on her feet. Despite being in a gown, she moved pretty quickly. I rolled to my left as the sword just barely chopped off my fingers. I barely had enough time to put my dagger up to counter Nikita’s sword. She was on her knees, her teeth out in a smile.

            My arms began to tremble. All around me, noises of chaos erupted. What had started out as a—I assumed—beautiful wedding ceremony turned into a bloodbath. Guards were already dead, and there was the chance that innocent Elves would add to the casualty count.

            “Nim!” Halian’s voice rang above all the madness.

            “Ah, so she told you everything,” Nikita hissed. “The little rat. No matter, you both will be dead and will never stand in my way again. Maybe I should deal with her first.”

            I rolled onto my side to catch my breath. I saw Nikita elbow her way into the mass of Elves, searching for Halian. She would be looking in the wrong place, because a Man tossed Halian out of the madness. She scuttled along the floor, terrified as the Man stalked her.

            I launched myself in front of Halian just as the Man jumped for her. His stomach met my dagger. His yell of pain practically shattered my hearing. I shoved him off me, his blood coating my dagger. There was now a mixture of Man and Elf blood on the floor.

            This night was spiraling downhill with every second.

            The mad crowd was quieting down, so I assumed that the Men were losing to the Elves. Halian let out a gasp quickly enough for me to spin around and swipe at a Man coming our way. Halian got on her feet and dashed towards the king, even though she was heading straight for the archer.

            When done with one, I yet again had to deal with a Man and his whip. He cracked it at his side, a challenge. I did not even come at him; I simply chucked the dagger at him. I stumbled back, horrified, as I saw how eerily accurate I had thrown it. It buried itself into his chest. He fell so fast I almost did not understand what I had just done.

            Now realizing I discovered this new skill that I never knew I had, I ripped the dagger out of the Man’s chest and hurled it at the archer. I only got him in the shoulder, but it was enough for Halian to take out the archer and free the king. Legolas joined her and helped her finish him off. They did not kill him, only wounded him. Legolas took command of the bow and arrow, forcing the Man to surrender.

            I could only be happy that we were taking control of the situation for a second. A sharp, slicing pain hit my back. I yelled, turning the room silent. I dropped to all fours, turning myself around to see Nikita over me. I hissed, feeling the air run over the fresh wound, feeling the blood trickle down my back.

            “Enough of this!” she barked. “If I have to murder every last Elf that tries to stand in my way, so be it! You are just the beginning of those who have gotten in my way. You, my dear Halian, are next.” With a heeled shoe, Nikita stepped onto my stomach. I yelled again, feeling a cold tip of metal touch under my chin.

            “You will not get your happy ending, Nimalia,” she snarled.

            I watched the sword with wide blue eyes as Nikita lifted it up, ready to stab me through the heart or throat, whatever she saw fit. I saw my life flash before my eyes: flickers of my past, my present, and what could have very well been my future had things worked out differently than they were about to.

            I did not close my eyes, I would embrace death. I could not stop Nikita, no one could.

With an aggressive call, Nikita drove the sword for my heart. Everything slowed down in my eyes, especially Nikita’s arm and sword coming for my heart.

            I swear the tip almost punctured my skin when the attack was adverted. Nikita staggered back, the sword dropped to the floor with a loud clang. Not all of the guards had been killed, for a few came to grab Nikita by the arms. I noticed one shoulder—her left in particular—had an arrow embedded in it.

            “Lock her up, I will deal with her soon enough,” the king said. Nikita wriggled against her captors, desperately trying to get her sword to try and murder me again. I smirked at her.

            “Looks like you will not get your happy ending,” I panted.

            As Nikita was dragged off, she screamed her head off. All the Elves who were still alive all had their eyes on me.

            “Nim!” Halian hugged me from the side.

            “I am okay,” I whispered. “It is over now.”

When did everyone start moving like they were? They were moving, but they did not look to be. My eyelids began to fall over my eyes.

“Nim?”

            “It is the wound on her back,” Legolas explained. “She needs our healers.”

            “I will help you get her there.”

            They both tried to have me on my feet, but my body was not having that happen. My legs gave out from under me, nearly bringing them both to the ground with me. I forgot about the traumatized wedding guests, I wanted to rest. I must be losing a lot of blood to be going unconscious. But the cut did not feel thick…

            Even after Halian’s protests, Legolas handled me on his own. I last remembered seeing Halian’s worried face, tears gathering in her eyes. I also remembered hearing Legolas reassure me that I was safe and everything would be all right just before I slipped under. 

**Well that was rather...intense. But it explains a lot, doesn't it? There are, unfortunately, only two chapters left from this point forward. I'm glad so many of you are truly enjoying this story. It definitely makes my day to know it :)**