Chapter 3

Just as the sun began to peek over the trees Alea's nerves began getting the best of her, having to see Legolas was never apart of the plan when she decided upon coming back... at least not so soon or to be thrown so head first into it all.

Nevertheless the King wasn't one for games and in the end Alea knew she should have known, that if there was something that the king needed or wanted done it would happen sooner rather than later. Alea pulled the hood of her cloak up tightly around her face, concealing herself from view just as the stable boys brought out the horses to prepare them for the prince's trip. Alea looked around as three other elves gathered around adorned in their simple silver travelling cloaks. Though their hoods were pulled up one could still easily see their faces beneath.

The three of them eyed Alea curiously, wondering who the new addition to their travelling party was, as all four elves accepted the horses from the stable hands, they stood awaiting the Prince. Lining up in behind the Prince's horse, Alea watched as he strode in his head held high as he mounted, thankful that he paid no mind to the new arrival that his father suddenly pushed upon him at the last moment.

However, Alea's luck ran out later that night when they halted and made camp.

"So, you are the elf my father has asked to join us?" Legolas blocked off Alea's path as she headed away from the rest of the group.

All Alea could do was nod her head keeping a firm hold upon her hood to keep it up and her face concealed.

"When speaking to your Prince I expect an answer, and a show of respect. Lower your hood." His voice was short and clipped.

Alea was taken aback by the tone in his voice, she had heard how one could change for the worse with a broken heart though she never expected Legolas to have changed so much.

Alea could see the others watching her, eying the disrespectful elf, that they assumed her to be with hatred.

Fear clenched in Alea's heart, she did not trust in her voice if she was to speak Legolas was sure to know exactly who she was... and in all honesty Alea did not want that. She was not ready to face him yet. So doing all she knew, doing the only thing she could think of Alea turned away from him spinning on her heels as she tried to make her way out of his reach.

The others gasped at the show blatant disrespect for Prince Legolas, Alea felt his hand clench around her wrist yanking her body back towards him. "You need to find your manners, elf." He reached behind, as she began to struggle in his grip when he ripped her free of the hood revealing who she was to him.

It was Legolas who let out a gasp, his eyes widening in disbelief, stepping away from Alea he eyed her with great care and caution.

Alea stood rather awkwardly waiting for him to say something, anything at all.

Instead, Legolas said nothing, not a sound escaped his lips before he spun on his heels leaving Alea in the distance. Alea stood dumbfounded and hurt by his actions, it shocked her just how much it did. She slumped to the ground leaning against a nearby tree as she pulled her hood back up, allowing the tears to fall unseen by the others.

Alea knew this is what she had done to him, this was her fault no matter how much she tried to convince herself she had no choice in the matter.

By the time morning rolled around and they made their last preparation for the last part of the trip to Rivendell, Alea decided she needed to at least try to talk to Legolas, knowing she couldn't avoid this forever.

"Legolas," Alea called out cautiously as she entered his tent.

"What..." He snarled out grasping his quiver swing it over his shoulder, preparing himself for the ride.

"I... I just wanted to," Alea began stumbling over her words now that she was standing here in front of him she wasn't sure what she was suppose to say.

"Why don't you just stay away from me, you seem to be particularly good at that," Legolas snapped as pushed passed banging roughly into her shoulder, he left out of the tent leaping upon his horse.

Alea stood gaping like a fool, stunned by his actions, trying desperately to hide her tears she followed her prince's actions mounting her own horse.

Alea watched Legolas with careful eyes as they rode the rest of the way to Rivendell, wishing there was a way to fix it but she was at a loss what had happened between Legolas and herself wasn't even either of their faults. How was she suppose to fix something that she never meant nor wanted to break, than again Alea also knew things couldn't go back to the way things were.

The ride to Rivendell felt like forever, Alea cursed herself for being unable to stop the tears Legolas had seen her before she managed to get her hood back up, upon seeing Alea's tears Legolas merely sneered in disgust.

Alea swept past Legolas once they arrived in Rivendell it wasn't long before she had run into Lord Elrond.

"Alea, what a delight," Lord Elrond spoke with a kind smile as always.

"Right," she sighed, pulling her hood free.

"What troubles you, never have I seen such pain upon your face," Elrond spoke wrapping an arm around her shoulders he pulled her off to the side.

"Like you don't know," Alea snapped out in anger and heartbreak.

Elrond sighed, looking at down at Alea with a stern gaze, "Speak to me, it is Legolas, is it not?"

"It is. He is furious with me for leaving him and I find myself still deeply in love but I don't want to be, I want to forget him, I want to be able to keep him solely in the past. It would be easier that way. I, just I...I can't it hurts too much..." Alea admitted to one of her closest and dearest friends.

"Ah, your heart breaks for him, as does his own," Elrond spoke with such kindness as he wrapped a tender hand upon the back of her head, holding Alea close.

"I don't want this," Alea whispered, "I don't want any of this, I just want the truth Elrond... is that so hard for you guys to give me?"

"It is not like that," Elrond answered, though he pulled away a little as he spoke, knowing he could not give her what she seeks.

"I know, I know, so Thranduil said to," Alea snapped out, "I need to go."

Alea slipping out of Elrond's grip seeing herself out, Alea headed outside to the gardens taking a seat near the water falls she let the tears flow freely the sound of her sobs drowned out by the rushing waters. Alea dropped her head into her hands, was this all her life was meant to be?

"Why you are crying so, is beyond me but if you could quiet down that'd be lovely," a blunt, harsh sounding voice snapped from behind.

Alea turned around coming face to face with Legolas again, as she wiped away her tears she stood tall taking a step towards him only for him to back away a little further.

"What you think you know, is wrong," Alea cried out standing from her spot unmoving, she just couldn't help it she had to try, she loved him.

"What I know is you left me, we had plans for that morning together, you promised to meet me beneath the old oak in the clearing where we first met and than that night you left me. With nothing, not a 'goodbye,' nothing you just disappeared and left me alone, we had been together for a hundred years and you just up and left me, for no reason. I didn't know what happened, things were great, I loved you more than anything and god damn it, you promised me you'd be there!" Legolas raged, finally spewing his feelings on the matter tears just visible in his eyes though they did not fall.

"I know, I would have been there if I could've, but I had to leave," Alea cried out to him, her tears falling once more.

"I waited for you, I stood there waiting, hopelessly waiting, foolishly believing that you would come, I trusted you, I opened up and put my faith in you, I gave you my love and you destroyed it all, you took all for granted. Did you ever even care?" Legolas snarled out, eliciting a harsh, painful gasp from Alea.

"I never wanted to leave you," Alea cried, biting her lip as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Than why did you?" Legolas demanded, his voice cracking as he tried desperately to hold back his own tears.

"I can't tell you why," Alea began, "If I could I would tell you but I can't."

"Why not?"

"Please, its not that easy."

"It never is with you is it?"

"No..."

Legolas snarled shaking his head as he left turning away from Alea, keeping his distance from her, never did they speak again until the council meeting.

Author's Note; Sorry guys that this took so long to finally update, I will try to do better. I rewrote the first two chapters as well, as I also changed point of view hope you all okay with that, this way is easier for writing.

Also posted a new chapter tonight, on my 'From Bar-maiden to Princess story.' So...just and FYI *wink* lol

Thank you

emily volturi, Thank you for following this story, hope you continue to enjoy. Sorry it took so long, I'll try to be faster. lol.

water goddess 19, Thank you so much for the follow, I am sorry it took so long, I promise to try harder. Hope you continue to enjoy!

Aquafin, Thank you so much lovely, for the review. Thranduil is bad, I seem to run a habit of writing him so. lol. So glad to hear that you enjoyed, hope you like this chapter.. Thank you again, you rock! ;) Sorry it took so long, I'll try to be faster lol.

RhainaColleen, Thank you so much for the favourite, it means a lot. Sorry it took so long, hope you continue to enjoy, I will try to be quicker.

Jayjay0815, Thank you for the review, sorry this chapter took so long, I'll try. Hope you like this chapter as well.