Chapter III

The Truth

Aragorn met them in the courtyard of the palace. His advisors inquired about why Legolas and Vàna needed so desperately to interrupt council but Aragorn silenced them.

"What did you want to talk about?" he asked pulling them near the white tree, the symbol of his kingship.

Vàna looked around nervously. "Can we talk somewhere else?"

Aragorn nodded. "My private quarters."

By the time they were settled Vàna had almost lost her nerve. She didn't want Legolas to know the truth.

"Vàna, what is wrong?"

"He wants to know the truth," she said gesturing to Legolas.

"Do you think he is ready?" Aragorn asked.

"You know him better than I do."

Aragorn sighed and turned to the elf in question, which didn't understand any of the conversation. "Legolas," he started. "Neither of us has been completely honest with you."

Legolas still didn't understand. "What don't I know?"

Vàna sighed. "Everything."

"You are not a diplomat then?"

A sad smile spread across her face. "No, I am not, but I am an exile of my own free will. I had to leave my home world to escape my tyrannical… my tyrannical husband."

"You are married?!" Legolas exclaimed.

Tears were coming to her eyes, angry tears. Legolas didn't know if she was angry with him or angry at a memory. "The man I married is dead and yet the body lives, barely. He betrayed me and tried to kill me. I want to forget him and everything about that life."

Legolas wanted to leave but she wasn't done. Aragorn stood aloof looking upon them both sadly.

"Everything about that life?" Legolas asked.

Vàna sighed. "I must tell you everything for you to truly understand why I left." She sat next to the window and pulled her legs close. "I was elected queen at 14 and soon after I met a boy of 9, he would grow up to be my husband. We parted and 10 years later we met again. His childhood crush had not abated but grown. Our world was in turmoil and war was about to start. We married in secret, because marriage was forbidden to him."

"Is this Anakin your husband?" Legolas interrupted.

She nodded sadly and continued. "War was all around him, as was the darkness. The darkness took him and my husband died. Another took his place and that man tried to take my life. He almost succeeded. If it wasn't for his former mentor I would have died and thus our… children would have as well." She gasped at the look on his face and he realized he was angry, so very angry. Not only was she married but she was also a mother and she had left her children behind.

A hand appeared on his shoulder. "Control, Mellon Nin. She did not mean to deceive you. Please, listen." Silence ensued and Legolas nodded.

In a shaky voice she continued. "I knew that my children would be ever hunted by their father. Thus they were separated and I left feinting death. The only thing was I had nowhere to go. I was too well known. It was then that I found my family." Vàna looked to Aragorn to explain.

"You may wonder how she healed so quickly from near death. When she said she found her family she found you, she found Arwen, she found the Valar. She is elven."