A/N: Hello, everyone :) I know it's been a long time, but I had some problems lately, so I couldn't update. Thank God, everything's well now and another chapter is here. Hope you'll like it and I promise that from now on I'll write more often.
LalaithElerrina- Thank you so much, my friend :) Not only because you like the story, but also because you found the patience to review all chapters. I hope you'll like the new one too.
DearReviewer- Thanks a lot :) Yeah, I know it's still a bit dry, but from this chapter sparks fly around ;) Also *SPOILER* *SOILER* it gets better in the next chapter, hehe.
Emeraldbuttercup- First of all, allow me to say that you have a very melodic username. I'm glad you like the story :)
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Lord of the Rings', only the characters I create.
The bright sun shining over the Woodland Realm was making a contrast with the mood of the two male Elves who were walking in the archery field. They had the same expression, sad, confused and angry. But Legolas was also feeling guilty. He had just told Sidhion about the bruise he had seen on Castiel's arm and unanswered questions could not let him rest.
Why did I not guess it earlier? The signs were there: the fear, the cautiousness, the silence. How could I not see it? And how can I protect her now?
Yesterday, while he was sitting awake next to her, after her nightmare, he had realized something. If anything would happen to her from now on, it would be his fault, for he knew the truth. He did not dare to tell her this, but, knowing that keeping it a secret would not help, he had decided to share it with Sidhion, whom he trusted and respected.
'Legolas, I am sorry, but I still can not believe it' Sidhion returned him to reality. 'It is impossible for me to imagine that a father can be that cruel to his only child. Why did he do that?'
'I wish I had an answer, mellon nin, but I am confused as well' Legolas replied sadly. 'The only thing I can tell you is that he was doing this for a long time'
'How did you make this conclusion?' the young warrior wanted to know.
'Because it brought Castiel in such a desperate situation, that she decided to run away from her home' Legolas explained calmly and Sidhion nodded in agreement. Although he did not know her well, he was feeling sympathy for the half-elven maiden and he wanted to help the prince to give her comfort.
'We will help her, Legolas' he promised. 'We will not allow anyone to harm her again'
Before Legolas could answer, the two Elves saw Nestaron running to them, looking very upset.
'Prince Legolas, Sidhion!' he exclaimed. 'I have news. Maeron has just arrived!'
'Maeron?' Legolas repeated the name. For some reason, it sounded familiar to him, but he could not remember where he had heard it. Nestaron, sensing their confusion, quickly helped them.
'Maeron is the Elf who was guarding Gondien, Lady Castiel's friend in her homeland. He says he comes in friendship and wishes to speak to you, my Prince, the king and Lady Castiel'
Legolas looked worried at Sidhion and his protective feelings towards Castiel increased. She had told him that Gondien was her only friend, but maybe Maeron was on their side as well and he should trust him.
'Go, Legolas' Sidhion encouraged him, making the same thought. 'You should listen to what he wants to announce you, for it could be of great importance'
When Castiel entered the throne hall and saw Maeron, she could not suppress a lod gasp. Nights and nights she was having nightmares about Almaarea and everything she had been through there and now she had him in front of her. If Gondien was not informing her in his letter that Maeron helped him, she would suspect a trap from her father.
Maeron, on the other hand, smiled at her sight. He had never shown it open, but he was appreciating his lady's strength and kindness, especially now, with Gondien's death being a thorn for both of them. He bowed deeply towards her.
'Lady Castiel, I am very happy to see you safe' he said sincerely. 'I assure you, I wish you no harm. I came here with the purpose to help you'
'Hannon le, Maeron' Castiel responded. 'And thank you for the help you offered to Gondien. It means a lot to me to know that he was not alone'
'I know that you must be still grieving, but something happened since then, something that should worry you more'
'What is it?' Castiel asked, with her eyes wandering from Maeron to Legolas and his father. Legolas smiled to her to give her courage and poiinted at a seat next to him.
'Havo dad, Castiel' his voice was low and gentle. 'Soon we will learn the news'
The Almaarea princess sat impatiently and locked her gaze in Maeron's one, trying to interpret his expression and with fear growing inside her. But, in a sudden, the guard seemed to feel uncomfortable, even scared.
'What is it?' she asked again, raising her voice. 'Maeron, I beg you, tell me what is wrong!'
'I promise you that we will listen to you very carefully' King Thranduil made an attempt to help him. 'We will act at once, whatever the problem is'
'I do not have a doubt about that, my King, but I am afraid there is not much we can do' Maeron sighed. 'Lord Alarois, your father, Lady Castiel, plans to start searching for you in a few days. He is very furious because of your disappearance'
Months later, Castiel would remember that she almost stopped breathing when she heard these words. Tears filled her eyes and she could almost see her father next to her, laughing ironically, with his fists beating her. Legolas, seeing her reaction and connecting it with the bruise he had seen, felt the same despair. Despair because he wanted to protect her, because he would not endure it if anything would happen to her. He looked at his father and softly rubbed Castiel's shoulder.
;And this is not the worst' Maeron went on. 'Lord Alarois did not mention it, but I am sure that he will call Lord Daechir to help him'
This name. The name Castiel feared even more than her father's one. The image of a young man with dark brown hair and black eyes like the night appeared in her mind.
" 'I do not want to hear any objections, young lady' her father told her warningly. 'Daechir is a very wealthy man and you will marry him, whether you like it or not'
'No!' she resisted intensively. 'You can not order me what to do, for I have the control over my life and I will marry the man I will choose!'
And then the pain was there again, so great like she had never felt it before"
'Who is Lord Daechir?' Legolas wanted to know.
'He is a lord of Almaarea and distant related to my father' Castiel informed him, shuddering. 'My father wanted to force me to marry him, but I did not want to'
Only the fact that a plan was necessary now helped Legolas to remain calm. A violent father, a forced marriage...His heart filled with anger because of the terror Castiel had lived. Knowing her and the secret she was bearing, he assumed that the reasons she did not want to marry this lord was either the fact that her father had chosen him or that he was as evil as Lord Alarois.
Or both, he thought with a melancholic smile.
'I came, because I believe that you do not deserve all this, Lady Castiel' Maeron ended up. 'And I wish with all my heart to see you happy'
'Thank you, Maeron' the maiden whispered and stood up abruptly. 'You have my eternal gratitude for warning me. I know what I have to do'
And with these words she ran outside, with the three Elves following her with their eyes.
'Ada, let me go to her' Legolas pleaded his father. 'I know where she is going'
'Of course, ion nin' Thranduil answered. 'In such times the presence of a friend is most important and you are the closest person she has right now'
With a quick nod towards Maeron, Legolas stood up and rushed behind Castiel, having a suspicion what her plan was and praying he would be able to make her change her mind.
He found her in the stables, saddling Beleg, her horse, with cold determination on her face, but ready to cry. At her sight, Legolas felt his composure disappearing, for he did not know how to give her comfort. She was strong inside, he was sure about that, but her past had made her scared, seeiming weak in someone's eyes. But now he had to be tough in order to convince her, so he cleared his throat.
'Where do you think you are going?' he asked her, with both anger and sadness marking his voice.
'Not this time, Legolas' she responded without turning to him. 'This time you can not help me. I have no other choice!'
'You have choice!' Legolas disagreed and his anger was now clearer than his sadness, something that made her look at him surprised. 'You have the choice to stay and defend yourself and your dreams. There is no need to run away all the time!'
'What are you implying?' she shouted and he made a step backwards, scared of her reaction. There it was again. Yesterday she was the sensitive princess who was negging him to help her and now she was acting as if she was hating him. 'Are you implying that I am a coward? That I run away from my problems?'
'Well, this is the truth!' Legolas yelled back. It was not his intention to hurt her, but this was the only way to bring her bravery and her strength to surface, to make her understand that he would never leave her.
'In case you did not understand, Legolas' she said, trying to sound calm again 'my father and the man I would marry will search for me. My father knows that I feel closer with the Elves and so he will go to all elven realms. Do you know what this means?'
She made a small pause, balling her hands into fists. Legolas wanted to tell her that he did not care, that he would stay with her whatever would happen, but he waited patiently for her to continue.
'The first time I ran away to save myself. Now I am running away to save you and your kin from two dangerous men'
'But this is not the only solution, Castiel' Legolas put his hands on her arms and did not ignore the light wave of shudder. Surely he had touched a bruise accidentally and loosened his grip. 'You are not alone and it is a mistake if you think that. You have allies and friends. Gondien died to defend you. Maeron came here from your homeland to warn you about your father. My father allowed you to stay here as long as you wish. And I...You know I will do anything it takes to keep you safe'
'This is the problem, Legolas' a few tears escaped from Castiel's eyes, but she wiped them away. 'Everyone who wants to keep me safe dies. I can not cause more deaths, especially to you'
'It is not your fault' he said determined and pulled her into his hug. 'Listen to me. You will stay and when your father arrives, I will be by your side. As long as you are alright, I am not afraid of anyone'
Castiel did not want to agree. She wanted to release herself from his arms, mount Beleg and ride away to go and live in a small village to protect him. But, instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him, feeling secure, as always when he was with her.
'Forgive me, Legolas' she mumbled. 'Forgive me'
Legolas pulled away, cupped her face and pressed his forehead against hers, with a tender smile on his face.
'Shall we go inside?' he said, showing with this simple question his willingness to be next to her. Castiel nodded, smiling back. It was one of the few times Legolas was seeing her smile and he felt happy that he had chased her sadness away, even for a while. He put his arm around her shoulder and the two of them walked into the castle, ready to face any diffculty that would come.
Elvish words/phrases used:
Mellon nin- My friend
Hannon le- Thank you
Havo dad- Sit down
Ada- Father
Ion nin- My son
A/N: Ok, guys, that was it for now. Hoe you enjoyed it. For one more time, Legolas could give courage to Castiel and *SPOILER* *SPOILER* something really positive happens for them in the next chapter ;) But, alas, in the next chapter her father and her almost-husband arrive and I have to warn you: you won't like them at all.
