A/N- I haven't updated in a while… and who wants to guess why? Who guessed because of no reviews? Well those who did are right. Part of the reason was the missing reviews at least. The other part was because I had no reason to really update. My other stories were doing better so they took up my time. Now that I'm done with those I'll come back to this story. Review please and the updates will come faster!
On the way back to her room Aletha had bumped into the dwarf who had arrived with Legolas and Aragorn. She excused herself as tears started to fall. As soon as she was in her room she started to throw everything she would need into her bag as the tears fell in torrents.
"Aletha?" Legolas called through the door. Aletha did not answer, but just kept packing. She heard her door open and turned to see Legolas stalking over to her.
"I did not say you could come in." Aletha growled.
"You did not say I could not either. Anyways, you would not have let me in whether I asked or not." Legolas closed the distance between him and Aletha. He grabbed her shoulders, but she refused to look at him. "What happened to change your mood so fast? I left you happy with Theodred and now I find you in tears and packing."
"I don't want to talk about it," Aletha sniffled.
"You are going to talk whether you like it or not. Come here and sit down." Legolas sat on Aletha's bed and waited for Aletha to do what he told her. Aletha climbed onto the bed and curled up next to her friend.
"After you had let I explained how we, you and me, met because it seemed Theodred was jealous. He asked me to go outside with him so I did. He wants me to into the caves if we go to Helms Deep or hide if the battle came here. He doesn't want me to become a distraction." Aletha felt new tears sprouting in her eyes.
"It sounds like he cares for you. I've seen it in his eyes before, when he first approached us. He does not want to see you hurt because he has feelings for you." Legolas reasoned. Aletha sighed and thought about what her friend had said.
"He's trying to change me though. I've worn a few dresses and fought when I had to wear them. If I hide like a helpless animal, what next? Shall I be sewing and tending to children?" Aletha and Legolas sat in silence for a minute before Aletha continued. "I like him, I really do. I think I could possibly be falling in love with him, but I promised Dad and Aragorn I wouldn't change. This is who I am, this is my identity and I won't, I can't mask that."
"You plan on leaving?"
"I've stayed here too long. I've started to get attached and I'm falling in love with a prince. I have to leave before my will power gives out and I conform to what society expects of me."
"Where do you plan to go?"
"I plan to travel again. Maybe go to the Golden Woods. I'll go where ever Snowy wants to go. I'm a passenger this time." Aletha packed the rest of her things. She slung the pack over her shoulder. "I need to go now; I need to leave this place."
"I think you're making a mistake, you should talk to him." Legolas noted. He received a glare from the woman in front of him. "But I shall not stop you. Go see Lorien, the Lady shall understand."
Aletha hugged Legolas and walked to the door. "Thank you for making me talk. Tell Aragorn and Eowyn goodbye and tell Master Gimli sorry that I never found the time to talk to him."
"What about Theodred?"
"Tell him if it… if we were meant to be I shall see him again." Legolas nodded and walked with Aletha to the stables. He said heloo and goodbye to Snowy as Aletha brushed her. "Stay safe Princey, I'm sure the elleths of Mirkwood would fade if their prince should fall victim to a group of foul orcs."
"I shall stay safe. You should too. If you need to g to Mirkwood go see my father. He shall let you stay there." Legolas said. "We shall see each other again. Goodbye for now my friend."
"Goodbye." Aletha gave Legolas a final hug before mounting Snowy.
After Aletha had left, Legolas went to find Aragorn to tell him what had happened. He was lucky enough to find Eowyn with Aragorn. "What is wrong?" Aragorn asked Legolas as he approached.
"You know Aletha was here right?"
"Yes, I was going to go look for her before the night was over."
"I'm sorry, but you will not be able seek her out tonight."
"Why can't he? I just saw Aletha with Theodred." Eowyn said as she walked up.
"She wished for me to tell you both goodbyes, she's left Edoras for an unknown destination." Eowyn and Aragorn's eyes went wide at the news.
"What happened? She seemed so happy when I last saw her." Eowyn said. Legolas related the events that Aletha had told him to the people in front of him."
"Is she crazy? She could get hurt or killed! There are still orcs and wild men roaming these lands! Come, we must catch her. We still have a chance." Aragorn said. He was ready to storm out of the room, but Legolas stopped him.
"No, she needs her time. You also know as well as me that she can survive on her own. You and her father taught her that well." Legolas said. "Anyway, you are needed her."
"Excuse me, my lords, but I must seek out my cousin." Eowyn said. Legolas nodded and continued talking to Aragorn as Eowyn left.
"Are you a crazy fool?" Eowyn yelled when she found her cousin. He had been talking to some of his other men, but she excused him and towed him into his study.
"What are you talking about, dear cousin?" Theodred asked. Eowyn saw how the fight had affected Theodred as well as Aletha and how hard he was trying to hide it. To his men, nothing was wrong, but Aletha knew her cousin better. She wondered if Eomer had seen him yet and if he so had he noticed anything?
"Lady Aletha has left us." At Eowyn's simple comment Theodred snapped his head up and looked at her. Before Eowyn could say any more Theodred had left the room.
He nearly ran to Aletha's room only to find that it was indeed empty, save for a couple of dresses that hung where once her leggings and tunics once hung. "Eowyn found you I presume?" Theodred whirled around to see the elf prince standing in the door way.
"Where did she go?" Theodred asked, nearly in tears. He was holding the emotion back a bit, but the strain was evident.
"She mentioned wanting to see Lorien again, but she tends to change her mind as she travels so I know not." Legolas said he watched the man in front of him slump on the bed in defeat.
"I wanted to protect her, now she must think I just did not want her to fight because of her gender."
"She does no know what to think right now. Her heart knows what is true, but her mind is still fighting it. She left a message for you though. Theodred's eyes widened and searched the room. "It was not left by her hand, but by her voice…"
