Legolas awoke early the next morning. Yawning, he climbed out of bed and got dressed. After he braided his hair, he walked to Laer's room. He knocked but there was no reply so he opened the door. Laer was nowhere in sight. Sighing, he sat down on the bed. When he did, he noticed an envelope with his name and he opened it. It was a note from Laer.

'My dearest Legolas,

By the time you read this, I will already be gone. I'm sorry, but I must return to Rivendell for there are certain things I must attend to. I will very much miss Mirkwood, and you melamin but I must ask you to stay put for now. Do not come to Rivendell, you will only make it harder on both of us. But I want you to know that I still love you and always will. I never told you enough, so I'm telling you now. Do not think I will not write you for I will, and you may also write if you wish. In fact, I would enjoy that very much. And one more thing, I do not know how long I will be gone and will let you know by letter when either I will return or you may come to Rivendell. Please try and stay out of trouble. Love Always,

Laer'

Legolas started to cry after he finished reading the letter. Laer was gone and she didn't want him to go with her. She said she had 'certain things' to attend to. What kind of things could possibly be so bad that she didn't want him to go? Something didn't feel right. I have to get to Rivendell, he thought.

Legolas left his father a quick note and rushed to the stables. He mounted his horse and set off at a gallop towards Rivendell and Laer.

Legolas raced all the way to Rivendell, stopping little for food or rest. When he arrived a few weeks later, he went straight to find Laer. As he walked past the gardens, he saw Laer, but she was with another elf! And then it happened, she kissed that elf! Legolas's blood was now boiling. Laer had confessed her love to him and then betrayed him by leaving in the night for someone else!! How dare her!! Legolas could no longer bear to watch. He ran inside and straight to Elladan and Elrohir's room. He pushed open the door and stormed inside. "Hello to you too," Elladan said sarcastically.

"Who is he?!" Legolas shouted.

"Who?" Elrohir asked.

"The elf Laer is with!! That's who!!" he snapped.

"Oh, he's asked for her to bind to him."

"Has she accepted?" Legolas's eyes grew wide.

"She has."

All at once, Legolas fell to the floor and cried. He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Elladan, who was standing above him. It was the letter from Laer. "Oh my!" Elladan gasped, "Ro, come look at this." Elrohir walked over and read the letter then looked to Legolas who was still sobbing on the floor.

Legolas lifted his head slightly. "She told me she loved me time and time again. I wanted to bind myself to her, but I never got to ask. She was just gone one morning and left me this note. I knew that coming back here would make her angry but I needed to know what was wrong. Guess I know now."

"Aw Leg, I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused," Elrohir sat down next to him.

"Me too," Elladan added.

"No problem guys," Legolas sat up and dried the tears off of his face, "I just love her more than anything and for her to two-time me like that hurts more than any pain I've ever felt before."

"I know," Ro said sympathetically.

"I need to be alone for awhile then I want to talk to Laer." Legolas stood up and left the room.

He simply wanted to die. He could feel his heart being ripped to pieces. Laer had betrayed him and the worst part was he still loved her. He wanted to spend forever with her. Before he knew it, he was in front of Laer's room. He heard muffled cries and knocked on the door. The door slowly opened and there stood Laer, her eyes wet from crying, her hair all messed up, and yet she looked so beautiful. Legolas could no longer feel anger towards her. She looked so miserable and distressed that he reached out and pulled her close and she continued to cry into his chest. "What's wrong?" he asked, gently rubbing her back.

"Ada is forcing me to marry," she sobbed, "and he has chosen a suitor."

"Is he nice?"

"He's wonderful," she admitted.

"So where is there a problem?" Legolas didn't want to let her go, but he knew that she had to do what her father said.

"I don't want anyone but you!" she cried. She looked up and saw a single tear escape his eyes. "Please don't leave me. I love you!"

"I love you too."

"I can't let this happen, Legolas." She pulled back from him a little and looked at him seriously. "I will not bind myself to anyone but you."

"I know," he comforted, "But what about your family? Your father will be furious."

"But we could trap him somewhere before the wedding and then I could pretend to be upset and my father would send me to Lothlorien."

"How does that help?"

"You could meet me there, I will send word ahead."

"No Laer," he frowned. "I won't mess up your life again. You must do this. One day you will be happy."

"No I won't!" she yelled. "Please don't do this!! I love you!!"

"I know you do, and I love you. But I refuse to make your life more difficult for you," he said calmly.

"You don't want to do this, I know you don't."

"You're right, I don't."

"Then why are you?" she began to cry again.

"I must go now Laer. I will miss you very much and I will always love you." He kissed her one last time and left the room. Laer flung herself on her bed and cried. She stayed there for days not answering her door or eating, no sleep came to her either.

Finally her father came to her one morning. "My daughter, what ails you? Your wedding is not three days away and here you lie as if you are fading."

"That bloody wedding is the problem! I don't want to marry him! Even Dan and Ro disagree with you!"

"Why is it that you don't want to marry?" he was trying to control his anger with her.

"It's not that I don't want to marry, but I am already in love with someone," she smiled.

"Then I suggest you pack your bags."

"You're exiling me?" she asked shocked.

"Of course not, but you must be anxious to return to Mirkwood to see him," he grinned.

"How did you...?"

"Shh, ride fast and be careful."

"I love you Ada!" she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

A few weeks later

Laer put Asfaloth in the stables. Glorfindel was such a sweet elf for letting Laer borrow his prized horse. After feeding Asfaloth, she walked to the palace gates.

"Halt! Who goes there and what is your business in the palace?" a guard asked.

"I am Laer, granddaughter of the Lady of the Goldenwood. I have a message for King Thranduil and he is not to be told of my arrival."

"As you wish." The large door was opened rather slowly and Laer walked through. Laer crept silently through palace to avoid any questions or questioning glances. After about fifteen minutes of walking, she reached the royal corridor. She snuck down the hallway until she reached her favorite place in the world, the room of her beloved. She put her ear up to the door and heard muffled whimpers. She checked to see if the knob was locked. It wasn't! Laer quietly turned the knob and stepped in the room. All the windows were closed up and there was no light in the room except a single candle. Sitting beside the candle was the note she wrote him before she had left for Rivendell. Her eyes wandered to the bed. Legolas was just lying there crying softly. At the sight, Laer's heart broke. How much pain had she caused him? She reached over and rolled him over. He looked horrible. His eyes were all read and he had tears stains all over his face and pillows. He looked back at her and a tear ran down her face. He reached up with the back of his hand and wiped it away.

"Do not cry for me," he whispered. "I know your husband will make you happy."

"You do not understand melamin."

"Understand what?"

"I am not married," she smiled. "I could never live without you."

Legolas only sat there for a second trying to comprehend what was going on. Then, in one swift motion, he sat up and kissed Laer with more love and passion than either had ever experienced. "Amin mela lle," he murmured.