A/N…Don't let the title fool you…much more heartbreak in this chapter as well.
PS I've added some tragedy later on. Just to warn you.
Chapter 10 - A Change of Heart
"The Prince"
The next few days of the journey was made in uncomfortable silence. Lianna hardly looked at Legolas, for fear the sight of him would send her into a fit of tears. Soon, though, conversations were made. Mostly concerning their location and casual chat about setting up camp and such.
One day, on the sparsely tree dotted plain, the day before they reached Rivendell, they found a small spring. Lianna smiled at the sight and sound of it. It reminded her of home. Yet her heart ached at the thought of it, because of what her homecoming would mean.
As they filled their canteens, Legolas laughed. Lianna looked to him curiously.
"What is so funny?" She asked, with a smile. His laughter was like medicine. It mended her heart, so long as she didn't remind herself that she would never be able to hear it again.
He looked down to her with amusement glinting in his blue eyes.
"This reminds me of the time you fell into the Forbidden Pool." Lianna's mouth gaped and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Oh I fell, did I? I don't believe I would've 'fallen' if you hadn't pushed me!" She said sarcastically, mockingly aghast.
After sharing a laugh, Lianna felt as if a weight had been mysteriously lifted from the air around them. Conversation flowed more freely, about deeper things as well.
That night, the night before reaching their destination, Lianna sat with her back against a tree, staring into the fire. While Legolas did the same, across from her. Without moving her gaze, she asked,
"What were your plans for the rest of your life? Before we made it back to Mirkwood, what did you plan on doing for eternity?"
Legolas did not move his gaze either, he simply laid further back and blinked a few times, thinking.
"I planned to marry you, have lots of elflings, and be happy forever." Lianna smiled. Not so much at the sweetness of his answer, but because of the gears turning in her head.
"You didn't mention becoming King." She pointed out knowingly.
"What?" He asked, stupidly. Of course he heard her. He was just stalling. Trying to put off the conversation he knew was coming.
"In your plans for the future, before you spoke with your father, you thought nothing of becoming King." She studied his face as he stared into the fire. He furrowed his brow.
'Gods, she's right!'
"Why is it that your father put such an impact on you to change your life goals completely? To make such thing that you hadn't thought of with great reverence suddenly become so important?" She continued, becoming increasingly excited, as she realized the magnitude of her discovery.
Legolas looked up at her, "He's my father." He said, trying to be reasonable. "He expects things from me. As well as the Elves of Mirkwood. They're depending on me. My father will leave for Valinor, then what? Who will rule? The steward? Valar, no!"
Legolas had raised his voice unconsciously, until he was nearly shouting, standing and waving his arms wildly about. Lianna simply looked at him, with a look suspicious of his sanity. He sat again and said more calmly,
"Talking with my father made me realize what a momentous thing this actually is." Lianna became suddenly angry at his words.
"You never talked with him! He yelled at you. Made you feel as if he was disappointed. And maybe he was, but that's no new feeling for you! He will always be disappointed in you because you can't be perfect. There is no pleasing that Elf, so why try? Why not be happy on your own?"
"The Elves…and the steward…" He began feebly, trying hard to stand his ground, though Lianna was making it very difficult.
"The Elves will be fine. Let the steward become King, when the time comes, though it is still too far off to be thinking about! The Elf will learn to be a good King, and if he doesn't, an Elf will be sent to fetch you, for they will surely accept you back." Lianna argued desperately.
Now, Legolas became angry. He stood once again. "No Lianna! Why do you do this to me?"
Lianna stood to match him. "Do what? Look out for your happiness?"
During the argument, they had unwittingly taken steps toward each other. Now, Legolas pointed his finger into Lianna's face.
"Make me second guess myself and beat myself up over something that I have no control over!" He breathed heavily; he hadn't known arguing could be so exhausting. He continued, softer, "I am going to become King. I will not abandon my Elves, or my father, no matter how much happiness it costs me!"
Lianna's face, red from arguing, sallowed. "What if it costs you your life, and mine? Is it worth it, pleasing your father?"
He clenched his jaw and squeezed his eyes shut as his fists balled at his sides. "This is NOT about pleasing my father! And if it costs me my life, it costs me my life. At least I can die knowing I have served Mirkwood loyally. And you…you will not die on my account."
"What makes you so sure?"
"I spoke it so." He said pompously, raising his head regally, placing a stoic mask over his face.
Lianna blinked a few times, then burst out laughing. He furrowed his brow at her. He had not intended to be funny. When her laughter died down, Lianna spoke venomously,
"You may one day rule your own little corner of Middle-Earth, my liege, but not today, and not my corner. I will die without you, and that will be on your conscience for as long as you live, ruling Mirkwood happily."
"I will not be happy as long as you are not by my side."
"Then why are you doing this?"
He had no answer. She knew now that becoming King was not as important to him as he made it out to be. She knew it was his father's approval he was searching for. And she made him realize he would never get it, no matter what he did. It saddened him to know such a thing, but it made his thinking a lot clearer.
Legolas turned away from her. He leaned against a tree, staring into the night. A long moment passed, and she was clearly waiting for an answer from him. But when one did not come, she scoffed and lay down on her blankets, turning her back to him.
Lianna was mostly disgusted with his spinelessness. For him to allow his father to impact him so greatly that he would give up his own happiness, and even his life in effort to please him.
And Legolas was desperately in need of a clear mind. So, he quickly and quietly stole off into the night. But his exit was not missed by Lianna's Elvish ears. Under normal circumstances, she'd beg him not to leave her alone in the camp at night. But these were not normal circumstances. She needed distance from him.
So, she let him go. He walked across the plain, looking up at the stars. The chill night air filled his lungs as he breathed deep. When the campfire was but a red dot in the distance, he found a decent sized tree to lean his back against. Sitting on the ground, he faced away from camp and stared up into the sky.
He simply sat there for the longest time, before he began to ponder. But when he began to ponder, he sat there even longer.
Why was he doing this? He realized there was no real reason. He'd never get his father's approval. Though that hurt his heart immensely, it made the decision easier. Why should he try? And Lianna was right, the Elves could bring him back if the Steward was not an acceptable ruler. And by then, his father would be in Valinor, so he could make Lianna his Princess anyway!
Legolas began to get excited. Maybe he'd found his way out. Maybe he'd actually made up his mind on a decision that would make him happy, despite what he'd be giving up. He jumped up and sprinted back toward the camp, eager to see Lianna's face when he asked her to marry him again.
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A/N…gah! There's a lot of back and forth action with him. He will marry her, then he won't. And now, he's changed his mind again! So, the question is, what will Lianna's reaction be?
And, let me explain something. If Legolas renounces his Prince-hood, and Thranduil leaves for Valinor, the steward will become King. (Steward is the King's right hand man, whom the King would trust with ruling his realm in the event of his and his heir's absence.) I guess Mirkwood's Steward is an ignorant Elf, and Legolas does not wish him or his line to rule Mirkwood. But, in case he does become King, and the Elves do not think him suitable, if the real King has an exiled heir, the Elves can beseech him to retake the throne.
That was real long. I hope you understood it. : )
Artria - I love you. I just do. Your review made me so happy. I love making people cry. That sounds weird, but it just means that my writing gets to people, and that makes me happy. If you cried for that, I'm pretty sure you're going to cry again. But it may be good cry, it may be bad cry, I won't tell you now. But plz plz plz review again!!
princessvenus - thanks for reviewing, and I agree. Thranduil IS a MEANIE!
Childofgod-4ever - Yeah, that could be a good strategy. Wait until ideas build up again, and then you can write for days. Or, you could sit at your computer for hours and not leave until you get SOMETHING down. That's what I did, but I wasn't a very happy camper after that. I was hungry and I had to pee real bad. So, yeah, I like your idea better. Why didn't I think of that? Geez…well, keep reviewing!
TPfan333 - thanks for reviewing, once again!
-Austin B.
PS I've added some tragedy later on. Just to warn you.
Chapter 10 - A Change of Heart
"The Prince"
The next few days of the journey was made in uncomfortable silence. Lianna hardly looked at Legolas, for fear the sight of him would send her into a fit of tears. Soon, though, conversations were made. Mostly concerning their location and casual chat about setting up camp and such.
One day, on the sparsely tree dotted plain, the day before they reached Rivendell, they found a small spring. Lianna smiled at the sight and sound of it. It reminded her of home. Yet her heart ached at the thought of it, because of what her homecoming would mean.
As they filled their canteens, Legolas laughed. Lianna looked to him curiously.
"What is so funny?" She asked, with a smile. His laughter was like medicine. It mended her heart, so long as she didn't remind herself that she would never be able to hear it again.
He looked down to her with amusement glinting in his blue eyes.
"This reminds me of the time you fell into the Forbidden Pool." Lianna's mouth gaped and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Oh I fell, did I? I don't believe I would've 'fallen' if you hadn't pushed me!" She said sarcastically, mockingly aghast.
After sharing a laugh, Lianna felt as if a weight had been mysteriously lifted from the air around them. Conversation flowed more freely, about deeper things as well.
That night, the night before reaching their destination, Lianna sat with her back against a tree, staring into the fire. While Legolas did the same, across from her. Without moving her gaze, she asked,
"What were your plans for the rest of your life? Before we made it back to Mirkwood, what did you plan on doing for eternity?"
Legolas did not move his gaze either, he simply laid further back and blinked a few times, thinking.
"I planned to marry you, have lots of elflings, and be happy forever." Lianna smiled. Not so much at the sweetness of his answer, but because of the gears turning in her head.
"You didn't mention becoming King." She pointed out knowingly.
"What?" He asked, stupidly. Of course he heard her. He was just stalling. Trying to put off the conversation he knew was coming.
"In your plans for the future, before you spoke with your father, you thought nothing of becoming King." She studied his face as he stared into the fire. He furrowed his brow.
'Gods, she's right!'
"Why is it that your father put such an impact on you to change your life goals completely? To make such thing that you hadn't thought of with great reverence suddenly become so important?" She continued, becoming increasingly excited, as she realized the magnitude of her discovery.
Legolas looked up at her, "He's my father." He said, trying to be reasonable. "He expects things from me. As well as the Elves of Mirkwood. They're depending on me. My father will leave for Valinor, then what? Who will rule? The steward? Valar, no!"
Legolas had raised his voice unconsciously, until he was nearly shouting, standing and waving his arms wildly about. Lianna simply looked at him, with a look suspicious of his sanity. He sat again and said more calmly,
"Talking with my father made me realize what a momentous thing this actually is." Lianna became suddenly angry at his words.
"You never talked with him! He yelled at you. Made you feel as if he was disappointed. And maybe he was, but that's no new feeling for you! He will always be disappointed in you because you can't be perfect. There is no pleasing that Elf, so why try? Why not be happy on your own?"
"The Elves…and the steward…" He began feebly, trying hard to stand his ground, though Lianna was making it very difficult.
"The Elves will be fine. Let the steward become King, when the time comes, though it is still too far off to be thinking about! The Elf will learn to be a good King, and if he doesn't, an Elf will be sent to fetch you, for they will surely accept you back." Lianna argued desperately.
Now, Legolas became angry. He stood once again. "No Lianna! Why do you do this to me?"
Lianna stood to match him. "Do what? Look out for your happiness?"
During the argument, they had unwittingly taken steps toward each other. Now, Legolas pointed his finger into Lianna's face.
"Make me second guess myself and beat myself up over something that I have no control over!" He breathed heavily; he hadn't known arguing could be so exhausting. He continued, softer, "I am going to become King. I will not abandon my Elves, or my father, no matter how much happiness it costs me!"
Lianna's face, red from arguing, sallowed. "What if it costs you your life, and mine? Is it worth it, pleasing your father?"
He clenched his jaw and squeezed his eyes shut as his fists balled at his sides. "This is NOT about pleasing my father! And if it costs me my life, it costs me my life. At least I can die knowing I have served Mirkwood loyally. And you…you will not die on my account."
"What makes you so sure?"
"I spoke it so." He said pompously, raising his head regally, placing a stoic mask over his face.
Lianna blinked a few times, then burst out laughing. He furrowed his brow at her. He had not intended to be funny. When her laughter died down, Lianna spoke venomously,
"You may one day rule your own little corner of Middle-Earth, my liege, but not today, and not my corner. I will die without you, and that will be on your conscience for as long as you live, ruling Mirkwood happily."
"I will not be happy as long as you are not by my side."
"Then why are you doing this?"
He had no answer. She knew now that becoming King was not as important to him as he made it out to be. She knew it was his father's approval he was searching for. And she made him realize he would never get it, no matter what he did. It saddened him to know such a thing, but it made his thinking a lot clearer.
Legolas turned away from her. He leaned against a tree, staring into the night. A long moment passed, and she was clearly waiting for an answer from him. But when one did not come, she scoffed and lay down on her blankets, turning her back to him.
Lianna was mostly disgusted with his spinelessness. For him to allow his father to impact him so greatly that he would give up his own happiness, and even his life in effort to please him.
And Legolas was desperately in need of a clear mind. So, he quickly and quietly stole off into the night. But his exit was not missed by Lianna's Elvish ears. Under normal circumstances, she'd beg him not to leave her alone in the camp at night. But these were not normal circumstances. She needed distance from him.
So, she let him go. He walked across the plain, looking up at the stars. The chill night air filled his lungs as he breathed deep. When the campfire was but a red dot in the distance, he found a decent sized tree to lean his back against. Sitting on the ground, he faced away from camp and stared up into the sky.
He simply sat there for the longest time, before he began to ponder. But when he began to ponder, he sat there even longer.
Why was he doing this? He realized there was no real reason. He'd never get his father's approval. Though that hurt his heart immensely, it made the decision easier. Why should he try? And Lianna was right, the Elves could bring him back if the Steward was not an acceptable ruler. And by then, his father would be in Valinor, so he could make Lianna his Princess anyway!
Legolas began to get excited. Maybe he'd found his way out. Maybe he'd actually made up his mind on a decision that would make him happy, despite what he'd be giving up. He jumped up and sprinted back toward the camp, eager to see Lianna's face when he asked her to marry him again.
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A/N…gah! There's a lot of back and forth action with him. He will marry her, then he won't. And now, he's changed his mind again! So, the question is, what will Lianna's reaction be?
And, let me explain something. If Legolas renounces his Prince-hood, and Thranduil leaves for Valinor, the steward will become King. (Steward is the King's right hand man, whom the King would trust with ruling his realm in the event of his and his heir's absence.) I guess Mirkwood's Steward is an ignorant Elf, and Legolas does not wish him or his line to rule Mirkwood. But, in case he does become King, and the Elves do not think him suitable, if the real King has an exiled heir, the Elves can beseech him to retake the throne.
That was real long. I hope you understood it. : )
Artria - I love you. I just do. Your review made me so happy. I love making people cry. That sounds weird, but it just means that my writing gets to people, and that makes me happy. If you cried for that, I'm pretty sure you're going to cry again. But it may be good cry, it may be bad cry, I won't tell you now. But plz plz plz review again!!
princessvenus - thanks for reviewing, and I agree. Thranduil IS a MEANIE!
Childofgod-4ever - Yeah, that could be a good strategy. Wait until ideas build up again, and then you can write for days. Or, you could sit at your computer for hours and not leave until you get SOMETHING down. That's what I did, but I wasn't a very happy camper after that. I was hungry and I had to pee real bad. So, yeah, I like your idea better. Why didn't I think of that? Geez…well, keep reviewing!
TPfan333 - thanks for reviewing, once again!
-Austin B.