Chapter 12

With her hand pressing heavily on her stomach to keep its contents in place, Evelyn rushed back into the throne room, for once wanting the concealment a throng of people can bring. Thranduil's voice still ringing through her ears, the icy tone still gripping her spine. Barging back into the room, she had to quickly slide to a stop, as the dancers glided past her—Legolas and Corwen among them. Evelyn abruptly averted her gaze, though still feeling the elleth's eyes boring into her in triumph.

Sticking to the wall, she found a servant with a tray a drinks. Evelyn, for the first time in her life left the need to get very drunk. Snatching the drinks from him she claimed a table in the back corner and downed them all.

Some time later, and many drinks later, a voice broke through her thoughts.

"Have you drank all of those?"

Evelyn raised her eyes wearily at Elladan.

"Not quite, this one still has some left." She replied tersely.

"Are you drunk?"

"HA!" She laughed, "That had been my plan, however, it seems alcohol barely affects me anymore. So instead I am just killing my liver."

The elf lord looked at her quizzically, not understanding the last words she said, though he chose not to ask.

"That is good, we do not need you having a drunken rampage." He smiled jokingly at her, trying not to wince at the glare she sent him. "And since you are sober, you can dance with me." And without waiting for a reply, he snatch her arm, jerking her along with him.

"Elladan! I don't want to dance!" She protested to no avail.

Swinging her around, they started up an easy elvish dance she had learned in Lorien. Protesting the entire time. "I am not a good dancer, let me go! Please!"

"Nonsense," Elladan spoke, whispering in her ear, "You will fake having a good time, even if it kills you, do not let them win."

Evelyn could feel the tears threatening to fall, and choked them back, but knew her friend was correct. Drinking herself into a stupor was not going to get her anywhere, and it let Legolas win. With that, she let Elladan lead her through the dances, though she could not keep her eyes from finding the Prince of Mirkwood or his father. More than once Thranduil caught her eye, his face blank. Legolas, thank the lord, never once looked her way. The lady Corwen kept herself draped on his arm like she was an article of clothing. She swallowed the bile in her throat. In her heart she knew she could not stay here any longer.

"Elladan." She spoke softly, "How soon can we leave for Rivendell?"

Thranduil watched the woman carefully. She knew he watched her, and he knew she knew. That did not deter him. The King of Mirkwood went back to the day he arrived in Gondor. He saw the woman first, her white hair standing out starkly against the horizon, it was then that his gaze drifted to the person that was with her. His heart had leaped into his thought. Legolas. He watched as he kissed her, anger swelling in his chest. He had made his herald blow their horn. Thranduil watched with growing anger as his only son jerked up, slinging the woman behind him in an obvious effort to protect her from whomever should approach. Sneering, the King knew it was he son who needed protecting, not this mortal.

He had not planned to confront the woman, however, when he watched her silently leave alone, he could not help himself but follow. Of course she had not been what he had expected. It was an assumption that he would find a meek and mild young maiden, for that is how she made herself appear to others, though what he found was completely opposite. Thranduil saw a woman older than her years, he could see the scars her handmaid had so well hidden. This was a woman who had been through more than even any soldiers should have to face, and when she finally spoke up for herself, he was taken aback by the strength behind her voice and her resolve. She had fallen for his son, let him walk away without a fight, knowing she would wither but never truly being able to fade.

He closed his eyes for a moment, the image of his wife flitting across his mind. What if that had been her? Could he let that fate befall her? He knew the answer. Even in all his coldness, that was not a fate he would wish on a loved one. Then a thought passed quickly and his eyes opened wide…did Legolas know?

King Thranduil was sure that if he did and realized what would happen to her, he would go groveling back, no matter the cost to himself. He would save her. He could not let that happen, not after everything he had done to save him.

Legolas watched his father dart away from the others, and his eyes narrowed. He followed his gaze and wished he had not. Evelyn. He felt his heart constrict, and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. This was not a feeling the had ever felt before, and he did not want to ever feel again. His father told him it was infatuation, that is would fade in time. Legolas knew it was true, and though he hated how it had come about, it had to be done. He had to give Evelyn the chance to find someone that was mortal, someone she could grow old with. It would not be him. Swallowing the lump in his throat he pushed the thoughts from his mind. It had been all he could do this evening to keep his eyes off the woman, and the last thing he wanted was to draw Corwen's attention to her.

However, that hope was dashed when he watched his father grab her arm as she walked away from the dance floor. His father spoke words he could not hear, but he saw Evelyn's face clear enough. At first the surprise was clear enough but it was quickly replaced with suspicion and anger. Legolas did not know what she spoke back to his father, but he watched as he recoiled from her. Evelyn turned on her heels, striding out of the throne room, Elladan following quickly behind, sending daggers to his fathers. Then his eyes found his own. If he thought he knew anger, he was wrong. The look he received from the lord of Rivendell was enough to burn into his soul, and Legolas could not help but wonder what had transpired between them.

A soft tugged at his arm forced his attention away, and he looked at Corwen, her face questioning why she was not getting his undivided attention. Stifling a sigh he returned to her once more.

Leaving the throne room, Evelyn surpassed a scream as she felt a warm hand grip her arm and jerk her backwards a few feet. Once her vision adjusted she saw the frantic eyes of the Mirkwood king. At the same time she felt Elladan step up behind her, but she waved at him to stay back.

"Does he know?" Thranduil asked, voice raw with emotion.

Evelyn felt her anger rise. So that was it, he was scared once—if ever—that if Legolas learned she was immortal, he would come running back. She could almost laugh in his face, almost, if the pain was still not so raw. Evelyn had her suspicions that Thranduil had some part to play Legolas actions, however, the actions where still his own, no matter the driving force. If he did not agree with his father, he would not have gone along with his wishes, so truly, it did not matter who it was that got the ball rolling.

With narrowed eyes, and in a voice only Thranduil could hear she replied, "No."

The relief she saw sickened her, but she kept herself in check.

"He cannot know."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, tempted to laugh in his face, but thought better of it. Instead she replied icky, "Then I suggest you don't tell him."

The frantic fear in his eyes was quickly replaced with anger. She did not treat him with the respect a king deserved. Her answer had angered him, but Evelyn found she did not care.

"Neither can you." Thranduil ordered, the fear surfacing under the anger.

"That is my choice, your majesty." And with that she gave his hand a quick jab of ice and turned abruptly on her heels with Elladan close behind. She did not see the need to tell him she had already tried to tell Legolas and failed, that she kept herself.

-The next afternoon -

The sun was high in the sky by the time most of the fellowship had roused from their beds and made it to the great hall for food. Other than a few, mainly the elves, most were bleary eyed and groggy from the nights festivities. They scarfed down the food as if they had not eaten in days. It was the younger hobbits that noticed the two absences first.

"Where's miss Evelyn?" Pippin spoke first, gaining everyones attention. She might have been quite, but she had made a point to make all the meals lately.

They all looked at one another, but none could have claimed to see her since the ball last night. And so finally Aragorn sent one of the servants to check her room, he worried she may have had another episode. then Elrohir strode in halting the servant.

"That will not be needed, she will not be there."

"I beg your pardon?" Aragorn asked, becoming a little more awake where he sat.

"She left early this morning…"

He was quickly interrupted by an angry voice, "What do you mean she left?"

Elrohir shot his eyes to Legolas, narrowing them in an accusatory glare. He chose not to reply to him as all eyes turned questioning glance to the Prince of Mirkwood.

"She left early this morning with Elladan to Rivendell where she has chosen to stay for a time at the request of my father. She left you all these." As he finished, he stepped forward to hand each oft he fellowship a note. All the members except Legolas. If anyone noticed, they chose not to comment.

To my Dear Aragorn,

I am sorry I did not tell you goodbye in person, but I could not ruin your wedding night. I wish you both the best in your future together. I am truly sorry I could not stay longer, however, for reasons of my own, I found I could not prolong my trip to Rivendell. But please, if there is anything that you need, no matter what, please do not hesitant to contact me. Through all the hardships we have faced together, I am glad to have had you by my side.

Yours truly and always

Evelyn

To My Dear Eowyn,

WE have not been able to spend much time together since our arrival in Gondor. I just wish you to know that I treasure the friendship I have gained with you. I wish you the best with your engagement to Faramir, you were meant for each other. Please contact me with the upcoming wedding dates. I am sorry I could not tell you goodbye in person, I fear I am no good at goodbyes, I have had to many, so I will leave until next we meet.

Yours truly and always,

Evelyn

To My Dear Frodo,

When you have made your choice, I will be there with you, every step of the way.

Yours truly and always,

Evelyn

To my Dear Gandalf,

When your tasks are complete, I would love to resume our lesson.

Yours truly and always,

Evelyn

The others read their letters in silence, each looking to one another in question, some passing notes between them. All that is, except Legolas, who sat rigid and unmoving in his seat.