Chapter 13

Legolas fully intended to heed Lord Elrond's cryptic warning and stay away from Liane; he had done so for the past week. It had not been easy, but he suddenly found himself to be the focus of Aragorn's attention lately, over the past week the two of them had been hunting, fishing and training. Legolas suspected that perhaps Elrond had told Aragorn to keep him preoccupied, until Aragorn mentioned how relieved he was that Liane would not have to marry, as she was so young.

It did not help matters that Liane had spent the past week in the library sorting out the items that had been brought back from the temple with Erestor, alone. But Erestor didn't strike him as the type of person to make a pass at his lord's daughter, but one could never be to careful. All the same Legolas did intend to stay away from Liane, Erestor or no, in the past week he had time to reflect on the subject and decided that was what would be best for both of them. Liane was still so young, an elfling really, and as much as she went on about being an adult he knew that she was not ready for a relationship. Further more she had such an affect on him that it was almost frightening, he had never been one for fiery passions, preferring instead the quiet solitude of the woods or the sea.

Staying away from Liane would be difficult, he knew that, especially if he was close to her on a day-to-day basis. That was why he decided to return to his father's realm, he simply figured that the further away from Liane the less he would feel for her. And if his tumultuous feelings followed him to his father's realm then at least he could console himself with the fact that Liane would always be here under the watchful eyes of her father and brothers.

It was a good plan in his mind and apparently Elrond agreed for Legolas had told him of his decision, though not his reasons for both of them already knew why he was leaving. And yet he still had to tell Liane, and he would tell her for it did not seem fair or kind to simply leave after all they had been through during their short acquaintance. Which was why he was on his way to the library where Liane was sure to be finding a place for all of the artefacts and books she had brought back with her.

The sky was a cheery and welcoming summer blue and most of the residents were outside celebrating the beautiful day, having picnic luncheons and afternoon strolls. So it was with a heavy heart that Legolas made his way to the dusty library to say goodbye to Liane. When he arrived however all of his carefully recited goodbyes were disintegrated at the sight of Liane.

She stood in front of an armour display; Legolas had never seen armour of this type before so it must have come in a chest from the temple. Liane had just finished assembling the shining armour and was placing an elaborate helm on the headpiece stand. She stepped back to observe her work and Legolas watched in fascination as she ran her fingers reverently over the armour and even caught what he suspected was a single tear fall from her cheek.

His mind reeled with possibilities for Liane's actions even as he watched her continue to stroke the armour pausing here and there at the dents and scorch marks. Perhaps the man who had worn the armour had been her friend or foster father, or perhaps even it was the armour of a former lover, or worse a current one, one that she had to leave behind. That would certainly explain her behaviour on the night that they had become so intimate with each other, she might still feel a need to be faithful to him. Or if he was still alive Liane might still love him, but why then would she engage in such intimate behaviour with a stranger? It was all so confusing and Legolas found any thoughts of saying goodbye to Liane pushed aside by his renewed desire to know more about her.

The time had finally come for Liane to assemble the armour that the temple had sent back with her. She and Glorfindel had gone through the weapons and their special properties earlier this morning. What was not part of the two sets of armour sent back with Liane were taken to the armoury to be put on display. The sets of armour and the weapons that belonged to their owners, herself and Hyabussa, were to be put on display in the library on an armour rack.

Liane assembled her own armour first; knowing every piece of it like the back of her hand it took little time to sort it all out. Which was just as well for assembling Hyabussa's armour, though she expected as much, was a great deal harder, emotionally. Memories of the battles and skirmishes that they had gotten into and the marks they had left on the golden armour popped up in her mind as her fingers glided over the flaws in the otherwise beautiful armour.

What fools they had been back then, comparing the amount of enemies they had slain, the injuries that they had sustained as though it had all been a game. And it had been at the start and well into the end as well, even when they had come face to face with Ryuujiruo in a final battle it had still all been a game. But the game had ended soon after that last battle with Ryuujiruo and the true horrors of war had finally been brought home to both of them.

"Aha!" Liane jumped at the sudden sound of Erestor's voice, she looked up to the second floor of the library to see him leaning over the railing with glee. "I have just found a sister book to one of the books you brought back with you, see?" Liane smiled faintly; glad to be distracted from her depressing memories. "Oh, Legolas, what are you doing here?" Erestor suddenly exclaimed as his eyes landed on Legolas who was standing in the doorway.

Liane swung around to meet Legolas' gaze, how long had been standing there she wondered. By the way he was eyeing her and the displays of armour she assumed that he'd been there for a while.

"I just came to see how you were progressing in the library." Legolas answered smoothly and with all the calm in the world. But Liane wished he hadn't mentioned the library, as much as she loved this library she was nothing compared to Erestor, and he tended to ramble when questioned on the subject.

And this instance was no different, "Oh it's going very well!" he informed Legolas cheerfully, "As I was just saying to Liane I have found an exact copy of a book that was sent along from the Kurast temple. As a matter of fact many of the books and scrolls don't hold much new information, but it is always interesting to see our history told from a different perspective. I have also had to correct some of the information, which is probably due to the slightly less than accurate translations. Which may account for Liane's rather rusty grasp on our native tongue." He added sharply.

Liane blushed and shrugged, she wasn't fond of the notion that she had been speaking the elven tongue incorrectly for so long and that so many others would as well, but there was nothing she could do about it. There was no way that she could fit in a trip back to the temple again without getting into serious trouble, and besides that she wasn't fully versed in the proper way to speak elvish herself so it wouldn't do any good.

"What did you say you came for Legolas?" Erestor posed again but he answered his own question, "Oh yes, to see how the library was progressing. Well as you can see we haven't really done much reorganizing." He gestured to the disarray of that was the library. "It will take many weeks to get this place back to the way it used to be."

Liane sighed in agreement and despair, as much as she loved libraries the task of reorganizing this one was very daunting, just thinking about it made her feel tired. A fact that Erestor spotted even from the balcony, "It has been a long… goodness an entire week! I can't believe that I have kept you here from morning to night for an entire week Liane you must be exhausted. Why don't you take a break, it is near time for the afternoon meal you Legolas may share it together." Erestor had secretly become a supporter of a Liane/Legolas relationship, ever since the night of the feast Erestor had subtly been trying to manoeuvre Liane and Legolas into situations where they would be together. As strange as it sounded Erestor did it not for some fairytale notion but because he truly believed that the only way that Liane's prophecy could be fulfilled was through a bonding of true love. And the woodland prince was the perfect candidate, he had been on close speaking terms with Liane since she arrived and anyone with a working pair of eyes could see that they were both attracted to one another.

So far however Erestor had found his effort to see Liane and Legolas strike up a close relationship blocked. Every time Erestor thought up a good excuse to casually dismiss Liane from her duties so that she might socialize with the prince the prince was nowhere to be found. He and Aragorn had been out hunting, riding and fishing all week. Which was understandable as it was summer but Erestor suspected that Aragorn was deliberately keeping Legolas away from Liane. But that didn't matter now as they were both here and he had an excuse to dismiss Liane for the afternoon. 

"It's all right, I enjoy the work and the challenge." Liane responded quickly, she really did enjoy the work even if they weren't really getting anywhere.

"Nonsense," Erestor insisted, "If anything you must at least be bored." When Liane shook her head in the negative Erestor tried again "Well you might like to stay but I know your parents would like to see you, I believe that they and Lord Celeborn and lady Galadriel are having a picnic in the butterfly glade. I insist that the two of you go and join them, Legolas will show you the way, I suggest that you go on horseback so that you don't miss the meal." Both Liane and Legolas looked a bit miserable about the situation but they nodded their heads, said their farewells and headed out the library doors. Erestor grinned to himself, knowing that their misery was not out of dislike for each other but for the company that they were to join. He knew that sending Liane and Legolas off to join Elrond and Celebrian for lunch wasn't the most romantic of situations but he was still a loyal servant to Elrond after all.

Legolas and Liane walked in silence all the way to the stables, Legolas gallantly opened the door for Liane and she went on through. Legolas stood in the doorway after she had passed and simply watched her while she went to saddle her horse. She was as beautiful as the on the day that they had met in this very stable and yet so different. Instead of the dark, tight men's clothing that she wore when she first arrived Liane now wore a light lavender silk dress, it was a dress of Arwens for Legolas had seen her wear it before but it looked just as lovely on Liane. Her hair was also different, it was no longer pulled into a tight knot but braided much in the same fashion as her mother, although a little less elaborate. All in all Liane was a stunning sight standing there in the stables speaking softly to her enormous horse.

As he continued to gaze upon Liane Legolas spotted a problem with their situation and hurried to point it out to Liane. "You will have to ride side saddle in that dress." Liane glanced at him over her shoulder as he came up behind her and then down at her dress. The corners of her pretty pink lips turned downwards and she exhaled loudly, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Great! I'll have to go change now." Liane huffed glaring down at Arwens dress with great malice as though she'd like nothing better than to rip it to shreds.

"You do not know how to ride side saddle?" Legolas questioned her, feeling very perplexed, what woman did not know how to ride sidesaddle?

"No!" Liane spat out defensively, "Who rides side saddle anyway?"

"All ladies know how to ride side saddle, even Eowyn rides side saddle occasionally." Legolas said innocently although he knew this would only raise Liane's ire, he simply couldn't help doing it though, she looked adorable when she was flustered. "Never mind that though," he said non-chalantly as he guided her away from her horse and over to his grey stallion, "You can ride with me, if you go and change we will miss lunch."

Liane huffed and crossed her arms over her chest angrily, but Legolas couldn't have been happier with the situation. Liane would be in his arms all the way to the butterfly glade, which presented him with two major advantages: one Liane would be close to his body, something that he had been craving all week long. And two she would have no way to escape him or his questions. He was smart enough not to show his glee though; he turned his back to Liane as he eagerly saddled up his horse so that she would not see his irrepressible grin. Once he had the saddle and bridle secure Legolas turned round and led Arod out of his stall making sure that his face was back to being politely blank.

Signalling for her to go first Legolas lead Arod out of the stables behind Liane, getting a good view of her voluptuous form as she strode briskly into the courtyard. She whirled around to face him impatiently tapping her foot with her arms still crossed over her chest. Legolas didn't hesitate to take action; taking two long strides up to Liane, Legolas scooped her up into his arms and swung them both smoothly onto the saddle with catlike grace. Liane looked up at him with startled blue eyes and he smiled smugly down at her and adjusted her so that she would be more comfortable across his lap.

Kicking his horse into a steady gallop before Liane could refuse to ride with him they left the courtyard behind quickly. Liane clung tightly to him as they cleared town at a break neck speed, turning the beautiful landscape into nothing more than a blur of blue and green.

"Who was he?" Legolas asked suddenly, he flinched wishing that he had posed the question more eloquently.

"Who?" Liane replied bewildered.

Legolas hesitated before answering, perhaps it would be better if he didn't know and he wasn't too sure if it was really his place to be asking Liane such questions. Aside from their intimate encounter on the night she arrived and the trip to her temple they barely knew each other. But his mind drifted back to the library and how Liane had lovingly assembled the armour and then ran her fingers over it and he knew that whatever the consequences he had to know.

"The mans armour that you were assembling in the library today, who was he?" Legolas made his question direct and to the point hoping that he hadn't sounded to precocious.

Liane stiffened in his arms and looked to the horizon for a long while before she answered. "He was a fellow warrior, a great warrior. He's dead." She stated simply and to the point, praying that Legolas wouldn't pursue the subject any further.

He didn't for which she was very grateful, he simply pulled her closer to him and bowed his head in respect. "I'm sorry."

Those two simple whispered words brought forth tears that Liane had long ago learned to hold back. Liane never cried over Hyabussa anymore, she only managed this by not thinking about him which didn't seem fair to his memory, but it was the only way that Liane managed to hold it together. But somehow being in Legolas' strong arms combined with the gentle rocking motion of the horse Liane felt free to mourn for her dear departed comrade.

She turned in the saddle and cried heavily into Legolas' chest, the soft cotton of his shirt and tunic muffling the sounds of her grief filled sobs. Legolas continued to guide the horse at a gentle and soothing walk with one hand while rubbing her back with the other. Liane didn't know how long she cried for, only that when her tears stopped that she was very tired and that they had come to a halt on a ridge overlooking a beautiful meadow.

Near the middle of the meadow Liane could see Elrond and Celebrian sitting on an enormous blanket. With them were Galadriel and Celeborn along with a couple of other elves that Liane couldn't identify from her position. Liane didn't particularly feel like joining the group just now, she was quite content leaning against Legolas' warm body. Legolas himself didn't seem to feel like joining the group below either for he made no move to guide his horse onto the sloping dirt path that led down into the butterfly glade.

They sat there in silence gazing down on the butterfly glad for a short while before Legolas decided to break the silence. "You were close with this warrior?"

Liane sniffed and nodded in answer and she felt his body tense behind hers, when she turned to see what made him so tense Legolas would not look her in the eye. "What?" Liane asked apprehensively, what could make him so distant when only a moment before he had been so warm and sensitive.

"I'm sorry, I should never have intruded or…" Legolas trailed off; there was nothing about the night that they had met that he regretted, not even in the face of this new information.

"Or what?" Liane inquired urgently, now fully awake and alert in the midst of Legolas' disturbing behaviour.

Legolas shook his golden head trying to clear it so that he might respond to her question with more grace than he had when he questioned her. "What I mean to say is that, had I known you were still grieving for your friend, I would not have acted so boldly on the night of our meeting." Yes that would do, it wasn't insulting or forward in anyway, at least he hoped it wasn't.

Liane turned to look at him more closely with a cocked brow; all traces of sorrow had left her face to be replaced by confusion and curiosity. "Why would that factor into it?"

Now he was in trouble, he had assumed Liane would agree and not speak of it or at the very worst cry and tell him he was a cad. Legolas was slowly starting to realize however that Liane never did what he thought she would, whether that was a good thing or not he didn't know. Liane grabbed a fistful of his tunic and shook him to get his attention. Legolas glanced down at her anxious face and cast his mind around for the right words. Finally they came to him "Well it's not always proper for someone to make advances towards another person who has just lost their partner."

Liane drew back from him, releasing his tunic from her tight grip before she said, "You think that, that Hyabussa and I were…lovers?" Legolas nodded although he wasn't entirely sure now that she asked, his doubts were confirmed when Liane threw back her head and laughed. She laughed so hard that she nearly unseated herself and he made a grab for her just in time to save her. And as usual Liane then did something most unusual for the situation, aside from laughing that was, she hugged him. Drawing away from him while wiping away tears Liane explained herself "Oh Legolas thank you, I haven't been able to laugh about Hyabussa in ages, hell I haven't even been able to say his name since he passed."

Legolas was still fairly confused and he tried to make sense of the situation by handling it in the only way that seemed to ever make any sense with Liane, by being completely and utterly direct. "So, you and this Hyabussa were not lovers?"

"No," Liane sighed and became pensive looking once more "Many made that assumption about Hyabussa and I, but we were more like brother and sister, we grew up together, went to school together, were in the same study group and the same age group of training at the temple. But we never lovers no, Hyabussa had a soul mate and even if he didn't Kurast warrior mages don't take lovers or spouses, not even within the order."

"Why not? And what do you mean by soul mate?" Legolas asked eagerly, he felt much better now that he knew Liane didn't have a lover and that she was no longer crying it tore at his heart to see her in so much pain.

"Well the Kurast order is a secret order, and it is a belief in the temple that one cannot truly love another person if you are not totally honest with them. So it is not possible to be in a relationship with those outside of the order because we must keep the order a secret and there cannot be secrets in a relationship. And people do not get involved with other warrior mages as a general rule because it can create a conflict of interests within the order." Liane explained as well as she could, she had never been interested in relationships herself not until she had met Legolas that was.

She knew why that was but he didn't and she wondered if she should tell him, surely he had noticed the affect of their being around each other or more importantly the effect of being away from each other. Legolas was thousands of years her senior after all, he had probably been aware of their special bond since the moment he laid eyes on her. He was an elf and therefore more attuned to the different magic's of the universe, surely he had all ready sensed that they were soul mates.

But what if he hadn't? What if it were simply wishful thinking on her part, she had never experienced love before, hell she hadn't even been on date before, how was she too know if he was her soul mate? Or if she even had a soul mate at all, no she did know that, the high council had determined that five years ago. They told her that her soul mate was someone who dwelled in the land of her birth, which would be here in Valinor.

But what if she didn't have a soul mate? There would be no way for her to destroy the cerin stones and restore life and strength to Valinor. It had been foretold at her birth that she would do so, which meant that she had to have a soul mate, but was it Legolas? Was there some other elf out there who was truly her soul mate and if they were how would she be able to tell? Liane didn't even know if Legolas was her soul mate or not, how was she to know if someone else was? Liane had asked herself these questions, excluding Legolas, many times over the pas three years, years that she had spent devising a way to fulfill her destiny and the prophecy given at her birth. The only answers that she could find were the descriptions given by other warrior mages who had found their soul mates.

Answers that she should relay to a patiently waiting Legolas. "Well as I explained to Galadriel and Celebrian, my lir Katana is my life mate, all Kurast warrior mages have one. Lir means life mate and they are there mainly to be life long companions and confidants to their warrior. For the life a Kurast warrior mage is a lonely one, as I explained we are not allowed to have relationships outside of the order and sometimes not even within the order." Legolas nodded his head in solemn understanding and Liane remembered then that he had been a warrior too and she wondered if he had ever found a romantic companion. "But there are some in the order who are blessed with a soul mate, which is a person whose soul is a perfect mate for theirs from the moment it is created, it will not fit or be compatible with any other."

"I see," Legolas said pensively, "But how do these warriors know they have found their soul mates." He asked casually.

Liane took a deep breath and paused before answering, she searched Legolas' face covertly trying to see his motives there, but once again it was politely blank. "Well, they say there are signs, usually there is an instant and uncontrollable attraction between the two people." Liane pondered that for a moment, there had been an instant attraction between them, how else would you explain their brief moment of passion. But there were other key factors about soul mates as well. "Also they are usually someone that you know very well, or knew when you were young, this brings a strong trust to the relationship." Liane strained her brain for any memory of Legolas from her childhood, but like most of her childhood she was presented more with feelings than actual memories.

"What else?"

"Hmm? Oh, um well they also cannot stand to be apart for long periods of time or across great distances, that is why they are usually someone you know and are close too. You see soul mates always feel drawn to one another whether they have met or not and will unconsciously seek the other out until they find each other." Liane smiled remembering how close Hyabussa and Ein were and how long it took them to admit to their love even though they had grown up together.

"Soul mates are also very attuned to one another's feelings, and once bonded can eve read each others thoughts and speak through a telepathic bond like that of a lir. They also find no interest in any other person besides their soul mate, like I said their souls are made only to be matched with their mates. Any other person would hold no romantic interest for them; some even say that they were never attracted to anyone else before they met their soul mates. Whether that's true I don't know, but once bonded people who are soul mates find no interest in any other person for they have already found their perfect match. And, uh that's what a soul mate is." Liane finished lamely and shrugged her shoulders nervously.

"Oh" Legolas said without looking at her, he was staring off into space looking pensive again, and Liane nervously wondered if he was tallying up the points like she had done moments before. Shaking himself and inhaling deeply Legolas stated briskly "Well that's interesting, I've never heard of something like that before. And as much as I'd like to sit here and discuss it with you all day I'm afraid that we have been spotted."

Liane whipped around in her seat and looked where Legolas pointed, down in the glade Celebrian was waving franticly for them to come join the picnic party. "I guess we should go down and join them." Liane stated miserably, now to add to her doubts about Legolas would be the tense state, which had settled between her and Elrond since last week. He had tried to strike up a conversation with her at least once a day but Liane did her best to avoid him. The argument they had last week simply confirmed her belief that family life was not for her, which bothered her more than she thought it would.

Liane tried telling herself in the darkness of her room every night that family didn't matter to her, that once she completed her mission it wouldn't matter, in fact it would be easier on everyone if they didn't become close. But always when she thought of this she was presented with the warm memory of sitting on Elrond's lap, as a small child tracing his facial features with her small hands and an undeniable warmth would fill her. Even the simple thing of living in Elrond's home was comforting, she hadn't slept so well in years and as always everything felt so familiar and as time went by things were beginning to feel right. Which was a feeling Liane couldn't understand at all, there was never a time in her life that she could remember feeling out of place. Looking back on it now however Liane could never imagine going back to middle earth, it would somehow feel foreign and uncomfortable. Which certainly said something for where she really belonged, as living in Valinor was like traveling back in time about five hundred years.

Liane groaned in frustration, her mind was muddled with constant doubts and contradicting thoughts, life had been so much easier when she was miserable and alone at the temple. There was nothing there but sweet predictable work and constant silence and peace of mind.

"Don't worry, it won't be so bad," Legolas reassured her gently, "Things just need time to settle down, after that it'll be down hill from there." Whether he spoke of their relationship or the one between Liane and her family she didn't know or care to know, she just wanted to get this whole thing over with as quickly as possible.

All right a new chapter! I didn't put an authors notice cause nobody reads them and it's always just filled with my apologies for being so late. Anyhow this chap is pretty long, which I never intended so I have split it into two chapters. I'm going to try working on my other story as I haven't updated that in almost two months but I'm not really interested in it right now. Either way I thought I'd give you a little hint at what's coming for the next chapters so here it is: Tune in next time for more scenes of secret Liane/Legolas supporters meddling. Also Liane and Elrond have a nice chat. Liane finds more doubts about her relationship with Legolas when a rival arrives in town. Expect also to see more appearances from Katana who wasn't really in this chapter, but never fear our not so innocent sidekick will return with a vengeance! That's all for now folks!

Cheers

War