Chapter 30 part 3 (final part)

Last time on true home: Adon and Morwen marry in a lavish ceremony. Morwen and Liane embrace each other as sisters and set aside old differences. The wedding celebrations are vast and merry, but the evenings merriment soon turns dark as Liane and Umeda confront their demons with the aide of a noxious blue liquor. Although the two reveal some of their guilt and fears, and resolve to live with them, there are still unanswered questions and dilemma's for our two Kurast mages.

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The realm of the woodland elves was still sleeping after last nights wedding festivities, all accept Glorfindel.

Glorfindel crept easily around the bodies of unconscious elves strewn across the great hall and courtyard. But he was searching for one particular unconscious body and he highly doubted he'd find him anywhere near the royal houses.

Well beyond the parties boundaries Glorfindel found Dr. Umeda Hokotu sprawled on the ground in an undignified heap. He was also significantly tangled with young lady Liane.

Looking at them so tangled Glorfindel could only think that he would be no friend to either Liane or Umeda to leave them to be discovered in such a compromising position. Prince Legolas in particular would be most displeased to find them thus.

Grinning broadly, he bent down and untangled the two and then threw the good doctor over his shoulder. Liane curled up peacefully in sleep and Glorfindel decided to leave her, perhaps to be found by her loving prince.

Umeda however, was for him to deal with.

The world was ending. There was nothing but pain and darkness.

Liane was frozen in pain, lost to world. And yet the world seemed alive with a cacophony of noise that pressed in on her from every side. Birds chirped and sang, the wind blew, trees groaned and the grass breathed beneath her.

She must be outside on this her last pain ridden day on earth. But if she was outside, where was she and why?

For one heart pounding moment Liane thought that she was back in the glen with cerin stones. That she had failed and now lay dying on the ground as demons overrode her homeland and killed her family.

She tried desperately to get up to help them but collapsed on her face. The world span, her head ahced terribly and her tongue was heavy and dry with dirt.

Clearly she was dying with the destruction of the world coming imminently.

"Yes, dying indeed" Katana's serene voice echoed painfully inside her skull "Or perhaps like all the other times before now, a simple hangover has felled the great golden general of the Kurast temple."

Hangover. Something smooth and cool clutched in her hands. The serenity of the world around her.

She wasn't dying in a field in Rivendell. She was hung over and sprawled on the ground somewhere in the Emerald Wood clutching an empty liquor bottle to her chest. Liane groaned and rolled onto her back flinging an arm over her eyes to block out the piercing sunlight.

The night came back to her in fuzzy flashes of color and noise. She'd left the party early and run into Umeda.

Umeda. Of course. Only Umeda would get her into something like this.

Liane held up the empty bottle in the air, sunlight glinted painfully through it at her making her squint. But there was still some of the tell tale blue liquid at the bottom, barely enough for one sip. She groaned again and set the bottle down with a muffled clink.

Why on earth had she let Umeda talk her into drinking? When she ever allowed him to goad her into doing it before? And yet last night he must have said something to convince her, but for the life of her she could not recall what it might have been. Then she recalled a cool, soothing voice urging her to join Umeda for his sake. The owner of that voice was currently bathing her paws and steadfastly ignoring her.

"This is all your fault." she croaked and spat out the grains of dirt clogging her mouth.

"I do not recall forcing you to drink anything" Katana said without ceasing her bath.

Liane rolled onto her side clutching her abused head "Stop shouting at me"

"I am not shouting"

"Then stop talking" she barked making her vision blur painfully.

Groaning Liane managed to push herself up to sit against a large tree. She stayed there for the rest of the day. Unable and unwilling to move she had nothing left to do but think about last night's argument with Umeda.

His angry words rang loud and clear in her drunken memory.

"What are you going to do Liane? Marry your blond prince, make babies and sew things?"

Her stomach clenched painfully and it had nothing to do with her hangover. Umeda always had a way of pinpointing exactly what was bothering her and then voicing it with little to no diplomacy.

The thought of marrying and settling down to bear and raise children turned her stomach and flushed her skin with angry heat for reasons she could not identify in her current state. Just weeks go she would have given anything for such a chance to do just that. To avoid death, to leave behind all traces off darkness in her life and start anew with her family and soulmate.

And yet, now faced with just that prospect, she could not do it. She felt like leaping up and running as far away from that happily ever after as far as she could. But she was bound to that fate, and by stronger means than just a silver promise ring.

What was she going to do?

Whatever she decided, she wasn't going to be bothered while she thought about it. Liane waved a weary hand to set up a small safe guard around her and Katana. It would hide them from the eyes of all who passed by, they would only see an empty corner of the wood and walk on without trespassing.

Umeda woke feeling rather warm and fuzzy considering he was fairly hung over. Frowning without opening his eyes he rolled onto his back and found himself promptly tangled up in clean sheets and a light quilt.

Sitting up far too quickly Umeda looked around to take in his surroundings. Or at least he tried to, but found the world was blurred and out of focus to his dreary eyes.

"Damned glasses" he muttered as he groped around for them and wondered why he couldn't have been reincarnated with better eyesight.

The thin wire rimmed glasses were suddenly pressed into his palm and he put them on without thought.

Ah, he was in bed, in his room. He must have stumbled in here some time last night. It also appeared that he had undressed himself, for he wore nothing now but the tangled sheets and quilt. And now his glasses.

Something wasn't right here.

"Your glasses lir" Teaal said loudly through the link.

"I have my glasses" Umeda rasped running a hand through his hair and making it stand on end a bit.

"How did you get them lir?"

Umeda rolled his eyes "They were on the table"

"Were they?"

Umeda shook his head then stopped mid way. That wasn't right, his hand had skimmed the bedside table and come up empty. And then his glasses had appeared in his hand, as though someone had put them there.

As the realization dawned Umeda became aware that he was not alone. Curling his empty hand into a fist he knew instinctively who was with him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked without looking at Glorfindel.

"Just looking out for you" Glorfindel replied calmly from somewhere to his right.

Sucking in an angry breath he turned too quickly to face him. His world span and he lifted his hands to his head to make it stop.

"Here, drink this" Glorfindel held a blue mug of something steaming hot under his nose "It will make you feel better."

Umeda drew back and peered at the dark liquid suspiciously "What's in it?"

"Its kava root tea, very bitter but very good for headaches" he explained pushing the mug into his hand.

Umeda sipped at it experimentally and grimaced, it was very bitter "I've never heard of kava roots" he said, his inner physician rising up to study the origins of this medicine.

"It is native to Valinor"

For the next few moments they sat in silence as Umeda drank the tea. It did help, though he was unwilling to admit it, the warmth suffused his entire body, settling his stomach and clearing the ache from his head.

Hmm, he would have to have a look at this kava root.

Then his head cleared and his memory the night previous came back to him. He and Liane had fought, drank, sang, drank, made up, drank some more and passed out toppled on top of each other. But he had no memory of ever getting to his room, undressing and tucking himself in.

Narrowing his eyes he turned slowly to Glorfindel. He sat there grinning brightly at him as if he could read his every thought.

"I'm not even going to ask how I got up here. Or why I'm undressed" Umeda growled.

"As you wish" the blond elf said amiably.

"Now that I'm feeling better you can leave with a clear conscience" he shoved the empty blue mug back at the man and pulled the sheets up a little higher.

Glorfindel just grinned wider, but got up graciously from his chair "As you wish"

Umeda curled his lip at the mans back as he left.

"By the way" Glorfindel turned back to him "Did you find what you needed last night?"

"That's none of your business" he snapped.

"Of course" he said apologetically "However if you are ever looking for some friendly company…"

"I certainly won't come looking for you"

Glorfindel smiled and left, closing the door behind him. Outside the door his grin turned to a deep line of determination.

"We'll see about that doctor"

Umeda walked over the thick roots and underbrush of the wood with difficulty. It was a wonder he had found his way around last night let alone in broad daylight. Never the less, he found the little niche in the dim light of dusk quickly enough.

It was apparently empty as he observed it from a few meters away, leaned up against a tree with his arms folded over his chest. Although the area appeared empty there was a tell tale trace of Kurast magic about the place. To most, such a trace would be virtually invisible, but to him and a select few ancient and talented elves the slight distortion was easy to spot.

And since he and Liane were the only two people in all Valinor capable of producing Kurast magic it was quite obvious who was in there.

Umeda shoved himself off the tree and walked into the niche, passing through the magical barrier with a few muttered incantations and a wave of his hand.

Sure enough Liane was just inside looking sullen and distant, sitting on the ground with her head on her knees and Katana spread out beneath the tent of her legs.

"Evening" he said balancing himself on a root.

"Meh" Liane grunted without looking up at him. Her eyes were far away and unfocused.

Umeda felt instantly guilty. He'd dumped his own uncertainty onto her at a time when she should be happy. She deserved happiness more than anyone he had known. She had suffered more than him during the wars and had gone on to suffer even more. Hell, she had forsaken her life for crying out loud!

And last night she had even taken on the unenviable task of trying to soothing his miserable soul. A difficult task even when he was in the best of moods.

He really should make amends with her. But that would mean apologizing, something he rarely did, if at all. Looking at her, sitting so alone, made Umeda sure that he should. He pushed himself off the tree root and came to sit next to her on the ground. Teaal was perched stately on his shoulder, probably to make sure that he didn't chicken out.

"Listen, about last night…" he trailed off uncertainly as she turned her eyes on him.

There was always something strange about Liane's eyes, something not human. But then she was an elf, it was said that their eyes shone with the light of stars. But he had always thought that Liane's eyes were more like the fathomless sky, dark, deep, and ever changing. Sometimes the effect was quite stunning on the unprepared.

He turned away from her and began again "About last night, I wanted to apologize."

He glanced her way, instead of looking surprised as he'd expected, she smiled faintly in understanding.

"I shouldn't have burdened you with my own problems. Don't let them trouble you, I can deal with them." He explained.

"Don't worry about it" she dismissed the incident with a wave of her hand.

Normally Umeda would have been grateful for such a dismissal; women had a tendency to nag on even after you apologized. But he continued to feel guilty. Liane had finally come home to her family and a soul mate, and here he was making her life grim.

"I feel like I've put problems on you that I shouldn't." he carried on quietly "For so long you were alone in middle earth, without your family or any of your kind. Then the wars began, and you did so much to end them. You sacrificed your life and immortality Liane"

She shrugged but Umeda caught the slight flinch in her eyes.

"What I'm trying to say is that I don't want you to let me and my problems to get in the way of your happiness. You deserve to be happy."

Liane nodded and shrugged again "If it's any consolation to you, you're not the only one with doubts."

Somehow this information did not come as a shock to him. He'd had his doubts about Liane and Legolas from the beginning; apparently he wasn't the only one. He had noted early on how Liane spun her engagement ring on her finger all the while looking distant.

Sober this time Umeda approached the subject with only slightly more tact than usual.

"So, what are you going to do about these doubts" he asked not looking at her, instead staring off into the setting sunset.

Her answer was another shrug. Which Umeda knew from years of experience that Liane had her answer but didn't know what to do with it.

Deciding not to push the subject further he said "Well, whatever you decide I will be behind you."

He got up then to leave and paused at the magical border "You might think about taking down these guards of yours though" she looked up at him then "Putting up walls around you will keep friends out as much as enemies."

And he left her with those cryptic words of warning.

Celebrian found her youngest child and daughter rather quickly for all the time she had been gone that day.

A fine night of singing and story telling had been planned to commemorate Adon and Morwen's wedding. When Liane had not appeared and her friend Umeda had not yielded her location, Celebrian went in search for her.

Elrond and Legolas had both volunteered, Legolas because he knew the forest so well and Elrond because he was getting tired of the woodelves celebrating. Both however had been held back by an insisting Adon and Thranduil.

"Surely you cannot miss out on a moment of the Emerald Woods finest bards and singers Elrond! Especially when you visit so infrequently" Thranduil insisted, jovially pulling her dark husband away from the great hall doors.

"And I would have my dear brother sing a fine song with me for my lovely bride!" Adon pulled Legolas into a happy bear hug.

Unable to say no to such invitations both men had reluctantly left finding Liane up to a grinning Celebrian.

But for all her mysterious absence all day long, Celebrian found Liane rather quickly. Well away from any inhabited part of the wood Liane sat with Katana alone under the stars.

Celebrian smiled as she approached but began to frown upon getting closer. Liane did not acknowledge her, indeed it seemed as if she had not even seen her at all. Instead she sat twirling her silver promise ring on her finger with a grim look about her.

"Good evening iell" she said quietly as she approached.

Liane looked up at her and Celebrian knew now without a doubt that something was wrong. Her eyes were somber and lost, her face drawn and blank; in fact, she looked almost on the verge of tears.

Celebrian swept gracefully down onto her knees. "What is wrong my little one. You look so sad on such a fine occasion."

Liane shook herself and began to rise "Oh, nothing, I'm fine. Am I late for something?"

Celebrian pulled her resolutely back down "You are neither late nor fine" she said sternly "Tell me what is wrong."

Liane slumped back down with an irritate sigh that told Celebrian this might be difficult. Whatever it was, Celebrian would make Liane talk about it, she did not like this unhappy look of hers. Her daughter had suffered much and deserved only happiness from now on. And Celebrian would see that she was happy, whether she liked it or not.

"I don't feel like talking about it." Liane mumbled into her chest "You wouldn't really want to hear about it anyway."

"Now that is absolutely not true!" Celebrian said vehemently "I will always want to hear what you have to say, good or bad."

She shrugged again and looked away to hide the tears in her eyes.

Celebrian put an arm around her and pulled her close "After all if you can't talk to your own mother, who can you talk to? Hmm?" she leaned in and smiled encouragingly at her, when Liane smiled back she said "Now, tell me what troubles you."

She hesitated "You're sure you want to hear this?"

"Absolutely!"

She blew out a long breath "All right. I don't know how to sugar coat this so I won't. I don't know what to do with myself anymore."

Celebrian said "I see" not fully understanding.

Liane rushed on "What I mean is, that for a long time my life was planned out a certain way. I was supposed to die and never come back and… I don't know, everything's different now."

"Different, in a bad way?" Celebrian felt her stomach drop at Liane's words. It sounded like she didn't want to come back. Whatever the case she would see her daughter through this, no matter how much pain it caused her, Liane deserved at least that much.

"No, no" Liane sighed again "But I didn't think I was going to come back, and I'd come to terms with my death long ago. Now I have to live again and I never thought I would. So I never really envisioned my future or what it would be like."

"I see" Celebrian said slowly "And knowing your future is important to you?"

"Shouldn't it be?"

Celebrian smiled, beginning to understand now, Liane was young and had yet to grow into the patience of her kind.

"Not in Valinor, not for the elves. This place and our people are timeless. Rushing forward and laying the stones for a path we have yet to tread on is not our way." She explained serenely.

"Maybe it is your way but it is not mine" Liane said gruffly "Where I come from, or rather in middle earth, people plan ahead, everything we do has a purpose in reaching a final goal. And that is important to me and I don't feel like I have that anymore."

"I am not saying our lives are without purpose" Celebrian argued then realized she was taking the wrong direction in this.

"Let me ask you a question" she tried again "What were your plans for the future before? You must have had some, you could not have known all your life that you were going to die so young."

"I did have plans once" she said quietly.

"Well, what were they?" Celebrian urged "You may tell me, I will not tell anyone else."

Liane did not look at her as she said "Well, I wanted to be a teacher at the Mugen academy or even the temple."

Celebrian tried to hide her shock, but obviously failed when Liane rushed to explain "You have to understand, I grew up in those places. The Mugen academy was especially close to my heart since I was its champion for three years. Leaving when I graduated was like leaving home to me. And I always enjoyed myself whenever I was called upon to substitute teach, especially the younger grades. It just seemed like the most logical choice was to go back there and teach. I even applied to a university to get a teaching degree. But then the wars started and everything changed."

"I see" Celebrian answered lamely.

Suddenly a whole new side of Liane had been revealed to her, and she didn't know what to do with it. She had though little about Liane's past, simply assuming that it could not have been good since she was so far from her family. But as she spoke of her ambitions to teach at her school it was clear that the place held great affection with her. She had even called it her home, perhaps she still did in her heart.

"Well, you could always teach here if you'd like" Celebrian suggested helpfully, trying to ignore the painful twinge in her heart for her daughter.

"Teach who?" Liane asked sharply "There are no children in Valinor. Excluding me and Umeda."

"I'm sure Valinor will soon be over run with elfling's now that our people are healed" Celebrian smiled at the thought of the joy it would bring.

"And what would I teach them? My majors were history and languages" Liane countered "Why would elvish children want to learn human history that they'll never understand and languages they'll never speak."

"Don't be too sure. Learning the history and languages of others can help you understand yourself. You would be a valuable teacher."

"That's not the point! Argh, never mind!" Liane pushed herself angrily off the ground and began to pace in front of her.

"I'm sorry Liane, I didn't mean to frustrate you. If you do not want to be a teacher that's fine. There are plenty of other things to do" Celebrian soothed.

"Like what?!" she screeched whipping around "Shall I sew things while I pop out Legolas' babies!"

Celebrian drew back and stood at this flare of temper.

"Maybe in my spare time I could ride unicorns over rainbows and sing songs while gum drops fall from the sky of this paradise!" she ranted loudly as she paced liked a caged animal.

"I see" Celebrian said at loss for words.

"You see?!" Liane spat "You see?! Ha! You see indeed!"

Celebrian bristled at the tone, adored child she might be but Liane would not go undisciplined by her "Liane, I do not know what is bothering you but that is no reason for you to be rude. You will either calm down and speak to me in a civil and respectful manner or I shall leave you to your thoughts until you can do so. Do you understand?"

Unheeding of her warning she went ranting on "Don't you understand? I'm trapped here! Don't you see? I don't belong here."

Before Celebrian could protest she said "Stop seeing what you want and see what I am."

Celebrian looked at her daughter, her chest heaving in anger and her eyes bright with tears of frustration. And was unable to see much beyond what was before her, for she knew so little about Liane it was hard to truly know her.

"I'm sorry"

Liane turned away angrily "I worked so hard at school and in my training" she said staring up at the stars "I had anticipated a long life in middle earth, using that knowledge and training. Of passing those things on to others, of exploring the world and learning even more about it and myself. And now…"

"And now you feel as though you have been cheated out of that opportunity." Celebrian finished for her "Because your family binds you to this place with their love."

Liane turned to her, looking so utterly helpless and guilty that Celebrian felt her heart break for her.

"Do not apologize iell. You are very young and very bright. It is only natural for you to want to explore your world and yourself."

"But I can't" she said sadly turning away.

Celebrian drew in a deep breath and silently asked Elbereth for the strength for what she was about to do.

"And why not?" she said drawing Liane's attention "you are not bound to your family in chains. We are not your keepers, if you wish to leave us for a time we will not stop you."

"That is not all that is stopping me." Liane muttered into her chest.

Celebrian just caught a glimpse of her twirling her silver promise ring on her finger again.

"Legolas"

Liane said nothing but seemed to have noted her own nervous actions and ceased twirling her ring at once.

"I'm sure Legolas would not be-"

"He's my soulmate" she stated flatly "I can't leave him. You don't just up and leave your other half to go exploring. Besides he would never make it through an incarnation alone."

"You spoke about incarnations before, what does it mean? I recall what you said before, it is a time of magical renewal for the Kurast mages and a time of bonding for soul mates. But how would that affect Legolas? He is not of the Kurast."

"No, he's not" Liane sighed "But he is my soulmate and once two soulmates meet the incarnation will affect them both."

"How?"

"They will have a violent and passionate urge to be together. Nothing and no one can stand in the way of two soulmates going through their incarnation. They will cross great distances, land and sea, to get to their mate. And the longer they are separated the stronger the urge becomes."

"Are you saying it could go on forever if they do not find each other?"

"No, of course not, there is a peak, a point at which the incarnation reaches its zenith and then fades after a time. Besides that, they will usually find each other, there is not much that can keep two soulmates apart."

"But you have gone through these incarnations before have you not? And Legolas was not there then. What did you do?"

"At the time I had something to keep me occupied, to burn out the blood lust running through my veins. Battle." She said in explanation of Celebrian's curious look "But under normal circumstances, I would have used powerful magic to lock myself away until it had passed."

"Then why can Legolas not do the same?"

"Because he does not have that kind of magic. Even if he did I could not ask him to. To go through that alone just for my sake, after he has waited so many years for me and suffered through my death. It would be cruel to ask it of him."

Celebrian smiled and place her hand on Liane's shoulder "Legolas loves you deeply Liane, more than you know I would wager. And he would also understand your dilemma as well, do not forget that he was something of a rebel in his youth."

"I could never ask him" she hissed vehemently.

"No?" Celebrian tilted her head curiously "I do not know how this soulmate business works for you but among the elves, mates do not hesitate to tell each other their problems or secrets."

Liane remained sullenly silent.

"Why don't you tell him how you are feeling and what you want to do about it. See what he says why don't you. I guarantee that he will not deny you your happiness."

"Even at the expense of his own?" Liane asked uncertainly.

"Mmm-hmm" Celebrian smiled warmly "And besides it' not as if you won't come back is it?"

"Of course not!" she assured her "I would never leave and not come back. After all, this is Valinor, a part of me does belong here and Legolas is my soulmate."

"Exactly" Celebrian breathed an inward sigh of relief, Elrond might never forgive her for sending their daughter away forever, she might never forgive herself for all that.

"Now" she put an arm around Liane to guide her out of the glen "Why don't we go back to court? They are having some lovely singing on tonight and afterwards you can talk to Legolas."

"Now?"

"Better sooner than later."

It was indeed a fine night of singing and storytelling just as Celebrian had promised.

They'd arrived just as Adon and Legolas had broken into a raucous song about a lady, a lute, and a dwarf, that was punctuated by more laughter than actual singing. And despite all her dark thoughts Liane could not help but laugh with them.

Her happiness lasted all through the night as Legolas sat next to her. He'd plunked down next to her after his brotherly song, scratching Katana behind the ears and pecking her on the cheek. He spent the night helpfully whispering in her ear, translating the elvish songs and tales for her, all while nibbling playfully on her earring.

By the time all the singing and storytelling had ended it was nearing dawn.

"Ahh music, it is surely a greater magic than all we do here." Thranduil said as he joined them once the applause had died down.

"Yes, it was quite lovely" Elrond agreed standing up "But it is nearing dawn, perhaps we should all get to bed."

"Bed!" Thranduil shouted with glee "Why bother? It is almost dawn, a perfect time to break our fast. I say we should continue our celebrations and have a wonderful morning feast. What do you think my son?"

"An excellent idea father" Legolas agreed happily.

"Good" Thranduil said rubbing his hands together "Indwen my love, why don't you direct everyone out of this stuffy hall so that we can feast and watch the sunrise. I shall head to the kitchens and get the food started. And perhaps you could start some games to pass the time while we wait as well dear."

"Of course, do get going husband, we don't want to miss the sunrise" Indwen kissed Thranduil on the chin and sent him on his way.

"More feasting" Elrond groaned quietly as Indwen made short work of getting everyone outside and tables set up for breakfast. "Will it never end?"

Celebrian smile "Don't fret so Elrond, why look the twins are setting up to play a game over there, lets go watch."

"Hmmm"

Liane had thought to follow them but Celebrian threw her a significant look over her shoulder. She had almost forgotten her mothers advice to speak to Legolas. With all the nights revelry Liane had simply forgotten her dark thoughts.

"Did you lir?" Katana questioned innocently from her knees, most likely knowing the truth of it.

"Ah, Legolas, would you like to go for a little walk before breakfast?" she asked stopping him in his tracks.

He looked down at her, the smile on his face slowly dying away to be replaced by worry.

"Of course" he said slowly.

She tried to smile at him in reassurance but was sure it came out more like a grimace.

Together they walked out of the great hall, going out a small hidden doorway that took them away from the crowd of revelers. Liane allowed Legolas to silently guide her as she mentally gathered what she was going to say to him.

As they came to a spot and sat on a bench near a grand marble fountain she had nothing. Legolas seemed to know that she wanted to talk to him and watched her silently.

When, after nearly five minutes, or perhaps five ages, Liane still could not find the words he said "Is something wrong Liane?"

Liane glanced up at him sharply and nearly cried aloud for the kindness and love written all over his face.

"I should just go back to the party and forget this" she moaned inwardly.

"Go back to the party if you like Liane, but you will never forget this"

"There's something bothering you isn't there" he guessed nodding to himself "I have thought so for some time. I had hoped you would come to me earlier, but no matter. We are talking now, and I will listen."

"How did you know? Never mind" Liane slumped in her seat while Legolas waited patiently.

"What do I say Katana?" she asked desperately.

"Say what's in your heart."

"Oh yes, that'll be great. Say Legolas, thanks for the promise ring but I don't want to marry you and live happily ever after right now. I think I'd like to go exploring and leave you here to suffer the incarnations alone. Sound like a plan? Excellent, well see you later then. Yeah that'll go down swimmingly."

"You are speaking to Katana." Legolas said knowingly "Your eyes cloud over a little when ever you do. Asking for advice, this must be serious"

"It is" she said flatly and his face stilled "Legolas, do you remember telling me that elven couples usually wait a year before marrying or sometimes longer?"

"Yes" he said slowly "Why?"

"I think we might have to wait a while longer than a year to marry."

Legolas looked confused but his expression soon cleared "Ah, because of the incarnation. This is your time of bonding and comes only every five years."

Liane's gaze dropped along with her heart.

"Yes, I understand now" he smiled at her kindly and took her hand in his "Don't worry Liane, I can wait five years. For one as old as I that time will pass quickly. I have waited for you for many ages Liane, I can wait a mere five years more."

"Have courage lir" Katana encouraged.

"It may be longer than that" she said without looking at him.

"I don't understand, will the incarnation be different now?" his brow creased slightly by confusion.

Courage.

"No, the time between incarnations has not changed. It will occur, and affect both of us in five years time. But- I'm afraid it may be longer than that before we are bound together."

"Why?"

"I-I wish for some, time to myself. To come to terms with, with I don't know what. With myself, with my life and what it means." It all came out at once in a rush "It's something I need to do myself, for myself. I feel like I have not lived my life, because for so long I planned for my death."

And just like Celebrian Legolas face was blank as he said "I see"

"I can make sure that the incarnation will be safer for you while I am gone. I have enough magic for that." Liane hurried on wanting to somehow lessen his pain "And I will come back of course, sometimes I don't feel like I belong here but in my heart I know Valinor is where I really belong."

"You're leaving Valinor?" his head shot up and he pierced her with burning eyes.

"M-maybe-" she stumbled under his dark blue gaze "Maybe not right away. I thought I might explore Valinor for a short time…"

His gaze was unwavering on her.

"Yes, I plan to leave Valinor" she admitted "But I'll come back, I promise"

Legolas shot out a gust of angry air and shot up to pace angrily in front of her.

He stopped in front of her hands on hips "You can't go back to middle earth, it is too dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"What about the temple?" he said as if it were obvious "They have betrayed you many times. Because of them you lost your very life. And you would go back into their hands?"

"The temples power will have greatly diminished with the destruction of the cerin stones. And the bakura have all been killed." Liane explained "They're no threat to me. And it's not like I'm going back to the temple or even the Mugen academy. I can't"

"You aren't? Why not?" he asked looking thrown off track.

"No, I'm not." Liane said feeling little angry at his ignorant words "Aside from the fact that I don't want to, as far as everyone else is concerned I'm dead. It'd be a little strange if I just showed up alive and well someday."

"Well, then where will you go?"

"I don' know!" Liane leapt to her feet "But there other places than the temple and the academy in the world you know."

"And what will you do once you and reach this unknown place?"

"I don't know" she snapped.

"So you shall leave the land of your people, go back to middle earth, location unknown without purpose" he sneered "Well I'm that certainly puts my heart at ease."

"I knew you would not understand, I tried to tell amee, but she thought you would…"

"She thought I would understand that my other half wishes to leave me?" he said incredulously "She thought I would understand my heart being torn in two?"

"I never meant to hurt you!" Liane shouted desperately "Believe me, I never thought I would ever leave-"

"But you did" he accused "When you came here, you came with the express purpose of finding me and then leaving me alone for the rest of my days. And now you seek to do it again, not because you must die but because you must live!"

Tears began to well up in Liane's eyes as all of her worst fears about this moment came to pass, Legolas hated her. She had hurt him again, and this time she did not think he would forgive her.

"Did it ever occur to you that living without you has been no life at all for me?" he demanded angrily "Do you not think that for all my life I knew something, some vital part of myself, was missing? And that when I met you that first day I had found it at last and was finally complete. And that when I lost you not one month ago, for an instant I lost myself and was ready to surrender my soul into the hands of Mandos, for there was no other reason for me to walk this plain when I would walk it without you."

The tears that she'd been trying to hold back ran over and down her face at Legolas' heartfelt speech.

"And do you not think," he went cruelly on, ignoring her tears "That it will be any different if you are alive, but separated from me by an ocean."

He came up behind her and gripped her arms tightly in his hands and whispered "Do you not think, that you will feel the same?"

"I-" Liane swallowed hard "You're right. I should not have asked you. When you have waited so long and watched me die…it was wrong. I'm sorry, forget I mentioned it."

"Forget that my mate wants no part of me?" he laughed darkly in her ear "Yes, that will be easy to forget."

Liane whirled around as he released her arms roughly "That's not what I meant! I do want you."

"And yet you asked me to let you go all the same." He folded his arms over his chest and turned coldly away from her.

"Yes I asked!" she shouted through her tears, something strong and hot rose up within her at his stubbornness. She would not stand by and let him throw unfair accusations at her. He had his turn to voice his anger now it was hers.

"I asked that I be given the chance to choose my life for once!" She shouted again "For all my life someone else has chosen for me, from the very beginning some force has mapped out my life without my consent. And let me tell you something fair prince, it was no easy life. All my suffering, being alone in middle earth the only one of my kind, demon wars that would have made the battle of the one ring look like child's play, betrayal from allies and friends. But all that suffering was nothing compared to the agony of finding you and knowing I would leave you forever."

"Do you think it was easy for me?" she demanded stalking around to face him "When you were the only sure thing, the only bright spot in a world of shadow and sorrow, the only thing that was truly mine. And I had to give you up, to walk away forever."

"And do you think it was easy to come to you tonight, to say these words, when my very soul cries out that it is wrong?" she made herself look into his blazing eyes while she spoke "Do you think it is easy for me to ask for something for myself? When all I have ever known was service to others?"

"And do you not think" she said, her eyes now dry and darkening to near utter blackness "That I deserve to choose my life's path, just once?"

She looked into his eyes and watched as the fire there died and became hard "Apparently not." She said going back to slump down on the bench.

Liane knew this would happen, she knew it as she stared a Legolas' ramrod straight back. How could anyone ask a soulmate to let their other half go? How could she have done it? And for such selfish reasons, just because she felt a little cheated by life. And yet she had, and now she would suffer the consequences. Legolas was furious with her, she was furious with him and herself, and they were stuck together in their fury for all eternity.

Because, for all Liane's selfish desire's for freedom, she would not leave without Legolas' blessing. And he was not likely to give it to her.

"Go."

"What?" Liane croaked.

"I said go" he said more loudly "Do not make me say it again for I do not think I would have the strength."

Awed, Liane rose up from the bench and stretched a hand out to Legolas' turned back. She wanted to make sure she had heard him right, to thank him for this gift. More than that she wanted to take it all back, to embrace him tightly and tell him they would never be parted.

But instead, she recoiled and left.

Authors note: Thank you to all who continue to read and review, especially those who continue to send in reviews for each part of each chapter, since I have taken to breaking chapters apart into three sections, people tend not to review each part but wait until the last one comes out. Still I'm very appreciative of all those who take the time to review, whenever and for whatever chapter.

It's been a while since I wrote an authors note, I'd done away with them mostly because the intro into each chapter has gotten rid of any reason to explain what's going on at the end of chapters in the form of an authors note. I can't remember who suggested I put an intro at each chapter, but whoever you are thank you.

But in this particular chapter I imagine I might have caused a little bit of controversy by bringing back more angst after so much angst in the previous chapters. Everyone was no doubt hoping that all that angst would have been dealt with and gone away, and that Legolas and Liane would live happily ever after and finally get to do the deed. Know what I mean? Say no more, say no more, wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Alas, I'm afraid we're in for a bit longer of a ride. Not much longer I don't anticipate. Maybe a few more chapters, but rest assured Liane and Legolas will have their happily ever after and their moment.

Why then am I drawing it out you ask, well I guess it's a bit personal. As a modern young woman myself, I can't ever see myself getting married young and without having explored the world a bit more. There's certainly something to be said for exploring the world with a significant other, but I still feel like a little self discovery is necessary before that time. And so naturally I've put those values into my main character Liane, I just can't see her settling down right away in marital bliss.

So, you'll just have to wait a few more chapters before that happens. Bwuhahahaha!

Don't worry, I won't draw it out that long.

Also, for Umeda fans out there, some of you have been asking whether there's something going on between him and Glorfindel… Smart readers that you are, I think you can figure that one out for yourself. Bwuhahahaha!

Okay, well, thanks again for sticking with me and for all the wonderful reviews.

Stay tuned for the next episode of True Home folks!