~INSULTED~

I honestly do not remember slapping Aragorn. I remember the hurt of that name and the hurt from my past, and then next thing I knew my hand stung and Aragorn's hand was at his cheek.

"Now, now. no need for violence. Though we do have a temper don't we?" he asked, then leaned in and whispered, "Typical for us humans," in my ear.

And this time I was conscious of my hand quickly raising to eye-level, ready to strike, but this time I wasn't quick enough and he grabbed my wrist and held it there.

"A mighty short temper." he added. "Now, obviously this name holds meaning to you-or you wouldn't have done anything."

"The name is an insult. Any insult deserves retaliation."

"Do not lie." He said simply.

"'Tis true. Any insult does deserve retaliation." And I pried my wrist from his grip. "Though if you must know, it was a name called to me of my enemies in Gondor." And I shot him a death glare, as if to ask him if he was content for nagging.

"Gondor?" He smiled, "Then do you not owe me allegiance?"

"I owe allegiance to no one. Spare Legolas." I responded with.

"A free spirit?" Aragorn asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No." I paused. "An outcast of two worlds."

~THE RETURN OF ALEXANDRIA~

"I do not appreciate a mere mediator being compared to Arwen." I noticed at the words 'mere mediator' he fist clenched at his side.

"'Twas never an idea of mine. I did not pick the name. I am just told I looked like Arwen, I never even fathomed that my beauty or power ever compared. Evenstar was great. And I am just a mere mediator. A half-breed. Cursed by lineage but blessed by skill. Evenstar was pure. As pure as elves can get. I do not compare." I explained.

"Your power does compare. And you are very skilled. Though you are correct, you do not compare. My wife was my wife, and you are just a charger." He said, as kindly as possible. And after a short pause, he murmured something so low I am not sure I heard right. Then he walked away And I am not sure I want to have heard right.

For after that pause, I thought I heard Aragorn say, "A beautiful charger." And curse himself after.



------intermission. dun, dun, dun.. Du-du-dun-dun-dun. ------ dun. hehe.



~I NEED TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING~

Legolas approached me with a puzzled look on his face.

"Should I be concerned?" He asked.

"No. Aragorn just needs to," I paused, trying to find the right words, "Hold his tongue."

"Hm. Indeed." Legolas replied, still suspicious.

"I found that meeting brief and pointless and I missed you," he said, wrapping his arms around me.

"I saw you not so long ago."

"Each moment drags on without you." He replied.

"I love you." I whispered, for it was the only thing that seemed appropriate.

"Gardens?" He whispered in my ear.

"If you're so inclined." Then a thought came to my mind. "No-I am so inclined. I need to show you something."

Legolas had an extremely puzzled face, and I knew he would only get more confused with what I was to show him, but illusions weren't my game and I had a gift to flaunt.

"What do you need to show me?" He asked, as we left the main complex and headed south.

"You'll see." I responded playfully. "Now. You sit here," I said, sitting him down on a limestone bench. "Watch."

And I positioned myself in front of the sole fern that most greatly demonstrated this oddity.

"Lothlorien is my home," I started, swaying my arms to gesture to the trees, and concentrating on that fern behind me. "And you," I said, pointing to him and keeping my thoughts on the fern, "are my love. And we, need to decide on a course of action."

I watched Legolas' jaw drop. I knew he barely heard what I was saying, he was staring at the fern that was mimicking my every movement. When I extended my arms, it extended its leafs, and it's leaflets twittered. When I paced, it leaned. And it wasn't just the fern. I could probably make any vegetation grow. Flowers, ferns and trees were what I mostly experimented on though.

~WRITTEN IN STONE~

"You're a Grower?" he said, smirking.

"Yes, I'm a 'Grower'. Why?" Usually it amused whoever saw it, but Legolas was, if anything, overjoyed by it.

"The liberation begins with the forbidden love, the grower and the prince; the power and the royalty. The downfall after sin and the prosperous future king. Born of luck and of hope; faith and joy he brings to the people. And the people will accept him, for he will be great and mighty and worthy." Legolas spoke.

I was puzzled. The future king? Born of luck and hope? "What?" I asked.

"You. you're in the prophecy. You and I. It's in the prophecy. The rebirth of Mirkwood is within us. Is to be within you." He stood up. "And my father cannot change that. He cannot deny his people the good fortune they deserve. The suffering is over. I love you." He said, before kissing me, and he was giddy, though I did not fully comprehend why.

"What?" I was still so confused.

"The liberation, the rebirth, begins with the forbidden love, us, the grower and the prince, you and I; the power and the royalty, you and I. The downfall after sin, our love, and the prosperous future king, our son. Born of luck, and of hope, the future; faith and joy he brings to the people, our son to the people of Mirkwood. And the people will accept him, he will be beloved, for he will be great and mighty and worthy." Legolas explained.

"A son? To bring in the new era for Mirkwood?" I said, catching on.

"Not a son. Our son. Yours and mine. It has been written and eagerly awaited for years. Eons of time, it's our only hope. Mirkwood has declined in all things good. 'Tis a sad kingdom, a sad land to rule. But the prophecy," he kissed me again, on the forehead, "The prophecy speaks of the second rise of Mirkwood. The future joy and revolution."

"Is there a catch?" I asked.

"My father mustn't know of the child. He must be conceived before marriage, and before the current king knows."

"Thus 'forbidden love'." I said, understanding more.

"Correct." He said.

I smiled, "I could go for some forbidden love."

"Think of it this way, it's for the good of my people." Legolas stated.

"It's for the good of me." I replied.

But whoever it was for the good of, I was to conceive a son for the heir to the throne of Mirkwood, without any complications. Nothing in my life ever happened without complications.