DISCLAIMER: I own all the character that you don't know……the rest belong to Mr. J.R.R. Tolkien and his sons and daughters who all have "r" s in their names…….
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The poem featured from Aliya's POV is written by fellow ff.net writer, "in blue". In blue is very talented and a good writer, but to find it you have to look her up in the directory in the 8th page of the "I"s……..thank you, reader and thank you, in blue……..
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LEGOLAS
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Breakfast with my father alone was a rare thing, but on that day, that is what had occurred.

Miama was out that morning at archery practice I think. I had not the heart to teach her, so she had to learn from a formal instructor. I think at times she got annoyed with my moping, but even after all these years, she still comes to mind.

My Melamin.

"Legolas!" my father said, snapping me out of my daze, "I think-"

But he got no farther, because at that moment, a page entered the room, announcing that someone had come wishing for an audience of the King and Prince. I nodded to him, barely noticing what he had said.

My father, on the other hand, took great interest in what the page said, and said, with a smile, "Send this 'person' in!"

I did not take great interest in visitors, but focused my eyes on the door anyway.

When it opened a figure, cloaked in black with it's hood up walked slowly towards us. It did not even stop to bow, but instead walked so that it was not even 5 feet from us. I saw up close that the figure was small and trembling.

I raised my eyebrows in puzzlement and suspicion, but what I saw next nearly stopped my heart.

The figure lowered its hood, revealing underneath a most beautiful face with red lips and honey eyes.

I watched as those honey eyes filled up with tears, my own with them.

My heart beat rapidly as I tried to gain breath to speak.

"Aliya…?" I said, not taking my eyes from her, "ALIYA!"

I jumped from my seat and pulled her close to me. I could feel her hot tears against my cheeks as I kissed her.

"Oh, Legolas!" she said in a weak voice, "I've had such sorrow!"

"Aliya…" I repeated over and over again, fondling her small form, "Your really here… Your not dead! Your not dead… You lived…you lived!" I cradled her as if she were a precious gift, never wanting to let go.

"I missed you…" she whispered, "I missed you so much…"

"And I, you, Melamin! But now we are together!" I cried out in joy.

She pulled away from me quickly, staring at me with glassy, sorrow filled eyes, "No!" she whispered, bringing my joy to a dead stop.

"What?"

"No!" she repeated firmly, "We are not together…Legolas…I love you…but I have come to say goodbye." She looked quickly to the floor and back to me.

"What?" I repeated, in even more disbelief. My eyes closed in agony and my breathing became ragged, "Why?"

"Legolas…" she said, and I could tell she felt as I did, "You have a family. I will not ruin it. You have a wife, and two beautiful twins. I will not rip it apart. I will not. I came because I heard you were alive…I came to wish you the best of luck in your new life. I came to let you go. To say goodbye…"

She stopped and looked down.

"Why?" I repeated the answerless question, "I love you, Melamin… and you will always be in my heart. Remember that, and think on it!"

I said, raising my voice as I stormed out of the room, leaving Aliya alone. Leaving myself alone.

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ALIYA
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Every time we were alone

Said you'd be with me forever,

Said you would stay in my life

I needed you close.

But this world has gone too far,

Could we rewrite the story?

I want you here and now

Please come to me.

We had the most perfect love,

But our bubble was shattered.

The situation was cruel,

My heart's gone cold.

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I did not turn to watch Legolas go. I couldn't. Instead I raised my teary eyes to the King's. And noticed that he was smiling.

"Why?" I now asked him the same question.

"Welcome home…" he said, opening his arms in welcoming. I ran to them and he embraced me. "You have been expected." He held me as if cradling my broken heart.

"You knew…"I whispered, "You and The Lady…you knew…"

"She told me over 40 years ago…just after the wedding…" he admitted, "Aliya…The wise gain wisdom on their own paths…they cannot give it to others, they can only direct them to the path of wisdom..."

"You have directed me so many times Thranduil…but..." I stopped and pulled away from him a bit so that I could look into his questioning eyes, "Do you think what I did was right?"

"I am proud of you for it." he stated, not answering my question.

"But was it right?" I pressed.

"Aliya…You did what was in your heart! Be proud that you could! So many do not follow their heart but their minds..." he smiled, looking off as if thinking about someone else.

"Then why do I feel so awful?" I cried, "Why do I feel like I just broke my own heart? Or worse…..Legolas's!"

He looked at me for a long time, and then said, in a low, slow tone, "Because the mind does not always want to believe what the heart knows to be true! You must see this!"

"He has a wife…and children…I did what was best!" I said trying to convince myself.

"You should stay…..at least for a little while…" Thranduil said, putting a hand on my shoulder, "Your old room still awaits you…if you would like it…"

I smiled at him, and he only repeated what he had said many times before, "Do what is in your heart! Do what you know to be true…"

I turned and walked towards the door, but the King called to me, so I looked at him, "Aliya…"he said, in a clear voice, "I love you like a daughter…If Legolas were to choose your love, over Princess Miama's…I would not disagree…"

I closed my eyes briefly, and then turned once again, walking out the door.

Was he right? I did not know yet…
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