DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that is Tolkien's……hehe….

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LEGOLAS

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Tears were in my eyes as I fled my father's chambers. Where was I to go? My mind was reeling...not to the healing wing….no. To my Library! That's where I would go....Where else?

I ran through the hallways and up the stairs to the main hall. It was full of people. I pushed my way through the crowd to the black doors of the Library and whipped through them, ignoring the looks sent my way by the other elves.

I walked to the far end of the room, right to the weeping willow, parting it's curtain that fell to the floor. I climbed so that I was inside of it, almost completely hidden from view, and cried. I cried for myself more than Aliya. Why had all of this happened?

I find the one I love, she is taken from me, and then thrown back, when my life is formed anew. I didn't understand. Now I might lose her again!

"It's not fair!" I muttered angrily, "She CAN'T go. I need her here, with ME...."

"Of course it isn't fair!" came a voice from below. It was my father leaning against the trunk looking into nothingness. "Often has fate chosen another path for those we hold dear, but today you need not worry. Aliya will not die. But you need to know that you can live without her presence as well as with it."

He beckoned for me to come down "Of this you are sure?" I whispered, in awe, forgetting his harsh words for the moment.

"Yes." he said quietly, "But she will lose the child. She has lost much blood. Kendre has informed me that she will probably be held in bed for days. Your daughter is very skilled for one so young. She is like your sister. I remember when she was young. Do you?"

"Yes…" I said, my thoughts turning from Aliya and onto my deceased sister, "She was always so willing to learn. Her mind changed every few days on what she wanted to study, what she liked and what she didn't. I remember when she turned 50 and you wanted to throw her a feast, but she wouldn't let you. She wanted to do it herself. She was so independent."

"So is your daughter…" My father agreed, "As is Aliya."

"What does she have to do with this?" I said, my eyes burning just from the sound of her name.

"Much." My father said cryptically, as his answers often were, "Aliya was not always as she is now......."

"How could I forget?" I countered, "How I wanted her to just look me in the eyes….but she could not. How I wanted her to speak to me, without tears…but she could not. She has changed so much."

"She has." My father agreed again, "There are always reasons for such dramatic happenings..."

I stared at him, as we began walking back towards the doors of the Library.

He seemed to know that I could give no answer, so he supplied one, "She has changed because of YOU." he said, "So have all of them. Your sister….Your daughter…Aliya. Their demeanor was affected by you. Their amount of independence was helped by you."

"But I don't want to be anybody's role model." I complained, and then realized how stupid I sounded.

"That is not your choice, I am afraid." Father said regretfully, "but one is always stronger than they think. And because of that, Kendre is stronger than you think. Aliya is stronger than you think."

He stopped before going through the doors, "There is much, I think, worrying you about her, and it is not a worry about her physical state. Go to her. There is much you have to discuss, I believe."

My father left, walking out the doors towards who knows where. I left too, but I left for the Healing Wing, hoping Aliya was awake. I doubted she would be, but I would wait.

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