A/N: Your lyrics to ponder for this next chapter are Limp Bizkit's Boiler and It'll Be Ok, okay?

Chapter Twenty: Fly Away From Here

"Elorelei, you don't mean to do this. Reconsider."

"I have, Legolas, many times. I'm leaving."

Legolas looked on helplessly while Elorelei packed up what little things she felt she had earned in her life. He had looked in as many elven law books as the Whitecloud's possessed and pleaded with her night and day. He even insisted going with her, but she was adamant he did not.

"Legolas, I've been waiting my whole life for an opportunity to arise where I was legally able to free myself of the crown. I did not realize I would also be freeing myself of my family and home, but that's the price I will pay. You will not."

So she was going, nothing anyone could say would stop her. She was tired of Minele, looking down on her and taking control of everything. She had to stop it, and stop it she would.

Iledian neighed impatiently, everything was packed and the horse was not looking forward to the journey ahead of them. Legolas watched Elorelei sling her quiver on her back, then approach him, bearing a bow wrapped in a green cloth.

"Watch this for me. Don't let anyone see it... just keep it safe. I'll come back for it." She promised.

He grasped her hand, hoping something profound would come to him, making her stay so that they would figure this out. He couldn't say anything, but not from lack of trying. He barely heard his mother yelling in the background about misconduct, didn't feel his father's hand on his back, pulling at him. All he knew was he was kissing Elorelei, the one person in his life he felt like he didn't have to hide anything from. Nothing else in the world mattered. Then, in an instant, that one beautiful moment, the most wonderful moments of his life, it was over. He realized what he'd done.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't-"

She put a hand over his mouth. "Legolas, shhh. I can't say I didn't enjoy that, but I want to leave here knowing you're my friend. I know you as that alone. I don't have time to see what it could be like for me to love you."

He looked at the ground, torn between giddiness and misery. I understand."

Elorelei leaned into his ear, holding him as tightly as she could. It was painful, in more ways than one. "It'll be okay." She stroked his hair, comforting herself more than him. "There's somewhere else... I can start all over. I'll be okay, I'll come back. Just... wait for me."

He nodded. "I will, I swear." She didn't notice him slipping his royal ring into her bag. It was she who had taught him that trick.

"Legolas? Don't regret... anything."

He looked at her, knowing what she meant. "What?"

"I don't regret what's happened to us. What's done is done, don't regret it. Goodbye." She turned and hopped on Iledian and rode off. She didn't look back.