Torn by: Leia Grace

Disclaimer: I would be very famous if I owned TLOTR characters, and as much as I wish I was famous, I only own Elenalyn, Lithana, and Claramelia.

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CHAPTER 1

Elenalyn did not want to leave Rivendell. She and her mother, Arwen, the Queen of Elves and Humans, had been visiting Elenalyn's sister, Lithana. Lithana was princess of the Elves in Rivendell, as their mother and father decided she would be, since she was the eldest after Eldarion. Lithana was still young, at 26, and 8 years Elenalyn's senior. She had yet to take a husband, so she could not yet be queen. Elenalyn remembered the conversation she had shared with her sister, while they watched their mother feed deer.
"Time is running out, and the Elves might loose their respect for you, Lithana. Luume, taape an laa mine." Elenalyn wanted her sister to be everything she could be, since Elenalyn could not.
'Time, he stops for no one.'
Lithana only laughed, "You are forgetting that at least half of our blood is that of immortal Elves! I've all the time in the world! Besides, mother and father did not marry until father was well into his nineties and mother in her two-thousands!" She paused, then spoke, "Im tuure ilya luume mi Imladris."
'I control all time in Rivendell.'
Elenalyn just shook her head; "You also have to remember what Grandfather Elrond told Mithrandir, that the time of the Elves is coming to an end. How much time do you think you have before your age starts to show, you can have children, or you are sent forth to pass over the Sea?"
Lithana sighed. "I do wish to take a husband one day, and to become Queen of the Elves of Rivendell. I'm just waiting to find the right Elf."
Elenalyn smiled in surprise, "That's wonderful! Well, I'm sure you will find someone soon, as you and I both look like mother. Besides, who said your love has to be an Elf?"
Lithana looked at her younger sister in shock, "Why-! Well, I have to-! I-…I don't have to marry an Elf, do I?"
Elenalyn shook her head.
"But I want to marry an Elf."
"Go on."
"I'm afraid he doesn't want me, though."
Elenalyn feigned shock. "How could he not! Who is it, by the way?"
Lithana sighed, "Prince Legolas of Mirkwood."
Elenalyn nodded, "He's handsome enough, is a very good man, and father thinks extraordinarily highly of him. But, how do you know he doesn't want you?"
Lithana looked away, "It is a secret I cannot tell."
Elenalyn looked at her sisters back stubbornly, "You will tell me or I shall never visit Rivendell again!"
Lithana shook her head, "It is not my secret to tell!"
"Then whose is it? Pray tell me so that I might have peace of mind so I shall not skin Legolas with his own arrows for not taking my sister!"
"It is my secret to tell." Elenalyn and Lithana turned around to see Arwen looking at them. "Mine, your fathers, and Legolas'."
Elenalyn looked at her mother pleadingly, "Well, please feel the right to divulge the secret."
Arwen smiled at her young daughter, "I shall tell you if only for the reasons that you will be told upon reaching Lothlórien, and I fear for Legolas' safety, knowing you are quite capable of following through with your threat, no thanks to your father!"
"Then do tell!"
"My dear Elenalyn," Arwen took her daughter's hands in hers, and smoothed away a wisp of raven hair, "Legolas will not wed Lithana, because he has asked for your hand in marriage."
Elenalyn looked at her mother in shock, "ME!?"
Arwen nodded, Lithana looked out at the view, a sad expression on her face.
Elenalyn shook her head, "But…I don't wish for his hand! I don't wish for any one person's hand! I don't…"
Arwen nodded her understanding, "I know how you feel about not wanting the hand of a man who wants you. The betrothal has been set up, and you will have to marry him by your 20th birthday. Until then, his love can go unrequited, or you can let him capture your heart."
Elenalyn looked down gravely. She had never expected this. She loved no man or Elf. She was quite content with her present state. Upon trying to think of Legolas as the man with whom she would spend her entire life, she could not feel anything for him yet. He was a good man, strong, noble, kind, and she had always enjoyed his company. She had never been close to him, and never imagined herself being close to him. She did not desire the way his heart was made…even if she did desire those traits. "Two years…" She whispered. One of them would have to change their mind within two years. She groaned inwardly, feeling awful for her sister. Loving an Elf, and him loving another, and that love not being returned! She looked at her mother, "Must I go to Lothlórien?"
Arwen smiled, "Yes, unless you would not care to see your sister Claramelia. Don't worry, we have to go to Hobbiton first to fetch Elanor. She's helping her mother and father with the birth of their sixth child. You can let shock settle in time to get the Lothlórien."

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Arwen and Elenalyn said their good-byes to Lithana and the Rivendell Elves, and made their way to Hobbiton. The entire time, Elenalyn mused over what she really did want in a companion. A part of her wished she wanted Legolas, if only so she wouldn't be going through such turmoil. But that would hurt Lithana, and she could not bear that even more.
Her smile came back when they reached the Shire. She absolutely loved the Hobbits, and they were the first race she would want to be if she was not an Elf-Human. The Hobbit children raced around the sides of the road, laughing and calling to them, greeting the royal carriages as they came through.
"First stop, Mayor and Mrs. Samwise Gamgee's hole." Arwen said as they passed a beautiful hole.
They came up to Bag End, with it's round green door, and they heard a flurry of voices inside, while their carriage stopped.
Elenalyn looked at her mother, confused. "I thought we were going to the Gamgee's hole."
"We are."
"But this is Bag End. Frodo Baggin's hole."
"Sam, Rose, Ellie, Gard, Rosie, Little Merry, and Pip live at Bag End with Frodo."
They walked to the small door and knocked. After a few seconds of scuffling feet, the door swung open to reveal Little Merry, standing there with his mop of curly sandy hair, and his hairy Hobbit feet, which were practically bigger than the two feet height a four-year old Hobbit made him. His adorable face that was already the spitting image of his father; broke into a huge grin.
Arwen kneeled down to him, "Hello Little Merry. Are Sam, Frodo, Rose, or Elanor here?"
Little Merry bobbed his head in a nod, "Daddy! Queen Evenstar and the Princess are here!"
"Oh!" They heard the exclamation coming from somewhere within the house. Sam came rushing out from the corner somewhere.
"Queen Arwen! Princess Elenalyn! Welcome! You're here to take Elanor, right?"
Arwen smiled as she gave him a hug, "Yes, Sam. 'The tenth year of Little Ellie's life', I believe was our agreement."
Sam smiled warmly, "Yes, we did agree, and I'm keeping to the promise, mind you. But, ten years went by so fast. Too fast, you might say."
Elenalyn laughed, "Well, you are never going to lack children enough to love!"
Arwen and Sam laughed, "Yes, I believe you're right!" Just then, the cry of a baby could be heard coming from a room off to the right. Sam gestured for them to follow him. "Our sixth child is to be born soon, and Pip isn't the happiest about not being the center of attention."
"Sounds extraordinarily close to his namesake." A voice came from the doorway. They turned to see Merry and Pippin standing there, Merry with a big grin on his face, and Pippin looking oblivious, and then suddenly scowling at Merry's remark.
Sam just laughed, "Come in, you two goons, if you want to see Baby Eomer or Goldilocks being born!"
They rushed into the master bedroom, to find Estella Brandybuck and Diamond Took helping Rose through her contractions. Elanor was sitting in a nearby chair, rocking Baby Faramir in her lap, and looking at Rosie as she tried to comfort Pip who was wailing on his blanket. Elenalyn came over to Elanor. "Hi, Ellie."
Elanor gave her a smile, "Hello, Princess."
"Why don't we take Baby Fair, Rosie, and Pip out to their Play Room, and make sure that Gard and Little Merry are also out of the way, so the grown-ups can try to deliver your next Baby sibling well."
Elanor nodded, looking relieved, "Yes, we need to get Baby Fair and Pip out of here definitely. I also think Rosie might get scared of the scene, for she still might not understand what is happening." Elenalyn smiled.
"Mother, Sam, the children and I are getting out of your hair, unless you call me back to do anything."
They all looked relieved. Sam spoke up, "Thank you, Princess. I already have an errand for you. Merry and Pippin will look after the children, if you will go and find Frodo."
Elenalyn nodded, "Of course."
Merry and Pippin followed them out of the room, and took Baby Fair and Pip out of Elanor and Elenalyn's hands. "Rosie, Ellie, go find Gard and Little Merry, and bring them here. Princess, you go look for Frodo."
She nodded, "I'm on my way."
Elenalyn rushed out of the house. She smiled as she looked back at Bag End. There was so much life and love to be found, in such a small place. Now, Bag End was actually very large for a Hobbit hole, but compared to everywhere that she had been, it was small. She looked at her surroundings. Now where could Frodo be?
She trotted across the hills, happy with the stamina, grace, and agility that having Dúnadan and Elvish blood gave her. She found herself in a peaceful brook. She heard a noise behind her, and turned around to see Frodo standing in the base of a tall tree. She smiled at him.
Frodo smiled at the lovely sight before him. How much she looked like her mother! "What brings you here, Princess?"
Elenalyn made her way quickly up the hill to the tree, "Merry sent me to find you, hoping that you would be there for the birth of Sam and Rose's sixth child."
Frodo looked in the direction of Bag End. "Of course I want to be there! My, my, sixth child. I hope Rose can handle it."
Elenalyn smiled. She was quite fond of Frodo and Sam, as they treated her like a normal, respected, decent human. She had always thought that they were the two most handsome Hobbits in Middle Earth. It amused her to think that it was unfortunate that Sam's heart had been stolen by Rose Cotton before she was even born. Frodo hadn't found anyone yet, and for some reason, the thought of Frodo being available thrilled her. Just looking into his brilliant blue eyes nearly made her shiver. But, he was a Hobbit, and nearly two feet shorter than she.
Frodo laughed, "I keep telling Sam, be careful! Be careful or be quieter! Rose is somewhat of a screamer, and the rest of the house does enjoy its sleep!"
Elenalyn laughed allowed in surprise of the remark. "Thank you, Frodo, for that lovely picture you just gave me to think of!"
Frodo turned to grin at her, "Blame Sam for not stopping!"
"Surely, he would stop if Rose said no."
Frodo grinned at her devilishly, "Funny, in all her screaming, I haven't heard her cry no yet."
Elenalyn just laughed in shock. She had never heard Frodo, or any person for that matter, speak like that. Frodo hopped down from the tree, and started walking with her along the brook. As they walked, he kept stealing glances at her, which did not make Elenalyn necessarily as nervous as it made her curious.
"What?" She asked him.
He smiled, "I'm just trying to imagine you as a mother."
She raised her eyebrows, "I have to be a wife first."
He turned to look at her and stopped. She looked at him, wondering what this was about. He stared into her eyes, and she could almost feel him reaching into her soul, reading it. "I can definitely imagine you as a wife."
She averted her eyes from his. "I need to find a husband first." She walked past him, for some reason not wanting to make any contact with him.
She did not hear him whisper, "I can definitely imagine myself as that." Princess Elenalyn did not know that since the day Frodo saw her since she blossomed into womanhood, he had been in love with her. He had also been quite afraid, knowing that she was an Elf-human, nearly 60 years younger than he, royalty, nearly two feet taller, and the daughter of one of his greatest friends. To his knowledge, the only thing keeping them apart was that she had not awaked to her shared feeling about him. He did not know that Legolas had fallen for her beauty as well, and had already requested her hand. No one knew who Elenalyn would choose…especially not herself.

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Arwen and Elenalyn decided to stay for dinner with the Hobbits at Bag End, and talked and laughed with them over the children, stories, songs, and shared news about the outside world. Rose proudly told them of a rare and beautiful flower that Sam had bred, and that were growing abundantly in the back eaves. They all went out excitedly to see them, as Rose and Sam stood there proudly looking at the plants, Rose beaming, and Sam red with shyness and embarrassment.
Sam carefully plucked a beautiful red blossom, presenting it to his wife, "I call it the Shire Rose, and I want the most beautiful to belong to my Shire Rose." Rose smiled shyly, accepting the flower, and giving Sam a kiss, being careful not to squash the new Baby Goldilocks. Frodo stepped forward, looking at a velvety, deep, royal purple one, which was still closed, as it had yet to find the one for it, and to show the world what it was. He carefully picked it, and turned to look at everyone.
"I can think of one other, who can match the beauty of a Shire Rose." With a smile, he handed the rose to Elenalyn, who looked at him in surprise. She accepted it with a small smile. Their eyes met, looking over the rose…and Elenalyn felt that thrill through her body growing stronger. She couldn't understand the effect he had on her. There was just something about those blue eyes that broke through a barrier she didn't know she had.
Arwen smiled at her daughter. The rose was perfect for her…but she caught something. There was something in Frodo's face. It was the same look that graced Aragorn's face the first time she ever saw him. It was the look of true, pure, unabiding love. She felt a shock go through her. Frodo was in love with her daughter! She had seen the earnest look on Legolas' face when he asked for Elenalyn's hand, and it was a look that told her he was winning the prize, gaining the most beloved trophy. Like Aragorn's had been, Frodo's was complete love. Legolas had Elenalyn on a pedestal. Frodo had her in his arms.
She looked at her daughter, and she saw the feelings start to shine through, but blocked somehow. Elenalyn didn't think she wanted love, because she had never opened up to it. She was closed off, and didn't know it. Her daughter loved Frodo in some way, but didn't know it. The plain Hobbitness in Frodo kept him from concealing it, for it made him have no knowledge on how to conceal it even if he wanted to.
They all walked back into the hole, with Sam starting to sing a merry song about flowers, in his naturally great voice, and the children clapping in delight, for they loved it when Sam sang. Arwen strayed behind a little, for she had some business to work out first. She caught Frodo before he entered the hole.
"Frodo." He turned around to look at her.
"Yes, your Majesty?"
"I am inviting you to come to Lothlórien with us. I want you to be there."
He smiled at her, "Thank you for the offer, but I can't leave Sam and Rose so soon after the birth. Sam needs me to help, for Merry and Pippin won't be of much use, and Estella and Diamond are going to be busy with the children."
She thought for a moment, "Then meet us in Lothlórien for the last day of our visit there, and journey with us back to Minas Tirith. I know that Elessar longs to see you again."
He looked at her curiously. She was trying to get him there for some reason. "When will you be leaving Lothlórien?"
"Seven days from now we will be leaving for home."
He thought for a moment now, "Alright, I will meet you at Lothlórien and join you on the last leg of your journey."

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The next morning, Elenalyn, Arwen, and Elanor said their good-byes, after picking up each of the children, and hugging all the adults. Rose and Sam could not hide the fact that they were sad that Elanor was leaving. Especially since none of their children had been away before.
Arwen hugged Frodo, reminding him, "Six days, Frodo."
He nodded. He hugged Elanor, and then came to Elenalyn. When they hugged, she didn't know if she wanted to let go of him. He closed his eyes while they embraced, and whispered into her ear, "See you in Lothlórien."
She looked at him curiously, but had no time to ask him what he meant, as the carriage pulled away. She just watched him, looking at him, as everyone waved. She did not turn around until Bag End was completely out of sight.
Elanor sighed, "I know I will have fun, and a wonderful life…but I shall miss the Shire, Bag End, and my family especially."
Elenalyn turned from the window and smiled, while Arwen hugged Elanor with a smile of her own.
"Don't worry, Ellie. You will all meet again, and you shall see the Shire more before all is faded."
Elanor smiled at the Queen, and looked out the window, and the beauty of the passing Shire.

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With the speed of their horses and using the main road, they made a six-day trip in one day. Though Elenalyn was anxious to see her elder sister Claramelia again, it would also mean she had to see Legolas. She didn't want to face Legolas. Then, there was what Frodo had said. Was he meeting them in Lothlórien? When? She was rather confused. She was trying to understand why it heeded her mind so. She cared not if he came and joined them! She would enjoy his company, and would make seeing Legolas easier.
It was midday when they arrived in Lothlórien, and the weather was beautiful. Elves with trumpets played away in the trees, announcing to the rest of Lothlórien that they had arrived. It was a truly royal welcome, and Claramelia came running out to greet her mother and her sister with warm embraces, and joyous cries.
"I am so glad you have come!" She was nearly an identical image of their great-grandmother, the Lady Galadriel, but much more childlike and exuberant. Even for a half-Elf, she had an aura of being a fairy. She was 24 years of age, but acted younger than Elenalyn. She led them through the archways, which would eventually lead them to the throne room. They stepped into the throne room, and looked around. Elenalyn had forgotten how beautiful Lothlórien was. She stared at the thrones, and for a minute, lost herself in imagining what it would be like to sit there, to be the Lady of the Wood, the Lady of Lorien. She didn't even here Legolas come in behind her, and everyone leave them alone.
"Lyaa oloore iirima nat, ta lyaa mere, Elenalyn Laure Tinme Niphredil."
'You dream beautiful things, that you desire, Elenalyn Golden Starflower.'
She whirled around to see him. "Legolas Laiquendi! Im hanya uu lyaa o im."
'Legolas Green-Elven! I knew not your presence with me.'
He smiled and nodded around them, "I think you forgot how beautiful Lothlórien is."
She smiled embarrassed, "It is hard to remember exactly what such unimaginable beauty looks like, if you are not looking at it right then. If there are no words to describe it, how can one imprint the picture in their mind?"
"Very true…" He seemed surprised. He always knew she was very intelligent, definitely more so than Claramelia. There was just something about Aragorn and Arwen's daughter! "Would you want to rule here, one day? Rather here than Mirkwood?"
She turned away from him. Seeing all the splendor of Lothlórien, and the magnificence of the throne room, nearly made her forget about her unwanted betrothal. "Legolas, I don't know how to say this, but…"
"You don't love me." He broke in, looking at her straight in the eyes. He didn't seem upset.
She shook her head, "No, I don't. I'm sorry."
He smiled slightly sadly, "I wouldn't expect a girl as young as yourself to feel that way yet. Hence, the reason I asked Aragorn to make the wedding for when you are twenty."
She looked at him straight in the eyes this time, "I do not believe I will ever love you."
He just looked at her.
"Not to say you aren't a wonderful Elf, who deserves to have the love of a wonderful female…just not me."
He looked at her for a while, but she felt like he wasn't really seeing her. His eyes shifted to the thrones, and he stepped past her. "You do not wish to rule Mirkwood?"
She shook her head, "No, I do not."
"You believe there is nothing I can do to change that?"
"No."
His eyes shifted down in sorrow. He took a deep breath. Elenalyn tensed, as though she was about to be hit in the stomach.
"Is there someone else?"
She was surprised by the question, but also expected it, for it was a natural thing to ask. "I do not love anyone, at this time."
He turned his head to look at her, "I respect you, I respect your feelings. My respect for you makes it even harder for me, for I feel I have fallen for you."
She moved closer to him, "Do you not feel you could have mistaken these affections as being for me, when they are really for Lithana or Claramelia?"
He gave a weak smile, "Lithana's disposition does not suit me. She is too strict and abiding. Claramelia is the opposite, and rather reminds me of two jokers that I know who are Hobbits, and that is definitely most unappealing!"
She gave a rueful smile. "I seem to understand it now; you picked me because I am a better match for you. My character you find best suited with yours."
He nodded; glad she saw the light, "Yes."
She sighed, looking down. "I regret to inform you that though that does not make me think less of you as a person, it definitely does not make me attracted to you, much less make me realize I love you."
He looked at her surprised.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I would like some rest in my quarters." She walked out of the throne room, and headed down a winding staircase to her suite.

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