A/N- sorry for that cliffie. Wait- no I'm not. _ Anyway, this chapter is fluff and angst. What a perfect combination. Mostly angst, as you might have guessed. It's 'the chapter of Truth'. And Confrontation. Yay!

~Chapter Four

          "Legolas!" I gasped and promptly fainted.

          When I awoke later I was alone. The room had a slight antiseptic smell, the smell of a healing house. I looked around and took it that I was alone. I set my head back down on the pillow and wept silently for a while.

          I was married, and Legolas was here. What else could go wrong?

          "Legolas," I choked, "I'm so sorry…"

          "Sorry for what, Niphredil?" said a voice. I jumped out of the bed and drew my sheets around me protectively.

          "Legolas!" I said, my tears gone. Legolas stood at the foot of my bed, a slightly amused look on his face, but mostly his eyes were sad and looked betrayed. "Why didn't you tell me you were here?" I said. Legolas shrugged.

          "What are you sorry for, Niphredil?" Legolas repeated. I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut. How to answer?

          "I…oh Legolas!" I said, throwing my arms around his neck. He patted my back in a friendly gesture. All was lost…we could never, ever be the same.

          "Why did you marry him, Niphredil?" Legolas cried into my hair, his calm front gone.

          "Because…" I whispered. "Galadriel said we would be happy…and it would break my fathers heart if I didn't, and…" my voice trailed off as I realized something.

I loved Théodred.

It wasn't the passionate love that Legolas and I shared; it was more unconditional love that did not die.

I pulled away slightly from Legolas as I realized this. I looked into his eyes, frightened of what I might see. "I don't know why I married him," I lied. I knew now. No matter what I told myself now, I knew the real answer.

"Do you still love me, Niphredil?" Legolas asked.

"Yes," I said, puzzling at my answer. It seemed as if Legolas and Théodred were battling each other in my heart. "I love both of you," I admitted. "Sometimes I yearn for you, and other times I want…I want him, and other times I can't decide, but I still love you and I wish I could have it both ways…" I felt terribly childish now. I tried to remind myself that I was a warrior-maid of Lorien, an heir to the throne of the Wood. This helped a bit and I calmed down. I looked Legolas in the eye and shook my head. "I'm sorry," I said calmly, but sorrowfully.

"I don't know if I could ever feel the same way, Niphredil," Legolas said, going to the window. "But the thing is…" he said, turning back to me slightly, "I'll never be able to let you go." I could hear the sob climbing up his throat. What had I done to him?

"Théodred is going to die," he said. "He is a mortal. What will you do after he dies? You clearly love him, maybe more than you love me…" his voice trailed off as he looked deep into my eyes. He was reading my soul. I turned away.

"Are you just going to wait for him to die?" he continued, coming over to me and laying a hand on my shoulder. "Are you going to wait for him to die, and then come to me? Could it be the same as it would have been had all this not happened?"

"Will you wait for me?" I whispered.

"I don't know," he said, his voice full of honesty. "I don't know."

I nodded, biting back tears. Legolas gave me an uneasy half-smile and then left the room. I listened to his footsteps echo down the hall as I sat on the bed and fought desperately against crying.

Footsteps. More footsteps, coming towards my room this time. The door opened. Théodred, of course. He sat down next to me and held me in his arms, and I cried against him until the moon was high in the sky.  

~

Yeah, I know it's short but I had to get something up, to keep you folks from dying…yeah, right. Anyway, if I can't post anything else for a while its because FANFICTION IS BEING SO SCREWY AND NOT LETTING ME POST ANYTHING!!! Okay, now that that's out…at least it's something, yeah, and guess what! I'm going to see The Two Towers again with my friend! Yes!!! I can't wait!!! I loved it!!! All of you go see it!!!

Also, I'm in the middle of reading The Return of the King and let me tell you, it's sooo much better than the other two books. It's much more exciting and look for some great battle sequences (and giant spiders) in the next movie! I can't wait!!!

Okay! Bye!