Last chapter, no it's not the end. We have a sequel called 'Lessons of time', which will be posted soon. Anyway thanks for all your brilliant reviews. It means heaps to the both of us and encourages us to continue. Thanks.

~*~Urebriviel and Belle Bing~*~

Lessons of the heart

Chapter 11

Arwen Undómiel found Legolas sitting meditating up a tree not far from Maewyn's room.

"You've been found out." Amusement twinkled in Arwen's eyes. Legolas groaned.

"You did not have to tell her Undómiel." Arwen laughed. Legolas always called her that when he was annoyed.

"She had a right to know. Honestly, you cannot have thought you would win her heart by carrying on the way you are." Legolas sighed.

"She is not willing to give it to me. Why should I bother any longer?" Arwen smiled.

"She wants to talk to you." Legolas, in shock, fell out of the tree. Arwen laughed as Legolas got up off the ground and brushed himself off.

"What?" He exclaimed, taking hold of Arwen's shoulders and looking her straight in the eye for any sign of deception.

"Maewyn wants to talk to you." She repeated. A grin spread over Legolas's face.

"I do not know what you said to her but I'll love you forever for it!" He exclaimed, taking Arwen by surprise and kissing her. Arwen's eyes widened and they heard a

"Hey!" From behind. Legolas spun around to see Estel standing behind them. Legolas grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry!" Legolas called and ran to see Maewyn. Approaching a slightly shaken Arwen, Estel smiled.

"What was all that about?" He asked. Arwen considered the question for a moment.

"Maewyn and I had a little, uh, shall we say, talk."

"You told her about Legolas didn't you?" Arwen nodded.

"He had a right to know. It is all part of our plan remember? They'll be happily together in no time." Estel looked down at Arwen lovingly.

"You cannot resist meddling, can you?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Maewyn?" Legolas asked with some trepidation, stepping into Maewyn's room. He was shocked to find that Maewyn was not in her bed where she should be, but sitting in an armchair on the other side of the room. "Are you allowed to be out of bed?" He asked, concerned about her condition.

Maewyn got a look of defiance in her eyes that he was all too familiar with, so he let the matter go. "Arwen said you needed to talk to me." He said. Maewyn nodded.

"She told me that you've been sitting with me everyday while I was asleep." Maewyn accused.

"Yes, I was very concerned about you, and Lady Galadriel was not sure if her treatment would work." Legolas tried to remain as indifferent as he could, but it was not working.

"Arwen also told me you have changed very much and I did not give you a chance back in Rivendell." Legolas did not know what to say. It was not that he was lost for words, it was that he knew that while Maewyn was essentially apologising, if he sounded arrogant, Maewyn would get mad at him again, but he did not want to sound like a doormat either.

"Perhaps we should just say that neither of us gave the other a chance." When Maewyn did not explode, Legolas knew he had passed the test. "Are you feeling any better?" Legolas moved on to a more civil topic.

"Well enough to get out of bed." Maewyn said, "Though I do not know how long the strength will last."

"Then you should get back into bed." Legolas replied.

"Just allow me this little time." Maewyn pleaded, giving the air of a small child and Legolas found he could not reject her.

"So what would you like to do then?" He asked, extending his arm to her. Maewyn slowly stood up and took it.

"How about a walk around the gardens." She suggested. "For all the talk of their beauty I have heard, I have not had the pleasure of seeing it with my own eyes."

So Maewyn and Legolas toured the gardens, talking and making up for time that they had lost. They talked about many things, getting along amicably. Never once did they touch upon the subject of their arranged marriage, although both yearned to talk about it. The sun had almost set, and Legolas and Maewyn were still in the garden talking.

"Oh," Maewyn groaned, her head spinning. She clutched onto Legolas's arm all the tighter.

"I think it is time to get you inside." Legolas said firmly. Maewyn did nothing but groan in reply.

Once inside, Legolas put her to bed.

"This time, stay in bed." Legolas scolded lightly. Maewyn closed her eyes, but Legolas made no move to leave, contented in his role as watcher. Maewyn did not sleep however.

"Thank you." She mumbled, "I really appreciate what you've done. All of it." Maewyn took a breath. "I know we fight all the time, and that we've been placed in a less then agreeable situation, but, friends?" Legolas smiled.

"Of course." He placed his hand upon Maewyn's who now had her eyes open, and did not mind the gesture at all.

"Maewyn, I." Legolas had started to say, when the door to Maewyn's room opened. The elf at the door was the last one Legolas wanted to see.

"Haldir." Legolas greeted him, none to friendly.

"Legolas." Haldir replied, in a tone equal to Legolas's "It seems your busy, Mae, I'll come back later."

Before Maewyn had a chance to reply, Haldir had left. Legolas turned back to Maewyn, eyebrows raised.

"Mae?" he questioned. Maewyn snatched back her hand.

"Haldir is a friend, he is entitled to call me what he wants."

"Am I not your friend also?" Legolas enquired. Maewyn shrugged.

"After the way you just acted towards Haldir, I cannot be sure." Legolas got angry. Why was Maewyn acting like this?

"How can you be considered an elf?" He demanded, shocking Maewyn. "You are casual in your friendships, and do not care who's heart you are breaking." Maewyn now equally as angry, pretended to ignore that statement.

"And what about you?" she accused. "You were ready for an arranged marriage."

"I only agreed because I had feelings for you." Legolas yelled back, caught up in the heat of the moment. "But I can see why you string me along. To win points with another elf! Why did you not tell me in the first place? I would have gone." Legolas's voice had dropped now.

Maewyn felt like she had been stabbed. Was this true? Was she only using Legolas? She did not want to marry him did she? Maewyn felt tears pricking her eyes so she squeezed them shut. Opening them again, she saw Legolas standing over her.

"Well Mae?" he used the nickname for her in a mocking tone, "Are you going to tell me what's going on, or haven't you finished playing games yet?" Maewyn could take these accusations no longer. Managing to get out of bed, she fled the room.

Legolas should have been able to catch her easily, but given his current feelings it took him much longer than necessary to decide whether to chase after her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Haldir could feel the tears working down his face. It was hurting. After all the time he had spent with Maewyn, he thought that Maewyn was forgetting Legolas. He obviously misjudged the situation. Haldir felt hopeless. He really had feelings for Maewyn; he had never felt this way about another elf. He could imagine himself spending the rest of eternity with her. And that was when he knew it. It wasn't just feelings he had for this feisty elf, it was love.

Haldir did not know how to react to this revelation, as he was still unclear on what Maewyn was feeling. Choking out more tears Haldir heard the sound of another approach. He hastily rubbed all traces of the tears from his face before turning to face the intruder. It came as a shock to realise the elf was Maewyn.

Maewyn almost crashed into Haldir in her flee from Legolas.

"Mae." Haldir asked holding her up. When Maewyn realised it was Haldir supporting her; she collapsed to her knees taking Haldir with her.

"I can't. I can't." she sobbed. "I'm so sorry." Haldir's forehead creased in concern. What had Legolas said to her?

"Mae, tell me, what is troubling you?" This caused Maewyn to cry harder.

"All I can do is hurt people." Maewyn bowed her head in shame. "Everyone must hate me."

"No." Haldir smiled gently, "I think you're wonderful." Maewyn was taken aback by this. This was all she needed. Ever since she had left her room, she'd been trying to convince herself that Haldir was the best one for her.

Having him say that he thought her wonderful was giving her the go ahead. Leaning closer and closer to Haldir, she kissed him on the lips.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

By the time Legolas decided to follow, Maewyn was well and truly out of sight. He followed her trail never the less. He ran and ran and finally came to the garden he and Maewyn had toured earlier. The sight that greeted him made his blood run cold.

Maewyn, Haldir, kissing. Legolas turned. It was obvious whom Maewyn chose now. His choice had been made for him. He left the garden to ready himself to leave Lothlorien.

Making his way back inside, he ran into Arwen and Estel.

"Where is Maewyn?" Arwen asked surprised that they were not together, especially after they had been getting on so well.

"It is over. Maewyn has chosen another. I do not need to be here." His voice wobbled, betraying how he really felt. He quickly wiped at his eyes and then left.

Estel and Arwen looked at each other in dismay. How did this happen?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Haldir knew he had to break the kiss when he felt tears on his face. But they weren't his; they were Maewyn's. He held her face in his hands.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

Maewyn went to nod, but as a wave of dizziness enveloped her, her eyes fluttered shut. She fell against Haldir, adding more weight to what was already troubling him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That, I have to say, is the last chapter of Lessons of the Heart. We're cruel aren't we? But! Never fear, Urebriviel and I are already working on the sequel Lessons of Time, however we have half yearly exams coming up, so it might be a bit of a wait. I would like to say sorry for leaving you such a wonderful (well, I think so anyway) cliffhanger, but I wouldn't mean it! I love tormenting you with what is going to happen next.

I really want to say thank you to all of you who left reviews (good and bad) because they have really helped us to develop our skills. And, if you are interested in anything I have written, I do have my own account, under Belle Bing. Please, read, review and stick with us for the sequel.

~*~Belle Bing~*~

On another note, Belle Bing is a wonderful writer and she should be credited for this. I really encourage for you all to have a look at her stories. Anyway please review and the sequel will come all the sooner.

~*~Urebriviel~*~