Disclaimer: Must I have one on every chapter? I don't own anything you don't recognise! =D
A/N: Hello, readers! Thank you soo much to those of you who reviewed! It means a lot to me and I'm so sorry I don't update enough! It's just, with being in school and all, teachers are not very sympathetic to the creative cravings an author feels. So I cannot write when I want to… But I've tried! And here it is, chapter 8!
Warning – Elodon gets a tad… physical in this chapter. Not enough for an R rating or anything, just telling you :)
Once outside, Yana stooped over next to the trunk of a tree, catching her breath. Her iced blue eyes were filled with tears and she fought to keep her poised countenance. Tears would be of no assistance to her now. She knew that she had made a decision that she would have to keep. It was a matter of her honour, a matter of honour for Elrond and Rivendell as well. She would wed the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen, binding the ties between the two regions forever.
"Yana?" a voice startled the she-Elf. Holding her head high and willing the fresh tears to disappear, she turned to the voice.
"Legolas," she said, once she realised who had called to her.
The Prince bowed his head slightly. His keen eyes took notice of her own blue ones, and the look of glassiness and moisture they possessed. Yet he chose to say nothing of this. "Yana, how do I find you this morning?"
Yana took on the part of the shy maiden speaking with her fiancé, and she did not meet his gaze, smiling slightly. "Very well, thank you. And you?"
He merely nodded, taking delight in the light blush that crept over her cheeks. "Now, I must ask you something. I know you already know of the matter I am about to speak to you of, but I wanted to hear your answer from you."
Yana still kept her gaze away from Legolas as he continued, "Will you marry me?"
Biting her lip, outwardly to keep from smiling, inwardly to keep from crying, Yana replied, her voice soft, "Yes."
Legolas's serene face broke out into a full grin as he held the blonde Elf before him in a new light. She would be his wife. He loved her and surely she loved him back. He took her right hand in both of his, kissing the back of it. Gently Yana pulled away, finally meeting the gaze of her soon-to-be-husband. She smiled, though the smile did not spread to her eyes. They remained determined, set in her determination of what she had to do.
~*~
That evening, Yana was nowhere to be found. Elrond, Arwen, Legolas --- All three had searched for her among the gardens, courtyards, rooms and every other place they would think to look at the House of Elrond.
Only Elodon knew where she was. She lay on the swing of the balcony where she had first met him five years earlier. She lay on her back, hands on her face. She had not wept throughout the day, though her eyes threatened to overflow at any approaching moment. She kept her hands over her eyes, blocking out even the dimming light of the sun. She was too tired.
Suddenly, she felt a hand trace the side of her body, sending a shiver up her spine. Slowly she uncovered her eyes to find Elodon standing above her. Yana sat up slowly as her lover made to sit next to her. After he sat down, he pulled her into his lap.
Burying her head in Elodon's shoulder, Yana held him tightly.
"Yana, what is the matter?" Elodon asked, caressing her back, twirling a strand of hair between two of his fingers.
The Elf did not respond but the tears she had held in slowly fell from her eyes. Feeling a tear upon his neck, Elodon's brow furrowed.
"Yana, what is the matter?" he repeated. "Are you alright?"
Slowly Yana raised her face to meet the eyes of her lover. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her usually beautiful blue eyes were reddened. Her nose was slightly red as well. She lifted her arms around his neck. Sliding one hand to rest on his cheek, Yana closed her eyes, letting to more solid tears fall.
Elodon opened his mouth as if to speak, but Yana ran her fingers over his mouth, silencing him. She withdrew her hand, only to replace it with her mouth. She hungrily fought for a kiss, crawling completely onto him, pushing him down on the swing that was swaying slightly with her movement. Elodon responded by kissing her back deeply, forgetting her tears.
Only when she did halt the kiss herself did he again notice her tear-streaked face. She was breathing heavily, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Grabbing her shoulders roughly, Elodon brought her face close to his.
"What is the matter?" he nearly yelled.
Her eyes widened and she commenced to cry again, taking shuddering breaths. "What is the matter?" he said softer.
"Elodon…" she whispered. "Please…I…"
He grasped her delicate chin in his hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. He drunk in her beauty; even as she wept she was beautiful.
"Yana, speak to me," he said. He leant over to kiss her forehead, then her cheek, trailing kisses up to her ear, down to her neck. "Tell me," he murmured.
Yana gasped in pleasure, closing her eyes to his touch. Then fighting the delightful feeling he was giving her, she pushed him away gently.
"I – I can't, Elodon," she moaned. "I cannot do this anymore."
Abruptly Elodon let go of her. "Why not, love?"
Yana got up from her seat on the swing and walked slowly away. But she did not respond. Elodon followed her. He reached an arm across her slender hips and pulled her to him. She turned her head to rest on his shoulder and sighed deeply.
"Elodon," she began. She turned to face him. "I cannot."
His deep brown eyes implored her, begged her, to tell him what was going on.
"Elodon, I love you. And nothing that I am about to say will change that. But Elodon, I cannot go on loving you like this forever. In secret!" She pulled away from his arms.
"We can get married, Yana," Elodon said. "I will speak to Elrond!"
"It is too late, my love," she whispered.
Elodon's eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed. "What?" he asked.
"It is too late," she repeated. "Elrond has… he has disapproved of you for me. I told him of our love and he was angered."
Elodon made to speak but was cut off as Yana continued.
"He has accepted a marriage proposal for me. The proposal of Prince Legolas of Eryn Lasgalen."
Glaring furiously, Elodon yelled, "How could he? How dare he make this choice? Yana, didn't you fight him? Didn't you even try to change his mind?"
"I did," she cried. "I did, Elodon. He would not listen!"
"Then elope with me. Surely you have not accepted this marriage proposal yourself."
Taking a small step backward, Yana looked up into her lover's eyes. "I have."
Elodon strode forward, his hand raised. He slapped the she-Elf's cheek, her pale skin stained by a red mark.
Reaching up to touch her face where he hit her, Yana stepped backward again. "Elodon," she whimpered.
Elodon seemed to have realised in this moment what he just did and he began to take a step forward, trying to apologise.
"No," Yana said quietly, tears flowing down her porcelain-like face. "No, Elodon. I am marrying the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen and that is that. It is a matter of my honour and Rivendell's. And Elrond's. I will take no more."
She ran from the balcony. Elodon watched her go with disbelief; he stared at her silhouette as it ran into the House and away from him. She had run away from him.
~*~
The next morning found the House of Elrond in a dreary state. Elodon had sought refuge in the small cottage he had been lodging in during his stay in Rivendell while Yana had skipped the evening meal and went straight to sleep, hoping to escape from her trials at least for a little while. Even the weather seemed to be gloomy, thick clouds obscuring the sun from vision.
After washing and dressing, Yana finally spent the day out of her hiding. She fought to keep her tears in --- for good. All she could do now was pray that she would love Legolas.
This wasn't too difficult for at least they were friends. Yana liked Legolas's sweet, caring personality. He was also fun to be around; they had already spent many days just chatting or practising archery together. But before, Yana had been able to tell herself that she would later see Elodon, her lover, for a romantic time together.
Now Elodon was out of the picture. He snuck glances at Yana whenever he could, but she would try to avoid his gaze. It was harder for Yana to get along with Legolas now, knowing that he was her lover and their times together were romantic.
But today she decided to try and be Legolas's true fiancée. She spent the whole afternoon with him and they spoke about Eryn Lasgalen: what he knew and what she remembered.
Then Legolas said, "My father will be pleased."
Yana looked at him curiously.
"He wanted me to get married and I hadn't for so long."
"Wh-why not?" Yana inquired.
"I never met the right one for me," he said. Legolas looked into her eyes and took her hands in his. "Yana, I never felt so strongly about a person before. I know that I can make you happy. I know you will be happy. Please… I love you."
Yana returned his gaze, pleasantly astounded. Elodon had many times told her he loved her but it had always been out of passion. He would be kissing her and he would say it. He would be touching her --- no, she could not think of him. It hurt her heart too much. Instead she continued to look at Legolas. She smiled lightly, a blush falling in place on her cheeks. Before she could reply, Legolas leant forward.
He kissed her, lightly, on her lips. Yana was caught off her guard at first and she sat still, not knowing what to do. In a matter of seconds, however, she resolutely took her hands out of his and placed them around his neck. She tilted her head upward and deepened the kiss. He slowly opened his mouth and urged her own open with his tongue. She obliged and their kiss became more and more passionate. Legolas reached his hand up to tickle her ear and Yana gasped and pulled away. Elodon – he used to do that…
Legolas stared at Yana with concern. "I --- I am sorry, Yana," he said softly. "I did not mean for it to go that far."
She shook her head slowly, taking care that her eyes did not well up with tears. "No," she said, trying to smile as if it was nothing. "It's nothing, really. I'm sorry I was just a bit startled." She smiled nonchalantly.
But the air between them was slightly less friendly and a bit tenser as they walked to the Dining Hall for the evening meal again.
~*~OK folks… That's all for now! I'm tired… But I hope you liked it!! Ew, isn't Elodon a creep?! Leave me a review, something sweet hopefully :) *hugs* Elenya~*~
