Lily, this chapter's for you :::wink::: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ Three weeks later, Legolas could be seen wandering the castle; sometimes with Arwen, but mostly alone with his thoughts. Elrohir knew it was time to send him home, but something kept telling him not to. The days passed uneventfully, thankfully.

"He heals quickly," a voice pulled Elrohir out of his thoughts as he watched the prince in the courtyard far below. He looked over his shoulder.

"Physically."

The other elf now joined Elrohir at the balcony. "Emotionally, too. When he first came here, he would not even have Elladan in the same room as he. Now, he seems not to mind so much."

"My lord," Legolas appeared in the long silence that followed, bowing slightly in front of Elrond.

"Yes, Legolas?"

"Pardon my interruption, but have you seen Arwen of late?"

Elrohir spoke before his father could. "I think she is in her room."

The prince nodded a short thanks.

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A couple minuets later, Legolas found himself outside Arwen's chambers. He sighed, and knocked.

"Come in."

The prince pushed the door open. He smiled at the sight before his eyes. "You're all dressed up."

Arwen smiled. "My father is having a banquet tonight. He wanted me there."

"And you want to go?"

Arwen shook her head. "Legolas, I trust all the elves here. They're not like the men, only because I know them. That's why Father didn't invite you; he knew you wouldn't come."

"It's not that I wouldn't want to."

"And we understand that, Legolas. I wouldn't want to go either if I hadn't known every one of them since birth. They're family. I trust family."

"You look beautiful."

"You're welcome to come. I could use a dancing partner."

Legolas shook his head slightly, and Arwen nodded.

"I understand. I'll see you later tonight then." She paused, looking deep into her betrothed's eyes, then pushed past him. She quickly headed towards the great hall.

Legolas felt something prick at his heart with the glance. There was something different, something forlorn in her eyes.

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Legolas was enjoying the quiet in Elrond's palace. All the elves were at the banquet, leaving the halls free for Legolas to wander in peace. He was just walking, and that was okay with him. It was good to be walking free, under his own will again.

He didn't know how it happened, but his wandering quickly took him to the doors of the Great Hall. They stood open, letting warm light and joyous music flood the hall. The prince stood in the shadows of the doors, watching the occupants of the room. And then, as quickly as his feet had led him there, his eyes led him to Arwen.

She was dancing with Elladan, laughing merrily. The elf had no doubt told her a new joke. For an instant, Legolas wanted to be in there. He wanted to be dancing with Arwen. Why wasn't he in there? He felt like he was standing on a shore, in that final moment of feeling safe before plunging into the water. Only he didn't want to take the plunge, even though Arwen was already swimming, and swimming further away from him.

He left quickly to change into formal attire; he needed to be with her.

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Arwen gently pushed open Legolas' door when he didn't respond to her light knocking. A small smile formed when she saw him asleep in the chair next to his bed. He was wearing a silver tunic; one of the few formal things he kept in Rivendell. The meaning of this dawned on her; he had every intention of coming to the banquet. Her smiled widened. She covered him in a blanket, and turned to exit the room.

"Arwen?"

"I'm sorry, Legolas. I did not mean to wake you."

"Wake me? What time is it?" Legolas forced the words out through his groggy mind.

"The hour is very late. Or, I suppose now it is very early."

The prince began to fully awake. "Oh, Arwen. I'm so sorry!"

"For what, Legolas?"

"I was going to come. I was going to dance with you."

Arwen chuckled lightly. "I can see that. But you apparently needed the rest."

Legolas rubbed his temples. He wouldn't deny that the sleep had helped his body, for whatever reason. "I'm sorry."

"Please don't apologize, Legolas. You have nothing to be sorry for. You've never had anything to be sorry for. Go back to sleep. I will see you at breakfast tomorrow."

Legolas ignored her command. He pushed the blanket off of himself, and slowly stood. Forcing any last weariness out of him, he took Arwen's hand in his own.

"What are you doing, Legolas?"

"May I have the honor of this dance?"

Arwen eyed Legolas for a second. She finally dipped her head slightly in a nod.

Legolas wrapped his arms around the girl's body, and began humming a soft tune in her ear. Arwen's smile reappeared, though Legolas could not see it.

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"Legolas?" Elrond questioned as the elf nearly ran past him. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going home. I was sent for ages ago, I should not have lingered so long."

"Wait," but Legolas did not listen. He didn't want to have to explain why he was leaving.

"Laegolas, son of Thranduil, stop where you are!"

Legolas had no choice but to obey the command.

"At least let me check over you before you go. I want to make sure you risk no more harm."

"I assure you, my lord, I am well and fit for travel."

"I believe I would have a better opinion of that than you. Let me have a look."

Legolas said nothing more, knowing that he could not argue with Elrond. His own father would have his head for it.

Back in his room, Legolas laid back, his tunic unbuttoned. He failed miserably at trying not to wince at the elf's touch, and Elrond knew that the prince had been hiding his fears.

"Why the haste to get home?"

"I need to know why my father is not in rule."

Elrond nodded. He heard the message that had been delivered. "Have you said your goodbyes?"

"To Arwen." He lied.

"Arwen? You're leaving her here?"

"Yes. For now." He hissed suddenly as Elrond pressed on his ribs.

"You think you can ride like this?" Elrond asked, his eyebrows raised. Legolas said nothing. "I'm sorry, I know you must be anxious to get home, but I cannot yet let you leave."

Legolas sat up, re-buttoning his tunic. "Is there nothing you can give me for it?"

"Nothing effective, I'm afraid. Stay and rest for a while longer."

Legolas turned his head to the window. Elrond nodded to himself, leaving the prince alone.

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"Legolas?" A tentative voice caught Legolas off guard. He said nothing in response, however.

The elf who entered drew closer to Legolas, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"This isn't for us, is it Arwen?"

"What do you mean?"

"This betrothal. It's not right."

Arwen said nothing, so Legolas continued. "We were friends since birth, practically."

"But nothing more," she finished, a sad smile on her face. "You noticed it when we were dancing this morning, didn't you?"

Legolas nodded. "You agree with me then? This is mutual?"

Arwen nodded. Tears were welling in her eyes. "Our fathers will not be pleased."

"Weren't they the only reason we got betrothed?"

"It seemed right at the time, Legolas, didn't it?"

The prince nodded. "I love you, Arwen. I really do. But if we wed, our lives would be built on a bed of lies. Would you want that?"

Arwen shook her head. "So this is how it ends." It was bittersweet.

"No, Arwen. We are friends. We'll always be friends. This is merely another beginning." Legolas took a deep breath, then held out his hand to Arwen. "I believe this is yours?"

She looked at the Evenstar in his hand. "It was a gift to you. Please keep it."

Legolas wrapped Arwen's fingers around it. "It was meant to be given to your true love. Give it to him when he comes."

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"Legolas, our father req-" Elladan stopped short. "Legolas, what's the matter?"

"Nothing."

Elrohir snorted, still in a merry mood. "I believe that."

"Leave me be, please."

The twins' smiles faded. "Come, eat. Father says this will be your last night in Rivendell. you are leaving in the morning?"

"I am not sure of the hour of my departure as your father has not yet granted me permission to leave."

"Come, join us at the feast!" Elladan persisted.

"I am not hungry."

"Well at least come so you can say goodbye to everyone."

Legolas kept his patience. "I do not wish to say goodbye to anyone, and those that I do have already been informed of my leaving."

"We didn't know."

"You know now."

Elrohir sighed. "Please, talk to us. What's going on?"

Legolas relented. There was no way out of it. "Arwen and I are breaking the engagement."

The twins glanced at each other. "I'm really sorry, Legolas." Somehow they knew that Legolas' time with Tarduain had influenced his decision.

"I don't want your sympathy!" He knew they had sensed it, and their sympathies were not just for the broken engagement. Legolas rose from the windowsill where he had been seated, grabbing his cloak. Why was this so hard for him to do? They both agreed that it was the right thing.

"Legolas?!"

"I am leaving now. I will return your horse to you, have no fear."

Elrohir placed himself between the prince and the door as Elladan left the room. "I don't care about the horses! You can't do this to yourself!"

"Do what to myself? Arwen and I agreed on this. We both know it's right."

"I don't understand then, why are you so upset?"

He felt like he had lost his best friend, though he knew he hadn't. That's why. "Elrohir, move out of my way."

He did not move. He knew Legolas would back down eventually; he always did when faced by Elrohir, even in jest.

"I command you!"

"You may be a prince Legolas, but so am I, and we are in my house, therefore I have more authority."

"Your reasoning is deeply flawed."

"Elrohir, move out of the way, please." The Rivendell prince glanced over his shoulder at the soft voice behind him.

"Legolas," Arwen said as Elrohir left for the two to be alone. "Don't do this."

Legolas shook his head. He hadn't wanted her to see this display of weakness in him.

"I will see you again, but I must return home. Remember, for always Arwen, that I love you."

Legolas pushed past her, only to be stopped again by Elrond, some feet down the hall.

"Please, I just want to go home." He was growing frustrated.

"I did not come to stop you, son of Thranduil. Only to say that I wish you would take my two best warriors with you. You will be passing through Tarduain's land again."

A shudder passed over the elf. "As you wish, your two best. Ready them, for I leave within the hour." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~

Kelly: I found 'From Ancient Grudge." It is at . 'To New Mutiny' is found here . Hope that helped. Lol, thanks for both reviews too.

Nina: Well, hello. Hm, what did happen to Thranduil? Sad to say, you won't find out in this story. I'd say this story has one or two more chapters, then I'm off to post the next one: his return to Mirkwood. Evil, aren't I?

Tamara: Well, he's doing better for now. ::evil grin:::

Littlesaiyangirl: Aw, thanks! Yeah, I love the picture of his "clinging" tunic too, lol. Hope you enjoyed this one.

Sky: I didn't forget Thranduil, I promise! You'll see, but you have to come back for story two. evil huh?

Bec: That sounds like fun. Aw, of course I missed ya! Are you kidding? :::shakes head in disbelief::: I guess you're gonna have to keep reading to find out if he'll be normal again, huh? Lol, thanks so much for the review!

Wilwarin: I know, I can just see him storming into his father's halls with a completely ticked look on his face. Thanks for the review!!