TITLE: United As One

AUTHOR: Araisilwen

DISCLAIMER: Oops I forgot this on the first chapter. It has been awhile since I have last written something. So anyway I do not own anything of Tolkiens work. His creation belong to him and him only. No suing, pretty please?

A/N: Ello everyone! I'm glad that many people are enjoying this story. As I have had to explain to a few people, this is a faerie tale, fact and fiction become blurred. I am not writing it as something that happened in the history of Middle-Earth, rather just as lore.

There are only three chapters left *cry*, oh well., I think I will write a short fiction based on what happened to Faira's sister, and then I will work on the next Vala Chronicles story. Well, have a good one, enjoy the story, and remember: Knowledge is Power, Power Corrupts, Study Hard, Be Evil

CHAPTER 5: Tangled Web

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when at first we practice to deceive."

"Well, my Lady, we have arrived at our destination." Legolas said as they stepped onto the worn dirt path. "To the left is the pathway to the Elven City in Mirkwood, and to the right is the path that leads to Carrock. To which is your destination?"

Faira thought about this. She could travel through Carrock and visit some of the other elven realms and maybe some human cities. Or, she could go to Mirkwood and continue to be Fiarwen and explore the inner most depths of the realm. The excitement of being someone other than an exiled princess appealed to her. But, with all of the lying taking place, it will only be a matter of time before someone figures out her true identity.

"I will go..... to Mirkwood." But hopefully she will be long gone before anyone even gets relatively close to finding out her secrets.

Legolas' face lit up with a smile at her answer. "I was hoping that is what you would choose. Come, I will, once again, lead the way." And so, the two elves set off down the left path talking about everything and yet nothing at all.

They had reached the inner city around midday. Legolas invited her to stay in one of the guest quarters in the palace. After a wonderful tour of the grounds, they had set down for dinner where she met the king.

That had been a month ago. Her friendship with Legolas had grown to such an extent that they were now best friends. Nothing could separate them, though many had tried. She had also revealed little of her past to him, and he eventually stopped asking. So everything was going great, except for the homesickness that had settled deep within Faira's heart.

Now Faira sat on the railing of her balcony, her feet dangling over the edge as she sketched something in a blank book. Never, in all of her long life, did she think she would ever have befriended an elf from Mirkwood, and the PRINCE no less. Now that she knew Legolas, saw how the city was run, and saw the wonders and beauty of Mirkwood, she wondered why Ardenwood still wanted to fight them. The folk here all seemed so peaceful and content. Surely they were not the cause of the dark shadows slowly creeping into Ardenwood; she could see them lying heavily here in Legolas' realm as well.

She was so entwined in her drawing and in her thoughts that she did not hear the soft footfalls of someone approaching. Therefore, when a hand gently touched her shoulder she jumped, and if it weren't for that hand, would have fallen off of the balcony.

She turned around and jumped back inside. "Legolas! Don't startle me like that."

Legolas smiled. "Why is it that every time I approach you, your mind is lost in its thoughts?"

"Oh," Faira didn't know that her preoccupation was so apparent. "It is.... just that I have a lot to think about."

"Indeed." Was his only reply. After a short silence Legolas asked, "May I see what you were drawing?"

"It is nothing much." She said as she handed him her sketchbook. The drawing was of a faerie flying towards the moon leaving a trail of stardust in its wake. "It has mistakes all over it."

Legolas was astonished to say the least. It was a very good drawing. "Nonsense, This is fabulous. How long have you been an artist?"

"About three years. I picked it up after my sister had died. I was so afraid that I would forget her that I used her old art set and tried to paint a picture of her." Sadness crept into her eyes at the memory of her long dead sister.

"If you don't mind my asking, how did she die?" Legolas asked, feeling sorry for the sadness of her loosing her sibling. Legolas was an only child, but he did know what it was like to loose a friend who was as close to him as family, closer even.

The sadness was then replaced by anger in her eyes. Her voiced shook slightly with barely repressed rage. "She was murdered."

This startled Legolas. "By who?"

Faira closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, the rage and sadness were gone, replaced by a blank expression. "I will not say more. I can't say more." Silence set any for a few more moments. She crossed her arms. "Did you come hear just to make me almost fall off of a balcony or did you have something important to say?" It was astonishing how a few months can seem a lifetime because it felt like a lifetime ago that she said something similar to an annoying elf named Ethalias, on the day she fell in the river because of him....... on the day she left home.

Legolas' river-like laugh filled the room at that. "Nay, I did not try to make you fall off of the balcony. You accomplished that feat on your own." He just smiled at her playful glare. "I came to return something to you, or at least I presume it is yours." He held out his hand, on his palm was her royal seal necklace.

Faira gasped. She did not even know it was missing. The one clue that could give her away, the one clue that could cost her life if anyone saw it and put two and two together, was found by HIM, the prince of Mirkwood! She needed to think of something, and quick.

Legolas was watching his new friend with the up most scrutiny. He watched as her face registered alarm, then panic, then fear. He hoped it was not hers, but he could now tell that she recognized it. If she was from Ardenwood, and then the punishment would be death if his father found out, no matter how much Legolas would protest against it.

"Oh..that...i.it," She stuttered, looking only at the necklace.

"Is it yours?"

"Y..yes." She whispered.

"What does this mean?" He voiced the question that had plagued his thoughts for many months. He wanted the answer yet feared it as well.

"It.....means nothing, Legolas. It is only a necklace." Was her brisk reply.

"Nothing?" He questioned, not believing a word she said and slightly angry at the fact that she had lied to him, has been lying to him, still is lying to him.

"Yes, nothing." She said quietly, unwilling to look into his eyes.

He hoped he was just imagining the worst, that it really was nothing. That it was just some trinket she had found, or was given to her by a friend. He was going to question her further when loud footfalls echoed in the hallway, running.

"Sire!" A guard said as he stood in the open doorway. "An elf from Ardenwood is here! He says he needs to talk to you!"

"Ardenwood?!" His gaze hardened. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

"Where you not supposed to shoot him as soon as he was sited?"

"Yes, your highness, but he has something important to say! War is brewing!"

"WHAT?!"