TITLE: United As One

AUTHOR: Araisilwen

A/N: I would like to thank all of my reviewers. I am glad you are enjoying this story. Thank you all for taking the time out of your lives to let me know what you think.

CHAPTER 6 - When the tangled web comes undone

" Can you forgive me again....

Your my one true friend.

And I never meant to hurt you."

Forgive Me - Evanescence

As the guard and Legolas talked this out, panic seized Faira's heart. A war? No not now! What was it over this time? Money? The looming shadows? What was her father up to? Did he know where she was? Did he expect this war to bring her home? Well, it wouldn't work if that were the plan. Her father had kicked her out. Yeah, she did yell at him, disrespect him, went against his royal command, and had run out, but what father disowned their child?

"Fiarwen, stay here. I'll be back to discuss this topic with you another time. Rest well." He pocketed the necklace and left with the guard.

Faira dropped on the edge of her bed. What was she going to do? To have crossed into forbidden territory, deceived the prince, and to have done it for so long was unforgivable. And what if his father found out?

She could simply deny that the necklace was hers, but then she might lose it forever, and it was precious to her. Or she could say a friend gave it to her, but she didn't think she could say anymore lies. The ones already told were weighing heavily on her conscience. She could tell him the truth. She could say that she wasn't who he thought she was, that she was the Princess of Ardenwood, heir to the throne, and that she had been deceiving him for over a months time. But then he might be so angry that he would never want to speak with her again and banish her (or kill her), then (if she were not dead) where would she go.

The words her mother once told her crept through her mind: Always follow your heart, young one. No matter what your mind is telling you, the heart knows the right path. With that in mind she stood up and followed the echoing voices coming from the not so distant great hall.

"Prince Legolas, this is Ethalias, the elf who wished to speak with you." The guard said before quietly leaving the two of them alone. The elf before Legolas was definitely from Ardenwood, with dark hair, dark eyes, and a tanned complexion. (It is said that these traits come from some human blood mixed with their elven heritage)

"You know the penalty for trespassing into Mirkwood territory. What is so important that you were willing to risk your life for it?" Legolas asked this strange elf in front of him, betraying neither confusion nor curiosity, though he was feeling both.

"It is for my princess that I risk my life for. Your Highness," He spat the title like a cursed word. Ethalias had no love for Mirkwood elves. "She is missing. Witnesses claim she traveled the path to Mirkwood with none other than the prince. I am here to reclaim her."

"And what of this war I am hearing about?"

"The armies of Mirkwood are waiting just beyond your borders. Hand over the princess and they will hold off."

Legolas glared. He replied frostily, "I have been in no such company. I would never stoop as low as to spare even a minute with such a lowly creature."

"I would not....." he was cut off by a surprised yell from the opposite side of the hall.

"Ethalias?!" Faira had just walked into the room, thereby missing all of the conversation, but she did recognize the elf Legolas was talking to.

"Princess Faira." Ethalias bowed.

"Faira? You are mistaken. That is Fiarwen, maiden from....well...I don't know exactly." Legolas said. And so the final pieces of the puzzle where finally starting to come together in this faerie tale.

Instantly Faira was at Legolas side. She put her hand on his shoulder and gently turned him to face her. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her glistening green eyes told him all he needed to know. "Faira?" He asked. She nodded. That was all she could do. "All this time? You've been lying to me? How could you?"

"I had no other choice. I had no where else to go. You were the only one I could trust. I.... I had wanted to tell you so many times, but I couldn't." She paused.

"Why couldn't you?" Legolas asked, hurt and angry. She could have told him anything, even that, though he had hoped she really wasn't from Ardenwood. But this other elf confirmed that as well.

"I...I was afraid." She whispered. "I was afraid of losing our friendship, of losing the only one I could count on. I never meant to hurt you. Please.....please forgive me." She looked down at her feet, knowing that this was the end of the most important relationship she had ever had, and she felt that the end of her life was drawing nearer. How could he ever forgive her? Surely he would uphold the law and kill Ethalias and herself in an instant.

Legolas surprised her by cupping his hand under her chin and making her look into his eyes. She could tell that he was hurt, and angry, and so many other things, but no malice was that blue gaze. "Please forgive me. You're my one true friend. And I never meant to hurt you." She whispered.

It was in that moment of pain, in that moment of looking into her eyes that Legolas realized two things at once. One, he definitely had forgiven her. She did what she needed to in order to survive, it wasn't here fault that he had stumbled upon her, and he respected her for the strength it took to keep it up for so long. Though he could not deny that he was hurt with her lack of trust in him. But it was the other thing that he realized that startled and scared him the most. He loved her. He, the Prince of Mirkwood, had fallen in love with Faira, the Princess of Ardenwood, his sword enemy. What could he do?

Well, he did the only thing he could think of. He enclosed his arms around her in a loving embrace as she cried on his shoulder. "Of course I forgive you, Fiarw..Faira. But it is I who should be asking for your forgiveness. Obviously I have not shown that I was trustworthy enough for you to tell me. Maybe it was because I keep startling you into falling off of high places." Faira laughed at that, it was true, he had startled her deep thoughts many times and every time seemed to be when she was sitting on something high in the air like a balcony or a tree limb. "But do not worry. I will always be there to catch you."

The sound of a single person applauding interrupted this tender moment. It was none other than Ethalias, a jealous look in his eyes. "How very touching. Unfortunately, I must break up this moment before it becomes anything more. Now come, Princess, I must return you to your father."

This brought Faira back to reality. Wiping away her tears as Legolas let her go she glared at the annoying elf. "I'm not going back there, to my golden chains. Tell my father that I refused."

"Unfortunately, I cannot do that. Either you come willingly or......else."

Her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare."

Ethalias just smirked at that. "Shall we be going?" He held out his arm towards her, half expecting Faira to take it.

"I already said no!"

Ethalias just shrugged. "Have it your way then." He moved toward her, preparing to take her by force, when Legolas stepped in between the two, grabbed Ethalias' arm and flung him back, he landed on his bum with a thud. "Never handle a lady so, sir. She said no, now leave!" He spat angrily at the annoying elf.

"You! You will regret this! Mark my words!" Ethalias roared as he picked himself up. "Beware of the Dawn!" And with that, he ran out of the palace and into the dark woods.

"What did he mean by that?" Faira asked confused.

"Nothing, it was nothing." He didn't want to worry her over the threat of a war. It was his problem.

Once again another guard interrupted them. "Sire! Your father has sent a message to you. The Army of Ardenwood is at the gates of Mirkwood and he has sent his to meet them. He wants you out there with them."

"What?!" Faira shrieked. "When did this happen?!"

"The threat started earlier in the night, Lady Fiarwen." Replied the guard, answering her questions. "The war begins at dawn."

I had forgotten about the war! Why now? Why when Legolas finally knew and accepted who she really was. When everything had seemed to be taking a turn for the better. What was this war over?

"Why? Why is it happening?"

"We do not know Ardenwoods reasoning."

"How long ago did my fathers army set out?" Legolas asked

"A couple of hours ago, Your Highness."

"You are dismissed." When the guard had left, Legolas looked back at the panic stricken Faira. "Are you all right?"

"All right?! Of course I'm not all right. Our countries are going to war! What is it over this time? Money? Spies? What?"

"You." He replied sadly.

"What?"

"Ardenwood is bringing the war here because of you. They think we have kidnapped you, or something of the like."

"That is ridiculous."

"I know, but that does not change the fact that a war is brewing at our borders."

"We must do something. We must stop this idiotic war.." Legolas glanced down into the bravely frightened eyes of the girl from Ardenwood. He had only known her for a short while, yet he knew that their spirits had know each other for far longer. His thoughts were interrupted at Fairas stern command. "Let us ride out. Let us put ourselves between the two armies. Let them see that differences can be discarded and friendships can be formed between to very different countries. Let them see that we can all be one."