The Heart's True Home

by Lady Silma

The sequel to Shadow of the Past. Valia journeys to Laiquarille (Legolas' home) by the request of Elrond nearly 400 years after Legolas and she parted. Disaster ensues. You do not need to read prequel to understand this story (though it may help).

3. When Least Expected

Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter One

Title: The Heart's True Home

Author: Silmarien

Rating: PG

A/N- A very special thanks goes to Davan, who betaed this chapter 3 times for me because I had to rewrite it once and she couldn't get it off the disk she saved her changes on the other time. Thanks so much dear!

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When Least Expected

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            The days passed quickly for Valia, faster than even she could have hoped for. They were full of dinners, nights in the gathering hall where stories and singing would go on until the next day, and, what Valia personally enjoyed the most, little encounters with Hadrielia. They had had several 'chats' together and by the end of each of their meetings, Valia had either left Legolas' betrothed completely speechless or so utterly furious that the lady turned a shade of red that could rival molten lava. Yes, the first week had been quite productive for Valia, though Glorfindel had taken her aside on several occasions and told her to behave herself before she fostered bad relations between the future Princess of Laiquarille and Earsilme, yet his warnings were hardly effective, especially when he had trouble hiding his own laughter while he lectured her.

            She noticed with growing interest, that Glorfindel and her attendant seemed to get along extremely well together. When Valia had long grown tired of listening to Glrofindel's tales, Cithien would still be seated in her sitting room with rapt attention as he sang songs in his honeyed voice or told her about the different happenings in Middle-Earth that she seemed to take vast interest in since she had not been born there, or ever laid eyes on a land other than Aman. Valia began had begun to take advantage of their enjoyment of each others company and sneaked away several times to visit the small library in the palace. It was not nearly the size of Earsilme's, and was quite disorganized, but Valia enjoyed sifting through the piles of tomes and books to find writings by authors she had never had the pleasure of reading before.

            It was on one such occasion when Glorfindel was relating the tale of how the Ringbearer had come to the safety of Imladris that Valia's eyes had begun wandering to the door as she lost interest in the story she had been a witness to with her own eyes several centuries ago. She had been in Imladris when the Fellowship was formed and had even had the pleasure to meet Frodo and his friends when they accidentally wandered into Elrond's lore room while trying to find the kitchen for a late night snack.

Sighing as the tale continued, she had risen from her chair and left the room for the library, leaving behind Glorfindel sitting in a window seat with Cithien listening attentively at his feet, where she was sewing new curtains for the King and Queen's chambers. After that day, the two seemed to seek each other out discreetly, or what they thought was discreetly anyway. Valia could easily recognize the mutual fondness that was quickly growing between Glorfindel and Cithien. She knew that the next few weeks would tell whether anything more would come from the unexpected friendship that had been formed.

The highlight of Valia's week, however, had been her visit with Silia and Isondil. She had managed to sneak away from the palace the morning after her arrival for breakfast with the couple, something she had taken vast pleasure in from the moment the door had opened to let her into their house.

            She had walked to their house, as Isondil was councilor to Legolas and therefore lived within an easy distance of the palace in case he was needed immediately. The door had been quickly opened by an attendant when Valia had rapped lightly against the wood, and she found herself escorted into a small breakfast room where Silia and Isondil were seated, where they were eating their morning meal together. When Silia had seen her, she had jumped from her seat and crushed Valia in a hug with all her usual enthusiasm that had apparently not been diminished by her pregnancy. Valia could not help but smile as she returned the hug with a less fervent one of her own least she hurt the elfling resting between them, catching the gaze of Isondil over Silia's shoulder, who offered her his own broad smile.

            'We are so happy you are here, Valia! I was expecting a visit from you sooner than this,' she admonished her friend. Silia pulled her towards the table while gesturing for her to sit down in the chair beside hers. 'I was not sure if you would actually come or not,' she told her friend as she sat down beside her, a beaming smile making the pregnant glow that lit her features even brighter.

            Valia could not blame Silia, particularly when Valia herself had not even been sure if she would have the nerve to come in the end. 'Well I am here now and delighted to see you both. It has been far too long.'

            'Nearly fifty years. The last time we saw each other, it was during our visit to see Silia's family. You really should come stay with us more often Valia. Silia has even mentioned sending someone to capture you and drag you here so that she could see you,' Isondil told her with a conspiratorial wink, before standing up. 'Have you eaten already or would you like breakfast, Valia?' he questioned.

            'Yes please. Breakfast would be wonderful,' she agreed.

Isondil nodded, before leaning over to place a kiss on his wife's brow and leaving the room to bring Valia a plate of food from the kitchen. 

            The two friends turned to each other once he was gone, smiles on their faces, as Valia reached out and brushed her fingers over Silia's softly protruding stomach.

'I am so very happy for you Silia. A husband and an elfling on the way. It seems that all your dreams have finally come true.' But the melancholy was there with the cheerfulness, tempering sadness with the sweet as she rejoiced at her friend's good fortune. She could feel her lashes grow heavy with the moisture that began to cling to them.

            'My joy would truly be complete if you were happy as well, dearest,' Silia replied, capturing her hand. 'You are not content. Do not try to deny it to me. I can see it in your eyes and in your tears.'

            'I shall live,' Valia responded feebly, brushing the unwelcome tears from her eyes with the back of her free hand.

            'You did not know it was her, did you?' questioned Silia, releasing Valia's hand to scoot her chair closer to her friend's. Silia had seen the look on Valia's face when Hadrielia entered the room the night before. The way Valia's lidded gaze had turned to Hadrielia was all Silia needed to see to realize that her dear friend had not known who Legolas' betrothed was before coming to Laiquarille.

            Valia shook her head, taking in a deep breath of air. She should not have been affected by the whole affair the way she was. 'It matters not, though. I refused him several times when I had the opportunity. He has moved on now, and I will not hold that against him,' she spoke, 'whether I wish to or not. He loves her now, and I shall be happy for them and do what Elrond has requested of me.'

            'Do you have so little faith in him, Valia?' Isondil asked, walking into the room with a tray of food in his hands. He placed it down on the table, before taking his seat. 'What have you been told of their betrothal?'

            'Nothing,' she admitted. 'I did not even know that he was engaged until Elrond told me a few weeks ago. It was not until Elowen was gracious enough to answer my question after my arrival here that I found out who it was he had betrothed himself to.'

            'They did not tell you?' Silia's voice was filled with incredulity, making Valia feel a little better.

            'Apparently Glorfindel thought it best for me not to know until I arrived, and easily convinced Elrond of his view.'

            A brief silence ensued, and Isondil shifted back into his chair, folding his hands over his abdomen. 'Legolas did not seek Hadrielia out, Valia,' he informed her softly.

            'I care not what the Prince did or did not do. It is done and that is all that matters.' Her jaw tightened, as her flashing eyes were directed Isondil's way, only to be met with a matching fire in his gaze.

            'Do not be so hasty to judge his actions. Above all else, he is an honorable elf. He does not rush into things without considering the consequences first, especially matters of the heart, of which you should be well aware, my lady.'

            'So speaks a loyal friend and advisor.' Valia shifted her gaze to the window in front of her, trying to calm the surging tide of anger swelling within her. 'I did not come here to speak of him, or to be lectured on his admirable qualities.'

            'Of course you did not dear,' Silia intervened, trying to dispel the tension between her husband and beloved friend. 'But I think you should know of what went on before their betrothal.'

            'What is there to know and why would it matter? It does not change the fact that he is to be married to her.'

            'Please hear me out, Valia, however unpleasant my words may be to you. I mean them only as a friend,' Isondil stated, leaning forward in his chair. He continued when she gave a curt nod of her head. 'I have never seen Legolas so desolate before in all our long years of friendship, than when you left after our wedding. He told me you two had had a disagreement, a stupid one at that, which was largely his fault, and that you had not parted on the best of terms. He tried writing letters of apology to you, but they had always come back unopened and unread. I think that hurt him more than the fight itself had.'

            Valia turned eyes full of warning on Isondil but he held up a hand to ask for silence until he was done. 'Just listen to me, Valia. I am not trying to blame you for anything that has happened between the two of you. I am merely trying to explain to you what has happened here while you have been in Earsilme.'

            Her eyes told him he had permission to continue as she shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a more comfortable position in her chair. She did not want to hear any of this, especially if it would destroy her carefully constructed image of Legolas that she had built to protect herself from him.

'I have never seen Legolas walk closer to the paths of grief before than he did when his letters to you came back unread. The same look lingered then that had haunted his eyes when Queen Elowen left for the west when he had barley come of age. He wanted to go to you and plead his case, to win you over to his side with words of love and action, but we all stopped him, his parents, Silia, and I. We knew there would be no chance for him to gain your hand in marriage if he went to you. It was clear you needed space to think through all that had happened. Instead, we convinced him to wait, which he did, though it became a great burden to him.'

If Isondil was trying to make her feel guilty, he was doing a splendid job. Did he honestly think Valia enjoyed pushing Legolas away from her? She would have sacrificed many things if it would have meant that she could have a future with the Prince. Her love lay with him, after all, and despite all the obstacles that stood between them, that would not change. Silia must have read the distress in her face, because she picked up Valia's hand again and stroked it soothingly as her husband spoke.

            'The King and Queen grew worried about Legolas when he began to grow moody. He became easily irritable and would spend much of his free time alone once the hundred years you two had agreed on passed away without any word from you. King Thranduil and Queen Elowen have always wanted what was best for Legolas. Because of this, I am sure he told them early on what had happened between the two of you. They spoke with him when his disposition began to affect those around him. What words were exchanged between them I do not know, for he will not tell me, but his mood began to improve, and the light that had dimmed within him after your separation seemed to slowly kindle anew. Whatever it was that was said between them, it was obvious that it helped and while he did not stop loving you, he resolved that it was time to move on with his life. He owed at least that much to himself.'

'That was nearly one hundred years ago. Nearly fifty years later, the Kingdom of Laiquarille celebrated the six thousandth spring that had passed since Legolas was born. He told me that the day after the feasting and merriment had ended that he had another talk with his father and mother. King Thranduil wished for his son to be married and Queen Elowen knew that in his heart, Legolas had always wished for a wife and children. They must have thought that a betrothal would end all melancholy that yet lingered within him and King Thranduil asked Legolas if there was any maiden his heart was fond of. He could not say you. He told me that he had promised you that he would not bother you again about marriage or love after the one hundred years had passed, and Legolas is always true to his word when it is within his power. So he told his father no and that he would be content with whatever maiden the King chose for his bride, so long as Legolas himself did not have to go in search for one. The pain of choosing would have been too much for him to bear.'

            'You know that after the Last Alliance, relations between Mirkwood and the other elven kingdoms had become less than perfect. I think King Thranduil hopes to improve relations between Earsilme and Laiquarille through a marriage with his son. In the end, it is not political marriage, of course, for Legolas' father swore to him that he would never force his child into a marriage that he did not want, but the King is also prudent when it comes to the affairs of his kingdom. Hadirelia is the daughter of a prominent family in Earsilme, as you well know. Their union will not only bring wealth to Laiquarille, but also improved relations, and she is fair to behold and can be pleasant company when she wishes to be. Overall, it was assumed that she would be an excellent partner for Legolas.  He is an elven warrior in his own right who should have the privilege to choose whom he wishes to marry, but he is also the son of the King, and will adhere to the wishes of his Lord.'

            Valia did not like the direction events seemed to be taking. If Thranduil, known for his impetuous nature like his sire had been, had asked Legolas to choose a bride, she knew that Legolas would obey his father's request. Bringing a hand up to her forehead, Valia messaged the flesh there, which was now wrinkled in worry lines from the news she had just received.

            'So what you are saying is that King Thranduil requested that Legolas find a wife, and since I refused him, he turned the decision of choosing a bride over to his parents.'

            'In essence,' Isondil confirmed with a nod. 'Though, you should not believe that King Thranduil forced Legolas into making a hasty decision. His parents only wish what is best for him, and they thought that under the circumstances, it seemed best for him to consider finding a wife.'

            Nodding, Valia let out a lungful of air, pursing her lips while she mulled over the new information. 'That still does not explain why he agreed to betroth himself to Hadrielia, in particular. Are there not other maidens more worthy that he could have plighted his troth to?'

            'That is where things become a little more difficult to explain. I am afraid I myself am not entirely sure why Legolas agreed to such an arrangement,' Isondil admitted. 'I, myself, was rather shocked to learn that he planned to marry her. From all his previous mentions of Hadrielia, she was the last lady I expected him to ever become engaged to, but she was the Lady his parents suggested.'

            'We think that he might have somehow convinced himself that he is in love with her,' Silia offered.

            'Convinced himself that he is in love with her?' Valia questioned in disbelief. It seemed rather absurd to her that an elf as intelligent as the Prince of Laiquarille would talk himself into loving someone like Hadrielia.

            'It makes more sense than you would believe if you start to think about it, Valia.'

            'I hardly think so,' she countered, not believing at all that he would ever be so unthinking as to deceive himself into believing he loved someone he avowed that he could not stand the company of. Waving her hand in the air, she dismissed the subject, scooting her chair closer to the table where Isondil had placed her tray of delicious looking fruit. 'It is none of my business anymore what he does or who he loves. Besides, I did not come here to discuss the love life of the Prince of Laiquarille.'

            'No. I am sure you did not.' Isondil's tone was sincere, filled with none of his previous loyal defensiveness. If anything, she had to concede that Legolas could not have found a more devoted friend and councilor. 'Tell us how you are enjoying your stay at the palace. No doubt you are holding your own against certain individuals.'

            The sparkle of amusement that leapt into his eyes was mirrored in Valia's. 'I am surviving,' she agreed.

            'And we would not have it any other way,' assured Isondil, taking his wife's hand into his own as both exchanged a soft smile.

            The conversation was turned to safer topics, as all parties involved made sure to stay clear of mentioning anything directly related with the blond headed Prince. The highlight of the visit for Valia had been the tour given of the room that was being prepared for the tiny elfling that was growing within Silia. The nursery had already been painted a fresh hue of pale yellow that promised to be both cheerful and relaxing at the same time. A cradle stood in the far corner and Valia smiled as Silia brought out the tiny clothes that she had managed to sew in her spare time.

            'You have done much to prepare for the little one already,' Valia commented while she sifted through the pile of elfling clothing one at a time, admiring her friend's work.

            'She has been toiling away day and night since we found out that she was expecting,' Isondil replied, smiling benignly at his wife as he curled an arm around her waist to rest a hand against the gentle bulge of her abdomen. 'I have tried to convince her that all her work is not good for her and the child, and that she needs to keep her strength, but she does not listen to me.'

            'Because your worries are needless,' Silia retorted in pretend exasperation. Valia turned away as a look passed between the two that she knew she was intruding upon, and once more busied herself with the adorable clothes that were now spread out over the tall tabletop. She tried to keep her emotions in check as she observed the room around her, trying to push down the pain that rose within her and seemed to taunt her about lost dreams she could never do anything about.

            'Do you know whether your elfling shall be a little lord or lady yet?' Valia asked softly, keeping her back to the expecting parents so that she could have time to dry the tears in her eyes.

            'Isondil seems to think that a maiden grows within me, and I think that I agree with him.'

            'And does that please you?' Valia questioned as she turned around, feeling that she had her emotions under enough control to face her friends.

            'It pleases me very much,' Isondil stated without hesitation, pressing a kiss to Silia's temple. 'What husband would object to having another lady in his house that shall grow to be just as beautiful as his wife?'

            'Those are flowery words, herven-nîn,' but Silia smiled brightly as she rested her hand on top of his.

            'For the fairest flower in all of Arda,' Isondil was swift to reply. 'It is fitting, is it not?'

            'Do you see what I must live with everyday, Valia?' Silia teased. 'You really ought to come visit me more often and save me from my overly zealous husband.'

            'Ah, but then you would have to put up with me as well, and I do not think all the stress would be good for your elfling,' Valia answered with an easy smile. 

            'Nonsense,' Silia cried.

            'You say so now, but you seem to forget how trying it can be to see me everyday,' Valia laughed, though it was a little strained since she had to concentrate to make it sound lighthearted. 'Have you thought of any names yet?' she asked, changing the subject while she picked up a delicate looking dress to examine closer.

            'Thought of names? Yes indeed. But the better question seems to be whether we will settle on one in time,' Silia commented ruefully. 'I think that we have been over every name that has ever existed in Arda, yet we cannot find one that is to our liking.'

            'Perhaps once you see your elfling when it is borne you will think of the perfect name.' Valia gently set the dress back down, smoothing out the fabric so no wrinkles remained.

            'Let us hope so,' Isondil asserted.

            Fingering a small nightshirt, Valia let it fall onto the table and turned to the couple. 'I would give you my gift for your child now, as I do not think I will be here when he or she takes their first breath of the air of Aman.' She reached under her cloak and brought out a package from underneath the thick fabric and pushed the wrapped package into Silia's hands. 'I did not have long to prepare anything since your news arrived so close to my departure for Laiquarille,' she told them as she looked at the gift Silia held.

            'I am sure that it will be perfect, whatever it is,' assured Silia, as she began unfastening the ribbon that held the blue fabric in place. When the ribbon came loose with a few tugs, fluttering to the ground as the fabric fell away from the gift, a simple looking book was revealed, bound in a cover of rich leather.

            A sharp intake of breath came from Silia as she read the title, and she instantly extended the book back to Valia, shaking her head furiously. 'You cannot give this to us Valia. I will not accept this from you!'

            'I am sure you can put it to far better use than I,' Valia told her, gently pushing the book back towards Silia until it rested against her friend's chest. She chuckled a little, but this time the strain was plainly evident in the harsh chords. 'Take it Silia. It will only stay buried in my trunk with other forgotten dreams and memories if I continue to keep it. I would wish it to be put to good use,' she whispered fervently. She allowed her hands to run lovingly over the tanned leather before stepping back when Silia nodded.

            'Thank you, Valia. It shall be a well treasured gift.' Her voice was thick with emotion as Isondil looked from his wife to Valia in an attempt to understand what had just taken place.

            'I should be returning to the palace before I am missed. I did not leave word of where I was going. I shall see you both tomorrow night,' she replied, a tad too brightly to be believable, but she did not care anymore. She merely wished to escape before the impending downpour of tears was unleashed. Placing a kiss on Silia's soft cheek and nodding to Isondil, Valia disappeared from the nursery in a swirl of her black cape and honey colored hair, leaving the soon to be parents watching the empty doorway.

            'What is the meaning behind this book?' Isondil asked Silia, plucking the volume from her hand and flipping through the pages of children's stories, scrawled onto the pages by a neat hand.

            Silia rested her head against Isonil's shoulder when he stopped on one of the colorful pages of a drawing of a green valley. She reached up and traced the outline of the peaceful river that ran through the valley before she silently guided her husband to a couch in the corner of the room. Slowly sitting down next to him, she adjusted her weight till she was comfortably leaning against him.

'Valia's mother gave her this book on the day she came of age,' Silia began to explain. 'Even then, Valia had a passion for reading and story telling. I can remember all the fantastic tales she would tell me whenever we met together to play, and the stories continued even after we grew to become young ladies. The book was blank when her mother gave it to her, just a collection of white pages, and her mother told her to fill it with the pictures and children's tales that she loved so much. When she married and had elflings of her own, she could read to them her favorite stories at night and share with them her joy of reading and stories.'

'I can remember that it was Valia's favorite gift, even more than the beautiful dresses and jewelry she was given in celebration of the day. She set to work writing and drawing almost immediately. Sometimes when we would sit together under different trees and have lunch together, she would bring the book with her and work on it while I would embroider a dress or braid my hair. Those were happy times for both of us. The Shadow was something that was a distant threat to us then. It had not touched our lives yet and we were both full of idyllic dreams and young fancies.'

Isondil found that he was become extremely interested in the tale behind the book as he listened to the hushed tones of his wife and flipped through the pages of the book slowly, admiring the many beautiful pictures that filled it.

'She spent countless hours working on this book. It became her favorite hobby, besides working in Lord Elrond's library. Every spare moment she had, she would add a little more to it, writing a bit more of the story she had left off on, or drawing more of a half finished picture. We would talk about what we thought our lives would be like in the future while we sat together and worked. I remember on one occasion, we even guessed what our husbands might look like.'

'Indeed?' Isondil interjected with a raised brow.

'Yes,' Silia replied with a grin on her face as she snuggled closer to him.

'And are you going to relieve my curiosity and tell me what your prediction was?'

'You are far more than I ever dreamed of,' Silia told him warmly as she gave him a brief kiss before resting her head on his shoulder.

'And you accused me of flattery,' Isondil murmured loud enough for her to hear. Silia laughed, shaking her head against its resting place before she resumed her story.

'I never saw Valia happier than when she was working on this book. She took great delight in its making, for not only did she enjoy reading and storytelling, but it was also a promise of things to come in her future.' Silia sighed gently and nestled herself closer to the warmth of Isondil.

'Unfortunately, not many years later her dreams of husband and tiny elflings were taken from her at the hands of men as she traveled to Lothlorien for Lord Elrond. She had been robbed of her dreams and it left her a different lady than the bright, hopeful one I had always known. It was amazing that she recovered from the wounds she received. Lady Celebrian is the only other I know to ever survive the same ordeal, but even she sailed west because Middle-Earth no longer held any joy for her. After her physical injuries were healed by the hands of Lord Elrond himself, she slowly pieced her life back together as best as she could. She could not stand any thoughts of her future though. She refused to ever talk to me about her dreams of starting a family after her recovery. All the things she had collected over the years in preparation of the day she would go to live in her husband's home were gotten rid of. She could not stand the sight of them anymore. They caused her too much pain.'

'This book was one of the few things she saved. I do not think she could bear to part with it. It had become a part of her with all the care and hard work she had put into its creation. So she set the book aside, placing it inside a trunk where it lay unfinished.' Silia reached up and tenderly turned the pages with reverence to the back, where a large collection of blank pages still laid unfinished. 'I never saw this again and she never spoke of it. I had assumed that after time had passed, she had taken it back out and either destroyed it or had gotten rid of it in some other way.'

            Isondil slipped an arm around his wife, drawing her closer to him while he shut the book with his free hand. 'She has indeed given us a treasure, herves. She has blessed us with the gift of her dreams,' Isondil murmured into Silia's hair as he looked to the empty doorway once more which Valia had exited through. He would make sure that this book was always a cherished gift in his family.

All in all, Valia had determined that the visit with Isondil and Silia had been most pleasant, which was excellent since dinner at the palace as the rest of the evening proved to be quite trying for her. When she entered the room that night, the air was alive in the dinning hall with all the excited chatter of guests who all seemed to be animated about the prospects of merrymaking under the stars the following evening. If she was honest with herself, Valia did not mind the idea as much as she made out either. She may have scorned male attention in the past, but eating and dancing under the stars was something that loosened the nerves of the most stubborn of elves, which most certainly included her, being one of their chief culprits. It was simply the idea of what the merriment was for that Valia objected to so fiercely.

Swirling the heady wine that she had been given with dinner around in her flask, Valia observed the gathering around her with unobtrusive curiosity. Complexions had already begun to turn flushed by the influences of the renowned wine from King Thranduil's cellars, relaxing tongues and freeing spirits as a cacophony of discordant music blended together from different areas of the hall as the chatter began to grow like the swell of a mounting wave. 

'You have been uncharacteristically quiet this eve, Valia,' Elowen spoke softly from Valia's right. 'Does something trouble you?'

Valia turned a dismissive smile on the Queen. 'No.' Her words trailed off at the distance sound of trumpets floating through the open doors and windows, and above the noise of the gathered elves. 'Are guests still arriving this late in the week?' she asked with open curiosity. The official banquet was a day away, after all.

'They continue to trickle in, and will most likely continue to do so until tomorrow or even later. We have one guest in particular that has yet to come, though I expect he will show himself when he determines the time that best suits him to appear.'

Valia raised a brow in question, interest heightened by the glimmer of delight that briefly flashed in Elowen's emerald eyes.

'Thranduil received word from Olórin that he plans to attend the festivities. No doubt he will grace us with a display of his fabled fireworks,' Elowen told her at her questioning look.

'Olórin travels here?' Valia asked, sitting up in her chair and placing her flask on the table. 'I have not heard that name used for him for many years, though I suppose Mithrandir is no longer an apt description for the White Wizard.'

'You are familiar with him?' Elowen questioned in surprise.

Nodding, Valia settled her hands in her lap. 'I made his acquaintance on one of his many journeys to Imladris, though his presence has been noticeably lacking in Earsilme as of late. It has been long years since I last beheld him or heard news of his doings.'

'I only wish that Legolas was here to see him,' Elowen replied. 'Olórin is the last member of the nine walkers that lives besides Legolas. I am sure my son would take comfort in seeing him.'

'I am sure he would have,' was all Valia was able to say before Thranduil commanded his wife's attention, which was a welcome respite for Valia who still grew tense whenever the Prince's name was mentioned.

Dinner continued on, with her sitting quietly, simply observing those around her. Hadrielia was sitting across from Elowen in a resplendent dress of pale blue that fluttered around her like the wings of a gwilwileth whenever she moved. It suited the Lady exquisitely, highlighting the golden shades of her hair and making a stunning contrast with her sapphire eyes. Valia was also aware that she was not the only one to notice Hadrielia's natural charms. The elf who was seated beside Hadrielia, who Valia had never met before, seemed quite taken with his dinner partner, while Hadrielia appeared to be enjoying the attention he was lavishing on her.

Valia glanced sideways to where Thranduil was sitting, observing that the King seemed not at all pleased with his future daughter's behavior. While he wore a pleasant smile on his face and looked like he was enjoying himself, Valia could not miss the disapproving glances he sent to his son's betrothed who sat on his right. It only went to prove Valia's earlier theory. Hadrielia could be beguilingly sweet and charming when it served her purposes, causing those whom she wished to, to think that she was the most pleasant lady they had ever met. No doubt she had put on her false veneer when the King and Queen first showed interest in her as a suitable match for their son.

Shaking her head, Valia could not help but smile. Hadrielia would not be able to keep up her false appearance forever, which the lady was already beginning to prove. Valia highly doubted that Legolas would be laid-back when it came to where his wife's attentions were directed. The Prince was lenient enough on certain maters, she knew, but there was also a jealous streak in him that she had experienced first hand. He would not take well to his wife turning eyes on anyone other than him, of this, Valia was certain.

'They will most definitely make interesting marriage partners. He is fiercely protective of those things which he deems his, and she is unscrupulous in her affections,' Valia thought in amusement.

Turning her attention away from the future Princess of Laiquarille, Valia began to observe the other elves that filled the dinning hall. She could easily tell where each elf hailed from by their behavior. The wood-elves of Laiquarille were merry and openly free in their joy in an effort to coax their more stoic kin to join in the festivities. They appeared to be accomplishing the job too, for the volume in the noise continued to grow, mounting in a swelling crescendo of noise. Valia knew that there would be few elves who slept that eve, even the most prudent elf could not resist the merriment of their friends.

But Valia was of a far different mind, wishing to avoid the high spirited fun in favor of more tranquil diversions that night. Growing weary of the noise, she excused herself early on in the evening for peaceful solitude by herself. She was happy to find it on one of the trails that meandered through the palace grounds and into the common woods, underneath the pale moonlight that filtered through the winter clouds overhead.

Everywhere she looked, she discovered differences between Laiquarille and her home. It seemed that even Valinor could not dissolve the differences between the elven kindred, though it did not bother Valia. She enjoyed looking at the heavier furniture and carvings of Laiquarille compared to the delicate ones of Lord Elrond's home, though she was not sure if she would like living in such a place as Laiquarille. It was darker here in King Thranduil's realm, though not oppressively so.

The natural surroundings, however, offered a most welcome change for Valia. She enjoyed the way nature was left to herself in Laiquarille. Things were greener, more rugged here. Valia could not decide which she cherished more; the way Elrond was able to bring all different forms of plants and trees into Earsilme that would not normally grow there, or the way King Thranduil left the wildlife as it was.

Passing down the well kept path, Valia brushed her fingers over the low hanging branches, caressing leaves that were more often than not larger than her own hand. The winter flowers were flourishing under the protection of large bushes and shrubs, giving just the right amount of color to the drab shades of the season and reminding Valia of the gentle promise of the coming spring.

The silver light of Ithil was starting its long journey to climb high in the sky before Valia turned her steps back to the palace, passing festive groups of elves dancing and singing around bright fires. Several of them waved for her to join their merry gatherings though she did not know most of them, but she simply shook her head with a smile and quickened her pace. She had made it back into the twisting halls of King Thranduil's home with little incident all while the moon was just beginning to wax high overhead. Taking advantage of the deserted hallways, which she attributed to the unusual number of frolicking elves in the forest, Valia sped to her room in the hopes that she could enjoy a hot bath before settling in her front room to read one of the books that had managed to catch her eye among the small collection in the bookcase in her room.

However, she was neatly thwarted from reaching her goal when she nearly ran into a none to pleased Hadrielia who rounded a corner suddenly as if in a great hurry. She had managed to avoid the lady for several days now, or the maiden had been dodging her sharp tongue. Either way, Valia was satisfied that it had kept them apart.

That time appeared to have ended though when Hadrielia took Valia's arm, looping it through hers without question, and began escorting her in the general direction of Valia's room.

'Is something wrong, Hadrielia?' Valia asked, reminding herself to remain civil for the sake of Elrond's threat. She did not want gauzy dresses with laces and excess fabric to be her punishment till the end of Arda. Though she wondered at Hadrielia's sudden friendliness, if what she was doing could be called such.

'I want to make something very clear with you Valia.' Her tone was that of condescension, as if she were already Princess of Laiquarille. Not that the title would give her any right to belittle others and Valia refused to let her sharp barbs have the intended effect that they were supposed to.

Holding in her sigh, Valia remained silent, calmly waiting for Hadrielia to continue. Perhaps if she did not say anything, she would be able to escape the lady's clutches sooner.

'Legolas is mine Valia,' she began without preamble, eliciting a raised brow on Valia's part who was wondering why Hadrielia was suddenly defensive. 'I do not know what you intended by coming here, no doubt it was a feeble attempt on your part to win him back, but you will not succeed. He has betrothed himself to me and forgotten you in the process.'

The words cut deep, as Valia was sure Hadrielia had meant them to. It did not help matters that Valia had half heartedly been trying to convince herself of the same thing to prepare herself for the worst. But coming from the lips of Hadrielia, it was far too much. Silence, she decided through narrowed eyes, was not what this situation called for any longer. 'Better to be forgotten, than to be considered only a pretty face he can wake up to in the morning, for I refuse to lower myself to such a level as that.' There, she had said it and did not care if word got back to Elrond of it.

            'It is more than you will ever be,' Hadrielia spat out, dropping Valia's arm and pausing before the door to Valia's chambers. It appeared the Valar had blessed Valia with a respite which she eagerly took advantage of.

            'Are you done here?' she asked of the furious she-elf.

            'Quite. But let me warn you of something, Valia. Do not think that he holds anymore false notions of love for you in his heart. He had his fun with you while he was in Earsilme. You were only a game Valia. You know yourself that it had been several ages since any elf had approached you with sentiments of love, though I am sure you are well aware of that. You were merely a diversion to fill Leoglas' time, but he is not in Earsilme anymore and I think the ring that he placed on my finger has made it quite clear where his heart lies. He has chosen me over you, pretty over plain, and I will not let him slip through my fingers the way you have.'

            If Hadrielia had not walked off as soon as she was finished with her tirade, Valia realized she would have slapped her, or lost control and done something much worse. She stood transfixed in her spot, watching Hadrielia glide away from her, retaining her fluid grace and beauty even through her conceit. Glorfindel and Cithien rounded the corner arm in arm just as Hadrielia disappeared, though Valia did not have time to think of how strange it was to see Glorfindel escorting her attendant through the halls with a wide smile on his face. She was too concerned with hiding her tears as she dashed a few away with the back of her hand that had fallen onto her pale skin. With shaking hands she pushed open her door and then shut it firmly behind her.

            It was dark. Her curtains were all drawn and no candles had been lit yet, but she did not care. Feeling her way cautiously, her hand came into contact with a chair and she sank into the plush recess, burying her head in her arms as she gave into the luxury of her pent up tears. All she wanted to do anymore was to move on with her life. Why did everyone always have to remind her of him?

            She hated all the tears she had shed over him, but mostly hated the fact that she had thought she was over them, and him, only to discover that in coming to his home, they were as fresh as ever before. He had obviously moved on with his life. Was it too much to ask that she was allowed to do the same?

            An overwhelming awareness of someone else's presence near her suddenly pierced through the haze of her tears and she lifted her head to look about her. She could feel her lower lip trembling as she tried to cut through the darkness to find whoever it was. The uncanny silence unnerved her as her tears stopped their falling and her muffled sobs quieted. It was far too silent, too still.

            She thought she heard the faint rustling of fabric coming from one of her curtained windows, and she strained her ears to hear over the pulsing of blood in her veins and her ragged breathing. Light footsteps drew near to her, barely audible as they tread softly over the thick rug in the room. Shrinking further into her chair, she tensed, waiting for whoever was there to make themselves known or touch her. However, the footsteps suddenly stopped and made a swift retreat from her.

A nock sounded on her door, startling Valia as it broke the silence and she barely managed to keep in the startled squeak that clawed its way up her throat. The door swung open before she bid the person enter, revealing Glorfindel silhouetted in a halo of soft candlelight from the hallway. He quickly strode over to her, kneeling before her chair as he looked into her face with concern.

Valia sighed in relief. It must have been him she sensed at her door. It troubled her that Hadrielia could affect her emotions so severely that she had started to hear things that did not exist. Yet Valia had been almost certain that the footsteps that she heard approach her only a moment ago were real, and not some wild figment created by her overly exhausted mind. The frown that was already on her face deepened as she turned in her seat to fully face Glorfindel.

'I heard,' was all he told her in a tone full of compassion, brushing the trails of tears from her cheeks despite the fact that more wet drops created new paths down her ivory skin as soon as the old ones had been dashed away. 'Do not listen to her Valia.'

'Even if she speaks the truth?' Valia hated the way her voice quivered like the wobble of a singing bird.

There was a pause at her words, and she watched as Glorfindel broke his gaze away from her face to look down at the floor for a moment. When he looked back up at her, it was with a face that was certain of the words he spoke. 'She does not speak the truth. He loved you Valia.'

She stood in agitation and he observed her as she paced in front of him before stilling and folding her hands in front of her. 'I do not doubt that he loved me, Glorfindel. I saw his sincerity in his eyes whenever he told me of his love. There is nothing I have ever been surer of in my life. It is only that I am simply not sure that he does love me anymore. Beauty can be a beguiling thing, especially for elves. Our hearts are drawn towards beauty and light. It is our nature. You know of Fëanor and his love for the Silmarils. The stories of old say that there was nothing more that was ever crafted by the hands of elves that was as beautiful as those jewels. It was for the splendor of the Silmaril that many battles were fought and the blood of our own kin spilled forth onto the Blessed Realm by the hands of other elves. It was for lust of the great beauty that Fëanor created that the Kinslaying occurred.'

'Hadrielia is beautiful, Glorfindel. Her hair is like the light of Anor, she has eyes as blue as the sea, and her face is fair to behold. Who am I to say that her beauty has not touched the heart of the Prince of Laiquarille in a way that the Silmaril's beauty stole into the hearts of the Noldor and made them do senseless deeds? Her exquisiteness may very well have won her his heart and I am no match against that,' she spoke in disgust. 'I refused him and he has moved on. She is as lovely as the day. To him, I can be no more than a dandelion growing beside a rose.'

'Valia.' He walked over to her, reaching out to stroke her cheek with a troubled expression marring his handsome features. 

            'She is beautiful, Glorfindel.' Valia turned her face away from his hand and shrugged helplessly. She would not let the Prince's engagement bother her the way it was. He could marry whomever he wished just like she had the freedom to do so. She could hardly expect him to pine for her until the end of Arda, not when she stubbornly refused to do so for him.

            'Do not let her words upset you, eleninya,' Glorfindel told her quietly. 'Your inner beauty adds an allure to the loveliness of your outward appearances that she will never be able to attain.' His hand found its way to her hair, running the silky strands through his fingers as they slipped through his grasp like water. 'She is merely jealous of your splendor.' He coaxed her chin upwards, not releasing her face till she looked into his eyes. She found hesitancy in them, not something that she had expected to see, and quickly scanned his face, noticing his wrinkled brow that told her he was debating something.

            His lips were pressed against hers before she had time to realize what his intent had been. All escape was made impossible for her as his hand cupped the back of her head while his other arm looped around her waist, pulling her close to him. The kiss was gentle, and Valia could feel the patient love Glorfindel put into it, but his lips against hers did not excite her the way Legolas' had. There was no jolt of pleasure that swept through her body, no knee weakening sensation that quickened her breathing or made her enthusiastically respond to his touch.

Her lack of emotional response caused a small pang of guilt. Glorfindel was a highly sought after elven lord, and just about as caring and considerate as they came. But he was not Legolas. Glorfindel was a good friend to her, not a lover. The kiss reminded her of the way her brother would always kiss her cheek and hold her close when she was having a bad day, whispering to her that she was beautiful and that the sight of her always brightened his day.

            She never responded to the kiss Glorfindel gave her. Instead, she simply remained still till he pulled away, allowing herself to take comfort in his gesture, for it did lighten her spirits a little. Focusing her eyes on his lips that had been pressed to hers, Valia opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by a well placed finger from Glorfindel.

            'Quel undome, Valia,' he told her, then released his hold on her, dropping his hand to hers and giving it a gentle squeeze before he slipped from the room. Valia stayed rooted to her spot, wrapping her arms over her chest as she watched him enter his own rooms across from hers. This was a new, rather unexpected, development that only served to complicate matters for Valia. She did not need to add a persistent Glorfindel to her list of problems at the moment. Hadrielia was quite enough.

            She did not know how long she stood staring through her open door. No one passed by to distract her musings, as her room was at the end of the hall, and even Cithien did not come to see if she needed anything, probably by some doing of Glorfindel's.

            It was the sudden growth of light that first caused her to become aware of her surroundings again. A warm glow seemed to have slowly filled her room, though she had not noticed its growing presence till just than. She could tell that candles now illuminated her room by the way the light flickered against the wall she was looking at.

            And then she felt it again.

There was someone else in the room with her. She was certain of it this time, especially since she now had proof by means of the appearance of candlelight that another elf was in her room. For a strange reason that she was at a loss to explain, she felt a wave of peace flood into her, creeping through her body till she nearly sighed at the pleasant sensation. All tenseness fled her body; though she had no idea who it was that was in the room with her. Taking a deep breath, she turned gradually, sensing that whoever it was that in her room was now standing behind her.

It was his green eyes that she noticed first, bright emeralds flashing with hidden emotion that pierced her very soul in a single glance, easily slipping past defenses that were untouchable to everyone else. All she needed to see were his eyes to know who it was that stood before her. The rest of him slowly entered into her awareness afterwards. His curtain of golden hair fell gently against his shoulders, held back by an intricate weaving of braids that she had never seen him wear before. He had a small circlet of leaves and berries upon his brow, much like the crown his father wore, and a robe of rich green fell from his broad shoulders, obscuring his trim form beneath the velvety looking fabric.

A tremble shook her body, running through her limbs to leave her with a sense of disbelief and promptly robbing her of her previous peace. All her muscles tensed and her breathing quickly became forced as she looked on his unmoving form.

This could not be real! He could not be real! He was not supposed to be here. Elrond had promised her that. Elowen had told her. Glorfindel had reassured her. He was in Estel, studying under Lady Galadriel at her summons for him. He had gone, despite the fact that his kingdom was celebrating his betrothal. After all, he had already spent the proper time required of him with Hadrielia during her stay in Laiquarille before the celebration began. His father had assured him that answering Galadriel's request was not to be denied. He was to go to her for the good of Laiquarille, at least that was what Valia had been told. Yet there he stood, in front of her, regardless of any assurances she had received from all those around her.

He took a step towards her, causing her to start at his unexpected movement. All that flickered across his face and in his eyes was the candlelight that glowed around the room. She could see no emotion on his handsome features or in the depths of his emerald eyes that had haunted her so often over the past centuries. A sudden pang of longing swept over her as she took in his entire presence. He was beautiful, standing strong and tall before her, a reminder of why she had fallen in love with him in the first place.

Curling her fingers into tight fists, Valia forced those thoughts out of her mind, momentarily succeeding in locking away her past desire for him.

'Legolas?' Her voice was steady, despite the way she quaked on the inside. The torrent that stormed within her was perhaps for the best; however, for it blinded her to her slip of the tongue. He was no longer Legolas to her. He was the Prince of Laiquarille. Nothing more. He could not be anything more if they both wished to survive this.

Like a fog lifting in the morning to bring clarity to her surroundings, Valia realized her situation and dipped into a curtsey. 'My lord,' she addressed him again, shifting uneasily at his unnatural silence.

He moved past her suddenly, gaining a startled gasp from her as he brushed his arm along hers to go shut her door. When she heard the door click softly into place, Valia turned to find him observing her from under hooded eyes. She felt her cheeks flush hot as his gaze wandered over her, his eyes roaming her form without any expression that she could identify.

            'You have changed,' he remarked suddenly, no pretense at formality or pleasantries. She dropped her gaze to her burgundy dress with its silken layers that made a soft stirring whenever she walked. Remembering the kiss Glorfindel had just given to her, she was not sure what it was that he was referring to, her appearance or her relationship with the elven lord.

            'Four centuries have been known to change many things,' she replied calmly, glad that her answer was as vague as his comment had been. She was certainly not going to give anything away if he was not.

            She heard him sigh with a whispery breath that could have been mistaken for the wind, his first display of anything bubbling below the composed surface that he maintained at seeing her. Moving away from the door, he walked past her again, and she followed him with her eyes until he swiveled back around to face her with one hand resting on his hip. 'Do not be so quick to judge me, my lady. There is far more at work here than you think.'

            She was shocked, yet again, by him. Had he thought she was referring to his betrothal when she spoke? It was a possibility, she admitted, though certainly not what she had meant by her words.

            'It is not my place to think anything of it,' she responded, dipping her head so that he could not see the emotions play across her features that she was not able to control as easily as he was. She heard him take a few steps towards her, and sucked in a sharp breath in anticipation, her heart doing a strange dance that sent her stomach into an unfamiliar fluttering sensation, but he retraced his steps and she glanced at him through her dark eyelashes as he seemed to waver between some decision.

            'I think that I am obligated to offer you some form of apology on behalf of Lady Hadrielia. It is apparent that her words have caused you distress.' He captured her eyes with his, and this time when he came towards her, he did not stop until he was by her side, tenderly brushing the remnant of her tears from off her cheeks, tracing his fingers over the skin that Glorfindel had caressed only moments before.

            Yet Legolas' touch had sent her skin tingling in a way that Glorfindel never would, and she jerked away from the contact, slapping his hand away from her. She took in a shaky breath, stepping back from him.

            Legolas' eyes narrowed as he watched her pull away from him, obviously stricken by his touch. 'It seems that much more has changed over these past four centuries than even you accuse me of,' he stated, remembering the kiss he had seen just a few minutes ago that had sent a wave of anger and jealousy ripping though him, revealing emotions he thought had been captured and tamed by his hand long ago. 'Is it now the attentions of Lord Glorfindel that you prefer, my lady?'

            Valia bristled at the charge and drew herself up to her full height, all the while raising her chin to meet his gaze. 'I accused you of nothing, your highness, and it is for me alone to choose whose attentions I prefer over others.'

            Legolas clenched his mouth shut and briefly closed his eyes. This was not going how he had wished it to. After changing his clothing from his long ride to Laiquarille, he had gone in search of his father and mother, and among other things, had heard from them that Valia had been a member of the party from Earsilme to come for the betrothal celebration. He had gone in search of her as soon as he had the opportunity, first having to greet his betrothed and thank the many well wishers for their kindness. A voice had warned him that it was not wise to seek Valia out, but he had ignored it and waited in the darkness of her chambers when he was not able to find her anywhere in the palace. He needed to see her with his own eyes before he believed everyone. Now that she stood before him, he was not entirely sure what he was supposed to do, having only succeeded in riling her with his hasty words.

            'Was there something that you wanted?' Valia asked, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. He had obviously been in her room for quite some time, if he had been able to hear the end of her conversation with Hadrielia and seen the kiss Glorfindel had given her. Her cheeks rapidly turned pink when she realized he had heard all the words she had spoken to Glorfindel about him. She desperately tried to remember all that she had said to Glorfindel, mortified that she may have let something slip.

            Legolas was busy trying to think of an appropriate answer to her question. It would seem foolish on his part if he said that he simply wanted to see her with his own eyes. 'How long have you been here?' he asked, deciding to change the subject since he could not think of a response. He watched as her eyes narrowed and she took a step away from him.

            'A week.'

            'Have you seen Isondil and Silia yet?' he asked, looking past her shoulder instead of directly at her.

            'Yes.'

            'So you know about the little one?' He glanced at her through lidded eyes, noticing the brief softening in her face, and unable to stop the image of Valia being pregnant from coming to his mind.

            You tread a dangerous road, Legolas. His lips formed a tight line over his teeth as he shoved the image aside.

            'Yes,' she responded slowly. 

            Legolas sighed in frustration at the chill that suddenly entered her voice. He should have known better than to bring up that subject, but he was bothered by her short answers to his questions.

            'I am sorry,' he told her, a strange tightness squeezing his heart at the knowledge that he had caused her pain. He stepped to her side in a fluid movement, curling his long fingers around her arm as he looked down at her.

            Panic instantly filled Valia at his close proximity and gentle touch. 

She did not know where the strength came from, perhaps it was from the alarm welling up within her, but she managed to wrest herself from his hold and reach the door, throwing it open and darting out as if Morgoth himself had come back to Aman.

            The only coherent thought that surfaced in her mind as she flew down the twisting labyrinth of corridors was that she needed to get away from the palace as fast as possible. She needed to be away from Legolas and his disconcerting effect upon her.

-~~*~~-

herven-nîn- my husband

gwilwileth- butterfly

Quel undome- Good evening

Fëanor- from The Silmarillion, an elf who captured the light of the Two Trees in the Silmarils

Morgoth- The First Dark Lord who stole the Silmarils from Fëanor

Please leave an email address with your review so that I can reply to your comments and say thanks. Elfie hugs go to all of you for your patience waiting for this chapter :D