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).

9. Always

Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter One

Title: The Heart's True Home

Author: Silmarien

Rating: PG

-~~*~~-

Always

-~~*~~-

            The quiet munching of an apple was all that punctuated the early morning air, thick with the heady scent that follows a rain storm. The black clouds had descended over Laiquarille suddenly, coming down from the Pelori in a rolling mass that had sent both elves and animals heading for shelter until it passed over a few days later, spending itself upon the green earth below. Valia stood in contemplation, one hand braced against the stone railing on her balcony as she watched the rays of Anor begin to warm Valinor to waking. She had always loved the smell of the earth after it rained. There was a promise in that smell, a tantalizing mixture of life and growth that scented the air.

            The day was still silent, not yet filled with the singing of birds outside and the slowly growing movement from within the walls of the palace that signified the start of another day. Yet she was already up, having awoke while Isil was drooping low in the sky and the beloved starts of Varda still shone brightly against their backdrop of black. She had read a little to pass the time, but found that it offered her little amusement at the time. So after a while, she set her book aside, throwing a thick cloak over her shoulders and slipping her feet into leather slippers to walk outside when the storm had passed.

            She had found the gardens asleep, save for the green and yellow leaves that dressed the trees. The moon, having appeared from behind the wall of clouds it had hid behind for several nights, now shown down in silver arrows of light, making the water droplets that had collected on the leaves sparkle like diamonds. Valia had found the sight beautiful, and had passed away the rest of the night wandering alone through the trails on the palace grounds. Only when the silencing blanket of night had begun to lift while the sun started its arduous climb up to the horizon, did Valia turn her feet back to the palace itself. 

            Slipping in as noiselessly as she had gone out, Valia made a quick detour through the kitchen, taking a red apple back with her to her rooms. After changing into her clothing for the day, she had picked up the apple, walking out to her private balcony where she now stood to watch the day awaken before her eyes. She could not remember the last time she had allowed herself the luxury to simply remain still, quietly observing the sun as it climbed over the horizon and spilled its golden shower of rays onto Aman. 

            Her solitude was disturbed, however, by an unexpected knock on her door. It came softly; whoever it was obviously loathe to wake any of the other still slumbering elves in nearby chambers.

            She quickly crossed the floor of her sitting room, placing her eaten apple in a bin for an attendant to take out later in the day. The wooden door opened on soundless hinges after Valia had lifted the latch and turned the metal handle that was cool against her light touch. She discovered Legolas standing outside, a tray of food in his hands that made Valia's only partially sated stomach mumble its approval at the appearance of more food.

            'Is something that matter, Legolas?' questioned Valia while she took in his form. He wore a tunic and leggings, over which was draped a robe of vibrant green. His blond hair left a damp patch of fabric on either shoulder as it appeared he had taken a bath not long ago. By all accounts, it looked as if there was nothing out of the ordinary, other than the fact that he was standing outside her door so early in the morning with food in hand.

            'I had hoped you would be up,' he explained in a hushed voice. 'I woke a bit earlier than usual today and happened to notice you walking towards the palace when I looked out one of my windows. Since I was hungry and no one else was up, I thought I would prepare some food and see if you would like to eat with me.'

            'You made breakfast?' Valia asked in subtle awe. She had never stopped to think of him performing such a task before, and now that she was presented with the results of his labor, she was left somewhat baffled.

            'Yes, for you and I if you will let me past your doorway,' Legolas replied with good humored amusement. 'My naneth taught me how to cook when my arrows still strayed far from the center of their targets.'

            Valia found that her mouth was opened in a thin gap of amazement, which she was quick to shut before she stepped silently aside to let Legolas enter her room. 'Are you sure we should be doing this?' she asked as he passed her, afterwards peeking her head out her door. She was relieved to find that the hallway was vacant. Not even the sound of movement from within other rooms filtered through the doors that lined the walkway.

            'It has been many millennium since we were both old enough to make our own decisions, Valia. I do not think we shall be punished for having breakfast together at this early hour.' Legolas gently set the tray down on a rounded table where two chairs were conveniently placed around it. The sun had just made its appearance over the horizon, casting yellowed beams of light over the table and tray that warmed the sitting area into a cozy atmosphere.  

            'That is not what I meant,' returned Valia dryly as she abandoned her spot at the doorway to come further into the room. It was not that she did not want to eat breakfast. She was certainly hungry enough, and she had no objection to the company. Preparing a meal and bringing it for them to eat had been a sweet gesture on Legolas' part. Valia only worried what others might think of it if they stumbled upon them alone in her rooms.

            Legolas cast his emerald gaze her way, understanding exactly what she was thinking since he knew that such a thing was a possibility. 'I would not worry,' he told her softly. 'No one will be up for a while still after the late gathering last night. Some just retired from the merriment only a few hours ago. Besides,' he added, pulling out the nearest chair before he moved towards her, 'it does not matter what others think as long as we both know the truth. We know this means nothing.' He offered her his hand when he was close enough, waiting for her to slip her own slender one into his so that he could guide her to the chair if she would not come on her own.

            She looked down at his outstretched hand, taking in the familiar sight of his smooth flesh stretched over long fingers, occasionally broken by rough calluses from his continued archery practice. 'Does it mean nothing?' she asked skeptically before slipping her hand into his, feeling the way his fingers seemed to instinctively curl over her hand, encasing it protectively like he used to do so many years ago.

            'I cannot answer that question for you,' Legolas replied, skirting around the actual answer since he did not know what she wanted to hear from him. All he knew was that it felt all too right to have her hand enveloped in his once more. It was like a piece of himself coming back; a piece that he had only vaguely known was missing. He did not tell her that, though. Instead he led her to the chair that he had pulled out, helping her to sit down and pushing the chair in for her before he moved to the other side of the table to take his own seat. He moved the chair closer to hers, after which he sat down and served them both in silence. There was a fruit salad, filled with all the ripe fruit that Laiquarille's greenhouses had to offer during the winter, as well as buttered toast and a pot of herb tea for them to share.

            After her nightly escapade, Valia could not imagine a more appetizing breakfast than the one that Legolas set before her.

            'It looks delicious,' Valia exclaimed as she looked over her plate of food. Her eyes lit with delight when she saw her favorite fruit mixed into the salad. 'And you even put strawberries in it.'

            'I did well, then?' asked Legolas. A boyish grin was adorned upon his lips as he took a sip of his tea, steam curling into the crisp air from the hot liquid, momentarily obscuring his face through a screen of swirling white.

            'Very well indeed.'               

            The breakfast only improved from there, and both Legolas and Valia found themselves laughing and smiling more than they had done for some time. They became utterly aware of the sun slowly rising higher in its long ascent to the top of the sky, such being their distraction while with each other. Long after their meal was finished, filling both their stomachs so that they were happily satisfied, Legolas and Valia talked together, yet saying nothing of any importance. However, in a strange way, both were aware that their trivial conversation held a weighty meaning. Neither dared to measure the worth of it, however. To do so would have been more foolish than actually spending the stolen morning together.

            For it was stolen. Of that, they both silently agreed, each in their own thoughts.

            'Your hair is clasped back,' Legolas finally observed at last, his brow frowning at her in displeasure. The fact that a similar conversation started that way several centuries ago had quickly turned unpleasant did not cross the paths of his mind.

            Valia reached a hand up to touch the metal clasp that held her hair securely at the base of her neck. Her fingers slipped from the hairpiece to travel the length of her honey hair, pulling it forward and over her shoulder so she could absentmindedly twirl the ends between her fingers.

            'Silia sent a note to me last night. We are supposed to go into the town to find a costume for the masquerade dance. I thought it would be best if I wore my hair out of the way.' She punctuated her last words by brushing the hair back over her shoulder with as much indifference as she had pulled it forward.

            'So you have not found a costume yet? I would have thought that Elrond would have sent one with you as he seems to have furnished the rest of your wardrobe in such a way that no elleth could protest for want.'

            'For want…' Valia let the words trail on her tongue a moment before she continued. There was never any objection to the fact that she would be in want. 'No, there is no protest on that account. And yes, Elrond did send a costume with me for the dance. Silia and I go to find one for her, not me.'  

            Legolas expertly covered the pleased smile that clambered to be let loose by fixing an interested expression on his face. 'And what do you go as? I hope he has not sent you with something so common as a leopard or peacock. It seems that every time I have attended a masked dance, there are leopard spots and peacock feathers aplenty that an elf might think they had dressed wrong if they wore something different.'

            He was rewarded with a laugh, which broke through the walls of his control to unleash his own smile.

            'I shall have to remember that when I shop with Silia this afternoon,' Valia replied, the room growing awkwardly silent when she said no more. Glancing to Legolas, she found that he wore an impish expression, dark brows raised expectantly over his twinkling eyes. Apparently the silence was not bothering him.

            Valia fiddled with fingers, twining and clasping them together in different variations till his heavy gaze moved her to speak. 'I am not going to tell you what I am wearing!' she exclaimed in exasperation. 'Be you Prince or not, no one is supposed to know what anyone else is wearing till they arrive that night.'

            'Your refusal pains me,' Legolas cried, barely containing his laughter as he clutched a hand to his chest. 'What must an elf do to win such private information from your lips, my lady?' Legolas' hand slipped from its place over his heart as he leaned forward in his chair, bringing the distance between them less.

            Valia pursed her lips before answering, more to keep herself from smiling than to appear in deep contemplation. 'I suppose he would have to grace me with a believable enough reason to know.'

            'And therein lies the impossible challenge, for I fear that no explanation would meet with your approval.' A sigh of defeat passed from between his thin lips.

            Not entirely content with the fact that his giving up so quickly disappointed her, Valia busied herself with pouring more tea into her cup, after which she took a sip of the now lukewarm liquid.

            'You know that I can always simply sneak into your room and look myself if I want to or else ask your attendant?' The provoking words were whispered with just the right amount of challenge to bait Valia.

            'You would not dare!' she exclaimed with narrowed eyes that bore into his, which innocently blinked back, belying any of the truth or deceitfulness that lay in his statement.

            'I have dared many things in my life that were far more risky than this,' was the enigmatic reply.

            Despite the fact that she should have been shocked, or at the least pretended to be so for the sake of being offended at his audacity, Valia simply shook her head, an indistinct smile on her lips. 'I cannot imagine what you must have been like as an elfling,' she stated. 'Were you as incorrigible as you are now?'

            'Even more so.'                                                                               

            'I suddenly pity your mother,' Valia replied wryly.

            'You should not waste your time, for it is needless. My mother enjoyed every moment of my childhood, from the frogs I would catch in the forest to show her, to the muddy messes I would make playing with other elflings.'

            'You sound to have been more than a handful.'

            'I still am,' Legolas retorted swiftly, drinking the last of the tea in his cup. He had recently become aware that others would be up and about by now, readying themselves for the day ahead. 'I fear that I must regrettably take my leave of you now, though I have enjoyed every minute of our breakfast together.'

            The whispered response that came from her mouth was hardly audible, barely loud enough for Legolas to even make out.

            'As have I.' In all fairness to herself, Valia admitted that she should have never let him pass her door.  For after he left her, and things between them would return to what they should be, an aloof friendliness that would make even the most suspicious of elves not suspect a thing, Valia knew that she would never be able to think of him or be in his presence for the remainder of her stay without a dull ache bringing pain to her heart.

            Similar thoughts were running through Legolas' head, though he chose to ignore them for now and smile brightly as he stood, flashing Valia dimpled cheeks while he stood. He paused in his leave taking when he had passed behind her, out of her field of vision. Turning to her back, his fingers deftly rid her of her metal clasp, allowing her hair to flow freely down her back before either she or he had time to stop his actions.

            Her back straightened, but she did not twist in her chair to face him because he was suddenly leaning close to her, his breath moving against the loose strands of her hair so that they tickled her ear.

            'I like your hair down,' he murmured, as if it were all the excuse he needed to set her hair loose and run his fingers through her hair as he was doing now.

            A gasp worked its way through the thickness of Valia's throat, escaping the confines of her lips when she felt his fingers brush against the nape of her neck, lingering there to draw lazy circles over the sensitive flesh.

            They nearly missed the footsteps that approached the door, so intent on each other they were. It was only after it was already too late that Legolas pulled away from Valia, drawing back to a window close by to look out with a detached air about his stance. A blank mask quickly descended over Valia's face, which was angled in profile to the door.

            If Cithien had not seen with her own eyes the way the Prince was bent over Valia a moment ago, one hand tangled beneath the shimmering fall of Valia's hair, she would have thought that nothing could have been further from the truth the way they were now behaving. Neither showed that anything improper had just taken place between them.

            And Cithien certainly was not one to question otherwise.

            'Excuse me Valia, but I came to tidy your room up, but I will come back when you are not occupied,' she told her, casting a furtive glance towards the figure of Prince Legolas.

            'No, stay,' Legolas told the attendant, moving from his spot by the window to the door. 'I was just taking my leave when you came,' he explained, fixing her with a charming smile before looking over his shoulder to Valia. 'Good day to you, Lady Valia,' he addressed her, his tone as formal as if he were speaking to a stranger.

            'Good day, my lord,' Valia returned, not stirring form her position to look at him. If she did so, she knew it would only make matters worse. She was not sure if she could keep a blush from staining her cheeks if she met his gaze. Hadrielia may have been spoiled- at times Valia even wondered whether there was not some human blood in the elf lady- but that did not mean that she could not respect her feelings as well. Valia knew that Hadrielia had good reason to be livid with her, even protective of Legolas, especially if she ever found out about this impromptu breakfast that Valia and Legolas had shared together.

            The strange thing was, though, for all the possible scandal and heartache that it could cause, Valia did not regret the time spent. The idea shocked her somewhat, that her feelings could change so suddenly, but there was nothing she could do about it.

            'My lady?' Cithien set Legolas' abandoned breakfast plate on the tray and observed Valia as she was lost in mussing. 'Are you all right, Valia?' Leaning over the small table, Cithien laid a hand on Valia's arm, drawing back only when Valia stirred.

            'I am sorry. What did you say?' asked Valia, standing swiftly in a muted rustling of silken skirts. She began putting her own dishes on the tray, ignoring Cithien's protests that she would clean it up on her own.

            'You seemed somewhat… contemplative. I was simply wondering if you were feeling well.' Cithien deftly pulled the cloth covering off the table once the dishes had been cleared.

            'Perfectly fine,' assured Valia, attempting to add validity to her words with a smile. 'Actually, there is something I wanted to speak with you about.'

            Cithien dropped the folded tablecloth beside the tray. Why did the tone Valia was using make Cithien blush faintly and wish to fidget? 'There is nothing wrong, I hope?'

            'No, not at all. Silia should be here anytime now. We are going into town to buy an outfit for the masquerade dance for her. We thought that you would like to join us. Have you found a costume yet? There is not much time left to get one if you do not already have one.'

            'Costume?' Cithien gave Valia a puzzled look. 'I am a mere attendant, my lady. I am not attending the masquerade.'

            'Not attending? Do not be ridiculous!' Valia cried, coming around the table to take the tray out of Cithien's hands that she had picked up a few moments earlier. 'You have to go.' Valia set the tray firmly down on the table.

            'But I…'

            'Not another word,' Valia commanded, holding her hand up, the gesture softened by the grin stretched across her face and glimmer of delight in her eyes. 'You shall go as my particular guest. You deserve a night such as this, working so hard like you do. Besides, Glorfindel would never forgive me if I did not convince you to come,' added Valia.

            Instead of the pretty blush she expected to appear, Valia watched in concern as Cithien paled.

            'What is the matter?'

            Cithien shifted uncomfortably. When she did speak, her voice had lowered. 'I have enjoyed Lord Glorfindel's company very much since he arrived, Valia, but…'

            Valia rested a hand on Cithien's arm, lifting the maiden's chin with her other hand so that she could look at her. 'There is no need to be in doubt of his intentions for you, Cithien. He would not be that unfair to you or him.'

            'But he is an elven lord.' Uncertainty was clearly evident in her voice as she made no try at concealing it.

            'An elven lord he may be,' a voice came from the doorway, 'but all are equal when it comes to matters of the heart, from attendants to lords, ladies to princes.'

            'Silia,' Valia acknowledged, smiling brightly. 'I am glad you have come. I would like you to meet Cithien, my attendant. Cithien, this is Silia, my dear friend who used to reside in Earsilme with me.'

Both ladies nodded to each other, Silia resting one of her hands atop the soft swell of her stomach.

'You must help me drag Cithien out of the castle if she refuses to go with us.' Valia chose to ignore the subtle reference to her and Legolas that Silia had made, and merely guided Cithien around the table and towards Silia.

            'Do come with us, my dear,' Silia pleaded, grasping one of Cithien's hands. 'At the very least, you shall have a night of fun at the masquerade.'

            With both Silia and Valia's coaxing, Cithien was convinced to join them, her spirits brightened by the ladies who positioned themselves one on either side of her. All three set off together towards the town, their pace slowed to accommodate Silia and the baby growing within her.

-~~*~~-

            'You are late ion-nin,' Thranduil admonished when Legolas sank gracefully into a chair across from him.

            'Forgive me, ada. I lost track of time.' Legolas had rushed from Valia's door, which was located in the guest wing of the palace, to the royal chambers when he realized how late it actually was. King Thranduil had asked to have breakfast with him the night before, to which Legolas had eagerly agreed, having not spent any time alone with his father lately. He had forgotten his promised meeting when he had spied Valia approaching the palace early that morning.

            A golden brow arched suspiciously over Thranduil's blue eyes at the trace of a smile that had lingered permanently on Legolas' lips since he had first entered the King's sitting room. 'Lost track of time? That is not like you, Legolas.' Thranduil took a sip from his fluted glass filled with water, pausing just long enough for Legolas to turn his full attention to his father.

            'Forgive me,' apologized Legolas, though he offered no other explanation. The smile had still not faded from his face and appeared to be a permanent fixture.

            The golden brow arched higher. 'Care to tell me where it was that your attention was diverted?' Thranduil noticed the unwavering smile suddenly vanish from his son's face as it transformed to a more accustomed expression of impassivity. Taking a bite of the rapidly cooling eggs on his plate, Thranduil waited but there was no forthcoming comment from Legolas. 'Perhaps a better question to ask would be in whose company you have been earlier this morning.'

            Legolas fingered the fine linen on the table in front of him, pushing away his yet empty plate while a smile tugged at his lips again. 'Perhaps,' was his enigmatic reply.

            Thranduil ate quietly, observing Legolas occasionally. His son had yet to touch any of the variety of food spread atop the table. 'Are you not hungry this morning, Legolas?'

            'I already broke fast this morning,' Legolas answered absently. 'I had forgotten that we were to eat together.'

             Though any witness to the scene would have thought the feat impossible, Thranduil's brow pushed its way further up before smoothing into an unbroken plane of smooth flesh the next moment.

            'Lady Hadrielia was here earlier. She wished to speak with you when you are not busy,' Thranduil told Legolas in a change of subject. The mention of his betrothed aroused the proper attention from Legolas, who straightened in his chair, clasping his hands in front of him.

            'Did she say what she wanted?' he asked with disinterest. He ran his finger along the smooth planes of his silver betrothal ring, making a fleeting wish that he could simply call off the whole event.

            'No but she seemed rather… upset.' Thranduil put his fork down, pushing his now empty plate away from him.

            Legolas bit back the urge to ask his father when the lady was not upset about something. Apparently the day would not be as fantastic for him as it had been earlier that morning. 'I will try to find her immediately if we are done here,' Legolas voiced instead, rising slightly from his seat as he waited for his father to answer.

            'There is actually something I wished to speak with you about.'

            Legolas sank back down, molding his body to the cushioned curves of the chair. 'Is something the matter, my lord?' questioned Legolas, noting the serious look that had suddenly descended on Thranduil's face.

            'It is more of a concern on my part,' Thranduil told Legolas, leaning forward and bracing an arm on top of the table. 'Your mother and I are concerned about Hadrielia's behavior lately, but perhaps you could allay our misgivings. You were acquainted with her during your stay in Earsilme, were you not?'

            'Yes, my lord.' It took more concentration than Legolas would have liked to not shift uncomfortably in his seat. He was too much like his father, he realized. Both were able to cover their true motives and feelings behind controlled masks that left whoever they were talking to at a loss to prepare for what was to come next. Legolas did not enjoy the lack of power he had over the conversation, particularly this one.

            Thranduil nodded, pausing a moment to pick his words carefully before he proceeded. 'When we picked her as a promising choice for a wife for you, she projected a different image than the lady she has been acting like now. Did she leave you with a positive impression when you were in Earsilme?'

            If it had been anyone other than his father, his lord and King, Legolas would have refused to answer such a question, but as it was, he owed his father a response.

            'She was not the focus of my attention while I was in Earsilme,' explained Legolas, avoiding the actual answer.

            'Ah yes, the Lady Valia,' Thranduil stated. 'Now that is a lady that I am very confident would make an excellent princess.'

            It was Legolas' turn to lift a disbelieving brow at his father. Had he actually had the nerve to say what he just did?

            'I am sure she would,' Legolas replied, a hint of darkness creeping into his tone.

            Thranduil waved the response away as if it were nothing more than a bothersome insect.  'Very well, have it your way. We will not talk about Lady Valia,' Thranduil agreed, though the 'yet' he added afterwards assured Legolas that the topic would be revisited at a later time. 'So you had no opinion of Hadrielia after you left Earsilme?'

            'I did not say that,' was the stubborn reply, but when it was met with a silent stare that showed the King's fast waning patience, Legolas reluctantly elaborated. 'How you see her now is how I saw her in Earsilme.'

            Nodding slowly, Thranduil released his long held sigh, sitting straight in his chair and bracing his hands against his legs. 'I simply ask that you think carefully in the remaining year before the wedding, Legolas, for the sake of yourself as well as Laiquarille. Whatever your choice, your mother and I will support your ultimate decision.'

            Legolas stilled a moment, turning into a living, breathing statue, before he nodded his head in understanding.

-~~*~~-

            Silia and Cithien were standing on one side of the dress shop, side by side as they slowly sifted through the costumes. Neither was paying complete attention to their task at hand, being too busy watching Valia wandering across the other side of the store. They watched her, one hand clutching a packaged wrapped in brown paper and string to her chest. It had been the fruits of their stop to the bookshop, as promised by Silia, before they strayed anywhere near a shop with dresses in it. With her free hand, Valia was sifting through the numerous dresses hung in armoires and on racks, smiling softly to herself as she hummed a common elvish tune to herself.

            To Silia's surprise, Valia had been in an excellent mood the whole day, more so than the trip to the bookshop should have warranted. She had even tried on several outfits without complaint that Silia had suggested she should put on just to see how they looked. Her behavior had been suspiciously agreeable.

            'Valia seems to be in a pleasant mood this afternoon,' Silia commented, rubbing one of her hands over her rounded stomach as she took a second glance at a costume in shades of green and brown, making Silia think of the wood nymphs that were prolific in elfling stories.

            'Yes she does,' Cithien commented, tucking the white feathered dress in her arms closer to her. She cast a sidelong glance at Silia. 'Did Lady Valia know the Prince before she came here?'

            Silia looked sharply at Cithien, wondering which of the many rumors she had heard in regards to Legolas and Valia. There were so many to choose from that were abundant in the halls of the palace, so many that someone might think it was a palace of men instead of one of the noble halls of the Firstborn. Observing Valia closely, who was busy trying to keep an exuberant store owner from making her the proud new owner of a peacock feathered costume, Silia decided that it was better if Cithien knew the actual truth instead of a warped rumor of the truth.

            In a hushed whisper, Silia told Cithien of Legolas and Valia's meeting centuries ago. Watching Cithien's reaction carefully, partly due to the wonder of why the attendant would suddenly want to know of Legolas and Valia's past relationship, Silia saw an understanding slowly light the elf-lady's features as her account of events in Earsilme four hundred years ago came to a close. While she fingered a rich velvet skirt, letting the soft fabric run through her hand like water, she grew too curious to not ask something.

            'Has something occurred to make you ask about Legolas and Valia?'

            Cithien's deep brown eyes lifted to Valia, and Silia saw a momentary hesitation pass over her face, clouding her features like a morning fog on the cool ground. Yet just as quickly, the fog cleared, pierced by some unseen sun to dispel all misgiving. A red bloomed in her cheeks, standing stark against the soft crème of her skin and rich brown hair. 'I saw them having breakfast this morning.'

            The explanation was far too vague for Silia, especially with the color that had creped into the elf-maid's face.

            'Breakfast? Surely that is not such an uncommon sight to behold,' Silia asked with skepticism.

            Cithien brushed the swan feathers that covered her costume in her hands, letting the soft texture settle her agitated thoughts. 'No, it is not, but…'

            'Mmm,' Silia hummed in partial understanding. So there had been more going on than just breakfast when Cithien had walked into the room, though Silia doubted that either Legolas or Valia would do something inappropriate, especially since they had only recently come back to friendly terms with each other. 'Well,' Silia declared, shifting to face Cithien fully, 'whatever it is that you saw, it cannot be so bad that you cannot tell me. I am Valia's close friend, after all.'

            'What happened when?' Valia's voice suddenly questioned, and a moment later she appeared beside the two, one hand still holding her package to her side, but the other placed firmly on her hip.

            Surprised, Silia instinctively lowered her hands to rest against the bulge of her stomach, though her expression quickly turned to a sly smile that sent a moment of panic exploding through Valia's brain, causing a voice of warning to immediately start screaming cautions in her mind. Valia knew that look. She had seen it often enough in Earsilme before Silia would start to expound upon the virtues of an elf she thought would suit Valia well.

            'Never mind, I do not think I want to know anymore,' Valia cut in before Silia could answer, intending to retreat when she backed a step away, but only encountering a wooden wardrobe against her back.

            'You shall do no such thing, my dear,' admonished Silia, clasping one of her friend's arms and drawing her towards them. 'Cithien was just telling me that you broke fast with Legolas this morning.'

            'Yes,' Valia gave by way of answer. Admitting to such a fact did not give her any qualms, rather the fact that she knew Silia would want to know all the details of the tête-à-tête.

            'Do not try to play innocent with me, Valia dear,' Silia retorted, placing her hands on her hips in what was the perfect picture of motherly scolding. Much to her chagrin, Valia could not squelch the smile that flitted onto her lips at the sight of her friend's motherly instincts already surfacing before she had a babe resting in arms.

            'I am not playing innocent,' was the airy reply Valia offered, all the while her grin growing larger. 'You asked if I ate with the Prince and I answered.'

            'Valia!' exclaimed Silia. She laid her hands against her stomach to prevent the urge to raise them in agitated exasperation. 'You have eaten breakfast with Prince Legolas this morning. You ate alone,' she added for emphasis.

            'Yes, I do believe I just admitted to that,' answered Valia with a wry tone lacing her words, curling around her statement in dry amusement. She reached out to run her hands over the folds of fabrics handing in front of her in a futile attempt to stop her ridiculous grin from blooming on her lips at Silia's scowl.

            'Well what happened then! You were with Legolas this morning and now this afternoon you are in one of the better moods I have seen you in since coming to Laiquarille. Please do try to explain that away if you can.'

            'I do not intend to explain it away,' Valia clarified in a pointedly hushed volume. Other shop patrons were beginning to cast questioning looks at their party, especially at the distinct name of their Prince. Valia did not miss the gleam that was kindled in several of the elleth's eyes at the mention of Legolas, and she was not about to wittingly feed fuel to the fire of gossip that was already racing through the streets and palace halls like hungry flames.

            Brushing past Silia, Valia slowly wandered to a more secluded area of the shop, knowing that the Silia would not just simply drop her interrogation. It would be best to get it over with sooner than later, Valia supposed, but she refused to do it in front of an entire shop full of gapping she-elves. Tracing the silver embroidery stitched in elegant spirals along her bodice, Valia waited for Cithien and Silia to follow her lead, meandering their way over to Valia through the sea of dress fabrics and accessories.

            'We were both up early and I had taken a walk through the gardens,' Valia began without preamble, her words tripping one over the other like the fast spill of water falling over a high cliff. 'He saw me coming back into the palace and made us a small tray of food before coming to my chambers to see if I wished to eat with him. We ate. We talked, and then he left. There is nothing else to tell.' Clutching her package to her chest, arms crossed in defiance, Valia arched one of her eyebrows, though the action only provoked thoughts of a princess to reaffirm themselves in Silia and Cithien's minds.

            'And if I asked Cithien if that is all that happened, will I receive the same answer?' Silia retorted archly.

            The question was met with a narrowing of Valia's wide cobalt eyes while a pale coloring began to dust her cheekbones. Silia's victorious smile did not go unnoticed by her, and the firm set of Valia's shoulders slumped as she fixed Silia with a pleading expression. 'Silia, out of most of the elves who I know, you should know that what you are insinuating is impossible, especially under the present circumstances. We were simply enjoying a moment of respite away from all the eyes that are normally directed his way.'

            Letting out an over exaggerated sigh, Silia turned her focus to Cithien. 'So what were they doing when you stumbled upon them this morn, Cithien? Were they simply having a little chat over breakfast?'

            'He was only being friendly,' Valia hastily objected. A mix of unpleasant emotions were starting to rise within her that she knew were going to explode into fireworks of vermillion in her cheeks if the questions continued much longer.

            'Friendly? I think it is time for you to tell me exactly what it was they were doing Cithien,' Silia stated in a tone that was not to be objected with.

            Valia brushed a hand over her forehead, tucking a few stray locks of honeyed hair behind the tip of her ear before she interjected. 'He took the clip out of my hair. It is nothing for you to get excited about,' Valia protested when a smug smile spread along the curves of Silia's lips.

            'O no?' her friend asked. 'Perhaps it was simply done for the pleasantness of past memories?' Sliding her gaze to Cithien, who looked somewhat lost amidst the allusions to past events she had never heard or witnessed, Silia explained for the maiden's benefit. 'Valia used to wear her hair tied back all the time before she became acquainted with Legolas. The Prince had an amusing fascination for unbinding Valia's hair when he met her in Earsilme. I think her hair held some unexplainable attraction for him. By the time he left Earsilme, Valia was wearing her hair down every day simply because he had taken all her hair clasps.'

            'So you see, his actions meant absolutely nothing. He would never dare to do anything questionable while he is betrothed.' At least she hoped he would not. It was what she was trying to convince herself of. She prayed that the hopeful tone in her voice was not too apparent to her companions.

            Yet Cithien, who had never been fond of Hadrielia after she had heard of the many hurtful things she had said to different attendants, decided that it was the perfect time to take up Silia's cause. 'But when I came in he was leaning over her shoulder, and it looked like he was whispering something to her while he was playing with her hair.' Cithien ignored the twinge of guilt she felt at clearly betraying Valia's wishes to keep the events of her breakfast with the Prince a private matter. As far as Cithien was concerned, if the Prince ever ended his betrothal with the Lady Hadrielia, she would have absolutely no objections.

            'Valia!' exclaimed Silia. 'You call that being friendly? Isondil would be horrified if he found me doing that with another elf.'

            Squeezing her eyes shut against the suddenly all too bright light streaming through the shop windows, Valia buried her face in her free hand, trying to compose her thoughts before she attempted to make any sort of reply. She lowered her hand after only a brief period, letting her arm fall carelessly to her side while she straightened her back. 'You are married to Isondil, which makes your circumstance rather different than my own Silia, yet you must see enough of the similarities as well to realize that we would do better to not speak about this.' Valia took a deep breath, inhaling the welcomingly cool air into her lungs, once she was done. However Silia did not respond how she had hoped she would and merely blinked at her unimpressed, eliciting a shifting from Valia as her lips pulled down into a frown of displeasure.

            'Must you always fight, Valia?' Silia asked quietly.

            'He is betrothed,' Valia snapped, blue fire flaring bright in her eyes. Why did no one seem to understand that? There were too many consequences involved to not fight, even if she did love Legolas.

            One of Silia's hands came to rest light against Valia's arm, gently rubbing in soothing circles. Cithien decided it was best if she left the two friends alone, and with a nod directed at Silia, she discreetly moved away to find the shop keeper and pay for her dress.

'Betrothals do not bind the way a marriage does,' Silia offered to break the silence before it had time to settle over them.

Valia's brows knit together into a shadowed valley. 'I am not going to be responsible for the end of his betrothal, Silia. It was his choice to enter into it, and it would be his choice to end it. I did not come here to interfere with the betrothal.'

Silia pursed her lips in thought. 'What if he is waiting for you to give him some assurance of hope?' she questioned, tilting her golden head for a better view of Valia's lowered face. 'What if he will not do anything until you give him some sign that there is still hope for the two of you?'

'He is betrothed, Silia. By all accounts, there is no more chance of hope. Neither of us can afford to be foolish with our hearts in this situation.' A desperate pleading had snuck its way into Valia's tone again, and when Silia's fingers curled under her chin to coax it up, her thumb brushed away a stray tear before it could wind a glistening path down her friend's cheek.

'There is always hope,' Silia replied firmly. 'Always.'

-~~*~~-

Isil- the moon (Quenya)