AUTHOR'S NOTE: Another big thank you to those who have reviewed and another begging session to those who don't. *does pitifully cute puppy-dog face* Please please please review!!! I need some kind of feedback, be it good or bad, I don't care, give me something! Or else I may have to renew my threat to kill of some major characters(you know the hot blonde princely ones).

Plans:

Legolas stood in shock at what he had just heard. He opened his mouth as if to respond, but then thought better of it and whirled around to the door, not bothering to close it behind him. He ignored his father as he called after him. He was so angry he could not think; he did not even know where he was going. He turned the corner away from his father's office and ran straight into Gimli. He pushed past the dwarf and continued, ignoring his friend as he ran behind him. Gimli finally caught up with the irate elf and grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I. I do not know," came Legolas's reply as he jerked his arm away and began walking again.

"Legolas, I heard what your father said!" Gimli was having to run to keep up with him. "You are too angry right now; you must stop and think before you do anything rash!" He now grabbed his arm again and jerked him around. Legolas stopped and looked as if he would yell at his friend, but he took a deep breath and nodded.

"You are right." He sighed and put a hand to his troubled brow. When he spoke again his voice was cracking. "What can I do? Even if I did follow her, after what my father told me she would most likely refuse to speak to me." He paused, fury once again clouding his face. "How could he do this? I love her! Then he sends her away and tells me not to follow on pain of being disowned!" Gimli released his grip on Legolas's arm.

"He is only trying to do what is best for you. He does not know how you feel about her." Legolas gave a short mirthless laugh.

"Does not know? More likely does not care. He is more interested in keeping the family's good image. Obviously me marrying a commoner is not in keeping with that. I do not know what to do. If I follow her, she most likely will not see me and I will be disowned. If I do not follow her, I will have my title, but nothing else." They were both silent for a moment before Gimli spoke up.

"Maybe not." Legolas raised his eyebrows.

"What do you mean 'maybe not'?"

"Your father never said specifically that you could not take Kikania as your wife, he only said that you could not marry anyone with a title less than Lady. So, if you cannot break the rules, you must bend them. Is there any noble blood in her, even the slightest? Perhaps if she were even distantly related to someone of royalty, your father would reconsider." Legolas pondered this and a hint of a smile began to play on his lips.

"That might work. I was so angry in there I was hardly paying attention to his exact words, but thanks to the palace eavesdropper I may have a chance. I will have to be discreet, though, for if my father finds out that I am trying to circumvent his order, he may get more specific."
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Kika made it to Lothlorien in just under a week as she had kept a steady pace. Once she reached the borders, however, she slowed, waiting for a sentry to jump in front of her at any moment. She was, of course, correct.

"Daro!" commanded a voice from above. She looked up to see four elves with their bows bent, arrows aimed toward her. Another elf leapt lightly out of a tree and landed directly in front of her. "What business have you in Lothlorien?" Kika smiled.

"I had hoped for a warmer welcome, Orophin," she said. She tried not to laugh as shock registered on the elf's face.

"Who are you?" he asked, attempting to see her face under the hood she had put on because of the wind earlier in the day. She pushed back the hood and gave him a small smile. Orophin gasped.

"Kikania? But." He looked up to the elves in the trees. "Lower your weapons!" Turning back to Kika, he said, "It is wonderful to see you again! Most here believed you to be killed in the wild and did not anticipate your return. Come, I shall escort you to the city." Kika dismounted and began walking, welcoming the excuse to stretch her underused legs. "Does the Lady know of your return?"

"I have not sent word, but it would not surprise me if she knows anyway," she replied. There was a brief silence. "So are you now the captain?" Her old friend nodded.

"Yes I was promoted after - " His voice trailed off, unwilling to bring up his brother's death, as he knew that it had been as traumatic for Kika as it had been for him.

"I see. I am glad, you deserve the position." Secretly she was thinking that there was no way he could surpass Haldir, but she held her tongue. They continued in silence until they reached the city, where Kika felt her heart flutter with nervousness. She had not been back to her home in a long time and she did not know how she would be received. She steeled herself for the worst as she approached her former guardian's flet.

"Rilyien?" she called softly as she climbed swiftly onto the flet. A dark-haired elf turned from the meal she was preparing and stared in shock.

"Kikania?" Kika soon found herself crushed in the elf's embrace. She pulled back and looked at the weary maiden with tear-filled eyes. "You have returned! I thought you had died! Where have you been all these years?" Kika smiled in relief at this welcoming reception.

"I have been traveling, Rilyien. I was in Mirkwood most recently when I decided to return home." Rilyien smiled broadly.

"I am glad you came to that decision. Are you going to resume your charge as the Lady's handmaiden?" Kika shrugged as she sat.

"I do not know. If that is what she wishes, I will do so. However." She hesitated, but then forced herself to continue. She had made up her mind on her homeward journey. She knew that it was the only way to start a new life and forget what had transpired in Mirkwood. "I am ready to settle down, Rilyien." The other elf caught her meaning and her smile broadened all the more.

"You wish to be betrothed so you can have a family of your own. I knew that you would want to one day. I am glad for you!" Her eyes sparkled. "And I believe I know just the elf."

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All this time Legolas was not just sitting around sulking. He had been, whenever he could escape his father's watchful eye, speaking to everyone he knew that had been to Lothlorien. There were not many because of the residual animosity between the two woods, but there were enough to keep him busy for over a week. Gimli told him what she had said to him at dinner the first night about not knowing who her parents were, and Legolas was not quite sure if this was good or bad news. It could be good, because that could mean that they were nobles and she just did not know it, but it could be bad because if she did not know who her own parents were, what were the chances that he could find out from anyone else? He did not allow this to impede his investigation, though. When he thought he could reap no more information from those who had visited or lived in the Golden Wood, he prepared, in secret, to journey there himself. He had to wait several days after his birthing day banquet because of all the eyes of the wood were focused on him during this time. He and Gimli prepared to ride four days after the banquet, under the pretense of an extended hunting trip.