The ride to Minas Tirith was uneventful, but I couldn't help but notice Legolas' silent unease throughout the journey, which only seemed to settle when we had arrived in the city.

It was afternoon when we arrived, and the city was bustling with people and children, all playing and going about their business. We made our way up to the top level of the city, where I knew we would find my father.

My father, King Eomer and Lord Faramir were all eagerly awaiting our arrival. When my father caught sight of me, he smiled widely. Like a little girl, I ran into his open arms, and we embraced.

"My daughter, I have missed you greatly." He said, smiling. Legolas also embraced with my father, while I was greeted by King Eomer and Lord Faramir, two men that I had grown up with. It was King Eomer who had taught me to ride, and Lord Faramir who had taught me to read and write. They were both honourable men, and like uncles to me.

"Legolas, my friend it is good to see you again." Eomer spoke with a nod.

"And you." Legolas replied.

"Come, there is much to catch up on." Faramir smiled, and led the way into the great hall, where a long table was already set.

And there sat my mother, Arwen Evenstar, looking beautiful as she always did. My mother dressed like a queen, but did not hold the airs of one. She nearly wept with joy when she saw me - it had been a long time since our parting.

"Oh my darling, my Lien!" She ran to me, and held me for a very long time, looking closely at me as if checking to see I was all right. I couldn't help but blush.

"Mother, I'm fine."

"I know, I know. Oh it has been so long since I have lain eyes upon you. I trust I find you well?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Yes, I am well." She nodded, pleased with my answer. She smiled, and stepped forward to greet Legolas.

"Legolas, you are well also?"
"Yes, my lady."

"My name, Master Legolas, is Arwen. We are all friends here, surely such courtesies can be forgotten?" My mother smiled gently. Legolas nodded, and looked at me. This was not the greeting he had been expecting.

"Come, there is much to speak of, Legolas." My father touched Legolas' shoulder, and my husband nodded once.

"Not yet!" A stern voice called. We all turned, and I found myself grinning.

A dwarf, with a long reddish beard was running rather breathlessly towards us. He had an axe in his belt, and a long braid in his beard.

"What's the meaning of it laddie! Runnin' off and getting married, without so much as an invite for your old friend!" He spoke with pretend anger and indignation.

This, I thought must be Gimli, another friend of my father, and one of the nine members of the Fellowship of The Ring. He had grown rather close to Legolas, despite the fact that Elves and Dwarfs did not usually get on. Gimli had not been to Minas Tirith since I was little, and I could not remember much of him. He must have come to meet with my father.

I noticed Legolas' wide smile, and smiled myself. Sometimes, he missed Gimli, longing for that strong bond that had never severed between them.

"So where is she then? The young beauty who has warmed your heart?" Gimli asked, looking around.

"Gimli, meet my wife, Lady Vanwaithilien, of Gondor. Lady Vanwaithilien, this is Gimli, son of Gloin." Legolas spoke, the smile reaching into his eyes and voice. I noticed Gimli's jaw drop.

"You married her! Aragorn's daughter! I never would have thought it!" He laughed. "You rascal!" He and Legolas embraced quickly. "Where is she, then? It has been a long time since I looked upon the fair features of Lady Lien. She must be a beauty, to charm you, my old friend." Gimli smiled. I stepped forward slightly, smiling shyly.

"Master Gimli, I hope you are well." I bowed to him.

"My lady, it is I who should be bowing to you. Long has it been since I have looked upon a beauty such as yours. It may be said, that you have a beauty to rival that of your great-grandmothers, the Lady of Light."

I blushed to the roots of my hair. It was a great honour to be told that I looked like my great-grandmother, who had been Lady Galadriel, the Queen of all Elves, the fairest of all creatures.

"Let us retire friends, we have much to discuss." My father said, and the men retired to the study, leaving me with my mother.

"My child, sit down." She smiled, and I sat beside her silently. I did not really know what to say.

"Mother, I must apologise. I wish I could have married with your consent and blessing, but Legolas and I were afraid that we would lose each other. And I could not bear that, not after all we went through together. I love him, I love him more than I can believe at times." I blurted.

"Lien, my darling, I understand. To love someone that much and be told that nothing can come of it…it's devastating. But you must fight for what you believe in. And if that is a love you are told you cannot have, you still must fight. I had to; I had to fight for your father. And look what has become of that." She sighed. "I just wish I could have been there."

"So do I, mother. I wished it with all my heart." We smiled at each other, our bonds re-formed and stronger than before.

"Come, we must decide what you must wear tonight, at the ball!" My mother said, sounding delighted.

"Ball?"

"Why yes. To greet our guests and allies. And to celebrate the wedding of our little girl! It is a grand event, and you must look splendid." She took my hand, and led me to my old chamber.

It felt like I hadn't been there in forever, but nothing had changed. The heavy velvet drapes still hung from my four-poster bed, which was covered in linens bearing the White Tree, the symbol of Gondor. Bookcases filled with books on history, languages, folklore and Elfish myths lined the wall. I opened my mahogany wardrobe, and found all my dresses, still hanging up in their place.

"Now, my darling, what do you wish to wear?"

"I actually have something in mind." I opened one of my travel bags, and bought out the dress from Lothlorien. My mother's eyes filled with wonder, and she fingered it delicately.

"Lien, where did you get such a beautiful dress?" She asked.

"It was a wedding gift, from Lothlorien. I think I should wear this tonight." I sighed softly, holding it to my body and looking at my reflection in the mirror.

"Yes, I agree. Has Legolas seen you in it yet?"

"No, I am hoping to surprise him."

"I do believe he will most enjoy tonight, with such a beautiful young wife on his arm." She smiled and stroked my hair.

"I hope he does."

It had been a long afternoon for the Prince of Mirkwood.

The discussion had been a grave one, but Aragorn assured them that they had plenty of time. To appear afraid could be a big mistake.

A ball had been organised for that same evening. Legolas thought it was a good idea, and desperately needed time to relax, and he wanted to spend some time with Lien.

By the time Legolas returned to the chamber he would be sharing with Lien, she had gone. However, she had left a note, hastily written in her beautiful writing on a piece of plain parchment.

Legolas,

My friends and I have left to prepare for the ball this evening. I will meet you at the staircase leading to the Great Hall at sunset, if you are ready by then. If not, I will meet you in the Great Hall.

All my love,

Lien

XXX

Legolas smiled faintly at her written words. He knew she was glad to be back among her old friends, and he was happy when she was happy.

He looked to the sky, and saw the sun beginning its steady dip below the horizon. His eyes widening when he realised how late it was, the prince began to hurriedly bath and dress.

After all, he could not keep his beautiful princess waiting.

I could not believe the beauty of the dress. Strange as it seemed, the dress felt like it had been made for me. Not only did it fit perfectly, but the colour of the glorious fabric seemed to bring out the darkness in my hair and eyes. I stood in front of the mirror for a long time, wondering if this was really me.

"Lien, come! I wish to meet your husband before the night is out!" I smiled faintly as my friend, Luinfirithiel, was waiting in the hallway.

Luinfirithiel was my dearest and oldest friend. She was the only other half-elf living in Gondor, and we shared a common bond. Due to her Elven heritage, she knew of Legolas, but had never met him in person. Everyone called her Luin, and took great amusement from calling out "Luin and Lien!" to us as we walked past.

I shyly opened the door, and she gasped, her blue eyes widening. She was dressed in subtle greens and greys, and looked rather royal herself.

"Do you think it looks suitable?" I asked nervously.

"You look beautiful Lien. Like the princess you are." She linked her arm with mine, and I beamed at her.

"I am to meet Legolas at the stairs." I told her, and she nodded once.

"I will leave you there. Now doubt he will be struck speechless when he sees you." She laughed; it was such a gentle sound.

"Legolas is never speechless." I joked.

We reached the bottom of the great sweeping staircase. It was made of marble, and was stained red by the last remaining rays of the setting sun.

I looked up when I heard Legolas running down towards me. He slid to a stop, and gripped onto the banister.

His normally pale cheeks were flushed from running, and he looked absolutely striking. He was dressed in navy blue, with his golden hair in a long plait down his back. His blue eyes looked so much like the summer sky.

"Lien…" He murmured.

"Yes?" He touched my hair, and my cheek. He leaned in, and kissed me gently. I returned his kiss, rather shyly.

"You look incredible." He whispered to me.

"Thank you. But you, my darling, are late." I laughed. He kissed my hand.

"My fair lady, I do apologise." He replied, putting on affected airs and making me laugh. I laced my fingers through his.

"Come on, we're keeping everybody waiting."

He pulled me into his arms, grinning mischievously. He titled my chin back, and kissed my smiling lips.

"Surely they can wait a little longer?" He breathed.

"No." I slid out from under his arms, and dashed down the staircase, giggling. He, being much faster than I was, caught me and spun me in his arms.

"Fine." We walked through the open doors, into the marvellously decorated hall. A joyful tune was playing, and people were dancing.

"Will you dance with me?" I asked Legolas, tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear. He smiled softly.

"It would be an honour."

It had been such a wonderful night. It was the first time Legolas and I made a public appearance as a married couple. We danced and laughed and spoke with nearly everyone. I had missed Gondor, and enjoyed being back with Legolas by my side.

We were walking back to our chamber, my arm round his waist and his arm round my shoulder, discussing the night we had first met, at a similar event in Rivendell.

It was then I noticed another elf, dressed in similar garb to Legolas walk over to us. I recognised him as Nuinwilyaion. He had been Legolas' best friend for many hundreds of years, and was also blonde haired, blue eyed, and rather handy with a bow and arrow. He had been one of the elves who had accompanied us to Gondor.

"Legolas, I need to speak with you." Nuinwilyaion spoke in an urgent whisper. He didn't even look at me.

"Nuin, what is the matter?"

"I just wish to speak with you."

"Can it not wait, my friend?" Legolas asked curiously.

"No, I'm afraid it cannot."

Legolas looked to me, as if asking my permission. I kissed him quickly and touched his arm.

"Go. Speak with your friend." He unlaced his fingers from mine, and walked off with Nuin.

Legolas followed Nuin out to a balcony over-looking the city. The night was cold, although it did not bother the young elves.

Legolas looked to Nuin, and saw an unfamiliar coldness in his dark blue eyes. Nuin stood in stony silence, so Legolas spoke.

"Nuin, what is wrong?"

"Legolas, you must not stay with Vanwaithilien." Legolas could not keep the shock from his voice.

"Why?"

"Legolas, she does not love you."

A world of hurt exploded in Legolas' heart. Not because he thought Nuin was telling the truth, he knew Lien loved him as much as he loved her. But because Nuin, his oldest friend, was trying to take him away from her.

"Nuin, she does love me." Legolas replied, his voice strained.

"Legolas, when she is sated with your body and your station she will cast you aside. Do you really believe she is in this relationship because she loves you?" He lowered his voice, but could not hide the jealousy and hatred from it. "She is in this relationship because she wanted the prestige of being able to say she had taken the one and only Legolas Greenleaf to bed."

Legolas' fist connected with Nuin's jaw with an almighty crack. His old friend crumpled like a sack of potatoes. Blood boiling, and hands balled into lethal fists, Legolas nearly ran off. He could not return to Lien and let her see him this angry, but he could not stay here and speak with Nuin.

He walked for a few moments, till he could see the city of Osgiliath in the distance. A wind was starting up, and loose strands of his blonde hair whipped into Legolas' blue eyes.

He thought he saw something, a black shape running across the plains to the city. He blinked, and it was gone. Legolas convinced himself that his elf eyes were deceiving him, that he was so enraged he was not seeing straight.

But Legolas was not seeing things. He didn't see the orc arrow till it was too late. It hit him in the shoulder with such force that he was thrown onto his back. Lying unmoving on the cold stone everything went black, and Legolas saw no more.