Thanks for all of the really great reviews you have given me. They really help. I'm sorry that I haven't updated in a while but I'm in my final year of University and am just coming up to finals leaving me little time to write. I'll try my best to update quicker in future, but it might be another long dry spell.

Chapter Twelve

Beledien quietly opened the door to the Prince's chambers and entered. She hoped to lay out his clothes and his breakfast and quickly rouse him before making a swift exit. Since the night of the New Year's Ball she had been attending to the Prince in Ariel's place and every morning he had been in a vile mood, doubtless due to the amount of wine and ale he was drinking at night. She remembered the Prince and his drinking from before he went away to war. She, like the rest of his people, had hoped that he had left this behind him. Clearly their hopes were ill founded.

She looked over at the Prince's sleeping form. He was lying face down, so she could not see his eyes, but the steady rhythm of his breathing suggested that he still slept. She set his breakfast down on the table before retrieving clean clothes from the wardrobe. She laid out these garments on a chair and quickly set about arranging everything just as the Prince liked it, all the time hoping that he remained asleep. She had no desire to be on the wrong end of his temper that morning.

"You needn't be so eager to be out of my presence." She jumped and dropped the spoon she had in her hand. She turned to see the Prince wide away, sitting up in bed watching her.

"I am sorry, Your Highness, if I woke you," she said before going back to her duties.

"I was not asleep. I slept very little last night."

"I am sorry to hear that Highness, do you feel unwell?

"No, I am fine, just thinking things over." She went over to the drapes and tugged them open, allowing light to enter through the room's solitary window. "How long is she going to keep this up for?"

"I am sorry Sire?"

"Ariel, for how long does she propose to pretend that I do not exist? I am beginning to tire of her games."

"I have no answers for you highness, I simply do my duty." She turned back to the breakfast things, ashamed that she had just lied to her Prince. The truth was that she did know exactly what was happening. Ariel came to her every morning with instructions for the Prince's day. Beledien was little more than a puppet, with Ariel pulling the strings. However she knew of the lady's plans to relinquish her duties and leave the Greenwood on the morrow with Lord Elrond and his sons. She had been sworn to secrecy though and had made a promise to Ariel that the Prince would not find out from her.

"Are you to train with Lady Thrimalia today milord?" Ariel had already told her that he would be, but she needed to make it seem that she was not receiving instructions.

"Yes I shall."

"Would you like me to retrieve your long bow or swords Highness?"

"Neither thank you, I will organise my own weapons if you don't mind." Beledien ignored his statement. His ill humour no longer surprised or saddened her. She had quickly learned, on entering his service, that his charm was very much confined to moonlit strolls and bedtime stories.

She finished what she was doing and turned to the Prince. "If there is nothing else Sire I have duties to attend to."

"Yes of course, you are dismissed."

"If you need any assistance later sire, I shall be in the Western Quarter helping Ariel..." she suddenly realised what she was saying.

"Helping Ariel. Helping Ariel what?"

Beledien looked to her feet. She could not believe she had been so foolish. She had promised that not a word would escape her lips. So much for the word of the Elves. She could not, however, deny her Prince information, when he had expressly asked it of her.

"I have been charged by Your Mother, the Queen, to assist Ariel in preparing to leave Eryn Lasgalen."

"Leave!" His eyes widened and he sat bolt upright. He allowed himself a few seconds to let this sink in before leaning back onto his headboard. "She is leaving." His voice had now softened.

"Yes Sire. She is to depart at dusk tomorrow and then travel to Imladris with Lord Elrond and his sons." She could tell that he was shocked by this news, although she was not sure what he expected. The way he had acted at the ball was appalling. Ariel had every right not to want to see him.

"You may go," he said quietly.

"Thank you Sire," she bowed and left the room, hoping her betrayal of Ariel's confidence would not lead to dire consequences.

* * * * *

Legolas wandered down the red lit corridors of the city towards the front gate. He was late for his training session with Thrimalia. He couldn't find the energy to rush though. She would just have to wait. He was still in shock at the revelation that Ariel was leaving. He knew that things were bad between them, but that their quarrel had gone this far was news to him. He was not ready for her to leave. He was just starting to think that they were making a connection.

The gates opened and he crossed the bridge, the great Beech trees casting shadows on his face which mirrored the shadows in his mind. As he got closer to the training area, he could hear the clear ringing of laughter above the sounds of arrows flying and swords clanging. Even though it was a sound he had never heard before, he knew who that laugh belonged to. He entered the arena and among all of the training guard members was the source of that laughter, Thrimalia. She was sat upon the ground with one of the sons of Elrond. They were talking very avidly and it seemed that Elladan, for that is who he had determined it to be, was telling some story which was greatly amusing her. For a moment he felt the cold stab of jealousy. She had never laughed that way at one of his stories.

He walked over to them. "Thrimalia." She looked up at him and a look of sheer horror crossed her face. She jumped to her feet and stood to attention. "Your High... Legolas, I am sorry I..."

"Do not apologise. It is I who should be saying I am sorry, for I am late." At this point Elladan stood.

"I should leave you now so that you might train. I have been honoured to meet you Thrimalia Hyarmenohtar, may our acquaintance last beyond the ages."

"Farewell Elladan, Son of Elrond." They placed their hands over their hearts and bowed to each other. Elladan turned away, acknowledging Legolas's presence only with a distasteful glance. This took Legolas aback somewhat. He had always been on good terms with the Son's of Elrond.

"Will you give me a moment Thrimalia?"

"Of course Legolas," he turned and left the practice arena.

"Elladan," he called to the dark haired elf's retreating back. Elladan stopped and turned back. Legolas jogged over to where he stood. "You are well, Son of Elrond?"

"Yes Highness, I am well." Legolas was shocked once more. Never in all their years of friendship had Elladan used his title.

"I have not seen you or your Brother since the ball. I hear you have spent many hours in the company of Ariel Aaecien." The dark haired elf's jaw twitched at the mention of her name.

"That I have. Ariel is a very dear friend. Practically a sister to my brother and I, though we do not share blood, we share the bond of siblings."

"Is it true that she is to depart with you and your party on the morrow?"

"Yes, it is true. She wished to be no more in Eryn Lasgalen." Legolas's face fell, he had hoped that Beledien had been mistaken. "I cannot imagine why this news surprises you, surely you did not expect her to stay after that scene at the ball."

"Our quarrel is so easily fixed though. If only she would come to me and ap..."

"Do not finish that sentence Legolas. Do not even think about asking her to apologise. You did your best to humiliate her that night. You took all of your spite and jealousy and you took it out on her. If this is the way you behave, then you are undeserving of the constant loyalty she has shown you. Your conduct has brought a shadow on the house of Oropher and shame on the race of Elves." He turned away and walked off angrily.

Legolas was shell shocked. To hear the gentle Lord of Rivendell speak in such a way was unprecedented. He turned back to the arena and made his way to where Thrimalia was waiting for him. For the first time since the ball, he began to feel a sense of shame at his treatment of Ariel. Perhaps his words were too harsh. He hadn't been able to help himself though. He had always been a passionate being and quick to temper, and on that occasion, he had been more than a little jealous.

In the practice arena, Thrimalia was practising her swordplay with two members of the guard. They were both tiring fast under her constant attack, and were resorting to only defensive moves. He could see however that she was merely toying with them, if she wanted to, she could end the fight at any time.

As she spun around she saw her teacher watching her sparring. She quickly forced one of her partners to the ground and the other into a corner. They conceded their loss to her and happily went back to sparring with each other. She walked over to Legolas. "I hope everything is all right Legolas."

"Everything is fine." She could tell that he was lying but who was she to question a Prince? "We shall practice with long knives today." She went over to the armour rack she was occupying and unsheathed her knives. They were beautifully crafted but, unlike her sword, were hardly used. There was something about knives which she disliked intensely. They were ugly and brutal, lacking the nobility of the sword, or the honour of unarmed combat. They are easy to conceal and therefore the weapon of choice for the dishonourable. She could never work out why her prince favoured them so.

The found a space among the practising guard members and faced each other. Legolas unsheathed the white knives which had been with him in the shadow of Orodruin. Like his sword, they were battered from the constant assaults they had been put through.

The pair began duelling. Their skills were obvious to all who were watching. However is was also clear that Legolas's heart wasn't in it. There was something in the way he moved, in his attack, which made it clear that his mind was on other things. Thrimalia could almost feel the tension and despair coming off him in waves, but she kept up the fight until Legolas dropped back and sheathed his knives.

"I am sorry Thrimalia, but my head is elsewhere. I cannot continue today."

"Are you ill? Should I call for a healer?" Legolas looked at his pupil and was touched by the genuine concern which dwelled in her eyes.

"I am well, I just cannot concentrate and I fear I make a bad sparring partner."

"Oh no Legolas, you could never be an inferior fighter, you have the skills of the oldest Kings."

"Thank you, your words are too kind, but I do thank you. I give you leave to take the day off. I do not think we will continue today."

"Thank You," she bowed and headed the her armour rack, sheathing her knives and taking up her bow. She then went and found an unoccupied target where she began to practice. Legolas sighed. He had hoped that by taking the day off, she would go into the woods and be with the nature he knew she loved, not head to the archery targets once again.

However, he decided not to lecture her at that time, he had other things he wished to attend to. He walked towards the groves, his mind occupied with the thought of the Green Wood without Ariel's presence. He had come to rely on her being there, he hadn't realised it until now, but she had become a part of his life.

He came to one of the walls which surrounded the groves, but something stopped him from going in. Instead he climbed one of the trees which overlooked the place. He settled himself on a branch and looked to the Pallion Groves. They were empty. He had hoped to see Ariel, sitting among the, now blue, berries, but she was not there. He closed his eyes and tried to visualise her, to capture her grey eyes and pale skin in his mind's eye, but he couldn't. He wanted so much to see her before she left. He would take back everything he had said, if he could just say goodbye to her. In a very short time she had become special to him.

Suddenly he heard voices below him. He could not see them through the dense leaves and branches of the tree, but he knew who they were. The Sons of Elrond had unmistakable voices and he would know the clear resonance of Ariel's tones anywhere. He listened attentively to what was being said.

"And then Arwen pushed Elrohir, he was so surprised that he stumbled backwards five feet before falling into the Ford." The laughter of the trio rang out through the forest like birdsong.

"Excuse me for a moment, I shall catch up." This was the powerful voice of Lord Elrond. Suddenly Legolas could see them. Ariel was between the twins, her arms linked with theirs. They began to walk towards the Pallion, but for some reason, Ariel steered them away. This made Legolas smile to himself. It was as if the Pallion was a place she shared only with him.

"So this is where you are hiding Green Leaf," a voice said behind him. He was so shocked that he almost tumbled from his perch. He turned to see Lord Elrond sitting on a branch just behind his own. His mind had been so fixed on Ariel that he hadn't heard the elf lord climbing the oak tree.

"Lord Elrond, what are you doing up here?"

"I could ask the same of you. We have seldom seen you since the ball. Your company has been missed."

"Not by all," he said, eyeing Ariel and the twins.

"Perhaps not, but you know it didn't have to be that way. After the ball she was willing to forgive you, even though you had questioned her honour and cast aspersions on somebody she thinks very highly of. Had you shown a little humility it could have been over days ago, but once you accused her a second time she became less forgiving. You have angered and humiliated her."

"I know, I was simply..."

"Jealous? Jealousy is an emotion which is unbecoming of the first born, especially a Prince of his people. You have a passionate nature Legolas, and I have no doubt that one day you will love so deeply that your passions will be channelled into great tenderness, but until then you must learn to control your anger. You have already seen what it can do."

"Yes milord." They sat in silence for a few moments before Legolas tentatively asked a question. "What exactly is your relationship with Ariel? She speaks of you with such love and fondness that I know not what to make of it."

"Ariel never knew her father personally. She has heard tales of his deeds but has not known his touch or voice since she was a babe in arms. As an infant she was brought to Imladris by her mother, and there she remained with us until she was ten. Her mother travelled Middle Earth teaching the loveless as Ariel does now. She knew that it was no life for such a young child. I was fond of Aaecien and so I and my sons raised her child, instructing her in the ways of the elves and of her own kin."

"The Rohirrim?" Legolas interjected.

"Among others. Ariel's heritage is complicated, but I will not speak of it more as that is for her to tell if she so wishes. I will however tell you this, whatever affection or fondness Ariel feels for me, it is not love, you can take my word for that."

"I do not want her to leave Elrond. I feel something between us. I do not know what it is though. It certainly isn't love, it might not even be friendship for I am not sure if I even trust her. There is just something. Does that sound strange?"

"Not at all. There is a bond between you, the nature of that bond will become obvious in time, but for that bond to become a success will depend on you Legolas. The work is your entirely."

"How am I to do that if she is not here?"

"Go to her. Persuade her remain here for I am convinced that she wishes to stay as much as you want her to. A sadness has descended on her since the ball. She has of course tried to hide it, but I am the closest thing she has had to a father, I know when she is unhappy. Find her now, beg her forgiveness and she may agree to stay."

Legolas looked to where Ariel was being amused by Elladan and Elrohir, re-enacting one of their many fights with orcs or spiders or some other such foulness. They suddenly stopped though and turned to Ariel, bowing before leaving. Legolas turned to Elrond, a confused look on his face.

"I have called them back to the palace to speak with me. If you hurry you will catch Ariel before she decides to leave." Legolas smiled at the elf lord. "Speak well Legolas Greenleaf, may your words put you back on your true path." Legolas descended the tree and headed to the orchard, praying to the Valar that Ariel would accept what he had to say, and that they could be as they were, what ever that was.