Disclaimer- I own nothing!!!!
I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to get this chapter up- my computer broke- but I'm back!
A couple of people have said that Thalia seems like a bitch- is she? I don't know. I couldn't see any other way of doing it other than to kill her father.
Nimthoron- thank you so much, you're so nice
Lady Viola- lol- glad you liked it
Uhhh. . . . I have no name- they are not having a corgi- well they might- do they even have corgis in ME?
Merilia- thank you so much- your review fuelled this chapter
PrincesssaraSolo- thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it. And thanks for your suggestion- as I've said- I can't find a good way to write the point of views. I write like this because…actually I have no idea why I write like this, but I like it. And I just had to mention Yoda, he's the cutest.
To all those who reviewed. Thank you!!!!!! Love and hugs- but the next person to mention the words mary and sue in the same sentence is gonna get it.
~~~~~~~~
Thalia panicked, and without thinking, turned around and ran to her room.
The door slammed as she shut it, making Legolas frown.
He stood, dressed in a cream robe, watching the figure who had now secured herself in several blankets on the bed. And it did not look as if she was planning to come out at any time during the foreseeable future.
He sighed and made his way over to the bed. He battled with her as he tried to peel back the covers, but she was not letting go.
"No. please Legolas. Don't make me go"
"Thalia. You have no choice. You must come out"
"No"
"Thalia. Get up right now"
Sheepishly and somewhat embarrassed, she stood next to the bed. Her dress now wrinkled beyond decency and her hair stuck up in various directions.
Legolas rolled his eyes and pointed to the white dress that hung on the door of the wardrobe.
His hawk-like eyes followed her every movement as she dressed.
He smiled softly when she looked at herself in the mirror and grimaced. One look at Legolas told her that there was not way of getting out of it.
He had completely reverted to the prince that he had been brought up to be.
He stood, back straight and shoulders squared. His jaw was firmly set and his eyes narrowed.
If it wasn't for the fact that she knew that he loved her fully and unconditionally, she would have run from him.
Everybody was changing, she was beginning to see that real people behind the one sided view that she had had before.
Haldir, could not only be an understanding and sometimes very emotional elf. He was a warrior, hardened by hundreds of years of battle. He was a person of stamina and passionate extremes. He could be terrifying when he tried. What's worse is that he knew it. He could be reduced to tears, but if need be, the stony mask of indifference and arrogance covered his face in an instant. It was an element that she had not acknowledged before.
She was beginning to see that she had misjudged rather a lot of things.
Finally after much complaining and many more commands, the couple were on their way to greet their parents.
Thalia's nerved were showing as she absentmindedly played with the folds in her dress, while her other hand played with the one ring that Legolas had put on his finger. It was a silver ring, engraved with a leaf and a bow surrounded by a crown, his personal symbol.
Legolas on the other hand, was ready to meet his parents with the correct protocol. He walked like a true prince, making the woman standing next to him seem very small and timid indeed.
Her steps became smaller as they approached the yard. Legolas' hand tightened around hers, silently showing her that was there.
One sideways glance at him, told Thalia that there was no getting out of this one, no matter how much she protested.
Her insides were churning and a headache had made it appearance. She felt her legs wobble slightly as they continued. The usually calming effect that the landscape had on her was for the moment gone and it seemed that she was faced with a barren wasteland.
His look of indifference unsettled her. How could a person of such passion and conviction look so…blank?
"You shall learn to mask your feeling in time"
She furrowed her brow and looked at him in innocent confusion. It seemed that along with her usual inspiration, her thought process had deserted her as well.
"What?"
He raised his eyebrow in a 'you should know' kind of way.
She shook her head in a distracted way,
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that"
He stopped suddenly at the top of the stairs, almost making her fall down them head first. Her graceful, elvish qualities had also left themselves in her room.
After straightening and making herself presentable, Thalia stood, looking as regal and beautiful as the elf by her side.
Thalia's nerves left her as her eyes met almost identical ones. She kept her eyes on those of her mothers as she and Legolas descended down the stairs.
Elrond stood next to Thranduil as they both watched Thalia. Elrond was proud of her. She had become a lady fit for her new title. She walked head high and with no apology, but also without arrogance.
Legolas watched Thalia intensely as his mother and father greeted and assessed his beloved. He knew that they approved of her from the letters that he had received from them. He watched as his fathers eyes swept over her, a slight glance from his father filled him with relief. He was impressed. His mother was enthralled, she had taken Thalia into her arms as a mother would her child. The queen had always been less reserved than her husband. This was something that she hated about her son. Her son was calculating in almost every situation. He assessed everything to perfection.
Thalia stood still as her mother stepped forward. All watched the scene unfold. The silence was deafening as both waited for the other to make the first move.
At the moment that her eyes had locked with her mothers, the guilt and self hatred that Thalia felt flooded her senses.
There was no going back. There was no saying 'sorry' and 'it'll be alright', not this time. She had royally fucked up. She had murdered a man.
Watching the emotions flicker through her mothers eyes twisted into her stomach like the cool metal of a knife.
She was facing her mother with the knowledge that she had been the one who had caused her so much pain because of her own selfishness. If she hadn't killed herself, maybe her mother wouldn't be here, staring at her now. It was fast becoming unbearable. But now the stakes had been raised and she had to face her mother with blood on her hands. The red, staining her hands, the blood of two people. Both her family, it settled in to the creases of her skin. It confirmed what she knew about herself.
She was nothing but a cold-hearted bitch.
Thalia's head reeled as she felt her mother's arms wrap themselves around her. The old familiar scent engulfed her and she was nothing but a child again. Sat on the edge of her mum's bed, watching as the elegant woman put on her make up and sprayed on her perfume. She wanted to grow up to be that woman. To grow up like her mother.
Katlin Mathews was very much like her daughter in appearance. They shared the same hair and eye colour. Katlin was taller than her daughter and her figure was lean and lithe where her daughter had curves. She was dressed in the fashion of the elves, she did not look out of place. Her dark green dress complimented her eyes well. She looked younger than ever.
Thalia's eyes swept over her mother, stopping at her ears, her pointed ears. Katlin laughed when she noticed her daughter's confusion.
"Now that is going to take some explaining. I would very much love to tell you over a cup of tea. It's been a long day"
Thalia shook her head in puzzlement at her mothers change in attitude and light-heartedness at the situation.
They passed in silence through the corridors of the house. After introducing Katlin to everybody, she and her mother left them, deciding that it would be better to talk in private for the moment.
I watched my mother out of the corner of my eye. I must admit that I was a little wary of her, after last time I didn't want to take any chances. But this was definitely my mother. She was mum, the woman whom I had taken for granted all though my life. It was rare that I had remembered to say thank you for doing my washing or ironing. They say it's the little things that count, it is, but it's hard to remember the little things.
She turned her head and looked back at me. The same eyes that had watched me grow up, that had seen me in school plays, that critized my dress sense. The same eyes that had looked at me with unconditional love no matter what.
She smiled and a warm feeling spread through my body.
We reached the small and cosy parlour. Part of me was anxious but the other part of me was so excited.
She sat while I busied myself with making a cup of tea. She reminded me of the old Victorian portraits of ladies. Sat there with perfect posture, the sun shining from behind her, making her glow. She was beautiful.
I finally sat opposite. Nervously I drummed my fingernails on the side of my cup.
"Don't do that"
I looked up at her and laughed.
"Some things never change do they mum?"
As we laughed, the thin sheet of ice that had covered us was shattered.
"So. I want to know. You're an elf, how?"
She sighed and glanced at me before standing and gazing out at the waterfalls.
"You know that I was killed?"
"Yes"
"As I died, I was pulled into a sort of limbo. I was met by a goddess called Vana. She knew what you had been through and she knew of the trials that you would have to face. She gave me a choice. She could either send me back to your brother and sister, or I could come to Middle-Earth and find you. My selfishness drove me to come here. I know that your brother and sister are devastated by my death. But they are or were stronger than you. When I last saw you, you were nothing but a little mouse, barely speaking and afraid of everything. It was selfish, but I love you Thalia and I couldn't bear to leave you on you own. Do you understand?"
I had listened to her explanation, not quite believing it. So had Vana brought me here as well? That would make sense.
I rose from my seat and joined her at the window.
"I can't say that I fully understand what you're telling me. But I will say this. It is definitely good to have you here mum. I missed you"
She laughed softly and hugged me tightly.
"I promise that I will never leave you again"
"I Love you mum"
"And I you. More than you will ever know"
Suddenly I remember that I had to tell her about Adar.
I walked back to the chairs and sat down on the couch next to her.
"Ok, mum. You know the tall blonde that met you when you got here. Well, that's Glorfindel, my new dad"
Well that was stelthy and gentle! I mentally hit myself over the head with something very heavy.
She looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when I got here I was a bit of a mess. But, with the help of some really good friends, I managed to get my head straightened. When I'd told them about dad, he was less than impressed. In fact he was seething, I swear at one point there was steam coming out of his ears. Anyway, he decided to adopt me as his own daughter. I am now Thalia- daughter of Glorfindel and beloved of Legolas prince of Mirkwood. What a title eh"
She laughed and smiled widely.
"I am glad. You have no idea how pleased I am Thalia. You deserve to be happy. Are you happy?"
"I am. I'm very happy"
"Good. Then that is all that I need. And you must remind me that I need to have a long talk with this Glorfindel, your new father. You know, I like that, you deserve to have a father that loves you"
I felt like Mary Poppins on a sugar high. She wasn't mad, this was definitely better than I had expected. That made me a little suspicious.
"Wait a minute. What the hell happened to you famous temper, why are you so chilled?"
She raised an eyebrow and mock glared at me.
"Well, I figure that I've got a long time to hold a grudge, so I don't have to go shouting my head off.
She meant that, when she held a grudge, she held it well.
And so, after many trials and tribulations, I finally had everything that I wanted and needed.
Although, maybe I should stall her impending talk with Adar, no doubt they'd swap horror stories about me and they'd figure out something horrible to do to me. Ugh- it doesn't bear thinking about.