Disclaimer: I don't own anything! *bursts into tears*
**************Chapter 45**************
Aleka sat at her bed, staring at the creature at the opposite side of the room in sympathy. Eressa laid on her bed, weeping as if she would never stop. Aleka was beginning to think just that, for Eressa had done nothing but mourn over her love for Legolas for four days.
"Eressa…" She tried saying again for the hundredth time. "I believe he still loves you…he just needs some time to adjust to what Eredor thinks of him."
"I-if he l-loved me," Eressa sobbed. "H-he wouldn't have t-turned away from my k-kisses and…and…" The girl burst into tears again, buring her head deep into the pillows.
Aleka got up and approached her hurting friend. She placed a comforting hand on Eressa's back and smiled sadly. She hated to see Eressa in tears again. She had been so happy when she was with Legolas, but now that she claimed he was only using her…Aleka unconsciously shook her head. She didn't believe it. If the elf was that shallow, then why would he have turned away her advances on him that night she'd paid a visit to him? Aleka just couldn't see how Legolas would want to hurt Eressa intentionally. But her thoughts separated as Eressa began to speak again.
"Oh, Aleka…" She moaned. "I-I want to die! If I could only die!"
Aleka gasped. Suddenly she grabbed Eressa around the shoulders and spun her around so she faced him. Eressa cried out at the sudden movement, and her tears ceased for a moment as she looked at Aleka in question.
"Don't you ever say that nor anything like it every again, Eressa." Aleka said firmly, reminding herself of her own late mother. "Don't you ever."
Eressa stared at her for a moment but then started to cry again. Aleka let her go and watched as the younger girl curled up and attempted to gain some comfort in hugging a pillow to her chest. She turned away and wiped some tears of her own away from her eyes.
Why did the gods have to torment her young friend like this? Had Eressa done something to deserve such pain?
She shared a forbidden love…Aleka thought. With a male not of her own race…that's what happened.
Aleka found herself searching her mind for possible answers to this problem. But she knew. Eredor had started all of this. It was his disapproval that led Legolas to act the way he did. Eressa's claims that Legolas was only using her and didn't love her were coming from a torn, aching heart desperate for answers.
Aleka smiled. Eredor obviously needed some sense knocked into him. And Aleka knew just how to persuade him.
*********
Eredor sat in his cell after a hard day of training, his blanket wrapped around him. He felt his body shiver a little, and he turned his head to a familiar crack in the wall. Eredor's cell had no windows, so at night he was privileged with a candle or two that was nailed to a wall so he could see in the darkness. The inch-wide crack breathed chilling air at him, blowing his hair from his face. Eredor frowned. He couldn't sleep like this, with his bed next to a drafty crack. Getting up, he easily moved his bed from one side of the room to the other.
Settling back down again, Eredor laid on his bed and tried to sleep, but his thoughts kept turning back to Legolas…and Eressa.
Eredor frowned. They were probably in Legolas's cell right now. And only the gods knew what on earth they could be doing in there. Eredor felt his grip on his blanket tighten and the anger swell up in his heart. How could Legolas not have told him?
That and a million other questions littered the depths of Eredor's thoughts. How long had they been involved? Had Legolas pressured Eressa into this, or had she done it willingly?
Eredor sighed to himself and rubbed his temple. How the gods conducted their ways. The last nine days had been hell for him. Even when he sat among the men at lunch again, he felt isolated. None of the men spoke to him very much; they only grunted among themselves. When one did have the courage to speak to him, it was only to ask about his relation with the elf, and why he had so suddenly abandoned him.
Eredor felt his face shrink into a frown. He hadn't answered those questions. He didn't know how to. His friendship with Legolas had been so strong…he'd been the only other person in the world he trusted…and then this happened.
There was a sudden bang on his cell door, and Eredor practically jumped out of his skin. It was late—who would come to see him at this hour? He got his answer when the door opened a moment later.
Aleka strode in, a determined look on her face. Her deep brown eyes glittered in the pale candlelight and she grinned fiercely when she saw Eredor's shocked expression. He hadn't seen her in what seemed like forever. The guard that had led her here grunted something to her and then closed the door. Then Eredor finally found his tongue.
"Aleka?" He asked. "What are you do…"
That was when Aleka slapped him hard across the face. It took Eredor totally by surprise, and he put his hand up to his stinging cheek in shock.
"What was that for?" He asked, after he took a moment to recover.
Aleka's brown eyes blazed in anger. "How could you?" She asked. "How could you treat Legolas like that? How could you not approve of his relationship with your sister?"
Eredor realized and rolled his eyes. "Oh, so now you know about it too, eh?" He asked, annoyed.
Aleka shook her head. "I've known about it much longer than you have. And I, unlike you, totally and utterly approve of it."
"Go away." Eredor said. "What happens with my sister is none of your business."
"It is none of your business either, Eredor." The girl persisted.
Eredor furrowed his brow. "It most certainly is! She's my sister, Aleka!"
Aleka stood up proud and tall. "And a grown woman, capable of governing herself."
"She is not. If she was capable of doing that she would never have gotten involved with Legolas." Eredor shot back.
Aleka suddenly leaned in close, and Eredor flinched, thinking she meant to slap him again.
"Listen, Eredor." She said through partially clenched teeth. "Eressa loves Legolas. She loves him. And Legolas loves her. But now because of you, Legolas has been neglecting Eressa and she's been…"
"Good!" Eredor interrupted. "They shouldn't have been together anyway."
Eredor cried out slightly as Aleka slapped him again. "Shut up, Eredor." She said coldly. "She's eighteen now. A grown woman, and you can't govern her like this any longer."
"So what?" Eredor said stubbornly.
"This is what: Eressa left Legolas four nights ago because she thought he didn't love her any more. And every since then, she hasn't gotten out of bed, and the only thing she does is weeps. She only leaves the room to go get medicine from the palace nurses because her stomach hasn't stopped bothering her. Other than that, she does nothing! Is that what you wanted for your sister, Eredor?" Aleka said, all in one breath.
Eredor's breath caught in his throat. "I-I thought they were still together."
"When they haven't been, and it's hurting both of them." Aleka said, softening her tone. "Especially Eressa. Surely you must have noticed some change with Legolas."
"I…I don't talk to him anymore. I haven't every since I found out. I'm too angry." Eredor said honesty…shamefully.
"You're too stubborn, that's what." Aleka replied.
Eredor wrapped his blanket around his body again, for it had come loose from his hands sometime during Aleka's most resent slap. He licked his lips and thought for a moment, pondering whether he should answer her or not.
What Aleka said seemed to make sense. The past four days, Legolas had been acting most strange. Eredor wouldn't admit it but he'd been watching the elf nearly every moment of the day. Legolas's behavior had taken a turn that disturbed him. Whatever Angarod ordered, the elf obeyed without hesitation. That was when Eredor knew something wasn't normal with the elf.
"He…he has been acting out of the ordinary lately." Eredor finally admitted.
"It's because Eressa left him." Aleka said. "You'd better say something to him quick, Eredor. They still love each other…"
"But they shouldn't be together in the first place." Eredor resisted again. "It's wrong. He's an elf and she's human. It's that simple."
"Since when did love play by the rules, Eredor?" Aleka countered. "Since when was love 'that simple'?"
Eredor opened his mouth to say something back to the angry and beautiful woman in front of him, but he couldn't think of anything.
"You're sister is up in our room sleeping right now, Eredor." Aleka said, leaning in closer to him. "When she wakes she'll cry again. She's hurting, Eredor. I know the last think you want is to hurt your sister."
Eredor closed his mouth in a straight line and refused to answer. But he knew everything Aleka was saying to him was true.
Aleka continued. "Eredor…she told me she wanted to die today."
Eredor swallowed, his mouth dry as he glanced quickly up at the woman in front of him. He suddenly was very ashamed.
"She did?" He whispered.
"Yes." Aleka said. For a moment she looked as if she would continue, but then she shut her mouth.
"Because of Legolas?" Eredor said, his anger for the elf swelling up inside him again.
Aleka clenched her fists and her teeth. "No, because of you! Because of you, Legolas won't show her the affection Eressa deserves, which has resulted in all of this! How many times to I have to tell you, Eredor?!"
Eredor's head hung. Aleka waited impatiently for him to say something.
"I-I'm sorry…" He finally mumbled, not knowing what else to do.
"You'd better be." Aleka said harshly, but smiling anyway. "Now, because of all this, I'm going to be stuck here with you the rest of the night."
She plopped down on the bed next to him, crossing her arms and huffing in anger.
"How'd you get down here in the first place, Aleka?" Eredor asked, curious.
"I told the guard that I was your 'reward'." Aleka answered slyly. "It took quite a bit of acting to convince him, and that's why I was late."
"Well, it worked." Eredor said, trying to smile. "Aleka, I'm sorry. When you go back to Eressa in the morning, tell her that I've wronged her and I'm sorry."
"And what are you going to do in the morning?" Aleka asked.
Eredor swallowed again. "I'll try to speak to Legolas, but it won't be easy. By the Gods—I could hate that elf forever."
"But you don't." Aleka said.
"I don't." Eredor agreed. "I never did. But it's going to take a lot for me just to go speak with him again—let alone forgive him."
"He was only doing what he thought was right, Eredor. You would have done the same." Aleka assured him.
"I know. I've known that all along…I just don't understand…Legolas has been so forthright with me before, even when it came to Eressa." Eredor said. "Why was this different?"
"You tell me." Aleka shrugged, tapping her fingers on the bed.
Eredor sighed. "Well…now what do we do?"
Aleka looked at him, and her warm, full lips began to slowly curve into a smirk.
Then she leaned forward and kissed him.
**********Personal thingy************
Yes. Short, I know. Sorry!
AND DUDE!! WHO ALL SAW THE "TROY" COMMERCIAL DURING THE SUPERBOWL??? I DID, AND DAMN, THAT IS GONNA BE A GOOD MOVIE AND I'M GONNA SEE IT A ZILLION BILLION MILLION TIMES! IN FACT, I'M GONNA RENT OUT THE THEATRE THE NIGHT IT COMES OUT AND JUST SIT IN THE EMPTY THEATRE AND SCREAM "ORLANDOOOO!!!!!"
Ahem…caffeine plus me plus no homework equals one very crazy scion of an ape.
Anywhoo…reviews….
XxDarkgoddessxX: I know, the last chappy was really sad, but I wanted it to be that way. Yay for sadness. *thinks* I'm weird. Awesome! Glad your mom got a job! Yay for getting jobs! I'm gonna get mine soon! Not that I'm looking forward to it or anything…Thank you very much! I'm glad you think my style of writing has improved, and most of all, that I've become more confident! I have too! Just you wait, I'll be writing NC-17 fics all over the place next! Hehe…just kidding… Thanks bud!
la chica mysteriosa: Glad your happy! Happy is good! I know, Poor Leggy. It will all get better soon.
breeNbloom: Happy Half-Birthday! Sucks that you didn't get an Orlando signed picture! You know the ones they send back to you aren't really his sig, thought right? They're just stamped with it. I'm not bothering to send them anything if I don't get a real signature in return! I've got enough to do! Well, thanks!
Whitecoyote: Let Eressa and Eredor forgive Legolas? Wish granted! I will, just in the next chapter. I know, me and my cliffies. I'm a cliff-o-maniac, aren't I? Well, thanks!
Elainor: Expect this: Great story!!! hehehe…sorry, been hyped up on caffeine all day…never buying that kind of soda again…heheehe. Thank you bunches!
Nikki: I scared you! Coolness! Thank you thank you thank you! Glad you like the struggle at the end! I did too! But it was hard to write! I'm gonna stop using exclamation points now! There. Thank you.
eternal_dragon: Thank you, glad I answered your questions! Yeah, Eredor is being a jerk, but don't worry, he'll stop being jerk-like in the next chapter. Thank you!
Legolas_gurl: Oh…you did bad on test. I know how that feels. I got a 64% on my Chemistry final…thank god I still ended up getting a C in the class. Well, thank you very much! I love you! Oh, and your wrong about them not making any of Legolas's stuff…you can get necklaces of him and keychains and outfits and wigs and the list goes on…
LegyLuva: Oh, poor you! Having to stand out in the snow! But Yay! to getting to stay home all day! Aw…And you bet I can cause my characters pain and suffering! I like it! MWAHAHAHAHA!! Me so evil! Don't worry, stuff will get better…and then worse…and then better again…and then *ahem.* Well, thank you!
darkangelgep: Legolas acts like a baby? Hmm…you may be right…but it's the way I figure people in love act since I've never been in love. Yet. But thanks for telling me that! Bye!
Crystal Snowflakes: Oh! Good luck with your musical! I hope it goes well! *crosses fingers for you* Love you girl! Bye, and thank you! Goodnight!
Truffles: *laughs evilly*
itarilde-elenastar: YES!! MWAHAHAHAHAH!!! I love reading the reviews when I do something terrible to the characters! You always act in such unpredictable ways…its entertaining, really…ANYWHOO, don't cry! Everything will be ok soon!! I promise!! Thanks!!
itarilde-elenastar: YIKES!! Hehe! Yeah, Eredor a jerk…he needs some therapy…And HELL YES!! I'd jump off a million cliffs if I got to kiss Orlando Bloom! Did you know this summer he's gonna be filming a movie in the US? In Oregon and Kentucky? I'm so going, I don't care what my parents say! I'll steal the Chevy and freaking abduct the man!! I'm really hyper! Heheh! Thank you very much!
HalandLeg4ever: Hey! Poor everyone…it's gonna get better, don't worry. Thank you very much! I loved your compliments! Thank you!
Deana: I know, I'm really mean to the poor elf, aren't I? I'll post another chappy as soon as I can! Thank you, girl!
The Noble Platypus: Ok, so I'm reading my reviews, and their all like "NO! ERESSA CAN'T LEAVE LEGOLAS!!" and then there's yours. Hehe!!! I guess you are in a morbid mood! Yeah, Legolas deserved it, but hey, your right, they will get back together! You're a psychic Platy!! SECKSHOOWAL TENSHUN, BABY!!!!!!! Yay! Cupcakes and Steel bunkers! Oh my! *takes cupcakes and steel bunkers* Thanks, Platy, you're the absolute best!!
DiamondTook3: Poor them, I know. I'm so freaking mean to everything!! Don't worry, everything will get better. Eredor will stop being a jerk, promise! Thank you!