Disclaimer- I own nothing- if you recognise it- it isn't mine!!!

Laura- this is for you- as I stole the idea from your review.

Lady Viola- thank you as always

Uhhh. . . I have no name- there will be no corgis- a dragon maybe- but no corgis. That would be a cute name though.

Thank you to all those who reviewed. Keep it up!!!

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My eyes followed Thalia as she stood talking to Elladan and Erestor. She looked happy, laughing every once in a while at one of Elladan's jests.

She had been relatively quiet during dinner. She had eaten little and had only spoken when spoken to, instead she had pushed small pieces of food around her plate with her fork. This was unusual as she usually had quite an appetite.

The red wine by her plate had been completely drained and refilled a fair few times this eve.

"Legolas"

I turned to see Elrond and Glorfindel accompanied by Katlin, standing on a relatively private balcony.

"You wished to speak to us" Elrond said, looking pointedly at Thalia.

"I did. Upon my arrival I had had a very in-depth talk with Thalia. It appears that she is not healing as she should be"

"Indeed. She is not. The dreams that started a few months ago steadily became worse, yet she did not speak of them. When you left, Legolas, her fears of abandonment and inadequacy came back full force. They are now occupying her every thought"

I stood, my mind reeling, though my expression remained indifferent. Elrond had known. Of all the answers that I had expected, this was not one of them.

I cast a glance at Glorfindel. His eyes were narrowed in thought and his jaw firmly set.

"You knew?" I asked. From the look on Glorfindel's face he had not known about the knowledge that Elrond had possessed either. Katlin's eyes were fixed on the ground at her feet.

"I did indeed. I have known for quite some time"

"Why did you not tell me? Or Glorfindel. Katlin, did you know about this?"

Katlin lifted her head, seemingly gathering the courage to speak.

"I knew. I knew that her dreams were once again taking over her mind. However the severity of the situation, I had no idea of. My daughter has always been a secretive woman and I have always made a point of staying away form her personal business"

Anger flared within me.

"You had no right" I hissed.

"She is your daughter and she will be my wife, not only that but she has built herself a family here and we all care about her. You should have spoken with someone. Do you know what she was like when she first arrived? And for months after? She could end up killing herself"

"Legolas, that is enough. Throwing accusations around will create nothing but tension. As angered as I am, and believe me, I am. I also understand that there is a bigger issue at stake than Katlin's…faults. We must think of Thalia in all of this"

My anger cooled a little as I saw Katlin discreetly wipe a tear from her face. I was not sorry. The woman I loved could be I serious trouble and it could have been prevented.

"The dreams or visions that she now sees are stronger. I do not know the cause of them, they may be triggered by stress or it could be that, when you left, she felt lost and the emotions that she had secretly harboured, managed once again, to take a hold on her. What did she say Legolas?"

My eyes travelled back to her, across the room. She still stood in deep conversation with Erestor. She was in good hands with him.

"She has expressed feeling of inadequacy. She…accused me of taking a mistress during my stay in Mirkwood. I know that she feels insecure, but given the circumstances and the speed of her recovery, I would have thought that she would a little more trusting"

Did I truly feel that way? The knowledge that she did not trust either herself or me was deeply troubling. The extra strain of this new problem was weighing heavily on my shoulders.

I did not know what to say to her. What could I do that I had not done? Was I not spending enough time with her?

"It is not your fault Legolas, she does not blame you. These are her own demons and if you talk to her I am sure that you will find this for yourself"

"I am sorry Glorfindel. My mind is not where it should be. I cannot help but think that somehow, this is my fault. I should not have left her here alone"

"She was not alone Legolas, she had her family around her, and plenty of friends. The problem would have resurfaced. Your absence was just a catalyst, it was only a matter of time"

Elrond tried to reason. My head was spinning and I needed to retire.

"If you will excuse me, I must retire. I fear that this conversation has tired me"

We said our goodnights and parted ways.

I wished for some time alone, to think. A hot bath would hopefully chase away the day's hardships.

~

I was trying desperately to listen to what Erestor was saying but I could feel the tension coming off Legolas in huge waves. I know what's wrong with him. And it's my fault. I didn't want him to know.

I had hardly eaten and as a result, I was feeling rather nauseous right now. I had spent an hour dancing and my feet were killing me. I wasn't altogether sure what the hell I was still standing here for. Maybe I'm just too bloody polite. I don't want to offend Erestor by just walking off in the middle of a conversation.

Besides, by the look on Legolas' face, he needed time alone.

I stood for another half and hour and talked. But then excused myself from the seemingly busy hall. The night air hit my hot skin as I stepped out into the gardens. Sighing, I made my way to the willow tree, it had fast become one of my favourite haunting spots.

I sat there, mulling over my thoughts for a good hour or so before I felt somebody sit next to me. I hadn't even heard them coming. An arm went around my shoulders and pulled me to them. The smell of pine trees emanated from the cool fabric underneath my cheek. A scent that I had missed.

"You have been missed. Tell me, why do you seek solitude on such a joyful night?"

I shook my head and clutched the front of his tunic in my hand.

"I've done something so foolish Haldir. He'll never forgive me. Not now"

"Shh, what have you done?"

I didn't want to tell him, but I couldn't keep it from him could I? I had caused too much grief already.

"I accused Legolas of sleeping with another while he was away"

I heard him take in a deep breath and then sigh.

"You do not trust him?"

"I trust him. But my mind tells me that it won't last forever. He'll get bored and move on. He'll find someone prettier, who can cook, who can handle knives without thinking of various ways to kill herself or he'll…"

"You are doing it again"

I sat up and looked at him. He looked perfect. Back lighted by the lights from inside and his hair shinning by the light of the moon.  

"You are being irrational. No matter what Legolas says, you will not be comforted for long will you. I do not understand. You were happy were you not? I sensed a change in you a few months back but I left you. You prize you privacy and I can respect that. But, I can understand his dilemma. He does not want to loose your trust but he does not want to intrude"

I nodded my head in understanding.

"I don't understand myself. What's wrong with me? I'm about to get married and I accuse him of cheating on me. He wouldn't I know. But part of me wishes he would. Part of me wants to find a reason to break it off with him. It scares me Haldir. It scares me so much. I'm going to have to move to another place and live with new people and I'll be left on my own and anything could happen"

I stopped my tirade as I heard Haldir laugh. Sulkily I sat up and crossed my arms, waiting for an explanation.

Finally he stopped laughing at me. His face became serious once again.

"You must stop this. You are wearing both yourself and Legolas out. I have no doubt that you and he had talked this afternoon, did you not? He was in quite a mood. And you were refusing to eat. And that better be a one off, I'll not have you starving yourself. If need be I will sit with you at every meal time and make sure that you eat"

He sat up straight and took my hands in his. His large hands holding my smaller ones in a protective gesture.

"Thalia, look at me. He loves you, you are being foolish to believe anything else. You cannot let your mind run away with your heart again. Little sister, I love you, and I love Legolas. I want nothing more than to see you both happy, together"

I nodded, deep in thought, and then suddenly it dawned on me and I tried to get up only to be dragged back down again.

"What, I have to go"

He just chuckled softly.

"Indeed you do. Go now, and tell him, he needs to be reassured just as much as you do. Despite his calm exterior he is just as nervous as you"

"I know. I know. And I've been so stupid. I can't promise that I can make it all disappear. But I can promise that I'll try and if they do come back. I'll talk to someone. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic pen-neth. Now go- now"

"You spend too much time bossing people around Haldir. I'll have to talk to Celeborn and get him to half the number of shifts that you do on the boarders"

He gave me a murderous look and pointed towards the house.

I kissed him on the cheek and ran, almost slipping on the hem of my dress numerous times.

I reached our room and barged in, looking around I found no one. The bathroom.

I knocked on the door but got no answer, so I went in anyway.

He looked gorgeous. He was lying in the water, his eyes closed, the water glistening on his firm and muscular chest. His hair floating in the water around him as he rested his head on the side of the tub.

The candles flickered as I moved. Without taking off my dress I waded into the water. I watched as he sat up slowly. He looked tired and weary.

"Thalia wha…"

I held up my hand to stop him.

"Legolas, wait a minute there's something that I have to say."

He sat up straight ready to listen.

"I have been so selfish. I didn't realise until this evening. You suffer just as much as I do. There is no excuse for my behaviour. I have been utterly selfish. It isn't your fault, this isn't your fault. I'm nervous and just generally overwhelmed, and instead of talking to somebody like I should have. I harboured it and it just grew and grew until I didn't know what to do with it. You had left and it was like losing a part of myself. I've become used to waking up with you in the morning, and kissing you good night. And I never realised how much I relied on that routine. And when you went, so did my routine, and I didn't know what to do"

He narrowed his eyes and looked deep in thought for a moment.

"So you do trust me?"

So that was what this was all about. Oops, my bad.

"Yes I trust you. Completely"

He nodded as if trying to understand something.

"Thalia, this will be hard. I love you, but I cannot understand you at times. You must help me to understand. I am frightened to leave you alone and that is not a healthy relationship. I need your help in this. These past two years have been the most intense but I would not trade them for anything. But you must understand, if we are to marry, there must be no secrets between us"

That scared me and for a split second, I seriously considered running. But he was right. There could be no secrets. Secrets had been the main ingredients in my life for years. And it would be hard to break that. But I would try. I would show him that he had my love and my complete trust, and if it meant that I had to give up certain habits, then so be it.

"Alright. I'll try"

I tried to say it as sincerely as I meant it.

"That is all that I ask of you. Come here melamin"

I smiled and went to him, only to find myself in a very wet embrace. My dress was now completely stuck to me. I rolled my eyes and got rid of it- with some difficulty.

He laughed throatily as I struggled with the wet fabric.

I finally got rid of it and tossed it onto the floor somewhere. I felt strong arms go around my waist and pull me into a hard chest. His wet hair mingled with mine as he leaned to down. He stopped, close enough so that I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. His eyes studied mine intensely.

I leant up and kissed him. My lips barely touching his.

"Ready to come to bed?"

I asked softly, not wanting to spoil the mood. It had been an exhausting day and I was tired. Hopefully tomorrow would be less strenuous.

"I am"

He lifted me up and carried me into the bedroom. Regardless of the trail of water that followed us. Ignoring our damp bodies, we climbed underneath the covers. His arms closed around me and held me close to him. It was nice to have him back.

"Goodnight melamin" he whispered into my ear before kissing my forehead.

"Night Legolas"

I began to drift off to sleep, safe in his arms, for the first time in a month. It had seemed so long since we had last lain like this. There had been times over the course of the day that I had thought that I would never be able to do this again. I had meant every word that I had said to him earlier. I would make this work. I could do it. We could do it together.

I almost fell asleep, until I realised that nobody had blown out of the candles in the bathroom. Ignoring the cold night air against my warm skin, I walked out of the room and blew out all of the candles.

Legolas smiled sleepily at me, his eyes already glazed over.

I settled myself back into his arms and fell sleep listening to the night birds outside and thankful that I wouldn't be burned to death because I hadn't blown out the candles.