A/N: I know I know… Gaaaahhhh!! It's been sooooooo long!

I would like to really thank all of you who have been sooooo patient with me! You're awesome! I LOVE YOU! Unfortunately, everything is building up right now, at the end of the year… (yes – it's ridiculous – school doesn't end until mid-June) but DON'T WORRY! I wouldn't GIVE THIS STORY UP FOR ANYTHING!

Yup, I love you THAT much. Hehe. So bare with me for ONE MORE MONTH, and then I swear frequent updates just like before! Deal? Excelente!

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CHAPTER 13: CHANGE OF HEART

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"Well, hello."

Elladan practically lunged at him. "LEGOLAS!" he cried, "When did you get back?" His friend smiled, and hugged him back, "Just now."

"And you didn't even give us notice?" said Haldir, frowning slightly.

Legolas grinned. "What, you didn't like the surprise?" Elrohir laughed, and stood up also. He embraced his friend. "Does anyone look surprised around here?" he asked jokingly.

Andiél stared open-mouthed. Legolas… Was he really there, standing right before her very eyes? She blinked, not daring to believe it was so. He turned her way. "Andiél," spoke his gentle voice, "Long time no see." She bit her lip. "Uh… welcome back," she said lamely, giving a weak smile.

Haldir frowned, and wrapped a possessive arm around her. He looked at Legolas pointedly, "Andiél's my girlfriend." The girl in question tugged on his arm, furrowing her eyebrows. "Now you wait a minute; it's not like that – " "What do you mean it's not like that?" interrupted Haldir. "Of course it's like that!"

Legolas chuckled lightly, and sighed melodramatically. "That's too bad, I guess."

Andiél felt heat rushing up to her face. She let go of Haldir's arm, and turned to look at him. What did he just say? Haldir glared at Legolas. "You'd better watch it," he warned, "You know the old proverb – 'If you mess with your friend's possessions you have to eat Dwarves'!"

Elladan and Elrohir burst in laughter. "Uh…Haldir? Where the hell did you get that?!" Haldir merely looked at them haughtily. Elrohir gave him a slightly disgusted look, but turned to Legolas. "Ignore him," he motioned for him to sit down. "How was Rivendell?"

"Alright… can I get a drink?"

- - - -

Andiél stared at her reflection, her honey-colored eyes gazing back blankly. She sighed, and rubbed her face. Exiting the bathrooms, she saw that the club was almost empty, save a lone couple standing by the counter. She quickly turned the other way, not wanting to interrupt what seemed to be quite an intimate conversation.

"Give me a kiss," said the elleth coyly. She fingered a loose strand of the ellon's hair, tugging on it playfully.

Her companion acquiesced, placing a gentle kiss upon her lips. "And? Is that all?"

Andiél froze. That voice! She spun back around, horrified.

The elleth pouted. "Just a peck?" She placed her hands around his shoulders, pulling him closer. "Where's your passion?" she asked in a husky voice.

"Don't worry, my dear," Legolas murmured, "You'll get plenty of that – " The elleth smiled triumphantly, leaning forward, but he pushed her back lightly. "Meet me after work."

Andiél's jaw dropped. How-how could just be possible? Was this really the same shy, sensitive ellon she thought she knew? She quickly walked back to the remaining F4. "I feel a little sick," she announced, grabbing her bag. Without another word, she whirled around and left, furiously ignoring the threatening tears.

- - - -

The next morning, Andiél rose early. Deciding her dorm was too stuffy to stay in, she quickly dressed and left for the tree-platform in the woods. However, if she thought the peaceful setting would calm her, she was greatly mistaken. The ethereal silence did nothing but let her mind wander more.

.

"Where's your passion?"

"Don't worry…you're get plenty of that later…"

"Meet me after work."

.

Andiél frowned, staring wrathfully at a nearby tree branch. Was that really Legolas, or some foul trick that was made to deceive her eyes? Had he been true to his word and spent the night with that girl? What – what about Arwen? A mellow voice interrupted her thoughts,

"May I sit down?"

Andiél managed to turn a bit and give a small smile, ignoring the suddenly quicker pace of her heart. "Of course," she squeaked.

The prince of Eryn Lasgalen returned her smile, and took his usual place. After several moments, he turned to her. "What are you thinking of?"

She struggled to keep her face calm. "Not much," she lied. "How was Rivendell?"

"Fine."

Andiél looked at him curiously. Why is he being so reluctant to talk about it? Should I ask about Arwen? She bit her lip, "Uh… Arwen, is she – "

"Are you really dating Haldir?" he interrupted.

"Huh?" he caught her by surprise. "Uh…" she stumbled for the right words, "It isn't exactly mutual. He just decided that."

"Really?" he stared at her intently. "Then how about being my girlfriend, instead?" Andiél stared at him blankly. "Well?" he asked, "Am I not as good as Haldir?"

"Are you – are you really Legolas?" she asked finally.

He looked at her with a rather surprised expression for a moment, and then gave out a burst of laughter. Seeing her confusion, he told her, "I'm just kidding."

"Just kidding?" Andiél cursed the words as soon as they left her mouth. Why do I sound so let down?

"Haldir is one of my oldest and best friends; I couldn't' do that to him, now could I?" He glanced at her with a rather sly grin upon his features. "Are you disappointed?"

"What? I – "

Legolas smiled wider. "We could date in secret, if you like."

Andiél emitted an uneasy laugh. "Another joke, right?" she said rather quickly. She suddenly got up, "Funny – uh… I have to go. Class." Words said, she quickly slung her bag over her shoulder, and turned to leave.

"Wait," he said unexpectedly. She froze, and turned back to look at him questioningly. "Andiél," he told her, "You've gotten prettier in my absence."

"Th-Thank you." She swiftly left to prevent him from seeing her crimson blush. Once back to ground level, she leaned against the tree trunk, breathing deeply. What had just happened there? Andiél took a deep breath, lightly scolding herself. He's become a flirt; just like the twins. I can't believe I believed him…

.

"You've gotten prettier in my absence."

.

"Breathe," she commanded herself, "Just breathe."

- - - -

A morning two days later:

"Hey! Andiél!" Haldir's loud voice came from clear across the hall.

"What do you want?"

"Why are you so damned rude all of the time?"

Andiél had to smile – it was turning out to be quite a typical day already. "I wouldn't be," she rebutted, "If you were actually polite yourself once in a while."

Haldir looked indignant. "What?!" he yelled, "I'm always polite!"

At that moment, all chatter in the hall ceased as every single Elf turned to look at him incredulously.

"See?" Andiél laughed.

Haldir tilted his head upward, and looked at her haughtily. "I ignore all attacks on my character, since it is obvious that they are all incorrect."

Andiél stared at him blankly for a moment, and then suddenly burst into wild, hyena-like laughter. "You – " giggle, giggle, snort. " – are completely – "

"Oh shut up," Haldir hissed. He glanced up to check if anyone was witnessing her appalling behavior - they were – and frowned. He decided to change the subject altogether. "So," he began, "What're your plans for the end of the week?"

She shook his hand away, still clutching her stomach in an unsuccessful attempt to stop laughing. "Like they are every week. I have to work." She bit her lip hard, but not soon enough to stop a rather atrocious noise escaping her nose.

Haldir rolled his eyes. "Why? You're dating the richest, most powerful Elf on campus!"

The change in Andiél's expression was rather startling. In a flash her grin had completely disappeared, she stood up rod-straight, and her eyes narrowed at him suspiciously. Haldir almost took a step backwards. "Haldir," Andiél growled in a low voice, "Just because you are rich does not mean that my entire family is eating off silver platters."

"Whatever," he brushed this off, "Just cancel just these two days, alright?"

"Have you been listening to a single word I've been saying? I can't! I have to earn this money!" She had flushed quite red.

"But I want to spend some time with you!"

Andiél opened her mouth, and then shut it again. She looked at funnily. Finally, she asked, "Why?"

"BECAUSE!" yelled Haldir, "You're my GIRLFRIEND!" She puckered her brows slightly. Taking her silence as compliance, Haldir grinned. "Good-bye! I'll come by to pick you up in the morning!"

She clenched her teeth, glaring after him. Argh…

- - - -

Andiél pouted silently, quite annoyed. For some reason quite unbeknownst to her, she was currently riding deep into the woods… the Ithilien woods – the very same that had been taken over by the Shadow years before.

Why?

It all started early that morning. "I'll come by to pick you up", as Haldir had said and she had expected, had changed quite suddenly in "I'm come by, storm into your dorm, and start randomly throwing your clothing around for no reason".

.

Andiél stormed up to him. "What are you doing?!"

Haldir glanced at her, and said matter-of-factly, "Packing."

"I can see that," shouted Andiél, throwing her hands into the air, "But why, pray tell?"

"We're going on a trip into the forest." He said it as if it were the most obviously thing in the world.

Andiél's jaw dropped. "WHAT?"

.

Apparently, the very first class of students at the Institute had once ventured into the woods, and discovered what they called 'A Sight Fit for the Valar'. Through the years, several groups had made the same long, laborious journey and the path eventually became used so often that it fell under the same protection against the Shadow as the rest of the Institute campus.

For this weekend, the H4 decided it was due time that they sought out this 'Paradise' for themselves.

So, there she was, feeling a little light-headed from the unexpectedness of it all, traveling further and further into the woods, with a rather excited Haldir at her side. Elrohir and Elladan were in front, each escorting their most recent "catch-of-the-week". And as usual, Legolas brought up the rear.

Andiél turned back to give him a smile. Halfway around, however, she suddenly changed her mind – she had forgotten he was not alone. This sudden reverse in motion sent a shooting pain through her neck. "Ouch!"

Haldir looked at her strangely. "What was that?"

Andiél frowned at him, "Nothing." Haldir arched his eyebrow at her, but did not say anymore. Once his attention was diverted, her thoughts trailed back – Legolas was not alone. Unfortunately, the strange behavior the Elf had exhibited his first two days since his return was showing no sign of departing. Like the twins, he had also brought an escort. And not any escort, thought Andiél contemptuously, If that elleth's robes were any lower, she wouldn't really be wearing anything at all.

Andiél frowned, and allowed herself a small glance backwards. Once she did, however, she immediately wished she had not. The tart had deemed her own horse inappropriate, evidently, and was riding on his instead. She was obviously quite unable to sit still herself, as well, as it seemed that the prince felt it necessary to hold her quite firmly around the waist.

It took quite a lot of energy on Andiél's part to refrain from snarling.

- - - -

My Favorite Quote of the Chapter: "I ignore all attacks on my character, since it is obvious that they are all incorrect."

What's yours?