A/N: aussie88l: beam!!! … … audience: applause!! … … that's right!! Updated in only TWO DAYS! So good, so good! =) Mucho, mucho thanks to all my reviewers – couldn't have done it without you! Muah!
I'm going to be out of town until the end of July… so I'll see you all then!
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CHAPTER 15: SHATTERED-
"Ready… Set… GO!"
On cue, the four ellon raced off into the obstacle course the ellith had set up earlier that morning. The four stood from a high balcony, beaming at their own handiwork. While the others watched on, cheering on their respective escorts, Andiél was screaming out commentary.
"And they're OFF!! Haldir appears to be in the lead after the first sprint, but no one is far behind! They're leaping up onto the rope ladders, now… it's close, but the narrow walkway along the talans will allow only a single file – who will pull out just a little ahead? … And it's Elladan!! Haldir is right behind, with Legolas coming third, and Elrohir bringing in the rear.
"From the balcony, the Elves must dive into the pond below… but carefully! There are plenty of rocks down there! WHAT IS THIS?? Elladan is taking off his robes!! Perhaps he's anticipating the upcoming swim? Or vying for ellith attention? Whatever the reason, he sure is a SIGHT to behold…"
Andiél gave an exaggerated whistle, causing Haldir to turn his head and glare. Taking the opportunity Legolas jumped up to catch a tree branch and swung right over his head.
"Ooh... crafty moves made by our prince!! But no time to ponder this now – one after the other they're diving down in perfect form! And Elladan's plan has worked! Without robes, he is easily swimming far ahead of the others… and he's out! As the other tree struggle through the water, Elladan makes the next sprint in record time… He's climbing the tree… The others have only just pulled out of the water! Easily swinging through the trees, and landing gracefully on his feet at the end, ELLADAN WINS!!
"But the race is still not over! OH NO!! The other Peredhil twin snagged his robe on a tree branch! Though detained for no more than a few seconds, this immediately pulls him out of the running. This leaves only Haldir and Legolas competing for second place!
"They're swinging… swinging… Ooh Haldir is just a little ahead and about to let go… but WHAT'S THIS? Legolas gives a mighty push even before he reaches the end, hoping to land before the warden… AND… nope, didn't work -- HALDIR COMES IN SECOND!" Andiél took a deep breath, her face red from excitement. What fun! She took a step back, relaxing into a comfortable bench contently.
Elladan's escort, a tall girl of wavy blonde hair, beamed contently. "He has such stamina," she said, blushing lightly.
"Hmph!" retorted Elrohir's current girlfriend, a slim brunette, "Elrohir was just unlucky." She winked at her companions, "But Valar sure knows that he has quite the 'stamina' as well…"
The blonde giggled, "Oh I'm sure he does! What about Legolas," she asked the third girl, who had huge green eyes, "Does he have 'stamina' as well?"
Green Eyes frowned a little, "Nothing happened."
"What?!" laughed Blondie, "You're kidding!"
"Not at all," she affirmed. "He didn't even come to our talan last night."
- - - -
Elladan grinned from ear to ear, patting his brother on the back. "Good job!" Elrohir gave him a death glare, but that only elicited a chuckle. "Come on! Be a sport! Luck, my brother, you just have the worst of luck!" This seemed to appease him a fair amount, and the brothers walked off together.
Legolas brushed off his robes, and got up to follow them, when Haldir called, "Oy! Legolas!" Her picked up something from the ground. "I think this dropped out of your pocket," he said, handing him a thôn.
"Oh, Andiél left it last night," Legolas said, "Could you give it back to her?" He smiled, and then turned away, leaving Haldir rooted to the spot.
.
"Where have you been?!"
"Me? I couldn't sleep, so I decided to take a walk – a-alone."
.
Haldir clenched his fist around the thôn, and stalked off, his eyes narrowed.
- - - -
Later, the party was enjoying a picnic dinner. As the other six were joking and talking merrily, no one noticed the two Elves at the end of the table being uncharacteristically quiet.
"Andiél," Haldir suddenly said.
"Hm?"
"Where's your thôn?"
Andiél frowned. Where is it? I can't find it anywhere! I hope I didn't leave it with… She forced a smile, "It's in the talan." Haldir looked at her coolly, not smiling back. Before she could evaluate this behavior, however, she heard her name being yelled through the trees.
"Andiél! ANDIÉL!" Everybody turned their heads to watch a scrawny Elf, his clothing ripped and sullied, racing up to them.
Andiél smiled, "Taúr!"
Well… come on. Who else could it be?
The Elf finally reached them, huffing deeply. "Andiél!"
"Taúr, what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you everywhere! And when I asked students, they all said you had gone on a trip with the H4!" He nodded towards the others, who were all still gawping at him as if they had never seen anything quite like him. "How could you?"
"I was just dragged along!" she told him, "I didn't know I has coming either!"
Taúr suddenly grinned, "Do you know what everything is talking about at school?" Before anyone can answer, he continued, "They're all talking about the Evenstar, Andiél! Apparently she has announced that she's trothing herself to a Man!"
"What?" cried Elladan. "What are you talking about?"
"His name is Aragorn, they say… A ranger!"
A stunned silence followed, then four heads slowly turned towards Legolas. "Uh… Legolas," asked Elrohir, "Did you know about this?"
The prince took a bite out of his meal, and said casually, "Of course I knew. It was all that was talked about in Rivendell."
"And?" prodded Elladan incredulously, "You don't… don't mind?"
Legolas shrugged, "It doesn't matter anymore." He stood up suddenly, "I'm a little tired; I think I'll go take a nap." Without another word, he turned and left, leaving eight confused faces staring after him.
That's why he's been acting so differently, Andiél realized, He wanted to forget.
- - - -
That night, Andiél stared at the ceiling, again unable to sleep. Knowing it would be useless to try, she got up… unaware that tonight, Haldir wasn't asleep either.
.
She found Legolas in the same place, and wordlessly approached, stopping right behind him.
"I'm all right. You should go back," Legolas said quietly, not turning around. Andiél bit her lip, but didn't move. "I said I'm all right," he repeated, "You can leave." Andiél closed her eyes for a moment, and then lowered herself next to him.
Legolas turned angrily, "Did you not – " He stopped, surprised to see tears running down her face. "Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice gentle, "I told you I'm all right… you can go back."
"You're not all right!" Andiél blurted, as sobs overtook her. "You don't deserve this, Legolas! I want to help you so much… but I don't… I don't know how…" She dissolved into tears.
Legolas watched her silently.
Andiél lifted her head, raising her eyes to his. "I-I try so hard to not to think of you," she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks, "but I can't… Wherever I am… you're all I that I can… Why-" She took a deep shuddering breath. "Why can you not find happiness?"
Legolas swallowed, tears of his own beginning to spill. He pulled the sobbing girl into his arms, placing a finger on her cheek. As he wiped away a tear, he squeezed his eyes shut. "Why are you not the one I love?" Slowly, he lowered his lips to her forehead, lightly kissing it, caressing it. Andiél lifted her face, and before she knew what was happening…
Her lips met his.
The kiss was gentle… sweeter than anything Andiél had ever experienced. As it ended, they embraced each other fiercely, as if they would never let go. "You're so thin," he murmured quietly. "I feel like I could crush you."
Andiél held on tighter, sobbing into his shoulder. "It doesn't matter. Hold me close… even if I break." Even if the world ended tomorrow… it doesn't matter. Because of today…
Suddenly, Legolas stiffened, dropping his arms. His eyes were wide, staring straight past her. "Haldir." Andiél spun around.
Haldir regarded them coldly, "So this… this is it, huh?"
"Haldir…" she whispered, feeling all the color drain from her face. They stood up quickly.
Haldir approached slowly, "Legolas Greenleaf." He suddenly raised his fist and punched Legolas squarely in the jaw, causing the prince to tumble to the ground. He turned to glare at Andiél, and then spun around.
"Wait!" cried Andiél. "Haldir, please – let me explain!"
He turned back. "Explain?" he asked, his voice chillingly calm, "What is there to explain?" He stared straight into her eyes, his next words encased in pain. "I liked you," he said quietly, "For you… I fell with my entire heart. Yet again you take that heart… and you shatter it without a second glance."
Andiél took a step toward him. "I'm sorry, " she caught his arm. "I – "
"Don't touch me!" He threw her hand away, his voice an agonizing whisper, "Don't ever touch me again, Andiél o Rivendell." With a swish of his cloak, he was gone.
Andiél stared after him. Haldir…
.
"Because I like you."
.
"As long as you say you didn't, I'll believe in you."
.
She sunk to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. What have I done?
- - - -
The next morning:
"You couldn't find him?" Elladan asked, lifting his head.
Elrohir sighed, taking a seat next to his brother on the balcony. "His horse is gone, and so is one of the guards. He left for the Institute alone."
His twin rubbed his eyes and shook his head. "Now what are we supposed to do?" he asked, exasperated.
.
On the other side of the clearing, Andiél lied on her back, gazing up at the sky. Legolas took a seat next to her, watching her passively. "You still have me," he said quietly.
Andiél sat up, giving him a small smile, "I know." Then why do I still feel so terrible? Like a piece of me… is lost?
- - - -
That night:
Elladan paced back and forth across the bar floor. "But it doesn't make sense!" he decided, finally. "Everyone knows about Legolas' feelings for Arwen! Why would he – "
"Well…" said Elrohir, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "Remember what Taúr was saying? With this Man and everything… That's got to be why Legolas has changed so much."
"Should you have experience with problems like this?"
Elrohir glared at him indignantly, "Don't drag me into this! This is about Legolas – "
"ENOUGH!!" roared Haldir, suddenly jumping to his feet. "I've heard enough from the two of you; I don't want to hear their names spoken ever again!"
"Haldir," Elladan reasoned, "you're being ridiculous. Not saying Legolas and Andiél's names isn't going to change anything. I told Legolas to come later, so you're going to have to talk to him. Tomorrow at school you're still going to have to see Andiél – "
"I said enough!" Haldir shouted. He stomped over and pushed him. "I told you to stop!"
Elladan glared back, and was about to retaliate – "STOP!" cried Elrohir. "Haldir, calm down. What's the point in hitting Elladan? He's your friend and he's only trying to help."
Haldir glared at him for a moment, then turned to glare at Elladan. (A round of glares from Haldir. What else is new?) Finally, he relaxed his shoulders. "You're right," he told Elrohir, "You don't hit your own friends." Elladan and Elrohir glanced at each other with a collective sigh of relief.
"With is why I will never forgive Legolas Greenleaf!"
With a final glare to prove his point, Haldir sat back down. The other two joined him, apprehensively waiting for the arrival of the Mirkwood prince.
.
Ten minutes later:
Legolas walked in slowly, his usual nonchalant style ever present. Not meeting eye contact of any of his friends, he took a seat across from Elrohir without a word. The twins turned to look at Haldir, waiting for the explosion.
A minute passed… No one said a word. Legolas and Haldir refused to even look at each other, while the Peredhils only switched back and forth exasperatingly.
Three more minutes… Elladan let out a sigh, "Someone: say something!" He looked at Elrohir for support.
"Legolas, I know you're – "
"That's enough," cut in Haldir. He turned to Legolas, regarding him coldly, "Since you have chosen to be a traitor, there is only one decision to make.
"H4 no longer has you as a member."
- - - -
Mine: He nodded towards the others, who were all still gawping at him as if they had never seen anything quite like him. Hehe… good 'ol Taúr. You can always count of him for some laughs, no? What's your favorite quote? I'd love to know!