Holy wingnut batman! An update from Suzie and Andariel!

*shuffles in sheepishly*

So sorry about the delay. Life and a lack of inspiration has attacked. I won't promise you updates often, because I will be on vacation on the 9th, and I am going to an Oscar Party this week, and my wedding anniversary is the week in between, so yea. Anyhow! Few quick things before I scurry away. At this point the fic is set pre-quest. It will follow book cannon in key parts. You will see what parts. : D Er, any other questions? Ok. Anyhow, enjoy the show and thank you times four million for the lovely lovely reviews. Sorry you had to wait so long. .

"Legolas, we shall have to send 200 more elves to patrol the borders this week in preparation for the wedding, and there have been reports from the southeast that a shadow and a threat have been simmering."

I felt the frown I knew would be creasing my forehead, and placed my chalice down. Galvin meant well, really, but the young lad had yet to learn that there was a time and place for such reports, and that time and place was never at breakfast in the presence of my future wife and mother.

True to form, at the mention of patrol, Kalia's ears perked up, and she tried, (but failed) to appear casual as she soaked up what news from the front she could garner. I did not wish to keep her in the dark of the affairs of the state, but I felt it necessary, as she already had been bogged down in a sea of fabric swatches and menu choices, and I did not want her fretting over the safety of a kingdom she was soon to acquire by marriage.

Besides this, I had noticed a shadow and a worry settle in her eyes, but sadly hadn't had the time to properly query her on the matter. I imagined she had not been sleeping much of late, and oft she would rise before the sun to re-check responses to our invitations, or meet with one of her ladies in waiting to discuss the routine of the ceremony. At the very least I was glad she had bonded with her ladies, and seemed to enjoy their company, especially after the terrible series of threatening letters she had been receiving and not informed me about.

When I saw "forest demon" scrawled on the paper so brazenly slid under her door, I saw red, and to my discontent the culprit still had not been revealed.

The sound of my father's gentle chiding tore me from my thoughts, and I found Nessa staring at me with concerned eyes. She had been a gift from the Valor lately, both as a friend, and as someone to watch out for Kalia in my absence, and had she not assured me that Kalia was not lonely and was faring well, I would have certainly turned my attentions towards home to help with her adjustment. It had also warmed my heart to see just how selfless Nessa had behaved, and I found myself seeing her in a new light.

"Legolas, did you hear a word I just said?"

I blinked slowly, and tore my eyes from Nessa to flash a sheepish smile at my mela.

"I thought not." She sighed, "I was just asking if you'd like to picnic with me this afternoon? We could take a stroll through the ranges perhaps, or-"

I opened my mouth to agree, only to find it shut as I remembered I had a meeting with Darion for my father, and we would be discussing the state of the Dunedain. I had been working closely with a handful of the last rangers, and Darion had been sent out to discern if any of the Northern men were still left, that could be called in any case of need. To further aggravate the matter, a child in the western borders had been slayed, strangled in the night, and I had been assigned to head the investigation by my father.

"I, I'm sorry Kalia. I cannot, I've work to do."

She cocked her eyebrow irritably, and forced a slight smile.

"Surely Mirkwood can wait long enough for their prince to spend an hour with his intended?"

"Kalia, I do not go to decide on the color of linens to wipe my chin, I go to preserve Mirkwood."

She blanched a bit at my sharp tone, and I immediately regretted being so short with her.

Part of me added the fact that I had not rested properly in days to the growing tally of "concerns for Legolas Greenleaf."

"I am sorry, Kalia."

"Think nothing of it." She cleared her throat softly, and resumed eating, while I felt like the most boorish elf in middle earth.

"You will be present for the arrival of her family won't you?"

Leave it to mother to point out the positive to maintain the peace. I smiled warmly at her, and nodded, silently begging Kalia to look up from her food at me.

"Aye, I will mother. I wouldn't miss their arrival for anything in the world."

"And it's a good thing too, for I am not certain poor Kalia here could handle the entire clan alone." My father chuckled, no doubt full of visions of a very pregnant Tyrael and exhausted Haldir.

We had met briefly during a trip to my southern border that morphed into a 3 week long expedition to slay the last of a small band of orc that ventured into Lothlórien, and I saw the lines around his eyes, the set of his shoulder. Marriage was wearing his nerves thin.

"I've missed them." Kalia muttered, before dabbing her mouth briskly. She rose from her chair, and, following manners so did all the men.

"I shall reunite with you upon their arrival then, Legolas." She said as she left the dining hall.

Once she was out of earshot, my mother tore into me.

"Follow her Legolas, make sure she is well."

"She will be fine the girl needs to learn independence. The life of a royal wife is a lonely one, and she wanted this."  Mother glared at the king, before sipping her tea.

"She wanted Legolas, Thranduil, not the title." And with that, she too rose from her chair in a huff, and stormed out of the hall so fast we had not the time to rise for her.

Nessa, along with the other ladies waiting for Kalia and my mother, looked awkwardly into their plates, pointedly avoiding eye contact.

"She will feel better once the wedding is over." Nessa remarked slowly, and my father smiled upon her fondly.

I knew that which he would not say aloud: Nessa would not be behaving in such a manner.

*

"Kalia! Oh Kalia my dear cousin how I have missed you!" The husky sound of Tyrael's excited squeal echoed in the quiet courtyard, startling a few birds.

Tyrael was HUGE, there was no way around it, and she seemed to carry the burden of her belly with great discomfort as she clutched my mela with glittering eyes.

I could not hear what Kalia murmured, but when she pulled away, both elleths burst into tears again, and sobbed into one another's embrace. While the women reacquainted themselves, I clasped the forearm of the men of the family, along with Arwen, who was watching the cousins with warm eyes.

"Haldir, too long has it been since we last spoke." I finished our greeting with the traditional elvish bow, and he responded in kind.

"I trust you have been treating my favorite niece well?"

I felt a squirm tickle my belly but I shoved it down.

"Aye," I remarked as Elladan and Elrohir pulled me into a jovial embrace. "And lest I should forget my manners, the young princess is ever eager to knock some sense into me."

Orophin's rich laughter greeted me next, as the others pressed on down the line to greet the King and Queen, and I clasped his arm fondly in turn.

"Has your new sister in law captured your good graces? Are you looking forward to their upcoming arrival?" His eyes danced from our exchange to Tyrael, who was reluctantly pulling away from Kalia to let her embrace her uncle.

"Yes." He replied, his tone as soft as a dandelion.

Several moments later, we found ourselves scattering in different directions to attend to different errands, and I was sure the two cousins were up to no good once again. I for one was looking forward to meeting with the brothers of Lothlórien as well as the Lady Galadriel to gather what trouble might be brewing in the south.

Unfortunately, I would have no chance to do this, as a small catastrophe erupted in the kitchens between two servant women, and I was called to negotiate their punishment. I had to admit I found the scene far too familiar, and made a note to tease Kalia about it later.

Before I knew it, the day was waning, and I was being called to my quarters to change for the royal banquet that was scheduled to begin 2 hours prior to sundown. I bathed, combed through my hair, and then made my way over to Kalia's quarters so that I might sneak in and surprise her by kissing her until she was flustered and that pretty blush I so adored would sprinkle across her cheeks.

She was not there.

Disappointed, I trotted over to the gardens, a favorite hang out of hers, hoping she would be nestled among some hanging flowers, a dreamy look on her face.

Still, she was not there. 

In her place I found an uncomfortable looking Tyrael, slumped on a bench, in deep discussion with Orophin. Not desiring to interrupt, I pulled back, uncertain if I was supposed to be privy to their conversation. She seemed morose.

Just as I decided that my desire to find Kalia out weighed my interest in respecting their privacy, Orophin pulled back, knelt in front of Tyrael, and pulled her hands into his tenderly. Though I was too far away to hear what was said, I could see just fine, and to my shock and horror, I saw the Elf lean forward, and press his lips onto Tyrael's in a less than brotherly manner.

She did not pull back.

Something about the sight of Tyrael kissing him, the realization that their marriage was flawed, and she was actively seeking comfort in another, rattled me, more than I cared to admit. I tore through the bushes, hurt for Haldir, and illogically hurt for myself, and before I knew it, I was crashing into a small pliant body.

I half expected to see my Kalia crumpled on the floor, spiky hair shooting up in different directions, her lips in a frown.

It was Nessa.

She unnerved me, especially since our interactions of late, and though I had no reason, I was wrought with guilt so powerful it was difficult to swallow in her presence. It was as if I was being unfaithful to Kalia, though I had not touched her in any other manner than that of a friend. Still, I was no fool, I knew she still felt for me, and in a moment's notice would agree to be my wife in place of Kalia.

One cannot walk away from 70 years of a relationship, and not still be sensitive.

"Nessa, I am so sorry." I pulled her up gingerly, wondering at the shiver that shot through my arm as I helped her.

"Never mind, Legolas. I'm sure you were distracted." She brushed back a pale lock of hair from her face, and I noticed, not for the first time, just how lovely she was. Her violet eyes shone merrily at me, and she grinned, revealing a flash of perfect teeth.

"Aye, I was, in more ways than one." I breathed, and settled a hand on my head, an old nervous habit from my adolescence.

She smiled knowingly.

"Would you care to talk about it?" She linked her arm in mine unceremoniously and led us to a small grove with a fountain, one that we used to oft when we were children.

"I feel I spend most of our conversations, bemoaning my impending marriage and family. It isn't fair to you, and I am sure you wonder why I am even marrying her if I have so many reservations." I averted eye contact, surprise and guilt washing over me, as I voiced a thought I was too fearful to even think to myself.


"Nay, Legolas. I think I would be concerned if you did not have reservations about Kalia, and harbored no worries over the state of your family and kingdom."

I sighed and slumped next to her on the lip of the bubbling fountain. My first kiss had taken place here, with Nessa, and I wondered if she remembered. If I closed my eyes, I could smell the autumn spice and feel the cool nip of the wind, instead of the honeyed flowers and gentle caress of the breeze in spring. I bit my lip, and trudged forward.

"I worry Nessa that Kalia and I will grow apart. That we will lose our connection, and I will lose her forever."

"If you truly love one another, then nothing will be able to separate you."

"Is life that pragmatic, Nessa? That finite? Don't we change, like the very leaves we live under, and don't those changes sometimes close doors on connections once thought to be eternal?"

She looked down at her pale hands and murmured. "Yes, I suppose they do."

I set my jaw, and looked away. "You do remember."

"How could I not? I believed in forever, Legolas. It was you that changed. I do not believe Kalia will change and the door will close on her affections, Legolas. I believe you shall be the variable in this union, you always have been."

I was torn between anger and guilt, for there was naught but the truth in her assessment.

"Why, if she changes, will she hold onto her affections, even when the door seems closed, Nessa?"

She turned to me; leaned so close our breath tickled one another. "Because she holds out on hope that the door once closed, will re-open one day."

And with that, she pressed her lips onto mine, hesitant, sweet, and very wrong. For half a moment, I responded, out of habit or a mutual desire, I'll never know, but then I saw Kalia.

I saw her in my mind, young gangly, tan from too many summers ripping through the woods. I saw her as a young woman, dressed in pale yellow, and fresh, smiling at a young suitor in the servant's gardens. I saw her the night I asked for her hand, more beautiful than any celestial body because she was real, warm, and wholly mine. And then I saw her eyes, a map to my kingdom, in thin slits, narrowed in pain and betrayal, and the ache that tore through my chest was so strong, I pushed Nessa back abruptly, my face ashen from shock.

Something disturbed the bushes, and Kalia stepped forward, paler than I have ever seen her.

"I-"

She held up a trembling hand, and bolted back toward the palace. I swallowed, and stood up, pulling my tunic down and faced Nessa

"That door is closed, Nessa. It shan't open again."

"Legolas!"

"Legolas!"

I heard a frantic rustle of leaves, and before me, Haldir and Tyrael appeared, their cheeks red from some unseen irritant.

"What is the matter?" I stepped over to them, and flinched when Tyrael recoiled from my touch.

"What did you do to Kalia?" Haldir remarked, his voice low and controlled.

The March Warden in full force.

I frowned, and turned to face Nessa guiltily.

As if sensing my guilt, Tyrael pulled me up by the tunic, and snarled.

She sucked in her teeth, and released me.

"She said you had grown distant, she did not mention that you had become a liar."

My temper snapped, and so did I.

"I will not have my integrity challenged by you, Tyrael."

"You are in danger of losing your wife before she is even yours to have, Legolas. Your apparent affections toward another do not sit well with her, or me." Haldir remarked, and crossed his arms.

"I will not take criticism from Haldir of Lothlórien on how to keep a wife."

"What is that supposed to mean," he began, but a messenger ripped through the leaves, interrupting us.

"Your majesty?"

I snarled, but answered him. "Yes?"

"It is the princess, sire."

"What is the matter?" Nessa stepped forward, her voice wrought with worry. It soothed me a bit, to know she was sincere in her admiration of Kalia.

"We cannot find her. She was seen, running toward the southeast quadrant of the woods, sire."

I paled. Spiders had been sighted there.

"How did she break through the line of guards?"

"We-we aren't sure sire. The pair that was watching the border is still unconscious…"

"And?" Tyrael prodded impatiently.

"And some suspicious tracks have been picked up near where they were found. We, we worry they might be the beasts."

All coherent thoughts flew from my mind, and I made to dash after her. Tyrael stopped me, her face twisted in anger.

"This is your fault, if anything happens to her-"

"You will do nothing, you are pregnant. But, I on the other hand-"

"I have not time for this, both of you." I snapped, and tore his hands from my tunic, sprinting back to the palace. They were fast on my heels.

"Hold on Kalia, I'm coming, and I'm sorry." I hoped, somehow, she heard me.

Did Kali hear Leggy? Will she be spider food? Click on the pretty button to let us know if you want more, same bat time same bat fic archive. : D