A/N… I could have had this chapter up sooner, but my brother was being an internet Nazi.

Chapter 8 - Corresponding
"A Letter From Rivendell"

-Rivendell-

The messenger arrived in Lord Elrond's chambers three days after he was sent.

An elleth knocked gently and entered upon Lord Elrond's command. She spoke softly.

"A messenger from Mirkwood is here, Milord." Elrond waved his hand, gesturing for him to be brought in.

A moment later, an Elf clad in green and brown traveling attire entered. He bowed deeply and Elrond walked around his table to stand in front of him.

"What news do you bring from Mirkwood, my good Elf?" Elrond asked.

The messenger pulled a manila envelope from his pack and handed it to him. Elrond took it, and thanked and dismissed the messenger for the time being.

He brought the letter to his desk and broke the pressed wax seal of Mirkwood. The letter read:

Lord Elrond,

Lianna and I have arrived safely in Mirkwood, after some difficulties in the forest. But I write to you now not in cheer and relief. But in despair. You see, my father will not allow me his blessing to marry Lianna. So, I must escort her back to your fair city immediately. I must know before she can return, how is the situation there? Have you convinced your people of Lianna's innocence?

I could not bear to return her only for her to be persecuted for a crime she is innocent of. I can only pray that once I leave her there, she will live a happy life, and forget about me. That is the only choice we have now.

Tenna' ento lye omenta (Until next we meet),
Legolas

Elrond sighed and folded the letter. It saddened him to hear this bad news for his friend. He took out a piece of pale yellow paper and dipped his quill in a bottle of ink on his desk.

-Mirkwood-

The day after Legolas told Lianna he'd return her home, he wrote a letter and sent the messenger away to Rivendell for a report on the situation and feelings toward Lianna there. He tried not thinking about it too much. His actions were mechanical, as if he was watching someone else go through the day in his body.

Eventually, he ran out of productive things to do, and ended up wandering the gardens. He plopped on a cool stone bench near a bubbling fountain. The fragrance and colors of the flowers all around him, the sun in the sky, it should've been a beautiful time. But a burden weighed heavily on his heart.

There was nothing he wanted more than to marry Lianna and be with her for eternity. But he could NOT give up the throne. It was just something that seemed impossible to him. How could he abandon his people? His father?

Speaking of…King Thranduil walked into the garden at that moment. Legolas visibly tensed as he felt his father's presence. He did not speak for the longest time, but finally, he broke the awkward silence.

"I hear you're sending her back. Good choice." Thranduil said, his tone completely void of emotion.

"I sent a messenger today, to be sure Rivendell is safe for her." Legolas made sure his voice was just as cold and uncaring.

Nonchalantly, Thranduil began, "You'll be taking her back by yourself. I'll spare no extra guards for a simple task. And you've made it through the forest safely once, you can surely do it again."

Legolas scoffed inwardly. His father hadn't even taken the time to listen to his son's harrowing voyage. A moment of silence passed. Legolas was too tired of the pain and the arguing he couldn't bear to even speak.

Suddenly, Thranduil turned to Legolas and said urgently, as if he'd been pondering the question for a long time, "How do you know she is telling the truth? How can you trust her?"

Legolas looked at his father as if he'd just asked him to assassinate Lord Elrond. The weariness a moment before left him at the appearance of anger as his father insulted Lianna's integrity.

"She's been my best friend for nearly a century. We're like one person. She's saved my life more than once in our journeys, and in more than one way. The question is, how could I not trust her? And how can you not trust her?"

Thranduil just stared at him, witnessing the fire behind his eyes. All the anger his son held toward him. That was not what he wanted. Valar, why couldn't Legolas just be a normal Prince? Why couldn't he go to the formal ceremonies and marry a nice Princess?

He was too much like his mother, that was why. A free spirit.

"Why do I try? You'll never be pleased with me." Legolas fumed as he brushed past his father and out of the garden.

And so, it came to pass that in the next few days, Legolas wandered around like a zombie. He was beyond sulking or pouting. And he made a point to avoid populated areas, where he was sure Lianna would be zombie-ing around as well.

In fact, Lianna was in much better shape than he. She was eating fine and talking to people. Yes, she walked. But she actually looked around at the scenery to get her mind off things. It happened, that one fateful day, Legolas was sitting on the stone bench near the fountain as he had every day for five days.

Lianna strolled lazily nearby, following the sound of babbling water. She passed the shrubbery hedge into the garden and caught sight of the fountain. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she moved toward it, but it faded quickly and she stopped in her tracks as she noticed Legolas's still form sitting on the stone bench.

Thankfully, his back was turned to her. So, she started to creep slowly away. But unfortunately, the usually nicely trimmed hedges were a bit overgrown, and snagged her hair. It startled her, and she gasped quietly. But this was enough to catch Legolas's attention. He turned to see her. His face lit and he smiled, but then his eyes widened and he stiffly turned back around.

Lianna frantically tried to disentangle herself from the blasted hedge so she could sprint away, but the darn thing had a good hold on her ponytail. Much to her misfortune, Legolas spoke.

"I was just coming to get you." He said quietly. Cryptically.

She ceased her struggle, and the hedge seemed to release her. "Why?" Lianna asked, ignoring the hedge's suspicious behavior.

He seemed to disregard her inquiry, because what he said next appeared to have nothing to do with the answer to her question. But, he might be getting at a point, so Lianna let him speak.

"No one can have it all. You take what you're given, fight for what you can and if you're lucky, you make it work. But if you can't make it work, you take the next best thing." He looked to her. "We can't make it work. You can have the next best thing." He took an envelope from his vest pocket and handed it to her.

"I was too scared to open it. I don't know if I want it to say that Rivendell is safe so you can live there in peace and have your next best thing. Or that Rivendell is not safe, so you can stay here with me a bit longer."

Lianna gingerly took the letter and stared at it in her hands. She said quietly, "What is the point of staying if we can't be together?"

"I don't think I could stand not seeing your face everyday."

"I'd rather not see you at all than see you every day and know I can't have you. It would kill me even faster." Lianna stared coldly into his eyes, and he felt as if she blamed him for their not being able to be together. But really, he could not see how it was his fault.

His body felt cold and numb as he watched Lianna break the seal and take out the letter. She scanned the first few lines with her eyes, and swallowed hard. But Legolas could not tell what it meant.

"I'll pack." Lianna said as she tossed the letter into his lap and walked away, not bothering to read the rest of it.

Legolas took in a sharp breath. He gently held the letter up. It read:

Dear Legolas,

My heart aches for your plight, mellon. May you take solace in knowing Rivendell is a safe haven for Lianna. I have convinced my people to trust my instincts and to believe Lianna's story. She will be welcomed back into the city and her family will be glad to have her back. They will comfort her.

But, if I may offer some advice. Raindrops will fall, wherever you choose to hide. You must deal with it. You might as well step out into the storm. If it does not kill you, it will make you stronger. And everything will look more beautiful after the darkest of darks. Whatever you choose, may the Gods be with you.

Maer galu (Good luck),
Elrond

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Reviewer thank you's:

Vampire Feuer - Of course it is not going to end anytime soon! Don't worry. And yes, I made Thranduil really, really mean. I agree, poor Legolas. Their relationship is…not so healthy. Let's take a dysfunction reading, shall we? -licks finger and holds it up- Oh yeah, the wind's a-blowin! In answer to your ch. 6 review question, the dialogue I made up, except for the 'how far would you go for me?' part. That was L.Terranova's suggestion, I just polished it a bit. Give credit where credit is due, I always say. She thought up the jist of it. And now that I think about it, you're right, they probably wouldn't punish her with death. But, it's already written, and I'm sort of…too lazy to change it now. Keep reviewing! Love ya!

TPFan333 - whenever you get around to reviewing is fine with me! Better late than never! Keep reviewing! 3

If you noticed, my updates are beginning to get quicker! That's mostly because I finished my other story, 'What's My Name Again?' So, I promise, I'll update soon!

-Austin B.