-eyes roll out of head- People SUCK. Rude people, that is. They bug the hell out of me, they really do. If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your damn mouth shut. I can understand if you don't like the story, you may -oh I don't know- suggest a way for improvement, but honestly, the flat out insults don't fly with me.

A flame that gave me a laugh though, lilac proud foot flamed chapter 5...and then said the same exact thing on chapter 8! So, obviously, my story doesn't chew nads too much for her to stop reading. Just enough for her to be a bitch.

Needless to say, I was pissed, but then I got some great reviews, and my spirits were lifted once again. So thanks to all of you for your support. You keep me going!

I apologize for the language.

Luthien - Great to have new reviewers, I hope to hear from you again!

TPfan333 - That is for me to know and for you to find out!

Vampire Feuer - You are one of my most faithful reviewers, and I thank you. : )

Childofgod-4ever - how's your writer's block coming? Good to hear from you again!
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Chapter 9 - Leaving Lianna

That night, sleep did not come for either of them. To Lianna, the situation was still a bit surreal. She just couldn't believe all their efforts were futile. All the pain and the fear they had gone through to come here to safety was for nothing.

If she could just make Legolas see. If she could convince him that anything was worth the sacrifice as long as they were together. He'd renounce his title and they could live together as commoners, somewhere where no one would ever bother them again.

She could take anything the world threw at her. Any cruel fate that had been laid out for her, as long as he loved her. As long as they were together. But she was not so sure he could do the same.

All these thoughts and more flooded her mind as she lay in her bed. The room about her was dark, save for the few slivers of moonlight that made their way past her curtains and splashed themselves on her floor.

She didn't know how she'd survive the nights in the forest again. This time she'd not have Legolas's arms to cuddle in and protect her. She could just imagine the uncomfortable silence between them as they rode for days through the forest.

Lianna desperately dreaded the rising sun that morning. But it came, no matter how much she prayed for the night to last just a few extra moments.

It was terribly difficult for her to start that day, knowing what it would bring. But eventually, she rolled out of bed and splashed cool water on her face. She looked at her face in the mirror as the beads of water rolled down her cheeks. She simply shook her head in disapproval as she read the despair in her own eyes.

The Elves had not laid out a gown for her, a sure sign that she was not welcome there, so she had to wear her old traveling clothes. She wrinkled her nose in disgust as she pulled the tunic over her head. Just the memories of what had befallen her as she wore those clothes was enough to make her skin crawl.

Finally, she braided her hair in a single braid and tossed it over her shoulder. Sighing, she took one last look in the mirror before hitching her pack onto her back and heading outside.

There, she was greeted with the sight of a very weary looking Legolas atop a brown stallion, holding the reigns of a gray mare. He glanced to her, then quickly away, to the direction in which they'd be heading.

"How did you sleep?" He asked detachedly, and Lianna wondered what he was trying to do. Break the ice? Fat chance of that happening. Be polite? Nice try, but the sound of his voice still broke her heart.

"I didn't." She answered simply, slinging her pack over the horse's neck. "You?" She asked, as she hopped onto the horse's back.

He simply shook his head, and she knew he didn't sleep either.

"Let's be off." He said quickly, and began trotting away. Lianna looked around, wondering why no one was there to see them off. She hung her head sadly as she realized she was a shame to the city. She trotted her horse after Legolas's, but a voice made her stop.

"Princess!" The old elleth called, and Lianna jumped down and walked to her. She recognized her as the elleth that had kissed her hand the day she arrived.

"I am not your Princess." Lianna said gently. The old elleth simply smiled. Her electric blue eyes shone as a baby elfling's on the day of his birth.

"You are as every Princess should be." She said, and took Lianna's hand. Despite Lianna's protesting, the elleth took a knee and kissed Lianna's fingers. She looked up, with a knowing smile and whispered. "You will always be Princess in my heart."

"I really must go." Lianna whispered after a moment. The elleth nodded and rose. Lianna turned to leave but turned around again. "Who are you?" She asked, almost in astonishment.

The elleth gave her a warm smile and answered, "Just a friend."

The elleth gave off such a presence of comfort and warmth that it was reluctant for Lianna to tear her eyes from the elleth's, as Legolas called her name and rode back to her. She mounted her horse again and began to trot away, following Legolas away from the city.

"Who is that elleth?" She asked him, her curiosity overpowering the awkwardness between them. Without looking back, he replied.

"She wore the clothing of a seer, but I thought I knew all of them in this city, and I did not recognize her." Lianna's brow stitched in curiosity. She turned around in the saddle and looked back to the elleth. But she was gone. A dove fluttered away from the spot the old elleth stood moments before. Lianna looked amazedly around the field. There was nowhere she could've gone that fast.

Utterly bewildered, Lianna turned back around and pondered on the woman's words as she followed Legolas toward Rivendell.

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They had ridden the whole day, back into the cold, shadowy forest. No words had been spoken. Legolas had silently ridden off the road a few hours back, and Lianna had followed him, rightly suspecting he had stopped for a short lunch break.

Now they stopped to make camp. Lianna was becoming a bit fed up with the silence, and was about to say anything at all just to break it. But Legolas beat her to it.

"Grab my pack for me, will you?" He said it so nonchalantly, so casually that Lianna narrowed her eyes in suspicion. It seemed unnatural, something normal coming from his mouth after such drama.

Still, she did as she was asked, and Legolas made a fire, handing her lembas and some dried meat. He looked up at her from his meal, and found her staring at him warily.

"What?" He asked. "Have I got something on my face…" He was about to say 'Or do you just enjoy staring at my perfection?' as he had joked before, and Lianna knew it, but he stopped himself. Somehow, it did not seem appropriate anymore.

Lianna looked away. "No, I'm sorry. I was just…just thinking."

He did not ask what about, he was sure he knew. After a few moments of silence, she asked,

"What if I die of heartbreak?" She did not look at him, though his eyes snapped to her in shock. The question was of such a serious and momentous nature but asked so innocently and nonchalantly, he was not quite sure how to respond.

"What if I die of heartbreak?" He asked back. The question-answer drew her eyes to his.

"Is that a very likely possibility?" She asked.

"I don't know." He answered, as his eyes wandered over the treetops above.

"Well if you die and I die, then your decision to stay as Prince will have been futile. Your kingdom will be left without a Prince, same as if you married me, only we'd both be alive and happy."

Legolas opened his mouth as if to speak, but shut it again as he found he had nothing to say. Every moment he was with her, he second guessed his decision. Afraid looking at her beautiful face in the firelight any longer would make him give in to his urge to run off with her that very moment to Rivendell and get married, he retired to his blankets.

Long after he heard Lianna retire to her blankets as well, he lay awake. Thoughts ran through his head; things he should've said to her. So, thinking she was asleep, Legolas spoke.

"I told you I'd always love you. Nothing can change that. No one can take my love from you, even if they can keep us apart."

Upon hearing him speak those words, Lianna's heart melted. Tears filled her eyes.

"That sounded a lot like a goodbye." She whispered back, loud enough for him to hear.

He sighed, wishing he'd have kept his mouth shut, thinking it was a mistake for her to have heard that.

"It may have been."

That was the moment. The exact point in time that Lianna knew he had left her. And her heart shattered. Even greater was the hurt she felt now than the moment Legolas told her he couldn't love her, because of Katarina. It hurt more this time, because she knew how sweet it was to be loved by him. She had felt completeness that she never thought possible until he loved her. And now living without it would be hell.

Hot tears drizzled from her eyes and into her hair. Having to lie so close to him unnerved her. She knew sleep would not come for her that night.

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A/N…This is so cruel, I can hardly stand it.

This chapter wasn't the best, in my opinion. But it was important. So there will be no apologies.

I probably could've posted this yesterday, but I was waiting to get a few more reviews. So, you hear that? The more reviews I get, the quicker I update!

-Austin B.