A/N: 'Ello people. Yes, I have not vanished! Squee! Anyway, here's your chapter. Stuff actually happens it, so it's a good chapter. I think. So. . . review. I have nothing else to say. o.o Oh, yes. I just want you all to know that Aliné is not the brightest bulb in the box, if you know what I mean, so if she acts like an idiot. . . just keep in mind she's not too bright when it comes to people-reading. Also, I was told that a few things in the first 'Tears of Fire' were inaccurate. If you know this is so, please tell me!! I'm really sorry about that. I'll fix it as soon as I can.

4.

There was darkness all around him. Legolas desperately tried to find the light, but there was none. The darkness enveloped everything, and soon it would swallow him up as well. Then, out of nowhere, a light appeared. It was faint and far away, but with his keen eyes the King could still see it. It was like the light of a lantern, soft and subtle, growing bigger as it neared him. It began to take shape, and soon it was clear to Legolas what the light was. He smiled. His beloved wife had come to him out of the darkness, light of a star wrought from Elbereth shining on her breast. She was his light in the darkness of the world. He held out his arms.

But Kalia did not seem to see him. She walked right past him, the short train of her long gown fanning out behind her like a gentle breeze was playing lecher. Legolas watched her, confused. He turned around to see his love embrace another. When Kalia turned to face him, still reclining in the stranger's arms, he caught a good look at the new man's face. He had dark brown eyes, very similar to Kalia's, only more almond-shaped. Lustrous brown hair fell to his shoulders, and the smirk on his lips told the young King plainly what his wife was about to say.

"I don't love you. I'm with Kaevan now." She shot him one of her most brilliant smiles, then held up her hand. A jet of flames burst forth, swallowing him. The last thing he saw was the two of them in a lover's embrace, caught up in a kiss.

Legolas's eyes snapped open. He gazed at the ceiling, trying to recover from the dream. His heart had wrenched painfully when he had seen them together, and he supposed the feeling was what had awakened him. He was glad for this-if the rest of that dream was the same, he had no desire for it to continue. He took in a deep breath, then glanced over at the empty space beside him. The young King sighed slightly, and imagined he was home, with his sleeping wife. Her head lightly brushed his shoulder, her dark hair tickling him a little. He watched as her chest rose slowly with her calm, even breaths, and smiled. He loved Kalia so very much. A soft kiss would have been planted on the crown of her head if she was there, making her stir slightly but not rouse from her slumber. The elf gazed up at the ceiling, his eyes tracing the intricate patterns of the designs that streamed life into the room.

'It was just a dream. . .' he thought reasonably. 'It didn't mean anything.' But he couldn't shake the horrible feeling that it wasn't just a dream, but more of a warning. He sighed quietly and closed his eyes to relax his body more. Warning or not, he could worry about it in the morning. Legolas steadied his breathing and felt himself sinking slowly back into sleep. His last thoughts were of his wife, but thankfully his sleep was dreamless.

Aliné blinked her eyes open, awakened by a sudden feeling of foreboding. She looked around, her mess of black locks tumbling over her shoulders as she sat up half-way. Dark cobalt eyes roved slowly around her bedroom, over the large oval windows and the bureau. Nothing. Aliné was not satisfied with this conclusion, however, and so she slid out of the large bed and pulled on a thin robe. She wouldn't stay out long. Just a quick walk, maybe she'd stay outside for a few minutes, but that was it. Aliné eased open the door and glanced out quickly, making sure no one was there to see her. Once she was certain the coast was clear, she slipped out through the small space and whispered down the hall. She was even more cautious as she passed her parents' room, for she knew they would be furious if they knew she was out so late.

The air outside was warm, pleasant for a summer night. Aliné slowed her pace and took in a deep breath, closing her eyes to better experience the night's fragrances. She was completely at peace, and the time passed swiftly without her noticing anything. . . until she felt a hand slide through her dark tresses. This confused her. Then a husky voice murmured to her.

"Well, well. . . what have we here? Did you finally come to your senses and decide to seek me out?" Aliné stiffened as a hand ran lightly up her neck, lips brushing her cheek. She slowly brought up her own slender hand and slapped the stranger with all her might, bringing her palm into direct contact with his cheek. Pain flared in her hand, but she barely noticed as she spun around.

"How dare you?" She yelled furiously at the man, who had a hand to his face and was staring at her in startled surprise. "Do you happen to have any idea who I am?"

"I'm sorry," he offered. "I am foreign to these parts, and I mistook you for another with an remarkable resemblance to you." An uncanny resemblance, in fact, Kaevan thought as he stared at her. If it weren't for the blue eyes. . .

"Well, next time pay attention," She ordered, eyes still glittering in anger. "The queen Kalia is my mother, and she would have your head if she were around. Be thankful she is not." 'A daughter?' he thought incredulously, but then smiled. No wonder there was such a similarity. A daughter. Well, well. . . this could very well work to his advantage. He had to play it just right, however, or the plan that was already forming would be useless. This girl could not know he knew her mother, or all would be lost and Kalia would kill him for sure.

Studying her more closely, Kaevan was not really surprised to notice she was quite beautiful. It was the connection to Kalia, he thought. They looked so alike. If he didn't already love her mother, this girl would have had great potential, resemblance or not. But try as he might convince himself she was already taken, his every thought was still drawn to his former lover, and he knew nothing would get him to move past it.

"Then I offer my most humble apologies," he said, bowing deeply. "I was extreme error. Please forgive me, for your mother sounds like someone to fear, and I would very much like to keep my head." He glanced up from his bow and grinned at her, and Aliné held a laugh behind the smile that forced its way out.

"I suppose I can let it go this one time," she said, after a moment of thoughtfulness. "But don't let it happen again." She pointed at him sternly, then dropped her act. "I must return home now." Kaevan bowed to her again.

"It was a pleasure I shall not soon forget," He said with another smile, taking her slender hand and kissing it. He certainly would not forget this new information, that was sure. He must have done something to please the gods, for they were certainly smiling on him now, right before he was about to abandon the whole thing and move on. It was a pleasant thought to savor.

Aliné gasped slightly at the heat that shot up her hand when his lips brushed against it. She snatched it away and, without another word, spun on her heel and quickly walked away, back inside the palace. She had only gone to the garden, so it wasn't far, but it seemed to take years for her legs to get her to the entryway back inside. Many had kissed her hand before-it was custom when meeting royalty-but she had never felt that heat, that. . . shock that had seemed to awaken all her nerves, if only for a moment. It was a foreign feeling, and she didn't quite know what to make of it.

The half-elf returned too her room without much excitement, barely noticing where she was going. She closed the door gently once in the safety of her room and shrugged out of her robe, laying it over the back of a chair. Aliné picked up a slightly tarnished key from her table and slid it into the lock, turning it. 'Good,' she thought, hearing it snap shut with a gentle click. Even though she doubted she would be, she wanted to make sure she wouldn't be disturbed. The girl tossed the key carelessly back onto the table and slid back into her bed, wrapping herself loosely in a cocoon of blankets to keep away the slight chill that had slipped into the room. She sighed, and had a feeling this was going to be a very long night.

Kalia gazed absently into space the next morning, her thoughts far away. She was supposed to be listening to reports of nearby countries and villages that could become threats or allies, but she wasn't paying attention at all. She smiled slightly, guiltily. Legolas would kill her if he knew her thoughts were wandering, for in truth she should be paying rapt attention. Well, it wasn't her fault that theses affairs were so dreadfully boring. It wasn't as though she wanted to be there, listening to Pelin drone on as though he'd rather be anywhere but there.

Kalia pondered whether her husband's mind had wandered along this path before. She would understand if he confessed they did to her, but she knew he wouldn't tell even if they did. The elf took great pains to keep the peace in the country he ruled over. If the people he treasured so dearly thought he was taking care of them only because he was obligated, problems would arise. And the prince felt he owed it to his father not to let that happen.

"Milady? My queen?" Pelin's voice drew her out of her thoughts, the disapproving note in it ever so clear. She returned his gaze steadily, sensing the animosity hidden beneath the surface. "You wouldn't have happened to been paying attention, would you?" She straightened, a slight flush coloring her face, but showing no outward signs of embarrassment or guilt.

"Do you imply I do not care about my country?" Kalia answered, knowing what it would take to prick his relatively calm exterior. After all these years, she could hardly believe he still hated her. She had done everything in her power to be as friendly as possible towards him, yet when he wasn't avoiding her, he was giving off such a strong feeling of resentment that Kalia could almost physically feel it wash over her.

"Of course not," The elf replied stiffly. "I merely thought from the look on your face-"

"You thought what?" She interrupted. "This is my country, too. I care about it." Pelin opened his mouth to reply, but seemed to think better of it, for he paused. The Tuathe sighed.

"I thought we had moved past this already, but apparently not. Pelin, why are you so intent on proving to Legolas that I am unfit to take care of Eryn Lasgen?"

"That's nonsense-"

"Is it?" She gave him a piercing look, and neither of them spoke for a long moment. "Why do you hate me so much? What have I done to earn your animosity?" Pelin sighed, and gazed out the window. It was a while before he replied.

"I just do not want to see him hurt the way I was hurt," he answered at last. "He is a good man. I suppose I've just been clinging to the perspective that if I was not good enough for anyone, no one is good enough for him. When you came, and he swore he loved you. . . I did not know how to accept it. I apologize." Kalia sighed, knowing he did not really mean it, but also knowing it was the best she was going to get.

"Very well, Pelin." They would get no further in the reports today, both realized, when the heavy silence fell. With a slight, stiff nod, he left the room, and the queen did the same after a short time. She walked the familiar path to her room, but passed it and stopped in front of Aliné's. The door was closed, which puzzled her slightly-the girl never closed her door. She rapped lightly on her daughter's door.

"Aliné? Are you there?" She heard movement inside and after a moment the door swung open and Kalia was greeted with disoriented blue eyes.

"Oh, good morning, mother." Aliné left the door open, returning to her room. Kalia followed her inside and remained standing when her daughter perched on the windowsill. "I'm sorry I haven't come down yet. . . I'm afraid I've just been caught up in my own thoughts." Both of them smiled faintly at that.

"I've been doing the same," Kalia admitted, watching her with the pride of a mother.

"Did father say when he was returning?" The half-elf asked hopefully, her gaze trained on an elf that was walking past in the distance. The Tuathe did not notice when she raised her hand and rippled her fingers in a little wave.

"No, my dear. I have not received word yet. But do not despair, he has only been gone for a month. A messenger could be traveling here as we speak." But both knew the unlikelihood of that situation. With a long sigh, Kalia walked over and ran a hand through her daughter's hair, stroking it.

"He'll be back soon," She murmured, all the while wondering what she had gotten herself into by falling in love with a prince.

A/N: Well, there ya go. Aliné met Kaevan. . . now what'll he do? And why DOES Pelin hate her so much? I Really should think up these things. :-P Just kidding. Well, I hope you liked it!