Berian, the fair haired soldier who had been victim to Calaen's fury earlier that day, sat under the shade of a tree, watching, but not really seeing, the training of his fellow warriors. He had just been spoken to by his commanding officer, Suithien, and the veteran fighter had been angrier than a Balrog on a particularly bad day.

'But I deserved it,' he thought sadly. 'This is my fault.'

"Ah, look who it is."

Berian snapped his eyes up, and they widened as they met emerald orbs. "Prince Calaen…"

"Good afternoon. I don't suppose you mind if I sit with you? If you would prefer me not to, that is quite fine. After all, I understand things better now," Calaen said.

The soldier winced as he was overcome with guilt once more. "No. Please, sit down."

Calaen did so, and the two sat in silence. Berian absent-mindedly played with blades of grass, wondering which one of them would speak first. He had spent a long time bullying the Prince, but today he had finally realised that all he had done was wrong. And that had hurt. It had hurt a lot.

"What did Captain Suithien say to you?" Calaen asked eventually.

"What I expected him to," Berian muttered.

The Prince sighed deeply, and looked across at the other Elf. "You can say more than that. I don't like you, and you don't like me. But what are a few sentences between enemies?"

"Captain Suithien lectured me on how an Elf – especially a warrior of the realm – should conduct himself, and that to fight Royalty is a serious offence," Berian sighed. "He…he has removed me of my station. I am no longer in the patrols. He said that my behaviour showed that I am clearly not ready to join the ranks of Mirkwood's troops."

"He took you off patrol," Calaen said slowly.

"It is no more than I deserve," Berian replied. He looked away, and sighed deeply. "All my life I have wanted to fight, so when I was accepted as a soldier, I was overjoyed. I thought that I could finally do something to make my family proud. I should have known that it was too good to last. But like I said: I deserve this."

Calaen shrugged carelessly. But despite his dislike for the other Elf, he could not help but feel slightly moved by the emotive words. After all, he knew what it was like – having to compete against brothers, and work to make his family proud. But he remained silent. He refused to reveal how this made him feel.

"But you do not need to listen to my problems," Berian said. "They are trivial in comparison to your own."

"Maybe," Calaen replied.

"I know that it is not my place to ask, but what exactly…?" The soldier trailed off, and made a slight gesture with his hands. "What…?"

"What happened? I was told about the human."

"But…but you already knew."

"I did. But my father and brother did not know that I already knew," Calaen replied. "It all went better than I thought it would. I spoke with both of them, and…well…"

"Do not tell me," Berian said quickly. "It is your own business, not mine."

Calaen looked at the other Elf suspiciously. "Why so compassionate all of a sudden? Do you expect me to believe that you actually care?"

"No, I do not. But I do care," Berian said heatedly. "I know what you are going through. I can relate to your problems more than you know. I…. No, never mind."

"Go on," Calaen pressed.

"It is nothing," Berian sighed.

"It must be something, else you would not have brought it up. But if you want to keep it to yourself, then do so. I know what it is like, having to keep things hidden," Calaen said.

Berian rested his head in one hand, and continued to watch the soldiers in training. "I, like you, have two brothers. One older, one younger. The younger one is a precious little Elfling who can get away with murder, whilst the elder is absolutely perfect in every single way."

'Sounds familiar,' Calaen thought grimly.

"My father is dead. He…he was a mortal," Berian said quietly. "Old age took him. My mother would not give up her immortality for him, as she had children to think of – myself and my elder brother. The younger one is the son of an Elf. But I often wonder why she gave her heart to him when she knew their life together would be short."

Calaen shook himself mentally – he had been so shocked that he was almost rendered speechless. "You cannot help who you fall in love with."

"I suppose not," Berian sighed. "My elder brother is a healer in the palace. You have probably seen him. My younger brother has his mind set on becoming a history tutor. He is very bright. I am the only one in the whole family to have fought under the Mirkwood banner."

"Was your mother proud when you were accepted?" Calaen asked softly.

"Of course. For one night, I felt as though my brothers' achievements meant nothing. I was the one who had done something." Berian smiled sadly as he looked across at the other Elf. "This will break her heart when she finds out."

Calaen was silent for a moment as he thought about what he had been told. "Then, why so much hypocrisy? Why so many cruel words to me? Why so much hatred?"

"Never hatred," Berian said quickly. "Jealousy: yes. Dislike: yes. Resentment: yes. Hatred: no."

"Alright, no hatred," Calaen said, waving a hand impatiently. "But why were you so hypocritical? You are no different to me."

"But I am different. I am the son of a human who I loved whilst he was alive. Now he is dead, and I cannot love my younger brother's father. I live in a small cottage when I am not on patrol. I have to keep our home clean, cook food and look after the Elfling," Berian replied. "You live in the palace, you have servants, you are a Prince, and you have known a father for your whole life. I lost mine when I was a child."

"Go on," Calaen said softly.

"Both of us are the blood sons of mortals. I felt it unfair that you should have such a perfect life, whilst mine could not be any different," Berian continued. "Maybe it was petty, but I was so jealous of you. Jealousy makes one do and say things that maybe they do not mean."

'Doesn't it just?' Calaen thought.

"So there you are," Berian finished. "That is my story."

The Prince nodded slowly. "I think I understand you now. Although, there is one more thing I would ask. If you disliked me before, why so different now?"

"I grew up with the knowledge that I had a mortal father," Berian replied. "You did not. I put myself in your place, and imagined listening to such a secret being revealed, and I…I hated it. I hated myself for saying such awful things to you."

"Yes, I do understand you," Calaen said softly. He paused, and glanced sideways at the other Elf. "What will you do now? Suithien has not taken you off patrol permanently, has he?"

"No. But I will not stay here," Berian replied. "I have cousins in Rivendell. It was not long ago that I was thinking of visiting them. I may as well do it now."

"You are leaving Mirkwood?" Calaen asked in surprise.

"I will come back, though I cannot say when," Berian sighed. "I still feel shame that I treated my Prince in such a way. And, who knows? Maybe I can start a new life in Rivendell.

"Maybe," Calaen replied.

"There are patrols heading that way tomorrow. I will accompany them," Berian said. "I…I just want to apologise for what I put you through."

"Forget it. It is in the past," Calaen said. He paused, and glanced sideways. "You do not have to leave."

"You and I could never be friends. There is too much history, too much past animosity. I would feel nothing but shame and guilt if I was to stay. No. This is what I must do," Berian replied. "But I feel as though my treatment of you puts me in your debt."

Calaen arched an eyebrow at that. "Excuse me?"

"Maybe you can think of nothing I could help you with, or do for you, but perhaps in the future you will feel differently," Berian said. "If you need anything, then send me a message, and I will do everything in my power to help you."

"I will bear that in mind," Calaen said. He smiled, and reached across to touch the other Elf's shoulder briefly. "Thank you."

"There is no need for thanks," Berian replied. He looked across to the other side of the training field, and winced as he realised that Suithien was watching suspiciously. "I must go. Obviously the Captain does not trust me."

The two Elves stood up, and without another word, the once soldier turned and walked away. Calaen watched him go, wondering at all that had happened. And wondering especially at what had been said about a 'debt'. He dismissed the thought – he would probably never use the offer of help, even though it was greatly appreciated.

But time goes on. Things change.

……………………………………………………………………………………………....

IwishChan: Don't worry, I also cried when ROTK EE finished! It all seems so final!

Legolas-gurl88: Yeah, that is a really sweet chapter name! I probably will name them at some point, like I did with the other two. I'll make sure to remember it! Hmm, not that long till July 16th, I suppose!

Lombadia Greenleaf: He is strong, isn't he? And he's only an Elfling :(

Warriormaid3000: Dramatic irony! Thank you!

Irish Anor: January 16th is good, I'll write it in his diary. I mean, I could tell him, and let him do it himself, but he would only 'forget'.

The next chapter will be up later tonight, probably after 9.00, because I want to see EastEnders tonight, and then there's the EastEnders Christmas party, and it was really good last year, so I don't wanna miss it this year!

Anyway, I've been thinking. I'll definitely update a chapter tonight, and one tomorrow, but I'm not sure if the last chapter will be up tomorrow. It might be, but if not, then it'll be up on Boxing Day. Merry Christmas!!!

Misto

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