"Arwen?"
The young queen turned from her path at the sound of her name, and stared in open mouthed wonder at the sight which held her gaze. Smiling genuinely for the first time in weeks she walked towards her old friend and bowed her head. "Hello Legolas. Its been far too long."
The Prince of Mirkwood smiled, bewildered at Arwen's formality and pulled her into a deep hug that took her breath away. She felt his power and his magic ripple through her body. "You have not changed one bit." he pulled away from her. "Where is Aragorn?"
Arwen let out a harsh laugh. "He no longer walks the gardens with me."
Legolas looked into her bottomless eyes and felt her pain like a knife to the stomach. He had always loved and respected the young Rivendell princess, if only from afar. She would never had let her feelings show if he had arrived sooner, A week agao, she was composed. A week ago Legolas wouldn't have found her wandering the gardens alone. A week ago, she was far from happy, but not threatened at least. Not scared. "What are you afraid of?"
Arwen looked up, snapping her mind shut. "Afraid of? I'm afraid of being cast out of this place. I'm afraid of the past, the present, but most of all, I'm afraid of the future. My future. Gondor's future. I'm scared because we have lost each other and, in my ill feeling, I am scared that I have let you delve too far into my thoughts." She raised her eyebrows. "My private thoughts."
He bit down hard on his lip and glanced at her apologetically. "What do you mean you have lost each other?"
"I mean, my dear prince, that there is no longer love within these walls."
"He no longer loves you?" Legolas asked, not quite believing it.
"We are no longer in love."
"Then why stay? Why not leave this place tomorrow?"
Arwen smiled a sad, lonely smile that held no happiness. "My childishness. My greed, my selfishness wont allow it."
Aservant bustled into the Kings chambers with a message that Legolas of Mirkwood had arrived, but found the room empty; and upon council with others, he set off briskly towards the Lady Eowyn's chambers, rubbing his head in heretic thinking, but that room was empty also, and just as he was beginning to run out of ideas, he heard angry whispers in the next corridor along.
"So you lied to me?"
"I'm married Eowyn,"
"You LIED to me?"
The servant rounded the corner and greeted the King with a bow, telling him of the message he was sent with, and walking away.
"Legolas."
Legolas smiled broadly and spun around, only to be roughly embraced by his friend. "Elessar." he bowed his head. "How are things going at this side of Middle earth? I saw Faramir but a day ago." he added looking at his friend deeply.
"And what situation did he tell?"
"He said quite frankly that thing weren't right for him here. He said that it had something to do with the Lady..." he caught a glimpse of her by the door. "and you."
"Then he was mistaken."
"There is no situation there?" Legolas asked, knowing the answer.
"No."
"Then why the hell are you lying to me?"
"Eowyn."
"Lady Arwen." She bowed her head.
Arwen moved to take hold of Eowyn's wrists, "Lets cut the crap Eowyn. I will not be forced from my home. I will not be cast off my own lands, and you will never...never be Queen of Gondor...Got that?" Her grip tightened. "Stay away from my husband or so help you God."
Eowyn pulled away and rubbed her reddening wrists. "No wonder he doesn't love you anymore."
Arwen turned around and smiled. "This is no more longer about love Eowyn. This is about stability. This is about pride."