Okay, sorry this is late, and answers are going to be rushed: Um... No sequal will happen, because thanks to recent events, things are going to wrap up soon. Thanks to those who liked it...

And since this took forever to work, I'm going to miss my ride if I write anymore.

Later!

Chapter 50

From a somewhat sheltered stair I watched the patrols come in. One elf was carried on a matting of leaves held aloft by two elves and a horse, another limping beside a companion who was providing support. The three patrol leaders were talking quietly until the last elf was in, and then they broke apart to address their patrols.

Legolas looked at his elves, quickly inclining his head slightly, dismissing them. He started towards one of the doors which would lead him back to the royal wing, but was paused.

"Legolas."

His head dropped slightly, before his jaw tightened. He spoke without turning. "Yes, Varith?"

"Not going to your lady?"

Legolas spun around quickly, grabbing Varith by the collar, jerking him out of the main area into a small alcove just within the stair. "What are you getting at, Varith?"

"I don't know what you mean, your highness."

"Cut the act." Legolas released him somewhat roughly. "I can't figure your angle. You still know me well enough to know you can't break us up. I'll tell you now you can't make me jealous—I trust her. While I may get angry with you, it's for disturbing her, troubling her. Even that… why? What's the point, Varith? What's in it for you?"

Varith stared at him silently for a long moment, before pulling his collar straight. He looked over Legolas's shoulder, apparently weighing his options. Finally he sighed. "Once I would have lied to you, bluffed you, kept this up. I can't anymore… Not because of your title, but because of what it has made you."

Legolas snorted, looking away. I winced, knowing Varith had just hit a very sore spot.

"Tell me one thing, Legolas, and I'll fade back away into memory."

Legolas glanced back, and the rage behind his eyes stunned me.

Varith sighed. "I regret that, you know." He crossed his arms and looked down at his feet, leaning back against the wall. "Look, it's obvious you love her. Obvious she loves you. So why haven't you spoken? The longer you wait, the more the people will talk. I don't think you want that… for her. She's dealt with enough."

Legolas sighed, crossing his arms. For a moment, with their positions so mirrored, I could see them as cousins. "I know she has," he murmured quietly. "And unfortunately, I will give her more to deal with."

"Then you won't speak?" Varith frowned.

Legolas made a noise low in his throat. Frustrated, short, it was more or less a growl. "I would have spoken years ago if not for what keeps me silent now. I will leave, Varith. I will go West."

"What? Why? You're the bloody prince, Legolas, you can't just—" He broke off when Legolas pinned him with another glare. I couldn't help but shiver. Whatever Thranduil thought, there was a story here, a true reason for this separation between past friends. Varith met that fury with a stubborn pride that spoke of understanding. Then his eyes widened, seeing something beyond it. He settled back a bit, lowering his eyes, releasing his own anger. "She knows?"

"Of course she knows. Has known." He let out a short, humorless laugh. "How could I keep it from her?"

"Uncle knows?"

"Yes. Both understand."

"And your need for the sea keeps you from speaking to her?"

"I don't want to force her to go with me."

Varith looked away, pausing. He blinked and followed my feet up to my face. After I winced for being caught eavesdropping, he blinked again and looked back at Legolas as if he hadn't seen me at all. "I've studied her for years, Legolas, because you love her. She will go with you, whether as your wife or not." He stepped away from the wall, sighing as he tightened his arms over his chest. "I am sorry, Legolas…" He glanced up once for an instant before walking away.

"Sorry about what?"

Legolas jumped and whirled around. "Alye," he murmured, closing his eyes. A moment later they snapped open again. "How long…"

"Long enough to know there is more to you two drifting apart than Thranduil knew… though he knew much more than I ever did."

He climbed the stairs with a sigh, flickering a quick look at my attire before pulling me into a hug. His caution almost made me smile—he had a habit I hadn't instilled in him against touching me when he was dirty unless I had yet to clean up from work. "Come on. Lets clean up and eat. Then I guess I have a bit to say."

"Not if you don't want to."

He smiled at me, leaning up from his step to give me a kiss. "I don't tend to think about painful things in the past… but…" he buried his face against my throat, "perhaps it would be good to think about it."

"You already are, aren't you?"

He glanced up at me, his slightly sheepish glance rather endearing.

I shook my head but kissed his brow. "All right."

He grinned at me, but then retreated into his thoughts, kissing my cheek absently as he left me at my door.

When I entered the royal rooms, he was staring into space, a tray of food in front of him. Thranduil lifted a brow at me, but I shrugged, so he took a plate off to his room. "Eat," I murmured, sitting down across from him. He moved absently, not saying anything nor really seeming there until I got up, snuggling into his side.

He blinked a few times and looked down at me, smiling a bit between kisses. Then he looked up, staring off again.

I was about to poke him when I noticed he was actually looking at something. His eyes looked back at us from the portrait, just as mysterious as the first time I had noticed the resemblance.

"It's because of her."

I blinked, looking up at him. For the first time, he wasn't looking away from the portrait as quickly as he could. "What?"

"You know he and I were once close… best friends, close cousins… until she began to fade. I wanted to spend more time here, wanted every spare moment I could get to be with her, or trying to find some way to stop it, distract her." He snorted. "As you know, it didn't work. He… tried to pull me away. Tried to distract me."

I looked at the painting for a while, then eased back to look at him. "Let me guess… You were not appreciative of that."

"I didn't really notice at the time. Usually I spent most of my time when at home with him, since I spent so much time with all of you. I didn't think anything of him wanting some of my time."

"But then she died."

He winced, but nodded. "Yes. I…"

"Dealt with it by closing off… until we ambushed you."

A faint, fond smile turned his lips at the memory. "Yes. Here I was much the same. I didn't speak, picked at my food if it was brought to me, stared into space…"

"I can't imagine."

He chuckled softly at my dry comment, tilting his head down, resting his forehead against mine. "The day after you guys forced me to begin truly coping with it, Varith had apparently decided to try something similar to snap me out of my… state. He said anything he could to make me angry…"

I studied him through tilted gaze. "Something hit a bit too hard?"

With a flinch he tore his gaze from the painting. A short nod was rather redundant, after his previous reaction. "He said…" he took a breath, tightening his hold on me. He laughed, shaking his head. "It's not supposed to still hurt like this, is it?"

"What, Legolas?"

He closed his eyes. "He said… said that she wouldn't have needed a daughter, if she had still had her son."

"No wonder…" I closed my mouth and shook my head. It explained a lot—if he had spent most of his time with Varith when not with us… of course any youth would feel guilty for not spending more time with a family member who died… especially in such a case. Legolas also had a habit of over thinking things, which only made it worse. "My poor elf," I murmured, wrapping my arms around him.

He chuckled weakly, but aided me in wrapping him in an embrace, pressing his face to my chest.