I'm sorry I haven't written for quite awhile, I'm actually in the middle of major exams! But I get this weekend off and next week is a easygoing week for the exams so I'm back online writing!

To Shorty51: Haha, you're really spoiling me!

To RiRiana: I'm back!!! 0)

To GreenEyedElfGoddess: I think things in this story will happen slightly faster than my original because when I read my original again I was so irritated by how draggy it was lol.

Chapter 4 : Difficult

"Háthien!"

She turned towards the voice, and smiled to see Legolas sitting on a bench next to Gimli. It was always a heart-warming sight, to see two such different people so connected in friendship. She began walking towards them, her original errand forgotten.

The two stood as she approached them. "Yes, gwanur?" The word tore at her heart, but she no longer felt it as she used to do. She was ready to love him secretly for the rest of eternity.

Legolas shifted a little, his thoughts jumping about randomly. He wasn't certain how to phrase what he was about to say. And always, the word 'gwanur' echoed in his mind, reminding him again and again that she only looked to him as a brother.

Gimli looked at his friend expectantly, wondering what Legolas was going to say. Whatever it was, Legolas had certainly not consulted his best friend about it.

"There's going to be a gathering at in Faramir's hall soon, and both Gimli and I will be making the journey. The King and Queen of Gondor would be there. I was… I was wondering if you would like to join us."

Háthien stared at Legolas, stunned. Even Gimli was a little shocked. To be invited to such a gathering was a great honour. To be introduced to King Elessar by one of his closest friends was another. And it was all descending upon Háthien at the same time.

"Oh… of course I would love to join you!" It all burst out of Háthien at once, and a smile spread across her face. "I could imagine nothing better! Thank you!" She gave Legolas a hug.

Gimli noticed the softening of his friend's face as he put his arms around Háthien. He really loves her, he thought. It is such a pity that he won't take the risk. Shouldn't she at least know?

Excited, Háthien left them, and Gimli had no doubt that she was going to start making preparations for the journey. It wouldn't be her first time making the journey, but this time, it was much more important.

After she was out of sight, Gimli turned to his friend. "It wasn't exactly confessing your love, but I have to say that you did rather well."

"What do you mean, talking about 'confessing'? You know I'm never going to be able to say anything."

"You're never going to able to say anything because you won't dare to take the risk. I can't believe you, Legolas! You have no problem taking on an army of Orcs, but not talk to an elfmaiden?"

"There's a big difference, Gimli." Legolas sighed. "I don't want to risk our friendship. If I tell her, things will never be the same again. There'll always be a wedge between us, and we'll never be able to talk and laugh and spend time together like we do now. Do you understand that, Gimli? I don't know what I would do without all that."

"How do you know that would happen? You don't know anything. Don't you think it'll be worth a try? Just so you won't spend the rest of your life wondering what would have happened if only you had tried…"

Legolas shook his head. "I don't know, Gimli. I just can't. When I see her, I just don't know how I could possibly tell her."

Gimli said nothing in reply. This was certainly quite a mess, and there was no way anyone could help.

By the time Háthien got back to her room, her spirits had plunged. Legolas was going to introduce her to King Elessar and Queen Arwen, which was a great honour, but she had no doubt that he would introduce her as his sister. And it seemed to her that once the King and Queen thought her as Legolas' sister, it would be final. There would never be a chance for anything else. Not that there had ever been a chance, of course, but it felt as if once she was introduced, it would become a fact set in stone.

She sat down on her bed, staring into space. She wanted so much to tell him, to pour her heart out, to confess all her thoughts, but every time he spoke to her, every time he called her his sister, she was reminded of how he felt, and how things would change if she so much as implied something different. And she felt as if she would die if she were never to speak with him ever again, if she would lose this most cherished friendship.

Why did things have to be so difficult? It wasn't fair. Why did she just have to fall for Legolas? Why did she want to give her forever to him?

The questions ran through her mind, but she knew that she wouldn't have had it any other way. She could not imagine falling in love with anyone else, spending forever with anyone else.

But she wished that things could have been a little different.

Legolas sat staring out of the window of his room. In his heart was the yearning that the sea gulls had awoken, the yearning he spent every waking hour trying to push away, only to get lost in it in his dreams. There seemed to be no way to forget about the longing once it took hold.

It seemed as if he could hear the cry of the gulls, the break of the waves upon the shore, the sea spray on his face. He sighed. One day, he would have his chance to go to the Undying Lands, but it would not be anytime soon. He had decided that he would not leave Middle-Earth until after Aragorn's passing, and he would honour that promise. Yet there was another reason for his putting off the journey.

He could not go now, since Háthien had not said anything about leaving. He could not leave her here in Ithilien. There was no way. He wanted her to be near him, with him.

Why did things have to be so difficult?