I'm so sorry I've been totally neglecting all my fanfiction because I've been spending all my time on this story over at FictionPress! Also because of a writer's block when it came to my stuff here… But now I'll try my best to write more over here!

To Calafair: Bel, you are an incredibly mean, sadistic person. It's said with a lot of affection but it's NOT a compliment, okay? (But I can still tell that you're going to be happy. Weirdo.)

To Shorty51: Thanks for the chocolate! –hands you the bowl- And I'm sorry I've been gone for so long!

To RiRiana: Update right here!

To BanbieBunny: I've avoided Mary-Sue-ism? YAY!

Chapter 6 : If Only

2 years later… (A/N: That is, after the last chapter.)

Legolas and Háthien stood at the gates of Minas Tirith.

"You'll be missed," Legolas said, embracing her. "But you'll be taken care of here." He smiled. "And you'll get to meet Sam and his family! Tell him that I'm sorry I can't be here to greet him when he arrives, but I'll try to come to Minas Tirith to see him as soon as I can."

"Of course," Háthien replied. "He'll be sorry that you aren't here either, I'm sure." She looked at Legolas's face and laughed. "Come, I'll never be away for eternity! You'll see, before long I'll be back in Ithilien and you'll be back from Eryn Lasgalen and you'll be wishing that I never returned!" But still she felt pleased to see that Legolas would really miss her. He has no idea how much I will miss seeing him.

"Perhaps that'll be true, but for now, it'll be different not seeing you every day," Legolas said seriously. She has no idea how much I will miss seeing her. "Well… now it's time for me to leave. I'll try to come to Gondor after coming from Eryn Lasgalen, all right? So just you try to keep out of trouble."

"Since when have I caused trouble?" Háthien retorted, making Legolas laugh.

"Don't make me name the times."

Háthien watched as Legolas rode out of the gates to join the other Elves who would be making the journey to Eryn Lasgalen with him. It had been many years since they had gone back to their homeland. To all extents and purposes, Ithilien was home now. Part of Háthien actually wished to return, just too look around at the dear forest she had grown up in, to recall all the sweet memories she had of that place. But a greater part of her told her that she would never be able to return, that she could not bear the sad familiarity of the trees, the life. So she had chosen to accept the invitation of Aragorn and Arwen, and come to Gondor.

She looked around her. It was… different, Minas Tirith. It felt different to be living in a place surrounded by stone after a life of living surrounded by trees. Although the stone brought safety and security, it also brought this foreign, closed-in feeling that she had yet to become accustomed to.

"It feels different, doesn't it? Strange."

Háthien turned to see Arwen standing behind her, an understanding smile on her face. "Don't worry, this feeling comes to every Elf who steps into Minas Tirith. But you'll soon fall in love with it, just as I have." She took Háthien's hand. "Come, let's go for a walk."

The people couldn't help but stop and stare as the two passed by. The radiance of Arwen was not something that one got used to quickly, and now there was this new beauty that was walking arm in arm with the Queen.

"She's another Elf!" one child whispered excitedly to another.

Háthien turned to smile at the two awestruck children, and they returned it with the innocent, sweet grins of little ones who held everything in life in wonder. "I believe you are right, Arwen" she said, turning to look back at the children, reluctant to lose sight of their happiness. "I think I am falling in love with Minas Tirith already."

"And soon you will get to meet Sam! Oh, it will be good to see him again. And his wife and daughter as well. I'm sure they will be delighted to meet you."

"I hope so. Legolas has told me so much of them."

"You and Legolas are very close, aren't you?"

Háthien nodded. "Yes, we are. He treats me as if I were his sister. Since the end of the War of the Ring, he has been taking care of me, and for that I am grateful. I don't know what I would have done without him."

Arwen smiled. "It's wonderful to have someone to take care of you, isn't it?"

"Sometimes it could present problems, though."

"Yes, that could be true." Arwen laughed sadly. "My father tried to take such good care of me, he almost had me leave Middle Earth. That was the only time I defied him. But I knew that it had to be done, even though it hurt him badly."

Háthien was silent. Everyone knew Arwen's fate. Her life was both blessed and cursed at the same time. Now it was filled with happiness, contentment and love, but one day it would be plagued with sadness and loneliness.

As if reading Háthien's thoughts, Arwen said, "Someday in the future there will be nothing for me, only darkness. But then I will be able to think back and see that I had everything I wanted, if only for a little while. I will have my memories to keep me company. What about you, Háthien? What will you think of when you sit down one day and reflect upon your life? Do you have everything you long for?"

Seeing the look on Arwen's face, Háthien knew that she was caught. "No," she admitted. "I don't have everything I long for."

"Then what are you waiting for? It is all before you. All you have to do is reach out."

"If only it were that easy," Háthien said with a sigh. "But there is so much that I dare not risk…"

"It is the risks we take that make things worth the while."

"You won't tell anyone, will you?" Háthien asked anxiously. "You wouldn't let anyone know?"

Arwen laughed. "Of course I won't. You can trust me. This is something up to you to tell. It is up to you to decide if you want to keep it a secret forever, or to take the leap of faith. Think it over." With that, she let go of Háthien's arm and went on her way.

Háthien wandered about the streets of Minas Tirith for a while, lost in her thoughts. It suddenly seemed so clear to her what she had to do. She had to tell Legolas. She couldn't be hiding forever. Arwen was right. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life regretting. It seemed so easy now!

If only it could stay that way once she saw Legolas again.