Chapter 4 - Sudden Arrival

Jocelyn attempted to avoid Tyron in the days that followed. She knew someday she'd have to confront him, but 'just not today' she kept telling herself. Every day was the same thing. Tyron would come to visit, and she'd have the servant tell him she was unavailable. And he just never stopped coming. Luckily, Legolas was never around when he came. He kept asking her if she'd spoken to Tyron yet, and always she'd meekly have to say she hadn't.

Finally, one day, Jocelyn decided to do the deed. Her heart raced as the time approached that he'd come every day. She went over the words in her head. Really, he just wanted to be her friend, and she hated having to deny him that. But, it had to be done, so she gathered her breath and her courage as she heard a knock at her door.

Her feet felt filled with lead as she lugged herself to the door and put on a polite face as she opened it. Tyron looked up, expecting to see Jocelyn's servant standing there, and lit his face with a smile upon seeing her.

"Jocelyn! I expected you to be 'unavailable'." He said with a wry smile.

"Yes, sorry about that." Jocelyn said softly, and invited him in. "Sit down, Tyron." She said in such a voice that made Tyron look to her with worry etched clearly on his face.

"What is it?" He asked quickly, but Jocelyn held up a hand, telling him to be patient.

"Legolas and I discussed the relationship I have with you, and have decided it would be best and more comfortable for he and I if it was...eliminated." She grimaced at having to use that word, and looked expectantly at Tyron, waiting to see his reaction. He just nodded in understanding.

"I see." He said simply.

"Tyron I-" She started, but was cut off.

"No, Jocelyn. Really, I understand. You needn't say anything else." He said politely as he stood and made for the door.

"Tyron." Jocelyn said softly, and he stopped with his hand on the doorknob, turning slowly to her. "I'm sorry." It sounded to him that she was a little ashamed. He knew she didn't agree with this, but there was nothing he could do. Legolas had won. So, he left. He left her room, he left the hope of ever having her, and he left Mirkwood.

Jocelyn set her face in her hands and sighed. She read the heartbreak behind his eyes and realized he didn't want to be just friends, like he had told her. You can't just stop loving someone. She knew now that he couldn't put his feelings for her to rest. Legolas was right, at least about Tyron still wanting her. She still thought he was too good of an Elf to have been doing what Legolas suspected, though.

When she had sat there long enough, Jocelyn rose heavily and went to find Legolas to tell him she'd finally done it.

The next weeks were passed happily. Jocelyn and Legolas's relationship was official, and she was made to feel very much a part of life in Mirkwood. Elves smiled at her and went out of their way to speak to her and be nice to her.

Jocelyn did like the positive reaction she was getting. Queen Edeline visited her often and doted upon her as she would a girlfriend or a daughter. They had become quite friends, actually. Legolas was loving how well Jocelyn was being accepted and fitting in. At dinner with the royal family one night, an unsettling conversation was struck up.

"So you really knew nothing of Middle Earth before, Jocelyn?" Edeline asked innocently as she forked a bite of salad into her mouth. The question was quite unexpected.

"No. Nothing at all."

"So you didn't get to make the decision to be raised as a human? You just were." Edeline summed, rather than asked. She was just trying to understand, and though she didn't mean to cause Jocelyn pain, Legolas saw the subtle wince and the hurt behind her eyes.

"No, I was a baby when my parents decided to have me raised as a human." She forced a small smile. "I never got the choice. My future was decided for me, and now I have to live with the painful consequences." Although she said it lightly, the words weighed heavily on the atmosphere of the table. No one spoke for a while, afraid what they said would upset Jocelyn the slightest bit, and send her into a fit of tears or even rage.

In their room that night, Legolas was concerned. Jocelyn barely spoke five words since dinner.

"Mellamin? Are you alright?" He called to her from the balcony doorway. She was standing near the rail, looking out over the city. She didn't speak, didn't move, didn't acknowledge his presence or that he had said anything at all. "Joce-"

"She ruined everything." Jocelyn spun around suddenly, and Legolas took a step back, afraid she'd throw a punch at any minute, such was the anger in her eyes.

"She?"

"My mother! She made me mortal! Now our love will be the very thing that kills you!" She threw her arms in the air, and her eyes took on more of a sad look. Legolas was sort of glad. He didn't like seeing her angry much more than he didn't like seeing her sad. Anger is something that eats away at your insides and fills up your thoughts. He couldn't do anything to help her anger, but he could ease her sadness.

"There there, love. What's done is done. She did what she thought was best for you. And just think, if she hadn't taken you to Earth, everything would've turned out differently. We may not have even met." He said softly, taking her into his arms. She leaned into him and he heard her breathe in his scent.

"Thank you." Jocelyn breathed. "I went kinda crazy for a minute there, huh?" She chuckled.

"Yes, but it's quite alright. You're entitled to a fit every now and then." He kissed her forehead and led her inside.

Business around Mirkwood was buzzing excitedly. Prince Legolas's wedding was being planned and prepared for since the moment it was announced. King Thranduil left on official Kingly business the week before the ceremony was to take place. Legolas was left in command of the city.

He sent more guards patrolling the woods in those days. Said he'd be damned if orcs or any forest nuisance would disrupt his wedding. Queen Edeline was heading up the wedding planning. Her face was glowing as she nearly floated about the city, stopping at various shops to place orders and calling servants to run errands for her. She was determined to get both hands in on her son's wedding.

The day was more hectic than most. A soldier came rushing into the study to inform Legolas of a band of renegade orcs near the forests' borders. Queen Edeline came rushing in to inquire on his taste in centerpieces. And a guard from the gate came in to inform Jocelyn of something, but she couldn't hear him. His voice was lost between the soldier and Legolas's cries for reinforcements in the forest and Queen Edeline's cheerful voice ringing out about white and blue and lavender flowers.

Legolas finally silenced his mother, none too kindly I might add. But she understood the situation later, and realized her son's priorities were in the right place. Legolas rushed out with the soldier, and Edeline turned to Jocelyn to get her opinion, but Jocelyn's attention was directed to the guard who was still in the room. He'd finally found a break in the conversation to shout out his news.

"Lady Jocelyn, your sister has arrived and requested your immediate presence outside the palace to take council with her."
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A/N...about Jocelyn not getting the choice to live as an immortal Elf...I'm not sure if that's right. I'll admit, I don't know a whole bunch about Elves. Only what I've read in the LOTR trilogy and what people have pointed out to me that was wrong in my stories. So, basically, I'm making things up as I go along. Hey, it is my story.

Ilenya the Fair - Your welcome! : ) I looked up Ilenya on some name sites, and I couldn't find it. Did you make it up? Well, as for meanings...I'd suggest fair, but that's the other part of your SN, lol. How about meaning 'the chosen one' Is that stupid? How about 'starry night'. 'Cloudless sky'? Um...'heavenly flower' Now that I start thinking about it, I could suggest tons. Or you could look up meanings on babynames dot com and steal a meaning from a different name. I am real interested in origins of names and meanings, too. And by the way, do you luv Aragorn?

TPfan333 - I have plans for Tyron. Big plans. I hated him at the beginning of this. But, I'm like five chapters ahead of my updates, and...boy oh boy just wait until you see what I have in store for him.

GinnyPotter4ever - well, I read your review and I updated as quick as I could! Are you my friend now?? -looks hopeful with puppy dog eyes- PS thanks for the cookies!

Nessa Inwe - Yeah, of course you're loved. And...yeah. Hope you had a good time on your vacation. Anyway, yeah...you do say 'yeah' a lot. Lol. Its just all part of the 'Nessa Inwe charm'

ChildofGod4-ever - You know what, I'm going shopping tomorrow and I am going to look for Burt's Bees Beeswax lip balm. Thanks for the suggestion!

Artria - Best for last! I've gotten the suggestion for a Tyron/Leyna relationship, and I have been considering it. It'd throw a twist in there, Jocelyn might be jealous...Legolas might be jealous...who knows! And no matter what way I pull the story in, there WILL be drama, mark my words.
Everyone's got a little pirate in 'em, I always say. It's healthy to release your inner pirate once in a while. ; )
Whoa, you've been a busy bee! 'Congratulations' to the new baby's family and to the newlyweds, and a 'You go girl!' for you.
Bodily functions are a part of life. I have an older brother, I'm used to talking about them.
I'm glad I make you happy. There's a lot of crazy things I can respond crazily to from your reviews. Love the rambling. Keep it up. ; )

-Austin B.