CHOICES IN LOVE

Disclaimer: The title LOTR and it's brilliant characters belongs to the great mind of J.R.R Tolkien. As for the others, Miya (Mee-yah) and the rest, they're part of my hyperactive imaginative mind.


Chapter 3 - I'll See You Soon

"Legolas!" Miya whispered loudly after knocking quickly on the door softly. "I know you are still awake you scum, open the door! OW!" The door came swinging open and she stumbled and would have kissed the floor if not for Legolas' arms breaking her fall. Straightening up, she faced him, dusting her white nightgown. "Ignoring you best friend?"

"Deceiving your best friend?" Legolas fired back, walking into the balcony, letting her follow him.

"Ouch, I deserved that, I think," she said, crossing her arms and leaning on the balcony railing. "Am I forgiven?" she asked after a while of silence, taking a small peek at his profile. His jaws were clamped shut and his eyes hard. "Just for added reference, I really don't want to leave,"

"Then don't leave," he said, glacing swiftly at her, challenging her.

"I am needed there Legolas, you know that. I wasn't gifted to be a good archer for nothing. I need to serve those who need help," Miya said exasperatedly at him. "Look, I don't want to leave you in the morn like this Legolas," she said softly. Legolas didn't say anything at that but only hardened his jaw a little bit more. Finally, "I love you like a brother, you are more dear to me than my own life, you know that. If you don't want me to leave, just say it again and I will stay," she said with a hurt tone.

She couldn't understand why he couldn't understand her reason for leaving. It wasn't out of a whim, she had to do it out of duty. If Legolas would make her stay, she would but she knew it would be hard forgiving him for his selfishness. "I really would stay for you my friend, just say it and I will," she repeated, turning to face him.

Legolas turned his head, looking at her sorrowful face before closing his eyes and sighing. Gathering her frame to his own, he hugged her with all his might that Miya almost couldn't breath. Pressing a kiss on the crown of her head, he said, "I cannot live knowing that I stopped you in doing something we both know is the right thing," he whispered to her ear. "I am sorry that I acted that way this evening but it pained me so much to know that we will be parting for so long," he said, still in the embrace with his friend.

"We will see each other again Legolas, we both know that. I cannot leave Rivendell so you will have to visit me, do you promise to at least see me once a year?" she asked hopefully, looking up a little bit to him.

A chuckle escaped his lips and grinned down at her. "I will be visiting you more times than you can imagine that you will think that you never left Mirkwood at all my dear," he said, giving her another kiss, this time on her forehead before releasing her from his embrace.

"I will be counting on that promise Legolas, mark my words, I will be counting on that," she said with a smile, challenging him to break it. Removing something from her finger, she clasped Legolas' hand and smiled. "Do not lose this, you know how important this is to me and I am giving it to you until we meet again. Lose it and I will plant an arrow in the middle of your head," she said with a smirk. "Take care my friend, do not bother to wake in the morn to bid me goodbye," she said before leaving his room.

Legolas waited until she left before opening his hand. His breath was caught in his throat for this was a piece of jewelry that never in Legolas' life did he knew Miya took off. Never. It was her mother's handcrafted wedding ring. It was made by one of the best jewelers in Lorien, pure white gold was used for the band and exquisitely embedded with diamonds around it. No wonder she threatened to put an arrow through my head if I lose this. More like a poisoned arrow at that! Legolas thought with a soft smile. Putting it on his right ring finger, he vowed never to remove it as Miya once did.