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 9

"That's my name," Miya said with an amused glint on her eyes before turning her back and sitting down on the bench. "You may sit if you wish," she added, not bothering to look at the gaping elf.

"So you did come with the party," Legolas said in wonder, sitting down beside Miya. He didn't know where to start, or if he should even start saying anything at all.

"Of course, who did you think would be their protector? I was sent to Rivendell for that purpose, if you have forgotten that fact," Miya asked with an annoyed tone as if the answer was very obvious. "Oh, and congratulations on your engagement."

"Thank you," he said uncomfortably. He watched as she wrote unknown words on the paper and watched her. It really had been far too long. But then, he was wrong to expect that things would be the same between then. It had been seventy years after all. It was strange to be beside the same person whom he had been so close with, someone whom he treated like family. But something bothered him more, Miya's aura, as he felt it, was angry at something. He decided to ask about it, "Is there something wrong?"

Her eyes flickered to his face before returning to her work, "Why do you say that?"

"Nothing,"

She put down her pen and set her tablet on her lap before turning to face him. "How do you feel about your nameless bride Legolas?" she asked out of the blue. There was some spite in her voice that Legolas failed to detect.

"As well as expected, I guess. All I know is that's she's blonde. I saw her a while ago when the party came," he said with a shrug.

"Blonde?" Miya asked with a grin, before shaking her head, chuckling. "The one with the hood off, you mean?"

"Yes, that very one. Maybe you can tell me something about her. I don't want to act like a complete fool in front of her later," Legolas said, propping up his legs on the nearby bench. If things were different, Miya would have called him Leggy Legolas but things were as worse as they could get.

"Hmmm, the blonde, yes. Her name's Niccola and she's from Rivendell. Beautiful, no, not beautiful, pretty. Prefers the sword to the bow, sings like a nightengale and has a pretty good disposition compared to mine. That's all I know," Miya said, not tearing her eyes from what she was writing.

"You're not that bad," Legolas protested, though he knew that it was true.

"Still a bad liar Greenleaf," Miya muttered.

Legolas didn't bother to protest because even after these years, she still knew him. "Are you staying here in Mirkwood permanently after Niccola is married to me?"

"Stay for what? To protect her? I don't think that's necessary, your skill in archery is enough to protect her," she said bitingly. "I am going back to my home in Rivendell," she said spitefully, not bothering to mask how she felt anymore. Seconds later, Miya gathered her things and placed them in her pack. "I better get going to prepare for the banquet later. It was nice seeing you again Legolas," she said, although the sentiments didn't quite reach her eyes.

She had taken a few steps when Legolas' voice stopped her, "What now, Legolas?"

"Do you think she would like me? I mean, my future bride?"

"Honestly speaking, I know she won't," Miya said, not sparing any words.

"Hey Miya?"

"What?"

"Do you hate me for not coming for you?"

Miya, this time, faced him. "Hate you for not keeping your promise? For letting me watch all the riders that came and went in Rivendell thinking that it was you? For letting me cry every night for over a year because my only real friend abandoned me? Hate isn't even in my vocabulary when I remember you, loathe is more likely the word. Loathe you Legolas? With all my heart."

And she left him, his pale face the last image in her mind.