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.

A/N: I LOVE Legolas, not Orlando Bloom. BIG, VERY BIG, difference. Ya'll can have O.B. for all I care, just let me have Legolas.

Chapter 12

"Remember what I told you child, you will eventually lo—" Elrond started, touching Miya's cheek. He was definitely going to miss her, her presence in the castle and her attitude. It really wasn't going to be the same without her in it. But destiny dictates that she be betrothed to Legolas, whether she liked it or not.

"Don't Elrond, I would rather not be reminded of that for I know it is impossible," she interrupted him quietly. The Rivendell party was going back to their land after staying in Mirkwood for three days. They would have stayed longer if not for the pressing matters waiting for them when they come back. Elrond was gone along with Arwen and Aragorn with no one to govern Rivendell.

She had said her farewells to Aragorn and Arwen after stomping her foot on Aragorn's foot without Arwen's knowledge. She would miss them for they were the only ones who understood her pain. As for Gregor, she can do naught but shed a tear for she could not kiss him or hug him or a scandal might ensue.

"Don't wait for me anymore Gregor, find someone more worthy of you," she said sadly to her beloved as he mounted his gray horse.

"You are the only one whom I love and until life is flowing in my veins, I will be waiting for you. Know that I love you always," Gregor said to her before making the horse gallop out of the gates of Rivendell. Miya closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she won't give them the satisfaction of seeing her shed another tear.

"Fate is cruel my lady but fear not for life doesn't remain bitter," a soft voice said behind her. A small hand settled on her shoulder as she led Miya into the castle.

"It doesn't matter now if fate wants to remain cruel to me Niccola. Gregor would be waiting for me, waiting for nothing," she said painfully. "If and only if time would be easy on me, I may forgive Legolas and love him. But not in the way that a wife must love a husband but only as a friend. But already seeing this, I know it would be a long time before that happens."

Three weeks later, Legolas had yet to talk to Miya sincerely. He knew that she had been avoiding him, Niccola would even help her evade him; they were that obvious. Maybe she just didn't want to be confronted about anything, she just wanted everything to be done and over with. But he wouldn't have it that way, he cannot be married to a woman who hated him so he wanted to make things at least a little bit okay.

Learning that she was engaged before she was summoned to Mirkwood to be his queen was like a physical blow to him. She loved someone else. Someone that wouldn't be him for a long time. Even if he tried his hardest. In his mind, he couldn't picture anyone else beside him for eternity but Miya, for some reason, she stuck in his mind like the sweetest dream. Doing his routine everyday of seeking her in the castle at four o'clock in the afternoon was expected by both Niccola and Miya. But things were going to be different that day, he had some time off at two o'clock.

Walking down the stone steps to the balcony, he knew he had to be quiet. When word gets out and reaches Miya's ears that he was looking for her, it would be a losing battle of finding her. From out of nowhere, his keen ears caught the sound of whizzing arrows being shot simultaneously. Then came an angry curse. A female voice's angry curse. Legolas' face broke into a smile for he had found where she was: in the archery field.

And that was where she was. At two hundred paces, she was shooting the arrows like there was no tomorrow. In the middle of the target were three arrows shot on top of each other. But after that, all missed their targets. And each missed target was accompanied by a heated curse. It made him smile to hear her say curses that he knew any decent lady elf wouldn't utter. She took another arrow and mounted it on the bow, breathing loudly trying to concentrate.

Walking softly, the grass under his feet obliging to his wish to muffle the sounds of his footsteps, he walked behind her and placed his arms around her own, his head on her shoulders. Slowly, he pulled the string with above her hand and took aim before releasing it in less than a second. The arrow had split the third split arrow in the middle.

After releasing it, he lightly kissed her cheek but after doing so was shoved back by an angry elleth. An arrow that was quickly mounted on her bow was pointed at him directly.

"How bold of you Legolas," she remarked coldly at him, the bow strung tightly. If released, he knew she would not miss the target of his forehead.

"I haven't talked to you in three weeks, avoiding me perhaps?" he asked, both his hands up in a defeated gesture. "Put down the bow Miya," he commanded quietly.

But she did not. "And who are you to tell me to do so?"

"Your future husband," Legolas said sternly at her. If it was even possible, he felt her stringing the bow tighter.

"Wrong answer Legolas. If this poisoned tip, yes, it is poisoned. By some twist of luck, I got the orc apple poisoned tip to aim at you, pierces your forehead would it greatly affect me? I think not, maybe I should let it lose then," she said insolently.

"You wouldn't do that," he said, walking closer to her, his hands still up for her to see. He knew she wasn't bluffing and he was counting on his luck for her not to release the arrow. "I just want to talk, no need for violence you see," he added, the soothing tone still present in his voice.

"Fine, you win," she said, putting down the arrow and placing it back on her quiver. "What do you want?" she asked bitingly, pushing back a stray lock of dark hair from her face.

"Why have you been avoiding me?"

"Avoiding you? Hallucinating perhaps dear prince," she smirked, walking away from the archery field.

"Miya, you HAVE been avoiding me. How can we make this work if you keep on making Niccola lose me?" he asked exasperatedly. He saw her surprised look and rolled his eyes. "Yes my dear fiancée, I know that you use her to lose me at four o'clock in the afternoon sharp," he said sardonically.

"Look Legolas, all I have to do to make this work is to stay here for all eternity, enduring all pain and suffering I may feel without complaining and give you a child. That I am sure you are looking forward," she said evenly, her eyes narrowed.

Legolas winced at what she said. It had been meant as a joke but it seems she it took it personally. "I am sorry for that, I did not know what came over me," he said, sincere with what he said.

"Perhaps a case of insanity?" she dared say. "Or a sudden rush of elven masculinity?" she added boldly, raising her right eyebrow at him, challenging him to deny it. "Either way, it doesn't impress me."

"Why are you being so difficult Miya? Can we at least just get along?" he asked tiredly. Playing this horrid game with her wasn't something he enjoyed particularly. "We did get along for almost a millenium and a half why can't we do it again?"

"Because that millenium and a half was blown away from my mind like feathers only after half a century. There is no use conjuring up hopeful images that things will be okay again Legolas. Maybe when the pain isn't so great anymore, including the recent pain this predicament handed over to me. You will never know the pain of losing someone you love unless you have experienced it yourself," she said to him calmly, turning her back at him to go back into the castle.

"Actually, I have. Losing you seventy years ago might rival the pain you are feeling right now," Legolas said softly.