A/N: YES! I got elven reviews! And so fast, you should have seen how excited I was. Let's put it this way: my mom thought I was having a fit. You people are awesome, and I want everyone to review that way for this chapter. It's actually a pretty short chapter, because even though I had a little more planned this was really all that seemed to go in the chapter. This chapter has been planned almost since the beginning, and it and the last chapter are my almost favorites. Individual replies to reviews are at the end! Thank you so much!
I cannot find a way to describe it
It's there inside
All I do is hide
I wish that it would just go away
What would you do
You do if you knew
What would you do
All the pain
I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you
Back to what
Was never said
Back and forth
Inside my head
I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable come and take me away
I feel like I'm all alone
All by myself I need to get around
This
My words are cold
I don't want them to hurt you
If I show you
I don't think you'd understand
'cause no one understands
All the pain
I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you
Back to what
Was never said
Back and forth
Inside my head
I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable come and take me away
I'm going nowhere on and on and
I'm getting nowhere on and on and on
I'm going nowhere on and on and off
And on and off and on
All the pain
I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you
Back to what
Was never said
Back and forth
Inside my head
I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable come and take me away
Take me away
Take me away
Take me away
Aragorn stepped out of the shadows, watching Ana's retreating back. Really, he thought to himself, this has gone too far. We'll all go insane if they don't just admit they still love each other and get over their guilt trips!
Despite his frustration with the two, he secretly worried that perhaps it might be too late. Shoving the thought away, he forced his mind to focus on how he could get his friends back together. After discarding several ideas, the light bulb of genius flashed (maybe dimly, but hey!).
The man wandered back to his room, muttering agitatedly to himself, trying to finalize the details of his "marvelous" plan. (Valar help us all)
The next morning…
"Aimee, wait a second! I need to talk to you!"
Aimee whirled around to find herself face to face with Aragorn. Recovering from her initial shock at finding him so close behind her, she replied, "Aragorn, hey! I didn't expect to see you here!"
Pausing, she narrowed her eyes saying, "Wait a minute, shouldn't you be at breakfast?"
Aragorn held up his hands, backing away slowly, "Whoa, somebody's a little suspicious, aren't they? Actually, I came right now, because everyone else IS at breakfast. I need your help in my plan getting Ana and Legolas back together."
The girl's ears perked up at news of a plan and she leaned forward unconsciously, to make sure she didn't miss a thing. Motioning for him to continue, she prepared herself for an awesome plan.
"See, this is what I'm thinking…"
(A couple minutes later)
"You want to do WHAT???"
"Come on, Aimee, it's a good idea!"
"You really are insane if you think I'm going to let you do that to Ana."
"It's not as though I would actually let anything happen to her!"
"I don't care what you think you will and will not let happen! I know what I will and will not let happen and this is most definitely a WILL NOT!"
"But, Aimee…"
No buts, Aragorn! However, I will help you come up with a better plan. Plans like this should not be attempted without at least one girl conspirator."
Reluctantly relinquishing the plan making to Aimee, Aragorn prepared to listen to her idea.
"So, here's what we do…"
When Aragorn and Aimee came bursting into her room with matching goofy grins on their faces, Ana wondered if maybe she shouldn't be a tad bit concerned. The feeling only intensified as Aimee took her hand and pulled her onto the bed, sat down beside her, and motioned Aragorn to pull a chair up next to them.
Deciding to attempt taking control of whatever was about to go down, Ana said tentatively, "Um, guys, what exactly is going on here? Should I be nervous?"
Aimee laughed and replied, "Not anymore. Maybe if we were still working with Aragorn's plan… but I'm getting ahead of myself!"
Ok, Ana decided, I'm definitely nervous now.
Aragorn's impatience finally got the better of him and he asked, "Ana, how would you feel about a plan to get you and Legolas back together?"
The future King of Men cringed under Aimee's furious gaze, obviously not delighted to have incurred her wrath.
"Aragorn, I thought we agreed not to tell her why we were doing this," Aimee replied in a dangerously low, calm voice.
"I'm sorry! I was just so excited, I couldn't help it!"
His little boy enthusiasm had the exact effect he had hoped it would, softening the girl so her fury became only minor annoyance. Giving in she threw up her hands and turned to Ana who sat beside her.
"So, what do you think? We have a plan that I think has to work. It's one of my plans, and they always work!"
Ana sighed and rolled her eyes. "Aimee, I have full confidence in your ability to plot, but I'm just not sure this is a good idea. I mean, Legolas and I have screwed things up big time. It would take a miracle to fix things now."
"But Ana, maybe this is a miracle in disguise! This could be your only chance to show him how much you care. If you love him the way I think you do, the way I know you do, then you won't let him go without a fight."
Burying her head in her hands, Ana weighed the pro's and con's of going along with her friends' little scheme. Well, it couldn't really do any more damage than had already been done.
"What the heck," Ana said, "hit me with it. Can't really mess things up any more, can we?"
"Nope!" Ana replied cheerfully. "So, let me fill you in really quickly. We have a lot of work to do."
Noticing Aragorn squirming in his chair, Aimee turned and shot him a questioning look.
"Umm," he began, "I was just wondering if, well, I know this is silly, but…"
"Spit it out!" the girls snapped in unison.
"Can I tell her the plan?" he inquired meekly.
"Is that all?" Aimee asked.
He nodded.
"Be my guest!"
"So, there's this thing tonight…"
Ana had searched for almost a quarter of an hour before she found Kyle in the stables. Mustering her courage she came up and leaned against the stall he was working in.
"Hey, Ana. I figured Aimee would be keeping you in bed today after being up so long yesterday."
"No, actually she encouraged me to get up and come talk to you. I'm inclined to agree with her for once. We do need to talk."
"I'm sensing this isn't good."
"Well, in a sense, depending on how you look at it," she said slowly. It was obvious he wasn't convinced.
"You're breaking up with me aren't you?" he asked.
"I'm so sorry, Kyle. I understand now, a relationship can't just be about the other person and what's right for them. It has to be about me, too. If you are really my friend you'll understand how far I've come and support me while I look for the perfect fit."
Pushing up his sleeves, Kyle moved over to the door Ana was leaning against and, to her surprise, he smiled.
"To tell you the truth, I thought this might be coming, I just wasn't sure when. Ana, I thought I loved you, and I hoped that if I could just stick with you a while, maybe you could get over HIM and learn to love me, too. I can see now that I was wrong, and I just want you to be happy."
Giving him a tight hug she murmured in his ear, "Thank you. And I think you already know who you really love."
Kyle quickly pulled away and looked at her in a calculating manner. Simply smirking back at him, Ana flitted out of the stables with a fluttering wave back behind her. The boy simply shook his head and returned to brushing his horse.
Upon entering her room Ana was confronted with Aimee, Eowyn, and another girl that she didn't recognize. When Aimee saw her she jumped up and hugged her tightly.
"Did you do it?" she asked.
"Yep. And we're still friends! Oh, I'm so happy!"
Aimee blinked back tears at hearing her friend say that. For so long they had waited, praying and hoping that she would get better and one day she would be healthy and happy again.
Eowyn cleared her throat, reminding Aimee she had forgotten something. Catching sight of the other girl in the room, Aimee squeaked and blushed.
"Oops! I can't believe I forgot to introduce you. Ana, this is Maereth. She came with the Elves to Helmsdeep, but decided to stay here for a while and go back with the wounded Elves when they recover."
Ana took a good look at Maereth, and wondered how she could fail to recognize another immortal. Silvery blonde hair framed a face aged to remarkable beauty, grey eyes holding a wealth of wisdom and experience.
"Hey, I'm Ana. Did my insane friends talk you into helping with our little project?"
"They can be very persuasive," Maereth replied. "I hadn't planned on doing anything today, but… I've met Legolas. If I weren't engaged I would be sooo in love with him!"
And that broke the ice between the four girls, and they set to work gossiping and giggling. The experience was new to Eowyn and Ana, but they picked up quickly and relished in being normal girls.
Legolas prowled the corridors and pathways alone, longing for companionship and finding none. The people here were wary of him, purposely seeking alternate paths to avoid him.
Kyle, Ana, and Aimee had each other and that Maereth Elf. Even Aragorn, his lifelong friend, made himself scarce and removed his person to do some other random task or another.
For Valar's sake, Legolas thought, I'm a prince and I don't do half the things he does! And he's not even a KING yet!"
Thoroughly discontented with the quality of existence he was experiencing, Legolas failed to hear the approach of another person until the two had collided. Regaining his balance, the Elf took in the slightly smaller form of Kyle right in front of him.
Now this, Kyle decided, is what drives sane people into psycho-therapy. What Ana sees in this guy I will never know.
Muttering disapprovingly to himself, Legolas brushed past him feeling the boy's stare even after he turned the corner.
"Are you sure this'll work?" Ana inquired of Maereth, Eowyn, and Aimee. The three surrounded her, forming a sort of screen against searching eyes.
"If it doesn't, then he's no Elf," Maereth declared grandly.
Giggling nervously, Ana looked worriedly around the crowded Hall. All day had they worked on her dress for this feast, until every last stitch perfectly complemented the others. Now that the time had come, however, butterflies of amazing magnitude swarmed through her every vein, setting her on edge.
Noting their companion's nervousness, the three girls exchanged a hurried glance.
"I have an idea," Aimee spoke for the group. "Let's go stand on the edge and watch things for a while. There's no reason to rush things, Aragorn has control of the other end of the operation."
Ana quickly agreed, grabbing Aimee's hand and letting her lead them to a slightly clearer spot. It became apparent almost immediately that people watching would be a very entertaining pass time.
Within ten minutes the hobbits were singing and dancing on a table, a group of soldiers were maddeningly drunk, and Aimee had already knocked out one man for hitting on her. Just as things were starting to get good, Eowyn excused herself to go fulfill her duties as the King's niece.
Maereth and Ana watched as their friend approached Aragorn, openly flirting with him. It almost seemed as if he were responding, but Ana reminded herself that men did not usually recognize anything so subtle.
Apparently Maereth had witnessed the same thing, for she leaned over and whispered to Ana, "It appears as if our friend Eowyn was not informed of Lady Arwen."
Ana nodded, a slight smile on her face, and hugged her cape more tightly around her. The arrangement was that she would not take the cape off until she was alone with Legolas. To take her mind off what would soon come to pass, Ana turned to Aimee preparing to initiate conversation.
"So, Aimee, you told me that Aragorn had originally come up with a plan, but I never learned what it was. Maybe you could enlighten me?"
Aimee snickered trying to compose herself before answering.
"Well, it turned out to be a bit complicated but the general thing of it was that we would send you out riding and…" She paused to control her laughter. "Sorry, it's just so funny… Aragorn would spook your horse and… Legolas would have to rescue you…" Since she was obviously in no condition to finish, Ana decided to give it a guess.
"Let me guess, he'd save me and we'd fall passionately in love and live happily ever after?"
"I don't know about the happily ever after part, but yeah, the rest of it sounds about right."
The other two girls stared at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter of one accord. And were still laughing, propped up against each other when Aragorn came to take Ana outside. Almost immediately her humor died, as she took her place at the same wall she and Aimee had stood by the night before.
With a reassuring squeeze of her shoulder, Aragorn slipped away quickly to go and get Legolas. Ana reached up, loosening the ties holding her cape on. Silently she prayed that Maereth was right, that this was certain to work. Her courage was quickly deserting her, and Ana could feel it.
Just as she prepared to turn and leave, Legolas's soft footsteps sounded through the quiet stillness of the night. Ana bowed her head and assumed the position they had agreed upon and waited for him to approach.
Legolas had been vaguely annoyed when Aragorn insisted that he go outside for some fresh air. The plan for the evening was fairly simple… drink enough to forget and hopefully never remember. But his wonderful friend had managed to ruin that and then not even accompany him on his quest for "fresh air".
He started to stroll around and breathe in that "fresh air" when a familiar sight caught his eyes. Ana's hair, braided and coiled above her head, with loose tendrils spilling across her shoulders and wrapping gently around her neck. For a moment he considered stepping back into the shadows and going back into the feast.
Before he could manage to even finish the thought, Ana turned. The moonlight shone directly on her, illuminating her with a surreal glow. And as she turned, the cape surrounding her fell away revealing her dress. Legolas was stunned.
A soft, velvet material encased her body, clinging tightly from her shoulders until flaring at the hips and floating gently to the ground. Deep blue began at the hem, lightening further and further as it rose to the v-neck and bell sleeves, becoming almost white at the top.
For the second time since their meeting in Mirkwood, time stopped around the pair holding them suspended in the other's eyes. Ana felt herself slipping away into the depths, her identity merging with the one she had named her best friend, the only one she had ever truly loved. And for once, she gave in.
Letting go, Ana let all the barriers come crashing down, inviting Legolas inside her mind… and her heart. Opening doors that could never again be closed. And for once she had no fear of what would come, no apprehension about what tomorrow would bring. The only thing that mattered stood directly in front of her.
And as she fell into his arms, sobbing with the overwhelming love that filled them both, she knew for certain that no matter what happened the next day or the day after his love would be enough to get them through it.
I looked away
Then I looked back at you
You tried to say
Things that you can't undo
If I had my way
I'd never get over you
Today's the day
I pray that we make it through
Make it through the fall
Make it through it all
I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
'cause I'm in love with you
You're the only one
I'd be with 'til the end
When I come undone
You bring me back again
Back under the stars
Back into your arms
I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
'cause I'm in love with you
Want to know who you are
Want to know where to start
I want to know what this means
Want to know how to feel
Want to now what is real
I want to know everything, everything
I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
'cause I'm in love with you
I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
'cause I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
ximena: You re-read it? I'm so pleased! You have no idea how excited I get when people review twice. I identify with Ana a lot in the way that I feel responsible for the world. She started out not being like me at all, but as time went on she kind of turned into me. As far as I know, this story should be finished through. Review again, please, it makes me so happy!
Katherine: One of my best friends AND my tenth reviewer!!! Girl you're just piling up the smiley-points, aren't you? Hehe, attached, huh? Sirius…drools Hey, I looked up some names for our other characters and did a little more developing. I hope you loved this chapter because, even though you threatening to kill me doesn't really faze me, you can be very annoying. Just kidding!! gives great big hug
Magicgirl810: I'm glad you love it! Thanks so much for helping me post another chapter. Please review again!
Angelsmile06: I finally did it!!! I hope you're proud of me, because I'm trying to make a turn around here and drop some of the depressing stuff. I had an idea about the ending, though. What about alternate endings? I don't know, I'm kind of thinking Ana has suffered enough and maybe her new confidence should be rewarded. I looked every time I checked my email for your review. You've helped me so much through this story! Just a couple more chapters…
Shanua: I'm glad you enjoy my story so much. I hope this chapter was as good as the others and that you like my ending to the story. I'm getting very close! Please review again!
Vampirekat69: I wrote more! Sorry I didn't specify about the songs last time. The duet "On My Own" is from the musical Les Miserables (I LOVE that musical!) and the other song was by Avril Lavigne. Her songs just seem to fit my story really well for some reason. I hope you liked this chapter and remember, reviews make me write faster!
Muddie21: Oh… my… I am totally speechless. I almost cried when I read your review. I mean it. Did I really make you cry? Did I really achieve my goal? You are truly like me… I must have read over half the Legomances ever written. This chapter is for all the begging I received to get Ana and Legolas together. Please, tell me what you think of this chapter!
Crecy: Hey! It's a great cd isn't it? Thank goodness my parents decided one child was enough… But I've listened to that cd so much that my friend said I started singing one of the songs in my sleep! It was so embarrassing… hides behind hand Anyways, here's the update! Please, review again…
DRUNKEN LANDLORD: YAY! I'm on another favorite list! How exciting. Right, anyways, according to my friend Suzanne a Mary-Sue has many qualities and any one is enough to make it one. But here's my simpler definition… Basically it's a story that is quite typical and far from the actual plot of the original work. In the case of Lord of the Rings it tends to be a character falls into Middle Earth, falls in love with one of the characters, etc. I hope that clears everything up! Please, review again…
Stargirl: I'm glad you reviewed this time! And no hard feelings about not reviewing before, I do that a lot with other people's stories just because I read so many and if I reviewed them all I'd never have time to read more or write MY story! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and if you find time, review!
