A/n: Look! I updated quickly! (*pats self on back*). Anyways, this is another pretty short chapter, but I am QUITE sure you will like it. (Well, I suppose it depends on your opinion of Legolas and Shaomer, that is...) A major huge ginormus thank you to my reviewers, I love you all and thank you soo much for taking the time to review this! I just have one more thing to add: my writer's block is gone, and unfortunately for you Ayah fans, this is the second last chapter...
Chapter 9
Ayah looked up to the sky, and seeing the orange streaks forming, she knew she must have been up on the Ridge for a few hours, at least. Tarén was probably worried, wondering if she was okay. She supposed she was – now. Now that she had had four hours or so to think and think about her situation.
She had finally come to a decision. This was going to be the hardest thing she was ever going to do – she was quite sure of that. But the more she thought about everything, the more she knew what she was doing was the right thing.
He would just have to understand.
Ayah was walking towards her home, when who would happen to be walking in her direction, but Shaomer. Her heart beat a little faster, and her stomach flip-flopped.
"Ayah!" his rugged face broke into a wide grin. "I'm glad I found you. You're alright, right?"
Ayah nodded and smiled tightly back. She couldn't speak, and she didn't know why.
"Look," he was right in front of her now, and she could smell his smell: a fresh outdoorsy smell, with a touch something manly and fresh. Her beat a lot faster. "I have something to ask you, and its really important."
She managed to find her voice. "I need to talk to you too. And its also very important."
Shaomer nodded. "I'm sure you do, and normally I would insist you go first. But I really need you to hear me out."
The pleading in her eyes changed her mind. She could wait. "Ok, go ahead." She smiled as best as she could.
"Ayah…" his eyes were a deep green, and he was so close – Ayah had never noticed the tiny flecks of different shades of green sparkling around his eyes. "You must know how much I love you. I have for so long. That's why I came back. Other wise I would've just stayed in Rohan – I was happy there. Happy enough – but I didn't have you. I couldn't live another day without you by my side."
He had grasped her hands, and his touch felt very warm and safe. She swallowed and kept staring into those amazing green eyes. 'This is why I fell for him in the first place.' She thought. 'Those eyes…'
That's when he knelt down on one knee, and Ayah could not breath. No thoughts went through her head other than: 'IS HE…!'
Shaomer released one of her hands, but gently kept hold of the other. He reached into his pocket with his free hand and Ayah's thoughts were confirmed. For out of his pocket he pulled a simple yet beautifully elegant gold ring with a small whiter diamond on top. Not an Elven ring, but very beautiful nonetheless.
"Ayah, will do me the joy of marrying me?" he said, and the hope and love in his eyes was overwhelming.
Ayah smiled. 'This is what you've always wanted….' Her mind said. She stared at his eyes, completely at a loss for words.
Legolas shook himself. He blinked and coughed. He was trying to psyche himself up. He needed that courage that showed whenever his companions were threatened. He needed that courage that always sprouted into something bigger than him in battle. That courage – the courage he was having a lot of trouble gathering.
"Now or never." He said aloud, and headed outside. The sun was beginning to set, but there was still a perfect balmy warmth in the air. Legolas continued taking deep breaths as he walked the path that he knew so well. He stopped at one point, knowing once he turned this corner, there was no going back. It was in plain view of her home, and he couldn't just start walking down that way, stop mid-way and high-tail it back.
Legolas took another calming deep breath, this time shutting his eyes briefly to will the last of his nerves away. He could do this. He'd dreamed about it for so long, it would be easier once it was happening. He turned to corner, the courage finally seeming to gather within, but it crashed as soon as he saw was down the road, not too far away.
There was Ayah…. And there was Shaomer. He was on one knee. He stood up. Ayah and Shaomer hugged – or were they kissing?
Legolas could feel his heart shatter in his chest. He could feel the pieces clatter down into his stomach. His eyes physically welled up with tears. He wiped them away and quickly exited the scene.
This was worse then her not have time to listen. Far worse than even having her come back with a love lost. Her love was back and that's what she wanted. Why did he have to see that? It would have been so much easier to just have them announce their engagement!
Legolas was at his home in no time, and he stumbled into his bedroom. His stomach was swirling as was his head. He couldn't think straight. The only thing he wanted to do was get away – now, and FAST.
His heart was broken and his spirit was aching. How could this happen? Why hadn't he told her he loved her before Shaomer came back? But then wouldn't it have hurt that much more if he confessed his undying love for her and she still accepted Shaomer's proposal?
Legolas flew about his room snatching up his things and packing them away as fast as he could. He was going to go back to Mirkwood for good. It was where he was born, after all. Rivendell was just as much, if not more, his home, but he could not bear to stay if it meant seeing Ayah with Shaomer.
About half an hour later, the pain in his soul had not subsided, and he was packed. If he forgot anything, he could always come back. It wasn't too long of a trip, after all, and he still had friends here. He would return when he'd had a chance to come to terms with the way things were going to be, when he'd accepted that Ayah chose Shaomer.
He gave a shuddering sigh, still not allowing himself to outwardly break-down and grieve for his personal loss. Elvish ways took over as he coolly surveyed his room – the room that truly was his home – before turning to head out and prepare his horse for immediate departure.
When turned around, however, he dropped all the packs in his arms and audibly gasped unintentionally. As his things loudly hit the ground, Legolas shut his mouth and stood a little taller, doing his best Elvish-smooth, no-emotion face.
Ayah, was in his doorway.
"Hello Legolas." She said softly, and Legolas determinedly ignored the flutter his heart – his crushed heart – gave at the sound of his name from her lips. She smiled timidly.
He gave her a curt nod. "I must be going." He said much more coolly than he'd intended. He tried to walk past her, but she stopped him with a gentle hand on his chest.
"Wait." She said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Really. I have to go." Legolas insisted, desperate to get away from her touch and her sight. With heart wrenching emotion, Legolas said, "You're fiancé will be wanting to you at his side."
"Legolas – " Ayah couldn't help but smile. "I said no."
Legolas stopped himself from retorting as her words hit him full force. He turned to regard her. "You said no?" it was his voice that was barely more than a whisper now. He could feel his heart mending….
She nodded, and her small smile grew. "I'm in love with someone else."
His partially mended heart sunk. "Oh. Someone else." He tried to turn away again.
This time she caught him by putting her hand on his cheek. "Someone else, Legolas, is you."
A/n: Well? Did you really think she was going to end up with Shaomer? Thanks for reading!
