Hola again, my little dumpling socks!  Yep, I'm back.  Woot.  Anyway, thanks to all my reviewers, much love and huggles to them.  Now, on with the story!

BTW, this chapter is dedicated to Crystyna.  I promised her I would post this chapter on Thursday, but I forgot! :-O I am a bad girl.  I believe it was Wednesday of this week that was her birthday.  HAPPY B-DAY, TUNA!! LUV YA LOTS!! ^___^

*sends all the elvesies to "celebrate" with Tuna*

Tuna: WOOT!!

ROFL.  Enjoy the chapter. ;)

~*~*~*~*~*~

I watched all the elves disappear gradually into the woods, then shrugged and went back inside.  Nothing more to do here except find something entertaining to do.

I walked up to my room and sat down on the floor by the window.  I crossed my arms on the sill and laid my head down, listening to see if maybe I could hear any sounds from the possible battle that might be going on.  Not surprisingly, I couldn't.  Instead I heard the door open up behind me.

There was Larien, standing there and looking mighty damn pleased with herself.  Huh.  Probably went off and murdered all the competition, I thought darkly.

Now, in order to get my feelings across about this conversation with dear Larien, I shall give you a personal narrative about my thoughts.

"Hello, Larien," I said, trying not to dive at her throat and strangle her.  What the hell are you doing, uber-bitchy elf.  Do you not understand that I hate your filthy little guts?

"Greetings, Lothuviel," she sneered.  Nice to see ya too, hunnybunch.

"What do you want?"

"Just thought I would come and have a heart-to-heart with Trelan's new lover." 

New?  As in, not the first?  Like, the second choice?

I am highly insulted.

"What do you want?" I repeated.  She closed the door and locked it behind her, a nasty, loathing look on her face.  Then she turned around to face me, and slowly stalked up until her face was inches from mine.

"Do you know why Trelan pays so much attention to you?"

Um.  Duh?

"Because he loves me…"

"HA!" She let out a short, barkish laugh.  "You poor fool.  I really do pity you.  You really think he cares for you?"  She narrowed her eyes, smirking.

"Why would I not?" I retorted. 

"Do you not know the story of what happened before you showed up?"

"No, nor do I wish to hear."

She continued on anyway.

"Trelan had a lover many years ago.  She was beautiful.  She had raven black hair, pale white skin, and the bluest eyes you have ever seen."  She turns to look at me.  "She was much prettier than you."

I just love the politeness of this elf.  She's so kind. 

"Her name was Arien." She looked out the window.  "Trelan loved her so much.  Everyone did.  Especially me, for she was my one true friend."

That's not surprising.

"But then something happened."  Dramatic pause.

"…Yes?" I said.

She turned to look at me again.  "Trelan went mad over her.  His love for Arien became obsession.  He turned possessive over her.  If any elf looked at her, he would be furious and threaten to kill them.  He would not let Arien go anywhere without his assistance. 

"Finally she could not take it anymore.  It had nearly driven her mad as well.  So one night she snuck away from the palace, taking nothing with her but her bow (she was so talented when it came to archery), and rode away on her horse.  No one has seen her since.  They checked for her in Rivendell and Lothlorien, but there was no sign of her.  They say she went over the sea, alone."

I just stood there staring at her.  Obviously I was talking with a complete nutterbar.

"I do not see what this has to do with me."

"You fool," she hissed.  "Do you not understand?  The only reason Trelan pretends to love you is because he misses Arien.  Do not try to fool yourself into believing he actually cares for you, because he does not.  He wishes that he had Arien instead of you.  You obviously don't see how everyone loathes you."  She came perilously near my face, so that I was afraid that if she tripped she might bite my nose off.  I could feel her breath on my face.  "Everyone agrees that you should be over the sea, not her.  She did not deserve it.  You do.  No matter how much you try to convince everyone, not to mention yourself, you will never be loved.  No one wants you here."

Now, I had been thinking this all along, but I never managed to convince myself that this was true.  Could it be that Larien was actually telling the truth?

"I can see what you are thinking," Larien sneered happily.  "You know that I am right.  Why don't you just leave now?"  She looked at the window again.  "Do you see that window?"

Yes, Larien, I am quite aware of the window.  It is a very nice window, as well.  I really do the gothic style of architecture- hey, what are you doing, grabbing my arm like that?

"Come here."

No, Larien, I won't come here.  Although it doesn't seem like I have much of a choice, seeing as how your saber-like nails are digging into the skin of my arm.  Not to mention I'm scared shitless.  Now why are you looking down below at the ground, you crazy elf woman? 

"You should jump," she hissed.

Well, what if I don't want to jump, Larien?  Whaddya have to say about that?  Huh?  Huh?

"You know that no one cares about you.  Legolas finds your presence annoying.  Morharmaiel cannot stand you, but she bears its.  And your dear little Mary Sue is tired of you."

I looked at her, petrified.

"I don't want to know," I whispered.

Larien came close to me, put her face near mine. "It is no use, is it?" she said.  "You will never get the better of Arien.  She is all Trelan thinks about, even if she is gone.  She is his real love, not you.  You are pushed in the shadows, yet she is still here, in all her glory.  Why do you not leave Mirkwood?  Why do you not go?"

I backed away towards the window.  This woman is an absolute maniac!

"Why do you not go?" she repeated.  "None of us want you.  Trelan does not want you, he never did.  He cannot forget her.  He wants to be alone in his room again, with her."

I'm going to cut in here for just a second.  Thinking about Trelan and his ex-girlfriend getting it on is about the LAST mental image I ever want to have.  Now I shall let Larien continue ranting. 

"It is you that should be across the sea, not her."

I could feel my stomach tightening with every word.  Then Larien pushed me towards the window.  Get away, you crazy bitch! I wanted to yell, but I didn't.  I was too scared.  I could see the ground, many feet below.

"Look down there," Larien said, sounding disgustingly happy.  "It is easy, is it not?  Why don't you jump?  It would not hurt, not to break your neck.  It is a quick, kind way.  Why don't you try it?  Jump."

I gripped the windowsill with my hands, my knuckles turning white.

"Do not be afraid," said Larien.  "I will not push you.  I will not stand here by you.  You may jump of your own accord.  What is the use of staying here in Mirkwood?  You are not happy, because Trelan does not love you." Her eyes narrowed again. "And neither does Legolas."

If what Larien said before didn't hit it home, that sure did.

I took a deep breath and sighed.  So the crazy bitch has won.  Well, let her win.  Maybe when I die I'll go back to regular old Earth.  Lauren will follow soon.  It won't be that bad.

I leaned out over the windowsill and start to climb over.  "Yes," Larien whispered.  "Go."

Fortunately for me (unfortunately for Larien), at the exact moment when I was about to let go of the windowsill, the sound of an elvish horn rang clear through the woods. 

"What was that?" I asked stupidly.

"They are coming back," she replied, sounding almost friendly.  Scary.  She turned and sprinted out of the room.  I stood on the small ledge outside the window in a stupor, then scuttled back into the room.  Wow, what was I thinking?  I was being just as insane as Larien!  And that's not a good thing.

I ran out of the room, skidded to a halt, then took a quick right to go down the stairs.  I met Lauren halfway down the hallway. 

"Where ya goin'?" she puffed, trying to keep up.

"The elves are back!" I called over my shoulder.

"Weee!" she cheered, miraculously catching up to me.  We continued to sprint down to the main door, successfully bowling over one maid, a guard, and an end table.  However, in all our haste, we didn't have time to stop at the top stair outside.  And it was icy.  Lauren and I went flying off the step and landed face down in the snow just as the elves were riding in triumphantly.  It was a perfect display of my wonderful Mary-Sueish elvish grace. 

I stood up slowly, brushed the snow off my face, smoothed out my dress, and smiled up at the elves who were looking at me like I had just grown another head.  Which, knowing my luck, probably wouldn't have been very unusual.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat uncomfortably and smiled.  Lauren was at my feet, still trying to get her head out of the snow.  She resembled a short, fat, hairy ostrich. 

I looked back up at the elves, and noticed that they were all looking sad and worried.  I scanned around the group of horses, searching for someone who was dead or hurt, and my heart stopped.  Trelan and Legolas were riding the same horse.  Legolas had his arm wrapped around his friend's stomach, Trelan had an arrow sticking out of his chest, and I screamed. 

~*~

I was sitting in an armchair in Trelan's room, watching him sleeping.  Well, this sucks.  I rested my head in my hand and thought about what had happened earlier.  What was I thinking? Actually listening to Larien?  What have I been smoking?!

I looked up as the door opened and Morharmaiel came in.  She was smiling sympathetically.  She sat on a footstool next to the chair and patted my hand. 

I smiled back.  "I should call you Mother Morha," I said with a grin.  She grimaced playfully.

"Ugh, please.  I am young enough to be your sister!" We both laughed.  We didn't need to talk about the whole Trelan getting hurt thing.  We both knew that he had simply gotten shot by an orc.  That was obvious to anyone that had seen the arrow in his chest.  It had come perilously close to his heart, but fortunately didn't kill him.  How cliché.

"Mother-"

"Quiet you," she snapped, swatting me on the back of the head.  I smirked.

"Morha, may I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Did… was Trelan…"

"Yes?"

"Did he really go mad over Arien?" I finished quietly.  Morharmaiel's eyes snapped up to meet mine.

"Who told you that?" she said angrily.

"Larien."

"Ooh, I will kill her!" she nearly screamed.  I backed away slowly.  "She was told never to tell you about that!"

"She said that Trelan became over protective of her."

"It was not just that."  I was afraid of what would come next.  "He tried to force himself upon her."

My jaw dropped in horror.  I looked at Trelan, then at her, then back at Trelan.  This was unbelievable.

"Please tell me you are joking."

"No, I am not."

"By the Valar…" I felt like crying. 

"That is why we were so worried the other night when he came into your room."  I trembled when I thought of what could have happened.  To think I actually liked this guy!  He's an elvish rapist!

"See, I told you," I heard Frank mutter.

"Shove it, Frank," I retorted.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked, insulted.

"We did not want you to be angry," she said quietly, looking at her hands which were folded in her lap.  I closed my eyes and sighed.  Refrain from strangling her, I told myself.  Legolas probably didn't want her to tell, and she didn't, because she's cool like that.

"I hope you understand," she whispered, looking like she might cry as well.

"I do," I said with a small smile.  "If you will excuse me, I need to take a walk."  She nodded and told me that she would stay with Trelan.  I thanked her and walked out the door, closing it softly behind me.  

I walked down the hallway slowly, feeling numb.  This had all come as such as shock.  My shoulders were drooping sadly, and, for the first time since I had been in Mirkwood, the elves that passed me gave me sympathetic looks, not ones of bemusement or disgust. Sigh.  Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess.

I continued wandering the halls for at least another hour.  By then I was sure I had missed dinner, but I wasn't hungry anyways.  But I went into the dining hall to see who was there.  I saw only two people, and with further investigation I realized it was Thranduil and Legolas. They both looked up as I approached, and Thranduil said something to his son then left, so that Legolas and I were alone.  Ooer.

"Legolas-" He put up his hand to silence me.

"Before you say anything, Lothuviel, I want to deeply apologize for what happened to Trelan.  It was my fault."

"It is well, but Legolas-"

"And if you are cross with me, I will understand."

"I'm not cross, Lego-"

"And, if you wish, Trelan has requested that you sleep in his room this evening."  I stopped.

Legolas, are you nuts?

"And if you are willing, I said that it was all right."

So you are nuts.  Next question: Why must I pay so dearly for your insanity?

"Legolas, I do not wish to sleep in Trelan's room.  Nor do I wish to have anything to do with him anymore," I said quietly.  Legolas stared at me.

"Why?" he said.  But I knew he already knew.  I felt my bottom lip tremble, and I threw myself at him and started to sob on his shoulder.

"Oh, Legolas, Larien told me everything!" I wailed.  I told him all about what had happened, along with the window situation.  Then I told him what Morharmaiel had said, and how I was afraid I'd get raped if I were to stay with Trelan that night.  And, to my surprise, he did not push me off of his shoulder.  Instead, he gave me a comforting hug. 

"Shhhh," he said, as if hushing a baby.  "It is all right.  You do not have to.  And you certainly will not have to see Trelan again if you do not wish to." To my shock and delight, he cupped my face in his hands and lifted it up so that my face was mere inches from his. "And I will not permit Larien to say another word to you."  My knees weakened under his kind smile.  Any feelings I had temporarily had for Trelan had gone poof.

"Nung," I said intelligently.  I'm sure I looked drop-dead gorgeous, what with my puffy red eyes, tear-stained cheeks, and runny nose.

He laughed.  "Nung?" he said with a grin.  I sniffed in the snot that I was sure was dripping out my nose and nodded.

"Yes. Nung." 

"Well there is a new word I can add to my vocabulary." I laughed with him and he smiled. "Now wipe away your tears and go to bed.  You have had a rough day."  He leaned down, kissed my hand, and gave me a really sexy gaze.  I nearly said "nung" again, but I didn't.  Instead I said, "Sleep well," and walked away.  It took all the strength left in my body to not turn around, sprint back to him, and press my lips against his.  Fortunately I did the exact opposite and walked to my room.  Thank God.

I flopped onto my bed without undressing and breathed in the lavender scent of my pillow.  I smiled.

"Excuse my French," I said out loud, "but fuck Trelan."

"Laura!" Frank admonished. I laughed openly and closed my eyes.  Every cloud does have a silver lining.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Yes, kids, that was the angsty chapter.  "Angst".  Hehe.  Yeah.  Remind me to never write a serious fic, 'cause I would butcher it. 

Review, y'all!

Lurve,

~*!Laura!*~