AN: OK, I hope that was what you all wanted because it's taken me forever to get back into my LOTR fanfic. I hope you liked it and I do in fact have the rest of the plot planned out…minus a few smaller details. Don't expect fast updates because I'm seriously busy with band and newspaper and all my other classes I've got very little free time. Plus all the commuting I do with my parents being divorced and all… But I'll try my best to get them in as quickly as humanly possible!

Thanks for all your support! I really appreciate all the compliments on my previous fic! I couldn't have done it without you!

Rusty

Chapter Two: Days Long Since Passed

Aliana spurred her horse and galloped off into the sunset. She had no intention of leaving, but she had to get away for a few days. She had no idea where she was going or where she wanted to go.

Layanna had tried to stop her, saying that it was just a simple fight. But Aliana, though older and more mature, was still as stubborn and hot-tempered as always. She had even left without her sword and armor. Aliana didn't have a single belonging on her.

Her hair flew behind her. She glanced behind her at the fortress of Mirkwood, disappearing into the distance. Stupid Legolas… He just doesn't understand what I'm going through! He didn't have to change anything in his life, but I've changed my entire lifestyle! I haven't seen my friends in years!

When she was sure that she was near the borders of the forest she stopped to rest in a quiet meadow. There were yellow flowers and a few daisies, but mostly just a lot of grass. Her horse began chomping down on some grass and Aliana sat down.

There was nothing around except an old abandoned wishing well. As she stared at it, thoughts of her old life came flooding back to her. There was a wishing well in her backyard. She and her friends used to sit on the edge of it and talk about their problems. It had been like a safe haven for Aliana-back when she was still Alexus Myers.

Her eyelids dropped lazily and she leaned back in the grass. A cool breeze blew across her face, stirring her unkempt hair. She drifted off into a calm sleep, dreaming of days long since passed.

When she awoke the stars were shining brightly above her. Not a sound could be heard except for the quiet chirping of a cricket, calling to its loved one. Aliana stretched and sighed. Oh how she longed for her loved one to be right beside her now, holding her close to him and speaking softly to her in elvish.

He's probably too upset to come looking for me this time. I suppose it was kind of unfair of me to get on his case about this. But I can't stand it here! I can't stand all this waiting and worrying! It's making me crazy!

"Oh Legolas… If only there was some way we could make this right again…"

'I know…' the wind seemed to whisper. 'I know…'

She rubbed her arms to warm them up. It hadn't occurred to her to bring a blanket or even her cloak. It was, after all, nearly winter. Back in my world it would probably December…

Aliana was startled by her thoughts. My world? What am I thinking? My world is here now, with Legolas and Layanna. There's nothing for me there! I chose to stay here! This is my home now! Or…is it?

Aliana closed her eyes tightly in frustration. Her eyes began to sting with the tears she held back. Soon there would be too many to stop. Soon she would be forced to cry. Soon she would succumb to her grief and longing and be forced to relive the terrible memories of her pat.

It was like this every time she cried. Knowing she could not hold back her tears, she would become angry and hateful. Every horrid memory of her past life would come flooding back into her mind-particularly those concerning her father.

She thought back to all the times he hit her, all the times he accused her of killing her mother, all the times she would show up on her friend's doorstep, frightened and bleeding. Bitter tears rolled down her face, falling softly into the dirt.

She saw him looming over her. She saw deep into his steel grey eyes. It was like one of those scenes in a movie when you first see the villain up close. The little children scream, the overdramatic girls gasp in horror, the sadistic teenagers admire his truly evil personage, and Rusty imagines Orlando Bloom rescuing her from the clutches of this evil man. (AN: HaHa!) In whatever way they tried to show it, all were afraid of him. Sauron, Kitiara or Raistlin, Seymour Guado, Malificent, Naraku, Count Olaf, Ivellios-all of these are just a few examples of the villains I speak of.

But then, out of nowhere came the loving face of Ben, the sarcastic laugh of Mandy, the bright smile of Jessica, the harsh but caring reprimands of Nikhila. Her wonderful friends. They were always there for her. They always gave her a shoulder to cry on. Oh how she missed them.

'You bitch! You killed your own mother!' said a voice inside her head.

"No!" Aliana screamed, shaking her head in a desperate attempt to rid her mind of these terrible memories.

The voice of her father began to laugh in his evil, drunken way. She could almost smell the stench of beer in the air. She swore she could see the knife he held in his hand, ready to throw at her.

Aliana held her head close to her knees and tried to beat the images out of her mind. The more she tried the more he laughed and the closer he came to her. Her face was wet with tears and her head ached terribly.

"I hate you…"

"Am I really that bad to live with?"

The visions quickly left her. She was huddled near the well with a small pool of tears near her feet. What had brought her from that horrible dreamlike world? She looked up.

"Legolas!"

Immediately she rose to her feet and ran to hug him. As she did the tears began to stop and her face dried.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't talking about you! I was just thinking…"

"About your father?"

"Yeah…How did you-"

He interrupted her. "You forget, Aliana. I know more about you than you think. I did marry you after all."

She smiled, but her eyes soon became glazed over as she recalled her previous daydream. "I miss them all. I miss them so much, Legolas. I wish there was some way I could see them again!"

He pulled her close to him as the tears began to fall again. He held her in his arms, knowing simply that she was upset and it was better not to say anything for fear of provoking her random mood swings.

"I'm sorry I was so mad at you," she said finally. "I don't know what came over me. It wasn't my place. I-"

"No, you're right. I haven't been spending enough time focusing on us. I mean, we are married after all. I should have found time for you. I should have put my duties aside for once and spent time with you."

"No, you have your duties. You are a prince. It was selfish of me to try and take that away from you. I can wait, Gondor might not be so lucky."

"Aliana-"

She pressed her finger against his lips. "Shh… It's alright. I'll be fine. Just promise me when you get back you'll spend the whole day with me. Promise me you'll be there when I wake up."

"I promise."