Chapter 31- Secrets Told

It was days after the announcement that Zinnia and Megilindir decided to go on a picnic. They had only planned on staying a few months. Everyone was busy planning for the wedding that they had to pull together in such a short amount of time. Especially when the elves were used to having at least a year to make arrangements. They had both told Celeborn and Haldir that they wouldn't mind something simple, but neither would hear of it. Celeborn saying that it was his duty as host to offer the best, and Haldir being her father wanted to give her the best. The picnic was a means of escaping the chaos that ensued.

Both of them sat quietly in a small glade having eaten their food already. Megilindir leaning against a tree, Zinnia resting between his legs, her head on his shoulder as she read a book aloud so they both could enjoy. He had long ago given up concentrating on the words, and now simply listened to the soft sound of her voice. His hand played through her hair as she read and she leaned into it enjoying the contact.

He suddenly took the book from her, shutting it and set it aside. She tried to protest but he turned her gently so she was facing him. An expression of mild annoyance was on her face and he smiled slightly, seeing so much of her father in her that they might as well have been related by blood.

"I was enjoying myself." She raised an eyebrow and he grinned putting his hand against her skin.

"Zia I must tell you something." She smiled and leaned into the hand on her cheek.

"What is it?" Her response was so trusting that he sighed, afraid of her response.

"You know I have many names." When she nodded he continued. "I, my given name is Arador."

"Arador is a nice name. Why do you not use it?"

"Because it marks me as the leader of the Dúnedain. It is safer to not be known by that name."

"Leader of the Dúnedain." She sat up slowly. "That would make you. . ." she trailed off.

"Isildur's heir."

"The rightful King of Gondor." Her tone was one of accusation as her eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Arador sighed as she leaned away from him. "I did not tell you because I was afraid of your reaction amel."

"You lied to me."

"Never once." He looked pleadingly into her eyes but saw what he had feared. Anger, betrayal, and a slight mix of fear that confused him.

"All this time! All this time and no one told me of this? Why was I not to know?" She slapped his hand away when he went to touch her. "No." Their eyes met for a moment before she stood and walked off leaving him behind.

Tears blurred her vision as she walked the path. Her destination didn't matter to her though, only the raw hurt and fear that pulsed in her heart. 'He's a King! A King.' She sat on the first bench she found and stared at the ground letting her tears fall. Her thoughts and emotions tumbling through her too quickly to name.

"Zinnia." Galadriel's soft voice caused Zinnia to look up. "Your heart is in pain."

"He lied to me, my Lady. He lied to me."

"He did no such thing and you know this."

Zinnia looked away, the tears that had been pooling in her eyes falling. "He's a king."

"He loves you. You love him. I do not see the problem that is vexing you."

"He is a king. A king." Zinnia shook her head slowly her eyes closing. "The king of men."

"He is many things, that is only a small portion."

"But. . . I. . I." She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. Galadriel frowned, feeling the deep fear from the girl in front of him.

"You have not told him either?" Galadriel gathered her in her arms and started stroking her hair as Zinnia sobbed .

"He. . knows something. He saw the scars, and knows. . knows I haven't lived here my entire life."

"Child, there is no reason to fear."

"He is a king!" Her tone was so forlorn that Galadriel pulled her a little closer.

"He loves you."

"Not when he knows. . not now. Not now!"

"You do not give him enough thought. He loves you now, and he will love you after you tell him. Did you not think he was scared to tell you for your reactions? That you would not love him because he is a king."

"I do not care if he is a king, ranger, or a cook. . but. ."

"Then why would he not love you?"

"It is not the same." She pulled away from Galadriel turning her back to the Queen.

"How is it not?" Zinnia froze hearing Megilindir's voice.

"You think too little of yourself as well. Do not deny your love nor your happiness because of your past fears. Those fears are over child, let him help you see that." With those last words Galadriel leaned over and kissed the top of Zinnia's head before turning to leave with a nod to Megilindir. Silence permeated the small glade.

"Go away."

"I will not." Megilindir moved closer and Zinnia moved so her back was to him. "Why are you so upset? Please tell me?"

"I do not wish to." Zinnia leaned forward more and covered her face with her hands. "I. . I don't want you to know. Just leave. Just. . . just go away."

"There is no way I can do that Zia. If you tell me you do not wish to see me again. . I will have no choice to accept it." He sighed and moved so he was kneeling in front of her. "But I love you too much to leave you in pain." He pulled her hands away from her face after a brief and slight struggle. "Your tears hurt me, more than any blade could. I will not leave you without making sure things are right between us. Nothing could make me leave you right now."

"I. . I don't want to tell you. I don't want you to hate me. I may not be an elf but if you leave me I will die from a broken heart."

"I would never leave you, and I could never, never for any reason hate you." He moved forward and pulled her into a hug. She went completely rigid at his touch. "I love you, Zinnia Haldirtinu. I love you more than life itself. I would give everything up for you, and if that means you wish me to officially renounce my title, I would do it. I would not hesitate."

Unable to stop herself any longer she leaned forward into him putting her forehead against his shoulder. Breathing in his scent and listening to his words only made her fear grow more. Even after all their years in the field, after their time together, and even after he had seen the scars she had never been able to tell him. Something had always held her back, something had always stopped her. She realized now it was the fear that he would leave her, disgusted by her past.

"No. . no it is not worth the sacrifice."

"Zinnia you are worth so much more."

She laughed then, a laugh caught halfway between a sob. "Only three gold pieces."

"What?"

"When my master bought my brother and me. The cost was only three gold pieces. I was so scared when he came to take us from our mother. He. . ," she closed her eyes tightly. "She tried so hard to keep us. Screamed and cried, but they only beat her. I think they killed her that day, but I never saw her again to know for sure." He held her tighter understanding what she was telling him and she moved forward sliding off the bench and onto his lap.

She didn't stop there though. Once she started she just kept talking, letting everything pour out of her. Things she had only ever told her father she ended up telling the one holding her. The tears never stopped and neither did her words. Throughout it all Megilindir only held her tight and let her talk.

Anger rose in him, a type of anger that he had never experienced before. It was so fierce and so pure that he had trouble holding it in check. Instead he tried to focus on the broken words that were coming from the woman he loved. He didn't realize that tears were falling down his face as well. When she stopped he didn't know what to say. Feeling her start to tense he held her closer not letting her move from him.

"He. . he was even able to hurt me after he died. In Imladris, when we first met. The time I . . when I reacted so badly to you."

"I remember." His voice was rough with the emotion he was feeling.

"Elrond told me that. . that I can't have children. The damage from when I was younger is too extensive. A. .. a king needs heirs, I am worthless to you."

"Worthless? I love you." He pulled her back and tilted her head up not allowing her to look away. "I. Love. You." He enunciated each word his voice strong and leaving no room for doubt. "You and none other. Ever. Do you think that I could love you any less for what that monster did to you?" Her eyes moved down and he sighed pulling her close again.

"You say that me leaving you would break your heart, but do you not understand that you leaving me would break mine? Your past holds no sway over my love."

"But I."

"But nothing!" She jumped slightly. "I am sorry, please. . I am so angry." She looked down again and he sighed nuzzling her neck. "Not at you my love, please never think that. I love you and it hurts me that you are in pain." He sighed and closed his eyes resting his head against her. "I am angry that this happened to you. That I was not there to protect you."

"You didn't even know that I existed."

"I don't care." his fell on her neck and she pulled her arms around him. "I don't care." They both held each other for a while, giving and taking comfort in the other.

"I. . I should have told you before." Zinnia still looked to the ground. Megilindir pulled back from her and wiped a few tears from her face. "I should have told you before you asked me to marry you, before I said I would, before we traveled all the way back here."

"Perhaps." Megilindir replied. She closed her eyes and turned her head away from him. "My words would have been the same then as they are now. I love you Zinnia, I love you and I want you to be my wife. I want to be yours and I want you to be . . ." he trailed off not sure if he should say that in light of what she had just revealed to him.

"Mine. Say it." She looked up to him.

"I want you to be mine." He leaned into her hand as she reached up and wiped a tear off his cheek. "But I do not wish to own you." He almost let out a relived breath when she smiled slightly at him.

"I know you do not. I have never, not once felt owned by you. I know the meaning behind your words is not the same as. . as when I was a child." She sighed and put her head on his shoulder. His only response was to move around slightly so they were both more comfortable. "A king need heirs."

"Kings have adopted in the past. I am not a true king besides. A king without a kingdom, a king who can not reclaim his throne, I am nothing but a ranger, chief of the tribe. My reach extends no further than that. I do not believe it will fall to me to achieve any further rank besides."

"Then it really does not bother you. . my past?"

"Nothing of you bothers me." He paused a moment. "Save your stubbornness and unfailing ability to irritate me." She laughed and looked up to him. Smiling he leaned down and kissed her. "No. Nothing of you could ever bother me." He reached up and caressed her cheek.

"Your arrogance bothers me." She put her head back on his shoulder.

"You love that of me."

"Ah, that is true enough." She chuckled softly.

"Do you still wish for me to leave?"

"Never. Do you still wish me to be your wife."

"Always." He accompanied his statement with the tightening of his arms around her.

"Then we have an agreement." She moved closer and hugged him tighter to her.

"A very solid agreement." Megilindir smiled and kissed her gently.

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Haldir sighed as he opened the door to his home, a headache forming. 'Who could have thought that a wedding would entail so many details?' As he walked towards the bathroom, intending to take a nice long, hot bath he heard laughing and then a very loud 'thud' from Zinnia's room. Stopping in front of her door he paused only a moment before opening it and finding Zinnia and Megilindir in a passionate embrace. He cleared his throat and both of them pulled away and looked to him, red flushes forming on their faces, this time from embarrassment not exertion.

Ada I, she blushed more as Megilindir quickly pulled his hands from under her shirt.

Haldir held up his hand to stop her. Please do not explain. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. I believe for everyone's well being you both should petition for a guest telain to stay in for the remainder of your visit. You would have more room and privacy. He looked back to them. I am going to my brother's. Before he reached the front door he heard more laughter and shook his head. Children.

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A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. The next one should be out soon. Most of it is already written.

I want to thank Mellon1 as well as Cee for looking over this chapter for me. Please check out their stories! Some awesome stuff. You can go to my site that features original character fiction at www. foxyfiction. net or find their stories on www. fanfiction. net. (remember to take out the spaces)

For those of you who are waiting for the ranger tales…they are coming. Just please be patient. Right now I really want to focus my energy on finishing this story. It has been a long time coming..lol..the end that is. But I'm glad all of you have been with me for the ride.