Chapter 4: The Swing at North Ridge

"Lei, Lei where are you?" Legolas whispered to himself as he rummaged through the thick snow.

"Lailomé? Lailomé, please where are you?" He raised his voice a little, as not to stir any danger, since it was winter and he couldn't find her anywhere, he already looked for her in some of her sanctuaries, like her bathtub and her secret garden, but in vain… still without any luck, he was almost at the point of giving up, when he saw her standing at the point of the ridge.

"What in the? Lei, don't do it Lei!" Legolas ran up to her as he tried to stop her from killing herself.

Hearing her name, Lailomeiel looked at the direction and frowned, why was he following her?

She was about to walk back, but she accidentally lost her balance.

"Lailomeiel!" Legolas caught her from falling to the ridge just in time, and pulled her to safety.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Lailomeiel asked Legolas as she tried to get away from his arms.

"You almost got me off the cliff!" She said sarcastically.

"I almost got you off the cliff?" Legolas, stunned. "You were trying to kill yourself!"

"I'm not trying to kill myself, Legolas. I was just trying to get my mind clear."

"Getting your mind clear? By jumping off the ridge?" as he pointed to the snow covered cliff.

Lailomeiel got fed up, how could he argue with her when she was still conflicting with her emotions, she was still confused and now, Legolas is arguing about her jumping off the cliff.

"Just leave me alone, Legolas please." She begged him.

"Leave you alone? While you are in that condition?" "There is no way I'm gonna leave my sister that way."

With what he said, Lailomeiel looked at him in a very different way, it was like he just insulted her or something like that, and that what he said had another meaning. She then sighed and walked towards the swing. It was where she would go whenever she was upset or just plainly wasting time. The swing was made of oak and old rope tied at the branch of an oak tree.

Legolas walked to her side and sat beside her.

"I'm sorry"

Lailomeiel seemed not to hear anything, as she continued to stare at the edge of the cliff as if she expected something to pop out of there.

"No, Legolas, I am sorry." I shouldn't have told you such things like that, I was so confused that…

"shh… everything's going to be alright." As he tried to stop her from crying and hurting herself.

"No, Leggy, nothing's going to be alright, I don't know who I really am, I don't know what I'm going to do, I'm not even sure if I am dreaming or not… Legolas, I don't know…"

"Lailomeiel, I promise everything will be alright."

"It's easy for you to say" she said, in between sobs.

Legolas gathered her to his arms and let her cry.

"Let it go,Lei. You will better if you let it all out." As he kissed her forehead. He couldn't stand her hurting herself, but he knew she would feel better after she let out what she feels.

After what seemed like an eternity, Legolas seemed to not notice that Lailomeiel dozed off…

"Lailomeiel?" as he nudged her gently.

" Huh?" "Legolas? I'm sorry, I must've dozed off …" she said as she wiped her eyes.

"It's okay, uhm…., Lei?"

"Yeah?"

"Malia ten' fion?" If you want, I would give you my last bottle of Elverquisst." He knew Elverquisst was Lailomeiel's favorite drink and that he knew would cheer her up.

She smiled and nodded. Legolas took her hand and her back home. As they made their way home,

"You know, Legolas… I think I misplaced that bottle of Elverquisst last Yavieba."

Malia ten' fion? – Care for some wine?

Elverquisst – Ruby colored liquor magically distilled from sunshine and rare summer fruits.

Yavieba – Autumn Equinox / Fall Solstice