Chapter 7: Leaving Home

Lailomeiel opened her eyes; she was woken by the soft knock in at her door.

"Who may it be at this time of night?" she asked herself, as she walked to the door and opened it, to her surprise, it was Legolas.

"Leggy, at this time of night." She complained.

"Hey, it's the last time you'll spend your night here as Lailomeiel Greenleaf." He protested.

She smiled. True, tomorrow, when they reached the border of the Great Lands, she would be formally known by her real name as Ainaladriel Silverwind.

"Won't I be invited inside?" Legolas asked. "It's freaking cold out here."

"Sorry Leggy, but sorry to say you deserve to freeze out there for waking me up."Lailomeiel said with a grin.

"Ha Ha, funny."

Then there was a pause.

"What?"

"What What ?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Legolas didn't realize that he was looking at her for a specific length of time and that he annoyed her for some reason.

"You should be happy cause you'll be the sole greenleaf tomorrow, you know." She joked.

Legolas was silent, he didn't know if he should be happy for her or plainly hurt by the fact that she won't be staying at Mirkwood any longer.

"I'll miss this room, I'll miss my garden, my books, my crap…" she sighed and said "I'll miss Mirkwood, I'll miss Father, & I'll miss you."

Legolas knew Lailomé was cheering herself. For she couldn't even look at him directly in the eyes. He knew it hurt her. Earlier, he also noticed she couldn't even look at Thranduil, either she averted her eyes or just stare blankly ahead.

"Cut it out Lei." He blurted out, as he couldn't stand the silence.

"Cut what out?"

Again there was silence…

"What time are you leaving?"

"Before sunrise."

She smiled as she gave him a mischievous look. "I guess they don't want me to get slain by orcs just like my parents."

"Can I accompany you… I mean, until we reach the border."

"No Legolas." Lailomeiel said, as she put emphasis in her words.

Legolas looked at her in disbelief.

"I will leave with Lord Briarvale & a couple of guards Only."

"Why, you don't want your former brother to escort you to the border?" Legolas argued.

"You think I liked it huh?" She said as she raised her voice. Enough to wake everyone in the castle.

"You think it's easy for me to get used to live without you guys following me around, Alright, I admit, at first I want you guys to leave me alone, but now, it just changed and I don't know what is right and what I should do, so please."

"Sorry."

Lailomeiel gave up and apologized for her impetuous actions.

"So there's no way for you stay here at home."

"Yes. Indeed."

Before Dawn…

It was cold outside, as she pulled her cloak closer to her as her once known Father gave her his blessings.

"Sir Briarvale, please take care of my Daughter." Thranduil cried as he helded his daughter.

Briarvale just looked at the two and nodded.

"Father, this isn't the last time I'm going to see you." Lailomeiel conceded.

"It is as for Lailomeiel Greenleaf."

"Father…"

"Did I miss all the fun?" Legolas winced as he stepped down from the stairs.

"No, my once stupid brother" Lailomeiel said automatically.

"Hey, I thought I'm going to see live drama today." Legolas mused, not knowing that it would be so.

"Legolas." Thranduil glared at his son as his eyes told him to "take the matter seriously."

"Father, it's okay." Lailomeiel said as she hugged Legolas & Thranduil; tears started to fall from her eyes but she wiped them away with the long sleeve of her tunic.

"I'll miss you both."

"My Lady we must go." Briarvale interrupted.

Lailomeiel looked at them one last time; inside, she felt like she couldn't breathe and her legs won't carry her anymore, but Briarvale took her arm and helped her to her horse. She was almost in tears but there is no way she will let them she that she's weak.

She smiled at them and waved her hand…

As they rode down the path to the Great Lands…

Legolas watched them go sadly, he then looked at his father who just bowed his head.

"This is it my Lady, were here at the border." Briarvale said as he stopped his horse from crossing the border.

Lailomeiel stopped her horse and looked solemnly at the path they had taken; she wanted to ride back home but she can't, she couldn't, it was because it wasn't her nature to turn her back from those who needs her…..

Briarvale looked at Lailomeiel sadly and sighed. "You can go back my lady, you still had a chance to..."

She then looked at him and smiled. "No Briarvale, I won't turn my back on those who needs me." Taking one last look at Mirkwood, she drew a deep breath and started to ride down the path.