Chapter 13: Legolas's Remorse

Lailomé looked up at Legolas, it hurts her, to see him like that, if it hurts him, it hurt her the most.

"Since when did you know about this?" Legolas asked, trying to shake off the horrible thought of Lailomé lying to him, making him fall in love to her and fooling him as if it was one of her jokes she used to pull on him.

"Awhile ago, before you found me in the refuge." She said softly. Legolas could see that she was looking really pale and that her lips trembled as she spoke. Legolas took her hands in his and kissed it. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have added to your uncertainties." He replied. She smiled; "No, Leggy, you did naught, I am sorry about your arm, I didn't mean it, believe me."

"Do you love me?"

All Lailomé could do was to look at him, letting Legolas know what was inside her through her eyes. She let him see her soul.

"Yes."

Legolas's heart soared, he was overjoyed to hear the word yes from her, he gathered her lithe frame to his and whispered sweet nothings to her ears, all the words that she just in return, gave a faint smile.

"Legolas, listen." She said as she took his hand and motioned him to look at her eyes.

"As much as I wanted to, Legolas I can't, it is Father who gave my hand to somebody else... I had no choice."

"Then I will talk to Father, I will tell him to cancel your wedding, if not then, then we'll run away..."

"Legolas..."

Legolas let go of Lailomé's hands, as if his arm wasn't injured, he ran to the balcony and to the branch he climbed to get into her room. "Pray for me, pray for both of us, I promise you, I'll get you back." He said with a volume only Lailomé could hear, as he climbed down his get away tree.

"My heart is full of hope, Legolas." She whispered.

That morning...

Thoughts penetrated Legolas's mind; he couldn't make out his Father's reaction if he will tell him about his love for his ex-sister, how he would break an old engagement, how he would relate to him what this "insanity" is all about in what he is sure his father would call this, or perhaps, to the whole situation as a huge prank. He walked through the sunlight-strewn hallways as he pondered about the hows when he reached his Father's room; Legolas knocked in the door, there was no reply, he knocked again, still, there was no answer, Legolas knocked for the last time...

"In a moment."

Thranduil opened the door, and was surprised to see his son.

"Legolas, oh son, good morning, come in..." he chuckled, since he was a jolly person, as he beckoned him to get inside his room.

Legolas sat in the couch while he waited for his father to finish putting on his golden band in his once-huge head... well at least that's what he remembered when he was young.

"So, son, why this early, it is really surprising, you... this time of day?" he mused.

"Father, I have to talk to you about Lailomé." Legolas, going straight to the point.

Thranduil ceased his sniggering, part of him got scared of what Legolas would tell him, so he knew... was all Thranduil could deal with in his mind.

"Lailomé would be in a better life with Isendor."

"And do you think Lailomé wanted it?"

Thranduil was surprised at Legolas's reaction, why would he act this way?

"Isendor is a good man, Legolas, I am sure he would take care of Lailomé to the greatest extent-

"And let Lailomé lose her life?" Legolas said as he stood up from where he was sitting.

"Legolas?"

"Father!"

"Did Lailomé told you to talk to me about this?"

"No father, she didn't, it is my own will why I am here, and you know Lailomé would do whatever you wished." Legolas raised his voice, he loved his father but what he did to ruin Lailomé's life and his is enough to lose his respect to his beloved father to this conversation.

Thranduil was now indeed surprised by Legolas's actions, how'd he raised his voice to him, they never argued like this before, not because of Lailomé.

"Legolas, what do you want me to do?"

"Cancel it." He said, automatically.

"Legolas, as much as I would want to I cannot, I already gave word to Isendor's late parents."

"Father, I love Lailomé."

"Of course you do, you love Lailomé's is your sister."

"Father, I am IN love with Lailomé."

Thranduil burst into laughter, "Alright, you got me, now what prank do you wish to pull on me?"

"Nay, 'tis not a joke." The seriousness in Legolas's was evident. Thranduil froze, "I cannot believe this."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, Legolas looked at his father if he would answer it but Thranduil only stared at it as if he was some kind of a deranged man.

"Father? Are you in there?" Lailomé said as she tried to open the door and was surprised that she can actually open it and regretted that she had knocked. She walked in and stopped as she saw Legolas and the Thranduil looked, she knew the reason in an instant.

"Lailomé, is this true?" Thranduil asked his daughter, as if he just had one last breath of air left.

Lailomé looked at Legolas, and nodded. "Yes it is, Father."

Thranduil walked towards were Legolas was standing and gestured Lailomé to come near him.

"Both of you, listen to me, and let me finish." He warned them, giving Legolas a don't-slight-me look and took both of their hands and lifted it.

"Both of you, you know I would give up everything just to make sure you have a good life, but dear children, I would cancel it if you wished, and I would, believe me I would, but I am doing this not for me, but now, it is for Mirkwood, Isendor will have Mirkwood and The Great Lands, I already gave word, death can only be the cause of the termination. Lailomé, I am sorry, Legolas..."

Lailomé bowed down, now it's clear... she thought. I would be doing this marriage, my life exchange of Mirkwood and The Great Lands... tears started to fall from her eyes, she wanted to scream, to yell at her Father, and to Legolas for loving her, she wanted to yell at herself for falling in love with her ex-brother than to fall in love with her oh so hated fiancé. Legolas couldn't believe what he was hearing, his father, the person who he believed the most understanding; kindest person in middle-earth will be the one who would tear him and the woman he loved apart. Legolas listened to the rustling leaves outside, his father's breathing, and Lailomé's silent sobs.

"I am sorry." Thranduil repeated.

"Father, of all people..." Legolas seethed.

"Legolas..." Lailomé can tell Legolas was mad at his father, and that it would take a long time for both of them to reconcile. She blamed herself for this.

"Father, forgive me... Legolas..." Lailomé said, smiling faintly at her family.

Legolas couldn't decipher what she was thinking; he knew that smile meant something...

"Stop blaming yourself..." Thranduil faltered.

"No, I allowed it, I allowed myself to mess up things... I allowed myself to bring you two ruin..."

"Lailomé!" Legolas snapped as he tried to take her hands in his but she refused, not staring at his eyes but on the wooden floor.

"I am terribly sorry, I promise what you wished will be settled father..." she faltered; she said this with remorse, as if she just said her last will. After she said this, she excused herself and walked out the room. To Legolas's surprise, she wasn't crying at all, her eyes were already dry when she went out, but still he could feel she's deeply hurt, she still keeps everything inside her. Legolas was about to follow her but his father gave him a warning glance.

"I thought you were the first person to fix this."

"I didn't know... believe me son if I've known earlier-

Legolas cut him off and stormed out of the room, he was mad at his father, to himself, and partly to Lailomé, what the hell does she want to do to me? He thought. Thranduil sank to his couch, he couldn't think the whole situation in one sitting, I should be the one to help them... but what did I do? I ruined their faith in me...