Legolas' eyes blearily came into focus, at first it startled him when he realized that he was not in his own room, but then memories from the previous night came back to him. He remembered Melannen falling asleep in his arms and the peaceful look on her face. The thought made him smile. Now Melannen lay in the curve of his body, sleeping soundly. He wanted to leave her, like she had done to him, when he needed her, but finally decided not to leave and risk waking her.

Melannen awoke slowly, she felt Glorfindel's strong arms wrapped around her. No, wait, Glorfindel had left her, this was Legolas. The thought of the warrior's rejection made silver tears well up in her eyes and she emitted a quiet whimper. She missed Glorfindel so much, but she knew that it was over.

Legolas heard Melannen's cry, but knew it was best to let her solve her problem by herself. He did not pretend to be asleep when Melannen turned to him and burrowed her face into his chest.

"Legolas, what did I do wrong to deserve his hatred of me?" she whispered sadly.

"He does not hate you, it just not meant to be, that is all." Legolas stroked her back in a comforting guesture.

"I . . . I thought we had something special, or at least I had hoped so." she tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to spill forth.

Legolas laughed lightly, "You do have something special, he will always be there for you, maybe not as a lover, but as a friend. Glorfindel is loyal to those he loves, but he is one of us that is not meant to be loved in that way."

"Legolas, why did I not listen to you?"

He tilted her head so that she looked him in the face, "Because you're stubborn." He paused momentarily, wondering if he should ask the one question that had been plaguing him so terribly, "Melannen . . . ."

"What is it, mellon nin?" (My friend) she had heard distinct discomfort in his voice when he had spoken to her.

"Why did you bed Glorfindel after knowing him for only a short time?" Legolas had hardly believed he had actually asked her.

"To get my mind off of other things" she said, quite embarrassed. "Legolas, Remnul had more of an effect on me than I'd like to admit. After I met him, I basically became a slut."

Legolas was shocked by her confession, he had never thought of her like that, and he didn't understand why she would consider herself what she was not. "No, Melannen. Don't believe everything your mind tells you, don't lie to youself, because it is not true."

"Yes it is."

"No, Melannen." his voice was slightly sharper. "Would you like to go for a walk and clear your mind?"

She nodded, "That would be good."