Thank you for the amazing reviews! Believe me, they help a lot.

My beta is busy these days and I didn't to squeeze myself into her schedule. Neither did I want to wait for posting. So please ignore the spelling mistakes in this chapter. I will replace it with the edited version as soon as she has the time to do it.

Also, please read the author's note at the end of the story. I think it will help to understand certain aspects of the story.

Two more days passed and the disease dwindled into minor aches. Nobody called. Nobody disturbed the comfortable numbness that licked his shore like waves of oblivion. Legolas felt tempted to give in to it. He WANTED to give in to it. He wanted to close the door and open another.

But...things had their natural pace. And the world didn't turn to please elf or Man. The feeling of disturbance that had settled on Legolas right after his phone conversation with Irulan gained strength. He tried to push it away, to burry it, to ignore it. But it returned with renewed favor. The fight was useless. The voice of his conscience won each and every time.

'I have betrayed Aragorn,' he thought the next day. It sounded horrendous and for a short while he tried to convince himself that he was overreacting. A VERY short while. 'I have betrayed Aragorn,' he sighed finally. 'I have told him that I would look over his kind. And behold what I have done to his OWN kin!' He grunted and turned sideways on the bed. No matter how hard to accept, the fact was that he had let down Aragorn AND hurt Irulan. The combination was too much to bear and Legolas felt the first drops of remorse seeping into his spirit.

However, along with remorse for his cruel attitude towards Irulan there was also a truth that he could not deny any longer – it had to stop. He would not throw himself at Irulan's feet anymore. She didn't want him and that was final. Too many times she had made that rather clear. It had been that damnable hope that had pushed him on. Hope that she would forget. Hope that HE would forget. But only a fool would seek hope where there was none.

On the fifth day that followed Chinatown, when summer heat was basking in his room and Amanda was chirping about how amazing the trip to Egypt would be once Legolas had healed fully, there was a knock on the door and Haldir walked in. The tense feelings that they had parted with sparked to life in an instant and for a moment Amanda felt as if she was still in the same room, reliving the very moment of two days ago. This time she was definitely not staying to face the heat again. She mumbled about needing to get something from the supermarket –which sounded rather silly in a hotel that could provide anything she needed in higher quality- and throwing a quick glance at Haldir, walked by him to exit the room.

After a moment of staring, it was the other elf who broke the silence. "I leave New York today." He sighed before he continued. "I did not want to part on bad terms."

Legolas exhaled in frustration and got up from the bed to walk up to the table to fill himself a glass of water. The black cotton outfit he had on accented his beautiful, lithe form. "That would not happen to us," was his late reply. He gave the crystal glass in his hand a long look before he turned around. "We have survived many grave times together. Such things could not tear us apart."

Haldir smiled a beguiling smile and shook his head in amusement. "No, they couldn't. No matter what, I love and respect you, my Lord."

"And I you, my friend," the other said with a similar smile.

After another, but far more comfortable silence Haldir sighed once more. "I wish you happiness with Amanda. She seems to be a kind woman." Legolas merely nodded, his eyes fixed on the other. "I will apologize for my harshness from before."

"I'm sure she will understand." Haldir smiled wider then and glanced out the window as if wishing to assess the time. No elf carried a watch, able to sense the time rather accurately due to their biological structure. "Your leaving is rather unexpected. Is it something concerning the Circle?"

"No. It is personal in nature."

Legolas nodded and placed the crystal glass back, "Where to?"

"China."

The Prince turned to the other, a look of both suspicion and amusement on his face. "Really?" he said with a dreamy voice. "It has been a while, hasn't it?"

"Indeed," exhaled Haldir, not without a bit of annoyance. "It's not my favorite place to visit, that's for sure."

The amused smile on Legolas' face turned into a grin. He knew the not so fond adventures of Haldir in that country. "Would it be too personal if I asked you the reason that drags you back there?" he said, crossing his arms on his chest and leaning back onto the table.

Haldir shook his head with irritation then waved his hand dismissively before he made to the door. "Irulan."

He actually managed to take five steps before Legolas found the voice to speak up behind his back. "Pardon me?!"

Though it sounded too human-like in tone for the man that Legolas was, when the Marchwarden turned to glance over his shoulder, a perfect expression of innocence was on his face, as if he had not noticed at all. "I said 'Irulan'." He nodded once as farewell, then turned to take another step towards the door.

"I heard what you said." The flutter of a smile rushed over Haldir's lips at the dryness of his friend's tone. But when he halted in his step and turned to face Legolas once more, again, no trace of it was visible. "Explain!" came the command.

"Explain?" Haldir repeated, a bit dumbfounded. "I'm afraid there's no time for that, my friend." He squinted his eyes and glanced at the window again. "Nothing to concern yourself with. I will take care of it."

The Mirkwood elf pursed his lips. He shouldn't ask. It was none of his concern anymore. He nodded as a sign of acceptance. Haldir smiled once again and slightly bowed his head before he turned on his heels to continue his walk. His steps were leisure and small, nevertheless it took only three steps for Legolas to speak up behind him again. "How long will you stay?"

The academy award of the year should have gone for Haldir. For he was perfect when he turned and glanced at the ceiling as if trying to recall. "That depends on how soon I can find her," was the dismissive reply. Legolas' eyes widened slightly. He remained stubbornly silent and Haldir continued "And the sooner I go, the sooner that will happen, of course. So...until we meet again, Legolas." He turned away, but this time didn't get to walk.

"Is there a problem, Haldir?"

The marchwarden turned fully and faced Legolas. The distance between them was not small, and yet their eyes met and clicked as if they were only a foot away from each other. "Yes. But not for long. I must go."

"What kind of problem?" Legolas seethed, placing his hands on the table behind him and leaning back with a dangerous, feral grace.

"Legolas...I really don't think you should bother. I will make sure that..."

"Enough, Haldir!" The command in his tone cut the other off immediately. "Answer the question."

"I will be late for my plane," was the final and sheepish reply. It received only raised eyebrows in return. "Fine. Irulan is in China. I must find her." He waited another moment. "That's about it." The extremely furious look he received from Legolas made him speak up before the other one did. "It seems she just took off and went there. Anne and Russel are out of their minds with worry. And...to be honest...so am I. I intend to find her and bring her back." Another hesitation. "Though it will be hard. Considering that she has no intentions of returning to New York..."

Legolas took a sharp breath with that. "Irulan would never leave New York for good. It's her home."

"Yes, well...obviously it's not, anymore."

"Is she in some sort of trouble?" Legolas managed to say a long moment later. He swallowed sofly and waited in anticipation of the reply.

"Not if I can help it," was Haldir's late and evasive reply. He locked eyes with the surprised gaze of the other, giving him an apprehensive look. "Look...don't worry, Legolas. It's not your concern any longer."

"What does that mean?" the other elf seethed with suppressed fury. "Our affair may have ended. But since when do I turn my back to those in need out of personal...problems?"

"You misunderstand me, my friend," Haldir sighed, throwing up his hands in defense. "All I'm saying is...you are at the threshold of a new beginning. We would not want to complicate..." He halted when Legolas took a slow, deep breath, his eyes twinkling with further anger. "I'll let you know how it goes. You don't have to..."

"Enough of what I have to and what I don't have to do!" Legolas whispered with a dangerous tone, cutting Haldir off once more. "Why on earth would she go to China?"

Haldir bit his cheeks. After another moment of pretense hesitation, pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. Under the Prince's watchful gaze that spoke of a mixture of fear and anxiety, he walked up and offered it to him. Legolas took the parchment between his fingers and unfolded it. His eyes glided over the letters. He had made enough stalking and tracking to know Irulan's handwriting, but this one was unfortunately written on a computer and printed out.

"Dear Anne and Russel," it began. "Forgive me, I have to go..."

"...'I am leaving New York', period. 'For good', period. 'Please don't look for me', period..."

"Anne...I mean...this has 'fake' written all over it!"

Anne gave him a dry look. "It's her farewell letter for God's sake! It has to be dramatic."

Russel rolled his eyes. If he was not so utterly fond of her, he would say Anne was more than difficult. But sadly even her irritating habits were extremely attractive to him. "Farewell or not. Irulan was never dramatic. I mean...she just got up and left, didn't she?"

"Nice! Let's just go ahead and write that she went on a damn bloody holiday, while we are at it! I'm sure Legolas would go sprinting after her if he knows THAT."

He tapped his fingers on the keyboard and glanced at the screen. "Fine. Continue, then."

"Let's see..." She sighed and began pacing in the room. "...how about...I don't know...'As a matter of fact...I don't expect to return' sort of thing?" Russel gave her a baffled look. "Hey!" she exclaimed defensively, "This is China we're talking about here!"

"No kidding," was his sarcastic reply. "I thought it was a war zone in Bosnia!"

"Oh shut up, Russel!"

"Sure...go on Madame Shakespeare! Insert a secret lover, if you will!"

The momentary silence made him glance over his shoulder in her direction. "You know...that's not such a bad idea," Anne murmured absent-mindedly.

He groaned and massaged his forehead. "I don't get it! Just when they parted and everything is fine...why exactly are we doing this again? AND at a price of certain murder once it is discovered?"

"Everything is FINE?!"

"Don't shriek, woman."

"Everything is NOT fine. Our mission is to MAKE it fine."

"Isn't it a bit strange that YOU feel up to something that a heroic warrior elf of thousands of years old seems to have failed?" Russel said with a sheepish expression.

Anne gave him a blank look. "No. Why?"

He sighed and decided to focus on the screen. "Just...go on."

"Fine," she said and began pacing again. "'I feel as if I have let everyone down. Especially you, Anne'." She grinned broadly when he gave her a disbelieving look over his shoulder. "Just kidding. Ahem...'I let everyone down...I feel ashamed. And lonely...'" Her voice trailed as she came to stand beside Russel, gazing out the window. "'I am going to visit a friend in China. I have apologies to make. He was one of the many victims of my foolishness...'"

"Irulan really said that?" Russel intervened with a soft voice, looking up to her.

"She did, once," sighed Anne, meeting his eyes. "She loved him very much, you know."

There was a short silence. "She never talks about it. But...I think...I mean if it was me...I would be wary of this Legolas guy, no doubt!"

Anne turned to give him a sheepish look. "It wasn't his fault, I told you that."

"Well in a way it was," was the defensive reply.

"Look you dimwit – you don't understand elves."

"Oh and I assume YOU do!" Russel said, crossing his arms on his chest.

"I understand LOVE."

The true surprise on his face made her halt, too. The silence of a moment ago stretched on and became quite heavy as they stared at each other, neither blinking. "So do I," was his late whisper of a reply.

It was then that Anne thought that there was something really strange about Russel. Something...itchy. And if she could just put her finger on it...she might actually discover what it was! She narrowed her eyes, trying to shift her entire focus on the matter as she gazed down at him. Russel was an exceptionally handsome man. Always had been. And lately, he seemed to be taking more care of himself. "You look different, these days," she said slowly, her eyes gliding over his figure. "I see a change in taste as well...A girlfriend, Russel?" she grinned, meeting his surprised gaze.

He moaned in reply and massaged his face. "You know what...forget it! Just dictate the damn letter!" he growled, facing the screen again and shifting in his chair with unease.

Anne grinned broader, but decided to tackle the issue later. "Fine. Where were we? Oh yes...hmmmm...now all we need to do is to make it sound...desperate. Like she has lost all hope and is planning to...well...do...dangerous things!" she finished with triumph, waving her hands.

"Such as?" was the highly dubious question.

She shrugged, not meeting his gaze. "I don't know," she mumbled a moment later. "Like...I don't know...maybe...hurt herself?"

"Anne!"

"What?! I mean...she was depressed, that much is true!"

"But not suicidal!"

"Yes, well, we don't have to say the WORD..."

"Unbelievable!" he said in awe, just staring at her.

"Type, type!" she said, irritated at his stubbornness.

"How on earth will you make Haldir take part in this?" he said, a look of disbelief, amazement and confusion on his features.

"Leave that to me," was the sole reply.

"Believe me...I WILL!" was his as his fingers began to touch the keys once more.

Legolas looked at the paper in his hand without seeing it. All sense of time left him and he only managed to return to the present when Haldir cleared his throat. "When...did she leave?" he managed to say, to his own surprise.

"The day after she...spoke with you," was the hesitant reply. Haldir watched him pale before his eyes. A part of him felt more than guilty to be torturing his friend like this. His lord! His captain! His comrade! But on the other hand Haldir saw easily enough what the other elf himself couldn't – Legolas and Irulan had to be together, period. Or else, both would detoriate and fall. He knew this beyond certainty. If he had to use less than honorable ways to get there...well...so be it! Not to mention that Anne had an unbelievable skill of persuasion. "Anyway...I need to get going. Anne and Russel should be waiting for me downstairs," he said to the dazed figure of the Prince. "I will let you know of the progress."

Legolas remained unmoving, his eyes glued to the paper in his hand. "I can...I can help," he said stiffly as Haldir had his hand on the doorknob.

"No need, my friend. You should stay and get better. Also...well there is Amanda."

Their eyes met again and it was a clash of wills. Haldir looked as if he dared Legolas to say something and Legolas stubbornly refused to give in to that beckoning. It went on for several moments and the Prince held his ground. Finally the other elf exhaled slowly and gave a final nod with his head. "Till we meet again," was all he said before he exited.

Legolas listened to his receding steps on the soft carpet of the hall. "Damn it all!" he hissed to himself, crumbling the paper in his hand and leaning his head on his fist. "Damn this world! When will I have my peace of mind?!"

'Ah but you HAD your peace of mind, dear Prince!' an amused voice sang in his head. 'The only peace of mind you ever had...and you buried it into the sands of Egypt."

"Well?" Anne said, taking off her sunglasses when Haldir arrived.

"Mission completed," the elf said in return, smiling one of his marvelous smiles.

She glanced over his shoulder to the hotel. "Are you sure?" was the dubious question.

"Absolutely," Haldir said with disinterest and nodded in agreement to the hotel personnel that asked him if he should fetch them a cab.

"We got company," Russel said with a low voice and both elf and woman turned to glance at the approaching Amanda.

"Hello," she said and it came out so sweet that Anne felt tempted to shiver. "Nice to see you again, Anne. Russel..."

Russel smiled a fake smile and nodded. Anne didn't bother to do that. "Hello Amanda. Heard you've been taking care of Legolas," she said, seeing no need to beat around the bush.

Amanda looked startled for a moment, but recovered fast. "Yes," she said, throwing nervous glances at the two men. "He was a bit ill."

She dug her hands into her jeans with discomfort when Anne proceeded to do her usual act – crossing her arms on her chest, cocking an eyebrow and looking at her down her nose. "How sweet of you," was the late, seething statement.

Amanda cleared her throat. "Are you...going somewhere?" she said and glanced at the backpacks standing at the side.

"China," Russel said. A cab stopped by them right then.

"Really?"

"If you must know, we go to find Irulan," Anne said dryly. The cabdriver opened the trunk and they began loading the bags.

"She is in China?"

"Not for long," came Legolas' voice right then. The trio froze and Haldir allowed himself a deft, secret smile before he turned to face the Prince who was striding towards them, looking nothing like he had in the past five days. If they were not too surprised to see him, they would have marveled at how fast a person can change. He had a pair of beige khaki pants and a black t-shirt underneath matching a light beige jacket on. His sunglasses were hiding his eyes but the general expression of his face spoke of determinism and fury at the same time. "Yes. Have it ready by tomorrow," he said into his cellphone, then turned it off and placed it into his jacket pocket.

"Heath," Haldir exhaled in mock frustration. "You really should be resting."

Legolas ignored him completely. He had no bag and didn't seem at a loss or nervous at all. He walked up to Amanda, who seemed even more confused than before and took off his sunglasses to gaze down at her. "Amanda," he said gently and took one of her hands between his. "I'm sorry. I really am. But I must go."

"Oh," she stammered a long moment later. "Oh...I....I understand. I...I can come, too!"

"WHAT?!" Anne exclaimed somewhere behind him but Legolas didn't give it heed, keeping his eyes on Amanda. Thankfully Anne got no further, because Russel elbowed her in the ribs with a meaningful glance.

"No," the Prince said gently, caressing her hand. "You must stay." He took a deep breath. "We must part this day."

Another moment of disbelieving staring. "But...but..." she issued a nervous laughter, blinking with confusion, "But you will come back, won't you?"

Legolas gave her a long look and folded his hands on hers. "I will return to you, Amanda," he said finally, his voice like velvet. "But I must help a friend. Forgive me."

Obviously Amanda didn't like that idea. "Heath..." she tried, but the words stuck in her throat.

"I know it's sudden. Believe me, it is sudden for me, too. It is unforgiveable for me to part from you this way...but I have no choice. I can only hope to make it up to you some day." After a moment, he leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Good-bye Amanda." When he turned to the others, the blankness of his face giving no clue to the conversation he had just moments ago. "Everyone, get in!" They just stared at him. "Now!" he commanded, opening the door and motioning Anne to proceed.

"But...we have no ticket for you," was all she managed to stammer.

"We're not going by some plane," he said dismissively. "I arranged a jet to take us."

"Look...Mr...Greenleaf," Russel chimed in, but was cut off by Legolas' icy stare. He halted and swallowed as the elf replaced the sunglasses on his eyes and the fact that his eyes were not visible underneath the dark glasses was even more irritating.

"I suppose you are the one I should be asking for permission, then."

"Eh...no..but..."

"Get IN!" Legolas seethed. It was enough for Russel, who glided into the car.

He was replaced by Haldir who came to hold the door and glance at Amanda, who remained rooted beyond words. "It was a pleasure to meet you," he said and his tone spoke of no pleasure at all. Other than the pleasure of leaving her behind like this. "Farewell."

Legolas closed the door and opened the one in the front. He, too, threw a look over his shoulder towards the woman. "Until later," he smiled tenderly before, too, he sat himself and closed the door. The cab took off, leaving a perplexed, stunned woman behind.

The remainder of the cab ride was silent and tense. Legolas spoke on his cell phone all the time, sometimes in English and sometimes what Anne and Russel guessed to be different Chinese dialects, arranging God knows what.

At the airport, instead of a commercial flight, a private jet was already awaiting their arrival. Anne and Russel glanced at each other, trailing behind as the two elves walked with calm composure to the steel bird. A grin bloomed on their faces before they proceeded to the stairs. Both elves halted and stepped back, allowing her to walk first. She grinned broader to that. One could get so used to men with manners!

Merely minutes later the jet took off and the quarted waited in silence as they left New York. "How long to China in this thing?" Anne said finally.

"14 hours or so," Legolas said absent-mindedly, glancing out the window.

"Look, Legolas," she sighed and he looked up at her, "I want to thank you. You really didn't have to come. But thank you for being so thoughtful."

He clenched his jaws and nodded in return. "How was she...in leaving?" was his cautious question.

Anne shrugged and let her gaze wander in the chamber. "She was upset, of course. But then...Irulan has been upset for a long time. She is hardly anything else these days."

"I'm sure she will be all right, Anne," he said finally, his tone gentle.

"I sure hope so. I mean...I want the old Irulan back. She seems so...fragile and tense now."

"We all change," was his late reply. "Into something we can't change back from."

"She can be very stubborn," Russel sighed, inspecting the ceiling.

"You know her pretty well, I guess," Legolas said suddenly, to everyone's surprise.

"Well..." Russel stammered, a bit caught off-guard, "...yeah?"

"May I ask how well?" the elf said after a moment of staring. It was his last intention to put his nose into the matter of Russel and Irulan once more, but the questions seemed to be slipping from his mouth.

"Well enough to know that she won't be giddy to see you again," Russel said. He received a poisonous glance from Anne for that but he was starting to get angry. Elf or not, this guy had a tendency to rub him the wrong way. And he disagreed with Anne on the matter – Irulan needed to get away from this guy. He was THE Legolas, for God's sake! What could a normal, mortal woman like Irulan do with someone of his calibre, anyway?

Surprisingly, Legolas' reaction was not furious. He tilted his head down and exhaled, inspecting his fingers for a long while. "Don't worry, Russel," he said finally. "My decision has not changed. I will only aid you in finding Irulan. Then...then I will return."

"To Amanda, I suppose?" Anne said with a flat tone.

This time Legolas looked up, his blue eyes locking on Anne's. She almost flinched at his stare, so loaded it was. A long moment passed while Anne swallowed softly and concentrated on the sole task of not looking away. "You are not Irulan," he said finally and the iciness in his voice made her swallow with discomfort. "Don't make me put you in your place, Anne."

"Sorry," was all she managed to say after a long while. "Sorry, Legolas. It's just that....I'm a bit concerned for her."

After another look without blinking, he nodded in acceptance of her apology before he spoke. "Perhaps she just needed a change?"

Anne, for a moment stupefied by his accurate guess, hesitated. Indeed...that was exactly what Irulan had said and why she had left. "I don't think so!" she managed to squeak finally.

"And why is that?"

"Well..." she glanced at Russel but the annoying man only crossed his arms on his chest and rose his eyebrows, awaiting her reply. That is, her LIE. "...Legolas you didn't see her when she left! She seemed...very strange. She cried through the whole packing...and she...was so upset! She said stupid things....like 'I hope I'll never return. Would be better for everyone if I didn't!' sort of things." That much was true. Irulan had truly been upset and had, no doubt, THOUGHT those things.

A long moment of silence issued. "I...spoke harshly," Legolas whispered finally, swallowing hard. "She called to apologize and I..." he turned to him, his clear blue eyes shimmering, "...I refused her. I rejected her."

"Legolas...there is no need to blame yourself for this." Haldir almost bit his own tongue at the gaze he received in reply to that. "You did what you thought best," he added with urgency to evade the Prince's wrath.

"Best for whom, Haldir?" was the seeting question.

"Best for everyone, my friend," the other elf said, stressing the words.

"I seem to be unable of wise decisions when it comes to her," was the tired reply.

"Legolas, no!" This time it was the Prince's turn to halt, astounded. "Don't tell me that you hold yourself responsible for Baeron! Neither are you responsible for her trip to China! Irulan is...." he sighed, waving her arm with a graceful arch. "...she is very young. And stubborn, no doubt."

"Yes, she is," Russel sighed once more.

"With you in the lead, we'll find her in a matter of days, you'll see!" Anne chirped, enthusiastic.

The Prince smiled and nodded in reply. "I hope so."

"Not to mention," Haldir smiled in amusement, "you are experienced in the art of tracking Irulan, my old friend."

"Listen to me...they went to China," Amanda hissed into the receiver. "Not damn Mars! What are you whimpering about?!"

A sigh from the other end of the line. "What you don't know, Ms. Pearson, is that China is not too much different from Mars," was the final dry reply. "Actually it might be worse, if you ask me."

"I have no time for your bullshit," she said, walking across the hotel room to gaze out the window into the crowded New York street. "I want you to find her. And I want you to make sure that no one else ever does," she finished with a low voice.

Another sigh. The man knew that it was pointless to argue with her when she was this mad. "All right. I'll...I'll look into it."

"No!" she snapped. "You will not look into it! You will DO it, Mr. Grey!"

"Don't expect me to roll over any time you blow your whistle, Ms Pearson," was the hiss of a reply. "I said I'll look into it." She kept her silence, only breathing with fury and biting her lip. "Now...who is this Irulan woman?"

"Some stupid, useless woman!" Amanda said hotly, given the perfect oppurtunity to vomit her inner hatred. "She is of no importance."

"Then why such hatred?" came his amused voice.

Amanda took a deep breath to calm herself. "That is none of your concern," she chirped a moment later.

"You know that I won't take this sort of a job without knowing everything," the man said with a flat tone. "And I mean absolutely EVERYTHING."

"Fine," she exhaled in frustration. "The only person she matters to is Heath Greenleaf...and I intend to change that."

She could literally hear the man on the other end smile in amusement. "What do you know..." he drawled into the receiver, "Ms. Pearson has a heart."

"You watch your words," she said many moments later and it came out downright frosty. "If you can't keep a professional distance, maybe you are not the right person for the job."

"All right, all right!" was the defensive reply, though it still smelled of amusement. "All right. I dig it. He likes her and you like him. Nothing unique, trust me. It's the oldest story in the book."

"I want you to find her before them. And under no circumstances harm Heath," she continued, dismissing his words.

"It will take time," he said. "I need to gather information about her first. I don't even know this woman. I don't know where in China she is going, and neither do you. Last time I checked that was a damn big country to play guessing."

"Break into her apartment," Amanda said, turning away from the window and waving her hand dismissively. "No one is there. Her friends and a friend of Heath's has joined the search for her. I'll tell you everything in detail later on. Just...start as soon as possible!"

"Okay. As I have said...I'll look into it," he said and before Amanda could reply, turned off the phone.

She turned off hers with fury and stomped to sit in the armchair. Amanda sat there for almost an hour as the afternoon sun did a lazy stroll in the sky. "That damnable woman!" she thought. "Damnable, damnable, damnable woman!" Amanda was not used to being refused. Especially for another. But then...she wasn't used to falling in love, either. The last time she had actually liked someone –and him, she had only liked. Legolas, she (unfortunately) LOVED- had been years ago and the man had been her sister's fiance. Not for much longer, of course. Her sister never found out. No one did. That was her talent – to be discreet. To be silent and smooth.

"Why her?!" she whimpered into the silent room. "Why her, Heath? I was ready to be anything for you. ANYTHING!" She stood up, unable to suppress her feelings anymore, and began to pace the room, her fingers squeezing the phone in her hand. She didn't hate Heath for it. Oh no...he was a sentimental man. Obviously Irulan had affected him and twisted his heart so hard that he was unable to break out from her spell. Most men were like that. You had to pull them, then push them a little. You had to nudge them. "No problem," she said out loud again, continuing her pace. "I am ready to pull, push, nudge...AND terminate," she finished with a whisper. "I am ready indeed."

.

Author's Note:

My Beloved Readers,

I have received very heartfelt and pained reviews concerning this chapter and the overall story. It fascinates me to see people making so much effort, but it is only honorable to return the favor. Therefore, I think it's useful at this point to explain myself in certain aspects:

My main problem is, that I do not have the space to portray everything the way I want to. This is not a novel, but a short fanfiction - though mine tend to border on the length of short novels. Nevertheless, I am limited by this fact and if I had the patience or the skill to write a novel, maybe I would do that instead of playing along with fanfic characters. So I am aware that all of these characters could be developed quite a bit and believe me, I DO like developed characters. But right at this point comes my own preferences - I don't like to develop characters through words. I like to develop them through actions. You may have noticed through my other work - especially the Irulans, that it is my very intention to start off simple and plain and have the character change and develop in time through his or her own choices. I think it's too easy to write about how someone feels or what they think all the time. Let them act and let us observe and interpret their actions. More work for the reader.

What else? Oh yes, Amanda being cliche. The world is full with cliche people and I can not invent an original villain for every story. Baeron was very original because he had a black and white attribute that made him very difficult to hate and yet you could not like him because his actions were wrong. Amanda, on the other hand, IS cliche in the sense that she functions like 90% of the humans around us - based on greed, jealousy and instinct. Of course she doesn't love Legolas, but she loves herself and it is this reason that pushes her actions. Besides, I have no intentions of dwelling too much on her - she will play an important part in the story but she is not a character that will need to be developed too much. And I like her the way she is. She sounds complicated enough to me - she looked rather innocent in the beginning and I myself thought it was surprising of her to show this much violence later on.

Legolas naive? My dear friends, it is my observation that no matter how long men live, they are children forever. I wouldn't know about elves but I'm assuming that the same is true for them. Legolas is not naive, but he is heartbroken and shattered and confused. It is easy for him to face battles and conflicts and political webs, but he is not used to facing matters where his emotions pull him with such mighty force. In that sense, he IS naive. He didn't have to deal with this sort of thing before. And after having tried all he could to win her back, he does what every other person would - he tries to move on. Maybe you and I know that he can't, but he himself does not know this. Or he doesn't want to believe it. In either case, he has no other options but to try. and he stubbornly pushes himself towards Amanda, though I think that it is obvious that his ardor towards Irulan is unmatched in her case.

Why doesn't Anne tell the truth? Because she is built that way and she thinks that manipulating people will give better results. I'm not saying that time won't prove her otherwise or that she won't regret her actions. But the question 'why?' seems irrelevant at this point. Who knows? She is wired that way. People simply ARE a certain way and if everyone could see the world from the eyes of the readers of a book, there would be no conflict at all. In any case, Anne is making mistakes like every other character in this story and she will face the consequences along with the others.

I think the main problem of many of my readers is the fact that they are -naturally- associating this one with FOTH. But like a director who does not want to repeat himself and therefore risks the wailing of fans when he makes a strikingly unique sequel, I have been expecting these kind of reviews when I decided to write a sequel and a very different one, in nature.

I think you should give it time. When I look back at FOTH I see chapters full with smut and courting and still, in the end, it ended up as a story as something more than that. I think so will Pentimento. In fact, I will be bold enough to say that Pentimento will be far better than Fortress because it won't have that magical pink dust on it and will be far more realistic. It is developing more slowly and this time there is no hasty traveling with a gorgeous Legolas that could keep our fantasies alive, but such was my intention.

Thank you for reading this far.

Love,

Darma Druid

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