The Great and Powerful Oz: thanks much. yes, that situation would have been incredibly weird. hmm, though maybe not a bad thing. three hot elves…well, anyway. please stay out of the asylum though!

NovemberWind: thanks much for the great review. keep reading!

Princess Myra: thanks. Legolas knows about most of it, though some of the details he is unaware of. it'll all come to light in the next few chapters. thanks!

Marisa: yea! another chapter down. its okie, about the flu, I mean. its gone now. hehe. you can comfort Elrohir all you want. have fun!

xSilverShadowsx: sorry if that was confusing. yes it was a dream. it happened before Lena and Leggy ever met. it was a dream flashback you might say. just so you know, everything where the whole scene is in italics is a flashback or dream. thanks for the review!

Sebstar: thanks much!

Myri78: yes, I remember the French fries. I won't forget I promise. hehe. read on girl!

IwishChan: yea, it is kinda sad. but don't worry. Elrohir moves on. we'll find him a girl somewhere. thanks1

Legolaslover: yep. Legolas knows, but not all the details. he'll find out everything later. stay tuned in. it could get nasty! thanks!

GreenEyedElfGoddess: well, you'll see about Elrohir. I wouldn't worry too much though. thanks so much!

Megara: glad to see you've calmed down some. I hope this chapter doesn't set you off again. I would hate to see you carried away in the little white van for crazy people. thanks!

Sauruna: thanks!

htyih: oops! thanks!

dreamsofdarkness: ooh, new reader! yea:does happy dance: thanks for the review! hope you enjoy!

anyamaanejyatorht: thanks a bunch!

Leah's Lovely: hey, you rhymed! hehe. thanks!

Disclaimer: don't own anything you recognize as Tolkien's

Chapter 31

Elenayave wrenched awake, feeling the salty tears stream down her cheeks. It was still dark outside, but she guessed it was probably close to dawn, as the stars seemed to be lightening in the deep navy sky. Legolas lay curled up against her, eyes partially open and glazed over. His slender bow-shaped lips were curved into a small sensual smile as he murmured her name lightly in his sleep. The braids that had formerly restrained his golden hair had come undone and mussed in his rest, but to her he still seemed angelic. His honeyed skin glowed softly in the receding light of the moon, and his cerulean eyes glimmered in the dark. She wished for nothing save to be wrapped in his comforting embrace with his warm, muscular archer's arms around her, but she felt rather ashamed of the reason of her distress. Elenayave was aware Legolas knew quite well of her past with Lord Elrond's son, but it did not stop her feelings of discomfort. Would he be upset if she were to tell him of her dream? Or would he know that she truly loved him unconditionally, that Elrohir could never take his place, as dear a friend as he was, and merely hold her until her tears ceased?

Legolas just seemed so flawless as he slept; the simple rise and fall of his chest as he breathed held her entranced. Through the mist in her eyes, she focused on the features of his face: the perfect curve of his nose, the dimple in his left cheek, the strong masculine lines of his jaw, and the sharp contrast of his dark brow and fair hair. Beside him she felt so…deficient. True, Legolas had known of her relationship with Elrohir, but had he truly understood how deep their feelings had run? Perhaps he would see her as sullied if he but heard of some of the things they had done together. Indeed, they had never physically joined, but the intimate moments between them had been countless and the emotions involved had been strong.

And then there was the accident on the pass to Imladris. Arguments involving her and her husband were few and far between, as far as she knew. Would Legolas eventually turn her away in favor of a more willing elleth to bear his children? Would he grow tired of her repeated refusals to even try to start a family? Legolas had an incredible amount of patience, even for an Elf, but even he had his limits. He was already frustrated with her about the whole situation. What if she wasn't able to bear children? Then what? Surely, Legolas would leave her then. The thought of being torn from her only lifeline in this alien world burned at her heart, and a broken sob was wrenched from her lips.

"Lena?" he whispered softly, coming slowly out of his slumber. He reached up to stroke her cheek, and his thumb came in contact with the wet tears pouring from her emerald eyes. Immediately, he pulled her into his arms and crushed her against his warm body. "What is it, mellethen? What ails you?"

Elenayave didn't answer, not fully trusting her voice or her words to convey what the problem was. Instead, she nestled her head against his shoulder and let the tears come forth. She felt Legolas move to envelop her further in his arms, and his hand came behind her to cradle her head.

"Shh, sweetling. Please don't cry," he soothed, not entirely sure what the problem was. Perhaps she'd had a disturbing dream and it had sent her into tears. Nevertheless, it pained him to see her crying, and he wished he could do something to end it as quickly as possible. "Tell me what's wrong, Lena. I'll make it right, I swear it," he pleaded.

"I…Elrohir…the baby…" she choked out between sobs. Her slender body trembled fiercely in his embrace, and she gripped his forearms so tightly that she left marks. Legolas shook his head in confusion, distress seeping into his being. What was she talking about?

"Lena, calm down, mela. What do you speak of?" He brushed his hand over her forehead, but immediately pulled back. Her skin was burning up.

Her vivid eyes gazed back up at him dolefully, and finally she looked away. In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "Do you love me, Legolas?"

Legolas stared down at her in shock. "Lena…where is this coming from? You know…"

"Answer the question, Legolas. Do you truly love me?" she demanded, shaking in fear of his answer. Why had he hesitated even for one second?

"Yes," he stated emphatically. "Lena, I thought you knew that. I could never deny my love for you…"

"Tell me…" she beseeched. "Please."

Legolas snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her head against his chest, nuzzling his nose down into her hair. "There is nothing in this world or the next that I will ever love more. You are my life, Lena. I breathe for you, my heart beats because of you, and I would give up my time on this earth if you asked it of me."

"But I once loved another," she whispered, barely able to be heard.

Ah, so this was what it was all about. A sad smile spread across his face and he pushed her away from him gently to look at her. The frightened look in her eyes sent chills down his spine. Had he truly failed her so? "It matters not to me, sweetling," he murmured, smoothing her hair back into place. "You are mine now, are you not?"

"But you have no idea what we did…how we felt about each other…surely his touch must sully me! You must think me unclean."

Legolas let out a nervous laugh. "Lena, you speak of Elrohir. Do not forget that his every intention concerning you was true."

"I would have married him…had it not been for my heart telling me that someone…that you, were still waiting for me. I would have bound myself to him."

Legolas cringed at the words, and berated himself for feeling jealous, an emotion not befitting an Elf, especially a prince. "But you didn't," he reminded. "Does that not count for something?"

"I have failed you," she responded miserably after a moment of silence.

Legolas frowned and shook his head. "In what way?"

"I doubted," she replied simply. "I've caused you pain and hurt with my disappearance and violation…"

"That was not of your doing," he said sternly, gripping her chin and bringing her face to his.

"The decision to go was mine," she stated. "And afterward, I put you through the uncertainty of not knowing if I would ever accept you again."

"But you did, Lena. And my heart gladly sings the news of it…"

"And now I refuse to give you the only thing you've ever asked of me besides my love," she interrupted quietly.

Legolas furrowed his brow, confused. "I know not of what you speak, mellethen. We've restored out bond."

Elenayave sighed and rolled away from him, pushing his reluctant arms away from her waist. "Perhaps you should find yourself another princess, Legolas, for I am not cut out for the job."

"I would have no other," he avowed under his breath. "You are mine. I need no other, nor would I want someone else. Why do you say these things, Lena? I would never…"

"I don't want to have a baby, Legolas! All right? I'm scared and I'm worried, and I don't think I can handle it! I know you love me. I know you say you would never leave me, but would you? How long will it take before you tire of my disagreement? Before you seek out another to bear you a son?"

"Enough!" he bellowed, rolling himself out of bed. She had crossed over the line. Obviously she was entirely too upset to see that such a statement would be an insult. "That is enough. Do you think me so shallow as to turn my back on you over a minor discrepancy after a century of being bonded? Do you think that all I want you for is your breeding capabilities? Apparently, my lady, you know nothing of Elven bonding or marriage. And I insist that you research into your own people before you start throwing around hasty accusations!"

Legolas managed to tug on a pair of his breeches and a loose over shirt before he neared the door to her room. In his rush to leave her presence before he did something he'd regret later, he slipped on an earlier discarded tunic of his and cracked his shoulder against the wall. His breath left him in a hiss, but he hurriedly opened the door and stepped over the threshold.

"When you decide to stop acting like a little child, you can find me in the living quarters."

With that he closed the door and padded down the hallway. Elenayave could hear his steps grow fainter and fainter, until they finally disappeared.

uh oh! sorry if its not what you expected, but hey. oh well. i might be able to update soon cuz I'm on spring break right now so i can right some more soon. yea! i love spring. if you guys can give me any ideas as how to end this story...that would be really great. i know that i want to begin the sequel for sure where the hobbit begins, and then fade out for 60 years and then come back in with the trilogy. but where and how should i end this? let me know...