The Secret Chapter 9: Battles of the Minds, a lord of the rings fanfic

~*~Thanks for the reviews everyone!! I'm glad you seem to be enjoying the story so far! Well, I'm really excited about posting more chapters, and they usually come often. But I am a student and I do have homework… A lot of it. In fact, I should be writing a history essay right now, but… ;) I like writing stories MUCH better!~*~

Lina stood by the stall with her horse, Hwesta, in it. Her tears had ceased, but only because she realised it was futile for her to cry. She had to talk to Legolas. She cared for him, but only as a friend. He would have to learn to care for her only as a friend as well.

He is such a nice person! Lina thought. Saria was right about something. He deserves to know. He does care about me a lot and I do not want him to think I do not like him. Because it is not true… I just cannot love him…

She stroked Hwesta's white nose thoughtfully. "Oh, Hwesta! You have been through so much with me! I wish you could talk to me and tell me what you think is right."

In reply, the horse only whinnied softly, its large brown eyes gazing deeply into her own.

Lina, not caring for the fact that she did not have proper riding attire, or for the fact that she was not wearing any shoes, lithely jumped up onto Hwesta's bare back. She led the horse out of the stable and into the pasture. She rode, on and on, yet never leaving the safe haven of Rivendell. She rode around the pastures and falls of the city, her thoughts escaping her body.

~*~

In his room, Legolas stood warily by the window. He gazed at the waterfall outside the window, thinking. Lina is so beautiful, so lovely! Yet she seems to be distant when talking to me. One moment she is talkative and cheery, yet the next she is shy and silent. I do not know what to do! I feel as if I love her, but she does not love me. I want her to know that I have great concern for her and I wish for her to be happy. But I do not know why she does not like me… At least, she does not love me…

As Legolas stood, brooding, a thought came to him. Maybe it is my turn to apologise to Lina. Maybe, if she forgives me, I can tell her the way I feel. For surely if I tell her she can tell me the truth, whether or not she loves me and why she does not show me that she cares. Legolas felt kind of selfish because he was thinking this. What if she did not want anything to do with him? Maybe she did not even care anything for him, which is why she ran off so quickly! I am getting ahead of myself. Perhaps I will just apologise and see how that goes.

So he left his room and walked slowly out of the House of Elrond. He realised it was almost time for the evening meal, but he did not care. He wanted to talk to Lina very badly, and did not mind missing a meal. And no one would surely look for him. Arwen knew he was with Lina, or should have been, and that the two of them might be late. But Legolas walked very slowly out of the House. He did not want the moment of realisation to come… He was afraid that he would soon learn Lina did not love him.

~*~

Elenya came back to the stables upon Hwesta. She put the horse back in the stall. Lina looked down at herself and realised that she had ruined her dress. And her bare feet hurt. She stumbled out of the stables, looking forward to a hot bath and a comfortable sleep. It was time for the evening meal, and it was probably already in progress, but she was not hungry. She would just sneak back up to her room and bathe and sleep. She did not want to see anyone at that moment, especially not Arwen. She did not want her cousin pestering her, asking her how her meeting with Legolas went. Just then Lina realised that she would have to speak with Legolas again, sooner or later. Sighing, Lina made her way back to the House.

In her room, Lina drew a bath for herself, with hot water. She dropped a few rose petals in the water, to scent it. She undressed herself and slid into the water, sighing heavily. The water washed over her, leaving her skin smooth and clean, refreshing her mind as well as her body. She inhaled the deep fragrance of roses, allowing her tense muscles to loosen. She closed her eyes, for they hurt from all of the tears she shed earlier. The pain in her feet soon left her also, and she rose from the water. She grabbed the cloth that was hanging on the hook of the wall and wrapped it around her slender body. She walked into her main room and looked into her wardrobe. She was just going to wear a nightgown and lay in her soft, comfortable bed.

But Lina soon found that she did not want to sleep. She groped around the closet for a regular gown, pulling out a soft white one. She dried her body thoroughly and slipped into the gown. The bodice was hemmed with a light silver trim as were the sleeves. Lina left her room, thinking that maybe she did want something to eat. She hadn't even eaten the afternoon meal and thought better of skipping another meal. She made her way down to the Dining Hall, hoping not to see Legolas, though she knew it would be inevitable. She wanted to apologise for running away, but he would make it hard. She thought of his kiss and her breath caught in her throat. Why had he done that? Would he apologise too? Maybe I'm being too selfish. Perhaps I should just apologise and try to forgive him for the kiss. Maybe I should just tell him the truth. But the truth hurt too much for Lina. She could not bear to think of her past. O Elenya*! By my essi**! Help me! By the Valar, I do not know what to do! Lina begged for help for she did not know how to handle the situation ahead of her. She stood at the door of the Dining Hall, her hand on the door, ready to enter the room.

~*~

Legolas approached Lina's favorite tree. She may or may not come here. Why am I waiting? What is the chance she will come? Maybe I should go back to the Dining Hall yet. Perhaps I could do with a meal. And maybe Lina will be there? Legolas's mind was in constant battle. He could not decide what to do. Sighing, he turned back towards the House of Elrond. He would go back inside and if he did not see Lina there, he would wait; for tomorrow would be the day, surely, when he would learn the truth.

*Elenya: Not referring to her name, but saying 'O the Stars!' She is just praying to the Stars.

**essi: This is the given name of an Elf. Since Lina's real name is Elenya, and she is praying to the stars, she is saying 'By my name!' just showing the relation of the Stars and her name.

~*~Oooh the suspense! Haha, sorry. Anyway, I hope you are still enjoying the story. And PLEASE do me a HUGE favor and REVIEW!!! Please!! It would make me one happy girl! Thanks!! *hugs* elenya~*~