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~*~A/N: WOW… How long has it been since I've written? A little less than 5 months? ::hits self over the head with a club:: Well, thanks to all of my lovely reviewers! You are all great and the source of my willingness to write more! J Thanks a TON! ::muahh::

In her sleep Lina had hoped to escape her predicament, but it proved no refuge for her mind.

~*~

Lina felt as though she awoke from sleep. But nothing looked familiar to her eyes. Then she saw it, the White Tower of Ecthalion, gleaming in the sunlight. Her emerald eyes looked about her, searching for some sign of what was going on.

She stood up, but it seemed an astral sensation. She looked down to where she had been laying and saw her body, still as ever.

Gasping, she backed away. She put her hand in front of her face to see it, but it was a mere projection of her body. She turned and stepped off to the side, and suddenly she was falling.

The Elf-maiden tried to scream, but she found no voice in her. Her slender arms were flailing about, trying to catch onto anything within reach. To her dismay, her body was back in solid form, and she knew she would feel hurt upon contact with the ground for surely she would hit it sooner or later.

But no, she did not. Instead, she felt warm arms catch her and embrace her. She looked up at her saviour and found him to be Legolas. Releasing herself from his grasp, her heart thudding loudly, she ran.

She ran till she met with another body, who she ran straight into. Dread filling her green eyes, she prepared to run again, but when she raised her eyes, she found them to meet the warm, cinnamon brown of her beloved Farin.

"Farin," she whispered, realising she could speak again.

"My dearest Elenya, princess among Elves. I meet you again, though this time in your dreams," he responded, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, Farin, how I wish it was more than a dream! I love you so much!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck.

He returned the embrace, but pulled away from her quickly. "Lina, this is not an ordinary dream. I called you here, to speak with you."

Eyes darkening, she perused his expression for something more. "About what?"

Sighing, he led her to a stair, where he sat down, pulling her down next to him. "Lina, I think it is time you moved on. There is no need to live in the memory of me, thinking only of me. I'm afraid I cannot be there for you anymore, but there are others who can. Give them a chance to be loved by you."

"Farin, no," she replied sternly. "I want nothing more of this thing called love, apart from which you gave me. I am content with what I have had in the past, and wish for no more of it."

"I do not believe you."

"How could you not? Surely you saw me speaking with Legolas – "

The Man cut her off. "Legolas, yes. He is one of whom I speak. He can give you all the love you will ever need or ever want."

"But I don't want his love, Farin! I love you, and only you, and it will always be so," she cried out, tears spilling down her lovely face.

"Lina, I do not wish for it to be so!" he said cupping her face in his hands, wiping her tears, though they continued to fall. "I want you to be happy."

"I am happy," she replied, looking down.

"No, you are not. Why the tears, then?" he asked, lifting her face up, though her eyes remained lowered.

"Because I love you and I miss you," she said, closing her eyes.

"Then do this for me. I only told you not to forget me. Not to forever love only me. Now, make me happy. Live on, Lina. And don't forget that living is loving."

"But Farin, I do not love Legolas! As a friend perhaps, but never as I have loved you."

"Search within your heart, and you will find your love for him."

The dream around her began to fade, and Lina's eyes flew up to her love's. "He will always be there for you, always be good to you, always love you. He will always be there to catch you, Elenya."

Farin's voice faded, and Lina felt her self being thrown back to where her body lay.

"Farin!" she screamed, touching his face one more time. "I love you."

~*~

A moan of agony escaped Lina's mouth as she awoke. "Farin," she whispered, in a voice nearly inaudible even to her keep Elvish ears. She threw her head back and began to cry once more, tears flooding her eyes and splashing down her cheeks.

"Lina?" a voice came from behind her.

Alarmed, Lina stood up and wiped her tears quickly, turning around.

"Are you alright?" Legolas asked. He knew she had been crying, her reddened eyes and nose and cheeks told him so much.

She blinked a few times, trying to hold back more tears. "I – I," her usually melodic voice faltered. "I'm fine. Thank you."

A look of great concern passed over Legolas's blue eyes, a look that was clearly sincere. He nodded, and walked away.

Lina crumpled onto the floor, the tears spilling again. He truly loves me, she thought to herself. And I cannot return it!

But another contradicting voice spoke in her head. You love him too, Elenya! You knew from the day you became his friend that there was more to it than that. You just refused to believe it. And you have just been lying to yourself!

No, the other voice yelled. This is not true.

Yes it is, Lina, you know it. The first night you met him, at the Welcoming Banquet. That night, as you slept, you could not think of anyone but him. You cannot deny this! You even kissed him, allowed yourself to be kissed.

Lina shook her head fiercely. Standing up again, she dried her eyes and walked back to the House of Elrond, where she ran immediately to her room, in hopes of not seeing anyone.

One glance in the looking glass told her she was not in her usual spirit of being brightly dressed. She bathed quickly and dressed herself in a pale yellow gown with golden embroidery, tying her raven-coloured hair in a matching ribbon of silk.

Upon looking in the mirror for the second time, she was happier with her appearance, though her eyes were lost and empty.

She ran lightly down the stairs, he heart resolved. She knew what she had to do, and this time she was unafraid to do it.

It was nearly time for the evening meal, and most of the people in the House were chatting comfortably in the lit veranda.

Arwen was sitting hand in hand with Aragorn, as they spoke genially with the hobbits. Seeing them laugh was almost painful to Lina and she mentally slapped herself. How can you be so selfish? There is love among them, and it exists in you too. Allow yourself to be happy.

So, smiling, Elenya approached her elder cousin. Bending down, she whispered in inquiry, "Do you know where Legolas is?"

Arwen glanced up at her cousin's fair face and saw a look of happiness, though it was underlined with sorrow. In reply she said, "He went off to the stables some time back, wishing to take a ride. But he should be back shortly."

Thanking Arwen, Lina walked off. Upon another mental battle, she decided to go to the stables herself, and have a private discussion with Legolas on his return.

The stables were quiet, with the occasional whinny of the horses.

"Hello, Hwesta," Lina greeted the mare. "How are you, my sweet?" she pet her horse on the nose and fed it a carrot from her palm.

She groomed the mare lightly, glancing this way and that way, looking for some sign of the other Elf. It seemed in her mind that she was not fully aware of what she was about to do.

Another half hour later, Lina, who was now sitting on the back of her horse, still in the stall, heard the approaching sound of hoofbeats. Jumping lithely from Hwesta, she regained her poise, dusting off her gown.

Not even taking notice of the she-Elf, Legolas let his steed back into his stall. The blonde Elf wiped his hands on a cloth hanging from the stall hook, and walked out of the stables.

Leaving the corner she was in, Lina followed him quietly. It was only at this moment that she found butterflies in her stomach. Her muscles tensed ever so slightly, and she nervously bit her bottom lip. Clasping her hands together tightly, she called out, "Legolas." It was very softly spoken, but Legolas stopped immediately and turned around.

Lina was staring at him with the same glittering green eyes he remembered from the first night of seeing her. She lowered her dark lashes as he returned the gaze and walked towards her.

He stood so close to her that she could smell his woodland scent and feel the warmth he was emitting. With fresh tears in her eyes, she looked up again.

This time she smiled. "Legolas, as I said before, I am forever apologising to you. But I must say that – that – I," her newfound courage nearly failed her, till she saw his eyes looking at her with love and tenderness.

She took a deep breath and began again. "I am sorry for deceiving you, I am sorry for hurting you. I never wanted to hurt you."

Taking her face in his hands, in what he hoped was merely a friendly gesture, he replied, "I know, Lina, I know. You have not hurt me. Just, as I said earlier, forget me. Once I leave your land, forget me."

"But," she cried out in earnest, "I cannot forget you. You are a most dearest friend to me. And I – I hope that… I want you to know that – I love you."

The words fell out of her mouth in an intense moment. She met his gaze, matched it, in all love and affection seen in his eyes. He knew in that moment that she meant exactly what she said.

But still, he remembered her words from earlier. "Lina, I do not think – ," he began, but her slim hand reached up to touch his lips.

"Hush," she said softly. "I am telling you what is in my heart and what has been in my heart since I first met you. I never had the courage to face my fears and let my feelings out again. I didn't want to hurt anyone, so I kept the hurt within me. I can never forget Farin, my first love. But, Legolas," she said slowly withdrawing her hand, letting it fall to his shoulder, "I love you. So much."

A serene smile lit his handsome features as he replied, "I love you, too, Lina."

His mouth came upon hers. He had never forgotten her taste since the first kiss he shared with her, but this was so much sweeter. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and his around her waist. Her fingers wound themselves in his long hair as he pulled her closer to him.

The had set completely now, and the couple broke apart. Lina looked down, blushing. Smiling, Legolas tipped her lovely face up to his once more, and kissed her once, a chaste kiss.

"I think we'd best get back to the House," he said gently. She nodded in assent, but said,

"One moment, you go, I will come soon."

Bowing ever so slightly, he left.

Lina walked to the trees and bushes that were on her right side and picked a single yellow elanor blossom.

"Thank you, Farin," she whispered, as the breeze took the flower away.

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