A.N. Tengaar haters prepare for some serious bashing in this chappy. Rai gets a little too worked up sometimes and has to be sedated before she had Yunie biting the poor girl's head off. Literally, we mean, because she dishes out enough verbal abuse in this one to make a female body builder get emotional. Also, don't be alarmed by Valandil, he'd supposed to be a really creepy little fucker, and that's exactly how we've done him. This chappy is basically just a shitload of contemplation and reflection, which we needed to put in. Bear with us. It is valentine's day soon, isn't it…?

WHY THIS IS LATE: My comp, and pretty much every comp I have access to, has that nasty virus that's been going around, that kills the Internet through MSN. Because of this, I've had to wait until the weekend to post it in the Library, which has the slowest computers known to man, and my floppy drive is broken, so I had to wait an extra week to actually get it off this damn machine, and…I'm sorry ;) Also, I haven't had ANY time to work on it as I've been getting home at about 7 every night because of rehearsals for school play on top of coursework (most of which is being handed in this week – eek!)

Man of the month: Johnny Depp (because we saw him (squeee) and he acknowledged our existance)

Chapter dedicated to: All my new premiere buddies who sat with us for 7 1/2 hours before the BAFTAS

'…Cause he wasn't that smart and she wasn't so strong
But they went through the motions as if they belonged
Playing their parts in this travelling show
And they haven't got too far to go…
…And she brushes off the temptation to lie
It's easier just to ignore
And then waltzing on glass is no way to survive
When you trip on the truth, you fall back on the lies
Happier times seem to balance those
And they haven't got too far to go
So he always wanted to be someone else
She sometimes wanted to die
They kept believing in spite of themselves
Just time to open their eyes
Cause he wasn't that smart and she wasn't so strong
But they went through the motions as if they belonged
Playing their parts in this travelling show
And they haven't got too far to go…'

Glass Waltz - Vertical Horizon (crap song, but great lyrics)

Chapter 29: Honesty

I stared down at my fingers, hardly visible in the haze of the early morning awakening. Blood gathered at the tips, perfect, pear-shaped drops falling to the crisp white cover below. I couldn't tell anyone how many times I'd been jolted awake by the images in my dreams. They were so vivid, smells, sounds, so real, so close, so terrifying.

Throughout it all were the screams, moans, wails, tangled webs I felt I should understand, but made no sense at all. I pulled aside the covers with my clean hand, swinging my legs out and walking to the bathroom. I put my hand into the water filled basin below the large mirror, the bleeding from my nose had pretty much stopped, though what had caused it in the first place was still a mystery. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had a nosebleed, they didn't happen out of the blue, that was for sure. An Orc shield to the face? Then again, that was worth a few stitches as well and ad left a scar that lasted a good few months. I sighed, held my head to the side and dipped it into the water. What was the point in asking any longer? These days, things just happened. There were no answers. I stared at what I could make out of my reflection. Once again, it was just one of those nights.

~*~

"You look terrible." Legolas commented, barely above a whisper. I smiled slightly, but couldn't bare to meet his gaze. Every time I looked into those eyes, the memory of what I'd seen last night skipped in my mind. I still couldn't believe it, not just for the fact that it seemed so unlikely that Tengaar would ever do a thing like that. But that a part of me had so hoped that what I'd suspected ever since I'd first seen Hix with her was true. So now that I knew, could I really keep it quiet?

"I give you your champions, Prince Legolas and the Lady Yunalesca!" A voice that seemed vaguely familiar announced. Throughout the crowd a cheer erupted, though at this moment I could frankly care less. What was she after? His crown? It didn't seem her style, not that that seemed to matter any more. But there was one thing I knew for sure. Legolas didn't deserve this. Sure, he was annoying and far too smug at times, but he had a good heart, and that was what mattered. Around the stadium, the cheers had died down, and the two of us were beckoned forward to the royal box. I shook myself out of my thoughts and followed Legolas to where Thranduil stood waiting, my trophy in his hands.

He made a speech. Something about honourable combat and such, not that I listened. All I seemed to be able to concentrate on was the woman one row back, who herself seemed to have her mind elsewhere. Tengaar's dark curls swept around her face in the early morning breeze, her eyes glazed over slightly. Even a blind could tell how beautiful the Evenstar's niece was, though, at least to me, it seemed that what she gained in grace she lost in mind. It was a tricky game she was playing, whether she realised it or not, anyone with sense would simply walk away now.

The crowd started up again as my trophy was passed down, Legolas gripping one handle and myself another. We turned to the rest of the crowd, Legolas dragging my arm up as he raised the object. It made me wonder just how many times he'd done this before. I did my best to look pleased, but now that I knew I'd have to share it with him for eternity, it seemed tarnished somehow. With a final wave to the spectators, we exited the arena, Legolas halting as soon as we were out of earshot of the crowd.

"What is it? What's the matter?" He asked, concerned.


"Huh?" I looked up at him.

"Something's bothering you…is it to do with last night?"

"Um, yeah, sort of." I couldn't do it. I couldn't keep it bottled up. He had to know, he deserved the truth. "Legolas, there's um--"


"Lady Yunalesca!!" I was rudely interrupted. It was Valandil, running towards us from the direction of the stadium. "Lady Yunalesca," He repeated, now but a few feet away. "I had to see you before I left."


"Left…?"

"Yes, I'm journeying to East Lórien with Lord Celeborn's party." I'd seen Lord Celeborn the evening before, though I'd only managed to share a few brief words with him, being manhandled away by Jen, who'd insisted on me conversing with some of her friends. "And it's all because of you!"

"Me…?"

"Yes, thanks to your example, I've been able to build up enough courage to do what I've always wanted."

"Oh…really? And what is that, exactly?"

"I want to be a soldier, so I can rid the world of Orcs and Goblins and other evil foes." I regarded him for a moment. This Elf, instead of becoming a warrior at a time when cannon fodder might actually be needed, had waited until most of the risk had been taken out of the job. Running around after nomadic groups of Orcs and their associates was hardly a glorified position, but at least he wasn't going out to get killed. And, in the end, who was I to judge?

"Well, that's good. Have fun. " I smiled.

"I'll miss you, milady." He said quietly. Legolas' smirk was unmissable. I glared at him ferociously after which it promptly disappeared.

"As will I…" I mumbled. "You've been…um…very helpful." He smiled coyly.

"I will never forget you." He wasn't the first person who'd said that, though in these circumstances, it seemed unnatural. Then it was that a very short stroke of genius hit me.

"Be sure that I won't forget you either, Valandil." I leaned over and put one hand on his unresisting shoulder, keeping the other firmly attached to my trophy. "…Good luck" I gave him a kiss on the cheek at the very same moment I yanked on the handle. The Prince's fingers gave way easily, leaving me the sole owner of my trophy. "Thank you!" I shouted, already speeding away from the scene. I glanced behind me for the briefest of seconds. The two of them stood there, shocked. Valandil holding a hand to his cheek, and Legolas simply watching me go.

Men.

~*~

It was towards the end of the day that I finally won the war with my inner demons and went to see Tengaar. She hadn't been seen all day, and I knew exactly where she was. With fast strides I approached her room and opened the door quickly to find the two of them together. It looked like he was about to leave, but I had still caught them in the act. Their lips wrenched apart as I entered, but they both knew it was too late.

"Yuna! I…I wasn't expecting you…" She started weakly.

"Oh I'm sorry. I'll just go fetch Legolas, then, shall I?" Fear appeared bright in her fathomless eyes.

"No! You can't tell him! You can't--"

"Do you even plan on marrying him?" I snapped. "You've put it off for a good few centuries, it can't hurt to leave it a bit longer. Do you think it'll just go away if you don't think about it? What do you see him as, an inconvenience?" I was getting angry, and subdued the emotion as best I could. At least Hix had the decency to not say anything, and Tengaar to look suitably guilty.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen…" She started, her voice breaking. I prayed that she didn't start to cry.

"Well you obviously did, because otherwise you would have done something to prevent it." I said levelly. I was being harsh, I knew, but I wasn't about to feel any sympathy for her. Not after everything I had witnessed. "I don't care what you do, but for the Valar's sake at least tell him. If you decide you don't love him, and instead want to be with him," I waved an arm at Hix, "That's not for me to judge, and normally, I wouldn't care, but I do. I don't have many friends -- I doubt you'd know what that feels like -- but Legolas is one of them. He's saved my life, given me a place to live, and been a friend without asking for anything in return. I suppose this is my way of paying him back. Just tell him, and stop acting as if nothing's the matter when it obviously is if you can't be content with just one admirer!"

I was in full flow now. I tried to stop the angry words from coming out, but I couldn't stop myself. Everything I'd felt since I saw her. The subtle jealousy of the way she was so effortlessly perfect, the way everyone looked upon her with such reverence and awe. The fact that she had an incredible family, lineage, position. She had everything, and I couldn't stop the bitter envy from seeping into my words.

"I'm sorry!" She choked. Valar, she was crying. Hix looked as if he was torn between comforting her and skewering me, and settled for hovering uncertainly. "It's hard, everyone expects me to be perfect, and it just gets so overwhelming sometimes. I agreed to marry Legolas partially because I was in love, and partially because I thought it would get the endless trail of suitors and courtiers off my back." She looked up at me sorrowfully, and I almost felt sorry for what I said next, but again I couldn't stop myself as something inside me snapped.

"For the Valar's sake, grow up!" I almost shouted. "It must be so difficult when everyone's in love with you. So what, you don't know what to do so you throw it all away on a whim? I'm sick of people like you, acting as if the weight of the world is on your frail shoulders. Stop being so damn insecure, everyone loves you, and you know it. Do you even--" I broke off, mid-sentence as a fresh wave of tears enveloped her. "Look. I didn't come here to preach to you, just to tell you that I'm not going to sit around and watch as you run around with your bodyguard pretending to care about probably one of my best friends. I don't know if he's in love with you or not. The longer you wait, the more he'll be hurt when the truth finally comes out, and believe me, it will come out. If you don't tell him within the next few days, I will, and you bet your life I'm not going to pull any punches. I'm no good at that sympathetic, heart-wrenching crap, as you can probably tell. Have a great night, milady."

I turned on my heel and strode out, ignoring her strangled cry. I could see a red tint around my vision, I was angry. I closed the door as quietly as my shaking hands could manage, and with carefully controlled breaths, made my way back to my room, wondering why I took it so personally, when it wasn't really my business.

Legolas was at his door when I turned the corner in the corridor. He saw, me and immediately his expression changed from one of suppressed humour to concern.

"Are you alright? What happened?" He was in front of me in a flash, the back of one hand icy cold as it touched my cheek.

"Nothing." I forced out. "Just…it's been a long day. I'm tired." It was a lame excuse. Both he and I knew it, but thankfully, he knew better to push me.

"Alright then. If…if you're sure you're feeling well…"

"I'm fine." I said, a little too tersely. "Goodnight." I slipped past him into my room and leant on the door. 'Why did this have to happen? Why now? I can't leave until it's sorted out, and that could take weeks if that polished little princess doesn't get her act together soon. Well, not if I have anything to say about it…'

It was my business, I decided. Seeing her acting with no visible regard for his feelings made something inside me snap. I realised I did care about the Prince, however annoying he was. He had been too good to me for me to watch idly by as she continued with her liaison as if I was the only one who remembered the small fact that they were supposed to be engaged to one another. I wasn't about to sit around and watch him get hurt because she couldn't bear to hurt him by telling him, despite the fact that he would be worse in the long run.

'Stop getting so involved. That's the way. Attachment always leads to separation' I scolded myself for caring so much. Live your life without caring too much about anything, because you'll always lose it in the end. That had been my philosophy ever since I realised that people died. Perhaps it was growing up around humans, watching baby girls grow to maidens, mothers and crones. Death was inevitable for the mortals, and anyone I'd ever cared about was taken from me in the end. The only few Elves ever to have my respect had gone. Lords Elrond and Glorfindel in Valinor, Haldir in a makeshift charnel house in Helm's Deep, the last I'd heard from the morning after his death. There were more, but I'd learnt to forget and move on without a second glance.

Tears sprung unbidden to my eyes. It was hard. The woman a few doors down, probably comforted by her bodyguard, knew nothing of hardships, pain, loss. Her Aunt, perhaps, but that was one. I had no family. Only those I allowed to get close enough to care when they were taken.

But enough anguish for now. I took a deep shaky breath and steadied myself, standing up straight instead of leant against the door.

It was only then I heard his footsteps retreat to his own room, and my mind raced.

~*~

I awoke the next morning and felt a foreign feeling wash over me as I recalled the night before. Regret. I shouldn't have been so hard on her, one part of me thought, but she did deserve it, another urged. I sensed a hefty chunk of self-reflection and much woe to follow. It was my place to tell her, wasn't it? I was Legolas' friend. As far as I thought…

No, of course I was. He wouldn't have even attempted to help me after the first time I'd ignored him in the forest if he didn't consider me a friend. I was his friend, and therefore I cared if he was going to experience any severe emotional scarring any time soon. Tengaar? Who was she? She seemed to just hang around when it seemed appropriate that she remind the female population that she and the Prince were supposed to marry. If that was so, then why did I care so much when I saw her effortlessly link arms with him, or the way she smiled, lighting up the room as she caught sight of him. But so many others did the same

Did it only bother me because it was reciprocated…?

But…why should that be an issue? I had no known desire to take her place, so why should I be so envious of Tengaar, but not of Narin, who was, after all, a princess, even though her lack of absolute perfection made her far easier to like. What happened to make me so bitter? Was it the lack of any companionship in thirty mortal lifetimes? True, I had never cared for the weakness and heartache that love inevitably brought, but could it really be so bad? I felt strangely isolated as I contemplated this entirely new line of thought.

My parents had probably been in love. That was what happened, wasn't it? Two people met, fell in love, married, had children. Although in this case, their first child watched as the father left and the mother was left to fade into death. They didn't even give her a proper funeral. She was the village witch, the evil one, the white-haired elf sorceresses. And all of this for love. She was counted as a lady, I knew that much. She told me many times about her father, the son of one of the Lady's handmaidens. My grandmother had been just like her, and just like me, although whatever our heritage was, it seemed to have been diluted somewhat through the lack of pure blood. My mother could have had the life of a Lady, married a great Elvish lord, and had other children, those more deserving than I. But she didn't. She threw it all away for love.

And now Tengaar was willing to do the same.

The link made me think twice about my judgement of her. Perhaps I was being too harsh. If she loved him, why shouldn't she be able to give up the great possibility of someday becoming queen of Eryn Lasgalen if it meant she was happy?

I hauled myself out of bed and scowled at my reflection in the bathroom mirror as I splashed cold water onto my face, knowing full well I wouldn't get back to sleep. Summer's end was fast approaching, though I couldn't really say how the seasons went up here. I had been away from home for far too long. Leaning on the basin, I mentally listed the pros and cons of my remaining here. Pro, I was welcomed here. Con, how did I know they weren't just being polite? I had more than outstayed my welcome. Pro, I had grown to like the group of friends that had unquestioningly integrated me into their lives without judgement or question. Con, no one was that accepting, they had to be holding back the endless questions and prejudices. How did I know they didn't think of me as almost everyone else did?

Pro, the Prince had been too nice for me to simply pack up and leave him.

Con, attachment meant separation, pain, the endless, empty feeling of loss. The sooner, the better. Cut things off before they got too serious, that was what I told her last night. Tell Legolas now and save him even more pain later. I was a hypocrite. I didn't belong here. I couldn't stay here. I had to leave.

Still with my head bent down I craned my neck slightly to look through the ajar door to the bedroom. There in my field of vision was the chest containing all my belongings. Well, at least those I valued.


As if drawn by an inaudible call, I made my way over to it, unhooking the latch and swinging open the lid. I unfolded the shimmering cerulean fabric and lifted the sheath out, drawing the blade silently. I ran the flat of the blade down my cheek, remembering how long it'd been since I'd held her. Luccrecía. The thought set off a pulse down my spine.


A sudden flash. Pain erupting behind my eyes. Memories flooded into my vision. I gasped, bringing my hands up to dig into my scalp, sending the blade clattering on the floor. It had only lasted for the briefest of moments, but my head still reeled. I opened my eyes, glancing at the sword. The same compelling urge made me pick it up again.

There was a sudden rapping on the door. Startled, I sheathed it, shoving it back in the cloth and closing the chest.

"Yuna…? Are you awake?" It was him.

"No." I replied, feeling a little more like myself as I pictured the look on his face.

"Um…can I come in?" I looked down at myself. The under-tunic I wore to bed was loose, hanging off one shoulder, and with sleeves that only showed my fingers. It also, however, only came down to just bellow my backside. I smirked, getting to my feet.

"Sure." He opened the door a crack, and I had to stop myself from laughing at the expression of utter scandal on his face as his eyes diverted downward on their pilgrimage to my face. I gave him a frank oh-just-get-on-with-it look and watched him suppress a gulp and force himself to look me straight in the eye.

"Are…are you alright? About last night, I mean," My stomach dropped. Had he heard? Did she tell him already? "You just looked a little…flustered, that's all." His eyes flickered to the gleaming trophy that had taken up residence on top of the vanity. He wisely kept his mouth shut on that particular issue. If I had to verbally as well as physically kick his princey behind, I most certainly would.

"I'm fine. I was just a little tired."


"You haven't been sleeping much lately, have you?" It was more of a statement than an actual question.

"I've just been a little restless. Maybe it's all this comfort. I need some good old forest floor to get me back to normal." No one else would have noticed the way his face fell slightly as I finished the sentence. It was a lie, of course. I loved the forest, but I hated the long, cold nights sleeping on a lumpy, twiggy floor where I'd often be awoken by the tree I was huddled against deciding to get up and take a walk. Of course, I'd never admit this to anyone.

"Well, we're probably going to have another one of our little campfire excursions in a few days, which I know you hate but are going to attend anyway."

"Don't worry, I will. Otherwise you'll probably get your enraptured sister to drag me." He chuckled uncertainly. "So how does it feel? You know, your best friend…and your sister…"

"Oh. Um…Well, she's not really my sister, in that sense. By blood and name of course, but I don't think of her as a sister primarily, just as a really close friend. She's always been there for me, and vice versa, and I'm happy for her."

"You're not bothered by what people say?" Firowen had a rather impressive reputation, and many thought he saw the Princess as merely another conquest.

"Of course not, and neither are either of them. They both know that none of them are true. They deserve each other, and I'm glad she finally worked up the courage to do something, because I knew Firowen never would have."

"Why's that?"


"He didn't think he was good enough for her. He thought that if she didn't think of him like that, and he tried something, she'd think he was just using her, didn't care about her, the list goes on." He shook his head. "For someone who can have most women eating out of his hand within five minutes, he's surprisingly insecure about what women he actually like think of him." I noticed suddenly that he wore riding clothes.

"Where are you going?" I asked after a moment of comfortable silence.

"Firowen's, um, going for a ride around the city walls to check up on the border guards for his father. He asked me if I'd go with him. Apparently he wants to talk about something…" I grinned.

"Have fun." With a half smile and a wave he was gone, and I was left to my all too active thoughts.

"How do you cope?"

His voice escaped my mental lockdown on memories and surfaced to one long afternoon sitting in the Hornburg and watching the empty horizon stretch across the fields of Rohan. I had climbed the tower of stairs to find solitude, and found him there instead.

"How do you cope with…with loss?"

He didn't know how to take Aragorn's supposed 'death', and asked for advice. And I, being the great agony aunt I was, told him exactly how I coped.

"I don't…

…That's how I cope. I never put myself in a position where I would have to 'cope…

…One piece of advice, learned well through many unpleasant experiences: Never get close to anyone. Never form steadfast friendships, never make too many friends, never let anyone too close, never fall in love. Things never last, one way or the other, they're always taken away…"

A philosophy I would defend until I could breathe no more. It had only failed me when I disobeyed it. It always was proven in the end. I still tried, now and then, my socially starved inner airhead longed for friends, and I, fool that I was, sometimes dared to hope that this time might be different. Like Boromir, he was a good example. I had tried to befriend the fellow cynic, and he was dead the minute I turned my back. It always happened. I wouldn't be surprised, I thought darkly, if the Prince and the son of the Wood Captain weren't found dead a few days hence. It was a depressing line of thought, I knew, but it was true.

And what had he said?

"That's no way to live your life."


And for the first time, I saw it as such.

"Sometimes…isn't the time you spent together worth that pain?"

And now, for the first time I thought outside my little box. I had come here, made good friends, and found myself putting off leaving for Valinor. And would I change things? If I could, would I ever reject him outright and leave the very next day after arriving here?

And as I stood there, thinking to myself, I realised.

Not for the world

~*~

"Maybe if I chopped it off, hmmm? Would you stop then? What will it take for you to realise those poor mares aren't in season, and are not amused!" I furiously brushed the last of the caked-on mud from his coat, perhaps a little harder than was necessary. "Stupid horse." Of all the horses in Arda, why did mine have to be the horniest? I didn't even know that horses got pleasure out of it, though obviously mine was just some sort of hybrid who was just out to make more work for me. But that train of thought was quickly cut off as a stable hand offered to do the rest, and said that the Princess asked where I was. Not one to be rude to royalty, I made my way back to the palace.

Narin was coming down the corridor as I walked up to my room. She smiled, and, biting her lip, spoke in a coy voice.

"Um, could I talk to you for a while?" I knew exactly what, or rather who the topic of conversation was.


"Sure." I nodded towards my room, and we entered, her plopping down on the bed and hugging her knees. "So, you and--"

"Is it that obvious?" She cut in, anticipating my line of thought.

"Yes."


"Do you think everyone knows?"

"Yes."

"Do you think my father knows?"

"Yes."

"Oh Valar…" She dropped her head. "He's not like that, you know?" She started randomly. "Everyone says these things about him, but he's not like that really, it's more of a show. He's just…really sweet…"

"Him or your father?" She chuckled and raised her head so just her eyes peeked out from her arms.


"Both, I suppose." I could see the crease at the corners of her eyes indicating she was smiling.

"So…how do I come into all of this?" I asked, not really understanding what she wanted to talk about.

"Well…if It wasn't for you I doubt I'd ever have worked up the courage to tell him that I, um…you know. And when I finally did then everything just happened and now suddenly we're together and he just acts like it's the most normal thing in the world, and…I don't know. I think he realises I'm still new to this, and he's just trying to cut out that horrible awkward bit at the beginning when neither of you knows what the other thinks and what they'll think if you do this, or that, and it's just so stupid, you know?"


"No, but carry on. I'm guessing you like gushing about your new-found admirer." She blushed, and continued.

"I guess, what I'm trying to say is that, well, thank you. For everything. No one would dare talk to me like you do, and it's given me a new perspective. I think…I think it was the day you, um, groped him and my brother." I grinned. "I just really admire the way you just do things without worrying about the consequences or anything, you just do it…"

"Most people would call that reckless, or impulsive, but alright."

"I thought that if you can pull off something like that, then surely I could actually admit to something that I knew, he probably knew, and I'm sure half the Wood knew." She looked towards the window, a smile setting in perfectly. "And it's all thanks to you."

"Don't say that. I just gave you a kick in the right direction."

"More than that." I was awarded with another of her frighteningly sincere smiles. The silence hung. "So, have you set a date?" I furrowed my brow.


"For what?"

"For your departure." Did they want me to leave so badly they were willing to drop badly timed hints into conversation? "Oh…I thought you were leaving soon…" She said at my confused expression. "At least, that's what I heard, though I was surprised you didn't tell us earlier."

"Well, I was thinking of going back to Entwood soon, but I never told anyone. Who said it?"

"I don't know. I was looking for you earlier and I heard some maids talking about you."

"And what did they say? Go on, I've heard it all before." She giggled.

"They said that it was a shame you were going to be leaving so soon, because that probably meant that they'd have to accommodate some prissy courtier. They said you were a lot more…interesting to take care of, because you're always so confused when someone tries to do something for you." I raised a dark eyebrow. "They like you here." Alright, so perhaps I hadn't heard it all. Then, in a meek voice: "I like you here. We all do. Do you have to leave so soon? At all?" I was speechless. But I had to go. I had already decided, I couldn't stay here forever.


"I have to. But…" A new brainwave hit me. "But maybe it doesn't have to be forever. After all, they've survived without me for so long, surely they can manage again." Her eyes lit up.

"You'll come back?"

"Maybe. I want to go over the sea soon, but the call isn't so strong that I have a risk of fading. At least, not yet. But perhaps I'll come back here for a while. Until others decide to go and build a new kingdom for Thranduil to rule, because I doubt he's going to let a little thing like there being no kingdom prevent him from being King." She laughed and flung herself forward to tackle me in a hug. I found myself laughing as well, and for the first time in my life, I felt I truly belonged.

~*~

It was some time later that we walked down the hall, her arm wrapped around mine as she chatted away. I stopped suddenly as I saw Legolas walking towards us, a rather confused expression on his face.

"Hi…" He started, uncertainly. Then it hit me, Tengaar's room was in that direction. She must have told him. Clever girl.

"What's wrong?" Narin asked cheerily.

"Oh, um, it's just that…Tengaar sort of called off the engagement, and I'm a bit…" Instantly, the Princess switched to mothering mode, and released me, opting instead to look dreadfully shocked with one arm around his shoulders.


"Oh! You poor thing, are you alright? What did she say? Why would she do that?"

"I, um…I'm guessing it has something to do with the fact that she said she didn't love me and she only realised this after she met and consequently fell in love with her bodyguard." Narin's jaw hit the floor.


"What?! She was being unfaithful?! What a little-- Oh, Valar, Legolas, how do you feel?"

"Confused." He said without hesitation.

"Well that's understandable, you've just had a very big shock and I'm sure you're confused about how you feel, and--"

"No, no, I'm confused because…I didn't really care…" A weight I didn't know I'd been carrying lifted from my stomach.


"What do you mean?" His sister backed away slightly, her eyebrows knitted together.


"When she told me, I just said that it was her choice. I couldn't force her to love me, and to tell the truth, I can't remember the last time I thought of her like that, and so I was glad that she said it first, because I doubt I'd be able to."

"You told her all of that?"

"Yes." He shrugged.


"And what did she say?" It was as if her and Jen had swapped personalities, though I'd heard that happened to people who had someone.

"She hugged me, and thanked me a lot for making it so much easier for her. In fact, she was really, really happy. The thing is, I think we both felt the same about it. She liked someone else, and…well in any case, now I'm just confused."

"Why's that?" I spoke for the first time.

"Aren't I supposed to be feeling some sort of anguish? Or an overwhelming wave of grief? That's why I'm confused. It's just not happening. I'm sure it'll kick in soon, but until then I'll just try to get used to the idea that I was engaged in the morning and now I'm not. With little or no regret whatsoever. Just…" He looked straight at me. "The fear that that Aryana Vailariël person is going to trap me somewhere with those insipid courtesans on the second floor." The second floor housed the minorest of nobles and their delightful offspring, all of whom wasted no opportunity to shove their microscopic bosoms skyward in an attempt to capture the Prince's heart. With a perplexed smile, he was gone, probably to break the news to his father.

"Well, imagine that." Narin said, cocking her head. "I'd never have thought her capable of doing something like that. But then, I never thought you capable of changing my life."

"Well I wouldn't go that far." I said, not an ounce of modesty in my tone.


"Well I would. I'm finally in a relationship with someone I've been almost-betrothed to since birth."

"What?"

"Well, Firowen was supposed to marry Legolas if he was a girl, but he wasn't, and when I came along, technically we should have been set up together, but somehow people sort of forgot about it, and he was at that whole 'girls are evil' stage of his childhood, so he outright rejected the idea, but traditionally, we should have been married now. Only my father's not so controlling as to even attempt to marry me off, but Firowen kind of hinted that it was a shame, and I think he's getting to something. And I'd just like to let you know that if he is, and you really have changed my life, then it's all because of you!" She grinned, giggled, and sped off down the corridor.

Honestly, these Wood Elves…

A.N. Sorry for the shortness, but the next chapter (or possibly the one after that) is really, really long. So review and make us happy. Also, just so we're clear, Tengaar was being an evil bitch with Hix, who is her bodyguard that we saw in chapter...25? 26? Something like that.