Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the rings, J.R.R Tolkien does!

A/N: Thank you everyone for the reviews. You guys really keep me going! Oh, and a bit of language in this one but not much, still getting into the swing of things.

Chapter 9: Unexpected Meetings

Aranel lead Evandar upstairs, dodging anyone they came across.

"Where are you going to stay?" She whispered as they neared her chambers.

"I don't know yet, that was one of the things I had to speak to your father about." Evandar whispered back.

Aranel nodded, opening the door as she did so. "Perhaps you could stay here, Thranduil may be stubborn but I'm sure one more Fay can't hurt."

"Or perhaps it could." Said a voice from within her room.

Aranel pushed the door open to find Thranduil standing, waiting for her, Legolas as always by his side and Illindor leaning against the wardrobe.

"Shit." Aranel mumbled.

"Indeed." Illindor replied.

"You'd better dry off before we get into this." Thranduil remarked as the two stood, dripping in the doorway.

"Thankyou." Aranel murmured

"Not for your sake, I'd just hate to see the carpets ruined." Thranduil replied carelessly, earning a steely glare from all three Fay now present.

After grabbing a couple of towels and drying as best they could Aranel came to confront the three accusing looks she was getting.

"Well, who's first? I suppose you're going to threaten to throw us out," she said, nodding to Thranduil, "You're going to tell my how disappointed you are in me," she continued, glaring at Illindor, "and you, well, you wont say anything, since your doing a very good job of ignoring me." She finished, sending a glare Legolas's way, fed up with everything and determined not to let the trio tell her what to do anymore.

"As childish as ever I see." Thranduil murmured.

"If anyone's childish around here Thranduil it's you. I'm sick to death of the way you treat us, and I'm not going to sit around and take it anymore. If you want to be an arse-whole they by all means be my guest but don't expect anything different in return."

Silence followed Aranel's sudden outburst, her frustration at being cage up like she were some kind of monster had been wearing her patience thin, and seeing Legolas again had reminded her of how much she hated him at the moment as well.

"Well then, you got to the point a lot faster than I managed to this afternoon Aranel." Illindor said, stepping forward. "You see, part of the reason for the council I attended was to discuss whether these restrictions could be lifted, or indeed 'loosened' shall we say." Aranel's mouth dropped open at Illindor's words, she knew what was going to come next almost as if it had bright flashing neon lights attached to it. "And Thranduil, out of good faith and the prospect of peace between our people has agreed that we will be allowed out of the grounds, on the condition that our powers are not used, which consequently is what we are here about."

"Oh god." Aranel whispered to herself, looking desperately at Thranduil, "I…I…didn't mean to…I just didn't think that you would let us…Sorry." She mumbled quietly, lowering her eyes as she felt her cheeks flush from the embarrassment of her outburst, as guilt clawed its way into her stomach. "Oh, and Thankyou." She added quickly just as Illindor began to speak again.

"Good, now I want an explanation as to what happened tonight please."

"I went to look around the village-" Aranel started but was cut off by Evandar.

"I will take responsibility for tonight's actions, Aranel would never had ventured into the town had it not been for my encouragement. It was bad judgment on my behalf, but in my defence I had not realised the stakes at which you where staying here. I had no idea any mention of peace had come between our people." Evandar said moving forward to confront them.

"And who, may I ask, are you?" Thranduil said, glancing cooling at Evandar.
"I am Evandar, Ruler of the Skies. I have come here for Aranel's education, I will be teaching her all I can whilst Lord Illindor is attending to his peoples needs."

"What?" Aranel cut in before anyone else could speak.

"I'm your new teacher, of sorts, Aranel. Your father has been called back to your kingdom and I am to continue your education while he is gone." Evandar said turning to her and smiling kindly, placing a hand on the small of her back. Legolas's eyes followed the movement and his brow furrowed slightly, but his face resumed his emotionless mask before anyone could possibly have noticed.

"You're leaving me with a bunch of Elves!" Aranel continued, staring incredulously as her father, completely ignoring Evandar's attempts to calm her for the moment.

"Evandar will be with you, and from the look of you two you will find his company far more…entertaining than you do mine." Illindor replied, a slight smile playing across his features.

"I suppose…"Aranel said, trailing off, not sure if she was happy about this sudden announcement of her fathers departure after only just getting to know him. "When will you be back?"

"I'm not sure as yet, a few week I hope." Illindor said kindly.

"Can we get back to the matter at hand?" Thranduil cut in, looking extremely impatient.

"Yes, a report came to me tonight that the two of you used magic, in plain sight of the citizens, and not only that but you were on private property." Legolas said, finally breaking his silence. A smile crossed Aranel's face at the sound of his voice, she had not heard it in so long, but it disappeared quickly at his words.

"Again I take full responsibility, it was I that used my powers, not Aranel, she was in no fault on that account, and as for the private property, we were not aware of it at the time but would be happy to apologise to the owner for any disturbance we may have caused."

"That will not be necessary, but thank you for the offer Lord Evandar." Thranduil said, nodding his acceptance to Evandar. "As for anything else, that is the affairs of the Fay, I do not think it involves us Legolas." Thranduil said, indicating to the door and expecting his son to follow.

"Actually I would like a word with Aranel, Father." He replied, watching Aranel's reaction, she was quite proud of herself that she gave none, though she felt like she had something caged in the pit her stomach.

'Very well, I trust you can punish your daughter for her wayward behaviour Illindor." Thranduil finished.

"Of course" Illindor replied and Thranduil nodded to them one last time before leaving.

"Aranel, I'm going to say another week for you, without being able to leave the grounds for leaving when you knew it could jeopardize everything I am working for here, I am sure you are mature enough to take responsibility for your actions though so I think that will be it." Illindor said giving his daughter a serious look.

"Yes, I am, Thankyou." Aranel replied bowing her head.

"Good, now, Legolas wishes to speak with you and I wish to speak to Lord Evandar so I will see you in the morning to say farewell."

"Ok, good night then." Aranel said quietly.

"Good night Aranel." Evandar said, squeezing her hand as he moved away from her and followed her father out of the room leaving Legolas and Aranel to watch each other, both unsuccessfully trying to read the others thoughts.

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They stood in silence for a few moments, Aranel finally getting too impatient and breaking it.

"So, what do you want?' She said in an uncaring voice, moving past him to close the curtains and get on with her nightly routine.

"To talk to you." Legolas answered levelly.

"Oh really, I wouldn't have guessed." Aranel replied sarcastically.

"Why do you insist on making things so difficult?"

"Me! I'm not the one being an idiot and ignoring people for no apparent reason!" Aranel exploded.

"No apparent reason! Aranel, you have caused public outcry throughout this kingdom!"

"How is that my fault?" Aranel answered, turning from her task and glaring daggers at Legolas.

"You can't possibly be serious."

"Try me." Aranel said threateningly.

"You appear out of thin air in the middle of the dinning hall, then act like it was some amazing feat that I should congratulate you for and then you have the audacity to come bursting into a private meeting and insult all that were present, and now you're asking me how it was your fault!" Legolas said, giving her a shocked and extremely angry look, his voice rising in volume as he took a couple of steps forward.

However, the sight of a very menacing elf did not deter Aranel in the slightest. "If you cared about anything other than yourself you'd have realised by now that one, I had no control over what happened in the dinning hall, if you had half a brain you might actually have realised this since I passed out in front of you, but clearly you don't care about me that much, which you've proved very well over the past few weeks. Two, I recall that it just might have been you that called me a "bastard child", I may have said some harsh things but that just topped them all Legolas really, and three, you wouldn't have noticed since you're just so self absorbed, but it's not all that easy being thrown into a new world of complete strangers and being told your not even human. So really Legolas, I think I have every right to be angry and yes, I might have been responsible for some things but at least I can admit it instead of blaming other people like you." Aranel finished her spiel, she had become quite worked up and was now face to face with Legolas, ready to slap him if need be. Legolas looked down at her, both of their eyes burning into each other as if they were trying to bore holes in each other's heads.

"You are the most frustrating woman I have ever met." was Legolas's answer to that.

"Well, at least I'm not a child anymore." Aranel muttered.

"You were never a child." Legolas answered evenly.

"Well, according to –"
"I was angry, Aranel, and I was worried about you."

This caught Aranel a little of guard, she had expected Legolas to fight her more than this and she must have showed it, Legolas seeing his advantage as a ghost of a smile ran across Legolas's lips and he reached out to caress her arm.

"Well you have a strange way of showing it." She mumbled, suddenly very aware of how close they were standing.

Legolas nodded, still watching her, "I admit I was wrong, Aranel. I haven't handled things as well as I would have liked and it made me frustrated, which I unfairly took out on you. I'm Sorry."

"You are?" Aranel said, still disbelieving that Legolas had done such a turn around.

"Yes, surprising isn't it." Legolas replied, smiling a little now.

"Well, you are very stubborn."
"Not nearly as stubborn as you." Legolas answered smiling warmly now.

"That's true, "Aranel said, smiling herself now, "I'm sorry I was such a bitch."

Legolas chuckled slightly, "That's ok, sorry I was such a bastard."

"Yeah, you were a bit of a bastard." Was Aranel's reply, Legolas still smiling down at her as he nodded in agreement.

"Can we start again do you think?"

"Sure." Aranel said, still smiling as Legolas wrapped his arms around her gently, taking in her soft scent and delicate frame in his arms.

Aranel stiffened slightly at this, almost pulling away, but she let Legolas hold her and found herself relaxing into his arms.

"Thank you." He breathed into her hair, as she shifted slightly at the sound of his voice.

"Not a problem." She replied gently, her head resting on his shoulder.

Legolas pulled back slightly, cupping her cheeks in his hands. "I missed you, you know." He whispered almost to himself.

"I missed you to." Aranel replied just as quietly.

Legolas smiled to himself at her words, gently turning her head in his hands as he kissed her gently on the cheek, lingering as he lent his cheek against her own. Again Aranel froze at this sudden show of affection, but relaxed into him again as his hand wandered to her waist and draw her closer to him. They remained like this for what could have been an eternity or a few seconds, Aranel seemed to have lost all sense as Legolas's thumb gently caressed the small of her back, and he stood holding her, amazed at the feeling of having her in his arms.

Eventually Aranel pulled back, Legolas's hand finding her own as she did so, his thumb now gently running over her palm.

"I suppose I should let you get some rest."

Aranel nodded her agreement, trying to hide a yawn.

Legolas smiled happily at her, bring her hand up to run his lips lightly over he knuckles.

"Rest well Aranel." He whispered gently, letting go of her hand and heading slowly to the door.

"You to Legolas." Aranel answered quietly, as he reached the door, opening it to let the light from the hall spill in.

Legolas gave her one last quick smile as he shut the door. He walked back to his chambers as if in a trance, a small smile playing across his lips as he thought of the complete feeling of elation to have Aranel in his arms.

Aranel watched Legolas go, walking to the door after it had shut and running her hands down the grainy wood, beaming into the dull light of her room, already desperate to see him again.

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Hey! I got two chapters up within a week, are you proud? Anyway, it probably won't happen again anytime soon so enjoy it while it lasts, and as always please please please read and review! Thankyou : )