Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR, J.R.R. Tolkien does!

Chapter 13: A Quick and Mistrustful Mind.

He sat and watched her as she twisted a lock of hair around her finger and frowned unconsciously at her work, making him smile as she screwed her face up at it as if it would help.

"What on earth does that mean. This doesn't even make sense." Aranel sighed as she leaned back into the couch she was sitting on, giving her teacher a very annoyed look.

"Yes it does Aranel," Evandar replied as he moved closer to her to read from the pages before her. "Don't look at it logically, that will only confuse you further."

"Evandar this is ridiculous! How else am I supposed to look at it, and how can you possible be in two places as once? It's impossible!"

"You are an open minded woman Aranel, I wouldn't expect you to have so much trouble with this. And besides, you come from a world of magic, nothing is impossible."

Aranel just shook her head at him sighing heavily once more and looking wistfully out of the window at the sunny day beyond.

"What if we have a break and come back to it later?" Evandar suggested, following her gaze.

"Yeah, ok, I need to find Legolas anyway." She said, almost to herself and standing.

"Legolas is in a meeting." Evandar replied in a hurry.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I ran into him this morning."

"I think he would have told me." Aranel replied, her suspicions rising.

"Perhaps it was only arranged this morning." Evandar pressed, taking a step towards her.

Aranel took a step back as he did so, "I think I would rather go and find out for myself." She replied, watching Evandar's usually crystal blue eyes darken slightly.

"I think you should stay here Aranel, people will begin to talk with the amount of time you spend with the Elf." Evandar stated, stepping closer to her yet again.

"My relationship with Legolas is nobody else's business, including you Evandar. Now I would appreciate it if you would drop the subject and let me go and talk to Legolas for myself."

Aranel went to move passed him but his hand came out to stop her. "Why do you constantly try and push me away when I am the only one who can truly understand you?" he whispered, desperate to stop her leaving.

"Understand me? You know nothing about me, if you did you'd know enough to leave me alone."

The red stone around her neck flashed dully before falling back to its usual blackness, the light from the window playing over it.

"Where did you get this?" Evandar asked suddenly, reaching out to touch the stone, Aranel quickly snatching it away from him. "Let me go." She demanded suddenly.

"Aranel-"

"I said let me go." Aranel repeated, her voice rising in anger. She struggled slightly against him, Evandar finally relenting and releasing her. He reached out slightly to try and calm her but Aranel would have none of it.

"Don't touch me Evandar." She hissed, her eyes wide as she watched him closely, never taking her eyes off him as she made her way to the door.

"Aranel, what is wrong with you! For gods sake I'm only trying to help you!"

"Help me?" Aranel laughed back at him. "Don't think I don't realise what's going on Evandar, I know what you want but you will never get it!" she said, anger flashing in her eyes as she twisted the pendant unconsciously in her hand. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and speak with Legolas!" and with that she quickly slipped out of the door, snapping it shut behind her, leaving a bewildered Evandar behind her.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Much to her annoyance Aranel had found Legolas leaving one of the many council chambers, Evandar had been right in saying Legolas was in a meeting. Once they had found a quiet place to talk Aranel had proceeded to tell her tale of just how much she mistrusted Evandar, during which Legolas sat in silence, adding the odd comment here and there but for the most part keeping usually quiet for a subject he would normally be happy to agree on.

"What's wrong Legolas? Has something happened?" Aranel asked finally when she realised she wasn't getting the reaction she had expected from him.

"Your father is returning in two days time Aranel." He said simply. Both fell silent while this news sunk in.

"Are you sure? I mean, he's not due back for a while yet." She pointed out.

Legolas smiled wryly at her comment, "Yes Aranel I am sure, that was what the meeting was for. We are holding a feast for his return."

"How odd that your father would welcome him back." Aranel replied frowning slightly.

"Indeed."

They fell silent again before Legolas finally asked what both had been thinking. "Will we tell them about our relationship?"

Aranel didn't reply immediately, mulling the idea over. "It's sooner than we had expected." Was all she said.

"I know, but this can not go on forever Aranel. Besides, it will be harder to fool both of them right under their noses."

Aranel only nodded, it was not what she wanted to hear but knew it was the truth all the same.

"Okay then, we tell them, the night of the feast." Aranel finally said with false determination.

Legolas wrapped her up in his arms, kissing the top of her head, "Okay then, the night of the feast." He murmured, holding her and praying that he would still be able to in two days time.

"The feast." Aranel echoed quietly, her thoughts travelling the same path Legolas's had, though hers were shadowed with suspicions as to why her father would return so early, all of which lead her to one thing, Evandar.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Aranel spent the next two days leading up to her father's return in anguish. She could not keep her mind on her work, and her mistrust of Evandar was slowly consuming her, driving her to become more and more secluded from the world around her. The strain from it all could even be felt between her and Legolas, Aranel becoming either very clingy or extremely distance, Legolas doing all he could to comfort her, though the same fears of losing her ate away at him constantly.

Finally, in the middle of a very tense lesson the word came that her father had indeed returned, the colour running from Aranel's cheeks as she walked the halls to Thranduil's study, earning her worried looks from Evandar to which she scowled back.

Evandar opened the door for her and she marched past him unceremoniously to find Legolas already in the room, as composed as ever, accompanied by his father. And there by the window was Illindor, travel weary but otherwise in a fairly good mood.

"Aranel! I have missed you my daughter!" he said immediately moving over to her and hugging her. Aranel froze at the contact however and Illindor looked at her oddly before looking at the rest of the group. It was a very different one from the group he had left behind, the once happy and youthful Evandar looked worn, Aranel looked as if she might collapse in the slightest breeze rather than the radiant young woman he had left behind and the Elves, once so aloof and proud, both looked as if neither had rested in days, Legolas, though composed stood with slightly slumped shoulders and tired eyes and Thranduil looked as if he might suddenly attack anyone of them at any moment, including Legolas.

"I hope all is well." Illindor said cautiously.

"Fine" Aranel replied briskly.

"And your lessons?"

"Progressing." Evandar said simply.

"Well, good then. May I ask why I was called ba-" Illindor began only to be cut off by Thranduil.

"I will fill you in with any details Illindor, but first I would like a word in private." He looked around at the others who all nodded and quickly took their leave, not wanting to be under Thranduil's murderous gaze for any longer than they had to. Aranel wondering herself what was going on as she gave a small smile to Legolas before returning to her lessons.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

"Thranduil what is going on-" Illindor began as soon as the door closed only to be cut off yet again.

"I want you and your daughter out of this kingdom by sunset tomorrow Illindor." He said, his bright blue eyes flashing as he lent forward behind his desk.

"What? Thranduil you know perfectly well that these peace talks-"

"No Illindor I will not have that little whore-" Thranduil cut in, hitting his desk in anger.

"How dare you!" Illindor exploded at the insult to his daughter, raising a hand as if to strike, an impossible wind catching his hair and tugging at his clothing.

"Your daughter is having an affair with my son!" Thranduil yelled in a breathtaking rage, causing Illindor to step back quickly, lowering his hand slowly in the ringing silence.

"What?" he whispered quietly.

"Aranel is involved with Legolas, and I will not stand for it."
"You liar! Aranel would never-"

"I saw them with my own eyes!" Thranduil shot back.

Again silence fell before Thranduil continued. "Either you are gone by sundown tomorrow or you end it. I will not have my son involved with a Fay."

"I will talk to her then, but Thranduil if she loves-"

"I don't care! Illindor I swear if you daughter still has any involvement with my son you will have an army of elves waiting for you at your doorstep."

"Is that a threat Thranduil?"

"It most certainly is, and one that I would be most happy to carry out." Thranduil hissed back.

"You would declare war over one of your sons affairs?"

"Yes, Illindor I would."

Silence fell as both stared at one another, weighing the conviction in the words.

"You would have me break the heart of my daughter and even your son to have your own way?" Illindor said, though it was more a statement than a question. Thranduil simply nodded in return before finally speaking.

"You have a choice Lord Illindor, either leave this kingdom and do not return or end it." He said with finality. Illindor watched him, defeated but unwilling to risk the prospect of finally achieving peace for a relationship that could only have been going on for just under a month.

Finally Illindor grudgingly nodded his consent, uttering quietly "You are an old foolish man Thranduil, I only hope your son will forgive you for your blindness." Before leaving, losing the door softly behind him.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

So what do you think? The drama begins! Anyway please please please review! I love you all!