Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR. JRR. Tolkien does!

Chapter 14: The world at her feet.

Aranel sat in front of her mirror and studied herself critically. It was the night of the feast in her Father's honour and about an hour ago a servant had marched into her room in whirlwind of chaos and commotion to get her ready, she had only just left and Aranel sighed in relief at the sudden peace. She looked at herself now; in a dark blue dress, fitted to her body with intricate silver leaves embroided along the hem. She liked it, Aranel decide, it was simple and yet that was one of the things that made the garment so beautiful. Aranel fingered a curl that hung over her shoulder, the servant had pinned a lot of her hair up for her but some flowed loose and in ringlets. The sun was setting out side her window and she suddenly felt her stomach drop at the thought of Legolas, he would be here soon and she was terrified and yet excited at what they were about to do. They had both come to the discission that they would make their relationship public tonight; Aranel's stomach did another flip at the thought. There was a sudden knock at her door and she almost jumped out of her skin, he was early. Though as she opened her door it was not Legolas she found standing behind it but her Father.

"Oh, hello." She greeted him, a little shakily as her nerves calmed themselves.

"You seemed shocked to see me." He father commented.

"I just thought you were someone else."

"Legolas no doubt." Illindor replied quickly.

"How did you-"

"Come I must speak with you." He father cut her off, indicating that she should follow him. She shut the door quickly and hurried down the hall, wondering what could possibly be so important.

"I need to be back soon, I'm meeting-"

"That does not matter now Aranel." Illindor said quickly as he showed her into his chambers.

"What do you mean?" Aranel queried at once.

"Enough Aranel. Sit down please, this is of great importance." Aranel could her the frustration and strain in her fathers voice so she stopped questioning him for the moment and did as she was told.

He watched her for a few moments before asking quietly, "It was Legolas that was coming to meet you?"

Aranel nodded slowly, swallowing as she decided to confess their plans, she thought her father deserved some kind of warning after everything he had done for her. "There's something you should know..." she began.

"You and Legolas are…involved…with one another, I know." Illindor interrupted her.

Aranel opened and closed her mouth much like a fish for a few moments in shock, before whispering "How?"

"Thranduil has seen the two of you together. That is why I need to talk to you tonight." Illindor replied gravely.

Aranel sat in silence for a few moments more, trying to get her head around everything before looking back up to her father, asking with growing dread "Why?"

Illindor sighed as he watched his daughter before replying. "He called me back here because of it Aranel, and you must know that this is for the best of us all, as much as you mean to me I don't think you realise that you are playing with the lives of hundreds of thousands of both Elves and Fay alike, that is why I must put an end to it."

"You can't." Aranel began but didn't get much further as her throat ceased up and she felt tears take hold of her.

"I am so sorry Aranel, this way I think will be the easiest for all of us."

"No…" Aranel chocked out.

"I am sorry… I have already finalised everything with Evandar…"

"Please don't do this…please." Aranel managed to choke out, in her shocked mind she knew exactly what her father was going to say, she could not hold back the tears any longer and she felt them burn their way down her cheeks.

Illindor shook his head sadly, turning away from her and nodding to something behind her. Aranel turned to see Evandar standing there, she had not noticed him before but now she stood, uttering in a mere whisper "Please don't…"

"I'm sorry, it is for the best." He said quietly.

Illindor came and stood between the two, his voice taking on an official edge, every word cutting through Aranel as if to expose her very soul, "From this day forward you, Lady Aranel, daughter of myself, a High Lord of the Fay, will be bound to Evandar, Lord of the Skies as his betrothed and future bride."

Aranel could not help but let out a strangled sob at his words, and as Evandar gently slipped a slim silver band over her finger all she could do was whisper "But I love him." She wasn't sure if it was to herself or anyone else but all knew of whom she spoke. A heavy silence followed, only broken by the quiet tears of Aranel, who was staring blankly at the ring on her finger, her hand shaking slightly. Her thoughts flew through many things in that moment, how mere words could cut her soul to shreds, how such a small thing as the ring on her finger could bring the world at her feet crashing down. She felt her legs suddenly give way beneath her and it was only when Evandar suddenly caught her that she realised she had actually physical started to fall and it wasn't her world crumbling around her.

"It is done." Illindor murmured as Evandar sat her down, offering her a drink.

"We'll leave you for a few moments to compose yourself Aranel, then Evandar will escort you down to the hall where I will make the announcement of your betrothal." He continued coming to kneel before his daughter. "You are stronger than this Aranel, I know it, even in the worst situations there is always hope." He said quietly, raising her chin so she had to look him in the eyes.

Aranel nodded slightly as Illindor stood and the two made there way to the door, closing it gently, leaving Aranel to flounder in a darkness she knew she would never truly escape.

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The woman that sat between the Fay lords was one completely change to the girl that had sat in front of her mirror only half an hour ago, excitement filling her at the prospect of her new life. She was composed, her features showed no sign of emotion, in fact anyone looking at her could have easily thought she had been brought up as one of the royals she now sat with, her mask was so perfect. In truth she felt nothing at all, just numb and hollow, her face simply reflecting the emptiness she now felt in her soul. There was a small sign of a heartbeat in her frosty countenance as her cheeks flushed ever so slightly as Legolas slipped into the room, late, catching her eyes and giving her a questioning look. Aranel knew exactly where he had been, waiting for her, but it wasn't long until the coldness took hold of her again and she returned to the pale, emotionless woman she had been moments earlier.

She barely noticed the food set in front of her, or the conversation directed her way, or even Legolas's glances and attempts to capture her attention. The only thing she did take notice of was when, finally after what had seemed like years to Aranel, Thranduil stood just before the end of the meal, tapping his glass to catch the rooms attention. Once silence fell, he beamed around the room, thanking them all for coming. Illindor stood then and for what seemed to be the millionth time that night Aranel felt her stomach drop, this time from dread and for the first time that night she caught Legolas's eyes, and in that moment the room seemed not to exist, it was just the two of them and she wondered if Legolas knew what was about to happen.

The moment was broken however by Evandar, who was tugging gently on her arm to make her stand, the room watching her as rose slowly, Legolas's eyes never leaving her.

Illindor sighed heavily as he gazed around at the many faces watching them, finally turning to Aranel and giving her an encouraging looked. "It is my pleasure to announce…" he began but Aranel tuned out, watching Legolas as Illindor continued. She saw his eyes widen in shock as he turned back to her, for once she was able to read the emotions that etched themselves across his features easily. They remained like that for what seemed like an age, Aranel silently pleading forgiveness, Legolas disbelief and betrayal written across his handsome face.

Again Evandar snapped her out of it as he whispered gently "Be strong Aranel," cupping he cheek and kissing the other gently. They sat once more and the noise of conversation broke out once more around the hall, however Aranel could handle no more of it.

"I have to go." she breathed quietly, standing quickly before anyone could stop her, slipping silently out of the room.

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Upon finally reaching her room Aranel closed the door softly and lent heavily against it, the tears that had started to fall yet again making their silent way down her cheeks.

"What is the matter Aranel?" his voice said from the familiar shadows.

"Go away." Aranel murmured with out bothering to open her eyes.

"Come now, is that anyway to treat a guest?" This time his voice was closer and Aranel opened her eyes to find Orenar's dark ones watching her, a small smile playing across his lips.

"You are an unwanted guest, leave me be."

"Really? I would have thought I, out of everyone in this castle tonight, would be the easiest to deal with."

"You, out of everyone in this kingdom, I treat with the most mistrust Orenar. What do you want tonight?" Aranel replied glaring at the man.

"Do you really trust anyone Aranel? I was right about Evandar and your father after all and-"

"I am in no mood for you stupid mind games Orenar, either tell me what you want or get out!" Aranel snapped suddenly, the strain of the day finally catching up with her.

After a moment Orenar sighed comically, his smile broadening, becoming almost threatening. "Very well then, what I want is quiet simple Aranel. In fact you don't really have to worry about anything at all. After tonight's events I wouldn't be surprised if you in fact welcomed the idea."

"What are you talking about?" Aranel asked suspiciously, circling Orenar, her misgivings growing by the second.

Orenar laughed quietly to himself. "You of course, Aranel. I am talking about you. You see, ever since I heard about your sudden appearance, the bloodline in your veins and the resulting power you must carry I knew then that I must possess it. Power such as yours does not come along every day, and think of my delight when I discovered it was nicely package in a sweet, innocent girl like your self!" he laughed coldly at her, seeming to freeze her to the bone. Aranel cursed her stupidity, quickly trying to think back through her lessons trying to find something to best defend herself with, only to stumble across something she should have realised from the start.

Orenar… she suddenly realised where she knew the name. "You… you said you were involved in the wars, you weren't just involved were you… you started them."

Orenar laughed yet again, "How very insulting Aranel! I started nothing, that would have been my mother, but I suppose you can be forgiven for that. I lead the armies that almost destroyed you father's kingdom, I the Prince of Shadow, almost had you father begging for mercy, they feared me so. And it would have come to pass if that brat of a man Evandar had not come to your fathers rescue." He mumbled the last part almost to himself, Aranel desperate to get away and yet almost mesmerized by the man, so desperate was she to work out the impossible puzzle that she seemed to be a part of.

"No matter!" Orenar suddenly snapped out of his insane mumbling, advancing on Aranel, "We will have plenty of time to discuss all of this later, but for now we must make tracks before Evandar sees fit to meddle yet again."

The air seemed to quiver with the power he possessed, Aranel had no chance of escape from the moment she had entered the room, the only thing she was able to think of in that split second was to throw anything she could muster at him, which ended up being fire to her surprise, but of course was ineffective against a millenniums of experience that Orenar possessed.

In one foul swoop he had knocked her down, the air leaving her lungs and bound her. He knelt over her, his insane eyes seeming to glow red in the fire she had set, Aranel realised then she had never known what fear was until that moment.

"Well, off we go then." He said, quiet calmly, making it seem all the cruller. He grabbed her arm, digging his fingers into her flesh, Aranel screamed but was cut short by the darkness that suddenly surrounded her, as they disappeared, leaving the room suddenly silent as the fire slowly consumed what it could.

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Well, there we go, yet another chapter. Thanks again for all the reviews, you guys are great! Let me know what you think and I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter up a little soon this time!