The last was terribly short, I know. I think Arianell and Legolas deserve a break, afterall the delegation's meetings have been going on for a few weeks now (though I haven't written of them; boring, dull stuff really). I hope everyone has not forgotten Lothien and Elzar (hint, hint).

Thanks to all my reviewers, seriously guys! I feel so wanted...or is it everyone just wishes to know what happens next? Either way ;)

Now to our story:

Arianell lay on her back in the soft grass, the deep red roses she had picked carefully piled beside her, the thorns neatly removed from their stems. The guards assigned to her lolled about in the shade, thinking their ward merely bored but any who perchanced to look closer would have known better, if they had caught the single crystaline tear falling from her closed eyelids.

"Arianell?"

She sat up, not quite willing to open her eyes, afraid it would again be a dream.

"Arianell!" His voice washed over her like the waves as she smiled and looked towards him, his bright eyes shinning brighter as he ran towards her. "I have missed you Meleth." Legolas threw his arms around her neck and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

"And I you." Arianell smiled as she returned the kiss. "It seems we never see each other anymore, since we no longer share a room." Legolas' face clouded "Damn father and his 'proper' ways." "Legolas" Arianell laughed lightly, though she too was a little peeved King Thranduil had commanded her to return to her own room because of 'appearances'.

"What are you doing out here Meleth? I thought that surely you would have a council session?" Legolas smiled "You cannot be present at council when they are discussing you, Father wanted to talk with the delegates about something or other that concerned me and so dismissed me for the rest of the afternoon."

Arianell's eyes brightened "All afternoon?" Legolas shifted so that he was sitting down instead of kneeling "Yes, I am free until evening meal."

888

It had been so nice to talk and just sit, enjoying each other's company. Arianell had not realized just how much she loved him until he was gone. No longer there to greet her when she woke in the morning, to kiss her softly when he thought she was asleep, to hold her if she tossed in a dream. She smiled at the ellon laying in the grass beside her as she twined a crown of roses, she wished she knew some way to tell him what he meant to her but could think of none.

"What are you doing Meleth?"

Arianell smiled "Making you a crown" She sat the roses on Legolas' head and watched the guards hide their laughter in vain. Legolas noticed too, "You are dismissed." he spoke sternly, his visage grim beneath the roses "When I leave Arianell's side I will send summons for you." The guards nodded and walked towards the palace.

"What was that for?" Arianell adjusted the crown on his head "My Prince?" He rolled his eyes and kissed her only to have her pull away. "Arianell" he moaned "I'm the" he smiled "Crowned Prince, you must do as I command." "Mustn't I?" He looked at her "I command you to kiss me."

Arianell smirked knowingly "Very well, your highness." leaning in she planted a quick, impersonal kiss on his lips. Legolas pouted "I said you had to kiss me." "And I did" Arianell leaned in closer to him "exactly as the 'crowned' Prince commanded." He sighed "Please do not torment me." Arianell smiled "Please do not command me."

"Very well then. Lady Arianell the 'crowned' prince requests that you bestow upon him a kiss." Her eyes were sincere as she pulled him closer to her "Oh does he now? Lucky for him I am inclined to agree with his request."

888

Arianell looked at Legolas, he was leaning back against the stone bench, rose crown askew and eyes closed, soaking up the sunlight. She reached out to smooth a piece of his hair, trying to keep from laughing at him. "What" he smiled at her, removing the rose crown before laying his head back "Can't an ellon get some sleep around here?"

"Maybe if the ellon had been sleeping."

"Arianell!" the voice was harsh and grated on her ears. "What Lothien?" she practically shouted towards the entrance of the gardens. "Elzar and I are leaving, come girl give us a hug." Arianell started to stand but Legolas' gentle hand on her arm stopped her as, without opening an eye, he pressed one of his daggers into her hand "Take this."

"Hurry up girl, we haven't got all day!" Lothien's facial expression did not change as Arianell approached with the dagger but she could see the sudden fear in his eyes.

"You wouldn't use it." "Do not tempt me!" Arianell spat "Tempt you, child I have only helped you, surely you would raise no angered hand against me!"

"Try me" Arianell glared at him "You have ruined my life Lothien. Do not speak to me about anger!" The elf scoffed at her "Ruined, life does not look so ruined to me" he glanced over at Legolas "never forget Arianell you owe this all to me." his hand swept through the palace "all of this will one day belong to you, perhaps I should start collecting gratuity child, or did you think none would notice you check your ears daily!"

Arianell lifted a hand to touch her lobes before stopping herself "Indeed I know more about you than you ever imagined child. If it were not for my divinations and my spells you two would never have been brought together...and let the Valar remember that, the pompous twits! I studied you for years Arianell. I waited for you to come of the age I could bring you here, to become so accepting of your life you would not be able to fight my spells. I studied all of your words; your journals, your poetry, your dreams at night when you thought none could see, the words you cried through the tears on your pillow...they spoke volumes to me Arianell. Volumes I used to bring you here, to create this opportunity for you."

"And am I so blind as to believe you did so out of the kindness of your own heart Lothien? I am to think that for my own well being and Legolas' you brought me here?"

"Of course child" Lothien sidled closer to her "The dowry was just a side benefit. Afterall there is no reason I should not be reimbursed for my hard work."

"Indeed not. Yet do you think the Valar have nothing to do with? Surely you must have noticed how Legolas can no longer order me about like some common elleth, I don't have to bend to his every whim Lothien, what say you to that!"

"You will lower your voice when you address me!" Lothien's eyes turned dark "Do not think that I am some incompetent necromancer, I will not let myself be degraded like this! Not by you and certainly not by Varda. You will show me the proper respect or I will show you pain!"

"You do not scare me!" Arianell hissed as she planted her feet firmly on the ground and grasp the dagger tighter, itching to slice his throat.

"Do you think I must cause physical damage to you?" Lothien flipped his hand and Legolas sat up, startled, a snake coiled in his lap.

"By the Valar!" Arianell glared at Lothien the dagger clasped tight in her fist "You dare hurt him and I will show you wrath!"

"Arianell" It was Legolas, his voice coming from next to Elzar "What are you speaking of?" Lothien smirked at her bewilderment "Illusion my dear."

Arianell, you should not treat your elders so the voice was leering and came from behind her, spinning she could see Legolas, his face downturned. He means only the best Arianell The image to her right had it's eyes downturned too Why fight it, when you know that in the end they will all have their way The figures surrounded her, Legolas...all of them. Arianell tried to scream but no sound would come out, yet the dagger remained clasped in her hands.

As the figures approached her they looked up, their eyes hollow caverns where orbs of light should be. Again Arianell tried to scream and again her voice caught in her throat.

"See my child, I am no mere court jester." Lothien's stature had grown so that he towered over her "And you, you are nothing but a skank. I know why you have stayed here so long, forgetting all that you have left behind. I know how you lust after him." The Legolas nearest her licked his lips "Go ahead whore, he is yours."

Arianell watched the figure approach her, her breathe coming in ragged gasps, her eyes wild with fright. Suddenly she stood and plunged the dagger into the figure's stomach.

Legolas reeled backwards from the blow, his eyes filling with tears. Arianell watched his eyes, his bright silver-blue eyes as they slowly darkened. "Why" was all he managed to choke out before the light left him.