I'm sorry everyone is confused. I meant for there to be a level of confusion there, since Arianell herself is so very confused at this, but I never meant for it to get out of hand. The Valar's explanation to Arianell should clear it up for the rest of us.

I'm using this format: (#) to identify the Valar I use, at the end of the chapter will be a brief description of each, just in case anyone didn't know about the different Valar/Valari

I'm also so very sorry this was not updated yesterday, Wednesday I am at school from 8 am to 7:30pm and I didn't take my disk with me to work on the story!

Recap: Tulkas (One of the war Valar) just killed Lothien and Arianell found herself in Este's arms. The gentle Valier granting her rest.

Dream Sequence

Arianell lifted her heavy eyelids, trying to shake the feeling of sleep from her mind.

"Where am I?"

A beautiful blond elleth, clothed in green smiled at her "I see you have awaken Arianell, I will go and tell the others." (1)

"We were concerned about you child." The voice was deep and came from her left, turning her head stifly she caught the shinning grey eyes of an ellon "You have slept under my hand many days." (2)

"Where is..." The images of Legolas covered in blood returned to her and she chocked on her words, unable to finish her request.

"He is well Arianell, do not fret. He was not present in that ordeal." Arianell listened to the man's booming voice and looked at his strong hands, he had been the one to remove Lothien from her.

"I am Tulkas" he laughed, bowing low as a smile lit his golden beard and unkempt hair. "This is my wife, Nessa" He layed a large, ruddy hand on the thin shoulder of an ellon with redish brown hair and dancing eyes. Her dress was haphazardly arranged, as if she had just been running or dancing, and her long lockes were windblown and mattched the sun's glow upon her cheeks. (3)

Arianell was in a state of shock, her mind still trying to process what had happened. "Where am I" her voice was panicked "Where is Legolas?"

"Shh." a figure clothed in gray came to stand by her, Arianell remembered she had introduced herself as Este.(4) "All will be explained in time Arianell, rest now. Know that Legolas is safe and you will be returned to him."

Varda came to stand at the foot of Arianell's bed, Manwe beside her.

"Are you well Arianell?" Manwe's voice carressed her cheek like a soft summer breeze.

"I am beginning to feel better M'Lord."

"There is much to explain Arianell, much that I may now show you." Varda's voice rang again like crytaline stars through the room that Arianell thought looked like the Palace in Manwe's realm. "The time has come for you to make a choice Arianell. A choice that will change the fates of two realms. Your love for Legolas will be tested but first, I believe the child is due an explanation as to what occured in the garden Tulkas."

"Indeed" Tulkas' voice was light and merry though his words were serious. "We have been waiting Arianell, for we feared something like that would happen, we feared that Lothien would take his frustrations out on you."

Yavanna sighed "We should have intervened sooner Arianell, though I do not believe that any save Iluvatar could have known how he would react."

Este could see the confusion in Arianell's eyes "Child, Lothien was merely a pawn that we used to transport you to your destiny, to transport you to Middle Earth. We, ourselves, do not know why Iluvatar fated one of a mortal realm to be the soulmate of an immortal elf but he indeed did." She smiled so gently at Arianell that Arianell felt her mind put to rest, all of the questions that were running around, all of the voices, were silenced and she was free listen and understand.

"You saw much with Varda Arianell, and yet much there is that was hidden" Manwe's voice again returned to her as strong as the thick of summer. "If you wish to understand."

"I do!" "Then come child" Varda extended her hand at the foot of the bed "Come and I will show you all that is and all that may be."

Arianell lifted herself from the bed lightly, she wasn't tired yet somehow lacked the energy to move swiftly. Her motions were languid and fluid as she rose, with Este and Irmo's help, and walked towards Varda. As soon as she grapsed Varda's hand she was again transported by the mists "This is what was Arianell." Arianell could see the garden glen and Legolas, who stood to get the guards after giving her his dagger.

"His only thought was to protect you Arianell, to keep you safe." Varda motioned towards a figure in the background, Elzar. When Lothien attacked Arianell in the mists she noticed a shimmering barrier go up around them "What is that?"

"His insurance that none save the Valar could interrupt his plans." Varda's smile was grim "He did not think we could intervene Arianell, he was angry that we had intervened as much as we did. He hungered only for power, a thirst that drove him to this and to his death.

Arianell watched as Tulkas snapped Lothien's neck, "Legolas, could he see this?" She could see Elzar and Legolas attempting to break through Lothien's barrier "No, for the illusion of the barrier kept him from you, just as Lothien's illusions kept you from the truth."

Arianell watched as Lothien fell, the barrier disappeared, and Legolas rushed to her side. "What happened to me there? I am not dead am I?"

Varda's hand moved comfortingly "In a way, yes and no. You have died to that time but, like a Maia, it does not mean you cannot go back to that selfsame shell should you wish it."

Arianell watched as Legolas carried her limp body towards the palace, Elzar following...both leaving Lothien where he lay, Legolas' dagger imbedded in his midsection.

"The time has come for you to know why you were brought to Arda Arianell." Varda moved her hand and the mists changed. Arianell could see scenes that corresponded with the stories of the Fellowship she had heard. "Legolas showed strong character and virtue during that quest Arianell, denying the ring's call and aiding all that he could in its destruction. Even going so far as to give up his happiness in his woodland realm by traveling to the sea." Arianell knew all of this, what did it have to do with her?

"When an elf takes a mate they are bonded for life, one cannot live without the other. Sometimes, as is the case between you and Legolas, the soulmates are seperated by great distances, even by realms. If it is Iluvatar's will to bring them together then they meet, despite the circumstances. So you see Arianell, it was fate that drew Lothien to you. He was merely looking for someone compatible enough with Legolas that they would marry, or feign marriage, and he would receive his monetary gain. What he ended up discovering, through our intervention, was Legolas' true soulmate...you."

Arianell was beginning to understand.

"You have a choice Arianell, a choice that you soon must make, you may return to Legolas and life in Middle Earth or you may stay here in Valinor with those who have passed beyond the Sea."

"Choose wisely Arianell" the new voice was tinged with sadness and at the same time the sadness seemed bittersweet. "For I must warn you that either choice is not without its sorrows. If you remain in Valinor your love will become but a memory, always eternal but never realized and Legolas will bond with another. If you return to him you will fade, for you will be unable to hear the call of the Sea and when he passes many ages hence you will remain to live out your days in the realm of Men. But you will know eternal joy and in the knowledge your passing to my halls will be a sweet one." (5)

Tears glistened in Arianell's eyes as she listened, finally realizing how deep her love for Legolas ran.

"I must choose?"

"Yes Arianell" Varda's voice was soft as she looked from the hooded figure to Arianell "As Nienna has spoken so you must choose." Nienna nodded her head solemnly, brown curls spilling from the edges of the hood like shed tears as Varda again placed her hand on Arianell's shoulder, changing the mists.

"What is this?" Arianell looked at the mist figure of Legolas standing by his father, a dwarf, and a man she recognized as Isildurs heir, Elessar. "This is what may be." Arianell watched as the future version of herself walked forward slowly, flowing skirts and tresses fading into the mists. "Is that..."

Varda moved her hand and the scenes changed:

Legolas and Arianell dancing in a ballroom full of people, sitting together in their chambers, riding through the plains she recognized as Rohan, visiting the white city of Minas Tirith, speaking with what she assumed were hobbits outside the shire, traveling through the glittering caves (Arianell had to laugh at how tightly the mist version of herself clutched Legolas).

All these scenes and a lifetime more passed before her eyes but all to soon she saw that which she most wanted to avoid. Before her she watched as Legolas boarded a ship with Gimli, who was being honored for his role in the quest of the ring, and set sail for Valinor. Fading beyond the horizon to West.

Arianell began to cry as she watched herself say farewell. Would she really have to go through all of this if she decided to stay, was Legolas worth all of that?

Her sorrow increased as she saw herself roam the woods of Eryn Lasgalen and Ithillien for an age, passing among the shadows and the light like a shadow of a former time, like a shadow of a former love. Yet as Nienna had said it was bittersweet for she could feel the joy even through Time's Mists, the wonder at the memory of the liftetimes she and Legolas had shared.

I understand that Arianell could set sail if the Valar granted her passage, but they won't. They won't because she has to have some sort of a price to pay to get to stay with Legolas, and that is what the price will be...fading. Her final resing place will be a secluded area of Eryn Lasgalen and there she will remain until the changing of the world.

Valar and Valier included in this chapter (in case anyone cares to know who's who)

1 Yavanna, the Giver of Fruits. Lover of all things that grow upon Arda second only to Varda in respect and wife of Aule.

2 Irmo, master of visions and dreams. Husband to Este and creater of Lorien (the gardens in Valimar). He and his brother Namo are the Feanturi. Namo is the Keeper of the Houses of the Dead.

3 Tulkas, Valar of war yet always smiling. Loves competition and uses his hands as weapons (he broke Lothien's neck in our story) and Nessa, sister to Orome (another war Valar) an elleth who loves to dance upon the fields of evergreen in Valimar. Both Tulkas and Nessa are fleetfooted, able to outrun any creature.

4 Este the gentle, wife of Irmo, giver of healing and rest. She abides on an island in lake Lorellin and walks not by day ('cept in my story, please excuse that).

5 This is a version of Nienna, sister of the Feanturi who dwells alone and is aquanted with grief, mourning for every wound Arda suffered. Her song in the creation of Arda was lamentation and the sound of mourning was woven into the foundations of the World. Those who listen to her lamentations learn pity and endurance of hope. She walks the halls of Mandos and turns sorrows to Wisdom. Her own halls lie west of West on the borders of the world.