Author's Note: I just want to take a moment and thank you for your reviews! Please keep them coming! :)

Goodbyes

Her eyes were wide with shock. Her racing heart that involuntarily jumped to her throat seemed to be the loudest sound in the room. Le'ariel forgot that the first letter Adanion wrote her was still tucked away under her pillow. The pillow that was under Legolas's head. It didn't even occur to her to hide it somewhere else. And, of course, she wasn't planning on the prince finding it in the fashion that he did.

Legolas stared at the letter again, almost crushing it in his hands. His knuckles turned white from holding it so tightly in his grasp. His other hand, balled into a fist. "Is this what you wanted to tell me?" He glowered at her.

"Yes, Legolas." Le'ariel replied quietly and sat herself down in a chair. She placed her hands on her lap, waiting for him to explode at her.

The prince's jaw was tightly clenched. He slowly sat back down and gave a long sigh, staring at the wall. Le'ariel still had her hands in her lap, her eyes darting to different places on the floor. Legolas briefly glanced at her. She cautiously moved her focus toward him. His eyes looked heavy with thought.

He met her gaze, her heart racing again in her chest. "Well, then..." he finally spoke, "do explain. And please, spare no details."

Le'ariel nodded. "I received the letter in the courtyard...half a century ago." Legolas clenched his jaw again from the length of time she had kept it from him. She noticed his expression change but ignored it. "As you have read, Adanion wants us to visit him in Rivendell to make amends with you...and me. But, he knew that you would probably refuse the invitation so he requested I try to...convince you. Again, also in the letter. You rarely, if never, speak about your cousin so I assumed that you were still bitter toward him. With that in mind, I wrote Adanion a letter telling him that it might not be a good idea and that I did not know how to even try and ask you such a thing."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Is there more?" Legolas's voice was stern, dripping with betrayal.

Le'ariel slowly nodded again and opened her eyes. "Then...the letters continued. We wrote each other from time to time and eventually, he asked if I alone...could visit Rivendell."

Legolas tried to contain his anger. He fists were still clenched to avoid breaking something in her room. "And what did you say?" he managed to say calmly.

"Of course I said no, Legolas..." she said softly. "Do you really think that I would want to go to Rivendell without you?"

He shook his head. "Why did you not tell me this sooner?" The prince looked at her with hurt in his eyes.

It pained her to see how injured he seemed. She walked over and sat next to him on the bed. Le'ariel gently placed her hand over one of his clenched fist. He relaxed a little at her touch. "Because I was afraid of your reaction..." She lowered her head.

The prince cupped her chin and brought her eyes to meet his. "You know I would never hurt you, Le'ariel," he whispered.

"I know..." she gave him a half-smile.

"Will you tell me something?" His eyes looked deeply into her hazel orbs.

"Anything..." The prince's gaze was so intense, she couldn't look away.

"Have you...fallen for him?" The words were almost too hard from him to say.

She flinched at his words, her chin automatically leaving his hand. "Legolas..."

"Well, do you?" his tone questioning and demanding.

Le'ariel's eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the prince at his abhorred question. He examined her features for a sign. She looked...hurt and upset. He softened his and looked away. "Legolas..." she places a hand on his cheek to bring his face back to hers. He looked back at her with concern filled eyes. "I love...you."

Her words relaxed his features instantly. He placed his hand over hers and closed his eyes. "And I love you…"

"But, do you not think that it may be a good idea to visit Rivendell? I—"

"No, Le'ariel!" Legolas stood the second he heard Imladris escape her lips. The look of anger was back in his eyes. "We are not going!" He said firmly.

"But why, Legolas?" her eyes pleaded for an explanation.

His fists clenched again. He looked away from her, frustrated. "You have no idea how it felt to see him grab you the way he did in the courtyard," he said through clenched teeth. "I did not want to see you more upset than you already were…so Keldir convinced me to banish him instead of..." he sighed. "It no longer matters."

Le'ariel took a moment to soak in his words. Now she understood why Legolas never mentioned Adanion. She wasn't aware how much the incident affected him. If she only knew, she would have approached this situation differently. "Things are different now, Legolas. He is different..."

"Is he, really?" the prince snapped. "Well, did you also know that during his courtship to you, Varien and Morawen were both sent invitations to his chamber? Did he tell you that in his letters?"

"No..." Le'ariel stood. "That is not true." She didn't want to believe Legolas. He was trying to turn Adanion into a villain again, and she wasn't going to listen. She put all of that behind her.

"He did not love you, Le'ariel, not like I do. His intentions were to bed you because you were a challenge to him…a game!" Legolas took the letter that sat on the bed and crumpled it, throwing it across the room. "I could have killed him!"

"You lie..." Le'ariel fought back the tears and anger building inside of her.

The prince placed his hands on her shoulders. "Do you really think I would make something like this out of thin air knowing how it would upset you? To risk your anger with me for telling you lies? I do not want you near him, Le'ariel. If he ever hurt you again..." Legolas tried to shake the thoughts away in order to stay calm.

"He has changed, Legolas..."

The prince let out a frustrating growl and paced the room. "How can you be so sure, Le'ariel? Letters can be deceiving," he pointed out. "Anyone can make anything on a parchment seem enticing and believable, if he but knew the skills."

"That is why it is best that we see it for ourselves," she retorted.

She trusted Legolas but still had to witness Adanion's change for herself. Like the prince said, letters could be deceiving, and if Adanion truly did want to put the past behind them, he would stick to his word. But, Legolas, she knew could be as stubborn as she was.

"No, Le'ariel!" His hands slammed down on the small table making her flinch. "I cannot promise that I will not do something irrational if I were there." She saw his jaw tighten again. "And I will not allow you to go there by yourself, especially unprotected."

"To protect me from what?" she scoffed. "Adanion?"

"Yes!" Legolas answered curtly.

Le'ariel sighed. She was not ready to give up yet. "What if Keldir or even another guard accompanied me then? I promise not to leave their sight. It will only be a few days, Legolas."

"And why are you so insistent on seeing him?" he asked agitated that she wouldn't let the subject go.

"Because I have forgiven him, Legolas..." she answered quietly, "and maybe you should as well."

A knock came to the door that made both of their heads turn quickly. The chambermaid's door opened slowly without waiting for a response from either of them. It was Dalorien.

"What in Middle-earth is going on in here?" She walked in with a questioning look on her face. "Half of the whole kingdom can here you two bickering in here!"

"I am sorry, mother." Le'ariel apologized. "Legolas and I were merely having a difference in opinion," she gave him an annoyed look.

Legolas straightened his posture. "Yes, Dalorien, our apologies. I was just about to leave. Sorry for the disturbance." He turned to Le'ariel as he passed. "No, no, and no, Le'ariel. That is final," he said quietly, his voice stressed as he whispered those words to her. She kept her silent pout only because her mother was there. If she hadn't interrupted them, their argument could have lasted until the morning. "Good night," he said to the both of them.

"Good night, Legolas." Dalorien replied as he exited the room. "What is going on with you two?" she turned to Le'ariel.

"Nothing, mother." She looked away, forcing back the tears.

Dalorien sighed. "Very well, Le'ariel. Get some rest."

"Yes, mother..." she whispered. She kissed her good night and closed the door behind her.

Le'ariel wanted to cry but no tears escaped, even when she tried to force them out. She was more disappointed than upset that Legolas still held bitter feelings toward his cousin. If she was the one who he offended and she was able to forgive him, so should he.

One thing she did know for a fact was that Legolas really did love her or he wouldn't be so overprotective of her. But she didn't think he needed to overreact so much. Legolas's mind was set, there was no way of changing it, and it frustrated her to no end.

They both went to sleep that night in a foul mood.

I I I

The next month or so wasn't pleasant for anyone. Le'ariel avoided the prince and he hadn't attempted to see her, leaving everyone that crossed their paths irritated. The elves had no clue on what their argument was about, but judging from gloomy cloud they carried over their heads, it wasn't good.

"Le'ariel, please. You are making us all miserable!" Sirawen whined.

"Then stay away from me…problem solved."

Sirawen shook her head. "It has been a month, Le'ariel..."

"Yes, and it will go on for months, and months, and months until Legolas stops acting like an elf-child!" she gritted her teeth.

Her friend rolled her eyes. "And have you seen the way you have been behaving lately?"

"This is not about me, Sirawen." She threw the washcloth into the bucket. "This is about Legolas and his lack of understanding."

"I am not choosing sides, but…it seems that he is just doing what he thinks is best?"

"Well, he is wrong!" Le'ariel snapped.

Sirawen sighed again. "I give up…"

Her friend didn't say another word and Le'ariel did the same. They continue the rest of their morning chores in silence. The trashing of clothing and other materials in the chambermaid's possession are the only things making the most noise...along with the occasional 'humph' from her lips.

Morawen passed them by without Varien for once, her eyes on Le'ariel with a smug look on her features. Le'ariel remembered what Legolas told her about the maiden. She glared at her in return which didn't seem to bother Morawen in the least. Le'ariel had an inkling that she was up to something.

Sirawen offered to take what was clean and folded back inside the underground kingdom, leaving Le'ariel by herself to tend to what was left. Le'ariel held the bucket on the side of her hip and threw the scrubbing materials inside so she could clean them at the water well. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard voices around the corner. She jumped back into the shadows when she saw Morawen speaking to Legolas.

"You look upset, my prince..." Morawen traced her finger along the side of his arm.

"I am fine, Lady Morawen." Legolas replied with an impatient look on his face. "I am in a bit of a hurry, excuse me." He tried walking around her but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her. She placed both hands on his wrists, his own hands in fists. Legolas rolled his eyes at her advances. "What is it you want, Morawen?"

"What do you think it is I want?" she smirked at him.

"I do not have time for your games, Morawen. I am looking for Le'ariel." The chambermaid was surprised to hear her name. "And you should not think you can have your hands on a prince like that."

"My apologies, Your Highness," she let him go, "but why do you waste your time with her?" She asked frustrated. "She is not of noble birth. I can make you happier than her or Varien...and you know it!"

"You are being delusional, Morawen." Legolas was impatient to leave.

Morawen looked offended. "You, Prince Legolas, are the one who is being delusional!" She threw herself at him with a forceful kiss.

Legolas quickly pulled away after heard a noise in the background. He turned his head and saw Le'ariel with her mouth open in shock and a bucket on the ground with scrubbing materials sprawled out on the ground. Her look of shock slowly turned into a murderous glare. She glowered at Legolas then at Morawen, who smiled smugly again. Le'ariel quietly stomped away furiously.

"Le'ariel!" Legolas called after her but Morawen stopped him.

"Let her go, Prince Legolas." She reached to caress his face but Legolas grabbed her wrist before she could. The maiden looked horrified at the look in his eyes.

The prince glared at her fiercely. "If you ever try to attempt anything like that again or try to be anywhere less than thirty feet from the Prince of Mirkwood, I will have you thrown into the dungeons for the rest of your immortal life," he threatened. "You will also do well to pass this information along to your maiden friends." He pushed her away and ran after Le'ariel, leaving her dumbfounded.

He asked everyone he encountered if they saw the servant pass by. Legolas was by the servant quarters appearing to be at a dead end until he saw another elf.

"Velhar!"

Velhar saw the prince as he turned the corner and tried to turn back the way he came but it was too late for he was seen. He had no choice now but to go to the prince. "Yes, Your Highness?" he smiled nervously.

Legolas grabbed him frantically by the shoulders. "Velhar, where is Le'ariel? I must speak with her. This is very urgent."

The servant gulped. "I am sorry, Your Highness, I do not know where she is..."

"Please, Velhar..." Le'ariel's friend heard the desperate plea in the prince's voice, especially in his eyes, and sighs. With some hesitation, he finally glanced down the hallway. Legolas followed his gaze and smiled. "Thank you," he shook him then ran off again.

Velhar gulped, knowing that Le'ariel won't be happy that he told the prince where she was. If he were lucky, she would guess Legolas found her on his own.

"Le'ariel!" he burst through her door, panting from all the running he did to catch up to her.

She threw a candlestick at him, which he barely dodges. "Go away, Legolas!" she yelled.

"Le'ariel, please, let me explain! I came looking for you to apologize when Morawen stopped me and—"

"I do not care, Legolas!" her eyes were like daggers when she finally turned to face him. "I saw the whole thing. I know what she did. But tell me this…who has not been in your bed, Legolas?" she asked accusingly.

"What?"

"Ugh! Never mind..."

"What are you doing, Le'ariel?"

"What does it look like I am doing?" She threw whatever she could in the bag on her bed. "I am packing."

"Where are you going?" He felt panicked and concerned.

Le'ariel stopped for a brief moment to look at him. "Take a wild guess, Legolas."

His eyes grew with anger. "You are not going, Le'ariel."

"Is that a command or a request?" she said wryly. "Either one, it does not matter..."

"Le'ariel, do not do this," Legolas's voice sounded as if he was now begging.

"Or what, Legolas? You will put me on house-arrest? Throw me in the dungeons so I cannot escape?"

"Are you trying to test my patience?" The prince was starting to get annoyed. If she was anyone else speaking to him this way, he wouldn't tolerate it.

She slung the bag over her shoulder and walked towards him. "Please, Legolas...do not stop me."

"Please, Le'ariel..." He took her hand, putting it against his cheek, and kissed it. "This will kill me..." he whispered.

Le'ariel swallowed the lump in her throat. Her heart wanted to stay but her body told her to go. She had never felt so torn before. It wasn't a choice she was making between Legolas or Adanion. She loved Legolas but finally realized this was something she needs to do for herself...with or without him. "You are strong, Legolas. Do not forget, your people need you."

"I need you..."

She looked away for a second and then caressed his cheek. "Do not forget the wonderful moments we shared together..." Le'ariel looked gently into his eyes and left.