Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. Drama ensues. Read and Enjoy.

Kersi xoxo

Chapter 2: I will kill her

1 ½ year earlier:

She woke up to a cold and empty bed; it was not surprising for it had been happening for the past couple of months. Aurel first thought that she should just leave him be, that he had many responsibilities and thoughts on his mind, but the truth of the matter was that he was disconnected, something was happening inside his mind and he was making sure that Aurel could not find out about it. She rose from their bed, it was early in the morning, and sun was yet to rise, still, there seemed to be a light in the room that she welcomed. She wrapped a thin robe around her and went to go look for Legolas. She tried to sense where he was, but he had learned well to hide himself from her and Aurel did not understand why. She frowned as she walked down the cold marble hallway. The palace seemed different when it was asleep, colder, and never ending, until at last she reached the exit out into the gardens of Eryn Lasgalen. Her guess had been correct as she could clearly see Legolas's silhouette, his back faced to her, he was waiting for the sun to rise. He sensed her presence and turned around slowly.

Aurel smiled, "You are awake early, even for you."

He tried to mask his feelings and gave a faint smile. "I am sorry if I caused you worry. I could not sleep."

"And it has been so for a great many days now." Aurel said no more as she stopped an arm's length from him.

He knew that she wanted to know what was bothering him, but he continued to leave his mind closed to her, and she began to feel a loneliness she had not felt in a great time. He extended his arm out to her and she gladly took it, letting herself become engulfed in his embrace.

"I wish you would tell me what it is that is bothering you." She said.

Legolas shook his head. "There is nothing that I could tell you that would ease your worries. There are things that plague my mind and I do not wish to share that burden with you."

She looked up at him. "Legolas?" In her mind she asked him the question that had been in her mind for days; ever since she had told him that she was pregnant; carrying his child.

He pulled her away, and Aurel thought she would cry, he only turned his back to her and in a low tone of voice asked her, "How could you ever think that?"

"I do not know what to think, it was only natural for me to ask you such a question, what else am I to assume?" She held her tears back, determined not to cry.

He turned around to face her, it was only then that she noticed he had tears forming in his eyes. "You are a blessing in my life, and that child you carry, our child, is a blessing. How could you ever ask me if I was unhappy that you are with child?" The tears silently and gracefully fell down his face.

She felt guilty now, "You have seemed so troubled since you found out the news."

"I was troubled before then. You knew this."

"But why?"

"Private matters."

Not understanding, Aurel shook her head. "I am your wife; there are no private matters between us."

Legolas looked at her, tears still falling, he wanted to tell her everything, but found that he could not bring himself to do it. "That is just the way things are Aurel, there are some things in my life that even you cannot know about. That is something that you must come to terms with."

"It would be easier to accept if you did not shut me out. You think I have not noticed that you have shut your mind from me. Tell me that this will pass, whatever it is you are going through or dealing with, tell me that this is not the person who will always be standing before me, tell me that I have a husband whom I can trust, and who trusts me, that this child will have a loving father…tell me all these things Legolas, I need to hear them."

He looked at his wife standing there, the sun had begun to rise and the sunlight made it seem like her hair was a brilliant gold, her skin glowed, and he looked into her silvery blue eyes, she looked so beautiful to him and yet so vulnerable. He knew he would have to do something to ease her worries. His troubles seemed to float away at that moment and all he could think of was her as he walked towards her. He knelt on the ground before her and took both her hands, holding them tightly.

"Forgive me; I had not realized I had created such worries within you." Said Legolas, and suddenly he felt the life that had already begun to grow inside Aurel and he was filled with such happiness, tears began to flow once more, he had finally made a connection with his child. "I promise you I will be all the things you need and want, if not more, there are just some things that need to be dealt with at the moment, but they will pass…I promise you that. I need you to trust me, I need you stay by my side… or I fear that I will not get past it."

Confused by his actions Aurel only looked at him blankly and nodded. "If that is what you wish."

He stood from the ground still holding on to her hand, knowing that she was even more confused and worried than before. "There are councils that I must attend today; we can dine together in the evening if you wish."

"Will I not see you before then?" asked Aurel.

"I am afraid these matters will take all day."

Aurel frowned. "Ene and Ethaen leave at midday for Rohan, they will not be back for months, maybe longer, make sure to wish them farewell."

"Of course." Legolas gently let go of her hand and kissed her on the forehead before swiftly walking out of the garden.

Aurel was obviously upset, but whatever was happening to Legolas was now out of her hands.

Legolas held his hand to his forehead. "I have asked you to end this for the last time Lasneth."

Lasneth stood in front of Legolas with his arms crossed. "And why do you not believe me when I tell you that I have?"

Angrily Legolas snapped his head up to look at his brother, "Because, she was seen entering your chambers last night."

Lasneth looked surprised. "Are you having me watched?"

"Of course I am having you watched, if I could hold any trust in you I would not be here." Legolas looked away.

"How dare you!" shouted Lasneth.

"What was she doing in your chambers last night?"

"I do not have to answer that!" said Lasneth as he reached for the doors.

Legolas's face turned a dark red colour as he stood in front of the doors that led the way out. "You must answer, she is my daughter!"

"Since when has that mattered to you Legolas?"

Legolas's face froze as the words hung in the air, and with a defeated sigh he let his head hang lower than before. "The affair you are having with her must end."

"Have you heard yourself speaking? You sound like you have gone mad; you look as if you have gone mad. There is nothing between Ene and myself. That ended a long time ago, how many times must I repeat this to you?"

"If it has truly ended then why was she seen in your chambers?"

Lasneth sighed. "You do not want to hear what I have to say."

"I am losing patience with you."

"She hates me Legolas, she came to my chambers last night because she knew I was being watched, she knew what it would cause strife between us, and you are too blind to see this. Your precious human daughter is not as innocent as you have her be. I think somewhere deep inside yourself you can feel that Ene has changed, yet you deny your instincts and I do not understand why. You forget that I am not your charge, I am your brother, and it is only because of that that I am still here before you this moment, it is the only reason why I forgive your endless accusations." Lasneth saw the expression in Legolas's face change. "I made a mistake a long time ago, I have let it go, and so must you. You need to speak to Aurel."

"I will not upset her with these trivialities. She loves Ene and Ethaen more so than I ever could."

"Do you trust me then?"

Legolas looked sadly at his brother. "I am very close to losing my sanity little brother. I have pointed the blame for her odd behaviour on you only because it was the easiest thing for me to do at the moment."

"Odd behaviour?"

Legolas nodded. "I know she is not innocent. I have followed her many times at the latest hours of the night, wondering where she goes, at first it was into the woods, I did not follow too closely, she would be gone for an hour maybe two, and then return to her chambers, looking strangely drained. Lately she has been wandering around the palace, into the bedchambers of some I do not wish to name, she is having illicit affairs with most of the high ranking officials in Eryn Lasgalen, and the Valar only know what she does when she spends time in Rohan."

Lasneth looked surprised. "Have you confronted her about this."

"Of course I have." Said Legolas moving away from the doors and going to sit down on one of the chairs. "Many years ago when I first heard rumours, I confronted her, it has always been difficult between the both of us, but this needed to be cleared. She did not deny the accusations. On the contrary, she boasted of the things she did, she took pleasure, perhaps at the pain that it caused me, she told me of what happened between her and you."

Lasneth for the first time felt ashamed. "I am sorry."

"I have nothing against a human and an elf being together, I do not encourage it, but nor would I prevent it if there was love between them. Something or someone has corrupted her, this grown woman who acts as if she immortal, she is not at her prime any longer, her brother is married, has children, and still she acts this vulgar way in front of them as well. She holds no respect, and yet I cannot and will not shun her, as much as it hurts me, I know it would hurt Aurel more to know of all that is happening, she would blame herself, I know this…and now I worry even more so than before. I do not know what to do."

"I will speak to Ene."

Legolas shook his head. "It would be of no use."

"I will try anyway."

"It does not matter, she leaves with Ethaen at midday today, she will be gone for a good while. Enough time, at least, for me to speak to my men."

"Your name and honour are put to shame because of her."

"You think I do not realize that? Her failures are my failures in turn."

Lasneth lifted his hand and shook it at him. "I will be the first to admit that you and she have never had a good relationship, but you did instil values in her that were true and honest, never once did you waiver on that. You were, are, a good father, and you gave them more than any human child would ever hope for."

"Yet somehow I have still failed as her guardian and as her father."

"I will try and speak with her before she leaves today, if not her, then Ethaen, for he must know more than we do." Said Lasneth. He looked at his brother; the sadness that permeated him was noticeable. "Legolas?"

Legolas looked up at Lasneth in question. "Hmmm?"

"It is foolish for you to think that Aurel does not know, speak with her, it will help."

Legolas nodded, "Perhaps."

"The view from this balcony has always been the best." Said Ene as she stood in Aurel's and Legolas's bedchambers facing the balcony's opening. "You can see out into the woods and the mountains besides them."

"Your chamber has a good view as well." Replied Aurel.

"Not as good as this." Said Ene turning to face Aurel.

Aurel smiled. "You have always wanted more, does nothing satisfy you?"

Ene ignored the question and went to sit beside her on the end of the bed. "Your comment had more than one meaning to it. Why have you called me here?"

"I will not see you again for many months; I wanted to spend some time with you. You have been surprisingly busy."

"Surprisingly?"

Aurel nodded. "Yes. After our last meeting I had hoped that things would change. You are causing Legolas much grief."

"But not you?" asked Ene.

"Is that what you wish of me? To grieve over what you have become?" Aurel stood and shook her head slowly. "I will not waste my time or energy." She looked down at Ene, but Ene could only look away. "As much as I love you Ene, the pain you bring with you is destructive, and if you will not change, then I cannot allow you to return here."

Ene seemed angered. "This was my last visit Aurel, I was going to tell you that." She looked up at Aurel. "Somehow I get the feeling that I am not wanted here any longer. Now that you have a replacement it seems easy to discard us humans, does it not?"

"I hope for your sake that you did not mean what you just said."

Ene stood. "I meant it. You have the precious child you had always hoped for, what use are Ethaen and I any more?"

"Sit down!" growled Aurel.

Ene immediately sat down, frightened by the tone of Aurel's voice.

"I will not be pulled into your manipulations Ene. It may work on everyone else you try it on, but not on me. Your conduct and general disrespect for yourself and everyone around you began long before there was even an idea of Legolas and I having a child. You know the unspoken rules that our race has had for thousands of years; you do not go and lay with every man and elf you place you eyes upon!"

"Easy to blame the human, the woman, but they are at fault as well. Such high principles you place on being an elf, and how easily undone they become by the trivialities of human emotion. They all wanted it as much as I did, they all consented, I never forced myself upon anyone."

"Except I do not believe that is what you wanted."

"Would that be hard to fathom? That this path I have chosen is what I wanted?" asked Ene.

"That you want to be a whore? Yes, it is hard to fathom that."

"Why?"

"Because you deserve much better, because you are much better than just something to be used, you deserve to be loved…"

"Stop Aurel, I've had enough of these talks. They never go anywhere, it is time that you realized that I will never be the daughter you wanted me to be. I like what I do, I enjoy every second of it."

"I do not believe you."

"That is not my concern. Take a good look at what is in front of you." Ene stood again, noting that there was nothing else to be said between them. "Take a good long look Aurel, because the next time you see my face it is your morals and principles that will be put to question, not mine!" Swiftly Ene walked out of the bedchamber and slammed the doors, so concerned with leaving as quickly as she could that she ran right into Ethaen.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry? We do not leave for a few hours." Said Ethaen.

"I leave now."

The doors to Aurel's chamber opened as Aurel walked out. She was pale-faced as she looked at Ethaen and Ene.

"What has happened?" asked Ethaen.

"I am not to return to Eryn Lasgalen, by order of the royal family." Said Ene spitefully.

"What?" asked Ethaen confused.

"I am leaving now, I cannot stay here any longer." Said Ene as she continued on her way.

Ethaen looked at Aurel.

"You should go with your sister, the woods are not very safe, and her mind is not very clear." She wrapped her arms around herself.

Ethaen shook his head. "No. She has made her choice and I have made mine, for too long has her shadow cast ill-news upon our family."

"She will need someone."

"Unfortunately that person cannot be me; she cut our bonds a long time ago." He walked towards her. "You do not look well Naneth."

"It is difficult to watch someone you love destroy themselves. I must find a way to let her go." She smiled sadly at Ethaen. "You must tell me more of how your family fares in Rohan, when will they come to visit?" She tried to change the subject.

"I think we should speak with Ada." Said Ethaen.

Aurel shook her head. "He said he had council gatherings the entire day."

"He should know of the decision you have made as soon as possible."

Aurel looked in the direction that she last saw Ene, then nodded her head. "You are right."

They both walked into the darkened halls of the palace of Eryn Lasgalen until they reached where Legolas was most likely to be. There were no guards present at the door, which Aurel found strange, and so she just walked in. She was surprised to find Legolas at leisure speaking with only Lasneth. They both stood immediately when Aurel and Ethaen entered, as if being caught doing something they were not suppose to be doing.

"Aurel? Is everything alright?" asked Legolas.

"No." she responded.

Lasneth looked at Ethaen. "Where is your sister?"

"She has gone." Replied Ethaen.

"I have banned her from ever returning." Said Aurel abruptly, and everyone just stood still.

Lasneth stepped away quickly, but Ethaen grabbed a hold of his arm. "Where do you go?"

"I must speak with Ene." Said Lasneth.

"It is of no use, I have tried." Said Aurel.

"Still, I must." Said Lasneth, and Ethaen let go of his arm.

Legolas sat down again. "Ethaen, will you excuse us?"

Ethaen nodded, "Of course. I will wait outside." He walked away slowly and shut the doors behind him.

"Do you have nothing to say of my decision?" asked Aurel who stood where she was without moving.

"It is done now, there is nothing that I can do or say." Said Legolas.

"Do you not question why?"

Legolas looked at his wife. "I know why."

Suddenly Aurel looked saddened. "No, I do not think you do."

"You mean to tell me it is not because of her dealings with our soldiers and officers and noble folk?"

Aurel looked at Legolas and cocked her head to the side. "You knew?"

"I knew."

"For how long? Why did you not tell me?"

"Why did you not tell me?" asked Legolas.

"Answer me." Demanded Aurel.

"I was trying to protect you…now it is time for you to answer my question."

"The same."

For a great while there was a silence, but then, not being to contain his thoughts any longer, Legolas spoke.

"It was wrong of you to banish her, she is our daughter…"

"She is a whore!" shouted Aurel.

Surprised at the language she used, Legolas stood and sneered at her, "That whore was our daughter."

"How long where you to let her continue her dealings here in Eryn Lasgalen, how long where you going to let her shame our name?"

"However long it took to bring her back, now all hope of that is gone, now that she is banished, which will only fuel her hatred further."

"You did not have stand there and listen to the way she spoke of it Legolas, she spoke with such clarity, there was no doubt in my mind that the Ene we once knew was gone."

Legolas walked closer to Aurel. "How do you know what I have had to deal with because of her? Did you she write you letters? Describing every single detail? Did she, like she did to me?" He opened up one of the drawers to his desk and brought out bunches of letters with Ene's writing upon them. "Of every single encounter here in Eryn Lasgalen…well did she?" He screamed, and he threw all the letters off his desk. "Did she come to you one night and tell you of her dealings with your own brother, like she did to me? Did she tell you of the night she came to me with only one purpose on her mind, to seduce me?"

Aurel began to cry as letters fell at her feet.

"Did she do any of those things to you Aurel?" Legolas was full of rage, rage that he could no subside. "No, no of course not, because she held me in contempt more than she could ever hold for you, despite it all she loved you Aurel, but she made it very clear that no matter what I did, that she hated me!"

"Stop it!" cried Aurel. "Stop, please."

"No, I will not. You said I was letting her shame our name, that I was letting her continue with her dealings, you do not know half of what she has done! Our even half of what I have done to try and stop her…"

Aurel interrupted him and she silenced her crying. "Then I have done what you could not. It was my decision to take her and her brother as my charges. It is my decision to absolve us both of ever having to deal with her ever again. Perhaps you did have hope of bringing her back, but from what? Have you asked yourself that? Her manipulation was piercing the hearts of many, she was poison, and she was beginning to threaten this family. Your father told me once he expected me to act as a Princess, to carry out the duties of a royal Elf. Well now I have done it. She is banished, and if she ever returns Legolas, I will kill her."