Perplexities of Growing Up

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the places or characters used here except for Náriël-I did invent her and if she resembles anyone else's character in anyway, I'm sorry- not done on purpose. Everything else belongs to Tolkien.

A/N:
AHHHH!!! I haven't updated in like 3 months! OMG. Im soooo sorry! I keep telling myself I need to go and update and then something comes up and I just don't have time! o.o;; I know I know, bad excuse…but I really haven't had much time. Ok, anyway, on with the story!

Ch. 13: Sudden Retreat

((It was as if someone had seized him by the throat and was crushing his lungs…cutting off his air supply. He felt like he was going to vomit. Black spots began to form before his eyes. He wanted to cry out but couldn't. A familiar panic spread through his body as memories flashed before him. How was it that he hadn't noticed until it was too late? He never should have come back here.))

POV: Author

Tears began to spill forward as he fell to his knees, clutching the ground in desperation. His eyes were stinging and as he looked up, the small and once beautiful village blurred before him. He brought his head to the ground as if praying to the Valor.

'How could I have been so stupid? So blind? I had no right to betray her memory like that…'

…

Reminisce sometime the night they took my friend
Try to black it out, but it plays again
When it's real feelings hard to conceal
Can't imagine all the pain I feel
Give anything to hear half your breath
I know you're still livin' your life after death

…

Legolas could no longer control himself; he let the sobs rake through his body.

Náriël spun around at the disturbing sounds behind her. Her eyes widened in fear as she ran to his side. Her heart was beating in her throat and she began to panic.

"Legolas! What's wrong?! What happened?!"

He could hear the urgency in her voice and a new pang of guilt hit him. He couldn't do this. It wasn't right. Legolas shut his eyes tightly to hold back the tears. Slowly bringing his head up to meet her gaze, he saw the desperation and fear in her deep sea-like orbs. A wry smile graced his face as he shakily pushed himself up into a sitting position.

…

Every step I take
Every move I make
Every single day
Every time I pray
I'll be missing you

Thinking of the day
When you went away
What a life to take
What a bond to break
I'll be missing you

(I'll be missing you by Puff Daddy)

…

For a brief moment, Náriël saw a look of longing and regret sweep over his gentle features as he quickly gazed behind her and back at the ruins of the village. She didn't understand what was happening and it confused her to no end when the Elvin prince suddenly stood up, and without a word, he turned and left. His face was one more adorned with the unreadable mask which he wore when they first met; he had closed the curtain to his soul yet again.

Legolas squared his shoulders and straightened up as he walked. His relaxed demeanor had vanished and he now walked with an air of dignity and authority about him. He knew what he had to do.

He could no longer stay in Rivendell.

………….

Náriël stood up and brushed her dress off. Gazing after Legolas she saw him retreating within himself. Sadness consumed her she remembered how he had opened up to her; how relaxed he was; how happy he seemed. The elf she saw now was ridged with formality. He exuded grace and confidence, which, she had to admit, was rather attractive. She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. However, she knew it was something of a façade – he was hiding within himself.

'Inside, there must be great turmoil. I wish I knew what was wrong…'

With that thought, the young daughter of Elrond sped after Legolas.

…………

Legolas swept down the stairs of the Last Homely House, his cloak billowing in deep shades of green behind him. His striking horse stood waiting outside for him; his belongings were already packed onto it.

Slipping on his riding gloves, he stepped into Elrond's meeting room. The wise Elvin lord looked up gravely from his studies.

"Are you sure Legolas?"

"Yes."

Elrond nodded as he continued, "Well, if this is your choice, I am not going to stop you. Though I dearly wish you would tell me what has happened that would make you take off like this."

Legolas sighed, "I'm sorry. I really should be going now, for my journey back to Mirkwood is not a short one."

Elrond held out his hand towards the door, inviting Legolas to go first. The prince slowly gazed around as he exited his summer's haven. Outside, Náriël stood waiting beside his horse. A melancholy aura surrounded her and she looked up into the beloved face she had come to adore. There was nothing there for her to see; she could no longer read his eyes and a familiar frustration ran through her veins.

"Why are you doing this?!" she suddenly ejected.

Legolas gave her a weak smile and stepped forward, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

"I'm sorry." He whispered into her ear.

Náriël felt her eyes starting to sting in back as tears hung over the edge, ready to trickle down at any moment. Legolas took her hand and, like the gentleman he was, gave it a feather-soft kiss. Memories of the ball came flowing over Náriël in a torrent. She couldn't stand anymore of this. She felt cold and immediately missed his touch as he left her and mounted his stallion.

With one more glance at Rivendell, Legolas turned around and galloped off into the woods from whence he had appeared those few months ago. He sped away fast as lightning and before she knew it, Náriël was staring at an empty path.

'Only several months…it feels like it has been years since he first came…and now he's gone forever…'

With that last crushing thought, she too turned, and slowly walked back into the Last Homely House.


A/N:
YYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finals are over!!! I'm passing AP Calc (breathes sigh of relief) ok, anyway…now that it's finally winter break I hope to get a bit more writing done…however, please don't be mad if I cant get a lot out b/c I still have work to do and I have to study for the SATs -.-

I really want to thank all of those wonderful reviewers asking me to update. It let's me know that you guys really like my fanfic and actually enjoy reading it…its motivation, ya know? (grins) anyway, im sorry that this chapter was so short, but im already working on the next chapter…I just wanted this to be as a sort of reintroduction and get you guys interested in the story again. Please don't forget to review cause I got almost 50 ppl that have put my on the author alert and I have most definitely NEVER gotten that many reviews at once! lol.

hey, sorry i didnt do any response stuff this time...i wanted to hurry up and get this posted. i promise to do it next chapter tho! once again, thanks to all my great reviewers! i luv ya guys (and ladies)!