My Love

Chapter 3

When he walked into the room, he found her standing, looking out the window at Lorena. She was headed out to find Legolas. Galadriel turned around and faced him. “Haldir thank you for what you just did. I know it was not easy for you.”

“ No, it wasn’t. I fear I do not know what is happening to me, My Lady.”

“I know. You love her and you have for a long while. You have as much right to love her as does Legolas. She has made her choice. And neither you nor I can change that. In truth, I’m glad she will not go back with him. But that choice, she knew in her heart was the right one. She was not content. The only time she was content was when she was in his arms.” Haldir closed his eyes, not wanting to think of hn ann another elf’s arms.

“ Haldir?” Galadriel asked with a worried expression on her face.

“ Yes my Lady?” He asked opening his eyes.

“ You have changed a great deal while she has been gone. Give her a chance to see that.” Galadriel sat in a chair and motioned for him to do the sam
“
“ My Lady, Legolas told me something that unsettled me.” Haldir said after he seated himself down across from his lady.

“ And what was that?”

“ That the reason that she went to Mirkwood was because she was in love with me.” Haldir held his breath waiting for the lady's answer.

Galadriel looked into his deep blue eyes. She could see why Lorena loved Haldir so. “ It is true Haldir. We were hoping that she would out grow her love for you. She knew that you did not love her and it hurt her greatly.”

“ Why did not she tell me instead of running away?” Haldir sighed and shook his head. Then stopped himself. That was becoming a bad habit today.

“ Would you have been able to love her in return, at the time, Haldir?” Galadriel reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.

Haldir smiled. “In truth I do not believe so, My Lady.”

“ Lorena chose to leave whilst you were sent on sentry duty because if you would have been here, you would have insisted on taking her to Mirkwood yourself. She would not have had the strength to do what she knew she must. She would never knowingly hurt you, Haldir. Not if she could prevent it. For in truth, she suffered more then you will ever know.” she smiled again and removed her hand.

“ I’m sorry for doubting her, My Lady!” Galadriel smiled and bid Haldir take his leave for she had grown weary and needed to rest for a spell.

Lorena walked the paths of Lorien that evening, not enjoying the twilight at all, for her last encounter with Legolas disturbed her greatly. He would not speak with her after she had told him her decision in not returning with him. Over the next two months it remained apparent that he still did not wish to converse with her. Lorena rose before dawn the day that Legolas was to depart for Mirkwood. She had to try one more time to speak with him. His absence in her life was unbearable. Even though he still resided in Lorien, she had seen little of him. He had been away on sentry duty with Haldir for the past three weeks, returning only just in time to depart with his father. When she made her way down to the training yard, she noticed that Legolas was training with Haldir in the courtyard. Legolas’ father, King Thranduil, was seated nearby surveying their duel. Thranduil took notice of her approach and bade her to sit beside him.

“Lorena come sit with me! We have much to talk about.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Lorena sat on the step beside the Mirkwood King."

“ Legolas has told me that he had asked you to accompany us on our passage home as his wife.”

“Yes, sire, he has.” Thranduil turned to look at the beautiful Elven Princess sitting beside him. The sad look in her blue eyes told him what he needed to know with out having to inquire. Yet he asked her thoughts nonetheless.

“Yet you refused him. Why Lorena? Were you unhappy living in Mirkwood?”

“I love Legolas with my whole heart. But Mirkwood is not my home. I was not happy there. I belong here. This is where my heart lies. If I were to go back with him I would not be contented, even though I would be in the arms of the elf I love. Legolas does not understand my reasons for not returning with him.” The tears streaming from her eyes laid her internal pain bare for all to see.

“Legolas is very hurt that you refused him. He knows that you love him in return.” She turned her eyes on Legolas, who had not yet discovered her presence.

“Yet he will not acknowledge my company, nor speak to me !” She exclaimed. Thranduil laid his hand on her shoulder.

“Hiief ief is to near. He cannot bear to see you and not own your heart. Legolas will be well in time.” She turned her eyes back to the king.

“Can not he see how this is killing me? To have him hate me so!” she cried out in a harsh whisper.

“I do not hate you Lorena!” Legolas called to her as he approached. Upon her sudden outburst, he had turned and noticed her for the first time. “I could never hate you! I just cannot be near you right now. You are the woman I desire as my wife! The only one I will have! Oh Lorena, can’t you see how this is tearing me up inside?” Legolas pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Lorena did not withhold the tears.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed into his neck, trying hard to bring her emotions under control.

After a few minutes she pulled out of his arms and flew back up the stairs, almost colliding with Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Legolas started after her but the Lady Galadriel stopped him.

“Let her be. She is in as much pain as you, if not more. She knows all to well, what she is giving up.”

“Then why? Please tell me? I know she loves me, but-”

“She has to be true to her heart. She knows she will not be happy in Mirkwood.”

“Why can’t my love for her be enough?”

“I do not know. You must search your own heart to find the answers you seek.”

The passage home was the most trying of Legolas’ life. How could he bear to be home without her by his side? The night sky was as heavy with the threat of rain as his heart was heavy with his pain. For both were spilling over affecting and every thing around them. Not a soul spoke as they quietly guided their horses through the paths. There was something else hanging in the air. Something Legolas could not quite understand. He had the feeling that he was being watched. He finally broke the silence just as they left the borders of Lorien.

“Father, I have a sense of forboding that something is about to happen that will change our lives for ever.”

“What do you mean, my son?” Legolas did not know how to explain it. “I do not know how to clarify it. I feel as if we are being watched. I feel evil down to my very bones!”

“We need to keep a strict watch on our backs men! There’s evil afoot.” The King commanded.


(AN) I would like to thank my new beta Linwe