Chapter 26

The Choice

It had been four months since Thorin and I had confessed our love for each other.

After Yule break, I had continued on as normal, concerning my studies with Thranduil and the like. I had learned more from him than I ever thought I would and had become quite adept with a blade.

It was now time to return to Meta for the end of the year graduation ceremonies and goodbyes.

Upon leaving Mirkwood, I had spoken with the King about the prophecy once more. I had told him the will of my heart and he simply nodded without so much as a word of advice.

It has been said not to seek counsel from elves; for they will say both yes and no.

I was a bit concerned that nothing had really changed. The stone didn't start glowing strange colours or begin radiating magical energy or anything I had expected it to do after my heart chose Thorin.

As cliche as it sounds; I was kind of expecting something like "...and true loves kiss broke the spell..." or something.

What? You can't blame me for growing up on Disney movies, right?

Seriously though, Middle Earth didn't feel different. I was afraid I had missed something. I knew I  hadn't made the wrong decision.

Thorin and I had somehow grown closer, though we were farther apart than ever over the past months. As letters from him increased, so did my feelings for him.

Letters from Legolas had decreased, though I honestly wasn't too bothered by it.

He was busy, or perhaps he too noticed a change in our relationship.

Wait, did this count as cheating on him?

I felt like I had already been through our breakup.

From his perspective; Legolas was successfully playing me, and we were still a couple. All he wanted was a chance to be with his first love again, and he thought he was so close to obtaining his desires.

Though to myself, it had felt like we hadn't been together for a very long time.

I needed to let him know, when the time was right, that we had to go our separate ways. The issue was what might happen then, when the carrier of the stone leaves his grasp.

As soon as I returned to Meta, I would tell him. Hopefully, without any discussion of the stone, or his past.

But enough worrying for now! I'd had my fill of worries, I just wanted to return to Meta and be with Thorin and all of my friends.

I wondered if Agarwean would show up for the graduation. She was blunt, sometimes standoff-ish, independent, but I missed her and hoped to see her again before returning home.

The subject of leaving Meta somewhat frightened me.

I knew I would be returning home in the exact instant I left, yet still! How would I act like months hadn't passed?

I felt as though I had changed and matured through the school year- which was to be expected- but in Earth's time, this transformation had literally taken place over night!

Thranduil had assured me that though the initial transition may be difficult, other students had been doing this for years. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle.

But when would I be back? How long would I have to wait for Gandalf to appear yet again, and whisk me away back for my second year at Meta? How much time would have passed in Middle Earth? Days? Months?

I didn't know, all I could do was be patient and try to enjoy my life in both worlds...which was a blessing in itself!

~~~

"Welcome back, students of Meta!" Gandalf declared happily, raising his cup to a toast at breakfast.

Normally, breakfast was a serve-yourself deal, with students coming and going at all different times. But, today was different.

All students had officially returned to Meta sometime late the night before, and today we were being welcomed back with a breakfast feast!

The food was of course, delicious! Apple flat cakes, fruit dishes, roasted maple sausages and all varieties of bread and eggs adorned the feast hall's tables.

The spring season brightened everyone's mood, for students and teachers alike....

Especially since students didn't have to go to classes anymore. The next three days meant no work, after that was graduation, then the return home.

I noticed Samwise Gamgee enjoying a stack of cream fluffs with his youngest daughter on his lap, giggling and playing with her food. Rosie was to Sam's right, she bounced a young hobbit child on her hip; the joy in their smiles overwhelmed me.

For some reason, I felt a tear drip away from my eye. Why was I crying? That was so silly of me. I quickly wiped the tear away and smiled, continuing on with my meal.

I sat with all my old roommates for breakfast, excluding Agarwean and the boys. We had a wonderful talk, looking back on this year as a whole and wondering where next year would take us.

"Yeah; I don't know who or what I'm going to miss the most!" Said Azelótë.

"We'll see eachother again soon enough." I said smiling.

"What if...I mean, well- what if we met up again back home?" Estelriel murmured, twirling her fork in her hands.

"What?" I was shocked.

"We can't do that! We're not even allowed to know anyone's name from Earth." Azelótë whispered urgently.

All students that existed in both worlds were given different names in Middle Earth for a reason.

Thranduil had explained this to me once before.

Just like we couldn't actually have people with Middle Earth's identity living on Earth; people from Earth shouldn't live the same identity that they had on Earth here in Middle Earth. It was somewhat confusing, but it made sense. Elves, hobbits and dwarves didn't belong on Earth; not unless they were found in stories.

Come to think of it, maybe that's what would help me transition back home. I was a different person on Earth than I was in Middle Earth. That was the design between the two places. I didn't have to try to be both people.

"Yeah...I know it was a stupid idea." Estelriel said, returning to her food, flustered.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a wisp of blonde hair.

As I looked up, my eyes met Legolas's; he was smiling.

"Excuse me, I'll meet you guys back at the dorm later."

I said picking up my empty dishes before walking towards Legolas.

"Vanàeze." He said satisfactorily, pulling me into a hug.

"Hey! Can we talk? Somewhere-else?" I asked him quietly, gesturing to all the people and noise around us.

"Indeed. My classroom, perhaps?" He said gesturing away from the hall.

I nodded as we strode away until reaching his classroom.

It had been a long time since I had stepped foot in his class.

The aroma of mint and rose wafted through the air, just like all those times before; reminding me of what once was.

"Legolas..." I said with uncertainty, turning away from the elf, attempting to prolong the inevitable.

No, I needed to do this...now.

"Legolas-" I began again, turning to face him.

"Forgive me, I have failed you." He replied, slowly striding closer to me.

"I-what?" I questioned.

A grim smile eased it's way across his pearly teeth.

"I'm sorry, I'm being rude. You were saying something?" He asked again, sickeningly soft.

I cleared my throat cautiously,

"Legolas, I think we need to talk about our relationship with eachother..."

"What is there to talk about?" He questioned me.

This was it.

"We need...time away from each-other..." I stumbled over my words.

"Why is this?" He replied smoothly, taking one step closer to me, pulling my hands into his own.

"I don't feel the same, Legolas. I don't think we should be together anymore." I gulped, avoiding his gaze as he still held my hands.

"Look at me." He whispered.

"Legolas, this is my-" I tried to pull away from him.

"No."

His fingers gripped around my wrists.

"Stop lying." He said, lips brushing past my ear,

"It isn't becoming of you, my dear."

"Please...just let me go. You have to let go." I pleaded.

For an instant, I looked into his eyes as he seemed to hear my words.

Undimmed and evident, his blue gaze peered into my own. His eyes had not looked so clear in such a long time.

Frozen, in that moment, he was simply Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood and member of the Fellowship of the Ring. He was a hero, a friend and the elf that first caught my gaze and danced with me in the moonlight.

"Legolas." A tear raced down my cheek. I was sorry. A bitter clench of emotions grabbed my throat as I attempted to hold back more tears.

I know I should have learned to hate him by now, but I couldn't. I only hated the decision he had made...and what it was bringing him to do.

But I needed to do this, I needed to let him go, because I suddenly realised that I had yet to do it.

In an instant everything changed. His expression darkened and I couldn't see past the colour of his eyes.

He chuckled lowly, "I see now. You, know don't you? You know about her."

"Please, stop this." I said.

"No, no, no, no." He clucked, his voice lowering,

"Listen to me and listen well. We both have secrets, we both have desires. I'll even make you a deal; you can have your desire if I can have mine."

"You don't have the right!" I spit back at him, trying to thrash out of his grip.

He only held me closer, drawing my head to his chest.

"Allow me to clarify, you give me the stone, and I won't kill Thorin."

He knew? How did he know?

As if reading my mind, Legolas continued.

"The Yule Celebration was a night to remember, don't you agree?" He smiled.

"Stop! This isn't you, Legolas!" I gasped. 

"Of course it isn't! I'm dying, Vanàeze, and facing death will make anyone desperate, even you." He said my name mockingly.

"You cannot Thorin!" I said, my emotions rising. He had another thing coming if he thought I would sit by and let him take the stone.

He seemed to pause, as though he were considering my words.

"You are right, if you do not give me what I desire, I will kill you." He stated.

No absolutely no way, he had to be bluffing.

"No, if you kill me, there's no way you'll ever get the stone." I said in an even tone.

"This ends today, Vanàeze. I don't have any more time." He muttered, quickly pulling an Elven blade from it's sheath on his side.

My body was quickly turned so my back was to his chest, and the touch of a dagger was at my throat.

What happened if I died here in Middle Earth?

"Take me to the stone." He demanded, forcing me towards the door of his classroom.

I had hidden the stone back in my dorm.

He was really going to do this.

"Legolas. People will see." I said.

"Good, then they'll know I'm serious." He retorted, his mannerisms were become more erratic, crazed even. 

"Would you like to know something?" I asked carefully,

"No matter what happens today, nothing you do, will get that stone to work. Would you like to know why?" I paused, smiling.

"Because I've already chosen Thorin. Not you. I love him, and nothing in this world or the next will change that. The stone knows that, and whatever prophecy surrounding it knows that and now you do as well. That stone isn't going to do a damn thing for you. And neither am I."

Abruptly, I felt everything change as he hissed at my response. The door slammed open.

Thorin, Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond and Azelótë stood in it's wake.

"You best drop that knife, elf. Before I put my own in your side." commanded Thorin.

Legolas only moved the blade from my neck to my abdomen, pressing the metal upwards towards my ribs.

"Move out of my way, or she dies." Legolas threatened.

My gaze met Thorin's, rage anew stormed beneath his expression. Despite the consequences, he looked incredibly handsome.

I could tell Galadriel, Elrond and Gandalf were having some sort of conversation telepathically.

"It's time to let go, Legolas." Galadriel said calmly.

I felt his grip loosen ever so slightly.

"You did this to me." Legolas accused.

"We can sort this out." Thorin tried to reason.

"No it was you! It was you who told them! You took her away from me!" Legolas cracked.

Clearly, a new atmosphere had entered the room with Thorin and for Legolas, it meant the temptation of revenge.

"I will make you suffer, you will know how it feels to live the rest of your life without the one you love!" he said roaring at Thorin.

He yelled in anguish as he took hold of his dagger to dive it's metal into my flesh.

I heard Azelótë scream. A small gasp left my mouth with the withdrawal of the blade.

"Now!" A voice uttered, before everything faded.

I felt movement racing past and around me, but I was caught in time.

As if in slow motion, I felt my body fall to the ground. Distant yells echoed around my ears.

I slumped into someone's arms.

The last thing I saw was Thorin's face, twisted in agony, his eyes searching for life in mine.

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It is with a heavy heart that I must say, this story is nearing it's end. Thank you all for sticking with me for so long, but fret not! There is still much more to come before the final chapter! Thanks again, you're all lovely!