Unforgiven

Lairiel

Anodien had never felt such distress or hatred as she did now. Hearing the words come from his mouth had been the greatest horror of her life, and the worst moment of all. She never wanted to see her traitorous lover again, and at the same time wished that a rain-soaked Legolas would burst through the trees while shouting a thousand apologies.

However much she despised him, she did still love him. It was a truly horrible feeling, and it tore her in half. Yes, fine line between love and hate indeed, she thought crossly. Yes, she hated him. She hated him for being kind, for being cruel, for being sweet, for cracking her defenses. Despite it all, it was nothing compared to how much she hated herself for loving him.

She continued to run, her destination set firmly in her mind. There is no need to stay in that ruin of an Elven city any longer, she told herself. I suppose it's time to reclaim my throne.

...

When Legolas returned without his intended queen almost a week after he'd set out, his spirits were lower than they'd ever been. Every Elf asked as to the whereabouts of Anodien, as did a few of the Fae. They didn't press it when he merely responded with, "She's gone." Only Nanuet discussed the burns Legolas had been left with around his neck. However, at his lack of a response, it was all soon let go. It became clear to Legolas that although he'd cared deeply for Anodien, the rest of the residents within Ithiliond apparently had not.

That is, except for one single copper-haired She-Elf.

...

"The hell do you mean, 'she's gone?!" Lairiel shrieked, advancing on Legolas. He didn't bother to defend himself against the harsh slap coming his way, nor the swift and powerful kick at his middle.

"I already told you, Lairiel," Legolas groaned, rubbing at his middle. The bones were undoubtedly broken, but he couldn't bring himself to pay any attention to the pain. His true wound went much deeper within.

"You can't just tell me that and expect me to simply accept it!" Lairiel curled her hands into fists. "I'll ask again. If you give me another ridiculous excuse, I'll do more than break a rib. I don't care about your station, I'll rip you apart." The massive direwolf at Lairiel's side gave a bark as though agreeing. Legolas stared dully at his old friend, trying to decide whether or not to lie. The She-Elf waited impatiently, brows furrowed. She usually wasn't this easy to anger, but it was clear that the disappearance and potential harm of her dear friend had turned it around. "Answer me!"

"It... it was me," he mumbled. Lairiel leaned in.

"What?" Legolas straightened up, his own self-hatred taking over and suddenly misplaced.

"Why can't you just pay attention, you stupid Elleth?" the Elf snapped. Before his eyes, the shocked face of Lairiel turned into that of Anodien. For a moment, all he could see was her, heartbroken and hurt.

So lost in his own illusion was he that he paid no attention to the leather-covered fist coming at him. With a grunt of surprise and a loud crack, Legolas was thrown to the ground. The image of Anodien faded, replaced by a furious red-haired Elleth.

"Lairiel, I--"

"No excuses, Legolas." Lairiel gritted her teeth. "I'm done being nice." She stormed forward and grasped his shirt in her hands, preparing to sock him again. However, the sharp-eyed She-Elf noticed something stuck in the folds of his collar.

She extricated a long piece of copper hair, the color identical to her own. "What is this?" she asked quietly, knowing it was not hers. Legolas did not answer, regret poisoning his expression. "Legolas, please."

"Do you really want to know?" His voice was quiet, hardly more than a murmur. Lairiel nodded, looking back and forth between him and the strand. "It... I guess a piece of her stayed behind." He laughed humorlessly. Lairiel pursed her lips in confusion.

"This is red. Surely you can't mean Anod--"

"Your sister, Lairiel. I mean your sister." The Elleth could not have been more surprised, and even Vilkas yelped as if echoing his master's emotions. Lairiel released the prince in her shock, sending him to the ground. He did not get up, and Lairiel could only stare at the the strand.

She bit the inside of her cheek, brows furrowing. "No, you-- you're crazy. Tauriel's dead."

"I know." His voice was broken, and she nearly wanted to comfort him, except for the fact that he'd clearly done something to Anodien.

"Tell me the whole story then, Legolas," ordered Lairiel, dropping the hair and kicking at Legolas roughly. "This time, without the lies." Vilkas bared his teeth, reinforcing Lairiel's statement. The Ellon stood, pain in his stormy blue eyes.

"As you wish, mellon," he whispered, turning to look out to the forest before letting out a self-deprecating sigh. "And I wouldn't blame you if you sic your wolf on me before I even finish."

As Legolas went on, Lairiel's jaw dropped more and more as she absorbed the information. "Legolas," she hissed, "what have you done?"

"I don't know," the Elf replied, expression pained. "You must understand... I don't know."

"You built her up, Legolas. She was more open around you than I'd ever seen before."

"I know."

"She was light!"

"I know!"

"She was happy!"

"I know!"

"SHE LOVED YOU!"

"I KNOW!" Lairiel could only glare at him then, and Legolas' red-rimmed eyes watched back. "Go ahead, Lairiel. Kill me." The Elleth hesitated, and Legolas ground his teeth. "Dammit, I said do it! Vilkas, your knives, even your bare hands!I beg you! Just do it!"

Lairiel shut her crystalline chocolate-colored eyes, taking deep breaths to try to avoid taking his advice. "Which way did she go?" Her voice was quiet, which for some reason unnerved Legolas more than when she'd been screaming.

"Ano--" Legolas coughed midway through, unable now to finish saying the name of the woman he'd betrayed. "She went east, last I saw after the fire. But I couldn't find her," he warned. "I searched for days."

"And did you go into the Faelands?" Lairiel queried. Legolas' silence answered her question. "I figured."

"I take it you're going after her?"

"Of course," Lairiel retorted, fixing Legolas with another annoyed glare. "I take it you're not?"

"I... no. I'm not." Legolas turned away, shame burning a hole in his chest. Legolas clenched her teeth, and being unable to find the words to say, headed for the door. "But..." Lairiel paused, but didn't bother looking back. "Tell her I was wrong, when you find her. Please tell her I'm sorry."

At his plea, the Elleth did turn and stare. However, there was only a vague pity in her eyes. "Legolas, if you want that apology to mean a damn thing... then tell her yourself." With that, the Elleth strode out of the room, tailed by Vilkas.