"Love unspoken is love misunderstood." Two years ago, Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo said "I do"-not out of romance, but for reasons neither dared admit. To keep the dojo. To dissolve arranged fiancées. To protect each other's futures. That's what they told themselves. That's what they believed. Now married but emotionally distant, they share a home, not a bed. They trade sarcasm for silence, longing glances for misread signals, and desire for repressed ache. Each thinks the other regrets the marriage. Each suffers in silence. But the heart has its limits. As jealousy simmers, tensions crackle, and misunderstandings deepen, they begin to unravel. What happens when two people in love pretend not to be, for too long? And when the truth finally erupts-raw, desperate, and blinding-can they find their way back to each other? A slow-burn, angst-heavy, deeply romantic journey of misunderstandings, marital longing, sensual tension, and emotional healing between two souls too proud to speak their hearts... until it's almost too late.

Eleanor Selwyn and Draco Malfoy had three things in common: a high, pure-blood status, academic talents and Slytherin house. Other than that, they were complete opposites and hated each other. That was rather unfortunate, as the Selwyns and the Malfoys had been part of the same social circle for decades. They went to the same parties, visited the same shops and restaurants and visited each other far more than Eleanor would have liked. If it were up to their mothers, they'd already have been betrothed, but ever since birth, the two were like fire and ice. But what happens when ice gets too close to fire?

AFTER the Battle of Five Armies, an elf prince journeys to the north of Middle Earth in search of the mysterious Strider. But to also escape the grief of a 'love unspoken' as well as the oppressive regime of his father, King Thranduil. There among the Dúnedain, Legolas finds friendship, adventure, a sense of humor and a female ranger who is not quite what she seems. Is he fated to forever love another unrequited? And what of the broken relationship with his father, will the prince's choices drive a deeper wedge between them? A classic love story, filled with adventure and intrigue, but ALSO a journey into the unwritten years of the beginning of an epic friendship with Aragorn; all set prior to 'The Lord of the Rings'. *Feb 2018: 2nd in The Middle Earth Awards* *June 2018: 2nd in Arkenstone (The Hobbit) category, The Tolkien Awards* *July 2018: Official Featured Wattpad Fanfiction* *Jan 2019: #3 in Romance Hotlist (181k stories) -0-0-0-0-0- I may have nicknamed this story 'Pride and Prejudice for Elves', our silver-haired princeling has several centuries of repression he needs to work through, as well lighten up - before he can become the elf that we know and love in LOTR! The story is COMPLETE! All votes and comments greatly appreciated. I'd be absolutely thrilled to have you join me on this journey of self-discovery in Middle Earth. The best writing in this story belongs to @GreenScholarTales, who kindly allowed me to weave my romance into her story, 'Starting Anew.' Please go and see her other works and her original series on Wattpad, The Book of Terrus. The beautiful painting on the cover was kindly loaned by the highly talented Irishmellow, see her awesome work at https://irishmellow.deviantart.com/ Copyright: Tolkien owns all the familiar characters, Jackson & Co. own Tauriel and the starting premise, Green Scholar owns several significant events and almost all of the rangers ... but one, Wren, she is all mine!