Never Realizing

Chapter 12 : Just a Little Longer

There was no helping it. Tathen hated both of them and they had to come to terms with it. Elfaer and Alagos watched Tathen storm off in a huff, both still silent.

Elfaer deflated, his hopes shattered in one fell swoop. Alagos, however, rounded on Elfaer and, palms flat, pushed Elfaer back. Elfaer was knocked into a shelf, and suddenly all his fight was back. He rallied, recovering.

“What was that for?” he exclaimed in anger.

“How can you do this to me?” Alagos roared.

“Do what? I did nothing!” Elfaer retorted.

“You ruined everything! I will never forgive you. I hate you!” Alagos yelled blindly.

“That is harsh, considering,” Elfaer replied with a scoff. He flicked his hair out of his face and prepared for whatever Alagos was going to do next.

“Considering what?” Alagos snapped.

“Considering she never really loved you-”

“YOU LIE!” Alagos cut him off. “I have had enough of this.” Alagos threw a punch that landed smack on Elfaer’s jaw. Elfaer took the blow and rallied, his fist meeting Alagos’ cheek. Elfaer’s hand stung, but it felt good. Alagos was recovering when a voice broke through the elves’ hazed and violent minds.

“ENOUGH!” boomed the voice of the only elf Elfaer knew who could achieve that resonance. The Elvenking and Legolas stepped between Alagos and Elfaer. “Stop this madness and end your quarrel,” Legolas said softly but firmly to the two young elves. Elfaer lowered his fists first and relaxed his stance but not his gaze. He stepped back and let his father lead him off, leaving Alagos behind with Thranduil, who was administering some quite harsh words on the other.

Legolas steered him into Thranduil’s office and once inside Elfaer finally shook off his father’s grip, now they were in private. “Are you alright, son?” Legolas asked, observing Elfaer’s bruise blossoming on his face.

“Do you think I am?” Elfaer muttered darkly.

“Of course not. What was going on?” Legolas pushed. Elfaer remained silent for a few moments, gathering the peace he so desperately needed, and failing miserably.

“We were fighting over Tathen,” he finally said. “She overheard us and will likely never speak to us for the rest of eternity,” Elfaer mumbled.

Legolas scoffed. Elfaer glanced at his father in shock. “Son, I highly doubt the truth in that statement. Tathen will no doubt come to forgive you. It will take time, though, there is no doubting that.”

Elfaer huffed. Time is what he did not want to think about.

“I thought I would find you here.”

Elfaer glanced up to see his sister standing at his shoulder. He nodded and returned his gaze to the setting sun and waves crashing down below. How many times had he come to this Cliffside in his lifetime?

“Are you alright?” Ana asked tentatively. Elfaer nodded again. Ana sat down beside him, facing him and giving him an exasperated expression. “Do not give me your silence, for I want your words. Speak, brother, and I may stop bothering you.”

“I doubt that, sister,” Elfaer replied. “If you insist on knowing, I am fine. I have lived this way for some time and so I shall continue. It is not so bad.” Elfaer turned to glance at his sister and saw her pitying expression. “Do not pity me, sister. I do not deserve such a feeling,” he said in a voice perhaps a little harsher than he had meant.

“But I do – and I shall. All you want is to love, and such has been denied you many times. I pity you, but if you want, I shall try not to,” Ana said compassionately. She took Elfaer’s hand and gave it a squeeze before standing and leaving him alone again.

Elfaer sat in silence, recalling the elves he had shared this very spot with. It was a place of many good and passionate memories, all of which he cherished and the most recent of which came from his time with Virana. He smiled. Good memories.

Good memories that he wanted to share with the most important person in his life.

Elfaer wished that he could mend things with Tathen, but knew that his father was right. It was up to her to forgive him, if she so chose. Right now it did not look so good. Only time would tell, if he could wait just a little longer.