Hello again to those of you who are back for the sequel and to those who are new as well. This sequel was on my mind for a very long time before I sat down to write it. I hope it makes justice to 'The voice within' . Thanks again to all who ever read my other story. Gracias!

Special thanks to my Beta readerPhoenixica24!

Chapter 1: Manwë

It had been almost three years since Legolas and Juliet married. The couple lived in Ithilien in their house in the forest. They had been years of pure love and joy for the couple. Juliet looked more beautiful in Legolas's eyes each passing day. It was Summer and the forest was alive as ever. Juliet loved to live in this forest. It was quiet, beautiful, with abundant nature and just an air of fairy tale in it. Some of the elves that Legolas had brought to Ithilien from Mirkwood had also made their houses in these woods, but Legolas had marked a great deal of terrain for him and his wife so that they would never be interrupted.

The day was hot and even as an elf, Juliet could feel the heat of it so she had decided to bathe in the waterfall next to her house. She pitied the humans who must have been dying for an air conditioner. She giggled to herself, remembering that there were no such things in this world. She took off her clothes, not worrying since she knew no one was ever near the house as Legolas had asked. She dived in deep to reach the bottom of the river. There were a few water plants and fish, but other than that the bottom was filled with many small and smooth rocks. She stayed under for a long while. When her lungs asked for air she resurfaced. A smile snaked across her face when she saw her beloved husband crouched barefoot, which was normal for elves, at the riverbank.

"I thought you had drowned." he teased in elvish.

"And still you did not come to my rescue?" she asked in mock shock, in elvish as well.

"I did not wish to get wet."

Juliet crossed her arms over her bare chest.

"Is that how much you love me then, that you would let me drown because you would rather not get wet?"

Legolas smiled roguishly before standing up and jumping into the water. Juliet had to cover herself to avoid being over washed by the wave and this gave Legolas the chance to sneak up on her. Juliet yelped when two strong arms wrapped around her body and pressed her against a strong chest. Soft lips came to brush her ears as a voice whispered into her ear making her shiver.

"Nay, for you my love, I would swim in the deepest ocean, walk through fire, and face the wrath of a volcano and the whole world if it meant to save you."

Juliet turned to face her beloved husband with loving eyes. She captured his lips in a deep kiss which he eagerly returned. After a while of kissing they broke apart.

"My love, I was thinking we should visit Aragorn in Minas Tirith. It has been almost two months since we ride to the White City."

"Oh yes, that would be lovely. When would we leave?"

"I was thinking tomorrow."

Juliet smiled playfully. "Good, then we still have time for this."

Juliet recaptured Legolas's lips in hers and Legolas smiled into the kiss knowing well what his wife wanted and he was more than willing to give. Her hands went to the helm of his shirt which she pulled off him quickly. If the weather was hot, it was about to get even hotter for the couple.

The next day they left to Minas Tirith and soon enough they were approaching the White City. The tower guards had seen them coming from afar and sent word so that the Gates would be open for them. Legolas and Juliet rode in and did not stop until they were at the top of the City. As they dismounted they heard a familiar merry laughter. They turned to see Aragorn approaching them with a wide smile.

"Mae g'ovannen mellyn. N'uir thiad gîn 'ell." (Well met my friends. Ever is your presence a joy.)

"Aragorn!" exclaimed Juliet as she ran to hug her beloved 'brother'.

Then Legolas did the same.

"It has been a while since you left the woods my friends. I think you like it too much there."

"I am sorry Aragorn, but we had a little mix up with the last wine delivery and it took us almost two weeks to fix it."

"Well, I am glad that you are finally here. Come, it is unbearably hot outside and even if you elves do not suffer heat as we mortals do, I am sure that the temperatures are high enough for you to feel as well."

"Aye, the heat in Gondor is something that I had never felt before. Its closeness to the sea makes the temperatures hotter than in the inlands." Legolas replied.

They followed Aragorn inside. It was considerably cooler, but it was still hot for the poor humans. Juliet saw a woman fanning herself desperately. She bit her lip to avoid laughing. Aragorn noticed her behavior and smiled.

"Is something the matter?"

Juliet smiled at him. "I just remember how that used to be me. Everything is just so different as an elf. I must admit that I do not miss that aspect of my old life."

"I am sure you do not." he teased.

"You are here!" exclaimed a familiar female voice from behind.

They all turned to see Arwen who was smiling widely as she walked their way. Juliet was the first to run and hug her beloved friend.

"I'm so happy to see you!" she said while almost squishing the Evenstar who merely laughed.

"I am happy to see you as well my friend."

Legolas reached the two women and hugged Arwen. "I am happy to see you are alright Arwen. I was afraid that your husband had driven you mad by now and you had made an escape as the twins and I did once we spent too much time with him."

Legolas dodged Aragorn's fist before it could make contact with him.

"And now I wish you would have stayed in your forest." Aragorn said with mock seriousness.

"We will leave you two to settle your differences alone for a while." Arwen said as she led Juliet away by the arm.

"Why do women always have to leave to talk between themselves? Cannot they stay and have a conversation if men are around?" Aragorn asked with a true puzzled expression.

"They always do that, do they not? Every time Éowyn appears by the woods, Juliet will disappear with her for hours and Faramir and I are left to wait until they return."

"Women, we will never understand them wholly."

"I do not think we should even try. I am afraid of what we may discover."

"True that my friend." laughed Aragorn.

Both man and elf left to a more private space so they could talk.

Legolas entered the room that belonged to him and Juliet in the Palace. He smiled when he saw his wife already in her nightgown just sitting on the bed with a book on her hands. She raised her eyes from the book and smiled at her husband.

"How long have you been waiting for me?"

"Not too long. I took a bath and read a few dozen pages."

"I am sorry. Aragorn wanted to show me the new gardens and I did not realize the time. I will bathe quickly and I will be with you soon."

Juliet smiled and nodded. Legolas left to the bathroom and half an hour later he was out, his hair almost dry and his chest bare. He climbed into the bed beside Juliet and wrapped his arms around her. Juliet blew out the candle and they were soon off in the world of dreams.

Halfway through the night a strong wind entered the room, waking up the couple.

"Legolas did we leave the window to the North open?" Juliet asked without opening her eyes. Even now as an elf she would sleep with her eyes closed since she had done so for most of her life, and her half human blood allowed her to do so as well.

Legolas lifted his head and looked to the front of the room. The doors to the balcony were wide open. Legolas narrowed his eyes. Juliet felt his concern and opened her eyes. She looked at the direction of the balcony. They exchanged looks and both got down from the bed, took their weapons and silently walked to the balcony. When they were out they were greatly surprised at what they saw. A figure of ethereal beauty with long dark hair and blue eyes that glowed in the night darkness stood there tall and strong. Juliet gave Legolas a questioning look. Legolas seemed to know more about who this person was, judging by the look on his face.

"Peace, Prince Legolas and Princess Juliet. I am Manwë Súlimo, King of the Valar." said the figure in elvish.

Juliet looked at Legolas, waiting to see what the reaction to this occasion should be. Legolas bowed while putting his hand over his heart and Juliet did the same.

"Lord Manwë, it is an honor. To what do we own this visit?"

Manwë looked at them in silence for a while. As he did this both elves waited patiently for his answer.

"Prince Legolas and Princess Juliet, you have become a couple for history to remember for many reasons. One of them is because Juliet was once a human. Besides you, there have been three other pairings of human and elves who married; Beren and Luthien, Idril and Tuor, and Aragorn and Arwen. Every time one of these couples was made, they went through a test that I placed for them. This I do because in every one of these occasion mainly one of them has to make a big sacrifice for the other. Beren had already completed his test, which had been set by Luthien's father, who was directed by me because Luthien was of a much higher status than Beren. When it came to Idril and Tuor, they too went through a test of a different nature because in this case Idril never abandoned her mortality. With Aragorn and Arwen the one who sacrificed was mainly Arwen because she had to give up her immortality and her whole race and family. Aragorn was the one who was tested mainly after they were wed. This test happens at an alternate time and space without this world ever coming to know that anything ever happened."

The looks on Legolas and Juliet told Manwë that they did not understand.

"Legolas, Juliet made the large sacrifice to abandon her world, her family and entire life to be with you. I had thought of not testing you because at the end Juliet was an elf. But Legolas, you once failed Juliet by turning down her sacrifice when she was given the choice. The choice was hers but you sent her away. It was only by her will to love you that you are now together. That is why I have decided that you too will go through this test."

Legolas thought of his words for a moment, and then nodded.

"Alright Lord Manwë, what is this test that I must pass?"

"Your test will be based on the same nature the test of Aragorn and Arwen's test was. Legolas, you will prove to me that you are worthy of being with Juliet by living as a human. If Juliet gave up her life, would you have given up your immortality and life to be with her?" It was a rhetorical question and that is why he did not answer. "The test I have for you will be taken along side Juliet. She has been a human most of her life and knows the hardships they experience. I will send you to the human world but not in this modern world you know, Juliet. I will send you to a time where you will have to work much harder, where life is not so easy. There you will live for as long as I deem right. Legolas, you will live with most of your elven gift diminished or without them at all. Your resistance to tiredness will be at a human level. Since you are already a strong elf you will keep the strength that a strong human would have. You will need to eat as a human does and rest as a human. You will feel like a human feels. Time will be as slow as a human feels it. All of this and more will be part of the things you will experience as long as this test lasts. Now, if you ever feel like you cannot continue I will end the test, but Juliet will be parted from you forever."

Legolas narrowed his eyes. "I will never abandon my beloved. I would face all the hardships of this or any world for her."

"Then let us begin."

A bright light consumed them all and for a moment everything was still.