Disclaimer: I don't own Legolas, Thranduil, Galadriel, Gandalf, or any other LOTR characters I might see fit to put in this story! I DO own Alexus/Aliana, Ivellios, and Layanna. And I have permission to use Rina/Nikhila (Tequila with an 'n'), Mandy/Alah, Ben, and Jessica. If you've still got a problem, then go cry me a river! Dang it! Now I have that Justin Timberlame (no offense to any of you who like him...) song in my head! See what you've done?

I don't think I've changed any of the history or geographical stuff (actually, I've been very particular about this!) or anything like that for those of you who yelled at me last time. And if I did, I'm terribly sorry and please inform me of this.

And to those of you who've read There and Never Going Back Again by The Merry Murderess Kitta, I know some of this may seem like her story, but let me assure you, I've been writing this story long before I read hers. I just didn't plan on posting it until it was finished. And to those of you who haven't read it, I suggest you do because it is a very good story!

I hope you enjoy it and please review!

Thanx a bunch,

AlianaofMirkwood AKA: Rusty

Ps- Oh, and by the way, in my story, Isengard was rebuilt after the War and Gandalf now lives there. I know it may bug some people, but nothing says that doesn't happen. The whole plot takes place BEFORE Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo, Galadriel, Celeborn, etc all leave on the White Ships.

Chapter One: A wish is granted

Alexus sat on the bus after school waiting for Jessica and Mandy. In a few minutes, the two girls came walking down the aisle and sat down in front of her. Jessica pulled out a book and began to read while Mandy turned around to talk to her. "You wanna go trick-or-treating with us tonight? My mom said you could spend the night since it's Friday."

"Sure! But you guys have to help me fix my elf ears. It's really hard to do them myself. What are you two going as?"

"I'm going as Alah, you know, my mage from our stories, and Jess is gonna be a Ringwraith. Is your dad gonna get mad?"

"Is he ever not mad?" Alexus pointed out, half laughing half shuddering. "Just as long as he hasn't been drinking, I should be fine..."

Mandy looked at her sadly as the bus turned onto their street. "Come on. Let's go get your stuff and get ready!"

The three girls walked down the street to Alexus's house. It was very small and the paint was coming off the walls, but it was home. Alexus opened the door quietly and peeked inside to make sure her dad wasn't around. Then she tiptoed to her room and grabbed her costume, clothes for that night, and her diary.

She was about to leave the house when her dad appeared in the hallway. "Where are you going!" he yelled angrily.

Alexus bit her lip. "I...I was going to Mandy's. We're gonna go trick-or-treating. Her mom said I could spend the night..."

Her dad slumped towards her until he stood but a foot away. She could smell the horrible stench of beer on his breath. She backed into the door, away from her father. "Look at me bitch!" he screamed. She looked up into his anger filled eyes, knowing that her own were full of hate. "Why didn't you tell me where you were going!"

"I...I...I didn't want to wake you up..."

"Well, you ain't going anywhere!" he yelled and slapped her across the face. She was used to this and didn't cry. She just stood there and gazed stubbornly into the eyes of her father. This seemed to enrage him even more.

He grabbed her arm and dragged her to the kitchen. Alexus knew what he was doing. He had done it so many times before. He pushed her against the counter and opened a drawer to his right. From it, he pulled out a silver knife and held it to her wrist. "You killed your mother! Now I'm going to kill you!"

Alexus knew he wouldn't do it, but she held her breath anyway. The knife sliced her skin deeper than it normally did and drew a lot more blood. He threw the knife on the floor. "Now, remember this when you disobey me!"

He punched her in the chest and passed out on the floor. Alexus ran outside, grabbing her things as she went, and slammed the door. Mandy and Jessica stood in the driveway waiting for her. It came as no shock to them when they saw the huge cut on her arm and the bruise on her face. The three of them silently continued on to Mandy's house where her mother tended to Alexus's arm. "That father of yours...Someday he's going to get himself in a load of trouble!" she would always say.

When she was finished, she looked at the girl and sighed. "I'm sorry, Alexus. I wish there were something I could do. But every time I turn your father in, he gets away with it..."

"Thanks," Alexus smiled, and went to Mandy's room the put on her costume. Jessica was already finished and was helping Mandy paint her skin silver to represent her character.

Finally, the two girls helped Alexus with her dress and glued on her pointy ears. The girls sat on the bed and talked for a while until the door opened. "It's almost dark," Mandy's mom said. "You three should get going if you're going to meet Stephanie at 8:00."

"Thanks!" Mandy ran down the stairs and threw on her red robes to complete her costume. Jessica opened her backpack and withdrew a silver chain with a golden ring on it. Alexus ran her purple highlighter through her hair and followed Jess downstairs.

Making sure they were ready, they all walked down the street to the park where they were to meet Stephanie. They found her standing by a tree and the four of them went off down the street on Halloween night.

They finally got home at 11:00 and dumped their candy on the floor. "This was the best year I've ever had!" Alexus commented. "I don't think I can finish all this until June!"

"Same here!" Mandy agreed. "If I can even finish it by then..."

They stayed up all night, role-playing and eating candy. When they finally got tired, they laid on sleeping bags on the floor and talked quietly. Alexus pulled out her journal and began to write the events of today.

Melin nildo,

Today is Halloween. We had a big party in math today and ate lots of candy. I went home and got my stuff to go to Mandy's after school. Father woke up before I could leave. Needless to say, he hit me and cut my arm. It seems worse than before, but maybe I'm just imaging things...

Mandy, Jess, Steph, and I went trick-or-treating and then came over to Mandy's. I'm trying to sleep, but my arm hurts too much and began to bleed again. I wish I could just get away from this place and never come back!

She got up to get a glass of water. When she came back, she found two words written about an inch below where she had just written.

Where to?

It wasn't her handwriting, but guessing it was merely a joke played by one of her friends, she smiled and wrote her reply.

Mirkwood

The tired girl yawned and closed her diary. She stuffed it in her bag and turned out the light. Then she rolled over on the floor, closed her eyes and went to sleep, dreaming of that blonde elf who lived forever in her thoughts and fantasies.

A tall blonde elf rode into the forest of Mirkwood early in the morning. The sun rose in front of him as he sped down the familiar forest paths of his homeland. He was just returning from visiting an old friend of his in Minas Tirith.

Towards the center of the great forest, he caught the sent of another elf. Thinking it might be one of his friends, he followed it to its source. He left the path and walked through the underbrush. At last he stopped in front of a large tree. He looked down and saw a beautiful young girl.

She wore a long purple dress with gold embroidery along the sides that was slit up to her hip. She had long brown hair that fell loosely around her shoulders. Her face had a large bruise on it and there was a horrible gash in her right arm. Most surprising to the elf was the purple highlight in her long hair, just in the front. He looked at this in wonder, pondering why she might have done this.

The young elf knelt down beside her and shook her slightly, wondering what a human was doing in Mirkwood. "Me heri!" he whispered. "Me heri, koiva amu!"

She opened her eyes slightly and stared at the elf. I must be dreaming, she thought. This can't be happening! She sat up and rubbed her eyes. As she did so, she realized her ears felt strangely different. She ran her hands over them and remembered that she'd forgotten to take them off last night. But these didn't seem too fake. There weren't any little bumps where they met up with her real ear...

"Are you alright, me heri?"

She looked up at the man in front of her. Seeing his pointed ears and long blonde hair, her eyes widened. She pinched herself hard, sure she was dreaming. But she didn't wake up. How did I get here? This can't be real! I can't seriously be an elf!

"Are you alright?" the elf repeated.

"Mammen ami?" she asked.

The elf was taken aback. "You speak elvish?"

"No, I just made up some words and they happened to be elvish! Of course I do!" She knew she wasn't telling the complete truth, but she had loved elves so much that she had learned their language-to the best of her abilities-just for fun, along with a few of her other friends.

"Well, in that case, ly mii itaure Mirkwood. Ar ami Legolas." He stood up and bowed, before offering the girl his hand and pulling her to her feet. She doubled over in pain and fell to her knees. A snapping noise told the elf that she must have a cracked rib. He grabbed her under the arm and let her lean on him for support.

"I uya maure lyaa tulko!" She yelled angrily, but still allowed him to help her stand. She moaned in pain and pushed the hair behind her ears.

He smiled. "A! ly are inya elda!"

She started to say, 'No, I'm a human and my name is Alexus', but realized that, if this wasn't a dream and she really was an inya elda or, she elf, she should act the part. "Yes, I am Aliana Majere. And there was no need to introduce yourself, your highness. I would know you anyway."

Legolas tried to smile, but wondered how this girl recognized him. "What are you doing in Mirkwood?" he asked.

"I never liked to stay at home, but that really does not matter. I must be going now," she replied. "Well, then we have something in common. Where are you headed next?"

Hoping it was after the third age and the War of the Ring and Isengard had been rebuilt, Alexus, now known as Aliana replied. "I am traveling to Isengard to visit an old friend."

"By chance might that friend be Gandalf the White?"

Sighing thankfully, Aliana smiled. "Why yes, that is who I am visiting. I have a few questions to ask him. Thank you for your help, but I must be off."

She turned to leave, but Legolas grabbed her wrist. "You don't think I'm going to let you go by yourself, do you? Especially injured and unarmed."

Aliana frowned when she realized he was right. She did not have a sword and her arm still hurt. But, never being one to depend on others, she rolled her eyes. "I will be fine, your highness." She stepped away from him and swayed on her feet momentarily before leaning on a tree for support. "I moka ly, myatar."

"Why do you speak of your father with such hate?" Legolas asked.

Aliana frowned. She had not meant to say that aloud. I guess I have to answer him. "He is the reason I cannot stand."

Legolas stared at her in amazement. "Your father did this to you!"

"Yes, now for the last time, I must be going."

"I will not allow you to travel to Isengard like this. At least let me look at your ribs."

Aliana turned to him. A little voice inside her head was saying, Yeah! The hottest guy in the world wants to look at your...uh...ribs! But she ignored it. She was not going to let some guy, even if he was Legolas, look at her ribs! "No way! To do that, I'd have to take off my shirt!"

"Well, then allow me to stay with you until you are able to walk on your own."

"I-"

"Please, me heri. I would feel much better if I stayed with you. At least for a short while."

He looked so hot standing there looking concerned that Aliana had to oblige. "Oh, alright! Why do you have to be such a fuckin' hot elf!"

Legolas grinned, though he did not understand her last comment. "We shall stay here for the night. Tomorrow you will come with me to the palace."

"The palace! Why!"

"So you can meet my father and I can explain to him where I am going. And I don't think you want to go traveling in that beautiful dress."

Aliana sat down grumpily at the foot of the tree. She was really hungry, but was determined not to mention it. Besides, she'd gone a whole lot longer without eating. To pass the time, she mumbled a poem to herself.

"Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,

Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,

Nine for mortal men doomed to die,

One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne

In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them.

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."

Legolas watched her silently, wondering how it was that she knew this. Not many people knew the old saying. Especially someone as young as she. "May I ask you a question?"

"You just did," she grinned. "but you may ask me another, your highness."

"Please, call me Legolas."

"I cannot your highness. Unless we are on friendly terms with each other, which I do not think will happen very easily, than I must insist on referring to you as your highness."

Legolas looked confused, but shook off the odd feeling he'd gotten when she said this. "Where do you hail from?"

Thinking quickly back to all her stories, Aliana answered. "Why, I should think it would be quite obvious. I hail from Rivendell."

Legolas looked into her deep green eyes, trying to find something false in them. He didn't believe her, but could not say why. Somehow he knew she wasn't telling the whole truth. Maybe she wasn't lying, but she wasn't telling him everything...

Legolas made a fire, but Aliana sat as far away from it as possible. She lay down and closed her eyes, trying to sleep. Legolas did the same, but she knew he wasn't asleep. She could feel his eyes on her, searching her soul. She knew he didn't believe her, but she had to lead him to think she was truthful.