Soundtrack: Breaking Benjamin - Unknown soldier

I think the chorus is particularly suitable.

With thanks to WolvesKey - I'm glad (and relieved) you like Zeralena. :)

Borrowed Time

O3

Unknown

...

She is running.

The air is rank with age. She can smell and taste the staleness of decay as she twists through the darkness, across a stone floor.

"Run. Run. Run."

From what? Her heart pounds and her veins burn with adrenaline.

Something terrible is coming.

Rubbery and wet, a material she's never come across before, wraps round her frame and hauls her clean off her feet. Squeals ring in her ears, even as she is plunged into stomach-wrenchingly cold water. The restraint disappears and she kicks frantically towards the surface.

Grime covered hands greet her, the faces of the owners's distorted. The paintings she's seen of them do not do their hideous appearances justice.

She opens her mouth to scream but they plunge her under, holding her down until her lungs are full and she chokes against the gritty fluid. Her vision blurs.

She is going to die.

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"Zeralena." She awoke with a start and stared with terrified eyes into the concerned elf's looking back at her. "You stopped breathing." He murmured, his hands remaining on either side of her face as she took gasps to sooth her burning lungs. He studied her. "Was it your gift?" He asked, helping her sit up as he tried to steady her racing pulse. She began to tremble - a combination of the cool temperatures and shock - he wrapped a cloak around her shoulders and re-woke the fire.

"I do not know for certain, however, I think it was just a dream." She replied, her voice hoarse. He handed her some water and she managed a wobbled smile of gratitude. His eyes didn't miss the way she shuddered. Her 'drowning' made her hesitate but in the end the nagging thirst made her take a swig.

"What happened?" She chewed on her lower lip, breaking eye contact. Her reluctance obvious in her rigid posture.

"I would rather discuss if later, I'm sure it was nought but a nightmare." She couldn't decipher his expression, but regardless of what he may have thought he chose not to press her. Instead he retreated back to his place to keep watch. Too wired to return to sleep she rose and stretched her legs, her hands holding tightly onto her forearms. In a couple of hours the sun would be up and they would pass into the mines. Her shoulders were tense and, regardless of how hard she tried to, she simply could not relax them. She raised her gaze from the leaf covered earth to the blonde elf, he felt her eyes and tilted his head to meet them questioningly.

"What is Mirkwood like?" She asked quietly, her arms folding over her chest as her fingers rubbed her upper arms. She watched his lips twitch ruefully and wondered if her question had been a mistake.

"Parts of it are very beautiful but some areas are in disarray, the result of Sauron's influnce. We are gradually rebuilding our home, nurturing the forest back to health." He replied, his eyes softening when he spoke. She nodded, reverting to staring at the ground below her feet and fell into her thoughts. They lapsed into a companionable silence. An owl broke her from her trance and she shuffled to be closer to him. His eyebrows rose and she bit her lower lip. "Be calm, m'lady you are safe." She swallowed and gave a jerky nod.

"I dreamt that I was attacked. That something, far superior in strength, pulled me under water. When I managed to get to the top what I assume were Orcs kept me from the air. That feeling of drowning, that feeling of dying... it is terrifying." He reached across and held her shoulder, fixing an intent gaze on her as he spoke. He was more beautiful than she originally thought.

"I would never let that happen." He promised with more sincerity than she'd ever encountered before. Whichever elf had him as their bonded was certainly lucky. She felt her breath catch in the back of her throat and all she could do was nod mutely. "Do I have your faith, Lady Zeralena?"

"Yes." And I think my heart too.

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She kept her eyes rooted to the floor in an attempt to avoid falling on the rocky slope. They'd been walking all day and night had come again, they were so close it seemed pointless breaking again. Gimili's promises of warmth and good food kept her spirits high and despite her aching feet, the thought of a comfortable bed kept her moving. After what felt like an eternity of walking they managed to find the gate. With it was a very large pool of water. She felt herself shudder. Unable to take her eyes from its eerie ripples she lost herself in her own thoughts. The images and very real sensations pouring through her. She began to doubt herself. Was it really a dream? What if it was a vision? What if they were all in danger?

"Lady Zeralena?" A hand on her shoulder broke through her trance and she blinked a couple of times to clear her thoughts. "Are you well?"

"Yes." She replied, giving Boromir a jerky nod.

"You have gone very pale." She swallowed, meeting his gaze and recognized, with a sharp spike of intense coldness, her own edginess in his gaze. He'd been watching her and her reactions had frightened him. A woman with the ability to see visions staring intently into suspiciously dark waters. She chastised herself for foolishness and offered him an apologetic smile.

"I am afraid of drowning." He seemed relieved at this and gave her arm an encouraging squeeze.

"You need not worry, m'lady." He smiled and she breathed a quiet half laugh as he turned and walked away. She followed, but feeling another gaze on her paused. She raised her eyes to the left and found Legolas watching closely her. She couldn't distinguish his look. Tearing her eyes from his she concentrated on Boromir's back.

"I have a favour to ask of you, Sir Boromir." He stopped and turned to give her his full attention. She was acutely aware of the listening elf. "I know that it will seem entirely unorthodox but it would bring me immense reassurance if you could show me how to at least hold a sword." She read the conflict behind his gaze and held her breathe.

"I suppose all things that things which seemed unorthodox are not so radical now, considering out situation. It will be my honour to instruct you, Lady Zeralena." As he finished Gandalf and Frodo managed to decipher the riddle and the gate doors swung open. Legolas beckoned her over and she fell into step beside him.

The stench hit her first. Mouldy filth. She knows this scent. She knows the aged taste it leaves in her mouth.

Her head throbbed with a sudden pain and she staggered backwards, clutching her temples.

'Get out!'

The voice shouted, just as the rotting corpses came into view. Legolas pulled an arrow from one skull. Panic clawed at her throat, deafening her to the hissed curses of the men. She cursed herself for her stupidity.

"RUN! LEAVE!"

The water! Zeralena twisted round in time to see a tentacle descend on Frodo and barely got the scream out before it had hoisted him off his feet. Instinctively she had ran forward and managed to grab his hand. A pair of arms wrapped round her torso and tugged her backwards. Her grip failed and the hobbit slipped through her fingers.

The water blurred her vision as a wave of spray stung her eyes and she was dragged form the safety of the arms that had encased her into the murky depths below.

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Thoughts? I'm sorry if it seems rushed :S