Disclaimer: Do I really need to repeat all that stuff again? I own some stuff and not some stuff! There! That made absolutely no sense, but this is not a new concept for me...

I'm so bummed! I just heard that The Merry Murderess Kitta will not be writing anymore because of school and stuff, you know, the normal stress of everyday life. She was really good at it, too, but I guess I'll just have to find another LOTR writer-not that that'll be too hard. Well, I don't blame her. I have to change my account as well. Mine got really messed up when they made all those changes.(Don't worry, this won't effect you. I'm writing this all out before I post it, so I'll be who I'll be then and forever more!)

Thanks to any of you who reviewed, whether it was nice or not and I hope you keep reading!

AlianaofMirkwood

ps- If you have and questions about the Elvish I used, e-mail me at and I'll try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. I figured most of the lingo could be guessed by the context it's used in.

pps- Oh, and just for the record, this takes place BEFORE Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn leave on the White Ships. Because Galadriel and Celeborn will make an appearance later on. Oh, and it's based more on the book, so Haldir isn't dead! That was so cruel!

ppps- I just saw the movie yesterday! Well, it was 12-19-03, but I can't post this until I get back to school because my computer sucks! They rushed the end too much! It took Frodo like...a day to get from Shelob's Lair to Mount Doom! And I want to see more torture! Frodo wasn't tortured enough to be the Ring Bearer! But I think the best part was when all the people-even the elves-bowed to the hobbits! "My friends... You bow to no one." And then of course was Legolas's 'scene' with the Olephaunts(sp?)! "That still only counts as one!"

Chapter Three: The Leave Taking

The next morning, Aliana awoke late in the afternoon to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. She opened her eyes and glanced around, unaccustomed to such a formidable wakeup call. She pushed the blankets off her and walked to the window. It was such a beautiful morning that she decided to go outside and walk around just to admire it.

She found a dress laying on a chair by her bedside. It was forest green with long sleeves and a golden chain around the waist. Aliana looked at it with disgust before pulling it over her head and slipping on her shoes.

She brushed her hair quickly and let it hang freely around her shoulders. Then she walked out the door and down the large staircase in front of the entranceway. She noticed two elves standing near the wall to the left of the door. One, she did not recognize, but the other, she knew to be Ivellios. He pointed to her and scowled before returning to his discussion.

Aliana pushed open the doors and strode angrily through them and down the steps to the forest path. She made her way through the paths and felt the familiar contentment of being outdoors. After about half an hour of walking around, she headed back up the steps to the palace. The doors opened just as she reached for the golden handle.

"Hello, Aliana." She looked into the sinister eyes of Ivellios, grinning at her. "I thought I'd find you out here, wallowing in your triumph over our dear Prince."

"What are you talking about! I never meant to take him away from you! He goes with me of his own free will!"

"He goes because he loves you! You stole his heart!"

"What! That's ridiculous! I didn't do-"

"Oh, but you did."

Ivellios pushed her up against the wall and leaned forward until he was not even an inch away from her face. She could feel the breath coming from his pointy nose hot on her face. "I know what you're up to." With all his strength, he pinned her against the wall and kissed her. Aliana was so surprised that she almost forgot to struggle.

She turned her head away and tried to slip out of his grasp. But Ivellios had expected this and was ready. He drew his sword and held it tightly at her throat. The more she struggled, the deeper the blade cut into her skin until it was bleeding freely.

Thinking quickly, Aliana reached for the small dagger around his waist. She jabbed it into his wrist with all her strength. Ivellios dropped the sword and pulled the dagger out of his arm. He tried to grab Aliana, but she had already opened the door and ran inside.

She leaned on the railing of the stairs, breathing deeply and clutching at her neck. "What's wrong?" said a voice behind her. She spun around to see Legolas standing in front of her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course!" she replied rather quickly.

"Then why are you covering your neck?"

"It's nothing. Really!" Aliana turned and began to walk up the stairs. "Don't trouble yourself with me, I'm fine."

Legolas grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back down five stairs, tripping and stumbling as she went. He pulled her hand away from her neck and looked at her concernedly. "What happened!"

Aliana pulled her bloody hand from his grasp. "Nothing!" She ran back up the stairs before Legolas could stop her. At that moment, Ivellios stepped beside him. "What happened to her?" he asked, shoving his arm behind his back before Legolas noticed.

"I'm not sure..."

Aliana reached her room and flung open the door. She slammed it so hard that Layanna heard her from next door and came to see what was wrong. "Me heri! What happened! You're bleeding!"

Layanna retrieved a cool rag from her room and laid it on Aliana's bleeding neck. "I cannot stay here any longer! I must leave...tonight!"

"I shall inform the Prince, then."

"No!"

"Why not?" Layanna questioned. "I'm sure he and Ivellios would be more than willing to leave a day earlier if that is your will."

"I leave early because of Ivellios! I do not wish to trouble the Prince with such things, so I am going to Isengard alone!"

"I understand. Well, in that case, you shall need the proper gear for your travels. When I saw Ivellios last night, I feared something like this might happen. So I got all your things ready, just in case you were planning on departing early."

Layanna went off to her room and returned a few minutes later with a small bag, which she handed to Aliana, two long knives and a bow and quiver. "These should keep you safe on your journey. You seem like the type of girl who knows how to use them. Now, you don't have time to change your clothes as I suspect Legolas and Ivellios will be here shortly. There is enough food and water to get you to Isengard and I also packed a cloak, boots, and extra clothes."

"Thank you so much, Layanna. I shall return someday, and visit you again."

"You're welcome, now you'd better be going or you might run into Legolas on your way to the stables. There is a horse waiting for you. He is already saddled and ready to go. Rauros is his name. He is a fast horse-named after the swift, strong, falls-and will serve you well. In his pack are a few other things I thought you might need."

With those last words, she pushed Aliana out of the room and into the hallway. She quietly made her way outside and to the stables where she found a beautiful black horse waiting for her. "Nadoleem, Rauros," she whispered to the horse when she'd mounted. "We've a long way to go tonight."

It was dark, but Aliana's elven eyes helped her to see the road ahead. She knew the Prince would follow her, but he thought she was going to Isengard, when in truth, she was planning on going to Lake Town. She would wait there until Legolas had given up searching for her and she could carry on alone.

Aliana found that what Layanna said about her horse being named after the Falls of Rauros was true. Rauros ran fast all night, keeping at a steady pace and staying off the main roads. Only the fear of being followed kept Aliana awake and riding all night. She rode fast and she rode hard. After she'd been riding for about six hours, it began to rain. Aliana hadn't put her cloak on and she began to feel very cold and started to sneeze.

She decided she'd been going long enough and found a sheltered spot off the small forest path. It was hopeless to build a fire, so she sat down and pulled out a piece of lembras from her pack. The hard elven bread quenched her starving hunger and she laid back to enjoy the rain.

She pulled her cloak and blanket tightly around her and wiped her nose on her sleeve. She sneezed again and glanced at her horse. He was standing next to a tree, eating on the fresh green grasses that grew at its base.

Aliana pulled out the map she had discovered in the saddlebag and looked it over. Judging by her directions, she was almost out of Mirkwood. She would take the Forest River and follow it until she came to Long Marshes. After a slow journey through the marshes, she would come across Long Lake and the city of Esgaroth, or, Lake Town.

After a time, she stood up and walked over to her horse. "Time to go, Rauros," she said softly to her horse, her voice sickly and stuffy.

Aliana placed her blanket on her horse and threw the saddle on him. Then she put one foot in the stirrup and swung on. "Nadoleem, Rauros, nadoleem."

As they rode, the sky grew lighter with the coming of the dawn. The river they rode beside began to widen and the path became muddy and wet. There were midges and flies everywhere and it smelled like rotten eggs. Aliana drew her cloak around her and it seemed to her, that the insects of the swamp became less of a bother to her soft skin.

Her journey was a horrible one. She traveled for days in those marshes, seeing no sign of any living being. There was nothing to drink save the few pieces of lembras bread she had left and no fresh water around for miles. To make matters worse, Aliana's cold began to worsen and she grew terribly ill.

Rauros began to tire as well, and the usual lively and speedy horse was reduced to a mere pack mule during the journey. Aliana soon lost track of the days and even where she was. No light could be seen at any hour of the day through the immensely dense fog that encircled the marshes.

Aliana rested little and when she did, it was briefly and uneasily. She only stopped momentarily to eat and let her horse rest. There was little for Rauros to eat, so Aliana began giving him some of the lembras. He rather enjoyed it and quickly regained some of his strength.

Aliana awoke one morning, sweating from a nightmare she had been having about her father. She saddled her black steed and began to ride in what she guessed to be the late evening dusk. Soon, the path through the marshes grew too narrow to ride on, so she dismounted and led her horse across the small piece of land.

As her foot came down upon a mossy rock, she slipped and fell into the dirty water. Her hand let go of the reins and she plunged under the surface. Her foot sank into the mud as she tried to escape the treacherous grasp of the swamp. She managed to reach the surface in time to breathe, but was soon pulled back under the water. She felt around for something to hold onto-a branch perhaps, or a sturdy rock-but none could be found.

Near the point of drowning, she felt two hands gripped around her wrists and strong arms pull her upwards. She landed hard on the ground and gasped for breath. She coughed up water from her lungs and sneezed from the cold.

Opening her eyes and looking up, she saw a tall figure, clad in a heavy gray cloak, staring down at her. She could see nothing of this person's visage. Aliana stumbled to her feet and looked closer at the figure. "Hanta ly, ten fainu my kuile."

"I am only glad to know that you are safe." The figure reached up and withdrew his hood. Aliana smiled as she looked upon the familiar blonde hair and green eyes of Legolas. Standing behind him was Ivellios, his hand wrapped in a soft white goss where she had stabbed him. "Although I do not think you are quite as well as I would have liked you to be," he added as Aliana sneezed twice in a row. "It was not a wise thing to be wandering in the Long Marshes in the winter."

"It was not very wise of you to come wandering after me," Aliana grinned. "Considering I will try my best to lose you again."

"Well, I shall have to keep a sharper eye on you, then." He draped his cloak over her shoulders. "Now, why is it that you decided to leave Mirkwood in the middle of the night without Ivellios or myself?"

"I've already told you many times, my Lord, I do not wish to trouble you with such a burden as myself."

"Legolas," he said in an exasperated tone, but seeing her ignore this statement, he continued. "Me heri, you are no burden. I would enjoy traveling with you, wherever it is you fare. I tire of the palace life and would love a chance to get away from it."

"But why do you choose to come with me!" Aliana snapped. "Why couldn't you find some other damsel in the forest who would jump at the chance to travel with someone so fine as yourself!"

Legolas didn't answer. He stared at Aliana in silence. Ivellios was the first the break the long silence. "My Lord, we are but a days travel to Esgaroth. We should continue on our way before the weather worsens."

"You are right, Ivellios," Legolas agreed. He pressed his hand to Aliana's forehead. "You shall ride on Rauros. You should stay out of the water."

Aliana placed her own hand exactly where his had rested. Her forehead was burning hot and, now that she thought about it, she did feel the uncomfortable side-affects of a fever. "I am well enough to walk on my own!"

Legolas looked at her dubiously. "I do not think so, but if that is your wish, then I will honor it."

"Thank you!" She threw Legolas his cloak and, grabbing Rauros's reins, trudged through the marshes. Ivellios and Legolas exchanged glances, but followed her down the path. They walked for hours, stopping only for a few brief minutes to take a drink of water.

Back on their way again, Aliana, yet again, slipped in the murky water. It was not so deep this time and she could stand up. But it did enough damage to her anyway. She coughed and sneezed until she thought she couldn't breathe anymore. "That's it," Legolas stated. "You're not walking any longer."

Aliana glared at him defiantly, but he grabbed her and flung her into the saddle. He placed his cloak over her shoulder. Aliana was too weak and tired to object. She leaned on Rauros's neck and closed her eyes, stroking the horse's soft mane.

"If you like," Legolas began, "we can rest here. I assume you must be tired."

"I'm not tired! I could go on for days!"

She looked back and saw Ivellios staring intently at her. She smiled and flipped her middle finger at the elf. He obviously didn't get it because he gave her a querying glance and looked away. Aliana laughed silently to herself. How stupid can you be!

Legolas sensed her amusement and looked at her questioningly. She merely shrugged and looked away. Legolas looked back at Ivellios, but he was too wrapped up in his devious thoughts to care. "We're almost there, me heri."

Ivellios was furious with himself for giving Aliana the chance to laugh at him-even if he didn't know why she had. I must get back at her someway! She will pay for stealing Legolas's heart! I will make sure of it! Perhaps, if something were to happen to her, Legolas would come back to Mirkwood...

The sky grew dim as they approached the edge of the Long Marshes. Aliana shivered as a strong breath of wind blew across her face. Legolas looked over at her, a concerned look in his eyes. "Are ly lamma?"

"Fuckin' elves!" she said silently to herself.

Legolas smiled. "I'll take that as a yes."

Ivellios walked up beside him. "Take it as whatever you want, we're here."

The three of them looked out from the trees towards a beautifully glistening lake, sparkling in the light of a full moon. "Behold, the lake city of Esgaroth under the shadow of the Lonely Mountain."

They went on for a quarter of an hour more before they reached a large bridge that would take them across the lake to the town. As the three crossed it, lights could be seen in the windows of houses. Fishermen stood on the docks, discussing their new rods or biggest fish.

At the town gate, just past the bridge, Legolas turned to Aliana. "Didn't you say you had friends in Esgaroth, me heri."

Aliana's eyes widened. Crap! He remembered! "I did, but I am not quite sure in which part of the city they-" She sneezed. "-live. And I am too weary to look this evening."

Ivellios rounded on her. "I thought you weren't tired? You could go on for hours? Isn't that what you said?"

Aliana gulped, but Legolas laid a hand on his shoulder. "Ivellios, leave her alone. If she is tired, we shall rest. There is an inn just down the road."

They reached the inn Legolas had spoken of just as the gates closed. They three of them walked inside and found the innkeeper. He showed them to their rooms upstairs, one right across from the other, and went back down the stairs. "Goodnight, me heri," Legolas said as Aliana opened the door to her room.

"Goodnight, my Lord."

Ivellios followed Legolas into the room and lay on the bed, plotting ways to get rid of Aliana. He did not trust her one bit. He knew she didn't have friends in Esgaroth, but Legolas would believe anything she said. He was already caught in her web of lies and deceit. How was he going to help his Prince?