Thank you! For your reviews they help me make more progress on the story faster then I planned. Tell me what you think so far. Also a spoiler for you this is not a tenth walker fic.

A short note on how to read this chapter: When all text is in italic it is a flash back! Flash backs are usually at the beginning of the chapter and all is converted into English even though they would be speaking their own tongue. When the text is italic within the ' a ' it is elvish or whoever's tongue it is that is speaking, while within the main timeline.

Chapter three

'Lindawell!' the voice of a stern woman rang out into the village ', come here now!'

This woman was not your typical eastern woman she was not borne to the tribe, she had been taken when she was just fourteen years of age. Ezura as she was now called, had grown up on a small farm on the out skirts of Arnor, before the men came. All that seemed a world away, as she look upon her growing daughter who was now her age then. She had done much to survive this life and had managed to make the best of it. Her husband Ryes was strong and had never tired of her, she had giving him twins a sign of good fortune and power. He was much more lenient with his wife than most. She was his first wife, the first woman he had taken in battle. He had told her he took her cause she looked so unlike himself their differences amused him and pleased his eye. For all he was dark of skin and back of hair, she was pale and copper, with deep blue eyes. Her children looked just like their father all save their eyes, the only thing that told her they were her children. The children were raised by all the wives' in the village as though they were their own, there was rarely anything Lindawell's mother could teach her daughter and son. Except the tongue of her people and the truth about elves and men in the west.

'Lindawell now is not the time for fighting.' Ezura said with her best glare. 'Just look at you, your filthy! How are the elders going to see you? Much less see your future.'

'Sorry mama,' Lin said, she hated her full name it didn't sound like the names of their people, many of the children made fun of it. She was always getting into trouble for fighting or being dirty and yet she was always much more clean then the others.

'Today is an important day,' Ezura said calmly fixing Lin's hair into a tight braid rather than the bird's nest it had turned into since that morning. 'You're going to the crone, she will look into your soul and find the path you must take and the tribesmen you may marry.'

'Or the band I will fight with!' Lin interrupted quickly her mother seemed to always be wondering and worrying after who would claim her daughter. Lin thought little of men in that way, she was a warrior and had been practicing with Lan and the other children for years. Her usual dress was black leggings made of boar hide and a thick tight bind for her breasts. A training garb for the wild women if they did not wish to be naked under the sun. The intense heat seemed to Ezura to have melted shame away from all the women of this tribe and try as she might to teach her daughter some modesty it had unfortunately not sunk in.

'Or band, if you so choose the barren path. Now put your robe on, I'll not have you go half naked into your future.' Ezura said with a sigh. Many wild women choose this barren path. It was on the borders of her understanding. The barren path was what it was called although the women were not barren, they simply refused to allow for the dominance of men. Instead living by a rather crude set of rules.

'I will!' Lin said stubbornly slipping her arms into the light fabric as her mother tied the sash around her middle tightly 'I won't let Lan go off to fight without me, he's hopeless!'

'Oh? He says the same about you.' Ezura laughed using a wet cloth to wipe the dirt off Lin's face. Looking over her robe making small adjustments, the pink brought out her eyes wonderfully.

'He might be stronger but I'm faster and sneaker! Papa can't even see me until, I want him too!' Lin said proudly grinning at her mother. 'Besides I'm much faster at looting then Lan is.'

'Your father is very proud of you.' Ezura said, for Ryes was proud of his daughter and encouraged her fiery spirit. He had already declared that she would never be taken from them by any man. She would remain untouched, his daughter and a follower of the goddess Emuhi, the goddess of war and chaos.

Lin grinned happily as she fidgeted in her seat, her hand reaching towards an unguarded apple.

'He has a present for you after your decision.' Ezura said, slapping away Lin's hand, her blue eyes ever watchful. Her husband, son and daughter would eat them out of a home if given the chance. 'So mind your manners with the wise ones and listen closely to their council. Come we must go.'

Lin made a face behind her mother's back as she followed, she had seen the elders they were older then old. The grey man was tin, his muscle gone and his eyes white as though blind. He was toothless and did nothing but drink leaves steeped in water or smoke them. The white woman couldn't even stand, she was small barely four foot, she spent her days in her tent, wrinkled face grim and stern as she looked out from her tent flaps to passersby. There was told of the oracle within the tent although none of the other children had seen it and the adults would not speak of it if they had.

The tent was grey but lined with a golden trim the glittered in the afternoon sun. The tent flaps opened violently as a woman pulled her sobbing son from the tent impatiently.

'Firn? What happened?' Lin called worriedly as they past. The boys dark brown eyes looked up, running with tears as a look of shame crossed his face blushing he wrenched his hand away from his mother and took off. Lin turned to go after him, she had never seen a boy cry before.

'He'll be fine girl.' the grey man said gruffly stopping Lin's pursuit, with a smirk ', Leave him be. He got to sort out his own path.'

Lin glared at the grey man. His white eyes merely stared back unbothered, until he made a funny face at her and with a laugh at her stony expression exclaimed 'you must be Ryes little Lin! A fire bird indeed. Well then come in, she's waited for you long enough.'

Lin said nothing she simply walked past the man into the tent resolved to not break like the Firn had not matter what happen she promised herself she would not give them the pleasure of making her cry.

The hut was musty, air thick with the smoke and smelled of burning herbs. Inside there were small thin cushions one red to sit on in front of her and two white in front of that. One the left white cushion the white woman sat sipping tea noisily, as the grey man came in and sat on the right cushion beside her. A tightly weaved black, mesh curtain hid the back of the tent from view. Lin's eyes tried hard to see beyond them as she moved to sit on the red cushion, her legs tucked in beneath her, remembering her mother's warning about sitting cross legged in public.

'So you are Ryes first born.' The old woman croaked out, peering at Lin over her tea cup. ', your brother was second. Odd that, being twins so different.'

Lin felt her temper flaring she hated being considered odd. The old woman smiled knowingly and put her tea cup down her pour water into a golden basin nearly to the top. The rim of the basin was carved outwards with clouds etched on it. The grey man pulled a rope and a beam of light came through the roof of the tent illuminating the waters surface.

'Nothing wrong with odd girl.' the white woman said amused her small hand out stretched over the bowel 'now give me your left hand. Quickly we don't have all day the light must be right.'

Lin handed over her hand bravely not drawing it back even as the crone pulled out a small knife and cut her palm along its middle natural line. Lin's blood fell into the bowl in a hot Red line down the side of her hand, she held it steady as she watched the woman look into the water.

It wasn't long until Lin's arm started to burn her muscles begged to move, she had never been one to sit still so long. Her eyes roamed the room as her legs wanted to do. The grey man sat smoking occasionally smirking at her as he did so. The old woman continued to watch the water her dark eyes scanning the bowl grimly. Just as Lin felt she could take no more and was about to pull her hand back the woman looked up sharply. Eye wide the woman folded Lin's palm over itself her thin mouth in a tight line.

'I have seen your end, my little one.' the elder woman said gravely ', you will be lost to us. Should you ever look deep into the eyes of an elf.'

'So I shall have to fight them blindfolded.' Lin said with a laugh.

'Perhaps.' The old woman said with a smile. 'There are many paths ahead of you. Some lead to gold and riches beyond count, some lead to great deeds and legends to sing of. Yet these all come to the same end, if not slightly different in meaning.'

'I can join the ranks of Emuhi?' Lin asked puzzled, the news of this elven enemy who would kill her sometime in the future, was troubling, but not immediate.

'You will have the mark, have no fear of that.' The woman said with a laugh,' only be weary with the greatness you seek there is often a great fall. You will be as your father claim untouchable by any man.'

At this the grey man raised his overgrown eyebrows at the woman beside him. A worried expression upon his wrinkled face. He looked over the pretty little thing before him and wondered idly what adventures the fire bird would fly to.

'Good.' Lin said happily starting to get up to leave, her legs wobbly from sitting to long.

'I would ask one favour child of Ryes! This a warning from the oracle! Heed it well for she doesn't give them lightly' the white woman called out hand out stretched towards lin. 'do not take any unworthy men to your bed as your battle sisters are bound to do. Do not take part in the flesh of lesser men for that would be your ruin.'

'I had no intention of taking weak men to my bed or any man.' Lin said grinning, looking at the shocked faces of the grey man and white woman, before stepping out into the now setting sun's rays. As she walked back home, the tent was silent until her footsteps faded.

'This is grave news.' the grey man said his white eyes staring out into the village from the tent flaps.

'It is to come to pass no matter what. The elf I see will either kill her or claim her in the end.' the woman said calmly.

'Aye I don't doubt it, but there are few boys who will take kindly to this news, even when they are men themselves.' He said simply scathing his head.

'Aye. She will bring much strife and grief.' She agreed with a nod ', a fired Bird leaves not, but ashes in her wake.'

Present day Lothlorien

Orophin had made it to a healers talan not to long after Lin had passed out. When he handed her over many of the elves had wanted to treat her. Not often enough had their healers had practice healing mortals. They began to squabble amongst themselves on how best to treat her, even worse some refused to treat her at all. Than Oiolaire the master of the healing house of Este was adamant that the easterling was not to be admitted to his care on the whims of a foolish elfling, and so it was that the kind and even tempered Orophin and Oiolaire quarrelled until it nearly came to blows. It had even attracted the attention of their lord and lady, the latter of which sent one of her maid Nessamelda to settle the matter.

'My lady requires that you heal this mortal,' Nessamelda said firmly in her soft voice, her baby blue eyes fixed upon Oiolaire ', are you not able to do our lady's bidding?'

'I will do as the Lady Galadriel bids,' Oiolaire replied stiffly, with a small bow of his head before turning violently towards Lin, looking once again over her wounds.

'Orophin our Lord would have words with you.' Nessamelda said worriedly as Orophin left to face the consequences of his actions. Looking over Oiolaire shoulder she then asked, 'how damaged is the mortal?'

'Leave your distracting.' Oiolaire stated coldly, in response the other healers fled. He was looking over Lin's infected shoulder and would have cursed whomever had tried to bind it when he noticed he was not entirely alone as he'd asked turning with a sharp look, he glared at the interloper.

'I've been asked to oversee...' Nessamelda started to say coming closer warily. The healers temper was legendary.

'Get out!' Oiolaire yelled angrily as Nessamelda retreated, muttering over Lin he added, 'How am I supposed to work with idiots hovering about the place?'

Three days of constant labour and Lin's fever finally broke, her wounds had started to mend under the care of Oiolaire. He had tended to her alone and without aid, for he feared what might happen to anyone else should she wake violently. Oiolaire was one of the eldest elves within Lothlorien, he'd been around during Elu Thingol's time and had seen many battles and many wounds over the course of his long bitter life. Healing took more work than fighting, saving lives was harder than killing them and yet sometimes the old elf felt there was no point in saving a life. Especially a mortal one, how fleeting it was to save something that would only decay in a few years.

In his time he had not treated many men but those he hard had been battle scarred and ruff of skin. This woman seemed either more unlucky then those men of the past or was a berserker in battle. She had scars along her back arms and legs from numerous weapons and claws, he also noticed several broken bones that had been set wrong in the past and had to reset them. The skin on her back was etched deep into the skin with black ink. The tattoos were seemingly crude to the elf's eyes, a circle that many have been the moon was at the back base of her neck a wolf was running up the left side of it. A sun shone in the middle of her shoulder blades in a circle around it was a snake eating its own tail. Over her right hip was three wavy lines leading to her left hip, eastern markings were placed in an odd pattern between the lines. The last of these markings was on her right ankle it looked to be mountains or spikes to the elvish eyes a small eastern symbol was just below it. Often Oiolaire would touch these markings curious as to why these were purposely done, the process would have been painful and some of the markings were old, perhaps from childhood. It took a week more before she finally woke.

The Lord and lady had both been to see her in her sleep, along with many elves who wished to gawk at the easterling, so few within Lothlorien had ever seen one. Lord Celeborne had taken a particular interest in her markings as well.

'Interesting, 'Lord Celeborne said, with a look at the wide scar upon her collar bone a slight smile touching his lips. The lady Galadriel had merely glazed at her with an unseeing look, her lips pressed firmly together in a small frown. Neither of them confided their findings to Oiolaire.

Lin felt better then she had in months, possibly years. She opened her eyes slowly, her blue eyes quickly took in the clean and plain surroundings. The air smelled clean, she felt the softness of the grey blanket against her skin, the sky was dark and the stars were shining brightly between the trees leaves. That's when she noticed she was naked, she tried to move her right arm only to find that it was bound tightly to her chest with long white bandages. In fact most of her was covered in bandages. There was an elf with his back to her, unlike the blond of Legolas' this one was silver haired and taller. Its ears were longer and it seemed rather irritated as it muttered to itself in elvish. Lin closed her eyes quickly as it turned around.

'I know you're awake.' Oiolaire said in his deep voice, his green eyes watching the rise and fall of her chest. 'Drink this.'

Lin looked at him with a blink as he held out a grey clay cup to her, she sat up slowly, eyes looking for any form of weapon she could use to defend herself. There was a small knife on the far corner of work table near the remains of some herbs, but it was too far in the back of the room.

'Drink it!' He exclaimed impatiently trusting it into her left hand. Lin took it with questioning look at the agitated elf before her. He looked strong and she could see no fear in his eyes, he reminded her of her oldest friend and salve. Mina was always in a foul mood toward everyone, even Lin at times although the woman loved her owner dearly. Thoughts of mina made Lin's stomach turn, how long had it been since she'd seen her people.

Lin sniffed the green liquid in the clay cup, unnerved at the thick foul look it was sporting, it smelled like apples. Still Lin didn't trust it, elves had magic and could cast illusions on such things, or so her people had told. She quickly dropped it to the wooden floor to see if it burned it.

'It's not poison! I have not spent all this time healing your mortal body to merely kill you myself.' Oiolaire cried angrily, he wanted nothing more than to be rid of this burden, he had already told Lord Celeborne that she would be ready to be moved. The woman had used up much of his power, he had no reason to reset the bones that was true, save that he abhorred sloppy work.

Lin looked up at him though a veil of black hair, as she hunched over, she could feel her shoulders stiffness and realized it was not as hurt as before. She pulled at the bandages over her collar bone until her bare hand felt over the new red scar upon it. It had scarred in a deep imperfect circle. She shivered at the memory of grey swirling eyes and the elf who had captured her within his mind. She remembered the white woman's words, would she be devoured by an elven sorcerer? Bound by her oath to Emuhi …

'Your bone was cracked by an arrow, apparently, the elfling who pulled it out did more damaged then the arrow did to your skin.' Oiolaire commented dryly braking off her thoughts. He was sat on a stool by her bedside drinking a cup of water to cure his oncoming head ache. He watched as he looked over her leg and her arms, she looked over her right foot and touched her big straight toe with a baffled look.

'I straightened it. Along with many other bones, you'll find it easier to walk and use your hands now.' He said at Lin's accusing look.

'Why did you do this?' she asked angrily getting to her feet which protested at weight baring after so long in bed. If she had been steadier she would have grabbed the elf and shook the answer out of him.

'Why? You ungrateful mortal! I go out of my way to fix you and you only ask why!' Oiolaire cried incensed.

'You had no right to change what was done!' Lin yelled giving Oiolaire a dark look to match his.

'It looks like we've arrived just in time Legolas.' Said an amused voice in elvish near the doorway. The only word Lindawell understood was Legolas, at the name she felt her anger double.

'What is the problem here?' Legolas asked in the common tongue looking from Lin to Oiolaire. 'Lindawell?' he added sharply.

'He change it!' she yelled hands balling into fists at her sides, face red with anger.

All the elves looked baffled, at the mostly undressed woman before them, having unbound the bandages around her shoulder she had bared her breasts in standing up. The grey blanket left on the sick bed. She had on some under cloth around her hips that covered her from below her belly button to a few inches over the top of her thighs. The shocking part was how many scars she had littered about her Legolas had counted at least eleven at first glance.

'He healed you yes. That's no reason to be angry.' Legolas said calmly, picking up the blanket and wrapping it around her, trying his best not to look at her body as he did so. It was encouraging that she was talking, for days she had just lain here with only Oiolaire. Legolas would not have put it past the healer to have given Lin a concoction to keep her asleep every few hours to make sure she didn't wake and disrupt his work. The long sleep had been most troubling to him, more than once he and Pippin had been rudely told off for coming to check on her.

'This! This was not broken!' she said kicking her foot into his face, pointing at her toe.

'It had set wrong!' Oiolaire yelled at her throwing his hands up in the air 'your mortal brain is rot.'

'Why are you angry?' Legolas asked gently pushing her foot from his face. The elf beside him was blushing a deep red and had taken a retreating step back

'You shall not understand!' she said dismissively glaring ta Oiolaire hard enough to burn, over Legolas shoulder. The healing master glared back

'Explain it.' Legolas commanded firmly his own temper flaring. He wished to talk to Lindawell alone as soon as he could for there was much to discuss between them.

'It broke during my first battle, the battle lasted days and days. It healed crooked before the end,' Lin said passionately a bright smile lit her face. She remembered that battle, the smell of the air, the heat of the sand beneath her feet, every trust of her halberd.

'A memento of battle?' Legolas said an odd understanding coming to him. He himself had a few scars he refused the healers to heal completely for each one was a lesion well learned.

'Memento? Perhaps' Lin said awkwardly, it had been many years since her mother had died and with her so had the practice of speaking the common tongue. It was hard to remember all the words.

'What's done is done.' Legolas said calmly, adding at Lin's argumentative look ', it was not done to in malice or spite. Let it go now.'

Lin looked like she had swallowed a wriggling worm as she tried to contain her temper. If it were not for the code of her sister hood, she would love to have torn this place apart in defiance of such orders.

'Good. Now get dressed, you're moving.' Legolas said, handing her the clothes his elven companion had brought with them. The robes were made for her while she slept by a concerned seamstress, she had heard of the injuries and had made robes for her that laced up on the left hand side. The fabric wasn't the grey silver of the elves, but black with a white under dress peaking though. The neckline was circular and loose around the top of the shoulders where another set of laces could be adjusted.

She turned her back to him and the other men and stood near the work table at the back, as she dressed. There she slowly put the fabric into place once figuring out the right way to put it on. She could feel eyes on her as she did so and she waited calmly for a moment when they would be distracted. She was so close to the knife, now its silver handle gleamed at her temptingly. She just needed to adjust the straps.

'She'll be needing to take this mixture twice a day for two weeks, if you want her strength to return.' Oiolaire said in elvish, handing a jug of the green liquid over to Legolas. 'She won't drink it. You'll most likely have to force her.'

'You have my thanks master Oiolaire.' Legolas said watching Lin as she carefully put on the elven robes, they fit well. However he wondered if she was truly healed enough with how long it was taking her to put on.

'An easterling mortal are you certain you're doing the right thing.' Oiolaire asked, his eyes measuring Legolas up, judging if he was ready for such a charge.

'Yes.' Legolas replied calmly he had been having this conversation with nearly every elf within Lothlorien. All had wanted to know about his easterling as they were calling her. Pippin was the only one of their group besides himself who had even come to see her while she was healing. Although they had not being allowed inside.

Aragorn would press his lips together in a tight grim line every time Pippin would talk of her near him. The other hobbits were curious but fearing the temper of Boromir discouraged Pippins curiosity. Gimli had inquired about her every evening when they were alone walking the paths of the forest. They had overcome much of their original prejudice towards each other though there fears in Moria and there sweet refuge with in the golden boroughs of Lothlorien. He had to smile at his dwarven companion's appreciation of the Lady Galadriel.

Lin turned around and Legolas admitted to himself that for what she had been though the woman looked good as new, if not a bit thin. Her blue eyes however remained exceptionally expressive, defiant and angry.

'Let us go then.' Legolas said gesturing towards the door, a flicker of suspicion crossed her face as she moved forward carefully. Legolas nodded to Oiolaire who seemed to have all but collapse onto the sick bed to rest, merely flicking his hand towards the door signalling them to leave.

Lin took in the vast and tall forest, rarely had she seen so many trees, let alone trees with houses and stairs build around them. Small lights flickered haphazardly around the floor below. One hundred and fifty steps later Lin exhaustively felt her bare feet hit the soft earth. Even the dirt had a dreamy lush quality. Everything seemed disarming and soft, what she had thought were lights turned out to be fire flies. It was beautiful the very air seemed to caress her and lulled her. This eerie unnatural calm was fighting Lin's inner fire as she shook her head to loosen the elvish spell from her mind.

Lin glared at the Lothlorien elf who was impatiently waiting for her, he had easily glided down the steps with his long legs. The elf had white hair loose about his shoulders, which quirked a smile to Lin's lips, only youngling of her people wore their hair so.

'What she smiling about?' the elf asked, Legolas who turned to Lin with a glare of his own. She was creeping out a century's seasoned warrior with a smirk

'Perhaps she likes your home.' He offered as explanation

'Or she's thinking of burning it.' The elf said hand near his sword diligently.

'Lindawell let me introduce you to Seregon he will be you guardian while you are here, should you try to escape, he will stop you if I am not around to do so.' Legolas said tiredly as they walked away from the tree.

They walked on in silence for an hour, Lin quickly felt lost. They had turned right until the met a strange bush of white flowers on a small hill turning left, then they took a direct path towards what seemed the out skirts of the city. She looked over her shoulder trying to memorize the path and found the trees appeared to have moved so the path they had taken was hidden from her. Escape seemed impossible without an elf's senses. Lin blamed Legolas for the trees as she believed he was casting a spell as he hummed softy, in tune with a song he heard far off. They stopped outside a lonely tree it wasn't the biggest but it was well away from the others around it, even an elf couldn't jump from its branches, there was also no stairs. No branches to climb up the towering tree.

'Ai, Eneli.' Seregon cried up to the tops and an unseen elf threw down a thin rope ladder.

'I have given my word that you shall not harm anyone who dwells within these woods.' Legolas said grimly looking away from her into the trees.

'Foolish risking your honor so.' Lin replied a small frown on her face as she looked at him puzzled such trust could get him killed.

'I hope to be rewarded for my faith.' He said softly, his eyes warily regarding her.

'Where have you taken me? 'Lin asked looking around the wood.

'You stand in the fair city of Lothlorien. The first to do so of your people.' Legolas answered with a small smile at her worried gaze.

'An elven city.' Lin said with distaste, though she found it not distasteful by sight.

Legolas frowned at her, the fellowship had all seemed to have gained comfort from the light of the elven city. He worried she may have been as tainted as the men had said, and yet he felt little evil from her as she stood before him.

'It is cheerless,' Lin stated looking around her, she had been used to noise and rowdiness when she dwelt among her own people.

'There is great grief upon us now, for Mithrandir has fallen.' Legolas said, sadly he felt the grief grip his heart.

'Who.' Lin asked, watching the elf carefully, she had never been told that elves grieved. Her knowledge of them was limited as she had always planned to avoid them.

'Gandalf.' Legolas said the name a stab in his heart

'Ah, the angry wizard.' Lin said happily, having figured out who he had meant, then with a grimaced at her tone said softer what she told all her grieved friends when the lost someone to battles or sickness though she did not hug the elf as she would a friend ', you will see him again.'

Seregon put his hand back to the hilt of his sword at her words seeing Legolas tense and fearing the worst. Legolas stared for a movement as if she was as stupid as an orc, before he gave a small laugh. Seregon let some of his tension out as he watched the younger elf of their woodland kin laugh, still he wished that Legolas had not brought this evil woman here. Guarding her would be tedious and a drain on their defenses while she remained.

'Did you just try to comfort me?' Legolas said regaining his composure. The eastern tribes must not know much of the Valar or Mandos and the halls of the dead. The separation of elves and man's souls, even if wizards were not truly men it was doubtful that should Legolas die he would see Mithrandir again. None of his new friends would he see again once there time had come upon them.

Lin glared at him, lecturing herself in her mind for having bothered to say anything to the elf, it was all most likely a trick anyways. She bit her lower lip as she wondered if the elves really did eat the hearts of young women, perhaps at her age of twenty three years it would be too tough.

'Forgive me, I was surprised,' Legolas called as Lin moved further away from what she mental considered the unhinged sorcerer elf. He looked upon her and felt old, for there was so much she was ignorant of.

'Come you must to weary from the walk, your strength has only just returned. Tomorrow if you are awake there are few who would see you.' Legolas said holding out the rope ladder for her, at her hesitation he added softy 'there's nothing to fear.'

'I am not afraid' Lin growled, grabbing the rope and gritting her teeth started to climb. The pull on her shoulder was painful but not unbearable, however the ladder was long and her muscles started to burn and she was annoyed at how much sweat was upon her brow. She should have climbed the rope swiftly as if it were the rigging of one of their war ships. She could hear the soft singing on the air and it made her drowsy, she bit her lip to stave off sleep and try to carry onwards.

Legolas watched amused as the easterling climbed up the rope, he watched Seregon face flush as he had moved to go up after looking up her dress.

'She is stronger than I thought she'd be. Oiolaire has brought you a miracle.' Seregon said with a blush, turning away from the ladder towards a now amused Legolas.

'I would not say that.' Legolas said as he watched Lin stop breathlessly just over half way up the rope.

'At least she won't escape if this is the best she can manage.' Seregon chuckled lightly.

Nimble and quick Legolas reached where Lin had stopped upon the rope.

'Need a hand?' Legolas asked teasingly. He was holding on to the left side of the rope ladder level with Lin his feet and hands gripping the strong silver rope.

Lin ignored him trying to pass him, but he climbed at her speed gently the rope not even wiggling under his weight or jarring her grip.

'Come now be reasonable, your just recovered no one expects you to climb up yourself.' Legolas called as she angrily picked up pace determined to reach the top.

'Lin-da-well.' He sang out as she glared at him, it was easy to annoy her and it was quickly becoming a habit ', climb upon my back I will carry you up,'

'Never! I'd rather die than be carried by an elf.' Lin said stubbornly, wishing to draw her knife and cut the rope so the elf would fall. His amazing feats of strength and grace made her want to train harder so she might one day rival such gifts.

'You just might get your wish.' Legolas said shaking his head, he climbing up ahead of her showing off his quick speed. He would watch and if she fell she would die of her own stubbornness and his head ache would be over.

At the top of the tree, he waited swinging his feet over the side as his mind wandered to earlier that week, they had been here over a week. A week he had spent brooding inside while waiting for her to wake up. He had been position, he had been grieved and amused and confused. So many emotions had tumbled down upon his golden head. He had all but destroyed the archery fields in an attempt to clear his head since finding out more then he wanted about his easterling wench as Gimli called her.

On the third day of the week he had gone to seek the council of Lord Celeborne in his garden, on the matter of Lin walking into his dreams. The Lord had been puzzled and only said that perhaps the Valar Lorien master of dream's and vision was at work between them. Legolas had despaired at being connected to a possible enemy in such a way, voicing his concern the Lord laughed.

'Do you know anything of the eastern tribes?' Lord Celeborne asked his eyes look into Legolas' despairing grey ones.

'Not much my Lord.' Legolas admitted, staring at the moon flowers around them that danced in the breeze. The trees seemed to be listening to them as Legolas smiled brightly at their attentions as their leaves rustled.

'You were the one who shot her down, Legolas by her own laws she owes you her allegiance.' Lord Celeborne lectured ', I have looked upon her markings and one I have seen before upon a battle field long ago. The woman who bore such a mark, begged the man who beat her in battle to slay her, how he had mercy on her, which brought her great shame and sorrow. In the end the woman took her own life unable to stand the shame of rejection.'

'Ai!' Legolas exclaimed worriedly a million questions on his tongue, Lord Celeborne held up a hand to stop him.

'This is a delicate situation. The pride and honor of a warrior and a woman is placed in your hands and that I do not envy you Legolas Thrandillion.' The Lord said grimly ', for if your easterling prisoner holds true to her oath she will consider herself… your wife.'

All other words were lost on Legolas, he sated dumbly at the mighty Lord of Lothlorien. This was some form of a joke he desperately thought after a moment of numbness left him. There was no laughter and no smile upon the Lords somber face. Legolas tried to imagine the dirty, thin mortal easterling as a wife fit for an elf of his standing and linage.

'Legolas, have you heard anything I have just told you?' Lord Celeborne asked touching the young elf's shoulder lightly.

'Alas! I must confess not.' Legolas cried ashamed.

A musical laugh sounded in the garden at his cry and Legolas and the Lord Celeborne turned to see the Lady Galadriel come upon them. Her soft smile and kind eyes filled with laughter and kindness.

'Do not give into worry so Legolas Greenleaf.' She said his eyes alight with star fire 'you may find all is not as hopeless as it seems.'

'My lady forgive me if I do not share your optimism,' Legolas said with a polite bow. She smiled in answer coming to her husbands out stretched hand.

'I will tell you, what I have seen of your wife's future, if that is what you desire.' The lady said her eyes shining with good humor at Legolas young distraught face.

'Do you wish now that you had let the darkness of the void devour her?' the Lady asked at Legolas silence her voice growing colder.

'I do not know.' Legolas answered head bent to hide his eyes from her sight, feeling the lady's power flowing upon his skin and his mind.

'I will give council and you must listen.' She said her voice deep and soft 'Have a care for her, bare her heart not into the hands of the enemy. She has her own propose in this war for good or ill.'

'You ask this of me?' Legolas cried shocked he had never giving much thought to marriage let alone marrying a mortal enemy.

'You must talk with her. I fear you are misunderstanding me,' the Lady said with a sigh.' I mean not to force you to bind with her now, merely do not cast her aside so quickly.'

Lord Celeborne put a hand on Legolas' shoulder gently and said 'There are markings I do know upon her, none of them belong to the dark lord. Yet these will have meaning, if you ask it of her she is honor bond to explain it to you. Then at least you will know who you are talking too and what you are looking at.'

Legolas was pulled from his memory as his wife reached the top of her own will. She was breathless, sweaty and happy. Her smile could melt an ice flow and yet with the memory of his meeting with the Lord of the golden wood in his mind he could not return it. So he fled past the elven guard outside the doorway. He felt as if the whole of middle earth were playing a joke on him, the Valar could not mean for him a Sindarin elf to have relations with a mortal, an easterling at that.

Lin smiled as her hand slapped the wooden talan victory was hers. She had learned long ago to celebrate even small accomplishments. Resting as long as she dared upon what appeared to be the front step of the new prison, Lin stared at the two guards measuring up her chances at escape. The hidden knife secure against her side, wrapped in cloth and tucked tightly against her stomach. Deciding it was not yet time Lin followed after Legolas into the prison with suspicion. The prison wasn't what she'd been expecting, it was large and there was no iron bars or shackles anywhere in sight, it looked more like a fine home, a round table with a bowl of fruit upon it and a canter of red wine and the green liquid from Oiolaire was in the middle of it. Next to the table stood a very frustrated and uncomfortable looking elf. There were other rooms behind the elf Lin wished to see, as she moved to search the surroundings, however Legolas spoke three words that chilled her heart within her chest and brought her blood to a boil.

'Welcome home… wife.' Legolas said with all his courage, his grey eyes staring into barely contained enraged blue ones.