Note: OOC= out of character. Aya, if you want to see Legolas and Aragorn back together, read 'Shadows of Memories'. They won't get back together in this fic. This entire fic is Rated R for attempts at suicide, mentioned rape, language, and violence! Legolas' POV. Takes place right after the last chapter.

Unwanted

Part 7

Why was Aragorn here, I wondered, trying to control my breathing, for I was gasping, in short little breaths.

Could he know that I was here? But how could he know, I thought. Éomer had sworn he hadn't told anyone outside of the castle.

I didn't want Aragorn here. I hated him… and I loved him.

Why did he have to come here now? I never wanted to see him again, not after everything that had happened to me.

I swallowed hard, trying to control my instinctive panic. If Aragorn found out that I was here…

Éomer hadn't sounded happy about Aragorn coming, which did not surprise me. He loathed the very sight of the King of Gondor.

I sat on my bed, with my arms wrapped around myself, rocking slowly. My feet hung down to the floor, as I tried to breathe it out.

The pain…the tears…the screams… It was all coming back.

Only one person could do this to me. Aragorn…

My room was too small for me, much too confining. I needed to get out of here for a while, and escape.

Éomer was planning to teach me how to fight once more, and we'd even decided on a day. Now everything was being shoved back because of Aragorn.

I couldn't stay in here any longer. Hours had gone by since Éomer had come here to warn me. I stood, and grabbed my brown cloak with the hood. I was glad, now, that I was still very thin, for I barely recognized myself once I put the cloak on, pulling the hood over my face. I was looking at my reflection in the window.

Even my father wouldn't have been able to recognize me. My cheekbones were easy to see, and there was a distinct paleness to my face. The scar across my eye also made me look different. I had not dared to venture outside of the castle since I had arrived, so my hair was a darker blond than it used to be. My green eyes were dull, but there was nothing I could do about them.

I positioned the hood so that my hair could not be seen, or most of my face. I slipped my bare feet into the leather shoes that Éomer had given to me, and cautiously left my room. The cloak was large enough to cover my clothes, much like a robe.

No-one was around, so I snuck around, trying to remember the way out of Rohan Castle. I had never tried to leave it before, but I could not stand the thought of being here while Aragorn was.

Not even I had been in this corridor before, as I entered a dark passageway, wondering where I was. No light was anywhere to be seen, and I looked around. I had only stuck to a few certain places in the castle, and this was not one of them.

I wound up somewhere near a room, but did not know where I was. I hated to admit it, but I was completely lost. I roamed around, and could not find my way out. Everything looked the same, as I glanced behind me.

I was very uneasy, and started to wish that I had never left my room. It was so dark that even I could barely see anything at all. Éomer's going to be so mad at me, I thought desperately. I bit my lower lip, and sat down to think.

What should I do? I could not risk calling out for help, because Aragorn might hear me. But I did not want to stay here, either, for I was starting to be a bit scared. It was strange… the dark had never frightened me until after everything had happened.

I sighed, and then froze at the sound of someone approaching. I stifled a gasp, as a figure that I could not recognize in the pitch-black darkness came towards me. I silently sprang behind a nearby post, and peeked out to see who it was.

The figure stopped, as if he could feel someone watching him. I could tell now that it was a Man, judging by his size, and the sounds he made as he walked.

"Who's there?" he questioned harshly.

The blood drained from my face. It was Aragorn. I made no sound, and stayed put in my hiding spot.

Aragorn snapped, "I know you're there. Come out or else…"

I couldn't stifle a gasp, and his eyes instantly turned towards where I stood, clutching the post. I leapt behind the post, and sank to my knees noiselessly.

Please… let him go away, let something happen… Just get him away from me, I silently screamed.

A rough hand grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet.

Aragorn hissed, "So you are spying on me?"

I shook my head and frantically struggled to break his grip, avoiding his gaze.

"Does Éomer spy on all of his guests?" Aragorn demanded, keeping my arm in his impossibly strong hand. "Or is it just me?"

I panicked as his other hand reached for my hood. Desperation gave me strength, and I managed to break free by twisting my arm suddenly. I dashed away, running as fast as I could, breathing hard. I was never going to do something this stupid again, I vowed, if I could just get away from Aragorn.

I suddenly fell to the ground, a few feet from the lit hallway. Aragorn had tackled me from behind. He had easily caught up to me, for I truly no longer possessed my Elven skills of agility and strength.

I squirmed, and had to choke back a scream at the feel of his body against mine. I kicked and scratched at him, whimpering in fear and terror. Aragorn pinned my hands to the ground, and a few tears came to my eyes, as I lay there face-first. I stifled a sob, as a hand traveled up my spine to my hood and prepared to pull it off.

"What is going on here?" Éomer demanded, as he came around the corner and saw Aragorn holding me down. "How dare you assault one of my servants! Release him at once!" Anger flashed in his eyes.

I had never been so glad to see him in my life. My green eyes darted up to his, and Éomer paled slightly to see that it was me. I was the only one in his castle with green eyes. But my friend regained his composure swiftly.

Aragorn remained where he was. "He was spying on me," he coldly told Éomer.

Éomer looked at me. "Is this true?" His tone was more gentle towards me than it had been towards Aragorn.

I shook my head vehemently. "Got…lost," I choked out, in a distorted voice.

"You heard him," Éomer said, turning back to Aragorn. "Let him go. I don't know what customs are held in Gondor, but in my castle, servants are not assaulted."

Aragorn climbed off of me and stood. "I was not assaulting him; he purposefully hid from me." A coldness was in his voice. "And servants are not assaulted in Gondor, and neither do they hide themselves."

Éomer frowned and questioned, "Wouldn't a servant hide from a King out of fear?" His tone was matter-of-fact and coolly dismissive. "Particularly when they are lost?"

I pulled myself off of the floor, and kept my face away from Aragorn's. His grey eyes were staring at me hard. I then shuffled over to Éomer and bowed before him, as a servant would. The look in his eyes was disapproving, but he was relieved, as well, to see that I was all right.

"Come," Éomer said, and turned to lead me away.

I obediently followed, keeping my head bowed, as he took me through the hallways, returning me to my room. He opened the door and walked inside. I silently followed, and closed the door behind me.

"What were you thinking?" Éomer whispered, in case anyone was listening.

"I got lost," I said in a low voice. "I was going to go outside for a while; I was tired of staying in here. Only I couldn't figure out how to leave, for I could not remember."

Éomer sighed, "Legolas… Could you not have waited for me to return before you ventured out?" I hated the slightly disapproving note in his voice.

I bowed my head. "I should have. I didn't expect to run into…"

"What happened?" Éomer asked. "Did he…"

I shook my head and whispered, "No. He thought you sent me to spy on him. I ran from him, but he caught me. If you hadn't come along, he would have removed my hood and found out who I was."

A hand touched my shoulder, and another went under my chin and forced me to look Éomer in the eyes.

"Do not take such a risk, my friend. It could have been worse…much worse," he murmured.

"I'm sorry," I told him. "I will not do so again."

Éomer nodded. "I think you learned a lesson, Legolas."

To be continued