Author's Note: This fic will contain slash, mpreg, and violence for certain.

Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings belongs to Tolkien, and this particular fanfiction was not orignally mine. The first six chapters were written by Cheysuli, who decided to retire from her fanfiction career and put all her stories up for adoption. Please remember that this is book-verse, and not movie-verse

I'm terribly sorry about the long wait! Around December, a very close friend of mine and I had long and painful falling out that stretched on into February. That killed any mood I had for writing at all, especially for fics big on friendship, like this one. This chapter has been sitting on my laptop half-finished for monthes, and then towards the beginning of this month, I suddenly realized, holy crap, I haven't even looked at my fanfic account in monthes! But never fear, I have returned, and I bring you a new chapter!

Woah….I made it to chapter ten…(faints) So far, I have plans for about seven more chapters after this, and I still haven't finished…oh well! It means you get a longer story! XD This one's for Larien, since she's had such a crapout spring break. Huggles, love!

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Chapter 10

Gimli rose fairly late the next morning, something that was unusual for him. He normally rose with the sun, but today when he woke, the sun was already high overhead. 'And no wonder,' he thought to himself as he padded down the halls towards Legolas' rooms, 'With Legolas needing looking after more than usual these past few weeks, I'm exhausted.' He did not begrudge his friend though. Legolas was having enough of a rough time of his own.

He came to the door and knocked softly. He could hear some quiet movements inside the room, and then a moment later the door opened, revealing Legolas standing in the doorway. The Elf looked troubled, and Gimli was immediately on his guard. "Legolas?" he said, worried, "Everything alright?"

"I am well, Gimli," the blonde replied. "I just did not sleep very well last night." Gimli frowned, but Legolas continued before he could say anything.

"Also, I…when I woke…er…"

Gimli grew more concerned as Legolas struggled to find his words. The usually eloquent Elf was actually stuttering! "What's wrong, my friend?" Gimli said. "You can tell me."

Legolas looked slightly miserable, but at length he turned around and walked over to his bedside table and began rummaging through a drawer.

"You and Aragron both seemed so worried about it before, I thought you might want to know…"

He stood and turned around, clutching a yellow parchment envelope. "I am still unsure as to why these drawings bother you so much, but…here," he handed Gimli the envelope. "I found this on my floor when I rose. Whoever slipped it under my door did so while I was asleep, or I would have heard them."

Gimli took the envelope, his face guarded. It had already been opened, and he turned it over and slipped out the papers within. Gimli let the envelope fall to the floor as he stared hard at the pieces of parchment. Here were, not one, but two drawings, equivalent in skill, style, and detail to the one from a few days ago. The first was a sketch of Legolas sitting on a windowsill, gazing off into the distance. The second caught Gimli's eye for two reasons. For one, the Elf was naked. For another, he was glaringly, obviously pregnant.

The stalker knew.

Gimli set aside this disturbing thought for a moment in favor of looking at the third and final paper. He was slightly surprised to find that it was a letter. He skimmed through the contents, his alarm and concern for Legolas' safety growing the entire time.

"Gimli?"

The Dwarf looked up to find Legolas watching him in confusion and worry. "You would not be so concerned if this was not of vital importance. What is wrong, mellon-nin? Why do these disturb you so?"

"Did you read the letter?" Gimli asked, evading the Elf's question with one of his own.

"Not yet," he said. "Once I saw the drawings, I remembered your reaction the last time this occurred, and I thought you would want to know before anything else happened."

Gimli nodded, then headed over to the wall, where Legolas' bow and long knife were up on display. His quiver and pack leaned against the wall under them. The Dwarf reached up and took down the blade from it's rack, handing it to the confused Elf and then rummaging in Legolas' pack for the sheath and belt.

"Why are you getting my weapons out, Gimli?"

"Because things are more worrisome than I thought," he said gruffly as he girded the belt about Legolas' waist, taking the knife and thrusting it into it's sheath when that was done. "Legolas, I want you to promise that you will go nowhere, not to the gardens, or even the privy, without taking your knife with you."

"But why?" the Elf cried, looking alarmed. "Surely there is no danger here! Why, we are in the middle the King's palace, mellon!"

Gimli took Legolas by the hand and led him from the room, heading down the hall towards his own rooms, where he brought Legolas in with him while he fetched his own weapons.

"Gimli, please answer me! What is going on?"

Gimli stopped arming himself at the upset look on his friend's face. His own expression softened, and he set down his Morian battle-axe onto the bed. The Dwarf stepped forward and put a hand up to cup Legolas' face. The Elf leaned into the touch, but his pleading expression did not lessen.

The Dwarf sighed and let his hand drop. "I will explain everything in a moment Legolas. We must go and see Aragorn immediately, he will need to know about this."

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Dearest Legolas,

I do hope you like the drawings. I have been told I am rather skilled in art.

I send you this letter because I do not wish to hide anymore. I should think that it is obvious what I am hiding. I love you, my Legolas. So much that it hurts me inside.

I suppose you must think me silly; here I am a full-grown man, and I am still spouting poetry like a lovesick adolescent. And yet, I am lovesick. I suppose that is the irony of it. But it is something I cannot help. Ever since we first met, I have been unable to so much as look at anyone else but you. How could I? How could anyone ever compare with you, whose loveliness outshines even the stars in the sky?

I had once thought that perhaps you were only beautiful to me because you are Elfkind, where I had only ever seen Men. But the queen is Elven as well, and I can see that you are truly unique even among the Elves. Most of my peers say that the Queen's beauty surpasses all. I assure you they are wrong. The Queen is pretty enough, but hers is a softer, sweeter, simpler kind of beauty. You, my love, you are as a thunderstorm; wonderful and terrible, beautiful and powerful, full of passion and emotion, wild, untameable, but desired by all who see you. Whoever you permit to become close to you must be blessed indeed, or rather, I should say that any to have caught even a glimpse of you is blessed. For who could ever be worthy to stand in your presence?

I greatly anticipate the birth of your child, my love. I am certain that this babe will be as lovely a child as is possible, with you for it's parent. I was unaware that Elf males were even capable of such a miracle until I caught word of your pregnancy. Congratulations, my love. I pray that your baby is born hale and whole. May your child be as amazing and beautiful as you yourself are.

Rest assured, even if the child were born sickly, I would still care for it, for it is of your blood, and therefore blessed beyond measure. I will look out for you, and our baby, my love, even if you can't see me. I will be there, and I will make sure that all your hurts are healed, all your pains relieved. You and the child will want for nothing, I swear to you.

And someday soon, I will reveal myself to you in full. Very soon, I will hold you in my arms, my love, and we can be together. Not yet, though. I wish to allow you to get to know me first. I already know you quite well; it seemed unfair that you should not know me in return, when my love for you is so great. You deserve to be loved, coveted. I shall do both.

With all my love,

I am yours, now and forever.

Aragorn set let the hand holding the note fall to the table. His eyes were wide and worried, and he stared off into space as he thought over what he had read. Feeling eyes on him, he looked over at Gimli to see the Dwarf gazing at him piercingly. Legolas frowned as he looked back and forth between them, trying to discern what had his two closest friends so worked up.

"You realize what this means?" the Dwarf said breathlessly. "We have not been careful enough. He knows Legolas is pregnant; he must have been listening in before!"

"Who?" Legolas asked. "Do you mean the artist of the drawings?"

"Perhaps," Aragorn said to Gimli, frowning and running his hand over his face. "Or mayhap we were overheard by a servant, and he heard it from one of them."

"Aragorn, if a servant had heard, all of Minas Tirith would be speaking of it by now!" Gimli replied. "And for all we know, he could be one of the servants!" he added heatedly.

"I think," Aragorn said slowly, "That it is time we called in some outside help. I am a master tracker, but not in this manner. No broken branches or stray bootprints will lead me to this quarry, and I do not know how to follow a trail such as this. I will search out the best city-tracker in Gondor in order to catch this man."

"Yes, yes, that's all well and good," Legolas said, "But why? I do not understand; why do these drawings bother you and Gimli so? Surely there is no harm in a drawing?"

Gimli and Aragorn exchanged glances, and the Dwarf let out a sigh. Taking the Elf's hand, he led him over to a cushioned chair and motioned for him to sit.

"Legolas, what exactly do you think about these drawings?" Aragorn asked once the Elf was comfortable.

Legolas looked slightly startled. "I do not know," he said after a moment. I don't really know what to think, except that they are done with a fair amount of skill, and I wonder who it is that draws them and leaves them for me to find. But surely whoever it is means no harm? They're just drawings. There are more effective ways of hurting one than drawing a picture."

"Aye, Legolas," the Dwarf said gently, still holding the Elf's hand, "It is true that they are simple drawings. But it is the ideas behind them. Legolas, this person knows you well, intimately, almost. You do not know this person, and yet they seem to invade on your privacy at any chance possible! There are sketches of you in the baths, you told me of those yourself. And now," he pulled one of the new drawings towards him and showed it to Legolas, "He knows of your pregnancy, something only the three of us and Arwen know about as of yet. He has been spying on you, eavesdropping! His ways are dishonest, and he does NOT mean you well, no matter what he tries to claim."

Legolas looked troubled. "Let me see the letter," he said quietly, and Aragron handed it to him. The Elf read the letter quickly, his brow furrowing deeper. Once he'd finished, he looked up.

"He does not seem to wish me any harm. But…" Legolas bit his lip. "You two would not be so upset without cause. Is it really so horrible for me to have a secret admirer?"

The man and Dwarf were taken aback at this statement, and when they did not answer, Legolas continued. "Is it wrong for this person to have feelings for me? He has done no crime thus far."

"Legolas," Gimli said incredulously. "He has seen you in the baths! He follows you all over the city!"

"The same could be said of either of you!" Legolas shot back. "So what if he likes me? He is harming no one!"

"Did you even read it at all?" Gimli cried in outrage. He tore the letter from Legolas' grasp and thrust it into the Elf's startled face. "Look at the way he speaks to you! Look! He has no regard for your feelings towards him. He acts as though you belong to him, speaks of you like a piece of property! He claims OUR CHILD to be HIS!" Gimli hand tightened into a fist, crumpling the letter. Eye's blazing, he snarled and threw the letter at the Elf before turning away. He began to pace, breathing heavily and muttering furiously under his breath.

Pale –faced, Legolas watched his friend rage with a mild amount of shock. He had scarcely seen the Dwarf so angry. Aragorn watched as well, shaking his head distractedly. "Gimli, my friend, calm yourself. This is solving nothing." The Dwarf snarled in response.

The Ranger simply shook his head again, then turned to sit next to the Elf on the bed. "Mellon, you must understand this, this is very important. This person is an unknown entity. We know nothing of him aside from his devoted obsession with you. This could very likely be an extremely dangerous individual. Or, he could, as you say, be truly harmless, but – " He held up a hand to wave off Gimli's outraged growl, "we cannot take that chance. Especially with the baby. If he was to hurt you, Legolas…" The king trailed off, watching the Elf carefully.

Legolas looked miserable, and he chewed on his lower lip as he thought hard, wrapping his arms around his middle subconsciously. Abruptly, he stood and went to the Dwarf. Gimli had his back to the Elf, his shoulders hunched and tense. The Dwarf's agitated motions stilled as he felt Legolas slip his arms around him from behind.

"Gimli, please do not be angry with me," the pregnant Elf said in a small voice.

The Dwarf sighed and relaxed, leaning back against the Elf's chest and reaching a hand up to grip Legolas' arm. "I'm not angry, Legolas. I'm terribly, horribly concerned. I do not wish to see you hurt!"

"But why would he hurt me if he claims to love me?" Legolas asked, sounding troubled. "I would imagine most people would feel flattered to have such an admirer. However… perhaps it is just your agitation rubbing off on me, but something tells me something's not right with this."

"The problem, Legolas," Aragorn spoke up, "Is that while he believes himself to be in love with you, what he is probably truly feeling is lust. It can be difficult to discern between the two at times. If he genuinely cared for you, he would not intrude upon your privacy as he has done thusly."

Legolas abruptly let go of the Dwarf and turned to stare at Aragorn, his face looking pinched and shadowed. "You mean to say…that all he cares for is his own sexual gratification?"

Aragorn stood and went to the Elf, putting his hands on Legolas' shoulders

"That's exactly what I'm telling you, Legolas. You must listen carfeully, you MUST understand what I am telling you! This is vitally important for your safety!"

Legolas swallowed heavily, meeting Aragorn's gaze and holding it. "I'm listening."

"This man does not love you, Legolas. He takes pleasure just in watching you, without your knowledge or consent. Think about what may happen if he was to address you directly. He might force himself on you, with no concern for your wishes and feelings. Even you should know what happens if an Elf is taken against their will. If you touches you, you. Will. Die."

The Elf's breathing quickened, and he jerked out of Aragorn's grasp, shoving the Ranger-king away from him. "Aragorn, please," he said quietly. He said nothing more but both his companions could tell that he just wanted Aragorn to stop talking. He took a step backwards, away from the king, and was met by Gimli's arms wrapping around his waist from behind. He jumped slightly, his hands instinctively moving to cover Gimli's, which rested on his abdomen, just over where the baby was.

"Legolas, you must be careful. We keep telling you that this person is dangerous. You understand, don't you?"

"Yes," He said, head bowed. "I understand now." He looked up, tossing his hair back. His expression was stony and determined, and both Aragorn and Gimli heaved a sigh of relief inside. Legolas the Warrior was back now. "I will not let anything hurt my baby. And he will not touch me," he said resolutely. "We must find him and stop him, before he has a chance to try anything."

"We will help, Legolas. You do not have to face this alone," Gimli said, tightening his hold on the Elf. Legolas smiled and squeezed the Dwarf's arm in response. "Yes, I know."

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He stalked hurriedly through the streets, his thoughts coming so quickly and so furiously they became jumbled. He turned into an alleyway, a shortcut home that he had used since he was a small child, and paused a moment. Breathing heavily, he leaned against the wall and sighed. He had to calm down, or he was going to start attracting attention.

But how could he remain calm? That …that DWARF! How dare he? The mine-rat was turning his lovely against him! And worse, he was succeeding! "oh Legolas," he murmured breathily, "If only you did not trust the creature so!" He ran a hand over his face, pushing lank hair back out of his face and heaved a sigh.

And the King as well…but he did not understand. He had not grown up in Gondor, he could not hope to understand it's people. The Dwarf was poisoning his love against him, and was turning the King against him as well. They planned to hire a city-tracker to find him and stop him, did they? Well, so be it! He would let nothing stand in the way of his love for the Elf. Not a king, not a city-tracker, and not some stupid, mangy Dwarf!

He would have to find a way to get closer to the Elf soon, in order to keep his mind from becoming too tainted by the Dwarf's lies, and to try and cast suspicions elsewhere.

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End Chapter 10

Oi, that took forever…the biggest issue with this chapter was the scene just after Legolas reads the letter. I actually had two versions; one where Legolas is more submissive and frightened, which would have made it easier for what I have planned for later. But if there's one complaint I have about Cheysuli's work, it's that Legolas is almost too sweet and naïve. He may be young, but he's also a hardened warrior. So I've been trying to bring that side of him out more, hence the empowerment and initiative he takes in this chapter. I'm still not quite happy with it, but I've been holding out on you guys for monthes, so…happy birthday!

Don't forget to leave a review letting me know what you think! I love hearing from my readers, no matter what they have to say!