A/N: I'm back again! Hope you guys are pumped for this chapter because it was so much fun to write. :D I'm hoping for ten or more reviews for this chapter. I want to hit 200 reviews! Would make me very happy. XD

Thanks to all for the wonderful reviews!

Review Responses:

Battlekitten94: I love your name! Glad it puts you on the edge of your seat. :D

Shadow Realm Triforce: Glad you loved it! *hands spoon to hit Legolas* Though you may not need it in this chapter. :)

Tlcatlady: A world without Haldir would be scandalous and awful. Bwahaha. Yay for man sandwhich!

Lilo: Thank you! Yes, dont you hate it when people in the books that don't die, die in movies and vice versa? So stupid!

KrystylSky: As much as I would love to have Marina explain that to Gimli, I think it would make the relationship between her and Legolas that much more complicated. How do you think the Prince would take to his junk being measured against the Marchwarden's? XD

Peridot Eyez: Thank you! Yes, Master Fumble will forever live up to his name. And a hint: definitely in this chapter. :P

Abyss Prime: Patience! It will come in due time, young one. :D

Gamergil052: *opens the Legolas kick-ass draw and withdraws a spoon* Here ya go!

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT IN DIS CHAPTER. No there is no sex. Sit down, horndogs! XD But its getting closer...

Marina watched with a sour twist to her mouth as the necessities the movies didn't touch on went underway. Thousands and thousands of bodies didn't just disappear overnight, and no amount of magic could change that. Of course if Gandalf could remove the dead with a snap of his fingers, the Ring would have already been dumped into the fires of Mount Doom.

Small favours, she mused.

A long twisting trail had started back to Edoras, in higher spirits and accompanied by a good two thousand armed horsemen. Nothing could harm then now that the threat had been eliminated. Marina switched her gaze back to the men hauling their comrades- in-arms' lifeless bodies into respectable lines. Of all the elves that had ventured to Helms Deep only two had survived. Legolas and Haldir, and she couldn't even begin to understand their stone expressions as they watched their brethren burn.

Birds of prey of all differing shapes and sizes had already started to circle, and devour the Uruk-hai corpses. The brutes didn't deserve the right to be burnt so they would be left to feed the carnivorous wildlife. A few wargs were stationed on a sloping hill but did not dare approach with the amount of weapons honed in on their position. Surely not all wargs could be bad? Sure they were the size of a horse with a mouth full of serrated teeth but who's to say they were viscous killers? Even if they did look like giant, candy-stealing wolves.

Marina stood alone on the causeway (off to the side and out of the way of human traffic) ; Aragorn and Gimli were preparing comrades to be cremated whilst Legolas and Haldir had wandered to where their kin were lined in rows; voicing prayers and farewells in their exotic language. Éowyn had gone back to Edoras with Théoden, Gandalf and Éomer at the head of the convey, but the Lady of Rohan had assured Marina that she would receive a thorough pep talk on her arrival. That didn't bother her nearly as much as the talk she would need to have with Legolas. Sooner rather than later. Adjusting her wounded arm with a grimace, Marina once again glanced at the wargs. They didn't look nearly as bad as Gimli had first described. In a way, they were almost fiercely cute presuming they weren't baring a mouthful of teeth at you.

Maybe they were just misunderstood creatures that were just as afraid of humans as humans were of them. Deciding to do a little test, she hobbled errantly down the causeway so as to not draw attention to herself. If anyone got an idea of what she was about to attempt there'd never be an end to it. One of the wargs lowered its head on her approach, muzzle quivering as a deep rumble burst through its teeth. Marina stopped in her advance and placed her hands forward in front of her in a pacifying gesture.

"See? No weapons."

It might have been the worst mistake she'd ever made in her life. Except of course the time where she had lobbed a book at her teacher in high school. That had been pretty bad after parents and principals got involved. This. This could still take the cake, for whilst she'd been busy trying to calm one, the other two has been creeping around to flank her on either side.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit!

Trying to keep one in sight was bad enough. Three were a horrid nightmare. Turning her back on one was an incentive to welcome attack so she carefully manoeuvred in such a way that did not cause her to be permanently stuck in the middle. A growl from one side and then the other had her eyes flicking left to right before sliding to the apparent leader who released a guttural snarl. Panic and fear settled like cold weights on her feet, rooting her in place whilst her mind screamed at them to move.

One of the wargs leapt, claws extended with a feral roar that had Marina's eyes all but bulging from their sockets before slamming shut instinctively. A hiss sliced through the air. A pained yelp and a breath of wind passing just an inch from her face before a heavy thud vibrated to her soles. Forcing her eyes to open, Marina could only stare down at the massive creature brought down by a precise aim straight through its eye socket. The two remaining wargs howled for their lost partner, forgot Marina and bolted past. Perhaps they had been trying to flee or to attack Legolas. It did not matter. Haldir's elegant sword dispatched one whilst Aragorn buried his dagger straight into the other's skull.

"What did you think you were doing?!" Aragorn demanded, brows curving down like storm clouds. Marina opened and closed her mouth several times, unable to answer before a soft whine came from somewhere behind her. Before she could even think to investigate the sound, Haldir swept past her and over the rise. A series of yelps and small growls drifted over the mound of dirt and the Marchwarden reappeared, sword in one hand and clutched in the other by the scruff of its neck was a baby warg.

"Marina has a kind heart," Legolas provided helpfully, stepping up beside the mortal with gentle yet unreadable eyes. "You cannot blame her for searching for a peaceful solution."

After being yelled at, slapped around and receiving no response after a proclamation of love, Marina just didn't comprehend how Legolas could still maintain the will to be pleasant. Supportive, even. If the situation had been reversed she would have been as far away from him as possible, if the urge to be close to him didn't make her break first. Was that the only reason he tolerated being by her side? Because of the sensations? Or did elves just simply take rejection differently to humans? Maybe silence meant maybe to him.

How the hell did he manage to be so calm anyway? A group of Uruk-hai tries to rape her and he goes ballistic. Gigantic wolf-like beasts try to eat her and he says nothing? Marina glanced up at him speculatively, wondering just what was going on behind those blue eyes.

"What if we hadn't noticed in time?" Gimli was leaning on his axe, nudging one of the gigantic beasts with his boot. "Oh, well. Best be rid of them anyway."

Where the adults had been a mixture of brown, white and grey, this little warg was silver with blazing, ice-like blue eyes. It was barely the size of a small dog yet still made it difficult for Haldir as it wriggled and snarled in his grip. Marina felt her heart clench. Those wargs had been defending it. It made sense why they were waiting for the men to leave so they could feast and feed the young one. The intelligence was astounding, and all the more disappointing. They'd died without purpose.

"It won't survive on its own if we let it go. Best to end its suffering and be done with it." Haldir murmured and raised the point of his blade to centre over the little warg's chest.

"No!" Marina reached, fingers extended to stop the Marchwarden though it wasn't necessary. All eyes were upon her, questioning. Even the little warg stopped in its squirming to flick its ears back and forth curiously. "They died because of me. Don't kill the little one. I'll...I'll take care of him."

"That is a warg, lassy. They are not pets to be coddled and smooched." Gimli said gently, knowing the idea of killing such an innocent creature would upset the young mortal. But judging from the emotion flickering in Marina's eyes, it was an argument that would not be resolved easily.

"Give it to her, Haldir." Legolas said simply.

Marina could have sworn her neck cracked in several places as she snapped her head around to stare up at him with befuddlement. Could he manage to send any more mixed signals? Aragorn and Gimli stared hard at their travelling companion as though he'd grown antlers. Neither approved of his decision but they weren't prepared to upset Marina by intervening. Haldir's eyes roved between them all before he sheathed his sword with a soft sigh. Almost giddy with excitement, Marina accepted the length of rope provided by Gimli and made a temporary noose that would serve as a collar.

The Marchwarden placed the struggling warg on the ground, holding it still as Marina loped the rope over its head while being careful to avoid its small yet razor sharp fangs. Even though it was barely up to her knee, the little beast had strength. If it hadn't been for long, elegant fingers wrapping around her hips, she would have been the one being taken for a walk. Legolas's touch sent a thrill through her, the likes of which she had not experienced since Fangorn.

"You should name her Braig, Marina. It means fierce in the elven tongue." Legolas once again had an input that was worriedly encouraging. Dismissing it for the moment, Marina looked down at the apparently female warg and thought it suited the little pup. Braig seemed to approve of her name before sniffing around at the dead carcasses of her caretakers. For a moment, Marina thought she was grieving but that was before Braig sank her teeth into the soft flesh of a giant belly and gorged on the insides that spilled out onto the dirt and over her fur.

To say Marina was going to toss her cookies was an understatement; the stench was horrid and extremely unsightly. It was only by sheer force of will that she managed to settle her stomach by glancing away, feeling her cheeks flame with effort.

The trek back to Edoras seemed far longer than it had when travelling to Helms Deep. Even though they were all on horseback, no one seemed to be in a rush to return. Aragorn was leading with Gimli seated behind him whilst Haldir on Hasufel, and Legolas and Marina on Arod flanked him just behind. With one hand, she held onto Legolas, fingers digging into his thigh for support but the elf did not issue one word of complaint. The other was wrapped tightly around the length of rope that connected to Braig. The little warg was padding obediently beside the placid gelding, still licking the remnants of its relatives off its teeth. The horses had been skittish at first but when Braig had shown little to no interest in biting their heels, they settled but remained wary.

Braig's gluttony was nothing compared to Legolas's strange, new attitude. Did he put her in danger deliberately now? All because she had not returned his words for affection? Letting her keep a wild warg that was bound to grow huge and try eat her for breakfast was a little extreme. There hadn't been a chance to voice her affections; the Prince had been consistently busy with a range of tasks and she had not wished to interrupt him. Suddenly, Arod halted, jolting Marina as she steadied herself against Legolas's back.

"Go on ahead. We shall catch up." Legolas said softly, ignoring Haldir's probing look. Aragorn turned Brego around to question him before the Prince raised a hand, and flicked his eyes to the side. After a moment's pause the ranger gave a curt nod, wheeled Brego around and disappeared over a rise in the terrain. Gimli's voice was very prominent as he complained about going ahead. Haldir did not follow immediately, holding Hasufel back as the horse tried to go after Brego. Marina wasn't sure what passed between the two before the Marchwarden gave an almost imperceptible nod before cantering away.

Legolas dismounted from Arod without a word and easily swung Marina out of the saddle, gathering her into his arms as though he would never let go. Braig pulled at the makeshift leash, desperate to investigate what looked like a rabbit hole just out of her reach. When it became apparent she wasn't going to achieve her goal, she huffed and padded around them, searching for something interesting in the dirt.

"Legolas, what-"

"How could you do that? Leave the caves. Risk your life." He leaned back to peer down at her with raw worry in his blue depths. "I could have lost you."

"I had to. Galadriel bid me to save Haldir with the ball she gave me. And I did. I didn't know what it was for until that moment." Reaching up to trail just the tips of her fingers over his cheek, watching his eyes flutter in response, Marina stood on her tiptoes and kissed where her hand had struck. "I'm so sorry for hitting you. I was just distraught. You didn't deserve it."

Warmth slipped through every inch of the elf as her delicate lips brushed against his skin. His heart beat like a fierce war drum and his fingers yearned to caress and hold her to him until the end of time. But it was not to be. How could he when it was clear she did not return his affections? And why would she? He'd done nothing but upset her. And now to hear her say he didn't deserve his punishment? Shaking his head, Legolas let his arms drop reluctantly from her warm, petite body.

"I left you alone in a world unknown. I deserve anything and everything you wish to deliver upon me." Neither of them noticed as Braig finished another circuit around the pair, inspecting Arod's iron-hard hooves much to the horse's displeasure. Marina wanted to slap herself for being so stupid. Why hadn't she just shouted she loved the idiot? It may have saved all this drama and self-punishment. Braig circled again and leapt forward to pounce on a roving butterfly.

The rope tightened, and with Braig's forward momentum, the material wrapped around the two like a vice and sent them to the ground. Marina was sprawled on top of Legolas and blushed prettily when she realised her thighs were lining his hips. Legolas was momentarily stunned to see her seated upon him, fiercely ignoring the fire in his loins at the sheer innocence of her gaze. Leaning down Marina frowned at him.

"You're an idiot. And for whatever bloody reason, so consumed with doubting yourself at every turn. So stop it. I'm sorry I didn't say it before, so I'm going to say it now."All happiness shrank in an instant at her words and Legolas remained still beneath her, dreading the words that would fall from her luscious lips. "I love you."

Legolas's expression was priceless. One eye was widened whilst the other was impossibly narrowed. The Prince just couldn't get his mind around what he just heard. It wasn't possible. Marina had not said she loved him. This was a dream. A wonderful, pleasant dream. And he would close his eyes and wake up. The mortal raised a querying brow when Legolas's eyes slid closed before snapping open again, surprise flittering within their depths as he came to the realisation that she was still above him with a smirk playing around her lips.

"Say it again." Was all the elf could articulate.

"You're an idiot."

A girlish yelp escaped her lips as Legolas rolled, bringing her beneath him. Smooth, tapered fingers circled, confining her wrists in his iron grasp. The long grass of the plains whispered around them, offering some concealment from unfriendly eyes. Marina's heart beat an errant rhythm beneath her breast, further increasing as her breathing quickened. Fire sizzled beneath the touch of his finger's, eliciting sensations most described in erotica. Legolas's eyes were blazing with something dark, and feral. Heat pooled into her abdomen, making her squirm beneath him as she ached with want. Holding her eyes with his, Legolas leaned forward, bringing his thigh to press unforgivingly between her legs.

A cry fell from her lips; wanton and yearning. God, why had he never done that before? Why the hell was it so intense?! There were layers of fabric between them but he may as well have been clothes-less. All intelligent thought left her as Legolas's blue, blue eyes bore down heatedly into her own, all the while keeping his thigh snugly against the apex of her thighs.

"Ped-ha, mil-nin." Legolas purred, making her body turn to jelly in his grasp. (Say it, my love.)

When Marina's lips remained stubbornly wordless, Legolas perked a brow and gently slid his leg up, letting her whine at the loss of contact before grinding his thigh carefully but relentlessly against her core. There was nothing more that she wanted at that moment than to kiss him or be able to touch him. His grip remained unyielding around her wrists, pressing them against the mossy ground. Thighs trembling from the tumult of sizzling sensations, it was all Marina could do by draping them around the elf's slender hips, locking him against her as he drew ever pleasing sounds from her sweet lips.

"Ped-ha, Marina." He insisted huskily, bending to give into temptation and place his lips to the pulsing vein at her neck. Endless tendrils of pleasure branched off to muscle, nerves and veins from the touch of his lips and without even realising it, Marina's hips rocked insistently against his thigh, craving the friction. A strangled gasp fell from her throat as his lips laved a blazing trail from neck to shoulder, grazing with his teeth and soothing with a slow stroke of his tongue. It was driving her insane. Soft blond hair tickled her skin, a surprisingly pleasant feeling amidst the sexual tension. And that was when a sharpened point of ear caught her attention.

"I love you," She whispered, right before capturing the tip of his ear between her lips, giving it a gentle lick.

Legolas did not react as he had done in Fangorn. No, this time it was entirely different. Every muscle in his body sang with tension as he raised his head to stare at her with eyes as dark as the ocean. Marina's lips tilted up at the corners, all too pleased with herself for bringing his fun to a halt. And in doing so, ensured her doom. Never had she seen such a beguiling smirk on the Mirkwood Prince before, and by God did it suit him; mischievous and damn near mouth-watering. Without a by your leave, Legolas bent his head, mouth skimming over the material of her vest before his teeth sank down over her breast. Marina's mewed softly, arching up against his mouth in a desperate attempt to somehow rid herself of the material separating them. There was only so much that could be done in a world of magic when a wizard was not present.

Braig, unbeknownst to the distracted elf, was sauntering up behind him. Marina caught a glimpse of the silver fur, and was about to warn Legolas when said male whirled to catch the little warg's jaw in a gentle but unyielding grip. Braig snarled and struggled, causing the forgotten rope to rub painfully against Marina's skin. Scrambling out from under Legolas, Marina cleared her throat and climbed to her feet, brushing dust off her backside. Dull, throbbing sensations low in her body brought a dusting of red to her cheeks. Not to mention the pleasant ache at her breast. Legolas had bitten her. Daresay, he would have done more if Braig hadn't interrupted by trying to eat him.

Lithe as a cat, Legolas got to his feet, all but glaring at the little warg as she trotted around him to sniff at Marina's boots. Braig snorted, shook out her fur and ventured off again to the extension of the rope. Technically, Marina should be thankful the warg interrupted. God knows what may have happened if she hadn't. Plus, there was still a lot the elf had to tell her. And there was no way in hell he would be getting another opportunity to seduce her until he explained everything. That of course didn't stop him from pulling her tight against the length of his body, eyes holding hers as she felt his evident arousal against her stomach. It sent a thrill of both excitement and anxiety through her.

Jebus. Way to make a statement. What does he have in there, a longsword? Heh-heh. Longsword. O-k. Too much Legolas exposure and illicit pleasure for me.

Offering her his hand, Legolas led her back to Arod who was peacefully grazing on the scant grass. Apparently horses were picky about what grass they ate. A tingle went through the entirety of her body as Legolas placed his hands upon her waist and easily lifted her onto the saddle. Braig snapped at the elf's ankles as he vaulted into the saddle, deliberately holding Marina tightly against him as he coaxed Arod into a gentle canter. Even for her size, the little warg kept up easily with the horse, occasionally pausing to sniff at something before the extent of the rope had her racing back.

"You bit me." Marina accused after a moment, ignoring the flush of warmth to her cheeks.

Legolas chuckled throatily, the vibrations tangible against her back. "I told you the elven ear was sensitive. I was merely returning the favour. Do not say you did not enjoy it."

Where the hell had this self-confident, sexually experienced elf come from? Maybe he'd had sexual interactions before but he had never been this forward previously. That made her a little ticked off. Definitely would need to enquire as to whether he'd had 'girlfriends'. Aside from that, if 'I love you' was it all took for a guy to become dominant and all too irresistible, Marina decided she should have told him back at Helms Deep or maybe before that. How long exactly had she been in love with him? Frowning at his insinuation, Marina peered over her shoulder at him with an obnoxious look. Legolas smiled widely at her expression and kissed her nose for further enjoyment.

"Let's say for arguments sake that I didn't."

"I'd call you a little, lying minx."

"And how would you know?"

"Your scent."

Marina flushed three shades of red as understanding dawned. Good God, he could smell that? Whipping her head back around, she stared at the millions of strands in Arod's mane. Holy frickin' beejeesus of all that was holy. Elves really did have the nose of a bloodhound. Legolas chuckled quietly, thoroughly amused with her silence.

To make matters worse, Marina could feel a distinct wetness and knew it had nothing to do with arousal. Of all the times to get her period, it had to be now. On a horse. With Legolas. And no pads. There was only one thing to say.

Shit.

Licking at dry lips, Marina turned to face him again. "How long until we reach Edoras?"

"Not long. Look."

And there it was. Edoras was just coming into view as they made it to a rise in the terrain. Marina swallowed hard as Arod plodded down the sloping hill, muscles tight for stability. That tension sang straight through to Marina, reminding her again as to why riding or being near these beautiful creatures scared the living daylights out of her. Legolas had a arm of steel locked around her middle as they descended back to flat ground, where he urged Arod into a swift canter. There wasn't anything she could do until they rode through the gates of Edoras. Civilians were still making their way through the gate. A obstacle not at all appreciated.

"Have you done that with someone before?" Marina said suddenly.

Legolas slowed Arod to a steady trot as they approached the busy gates. She could feel his gaze boring into the back of her skull. "Done what, mil-nin?"

Marina shifted uncomfortably, from her predicament and having to draw images from earlier back into her mind. "Um...you know. In the grass?"

The arm around her waist tightened and he deliberately slid his fingers down to rest them teasingly along her thigh. Marina's breath hitched in her throat as he pressed his lips to the back of her ear. "No. Would that make you jealous, mil-nin?"

Marina bristled indignantly and tried not to pout. Fail. When no answer was forthcoming Legolas laughed and hugged her close to his chest as Arod picked his way carefully through the crowd and into Edoras. People did one of three things upon seeing Braig: shriek, yell or scream. It was actually a combination of all three and several were beginning to brandish weapons. Legolas lowered Marina from the saddle at her insistence and watched on with growing respect as the young mortal faced off with the crowd.

"You leave her alone. She's mine. She won't hurt anyone."

Braig bared her menacing teeth from where she'd taken sanctuary between Marina's legs. A sense of pride filled Marina that the little warg trusted her at the very least to keep her from harm. It didn't exactly mean Braig would listen to her but a sense of trust was better than nothing. Legolas walked Arod behind them as they made their way up to the Hall. Éowyn was standing impatiently at the very top of the steps, surprised when Marina all but raced up the steps with a warg following at her heels. The elf stared after the retreating mortal with dark eyes that made the Lady of Rohan very curious as to why the pair had come back on their own. Marina knew Legolas would tend to Arod before following her, and she was going to use the time wisely.

"Marina, you-"

"Yeah, I know. You want to scold me but that can wait. I'm bleeding."

"What? Where? Your arm is healing perfectly."

The guards standing sentry at the entrance were glancing over at them. Marina flushed and fluttered her hands stupidly. "Um. Period."

"Period?"

What the hell do they call it in this land?

"Rags?" Even though she hated that word, most people acknowledged it as lingo. But judging by Éowyn's expression, it did not compute. "Time of the month?" It wasn't working so Marina sighed and pointed at her waist.

"You have an injury under your clothes?"

Marina wanted to scream. Going up on tip-toe since the Lady was a few inches taller than she, the young woman whispered, "Bleeding between the legs."

Éowyn's eyes widened in sudden understanding, her expression abashed as she led Marina inside. They traversed the corridors to Lady of Rohan's quarters, Braig trotting along behind them a metre back so she didn't get entangled in the rope lead. Clothes were thrown askew all about the floor as Éowyn riffled through draws and revealed what seemed to be very old, unused blankets and hastily cut a rough square out of the material and folded it several times over before handing it to Marina. Apparently that was a pad in this world.

After changing her under clothes and applying the new 'pad' Marina followed Éowyn to the kitchens whereupon the women helped themselves to various meats, breads and cheeses. It had been ages since Marina had proper food, and she forgot all manners by devouring it. Braig was thrown meat scraps from the cooks whose expressions said they'd rather appease the beast than become a source for nourishment.

"It was very brave of you to save your elvish friend." Éowyn said softly, nibbling on a piece of sweet bread.

"I had to. I wanted to. I couldn't have let him die out of cowardice."

"Legolas had a different look in his eyes today." There was a sly smile playing at her lips, one which made Marina want to hide under the table or become invisible.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Éowyn's laughter was light and gentle, her fingers gesturing to the purplish marks blemishing Marina's neck. Self-consciously, she shifted her hair to lay over the telltale marks of passion and blushed prettily. How many people had seen her love bites? God. Legolas had given her love bites. On that thought, Marina's eyes glanced down to her chest. Dear God had he left bruises there too? The Lady of Rohan watched the young woman's horrified expression with growing mirth.

"He desires you, Marina. There is no mistaking when a man looks upon a woman like that."

"Not listening. Not listening!" Marina covered her ears and started mumbling 'We Are The Champions' for no apparent reason. Braig cocked her head curiously before howling along; an eerie sound that had everyone nearby wanting to flee from the area. There was no denying Legolas wanted her. That was becoming all too apparent. It made her stomach tighten in response, and butterflies flutter. Having any sexual relation with Tolkien's character would be bad. Wouldn't it? Being with Legolas would be a dream come true. A ridiculous, orgasmic dream at that. But first things first. He had explaining to do. And payback coming. Big time.

I'll bloody well rope him in his sleep and play with his ears until he begs for forgiveness!

After enduring Éowyn's playful teasing for another nail-biting hour, both women retreated to the stables to accommodate Braig. The stable master didn't want the beast anywhere near his horses, blatantly refusing the Lady of Rohan's request. The warg didn't seem to care and sprawled lazily by Marina's feet as they continued to argue about housing her. Shadowfax snorted and pawed at the ground as he eyed the beast, nostrils flared as he whickered loudly. Why wasn't Arod in his stall? In fact there were a few horses that weren't present. Abandoning the hopeless fight, Éowyn and Marina stepped out of the stables to have Gandalf politely brush past and bring Shadowfax out.

"I see you've found yourself a new companion, child." Gandalf leaned down and gave Braig a gentle pat. Shadowfax snorted.

"Yeah. Legolas let me keep her."

The wizard gave her a knowing wink which made her blush, before she realised they had an audience. Éomer, Aragorn, Legolas with Gimli behind him and Theoden were all astride their mounts, geared for battle. Marina started in alarm, pausing as Arod trotted forward. The elf reached down and she offered her hand without thought. Pressing his lips to her knuckles, he said, "We shall not be long. Isengard is our destination. It is time to fetch the hobbits. Haldir will stay with you."

Marina turned red again, and ignored the few grins sent her way. The Marchwarden appeared at her shoulder, casting a distasteful glance at the warg before looking at Legolas. "I shall keep her safe."

No further word was said as the company moved out. Marina stared after Legolas for a long while until he was out of sight. Now both her heart and her body missed him. Great. Éowyn politely excused herself, granting Marina a smile and a thoughtful look at her elven companion before treating back into the Golden Hall to prepare for the feast that would commence when the men returned.

"I haven't had a proper chance to thank you, Noldorin." Haldir went on one knee before her and for a split second Marina thought he was going to ask for her hand. This land was making her assume things way too quickly. "My kin is leaving Lorien. I have nothing to return to. If you would have me, I shall stay with you as your protector and teacher."

"Haldir, that isn't necessary. Really." Marina squeaked as onlookers began to stare curiously. Braig raised a lip to bare her teeth at the Marchwarden.

"It is." Haldir stood and it was then she realised he was not only carrying his sword but another as well. "I pledge to you my sword, and my life." This was some serious shit going on here and Marina was very sure that if she refused it would be considered a great insult. So she kept her mouth shut and simply nodded her head, stunned.

Haldir offered the new sword to her and Marina took it speechless, right before he unsheathed his and settled into a guarded stance.

Oh...crap. So this is what he meant be teacher.

"Come at me, Noldorin."

Tentatively unsheathing the blade, Marina could see it was of elven make and vaguely wondered how it got here. To think he'd had it made for her was touching. He truly was a good friend. Breathing deeply, Marina held the sword like a baseball bat and gave his a light tap. Haldir stared at her before laughing, and knocked her blade spinning from her hand.

"Pick it up."

"Hey, don't be bossy. You knocked it over there."

"If you wish to survive in a fight, you need to learn how to hold a blade properly. Can you drop part of your arm? No. Now pick it up."

Grumbling and embarrassed, Marina did as she was bid. This time Haldir instructed her on how to hold the sword and the correct stance. The next time she went for him was a little better yet he still disarmed her in less than a minute. On picking it up, Haldir reverted back to what he used to do back in Lorien. Snide comments. They were always funny and encouraged enthusiasm but this was damn near bordering on inappropriate.

"If you can't hold a sword against me, Noldorin, how do you expect to hold out in bed with Legolas?" Haldir rested his sword against his shoulder, a smirk tugging at his lips at the enraged look in her eyes. Just what he was after. Anger. Anger led to intent. And through intent you learnt. Marina could feel herself going red, adrenaline pumping through her body at his sexual barb. Shit was going to get personal. With a war cry Marina charged for him.

A clash of metal.

A cry of, "oh shit!"

Marina face-planted the dirt.

So did you like it? Hate it? Did you laugh your butt off when Marina face-planted? Want more sexiness? Or was there too much sexiness? You know the drill! Tell and it shall be done!

Queries:

Q. What is Braig's role and why did you bring her into the story?

A. Braig's role will be seen as Marina's companion and protector for the hard times ahead. I brought her in so Marina could build a trust foundation with something other than a horse that would be rideable upon reaching maturity. It's not going to be a 'pet does whatever the owner orders it to do' relationship. There is gonna be hell in training the little warg. :D

Reviews. Reviews! Or not sexy Leggy time. :P I'll hopefully be updating this again quite soon. Ciao, dearies!