AN: I must admit, my heart fluttered when I reread the end of the last chapter. I hope everyone is excited Legolas is back in the picture. He's not back for good, but he'll be here for a few chapters. Anyway, this was actually kind of stressful to write, because I really had to think about how Emerald and Legolas would be around each other after so much has transpired while they're apart . . . I hope I got it right. If not . . . shoot. Regardless, enjoy!

Chapter Ten

The roof of the guardhouse was packed with everyone crammed together for a meal, which was second in priority only to seeing that Emerald was all right. Other than an alarming amount of bruises and being severely dehydrated and half-starved, though, Emerald insisted she felt find and waved away all attempts to inspect her. Only Hergest was allowed to touch her arm out of curiosity, to see if the fingerprint bruises would disappear beneath his palm.

"Nothing," he sighed. "Looks like I'm no good after all."

"We just don't know how to work with it yet," Emerald assured him, patting his hand. As her fingers touched his skin, the scrape on her hand disappeared, which she pointed out with a laugh.

Tegryn snorted, "Your healing is as unexplainable as your emotions . . ."

"What is this?" Mithrandir asked, Legolas and Aragorn looking on with equal curiosity while Gimli tried to surreptitiously stare without it being obvious he was doing so.

"While we were visiting the Blue Wizards, Hergest starting demonstrating the powers of a healer," Beven explained while Hergest took to putting his hands on any visible wounds or raw skin of Emerald's, with varying results. "He healed a very serious chemical wound on Tegryn, and then sometimes sunburns or chapped lips or scrapes. We can't figure out what caused it in him, or even how he can control it now."

Mithrandir eyed Hergest closely, as though reading what was written in the Elf's brain and searching for some changed coding, "Interesting. While visiting the Blue Wizards, you say? You've had quite a trip since last we met, or so it sounds. Have any others of you demonstrated new talents?" When no one said they had, he suggested, "I believe Lady Galadriel could help you significantly with your new talent, Hergest, and Lord Elrond, too." This got the gears in Emerald's mind turning, but for the time being she said nothing, just devoured food and drink until her stomach felt bloated and listened with voracious curiosity to the questions her brothers asked.

In this way, she began to learn of the voyages of everyone since their last meeting, about Mithrandir's battle with the balrog, about the battle at Amon Hen and how Boromir fell there, Merry and Pippin were captured, and Frodo and Sam set off for Mordor alone. There would always be still more to tell, for the battle of Helm's Deep had only been mentioned, and Emerald's journey had hardly been touched on at all as the freed-prisoners were too busy recovering their strength to speak much.

"Oh, Frodo," Emerald sighed. "He's so innocent to be expected to do so much."

"I believe the same could be said for you, Princess," Legolas pointed out, the first time he'd spoken since she had seen him. He'd been silent, but Emerald had felt his eyes constantly on her from where he leaned against the wall across the room, and she'd be a liar if she denied her giddiness at seeing him. She was thrilled to see the Hobbits and Aragorn and Mithrandir and even grumpy Gimli, but there was an embarrassed part of her that wished everyone would just leave she and Legolas alone so she could talk to him. When she'd taken his arm, it had surprised her how much she wanted to throw her arms around him as she had done with Mithrandir and the Hobbits, but also confused her why she felt it would be too inappropriate. Inappropriate had never really bothered her before.

Her yawn after the Hobbits finished detailing their voyage with the Uruks and then the Ents encouraged Aragorn to suggest, "It appears the little princess is exhausted. Where are you headed now, Lady Emerald? What are your plans?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "To sleep, first, and then to eat again. And then . . . I don't honestly know yet." Her eyes intercepted Beven's at her bag, which rested in the corner with his. He was smiling, obviously aware of something she didn't know, but also knew better than to speak about it in front of everyone.

"We must leave early in the morning that we can meet with King Theoden in Dunharrow, as we had already agreed, and from there we move to Gondor," Aragorn explained. "It would put us all at ease if you joined us at Dunharrow to recover your strength, so that we know we parted with you back on your feet. I wouldn't want you to go to Gondor with us, or be any nearer Mordor than you must . . . though you seem to choose exactly the opposite of what those who care would have you do."

"Why do I know the name of Dunharrow?" she asked instead of answering, turning to Beven who could always answer for her.

It was Alagedh, though, who explained, "Perhaps Lord Aragorn means to walk the Paths of the Dead?" Though this meant little to most present, those who were familiar gave him surprised and suspicious looks, while the rest only sensed that this meant something important and possibly terrifying.

Aragorn nodded, "That is the road, but only for myself. There will be many separations in Dunharrow--"

"Can I decide in the morning? I have some things to think over," Emerald interjected, feeling that Aragorn deserved as much privacy for his decisions as she did for hers. She shouldn't have said anything in the first place and felt bad that she had.

She was assured that she could, and quickly after that Beven asked, "Emmy, would you like to take a walk with me?"

"Lady, you should rest," Alagedh argued, putting a concerned hand on her arm.

She patted his hand and insisted, "I'm fine, Alagedh, and there's no trouble left here for me to get into. I promise not to go wandering through Orthanc lest I drown. We won't go far." Helplessly, he let her go, and she accepted Beven's arm and strolled from the guardhouse under the watchful eyes of Mithrandir and Aragorn both.

Knowing curious ears with strong hearing were at hand, and unsure how much Emerald might want anyone to know, Beven led her a great distance along the outside of the ring of Isengard before pressing with a smile, "Guess what."

"What."

"While in our rooms, we were left to our own devices, so I had quite a lot of uninterrupted time to continue working on the artifact and journals," Beven explained. "And I daresay I've got the language down quite firmly now."

Emerald grabbed his other arm to face him and gave an excited yelp, "You have! Does that mean you--"

He pulled the artifact out of his bag and translated, "In my research and interview, I have discovered, and now leave written for she that might follow me in my search, the final locations of the two Silmarils which were captured by those sons of Fëanor, Maedhros and tragic Maglor. It is known that after these brothers, in fulfillment of their ill-fated oath, captured these two Silmarils from the Valar, who are desperate in wanting them that the Silmarils and world might live to eternity, they were driven to madness. Maedhros, having sought glory and found it not to his liking, tossed himself into the a fissure. Maglor, who had never wanted this responsibility in the first place, threw his into the sea. The locations of these events previously unknown, I have searched and thought and prayed and believe in full that I am right. Legend says that Maglor still walks the edges of our world, or else that he has sailed West, and though I doubt this to be true, the legend can be traced back, and no further than, the sea-side city of Dol Amroth. I believe that rather than the sea, into which legend states Maglor tossed the gem, that he instead has lost it in the Bay of Belfalas, so that none might search and find it. Where in the Bay of Belfalas, I know not, but perhaps the Valar are there waiting, ready to guide she who might come. As for the fissure in which Maglor leapt with the final Silmaril, I am certain that this fissure stands in none other than the dark lands of Mordor, the very same fire which was then given the power to create the One Ring. I have no explanation as to why Sauron has never happened upon it, other than that perhaps it is melted into nothing. Were this true, it would have left some marker, I believe, of its destruction. May the Valar guide you."

Emerald gaped open-mouthed for some time before nearly screaming, "Beven, you did it!" He laughed and shrugged modestly. "But do you think she's right? Oh, but there's only one way to know. Oh, oh, oh, I don't even know what to say. Could it happen? Could we actually retrieve the last two Silmarils?"

Beven suddenly grabbed her arm and, peering from where they had walked, whispered, "Someone is coming." Emerald too listened, but then smiled and shook her head.

"It is only Legolas. Don't be concerned. Only be happy that now we know our destination, that we must head to Dol Amroth and there search."

"It puts my heart at ease to know you don't intend to head straight for Mordor, though I suppose you mean to go there next?" Beven pried, his smile suddenly traded in for absolute concern.

"Don't think so far ahead," she insisted, patting his shoulder. "It'll only depress you. After all, either we shall win the war and the black lands will be safer, or else we shall lose and there will no use for the Silmails anyway. So let us just hope that the war is won by then and that I can prance safely into Mordor."

Legolas was within speaking distance now and asked, "Tell me, Princess, do you purposely say things simply to instill fear in the hearts of those around you? Or are you truly driven by a reckless carelessness and absolute disregard for the opinions and affections of others towards yourself?" Emerald smiled and shook her head. She was suddenly feeling quite exhausted, but the prospect of time with Legolas prevented her from admitting this, so when Beven suggested heading back and Legolas offered to accompany her if she would stay out a few minutes longer, she chose the latter.

At first, as Beven walked off, Legolas and Emerald just stood awkwardly near each other, sometimes looking at each other but then looking quickly away. The discomfort was palpable and Emerald couldn't put her finger on just why it was that way. She hadn't felt strange like this around Legolas in Imladris, so why should time apart create it?

"I'm glad you're okay," she finally ventured. "I . . . I mean, I knew there were bad things happening, and I'm glad you're all right. Poor Boromir, though."

Legolas nodded "He died valiantly defending the Hobbits."

"But they still got caught, so you see how far valiance will take you," she sighed. Then, thinking of him for the first time in quite a while, she mused, "I wonder what has become of Gildas?" Legolas didn't seem to know what to say, and they fell into another awkward silence until she admitted, "I'm actually quite tired. Do you mind if I sit?"

"Of course! Princess, I'm sorry, we should return now so that you may rest--"

"Don't fuss, Legolas, I'm fine. I just want to sit for a few minutes," she insisted, but he fussed regardless, taking her arm and leading her to a piece of the collapsed wall where she could sit. "It's been such an exciting day, between Ent-wars and eagle-riding and--"

"Are you really aiming to go into Mordor?" he interrupted her.

She laughed, saw that he was not laughing, and assured him, "Not right now, no. It might be necessary eventually--"

"You cannot mean that." He sat down beside her, and his entire body radiated anxiety. "It will never be safe enough for you to go into Mordor. I don't even want you going with us to Dunharrow, or any closer at all to Gondor and the war--"

"But that's where you're going," she pointed out. "You're going to war."

"I am a warrior."

"Warriors still die!" He had nothing to say, and she didn't, either. This was a dangerous world and everyone was threatened with death. Instead, after a few minutes for the peace to return, she offered, "I'm not going there now, though. Or to Gondor. I'm going to the sea--"

"To Grey Havens?"

Emerald shook her head, "No, to Dol Amroth."

"Why?"

"A treasure hunting expedition," she answered vaguely.

Again they slipped into silence until Legolas commented, "You are very different."

"Me?"

"Yes." His face flitted back and forth between a smile and a frown as frequently as his eyes darted between her and the pond of Orthanc. "You seem . . . older. Sadder. Calmer. I worry that you will survive the war, yet not."

What was Emerald to say to that? Feeling personally responsible for the deaths of all who die takes its toll? My brothers may follow me to their deaths? I thought I was going to die on top of that tower?

Instead, she frowned, "I'm sorry. A lot has happened and will happen and might not ever happen and I'm just tired." She sighed and gave Legolas the dreariest look. "I doubt myself all the time, and I'm just so tired."

He looked at her again in silence, this time not taking his eyes away, and it was some time before he pleaded, "Won't you sail West?"

"No, and every time you ask it, Mordor moves higher up on my travel list."

"Well some things are still the same," he muttered, which made her laugh and relax a bit. She didn't like to think that she was different. She didn't feel different, except maybe smaller and more lost than ever.

"Anyway, you're different, too. You haven't smiled a single time since you saw me. Maybe it's not me that's different, but you just aren't so easily amused anymore. I've only grown duller to you. I've lost my charm."

Legolas quickly rose and Emerald almost feared he was going to run off, but he didn't, just stared at the ground with an angry, distracted look.

"Princess," he explained, finally looking at her with the same furrowed brow. "I am sorry that I have not smiled more. You must trust me when I say there is no truth to you losing any of your charm. You have most certainly not grown dull to me. It has just been . . . difficult."

"Well it's been difficult for all of us," Emerald retorted.

"Some of us more than others for reasons more specific than those of others . . ."

Emerald sighed and stood, "I'm afraid you are being horribly vague. I believe we should head back anyway and--"

He grabbed her arm and said simply, "I have only been very worried."

"About?" He said nothing, just continued to hold onto her arm for a long pause. Emerald felt a hiccup in her chest and the blood rushed to her ears. "Oh, about me?"

"It has just been very nerve-wracking to know that you are gallivanting around in the middle of a war," Legolas quickly explained, trying to be lighter but pulling his hand back and looking at the ground when she didn't laugh. "And I was right to worry, because what little I've been told, it sounds as though you've found trouble wherever you've gone."

"No, I was quite safe at Rada-- oh! That's right!" she suddenly cried, her face lighting up with a smile that surprised Legolas. "Radaghast made me promise to tell you that-- speaking of which!" She gave him a hard shove on the arm that surprised him further still. "You did not tell me you are the son of a king!"

Finally Legolas smiled, then laughed, and demanded, "What does that matter, Princess?"

"Because if you are a prince, you most certainly do not need to refer to me as 'Princess.' You are my equal."

"I do not know that anyone on this earth is your equal," he retorted. Emerald pouted, assuming he teased, and gave him a glare. "But that besides, how is it that you came to know this? It's not exactly something that I am proud of, and most certainly not something that most know."

Emerald grinned, "A certain brown wizard told me."

"You've met him, have you? He's a bit of a loose arrow."

"He's quite the free spirit, if that's what you mean," Emerald agreed. "We stayed with him at his house for a while."

"You did! Then you were so near my home, actually in the woods of my family."

"Yes. He wanted me to make sure I told you that he took me to Dol Goldur."

Legolas immediately gave her a stern look and insisted, "He did not."

"I wanted to go, and so he took me. He said you would probably trust that I was safe with him, just as I am safe with my brothers and Alagedh, but that you would be quite furious with him. Though if you have been so worried about me, then you must not trust my brothers so much as you say."

"Princess, I tell you the truth, that I do not even trust myself with your safekeeping. I fear you would foil even the most protective guardian, if only to flout the concern with which they tell you not to go someplace."

She laughed, "Yes, Alagedh's quite a protective guard and I have foiled him more than he will admit!" When he offered his arm, she accepted, and they began walking back to the guardhouse.

"I had asked the Lady Galadriel about you," he admitted.

"Did you? And what did she say? I met her once when I was very small and I just remember being horribly frightened by her. She's quite domineering."

Legolas laughed, "Don't let Gimli hear you say that! I'm afraid Gimli is now heartsick for the Elvish queen, and -- don't tell him I said this -- but I fear his love may not be quite reciprocated."

"Come, Prince! Unrequited love is nothing to laugh about," Emerald insisted, giving him a pointed look. "I believe it is the second saddest thing that can befall someone in love, preceded only by the loss of a requited love to death. But come, what did Galadriel say about me? What did you ask?"

"She said that I would see you again before your task was completed."

"Only once?"

Legolas' face fell, "I hadn't thought of that. She didn't say only."

"Oh! Guess what! I was practicing archery with those pointers you gave me, and I've actually become quite good. Not great, but I shot a few things that I was actually trying to shoot."

Legolas laughed again and teased, "The subject has changed, has it? Well I'm sure your brothers were thrilled."

"Alagedh and Beven seemed glad of it if it means I'll run up a tree and shoot from there if we ever get in trouble," she responded.

It was with a thoughtful look that he mused, "Alagedh seems very fond of you."

"Oh, I daresay he is," Emerald nodded. "He's served my family since before I was born. He's a very dear friend."

"Is that so?" he asked, though it seemed rhetorical and Legolas' eyes were instead scanning the sky disinterestedly.

"I think I will come with you to Dunharrow," she announced to get his attention after they had walked a bit further and were now almost back to the guardhouse. It worked and he gave her a questioning smile. "I told you I need to go to Dol Amroth. It's on the other side of the mountains."

Legolas pointed out, "But you would still need to get to the other side of the mountains."

"Yes, I suppose I shall have to find a passage through the mountains . . ." she mused, tapping her chin dramatically. Clearly she meant the Paths of the Dead, but they had reached the guardhouse and she dropped his arm to enter before he could argue against it. Besides, it would be pointless, he knew. What Emerald thought to do, she did.

Instead, he grumbled, "You are going to be the death of me."

Emerald slept hard to make up for the restless nights she had been enduring. For the first time in ages, she felt truly safe, though Saruman paced not far from her in captivity. Still, there were not only her brothers near at hand, but also Mithrandir, Aragorn, and Legolas. She slept soundly in one of the drained rooms of the outer ring, the Hobbits and Gimli in cots nearby.

She struggled to rise in the morning, but did so and ate her breakfast sitting atop the roof with Tegryn, Hergest, and the Hobbits while Treebeard told her some about Ents, with Pippin and Merry filling in the blanks left by his slow words and lengthy sentences. He was even kind enough to let her climb atop him and run her fingers over his bark, which she insisted was the nicest bark she had ever laid hands on.

"And I'm quite the tree-climber," she assured him, which seemed to amuse Treebeard to no end.

It was only shortly after sunrise that it was announced they must be on their way, and Emerald waved goodbye to the Ents without having said anything about her possible search for the Entwives, though she had shrewdly inquired if they knew to where they had gone. They, of course, did not. It was with a tinge of sadness she turned her back to Treebeard. She really did like the Ents, and it would have been lovely to stay with them for some time, though they spoke too slowly for her and she too quickly for them.

There were now more riders than horses, though Emerald's company's horses had been retrieved from the stables unharmed, much to their relief.

Seeing Legolas mounted, Gimli perched behind him, Emerald sidled up beside them as the party began to move and teased, "Why Gimli! I never would have thought you'd concede to riding behind an Elf."

"Can we lose her at the first cliff?" Gimli asked Legolas, which earned him an elbow in the ribs but only made Emerald laugh.

"Come now, Master Gimli," she insisted. "You have a best friend for an elf, so I hear, and a love for an elf, so surely there is room in your heart for me."

He grumbled, "What have you been saying about me?" to Legolas but retorted to Emerald, "Nope, sorry, no room left in here for another Elfling."

"Legolas, you hear how your friend speaks to me?" she demanded. "He treats me as though I'm no more worthy of his affections than an orcling!"

Gimli laughed, "Aye, little PrincessO. Alas, I'll not ask Legolas to have my side and place me first in any of our arguments. A dwarf is not so stupid that he doesn't know who an Elf will pick first in this competition!" That said, he shut his mouth and refused to say another word, no matter how hard Emerald and Legolas laughed and tried to draw him out.

When that had died down, Emerald said to Legolas, "Well, do you feel less anxious now that you are here to keep an eye on me, too?"

"As long as you do not try to befriend any more oliphaunts," he returned, smiling mischievously. It thrilled Emerald's heart to see him behaving a bit more as he had been in Imladris, but still she pretended to be highly offended at the teasing.

"Ah!" she gasped. "And just who have you been talking to?"

Just ahead of them, Aragorn, who had most likely been listening all along, added, "Although I believe the princess can show us the quickest route down should we encounter any steep inclines."

"Tegryn!" she yelled, turning in her saddle to glare at her brother, who confirmed her suspicion with an innocent, "What?"

Thus it was with high spirits and lighter hearts that the group set out to Dunharrow.