Hey guys, I'm back again with another chapter! Hope you enjoy and please remember I'm only just getting back into writing again, I may be slightly rusty!

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I was running before I had realised what I was going, ignoring the King as he called my name, his voice steady but slightly panicked. This is very unfair, how dare he lead Emma out into unknown territory and let her get injured! I get upset when she gets a scratch for goodness sake! I am not going to hold up well as soon as reality kicks in. Right now, I am pretending I did not see my best friend undergo resuscitation attempts.

I skidded around the corner, tearing towards Legolas' chambers, praying to every God out there that he is actually in them. If not I don't know what I would do, the run here is far enough as it is! I literally ran into his door in my haste and banged on it hard with a closed fist, giving it to the count of three before I burst in.

One.

Two.

Three-

I made to shove through, only to stumble through as it was opened. Typically, he has taken after Emma in her ability to be as inconvenient as possible. To be fair though, he has shown up in his chambers at the right time.
Legolas smirked as I stumbled through, gasping for breath as caught myself before I hit the floor. However, his cheeky smile dropped immediately as soon as he saw my appearance.

"Kate?" he asked urgently "What is it?"

I opened my mouth, panting, suddenly cursing the corset and the long dress I was so busy praising earlier that day.

"Kate!" he placed his hands on my upper arms, his eyes betraying his unsettled emotions.

"Emma…in healers" I wheezed out, pointing in the vague direction I had come from.

Immediately his eyes filled with terror and he had dropped my arms, legging it towards the door. I followed at a slower rate, seeing as he was running like the hounds of hell were on his tail, and I'm about as unfit as they come. Emma had a least made an effort to keep her training and fitness up since the end of the war, I however, had not bothered, finding doing things that involved less energy far more to my liking. Not that learning to sew is helping me in my current situation, I am about as red as I can get and am wheezing like an old woman. It's not the most attractive I've ever looked.

Legolas had reached the end of the long hall and had skidded around the corner, in a far more graceful fashion than I, before I had even made it out of the doorway to his chambers. As quickly as I could manage, I slammed the doors shut before following the Prince, my skirts whipping around my ankles.

Aragorn's POV

She wasn't going to make it.

The realisation hit me like a tonne of stone as I leant over the woman I considered to be my family, forcing breath into her lungs as she once again stopped breathing for herself. Her body was a strange patchwork of black, blue and green bruises, but that was the least of our worries.

It was the poisoned deep lacerated wound in her back which had me most concerned.

My mouth covered hers as I tilted her head back and blew air into her system, watching her chest rise and fall feebly. On Emma and Kate's world I believe such a manoeuvre is called CPR. That is how it was introduced to me anyway. She coughed slightly as I pulled away, a small amount of blood dribbling out of her mouth and down her cheek. It almost sent me into complete panic, relaxing only slightly when I found the source of the blood, a cut to her mouth, not any internal damage which would mean certain death.

I continued to work on the huge gash on her limp body, stitching it without the use of numbing medicine. Firstly, I doubt she could register any more pain, and secondly if I don't want to lose her it has to be sewn shut now. There is no time to wait for the effects of any medicine I could give her.

My hand shook slightly as I threaded the needle and I fought to still it, knowing that I couldn't let any personal feelings I had get in the way of my work. There were plenty of other healers who had come to Emma's aid, but I had insisted that I should be the main person to care for her, knowing that if we did, Valar forbid, lose her, both Kate and Legolas would be safe with the knowledge that everything possible was done to save her.

Not that it would help one of my oldest companion and friend. He would surely fade, even without the two of them being bound, I could sense the strength of the relationship that existed between them. There was nothing one wouldn't do for the other. Admittedly, that has only deepened my concern.

My concentration was barely affected as a crash was suddenly heard from the next room, followed by shouting from various people as they were faced with someone tearing their way through the halls.
I did not have to look up to know who that person was.
My elf friend practically broke the wooden door in two in his haste to get into the room, throwing a couple of guards out of the way as they tried to delay his path. I looked up just in time to see his face turn ashen as he took in Emma's state, as his mouth opened in a silent scream, which became a whimper, which became a full on shout of terror. I continued silently with my work as he threw himself down on the floor next to her head, his hands desperately clinging onto her hand, which was lying limply at her side.

"No no no no no" he kept repeating to himself, his hand moving gently to her face as he stared at her closed eyes, knowing that for an elf to close their eyes is very grave indeed.
He looked up at me, his cheeks stained with tears. I blinked in shock.
Never in all my years have I seen Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, cry.

"Legolas" I said gently "I think you ought to leave"

Silence…

"Legolas" I tried again as I applied the seventh stitch, satisfied that Emma was once again breathing unaided.

Still, he gave no response.

I said nothing as I continued to stitch up Emma's back as quickly as I could, three other healers crowing around her to aid her other wounds. Legolas remained on the ground, his body shaking as he attempted to hold back the tears which were falling thick and fast, refusing to let go of her hand, his head resting on the bed directly next to hers.
It was the sight of a broken elf.

He remained in that position for quite some time, until the change occurred. And when it did it came gradually, and then all at once, as the terrified eyes that reminded me of a small elfling who had lost his mother suddenly hardened, and became full of rage.
He leapt to his feet s though a warg had entered the room, turning on me with a wild look in his eyes. I took an involuntary step back, raising my hands to show him that I meant no harm to Emma. I recognised that look, and it was not a good sign. The other healers did the same, terrified of the Prince, who usually held such a calm and collected manner. The look in his eyes turned feral as he snarled, his eyes fixed on Emma's wounded body. Slowly, I returned to my original position, tying to show him that I was there to look after her, that I meant her no harm. His eyes remained on me but he made no move to stop me so I continued, satisfied he wasn't going to decapitate me whilst trying to help her.

"Who did this to her?" he asked in a deadly voice, so low that I had to strain to hear him.
My eyes widened as I watched his animalistic approach to protecting the one he loves. I have never seen a bond so strong in a couple pre binding. But at this moment, Legolas looks ready to kill, and he would not stop until the one who had hurt his beloved was destroyed.

"Legolas" I began slowly "That would not help her"

But he didn't seem to hear me. Instead, he kneeled down next to Emma once again, his eyes still blazing.

"I said. Who. Did. This." He growled, his eyes remaining fixed upon her face.

"An orc" I replied simply, not wanting to put anyone in any danger. By the slight twitch of his hand, as though he went to grab an invisible sword, warned me that this answer simply would not suffice.

"An orc" he repeated "And why would Emma be riding outside of Minas Tirith without an armed escort? She is the future princess of Mirkwood!" his voice rose a notch. I swallowed, choosing my next words carefully.

"She was not alone"

His eyes snapped up to me and immediately he was on his feet, snarling.

"Who?" he demanded

"Legolas, I really don't think-"

"Who?" he cut me off, stalking closer, his stance threatening.

"Your father" another voice cut in smoothly. We both turned to see Kate standing in the doorway, looking a little rough but in my eyes no less beautiful "It was your father, Legolas"

Legolas' POV

I stared a Kate as I heard those words, and felt anger like I had never felt before course through my veins at the news, blinding me with rage as I focused on Emma's face, which was black with the bruises she had suffered at the hands of those vile creatures.

Because of the actions me father had chosen to take.

I knew that he hadn't been entirely accepting of the elleth I have chosen to bind myself to…but I did not think he would be capable of reaching this point in his quest to rid me of her. Quite the opposite in fact, I had hoped that he had become more accepting of her! He had invited her back to my homeland, after all! But that all appears to be some kind of ploy.

My fist clenched as I took in Emma's appearance once more, as she struggled to draw breath…as her heart beat painfully slowly in her chest.

I hate him for this.

It has made me choose. And for the first time in all my years, I will not choose him.

He shall not come away from this unscathed. I shall make sure of that.

...

Uh oh! Things aren't looking that great between Legolas and his father! For those of you who hoped Emma would get better I'm sorry, but I'm going to make you suffer a little longer to see if she will in fact survive.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you all about what you thought of the chapter!

I would also like to thank my fabulous beta reader for checking through this chapter in order to make it the best it can be.