In case you've forgotten, I do not own LOTR, only admire and wish I could be half as talented.

Don't forget to check out my tumblr for some different stories and thank you to all my new followers over the last couple of months!

And I'm apologising in advance Azkahdeliah...I know its been so long lol

Legolas POV

Legolas watched Elahir carefully. She seemed quite fine. Her movements were a little stiff and she often winced if she moved too quickly but that was expected after being dropped from a great height. He was surprised she was not more badly injured.

Elahir sat overlooking the Golden Wood beneath them, her face still, but thoughtful. He had concern for the large gash on her face but she would not let him treat it. Her eyes had returned to the golden amber colour although they did not twinkle.

He felt some guilt for her injuries suffered. He had promised his father, and himself, that he would allow no harm to come to her. Yet he had failed. She had been carried away by a strange shadowy creature. She had been dropped from a great height, before repeatedly being attacked by the creature. She herself had managed to hold it at bay until he and his men had been able to finally scare it away.

Still yet, something was not right about her. When she had passed out from her injuries, her body had gradually grown colder and colder and he was certain he was losing her to the eternal sleep. Yet she had awoken, and seemingly was fine. But when he had brushed his fingers against hers, he had felt a warmth to her body that he had not felt in a long while. Not since after the battle against Sauron.

After the battle against Sauron, when she had finally awoken the dormant dark powers that lie within her and defeated him, he had rushed to her side for fear she had been killed. What he had found was she was barely alive, and her skin radiated a heat, as if on fire.

The fire had eventually died, however it was not until she awoke that they learned she had given up the dark powers. He looked to her again. She was still deep in thought.

"My lady, the lycan returns," Haldir said looking over the side of the flet. Elahir stood and walked to the rope ladder, climbing down to join Tithen Lum. "My brothers are starting a small fire so you may cook and eat the hunt. They will stay down there and keep watch."

"That won't be necessary, Haldir, they can return to your side. I will call if I need help," Elahir called back up the rope. Legolas smirked at the look of annoyance on Haldir's face. He was glad to see her stubbornness wasn't only tiresome to him.

"I will go and keep her company," he said, before swinging down the side of the flet to the ground. Elahir looked up from where she was seated beside the small fire, a look of confusion on her face. "I thought perhaps you would like some company."

"I have Tithen," she replied, poking at the fire as a small portion of rabbit cooked upon it. Tithen Lum was lying on the other side of the fire, eating the rest of it.

Legolas ignored her response and sat down with his legs crossed, a little away from Elahir. She sighed and shook her head before turning her meat over, staring into the fire as she did so.

Legolas battled within his head how to proceed. Eventually he settled on being straight forward. "The Valar have given you back your dark powers?" he whispered. He looked at Elahir as she closed her eyes ruefully and sighed. It was true.

"Yes." She opened her eyes and stared at the ground. "Yes, my mother has spoken with me at length. It would seem there is further work to be done."

"It shan't be dormant this time, will it?" he asked, his mind racing as he reminded himself of what happened last time. Elahir looked up and met his gaze. He was taken aback by the fire within her eyes.

"No, but I will learn to control it. I will never let it possess me as it did at the Black Gate."

She looked back to the fire. As she began to eat her food, Legolas was thoughtful. He wished he had spoken at more length with his father about Queen Ellia and her dark powers. He might have been able to help Elahir learn to control them.

A thought struck him. "There is a reason you have been given them back now." Elahir looked up expectantly, licking her fingers as she threw the leftover bone to Tithen Lum. "The lady of the golden wood will help you. She would know."

Elahir cocked her head to the side, the way she did when she was contemplating something. She glanced up to the trees, a serious look on her face, before shrugging. "We will see. She may be able to advise us, but I am the only one that can do this." She looked over at Tithen Lum before looking back to the rope ladder.

"Oh... I don't think she's going to be able to climb that is she?"

They looked at each other with puzzled looks on their faces before they burst out laughing.

xOOx

Eventually they convinced Tithen Lum that she would have to allow them to tie her to the end of a rope and lift her into the flet that way if she wanted to sleep with Elahir that night. The lycan was not happy about it at all, and skulked off to sleep on a bough away from the flet in annoyance.

Legolas rolled out his bedroll, pulling a blanket from his rucksack. The winter was approaching and the breeze was already beginning to take on a cold bite to it. Elahir laid out her bed roll beside his and sat cross legged for a moment. She was looking about the trees.

"It's been awhile since I slept in the boughs of nature and enjoyed the free air."

"You could live as one of us quite easily I would believe, my lady" Haldir said bowing his head slightly in her direction from his position watching out over the forest at the edge of the flet.

"Perhaps, but perhaps this forest is too light for my liking too. Fangorn is dark, hardly any light enters. Here, the moon reflects from the leaves to the trunks and makes it seem much lighter than it really should be. It is a pretty sight to see though."

She lay down, flat on her back and looking up. Legolas noticed her eyes still seemed to blaze. She also had no blanket.

"Tarien, do you not have your blanket?" he whispered.

"No, I do not feel I need it."

"A cool breeze blows, I would advise the use of a blanket, my lady," Haldir chimed in. Legolas cringed. They would get no privacy here.

"I will be fine," she replied, sounding huffy. Legolas glanced at Haldir, who looked back at him with a bemused look. Eventually Legolas laid his head down and tried to sleep.

He was woken by the sounds of muttering and movement. He looked around. Haldir and his brothers were nowhere to be found. Next to him, Elahir was muttering and curled into a ball. He touched her hand to see if she would wake, although her skin felt quite warm, she herself was shivering. He could not understand what it was she was muttering but she seemed to dreaming.

"Elahir?" he whispered, he grabbed her shoulder and tried to wake her. She stopped muttering but did not wake. Still she shivered. He looked around once more, seeing if the brothers or Haldir were close by. He could not see them. "Elahir." He tried to rouse her again. She opened one eye slowly.

"Yes, Legolas?" she asked groggily. She shivered fiercely as a strong breeze blew. Legolas clutched her shoulder, she was indeed still warm, although nowhere near as hot as she had been earlier in the evening. "Where did that cold come from?"

"It is nearing winter, the breeze will cool more and more over the next few weeks," he replied. He sat up, shifting himself closer to her and throwing his blanket over her too. She looked at him in alarm. "You can share my blanket. It won't be long until dawn. Once the sun has risen it shall warm the forest floor up."

She looked bashfully at him but mumbled her thanks. Legolas couldn't help but smile as he could just make out a pink tinge seep into her cheeks, beneath the wounds and dirt on her face in the moonlight that seeped through the leaves of the trees. He lay on his side, his body facing hers as she lay on her back. He watched as she snuggled into the blanket, before resting the side of her head against his chest. He could smell the scent of her hair, it was a mixture of the smells of the natural roots and herbs the elven-maids would use to wash their hair, combined with a sweet aroma that he could not place. It was a scent he always associated with Elahir, it often warmed his heart.

Beside him, Elahir stopped shivering and seemed to be lulled into a more peaceful sleep, soon he too drifted to sleep once more.

Elahir POV

The next morning, Elahir woke to find Legolas was gone. He had left her with the blanket. She sat up and looked around to find Tithen Lum sleeping close to her, lying on her back with her paws in the air and her head arched towards her back. One of Haldir's brothers, Rumil she thought his name to be, was seated on a bough of the tree, watching her. He nodded to her when their eyes met. She quickly began packing away her bed roll, waking Tithen Lum in the process, who huffed and nattered as she rolled back onto her four paws.

Her body still ached and she touched the side of her face, although the gash was healing, it was still quite painful. She wondered for a moment if she would have a scar but then screwed up her face, remembering that she had never managed to scar before, no matter how deep a wound she had.

Elahir picked up the blanket and began to fold it. As she did so, the smell of Legolas wafted up and she inhaled it, sighing. She looked around again puzzled, wondering where it was he could have gone.

"He has gone with Haldir and Orophin to observe the edge of the forest before we leave. Last night we turned back a small group of Urak-Hai that thought to enter the forest. They were few, possibly a scouting party who felt more brave than they should. They will be back soon, my lady." Elahir looked at Rumil in surprise. Since she had arrived neither of Haldir's brothers had said anything to her, but bowed whenever she would stand.

She nodded in thanks. "How many Urak-Hai were there?" she asked, more out of courtesy than curiosity.

"Five."

"Do they often enter the Golden Wood?"

"Not usually."

Elahir gave up on the strained conversation. At the very least, she appreciated that he did not use her title in conversation.

As she was packing her bed roll, Legolas returned. "Good morning, tarien." He smiled at her pleasantly.

She remembered the close proximity of the night before and felt her cheeks flushing. She quickly handed him back his blanket. "Thank you, for last night."

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, turning to pack it in his rucksack.

"Very well, thank you," she mumbled. He looked back at her with a raised eyebrow and a small smirk. She gritted her teeth as she looked away.

She could feel her face heating up again. As she looked away, Haldir appeared in the hole of the flet where the rope ladder went down. He gave a knowing smile to her as he stood. "Good morning, aranel. I gather you slept well?"

"Fine, thank you, Haldir. Are we leaving soon?"

"Yes, of course. Whenever you are ready, my lady." He smiled again as Elahir picked up her rucksack. "We will take Tithen Lum down first."

The lycan looked unhappily at the Marchwarden but followed behind him towards the hole and allowed herself to be tied up. Elahir couldn't help but smirk at the poor, unhappy wolf. Her childhood friend's facial expressions always amused her.

Elahir followed Tithen Lum down, helping to untie the rope that held her. Tithen Lum shook her fur, before snapping her jaws at them and nattering before bounding into the trees and disappearing from sight. "Tithen!" Elahir shouted, worried the wolf might scare some creatures within the Golden Wood or be pursued by unfamiliar elves.

"Do not fear. She is expected and welcome here, my lady," Orophin said, before mounting his horse. Elahir felt a nudge behind her as she stared at Orophin in surprise. She turned to find Veriann. She was waiting patiently for Elahir to mount her.

"Oh, hello to you too." Elahir secured her rucksack to Veriann before mounting. Legolas stopped beside her atop Arod, waiting for Elahir to proceed ahead of him.

They rode in silence through the Golden Wood as the sun began to rise further into the sky. The run's rays becoming a pale yellow and gold as it hit the tree's leaves, dabbling the ground around them. Elahir couldn't help but stare at the forest around her. She saw now why it was called the Golden Wood.

Apart from the beautiful trees that surrounded them with their golden yellow leaves, the ground was littered with pale green grass that sprouted golden coloured flowers. The mallyrn trees here began to grow more plentiful. It was so different to what she had come to expect of the forests, she was astonished. Silently looking about in a constant look of wonder.

Tithen Lum soon returned to her side, obviously forgiving them for tying her up to move her from ground to limb of tree and back.

They rode on most of the day, until Elahir could soon see a clearing ahead. The sun was beginning to set as they approached the tree less circle. Trees formed a line around one particularly large tree. This tree had a large white set of stairs that led to a shining white talan nestled in the centre boughs of the tree. Haldir drew to a stop, dismounting and greeting a fellow elf, who took the reins of his horse and led it away. Several other elves came forward to take the reins of the other horses as Elahir dismounted Veriann. Tithen Lum sat and waited patiently as Elahir looked around the clearing at the faces peering down on her from overhead talans.

"Come, Elahir. The lady and lord of the Golden Wood would be expecting to see you." He led them on towards the biggest tree, where three elves, clad in white cloaks sat beneath a low bough. They sprang to their feet as Elahir followed Haldir toward them. One of the elf-wardens then blew a small horn and it was answered in kind from above the large tree. Elahir looked towards the top of the long stairs in surprise. Haldir smiled encouragingly at Elahir. "Follow me."

Elahir looked to Legolas, who nodded once to her before motioning for her to follow Haldir as instructed. She began to climb the stairs, passing by many talans, some holding elves who smiled welcomingly at her, others were empty. Once they were very high above the ground, they came to a wide talan, much like a deck of a ship. On it was a structure, a very large house, it reminded her much of the Golden Halls of Meduseld in size.

She followed Haldir inside, glancing back quickly to see that Legolas was still following her which she found comforting. The chamber was filled with soft light, many elves were also seated inside and looked up at her with curiosity and welcome. She looked to the centre of the chamber and seated under the bole of the tree and canopied by a living bough sat two of the most beautiful elves she had ever seen. This was undoubtedly the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien.

They stood up to greet their guests. Elahir noted the Lady Galadriel's structured face and long golden hair, and Lord Celeborn's very noble and wise face under a head of silver hair, long it was too. They both wore white, making their skin appear even more porcelain like. Elahir glanced nervously between the two, but she was struck and frozen in thought by Lady Galadriel's eyes. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to invade her thoughts and she felt as if any secret she had was taken from her.

She was woken from her state by Legolas taking her hand and leading her onwards to stand before the Lord and Lady. Lord Celeborn opened his arms wide. "Princess of the Sheann! Welcome! Long has it been since we have welcomed any of your kin amongst us. You have been sorely missed by us all." Galadriel still hadn't moved although Celeborn had stepped out from beneath the canopy and moved to clasp Elahir about the shoulders. Elahir glanced nervously from Celeborn to Galadriel. Looking at the Lady's faultless features and impeccably clean, pale skin, Elahir started to feel self conscious about the gash on her face and her dirty features from battle.

'My dear, you should have no fear of judgement here, you are a warrior first, a princess second, as has been the way of your kind for many a time. You should fear not what others think of you, your mother was loved by all that would meet her. It was only those that were power hungry that would not have love but lust for what your mother had,' she heard a voice say inside her mind as Galadriel stepped towards Elahir. She felt her eyebrows rise in surprise. It was as Elahir had thought, Galadriel had probed her mind.

"Welcome, Elahir, aranel of the Sheann. We have long awaited your return to Middle Earth, and for you to turn the tide against Sauron." Galadriel smiled knowingly at Elahir.

Elahir swallowed nervously, glancing back at Celeborn, who still had a hand resting on her shoulder, giving it a small, reassuring squeeze.

"Thank you, Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, for allowing me to visit your kingdom, and for looking for me. If it had not been for your instruction to Mithrandir, I may not have ever left the forest of Fangorn," she bowed low, placing her fist over her heart. She looked back up to Galadriel and noticed her gaze had now diverted and was locked onto Legolas. She glanced quickly at Legolas and saw that his cheeks had flashed the slightest of pink colour to them.

"Ah, it was fate, aranel, that Galadriel's mirror would show us the way. And some of Mithrandir's hard work and research of course," Celeborn said softly, with a warm smile, drawing her attention back to him. He then turned to Legolas.

"Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil! Seldom do my kindred journey hither from the north. I am glad it is under much happier tidings than your last visit." Legolas turned his attention back to Celeborn, and Elahir noticed he composed himself, the colour vanishing from his cheeks and his face set back to being proud and happy.

"Thank you for receiving me as well, my lord. It is a blessing to be back beneath the golden leaves of Lorien once more. You also have my father's gratitude for sending out scouting parties upon his request, thanks to them we made it safely." At this Celeborn and Galadriel's faces darkened.

"Alas, if only that were true. We understand you were attacked along on the way?" Galadriel asked looking to Elahir. She nodded once, memories of the black shadow that swooped down and lifted her into the sky coming back into mind. Galadriel's eye narrowed as she looked at Elahir. Knowing Galadriel had seen what Elahir had remembered, she met her gaze. "This creature is a very powerful form of dark magic. Whoever conjured it has been studying black magic for quite some time."

"Who could it be, my lady? Sauron is gone, Elahir saw to that, Saruman remains, but surely this magic is outside of his ability?" Legolas asked.

"If a man were to immerse himself in hatred and greed, even they could blacken their heart enough to raise magic like this," Galadriel answered, looking at Legolas. Elahir let out a long, quiet breath. "We shall discuss this further in time, but for now we should let you relax, and get Elahir's wounds seen to. That gash on her face is deep and needs treatment."

"A bath should see to that, my lady," Elahir answered quickly, not wanting anyone to make a fuss over her.

"All the same, one of our healers should check you over, it was quite a tumble you took," she replied, clapping her hands together. Lord Celeborn motioned for handmaidens to take Elahir. "We will have your Lycan friend brought to you as well, do not fret."

Elahir cringed as the handmaidens bowed, taking her by the hand and leading her away from Legolas, who was smiling as she looked back.

And that is that!

xo Krayzee