Sleep Spell

"Never trouble trouble unless trouble troubles you."

- Captain Dylan Hunt (TV show Andromeda)

"The day has been long and the sun gone, they should have been back by now,"

Thranduil thundered, looking out of the tall window in his study. It was fully dark outside, but light was sprinkled everywhere around the palace in the form of torches. Guards and soldiers had set about the woods in search of the prince and Lizzy.

"If anything has happened to them..." Thranduil trailed off not even wanting to finish the horrible thought.

"Do not worry my friend. I am sure the two are simply out walking and have forgotten the time."

Thranduil turned to the figure next him and shook his head. "No Mithrandir, you do not understand. My son and the Lady Lizzy loathe each other. I had almost expected them to return within five minutes."

Despite the circumstances Gandalf chuckled and patted Thranduil on the back. "If you say that the lady is of the extraordinary and you have full confidence in your son, then the two should be just fine."

Thranduil hoped that the white wizard was correct. Legolas was his only son and to lose him would cause him great turmoil. He looked to all those who were out searching for his son and prayed silently to the Valar that both him and Lady Lizzy were alright.

Ellesa could do nothing but pace Lizzy's room. She was worried beyond belief for her. She cared for the girl and her well being. Ellesa began to bite her nails, thinking of the different scenarios that could be happening to Lizzy and the prince. It was horrible, the whole situation.

Elrendor, who had returned from searching, was about to pass Lizzy's room when he noticed Ellesa pacing. He stopped by the door and knocked. Ellesa jumped and put a hand to her chest when she realized it was just Elrendor.

"My word, you frightened me."

"My apologies Lady Ellesa. I am just wondering whether or not you are alright," Elrendor said entering the room.

Ellesa ran a hand through her blonde hair. "Of course I am not alright. Lizzy and the prince are Eru knows where, anything could have happened to them." Ellesa appeared as if she might begin pacing again so Elrendor placed his large hands on her shoulders to keep her from moving.

"I am sure that they are quite fine. You forget that Legolas is a skilled warrior."

Ellesa sighed and closed her eyes just trying to take comfort in that fact.

"And Lady Lizzy is quite a feisty one herself."

"You are right," Ellesa nodded opening her eyes. "They will be fine. I should not worry so."

Elrendor smiled. "You are right. You needn't worry. We have found no sign of the prince."

Ellesa's brown eyes went wide.

"But we have tracked the steps of Lady Lizzy and hopefully where she is so is Legolas."

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They had come across a part of the tunnel where it split into two passages. With great reluctance and inner strength, Lizzy left her problems with Legolas behind her and trusted him to lead her through the right passage.

It was dark, not much of a difference, but instead of walking a straight path the tunnel took sharp twists and turns. It was impossible for Lizzy to try and remember how they had come in but anyway she tried. Legolas seemed to guide her as if he were not bothered by the darkness, just as he had before. His glow was the only light she had seen for a full day. It was nerve racking.

To Lizzy it felt like she was breathing with only one lung. The air seemed to get thinner with each step.

"Geez, it's not much air down here."

"No, it is not," Legolas agreed.

Legolas continued to hold onto Lizzy's hand, not wanting to loose her in a place such as this. Surprisingly, Lizzy held onto his, her grip unfaltering. He could feel that she was uneasy. He himself was too, taking turns and never knowing what lied ahead frustrated the prince. Every twist they took they just met even more darkness.

Elves did not particularly like being underground. The drag of weariness it brought, Legolas could feel. He was glad not alone. Before they had discovered two passages, Lizzy had told him that she lived with her uncle. With this information he had begun to piece things together. Lizzy did not liked to be touched.

When Elrendor and himself had found her hurt in the middle of the corridor, told him that someone, of course, had harmed her. The scars on her back seemed to have been there for years.

Things like this he had seen when he was a bit younger.

They took what was a sharp turn and Lizzy yelped. She let go of Legolas' hand and brought it quickly to her arm. Legolas turned around to see Lizzy grimacing.

"What happened?"

"I bumped my arm on this damn rock," she said through gritted teeth.

Legolas searched the dirt walls of the tunnel to see what she was speaking of. His eyes spotted the jagged rock that was poking out at an abnormal angle. From the tip of the rock dripped blood. He looked back to Lizzy and saw her pull her arm away from the wound. Blood was spread across her hand.

"Just my luck," Lizzy dropped to her knees.

Legolas sat down next to her and gently took her right arm examining it. It appeared nasty but it was not serious. The tip of the rock had punctured her arm but it was not deep. Legolas set about ripping the sleeve of his tunic. Upon hearing the sound of ripping cloth Lizzy looked at him.

"What are you doing?"

Legolas ripped the cloth the best he could and wrapped it tightly around Lizzy's wound.

"If you leave it exposed, it will get infected." Legolas finished tying the piece of cloth into a tight expert knot.

"Thanks," Lizzy said now examining the makeshift bandage on her arm.

Legolas sat against the hard dirt walls, just thinking. He did not want to think that the conclusion he had come to about Lizzy was true but he could never know unless he asked.

"Lizzy, your uncle, is he kind to you?"

Lizzy looked up from her arm at the mention of her uncle. Her grey eyes begun to cloud up as if a storm was summoned within them. Just because her and Legolas were on a truce did not mean she was going to spill her guts out to him. She simply shrugged and dragged a finger through the dirt. The pain in her arm beginning to flare up made her not want to talk.

Legolas put his arms around his knees. "My father used to take me to neighboring cities when I was younger. There was a time when we went to a small city in which men lived. I forget why my father needed to go there, but I went off exploring when my father was in a meeting. I had an enjoyable time wandering around the city."

He looked over at Lizzy to see her still dragging a finger through dry dirt. She did not seem too interested in his small story, but despite her lack of interest he was going to continue anyway.

"I took a wrong turn into the part of town that was not too extravagant."

At this Lizzy perked up. She thought perhaps something interesting happened to him like running into a gang.

"I walked around a bit, letting my curiosity get the best of me. All of a sudden I hurried the shouts of what sounded like a small child. I followed the noise and meant the most horrible sight. There was a man dragging a child from the house and he was beating him right in the middle of the streets. The child seemed so small and so fragile and the boy was just screaming as his father beat him. I looked around and no one was making any attempts to help him."

"Did you- did you help the boy?" Lizzy asked this question without looking at the elf. She placed a hand on her wounded arm and looked dead ahead.

"I made to but someone stopped me and told me it was best that I let the situation be. It was the hardest thing I have ever seen, but it has not been the last time that I have seen it happen. I've traveled many places and have witnessed such horrible things."

Legolas studied Lizzy and noticed a sadness cover her face. The memory that he had recalled had too effected him. He hated that a memory such as that and others resided in his head, but it was the realities of the world. He could not turn away from it. And if it were happening to Lizzy he would not let a stranger persuade him to let things be. This time he would help.

"Lizzy, is what happened to that small boy happening to you?"

Lizzy gulped. She over estimated this elf. She figured that he was some dumb spoiled pampered prince who did not look further than his mirror, but he had a heart. He actually wanted to know about her, to help her. She looked at him, feeling small and insecure.

"You didn't help the boy, so why would you help me?"

Legolas looked into Lizzy's eyes. He felt her pain and knew why she was so bitter, rude and mean.

"Your uncle harms you, doesn't he?"

Lizzy opened her mouth to reply but a loud noise made her blood run cold and her voice fail. Legolas got to his feet and with haste pulled Lizzy up. Legolas looked forward but could see anything with his keen eyes. He felt Lizzy grab onto his hand. She was shaking with fear. He took a few steps forward but stopped when he felt Lizzy was not following.

"Lizzy-"

"Are- Are you kidding me? Whatever's up ahead can not be good and we're walking right to them?"

"We have to see what is up ahead."

Lizzy looked into Legolas' blue eyes, not ready to follow him. She could not believe she had just told him her deepest secret, something she had told absolutely no one and now and now a crew of monsters were up ahead ready to bite her head off? This was not at all her day.

"I won't let any harm come to you. You must trust me." Legolas could not stress this enough. He knew that her emotions must be everywhere right now, but she had to keep a straight head.

Lizzy nodded and walked forward. "If I die, " she gulped. "I'm going to come back and haunt your ass."

"Alright, you may do so, but this day you will not fall."

Quietly, the two made their way towards the noises. It was the sound of amour being thrown about and loud angry grunts. The air seemed to get staler if it was at all possible. Each step they took more and more fear entered Lizzy. She could not blink for the fact that she thought if she did she would miss something.

"Can elves get scared?"

Legolas for a split second looked back at her. "Of course we can."

"Are you scared?"

Legolas thought for a bit as they turned yet another corner and the noises got closer. Being frightened had never crossed his mind. He had seen so many things that one might find haunting. It at first affected him but he had learned to deal with creatures such as orcs, goblins, giant spiders and things of an evil nature. The only thing that really frightened him was if something happened to the ones he cared most about, that and being in the deep dark things underground.

"A little," he finally whispered.

Lizzy, despite her fear, rolled her eyes.

They took one more turn before light met their eyes. Lizzy squinted, letting her eyes get used to the light. A ways ahead of them was a medium sized burrowed out room. It was occupied with orcs and things that looked like they were instruments for torture. They all were fighting over various things and expecting them by candlelight. Legolas pulled Lizzy back so that they were both around the corner that they had come from and out of the orcs' sights.

"Oh my god," Lizzy whispered. "We are going to fucking die."

Legolas brought a finger to his lips and sternly looked at Lizzy. She got the message and shut up. Legolas peered back around the corner and tried his best to estimate how many orcs were in the room.

"There seems to be a good twenty orcs in there," he said turning back to Lizzy. He had to develop a plan and fast before they were found out.

Lizzy put a hand over her face. "Why can't I just wake up?"

An idea went off in Legolas' head. If Lizzy could return home then she could fall back asleep and end up in her room in the palace. It would be then that she could tell his father were he was. The only downfall was he did not know how Lizzy got home.

"Lizzy."

"I am going to die and I didn't even get to curse out my principal."

"Lizzy," Legolas said a bit more forceful."

"I didn't get to bungee jump."

"Lizzy," this time Legolas took her by the shoulders.

"I didn't get to have my first drink."

"Elizabeth," Legolas boomed the best he could in a whisper.

Lizzy stopped and looked at Legolas angrily. "What."

"How do you get home, home meaning your world."

Lizzy felt as if she could not breathe. Legolas had a look on his face that told her to think and think hard. The only thing she could think of was death and those monsters that were sure to find them out.

"You must focus and think so we may get out of here well and alive."

"I-I dunno. Usually every time I go home its when I'm really relaxed and happy or as happy as I can get. Then there's a pull and black dots."

Legolas nodded his head. "Alright, you have to fall asleep and fall asleep now."

Lizzy looked at Legolas as if he had gone mad. "Are you serious? I can't go to sleep at a time like this."

Legolas took one more look at the orcs. They had not caught their scent, which was an excellent thing. He pulled Lizzy down to the ground.

"If you go back to your world, you have to fall asleep again and then you will end up in the palace. Go to my father and tell him where I am."

They sat together on the ground. Lizzy was not so sure about his plan. "When I fall asleep I don't always go home you know."

Legolas nodded. "I am aware of that but you must try."

Lizzy breathed and nodded. She felt unsure about falling asleep in a place like this but she had to try for the both of them. Legolas had saved her life; the least she could do was try to save him. She had to get comfortable in order to fall asleep and get back home. She rested her head back against the wall, it didn't work. She tried lying on the ground for a few minutes, that did not work either, nor did curling up into a ball or resting her head against her knees.

Legolas watched her change multiple positions. They did not have this kind of time. It would only be a matter of time before the orcs would catch onto their scent and come after them.

"Come here." He told Lizzy who looked as if she were making a snow angel in the dirt.

Lizzy sat up, not knowing what the elf had in mind. She crawled over to him and sat next to him.

"Perhaps it would help if you leaned on me."

Lizzy took a deep breath. "If my life did not depend on it, I swear to god I would not touch you even if you gave me a million dollars."

"I understand that. I would not have you lean on me either. I would rather kiss one of those orcs," Legolas said smiling in spite of the fact that there was a number of orcs just around the corner.

Lizzy reluctantly leaned against Legolas' form and was taken aback by the fact that he felt nice and cool, almost comfortable. She heard him begin to say things in a different language she remembered as elvish and before she knew it she was out like a light.

Legolas looked down at Lizzy's sleeping form. He had said a small sleeping spell his mother had taught him that had once aided her in treating wounded animals. Lizzy appeared peaceful and calm but she was not disappearing. He wondered whether or not he should give her a few more minutes or wake her.

The noises that the orcs were producing were getting louder. Unconsciously, Legolas wrapped an arm around Lizzy's form as he pondered whether or not his plan was going to work. It was then that beneath his arm he began to feel only air and when he looked down Lizzy was gone. A smile crept across Legolas' face. Soon he would be free.

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Lizzy jolted up from her bed. The sun poured into her room and she raised a hand to block out the sun. The sun...darkness...tunnels...Legolas. She remembered the plan he had told her and instantly laid back down fully ready to go back to sleep. She had to reach King Thranduil and tell him where Legolas was. As she laid her head back down on her pillow her uncle entered her room. There was a familiar angry look on his face.

"Nancy adores you. She thinks you're cute."

Nancy, Uncle Ed's new girlfriend Lizzy remembered. She didn't really like her. She didn't even see what the women saw in her uncle.

"Well. aren't you going to school?"

Lizzy sat up and eyed her uncle. He had his work boots and coat on. He worked in construction and any time he was gone she treasured it. He did not wait for her reply though. He grabbed her right arm, the arm that had been hurt and pulled her up from the bed.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING?"

Lizzy stumbled for an explanation, but found none. She closed her eyes and went inside of her castle, the castle that didn't really protect her, for every time she went inside her castle turned to glass and uncle Ed would cast his stone.

When he got no answer he slapped her across the face.

"No matter," he said. "Get dressed for school. I get any god damn calls from that school and your ass is mine."

He left slamming the door behind him. Lizzy held her cheek, feeling the sting the slap had given her. She waited until she heard his car pull out of the driveway before she took off out of the house. She did not care how she appeared, in a dress that had at one point appeared elegant but was now torn, her pale skin was dirtied and her hair in a tangled mess. Lizzy walked to the one place that would permit her to find peace, the park.

She walked passed people that gave her stares and past the vendor she usually stole from and into the park. She walked where the bums generally stayed during the night and laid under a tree. She welcomed the sun as its rays hit her form giving her warmth. She focused on getting to King Thranduil, to those who cared for her.

Legolas had taken his dagger from his boot and was starring at it. All he could do was wait. It had been a half an hour since Lizzy had left him. He thought about what he was to do with the orcs. He could not handle them all by himself. It was like a suicide mission. All he could do was sit tight and pray for his plan to work.

He tossed his dagger from hand to hand and thought about Lizzy and what he had found out. Her uncle had been abusing her. As soon as he got back he would tell his father. Hopefully he would know what to do. No child, he thought, deserved to be treated in such a way. It sickened him just to think that someone would want to harm the innocent.

The one thing one would think impossible, silence, interrupted his thoughts. The orcs had quieted down and worry went thorough the elven prince. Had they caught onto his scent? The sound of an object being thrown echoed through the tunnel them harsh laughter followed it. He was safe for now.

"Legolas."

Legolas turned to see Lizzy a few feet next to him.

It did not work. His plan failed.

"Why are you here? You should be in the palace," Legolas said crawling closer to her."

"Don't you think I know that Einstein? I fell asleep and here I am next to you. It's not by fault I don't know how this wor-"

Lizzy felt her blood run cold when Legolas brought his hand to her stinging cheek. She shuddered when he actually touched it. Lizzy pulled his hand away from her cheek. "Don't touch me"

"What happened," Legolas asked disregarding the comment. Even in the dark he could make out a handprint on Lizzy's right cheek. It was also red and appeared bruised.

"Nothing."

"Do not tell me nothing."

As Lizzy looked away from him Legolas placed a hand under her chin and made her face him once more.

"As soon as we get out of here you will tell me everything."

Lizzy brushed hair from her face. "Fine but we aren't getting out of here."

Legolas stood, fueled by his anger at the fact that his plan did not work and being down in dark tunnels for too long. He gripped his dagger tightly and made his way carefully around the corner, Lizzy following reluctantly. They stopped just short from being seen by the orcs. Lizzy looked up at Legolas. There was a determined look in his eyes.

She knew exactly what he was going to do. She breathed and without thinking ran past Legolas and into the orcs' hideout.