CHAPTER 19

He moved closer, away from the shadows, until he came to stand in front of her, his features etched clearly now in the light of the late afternoon sun. Valadhiel inhaled slowly as a shiver ran involuntarily down her spine. She wouldn't have felt like this in battle, where she could use her sword to defend herself and attack the enemy. This time it was different. His eyes penetrated hers like daggers, full of loathing towards her as she realised that she was completely at his mercy.

Still she tried to remain calm and hide her feelings from him. She did not flinch, nor move as he inched his face even closer. "When did you put this on me?" Her eyes locked defiantly into his as she uttered these words.

"Ah! So it seems you haven't lost your arrogance…my Queen!" he replied scornfully, before adding, in a darker tone, "While you were sleeping. Fooling the healer to get her out of the room was easily done and it took me no time to slip unnoticed into your room from the balcony next to yours…"

"But why?" Valadhiel cut him off. She wanted answers. She deserved them. What had she done to instill such anger in an elf? Then, as an afterthought, she decided to try another path, reasoning with him.

"You are still in time to set me free from this curse. They must have already noticed my absence by now. I give you my word that…"

"Your word?!" he spat the words angrily, leaving her stunned. "The same word you gave me once? When you promised you would do anything within your power to throw me out of the council and possibly banish me from the Kingdom as well?"

His fists were clenched so tightly that for a moment she almost thought that he was going to strike her. His eyes were open wide now, delirious, filled with such hatred towards her that she could not fathom what could possibly have caused all this feeling of angst against her.

"All I wanted was my King to be safe," he continued, "he had already been through so much in his life! Why should he and the rest of the kingdom get involved in matters and problems of other lands? They were not our concern until you came along!

He changed then. He was so blinded by the spell you put on him that he could not see the dangers and what he was risking. I tried to reason with him but it was to no avail. Since he met you he did not heed my counsel anymore. You turned him against me!" he accused.

"YOU…and all your nice talk about helping other inferior races!" he snarled, "Could you not see that we were putting ourselves in danger every time? Were you so arrogant to not perceive this?"

He paused, grim faced, eyes flitting desperately from side to side. Then his voice lowered to a whisper before he continued, remembering horrible deeds that would have been best had they remained hidden. "That is why I hid the wounded soldier's letter asking for our help! Yes!" Once again his eyes focused on her. "All those villagers died that day…but all of our kin were saved in their stead! Yet you didn't care. When you got to know of this you accused me of being cruel and heartless and threatened to tell everything to the King! I was no fool. I knew that I had long before lost his trust and was very much aware with whom he was going to side. It was necessary to act quickly. I had to find a way to get rid of you once and for all!"

The consuming energy that went through her body right then felt as if she had just been struck by lightning. She still couldn't move a muscle yet the pressure in her head was gradually increasing for, as he was speaking, she had sudden flashes of memory that were struggling to come to the surface. She was also starting to realise, to her horror, that the events which had led her to Gundabad that fateful night had something to do with him.

As if reading her mind he continued in a high-pitched voice filled with malice, "Yes Valadhiel, it was me! I knew that the Northern borders of the Realm were dangerous and that our scouts had spotted a large number of orcs in the area. That was why I made you believe that the King was going to take that path on his way back from Imladris!"

He grinned maliciously, seemingly content to relieve himself of his dark thoughts and foul actions, boasting in front of this elleth who had come back to torment him and disrupt the harmony in his Kingdom. She hadn't been the only one. Last year it was that meddling Captain of the Guard…that lowly Silvan she elf had no business being in that position...but his ongoing counsel with the King and continuous suggestions for not interfering with what was going on outside the borders, hadn't gone unheeded…

Still he had, like all the others, noticed the change in the King and now, with her here again…he shuddered to think of what the King would do if she remembered and told Thranduil about his treason.

"But we are running out of time, my Queen. We have to move on." And with these words he circled around her and started walking deeper into the forest. She followed him, her mind unable to control her movements, her body having a will of its own, bent under this insane elf's powers.

She did not utter a word, it was no use fighting against the insanity that was gnawing away at his reasoning. Instead, she focused every ounce of her energy on one thing…the power of her mind, in the hope that someone might listen and be able to stop this madness.

Tauriel had woken up at the break of dawn. She had spent all morning doing errands before heading straight for the fields for some archery practice. She was unsure as to how she would react when she sees Legolas again. It is true that yesterday she had been blissfully euphoric at the sudden turn of events, yet now, delving on things in the bright light of day, made her slightly apprehensive of what this relationship might entail.

She had known that she was not going to meet Legolas that morning, probably would not see him until late afternoon. She had heard from Tuarwen that the council was over because the Queen had woken up. She had felt relieved, happy to know that she had regained consciousness yet word spread soon after that she could not remember anything and that she had fainted once again when she was with the King.

Walking towards that same spot where she met Legolas last night, she inhaled the fresh spring air, enjoying the tranquillity of the forest around her. She sat on the bench and, closing her eyes, she tuned in her ears towards the variety of sounds that belonged to that particular place…the rustling of the windblown leaves, the gurgling brook, the song of the birds, the…her eyes shot open. She stood up, catching her breath.

She looked around her, confused and understandably disoriented. Where did that cry for help come from? There it was again…almost as if it was coming from deep inside her mind. But this was impossible! And the voice sounded so much like that of the Queen! It was insistent, urgent. Something was greatly amiss, but what was she to do?

She was almost going to run back to fetch help when she heard Valadhiel's voice once again. It was not only very clear but sudden images began forming in her mind. The glade. The great oak tree. The path of the wild rose bushes. The sound of the rushing river… She was giving her directions and Tauriel knew exactly where to go!

Snatching her bow and arrow quiver from the bench, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her in the direction of the river. The rose path led to a waterfall which was outside the gates that marked the borders of the Elven Kingdom.

What was going on? Wasn't the Queen supposed to be in bed, protected by the guards? She felt anxious and knew that she needed to act quickly…the Queen was undoubtedly in some sort of danger, the urgency in her voice betraying her usual calmness. Seemingly in no time at all she reached the river bank and, hidden among the dense foliage, she scrutinized the opposite side. She did not have to wait long for, just a few moments later, two figures came out into the open, heading determinedly towards the water's edge.

Tauriel was surprised to see that the Queen was not alone. Surprise that turned to confusion when she recognised the other ellon. What was Lathron doing with her?

Against her will, Valadhiel's steps took her slowly but steadily to the very edge of the rocks. Glancing at the river below, she saw the water rushing by as it headed further on to a waterfall, crashing onto the rocks below, only to gather up speed once again as it continued on its way towards Esgaroth, otherwise known as the Long Lake.

She was afraid. How was she going to save herself? It was difficult fighting against the speed of the water and the undercurrents as it is; but, completely controlled and subdued under this terrible curse, it would definitely be hopeless. A certain death. She had not regained control over her magical powers yet. In any case, it would have been useless. She knew that to uplift the curse, she needed someone to take off the bracelet.

She felt tears of desperation welling up in her eyes, threatening to burst forward and run uncontrolled down her cheeks, but she held them back. Jaw clenched tight, she was never going to give that satisfaction to the serpent standing behind her.

She closed her eyes as she felt waves of energy surfacing from deep within her, filling her body and bursting inside her head. These same feelings of utter helplessness were not new to her! She remembered that she had been through such terrible moments once before in her life…

Flashes of memory came startlingly back like claps of thunder in a still, frozen night. Glimpses of images started unfolding in front of her as she recalled the flight from the orcs, hopelessly riding towards Gundabad until finally placing her beloved child in the hands of Drauchir. Legolas. She sighed. This time she could not keep back her tears as she vividly saw the image of a sweet blond little baby, looking at her with bright blue eyes, tiny pointed ears and small fisted hands; and while she headed towards that dark place, her heart had shattered to a million pieces…

His ice cold voice invaded her thoughts once again as she slowly turned round to face him. Elves stood apart from other races, being older and thus much wiser. They could be described as ethereal beings, gracing Middle Earth with their strength, beauty and harmony. Still, the foul creature standing in front of her now was an exception. She did not know whether it was her imagination or if her mind was playing tricks on her but, to her, his face was ugly and distorted, his outward features and characteristics reflecting his much darker inner spirit.

"It is over my Queen," he hissed, "It is finally time to say goodbye, forever this time!" Grinning triumphantly he added, self-satisfied, "They could search the forest, the mountains, villages and cities for you…never guessing that you are lying lifeless in the depths of the river, swallowed by its waters."

Ire quickly replaced self-pity as Valadhiel watched disgustedly his self-satisfaction as his plans unfolded just as he had intended. If she was going to die, she was not going to leave without him hearing the last words she had to say.

"Legolas was with me that day." Watching his shocked look as he realised that she was starting to remember, she calmly continued, "Both of us could have died. Tell me, were you ready to kill us both? Was this how you wanted to show your loyalty to your beloved King? By killing those he cherished most?"

She sadly grinned, still intransigent although knowing her fate. Bent but not broken, she was satisfied to notice from his furious face that her words had found their mark.

"Enough!" his voice was shrill now, at last losing his composure. In a split of a second, he lunged forward, holding her tightly from both her arms. "You finally get what you deserve!" And with those words brimming with intense loathing, he pushed her back into the foaming waters.

Author's Note: I would like to thank all the followers and all those who have in one way or another encouraged me with their reviews and comments. It was greatly appreciated and I cannot thank you enough.

Since my imagination is usually fueled by an underscore, you might want to listen to the song "Heart of Courage" by Two Steps From Hell (I honestly don't know why this company is called so when every one of their songs makes me soar higher than the Heavens :) )