Yes! I actually updated. Sorry about the wait, I've been rather busy. Fear not, I am going to attempt to update more often, and it should be easier now. I don't own The Lord of the Rings or any of its characters.

Legolas Greenleaf

My cheek burned with the sting of Cat's slap. I could feel the skin begin to redden. Gimli looked on in disbelief, and ere I made to go after her for the second time in a day, took hold of my arm. "Leave her be, laddie. Let her calm d-"

"She struck me!" I growled. Why in the name of everything sane and good had she done that?! "She needs to be told that that simply is not acceptable!" He regarded me appraisingly.

"Eh, in all fairness, you did deserve it." My head snapped towards him. What?! She was in the wrong, not I! He shrugged. "Cat isn't a tame little moggy that slinks away at a kick or might curl up on your lap, laddie. She's a mountain lion, and you'd no more try to control one of those than fight a Warg with your bare hands." His analogy almost made me smile-but for the annoyance in my heart. The Dwarf leaned on his axe, gazing at me. "She has a free heart, a wild heart, and you'd do well to remember it."

Cat Jackson

"Ouch…" I groaned, as the pain from slapping Legolas and holding Kim's hand coupled with the pain from my burns and they produced a child called Agony. My best friend nibbled her lip.

"Are you okay?" she asked, craning her neck to peer at my hands. I was pretty sure that some of the blisters had burst and the heels of my hands hurt like a bitch, but I nodded, bringing them to my chest. I couldn't believe how Legolas was acting! Sure, he didn't like Kim, but there was absolutely no need to start picking on her-and he had been so controlling! I'd never seen that part of him and never wanted to again. I wasn't his goddamned wife!

"Fuck, ow, ow, fuckity fuck…" I sucked my teeth, bending over. "I'll be okay. Just give me a minute. I just…need a minute."

"Thanks. For…sticking up for me." Our eyes met, and she gave me a shaky smile. "I thought for a second you were going to take his side."

I shook my head. "Kim, I love him, but I won't stand back and let him be a jerk to you. That's not fair, especially when you've done nothing to deserve it. Okay?"

TFE TFE TFE TFE TFE TFE

It was over a week before Legolas and I even spoke to each other.

In truth, I nearly melted a few times. But he seemed to be just as angry with me as I was with him-whether for slapping him or taking Kim's side I wasn't really sure. Not in the mood to put up with bullshit, I kept to myself, reckoning that now I'd said my piece I didn't want to stir things up further. He wasn't talking to me anyway.

And it wasn't until Aragorn sprinted into the Golden Hall of Meduseld, screaming at the top of his lungs, that any of that changed.

I was reading a map, chewing my lip and trying to make sense of it-where was Google Maps when you needed it?-when the hall doors were quite literally flung open and Aragorn charged in in a craze, bellowing- "The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit!" He stopped for just a moment, to catch his breath, looking imploringly at Théoden who stood impassive over a table. His stormy grey eyes were bright and wide with energy. "Gondor calls for aid."

I regarded the King of Rohan for a few moments. After all he'd said, would he do the right thing? His reputation was probably on the line if he didn't-who'd want to follow a leader who made orders out of spite or vengeance? Oh, right, that was exactly what the Orcs were doing. Non-psychopathic people, then. His face was still, giving nothing away as every eye turned to him, and for a second, just a second, I held my breath.

"And Rohan will answer," he proclaimed, raising his head slightly. "Muster the Rohirrim!"

I wasn't sure if I was relieved-or scared. It didn't matter how far we'd come, the thought of battle would always frighten me. But bravery wasn't about being the biggest and the toughest. It was about carrying on even when the future looked bleak, to seriously paraphrase Atticus Finch. The same sort of concept. Mordor's army was probably ten times the size of ours, and despite beating worse odds in Helm's Deep, it was the sort of victory that could only happen once. And so, with a heavy heart, I got up and slunk out of the building, going to saddle Raeia. It would be a long ride to Gondor.

The stables were teeming with men as a bell was rung, tacking up, taking horses, riding them out. Raeia pricked her ears and harrumphed at me as I went to her stall, pushing her nose into my hand and shaking her mane out as if to ask, 'What's all this about, Cat?' I smiled sadly at her. "Lasto nîn, roch-vuin. Tôl auth, i vethatham ne ndagor. Gweston," I whispered, stroking her forelock lightly with my fingertips. She looked at me as if she understood, her bright, intelligent eyes gazing straight at me. My breath caught in my throat, and I moved my hand to her neck. A long moment passed before I moved again, a sigh bubbling in my lungs. "Gwêm, Raeia."

Kim came rushing in shortly after I finished tacking up, out of breath. Clearly she'd run here from wherever she was. "Not going without me, are you?" she grinned, folding her arms.

"Sure you want to come?"

"Sure as I'll ever be. Come on, get me onto that thing. Now or never, right?"

I let out a heavy breath and let my lips curve upwards. "Now or never."

TFE TFE TFE TFE TFE TFE

Legolas Greenleaf

It was nearing sunset ere we rode out for Dunharrow; the warm, soft light kissing the grass tenderly goodbye, gold preparing to retreat and silver preparing to come forth. I enjoyed being able to ride at this time of day, but where we were riding to…I turned my eyes to the horizon. I hated this war. I despised Sauron for attempting to rob Middle-earth of its beauty, for robbing Greenwood of the same. Still I loved my homeland, but it was turning over to the ever-settling shadows of the Dark Lord, and I could hardly bear to watch.

I wondered how my family fared. My father. My brothers. My sister.

Maidhfinden was most likely driving the King mad-as Crown Prince, his birthright and his duty was to take the throne once our father sailed to Valinor, but he did not want to. He had always preferred the ways of a warrior, and was not interested in kingship-made clear by the fact that he did not pay very much attention during the lessons the steward and our father attempted to give him. I knew that Maidhfinden tried occasionally, not wanting to fail our people, but I also knew that our father would have to remain in Middle-earth to rule for many more years yet.

Tegalad was undoubtedly keeping a watchful eye on our borders. He had taken up where I had left off with the patrolling guard, defending the forest from spiders and Orcs, pushing against Dol Guldur. How I missed him. He had been my comfort in the time after our mother was killed.

Beriadanwen…a small smile came to my lips. My sister was we privately jested the King had wanted Maidhfinden to be-exactly like him. She had received his fire, his sharp mind, his courage. She even resembled him the most of all of us, with her silver hair, grey-blue eyes and sharp nose. But as the youngest child of the House of Oropher, behind even myself for the throne, she had become a healer instead.

I looked over to where Catherine sat astride her horse. Would she be a part of my family one day? I regretted what I had done, and I knew that I had upset her greatly, but I believed the damage to be repairable. After all, one did not choose to end a relationship over a single argument. Cat was rational, she would not…I sighed. Keeping my distance was difficult. I liked to be near her, to hold her, to make sure that she was all right. It was nothing I had ever felt before, this need to be close to one person. I supposed it was true. I had had no choice as to whom I had fallen in love with. Fate had decided for me-for what could it be but fate, for Cat to be brought from her world into this one and for us to meet? It was such an act of serendipity that I could scarce believe it to not have been planned.

I was anxious for Cat. Despite what she might have thought, she was still innocent, and though war had hardened her it had not finished its task. She had changed from the naïve girl I had met. I only hoped that she would not lose her light, her beautiful, unique spirit, to this horror.

I would speak with her…soon enough.

"Hmph! Horsemen. I wish I could muster a legion of Dwarves, fully armed and filthy!" Gimli rumbled, his chest swelling. I kept my eyes on Catherine, who was beginning to ride away, and replied, my voice morose.

"Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war," I told my friend, expressing my worries. It was not only my home that I feared for. "I fear war already marches on their own lands."

For a moment she turned to look back at me, her dark eyes locking to mine, the light glowing in her hair and transforming it into a living flame. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but Éomer called to us all and she was forced to look away. "Now is the hour! Riders of Rohan! Oaths you have taken! Now, fulfil them all, to lord and land!" he roared.

Cat Jackson

"I hate this!" Kim groaned, as I pushed Raeia into a gallop. I was flanked by Théoden and Aragorn, Edoras shrinking in the distance behind us. It was funny how a few hundred soldiers or even a thousand weren't that much in the grand scheme of things. A thousand people's lives. "What are you thinking about?"

I balled my free hand into a fist on my thigh. "What's not to think about? We're going to war," I muttered, not in the mood for jokes. She did her best to look back at me, ultimately failing because she didn't want to fall off of Raeia.

"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that." I gave her a pointed look.

"You're really hilarious."

"Thank you so much."

"Why am I friends with you?"

"Because you love me, Kitty cat!"

"Yeah, WHY?!"

A question I'd never find out the answer to.

TFE TFE TFE TFE TFE TFE

I'd never ridden for a full day and night, much less two full days and nights, but by the time we reached Dunharrow I most definitely had. My thighs were chafed, saddle sores had erupted on my backside, my still-healing hands stung like a proverbial bitch, and when I dismounted from Raeia my steps were bow-legged enough to make Dean Winchester proud. The half-day I'd spent riding to Edoras felt like a pleasure cruise by the end. Kim fared even worse than I did, and she didn't half complain about it either. I tied Raeia to a post, making sure that everything was secure, and went to see about a tent for her. I planned to just bivouac.

No. No. We did NOT have to go up that cliff-OH MY EVER LOVING SWEET JESUS!

Half an hour later, having untied Raeia, gotten back onto her, ridden up the cliff and with our things now stowed in the little white tent and Ray tied up AGAIN, I was more frustrated than a half-plucked turkey and in need of a wash. There was a river all the way back down the cliff path if I wanted to waddle down there and get stared at by thousands of men while I tried to bathe, but I decided that I'd rather not. I wandered off in search of familiar faces and/or food instead.

I kept glancing at a huge crack in the side of the mountain. It made me uneasy-like it was staring at me or something. Maybe my bivouacking plans weren't such a good idea after all. It was during a period of squinting at this crack like a slack-jawed fuck (excuse my filthy mouth, being sore, tired and hungry tends to make me annoyed) while walking that I bumped into Legolas. I say bumped. I walked into him, fell backwards onto my ass and hit my head off the ground while quite a few men snickered at me. "Oh, for the love of-STOP LAUGHING AT ME YOU LIMP DI-!"

"Calm down, Cat," Legolas soothed, easing me to my feet. It was the first time he'd spoken to me in, yes, over a week. Familiar faces found, anyway. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," I protested, pulling my arm out of his grip. His face went from gentle to hurt in two seconds. I sighed. Okay, I was still kind of mad about what had happened, but there was no need to go off at him for helping. "Sorry. I'm not in a very good mood. Thanks for the save." Gimli patted my hand.

"None of us are, lass. Here, come with us. I've to refill my waterskin," he offered. "Might be a chance for you to do the same."

"Sorry, don't have it on me. I'll do it tomorrow morning."

"At least come and have some food."

"I'm not hungry."

"Don't be stubborn. You haven't eaten in two days, you're weak and you're tired, so if I hear one more word about it, I'll stop talking and my axe will start. Am I understood?" I blinked. He was acting almost like an uncle. Rather than open my mouth, I just nodded. "Good."

Legolas and I walked awkwardly side by side. We hadn't exactly made up, but we weren't exactly flaming mad with each other either. Horses whinnied in distress around us-I couldn't see Raeia, but I started to get worried. Éomer was busying himself, eyebrows pinched, a saddle on his arms having just untacked his horse. "The horses are restless…and the men are quiet," Legolas observed. I chewed my lip, resisting the urge to call him Captain Obvious as the former set down his tack.

"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain," the man replied, looking towards the split in the rock. His expression was as cautious and apprehensive as mine had been earlier. Legolas and Gimli both regarded it thoughtfully.

"That road there…where does that lead?" the Dwarf questioned, leaning on his axe and peering into the misty-looking depths of the passageway. I shuddered.

"It is the road to the Dimholt. The door under the mountain." The Elf's clarification only pushed me further onto that edge. I instinctively moved closer, wanting his protection. I had a really bad feeling about that place and all I knew was that I wanted to get away from it as soon as humanly possible. Legolas, surprised, chose to take chances and laced his fingers through mine, gripping my hand comfortingly. I needed him. I didn't want to fight anymore.

Éomer turned back to us. "None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil." He left sharpish, a slight shiver running down his spine. My boyfriend flickered his gaze to me and tilted his head.

"I hope that this means that you have forgiven me for my uncouth behaviour last we spoke?" he ventured, hesitant. I scratched the back of my head.

"I have, meleth. Kim…you have to say sorry. Can you do that?"

He swallowed, but nodded after a few seconds. "Yes. I can do that." A smile teased his lips, and he brought our foreheads together. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah. I have to go eat before Gimli gets axe-happy." I kissed his nose affectionately. He didn't notice that my hand was sneaking towards the back of his shirt. In one quick move, I had it pulled up and over his face, and I jumped away. "You're all forgiven, meleth!" I crowed, laughing so hard that it hurt as he blundered into a fence, trying unsuccessfully to pull his shirt back down as he swore colourfully in Elvish. He had some nice abs…come on, can't blame a girl for checking out her other half's body while he's flailing around. I was about to run away when I felt his arms around my waist. Apparently he'd regained his vision. I squeaked in surprise. Uh-oh!

"You are in such trouble," he growled, a huge smile on his face as he threw me over his shoulder and started to run down the cliff path. I shrieked and squirmed, trying to at least loosen his hold on me. My weight made no difference to his cheetah gait and he soon had me at the riverside.

"LEITHIO NIN, PE-CHANNAS!" He held on tighter, smirking devilishly.

"Devig, meleth?" I struggled against him, hitting whatever I could.

"I noleg lost!"

He shrugged. "Goheno nin." With that, I was unceremoniously dumped into the water. Coughing and spluttering, I waited only until Legolas was convinced I was disorientated to pull him in with me. His face! I couldn't breathe, I was laughing so hard! He surfaced after a second, spitting out water, not exactly happy but not angry at all as I jumped on him. He just grinned and kissed me, holding me up so I could wrap my legs around his waist. Just goes to show how childish Elves can be, even when they're thousands of years old. "Ci velethrilen," he whispered, moving one hand up to push my wet hair out of my eyes.

"A ci nîn," I answered, hugging him as a few people laughed and others clapped.

Translations:

Lasto nin, roch-vuin. Tôl auth, i vethatham ne ndagor. Gweston: Listen to me, sweet horse. War is coming, but we fight together in battle. I promise.

Gwêm, Raeia-Let's go, Raeia.

LEITHIO NIN, PE-CHANNAS!-RELEASE ME, MORON!

Devig, meleth?-Do you yield, love?

I noleg lost!-Your head is empty!

Goheno nin-Forgive me/Sorry.

Ci velethrilen-You are my love.

A ci nîn-And you are mine.

A/N: Phrases can be found at Merin Essi ar Quenteli! A fantastic website that helped me out with this. I do know Elvish, but because I study Italian normally I get confused and need some help. This helps superbly.