A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who stuck around and reviewed this story and even those who did not (I know who you are, lol)

A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who stuck around and reviewed this story and even those who did not (I know who you are, lol). The reason this story reached the end was because of all the kind words that I have received. Enjoy this chapter. I had a ton of fun writing it actually.

Touching Base

"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

- An adaptation of Murphy's Law

An eighteenth birthday was supposed to evoke feelings of adulthood; excitement from finally coming of age, a certain freedom was proverbially handed over. Eighteen was supposed to open doors that had been closed, it was supposed to be one bright milestone. One Elizabeth Montgomery, now wife to Legolas Thranduilion prince of Mirkwood, was finding eighteen to be anything but bright. Eighteen was playing turmoil on every sense she had. Nothing was letting up due to her newfound age.

For Lizzy eighteen only served as a reminder of how things could turn disastrous. Her plan, the plan that would hopefully grant her an escape from the clutches of her uncle, was no longer lurking in the back of her mind, it was staring her in the face. A thin line she was walking and the fact that she was being forced to place her trust in those whose daily activities were shady at best was more than unnerving. The fact that she could wind up getting herself killed over a ton of money screamed through her head, but never made it passed her lips. If it did she would have heard endless speeches from Legolas on how losing faith was never good and strength of mind had to be kept.

Lizzy heard it all before and wasn't interested in hearing him preach to her. The gloom of her birthday had not just affected her. As best as she tried to hide it, it projected from her like a bright beacon. It was with her when she walked the corridors, it was with her when she ate dinner and it was with her when she slept at night. It hadn't gone unnoticed.

As the newly appointed princess of the land now called Eryn Lasgalen, it wasn't good to carry around a negative air—not like she was— and Legolas had told her as much. More than ever eyes were on her, being ever critical, judgmental and unyielding. Not every elf was acceptant of having a young inexperienced human as their elven princess. There were few who still believed the title belonged to an elven maiden. That only served in crushing her spirits further.

Despite it all, her feelings and other's aside, life went on. What Legolas called a joyous event —her birthday— was celebrated, celebrated much more than she would've liked. Preparations for Thranduil's departure had been put on hold. She'd been taking what were lessons on how a princess should handle mannerisms and what were the specified responsibilities such a title beheld, when out of the blue those were paused also. For not one minute had she been fooled.

Humbled was Lizzy by the fact that everyone was willing to stop what they were doing just to celebrate her birthday, but she had told them that it wasn't necessary. There were more important things than a birthday and she couldn't seem to stress that point, her point enough. Her words fell on deaf ears. No one would even entertain the notion of letting her birthday go uncelebrated. Not acknowledging the day she was born every year had been something she'd gotten used to since she had started living with Ed, her now deceased uncle.

"You should take joy in the arrival of your coming of age," Ellesa said to her.

"An adult now, you are?" Renomere looked her up and down. He laughed at the idea of Lizzy being anything close to mature. "Do not appear so glum. I believe in you culture adulthood warrants certain rites of passage." He wagged his eyebrows at her in the most mischievous of ways.

"With a nature such as yours and by that I mean a very high pension for attracting danger you should be overjoyed that your years have reached this far," Elrendor had offered those oh so kind and invigorating words to her on more than one occasion.

With those comments hurled at her throughout the final days leading up to her birthday, none of them made her feel any better. All of the privileges that accompanied eighteen she didn't care about in the slightest. All that mattered to her was that she survived the day her birth had been on. It was a very real possibility that for her everything could go south. Despite trying to live up to everyone's expectations as princess, dealing with the surreal feeling of being married at seventeen and the entire fiasco involving uncle Francis she tried bucking up.

Honestly, she tried for the sake of her friends to not let her agonizing anxiety show. Constantly, the effort was switched on. Even now, as both Elrendor and Legolas lead her down to the hall where her celebration was to be held, she kept up the effort to not walk away in a brilliant huff. The understanding to why others felt the need to celebrate her birthday confused her.

Her mind told her that most of the influence came from Legolas who felt it was important that this party happen. As much as she cursed, whined and pleaded with him, he stayed adamant on the way he felt about the subject. It felt exceptionally good to have someone who cared to that extent. She'd be upset if he hadn't cared, after all he was her husband now, a fact that still seemed very odd to her even after a few months. She hadn't heard much on the workings of her eighteenth celebration due to the fact that when it was mentioned she would make up the lamest of excuses and scurry off. It was not one rooted in secret and surprise that much she was sure of.

Lizzy didn't say anything. She was busy thinking up reasons to use to escape her party after making a good enough appearance. Lizzy wasn't one of those people who took their minds away from problems by partying the night away, praying and hoping for the best. No, she was the type who worried down to the final hour and then reacted.

Elrendor turned to Legolas when he got no answer from Lizzy. The prince smirked. He did not have to guess what was going on within Lizzy's head. Ever since their marriage ceremony, things between them strengthened. It went beyond simply reading Lizzy's outward emotions and he could tell her intentions as if they were his own. Quickly, he glanced at Lizzy. Her eyes were cast downward as she walked and she was biting the nail of her right thumb.

Clearly she was in thought.

"Her mind is trying to weave excuses on how to escape the celebration," Legolas whispered so low to Elrendor that it was impossible for Lizzy to pick up.

"You will not permit her?"

Legolas couldn't help the chuckle that welled up within him. "Permit her," he whispered in a question. "You should know well enough that Lizzy does not let others permit her to do anything. Least of all me." Legolas muttered the last part mostly to himself.

"So who all is gonna be at the party?" Lizzy squeezed herself between her friend and her husband. Her thinking abruptly put on hold for the question she presented to the two. Apparently it was a need to know because her face conveyed as much.

"Your party you mean," Elrendor corrected.

"Yeah, you know what I meant." Lizzy huffed, "Look, its not that I'm not grateful or anything but I've got loads on my plate right now. " She launched into what were all rational and pretty damn good (at least in her opinion) lists of reason why a party was not appropriate to smuggle into her already tight schedule.

Legolas took hold of her hand. It was more of a precaution than it was a display of affection. There was a great chance that when they reached the doors leading to the hall she would turn right around. Lizzy chose to skirt around the fact that her brain was buzzing with scenarios of what would happen when her life force stepped foot on earth.

"Do not concern yourself with it." Legolas said it more as a request than anything else.

"Don't concern myself with it," Lizzy questioned in an annoyingly high pitch. "Technically it isn't even my birthday here."

While winter was almost at an end in Greenwood, it was slowly heating up where she came from, always a sure sign that her birthday was right around the corner. Technicality wasn't something Legolas wished to engage in with Lizzy. Every time the word 'technically' came from Lizzy's mouth an argument followed. Perhaps that was what she intended. Maybe she wanted to stir up an argument in hopes that she would be able to evade the celebration.

Legolas looked down at her as they continued the walk to the hall reserved for celebrations. Her eyes conveyed nothing as she looked back at him. To his dismay, she was beginning to get good at hiding things behind her grey orbs. It did not matter though; he had tricks of his own when it came to dealing with her.

"Lizzy, take pleasure in this day," said Elrendor. "Do not think of unsettling things."

Lizzy had no chance of giving a reply. Their steps had brought them to their destination finally. Much to Lizzy's horror, the party was not intimate in nature. The party was not small in the least. People she had no clue of moved through the hall conversing with one another.

As they stepped into the room, all activity ceased and Lizzy found many eyes on her. A rush of applause sounded through the hall. Lizzy, not being very accustomed yet to such positive attention, felt her throat tighten. What she expected was so different from what she was seeing. Lizzy held onto the fact that there were those who had no belief in her and expected them to be there to greet her with their disdain.

Legolas let go of her hand to join in with the applause. She was out of her comfort zone, felt very betrayed and it was apparent. Elrendor gave her a gentle push towards the welcoming bunch. Lizzy looked back and shot him a glare before the crowd surrounded her with hugs and well wishes.

"This will be something, will it not?"

"I believe that it is something that she needs," Legolas responded to Elrendor. His eyes never left Lizzy's floating figure. "Perhaps more than anything."

The knowledge that Elizabeth had not had a very happy childhood was what aided Legolas in her celebration. He made sure to surround her with only those who had her general best interest at hand. As the festivities waged on, he watched mostly as she attempted somewhat poorly to hold conversations with those she did not know, and tried to convince those that she did to sneak her from the room. He viewed an unrelenting Ellesa refuse her request and place a large piece of cake in his wife's hands. Legolas had forewarned any one of their friends in aiding Lizzy in anyway in the escape of her celebration. Renomere more than assured him that he took absolute pleasure in seeing Lizzy's meager attempts to escape a party marked as hers.

They had all thought that the sheer amount of gifts laid out for her would have been sight enough to play initiative and get her to want to stay. Observing her now, one could see otherwise. Years of not really having anything had affected her greatly to the point where now that she did have things, it didn't faze her. How that logic part of Lizzy worked Legolas did not understand. He was all right with accepting that some things about her he would not comprehend.

He took pleasure in seeing her small plight. Amusing he found it when Lizzy was thrust into what she thought were predicaments for what he typically found to be normal for him, or anyone else for that matter. Sitting at a table that held more pieces of cake than he had seen in the longest of whiles, he looked to the figure seated at the head of the table and saw hat he was not the only one to be amused by Lizzy. A sparkle that had not been seen in a long time went noticed in Thranduil's eyes as he gazed on at the antics projected by Lizzy. Legolas wondered all that was going on within his father.

In a few days time would be his father's departure from the land he had known for nearly thousands of years. It saddened him to think he would not see his father for quite a substantial amount of time. There would be things that he would miss, milestones in Legolas' life that had yet to be accomplished. Legolas understood his father's need to leave the land. How could he not when there were times when he too longed for the sea?

"Father," Legolas said, breaking the king from his thoughts.

The king turned his attention to his son and saw the somewhat concerned look on his face. Such a look during a celebration of one's birth —his own wife's at that— made Thranduil focus his full attention to him. He said nothing, only waited for words from his son to come forth. He could see as Legolas moved closer to him, that whatever he had to say was somewhat private, but not private enough to wait until the party was over. Thranduil could also tell by the way Legolas looked at him with wavering eyes and his stiff posture that he was hesitant to speak what he thought.

"Father, are you sure? Are you sure in every aspect that you are ready for this?"

Thranduil knew that the 'this' Legolas was referring to meant leaving for the sea. For more than many thousands of years the sea had come calling to him. For both the sake of what had been Mirkwood and his son, he had not given into the want of the sea. He had been needed, depended on and the thought of leaving to satisfy that call had not crossed his mind. Now that his authority was not needed so much and his son had learned much over his elongated years, he felt he could properly take his leave without worry.

"Legolas, son are you having doubts?"

Thranduil had a hard time believing that Legolas was feeling insecure about taking over the throne. Legolas had spent practically his entire life preparing for the moment when he would have to lead their people. In his belief, his son should not have any quandaries about the matter. Legolas had more than proven himself worthy of such a title as king time and time again. Thranduil knew he had neglected to tell him of this, but did not think that was necessary.

"Doubts? No," Legolas quickly replied. "I only ask this because there is still much here to experience. I do not wish for you to miss them."

Thranduil smirked. His son's concern for him was touching especially since so many times before they had not seen eye to eye on many matters. The king's pleased feelings that his son truly cared did not come without question though. Legolas knew the natural order of things. He knew that the time of elves was over and that when the time came for Thranduil to depart, he would.

"There are things that I will miss of that I am sure, but our time apart will not be forever." Thranduil saw the acceptance of the situation grow on his son's face.

The fact that he would miss large portions of his son's life saddened him. He felt almost disappointed that the call of the sea had been so strong at a time where his son had finally found love. Knowing that he would miss seeing the amusing marriage of his son grow, the meeting of his grandchildren, how the land he had always known change, and the great aura of his people who chose to stay behind was something that he wished he did not have to encounter. Such a sacrifice he wished did not accompany going to the undying lands, but that was where he felt the need to be. He was tired in more ways than one.

Legolas bowed his head. "I know that father."

"And when we meet again you will have much to tell me will you not?"

Nothing further was said. A certain understanding of a promise grew between them birthed by a look. Legolas acknowledged that the distance would be far in both time and place for his father. When he would ever see him again would remain unknown for what could be the longest. In both of their memories they etched in the moment they were living.

Father and son moment was cut short by a disruption granted by Lizzy. She sat quietly between the two looking very disheartened. Such a thing was unusual for Lizzy unless of course something was really wrong with her. The king's attention quickly diverted itself. Despite all that happened, he'd always still carried a certain soft spot for the young one.

Legolas, having spent much more time with Lizzy than his father, paid no mind to Lizzy and instead picked up the plate of cake before him.

"Elizabeth, dear, what bothers you?" The king asked this with concern laced in his voice.

"Well," her voice was low.

Legolas adopted a blank expression. Not for one moment was he going to be ensnared by whatever plan Lizzy had concocted.

"I don't think I'm feeling too well."

Legolas' eyes slid to her form, examining her stature. When she proclaimed to not feeling well he could not help the overwhelming feelings that coursed through him at hearing her say that she felt ill. He still was not accustomed to such things as sickness. Looking at her, she had what appeared to be sheen on her forehead. Her hair was a bit messier than it had started out, but her skin tone was as healthy as it had ever been.

"I feel hot," Lizzy continued. "And my throat is tight. I think I should go lay down."

Thranduil looked over at Legolas and found that his son was more or less assessing his wife. The king looked back to Lizzy. He was already wise to the fact that Lizzy was not indeed sick, he only wished to wait to see if Legolas had caught on as well. With a slight shake of his head, he thought on how amusing Lizzy was and how much he would miss the spry young woman. He watched as she fanned herself with a hand.

"Is it just me or is it hot in here?"

"Father will you excuse us?" Seemingly, Legolas had come to a conclusion on Lizzy's state. He held out his hand for Lizzy to take and Lizzy did so with a downtrodden expression on her face. In an instant Lizzy knew what was up.

Thranduil watched as a muttering Lizzy and his son strolled out of the hall. He smiled. He was going to miss them immensely.

Legolas stopped right outside the doors to the hall and whirled around to face Lizzy.

"Okay, alright. I admit not a very good plan, but it was the best I could come up with given the circumstances."

"Water, Elizabeth?" Legolas let go of Lizzy's hand to swipe a long finger against her forehead. What would look like perspiration to anyone else was only water and when viewed up close was undeniably apparent.

"Again, short noticed plan. Given time I coulda came up with something a whole lot better than the ol' water on the forehead trick." Lizzy bit her fingernail at the expression Legolas was giving her. It conveyed how unbelievable he thought she was being. That expression Lizzy knew all too well. That expression meant that if she wasn't going to get an ear full now she was she would later.

"What I am trying to grasp is why you feel the need to configure a plan at all."

Crossing her arms, Lizzy sighed. She thought she had made it more than perfectly clear about why she didn't want to celebrate her birthday. Her eyes shot up towards the high ceiling. Avoiding looking at Legolas seemed like the best thing to do at the moment. Legolas had other plans and being avoided by Lizzy was not one of them.

Grasping Lizzy by the shoulders he tried to gain her attention. "Elizabeth, it is your birthday."

"I know," she moaned.

"Trying to flee your own party is something you should not do, or want to do rather."

"I know," she repeated with as much distress as she had before.

"It shows much distaste to all those who attend"

"I know."

Legolas' lips twitched downward. For the longest he'd felt sorry for her. Sorry in the aspect that ever since their almost debacle of a wedding, Lizzy had been attempting to be on her very best behavior. She let herself be pampered, dressed and flaunted over. She'd taken the criticism and the judgmental statements without backlash or rudeness. She'd taken her preparations for her throne quite seriously. So seriously that for long periods she just wasn't Lizzy. In those periods she had been something much more.

"I do not wish to lecture you."

"I know—wait, what?" Lizzy 's eyes floated back to Legolas. Was she hearing him right?

Legolas swallowed her up in a hug. For that instant Lizzy felt her troubles dissipate. Within his arms none of what she was going through existed. She curled her arms around him but couldn't help the skepticism she was feeling. Lizzy wondered whether or not to be worried.

Against her hair Legolas told her that he noticed how much effort and dedication she had been into the tasks and situations presented to her.

"It makes me proud to see you handling things without your temper and I know you deserve to do anything that you wish on your birthday. Even if it includes ignoring the day all together."

Lizzy breathed deep against him. She felt a big 'but' coming along.

"I only desire that you would at least try to enjoy the celebration," requested Legolas.

There it was, close enough to a 'but'. How could she possibly try to have any kind of fun when her own mortality hung in the balance? Legolas, of course being his very own intuitive self, already sensed her hesitation to do so.

"Let go of what bothers you, just for the duration of the celebration."

"How can I do that when I could possibly end up dead?!" Oops, it had escaped her mouth before she could even blink.

"Do not speak such words!" Legolas released her giving her a stern and serious look that left Lizzy speechless.

From the time she'd been shot by the horrendous orc arrow, her supposed immortality meant absolutely nothing to her. What good was it if it didn't save her life when she needed it to? It wasn't at all like being like the immortals she'd seen in movies. Being Lizzy, she over looked the fact that being immortal enabled her to stick around as long as her friends and Legolas. Every right Lizzy felt she had when it came to talking about her plight.

"Why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't I face the facts?" A frown stood out on Lizzy's face.

Legolas looked beyond Lizzy into the hall. No one seemed to miss her presence, but it would not be for long.

"Liz, I am not saying that you should blind yourself to what lies ahead of you. I am not saying that at all."

Legolas' voice was soft and caring. When he spoke like that Lizzy felt herself calming. Her eyes dropped to look at her booted feet. The celebration of her eighteenth birthday had been planned all in good nature and that Lizzy knew. People who cared about her, her family, had thought of it because despite all that she was and wasn't they loved her.

"I only want for you to enjoy this. If you will not take pleasure in this party could you at least try so for me?"

At Legolas' inquiry she looked into his rich blue eyes. She had gained so much. Much more than she thought was even possible. Did she really want to tear it all up by letting inconceivable things mess with her head? Did she really want to spend her last moments —if she was to die— wallowing alone in an empty room?

If she had learned anything at all by experience it was to not take what you had for granted. Spending her eighteenth birthday squirming and worrying would satisfy yet another evil uncle and it was her civic duty to go against just that. She had everything to worry about but the plan would go down fine. All her angles were covered. Every second she spent looking into Legolas' eyes, strength gathered within her.

Slowly a grin grew on her face. Anxiety ridden features morphed themselves into something much lighter and pleasurable. It was what Legolas had found himself learning to love when he'd hated her. Now he yearned to see her like that whenever he could, happy. Lizzy leaned forward, stood on tiptoes and taking Legolas by surprise kissed him soundly on the lips. She could do that right, without looking like an idiot?

"You know what," she said in an oddly cheerful voice once she pulled away from him. "I think I will go in there and enjoy my birthday." It was a truly passionate declaration expressed by a person whose nature was to make up her mind on things at the drop of a hat.

Thrilled was Legolas that Lizzy had so quickly decided to join in the festivities all planned in her honor. It only baffled him to see the abrupt change in her attitude towards her birthday. He really wanted to figure out how her brain comprehended things. He watched, as Lizzy turned back towards the party, apparently now eager to return. She appeared much more lighter and carefree than she had only seconds ago and that absolutely baffled him.

Legolas shook his head. "Wait, I do not understand."

"Don't try," Lizzy said over her shoulder.

"Lizzy, what changed your mind?"

Lizzy huffed at Legolas being so keen to know things that didn't matter. Why couldn't he just accept that she was submitting to his will? She stopped just before heading inside and turned to face Legolas once more. Lizzy battled inside on whether or not to tell Legolas how she really came to the conclusion on living her party up. It would probably upset him further if she explained why she so suddenly changed her mind. He wasn't one to go for hearing her talk about things that included her death—heck, neither was she.

Lizzy took a deep breath and charged back to him. She adapted a hesitant look, pierced her lips, furrowed her brow and let out a deep breath. In this case, it was better not to tell the truth. She only hoped that he didn't sense what her real reasoning was. "You are right."

Legolas suddenly felt even more confused. His ears never thought they would hear her say anything close to the words 'you' and 'right' in the same sentence. He had to fight her tooth and nail for the things she knew were wrong but insisted were right or just thought were plain right and were wrong in the most conceivable of ways. Lizzy hated being wrong with ardor and for her to admit that someone beside herself was right was, well, odd. It struck a bit of suspicion within him.

"Are you feeling alright?" He had to ask. Maybe she was ill after all.

Lizzy ignored the question. "You know what? You are absolutely, one hundred percent right." At seeing Legolas clear confusion she launched into a dim explanation. "Like you said, it'd be completely rude to everyone if I keep trying to escape and everyone went to so much trouble, right?"

Legolas opened his mouth to say yes, but quickly shut it when Lizzy began talking again.

"And it doesn't do me any good to just sit around drowning myself in things beyond my control. "

"You are—"

"Right!" Lizzy interrupted once more. Holding up a finger she said, "And not to mention Ellesa would kill me if I bailed."

"Lizzy–"

"So let's just say I've come to my senses, okay?" Lizzy looked at him with a pointed expression.

It did not take much to let Legolas know she wanted to forget about the subject. He had learned long ago that humans could behave particularly guarded on subjects that they felt strong about. Lizzy was no exception. He wanted to press the subject; he wanted to know just what was going on inside of her, but the glint of the ring around her neck kept him from asking any questions beyond what he had. The symbol of his love for her glittered in the middle of her chest and reminded him of just why it wouldn't be wise to press.

If Lizzy wanted to tell him the real truth behind her decision, then she would have.

Legolas nodded his head slowly; unable to put away the now ever growing unease when it came to his wife. "Alright."

Sending a million dollar smile his way for a few seconds, she then turned and waltzed back into her party with a new attitude riding on her coat tails. Legolas watched her retreating figure. He had a feeling that as long as she was an ever-constant presence in his life he would be worrying about her. He prayed to the Valar that that was not to be true. The prince walked back into the hall, hoping against fate that soon things in Lizzy's world would be serene, or as serene as she allowed them to be.

--

Legolas kept an eye on her. After their small moment in the corridor, Legolas could not help but watch the young spark of a woman. Lizzy appeared fine as she floated through the crowd, and it forced Legolas into calming his nerve. He decided to deflect his attention to something else. Nothing seemed like a better idea than putting his father's departure and the entire notion of Lizzy's possibly looming death in the back of his mind.

Vehemently, he watched as the smiles danced across Lizzy's face from a distance. Legolas was keenly aware that he was being reticent at his own wife's coming of age revelry. The perfect opportunity to change that presented itself when Ellesa rounded up everyone to witness Lizzy open the ridiculous quantity of gifts that had been brought in her honor. Sighting Elrendor and Renomere starting for a rather embarrassed appearing Lizzy, he swiftly caught them before they could reach her. They looked at their prince and soon to be king with curiosity as he abruptly intercepted their path to Lizzy.

"I need your help."

Ten minutes later, the three of them stood in the middle of Legolas' room staring down at the present that he was to give to Lizzy.

Renomere let out a low whistle. "I cannot wait to see her reaction."

Elrendor tilted his head still examining the present. "Do you think a woman would appreciate such a gift?"

"Lizzy, I would most definitely not consider to be the average woman," Renomere laughed.

Legolas had to agree there. "This isn't quite it," he said interrupting what could have easily turned into an onslaught of jokes and exchanging of certain examples pertaining to Lizzy.

"This is not it," questioned Elrendor.

"No, it isn't."

"Well what is? I believe this will be handful enough," commented Renomere. Some distaste was felt as he looked on at the present.

Legolas noticed the look on Renomere's face and smirked. "Your weakness for such will be used by Lizzy." Legolas leered at his friend. He'd remembered the small squabble that had been going on between the two, all of which was in good-natured. At this point, he thought that Lizzy would use anything as leverage against Renomere.

"So you think," was all Renomere could counter with.

"You still have not told us about the rest of your present to Lizzy," Elrendor interjected.

"I think we have wasted much time here. If I know Lizzy as well as I believe I do, I think she'll be close to done with all those gifts out there."

Elrendor nodded. "I guess we shall find out soon enough."

Legolas took up his present and made his way from the room, the other two following after.

"Legolas, always the one to outdo. All I gifted her was a satchel." Renomere grunted this unpleasantly.

"A satchel, Renomere? Really?" Elrendor continued to berate his friend as they followed Legolas.

Renomere, not wanting to hear anymore on the subject of his poor gift giving, decided to change the subject. After all there were more interesting things other than himself. "Lizzy did not appear to be enjoying her celebration in the beginning, but now it appears she has changed her mind. Was it Ellesa who worked her magic or did you have a talk with her?"

Legolas struggled a bit with the present in his arms, but did not miss the fact that Renomere was trying to draw attention to what was a horrible gift. "Aye, I spoke with her. I do not think that I made an impact on her decision to 'lighten up' as she would put it. To be perfectly honest, know do I not how she came to this—this revelation."

"Does that worry you." Elrendor asked.

Dare he divulge just how much he worried about Lizzy? How much the concern for her well being had grew ever since his father had appointed him to look out for her, did he even fathom telling that to them? He shifted the present in his arms while deciding against it. He was sure that his friends could tell that he was worried given that it took him a moment too many to answer. Legolas decided that it did not matter; he was still dedicated to keeping the matter to himself.

Shifting the present in his arms once more he answered, "No. It does not worry me. Should Lizzy have a problem then…she will inform me."

Elrendor and Renomere shared a look between the two of them. What Legolas had said was not true in the least and everyone who knew Lizzy knew it. The last thing Lizzy would do was reveal information about herself when it meant she was in a dangerous situation. She wasn't one to let others worry about her and she carried around a sense of pride as big as a hobbit's appetite. Neither of the two said anything else on the matter, dismissing it as the business of a married couple.

--

Lizzy fidgeted in her chair as she opened what she prayed was the last of her presents. She felt like a dope sitting there opening gifts from people she didn't know too well. She'd received things she had never heard about, didn't have any clue what they were, from almost complete strangers. Her reactions felt lame, as she felt the only thing she could do was nod, smile and give her thanks. Encouragingly, Ellesa sat next to her, handing her gifts and whispering to her what they were if she began to adapt a perplexed look.

Lizzy ripped off the paper of an oddly shaped gift. She was tired of opening gift after gift from those who only wished to impress either the king or the prince. The prince, who she noticed, had oddly enough disappeared a while ago. She could see no other reason to why anyone would want to give her a gift if they knew nothing about her. At first she thought it was a respect thing, but then she had a hard time thinking that anyone would respect her, no matter who she unknowingly married.

Opening gifts was distracting her from what was ahead of her when she returned to her second home. It was close to being deathly boring in her book. It was nothing like opening gifts on good ol' earth. There was no chance of receiving a shiny new I-pod or something to that nature. Not to say that she necessarily cared about what she was getting or that she hadn't gotten any good gifts to say.

From Elrendor's mother she had gotten a pair of brown leather boots that snaked up her calf and were decorated with stitched in roses. The instant she laid eyes on them she knew that she'd never take them off. Ellesa had given to her a small knife that had a jewel-encrusted hilt. The word sweet came to mind along with a bunch of other positive earth sayings. Along with Ellesa's gift came the promise of teaching her how to throw it with the utmost accuracy.

Elrendor had given her an intricately decorated quilt that was so comfortable she could not hate if she wanted to. Gimli thought she would enjoy a small golden battle axe hanging from a chain, sent in his absence. All of these gifts that she could put to use she thanked wholeheartedly, but not so much so that those who had given less than stellar gifts to her would notice her change in attitude. She was careful about that. Not offending anyone was important when you held a prestigious title.

Lizzy pushed the wrapping paper from the gift aside and peered at what was uncovered. It was a bag with a strap and an ugly one at that. It was gray and very bland in appearance. Lizzy was reminded of Johnny Appleseed when she looked at it. When her distaste for the bag showed on her face, Ellesa nudged her discreetly and she put on a fake smile. The smile only lasted until her eyes caught the writing that was scribbled onto the now torn up wrapping paper.

"Renomere," both Ellesa and Lizzy said in unison.

Ellesa collected the next present for Lizzy to open as eager eyes watched on delighted. Ellesa knew that Lizzy was growing tired of opening gift after gift. Lizzy had always had a hard time sitting for long. As Ellesa handed the gift over to Lizzy, she gave a little look around wondering where Legolas was. Ellesa knew that Legolas would have come up with something that would enable Lizzy to not have to sit at the table and open gifts repeatedly. Quite frankly, she was getting tired of it also.

Those who had come had been much much too giving.

Lizzy rattled the box with little interested. She started to peal back what seemed like billionth sheet of gift-wrap when she heard the scrape of a chair against the floor. Lizzy looked up at the sound and couldn't contain her smile as the king of Eryn Lasgalen stood. Everyone in the room gave him their attention to him and Lizzy couldn't fight the warm grateful feeling that was budding inside of her. The ticket of escaping her war of presents was standing tall before them.

"I think the time has come to end a wondrous celebration."

The chorus of soft 'awes' came from the crowd. Lizzy didn't feel inclined to join them. She had enough of the light and airy atmosphere, seeing beautiful elves dance around the hall in enjoyment of much more than just her birthday and she thought that she had just about enough of skirting around issues her brain wanted to think about. Had there not been circumstances that she was under, say for instances taking down a money hungry uncle with the help of a leader of a gang, then she would have no doubt fell head first into this party. Fate and her conscience didn't want to let her off the hook just yet in that department, but at least Thranduil was letting her off in the party one.

Relief spread through her at the king's declaration and as she smiled at him discreetly, she thought of him as her hero for the moment. Thranduil sent a knowing look her way. Many years of experience, much more so than most could even compare to, enabled Thranduil to know the toll that a social event could take on oneself. Physically, Lizzy appeared as fine as any youthful being, but Thranduil sensed that her tiredness came from elsewhere. The tiredness was what Thranduil feared would become an obstacle for Lizzy, an obstacle that could very well affect Eryn Lasgalen's rule. It was a big factor that had made him hesitate on giving his blessing to the union between his son and Lizzy.

By allowing Lizzy to become princess and ultimately queen of Eryn Lasgalen, he showed faith in his son's judgment. The doubts that had played a factor for Thranduil were waning and had been ever since Lizzy stepped in front of that orc arrow. He owed his life to her, so it was the least he could do to was send spouts of happiness when at all possible. In her direction, the king gave a wink filled with the knowledge that he knew she grew weary of showing pleasantries with others. He sat and observed as much though she masked it very well. Calling the party to an end felt like the appropriate thing to do.

"Now, now sure I am that Lady Elizabeth—"

Lizzy inwardly cringed at the title. The result made Ellesa giggle and that in turn made Lizzy frown at her.

"—is basking in all the more than lovely gifts, but as you know, all things must come to an end." The king's statement could have accounted for other things taking place. And because it could be interpreted in different ways to others, a solemn aura blanketed everyone. It seemed that King Thranduil had an underlying message that extended beyond a simple ending of a coming of age party. Thranduil gave thanks to those who were willing to open their hearts to someone who was not a part of tradition dating back for ages, someone who was setting a new groove for Eryn Lasgalen, Elizabeth. The words Thranduil spoke brought a crawling redness to her neck that crept upwards towards her cheeks.

In exchange for an escape of her party she was getting inundated in praise. Lizzy leaned over to Ellesa. "Is this all really necessary?"

"That all depends mellon."

Ellesa saw the questioning look from Lizzy and smiled. "It all depends on whether or not you need to hear these words."

Lizzy's eyes fleeted back to the king and suddenly her embarrassment dissolved on its own. After the king spoke, dismissing everyone, Lizzy stood from her chair and thanked everyone with a warning of not getting too sappy. The last thing she needed was for an audience to get her to start tearing up or vice versa because of all the things she was emotional wasn't one of them. It was within a matter of minutes that the room had cleared, leaving Lizzy with a table full of gifts, a friend who seemed to be in the mood of clearing away party debris and one king soon to give up his throne. Lizzy saw Thranduil smiling at her as the crowd had disbursed and when they cleared, she made her way towards him.

"You shouldn't have said those nice bits—about me I mean."

Lizzy watched Thranduil put on his most authoritive look. Never before really had it been directed at her.

"But since you're the king you can say whatever you want, right?"

"Elizabeth—"

Again with the name! She cringed.

"I will only offer to you one piece of advice."

She waited for said advice with baited breath.

"Think much more highly of yourself."

Thranduil saw the amount of emotion well up in Lizzy's eyes. A rarity when it came to her. In that single moment he knew that the security of Eryn Lagasen was in capable hands. Elizabeth was to be more than fine, and with the addition of caring friends at her side, there would be nothing in existence that could keep her down. The king patted Lizzy's shoulders. He leaned in to her level and dropped a kiss onto her forehead.

The action shocked Lizzy. It quieted the voice in her throat that usually had pretty good comebacks in her opinion. Thranduil stood at his full height and looked ahead of her. A shift in the room's atmosphere caused Thranduil to look beyond Lizzy. Seemingly his brief thoughts on friends manifested the ones belonging to Lizzy.

Lizzy's face wrinkled in confusion and curiosity at seeing Thranduil's attention diverted. She whirled around in the direction that the king's line of vision. There, in the entryway stood those closest to her who had decided that them disappearing from her party was much better than her completing the act. The words Thranduil spoke to her had left her mouth feeling like it was stuffed with cotton, but now seeing who stood at the door seemed to release her mouth of its fluffy prison… and what ran in her path steadily, made her eyes bulge.

Elizabeth's hands shot out in front of her, a last minute effort at protection. What felt like massive weight collided with her chest, knocking the wind from her lungs and sent her stumbling to the floor. The laughter, familiar to Lizzy was as clear as a bell and Lizzy took note to who each laugh belonged to so that she could get her payback in the future. A wet and slimy sensation spread about her face, leaving her feeling utterly disgusted. Focus returned to Lizzy and the object that'd hit her was nothing more than a chocolate colored dog, almost as big as her in size.

Lizzy looked into its naturally saddened eyes and instantly forgave the fact that the dog was covering her in doggie slobber. Its wet nose grazed her cheek and she heard the dog whimpering above her. Lizzy attempted to propel the beast from her but got no luck. Being trapped beneath pounds of fur and an eight-inch slobbery tongue wasn't appealing in the least. The dog didn't seem to get the hint and continued on with licking Lizzy's face most spiritedly.

From the doorway, Legolas caught the surprised expression from his father but said nothing. He was much too caught up focusing his attention on the dog he had only just set loosed on Lizzy, her birthday present. In disgust, he heard Renomere groan. His friend had never been one for dogs. Legolas watched on as Lizzy tried without success to remove the dog from her. It was quite humorous and that reality echoed throughout the hall.

He, Elrendor and Renomere made their way to where Thranduil and Ellesa stood around a struggling Lizzy. For a split second Legolas thought that his idea was horrible. Lizzy was never to like the foul beast that stood atop of her. The dog was only half of the gift he was going to give to her, but he hoped that it would become a significant present that would enter her life. Lizzy put his fears at rest when she let out what passed as a laugh.

The dog had apparently won her over and in a very short amount of time.

They all took a few more minutes watching Lizzy's attempts at freeing herself from the dog before they took pity on her. Legolas uttered a simple command in elvish and the dog lifted itself away from Lizzy. Air returned to her and it felt like she had just been given the gift of life. Lifting herself to a sitting position and after wiping away doggie droll from her face, she could not resist reaching out to touch the soft fur belonging to the dog, even though it had just about mauled her. The dog sniffed at her hand before it allowed her to continue stroking its neck.

Thranduil looked at Legolas with questioning in his eyes. "A dog?"

"I think he is adorable, my lord." In the most graceful of manners, Ellesa dropped to her knees next to Lizzy and stroked the dog's head.

Renomere scoffed but quickly covered it with a hand.

Ellesa ignored Renomere, because yes she had noticed his immaturity towards the animal. "He is an excellent gift Legolas."

Looking up from the dog to stare at Legolas, surprise went through Lizzy. "He's a gift?"

"First of all he, mellamin, is a she and yes she is a gift but only a portion."

"You mean there's more?" Lizzy looked back towards her dog trying hard not to believe there was more. The dog's brown eyes stared back at her with question. It panted and Lizzy thought she—the dog—looked like it was waiting on something. She studied its adorable face and barely caught what Legolas had said next.

"There is more. I will show you, all of you," Legolas addressed everyone, not just Lizzy. "Once the fascination on the dog has waned."

Ellesa laughed at the expression of the dog and commented on how attractive she was to Lizzy. She wasn't too much listening to Legolas and neither was Lizzy much.

Standing next to his son, Thranduil looked on at the large dog. "What gave you this idea, if I may ask?" He leaned in and whispered the question in his son's ear.

Legolas grinned with a secretive look in his eyes. "A little voice." It was all he would divulge on how he came about such a gift.

"She will require a name," said Elrendor.

Lizzy chewed her bottom lip. She hadn't named anything before, not really. Seeing as it was her gift, she was the one everyone was looking at to deliver a name. She looked into her dog's eyes again. Her dog, it was a thought that brought a grin to her face. Never before had she had a pet. It was cool actually it was more than that.

Looking into those sweet eyes of the dog, she didn't hesitate as the name slipped from her mouth. "Bella."

"Bella?" The question came from Renomere. Hints of his dislike trickled into the question.

"It is a beautiful name," Ellesa said, fed up with Renomere. "Pay no attention to that Balrog lover."

Renomere was about to spit out a retort but sensing the beginnings of a heated argument, Thranduil cleared his throat. "Much as I would simply love to stay and see the second half of your gift my dear, I am afraid that I cannot. There is still much to handle in my departure."

The statement seemed to sadden everyone, reminding them all that Thranduil was leaving them soon. No one seemed to be able to find it in them to argue the point of staying. This was the reality of it all. Thranduil was leaving them. He was leaving Middle Earth. King Thranduil smiled to them all and took his leave no more words were said.

Lizzy didn't dare take her eyes away from Bella. Thranduil leaving was too sad for her to look around and see how everyone else was taking it. Even the newly named Bella quit her happy whines and settled for thumping her heavy tail against the floor. Lizzy often had wondered how Legolas was taking the whole thing with his father going away for who knew how long, but she hadn't asked. She didn't want to upset him even more than he might've been.

Ellesa gave a sidelong glance at the prince. His eyes were cast down, lost in thoughts that undoubtedly were about his father. The moments peaceful and happy in nature should not be broken. Even if the circumstances were heartrending they should have cast it all aside, for their friend. Ellesa gave Bella the dog one last pat on the head before standing up.

"Legolas, do you not wish to show Lizzy the next part of your present?" It was a convenient distraction, one that she and others were glad for.

Legolas seemed to have switched back to his normal demeanor after Ellesa had formed the sidetracking query.

"Yes, yes thank you Ellesa."

Ellesa nodded welcomingly. Legolas extended his hand to Lizzy and she took it allowing him to pull her up from the floor. "Follow me if you will." He led the group from the hall and down the winding paths of the palace. His hand gripped Lizzy tightly as he tried forgetting of his father leaving. Bella rode the heels of her new master, happy to finally be on the move.

Lizzy couldn't stop looking at the huge dog. Its head was probably bigger then her own, but there was just something about the chocolate-y dog that had to be loved. So Lizzy continued to stare and let Legolas guide her. Bella returned the stare, tilted her head and let out a thunderous bark. It made Lizzy jump a bit and laugh.

Renomere moved closer to Elrendor mumbling beneath his breath. Legolas stopped before large double doors located at the very end of a hall in a mostly deserted corridor. He released Lizzy's hand and touched both of his to the handle of the doors. Lizzy looked from Bella as they stopped walking.

"What's behind these doors," Lizzy asked. It was the question on everyone's mind really.

Legolas answered her question with action as she pushed open the doors. Candles lit the room for viewing seeing as the large windows proved that it was night outside. Legolas didn't enter the room; he looked at Lizzy waiting for her to step in before him. Lizzy simply blinked at Legolas before focusing forward and stepping into the room. Bella was beside her, her paws audible against the floor.

The rest of them followed in after Lizzy.

She looked around in nothing but utter awe. No words could describe what was currently surging through her. Lizzy simply took in all that stood before her eyes. She wished someone would say something anything so that she'd be off the hook when it came to saying how she felt. Apparently, everyone was waiting on her for her reaction.

Art canvases, paintbrushes in all sizes, parchment, bottles of paint every color imaginable, smocks, easels and many more supplies for an artist were scattered neatly about the room. Works of elaborate art decorated the walls so that the room was not bare of decoration. There were comfortable chairs in a corner of the room and a table supporting a large vase of flowers was next to the chairs. The room was an art studio and Lizzy was having trouble believing that it was hers. Lizzy shook her head in denial.

"Where's my gift supposed to be? Is it somewhere in here?"

Legolas could not help but laugh at Lizzy. "This—" He gestured towards all of the room. "Is your present."

"Amazing this is," Elrendor said. He stood next to Ellesa taking it all in along with everyone else.

"All of this is mine?" Lizzy shook her head. "No way." She walked around the room, touching various things, Bella right there with her.

Her very own art studio. With everything going on with her, she had never even contemplated a place where she could just draw or paint or sketch by herself. A whole room where she could just do whatever her work took her was too much of a luxury to even consider, to even fathom. Legolas stepped to her side and stopped her stroll by grabbing her hand and giving it an affectionate pat. It was hard for her to take in, he knew, because she never had much. That would be something of the past and he would make sure of it.

"This is all yours," he said forcing her to look at him.

Lizzy saw the sincerity in his eyes and the underlying meaning of his words. Behind Legolas stood the ones she had gotten to know better than anyone from her own world, including her late mother. They—Ellesa, Renomere, Elrendor and Legolas—were all she had. They were her surrogate family and among the only ones she cared about more than anything. Birthday presents fancy in nature were great, but nothing meant more to her than who stood with her.

"This is all mine." Lizzy smiled.


The gold ring speckled with glittering jewels danced and bounced around her neck from its chain. In front of the bathroom mirror Lizzy brushed her hair into a ponytail. Her ring caught her eye as it moved but Lizzy couldn't smile like she usually did when looking at it. Today was her birthday and despite all the great things going for her life, she couldn't erase the fact that today was judgment day. She could only hope that things would go as smoothly as they were planned to, she could only hope that the leader of the Red Hammer was as trustworthy as he claimed to be. All her stock was placed in simple hope.

Lizzy stuffed her wedding ring into the neckline of her red shirt. She stared back at her reflection and blew out a breath. It was time to face the day with much optimism that she would live to see the night. Exiting the bathroom, Lizzy made a pit top to take up her backpack and then headed to the kitchen. Her intent was to pick up a bowl of Cheerios and get on with her day, but instead she found herself distracted by a stack of pancakes sitting on the kitchen island with a candle stuck in the middle.

"Happy Birthday Lizzy!" Nancy stood nursing a cup of coffee in her hands, a bright sincere smile gracing her face.

Forcing a smile of her own, Lizzy ambled up to the plate of pancakes and eyed them warily. Nancy was not at all a good cook and she'd tasted her tuna casserole so she could personally a test to the fact.

"Thanks," she said carefully sliding onto a stool and picking up the fork next to the plate cautiously.

Nancy saw Lizzy's hesitance and laughed. "Don't worry I ordered it. I had no hand in making them."

Lizzy nodded and felt more comfortable about digging her fork into the breakfast. She blew out the flame flickering on the candle and forked a piece into her mouth. Nancy slid into a stool across from the new adult and placed her mug in front of her.

"So…"

Lizzy looked up from her breakfast.

"How does it feel to be eighteen now? Have any spiffy plans for tonight?"

If Nancy only new that she was going to be running around trying to save her own life she would most likely lock her in her room. These were the kind of questions she hated. How did it feel to anyone to turn a year older? A while ago Lizzy stopped caring about her birthdays and eighteen was no different. Nonetheless, she did what she always did with Nancy she lied.

"Um, it feels…great! No spiffy plans though." Lizzy caught a glimmer in Nancy's eyes.

"That's good. It means you can go prom shopping with me?"

Lizzy nearly spit out bits of pancakes all over the island. "What?" Prom wasn't for a while wasn't it?

"Lizzy, I read the school handout. Prom got pushed up a bit. You should know this. Anyway, I thought if you didn't have any birthday plans we could go shopping for a dress, go out to dinner, you know something like that." Nancy took a sip of her coffee.

Prom? It was at the very bottom of her list of things to do. She hadn't given it one thought and now she was looking at Nancy in absolute horror. Not right now. She could not deal with this now.

"Um, we'll talk later. I gotta go." Lizzy hoped off her stool, grabbed her backpack and made a mad dash to the front door all in record time. "Thanks for the pancakes," she said before slamming the door behind her.

Fresh spring air hit her in the face once she exited the apartment building. Almost in an instant she spotted her old buddy Andy Zimmerman. He gave her a subtle nod before he began trekking up the street. Yep, if she didn't know it then, she knew it now. Today was the day.

Lizzy shuffled through school, ignoring the signs if the upcoming senior prom and its 'exciting' theme of Casablanca. Again, it was the very least of her worries. There were a few who took interest in asking her for some odd reason. Automatically, Lizzy thought that because of her somewhat crazy seemingly rebellious history in the eyes of others, she was a no-no to ask out. That wasn't exactly the case, a football player had came up to her in the cafeteria and asked to escort her to prom.

He was the cocky type, only looking for one thing come prom night. Lizzy saw that way before he even thought about asking her to prom. Mind too preoccupied to come up with anything witty or humorous, she simply told him the truth.

"Sorry, I'm married."

Lizzy stowed the memory away for a later laugh, if it was possible. The guy had been persistent, not wanting to take no for an answer, but no matter what she said he prattled on about how much fun they'd have and how stupid she would be to say no. So Lizzy let him talk while she stared aimlessly out of the window. By the minute she was getting even sicker of the guy. Just as she was about to tell him to put it where the sun didn't shine a familiar black car pulled up in front of the school.

She turned away from the window and looked behind to where she knew Andy sat a few yards away. He had noticed the car too. It was beginning.

"You know what Bret—"

"It's Brian babe."

Lizzy suppressed her whatever face. "I think you sold me. I'll go with you." She'd say just about anything to get the jerk out of her face. Standing, she gave the guy a forced smile and walked away, only bummed by the fact that she was abandoning a snickers bar. There were more important things at hand and that was busting out of school.

She entered into the school halls, Andy trailing a few feet behind her. It was reassuring to have him following her, but she knew as soon as she hit those doors leading to the outside, she'd be by herself for a while. Andy couldn't follow her to that black town car. Lizzy was going to have to rely on herself. The ring hiding underneath her shirt gave her the strength to go on.

Once she hit those double doors, Andy fell behind and Lizzy made her way, unnoticed from the school to the black town car. Gripping the strap of her backpack with one hand, she used the other to tap on the tinted window. Lizzy took a look around to make sure the area was free and clear of anyone. The last thing she needed was a teacher calling her back into the building. The window rolled down slowly to reveal the smirking face of Francis Montgomery.

"I didn't think you'd come out this early." His throaty voice gleamed with a certain unhealthy happiness.

"Let's just get this over with." Lizzy went over to the other side of the car and got in. She settled into the seat beside Francis without looking at him.

"Buckle up now. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you on the way there," Francis said with mock concern.

Lizzy glared at him but did as she was told. Her eyes never left Francis as she pulled her seat belt across her chest and snapped it in securely. The man she was seated next to she hated but she wasn't about to do anything to upset him. Not when she was so close. Lizzy kept her eyes forward as they drove off.

The driver didn't speak a word. Lizzy wasn't an idiot; she recognized the back of the driver's head and would anywhere.

"Tom, aren't you gonna say anything to me? I mean we do have a history."

Tom acknowledged her by turning his head to her slightly. There was a wound on Tom's forehead that went deep and dragged to his hairline. It would've made anyone who glanced at the lesion grimace and look away. Enough television Lizzy had watched to know how someone got a wound like that. A wound like that could've come from a number of different ways, but the one that stood out to Lizzy the most was a gunshot wound.

"Don't worry about Tom here, he's fine. Bullet went right passed his head. Grazed him a little but he'll be fine."

So it was a bullet wound. Lizzy gave herself three guess to who was the cause. She could already picture Francis holding the gun to Tom's head.

Francis patted her knee. "He'll be just fine. Won't you Tom?"

Lizzy looked down at where Francis' hand was on her knee and then looked to him. A glower was on her face.

"Take you r hands off me."

Francis did not abide, only squeezed her knee much harder than necessary. The ride was silent and felt as if it lasted much more than it should have. The car pulled into the parking lot of a bank and parked close to the entrance. Lizzy gulped, trying to keep a cool head. Francis turned to her, removed his hand and smiled.

"Now, don't think I've haven't been keeping a close watch on you, because I have. I want you to go in there, make a withdrawal and comeback out. Easy as pie. Don't even try anything smart. You know what's at stake."

Lizzy grabbed up her backpack and got out of the car. She didn't need to be told what was at stake and Francis didn't have to reiterate to her what to do. It had been nudging at her brain for the longest now. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to the bank and stepped inside.

Francis waited with impatience for his niece to come from the bank. He said nothing to Tom only stared forward at the doors Lizzy was to emerge from. He'd kept more eyes on her than he could count. He knew about her little rendezvous with the Red Hammer, the source of the money. It did not change the fact that he needed her to get the money, after that the proper precautious would be taken.

Close to an hour later, Lizzy came from the bank, her backpack looking considerably heavier. Lizzy got back into the car without hesitation and slammed the door. Paperwork had to be filled out, id to be shown and the awkward stares had to be dealt with, but she got the money. She may have given herself the criminal air but she got the money. She pushed the backpack towards Francis.

"Here. You're done with me now, right?"

Francis accepted the backpack and unzipped it. In doing so, green bills almost tumbled out in their nice neat stacks.

"Tom."

Tom started up the car and peeled out of the parking lot.

"We're done right?" Her voice raised an octane higher. "You've got your money and we're done."

Francis didn't respond. His focus stayed on the money, even as they speeded down the highway. Lizzy's heart quickened. This was the part she was blind on. Not knowing what was going to happen next frightened her. She persisted more on where they were going, finding strength again in the ring around her neck.

Too far she had come for this to go badly.

"Where are we going?!" Lizzy was seconds away from hitting Francis. The cars whizzed by them in a blur and the speedometer's needle rose with every passing second.

"Where are we going?" She tried her hardest to stay away from becoming too frantic.

"Shut your mouth. Now." Francis breathed hard. His eyes dared her to say another word.

Lizzy being Lizzy wasn't about to do so. She was testing the already dangerous waters when she opened her mouth.

"I've done what you asked."

"Shut your mouth!"

Her stomach was doing flip flops due to the high speed of the car and for a second she stopped to think about putting on her seat belt. Safety was something both Ellesa and Legolas were both constantly lecturing her about. With them in mind she quickly buckled up, but she didn't let go of her inquiry.

"I haven't told anyone."

"You don't listen do you?" He fumbled inside of his jacket and pulled out what would insure silence.

Lizzy stared down the barrel of Francis' gun. His finger was posed on the trigger, nothing stood in the way of him shooting her. He had everything he'd asked of her and there was nothing left to dangle over his head. Her murder would be nothing else but a notch on his evil scoreboard. The malice in his eyes was all there.

"You have your money," Lizzy whispered. Her heart felt like it was thumping in her mouth. "Just let me go."

"You don't listen!" He shoved the gun more in her direction, aiming for her head. "I know exactly what you're up to. Trying to sell me out to the Red Hammer won't work. God, you're not as smart as I thought."

Francis cocked back the hammer on his gun as he noticed them turning a corner. No one would know. It'd just be mistaken as the sound of a car backfiring.

"You're not as smart as I thought at all." Francis flashed a toothy grin and applied force to the trigger.

The bullet never penetrated its target.

The gun never went off.

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

That factoid even included uncles with diabolical plans.

The sound of metal and plastic colliding screamed through the air. The scraping noise of an impact reached everyone. The car went spinning to the side of the road. Lizzy's head collided with the window to the side of her. The gun dropped from Francis' hand sending Lizzy to relative safety.

Francis' body had gone flying towards the front of the car. Tom was passed out, his head on the steering wheel. Blood poured from his forehead. The steady beeeeeeeeep of the car horn began to sicken Lizzy. She tried not to move her head much due to the throbbing that was constant. Smoke poured from the engine.

Before she could comprehend that they'd gotten into a car accident, her door was being pulled open and Andy Zimmerman was reaching over her to undo her seat belt. He helped her from the car as carefully as he could. Lizzy was more than grateful for the help. She reached up and touched the side of her head. A huge lump was already forming and bits of blood spotted her fingertips.

"Where's the money?!"

Confused, Lizzy looked in the direction the voice came from. Across the broken car she had been in stood the leader of the Red Hammer. A gun, much more intimidating than Francis' own was in his hand but he did not point it in her direction.

"Where's the money," he repeated. Urgency was in his tone.

"In—In the backpack. Back seat." Lizzy watched as he retrieved her worn backpack. She felt like she had a bad case of vertigo and nausea was ruling over her stomach.

The leader tossed the backpack to Andy and the next thing Lizzy knew, he was aiming his gun at where Francis was. Two pops made her jump and then another. It went too fast for Lizzy to understand. Andy was pulling her into a polished SUV with the Red Hammer's leader behind them and then they were speeding away. Lizzy looked at Andy behind the wheel and then back to the scene where two ruined cars sat off to the side of the street.

She closed her eyes and listened to the laughter of the two.

It was over. It was finally over.


She was back where she belonged. She was safe. There were no more threats chasing after her. There was no more concern to be had. Everything was fine and she had her health despite the large bump on the side of her forehead.

All of his concern had been seen to. The bandages were where they were supposed to be and she was resting. For more he could not ask. The anxiety concerning her was erased. It was no longer existent and he hoped to Valar that it would never be.

The small girl who'd came to him in his dreams asking for help no longer walked in solitude and darkness. She pranced in the sunlight. Her giggles were loud and vibrant. She gave to him her thanks and shared to him her particular love of Bella. She was grateful that he had listened to that little voice in his ear. And then, she was gone; sinking into a bright sun she was gone.

He stood there taking in Lizzy's figure. It soothed him so much. Now that his father had taken his departure it was exactly what he needed. He needed to know that things would be all right and that with the absence of his father's presence things would move on. The single candle in the room sent meager light bouncing off the walls.

He drew on her peaceful figure and could not help the smile that lighted his face. Just getting to this point had seemed like a long journey, but he was delighted to see it over. He was joyful to be in the very moment he stood in. He knew not that Lizzy could understand how much relief he was feeling, nor how much sadness was within him at the same time. With time it would all pass to be replaced with nothing but happiness.

Legolas moved forward and into their bed. He was very much prepared for the long awaited rest he had been keen on getting. He slid beside Lizzy being careful of a sleeping Bella who made no move whatsoever at the end of the bed. Legolas placed his arms around Lizzy's waist. Legolas felt her shift and then settle, welcoming his comfort. He listened to her mutter something and to him it equated to the sweetest of sounds. They would be fine now.

"Oh, forgot to tell you I'm going to a dance with some guy." Lizzy yawned. Sleep laced her voice. "Bret or Brent or something. I forgot his name. All I know is that he's a…a bigger idiot than you."

Legolas smiled, still intent on holding onto contentment. He leaned over Lizzy and blew out the flickering candle. The darkness hugged around them, creating more peace than anything. Neither the darkness nor anything else played enemy to them.

They would be fine.


A/N: Remember to tell me if you want an epilogue!