CHAPTER 1

A/N: A/U

Also, the chapters were messed up a bit for a while BECAUSE of FF.NET sorry about that you guys, I fixed it though all of them. Hopefully it won't happen again.

Slowly she slid the teeth of the thin comb through the vines of her long golden tresses. The beautiful locks poured past her shoulders before halting their growth mid-back. It had been hours since the kind sun had showered Rohan with its graceful smile, bringing life to every sleeping human and creature. Yet something kept her halted before the mirror that reflected her image, her true image. Not the image many men told her she held nor the image she let women too perceive.

She was grateful, yes, for their many compliments on her clean lush skin, brilliantly long golden hair, and her gray-blue eyes that called originality to her being. But she desired more than these words from any man or woman. She needed to know herself, and this mirror showed her everything she was proud of within her soul. She showed them everything, yes everything, but nothing at the same time, for all she had shown them was her outward appearance. After all, they cared only for this superficial measure of her worth…They knew nothing of the self she cherished inside.

They didn't care about the little things that flew about in her head, nor did they care about what held great interest in her heart. For though she was responsible for these thoughts and feelings, no one beside herself truly invested themselves in these emotions. Her eyes never left the smooth surface of the glass. No, for it wasn't smooth, it was rough. Yes, her eyes never left the rough surface of the now-lying mirror. All her life, it had lied to her, made her believe she was beautiful, that she was a diamond among many stones. But she had been just another one of those stones, trying to break on top of the others to find what her heart desired.

Lately, dreams plagued her sleep…dreams, though, not nightmares. The dream of a once-ally who had fought to save not only her people, but many others. Though he was unlike Aragorn, he was still swift, graceful, and beautiful...Legolas...

She wasn't sure when she had begun to have feelings for the elf. But she did know that he would have none to offer in return, for it was true that Elves never loved Humans, wasn't it? But in her dreams he did, he cared to such great extent that he fought for her, not that he wouldn't under normal circumstances, for he was kind. But he had fought in such a battle, beyond the weaponry, just for her. And then he had made love to her, not anyone else!

The dreams were horrid, odd, but when she thought about it, she had never dreamt of Aragorn, even when feelings were present in the pits of her heart for him also. This was different, for they felt so real...many dreams had she of the elf Prince. Many she thought she could feel, but they were only dreams, dreams were never real...Life and love were similarly unreal to her, for her feelings were never returned.

Aragorn was proof of this, for it had greatly wounded her pride when he had left her standing that day, leaving her to return to Arwen. She wanted to meet his Arwen. She wanted to look upon the face of the woman who had caused her heart to be broken once more. She wanted to tell her how lucky she was to have such a love, a love she herself could only dream of. But every chance she had had of seeing the princess had been lost.

" Mi'lady." Her head shifted from the mirror to a tall elf who stood beside her door, and her eyes grew wide in shock and wonder. Was this another dream? Had he come to sweep her off her feet, lay her down on the ruffled bed sheets and make love to her till another day came?

" Mi'lord.." she breathed, as her eyes gazed upon the rigid elf. She rose from her seat but froze as Legolas shook his head softly and informed her to stay still.

" Ambush," he whispered, "Hurry and grab a pair of clothing. You and I are the last left, and only a few others escaped. You must hurry, we will leave now."

She nodded, and quickly rushed to her closet, tearing off the nearest dress and shoes she could find and hurrying back to Legolas. She still wasn't sure if she was just imagining all this. Was this the part when he rescued her again, and then made love to her? Please, let this be a dream, she wished silently.

He grasped her slender wrist, and for the first time she allowed herself to become weak. For a moment she let him lead and he pulled her frame to his and ran, leaping from the window of her room. She perked an eye open as they landed on the floor outside her window. "Mi' lady, I'll explain everything later. No speaking now please...We must get away from here."

Her tongue wished to lash at his comment, but she bit back a remark. She'd wait...she knew now it wasn't a dream and that she needed to listen if she wanted to live. She did pulled out of his grasp, however, both wrist and semi-embrace. He nodded, then turned and started to run while she followed behind.

" Hurry, Mi'lady," he rasped, as arrows began to rain like a shower upon them. Legolas made sure to glance behind them every so often. "A little furth-"

" Prince Legolas!" She stumbled, an arrow ripping through the flesh of her back. Legolas turned quickly on foot and picked up the injured maiden.



He would have to rid her of the arrow later. Right now he needed to get to his horse. Within a matter of minutes, he had reached his destination and rested Eowyn upon the steed. Quickly he climbed up on Arod, and pulled the arrow free from Eowyn. He motioned for the horse to take off. Soon the attackers' horses were on their trail. Legolas grabbed an arrow from his back, readied it in his bow, and took down one horsed solider after another.

" Prin-" His rain of retaliation stopped as he heard her hoarse voice. He needed to soothe her….His horse could take care of the escape.

Drawing her close, he whispered, " Mi'lady...be calm, you will not die. I will get us out of here," Their followers seemed to have fallen back till none were left. "You will be fine," he spoke gently.