Part four…

------

The sun was high when they left Rivendell with the destination of the golden woods. Serena had no idea what awaited them, but she was not afraid. Some fate had brought her here and if truth to be told she felt a freedom she had never ever felt before. Here she was just a woman not a 'VIP' not somebody who guaranteed publicity. Just a normal woman… She was walking next to Legolas, the beautiful elf that had caught her attention the first time she had seen him. It had been his grace that had appealed to the dancer in her. But since then she had got to know him better and now she valued him high as a friend for his gentleness and kindness. He was walking silently and again she could not hide her joy at watching him. "Serena?" Legolas' voice brought her back into reality and she realized that he had seen her staring at him. Far from being embarrassed she smiled. "You know Legolas, I have been a dancer all my life but no training could ever result in the elegance and grace your movements have. It's just amazing. And pretty unfair." The last she said with an even bigger smile. Legolas didn't answer, he felt his heart beating faster at the thought that Serena found him beautiful. But then he remembered her words. 'You're a good friend' That was not what he wanted to be for her, he wanted to be so much more.

Gandalf's voice calling them for a halt interrupted his thoughts and the group settled down to eat and rest for the night. Frodo sat next to Serena and heard her humming a song. "What is this song? Sing for us, please." Serena looked at the hobbit, who not the boy she once thought him to be. "I can't sing, but the words of the song I can tell you. I used to dance on ice to this song. ' Thank you for loving me, for being my eyes when I couldn't see, for parting my lips when I couldn't breathe, Thank you for loving me….' It goes further but I can't remember it. It's just a beautiful song." She got up and sat on a stone close to the river where she was on her own, but still could be seen from the others.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder Legolas turned towards the person touching him and saw that it was Aragorn. "Why don't you follow her and your heart?" "She does not feel the same as I do, her heart calls for somebody else." The elf's eyes betrayed the calm voice, they showed the pain and love he felt. Aragorn didn't say anything and after a while he went over to sit next to Serena.

"Those words were beautiful, were they yours?" "No, they are from a famous songwriter in my world. I am not good with words." "You have changed a lot since you came here, you seem happy and more alive, what caused this?" Aragorn really wanted to know what she felt for Legolas, but something told him that Serena would not give away her feelings for the elf.

"It may seem weird for you, but in this world I had, for the first time in my life, time to think and time to feel. I realized that closing my heart might prevent me to get hurt, but most of all it prevents me to be alive. I cried for him, I mourned for him and now I feel free. He will always be a part of me, always be a part of my life, but I no longer dream of his death. I finally could let him go." Serena had not looked at Aragorn while she spoke, but now she did. Her eyes were clear and peace shone in them. Then she smiled. "Elrond told me on my first day, that for some of my questions I would find the answer in myself. I didn't understand him then, I do now. I am free again." As she said that her eyes unconsciously searched for Legolas and Aragorn smiled. 'She might not know it yet, but her heart is not free anymore.' "Let's go back to the others, you have to get some sleep."

Three days later they were sitting again on the same river only a little bit further from the place where they had rested before. The mountains had won and defeated them. They would have to go through the mines of Moira. Serena was exhausted, the long walks and the bad weather were draining her energy and the constant danger her spirits. Legolas looked with concern at her even paler face and her stoic expression. She felt his eyes on her and tried to smile. Taking this as an invitation, Legolas sat next to her and looked intently in her eyes. Serena had the feeling that he could read her innermost feelings and she felt embarrassed. She did not want him to know how she felt for him. Only recently she had admitted that it was not 'friendship' what she wanted. First she had been shocked, but now she knew it was right, she had to move on.

Legolas could not decipher the emotions, he saw in her eyes. Trying to find the right words to tell her what he felt without scaring her, the elf cleared his throat. 'What is it that makes me insecure every time I am around her?' he wondered.

A soft wind had begun to whisper over the grass and strands of Legolas blond hair fell in his face. Without thinking Serena lifted her hand and brushed them back, causing Legolas to close his eyes as fire surged through his body. When he opened them again, the fire he felt showed in the green eyes. And then their eyes met again and Legolas forgot to breathe. Her black eyes were not longer black but shone like gems and he could see the same emotions in them that were blurring his vision.

As one their heads moved and their lips met. Searching first, but soon passion stirred up the fire they were feeling and their kisses became harder and deeper. It was Serena who pulled away first, her usually pale complexion flushed. "They can see us." Legolas pulled her close to him and not caring whether they could be seen, whispered in her ear those words he had longed to say to her since he had seen her. "I love you." Serena smiled and touched his face tenderly. "You freed my heart, and I love you more than I can say."

The lake was dark and Serena sensed a danger lurking in the water even though it seemed to be completely still. She moved closer to the wall and was proven right when suddenly long tentacles grabbed Frodo. Boromir, Aragorn and Legolas fought against the creature until the gates suddenly opened and hoping for an escape they fled in the darkness. Walking through the caves, the only light the flickering flame produced by Gandalf's pole Serena felt afraid for the first time on this journey. Elronds' words kept coming back to her. 'A guardian was sent' Just that she had not done anything to guard the group. She had a sword and had learned in Rivendell how to fight, but her skills were far behind the others. 'He said I was sent with a reason, that I had a task to fulfil, but so far I have been more a hindrance than a help.' Legolas felt that something was wrong with his love and when they rested to give Gandalf time to decide which way to take he asked her.

"Elrond said I was sent with a reason, that I had a task to fulfil, but so far I have been more a hindrance than a help." Kissing her tenderly he contradicted her words. "You are not a hindrance and our journey has not ended yet, you will know when it is time." They were sitting far away from the others, who were sleeping and this time Serena didn't pull back when Legolas started to kiss her neck and his hands began to touch her body. Instead her hands began to explore the slender body of the elf, her touches leaving burning trails. Cautiously he lowered her on the stone floor and covered her with his body.