Other: Yes, Legolas is going to have a C-Section, but I'm not going to go into graphic detail with that in the epilogue, as I've never read anything about a C-Section or experienced one. ^^; No, Gollum is going to be a good guy in this fic- crazy, but good… And it was Elros' capture- and subsequent release- that he was referring to…

Disclaimers: See the Author's Notes! This is an AU! The R Rating is in effect! Elvish is in ''. You have until the final chapter, before the epilogue, to cast your votes for the sex of the twins and their looks! Yes, just who is Elena? She's not what she seems to be… Takes place shortly after the last chapter…

Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed

Chapter 35. Holding On To Hope

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Somewhere in Mordor

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Legolas and Haldir stayed hidden in the small tunnel with Gollum, who was heading further back than the two Elves. The Uruk-Hai did not spot the two Elves, though both inadvertently sucked in their breaths as the foul creatures passed by, searching for the intruders that the Palintir had shown them.

When they were gone, Haldir looked at Legolas, nodding slightly, before he looked to see where Gollum had gone. The 'Lorien Elf was still slightly suspicious of the strange creature, but Haldir was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt- for now, anyway, since Gollum had helped them to hide from the Uruk-Hai. However, Haldir was also going to be keeping a close eye on Gollum; he had learned valuable lessons, the hard way, about trusting strangers too easily, and there was also Legolas to keep safe.

Gollum crept back into sight and pulled on Legolas' tunic. "Followsssssss…" he hissed,  trying to get the Elves to come with him. If they wanted to enter Mordor as fast as possible, the best way to go was this way, through the tunnels, but if they waited too long, their friends would be beyond help. Besides, Sméagol was lonely… Helping the pretty Elf would be strange but there was something about him, Gollum didn't know what it was, but he wanted to keep this one safe from the nasties, who hurt his precious…

Legolas and Haldir exchanged a glance, before Legolas began following Gollum into the dark tunnels, with Haldir right behind him. Their Elven light shone around them in the darkness, combining together to provide them with some light, as the dim, weak light from outside faded and finally disappeared. The light was not too bright, so it didn't hurt Gollum's sensitive eyes, but it helped Haldir and Legolas to see the cracks and stones in the bottom of the tunnel.

It was cold and clammy, much like a cave, and Legolas was reminded all too much of his time in Moria, when he had been feverish and ill. It was a miracle that Gimli had found him and not killed him, Legolas thought, instead helping him to recover from his illness and find his way home. The Dwarf was much more complex than he had originally believed, Legolas knew, and never again would he stereotype someone because they were different, or based on the words of others, simply because of the overly gruff but caring Gimli.

Legolas' thoughts then drifted to Aragorn, and pain entered his heart. Valar, how he missed Aragorn, so much that it hurt him terribly, like a knife being stabbed through Legolas' heart. He loved Aragorn beyond his own life and death, and being separated like this was sheer agony for the Elven Prince, especially while carrying Aragorn's children. But Legolas refused to believe that Aragorn was dead; he had to be alive, for him, for the children, and for Legolas' own sanity. Losing him would be paramount to losing himself.

Haldir was reminded of the secret place in Lothlorien that Glorfindel had shown him, all that time again, as he walked behind Legolas and Gollum. That dark, dirt tunnel, where Glorfindel had first forced him to realize the truth behind his relationship with Rissan- it had been a very dangerous one, which had nearly proven fatal. If Glorfindel hadn't demanded that he live, Haldir knew he would have died then, as result of everything that had happened. The times spent in that tunnel had been one of the last, few innocent memories that Haldir retained from that period of time, before his innocence had been stolen away, by Rissan. Glorfindel had to be all right, Haldir knew; he was strong, brave, determined, and stubborn. He would not allow himself to be defeated by Rissan or this evil Meron so easily.

Of course, Legolas and Haldir were both also very worried about their other friends.

Legolas had seen his father be struck unconscious, and he feared for him as well, in the darkness of Mordor. The golden-haired Prince hoped that his father would not be placed under Meron's control again, but Thranduil now knew to be on his guard for such a thing, so hopefully, if the Valar willed it, it would not happen again. Haldir's mind had drifted to little Elena; they should have left her in Lothlorien, he decided, but it was too late now for regrets. The small child had seen her friends get taken prisoner, and possessing a stubborn nature, Elena had declared that if she was left behind, she would make her own way to Mordor. Haldir believed that she would have done it, too; she had been stubborn enough to follow them so far from Rivendell.

The Elf's brow then furrowed. How in the name of the Valar had she managed to follow them, without being seen or heard for several days by any of them, or any of the Nazgul? How had Elena known what path they were taking, what roads they had traveled, for Glorfindel had decided the roads they would take along the way, not following a set course from Rivendell. It had seemed the wisest course at the time, to try to minimize encounters with the Ringwraiths, but it was as if Elena had known exactly where they would go, before even they did… There was something unsettling about this, and had Legolas not had his own problems to worry about, Haldir would have confided in him. But even he could see that the slightly younger Elf was distracted, no doubt by thoughts of the one he loved. As if sensing his worried gaze, Legolas looked up and smiled fleetingly, trying to ease Haldir's concern.

Legolas had seen Haldir's concern, so he tried to reassure the other Elf with a smile. He was still thinking of his friends, and Legolas had no doubt that Gimli and Boromir were all right; both were tough and brave, stalwart and valiant. Haldir was thinking the same thing, but he was also hoping that Boromir and Aragorn were still getting along, because they would have to work together to defeat Meron. All of them would.

Gollum saw that Legolas' footsteps were faltering, so he crept back to the Elf and took his hand carefully, pulling him along somewhat. "Restssss later… Danger, my preciousssssssss… Sméagol knowssssss that Elvessssssss are tired, restssss later, in next tunnel…" the strange creature hissed.

The golden-haired Elven Prince smiled gratefully at Gollum, and continued walking, though he was not traveling as fast as he had been. Hours had gone by since they'd first begun walking, and it was taking its toll on both Haldir and Legolas, for they had not gotten much sleep before being inadvertently awakened by Gollum.

Yes, Gollum was strange, but he seemed to know exactly where he was going, Haldir noted. The route they were taking would lead them directly into Mordor itself, avoiding detection by the Uruk-Hai and the Nazgul that were patrolling aboveground. Well, as long as Gollum didn't betray them, Haldir amended. He disliked having to rely on the strange one for guidance, but Legolas seemed to believe that Gollum could be trusted, and Haldir was afraid for all of their friends, not just Glorfindel.

Of course, Haldir was also keeping an eye on Legolas, for the Elven Prince was pregnant, after all, and it would do no good to their friends if he wore himself out. But Haldir did not overly protect the younger Elf; he understood what it was like to have another telling you what to do and not do. Legolas had more common sense than Aragorn gave him credit for, the 'Lorien Elf believed, even if it had been rather amusing to watch Aragorn being over-protective of Legolas.

Legolas was the first to hear the sounds of something following them, and he glanced at Haldir, asking silently if he had heard anything. The scraping sound behind them was not just being imagined; it was the sound of something dragging along the stone ground, right behind them. Haldir nodded, and Gollum peered up at the tall Elves, also hearing the sound.

"Patrolssss," Gollum hissed softly, at the questioning glances that Haldir and Legolas were exchanging. "Theysss sssssearching for intrudersss, followssss." The strange creature pulled on Legolas' hand again, leading him to where a small hole was in the tunnel, having been made long, long ago. No one knew just who had made these tunnels, but they served very well.

Haldir nodded, and was the last to enter the small hole, which forced both Legolas and Haldir to kneel on the ground; it was too narrow to stand in. They were crawling through the tunnel carefully, getting further away from the sounds of the approaching Uruk-Hai.

Legolas groaned softly, the sound audible only to his companions. The Elven Prince met their worried looks with the weary expression on his face. Crawling around in dark tunnels and walking for hours was very draining on Legolas, but his determination to save the one he loved from Meron had kept him from giving into his fatigue.

Haldir sighed, and drew Legolas over to him, laying the younger Elf out in the tunnel, supporting Legolas' head in his lap, a fraternal smile on his face. "Rest, Legolas; avoiding sleep will do no good for either you or your children. Sleep now…"

Legolas yawned and finally gave into sleep, all but collapsing into it. His growing waist showed clearly, and Gollum was intrigued by it, creeping over noiselessly, so as not to awaken the beautiful, sleeping Elf.

One of his grubby hand delicately touched the bulge, and a curious expression entered Gollum's eyes when he felt a tiny kick in response. "What isssss it?"

"Legolas is going to have children in a few months," Haldir explained, as he carefully tore off a piece of his shirt and cleaned the dirt off of the Prince's face. "Aragorn is their sire, and he is one of our friends who are trapped in Mordor, by the evil ones…" He finished removing the dirt and looked at Gollum. "Is there anything to eat in this place that you know of? He needs food, for both himself and the children."

"I ssssseesss… Elvesss ressst, precioussss getsss foodssss." Gollum was gone in the blink of an eye, slipping off into the darkness.

Haldir was faintly surprised at how quickly Gollum had vanished, but he turned back to Legolas and removed the strands of golden hair from his face carefully. 'I only hope that Aragorn is alive when we arrive, for I know that if he is not, the grief will surely kill you,' Haldir whispered, worry in his eyes as he watched over Legolas, while he slept.

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Inside of Mordor

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Meron snarled at Elena, who looked at him silently. The young one had been humming a song softly when the evil one had entered the dungeons again, and he had grown furious at the soft music he heard.

Aragorn frowned at Meron. "Must you pick on an innocent child?" he questioned, a grim tone in his voice. "She was only amusing herself."

"Stay out of this," Meron snapped. "You have no right to tell me what to do, Elessar!"

"Elessar?" Boromir repeated. "Who is Elessar?"

Thranduil stiffened slightly, as did Glorfindel. They knew exactly what Meron was speaking of; all Elves would know of who Elessar was, except for Aragorn. That tragedy had been passed down through different generations of Elves, because of the spell that had been woven then, by the bonds of love between a Man and an Elf, which had not been shattered even when they had died. Their love had been pure, even in death, and had remained, intertwining their souls forever.

Meron laughed and looked at Boromir. "And you are the Steward of Gondor? You do not know, then, of who Elessar was? Ah, but then, no one would know, save for his descendants…" The evil one looked directly at Aragorn. "You're starting to remember, aren't you?" Meron stepped over to Aragorn's cell, a cold smile on his face. "Do you remember the pain of watching him die in your arms?"

Aragorn swallowed hard, but the words didn't shock him so much. He'd had a feeling that Lasgalen had not survived, but the knowledge was heart-breaking. It was so confusing to the half Elf, because he loved Legolas, but every part of him hurt at the confirmation that the Elf from his visions had died. But how could Lasgalen have died in his arms, he wondered… It was true that Elessar looked almost exactly like him, but…

"He is not ready," Elena said clearly, her young face pressed against the bars of her cell. Her blue-grey eyes met Meron's scowl, though she did not tremble at it.

"Shut up, brat!" Meron unleashed a mental attack directly at the child, who watched, unblinking, as the dark energy soared towards her. Instead of striking her, however, it was stopped, by a flickering, blue outline that had appeared around Elena, protecting her.

A sad look appeared on Elena's face, before she said quietly, "The tragedy will not be repeated, no matter what you try to do."

Meron stormed over to the cell and blasted it open with his powers. Reaching in, he grabbed a hold of Elena's thin arm with one hand, and yanked her out, before stalking furiously out of the room with the child. Elena looked back at the others as she was pulled away silently. Her expression was resigned and sad, but she still showed no sign of fear as she was roughly taken away,

"Let her go!" Aragorn ordered, though it was too late. Meron was gone, taking Elena with him. He exchanged a grim look with his companions. There was definitely something different about Elena, but this was no time to try to figure that out. Who knew what Meron would do to her? He would probably torture and kill her, and Aragorn felt sick at the thought of such a young one being tortured.

At the same time, Aragorn was terribly worried for Legolas' safety. The weight of responsibility was not one that Aragorn was used to, and he was still adjusting to. Please, Valar, don't let Legolas come here to find me, he silently pleaded. Let him be safe, please let Haldir get Legolas away from this place…

Thranduil cursed, and gripped the bars of his cell, squeezing them as hard as he could, trying to break them with his bare hands. Defeated, his head dropped, until his forehead rested against the cold, iron bars.

Glorfindel looked at Aragorn. "I will admit that I do not understand why Meron dislikes Elena so much, or why she seems to know more about what is going on than we do, but this is making things more complicated. An escape would be impossible right now, because we don't know where he took her, and we still don't know where Gimli is. Until Thranduil's magic returns, we can do nothing but wait a while longer, and pray that she can survive whatever he does."

"I know that," Aragorn stated. He looked directly at the Elven lord, different emotions swirling in his eyes. "I also fear that Legolas and Haldir will come here to save us, and will unwittingly fall into Meron's hands."

"Don't forget about Rissan," Glorfindel corrected. "He is the one who wants Haldir…"

To be continued