Part 9

Hello everybody, hope you are all well. Here is another chapter, hope you all like it;

Right I'm back on track now with all the reviewers and things:

Lanfear: Glad you thought it was sweet. I hope that's a compliment! :p

Egyptianecho: Is Fahrwen pregnant- now where did u get that idea my dear? Ho hum, you will have to just read on won't you? Glad you are enjoying this!

Wintercherry: I am fulfilling my challenge! Good good. Westcliff Hell School for gargoyles?! I soooo wish I was going back there my darling I loved that school :'( Keep up the hilarious work on ur fic ).

Kristi: Never underestimate the powers of a Legolas lover and a romantic weirdo- ie: of course I'm not done- hehe. Love and praise- you can keep that coming! Lol, :p

Sage: I am rather jealous of Fahrwen aswell actually, perhaps we could mount a campaign, chop her head off and stick our own on- how about that?

Megan- glad you like it, :)

Right onto the story:

Strain on the weak

Lady Galadriel violently threw her gaze onto everyone that stood before her, when her piercing blue eyes met Legolas', he felt the strain that her mind pressed onto his. He was weak, she knew it, he knew it, they all knew it. And yet he refused to quail, refused to break the line of communication between himself and the notorious 'Lady of the Wood.' The panic as his mind wondered if the rumours of this 'elf witch' were true, the discomfort of some stranger's eyes boring into his, the insecurity as he felt her eyes draining all the privacy from his mind, all this weighed on him, but their eyes did not separate. This went on for some time, Legolas was beginning to get panicky- why is she stopping on me for so long? He was about to break their gaze when a smooth, husky voice sounded in his head.

"Welcome, Legolas of Mirkwood. You carry a great pain upon your shoulders. I fear this weight is not due to the perils of your journey alone. Tell me, why is your heart weakening your mind?"

Legolas knew of the pain Galadriel spoke of. But he could not reply to her question. He was not ready to bring up such a subject now. He only looked back at her, he thought he could detect a hint of understanding reflecting in her eyes. He felt the strain slowly releasing his mind, and he breathed in deeply as he felt Galadriel's eyes move to another.

Suddenly he felt dizzy, the strength he had used to withstand Galadriel's mind just moments before, vanished in an instant. His body felt limp and weak, nausea rose in his stomach, his eyes blurred. He was no longer aware of his surroundings, all of his senses shut down. He felt his knees buckling from under him and his body preparing itself for the pain that was to come when he smashed into the ground. Quick as a flash strong arms were beneath him, lifting him, supporting him. His eyes closed and his mind, after a moment's pitiful resistance, blacked out.

*