Legolas kissed Gwilith for possibly the last time ever. If he died with everyone that was leaving while gone, she would be all that was left of the royal family. And Gondor's family would be completely gone.

"I will return," he assured her. "If only to say goodbye."

Gwilith had tears in her eyes. Her voice was sad and broken, which was rare for this female Elf who was normally filled with pride, joy, and even anger, at times. But now only sorrow remained in her heart. "If you return only to say goodbye, I will kill you myself."

Legolas smiled. "I'm sorry, Gwilith."

"You are leaving me yet again."

"No."

"You are away from me more often than you are with me. Promise me that if you survive, you'll stay."

"Gwilith-"

"Promise me!"

Legolas looked into his lover's wet green eyes. He instantly felt guilty for leaving as often as he did. "I… I want to, but I can't control the things that I must do."

"Promise me, Legolas."

He sighed. "I promise, my Gwilith. You are the air that I breathe, I need you. And I will be with you for eternity if you can stand this one last parting."

Gwilith couldn't help but smile. Her name was directly translated to the Common Tongue as "air," however many Elves saw it as "elegant" and "smooth." But she loved to hear him talk like that to her… Legolas could make her heart melt sometimes.

"I don't know if I can."

He embraced her one last time, then began to walk to his horse. "I love you."

"Stay alive," she begged. "Just stay alive."

Legolas mounted his horse, then looked around at the people coming along. He checked to make sure everyone was there. Ohtar, Anywien, Galia, Yrinvan, Zerameth, Laesien, Aragorn, and, of course, Arwen.

It was dark out, not yet dawn. They could not afford to wait any longer, for Aragorn was sure the army would be in Mirkwood any minute.

"Noro erin," Legolas told his horse. Homir began to go, and the rest of the horses followed.

"You had better return!" Gwilith shouted after them as they began to fade away. Tears began to stream down her face. Legolas had left once again, but this time, instead of returning a year later, may never return. This was his most dangerous task ever.

~*~

"Where are we going?" Yrinvan asked finally. It had been a question that was bothering him for what felt like some time since they left.

"South," came Aragorn's reply.

"Isn't that where the army is coming from?" asked the nervous human.

"Yes."

"So… we are galloping towards them?"

"Yes."

Yrinvan looked to Zerameth who was riding next to him. "Were you informed of the plan?" he asked her.

Zerameth was no help. She shook her head. "No, were you?"

"No. Are they sure we intend to ride into an army of trolls?"

"I'm sure they know what they are doing. They wouldn't risk brining the heir of Mirkwood if we were going to die."

Yrinvan was incredibly uncomfortable by merely thinking of where they were going. He realized that he was near the back, so maybe he could turn back if things got dangerous. Maybe no one would notice… or even if they did, they might not blame him. Behind him rode Ohtar and Anywien. They were talking to each other in Elvish, in hushed voices. Every now and then he was able to understand a few words, but his own Elvish was very limited so he couldn't tell what it was they were talking about. But he did hear them say his name.

"I don't trust that "heir of Mirkwood," " Yrinvan whispered to Zerameth. She looked at him, surprised.

"And why not?"

"Well, I suppose because he is an Elf. Never trust an Elf, that's what the Dwarves say."

Zerameth smiled. "Of course they do. The Dwarves don't like the Elves. But I think they are wonderful creatures. So graceful and beautiful… and hearing their language is so soothing. I can't understand it, but it is truly lovely, you must admit."

"I still don't trust that Ohtar."

"Yes, I suppose you wouldn't."

Behind them, Ohtar was smiling. In Zerameth's list of describing the Elves, she forgot an important detail: their keen sense of hearing. Even while they whispered, Ohtar could hear them clearly. He smirked at Anywien and she returned it. They then continued talking in Elvish.

At the front of the line, Legolas was using his own handy Elvish feature, the also-keen sense of sight. He was able to see ahead the front of the line of Trolls and Ums. "Arwen," he said. "Come near the front."

Arwen gave her horse a slight tap with her foot so that it sped up next to Legolas. "Do you see them?"

"Yes. We must make sure that they also see you. Get on the other side of me."

Arwen sped up her horse and got in front of Legolas, then shifted to the other side and he did the same, then she slowed back down to his pace, which was still fairly fast.

"How are the children?" Legolas asked her.

"I do not know. All right, I suppose."

Legolas glanced over his shoulder. Laesien was riding next to Galia, Yrinvan next to Zerameth, and Ohtar next to Anywien. They were each talking to each other. Aragorn was right behind Legolas and Arwen.

"Aragorn," Legolas said. "Drop behind the children. Make sure they are all right and stay back there until we are away from the army." Aragorn nodded and did as he said.

Arwen smiled at Legolas. "Are you going to at least inform me about your plan?" Legolas shook his head. "Why not?"

He grinned at her. "It makes it more interesting." (lol)

Arwen laughed. "You are still a child at heart, dear Legolas."

"I cannot argue with you on that, my lady. Can you see them yet?"

Arwen looked and sure enough, was able to see the Trolls and Ums being dimly lit by the rising sun. It wasn't nearly very bright out yet, only a small bit was lit up by the sun, and they were in a wooded area, so it was much darker.

"I see shadows," she replied.

"Veer right." They turned slightly to the right, and the children's horses as well as Aragorn's followed.

Arwen feared she would run into the first Troll, for she was heading straight towards him. When she reached him, Legolas turned sharply away from the army and Arwen's horse didn't need to be told to do the same. Her horse stayed next to Legolas's, and also turned.

"Arwen!" Legolas called to her. "Let them know you are here!"

Arwen smiled adventurously. "Lead the children away, I will do what needs to be done."

"We will meet you 2 miles East of here. And Arwen," Legolas looked at her seriously with much concern. "Don't get killed just so that they can see you. If it's too dangerous, turn around. All right?"

Arwen nodded. "I know."

Legolas turned and motioned for the children to steer their horses towards him. Each of them looked at Arwen curiously as they neared her, but none said anything.

Legolas was relieved as he put more distance between him and the army, feeling as if a burden was lifted away and that if he had not heard the voice yet, he would never hear it again, but he was wrong. It came to him just the same.

So, you have delivered to me the Evenstar.

Legolas's eyes widened and he instantly halted his horse. He could faintly see the army, but he knew that they were very far away, and that none of the humans would even be able to see it anymore. All of the rest of the horses stopped as well, as they were trained to do.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked. "Where are we?"

"A mile East of where we hit the army," Legolas replied. "We are halfway to the meeting point where we will see Arwen once again."

"Then why have we stopped?"

How gullible you are! You have given me the Evenstar without even putting up much fight.

Sudden guilt hit Legolas like a thousand bricks. He had delivered Arwen into the hands of the enemy.

"She is going to die," he murmured. Aragorn's eyes widened.

"What?" he demanded.

Legolas shook his head. "I must go back. Continue on for a mile, then stop. I will return. I don't know if I will have her with me or not, but I will return."

"This isn't part of the plan?!"

"It was, but… listen, everything is going according to plan, but I'm not sure if the plan was the best. Continue, I will meet you there." With that, Legolas took off towards Arwen.

Coming back? You cannot possibly hope to survive.

"You will not get Arwen," Legolas said under his breath.

I already have, Master Elf.

A/N: Lol, OK, the part where Legolas says "It makes it more interesting," I put it in there because Orlando Bloom says nearly the same thing in a quote I found about him. Maybe some of you already know this, but there was a rumor that he was engaged to a supermodel in Europe, and when he was asked if it was true or not he said, "I won't confirm anything and I won't deny anything. Makes me more interesting." That's where I got it. Lol, I couldn't help but put it in here.