Disclaimer: Ok here it goes (maybe I should get a pre-written one of these?) I have nothing to do with lord of the rings or new line cinema etc etc. Nothing. Not a drop.

A/N: PLEASE PLEASE review this if you've read it. You're denying a poor defenceless ego its only food source. It's really cute and loves to be cuddled so don't kick it by not reviewing. Thanks again to Kat for her help on chapter seven. It was great!

A little note about Kiyara's name too. In some chapters, the 'i' has a little squiggle above it, and in this one not. This change is only for this chapter whilst things are being sorted out. Next chapter, her name will return to it's normal squiggly self.  Thanks again to Kat who helped me the dumbass sort this out!!

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The rain stopped hammering on the barn roof and the peaceful silence was once more restored. Gradually the storm clouds began to drift away to reveal a topaz blue morning sky, the air was clear and the last remaining drops of rain fell from glistening leaves gently landing on the ground.

Inside the barn Kiyara stirred against the warmth of her husband's body. She opened her emerald green eyes and lay quite still listening to the sounds around her. Legolas' steady breathing, the rustling of straw as a draft caught it and the gentle melodies of the birds in the trees.

The serene pictures made the events of the previous night seem like dim memories, a passing shadow, just a smudge on the pages of their life together. Kiyara had a feeling there would be lots of smudges but in the expanse of their time together it was nothing and that was what made her smile.

The dazzling sun poked through a knothole in the wooden walls of the barn momentarily blinding her. It was just past dawn. Gently Kiyara shook Legolas. His sapphire blue eyes flicked open and he looked steadily at her before smiling and leaning forward to kiss her. Briefly Kiyara let him, but as he ran his tongue over her bottom lip she pulled away reluctantly. He frowned at her.

"What's wrong?" He asked stroking her hair.

"Nothing. Its time we were going, it's past dawn and the stable boys will want their barn back." She added mischievously, offering a hand to an unenthusiastic Legolas.

When he was dressed and Kiyara had recovered her forgotten shift she turned to him again.

"Will you run up to the palace and get me some clothes please?" She asked with round doe eyes.

"I suppose so." He answered grudgingly.

"Don't look like that. I could walk through the palace in my shift if you wanted but I might be forced to kill someone. Please? For me?"

She added momentarily letting her fingers touch his lips. He looked astutely at her.

"That doesn't work on me anymore. But yes I'll go."

As he walked away Kiyara called after him.

"It did last night!"

She could picture his face in her mind and it made her laugh out loud.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Legolas returned he was carrying a pile of clothes and the patter of tiny feet behind him told Kiyara that Celen was there too. Legolas unceremoniously placed the clothes at her feet.

"Thank you"

Kiyara said sweetly as she strapped the daggers to her calves. Celen, who had up until now being chasing a lost butterfly, clambered up onto the bale of straw that Legolas had seated himself on. He snuggled into the warmth of Legolas' arms and put his thumb in his mouth.

"Don't do that." Legolas said wrestling Celen's tiny hand.

"Why?" Celen pouted.

"Because."

With the speed of lightening Celen's young mind changed tracks. If he weren't going to get a good answer he'd ask something else.

"Why are you and mother sleeping in the barn?" He said innocently.

Legolas flicked a look at Kiyara who smiled as if to say it's all yours. He quickly thought of a child proof answer.

"Because we had to talk about some things in private." Legolas answered diplomatically.

"Oh." Celen looked confused. "That bad man who tried to kill mother last night didn't say that. He said you were giving her her due and that you'd exhaust yourself by morning no doubt." After a brief pause Celen continued.

"Father what's a whore's son?"

Both Legolas and Kiyara looked sharply at their son. Dread began to creep into Kiyara's brain like an irreversible tide and the power welled up in her heart. She struggled to contain it within her and the fire sparked in her eyes.

"Who said that?" Legolas asked gently.

"That's what the bad man called me. So I just ignored him."

"Good boy, you don't need to know what that word means yet but I don't want you using it alright?" Legolas cautioned.

"Alright." Celen said brightly, sensing that this wasn't something to be pressed at the moment. Legolas looked up at the same time as Celen spoke again.

"Where's mother gone?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kiyara strode on purposefully to the practice ring where she could hear the sound of metal clash as men fought. The ringing noise in her ears clouded her mind and her stare could have lit fires. It was one thing to attack her but to strike her defenceless son was another. Another she wouldn't let pass.

Then a new feeling began to creep into her, a primal instinct rose amidst the swirling torrents inside her, it cooled and soothed the burning emotions that raged within. It harnessed them and dragged them to her brain. It stood them in front of her and whispered of the revenge she could wreak if she condensed the wild power into one silent yet deadly arsenal.

Kiyara stopped her in her path to the fights and breathed deeply. She was in control of herself and the thoughts that speared her mind were ice cold and meticulously planned. Kiyara was scaring herself, never before had she felt so much power within her. Then a scrabbling thought at the back of her mind broke through the frosty walls.

This is what you could become. This is what you are capable of. You have twice the power you ever dreamed. You could be queen of the world and all would bow to you for eternity. Just accept me. Let me have your mind…

"No!" She shouted resisting the pull of the voice with every breath she took. Terror gripped Kiyara in its painful grasp. That wasn't her mind she wasn't…evil.

She didn't know it but the voice in her head was the aftermath of Sauron. He would always find a way; even if he could only rule through another body and a weaker mind he would always find a way.

Kiyara had the potential to be more powerful and deadly than Sauron ever was but she had the strength of character to resist the call of the dark. She also had one other barrier to his evil attraction. She had things she valued more than her power, more than the greed and hatred that had consumed Sauron. She had Legolas and she had her family. And that was what saved her now.

"Kiyara!"

Legolas called out running towards her. She turned, her sickly grey pallor had returned to its normal healthy glow and the cold merciless thoughts melted back into oblivion.

"Kiyara don't do anything stupid. He's not worth it. Just let it lie. Please." Legolas panted.

Kiyara shook her head and began to walk once more to the sound of clashing metal.

"Why do you do this to me Kiyara?" Legolas said angrily.

Kiyara stopped and turned to face him. She spoke through clenched teeth.

"Because everything I have ever wanted I've had to fight for. Before I met you if I wanted or needed something it was a battle all the way, I fought tooth and nail to get to where I am now. You don't know what it's like not to have everything handed to you on a silver plate." She winced as she blotted the paper again.

"Kiyara you know that's not fair. I don't know what it has been like for you but don't hold that against me. You don't have to fight anymore. Let me teach you how to have things on a silver plate."

Kiyara smiled at her beautiful husband. She had insulted him and yet he still managed to calm her down and forgive her, she took him for granted far too often. She inclined her head in agreement. He put his arm around her shoulder and drew her to him.

"Firstly" He said kissing the side of her head "we're going to learn diplomacy. You're not going to in there waving your sword and shouting abuse. You're going to stop and think."

He mistook the shudder that ran through her body for one of disgust, when in fact she was remembering the feelings that had gripped her only moments before.

"It's not that bad. Instead of hitting him where it hurts, hit him where he'll remember it. In his mind, you're going to wound his pride."

Kiyara sighed.

"I tried that last night and he got over it Legolas. This isn't for me it's for my son. Your son. Our baby."

"That's why it's going to have to be memorable. Last night he can claim drunkenness and the others were too groggy to notice much, but here you can beat him at what he thinks he's good at. Everyone will know that you bet him. A feeble woman, if that term can even be brought near you that is. I'm doing it for our son as well but you know that I can't get involved don't you?"

"No."

"I can't. Even you have to see they are spoiling for a fight, if they declared a war on us we don't have the numbers to fight them on our own. We have more skill and power but they have the advantage. If I started lashing out at him they'd have an excuse but you're just the queen you don't matter." He felt her tense up

"You do matter, we both know you have the real power here but they don't know that." He added hastily.

Kiyara drew back and looked at him seriously. "All right."

He smiled broadly at her. "Let's get your armour."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Elves rarely used armour unless there was a war; they had the accuracy and skill to stop before a fatal blow could be administered in the practise ring. However Kiyara didn't trust Kai one bit.

Finally Legolas strapped the breastplate to Kiyara, this piece of armour had more bearing to her than to other soldiers in the fact that it's meaning could be taken quite literally. Legolas stood back to look at her.

"It's a long time since I've seen you like that." He said grinning.

She gave him a withering look and took her sword from the peg on which its scabbard hung. All the elves had their own space in the armoury where they could keep their things separate. Kiyara withdrew the blade and looked it up and down.

It was made to the style of Narsil. Its blade was straight and fairly broad; it was a bit shorter than most swords of that style so it was easily used from horse back. However it was forged by elves so it was silvery grey instead of being dull and it weighed less than a mortal made weapon. Along the hilt and continuing up the blade was an elvish inscription.

Kiyara's eyes reflected its gleam and she smiled. "Helmet please."

Legolas handed her the open fronted headgear and helped tuck her hair under it. She was ready. Kiyara wore the metal like a second skin, the sword became part of her arm and the power she wielded flowed down its blade.

Truly, Legolas thought as he looked at her, she was born to be a fighter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Legolas and Kiyara walked to the rings. It was a small area enclosed by a wooden fence and on the ground was sand brought up from the beaches. Elves and men were gathered around watching the men fight. Instead of jumping straight in as she would normally do Kiyara waited and watched while Kai fought with Lord Macsen.

Legolas watched her flick an expert eye over the warring men; she watched Kai's moves with eagle sharp awareness searching for his weakness. Legolas watched too. Kai was a little slow on overhead strikes as his armour restricted him and his bulk made it hard to move and parry his opponent he noted. Kiyara would use this to her advantage. He could probably deal a mightier blow than she could, but Kiyara wouldn't let him get one in. She was light-footed and nimble she'd dance circles round him. The fight ended in Lord Macsen's defeat and Kai shouted out to the crowd.

"Will anyone challenge me? Or are you all too cowardly in this race of elves!" Legolas smiled, this would get her going. He listened intently.

"I will challenge you." Kiyara strode forward and entered the ring. A hush fell over the crowds. A woman was challenging the champion. It was unheard of.

"I think not. I won't fight you a mere woman." Kai replied in astonishment.

"If any one is cowardly it's the race of men, will you not humour me? Or are you scared of defeat? Is it not better to have tried and failed than never tried at all?"

Kai's mind was in turmoil. He couldn't refuse now but he had the feeling she would win. In the end his dangerous and aggressive nature took over.

"I will fight though I do not wish to harm you my Lady."

Legolas winced. My Lady was never good if she didn't know you well. As he watched Kai began to circle. However Kiyara didn't wait and threw aside the formalities of the practise ring. Her first blow landed like an earthquake on Kai's shoulder. He staggered back but already she was upon him again raining the blows down like autumn leaves. He raised his heavy and bulky sword to block her now frontal attack but she ducked the swords arc and caught him across the chest.

Once more he fell back under the barrage of slashes. Frantically he rallied pushing all his weight behind the one stroke he managed to hit her with. He forced Kiyara back out to the middle of the arena. For five frantic minutes he attempted to block her onslaught but he couldn't escape it.

This was not Kiyara fighting against the likes of Aragorn where she was pushed to her limits and used it to hone her skills. This wasn't fun; this was Kiyara fighting to win. With one final upwards arc Kiyara sent Kai's sword spinning from his hand and in one graceful movement she caught it and brought both swords around brining them to a sudden halt either side of Kai's neck. He raised his hands in unwilling defeat.

Kiyara dropped his sword in the sand and handed hers to a waiting elf. In one swift elegant action she removed her helmet and let her hair fall about her shoulders. It caught the sun and accentuated her fine boned face. Kai looked on in horror, he was beaten, well and truly defeated by a woman.

He muttered under his breath. "Stupid whore."

Kiyara smiled and answered just to Kai

"Don't ever touch my family again because you haven't even seen what I can do when I'm trying. There are worse things than death."

She turned on her heel to where her husband was stood holding her youngest son in his arms. She could see Áruinne and Fiarén stood behind them. This was her family and her only love. It was what she lived for and the reason Sauron couldn't touch her.

Family is forever.