I don't own Tolkien's stuff……

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So….how do you like it so far? Good? Good.

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PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:

This chapter should be a bit more interesting. The last one was just background. In this chapter I get into a bit of Elven Healing magic.

I think the way their healing skill works is that Healer Elf take good energy from well parts of the patient's body and brings it to the sick parts and heals them. I think that cuts and things like that disappear as the new energy heals. So in a way it's a bit more like a ritual with magic than just an act they perform.

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Chapter 1 - Brutal Discovery

Legolas walked swiftly down the halls of the lower wing. He had to get away from all the activity… it was getting to be overwhelming. The feast hall was packed full of Elves, drinking, eating and being merry, but he did not feel like a feast tonight.

Instead, he walked the halls of the servant's wing, determined to do something other than get cornered by some husband-seeking maiden. He was sick of the proposals, the fawning and the jealous looks.

He sighed, coming to a halt in the middle of a barren hallway. All the servants were at the feast. He stood still for a moment and his brow furrowed as he listened far off. He could her the sound of crying, and then the sudden sound of a man's voice. It sounded cruel, threatening. He knew almost immediately who is could be.

He continued walking, brushing stray strands of his silver-blonde hair from his face. He really didn't want this now.

He turned a corner and pursed his lips, picking up speed, at the sight.

A figure stood there. A man with dark hair and a cruel disposition. His name was Haranuil, one of the Overlords of Legolas's father's land. Under Haranuil cowered a small figure, it was crying, whimpering under his raised hand. He brought his hand down and the figure, a girl, let out a cry. He took her by both arms and mercilessly wrenched her from the ground.

Legolas stepped forward, "I would ask you to unhand her." he said, pitching his voice so that it had the sound of steel on steel.

Haranuil let go abruptly and the girl fell back against the stone wall.

"Your Majesty…" Haranuil breathed, "I…well, I…"

"I have only the faintest ideas of what you were doing but they are enough." The Prince said, imperiously, "She is a servant of your, no doubt?"

"Yes…" Haranuil replied, his voice laced with venom, "And a rebel at that! She was running away again! I only meant to-"

Legolas smiled a fake smile and said, in a mocking tone, "You only meant to… what? Kill her?"

"I-"

But the Prince cut him off swiftly again, "Leave. I have no more wish to see you right now."

Haranuil gave the Royal a glare that could crack stone itself and grabbed the girl by the arm.

"No!" said Legolas quickly, "Leave her!"

"Your Majesty, She is my property-"

"I said leave her." Legolas said in all finality, "I will speak with you later, in private."

"Yes, Milord." Haranuil said, a sneer on his callous face, as he walked away, down the dim halls.

Legolas went to the girl, who still hovered against the wall, clinging to it, her breath coming in shaky sobs. He put a hand under her chin and lifted her head until her eyes were level with his, but she would not meet them. She tried to bow her head down again, but the Prince would not let her.

"What is your name?" he asked, his tone kinder to her than to Haranuil.

She hesitated before answering, but in the end, let out a small whisper, "Elessa…"

Speaking seemed to be causing her pain, and on closer inspection, Legolas saw the many lashes on her back and arms and the bruises on her neck and wrists. His look was that of disgust as he surveyed the pitiful form in front of him.

"You need to see a healer…" he muttered, looking away from her face and up and down her thin body.

"Your Royal Highness…" she whimpered, "Please, let me go. He will be even more harsh if I don't go to him soon. I…"

"Harsh?" Legolas echoed, amazed, "Elessa, That was not harsh, that was ruthless. Come with me."

Elessa hesitated before doing so. She knew that her master would kill her the next time he saw her, she was sure of this. Knowing Haranuil, he was already planning ways how, either that, or finding a new slave to torture and molest.

"I must insist." Legolas went on, his tone still soft and low, "If you do not come with me, I will drag you. I am Head Healer in the palace. If anyone, including your master, dare oppose me, they will answer to my father. You are under my rule and protection. I command you to follow me and accept my help."

Elessa followed slowly behind the adamant Prince, walking slowly toward the Healing wing. She stumbled once, but Legolas caught her, smiling into her grey eyes.

"Your okay…lean on me…" he offered, but the young girl refused. Instead, she walked, her breath raspy and her steps uneven, alone until they reached a door Legolas stopped before.

Please let him be kind… Elessa thought to herself as he opened the door slowly, I have no more strength left to fend him off. I hope I am dying. Please, just let him be benevolent to my condition. I would have him kill me, If I could. Maybe wolfs bane will be among the healing herbs he stores, or vivane root. They are quick

Her thoughts ran through the list of poisons that could easily kill her. She was a peasant by nature, and her family's pride had been on their knowledge of herbs and all things natural.

Legolas, on the other hand, had very different ideas running through his mind.

She may have broken ribs, or at least bruised ones. he thought, trying to sum up her injuries by sight, The bruises and the lashes of the whip would be easy to heal. If she has internal injuries…please let her allow me to restore her body.

Legolas motioned for Elessa to sit down on the bed in the corner of the room. The room itself was dimly lit, only a fire and few candles illuminated the wall, table, chair and cabinet that were nestled among the corners, seemingly etched in the stone walls.

Elessa noticed, if the Prince did not, that her body was shaking. She knew why. It had not been many times that she was alone in a room with a man and he was not advancing on her. But The Prince seemed to be different. He stood at the tall cabinet, rummaging through its contents and taking chosen things out and laying them at the fireplace. Next he put a pot of water on the already roaring fire to boil.

When he finally turned to look at her, she felt not a wave or dislike and malice, but found instead a kind smile coming her way.

"I need to ask you, though I'm not sure I should, to take off your clothing," he said carefully, "Take this and wrap it around your waste, then lay down on your back as gently as you can."

He handed the shaking girl a soft green blanket and she did as he commanded, although she was not sure what was to happen next. But to her amazement, he was not interested in her body, not in the way she thought, anyways.

"Now, I'm going to heal you. It'll be very long and you'll be very weak throughout and after the procedure." he stated, although she knew the process, "I assure you, though, you will be safe with me."

Her thoughts told her to the Prince, although her body shook more than ever as she allowed him to help her lay down on her painful back.

"Now just rest…" The Prince said, his voice soothing, "And I will take care of the rest…"

She felt his hands move across her body, and felt the healing that her body was going through. She knew from experience how draining healings can be, both referring to the person being healed and the person doing the healing.

Only a few times in the 5 years she had been Haranuil's slave had she ever done a healing on herself. It was hard and took more out of a person doing it on themselves as opposed to someone else, because you have to use all your health healing the hurt parts of your body. If you work a healing on someone else, you can mix your health with theirs and eliminate most of the outcoming weakness.

It tore her so much, because if she was weak, she stood no chance of fending her Master off, but if she did not do a healing, she would've most likely died.

"Shhh…" Legolas said, after over an hour of trance-like healing for the both of them, "Its almost done…"

He sighed, finishing the work on her arms. He had to get her away from Haranuil. Legolas had always hated the elf, but there was nothing he could do about it. Haranuil helped to manage one sector of Mirkwood's forest area, but he was known for being cruel. The only reason he still held a noble position was because in these times of evil Thranduil wanted no civil wars.

Elessa was shaking when, after a total of 2 hours, he finished the healing, and she had drifted into unconsciousness.

He smiled and pulled another blanket up over the girl. She was safe in here. He needed to go now and make sure she would be safe forever.