DISCLAIMER: OTHER THAN LORIEN, I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY, THEY ALL BELONG TO THE FANTASTICALLY TALENTED J.R.R. TOLKIEN AND I HAVE MERELY BORROWED THEM FOR THE SAKE OF A STORY. I, MYSELF, COULD NOT COME UP WITH A STORY SUCH AS LORD OF THE RINGS OR CREATE ANY OF THE CHARACTERS WITHIN THESE STORIES, SO I DO NOT PRETEND TO OWN ANY OF THEM. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE STORY AND AGAIN, ONLY LORIEN IS MY CHARACTER.

But suddenly hope filled her heart again and she knew why it had done so.

'Legolas, he is here.' Lorien thought to herself. She saw Grima lurking in the corner.

'Grima, will you not let me free of my binds? I am weak and I shall not escape, all hope has left me and I know I shall have to go to Sauron once he has regained power.' Grima looked at Lorien and hesitated for a while. Then, sensing her sorrow, he moved and undid the bounds that held her hands. Her arms fell and they ached sorely. Lorien rubbed her wrists and rested for a while. Then she stood up and grabbed Grima, binding his mouth and his hands before he could make a sound.

'You are foolish Grima. Foolish to trust me when I am finally to be rescued and foolish to trust Saruman. He cares for you not!' Lorien turned and stepped forward quietly, approaching the window. Suddenly Saruman entered the room.

'Idiot! How did she manage to trick you, not that I am surprised, you are easily fooled.' Saruman approached Lorien and saw the glint in her eyes.

'Why do you still fool yourself that he will come? He is dead!'

'You are a liar; I know he is not dead. He is here in Isenguard.' Saruman looked at Lorien and then walked to the window and looked down. There he saw Legolas, along with Gandalf, Gimli, Aragorn and the King and some of his men.

'Their haste to rescue you will cost you your life! That elf is blinded by love.'

'Love is strong Saruman!'

'Too strong it seems.' Saruman turned to Lorien and she saw the evil brewing in his eyes, she turned to run but Saruman knocked her down with his staff.

'You shall not escape.' Saruman held her fast until he was upon her. There he grabbed her and pulled her up the dark, cold stairs until they came to the roof of Orthanc. Lorien felt the cold air rush over her body and for a second, it was relief, until Saruman held her at the edge of the roof.

'Fools! Retreat home or she will lose her life!' Lorien looked down and watched as Legolas jumped down from Shadow. Gandalf restrained him with much difficulty.

'You will not take her life Saruman!' Gandalf's voice seemed to echo around Isenguard, shaking the ground as it passed. Lorien had never felt so scared or horrified ever before. She began to shake with fear and Saruman laughed in her ear.

'You are scared.'

'No, I am cold!' Lorien retorted. Saruman threw her to the ground.

'Your boldness will cost you your life, just like their foolishness will!'

'I will not lose my life here, I know that.' With the end of her sentence, Lorien reached out her hand and took Saruman's staff from his grasp. He staggered but managed to straighten himself and looked at Lorien.

'You are not as clever as you make out Saruman. Did you not know that I too had powers? Gandalf taught me well. Now what will you do?'

'I can still kill you, childish girl.' Lorien fled down the stairs with Saruman's staff and came to the floor just above the door. There Grima tripped her.

'You did not tie me well enough Lorien.'

'I was always too soft.'

'Maybe you are not such a fool!' Saruman was behind her and Grima handed him his staff. Lorien's head hung, she did not know or hope that Legolas could save her now.

'You will pay for making me look a fool.' Saruman's staff began to glow, then suddenly there was the sound of wood splintering and Saruman quickly realised that the door had been broken down. On the threshold stood Gandalf. Lorien almost wept with relief.

'You shall not harm her Saruman.'

'You cannot stop me!'

'Yes I can, I am no longer the Gandalf you remember. I am Gandalf the white and I am here to remove you from the order of wizards. I hereby take your staff.' Gandalf raised his staff and Saruman's split into a thousand pieces before their eyes. Lorien could see the anger in Saruman's eyes and he grabbed her by her hair, pulling it tightly.

'You shall not win. The elf will go to Sauron for he will need a powerful queen and Lorien suits the role for darkness lies within her.'

'Your evil words play no tricks on my ears. I have known and taught Lorien for a long age now and there is no evil in her, only good and pure love. Sauron could not have a wife who was protected by love.'

'That elf of Mirkwood is no match for Sauron. He will quash any love she has in her, if there is any.' Saruman pulled Lorien's hair and she cried out in pain. Legolas pushed passed Gandalf and held his bow and arrow ready.

'Legolas.' Lorien said softly.

'Stupid elf! Your arrows will not harm me, for I still have power.'

'Let my lady go!'

'And what will you do if I fail to meet your command. She goes to Sauron or she will die. You will not save her.'

'Kill me quickly then, for I will not go to Sauron!'

'Your wish is my command. Grima!' Grima handed Saruman a long, silver sword and held it to Lorien's chest, pulling her hair tighter.

'Now, how shall I do this? Through the heart, where love will not save her then. Or shall I cut her head off and send it to Sauron. He will then have a piece of her at least and will be able to look upon her pretty face. Or then I could cut parts off, one by one and let you see her die in great pain.' What happened next occurred in a flash. Gandalf uttered words of ancient tongue and the sword flew from Saruman's hand to the floor by Legolas. Then Gandalf threw Saruman against the wall and held him there. Grima moved to hold Lorien but Legolas let go of the arrow and it pierced through Grima's arm and he screamed in pain. Legolas ran over to Lorien and picked her up before taking her to the door. Grima ran up the stairs and Gandalf threw Saruman to the floor.

'You shall not argue with me again. I told you that you will not harm Lorien and the love Legolas holds for her is to strong for him to let you harm her. Sauron will not have her for his wife and he shall not be allowed to destroy that love. You are removed from the order and so from your position as chief.' Saruman, knowing he could not win began to run back up the stairs to his chamber. As he did so, something came hurtling down the stairwell and landed inches from Legolas and Lorien. Lorien shut her eyes and clung to Legolas.

'Gandalf, get a cloth and cover that thing.'

'One of the seeing stones. I feel this shall become of use. I thank you for your gift Saruman!' Gandalf turned and ushered Legolas and Lorien out of the door and down the stairs.

'Fool!' Saruman's cruel voice rang through Isenguard.

'Grima will pay for that second of madness.' Lorien said softly.