A/N PLEASE R/R!!!!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of Tolkien's characters or places. Or creatures, for that matter. I only own what you don't recognize, and if you think I'm making money off of my stories, you're smoking something..

The next morning showed great promise as the Kingdom slowly awoke. It was a clear day, barely a cloud in the sky, and the sun shone brightly, lighting up every room. A warm breeze gently swayed the young saplings of the forest.

Riania, after Sriosno had fallen asleep, had returned and stayed with him all through the night, holding his pale hand, and praying. Finally his glazed eyes focused, still clouded with pain, and he forced a weak smile for his beloved.

"Are you all right?" Riania asked, worry creasing her forehead slightly.

"I'm still hurting, but I feel a bit better." Sriosno groaned as he slightly turned onto his side. But what puzzled everyone in the palace who had seen the couple was that even though Sriosno was in great pain, he had not a mark on him. But Riania was all scratched and bruised, and yet felt nothing.

"As I said before, you should have never taken away my pain," Riania scolded him, eyes hard. "Look where it's gotten you!"

Sriosno shook his head slightly, sadly. "But Riania, you weren't awake for days...... You didn't know what the healers were saying......"

"What were they saying?" demanded the new Mirkwood princess.

"They, they said you weren't going to pull through. I could never let you die...... My heart would break...... My life would have no meaning, and I'd diminish. You're everything to me, Riania." A few tears spilled over and down her cheeks as she listened to him.

"But what about you! I could never go on......" She quickly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.

"Alas, I only experience the pain, I do not bear the wounds." Riania looked down at herself, then over at Sriosno. He looked perfectly healthy, but for his pale color and pained eyes. She, on the other hand, looked as if the orc really *might* have eaten her...... He went on. "Although the wounds will never completely heal, and you will bear them for the rest of your days, never be as strong as you used to be........ You will live, for the pain contributed to your illness."

"Amin mela lleI love you," whispered Riania in Sriosno's ear, her tears falling onto his tunic. "I always will."

"And I to you," returned he husband. "Forever......"

~*~*~*~*~*

The next few days were hard for everyone, although Sriosno's pain began to subside and Riania's wounds began to mend. But, strangely, as the two Royals began to heal, the skies darkened more and more, though no one knew why.

Fianlly, around the lines of two fortnights later, the prince and princess were as fully better as they could be. But that day was particularly shadowed, and little did anyone in the Kingdom of Mirkwood know what was to happen......

It was supper, and all of the Court was gathered as the King and Queen stood at the center (Sriosno's mother and father) ready to give the nightly prayer to the Valar. When suddenly, from the far end of the Hall, and arrow flew through the opened window, piercing the Queen through her back. It was then Chaos from there.