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Chapter Ten: Dreams Away

            A small breeze passed over him. He kept his eyes closed for a time. He felt comfortable where ever it was he was and he wanted just to stay this way for a small moment, if that.

            With the next breeze a scent was brought with it. A sweet, filling flavor of something that reminded him of roses mixed with lilics. He smiled softly, his eyes still closed; he knew that scent – that warming perfume-like air.

            Legolas slowly opened his eyes, slightly fearing he would wake from whatever dream it was he was still reliving. He did not move as he looked at her standing near him. It took him a moment of confusion but he soon realized he hadn't woken from a dream, but he had drifted into one.

            She looked as she once did, not much different from the now but still, he could tell. Her hair was straight as it flowed over her gentle shoulders. Her face was a little fuller than it was now and had more of a procline like hue to it. Her Elven eyes matched his as they beamed a smile at him.

            He realized now that he was no longer sitting nor lying down as he had been when he 'woke'. Instead he was standing and he softly spoke in Elven to her, "How I wish this was real."

            Her soft smile gently turned rather sad. Something in her eyes dimmed a little. "You hear my voice now as you would any other time." She replied, slowly moving towards him.

            "I want my reality with you back, not a dream, not so unreal." In this dream like world, with their minds mingled and searching, he vaguely heard his own voice, 'Pretending that this is real! Pretending that what you and I have is real! It is not, it cannot be.'  "We are real, Syla." He told her, brushing his fingers lightly on her cheek.

            She nodded, saying nothing. She did not look at him and when she did her eyes had completely changed. They had gone from what they once were to what they were now, where she was. "And this, also, is very real, Legolas."

            He said nothing in reply. His eyes roamed her face, his hands wanting to feel what it was he was touching as he laced his fingers through her hair gently and yet they could not.

            He knew better than to ask her where she was or to dwell on what was at the moment. If he continued with such things the dream would end and she'd be miles away again.

            "If I could, Legolas, I would take away your pain." She told him, her eyes flickering across his face. "Not just of the moment, but of months ago. I know the war scarred your heart; you cannot hide such things from me. I can see the ocean's you're your heart and the blood of those who died in your eyes."

            He sighed slightly, a sad, thin smile on his lips. "I never intended on hiding it."

            The dream flickered with yelling, screams, pain, feelings. The scenery flashed towards a scene near-like Helm's Deep.

            "I remember a particular human couple," Legolas told her, leaning his forehead to her's and closing his eyes. "During the first large battle..At Helm's Deep."

            His mind changed the area again. The wind blew and night fell. They did not move, but his mind did and this time it brought her with him. Syla glanced around curiously. People were obviously upset. Women wept, children screamed, men looked so solemn.

            "Every man and boy was order out by Theoden. As I watched my eyes fell to a young man and woman." Gently the scene drifted to this portion of the thought. Legolas looked up to see them again, remembering every detail. "The desperation in her eyes, the determination in his. There was nothing either could do to stop what was happening, but beneath all they were feeling the love that radiated from their eyes was enormous."

            Syla watched the two quietly, listening to Legolas as he spoke, finding every bit of it true. The woman was trying to be strong but the tears still fell, only to be brushed away by her lover.

            "I watched as he turned away with a kiss and telling her that he loved her." He sighed quietly as the man walked away. "The bond they shared willed him to live through that battle and to march into it knowing he was protecting her. He was not going for anything but her and everything as beautiful and perfect as she was."

            Syla's eyes slipped to Legolas as the scene drifted and the woman shimmered into her figure instead.

            "For almost more than a year, Syla, I watched men tell those they loved that they would fight for life and for them…and I fought hard because of it. I fought because I knew if I did not, and if we all failed, I would never be able to tell you I fought for you."

            Syla's eyes drifted over him, her hands sliding up his shoulders and around his neck and hair.

            "You, everything you loved, everything and anything like you…for those who could feel the same about a person as I felt-feel for you." The Prince smiled softly as her eyes began to light again. "You know that I love you."

            A smile tinted her gentle face, "I know," she replied. "And I love you."

            Legolas set a light kiss on her lips, but pulled away before it could further. "I ask that you do something for me."

            Question filtered in her eyes, "Ask."

            "You must fight for me now, Syla."

            She frowned slightly in confusion.

            "I know they are pushing you, hurting you," he paused, pressing his anger away then continued, "but you must not give up before I get there Syla. You cannot let go. You have to fight for everything I love."

            Her eyes swam with doubt. She did not control the fates nor the stars. If it was her time, she would die..but she did not want to let go of life now any more than he wanted her to. "..I cannot promise you life, Legolas, but I will promise you that I will fight for it."

            Legolas looked at her for a time, unsure whether or not to accept the answer. Slowly he tilted his head down in quiet defeat, but his eyes still locked on her.

            Her gentle touch tilted his head back high and proud. "A Prince's head should be held high…A lover's even higher."

            He smiled at her then causing her to do the same. That was what Thrundir had told him long ago when the three of them had been joking around.

            Briskly, and with this lighter feeling, their lips met and for a moment the dream was wanted so badly that they could fell the other. Syla felt his hands gently pulling her body to his and he felt her fingers dance over the back of his neck almost making him shiver.

            It was so real for a time Legolas could taste the sweet flavor of her lips. He could feel her hair slide over his right cheek as the wind blew, frilling the long locks of both the Elves around the other. They were happy with the feeling of the other pressed against them and the longing that laced into that kiss.

            …and then there was nothing as Legolas woke to pain in his side only to fall back in unconsciousness and Syla to the harsh nudge of a Uruk-Hai.

*          A Few Hours Later      *

            Arwen honestly believed that not only were these creatures the ugliest she'd ever seen, but also rather stupid. They had arrived only a few moments ago to merge with another group or slightly different looking creatures. Her rider had dismounted, left her in the saddle, and turned his back. Did he really think she was going to stay there?

            Now, it had taken some time to loosen her ropes that bound her hands. She did not bother with the gag and her feet were unbound by the creature.

            As the raw rubbing of her wrists on the rope finally gave some way her eyes dropped to a sudden approaching group. Her silent struggle stopped as she caught a flash of stained white within the group.

            That was impossible! They had not ridden long at all, they could not have caught up to Syla! They were gone all night and this whole day. There was no…

            Unless..unless the group had turned a circle. Where they leading Legolas and the others on?

            Something was spoken in a language even Arwen did not understand as the groups merged and ceased their movement, spite a few. Words were exchanged for a time then Syla was roughly brought forward.

            Arwen looked at her in a horrified manner. Her fair skin and gown were stained with grime, dirt, and even a bit of blood. She had taken a blow to the mouth it looked like as blood still slightly stained her chin and lip. She had been hit near the brow too, for there was a slight cut there as well.

            Slowly her blue eyes met Arwen's with fair warning in them. She glanced at the horse and her eyes flashed something that looked like mischief almost. She lowered her head then lifted it with a very slow nod. Arwen did the same knowing exactly what she was thinking.

            As the words continued to exchange between the groups Arwen gently slid her hand away from the loosened ropes. She glanced at Syla who was waiting patiently.

            In a fast moment the Evenstar threw her heel into the eye of the Uruk that was holding the reins of the massive horse. She grabbed the reins with a swift kick to the horse and jerked him around to race towards Syla, knocking the huge dark creatures aside.

            Just as Syla knew Arwen would move she threw her elbow into the temple of the creature beside her. She ducked as one moved to grab her and thrust her clasped hands into his throat causing his windpipe to collapse.

            She looked up just as Biefir was nearing. She knew she could not get away from this Uruk but Arwen's timing was impeccable and without a second moment's thought Syla grabbed onto the front corner of the saddle and swung herself on as they raced out of the crowded Uruk.

*          *          *

            "Estel, think this through, we do not even know where they are." Thranduil pleaded as he followed the stubborn man through the commotion just outside his Throne.

            "That should not keep me from looking. There must be something Lord, something we missed. No one can disappear without a trace, least Arwen." Aragorn told him, spinning to face the tall Elf.

            "They are trying Estel. Say, hence, you go east and yet Arwen is west…It will take you twice as long to reach her if we find her there." Thranduil told him firmly, trying to talk some sense into the man.

            "My Lord, you of all people should know what your son and I are going through. You should also know that logic does not apply to our hearts, only our minds. Talk all you wish, but my heart will not heed my mind." He told him. "Only I can see the path if it is there."

            Thranduil paused at the statement. Yes, he knew what they were feeling. He also knew what they would feel if they failed. Absently his thumb spun the ring on his left hand around. It was true that when Lilitha had been captured during the darkest times of Mirkwood, then known as Greenwood, it was no one but himself and his heart that told him that she was north and not south as the others had thought.

            Instead he had gone with what he was told..that mistake had cost him dearly. It had set them back when they found that she was, truly, north and they had gotten there almost too late. She was not the same Elf she was and after a time they had no choice but to let her sail to the Grey Havens before her true time.

            Legolas was little more than an adolescent then, his younger brother but a child.

            The King looked at Aragorn, Son of Arathorn. He nodded slightly, "So you are right."

            Aragorn sighed softly, glad to at least have the approval of the King.

            "But I ask you one thing."

            "Lord?"

            "Allow me to join you?"

            Aragorn paused, surprised by the question. He glanced around at the Elves getting ready to ride in pursuit of Rivendel's Evenstar behind the King of Gondor. They were all so willing to follow him, to fight if needed. Their King had instilled such loyalty and pride.

            His grey eyes moved back to the King of Mirkwood. "It would be a great honor for you to ride beside me, King."

*          *          *

            Thrundir watched his brother. The poison was beginning to recede again. He had no idea what kind this was that even Elrond's daughter could not eliminate it fully. It even seemed to cause a hallucination before his brother passed out.

            With a sigh the eldest Prince of Mirkwood looked around him. The company of Elves with them wondered, talked, and slept. They had little else to do now as they waited for their Crown Prince to awaken.

            Again Thrundir looked to him. He remembered a time when he would not have been worried for his brother, maybe he would have even been relieved with such an illness.

            It hadn't really been Legolas's fault for that hostile feeling. The rage that boiled in Thrundir when his father had cast Thrundir out after a particularly large argument between the he and his son over the fault of his mother. He had accused his father of many things, and his father like-wise.

            Most of it had not been true but Thrundir had had enough of royalty and although he was Prince by blood, he was Crown Prince by age only. He had recalled himself from such a title and his father fully agreed to it at the time. He signed Legolas as his successor and though Thrundir had said that was what he wanted, he was jealous.

            Jealous that his father would so quickly replace him. Jealous he could not hold his own as Legolas could in the absence of his mother – though he had turned that as to that Legolas did not care for her. And that was what made him hate his brother for just under a thousand years.

            From the time Legolas was 253 to when he was 1123 Thrundir had hardly spoken to him. They had had a good relationship before then but Thrundir had rocked it needlessly. It had taken years to gain back Legolas's full trust, not that Thrundir blamed him. The older brother had done more than enough for the younger to hate him.

            ..What would Legolas do if he found out about Thrundir's feelings for Syla?

            Thrundir sighed. He had feelings for her, he had had them for some time…even while she was with his brother. When he found out about what Legolas did before he left, Thrundir had pushed those feelings aside, though he could have used them, to be only her friend and solely her friend.

            After a time, however, he could not keep them aside and he had come out with them. She had been speechless, he remembered, and for a moment it looked as though she would give into what he said was love. But something else clashed with her then and he knew it was the thought of his brother.

            She'd turned him down, gently really, but it was a blow to his pride. Thrundir was a gentle-Elf but he had some unfavorable flaws just as anyone had. He was no better. He'd turned on her then as he did with Legolas decades before. He was a little smarter this time though and eventually returned to her side as her friend, and only her friend.

            …Not even she knew that he still had this feeling within him that boiled and brewed everytime he saw her.

            His thoughts vanished as Legolas moved with a murmur. He looked at him and knelt beside him. "Legolas?"

            For a moment he did not reply, then he slowly looked up at him. His eyes were tired and weary looking. "How long has it been?"

            "Hello to you as well. You are fine, if you are asking. It seems the poison came back for a time but you can thank your youngest brother for being awake right now." Thrundir told him, tilting his head towards Hindirn. "As an answer to your question it has been a couple of hours."

            "Hours?!" Legolas exclaimed, trying to sit up but his brother pressing him back. "Hours? Thrundir, are you mad?! Why did you stop them?"

            "You were near-way dying Legolas!" Thrundir replied. "How were we to continue?"

            Legolas sputtered trying to find something to say.

            "You crazy Elf, nearly got me thrown off that horse!" Gimli exclaimed, waltzing up to him. "You think we were going to ride with you the way you were? Babbling all about this and that. You call your brother mad Legolas, but I think it might be you."

            Legolas looked at Gimli for a time then to his brother.

            "He is right Legolas. You cannot blame us for stopping." Hindirn added.

            Legolas sighed, frustrated, then said, "Agreed, you stopped with good reason. I am sorry for the outburst..But we must continue now." He moved to get up again but Thrundir held him down and added a stern glare with it. "Thrundir." Legolas said lowly. "You will not hold me here."

            Gimli glanced between the two as they tested their wills against he other. He shifted his stout weight uncomfortably. He had a feeling that this certainly wasn't the first time this 'clash of the titans' had occurred.

            "We will ride, but if it happens again you are going home." Thrundir told him firmly.

            "I would like to see you try to get me there." Legolas warned lowly.

            Again their eyes held wars before Hindirn eased his oldest brother away. "He is fine for now at least, Thrundir. I doubt it will happen again. We are wasting time here, now let us go." Hindirn offered his hand to his brother.

            Legolas took the firm grip and stood rather slowly. He looked at Gimli who looked back. Legolas smiled at him slightly.

            "Dream of her, hm?" Gimli questioned knowingly.

            Legolas frowned slightly. "How did you know?"

            "Your eyes are lighter." Gimli observed, surprising the Elf. "Do not look so surprised, I've spent a year with an Elf I should start to catch on somewhere." He laughed. "..And you were mumbling in your sleep."

            A genuine smile spread on the Prince's face. He chuckled a little and placed his hand on the Dwarf's shoulder. "I am glad you are here Gimli." He told his friend as he moved away somewhat stiffly.

            "And the next time you do that you won't be worrying about the poison but an angry Dwarf when you wake up!" Gimli shouted after him.

*          *          *

            "Faster Arwen!" Syla exclaimed, another arrow skimming by her.

            "He will go no faster!" Arwen replied. She had no idea how they had gotten this far, this quickly, on such a slow beast.

            Syla grumbled something under her breath. So this was why they left the opening so obvious..they probably figured they couldn't get away on this animal.

            A spark of hope flew through her as she heard Arwen hissing some words to the beast. His stride faltered a moment until it picked up quickly suddenly. Needless to say both she-Elves were very pleas-

            She didn't know what she hit, but she hit something hard.

            Syla shook her head trying to get her bearings. She saw Arwen a few feet away struggling to get her bearings just as she was. Blink she looked to the side and saw the horse breathing in a horrible labored sound, a spear projecting from his front flank.

            She was up as soon as her dizzy head would let her and rushed over to Arwen, struggling to get them both balanced and running. As soon as they had their bearings, however, they were both off in a hurry.

            Arrows still rained around them. The two did not release the other's hand as they ran, terrified to be caught or separated. They were Elves, fast by nature, graceful by blood.

            "Go to the trees." Arwen told her.

            In the next low limb they were both gone, the tracking Uruk shouting in angry fits.

            "Careful!" Syla exclaimed as an arrow shot right past Arwen's face.

            The daughter of Elrond looked at her in surprise. She wasn't expecting that. Quickly they filtered through the large limbs and stayed hidden in the leafy branches. They tried to ignore the shouts from below of impending doom if they fell or were captured and stayed focused on the trees.

            Arwen grabbed onto a slim vine for a steady baring as she moved to the next branch..before she knew it and arrow snapped the vine's tense hold on the limb, throwing her off balance and into a plummet to the ground below with a shout from Syla as she tried in vain to grasp her.

            Arwen hardly had the time to recognize any pain as she was swarmed by her renewed captors. They cursed and spat and moved her about harshly. She could still hear Syla in the trees.

            "Go Syla!" Arwen called to her in Elven. "Keep going!"

            There was a strange barking-like sound and the thundering of something heavy on the ground as it ran. Flashes of half a dozen horrid looking creatures flew past the Evenstar as she was hauled, unceremoniously, to her feet.

            They were some sort of canine species almost. Quick as horses it seemed, and, as she watched in growing horror, graceful as felines as they shot up the tree trunk without a pause in stride.

            She could not see her friend within the trees but she heard as the creatures barreled through the branches and she caught glimpses of her moving swiftly away from them from limb to limb. Thank the Valar that she was a Wood Elf.

            Yet it seemed not even her blood could help her from this task.

            Something sliced into her forearm, she felt it as if fire, and a mass of weight collided with her fiercely throwing Syla from the high limb and onto the leafy ground quickly pounced on by the Uruk before the canine's could get their teeth truly into her.

            Arwen struggled with her captors as they moved her away. It did not take them long at all for them to get frustrated with her.

            Being thrown over someone's shoulder Arwen could do nothing as she was taken out of view of the other Elf.

            "I told you you would not escape, didn't I?! ..Didn't I?!" Kilier shouted angrily as he shook the she-Elf's shoulders.

            "I will not heed your threats!" Syla shot back.

            "If you are wise, you will." Kilier warned lowly, drool dripping off his chin. "I am certain Biefir would love to help you understand that."

            There was a swift smacking sound and another throb in Syla's face. This time, as it had last time, it did not stop there. Feet, fists, Valar knew what else slammed into her body.

            Only when every limb, muscle, bone in her body was probably bruised did they stop. ..The only thing they had truly spared was her face.

            Spitting out the iron taste of blood she was met again with the face of Biefir and Kilier with others. "You made a mistake once, I don't allow them again, if you weren't useful you'd be dead! You understand?"

            Syla merely looked at him then nodded shallowly.

            "Good. You will be dead if it happens again, I don't care if the Prince sees you or not..I suggest you warn your friend she gets a free non-punished try this time but she won't next time just as you did but if she tries and ends up escaping without you, you're dead. Same to you, understood?"

            Syla felt like she was being trapped in. She had no where to go. At least without Arwen she could try and fail and only she would die..now the Evenstar would as well. She could not take the risk anymore.

            "I understand." She hissed under the pain of broken ribs.

            "I'm pleased to hear it." Kilier growled.

-           -           -

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D.Night