A/N: Alas! I have returned! Lol! I'm so very thankful and happy for all of your wonderful and beautiful reviews! Lol! You guys rock! You crack me up!. Well now non of you shall die from withdraw! Ha! Enjoy da chap! I shall try to post chap 11 as soon as possible! I'm so shocked I've gotten this far! I'm also shocked that you guys love it so much! Keep up the wonderful reviews! Not only does it motivate me, but also it makes me feel my story is actually worth writing! Thanx again! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope, noffin of Tolkien's is mine! Damnit. Though I would love to own Legolas!



Chapter 10

Pain and Suffering

Malfanion raised his head slowly. He knew his evil deed had been done, and now he held a new information he greatly treasured.

"So, Neveth, you are not truly of this world. Are you?" His grin turned into a chuckle, growing into a full malice laugh.

He stood and clothed himself.

"I will teach you how things are justly done in Middle-earth!"

With that he strode off towards Rivendell.

~*~*~*~

Ami awoke. She didn't open her eyes, she remembered full heartily what had happened. The gnawing pain in her stomach helped in that part.

She also remembered her place shifting, she was scared to open her eyes in case she would be home. Away from Rivendell, away from Elrond, away from Legolas.

She heard nothing, but gradually her hearing began to come back to her.

She heard a faint voice. Then it grew louder, until Ami was well aware that the person was right beside her, whispering softly in her ear.

"Neveth? Neveth mella, can you hear me?" It said. Ami wasn't sure, but she could almost be certain she smiled at the recognition of his voice.

She worked harder at opening her eyes, the light was bright and it was hard.

Legolas stood quickly at the sight of her attempt in opening her eyes.

He smiled when she did and turned to the guard that stood behind him.

"Quickly, find lord Elrond, tell him to come at once." The guard bowed and left the room.

Legolas turned back to Ami and smiled lovingly down at her as he caressed her cheek.

Ami sighed, but even that hurt, and she winced a little.

Legolas' smile faded when he saw this.

"You are in much pain." He said softly.

Ami opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came. So she cleared her throat and tried again. Still, nothing came. Ami felt the fear rise in her. Had she lost her voice? Oh Elbereth, not this.

Legolas sensed the turmoil in her.

"Hush little one, a lot will be said when you are well, you must rest now and regain your strength."

Ami let out a long sigh, and stopped her attempt in talking. Tears brimmed the edges of her eyes, and she averted her gaze elsewhere so Legolas wouldn't see, but of course, he did.

He felt ripped in two. He was supposed to protect her, to keep her from all pain. Why couldn't he be ill in her place?

He reached over and took her face in both his hands. He wiped away the tears that cascaded down her cheeks with his thumbs. He leaned forwards and kissed her forehead lightly. Then he rested his forehead on hers.

Ami sniffled as she raised her hands and placed them on his arms.

"Neveth, did I ever tell you of the moment when I knew I was in love with you?" He whispered, and Ami smiled. She shook her head slightly. He smiled as he kissed the tip of her nose.

"Twas when you were in Lothlorien. You were ill then, but you were having one of your better days. You were down by Nimrodel , bathing in the healing waters." Ami's eyes widened and he laughed lightly.

"You shone so brightly that day. With the water dripping down your naked body as you sang. I will never forget that moment. I knew then, I knew I would love you forever, and I did not know how much longer I could remain your friend with these feelings. And when I saw you with the Fellowship, I knew then my feelings were pure. And when I saw you at the stables, stumbling on those stub toes of yours, I knew I wanted to spend all of eternity with you." Ami smiled as he caressed her face then kissed her lips lightly.

"I love you." He whispered. Ami closed her eyes and nodded as telling him she loved him too.

"Ahem." Legolas turned and Ami smiled.

"Lord Elrond, she has awakened." Legolas said as he stood.

"So I see. How are you fairing mella?" Elrond smiled as he walked up to her bedside.

Ami's smile faded when she realized she couldn't answer him. She looked at Legolas.

"Um, my lord, it seems she is unable to speak at the moment, it is most likely from all the trauma." Elrond looked at Legolas, then back to Ami.

"This is new." He said finally.

He bent over and felt her head. He smiled faintly. "The fever has broken. For now." Ami smiled in response.

"Have you figured out the purpose of her sudden illness?" Legolas asked as Elrond placed a soft kiss on Ami's forehead.

"I have sent guards throughout Rivendell, in search of Malfanion. It does not take the mind of a genius to know he has some evil part in it. As much as I hate to think of it." Elrond turned to Legolas and smiled.

"All will be well Legolas, do not worry yourself. Neveth will heal swiftly. I am sure of it." Legolas managed a faint smile, and he bowed slightly at Elrond.

"Well, I shall go about seeing if someone will bring Neveth something warm to sip upon." He kissed Ami's forehead once more before he turned and left the room.

Legolas watched him go, then let out a heavy sigh before he turned to Ami.

"I would find Malfanion myself, and rid all Middle-earth of his fowl presence if your father would but only let me."

Ami reached her hand out to him, and he walked up and took it.

"If I could Neveth, I would put myself in your place." He said softly to her.

"You do not deserve this melamin." Ami cleared her throat for one last attempt to speak.

"Nor do you." She croaked out. Legolas smiled faintly then leaned down and kissed her hand. Ami placed her other hand ontop of his head, pulling it down to rest upon her stomach. Legolas sighed again, before he closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

~*~*~*~

Many Elf guards passed under him. Malfanion stood as still as the branch itself until all had passed. He then jumped down, landing as light as a feather. Then he once again headed off in the direction as before.

Unexpectedly, a lingering Elf guard emerged from the brush in front of him. He was mumbling and fiddling with his quiver of arrows. Malfanion quickly jumped behind a near tree.

When the Elf was passing him, Malfanion quickly jumped from behind the tree, bearing his knife.

He jumped behind the unsuspecting Elf, and quickly slit his throat. The Elf let out a surprised, gurgling sound before he hit the floor.

Malfanion sneered at him, before he reached down and cleaned his blade with the hem of the Elf's tunic.

"Sorry Angaalph, but I had no other choice." He then turned and fled as the sound of distant voices coming in that direction was heard.

~*~*~*~

Legolas was reading to Ami as she sat up with her back resting against the headboard of her bed.

Suddenly, her door swung open fiercely. Instantly, Legolas bared his long Elven knife, and jumped up, ready to defend Ami at any second.

"Nurtaur!" Ami exclaimed, and Legolas quickly sheathed his knife.

"Nurtaur? What has happened to you?" Legolas asked at the appearance of his friend. His face was full of sorrow and despair, and his pain-etched face was streaked with many tear lines.

"I have been searching everywhere for you Legolas. They have found my father." His very words seemed as if he had to force them out of himself. His knees buckled and he fell to the floor. Legolas swiftly walked to him. He knelt beside him and placed his hand on his back.

"You speak in riddles melon, what do you mean they have found your father?"

Nurtaur lifted his head and Ami could see his lips quivered as he spoke.

"My father was one of the many guards that went out in search of Malfanion. The guards reported that my father had dropped his quiver, and stayed behind to place all the arrows back in..." He broke off as more tears streamed down his pain filled face. Ami pulled back her covers and stood.

"Where is your father Nurtaur?" She asked as she walked to the edge of the bed, using the post as a standing support.

"He...h-he is dead." Legolas' glance shot back to him.

"Dead?" He breathed out in disbelief. Ami felt as if he heart had stopped beating.

"They found him with his throat slit. The cold bastard slit his throat and left him. He even wiped his own blood on his tunic." Nurtaur's words were coming painfully.

Legolas sat back in disbelief.

"Oh Nurtaur." He said in a whisper. Nurtaur burst into tears, and Legolas pulled him into a comforting hug. Whispering words of comfort into his ear.

Ami sat on her bed and felt the tears well up in her eyes. This was all her fault. This would never have happened if she had not been here.

She looked over at Legolas comforting his friend. Nurtaur's body shook with grief as he cried uncontrollably in Legolas' arms.

She stood and tried to walk to them. She fell to her knees, as her legs were not yet strong enough to bear her weight. She then crawled over to them. When she got to them, she reached over for Nurtaur, and Legolas released him.

She took Nurtaur into a strong embrace, and he began to cry into her shoulder.

"Oh Nurtaur, I'm so sorry." She whispered as she let her own tears fall.

~*~*~*~

Ami once again sat on her bed. She stared at the patterns that were woven throughout the gorgeous blanket that covered her. Legolas was not there, he had taken Nurtaur to his chamber quite some time ago. Ami was alone.

A single, lonely tear rolled down her cheek.

Her door creaked open, and she quickly lifted her hand to wipe away the lone tear.

Legolas stood there. His face was full of so many things, that Ami could not even begin to try and read them. She smiled faintly at him.

"How is he?"

Legolas let out a heavy sigh as he began to walk over to her bedside.

"He is sleeping. I left him with Nevduliniel. She will take care of him."

Ami nodded her head.

Legolas stood beside her bed and Ami could tell he himself was on the verge of tears.

Ami quickly reached up with both hands and brought him down to her.

She drew him into a hug as he did begin to cry.

"Hush melamin, all will be well." She whispered into his ear.

"I feel as if I can hardly stand it. I feel as if I am being pulled in many directions and that it is going to rip me apart."

Ami rubbed his back as she listened to him.

"The two Elves that I love the most are in pain. And it seems I will go mad for not being able to do anything to cease it."

Ami sighed and pulled away from him. She placed one hand on his shoulder, and the other caressed his dear face.

"Legolas, You must not try to bear such a burden upon your shoulders. I will be fine, and so will Nurtaur in time. And the one who has inflicted such pain in our lives, will be dealt with in the way he deserves."

"He deserves death." Legolas said through gritted teeth.

"Do not say that Legolas. Many that live deserves death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them Legolas? Do not be to eager to deal out death and judgment, even the very wise can not see all ends." Ami said as she lovingly carrassed his tear streaked face. She was proud of the fact that she could use the knowledge of the books to her advantage.

Legolas sighed and let a faint smile form on his lips.

"I do love you Neveth." He said softly as he reached out and touched her cheek.

"And I you." They both smiled, and Legolas leaned up and kissed her lips passionately. Soon their kiss turned into a heated passion. They made love for the second time, and it was even better then before. If that was possible. So Ami thought.