Diena was awake. But she was afraid to open her eyes. Last time she had, there had been evil... things... there, hurting her.

This time, when she opened her eyes, she saw she was lying on the forest floor. A short distance away there was a fire and Legolas was watching it, his face unreadable.

Instead of doing the smart thing and asking for help, Diena tried to sit up on her own. Pain shot through her side. She moaned and rolled over.

Legolas was there in a second.

"Are you alright? Do you need me to help you?" he asked.

Diena, swallowing her pride, nodded her head and reached her hands up to take his. He gently lifted her until she was standing with his help.

Legolas held her hands protectively, but was still being gentle with her because of her wound. She waverd a bit on her feet and fell forward. He caught her easily and held her around her waist.

"You know," commented Legolas, "I still do not know your name."

Diena blinked, unsure of whether to speak or not. One look into Legolas' eyes told her that it would be better to tell him.

"Diena. My name is Diena."

He reached out and brushed some hair off of her cheek. Then she remembered how he said they would be in Rivendell by morning. It was morning now, how come they weren't there?

"Why aren't we in Rivendell?" asked Diena. "I thought you said we would be there in the morning."

"We would have been, had we traveled through the night. But these woods are not safe at night and I stopped to let you rest."

She nodded, showing him she understood and thanking him for thinking of her.

"Uh, Legolas?"

"Yes, Diena?"

"Where can I have a bath?"

"I disagree. You cannot even stand, how are you going to swim?" Legolas asked.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine!"

But Legolas shook his head. "No, Diena. I don't want you just getting away from the Orcs and then going and drowning."

"Orcs? What are they?" Diena looked puzzled.

Legolas looked amazed. "You do not know what Orcs are? They are those things that did this to you." His voice filled with hate as he touched the cut on the side of her face.

She looked up into his eyes. They were really blue. He lowered his face towards hers. Diena knew Legolas was going to kiss her. He was about to touch her lips with his own when she turned her head.

Legolas stopped himself before he hit her cheek with his lips. He examined her face.

What is wrong? he wondered, She pulls away when things get too personal.

Diena bit her lip. "Sooo..... About that bath?"

"Oh, yes," Legolas seemed to come back to earth. "Alright You cannot go by yourself, though."

"What? You're not coming with me!" Diena burst out, unbelieving he would even suggest that he watched her take a bath.

"You're not going by yourself."

"Fine! I won't have one then." she said, angrily.

Legolas smiled. He knew that he would win.

"You can have one at Rivendell. Are you ready to go? If we leave now we should be able to get there before dark."

Again, Legolas lifted her onto the horse and hopped up after her. They started off at a fast walk. Legolas was humming to himself. It sounded like some elvish song. Very sad but beautiful.

After riding for several hours, the sound of running water could be heard.

"We have arrived at Rivendell, fair lady."

Diena snorted with laughter. ME? A fair lady? In your dreams, Blondie!

Her laughter earned her a stare from Legolas. She quickly sobered her expression. Trying to contain the laughter hurt. She started to cough.

Legolas stopped the horse and jumped off. He reached up and brought Diena down to sit on the ground with him. (A/N: I don't know how this would make her feel better but he needed to do SOMETHING!)

No matter what Legolas said or did, Diena couldn't stop coughing. It was really starting to hurt her and she didn't want to cough up any more blood than she already had.

Well, Diena thought as soon as she saw the red on her hand. Isn't this just peachy?

"Let's cough keep on cough cough going. We'll get there cough soon - cough sooner if we don't keep cough cough stopping for cough me."

"Are you sure?" Legolas asked.

Diena nodded so Legolas helped her onto the horse for the third time and got up behind her.

They kept riding, Legolas urging the horse on. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get a healer to look at Diena.

At last they could see the waterfalls that poured down around Rivendell. Legolas gave out a sigh of relief and the horse started to run.

Diena screwed up her face, trying to mask the pain she was feeling. Knowing she must be in pain, Legolas tried to slow the horse, but it didn't work. Running as fast as it could, it was jolting with every step. Diena's coughing kept getting worse. She was coughing up more and more blood. Soon she would be in danger because of her blood loss.

They ran through the gates of Rivendell. Legolas hurriedly jumped off the horse and dragged Diena off with him. He was supporting her while walking.

Elrond approached them. "Legolas, what are you doing home now? Who's this?"

By this time, Diena was coughing so hard she was having trouble breathing and her frail body was shaking in Legolas' arms.

"Lord Elrond. This girl, she is desperate need of a healer." Legolas rushed through the sentence. "I will explain as soon as she has been taken care of."

Elrond nodded and led them off to a room where Diena could rest and get well. Legolas set her on the bed and touched her hair. She rolled over so she was out of his reach.

Curling up in a ball to relieve her pain, Diena was starting to get incredibly dizzy. Her body was shaking and her stomach was in so much pain she would welcome unconsciousness.

Through her pain she saw a beautiful she-elf enter the room. The she-elf came right up to Diena and laid her soft, cool hands on her forehead.

Diena heard her speaking in elvish. A cup was handed to the beautiful elf. She propped Diena up and forced some liquid down her throat. It burned at first but it soon did it's job.

Diena stopped coughing.

The she-elf again rested her hand on Diena's forehead. This time she spoke to Diena.

"Sleep. Rest, little one." she said, and although Diena could not understand her, she fell asleep.

A/N: Okay, okay, I know she falls asleep or passes out at the end of each chapter but I promise I'll try not to let it happen again. Anyways, trying not to make this too gay but I don't think it's working... Read and Review, I'm dying to know what you think!