Chapter 13

"I Will Not Leave You"

A/N:: CONGRATTERS to 'concetta' for being my 100th review! You rock, my dear girl and many thank yous to all whose reviews helped me get to that point! Yes, the last chapter was kind of inspired by that scene in Mulan. Such a sad chapter! It doesn't get much better, I apologize, but this story needs a bit of drama! Do not worry… humour has not completely disappeared from my fic. There will be more funny moments. Anywhoo… thanks again for the amazingly supportive reviews. Usual disclaimers apply and I now present to you lucky chapter 13!

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Laera ran, tripping again and again over unseen obstacles. She was surrounded by a darkness that seemed almost tangible. It appeared to be barring her way; she felt like she was struggling to push past this darkness. She gasped when she heard them… the calls of the people crying out to her for help. Swallowing down her overwhelming fear, Laera trudged on, her weary legs beginning to give out on her. She slipped and fell to the floor, jarring her bones. Taking a deep breath, she struggled to her feet and marched on; she would not let them get her.

She drew in a sharp breath as walls suddenly loomed up in front of her - she was trapped. She turned, facing them all. There were thousands; children, women, men, hobbits, elves, dwarves, and even orcs… creatures both fair and monstrous united together in their common need. They all cried out to her… surrounding her… terrifying her. A great sadness filled her heart as she stared into their eyes… eyes ablaze with the last glimmer of hope. They were all depending on her.

"I cannot save you all!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. But they could not hear her. They chose not to. As they crowded in, drawing closer and closer, Laera shut her eyes and sank to the floor, giving in to the sadness. It consumed her.

Suddenly, the air was filled with the screams of those who once surrounded her. Opening her eyes, Laera saw that they had all fled. Where had they gone? She froze when she saw a flicker amongst the darkness. The light of sinister green eyes flashed and edged nearer. She pressed against the wall in fear as a low growl came from the direction of the ominous eyes that bore into her own. She blinked and it was in front of her, staring down at her with such a look of hate and loathing that she felt her insides curdle. She cried out as the monster opened its jaws to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth making its way to her throat.

Laera woke screaming.

Then, two arms, strong and gentle slipped about her, emanating a warmth and love so comforting that visions of the monster slipped from her mind. But she still could see the countless faces, pressing in on her, pleading for her help. She trembled, barely able to control the shivers that ran throughout her body. Laera pressed her face deeper into Legolas's chest - in which beat a heart that would cease to continue if it meant Laera's happiness - and wept.

"It is all right," Legolas whispered into her ear. "I will not let anything happen to you, Laera." His words sounded so confident, so sure. Soon, her sobbing came to an end and she was asleep in his arms.

Carefully, as to not wake her, Legolas laid the sleeping girl down on the cloth she used as a bed. Taking the blankets she had flung away in the throws of her nightmare, he gently covered her, tucking the edges in so that she would be warm.

After a moment of watching Laera sleep to make sure she would be all right, Legolas turned his face upward and gazed at the stars. "She should never have come!" he said angrily, balling his hand into an angry fist.

Images of the dead villagers flooded his mind and he buried his face into his hands. He would never tell Laera how he too had given up at the sight of the lifeless people that littered the village, even if it had only been for a fleeting moment. It only took that small fraction of time for Legolas to feel like he had failed Middle-Earth. In that split second he realized how grave the situation really was and how powerless he was to stop it. But then again, it was only for a moment. Laera's own undoing had saved him from his own, for he saw now that Laera depended on his composure deeply… even if she did not show it.

Laera shifted and began to murmur in her sleep. Legolas's head shot up in alarm, but smiled when he saw her features were relaxed. "She is probably dreaming about her home," he said, hoping he was right. Suddenly, Legolas realized how much Laera's presence on this journey had meant to him. Without her spirit, her light-hearted manner, her little embarrassing mishaps, Legolas felt he would have gone mad with boredom. Laera, with her company, caused Legolas to forget about the doom of Middle-Earth. She made it possible for him to actually believe at times that many happy centuries lay ahead for them. Laera was the ray of light in the darkness of his continuing worry.

He sighed and pulled out his pipe. Quietly, he brought the tip to his lips and lit the end. Inhaling deeply, he relaxed as he felt the smoke of the pipe weed calm his nerves. This was going to be a long night for Legolas planned on staying awake. He wanted to be sure he'd be there the next time Laera needed him.

***

Laera stirred as the first gray light of dawn peeked over the Fehn mountains. She smiled as she slowly tugged the blanket off of her still tired body. The blanket had been wrapped around her with great care and affection. Immediately, Laera was reminded of Arwen. It had all been a dream! The horrible, never-ending nightmare had been a fabrication of her mind!

Her heart filling with joy, Laera threw the blanket off of her and prepared to call out to her sister. A wind that held the chill of an early fall caressed her cheek and carried Laera back to her harsh reality. Swallowing thickly, Laera looked about her surroundings. She was lying in the wilderness, grass and plants nodding in the breeze. In the distance stood the mountains, tall, intimidating. Within its rocky depths held the reason why she was away from her family, away from the safety of Rivendell. Laera closed her eyes. She was also reminded that she had brought this upon herself.

Laera opened her eyes once more and looked down to her left. Her hand was enclosed in something. She was startled to see Legolas sprawled on the grass, the tip of his pipe on his slightly parted lips. It was his strong fingers that held her hand in a strong, protective clasp. She laughed and put his pipe away. For once it was she who prepared breakfast.

***

The sun was well above the peaks of the Fehn mountains when Legolas woke up. His eyes widened and he bolted immediately into an upright position, cursing himself for his failed resolution to stay up all night. He smiled when he heard Laera's laughter.

"Did you have a good rest last night?" she asked, piling food onto his plate. He eagerly accepted the plate and began to wolf it down hungrily.

"Yes…" he replied uneasily after a moment. "But really, Laera, it should be I asking you that question."

She frowned and a puzzled expression dawned on her face. "What happened last night?" she asked. She racked her brains, trying to remember for she honestly did forget. There was her dream, of course. How did Legolas come to know of it?

Legolas studied her features, trying to decipher if she told the truth. Realizing that Laera had probably blocked it from her memory, as she liked to do so with pivotal moments in her life, Legolas decided not to bring it up. "You were talking in your sleep. It looked like you were having a nightmare," he said instead.

Laera's confusion diminished. "Oh, yes. It was quite horrible." She winced, remembering. Patiently, Laera began to tell Legolas of her dream. He listened intently, nodding his head in growing interest. When she finished, he too shuddered. No wonder she appeared so distraught. But then he stiffened. Something about Laera's description made his heart grow cold.

"The monster… it had green eyes, you say?" he asked curiously, setting down his now empty plate.

She nodded, frightening herself with the memory. He rose from his seated position and looked gravely at Laera. "You have seen him."

"Seen whom?" she asked nervously. She did not like the look on Legolas's face.

"The beast that hunts me now targets you as well," he stated, looking away.

"The Arioc?" she whispered, a hand slowly covering her mouth in disbelief. "But, Legolas, you look so certain. How do you know?"

"Before my departure, Elrond warned me that I would be receiving dreams about the beast. The Arioc enjoys toying with whomever he wishes dead by entering their mind. How he knew that you have joined me on this venture, I do not know." He was now pacing the camp area, looking at Laera then looking away, as if the sight of her pained him.

"You must go back to Rhovan's cabin," he said hoarsely. Yes, her companionship meant a lot to him, especially now, more than ever, but it certainly was not worth her life. He was the one the Arioc wished dead most. If Laera were to stay away from him, then perhaps she would have a chance.

"No," she said, also rising. Her earlier fear gave way to her stubborn ways. "I will not leave you, Legolas."

"You must!" Legolas cried, walking up to her until there was little space between them. "Please, go back," he pleaded. "For Arwen, for your family."

"I will not!" she said, not taking her eyes from his. She was momentarily silenced by what she saw in those blue depths. A mixture of fear and sadness. "Legolas," she spoke, lowering her tone, "I will not leave you," she repeated.

"Go back," Legolas urged again, grabbing her shoulders. "If not for you family, then for me. You must…" his voice faltered. He let go of her shoulders and moved away, so that his back was turned to her. "For me…" he repeated softly.

"Oh," Laera said, as if a knife had gone through her. She ran to him, feeling the urge to wrap her arms about his waist but hesitating on the last moment. She halted, his tall form in front of her. "You are so dear to me, Legolas," she said, her hand resting softly on his shoulder. "It is funny, is it not? How such enemies can later be such friends. But that is what you are, Legolas. You are the dearest friend I have. How can I leave you? If it is death that is written across the stars in your sky, then it is written across mine too!" The last sentence surprised them both. From where it came, Laera did not know.

Despite his grief, Legolas smiled sadly to himself. It warmed his heart to hear such words from a girl he cared so deeply for. He saw that no matter what, Laera would always get her way. Turning slowly, he took both of her hands in his. "You will be the death of me…" he murmured, gazing into her eyes. Laera blinked, then returned his smile with one of her own.

"I am staying?" she asked.

Legolas sighed in defeat. "Would you take 'no' for an answer?"

Laera laughed and tweaked his nose playfully. "No, and you know it. We are stuck together, dear Legolas, whether you like it or not!" She then began to pack away her things, leaving Legolas to contemplate about the terrible new twist in their adventure.

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A/N:: Sorry that this chapter was so long! Please tell me what you think!