Disclaimer: Anything you don't recognise is mine and everything else belongs to Tolkien.
A/N: If anywhere in the story it says 'Arterial' instead of Alarien, then it's just because I clicked on the wrong thing in my spell check, because I when I pasted it into a new html file from word I had to go through it and re-format it which was sooooooo boring, and so maybe I made some mistakes!
Thanks to all those who have reviewed, and Emerald Queen, I know there is not much about Arwen, but all she is doing at the moment is pretending to be a handmaiden to Alarien. It is Alarien who everyone thinks is Arwen; the one who everyone hopes will marry Legolas! Arwen is not interested in Legolas for anything but to satisfy her curiosity over whether he is as the rumours say, because she already loves Aragorn. Complicated, I know!
And I know the chapters are quite short, but I have been updating pretty quickly, and you can't have it all!
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It was late afternoon when Legolas decided he was ready to return to the palace. He took the route back that led through the forest; he wanted to avoid seeing Landir at all costs. As he was emerging from the treeline, his gaze aimed at the sky, he walked straight into another figure going in the opposite direction. The other elf was knocked off balance and he caught them by the hand as they began to fall backwards. To his surprise he saw it was the Lady Arwen. As he set her on her feet and let go of her hand they both looked at each other in surprise. Alarien stepped back in alarm, she had not expected to find Legolas coming out of the woods: she had managed to avoid him all day and was just talking a solitary walk as she usually did once or twice a day. She began to think of something to say to break the silence when he spoke, his soft voice sounding thin and tired. Risking a glance at his eyes she saw they were clouded with fatigue and something else, worry? Remorse?
"You know, the forests of Mirkwood are not safe by night my Lady, and it shall soon be dusk, the stars are visible even now."
"I was just going for a walk, it won't take long." She paused before adding "Good evening." She made as if to move past him into the woods, but he moved over to bar her path. A hint of annoyance flashed through her eyes. Was he deliberately trying to make things difficult for her?
"I would take heed of my words if I were you. As I said, the forests are not safe by night for one walking alone."
"But all I wish is to take a short walk just inside the treeline." There was a stubborn edge to her voice that amused him, although his words were serious.
"If you insist on going for a walk…" She interrupted him mid-sentence,
"Which I do." He raised an eyebrow before continuing,
"Then I am afraid I must accompany you." He saw she was going to protest, but he held up a hand to stop her. "I must ensure your safety, and therefore I must accompany you." Alarien was thoroughly put out. To have her evening walk, which she always took alone, disturbed by the one person she was doing her best to avoid was bad luck indeed, but she could not back out now after making such a fuss. He told her to wait where she was and ran off into a nearby building, returning a minute later with a bow and quiver of arrows slung over his shoulder. He took her elbow and guided her into the forest, his eyes alert. As they walked, Alarien began to feel a bit uneasy, he was obviously being serious about the forest being dangerous at night, and she felt foolish at having put him out of his way, he had been coming out of the forest after all. He let her lead the way, sometimes stopping her to suggest an easier or preferable route. Before they had gone very far, he suddenly caught a fell scent on the air and detected a movement in the trees to their left. He stopped dead, and notched an arrow to his bow. Alarien, lost in thoughts, had noticed nothing and continued walking on until Legolas silently ran up to her and caught her by the wrist.
"Don't move!" He hissed under his breath. She felt her blood run cold as she turned in the direction he was looking, searching the undergrowth to discover what he had seen. Suddenly she saw it, a rustle in the undergrowth. She saw Legolas tense up, his eyes wide and alert, scanning the area where they had seen the movement. As they heard it again, this time closer, Legolas reached over and grasped her arm, pulling her behind him to protect her. Suddenly they heard a movement from behind them and to either side as well. Legolas circled slowly, keeping Alarien close to his side.
"What is it?" She whispered, her mouth close to his ear, her breath warm on his neck. She was leaning over his shoulder, trying to see into the forest.
"Orcs. Six at least."
"Can you shoot them first?"
"No, it's too dark: I can't see them yet." She dropped back, and looked over her shoulder. She froze as she saw a large orc sliding out of the trees, bow raised. She placed a shaking hand on Legolas' arm and as he turned round, he saw the orc and before it could loose its own arrow, it fell dead with one in its throat. Four more orcs, hearing the strangled cry of death from their comrade, erupted from the undergrowth. They fell dead before they reached the elves but the sixth remaining orc, still hidden in the undergrowth, took the advantage of his cover. The elf had its back to him and if he moved forward a bit, he would have a clean shot. He slunk out, keeping low to the ground, using the cover of the shadows. As he loosed his arrow, the elf spun round, suddenly aware of his presence and prepared to shoot, but as the orcs own arrow slammed into his shoulder, he gasped in pain and his shot flew wide. Pain racked his body and he slumped to his knees, his hands holding his wound. The orc ran out of the shadow, its short sword held aloft, ready to bring it slashing down on his neck. But it had forgotten about Alarien. She picked up Legolas' fallen bow and silently slotted an arrow to the string. Aiming carefully she let go. The orc fell and hit the ground with a thud, the vibrations shuddering through Legolas' body, already weakened by the poison running through his veins. He fell onto his hands and knees before they gave way and he collapsed onto the ground. He lay there; breathing shallowly and he saw Alarien rushing to his side, crying out bitterly. Kneeling beside him, she lifted his head and laid it in her lap, bending her head over his, smoothing his hair back from his face. He felt her tears dropping onto his face, mingling with his own as they ran down his cheeks, and the last thing he saw was her face before the poison-induced blackness smothered his vision.
Alarien knelt there, her eyes screwed up as she wept. It was all her fault, he had tried to protect her and because of her, he was dead. She placed her hands either side of his face and bent her head to place a kiss on his smooth forehead, already cold and lifeless. She cradled his motionless body in her arms, the tears flowing down her cheeks; she could taste them, salty and bitter on her lips. Suddenly she thought she felt something. But no, she had to be wrong: it was too irregular to be a pulse. She laid his body down and placed her ear on his chest. Hardly daring to believe what she heard, she thought she could make out a faint heartbeat, but it was erratic and hardly detectable. Overjoyed, she contemplated what to do. She had to do something, and quickly, the life was fading out of him fast. She had to get him back to the palace quickly, but how, she could not possibly carry him, and she could not leave him. She contemplated for a moment, then, not able to do anything else, ran back towards the palace after having dragged Legolas' body into the undergrowth. The elves in the stables rushed out when they heard the sound of her cries. Immediately they took in the situation and followed her back to where Legolas was lying, and gently carried him back, speeding him towards the healers. Alarien felt her last strength leave her and one of the stable elves caught as she dropped exhausted to the ground.
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A/N: I can see it all now: people are going to complain that Legolas could easily take out six orcs, but remember, it's dark and there is a lot of shadows and camouflage in the forest, and he's also got to protect her! So no complaints on that front, thanks!