I don't own any of the original characters.   Need reviews.

Poor Ariel.  So many bad things seem to happen to her. Oh well something good is going to happen….

Chapter 19

**Legolas's P.O.V**

"She is in here." Haldir pointed in to the room whose door was closed.  I glanced at him quickly and walked in.  The door closed behind me.  Inside, I saw a pale form lying prone on the large bed.  Ariel's brown hair was spread out on the pillows, almost like a halo.  Her normally red lips were a pale pink and her eyes were closed.  Only the steady rise and fall of her chest let me know that she was alive. 

"Ariel…" I whispered.  I strode over to her bed and touched her face.  Quickly I jerked back.  Her skin was as cold- as if she was dead.  "Ariel.  I am sorry, I should not have let this happen to you." I placed my hands in my pockets, and in my right, warmth met my fingertips.  I pulled out a round object and with a fall of the chain, the sapphire necklace that she had gotten from her mother.  I fingered it gently and then sighed.  Carefully I unclasped it and gently lifted up her head, placing it on her neck.  "Your mother would want you to have it." I said sadly.  I set her head down carefully and smoothed back the hair from her pale face.

Suddenly the necklace flashed a bright blue light.  I was temporarily blinded and when I could see I gasped in surprise and disbelief.  Ariel's color had returned and her breathing was stronger.  "Ariel?" I asked.  Her eyes flew open and slowly focused on me. I kneeled on the bed and she sat up abruptly.  Her eyes were wide as she looked at me.  "What happened, Legolas?" she asked.

"I don't know.  You were taken by orcs, and when we followed them here the Lothlorien said that they had found you unconscious after they had slaughtered all of the orcs that had captured you.  For some reason you fell asleep and no one could wake you up."  I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms tightly about her body. Her body fit perfectly I my own, and pressed against my own securely.  I buried my face in her neck and tears of relief fell onto her smooth skin. She rubbed my back soothingly, making nonsense noises as I shuddered out my pain and fear. "Eru, I thought that I had lost you- again!" I said.

I ran my lips over her cheek. "You can't loose me my love." She whispered.  I buried my face in her hair and breathed in her scent.

I raised my head and frowned at her. "This has to stop Ariel! I really cannot take any more excitement in our relationship." I said sternly. Her eyes were alight with laughter and she smiled wryly, "I really don't intend for these things to happen to me Legolas." She shook her head at me in mocking disbelief. I glared at her.  "This is not funny!" I exclaimed smirking unintentionally.

"Of course it is." Ariel said condescendingly.  She pulled me so I was sitting on the bed and I pulled her in to my lap, so she settled against my chest and her head rested on my shoulder.  I felt her arms wrap around my neck and she nuzzled my neck. "Are you all right?  I don't know much of what happened." She asked.  I looked down at her. "We are all fine."

"Good." She whispered.  That was all she got out because I bent down and pressed my lips against her own.  Immediately she opened her mouth and I took the opportunity to kiss her fervently. "Legolas…" she moaned against my lips. I pulled away and trailed light kisses down her neck. She gasped slightly, one of her hands coming up to tangle in my hair.  I moved up to her lips.   My lips moved over hers persuasively and I deepened our kisses. She pulled back with another gasp to catch her breath, and I watched the flush of desire on her skin. I could feel myself falling more headlong in love for her and it excited and slightly scared me as well. With her penchant for getting into dangerous trouble we were bound to have a very short relationship. I leaned forward and claimed her lips again. Her arms wrapped around my neck pulling me as close as I could get. Behind us a throat cleared and her eyes widened, looking over my shoulder. I turned my head and saw the Lady Galadriel.

"Well.  This is not what I expected." Came the voice of the Lady. "Pray tell, what did you do to help her so quickly?  I had tried everything in my powers, to help but to no avail. How did you save her?"  She strode to Ariel and pressed a hand to her cheek.  I moved away to give them some space and Galadriel looked in to Ariel's eyes. 

**This is what happened** Ariel's P.O.V

I fought off orc after orc, their blood spilling and staining the ground around me.  I could feel myself weakening slowly, and when I tripped I felt a rough hand grab me.  I was about to scream when a slimy hand clamped over my mouth.  I kicked wildly and knew it was no use.  Another orc grabbed my thrashing legs, and with me being held up by the two, I was carried off none to gently.  While I was trying to get the hand off my face, my fingers came into contact with the necklace.  I gave a sharp jerk and threw the gem down so someone would be able to find which direction I was taken.  It was pressed in to the ground by the orcs footsteps and all I could do was pray. (a/n. hee hee. I stole that from TTT.  When Merry and Pip are carried off by the orcs, and one of them throws down the Elvin clasp to their cloak!)

Almost an hour later, I realized that I was feeling really odd.  My body felt like it was going really sluggish, and like I was having trouble keeping track of things.  I could barely feel the orcs holding on to me, much less anything else.  Nausea swept over me, and I fainted.

The next thing I knew, the necklace (that I thought was gone) was giving off a warm comforting light and I awoke, feeling fully refreshed, and healed.

**End**

Galadriel opened her eyes and we both saw that she was pale and a light sheen of sweat was on her forehead.  "I need to confer with Mithrandir and in the morning, I will come back and tell you what I know."  She bowed and quickly left the room.  Legolas turned to me in surprise. 

"What was that all about?" he inquired.  I shook my head.  " I don't know.  But what ever you did- maybe the necklace, healed me fully."  I ran a hand through my hair, and looked at him. I took his hand pulled him to me, sliding my fingers over the planes of his strong face. He took my hand and kissed the palm then lying tiny kisses all down my fingers, causing me to tremble. His eyes looked into mine, and I saw the relief that he felt when he realized that I was ok, and the desire to make sure for himself…. he smiled crookedly and I kissed him.

"I want you Legolas. Please." I whispered, and he bent and kissed me forcefully. "Are you sure?" he asked when he finished. I nodded and he pulled me down to the bed with him.

The next morning I awoke to the pleasant feel of a warm body at my back.  A strong arm was wrapped around my waist and lying on my stomach gently.  The sheets covered both of us up and I sighed.  Relaxation- not something I was used to until this moment.  Legolas shifted at my back and drew in a deep breath.  "Morning." I said peacefully.  "Mmm hmmm…" he murmured.  I laughed and rolled over to face him.  "Wake up."

His eyes focused on me and smiled. One of his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. "Why?" he asked. His voice was melodic sounding. I thought about it for a while. "Dunno." I replied.  He closed his eyes and shook his head. "We don't have to get up until-"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Now." I said gloomily.  I stood and walked to the door then suddenly realized that I was totally naked. I blushed a fierce red and heard a chuckle from the bed.  I turned and flipped him off with a condescending smirk on my lips.  I don't think that he quite grasped what I meant, but he got the general idea.  The knocking came again. "Give me a moment please!" I called looking for my shirt.  I gave up and slipped on Legolas's. It came down to my knees, and I was grateful.  I pulled it around me closer and opened the door, expecting to see Arwen or one of the hobbits. Even Galadriel. Not Faramir.

"Oh!" I gasped.  Faramir looked similarly stunned. "I… I. Um." I strived for a response. "Hi!" I said perkily trying to mask the surprise.

"I am sorry Ariel. I just wanted to tell you that Galadriel said that later, once you are up and dressed. *Cough* she wants to speak alone with you.  She will be in her room, and one of us can show you the way." His eyes traveled up and down my body and he raised an eyebrow. "I think that I should go… goodbye." He bowed slightly and left. I closed the door and promptly whacked my head against it. "Sonava monkeys uncle!" I sighed under my breath.

"A'maelamin, come back here." Called Legolas. I turned back to him and smiled.  He was lying on his side, his head propped up by his arm. I raked my fingers through my hair and walked back to him. "Do not worry about that." he soothed as I pulled back the sheets. I nodded and snuggled against him.  "I do have to leave in a few minutes." I pointed out. He nodded. "Yes A'maelamin. I know."

For a few more minutes I laid with him then I dressed in clean clothes, and pulled my hair up into a bun.  Legolas was dressed similarly as I.  We headed out and since Legolas knew the way, he led me to Galadriel. At her door, I kissed him. "I will find you when I am done." I said.  He nodded and kissed my forehead.  I knocked at the door, totally unaware of the small hobbit like shadow from behind the bushes.

Galadriel opened the door and let me in.  Her room was much like mine, with the small table, a few chairs, a large bed.  "Greetings child. How are you?" she motioned for me to take a seat. I did so gratefully. 

"Fine, thanks to you.  I really appreciate the help that you gave us, all of us." I said. She nodded as she sat.

"Ariel, I want to get to the point of the matter.  Let me see the ring please." She opened her hand.  I shrugged and pulled the silvery, gold band off my finger and set it in her hand.  She examined it and suddenly dropped it on the table. "Place your right hand over it." She ordered shakily. I did as she ordered, and the ring jumped on to my finger. I jerked back in surprise. "It is as I thought.  You are not able to get rid of the ring, until it is destroyed, or you are.  You already know that it must be destroyed in mount doom, but you do not know the most important thing."

Her voice was grave as she spoke. I fingered the band in confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Ariel, how long have you had the ring?" she asked.

"Well, my parents gave it to me when I was one year old. That is what Gandalf told me."

I thought about it for a second. "Well, they died a few days before they gave it to me.  Gandalf said it was on Midsummer's day. That they died. So that would make it a few days before that when I got this ring." I watched as she paled. "What!" I demanded.

"Ariel, the reason that your parents gave you the ring, and not, say Gandalf, is because the ring binds it self to the bearer. That was the reason for the necklace. It held off the power of the ring, but now it cannot help.  If the ring is left on for to long then it becomes bonded to the bearer. Forever.  Meaning, if it is destroyed, so is the wearer. Also it takes over the bearer. You have no control over your self, with the prolonged contact with the ring. You only have…" she closed her eyes and silently calculated. I winced as she spoke.

"You have two weeks tomorrow." She said grimly. I paled as she had done. "How… how long is the road to Mordor?" I asked fearfully.

"Four weeks."

Man!! She can't get a break! This is ridiculous. Stay tuned for the next chapter!!! 10 more reviews (flames count, if it is constructive) required before another chapter is put out.  Thanks! Goddess 2008