Kay here is chapter two I hope you like it and again reviews I crave reviews they help me write smiles Disclaimer: I don't anything by Tolkien only my character yada, yada, ect!

Chapter Two Growing Nearer

Legolas had just awaken for his watch, even though the threat of danger was almost none existent except for rouge bands of Orks that still wandered. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas could not sleep without the knowledge that a watch was taking place. He went and sat on a large rock that was jutting from the landscape. He looked again toward the starts, they were know only a five days away from Mirkwood, his keen eyes could already make out the tree line. If they rode hard they might make it there in two maybe three, depending on how many times Gimli fell off the horse. Legolas smiled to himself at that thought, looking back at that star. He found himself constantly wondering what he would say to her, how he would make everything right, if she would even take him back. 'She really shouldn't I broke up with her because I was having a bad day, she should by every right take her sword to my throat. I wonder if she has improved in battle maybe she is even captain of her section of the army by now." He thought. He wanted nothing more than to see her, hold her, kiss her, and to just be with her everyday for the rest of eternity. But he could think of nothing he could do to make up for what he had done in the first place. Legolas turned around suddenly his ears picking up on a small rustling sound. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that is was just Aragorn tossing in his sleep. The newly crowned king seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "Arwen." He whispered talking in his sleep, Legolas just shook his head and smiled. The faster they reached Mirkwood the better for them all, well except Gimli perhaps, one elf he could deal with but a whole population that could be another story.

*

"M'lady won't you please eat something." Slrya pleaded. Slrya had been Laurwen's handmaiden ever since Laurwen was a small elfling. "I ate dinner at the palace, Slrya I am fine." Laurwen answered. "I don't care if you say you ate something at the place, you might have been invited to dinner but you did not eat anything I know you to well M'lady." Slrya stated her voice going hard. "I'm not letting you leave this house until I know that you have eaten something." Laurwen looked at her she seemed to be to tired to argue "Alright, alright I will eat something." "Good." Slrya stated and she brought out some fruits, bread, and such. Laurwen looked at them like she was going to be sick, but a steely gaze from Slrya forced her to eat. She ate, as much she could which was only a small section of the platter when she turned to Slrya "I cannot eat anymore Slrya I am going to be sick." Slrya looked at her; she was internally pleased that she had gotten Laurwen to eat something at all. "Alright you can go, are you going to the keep?" She asked. Laurwen nodded "If anyone comes calling, that included both the king and the queen tell them I am resting and that I am not to be disturbed, unless it is a military emergency other than that no one." She stressed. "Yes M'lady." Slrya paused, "Could I ask you something." Slrya began. Laurwen nodded. "Could we light some fires in the house." She stated treading lightly. "Why the cold does not affect us, we would be burning wood for nothing." Laurwen stated her voice gone cold. "Yes I know by it is so dim in here, if might cheer the house up a tad if got some fires going." Slrya commented. "I like it dim no fires, I'm going now." And with that Laurwen stood up and left. Slrya just shook her head "Valar please save that child." And she proceeded to clean up the table.

Laurwen moved soundlessly through the streets toward the keep. It was an impressive building made of white marble and impressive architecture each different level wrapped around the huge trees that acted as supports. The front entrance lined with pillars and open windows but without the glass. It was a massive building with room upon room of books and scrolls of elven history. Only the keeps knew how to navigate through the maze. The building even had a large courtyard with a beautiful water fountain in the center, where Laurwen came to a stop and sat on the edge of the fountain. Her hand trailed in the water, the moonlight casting her with an unearthly glow. She started to hum softly, an elven melody of heart and home. Her eyes closed and for the first time in a while she was able to sing in peace.

*

(Three days later) "Your majesty there is a large band of Orks heading for the Northern Boarders, at their present speed they will intercept the prince." The out of breath scout told the King as he bust into the throne room. "What!" the King commanded he turned to the frightened scout "Is this true." "Yes." The scout breathed. "Fine go." The King motioned sending the scout out of the room. He turned to his chief council "We need to find Laurwen now!" With that Thranduil and his council left for the Laurwen's house.

Laurwen was outside her home in the private training yard, for some reason she had found the need to get in full armour and full arms to kill her dummies again, when Thranduil stormed into the yard. "Laurwen how do you do it." He asked seeing her in full armour. "What?" She asked slightly confused. "There is a large band or Orks headed for the Northern Boarders, at their present speed they will reach the forest in half an hour." Thranduil explained. Laurwen's eyes went cold "Not on my watch." She hissed; walking towards the stables with Thranduil at her heals. "Your man are assembling and I told Slrya to have your horse ready." He told her. She nodded "Do we know how many?" "About thirty." "We have had worse." She spat coming up to her horse and swiftly mounting. "Do not worry Thranduil I will not let them inside our beautiful forest." And she speed of the training base to group her men. He watched her leave and found himself thinking he could not have found a better commander of the Mirkwood army, for no elf could do the job better than she could. He mounted his own horse and speed back to the palace.

Laurwen stopped at the base. "Madame the men are ready." Her first commander stated. She nodded her head "Then lets go." The elves all on horses fell into two impressive lines and Laurwen moved her black horse Spirit into the front. "We go to destroy the foul Orks and let it be known that no Ork will pass into the trees while one of us stands." She whispered so that only her men would hear, and with that she spurred on her mount and the select men she had chosen for such tasks followed.

Legolas was almost running to the trees having abounded the horses, when Aragorn stopped him. "Legolas we have some trouble." Legolas turned and looked behind him, a band of possible thirty or more Orks was coming straight for them. "Yes that could present some problems." Legolas stated loading his bow. "Just Orks we've had worse my friends this won't be a problem." Gimli stated readying his axe Legolas smiled as the Orks drew near. "Lide lide!" one of the Orks called pointing at Legolas, Legolas shuddered at hearing the name of his race in their foul language.

From the shelter of the trees Laurwen and her man waited for the perfect time to attack. When she reached the boarder she saw the three strangers standing to face the Orks. "They face that many Orks alone tis folly." He First General stated. "Well let's not let them face the Orks alone, CHARGE!" and Laurwen burst out of the bush her men following behind. Legolas turned to see the small army bust out of the trees. "It seems Mirkwood rides out to save its prince." Aragorn laughed, but Legolas did not have time to answer as the Orks were upon them, and they through of nothing but survival. But the Orks seemed to ignore the elves that had come from the trees; they seemed intent on destroying the three strangers. One of the Orks charged for Legolas but stopped when a large rearing black horse stepped infront of him. A glint of a sword flashed by and the ork suddenly did not have a head. The horse did not move, like it was protecting the three strangers. "Hawk plan, converge do not leave one alive." The figure on the horse stated, Legolas could not make out who she was for she was wearing a cloak with a deep hood. 'A she-elf commanding the army that's strange' Legolas thought. The left flank of the army rode and circled the Orks from behind cutting off their escape, and the right flank came at them from the front. The she-elf stayed in front of the three strangers. "GO!" She yelled from her horse. One by one the soldiers charged and plowed down Orks until there was nothing but ork bodies strewed within the circle with not one elven causality. "Pile their bodies and burn them leave a head on a spear, set an example." The woman commanded towards one of her men he nodded and began to assemble some men to do just that. The woman dismounted and walked toward the strangers. "The Orks seemed attracted to you, do you carry something they want? What business do you have here?" She than spotted the Gimli "What business does a dwarf have here?" She spat, disgust evident in her voice. Legolas grew angry over this interrogation he moved out from behind Aragorn "What business do you have harassing strangers I come to return home, you should learn some respect." He hissed no one but himself insults Gimli. The female stopped like she was seeing Legolas for the first time, "Legolas." She whispered. Legolas irritation grew, "Who are you to call me by name?" She just stood there about to respond when her first commander stepped up beside her. "Mame we are ready to light the Orks though you might want to watch." He stated. She turned "Light it." She remounted her horse as the elves light the Orks. "Lets go boys, job well done." She turned to Legolas "Perhaps next time you return majesty you won't bring a pack of Orks on you heals." And she sped towards the forest, men following. When they were gone Aragorn turned to Legolas "Who was that?" "I do not know she obviously had no respect, she insulted Gimli." Legolas protested. "Yes well she was just suspicious I suppose, maybe you shouldn't have been so cold to her. I mean she did save us." Aragorn stated doubtfully. Legolas just shook his head "Perhaps, lets continue I would like to get home." And with that the three moved into the shelter of the trees.

Laurwen stumbled off her horse and moved into her home after seeing the men safely to the base, and sending a scout to the king to report what had happened. He had returned finally the prince had come home. No more pleasant that when he left, judging by the cold tone he had in his voice, maybe he had a friendship with that dwarf. She had not been prepared to see him so suddenly, Thranduil should have told her. 'Hey' she thought 'He should have told me! How dare he not tell her' she felt the anger building up in her veins and she went back to the stables remounted Spirt and headed for the place.