Greatest Risk

Calen Moon

Length: Nine Chapters

Rating: PG-13 for graphic scenes

Summary: When Isilmeriel, niece of Lord Elrond, meets Prince Legolas of Mirkwood there is an instant attraction. However Isilmeriel is afraid that loving Legolas will ultimately wind up hurting him. Can she over come her fear of love and be willing to risk everything for it?

Disclaimer: I do not own anything based upon Lord of the Rings, etc. That honor belongs to J.R.R Tolkien and always will. I am just a fan that writes fiction for entertainment only. So anything you recognized belongs to Tolkien and everything you don't is my creation. Please ask permission if you yourself get the writing bug and want to use anything from my stories. Thank you and enjoy.

Part 1

~*~*~*~

Where has my heart gone?

Trapped in the eyes of a stranger

I want to go back to

Believing in everything

~Evanescence

~*~*~*~

The sun had just begun to linger in the east. The beautiful colors of pinks, purples, and reds painted the sky. Rivendell looked like something out of a dream as the waterfalls reflected the new day's light. The warmth surrounding the buildings called to Isilmeriel as she made her way down the path to her home. The cool winds tossed her long, almost white hair.

She had spent the past few years in Lothlorien, the land of her father. Although she found it hard to leave behind the beautiful golden woods, she missed her cousins, Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel, and her dear uncle, Elrond. Now, not even an hour away from her home, thoughts flooded her mind. How faired her family and her home since she had been gone? She clouded her mind imagining the stories that she would be told. So much, in fact, that she didn't notice the sound of light footfalls surrounding her.

Isilmeriel suddenly felt the weight of something tackle her to the ground. Instinct took over. She pulled a knife from her boot, threatening her attacker.

"Peace, Isilmeriel," a familiar voice said calmly to her.

Isilmeriel pushed the hair away from her eyes revealing a questioning look, "Elladan? What were you thinking? I could have killed you!"

The raven-haired elf laughed, "With that tiny thing?"

Looking at the knife, Isilmeriel began to laugh. The blade was the smallest of the elven weapons that she usually carried, but in that instant it was all she could reach. "I guess you are right. What are you doing here and where is that twin of yours?"

Elrohir rushed Isilmeriel from behind and began to spin her around. "Isilmeriel, you are home!"

"Elrohir, put me down now!" The younger of the elf twins obeyed and set her back on the ground. "I cannot believe this! I'm in this valley for less than a minute and you two are starting already!"

The twin elves looked innocently at their younger cousin. They had missed all the shenanigans they had gotten into. Even though Isilmeriel was female, her antics could put her male cousins to shame.

"Well, we have a lot to make up for," Elladan offered the excuse.

"And you have been gone now for a few years, we missed you." Elrohir put in.

"I bet you did," Isilmeriel teased.

Isilmeriel glanced between the two identical Noldor elves. "I also bet that my uncle is well rested without me to patch up almost everyday because of you two."

"Actually, he has had his hands full with Estel," Elrohir said.

Isilmeriel rolled her eyes, "I can only imagine. Where is he now?"

"Hunting," said Elladan, "We would have gone as well but we had to patrol. Orcs and Wargs have been seen around these woods."

"Oh, that's just wonderful," Isilmeriel commented sarcastically, "Why didn't you send a message to Lothlorien, I could have helped."

"Father didn't want to bother you," Elrohir stated. "Come, let's go home."

Together the cousins walked along the path to Rivendell. When they reached their home, Elrond was sitting in his study. The sound of laughter urged him into the hallway. A large smile quickly spread across his face as he saw his niece. Isilmeriel walked up to her uncle and welcomed the embrace he offered.

"Isilmeriel, it is good to see you again," the elf lord whispered in her ear, "Welcome home, my dear."

"Oh, uncle, I have missed you so much," She whispered back.

Elrond held her out at arms' length. It seemed like a hundred years since she had left his home for the woods of Lorien. He suddenly frowned at his saw a tear on the sleeve of her traveling dress. Elrond touched the tear and quickly pulled his fingers away as he felt the warmth of blood on her pale skin.

Shaking his head, "Isilmeriel, my child, can you come into my house just once without bleeding? You are as bad as my sons. How did this happen?"

Elladan and Elrohir began to snicker quietly. Elrond cast an angry gaze on the brothers.

"It must of happened when Elladan tackled her, father," Elrohir replied as his brother sharply elbowed him in the ribs.

"Elladan," Elrond scolded, "How many time must I tell you to be careful with your cousin? One of these days you are going to really get her hurt."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Isilmeriel said under her breath.

"Isilmeriel, come inside and let me get a look at that scratch," Elrond commanded, "Elladan, Elrohir, get back to what you were doing before."

"Yes, father," the twins mumbled as the departed for the woods.

Elrond lead his niece back into the house and began to tend to the wound.

"Uncle, do not be angry at them, it was an accident," Isilmeriel said trying to protect her cousins.

"I know, Isilmeriel. I am not angry at them, just annoyed," Elrond chucked as he spread an ointment across the scratch.

"Am I going to live?" Isilmeriel poked fun at her overprotective uncle.

"Maybe," Elrond chuckled. "How was the Golden Wood?"

"Boring," Isilmeriel smirked, "I didn't have any adventures or get into any trouble."

"That is not what I heard," the elf lord could not hold back his laughter any longer. "My dear niece, what am I going to do with you. You act as if you were one of my sons and their friend Legolas."

"Prince Legolas?" she asked. Isilmeriel knew the name but had never met the prince.

"Yes, Prince Legolas," Elrond said, "I have had to tend to that rouge elf prince more in the past few years more than any one should have to in a hundred."

"More than me?" Isilmeriel asked as she raised an eyebrow.

Elrond rolled his eyes remembering all the times he had brought his niece back from the brink of death. "By the Valar, no, but almost. Now go, clean yourself up and get out of that drab traveling dress. When you are finished come back here. I will arrange for food to be brought up and you can share with me every boring detail of your time in Lorien. Now go on, off with you."

"Yes, uncle," Isilmeriel smiled as she left the room.

She soon returned wearing a light blue beaded dress that brought out the ever-changing color of her eyes. Her long, albescent hair flowed freely down her back. A slight glow radiated off her pale skin making the ring that once belonged to her father shine faintly.

Lord Elrond was amazed at the change he saw in the young elf. She had grown so much over the past few years. Smiling he waved for her to come and sit. Sitting down, Isilmeriel recalled every story of her long visit in Lorien. When she finished her tale the sun had already begun to set behind the distant mountains.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Father!" Elrohir shouted as he burst through the door.

Elrond jumped to his feet and caught his son's shoulders, "What happened, Elrohir?"

Elrohir took a moment to catch his breath, "Estel.. Legolas.. Attacked by wargs..Estel is hurt badly.Elladan and Legolas..are bringing him in..I ran ahead to tell you."

Elrond directed his son to the chair he had been sitting in earlier. "Well done, my son."

Isilmeriel looked up at her uncle with worried eyes. Reading her thoughts Elrond nodded. "Isilmeriel, go into the guest room where you can tend to Legolas. I will stay here and take care of Estel."

Isilmeriel nodded and left the room

Elrohir stood up, "They should be here in about a half an hour. Father, Estel.."

"All will be well," Elrond said, sensing his son's fear.

Elrond stood in the main hallway waiting for Elladan to arrive with Legolas and Estel. The elf lord's eyes widen when he saw Legolas and his eldest son carrying Estel between them. Estel was unconscious and blood flowed from several cuts throughout the human's body. This did not worry Elrond as much as the large, crimson stain that spread across the whole of his adopted son's tunic.

Elrond lifted Estel's chin gently with his hand feeling the slight warmth of his breath. Estel was alive but barely.

"Bring him in here, quickly," Elrond commanded. "Elladan, heat the water. Elrohir, fetch the bandages, needle, and thread. He will need stitching."

Legolas watched in fear as Elrond opened Estel's blood soaked tunic to reveal several deep puncture wounds caused by the jagged teeth of a warg. The elf prince cursed himself for letting this happen to his friend. The beasts had come upon them so quickly and with so many. It was a miracle that Elladan and Elrohir were in the area and heard the battle, or all would have been lost.

He himself had managed to escape with only a split brow and a cut along his upper arm. Legolas was so worried over his friend that he refused to feel the blood that ran down his fair face and stained his sleeve.

"Elrond, will he live," Legolas choked.

"It is too soon to tell," the elf lord murmured. "Legolas, you yourself have some injuries I want to be looked at. There is a healer waiting for you down the hall. Tamuril will show you the way."

Tamuril had seen the young human being dragged into the house. The servant was quite fond of the young man and grew just as worried as Legolas. He watched and waited with anxious worry in the doorway.

Legolas looked from the elf in the door way to his friend. "With all do respect, Lord Elrond.."

"Legolas, go with Tamuril, or I shall have you dragged there. Do you understand me?" Elrond chided.

Legolas nodded and followed the servant elf down the hall. He entered the room that Tamuril had directed him to go to. The only light in the room was from the moon that cast its beams on a figure sitting in the over- stuffed lounge chair near the window singing softly in Elvish.

"I ur panya hoire

En, ai, ve I lumna wilin oar

I elenan mirilya mi I vilya

Ve I isil ortan oro

Caluva mi I vilya ve silma

Ta rilma tyava alda 'ar sire

Eh amba 'ar vela ta rilma

Maica lean a I lome

Mi I mornie, I isil 'ar elen

Tananta rilma hovahaia

Caluva undu homenel ma cemi

Vela I rilma an ma ta na valda

Sana lle hanar 'ar uin caure

Milya hon, mornie n'lavtula har

Asta I rilma 'ar uin lavta oanie

En, I ur ortan an vinya re

(The sun sets from another day,

Look, ho, as the troubles fly away.

The stars glitter in the sky,

As the moon rises high.

Shinning in the sky like silver,

Its light touching tree and river.

Look up and see its light,

Piercing the shadows of the night.

In the darkness, the moon and star,

Reveal their light from afar.

Shinning down from heaven to earth,

See the light for what its worth.

Close your eyes and do not fear,

In your heart, darkness cannot come near.

Hold the light and don not let it sway,

Look, the sun rises for a new day)."

The light of the moon made the elf seem to glow as it reflected off her beaded dress and long, niveous hair. Her pale skin seemed to radiate in the moonlight.

Legolas caught his breath and began to walk quietly towards the creature. If she was a dream, he did not want to wake.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isilmeriel stopped her song as she heard the light footfall. Turning around, her blue-green eyes meet with the silver-blue ones. She looked pensively at the elf-his long blonde hair framed the chiseled features of his fair face. The blood that ran down his face from the gash on his brow did not hide the beauty of the elf.

She was breath taking. Her eyes glimmered like the stars. A slight blush swept across her cheeks and her rose kissed lips turned to a smile.

Legolas smiled, "Are you the healer?"

"Are you the rouge elf prince that Elrond told me to tend to?" Isilmeriel asked.

Legolas scratched his head and laughed, "I guess that would be me. I am Legolas. May I ask you your name."

"Isilmeriel," she replied. "Now, if you would go and sit down so I could do my job."

Legolas protested, "I really should go to Estel. I am fine..."

"Hara undu (Sit down)," Isilmeriel said firmly lighting the orb near the edge of the bed and then fetching the supplies she would need.

Legolas obeyed and sat at the foot of the bed. Isilmeriel returned with a rag, basin of hot water, ointment and bandages and set them down on a nearby table. Legolas let out a hiss of pain as she began to cleanse the gash that ran along his brow.

"Shh, it's all right," Isilmeriel said as she gently blew cold air on his head wound. "Could you remove your tunic? I need to get to the gash on your arm."

Legolas unbuttoned his tunic and slid the sleeve of green fabric off of his shoulder so Isilmeriel could clean the wound on his upper arm.

"How did this happen anyway, Legolas?"

Legolas recalled the story of the battle with the wargs as she worked. When Isilmeriel had finished cleaning and bandaging his arm, he slid his tunic back on and buttoned it up. "You are a very skilled healer, Isilmeriel. In fact, I would say you are a skilled as Lord Elrond."

"Lord Elrond is my uncle," she replied, "he taught me everything."

"Really? How is it that I missed.never met you?" Legolas asked.

"I just returned from Lothlorien," Isilmeriel answered sweetly. "I left for those woods when Elladan and Elrohir departed to fetch Estel out of yours.

Since he had entered the room he grew fascinated with Isilmeriel with each passing second. He had never had this feeling before and he did not want it to go away. Legolas placed his hand over hers, "I am finding new ways to be thankful for that human that stumbled into my woods." With his other hand, Legolas swept a few stray strands of Isilmeriel's hair away from her fair face.

Isilmeriel's breath caught with surprise at the suddenness of his movements and the feeling that was rapidly overtaking her. Since the moment her eyes had met his, a new feeling began to burn within her. The two elves just stared at each other for a moment with a longing gaze. A smile tugged at the corner of Legolas' mouth as he gently pulled Isilmeriel close to him, his lips brushing her for a brief, magical moment.

Isilmeriel pulled away quickly. This flame was spreading through her quickly. She knew well what the feeling was and feared it. She feared it more than anything she had ever faced before.

Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir stood in the doorway of the room watching the two elves. They knew, just by the look in their eyes, something had changed the both of them.

"Legolas." Elladan coughed trying to get his friend's attention without being too obvious.

"Isilme..." Elrohir whispered his cousin's nickname.

"Isilmeriel." Elrond finally spoke up, catching their attention immediately, "how fairs Legolas?"

"I am fine, Lord Elrond," Legolas replied for Isilmeriel, "I am feeling much better."

Elladan and Elrohir burst into laughter. They would have never believed that their cousin could ever turn that shade of red.

"What is so funny," Isilmeriel asked.

"The look on your face," The twins said together.

Isilmeriel pushed her feelings aside for the moment and looked at Legolas. He returned the look and flashed a wicked smile. Each of them took a pillow into their hands and vaulted them at the twins. The two brothers caught the pillows and fired them back.

"Enough!" Elrond boomed over the ruckus. "How old are you?"

Isilmeriel and Legolas pointed at the twins and laughed together, "They are older than us."

Elrond rolled his eyes, "That is an excuse I am getting weary of. Estel is going to be fine. He is resting right now, you all can see him in the morning."

Legolas was so overjoyed at the news that his friend was going to be all right that he almost wrapped his arms around Isilmeriel in a warm embrace, but thought the better of it. It was odd to the prince, somehow, being next to her felt natural, felt right.

Elrond left the room laughing to himself. He could see the attraction between his niece and the Prince of Mirkwood. As he walked down the hall back to Aragorn's room the sound of laughter filled the air.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Legolas awoke feeling the warmth of the newly risen sun on his face. Slowly he got out of bed and got dressed. He was just putting on his tunic when he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," he replied absent-mindedly as he turned, buttoning the shirt up.

Isilmeriel entered the room to see the almost shirtless elf finish getting dressed. She quickly turned herself around so he could finish dressing. "I-I'm sorry," she sputtered through her words, "I th-thought that you were already up."

Legolas chuckled to himself as he buttoned the last button and placed his hand on Isilmeriel's shoulder. "I am up. Is there something you wanted?"

Isilmeriel met Legolas' eyes and felt her insides turn into butterflies. This was absurd, she felt like a child. Slowly and uncontrollably she felt her eyes begin to close and her head began to lean towards his lips. Legolas leaned in as well, feeling the same way. Their faces so close, they hung on each other's breath.

Isilmeriel's mind came to her rescue and overpowered her emotion for a brief moment, just long enough for her to shake out of the trance that seemed to hold her and the prince.

"Yes, I did want to tell you something," she paused as Legolas shook himself away from the moment they were about to share just seconds before, "Estel is awake now. He awoke just a few minutes ago and wouldn't stop asking for you. So I came to get you so you can go and see him." If she could, Isilmeriel would have kicked herself. Not only did she feel like a child, but she was acting like one too.

"Well then I suppose I should go and see him if he's asking for me," if the elven prince could he would have shot himself in the foot with an arrow for sounding so stupid.

Shaking his head slightly, he left the room. Isilmeriel could hear him muttering something under his breath as he walked down the hall to Estel's room.

Shaking her head, she left Legolas' room for her own, muttering to herself. She had feelings for him, but he couldn't know. She would wind up hurting him sooner or later if she let him know. She had to keep it secret, to keep him safe.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

An hour or so later Isilmeriel came into Estel's room. He was sitting up in his bed staring at the window. She came and sat down on the bed next to her adopted cousin.

"Manen ava lle tyava (How do you feel)?" she asked

"Sore," Estel mumbled with a slight laugh.

"Well, you look like a warg dragged you for about a mile, "she teased.

"No," Estel said sarcastically, "It just chewed me up and spit me out."

Isilmeriel could not help laughing. Estel joined in but soon winced in pain.

"I am sorry, Estel, I didn't mean to make you laugh," Isilmeriel apologized. "Do you need anything?"

"I'm a little hungry, but Legolas is having food brought up," Estel answered.

"How did you two meet anyway?" she asked.

Aragorn smiled remembering how he and the Prince of Mirkwood had met and become such good friends, "Well, I was coming back from Lake Town when suddenly I felt an arrow go through my shoulder. It turns out that I had stumbled into Mirkwood and the Wood Elves had shot me and thinking I was an intruder took me as their prisoner. I had to explain to King Thranduil who I was. Legolas was the only one that believed me. Well, to make a long story short, we soon became fast friends. How did you two meet?"

Isilmeriel smiled innocently, " I tended to him last night while Elrond took care of you. Why?"

Estel grinned ruefully, "Just wondering. He has taken quite a liking to you."

Isilmeriel blushed slightly, "Why do you think that?"

"He kept going on and on about this beautiful elf maiden who tended to him last night," Aragorn rolled his eyes as he began to imitate his friend, "'Oh, she is as lovely as Mirkwood at dawn. Her voice is like that of a Nightingale and her eyes change from color to color like the moon changes shape.'"

Isilmeriel turned her head to hide the now wild blush the consumed her cheeks. No one had ever spoken like that about her, that she knew of at least.

"You have feelings for him too, don't you?" Estel raised his bruised brow.

"I should probably get you some more ointment for your cuts," Isilmeriel desperately tried to change the subject.

"Oh, no you don't, Isilme," Aragorn smiled wickedly, "Do you have feelings for Legolas?"

Isilmeriel could lie to herself but she could not lie to her little human cousin, "Yes."

"What did you say?" Estel cocked his head.

"Yes, I have feelings for him!" Isilmeriel said louder than she meant to.

Legolas carried a tray of food back to Estel's room. He had personally wanted the task of delivering his friend's food and Tamuril would not argue. As he walked down the hall he heard voices from the room.

"Do you have feelings for Legolas?" Estel asked

The elf could not hear the answer.

"What did you say?" He heard Aragorn ask, pretending he couldn't hear.

"Yes, I have feelings for him!"

Legolas nearly dropped the tray of food he held in his arms. The voice that answered was Isilmeriel. Recollecting himself he began to enter Estel's room.

"Oh, Legolas, you're back," Estel noted with a devilish smile.

. "Yes, and as you can see I have brought breakfast for you," Legolas set the tray on Estel's lap and flashed a smile at Isilmeriel.

"Thank you, my friend," Estel said.

Legolas and Isilmeriel watched Estel eat. He barely touched his food but insisted he had had enough. Convinced, Isilmeriel took the tray and left the room. She returned a few minutes later with a mug filled with a steaming liquid.

"Here you go, Estel," she said as she pushed the cup into his hands.

Estel breathed in the steam and held the cup out hesitantly. "Isilmeriel, I do not..."

Isilmeriel interrupted him, "Your father gave me clear instructions that after you had breakfast to see that you rest. Seeing how you probably will not do it on your own, then you must be made."

"But..."

Legolas tipped the mug up to Estel's lips. "Strider, do as you are told." He lowered his voice so only Aragorn could hear him, "or I will have to make a scene in front of your beautiful cousin."

Estel rolled his eyes as he complied; drinking all of the tea that contained the sleeping potion.

"Strider? That's a new name. How did you come by that?" Isilmeriel asked.

"It's a long story," Aragorn chuckled, "Just add it to the list of the ones I already have."

Aragorn let out a large yawn and laid his head down on the pillows asleep. Isilmeriel skillfully checked his bandages before pulling the covers over the sleeping human.

"Let's leave him so he can rest," she whispered.

Legolas smiled but shook his head. "I would like to stay here with Estel for a while."

Legolas watched Isilmeriel pensively as she left the room. He knew he was falling in love with her, no, he had already fallen and hard. And for some reason he couldn't figure out, he knew she loved him back. But why was she holding back and hiding it?