Chapter 3: Strong Arms
A/N: I'm still stuck. Muchas gracias to Videl-14 for the idea. I mean I was considering quitting this fic if I didn't get an idea from someone. Anyhoo, here we go.
"Without the mask where will you hide?" -Evanescence Everybody's Fool
"Annawen? Annawen, we are prepared to depart. You may pack your things and I will find you something to eat."
She opened her eyes, letting the sun slowly creep onto her face. Annawen realized that it was Legolas who had been speaking to her and nodded to him. "I'm up. I don't have any belongings other than what you see on me."
"Well, help one of the other members. I will return in a few moments."
Legolas turned and left Annawen alone. She saw that the man, Boromir, was loading things onto Bill the pony's back. Annawen rose, with difficulty for she was still sore, and walked over to Boromir. "Do you need any help?"
"Not from you," he spat.
Annawen could have killed him right there, had it not been too soon to even try anything. "Alright," she sighed, trying to keep her temper, and stalked off.
Legolas returned a few minutes later with food for both of them. "Thanks," she murmured, trying to keep the anger in her from showing.
He could sense her hostility thought but chose not to acknowledge it. "Are you sore?" he asked instead.
"A little. I'm still quite tired also."
"It will heal and we will rest in a few hours time."
"I hope so. We haven't even left yet and already I'm tired. It seems unnatural for me to be this tired though."
"You've been through a lot these last few days," Legolas replied.
"You have no idea."
_~~*~~_
"I gotta keep up. I didn't think I would be this tired though." The fellowship had just departed a few hours before and was making their way to Caras Galadhon.
Annawen had been falling behind the other for some time now. Legolas turned around to see where she was because she was no longer by his side. He spotted her a few feet behind Gimli, who was the slowest. The prince ran back to her. "Are you well?"
"Umm…I…should be," she answered. Suddenly her vision blurred and Annawen became light-headed. "On second thought…I don't think..."
Annawen fainted. Had Legolas not been there she would have fallen. "Aragorn!" he called. "Hold everyone for a moment. Annawen has fainted."
"What happened?" the man asked, running up beside the two elves, concern showing on his usually stern face.
"She is too weak to go on. What shall we do with her? We still have a ways yet to go."
"Can you carry her?" It is little more that two days journey more but we will rest throughout the remainder.
Legolas nodded and lifted the elf into his strong arms. He placed his head to her chest to check for a heartbeat. "She still breathes," he said, relief sounding in his voice.
"Let's get her to the city," Aragorn commanded.
Annawen's eyes fluttered open. She moaned. "Where am I?" Her vision cleared slightly and she saw Legolas's worried face looking down at her. "What are you doing?"
"You fainted. We're going to seek the lord and lady of Lothlorien. Rest, we shall be there in a day's journey."
Annawen didn't refuse, for she was quite tired. She wrapped her arms around Legolas's neck and fell asleep against his chest.
_~~*~~_
It was nighttime by now. Legolas had awoken Annawen because they were now inside Lorien. He gently let her down so he could give his arms a much needed rest.
Annawen was oblivious to everything. She walked along soundlessly and wordlessly, following the fellowship with the exception of Legolas who walked behind. The only thing that brought her back to reality was an arrow pointed in her face.
"The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," a smooth voice sneered.
The march warden spoke with a few of the members of the fellowship whilst Annawen, Sam, and Frodo stood behind in the back.
Haldir walked past Gimli after his crude remark about the elvish hospitality. He looked upon Frodo and Annawen and his eyes grew wide. "You bring more that one great evil here."
"Please," Aragorn pleaded. "We have been wearied with travel and grief. Lead us to the lord and lady that is all we ask."
"You can go no further," he replied.
Aragorn went to have a more private talk with Haldir while the remainder stayed behind.
Annawen sat on the cold ground, pulled her knees up to her chest, and her head lay in between them, looking at the ground. Legolas, sensing her distress, came and sat next to her.
"It's my fault, you know," she said to him. "All of this. If I weren't here you would be on your way. And for that I am sorry. I have caused enough damage to your fellowship. Maybe I should travel to Rivendell."
"Do not think like that," Legolas begged. "Haldir did say that we brought more that one great evil here. It is certainly not your fault."
"But it is! You and everyone else know it too. I shouldn't be here," she said quietly.
Legolas did not have time to respond because Haldir walked up to them. "You will follow me."
A/N: I am so sorry for not updating. I've been having a few personal problems lately. I might not accept anonymous reviews anymore because I've been receiving quite a few flames on another of my fics. I removed it in hopes that she would leave me alone. So if you don't have an account, just send your review to my e-mail address. Please review and don't flame it. If you don't like it, just stop reading it for crying out loud!