We all (Jenny, Addie, Veronica, me, Alenorin, Legolas, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Gimli, Aragorn, and Sam) said our goodbyes, climbed atop our horses and rode into the woods.

As we rode, we talked. It was actually a very interesting conversation about cheese, but that is unimportant in the big picture of things.

Anyway, during the hundred years I had lived in Mirkwood, I had gained some elvish characteristics. Legolas suspected that I had elvish ancestors, because of the types of things I was able to pick up on. I acquired several traits that most people are not able to from just living among the elves.

Physical things, like agility, incredibly accurate vision, hearing so sharp that I could hear a pin drop from miles away, and most obvious of all, the pointy ears. My ears now looked exactly like any elf's. I had also learned the language in a much shorter time period than it usually took humans.

The first few days of travel were incredibly easy, since we were only riding through the woods of Mirkwood. We would ride all day, and stop in relatively clear spaces at night.

We were on our fifth day of travel when we came across a river. Everyone was glad, because that was our first fresh water in days. I was especially glad, because this meant that I could bathe. I wasn't really dirty, since all we were doing was riding, but I still felt all icky. We stopped and camped at the river for two days, and I got my bath.

I decided to go swimming one day, and as I was floating on my back relaxing, I felt a hand on my stomach. I wasn't startled, since Legolas did that all the time. I was so used to it, I didn't even open my eyes. That is, until I realized that that wasn't Legolas's hand.

I think the point when it became obvious was when I was picked up and slung over someone's shoulder. I looked down, and I saw immediately that this was one of the Moriquendi, or dark elves. This race of elves was composed of elves who had crossed over to evil.

Unfortunately, since I had been swimming, I had no weapons with me. Of course, I had chosen a secluded spot to swim, a little way away from the camp. I didn't want to get myself killed, but I also didn't want to be taken away from the group and not found.

As I was trying to decide whether to scream or attempt escape or both, I heard a bush rustle. I was a bit alarmed when I saw Frodo's face, because if I had heard that bush rustle, than my captors must have as well. I slowly motioned for him to go back to camp and get the others, and he seemed to understand.

The dark elf whose shoulder I was slung across noticed that I was moving my arm, and he threw me down. "Who are you motioning to?" He growled. This was the chance I needed, and I had to gain control.

"No one." I stood up slowly, pretending to have hurt my ankle. I shuffled toward a nearby tree, and leaned against it.

The other two Moriquendi moved, as if to attack me, and the first one took out a bow, obviously to make sure I didn't run away. "I asked you once, and I will only ask you once more. Who were you motioning to?"

I swiftly climbed the tree, and jumped to the one behind the first elf. I dropped silently down onto the ground behind him, tripped him, and grabbed his bow. I shot one of the other ones and was aiming at the second when the first elf got up.

I turned around and, dropping the bow, dodged his punch, kicking him underneath the chin. I could hear his jawbone crack, and was getting ready to kick him again when I was hit on the back of my legs. I collapsed and quickly got back up, but not fast enough.

I was mid-punch when I felt the worst pain I had ever felt in my entire life. It felt like someone had cut my left arm off at the shoulder and sewn it back on without anesthesia. Unfortunately, I was too far in the punch, and I smacked him with my injured arm.

That hurt really bad. Luckily, Frodo chose just that moment to arrive with Legolas and Aragorn. Legolas finished off the one that I had just punched, while Aragorn killed the third.

"Jane, what happened?" Legolas asked me in a worried voice. I croaked in pain, and he noticed my shoulder. "Aragorn, she's been shot. I'll carry her back. Do you mind searching the woods for more?"

"No." Aragorn replied, walking into the trees.

Legolas picked me up gently, with one arm under my back and the other under my knees. "Haryalá caurë, mellamin. (Have no fear, my love)" He walked slowly back to camp, and set me down carefully. "Brace yourself, Jane. This is going to hurt."

The arrow hadn't gone through the back of my shoulder, and the only way an arrow can be removed is for it to continue its original path. For me, this meant piercing the skin of my back.

He broke off the feathered end, and I winced in pain. He then quickly pushed it through (while I shrieked my head off), and cleaned and bandaged the wound.

"Owie." I said weakly.

He picked me up and carried me to my blanket. He lay me down and covered me. "Rest now, and you will feel better." I fell asleep immediately, and when I woke up, it was the middle of the night.

I rolled over onto my side, remembered my injury when it hurt, and rolled onto my back. I looked up at the starry night sky, and was deeply immersed in thought when I felt a hand on my arm. It was Legolas. He had fallen asleep next to me, and heard me move when I woke up. "How do you feel?" He asked quietly, so as not to wake up the others.

"Better. At least, a little. It still hurts really bad."

"And it will, for quite a while. You will slowly regain use of your arm, though, and it should be back to normal in a few weeks. If we were at Rivendell, it would only be a few days." He commented wistfully.

"I will be fine."

"I know." He leaned over and placed his hand on my cheek. "Do you think you can manage a kiss?"

"Anytime." With that I leaned up and met his lips with mine. I fell asleep soon, and dreamt of him. The next morning, I woke up in his arms. "'Quel amrun."

"'Quel amrun, mellamin."