~A/N: Hey Everyone! :) I have another chapter for you, but I might not post for a while after this, because exams are coming closer, and musical practice sessions are becoming longer so I probably won't have enough time to be posting as frequently as I have been doing... Sorry! I wish I could post everyday, and I would... if not for school. . lol. Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

Oh, I also have some REAL elvish words in here now! *^^*

A Sunset Love

Chapter 18: Dungeons and thoughts

Mithdelothwen breathed, and nearly choked. The air.. smelled rotten and disgusting. She was in pain... she didn't know where but she could feel it. She wanted to open her eyes, but was afraid of what she might see. And, her eyelids were feeling so heavy, almost as if they were made of lead.

What had happened? She tried to remember... They were packing up, getting ready to go when all of a sudden, Orcs and Uruk-hai had appeared.

Stupid bastards... She thought, managing to open her eyes slightly. She groaned slightly, as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. The first thing she noticed... was that she was chained to the dank, damp stone wall. Her wrist and ankles were chained, although she could still move, even if only a little bit. Her neck hurt, from being in an uncomfortable position while she was unconscious. As she continued to look around her cell, she realized another important fact; she was alone. There was no one in the cell with her. She supposed that in a way, it was a good thing. At least there wasn't a Uruk-hai or orc rooming with her... but where were her companions?

Where's Legolas? She wondered, her heart beat picking up slightly. Taking a moment, she observed the door, which seemed to be outlined in fiery light, as bits of light slipped through cracks around the door frame and the barred windows on both the door and walls. To her left, was the door, made of wood and with 2 barred windows; one at the top of the door, and one near the bottom. To her right was another damp wall with a small barred window. The sky outside was dark, with the moon only being just able to shine through the ominous clouds. Normally, when she saw the moon it was comforting. Now, the moon seemed harsh and spooky, giving her more fright than comfort. She shivered when a breeze came in through the tiny window.

What am I to do? What are WE, the fellowship, to do? I hope Frodo is alright... as long as he still is free, the quest has a chance of succeeding. Mithdelothwen thought, with a sad and heavy heart.

Looking down at the floor, she realized that her weapons were gone. And no doubt, destroyed. Mithdelothwen sighed with defeat. She had no weapons, she had no way to get out. She was trapped. And most of all... her soul, her heart, ached for Legolas. The way he could make the day so much brighter just by uttering a few words or just by smiling. She tried not to cry as she thought of the many times where he'd hold her and just tell her how much he loved her. Instead of the memories making her feel better, it made her feel worse. She wasn't as strong as she thought she was... and she only came on this journey because of her stubborn attitude. She just couldn't think of him without her heart feeling ripped out of her chest, and let out a quiet, choked sob. She felt as if her heart was breaking and being torn in various directions, like in tug-of-war. She had never felt such sorrow in her life, and thought she would surely die from the excruciating pain. She did the next best thing; she went unconscious again.

******************

When Legolas awoke, he found himself in a dark and drab, miserable cell. Gimli, Boromir and Aragorn were with him. Everyone but Gimli was conscious. Mithdelothwen wasn't there.

I'll never forgive myself... I promised to protect her! If anything happens to her... it will be all my fault! Legolas felt a deep despair within his heart, and his breathing became quick and shallow; he was trying hard not to go insane with worry. Aragorn watched Legolas, who lay about 3 feet away from him. He pitied him. He knew that although Legolas was trying to bury the feelings deep, that it just wouldn't work. His love for Mithdelothwen was too strong to be buried and forgotten, even if only temporarily. Legolas, being a relatively young elf, had never felt a love such as this for anyone, and surely wouldn't know how to handle the current separation. If he could, Aragorn would pat him on the shoulder and reassure Legolas that everything would turn out alright, and that Mithdelothwen would be safe. But he couldn't make such a promise, for he didn't know if it would be possible.

"Im henia lîn naeg. [I understand your pain]" Aragorn said softly, in Elvish, so that no one would know what Legolas was going through. Legolas looked at him for a brief moment, and Aragorn could see all the pain and suffering being held in those blue eyes.

"Ir matho vi guren, hain tuilinn pain harthad. [The feelings in my heart, they swallow all hope]" Legolas said, the tone of his voice clearly indicating that hope was quickly dwindling from his mind, and was slowly sinking into despair. "And these feelings... are not my own." When Legolas said this Aragorn became confused.

"What do you mean, 'these feelings are not your own'?" Legolas thought of how to explain.

"I feel these feelings... yet, it isn't mine. I know it isn't mine. It's like I'm feeling someone else's emotions." No sooner had he said that when he felt another wave of sadness wash over him. They seemed to caress his mind like... her. Just thinking about Mithdelothwen made Legolas' heart break. Why did she have to be so stubborn, wanting to follow on such a dangerous mission? And to make things worse, she went and bound herself...

Wait a minute... Legolas caught himself. Could that be where these 'extra' feelings were coming from?

*******

"Oh, am I supposed to watch you go, and risk having you get killed then?" Mithdelothwen shot back, a little hurt that he seemed too over protective. He didn't have an answer for her.

"Legolas, you promised to protect me by life or death." She stated. Legolas nodded, unsure of what she was getting at.

"yes.. and?!" He asked rather impatiently. Mithdelothwen took his hand in hers, and held it to her heart.

"In return, I pledge the same promise. By my life or death, I will protect you, dearest Legolas." She vowed, kissing the knuckles of his hand.

"Dire na talern ille, a 'too." [I will die for you, if needed.]

**********

Legolas cursed under his breath when he remembered what Mithdelothwen had promised. She had... bound herself to him, should they have the same fate. She was suffering greatly, and he was feeling her emotions. That probably meant that she was feeling his emotions, although she probably didn't know why. Very seldom to Elves bind their souls to their partner, for if one died, the other would have a small chance of surviving. Elves saw it as too risky, and the practice hadn't been used in thousands of years. Legolas knew that she understood what it meant, to bind herself to him, but he had a feeling that she didn't understand the full extent. He had heard from a long time ago, that those bound, could communicate mentally through the use of telepathy. He now wanted to see if it was true.

Legolas closed his eyes and tried to reach out to Mithdelothwen's mind. He frowned slightly when he felt nothing but his own mind. He kept trying, even as Gimli awoke, but with no success.

Perhaps it was just a myth then... Legolas thought, feeling defeated.

A/N: yup. That was chapter 18. Nothing too interesting happening here... but oh well. :p. Please R&R!!!!! :) Thanks everyone! ~Feathers of the Wind