A/N: Ha! I got this chapter out faster this time! :D *I bet you're all so proud of me... ok, you can put those torches and pitch forks away now...*

to answer a few questions:

hope u did ok on ur history and english was it?- Rana Yes, I did pretty good, so now I don't have to be killed and roasted over a spit like a pig. :D

p.s, hope you're okay. you sounded kind of weary when you said this wasn't exactlty the best time to be worrying about a fanfiction story. If it makes you feel any better, I'd pobably still read your story if you didn't update for a year. wouldn't remember what he hell it was about, but I'd still read it. Its good stuff! - Albinofrog88 Aww... thanks so much! :D (note: I love readers like these! heehee)

And of course... I thank each and every one of the reviewers who have been so kind to continue reading this fanfic when it is ever so slowly updated... it means a lot to me!

Ok, on with the story

A Sunset Love

Chapter 21: Evil plans

Chapter recap: Saruman comes in, bothers our favorite fellowship group, and does something weird to Mithdelothwen.

Saruman walked out of the prison chambers, enjoying the fear and rage of the captives within the cells. He knew that defeating them would be no sweat, but this was just too easy.

The fate of middle earth rested in the hands of 10 companions, 4 of them reliant upon a girl. How ironic. He had an advantage over them; being a wizard, since he could use his powers to fight these petty creatures who relied upon swords, arrows and axes. Also, he was in his own territory... there was no greater advantage than that. His territory... surrounded for miles and miles with 10,000 uruk-hai and orcs. There would be no hope for escaping for them.

However... something puzzled him. The humans, elves and dwarf managed to survive his initial attack at Amon Hen. How? Gandalf wasn't even among them then, so he couldn't have anything to do with it. What's more, the 4 hobbits managed to escape, the ones with the ring! Saruman was most displeased when he found out that 2 of the hobbits had escaped his grasp, but even more so when he found out the ones remaining in his possession had escape while his uruk-hai and orcs were attacked during the night by the Riders of Rohan.

"No matter... I will make sure these ones receive all the pain they were supposed to. Torturing them shall be quite fun; the heir to the Kings of all Men, a dwarf, the man who was supposed to die... and two of the 'fairest folk' in all Middle earth: Elves." Smiling cruelly, Saruman recalled the conversation with his uruk-hai:

Do you remember how the first orcs came to be? They were elves once.. tortured and mutilated. And now... perfected.

"I don't see why we can't have a new batch of uruk-hai and orcs.. made from royalty blood."

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Legolas was trying his best to pass through the bars of the cell, to no avail. The evil wizard had done something to Mithdelothwen, right in front of his very eyes, and he hadn't been able to protect her! Slamming his fist into the bars one last time, he sighed defeated as he sank to the floor of the cell, for the 2nd time that day.

Aragorn watched him again; not being able to fully sympathize with the elf. No words of comfort he could utter would soothe the elf's heart and mind.

Boromir felt odd... some feeling inside of him didn't feel right. Here he was, unharmed essentially, yet... he felt pained. He sighed, dropping his head into his hands, breathing deeply. Gimli looked at him strangely. The she elf was hurt, Legolas was nearly dying, and now Boromir was acting strange. If things continued at this rate, they'd all be insane by dawn.

"What's the matter?" Gimli asked Boromir. Boromir rubbed his temples gently before answering.

"I feel.. somewhat pained. I don't know why. I felt fine before. And I'm sure it isn't hunger." Boromir mumbled. Legolas turned his eyes in Boromir's direction. Boromir sat in the corner of the cell, looking quite a mess, his head bent down in his hands, his voice sounding a little disoriented.

Now why would that be... Legolas unconsciously looked towards Mithdelothwen again. Mithdelothwen! That was it!

"It appears that Mithdelothwen affects more than one of us." Legolas said, causing all eyes to turn on him.

"What do you mean?" Aragorn asked.

"Mithdelothwen is connected with Boromir and I; She is bonded to me, and in a weaker form, bonded to Boromir. When she healed him, she gave him her energy, her life force... so now that something is happening to Mithdelothwen, Boromir feels a fraction of it." Legolas explained, as words just continued to flow from his mouth; from all the despair and pain in his heart and mind, Legolas wasn't sure if what he was saying was even a literate sentence.

"So.. if she dies, Boromir and you die?" Gimli asked, earning a glare from Legolas and Aragorn.

"...I don't think Boromir would die. But I probably would." Legolas sighed, leaning against the bars. Aragorn sighed deeply, and let his head fall against the cold stone walls... today just was not a good day.

Legolas' head snapped to the left, as he saw movement. The bubble that was around Mithdelothwen had dissipated, and caught his eye. He looked eagerly through the bars, hoping she would do something... get up, talk, something... move, even.

His wish was granted.

Mithdelothwen moaned as she rolled over onto her back, feeling sick and weak.

Ugh... this is worse than the fever I got from healing Boromir's wounds! She thought as her immediately began pounding as if her head was a drum.

What had happened? She tried to remember... she remembered saying some rather foul things to Saruman... and then being knocked unconscious because of his inability to hear the truth. She grinned slightly at that.

"Stupid bastard..." She barely whispered, forgetting that there were others near her, one of whom for sure could hear all words she uttered.

"Who is a stupid bastard?" Legolas smiled slightly at her, thankful that she seemed to be alright.

"The wizard... who else?" She tucked a lock of her messy hair behind her ear, and resting her hand upon her aching head.

"Melamin, uma dela?" [my love, are you alright?] Legolas asked, feeling stupid for asking such a thing. Obviously, she must be hurt, but the words came upon impulse.

"I'm... I don't know. Except for feeling like my head is about to split open, and feeling like throwing up, I feel dandy. You?" Mithdelothwen looked at him with raised eyebrows.

It would seem that she has a lot more sarcasm in her than I realized...Legolas thought, surprised at her words. She had never spoken like this before, and while it didn't really bother Legolas, it was different. Very different.

"Legolas?" Mithdelothwen's soft, dream-like voice brought Legolas back to reality.

"yes, melamin?"[yes, my love?] Legolas asked, wondering what she wanted to ask him.

"This probably sounds very childish... but.. I want to go home." She said, looking straight into his eyes. Her eyes held pain, sorrow and just tiredness. He gave her a half smile.

"I know.. I know... Me too."

A/N: Aww.. what a crappy place for me to leave you hanging, eh? lol.... Don't worry, I have many twists and turns in store for the next few chapters. Please R&R!!!!! ~Feathers of the Wind [03.12.03]