"Oh thank Valar," Sydney whispered in relief.

Elrond pulled Elladan aside and spoke a few quiet words to him. The older twin nodded and glanced over to Elrohir as the twins communicated silently to the other.

"Okay Sydney…off with your tunic," Elrohir said looking down at Sydney.

Despite being weary, her head snapped up in shock to gaze at Elrohir.

"I beg your pardon?" she asked shocked at his command.

"The blood on the back of your tunic tells me that you ripped open your old wound. I have to clean it and possibly re-stitch it and I know that you will not leave until Legolas awakens so I will do it here. But I need you to take off your tunic," he said logically and held out a towel to her that Elladan passed him.

Her jaw snapped shut before snatching the towel out of his hand and dropping it on the chair. One by one, she removed all the weapons that she had attached to herself and set them on a table near her. Disappearing behind the changing screen with the towel, she came back a few minutes later holding the towel to her chest. Elrohir motioned to the chair and watched as she straddled it and faced the back, baring her bare back to him. He gently looked and felt around the wound and cleaned away the seeping blood and mud with the towel.

"Looks like you tore out maybe all of the stitches and possibly even ripped the hole larger on one side," he said grimly as he started to clean the mud out of the wound.

"Could never accuse me of doing a half-assed job," she joked which ended in a hiss of pain.

"I will not dignify that statement with a reply. Once I finish stitching this up, you are on strict orders to not use this arm for at least two days. And I mean it," he said sternly as Sydney looked over her shoulder at him.

"Yeah, sure…whatever you say Elrohir," she replied as she rested her head on the chair's back.

"Sydney," Elrohir warned. "Do not make me bring Elladan into this."

"I will make it a week," Elladan said while he helped his father with Legolas.

"Both of you are bitches, you know that do you not? Fine, two days starting today. No more, no less," she mumbled into her arm that replaced the chair's back.

"You are hardly in the position to be negotiating Sydney," Elladan joked as Sydney lifted her head and glared at him.

"I may be wounded Elladan but I can still take you down," she warned and flinched as Elrohir started to replace the stitches.

"You may, but then I may accidentally let a certain secret slip."

Elrohir stopped what he was doing and looked up at Elladan who looked like his grin would split his face and Sydney who looked like she would split Elladan's face for him.

"What secret?" he asked confused.

"It is nothing Elrohir. I will not use the arm for two whole days. I would do a week if Elladan so wished it," she said as she held Elladan's gaze.

"Okay, now I really want to know this secret if it made Sydney agree this easily," Elrohir said with a smile and mirth twinkling in his eyes.

"As would I," Elrond said as Sydney dropped her head to her arms and sighed.

"I think I shall hold onto this secret for another time. Do you still agree on two days Sydney?"

"Yes."

"Starting tomorrow."

"Tomorrow! But-," she jerked her up to look at him and retort but clamped her lips shut. "Fine."

"We really must talk about this secret Elladan," Elrond said with a smile as he pulled a clean sheet over Legolas.

Sydney growled angrily as Elrohir wrapped her shoulder and gave her a new short sleeve tunic. Sighing to herself she left the others and went to clean herself of all the mud. Once done, she slowly emerged from the deep tub and patted her body dry before slipping into a change of clothes, being mindful of her arm and shoulder. Looking in the oval mirror at herself, she grimaced at the reflected image. Her normal blue eyes looked bloodshot; like she had been to a frat party the entire night, drank the entire keg and was suffering the aftereffects. Her light brown dyed hair was growing out and she could see the roots appearing. While she was in Charleston, she had to continuously dye it brown to hide her blond Elven hair. Now that she was back and had no need to, her hair had started to grow out and the blond color was slowly appearing. With a slight sneer, she pulled her hair up and back before tying it tightly with a small strip of leather. Resting her hands on the delicate sink, she looked closer at the reflection that was presented to her and continue to inspect it. Despite the loose tunic she now wore, anyone could see her defined muscles in her arms that came from hours in the weight room at Charleston. Her face was plain and far from fair as with other she-elves; she wore no makeup or perfume and rarely wore the extravagant gowns that she has seen others wear around the palace. Elves naturally looked very fair and beautiful and were never touched by the cruel effects of aging as seen on others that did not hold immortality in their blood. She knew that other she-elves had eyes so clear and piercing that they could easily pierce through a male suitor and pull the unsuspecting victims into their eyes and do their bidding. Or just turn them into bumbling idiots whenever the she-elf neared them. It seemed to her that she inherited none of these traits as she glared at herself in the mirror. Resisting the urge to break the mirror, she opened the door and jumped in shock finding Elladan waiting for her.

"It seems like either your brother or you are always around every flippin corner," she muttered, feeling testy from her wound and what she saw before her in the mirror.

"I am only here to secure your arm."

Sydney nodded and accepted the simple sling that he held out to her. Once putting it over her head and slipping her arm in it, she waited for Elladan's approval. Checking everything, he nodded and looked down at her as she looked up. She almost dared him to say something and it looked like he was about to but suddenly decided against it.

"I will have someone bring you up some food," he said before he turned and left the room.

"Yeah sure, take the easy way out," she muttered as she moved one of the chairs.

"I heard that!" he yelled back as she turned towards the door.

"I meant for you to!"

Sydney smiled brightly at the sound of Elladan's laughter echoing down the corridor. Positioning the chair just right, she sat down and propped her feet up on one of the window ledges and pushed the chair back onto the two back legs. The window was open along with the doors leading out to the balcony allowing a nice cross breeze. With a sigh of contentment she rested her head back and gazed out the window at the night sky as she trailed her fingertips along her throat and collarbone. At some time, a servant brought in a tray of food from the kitchen and set it on the table before leaving quietly. Glancing at the tray of food, Sydney grimaced before turning back to the window. She wasn't in the mood to eat and doubted she would be for a while. Her nerves were still jumbled and high-strung, causing her stomach to be tied up in knots. Out of pure boredom, she started to play connect the dots with the stars and chuckled at the odd shapes that she created. When that lost its amusement, she started to softly hum a song and occasionally sing a few words.

"Sounds like a beautiful song."

Sydney gasped in shock as her head snapped around at the voice. Her sudden movement upset the delicate balance of her chair and she felt it start to tip backwards as her eyes widened. Saying a very un-lady like curse, she reached for some kind of hold with her good arm in hopes of stopping her fall. Legolas watched as Sydney disappeared beside the bed and flinched slightly at the loud bang the chair made.

"Oh Elrohir is so not going to like this," she chuckled, feeling the pain in her shoulder from the landing.

"Are you okay Sydney?" Legolas asked as he leaned on his good arm to look down at her.

"Oh yea, I have been hurt worse. How about you?" she asked as she slowly climbed to her feet.

"Feels like I have been ran over by a pack of Orcs," he joked as he lay back on the bed.

"Well that sounds just about right seeing how you broke your arm and leg."

Leaning over to right the chair from the floor, she could barely hold back the groan of pain as her body protested against the movement. Legolas, however, noticed the flinch of pain and how she favored her left shoulder and arm that was cradled in a sling.

"What happened to you?" he asked and nodded towards her arm.

Sydney snorted softly before answering. "I tore open my old wound when I got you out of that pit and carried you here."

"So you did get me out of there."

"I did thank you very much and carried you all the way here too. Got myself torn up in the process too," she muttered and looked over at the tray of food. "Hungry?"

Without waiting for an answer, she carefully picked up the tray with her one hand and moved it next to Legolas. She picked up an apple from the tray and took a bite as she moved back to her chair. While Legolas ate some food, Sydney continued her humming and study of the night sky.

"What were you singing?"

"Hunh?"

"Earlier, what were you singing?"

"Oh, just a little something that I heard while in Charleston," she murmured softly as she played with a short strand of hair.

"Sing it for me."

"I beg your pardon?" she asked as she looked over to him.

"I have not heard any new songs lately and it sounds nice."

"Alright, but do not blame me if your ears fall off," she joked and looked out the window.

Legolas waited for Sydney to start and started to think she forgot until he heard her humming. Moving away the tray, he shifted farther down in bed and watched her.

How must I be seen

How do I look to others

How am I seen by you

What do you see in me

Everyone must be critiqued

All must be judged

Lives are forfeit by sorrows

To be judged at the end

Will my forfeit be enough

            Legolas listened as Sydney quietly sang while she stared out the window. He had to admit, he heard more beautiful voices in Mirkwood and Rivendell but there was something unique about Sydney's. Her voce sounded more…natural than the others. It had a slight rough sound to it making it sound more real.

I feel emotion just as you

My blood runs just as thick

Tears can break me

Pain brings my blood and tears to run

Wounds will be many

Regrets will be few

My walls can not be broken

Yet you may have found my Achilles' Heel

            Without knowing it, Sydney's hand went to her throat and one of her fingers gently tapped out a beat. Her fingertips gently drifted across her throat as Legolas' eyes were drawn to her fingers. He had to wonder how soft that skin was; he smirked to himself at his thoughts. He must have hit his head hard when he fell in that pit.

Everyone must be critiqued

All must be judged

Lives are forfeit by sorrows

To be judged at the end

Will my forfeit be enough

This is my decision

This is my choice

My fate is bound

My soul is spoken for

            Legolas was confused at the tear that slowly made its way down Sydney's cheek. She didn't seem to care or take notice of the errant tear that trailed down her cheek and hung perilously at the line of her jaw. It hung for a moment's breath before falling to its painless death. He felt his body relax deeper into the bed as he listened to Sydney sing.

Do you see what I speak of

The warrior that must be strong

To save everyone the warrior sees

Except the one in the mirror

Everyone must be critiqued

All must be judged

Lives are forfeit by sorrows

To be judged at the end

Will my forfeit be enough

Will my forfeit be enough

            Sydney let the silence hang for a moment before looking over at Legolas. His eyes were glazed over in sleep and she snorted quietly to herself. Slowly standing up from her chair, she stretched out her lower back and moved towards the bed.

            "Probably the first person I have ever put to sleep with my singing," she muttered and gently pulled the sheet up to cover Legolas better.

            Extinguishing all the sources of light, she left the room and closed the door behind her. With silence that only an Elf could possess, Sydney walked down the corridor and made her way towards home.

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Okay everyone there is the new chapter for this story. I decided to go ahead and post it late Thursday night because on Friday I'm going to be leaving for Scotland and wouldn't be near my laptop to update so here ya go. So read and enjoy and please review for me. Peace.

Artemis-See, I am getting better at the grammar as I go along. What were the phrases that were priceless? I am just curious because I enjoy finding out the parts that readers like the most. Yeah, I am about ready to take a frozen chicken wing and beating the comma monster senseless. *looking at size of large comma monster and size of small frozen chicken wing* Um, maybe not. I will work on character development but I have a feeling that she is going to start to really develop in the next few chapters.

Cindy-Thank you so much for the compliment *blushes slight and hides behind bureau* It means so much to me when my readers tell me that they can see what I describe. Again thank you so much.

Teanni-Hope you did not get any mud on you. I know it is a pain to try and wash out of clothes especially since they did not have Tide back in Middle-Earth. To answer your questions: Yeah it is pretty much to adrenaline and just focusing your strength on a task when you set your mind to it. It is amazing when you are in the weight room what kind of inspiration you can get just from being in there *remembers the hot looking guys that also lifted weights with me before slapping self* Focus Spades! Legolas' bone was not actually fractured but broken clean through. A fracture is a hairline break but the bone is still aligned. A break is the bone totally breaks and moves apart. At least I think I have that right. That is what I remember from my First Aid training. I am trying to get through the tough papers here but sometimes I just want to smack these British instructors. Thank you for the encouragement. I will remember it when I have to rewrite the paper.

Blahblah-Interesting name/pseudonym. Well thank you for the compliment of my story being original *trying to say it humbly as I dance around my laptop*. I am not planning on having her fall in love with anyone; maybe some flirting and possibly a small bit of an affair but that will be it. I will keep writing as long as I have beautiful reviews from my beautiful readers.

Phoenixqueen-That is okay if you do not have time to put up questions but when you do I will happily answer them to the best of my knowledge. I will continue to write as long as my fingers are still attached to my hands. And namarie to you as well.