AN: Chapter 20 is like a middle chapter doesn't it? Well, I just want to spend some time now to thank all who read and supported this story. Linmenel, Tintale, Megolas and Wyrd_sista187. You guys encouraged me a lot with all those reviews! Thanks heaps! This chapter is dedicated to you guys!

Ok, this chapter has no battle in it whatsoever. I think I need a little break from the massive battle on the last chapter (though I still think it's rather short). Anyway, this is basically more on development of character than anything else really, especially on Firiel.

And, umm… all the speech in this story has been delivered either in Common or in Black Speech. I just realised that elvish never been used before and this story revolves around elves! OMG! How stupid does that sound?

So, I think I'm gonna give them a go. Plz tell me if it's wrong 'coz the grammar is really hard! So *italic* is to explain the meaning though I won't use hard elvish. I just hope they're right. If it's not in elvish they're using Common. Firiel and Er-Galadh do this.

Chapter 20: Night Interlude

Firiel sat under an oak tree, looking at the stars above. Tomorrow, they would be outside of Mirkwood. Then she would meet her master again and cast her last glance at her love. But tonight, she was his and his alone. Sighed, she looked down. Er-Galadh was standing opposite her, talking to the other elves nearby. She could never talk to them. Her conscience stopped her from doing so. Or maybe it was her guilt. Oh, to Mordor with my guilt, she swore vehemently. I did nothing to those elves anyway. They don't live in Mirkwood. It is to Er-Galadh that I should feel guilty…. Nay, she cast her eyes down. I have paid for what I did and I nearly done so with my life. Isn't that enough? Why can't I just live the rest of my life in peace? It's not like it was my choice… She sighed. Perhaps it hers was after all.

A hand held her shoulder lightly and she looked up. Lord Elrond was sitting next to her, his gaze fixed at her, concerned. "Are you wounded, apprentice of Radagast?"

Firiel knew that he was implying to her arm for although it was well covered, she was holding it tightly to stifle the pain. During the battle, she had forgotten about it totally. The fear of the battle outweigh the pain it inflicted but now that she was save, the pain came back with full force. Perhaps even stronger for the battle must have opened the wound once more. Smiling weakly at him, she nodded. "Aye, my Lord. I fear that I was not careful enough."

Taking her arm in his hand, he opened the cloth that bound the wound and examined it thoroughly. "How did you receive this?" he asked, shocked at the depth of the wound that penetrate through her arm.

"The sword was sharp, my Lord," Firiel answered. She could not tell the truth for to do so would lead to her explaining more that what she was willing to.

"So it seems," he replied. "I can heal it though you must not use it for a while. I suggest that you do not fight in this battle anymore."

Firiel nodded in agreement. "I won't. Thank you, Lord Elrond."

Er-Galadh looked passed the elf in front of him. The elves were still talking to him, but his mind was not in the conversation. He just found out that they should reached the border of Mirkwood by the noon tomorrow which meant that tomorrow would be their last day together. The shock as he realised this threw him away.

He looked at Firiel across. Elrond was tending her wound, it seemed. The two also deep in conversation. Sighed, he focussed all his attention at the elf in front of him.

Elrond bound the wound once more with a new cloth after treating it with the appropriate ointment. Looking at Firiel, he noticed her leaf-shaped ears and curiosity entered his heart. "Lle edhel?" *Are you an elf?* he asked in elvish, thinking that she should understand him should he was right.

Firiel raised her eyebrow at the sudden change. She understood the language for those books that she must learn under the care of Radagast were mostly written in elvish. She was also shocked at the unexpected interest of her heredity but she answered him nonetheless. "Uma, heru en amin. Amin peredhel. Ataramin nae othar en Gondor ar' nir'gwaith quene tanya atara en amin nae Moriquendi." *Yes, my Lord. I am half-elven. My father was a knight of Gondor and many said that my mother was a Moriquendi.*

Was a knight of Gondor, Elrond thought. Those words delivered an unspoken meaning. He sighed and smiled sadly at her. "Rina caela estar…" *Remember to have some rest…*

"Firiel, heru en amin." *Firiel, my Lord.*

Elrond smiled as he heard her name. Her mother must have given her that name. "Kaima eithel, arwen Firiel. Tul're, lle au'omentuva yassen Radagast." *Sleep well, lady Firiel. Tomorrow, you will meet with Radagast again.* She nodded and Elrond left her side.

Looking towards Er-Galadh once more, she saw him talking still to the elves. Thinking that she should left him alone for now, she stood up and climbed the oak tree, ready to do what Lord Elrond bid her to do.

She was asleep when Er-Galadh climbed the tree. The slight movement of the branch woke her up. She always been a light sleeper and having lived in dangerous vicinity for as long as she could remember, sleeping was not something she could exult in. Every movement, however slight, woke her up. She never could have enough sleep.

Er-Galadh walked lightly on the branch she was on. She opened one of her eyes to make sure, peeking just below the lid. She saw what she expected to see and smiling, she opened both her eyes fully.

"Were you asleep?" he asked, threading his way closer to her.

"Yes I was but it does not matter. I would rather be with you that left alone with my mind." She crossed the small gap between them and he wound his arm around her.

"Do you realise that tomorrow we must part?" He kissed her hair, filling his mind with her heady scent. If they must part, he wanted to keep this essence of her forever.

"Must you remind me of it?" she asked, hurt, though she held herself closer to him. "Leave it till the sun arise. I want to spend our last moment in happiness."

"Is it truly impossible for you to leave Radagast and live in Mirkwood?" he asked, still could not pass the thought from his mind.

"Would you… could you leave Mirkwood and live with me?" she asked in return. "I doubted that you could. Your loyalty, your family, your life, everything lies in Mirkwood. With me, though I do not have anything anymore, I owe Radagast my life. He saved me once and I owe him that much. While my heart belongs to you, my life is in his hand." She glanced away from him and looked into the sky. "Tomorrow, when we part I am no longer a whole person. How can I live with only a half of me, no longer whole? For my heart will stay in Mirkwood whilst I am else where." She lowered her gaze to meet his and locked it there. "How can I live anymore, Er-Galadh? Tell me."

Er-Galadh did not answer right away. The speech that she delivered was unlooked for. Firiel waited although she did not know what she expected from him. She did not expect anything from him, knowing that it was perhaps impossible to answer her question. She distanced herself from him and sat down on the branch. After a while of silence, she relented, "Worry not, Er-Galadh. You do not need to answer that."

She waited as Er-Galadh sat down next to her. In the corner of her eyes, she saw him shook his head and heaved a sigh. She felt a comforting weight on her shoulder and she swivelled her head. He smiled and to her surprise, he spoke, "If your heart belongs to me, then let me give you mine thus we will both be whole though not as a person but as two halves joined together. That way, I will always be with you as you will be with me."

A tear dropped from her eyes as she heard him said those words and by the end of it he took her face in his hand and kissed the corner of her eyes. "Hush. You did not cry when the arrow pierced through your arm. Come now, Firiel. What would you rather have me say?" he asked, trying to cheer her up.

She dried her eyes and smiled, "Nothing else," she whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder. "Amin mela lle."

Holding her close, he squeezed her arm gently and said, " Tira, melamin. Elemmire!" *Look, my love. Elemmire!*

She sighed as she heard the use of elvish. She knew that he was aware of her knowledge of the language. At least she knew little from what he taught her many years ago. What made him think that she still remembered them that were what she did not know yet she answered nonetheless. "It is beautiful, as always," she sighed.

Er-Galadh looked down to see his beloved. Smiling, he kissed her temple and whispered against her ear, "You are my Elemmire, eternally beautiful in my eyes."

"So it is Elemmire now, is it?" she asked, half in jest.

Er-Galadh frowned, not getting what she meant by it. She laughed at his paused and all of a sudden he understood. "N'uma lirimaer. Lle i'mela en' coiamin, tinuial en amin." *No, lovely one. You are the love of my life, my spark of twilight.*

"I see," she said, still teasing him. "So it has not change?"

"Nay," he laughed. "Nay." Suddenly he stood up. Firiel looked at him questioningly. "We must rest, Firiel. As much as I want you not to find your strength to continue our journey tomorrow, it cannot be so. You cannot rest fully up here."

"Where then?" she asked before scrambling to her feet. "I do not have strength left to move," she reasoned.

"No?" he asked, his eyes gleamed mischievously. "Very well than." and with that he scooped her up. Firiel gasped in surprise and her hand circled his neck instinctively. Seeing that she was safe, he jumped skilfully from one branch to another towards the ground. He landed there, softly. The elves had made their encampment for the night and he walked to the nearby elf who greeted him warmly.

"Arwen Firiel, sinome, merne kaima de eller e' i'orn." *Lady Firiel, here, wanted to sleep up there in the tree,* he answered the elf's question.

The elf laughed. He inspected the two closely before saying, "Share my place. I will go to my Lord and ask for another one."

Thanking him, Er-Galadh entered the tent and laid her down to the ground before propping himself next to her. He caressed her face softly. She smiled and brought his face to hers, kissing him passionately, her other hand encircled his body and pressed it down against her. He went down willingly, his hand could not stop caressing her face.

Pulling away from the kiss, he laid next to her. Firiel turned around and he held her close, his hand caressed her back gently. Her mouth sought his and held it in a passionate kiss before tracing down his neck. His breathing hardened. Slowly, his hand travelled down her body but he stopped it straight away. His body stiffened and he shut his eyes, trying to suppress the desire that burned his blood.

She felt him stiffened and all of a sudden she realised what she did. "I'm sorry, Er-Galadh, "she whispered huskily. "I am so selfish."

Er-Galadh was about to contradict her but she continued, "Don't say that I am not because I know I am. Truth is, I'm selfish when it comes to you," she sobbed. "I'm so jealous towards everyone that share your life because I can't. I'm jealous to Alfirin, her mother, even… even to Legolas for he can see you anytime he wish while I can never hold you in my eyes ever again. Your face will become a memory again and someday, even that will disappear. I will gain nothing from this but a bitter sweet memory…"

She stopped as her sobs racked through her body. Er-Galadh held her close and ran his fingers through her hair. He kissed her face, catching every tear from her eyes. It tasted salt in his mouth. Perhaps this too, he would remember from her.

Firiel stopped crying. Lying there in his arm, she drew on his warmth. She heard him sighed before his mouth traced down her neck. Exulting in the sensation he gave, her hand slipped underneath his tunic and caressed him. He pulled away from her and kissed her on the mouth while his hand touched her lightly.

She felt him, though, and pulled away from the kiss and he saw again the fear in her eyes. "I won't hurt you." He looked straight to her eyes and smile reassuringly.

There were fears again there but she smiled back. "I trust you," she murmured softly.

He took her chin in his hand gently and turned it towards him before kissing her again, this time deeper and more passionate than ever. The kiss took her attention as she returned it with equal passion. In its own accord, her body started to yearn for his touch and she could not control it. She wanted him to touch her desperately. And as though he could read her mind, her robe was cast off and his hand roamed her body, conjuring sensations. She moaned in pleasure and pulled away from him, gasping for breath. His lips travelled down her neck to her body.

He pleasured her tenderly. She was submissive yet yearning but he could tell that she was scared. He tried to roll away while bringing her so she would be on top of him, but she refused. She kissed him, trying to distract him from his initial intention but he pulled her away.

Her eyes were glazed. She was somewhere else, deep in her memory. Er-Galadh wondered at what caused such great pain. Looking at her fearful face, he decided to intrude her mind. Holding her against his chest, he placed his chin above her head and closed his eyes.

First, there was mere darkness around him. Focussing with all his will, he connected his mind with hers. The surrounding darkness parted, revealing a room. It was, he recognised, a room in an inn. He looked around. In the bed laid a couple. Or so it first seemed to him but as he looked closer, it was Firiel. Her face showed the same fear she showed him. A man was lying on top of her, pinning her down.

His blood burned with rage as the man laughed at her tears. "No, don't," she pleaded only to make his laugh louder. The man was naked waist down. He traced down her face and without warning, he seared right through her, tearing her apart. She shrieked in agony, tears cascaded down her face. He stood up and gathered his clothes, leaving her in pain. Blood seeped between her legs and passed through the white sheet, turning it red but he took no care of her.

"Help," she whimpered. "Oh, please help me."

Useless. But the man turned around. Looking at her broken body, he spat at her face. "Elves. Look at you, so pathetic. You're worthless!" And with that he stormed out from the room.

Everything went dark again and nothing else happened. For a moment, Er-Galadh decided to leave when another scene appeared around him again. This time it was not an inn but it was definitely another room. A very messy room with broken glass everywhere along with any other fragments of furniture. And sprawling naked and bruised on the floor was a woman. No. Please let it not be her, he pleaded. He could not tell who she was for her hair covered her face. But it was black, as dark as a starless night sky. Her breathing was quick with cuts all over her body.

He turned around and saw a man. The man, he realised, that raped Firiel many years ago. This time, the man was stark naked. He was sitting on top of a bed. "Is that enough or do you want more? Come here and finish your job."

The woman looked up and Er-Galadh saw that it was Firiel. She was different, changed. More like Firiel that he knew now than 3000 years ago. The hardship she bore marked her. "Never!" she screamed but before she could say anything else the man was already in front of her. His foot found its way to her stomach. He kicked her hard. Once, twice. Three times. He smiled as he watched her retched. Blood spilled from her mouth. "Kill me!" she screamed with the strength she had left.

"No, no," he replied, smiling as he made his way back to the bed. "You have to pay for what I gave you. No one else would have you, whore! What would you do without me? You don't have shelter, no money. I gave you those, now you have to pay for it. Who would want you anyway? You're mine. Death will be an easy way out for you, won't it? No."

"You may own my body but I'm not yours," she retorted back.

"Get back here!" he roared. "Or do you still want more?"

Er-Galadh watched, helpless, as Firiel scrambled up and crawled back towards the bed. A painfully slow progress as she fell every now and then but the man simply watched in amusement. Er-Galadh watched her clambered to the bed and on top of him.

It took him a great restrain not to move for he knew there was no use. He could not touch them but they would not feel a thing. Nothing would be change no matter what he decided to do.

Firiel closed her eyes, ready for the pain to come. When it came she cried an ear-splitting cry, screaming like an animal in agony. The man threw her aside, caring nothing of her. She did not cry though blood started to appeared between her legs again. "That's for disobeying me." And with that he left.

The door opened and closed. She listened as the footsteps disappeared before letting out a raking sob. She did not move. She could not move. Her body was battered, bruised, and bloodied. Er-Galadh could take it no longer. He went to the ruined mess. Lying down next to her, he held her tenderly; trying to lessen the pain though he knew it was of no use. He kissed her every wound, hearing her sobbed softly in the silence of the night. "My love," he whispered, a single tear rolled down from his eye. Placing himself above her, he took care not to touch her bruised body and kissed her neck before gently, he penetrate through her.

In her mind and reality.

A gasp sent him back to reality. Firiel was lying on top of him, their bodies joined. "You know," she murmured. A statement but he nodded nonetheless. She smiled, kissed him lightly and whispered against his lips, "I love you. I am yours, Er-Galadh. Take me."

That was all it took. He screamed in ecstasy, a muffled cry, as liquid fire engulfed him. Firiel shook on top of him and moaned against his neck as tidal waves washed them delirious. Unbearable pleasure shot through them, encompassing them in its blinding light. They were released.

The two elves lie down, panting in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Firiel was pillowed on his chest, listening to his heart beat slowing. He kissed the crown of her head, watching her move up and down with his every breath. He held her tightly yet gently, feeling more contented than he had ever been in his life. Her hand reached out to him, their fingers interlocking. He heard her sighed and she whispered, breaking the silence between them, "You saw him, did you not?"

Er-Galadh groan in irritation though he replied, "Must we speak of it now? Yes, I saw him and what he did to you. Why did you come with him?"

"Because what he said was true. I am impure and worthless. No one would want me and I had nothing with me. He gave me a place to live and I have to pay it with my body." A tear rolled down her face and dropped to his chest. "He was right. I am worthless. So many times did I try to end this life but he would found me and stopped me. I could do nothing."

Er-Galadh laid her aside and inspected her closely. He saw all her scars again. Some were small and nearly impossible to see but some were deep and long. Those were the one he saw before but now that he concentrated on it, he could see that her body was covered in them. Not just her body, but her limbs as well. She was covered in them. "Did he always treated you like that?"

She shook her head. "Some night I could not care less and if I complied to him, the night would be quite…painless." Er-Galadh looked at her confused. "You are the only person I've ever loved in my life. The only one I desired. Every time he touched me, I tried to imagine that it was you, not him, there. Though I could not pictured you, I could imagined your presence and it would made everything bearable."

"I should have not leave you." He caressed her face and wound his arm around her, trying to protect her from an unseen spectre. The ghost of her past. "I could've saved you all these pains. Now…how can I ever make up for you?"

"You don't have to. It was my decision, not yours." She drew close to him and kissed him. "Love me, Er-Galadh, one last time. I want it to last forever."

And he did. That last time, it was the expression of their feelings, their souls. It mingled and bonded as they soared higher and higher, reaching the unbearable. Silver curtain covered their faces as they kissed passionately before their bodies united in the darkness of the night.