(A/N) So, what do y'all think? Vanessa has been kidnapped by the uruk-hai right along with Merry and Pippin. What will Legolas do? What does Saruman want with her? Who is Falynn? What role does Luinethoniel have in this story? Who was the elf girl clad in black? How do Galadriel and Celeborn know who Vanessa is? And what about Vanessa and Legolas's relationship? What will become of their child? Will Aragorn tell Legolas about the child that he has fathered? How will it all work out? Man, we've got a pretty good soap opera going here, just kidding. To find the answers to these questions and more read on. Meg-burns2003, thanks for that review, it's the first boost of confidence that I've had in awhile. I hope this update has come soon enough for you. HERE WE GO.

For the Love of an Elf

Chapter 6: Pursuing the Nightmare

Aragorn bowed his head in grief as he watched the funeral boat of Boromir sail over the Falls of Rauros. The man of Gondor had fought bravely and he felled numerous beasts, but to no avail. Now he was dead, Frodo and Sam were gone, most likely to their deaths. Merry, Pippin, and Luthien were gone, taken by the orcs to whatever horrible fate that Saruman had planned for them. "So much for your faith in me Gandalf. I have led the fellowship to death and disaster." Aragorn cried out softly as if the old wizard could hear him.

Gimli was still standing on the shores of the great river, but Legolas sat farther back in the woods beneath the branches of a mighty tree, silently crying to himself. How could he have allowed this to happen? Boromir was dead and Luthien was taken.

From the tokens on their slain enemies the three remaining companions guessed that the orcs had taken their prisoners to Isengard. That was indeed the general direction in which they had fled.

Then Legolas saw Aragorn and Gimli coming towards him.

"An evil choice now lies before us", Aragorn told them gravely. "I saw Frodo once before the battle began. He and Sam have continued to the black gate alone. The fate of the ring bearer is no longer in our hands. Now the question is, shall we go to Minas Tirith as Boromir would have wished and aid the men of Gondor? Or follow the orcs and save our friends? Though it is folly to hope that they still live."

But Legolas had already made up his mind. "Do what you will my friends but my doom is appointed. I must pursue the orcs to Isengard. Though they may take Luthien to the ends of the Earth and to death I will follow. Even if it is only I who goes. I cannot abandon her, not so long as I have breath left in my lungs."

"Not alone Legolas. It is now our fate too" Gimli told him.

"We will not abandon them to torment and death, not while we have strength left. We shall start now. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let us hunt some orc." Aragorn said at last.

After stowing the gear that they would leave behind and preparing their packs, the three companions set out at sunset, flying over the plains as swift and silently as shadows.

For three days and nights they went like this, resting very little for fear that they would loose sight of their quarry. Finally they passed into the kingdom of Rohan, home of the horse lords, the Rohirrim.

As the forth day of their pursuit dawned Legolas looked to the sun and saw that it was red as it arose. A great fear and madness took him. "Blood has been spilt this night", he told them, fervently hoping that it was not the blood of Luthien or the hobbits. If they harmed one hair on her head there would be hell to pay.

As the afternoon waned, they came upon a small company of the riders of Rohan. They had almost passed the three until Aragorn hailed them.

"WHAT NEWS FROM THE NORTH, RIDERS OF ROHAN?"

Before they could even blink, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn were surrounded with spears pointing at them from all directions. The leader of the riders dismounted from his horse and came towards them. "What business do an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?" he asked them suspiciously.

"I am Strider, a ranger out of the north. I am hunting orcs."

"At first I thought that you were orcs but I see that it isn't so. But how did you escape my sight. Are you Elf kind?"

"There is but one Elf among us. Legolas, prince of the woodland realm of Mirkwood. You probably did not see us because of the elvish garments that we wear. They will blend into any background."

Then the man turned to Legolas and Gimli. "Why do you not speak, silent ones?" he demanded of them.

"Give me your name horse master and I shall give you mine." Gimli told him defiantly.

"The stranger should do well to introduce himself first but I am called Eomer, son of Eomund and I am the Third Marshal of the Riddermark. As for such impudence, Master Dwarf, I would cut off your head if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

"He does not stand alone. You would die before your sword fell", Legolas said as he drew an arrow to his bow in defiance of Eomer.

"Wait! Before you judge us will you not hear our tale and reason for being in your country?" Aragorn asked him, trying to ease the tension.

"Yes I will listen, but first tell me your proper name."

"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn. Heir of Isildur, Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the blade that was broken and reforged anew. Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly." At that moment it seemed to all that watched that Aragorn had grown and Eomer had shrunk and that there was a crown of flaming light about his brow.

"What strange times are these that fairy tales and legends should spring forth from the grass. Long has Boromir of Gondor been gone seeking the answer. What doom do you bring out of the north?"

"Boromir is dead and you may tell Theoden, king of Rohan that open war is upon him whether he seeks it or not. We hunt orcs not out of choice. They have taken three of our friends captive."

"These are ill tidings indeed, Boromir son of Denethor is dead and doom is upon us. But I must tell you that you need hunt no further. The orcs are slain."

"Did you see two hobbits with them?" Gimli asked him urgently.

"Hobbits? That is a strange name indeed."

"They would be small. No more than children to your eyes." Aragorn told him.

"We saw no one of this description, but the orcs did have a beautiful young girl with them when we overtook them at the borders of Fangorn."

"What has become of her? Please I must find her." Legolas asked.

"We tried to save her but a small band of maybe four orcs escaped and took her with them. We gave chase but they were too swift and we soon lost them in the fading light. Other than that we left none alive. We despoiled the bodies and burned the carcasses." Eomer told them sadly.

With that he bade that two horses be brought forth. Hasufel for Aragorn and Arod for Gimli and Legolas.

"I must ride back to Theoden with these tidings. Maybe you will come to the high house of Meduseld in Edoras where Theoden sits. Your aid would be greatly appreciated son of Arathorn. Look for your friends but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken this land." Eomer said to them as the company rode away.

With that the three rode to the borders of Fangorn forest.

* * *

When Vanessa finally regained consciousness it was in the middle of the day. She was being carried on the back of an orc. Nearby she saw Merry and Pippin being carried in the same fashion. They were both awake and they were relieved to see that she finally was. Her ankles were bound and when she reached up to feel her head for injuries she felt the dry blood crusted there.

"How long have we been going like this?" she asked them.

"Three days I think." Pippin told her.

"We've been thinking about it and from what these orcs have been saying we think that they are taking us to Saruman." Merry said.

"They are. If I'm guessing correctly he believes that you have the ring. But I don't know what he wants with me. I know for a fact that these orcs were sent to kill the fellowship. All except for you hobbits. Unfortunately for him he's got the wrong hobbits."

For awhile they just stared at her in disbelief and then they decided that she was right.

"What's going to happen to us?" Pippin asked, his voice thick with fear.

"You two will be fine. I won't let anything happen to you." Vanessa said, trying to sound brave.

"Do you think that Strider and the others will come for us?"

"They will, but not in enough time. We must escape before we reach Isengard." Vanessa told them.

Later that night they stopped to rest just outside of Fangorn Forest. As the orcs argued with their leader on whether or not they could eat their captives Vanessa started hearing the pounding of hooves in the distance.

"They are here." She said quietly.

"Who's here Luthien?" Merry asked her.

"The Rohirrim. We must escape tonight, right now." She explained gently trying to hide the urgency in her voice. Then Pippin revealed that his bonds hadn't been properly tied. Quietly but quickly he began to undo the bonds at his feet. When he was free he began to work on Merry's bonds. When he was free they both started to untie Vanessa. When they had gotten her feet free they started to work on her hands. That was when the riders of Rohan fell upon the orcs. Though Merry struggled with the rope that bound her hands it would not come loose and they were in increasing danger of being crushed by the hooves of the horses.

"Go, leave me. I will follow."

"I won't leave you here Luthien" Merry said to her as Pippin crawled away from them. Vanessa gave him a glare that said if the battle didn't kill him that she most certainly would if he did not leave. "Except if you look at me like that." He whispered in a panicked voice as he backed away from her.

Finally Vanessa gave up on the ropes and ran for the cover of the forest. She saw the hobbits just in front of her. Suddenly she felt something reach out and grab her by the ankle. "NO", she cried out as she crashed to the ground. Now she lay, helpless on the ground with a huge, ugly uruk-hai leering into her face.

"The halflings may have escaped but you will not." He hissed at her. With that he gathered four of his remaining companions and they fled from the battle. Vanessa looked back and saw Merry and Pippin rush out of the forest after them.

"NO! GO BACK! FORGET ABOUT ME!" she cried to them as the orcs dragged her away. She saw the stricken looks on their faces but luckily they turned back and fled into Fangorn once more.

A few of the riders gave chase but the uruks already had too much of a head start and they soon lost the trail in the dark.

"At least they are safe", Vanessa said to herself as the small group ran far into the night. By the time the sun was rising they were entering the tower of Orthanc and bringing their one remaining prisoner to the hands of Saruman.

As Merry and Pippin stood in the safety of the forest and watched the battle they cried to each other. 'We should never have left her." Pippin said sadly.

"Now we might never see her again. We've as good as killed her Pip." Merry said as they fled further into the forest, not knowing that they would soon meet Treebeard.

* * *

As the day began to end Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli rode up to the southern boarders of Fangorn. They came upon a smoking, smoldering pile of orc carcasses. Aragorn knelt before the smoldering heap and from it he produced the buckle of Merry's belt. With that he lay down on the ground and let out a great cry of anger and despair. He lay there for a moment, grieving, then he noticed the strange prints upon the ground. They were the markings of two smaller bodies and a larger one.

"Luthien and the hobbits lay here", he said softly. Slowly he marked the progress of the prints on the ground. "Their bonds were undone and they made for the forest." He said as he followed the trail and found the ropes that had bound his friends.

"Luthien fell here and she was dragged away, onwards to Isengard", he noted with dismay.

"The hobbits tried to follow but for some reason they turned back into...."

"Fangorn Forest. What madness drove them in there?" Gimli asked in a hushed voice

"There is no time to seek them out now. It is too dark. For tonight we shall camp here and pursue them in the morning." Aragorn said.

"If we do not find them by tomorrow evening then you may continue the search but I will go on to Isengard. If there is still a chance that Luthien is alive I must follow her trail." Legolas told them solemnly.

"All right, my friend." Aragorn said to him.

Later that night as they sat around their campfire, Legolas confessed his fears to Gimli and Aragorn.

"I never got a chance to ask Luthien what the matter was. I'm afraid that I won't see her again. We've hardly spoken at all since that night."

"What night?" Gimli asked him. After Legolas had told Gimli the story he continued.

"I've had my suspicions about what's wrong with her but I don't think that it is possible. I'm afraid that she will die without knowing how much I care for her."

"She knows that you love her Legolas." Having said this Aragorn was silent for awhile. After Gimli had fallen asleep he looked up at Legolas again after a long struggle with himself. "Legolas, there is something that I must tell you."

"Yes, what is it?"

"On the day that she was captured I found Luthien alone in the forest. She had been searching for you. She told me that she had something to tell you."

"Yes".

"She decided to tell me what she had to tell you. She told me that she knew that I knew what had happened that night."

"And."

"Luthien told me that she carried a child from that night and that you are the father."

Legolas felt as if he had been stabbed with an icicle and that his insides had been frozen. Luthien was with child and she hadn't told him. Why? Was she ashamed of it?

"Why didn't she tell me?" he whispered.

"She said that she had been afraid to tell you. She was going to tell you then but-"

"But I wasn't there for her when she needed me. I should never have left her side." Legolas said, interrupting Aragorn.

"It wasn't your fault Legolas."

"But it was Aragorn. Luthien is carrying a child she doesn't want. That's my fault. It's all my fault that she got kidnapped. She needed me Aragorn! She needed me and I wasn't there! You have no idea how that feels. How it torments me." Legolas bowed his head as if in shame at these words.

"I destroyed something between us that night and now I fear that it can never be fixed."

"Fear not Legolas, she may yet be alive. You will find her and the two of you shall recover what was lost that night and you will go on together."

"If only it could be so but I do not believe that it will be that simple. I'm so afraid for her Aragorn. I thought that she was dead once and it almost destroyed me. I could not bear it if she died again, not when I could save her."

"Let us worry about it no more tonight. We will need rest for tomorrow's search." Aragorn said as he lay down beside the fire and slept.

But Legolas stayed awake for most of that night. His emptiness and guilt consumed him. He knew why Luthien had not told him about the child. It was because she wanted to spare him the guilt that he felt now. He could see that he had made her unhappy. Aragorn was wrong. It was his fault. Legolas knew that he was unworthy of her love but she gave it anyway and he could not help but want it. Yet she didn't blame him for what happened that night, that he knew.

When the sun finally rose Legolas roused the others and after tying up their horses again, they set off into the forest in search of the hobbits.

After many hours Gimli was growing very anxious. "It feels as if the forest itself bears an ill will against us."

"This forest is old... And full of memory. I almost feel young again walking beneath its branches. It is an amazing place." Legolas said to them. Suddenly he felt a new presence in the forest with them.

"Aragorn, something is out there." He told Aragorn in the elvish tongue.

"What do you sense?" Aragorn asked him.

Then, Legolas knew beyond any doubt who was with them. "The white wizard approaches." He said quietly.

"Saruman." Aragorn said as he drew Anduril. Without hesitation Gimli brought out his ax and Legolas fitted an arrow to his bow.

"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us." Aragorn told them as he prepared to turn and face their enemy. "NOW!" he shouted and they leapt around. But as Aragorn raised his sword to attack the hilt grew hot in his hand and he dropped it in shock. The same fate met Gimli's ax. When Legolas launched his arrows they simply burned away as they neared the white wizard.

"Well met, Master Elf. Now you would do well to put away that bow."

"What have you done with our friends Saruman!?" Legolas screamed in a blind rage.

"They passed this way and they met someone that they did not expect. Does that please you?"

Just then Legolas saw through the light that surrounded the figure. "MITHRANDIR! MITHRANDIR!" he cried joyfully, rushing towards the old man.

"It cannot be, Gandalf. You fell." Aragorn said.

"Through fire and water I have come to be here now. On the peak of Zirak- zigil I fought with the balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smought his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Where a single day seemed like a life's age. But it was not the end. The task was not done. I was sent back. I felt life in me again." Gandalf recounted.

'Indeed Gandalf, you have returned to us in our greatest hour of need." Gimli said to him.

"Gandalf? Yes, that was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Gray. I am Gandalf the White now." He said softly.

"But there is no time now for reminiscing. War has come to Rohan and Theoden King is under the control of Saruman. To ease your minds, know that the hobbits are safe."

"But what about Luthien."

"Ah yes, Luthien. Well, here is what we shall do. Gimli and I shall ride to Edoras and give aid to the king. You and Aragorn will ride to Isengard and rescue her. For she is dying even as we speak."

As the four came out of the forest they saw that a third horse stood with the two that they had received from Eomer.

"Shadowfax is his name," Gandalf told them. "He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers." Then Gimli and Gandalf mounted the magnificent, white horse, with Gimli looking very jittery. They rode in the direction of Edoras. Aragorn and Legolas mounted Hasufel and Arod and they rode with all speed to Isengard. Late that evening they were within sight of the tower of Orthanc.

For many days after they scouted the area, trying to figure out a way inside.

"We must hurry Aragorn, I will not wait much longer. I can feel Luthien within. She is in pain, she is dying. I have to help her."

* * *

When Vanessa was brought to Isengard she had been taken to a dungeon type room and chained to the wall. Then Saruman entered.

"Hello, Luthien, was it?" he hissed contemptuously in her face.

"What do you want with me?" Vanessa asked in a terrified voice.

Then Saruman came towards her and lifted the flower pendent from her neck.

"You don't know what this is do you?" he asked her in a mocking tone of voice.

"It's just a necklace." She said. But then she realized with horror that the stone in the center of the flower had begun to glow with a dull red light. It was the stone that he had been talking about.

"No, dear girl. It is much more than a necklace. When the Istari first came across the sea to battle Sauron we originally thought that the only way to defeat him would be to come up with a weapon that rivaled his ring. So we, along with the wisest among the Elves, consolidated our powers to create this stone." He told her as he paced back and forth across the room. "The one ring does not have one tenth of the power that that stone is capable of. Of course by the time the stone was forged Sauron had fallen and the ring was lost. The council of the Wise began to realize what an awesome power that they had created and, fearing it, they tried to find a keeper for it. That keeper was you. For awhile they tried to keep you hidden the realm of King Thranduil but they decided that it was too dangerous for you to stay in Middle-Earth. So they sent you to a distant world and time. I myself helped to do it. How I have rued that decision for many long years. But it matters not. Now you have returned and I can use the stone for my own purposes."

Vanessa was shocked. So much information in so little time. It just wasn't possible, all of this.

"Unfortunately for you the stone cannot be activated without the life force of the keeper. It's powers lay dormant outside of this world but the moment that you reentered Middle-Earth they began to suck away your life energy."

"Are you going to kill me?"

"To put it bluntly, yes. But I myself will not kill you. The stone will do that."

"Can't we just talk this over." Vanessa said with a nervous laugh. "It's obvious that you want this jewel so why don't you just take it from me and drain someone else's life away?"

"Would that I could My Lady, but only you can remove the necklace from your neck and the stone will only accept your soul. I could just let you die but that wouldn't be fitting. You must pay for keeping it from me for so long. I will prolong your death for as long and torturously slow as my arts can make it." With that he pulled a whip out of his robes and he gave her a flogging that would not soon be forgotten.

For a week at the very least, Vanessa lay chained in the tower of Orthanc, suffering the most unspeakable tortures. Mentally as well as physically. But it was not just those that Gandalf knew were killing her. It was the stone that was slowly draining away her soul.

* *
*

Finally, Legolas and Aragorn managed to sneak past the orcs that patrolled the grounds. Silently they crept through the tower, searching for Vanessa.

"Legolas, We've been searching for hours. Are we certain that she's still here, or that she's even-"

"No Aragorn, she's still here. I can feel her. Her presence is but a flicker but she yet lives. I will not give up now, not when I am this close to her."

The two friends stumbled down many a dark corridor but found no trace of Vanessa. Until Legolas heard a faint, hardly there voice, singing. He beckoned to Aragorn. "Do you not hear the voice of a woman singing in the distance?"

"I do not but I will trust your Elf ears."

Legolas followed his ears until they came at last to a wooden door. From the other side of it they heard Luthien singing until the sound of a hand meeting flesh rang out.

"Silence maggot!" then they heard the unmistakable sound of Luthien screaming in pain. Legolas could take it no more. He rushed at the door and threw it open, his bow already in hand with an arrow fitted to the string.

By the time Aragorn entered the room the two orc guards that had been with Vanessa lay dead, arrows protruding from both of their heads. Then Legolas's gaze fell upon Vanessa. He rushed to her and took her in his arms.

"Legolas", she whispered, barely registering his presence.

"Yes Luthien. I'm here." He said, his voice breaking as he took in the bruises, burns, and cuts that covered her.

"Hold me closer. I'm so cold." She said as she laid her head on his shoulder. Legolas finally realized how far gone she was. She was cold and yet when he felt her forehead she was burning up with fever. He could tell just from looking at her that she had been deprived of food since that day at the falls. The wound on her shoulder had reopened. She was slowly bleeding to death and there was nothing that he could do for her. Legolas also had no idea that Vanessa's true peril was in the stone that she wore about her neck.

"She is fading fast. We must get her to Edoras quickly."

"Yes." Legolas agreed as he began to hack at the chain that bound her to the wall using an ax that he had taken from one of the slain guards. At long last the chain broke and Legolas lifted Vanessa from the ground. "We must hurry. Someone is sure to have heard that."

Throwing caution to the wind they rushed through the empty halls of the tower. When they were finally upon the gate they were overtaken by a patrol and had to fight their way out. Aragorn carved a path through them with Legolas shielding Vanessa as they ran for cover. Finally they broke free and made their way to the horses deep in the forest. Saruman watched their retreat from his balcony.

"It matters not. She will be dead soon. There is nothing that Gandalf can do for her anymore."

* * *

The three rode far into the night and the next day. During the whole journey Vanessa tried to tell Legolas about the jewel but he would not listen, thinking that she was delirious. He told her simply to save her strength. As evening was falling they rode into Edoras. Reluctantly Legolas handed Vanessa over to the healers of Meduseld. It was the second time that he had had to watch her being carried away from him after a grievous injury.

There was no time for them to speak with Gandalf and Gimli about what had happened for they were to ride out with Theoden and the Rohirrim that very night. Legolas wanted to stay with her but he knew that he was needed elsewhere. So he rode out with Theoden to participate in the second battle for the Fords of Isen. The battle was won, but with heavy losses. Thus the riders of Theoden King retreated to Helm's Deep. The outcome of this battle would either raise Saruman in the eyes of the dark lord or bring him crashing to the ground.

During all of this Vanessa was being tended to in Edoras. Eowyn had been left to rule the city in the king's stead. That night and the next day the two grew to know each other.

"What were you doing in Isengard in the first place Lady Luthien?" Eowyn asked her.

"It is the jewel on my necklace, it has great power and Saruman wishes to control it. But I must warn you that no matter how good the arts of Meduseld are I shall still be dead in a few short days."

"What are you talking about?"

"In order for these powers to be awakened the stone must drain away my life energy."

"Well then we must get it off of you." Eowyn said as she reached for the clasp. But as she tried to undo it the necklace grew hot in her hands. She dropped it with a yelp and backed away. "I'm sorry but it won't come loose."

"I know. Only I can remove it and I have not the strength to even lift my hands." Vanessa said as she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Oh no! What can I do? Mithrandir, he will know what to do. But how can I reach him before it is too late? CASSANDRA!" Eowyn called to her personal servant.

"Yes My Lady." The maid said as she entered the room.

"If you took a horse and rode with a passenger in tow at top speed how long do you think that it would take to reach Helm's Deep?"

"I imagine a full day My Lady. Why?"

"Because Luthien needs more help than we can give her here. Only Mithrandir can help her now. I now that that is where he will be. A messenger must take her to him. I would go myself but I must remain here."

"I can take her My Lady." Cassandra said, jumping at the chance to take a horse so far as Helm's Deep.

"Can you? Then you must start now. Luthien has very little time left."

So it was that Cassandra rode out from Edoras to seek help for Vanessa, with the unconscious Vanessa along for the ride.

(A/N) Pathetic chapter, I know but I want to keep things moving. See you in chapter seven.