So here are a few replies to your very kind reviews:
Michelle Frodo: Gald you like it and I'm sorry for the elf torture but as much as I love the guy (and that's a lot) torture can be fun. I hope you carry on reading as I'm sure you will. If not I'll torture you!!! Hehe.
Arwen Undomiel: Thank you for your review and you are welcome for mine. I'm glad you enjoy my Legolas stories and I promise you that 'Cloning' will be posted as soon as I get the internet started. I also hope that you enjoy my 'Legolas Torture'. I don't mean to hurt him really. I'll put him back when I've finished. See you soon.
tonianne: Glad you love my story and I hope you will continue to read and love every chapter. Thank you for your review. I'll try and update as quick as possible.
Olivia: Yes there is much more to come. I will update as quick as possible but I'm afraid you'll have to be a little patient. Glad you like it and I hope you continue to read throughout. Thank you for the review .
~Amariel~ : Your review has to be one of the best I have received. Please say Hi to your friends for me (especially Legolas and Will Turner) and I hope they will return with you to read more of my story. I'm glad you like it and glad you came back to read it. I thought you might have had enough of me after reading the whole of my other story. I think that you should seriously consider writing some humour FanFic or something along those lines. the story you are writing at the moment is very good but I think you will be good at a parody. Anyway, just an idea. Bye 'till next time.
Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. They are all deeply cherished reviews. Well here's the next chapter:
Chapter 2: A Confession
Araduial didn't sleep that night and she was still awake when Legolas awoke early the next morning. As usual he turned over and kissed her. She propped herself up on her elbow and turned to look at him.
"Legolas, I have to talk to you." Her voice was serious and Legolas could sense that there was something bothering her.
"What is it?" Legolas sat up leaning against the head of bed so that he could look at Araduial.
"Legolas, I know that we have been together for a few years now, but..." She stopped. She loved Legolas so much and didn't want anything to ruin what they had. Tears began to form in her eyes and despite her efforts to control them, they slowly began to slide down her cheeks. Before she could stop herself she was sobbing in Legolas arms.
"What's the matter?" Legolas was trying to comfort her at the same as desperately wanting an answer. "Are you feeling ok? There is nothing wrong is there?"
"No, I am feeling quite fine. Well...apart from..." Once again she stopped unable to continue. "Legolas I do not want you to hate me. I wish that I could have told you before, but I am so ashamed of what I did."
"Araduial, I love you with all my heart and nothing you have ever done could make me hate you." He turned to face her directly and gently took her hand in his own. "The only thing that I am upset about is the fact that you felt you could not tell me about what was bothering you sooner than this. It had obviously pained you to keep it a secret." He finished with a small smile, willing for Araduial to tell him what was wrong but not wanting to push her. She had to tell him in her own time.
She took a deep breath and once again began to tell him her troubles. "It was such a long time ago. Are you aware of the Black Elves? I'm sure that you are. I know that they have been forbidden from all conversations but everyone here must either know of them or have heard of them in some form." She looked intently into his eyes, part of her hoping that he would know and then maybe understand her plight a little better, but also part of her wanting him to know nothing so that he wouldn't instantly presume she was one of them.
"Yes, I am well informed on the Back Elves." Legolas told her. "They aren't as common now as they used to be but their evil ways still terrify many. They travel around doing evil and dark things to others that don't deserve it. I do not understand what could give them such pleasure. They are a very extreme contrast to any normal elf. What could be possibly troubling you about the Black Elves?"
"I was with them a long time ago." She came out with the statement suddenly and then paused for a second. When Legolas didn't speak she continued softly. "I never wanted to be there. I made the mistake of trusting one of the powerful Black Elves. He was so kind and loving at first but as soon as I was within his grasp he changed. He changed so much."
Once again tears began to flow down her cheeks but she urged herself to go on. Legolas was listening intently, trying to understand what she was saying.
"There was a large dungeon that existed not far from the base of the lonely Mountains. This was where they all stayed. They kept me there. Many of the powerful elves were strong men and any new female around was soon turned into a slave. You had no choice. They would beat you; use you. Nothing you could do could change what they did." Her body had begun to shake uncontrollable as she relived the few years she had spent trapped in those dungeons. "Many of the girls tried to escape and many lost their lives doing it. This was how they kept order. It was most unbelievable to many outsiders but it was so real to us."
"I, I don't really understand. What you are saying?" Legolas spoke slowly without looking up, his eyes fixed on a spot on the bed. He had pulled his hands away from hers. "What did they do to you? And how did you ever get out? There are still many Black Elves that exist today."
"Yes I know there are. They would beat us using whips and chains. The pain most days would be unbearable and many of us tried to escape hoping that they would kill us; anything to escape the misery. One day I had had enough. I couldn't take anymore so I just left. We were out in woods one day tending to the every need of the masters when I saw my chance. I just ran. They saw me and they followed but they weren't quick enough. A few of them fired arrows at me but none of them hit me. One miss-fired arrow went straight into the heart of one of my closet friends. I can hear her screams. I was torn between going back for her and running but it was as if my body just wouldn't stop. I just kept running and running. Today I still feel guilty for what I did."
"None of that was your fault. You had to get out of there." Legolas found himself consoling Araduial though he felt confused and hurt himself. "I still don't understand, what made you tell me this now? Why not before? Or not at all if that is what you wanted?"
"I wish that I could have told you sooner but I didn't want my past to hurt anyone other than me." She looked away from Legolas. "There was something though that made me recall my past yesterday. A few weeks ago I was out amongst the trees and noticed a shadow. I thought it nothing more than a frightened animal but yesterday when we were on the balcony I noticed it again. It seemed to be a man or elf or some kind but it moved with some familiarity. It wasn't until last night that I remembered what the shadow reminded me of and I can now think clearly of what it was. It was Gayatil. He was one of the few Elves that led the many others. He was the one I thought I trusted. He was the one that vowed if that I ever escaped his grasp he would find me again."
Legolas was looking deeply into her eyes and forced Araduial to look back at him. "How certain are you that this shadow was Gayatil? It could have been anyone or anything."
"No, I recognised the way he walked. I am not sure why but he has a very distinctive walk. One that you always remember." She turned and once again gathered Legolas hands in hers. " Legolas I am so scared. I don't want to go back. I can't."
"He will not get you here. There are countless numbers of Elves surrounding you that would be willing to draw an arrow in your protection." Legolas reassured her, praying with all his heart that it was true.
"No, you do not understand. He will not be here alone and if there are many of them our kind may fight them, but they will not give up until they have what they want. I must leave here. At least just for a short while. I cannot endanger any other life." Araduial had already decided upon what she must do and she was determined to do it. As much as it would hurt her to leave Legolas it would only be for a short time.
Legolas thought for a while before he spoke again. "I think you're right. You should hide for the time being. And I know just where. You will be safe and only you and I will know where you are. It may be lonely but I will come whenever I can and at least you will be safe there." Legolas had decided upon the same course of action as Araduial had. He stopped to look at Araduial who nodded in agreement. "I will take you there. We should leave before the sunrises and anyone notes our departure. I will tell everyone that you have gone to visit a friend and will be back shortly. You will be safe and I will do anything to protect you. They will not take you back."
"Legolas I love you but you must not put yourself in danger in order to protect me. I can look after myself and would never forgive myself if something happened to you. Thank you for being so understanding and I now wish that had I spoken to you sooner. I should never have kept something like this a secret." Araduial finished, her eyes showing her deep love for the elf facing her.
"I love you too and will miss you so much. You will be safe and I will protect you. We must move quickly as it is getting late in the morning."
The two elves moved swiftly around their room gathering few belonging and only things that were necessary. It would only take a few hours to reach the hiding place and then Araduial would be safe. Legolas would have to keep her location a secret from everyone. No one must know.
Within several minutes they had set off and were quietly making their way through the trees of Mirkwood. Their departure had gone unnoticed and no one would question Legolas story of a visit to a friend. Everything would be fine.
Hope you liked this chapter too. After this things will start to get going a bit better. Please return next chapter and please review this one. Thank you to everyone so far.