A/N: Thank you for your reviews. Sorry I messed up the last chapter and posted it twice. I created a new chapter instead of uploading the changes. I hope you like this chapter and to warn you, it may be a tear-jerker for some! This chapter begins where the introduction to the story began. If you need a refresher, just revisit the beginning of chapter one. This beginning may make more sense that way.

Chapter Eleven: Death, Love, And Cloaks

…

I came to and found myself still staring into the eyes of the elf. I blinked and looked away, unaware of how long I had been in that state. It almost seemed I relived the entire thing.

The elf reading the long list of lies continued and I found slight humor in his words. "…threatening the life of an innocent civilian, distracting royal guards from their duties, swimming in the forbidden lake" So they had known about that. Took them long enough. I wondered how long they actually knew. "…and for kidnapping his majesty, Prince Legolas and attempting to brainwash him." I stifled a laugh and Legolas burst with rage, throwing off the guards holding him.

"I will not tolerate this action to occur!" Legolas roared stepping between the king and me. He drew his sword and the crowd gasped.

"Correction, succeeded in brainwashing him," I heard the elf speak to the crowd.

What was he doing? I couldn't let him do this. I fought against the elf holding me. Would there be an escape this time? Most likely not. Sadly the elves learned from their mistakes. My hands were now chained behind my back and the oh-so-good elf that despised me so much earned my promised promotion.

The two royal elves stared at each other for a moment, a battle of wills ensuing, before their swords clashed. Everyone's attention was riveted on the duel between father and son, king and prince, not knowing who to side with. I watched, my struggle forgotten. I couldn't ignore the anger that burned in the king's eyes and wondered if he'd really kill his own son.

My answer came soon enough as the king found a gap in Legolas' attack and swung his sword. There was a grunt of pain, and a gasped at the sight of blood, my dream coming back to me. Legolas was going to die.

Despite the gash that his forearm now sported, the prince continued, but the elder elf seemed to have had enough, striking his son's sword twice with unexpected strength. A sword flew across the courtyard, and Legolas' eyes followed it. I, however, was fixed on another sight. Black eyes met my own, a color that seemed so lifeless and cold. His movements were a blur as he twirled to face me, his formal robes swirling around him.

I noticed the glint of light as the sun reflected off his sword momentarily. Then, as fast as it appeared, it was gone, and pain erupted in my mid abdomen. Looking down I saw the metallic weapon disappear into my body, ripping through my back. All thought ceased. I couldn't move…think…breathe… All I was aware of was the pounding in my head and the pain and numbness encasing my body.

I was vaguely aware of it being ripped from my body. I touched the wound and stared at my crimson fingers, reality setting it. This was it. This was death. I was dying.

No longer able to support my own weight, I collapsed to my knees and fell back. Legolas was quickly by my side, holding me. Tears stained his face as he whispered quiet elvish in my ear. I looked at him, but found myself unable. Why now? Just a short while ago I would have welcomed death with open arms. Why did this have to happen just as I was beginning to find my place, my purpose in life?

I couldn't die now because not only would I die, but if he spoke the truth, he would too.

The pain was consuming me, clouding my mind and all reason. It would be over soon.

"I—I…" I tried to say, but I couldn't find the air to say it. I closed my eyes, trying to find the words.

Legolas held me. "I love you, Aluhin. I am sorry."

I was only vaguely aware of my surroundings, but a Westron voice was heard from the crowd.

"Excuse me, pardon me. Move!" An elf with a red cloak pushed through and entered the clearing. "Why don't you ever give up? How many times do we have to go through this?" she asked, leaning over me. "Tisk, tisk."

"Who are you?" Legolas asked in elvish.

She laughed and gave him an odd look as if she had not understood a word.

"Who are you?" Legolas repeated in Westron.

A bright smile illuminated her face, "Wouldn't you like to know."

Another Westron voice was heard and a human with a black cloak emerged. She was more persistent and when the elves did not move for her, she drew her sword. Immediately a path was made for her.

She knelt beside me and glared at the king. "Now you're gonna make me cry," she said without the slightest grief in her voice, but sure enough when she turned back to me, tears sparkled in her eyes.

I had so many questions I wanted to ask her, but I felt my life slipping away. I looked to Legolas and closed my eyes.

The wound suddenly felt cold and I as sure it was a sign of my heart stopping. But why was I still conscious? Death would be consuming me any moment I knew. In the mean time, however, I wanted to enjoy the feeling of Legolas' arms and hear if the woman in black would answer my unspoken questions

The woman picked me up and I tensed, crying out in pain. I felt a hand in mind and squeezed it with all the energy that remained in me. Legolas stood, sword unsheathed and spoke in the woman's language.

"What are you doing with her?" he demanded.

Suddenly, Scar-ear pushed Legolas out of the way and stared dumbfounded at the woman who held me. "You!"

"Do I know—ah, yes! I remember you! I'm glad you see your face has cleared up! Ooo, but you still have a nasty scar on your ear. It shall serve as a reminder of our experience, yes?"

He drew his sword. "I will not let you escape this time."

The woman rolled her eyes and handed me to Red. "Hold her while I finish this." She turned to the guard. "Now, you since you remember me, you must remember what I can do and what I have done to you before. Do you remember the excruciating pain of your face?" He paled. "Yes, I thought so. Now you'd be wanting to step aside."

Legolas looked at her dumbfounded. "You are. . ."

"Ah, yes I see you remember me too. Did she get the same cell as I?"

Legolas frowned.

"Well, I suppose that's a yes. Too much time has been spent here. Time to go!" She took me from Red and turned to leave.

"Giving her what she deserves," the woman holding me snapped. "Come, Red, before they see."

The women started over to the opening in the circle, but Legolas jumped in their path. "I cannot let you take her!"

"And why's that?"

"She belongs here."

"Says who?"

"I do!"

"Oh, so you can finish killing her, is that it?"

Legolas winced and tears welled again. "So I can say farewell before she departs from this Middle-earth."

"Depart from this Middle-earth. Ha, ha," Red laughed, but immediately turned serious when the other glared.

"Say farewell for this is the last you will be seeing of her," she spat as she turned

Oddly, I found myself having more strength. I reached out to him and mouthed that I loved him and saw the tears fall from his beautiful eyes.

"I cannot let you," he insisted.

"Is that so?" Red said, stepping up to him. She may have been taller than the other woman, but he towered a head over her. "Well, your gonna have to go through me." She held up her sword, but he just stared at it.

"If you love her, you will let her go with her kind," the woman holding me answered.

I watched as the sword slipped from his blood stained hands and bounced on the ground.

"No," I whispered. "No, Legolas!"

He fell to his knees, tears falling like crystals on his cheeks. It would be my last memory of him, for too sooner than I hoped we entered the trees and he disappeared from view. My vision darkened, and left me no choice but to welcome death.

A/N: Ah, isn't it sad and depressing? Let me hear what you think. Don't forget to continue checking for updates because even if this seems like the end, it's not!

Dulthlossword: I am glad you like Aluhin. She is one of the few figments of my imagination that I have been able to complete and sculpt into an almost whole person. Yes, the elf did betray her, but if you knew his past experiences with humans. . .well actually a certain human female, you'd know where he was coming from.

Night Ryder: I appreciate your many reviews. Yes, the Mirkwood alcohol is a classic scene and I couldn't help myself but write one in after I completed the story. I wanted to put a scene in from Legolas' perspective what Aluhin did when she was drunk and I might have time to write it and insert it later. Yes, in the books I do not think Thranduil is this cruel and yes, Estel may not be this foolish, but it has to work this way for the book to be what it is. Yes, the talking did cause her to receive extensive injuries, but she learned some valuable information and it partially paid off as you probably saw. Elven Frog is writing the story about Black, the character who is noted in this chapter as the one holding Aluhin. She is currently writing that book and will include the answers to your questions about the scar. Unfortunately, she is writing terribly slowly because of our lack of time and I may post some answers once this book is complete. Keep and eye out for those.

Elven Frog: Must you insist on reviewing and making these people feel lost! Thank you for it and I appreciate you dropping your words.