Author's Note: AAARRRGH! I finally got to see ROTK! Oliphants have to count for more than one, I'm sorry!!! The end of this is coming slowly but it has finally solidified in my mind's eye. I do promise that this is going somewhere and it's not going to be one of those stories that have the chapters from hell (i.e. those that have 64+ chapters and counting.) I don't want to read them myself so why should I make you. Anyway, enjoy this next chapter.

Part Twelve: Fighting the Darkness Within

Ithilin shook off Legolas' protective embrace. She wanted to run. She could not bear to have him look at her now. She hated how weak she must appear in his eyes. She hated that he had to call her back from darkness.

"Ithilin." He called tentatively, "Come, we must go."

"Yes." She answered, turning on her heel and leaving him behind.

Legolas started to follow her but Gandalf laid a hand on his shoulder, restraining him.

"Let her go, young one." He said watching the she-elf depart. "She needs some time to come to terms with all that has happened to her. Seek her out later when her anger has cooled."

The prince nodded, his eyes following her path. She was still so weak, he did not want her to go to far unprotected.

"I fear I may have hurt her, Gandalf."

"There was no other way." The Maia answered reassuringly, "Sometimes we must hurt those we love in an effort to help them. You know, better than I, that she could have dragged you into that darkness."

"Not with out a fight." Legolas stopped and gazed into the white wizard's gray eyes and sighed, "I would have made good my threat."

"And forfeited your life doing so, my young friend."

"I know. But I forfeited it long ago, when I bound to her. My fate is bound to hers, whatever that may be."

Gandalf nodded. He marveled at the young elf's acceptance of possible death. If anything, this proud young prince had a strength that was as yet unmatched by any of the elves.

"I love her with all that I am, Gandalf."

"Of that, I have no doubt, Legolas." The Maia laughed. "Her faith has been shaken to the core. It will take time, but I believe she will learn to trust again."

"Yes, but will she trust me."

"She hasn't stopped." Gandalf said soberly. "She is angry at herself for needing you to remind her who she is."

"How -" Legolas gave a strangled cry and fell to his knees. His world spun dizzily and blackness threatened to claim him. "Gandalf," he managed to gasp in panic before he collapsed into the wizard's arms, "she's gone!"

"Aragorn! Gimli! Find Ithilin, now!" Gandalf called as he lowered the prince to the ground. "Legolas! Come on child. Don't let her go without a fight."

* * *

Ithilin had run as far as she could and collapsed sobbing to the ground. What had happened to her? She didn't know who she was anymore. Legolas must not have told her the truth last night. Maybe he really abhorred the sight of her now that she had been defiled by both men and orcs. Yes, Legolas would be better off without her. But how would she survive without him? She still needed his milk. She still needed him.

As that thought struck her, she sobbed harder. She had already broken the bond.

"Ithilin?" Aragorn's soft voice broke through her despair like a shaft of light. "A, tithen pen, tolo enni."

"Estel. Legolas must hate me."

Aragorn gathered her shivering body in his arms, pressing her close to his chest as he had seen Legolas do many times over the last four months. She was hurting, badly. And it was more than physical, she was in deep emotional and spiritual pain as well. Although Legolas had not said what had happened to her, he could guess. Torture, elves can deal with, but rape was something horrific to them. Raped elves more often than not died from the ordeal, either by a gradual wasting away or by taking their own lives. However, he was pretty sure that she would not resort to suicide.

"I broke the bond."

"Ouch!" he winced, kissing the top of her head. "Let's get back to them. Legolas is going to need you."

"I can't." she sobbed. "It is what he wanted. He said he would repudiate me. I just saved him the trouble."

"No, Ithilin. That is not what he wants at all."

"I am not worthy of him. There is too much darkness, too much hate. He is better off."

"Nay, little sister. He needs you as much as you need him. His love for you runs deeper and truer than any know." Aragorn stroked her hair, gently. How did one heal an elf who had given up the will to live? "The darkness and hate can be overcome, but only if you decide to let them go. If you do not, then you will surely die and take Legolas with you. I know that you don't want that, not for him."

Dark sapphire eyes met his. The pain in them, sharp and clear. He could see why Legolas loved her. Her eyes were like deep pools of pure emotion. If he wasn't careful, he would get lost in them.

"Help me." She whispered, raw emotion coloring her words. "I wanted to kill them for what they had done to me."

"Why did you walk into that hell?" Aragorn asked bluntly. "If you truly did not know what to expect, why did you do it?"

"You are Isildur's Heir, Estel. You had to be protected. At any cost."

Aragorn gazed into her eyes again, stunned. Legolas had been right. All she had endured had been for him.

"Estel, you are too important to the world of Men. Sauron can not be allowed to corrupt you."

"Our paths are joined, little one. He almost had you, so it follows that it would have only been a matter of time before he had me." He cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "But my fate is not bound to yours. Do not drag Legolas into the darkness of hate. Forgive the pawns of Sauron. Come back to the light."

"How can Legolas even look at me now. I have been violated by vile creatures and men."

"What did you see in his mind and heart last night?"

"Acceptance. Love."

Aragorn smiled. "What did you feel in his touch?"

"Tenderness." Silver tears were streaking down her cheeks. Aragorn was right. Never did she feel any revulsion from him. His hands had touched her with desire and need, not with distaste. He had never denied her anything she needed. He had teased her as he had always done. He had shown her the same acceptance that she had shown him all those months ago. "And desire. Ai, Aragorn, what have I done?"

"Somehow I doubt that your bond is broken, Ithilin. What Ilúvatar has joined, no one can tear asunder."

"I must go to him." She said rising from his lap. "I have hurt him, and he will need me."

* * *

Théoden watched, confused, as Gandalf lifted the elf in his arms. The archer had passed out after crying something in his native tongue. What had happened?

"Gandalf, is there anything I can do?" he asked.

"We need to make him as comfortable as possible until Aragorn and Gimli return."

"Bring him to my bedroll. It isn't much, but it is better than the hard ground."

Gandalf nodded and followed.

"What happened?"

"His mate dropped out of their bond." The wizard explained.

"He has a mate?"

Gandalf rolled his eyes skyward. "Well, young princeling, you've managed to keep her a secret from some people." He whispered, laying the elf on the blanket. "Yes, Théoden. He is mated. That is who I sent Aragorn and Gimli after."

"The girl? But she can't be old enough to wed. Not only that, she is human. Elves don't marry outside their race."

Occasionally they do, Théoden. However, Ithilin is not as human as she appears."

"Ithilin . . . " Legolas whispered weakly, his eyes fluttering open then closing again. "Gandalf, where is she?"

"Sîdh, pen-neth. Estelio Aragorn a Gimli rada he."

Legolas feebly fought the Maia's restraining hands. "Rado he, Mithrandir! Boe nîn rada he! Leithia nin!"

Gandalf did not move away but increased the pressure on the elf's chest, pinning him in place. "I'm sorry, young one, but it is for the best that you stay here. Aragorn and Gimli will bring her back."

"Ai!" Legolas moaned as he curled on his side, trying to escape the pain in his heart.

"What can I do?" Théoden asked, gazing at the prone elf with concern.

"Stay with him." The wizard said as he laid his cloak over the shivering elf, tucking it around his slender body. "Do not let him get up. I fear the worst for him if she does not return soon."

Théoden looked up, shocked. Legolas was one of the few elven survivors of the battle. Elves were immortal. Although they could die in battle, little else affected them. What was one woman, after all.

"He is no longer a separate entity from her, Théoden, but one half of a whole. He will die without her."

"Ai! Elo Legolas!" Ithilin ran up to him and knelt by his side, sobbing. "Non sí, meleth nîn! Gohena nin! Deri an-nîn!"

"Where would I go?" Legolas whispered, closing his eyes as her tears splashed on his face. "Tolo, meleth nîn. Tolo enni."

Ithilin sank into his arms. "I'm sorry."

"Hush, Ú-moe edaved, meleth." Legolas kissed her passionately, oblivious to everything around them. "It matters little to me what they did to you. As long as you are by my side, Ithilin, I have hope."

"In broad daylight?!" Gimli exclaimed. A bright blush coloring his already ruddy face as he watched the elf practically smother his mate with kisses. "Bloody elves have no sense of propriety!"

Legolas' laughter rang on the breeze like a thousand chimes. "If you are so scandalized by my behavior, dwarf, you can leave."

"And if I did, who would put you in your proper place?"

"If you did, I wouldn't have anyone to trump up battle scores?"

Ithilin arched an eyebrow at her mate. "A game, I assume."

"Aye, lass, a game. And I won." Gimli leaned against his axe, smirking smugly at the prince.

"You did not! It was a tie!"

"You wish! He was already dead!"

"I still say he was twitching!"

"He was twitching because my axe was embedded in his skull, prissy elf."

Aragorn grinned at the good-natured competition between the two unlikely friends. "Gentlemen, can we get going? We've wasted enough time as it is."

Ithilin helped Legolas to his feet. "Concede defeat this time, a'maelamin. There are more battles yet ahead of us. And more games for you and Ai'atar to play."

Legolas smiled down at her as he pulled her to him. "I don't know what you see in him, meleth-nîn. He smelly and slow and a sore loser."

"Sounds to me like my mate is the sore loser, Legolas." She chided gently as her fingers threaded into his. "I dwell here no longer. Let us leave this place to its dark inhabitants and take Middle Earth back for all the free folk of her shores."

Legolas nodded. He had come so close to losing her. Now, she was free. The darkness had passed and soon her strength would return. At least now there was some hope for the future.

End Notes: Elvish translations.

"A, tithen pen, tolo enni." - Oh, little one, come to me

"Sîdh, pen-neth. Estelio Aragorn a Gimli rada he." - Peace, young one, Trust Aragorn and Gimli to find her.

"Rado he, Mithrandir! Boe nîn rada he! Leithia nin!" - I must find her, Mithrandir! It is necessary for me to find her! Release me!

"Ai! Elo Legolas!" - Alas! Oh, Legolas!

"Non sí, meleth nîn! Gohena nin! Deri an-nîn!"- I am here, my love! Forgive me! Stay with me!

"Tolo, meleth nîn. Tolo enni." - Come, my love. Come to me

"Hush, Ú-moe edaved, meleth." - Hush, there is nothing to forgive, love