Ok, next chapter is here, hope it is ok, um, what else can I say. Oh yeah, thanks so much for reviewing! I love you people. Don't be afraid to criticise though, that is how I will learn and grow as a writer. Hmm, this turned out, well, hmm. Hopefully some confusion will be alleviated about Legolas' attitude to Usagi. Hope nobody is out of character or anything. Vanya melda means beautiful maiden. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Usagi had fallen into a fitful sleep by the time Legolas reached the camp site. Boromir had been sent over the river's waterfall as a burial already, an honorable thing to do. As he arrived, Aragorn looked up from where he was preparing a small fire back on the beach where Legolas had first sensed trouble. Aragorn looked from Legolas to the sleeping form he cradled in his arms.

"You were too late then." He sounded as though he had expected it. Legolas did not reply but set Usagi down by the fire, wrapping his cloak tighter around her and taking a seat next to her.

"Can she still be saved?" Aragorn asked next.

"I could not say," Legolas answered him. "For never have I met a moon child before. Though I was not able to calm her when I first caught up with her."

They sat watching Usagi's restless sleep for a while before discussing their next plan of action.

"Frodo has gone on alone with the ring, Sam has joined him. They crossed the river and hour ago." Aragorn told him.

"We must follow them!" Legolas said jumping to his feet, but casting an anxious glance at Usagi all the same.

"No, it is his quest alone now. Perhaps we will return to Lothlorien and seek guidance from there."

Legolas sat again. His pledge to defend Frodo was still strong in him, but he also felt the need to protect Usagi, he felt in some way responsible for her current condition. His child hood friends would mock him if he learnt what had happened. He felt almost ashamed now, that he could not even control a young girl. When he had been but a young boy he had been impressed by tales of people from the moon who came down to visit and always the tales ended in the hero elf of the story capturing her heart when no one else could. Maybe she was punishing him for not realizing sooner what walked amongst them. It was a very serious thing to be kissed by an elf, his kind did not give affection to other races easily, to be snubbed so... It was degrading. He cast a glance in Usagi's direction, the golden mark that adorned her forehead and marked her as a moon child had not faded this time.

Usagi was plagued by dreams, melding into each other like a great rush of fire. Sometimes it was images from the Uruk-Hai, pictures of pain and death, blood, torture. Elves now and before her eyes they were transformed into the evil orcs. Usagi being Usagi felt compassion for the creatures who were like a disease on this world. Then the dreams would switch. She would watch on in horror as her friends heart crystals were torn from their bodies, she watched again, all the times they had been hurt because of her, and all the times yet to come. She cried out aloud as she watched the Earth freeze over and all of the people cried her name as they watched their loved ones die, she could do nothing to save them. She saw men from this world, turn on there fellow men, cannibalistic orcs tearing their victims to shreds as they moved on, and at the front of the army she stood, with a leer on her face and a glint in her eye as she watched them die. Some, even worse where the people did not die. An image of a tortured Legolas changing before her eyes to a creature of evil as so many had done. Was this what was to become of her? Was she to become like the orcs? The images rushed in wave after wave, merging together with the constant voice of a darker power through it all, until at last Usagi could take it no more and her body was forced from its slumber.

In a rush she forced open her eyes and sat up. Darkness enveloped her and in her confused state she imagined her self to be in the deepest caverns of hell. Fighting the urge to scream she clambered around in the dark, her breathing becoming heavy with despair and anxiety. She jumped and struck out as Legolas took hold of her grasping her firmly by her arms and giving her a gentle shake. She could make him out dimly in the light of the stars. She stared at her reflection in his eyes for a moment before reaching up and touching the place where her crescent moon mark still adorned her forehead. "What have you done to me?" She asked, bewildered. Legolas looked at her searchingly but did not answer. Looking to the sky and noticing the absence of the moon she spoke once more.

"I am the only one left now, the moon has fallen, it will never rise again, this mark is all that is left." She moved closer to him to touch their foreheads together, Legolas winced slightly at the burning intensity the mark gave off but did not move away.

"Have you ever watched someone die Legolas. Of course you have. Quite stupid of me actually, someone as brave as your self will have killed a great many I should imagine." She giggled at her self by reasons known only to her delusional mind.

"It's trying to kill me you know. You would too if you knew what I had seen, splitting my head open to extract the filling. I like doughnuts do you like doughnuts Legolas?"

Poor Legolas didn't know how to respond. His peoples tales of the moon children always stopped before they reached madness. Loosening his grip on her he returned to his seat keeping a careful watch on her.

"You like me though, don't you." She said advancing towards him on her knees a strange glint in her eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him by placing her hand other his mouth and continuing. "A fine trophy I would be for an Elvin prince. Make all your little friends jealous." She leaned in so she was but a few inches from his face.

"But you are weak. you know nothing about me, you made me like this so you could have the privilege of taming me. I remember now. I wonder, has my kingdom fallen yet, have I died, here in the past? Have I met Endymion?" Legolas was becoming worried, to him these seemed mad ramblings, and indeed they were for Usagi would never have voiced them under normal circumstances. She moved away from him slightly allowing the elf some breathing space. Staring at her hands she spoke again, quieter this time.

"I do not know how I even know these things. Is this the world I will be left to rot in!" She struck out in exasperation at Legolas' chest. He took the soft blow easily, his eyes turned hard with resolution.

"Now you can watch someone die Legolas. I am dying now, something is eating away at my heart." She positioned her self to stand, tears of confusion welling in her eyes. As she did a pair of firm hands held each side of her face and with only a moments hesitation Legolas moved in and touched his lips to hers. A small burst of energy invaded Legolas' system and he moved away to get used to the sensation. Usagi had closed her eyes. His calming aura entered her body and allowed her a moments clear headedness. Legolas kissed her again. This time more sure of himself, he closed his eyes and concentrated on lending his spirits natural magic, and the ancestry of his people to purge the evil that was trying to consume Usagi. What he hadn't counted for was the rush of visions he received. Mental feed back from Usagi, with some force she pushed him away from her. He moved back, head spinning from the images he received. He studied her calmly while an internal war raged with in her.

The elfin magic that he carried in his blood raced within Usagi, battling with her own sometimes too powerful magic and the damage that the Uruk-Hai had inflicted on the pure magic that coursed through her veins. Usagi drifted between anger, confusion and relief. For the first time since the battle she could think clearer and control her self. Legolas watched curiously as a the range of emotions passed through her eyes. Usagi had the blood of a Princess of the moon and a wizard, magic's that would usually conflict and now she too had elfin magic in her, even though it was fading fast. At last Usagi decided on a response.

"Why did you do that?" It was a very calm and rational question from her previous ramblings and not quite what Legolas had been expecting. He stumbled over his words for a moment before answering her.

"I wished to calm you lady, if only for a moment."

"I guess it worked." She looked into the distance for a moment her eyes filling with tears.

"I could be angry with you, you know." She told him next. Legolas nodded at her. She sighed then said in a quiet voice.

"What do you know about my people Legolas, I would like you to tell it before the madness takes me again."

Legolas was taken a back slightly, how could he know more about her people than she? He decided to humour her and began.

"I know stories lady, children's tales, fairy stories passed through the generations, but I will tell you all I have heard." He settled into a more comfortable position cradling her in his arms as he spoke gently into her ear.

"The moon people first visited one of our people an age ago. The first child of the moon to step onto this planet, at first my people were wary of her. She possessed a strange magic, more powerful and enthralling than any we held. Even the wizards. More enchanting and captivating than the one ring, but the opposite, for it was discovered that the moon people were pure and good, we named the place Aman after the woman who first came to us. It means blessed, free from evil and so they were, as you are too lady." Usagi graced him with a soft smile before he continued. "Many men fell at her feet, claiming undying love for such a captivating beauty. But none could win her heart. Till at last, she fell in love with a wise old elf. Since then it has been known that only the most worthy can capture their hearts. If one succeeds at this they are most honored and acclaimed by their kin members." He blushed slightly at the knowing look Usagi threw at him. "I am most ashamed that I did not realize sooner what you were lady, though I must admit I was most captivated by your beauty from the start."

Usagi blushed but chose to ignore his comment, her control of the warring agents was slipping with in her. "The madness, what of that?"

"I do not know how it first came to be but eventually, as the tides of the world changed and evil started to rise the visits from the Isil Hina became less frequent. If they were in the presence of evil for too long, they would go mad, as you..." He faltered, not wishing to erase her hope. "But it can be fixed. Elf magic, can calm them, until they can once again control them self's." Usagi nodded, she was beginning to drift of to sleep again. Legolas began to sing to her, an old elfish song to lull babes to sleep. He had refrained from telling Usagi that he alone would not be enough to cure her. He just hoped they would be able to get back to Lothlorien before the darkness consumed her soul and killed her.

***

The remaining four of the fellowship and the girl they had discovered to be one of the Isil Hina were back in the boats traveling the river back to Lothlorien. It was with heavy hearts that they set sail back the way they had came. They had lost another member of their fellowship and been divided from the rest, the grief was felt by all. Usagi had to be coaxed into the boat by Legolas and, when this failed she had screamed her loudest when Aragorn become impatient with her and dumped her in the boat. He was eager to receive the lady Galadriel's wise counsel. Of course Frodo could not be left alone and unprotected.

Usagi sat in the long boat with Legolas and Gimli, after trying to make conversation with her Gimli had resorted to strange mutterings under his breath. Legolas smiled at his friends efforts. Usagi was completely blanking everyone. It seemed as though her mind was creating a protective barrier to the outside world and whatever horrors where happening inside of her. Legolas had but a glimpse of them when he had kissed her last night, they had been horrific, he could hardly blame her for what she was doing now, though it was irritating, even for an elf.

Usagi had first had an imaginary conversation with someone called 'Rei- chan' and spoken of some sort of food and her hair. She had then had an in depth discussion with a seemingly interesting leaf that had floated down on to her. She had cried like a small babe when it had drifted away. She had tried to go with it standing and rocking the boat dangerously, causing Gimli to cry out for fear of being tipped into the water. Merry and Pippin had entertained her for a while with tales of their mischief and trickery but they had been fairly perplexed when she suddenly discovered a new friend in her reflection, caused when Gimli had brandished his axe to her. She had grabbed hold of it and was now cooing to it. Legolas was becoming slightly worried for her safety, she did not seem to be aware of her actions or that the axe she was proceeding to hug was indeed a deadly weapon. Letting out a long suffering sigh he let go his oar to hand back Gimli his axe, to which Usagi had pouted and moaned until he with drew a mirror from his pack. He had received amused snorts from Gimli at this luxury but at least it kept her quiet for a while. So Usagi was admiring her messy reflection in Legolas' hand mirror when they approached Lothlorien from the opposite direction they had entered it from.

Legolas paused in his rowing for a moment, thinking he had heard the creaking of a tree branch. Looking around his sharp eyes pointed out elves moving among the trees and shrubbery. Raising his hand to silence Gimli and the hobbits he waited for them to speak.

"Why have you come back here?" They asked in Elfish. Usagi started at the strange voices apparently snapping back to reality.

"We seek the counsel of the Lady Galadriel." Aragorn responded in Elfish as well.

A few elves jumped down to face the company bows drawn. Legolas, not wishing to be out done drew his own bow. One of the collection of elves now facing them was staring at Usagi his bow pointing at Legolas as he spoke to Usagi seemingly ignoring the rest of the company.

"Vanya melda."

He advanced towards her, she taking a step backwards, nearly falling out of the boat as she did and causing Gimli to curse as it rocked dangerously. Legolas stood, offering protection as the other elf regained his senses. Staring pointedly at Legolas, he spoke. "I will take you into the village, where you will explain all that has happened. He looked pointedly at Usagi. "It has been a long time since Lothlorien has seen an Isil Hina."

Legolas relaxed his bow and spoke gravely to the other elf. "She has been taken by the madness." The other elf looked wistful. "A shame, come, I am sure something can be done." The fellowship left their boats and followed the collection of elves into the heart of Lothlorien once again.