A/N: Oooo, nice a long, this one is. Thaurnoviel is my own character, she belongs to me. I'm not sure is she'd be a Mary-Sue or not. I don't think she is in this one, not sure about the later ones. She's not a huge part of the story but she will make a few more appearances and be mentioned besides. If she is a Mary-Sue I sincerely apologize and will be sure to give myself a proper beating.

Part 48

Legolas panted heavily as he listened to the diminishing footsteps of his beater. He had only just endured another round of abuse. He was not sure how much more he could take. He was bruised well over his body, blood staining his face and ribs broken within his chest. It was the second night since he was kidnapped, he thought. He had not seen Wormtongue since he had first awoken, thank the Valar. The same man came about twice a day to beat him, but he had not cried out yet. Whenever the blows would come down upon him, he would shut his eyes and think of Aragorn, straining to find a memory, any memory of his best friend to focus on until the session ended. He hadn't had food ever since he was brought here, and was given little water. He did not complain, though. He would endure.

Legolas peered up to the silver orb that was the moon, drifting high in the sky, spreading a lucid veil upon the land, her beams streaming through the window and onto Legolas' face. He wondered where Aragorn was now, where Gimli and Eomer and Eowyn resided. He thought of Merry and Pippin and hoped they had found some better fate. His thoughts then turned to the Ringbearer. His friend Frodo and his other hobbit friend Sam. It seemed so long since Legolas had last seen those two. He missed them, he found as he dwelled on the thought of them. He only prayed that their quest to destroy the Ring was heading toward success. If they were to fail, all would be lost.

" Aragorn ", Theoden called after the ranger who strode to the main doors. Aragorn stopped and turned to face the king of Rohan.

" Where do you intend to go? " the king questioned.

" I intend to go rescue my friend, Your Majesty ", Aragorn answered briskly.

" Well, it won't do you much good if you have not a destination, now will it? " Theoden replied lightly.

" 'Tis better than sitting here and doing nothing ", Aragorn remarked coldly.

" Aragorn, I understand your concern. I, too, am troubled with the welfare of the Elf prince. But you cannot simply leave so rashly. We are marching once again to Isengard tomorrow morning. Wait until then, and you will find Legolas just as we will face the armies of Isengard."

" What do you mean to say? Does Saruman have Legolas? " Aragorn persisted.

" That is what I believe, Aragorn. And it seems Gandalf agrees. But we will find him, Aragorn. We will, I promise you that."

" Ai, the only question is will we find him dead or alive? "

Legolas drifted uneasily into sleep, trying to find some form of peace and escape from the pain that plagued him. He dreamed vividly of many things. Of his childhood, of his family, of his people, of his home. He dreamed of Aragorn when he was such a little thing, a precious little boy when Legolas had first met him. He dreamed of the years spent with Aragorn as the child grew to be a man and a warrior, a ranger and his best friend. He dreamed of everything they had every gone through together, of the doomed love between Aragorn and Arwen, of the great conflict surrounding the Ring of Power. He dreamed of the love he once had, the immortal romance that he had lost himself in when he was yet young, before Aragorn's time. It was a secret not even the ranger knew. The courtship of Legolas and the Lady Thaurnoviel, heaven's creature that chose to grace his sight and take his heart. Legolas dreamed of her, of what had been, tormenting himself with visions of her ethereal face, her silken lips touching his in the concealed world they had made themselves. He had loved her as he loved no other, the love Arwen and Aragorn now shared. Thaurnoviel had been his meltha min, his beloved one. Their hearts were destined for one another, their souls bound forever. But she was taken from him, slain in a battle when Mirkwood was attacked long ago, millennia ago. She was wounded fatally, and died in his arms in the aftermath of the battle, among the ashes as the rain fell. He still remembered those last moments with her, before she slipped away with the wind. Her glowing chestnut eyes had gazed up wearily into his tear filled blue, her hand still barely holding to her sword, which lay at her side on the ground.

" Im mel le, Legolas ", she had whispered, I love you.

Legolas wept in silence. But she had placed one finger to his quivering lips, a great effort for her.

" Do not despair. We are bound ", she had said.

" Meltha ", she had told him. Beloved.

" Our spirits .....", she choked and coughed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. " ...will find.....each other....again."

Her voice was barely audible,as she had not the strength to speak any louder and she was dying.

" Please don't go, Thaurnoviel. Do not leave me. Do not leave me ", Legolas had pleaded in tears as he rocked her body slowly.

" You must let go, Legolas. You must....go on, nin meleth. My love ", she told him.

" Hush. Do not speak. You must save your strength until help arrives ", Legolas said.

" Find peace, Legolas. Find it and put your sorrow to rest. Remember our love, keep it always in your heart as a memory, and seek out new love ", she panted. Legolas stifled a whimper.

" There is such love beyond this place, Legolas. Beyond this tainted soil, beyond me."

Legolas cried, inconceivable grief taking him over, shattering his heart.

" There is love waiting for you, Legolas. Love beyond the minds of Men and Elves and all other races of this world. 'Tis undying, true, pure, and it's depths know no bounds. Seek it, Legolas, and hold steadfast to it once you find it. But even when you do find that love, Legolas, remember me. Do not forget what we had, what was,what is in this moment. Always remember that I love you."

And she died with those words upon her lips. Her body became limp as her soul departed from it, and her brilliant eyes closed for the last time. Legolas moaned as he felt her leave him, his sobs carried away by the wind. He did not know how long he remained there, cradling her lifeless body in the middle of the battlefield, which was then silent and ruled by the hovering shadow of death.

Thaurnoviel's life was snuffed out as a candle flame, which flickered in the wind. And it took all light from Legolas' eyes. He had never loved another woman after that. His heart was devoted to her, whether or not she was only memory. And Legolas had guarded that memory in the depths of his heart for millennia, concealing the pain and the loss of that love he had once had from all the world.

But oddly enough, he had done what Thaurnoviel had told him to do. After centuries of healing and grieving, he sought love once more. Not romance nor another lady, but love. And much to his amazement, he had found it. He had found a very precious little thing with bright gray eyes. And that little boy, taken in by Lord Elrond, had stolen his heart as only Thaurnoviel had done. He had grown to be his comrade, companion, best friend, and brother in heart. He had grown to be Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, after years of just being his little Estel.