~A Rose by Any Other Name~
Chapter Seven

Boromir ran through the trees, searching for their wayward female companion. Up ahead he spotted Aragorn looking up into the branches of a tall tree with a smile on his unshaven face. He came up to the ranger, slightly out of breath. "Any luck?"

Aragorn put his finger to his lips then pointed up. "Legolas beat us to her."

Boromir looked up into the branches, not seeing anything for a moment. Then the clouds broke and a solid moonbeam lit on the two, bathing them in silver again and once again lighting the elf's hair ablaze of silver glory. Boromir smiled at the scene.

Ascadholiel was snuggled up tight in Legolas' arms, her arms partially around his torso, her small hands clutching his tunic and her head laying against his collar bone as she slept, secure in the knowledge that Legolas would not let her fall.

It was hard to tell, since elves slept with their eyes open, but as far as Boromir could tell, Legolas was asleep as well. His back rested against the tree and his arms and a leg were wrapped protectively around his charge. His cheek rested against the top of her head and his face was peaceful.

Boromir noted this aloud. "His face is not as hard as it normally is. He looks so peaceful."

Aragorn nodded and whispered, "They both do. I think you are right Boromir. By the time this journey is over, if they both live, their hearts might beat as one. I only hope that Legolas is prepared for such a thing as this."

Boromir patted Aragorn on the shoulder, with a small smile on his face. "No man, of the race of men or otherwise, is truly ready for love I think. Especially if he does not realize that he is falling into it."

Aragorn nodded again. "You are right I think. Come, let us away back to camp. Legolas will bring her back in the morning."

Boromir nodded and the two men walked quietly yet swiftly back to camp.

High in the tree, Legolas blinked. He had awakened when Boromir had crashed through the trees, in his opinion, louder than a hoard of orcs. Aragorn had slipped through his senses before that, having been raised amongst the elves. Legolas had heard the conversation between the two humans below him, but surprisingly it only confused him. It made him only a little troubled that two humans had seen his feelings before even he had.

It was Legolas' turn to brood now as he thought to himself, 'But is it true? Do I love this young human? If I do, that love will be the death of me.'

Ascadholiel shifted in his arms, curling a little tighter into his warm, solid body. He could feel her warm breath against his neck and he curled his arms a little tighter around her.

Ascadholiel made a few sounds of contentment in her sleep, sighed and settled back down.

Legolas looked out at the retreating moon. 'Then again, how can something that feels so right and so good, be the death of me? Are they right? Does she truly feel the same? Why am I feeling this way over a silly human?' Another part of his mind answered, 'Because you want to protect her. Because she's seen so many hardships in her short life, and is so strong because of it, but you feel her strength is about to end. You've never net a human quite like her before. It's nothing big or tremendously special, just a feeling. She reminds you of yourself somewhat.'

Legolas sighed at his thoughts and whispered, "oh mellon nin, melamin, it is so confusing, but we shall figure it out. I will try to let you realize your own feelings, then you and I shall solve this puzzle together."

The sleeping girl sighed, her face now buried against Legolas' smooth pale neck. The elf smiled and spent the rest of the night pondering his feelings and reactions as he watched over her and guarded her sleep.

**********

Early morning light colored the sky above the camp as the fellowship, minus the elf and his charge, sat around the fire. All of them looked up as Ascadholiel and Legolas appeared to materialize out of the woods, the girl stepping gingerly because of her bare feet.

Most of the hobbits jumped up and ran to her, all of them talking at once. She laughed as Gimli rose and parted them easily.

"Ai now. Give the lady some room. Let her sit down." Then to Ascadholiel he said, "You gave us quite a scare lass, we were worried for a time last night that we had lost you."

Ascadholiel parted from Legolas, throwing a sweet, thankful smile over her shoulder at him as she followed the stout dwarf to a seat. "I apologize my friend. I had some thing on my mind that I needed to work through. I just needed a little time alone. I promise I'll tell you before I do anything like that again."

Gandalf spoke up now, a gentle, but slightly scolding tone to his gravely voice. "It would be far wiser Lady Asca, to simply not do it again. There are great things of evil and many beasts roaming about. It would be far safer if you were to take at least one or more of us with you if you absolutely must go."

Ascadholiel sighed and looked down, halfway muttering under her breath. "That would undoubtedly defeat the purpose of being alone, But you are right and I nod to your wisdom. If I feel the need to wonder off again, I will not go alone. Gods know I'm not the bravest thing on the face of the earth."

Pippin scooted next to her and placed a hand on her knee. "That's all right Lady Asca. We hobbits aren't really that brave either, but we'll take care of each other right?"

Ascadholiel smiled and leaned over, kissing Pippin on the forehead, making him blush. "Right you are Pip."

Once they were all seated and settled around the fire again, Gandalf once again spoke up. "Now then Lady Asca, I have a gift for you."

The girl quirked and eyebrow. "A gift?"

Gandalf nodded and held out a bundle of leather and laces. Ascadholiel took the bundle and unrolled, her eyes lighting up as she saw what it was. "Shoes! Boots none the less! Thank the gods! Now I shall be better equipped to move about independently without the risk of really hurting myself."

Ascadholiel then looked over at Legolas. "Not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the time that we spent in such close, yet comfy proximity..." She smirked, keeping up with the ongoing, mostly inside joke. "But it was a little unsettling at times, given my past history concerning those of the opposite gender. However, all of you fine gentlemen here are making me tend to believe that it was something in the air in my world that made the majority of the male population act like such rude, crude, and sociably unacceptable animals. You have my appreciated gratitude for your thoughtful and much needed gift Gandalf. Diola lle nin mellon."

Gandalf nodded and answered as Legolas beamed at his pupil. "Lle creoso, Ascadholiel. You are very welcome."

Merry smiled at the girl as she put on and laced up the magically created boots. "You always speak with such intelligent words. It reminds me a little of the elves."

Ascadholiel paused and adopted a hillbilly-like accent. "That's cause I gradgiated the sixth grade." She held up four fingers. "And it only took me three years." She saw the blank looks on everyone's faces. "Sorry. Another pop-culture reference. I should probably stop making those huh? I seem to be confusing you all more than humoring you."

Frodo patter her on the shoulder. "Your attempts are well appreciated though, even if you don't mean to make them."

Ascadholiel smiled, and thus began the normal morning chatter. Legolas walked over to Aragorn and stood with him as they watched the group.

Aragorn was the one that broke the silence, speaking in elvish. "*You grow fond of her do you not my old friend?*"

Legolas crossed his arms and nodded. "*I do. She captivates me. It's not her looks, though she is rather comely. As she has said, there are many other women, even of the race of men who are far more fair than she, but there is just something about her. Something that calls to me. She may not be a warrior, but she is strong. The things she has gone through in her life, and the way she now deals with it. You heard her song to Frodo. She sang it from her heart. I know not of anyone here who could go through the trials that she has and come out so well in body and mind.*"

Aragorn watched his friend as the elf continued to watch the group. "*You are falling in love with her.*"

Legolas shook his head. "*No. I am already in love with her, it simply grows deeper.*" He turned his head and looked at the ranger. "*And it frightens me terribly.*" He turned back and looked at the girl, watching her as she joked around with Gimli. "*That a mortal like her could so swiftly capture my heart when for almost three millennia no other could. It scares me Aragorn. It scares me that I care not for myself, but care only weather she feels the same. I love her and I know not how to tell her for fear of rejection. We hardly know each other after all.*"

Legolas turned to Aragorn grinning madly. "*What?*"

Aragorn shook his head. "*You have fallen hard my friend. Never before have I heard you speak as such. So open and full of passion and feeling. A far cry from your normally stoic attitude. I would not worry so were I you.*" He placed a loving, brotherly hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Boromir was right I think, when he said to me that she cared for you.*"

"*Aiya! Boromir knows?*"

"*'Twas Boromir who brought it to my attention.*"

Legolas shook his head. "*To be so obvious in my feelings that even a normal man of Gondor, not raised by the elves can see...*"

Aragorn chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Do not fret Legolas, on any of it. Boromir is discrete and Ascadholiel loves you as well. It just might take her time, with all that she has been through, to notice and accept her feelings for you.*"

"*How can you be so sure Aragorn? She treats the others equally as she treats me.*"

"*Yes, but you are the one she prefers to talk to. It is to your arms she goes for sleep or comfort. It is of you that she first sang, and a song of love at that. It is around you that she seems truly happy. Trust me my friend, you have stolen her heart just as assuredly as she has stolen yours. It is naught but a question of time now.*"

Legolas smiled at his friend, satisfied and calmed somewhat by what was said. 'A matter of time is it? Very well my young female. I will give your time, just as in the end, I will give you mine as well.'

**********

Ascadholiel tried not to limp as her feet started really hurting from walking so much. Sam noticed however. "Are you all right Miss Asca? You seem a little pained."

Ascadholiel smiled gently, then blushed as this brought everyone's attention to her. "I'm fan Sam. I'm just not in the best of shape and I'm not used to walking for so long. Plus these shoes don't have the best support system in them. I don't know if I've mentioned it yet, but when I can be, I'm a creature of comfort. I'll be fine though if my feet don't blister too badly first."

Legolas had caught up to her side. "Would you like me to carry you again?" He said, secretly hoping she said yes so he could hold her close again.

Ascadholiel smiled at her friend and teacher. "I would be uttering falsehoods if I implied that I didn't, however I won't allow it. You need your arms free at a moments notice, and I don't have the excuse of bare feet right now. Besides, I need to loose some weight and get in shape and walking will do that perfectly. Thank you for the offer though."

Legolas nodded and didn't push the issue, admiring her determination. "As you wish my l... lady." He mentally kicked himself for almost slipping and was thankful that she seemed not to have caught the stutter in his words when he had almost said something else.

Ascadholiel indeed hadn't noticed and he watched as she contentedly talked to the small ring-bearer. She smiled as Frodo was called up to the front by Gandalf then cocked an eyebrow as Gimli spoke with awe up from the front. "The walls of Moria!"

Ascadholiel stopped and looked up in sheer amazement at the cliff face. "Wow."

After a while of skirting around it and the lake, she was damn glad that she had been given the boots. She wandered as well why they had stopped and why Gandalf way tapping on the side of the cliff, having zoned out a little while ago. She leaned over to Boromir, who was standing beside her, and whispered, "What is Gandalf looking for?"

Boromir leaned back and whispered, "The door that leads into Moria."

She cocked her head and looked confusedly at him and kept whispering. "Doors? Why would there be doors on the side of the mountain? And what's a Moria?"

Boromir whispered back, "The mines of Moria. We're going under the mountain." He winced and jerked back as she exploded with a full force yell into his ear.

"Mines?! MINES?! What the hell do you mean mines?!"

Everyone turned to look at her, startled by the sudden outburst. Legolas rushed up to her and pulled her away to the back of the group. "Shh... shhh..."

Ascadholiel was still loud, and now frantic as well as she looked at and around the elf as if trying to find a place to hide as she tried to make him understand. "No! No Legolas, they want to take us into mines! That means under the earth!"

Legolas tried to hush her again as he gripped her upper arms tightly to hold her their.. "Sh... I know."

"No! No! You don't know!" Her voice was hurried and frantic as she desperately patted his arms. She was obviously starting to go into irrational panic. "Legolas, I don't do well in dark places. Especially in caves or mines. Trees and stars and light! I do well in those. Caves and mines and mountains, I don't do well in those! They don't like me there! Please, please Legolas!"

She was still going on frantically and now beginning to sob as she begged, shifting and hyperventilating as she rushed on. "Legolas, please don't let them take me into the mines! Please, I... I promise I'll be good! Please, please help me Legolas! Don't make me go! I don't want to go! Please, please Legolas, help me! Please! Legolas!"

Legolas pulled her tightly against him and held her, tucking his cheek over her hair and trying desperately to calm her. His fair face was almost a mask of agony to see her like this. Being an elf, he knew somewhat how she felt.

Her hands were clutching convulsively onto him and she still shifted, almost as if bouncing, in his arms as she cried in panic, her face buried against his chest and he sobbed mantra of "please" sounding over and over.

Legolas had wrapped one arm tightly around her shoulders while his other hand weaved through her shoulder length, layered blonde hair and held her head tightly against his strong chest. His voice was as soft and soothing as he could make it for her. "Shhh... sh... hush. It's all right. I'll be here with you. I'll be by your side the whole time. I promise. I won't let anything happen to you. I'll protect you. I know how you feel. I hate the darkness in the deep places of the earth as well. We must go. It's the only way. But know that I will be with you. You'll be my light and I'll be your strength. We'll help each other."

Ascadholiel was still breathing hard and clinging to him desperately, still crying as well. "You promise? You won't leave me? Please don't leave me."

Legolas spoke fiercely. "I promise. I promise I won't leave you Ascadholiel." He pulled back to look into her eyes as he took her face tenderly into his hands. "My vow to you melamin." Then he dipped his head and touched his soft lips tenderly to hers, making her freeze in shock. He pulled away after a moment and one of his thumbs caressed her cheekbone, wiping away some of the tears as she stared at him wide-eyed.

Legolas whispered, "I'll be right back." And then he was gone, heading towards the front of the group, leaving her staring out over the lake where he had left her.

Boromir, not knowing the elvish words, came up beside her, a little worried to see the dazed looked on her face. "Are you all right Lady Asca? Lady Asca?" A slow, stupid looking grin was settling itself over her features. "Lady Asca, what..."

Ascadholiel's voice was a dazed whisper. "He called me his love." She sighed and turned, still dazed eyes to her newest friend. "Wow..."

Boromir just grinned and shook his head, walking back over to Aragorn, the ranger stopping the hobbits from throwing things in the water, most likely to share the news.

Ascadholiel was still a little dazed as Legolas walked back up to her. His voice was softer than she had ever heard it. "Melamin? Are you all right?"

Ascadholiel looked up at him, the smile gone from her face, a look of confusion and doubt in her eyes, yet hope as well. "Lle mela im?" (You love me?)

Legolas nodded, his gaze unwavering, leaving no doubt to what he said. "Ai. Amin mela lle, cuiamin." (Yes. I love you, my life.)

Ascadholiel lowered her eyes for a moment, though her sight was turned inward. "Cuiamin..." (My life...) Then she lifted her head and looked at him again, this time with honesty, trust, and something else in her eyes. "Amin mela lle an, Legolas. Nin bellas." (I love you too, Legolas. My strength.)

Legolas smiled gently at her his blue eyes beaming with great joy at her words. He laid his hands gently on her shoulders and lowered his head to hers.

She tilted her face upwards and her eyes fluttered closed as his lips once again met hers. The kiss this time was slow and sweet and she savored it. She noticed in the back of her mind that he tasted like something sweet, like honey, and something else almost fruity, almost as if he had eaten one of those tart green apples that are good to make caramel apples with.

Ascadholiel's mind was a buzz and she lost herself completely in the kiss as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, savoring the feel of his silken hair caressing her arms. She sighed into the kiss as his own arms wound around her and crushed her body tightly against his. She poured into the kiss everything that she felt at that moment. Fear, excitement, anxiety, a little panic, confusion, worry, but also, passion, joy, realization, pleasure, contentment, happiness, lust, wonder, and love. Above all else love.

Legolas as well, gave as good as he got. They were lost in the kiss and each other's arms, blind and deaf to the world around them until the ground rumbled.

They broke the kiss, still in each other's arms, and looked to see that Gandalf had found the word to open the door. Ascadholiel closed her eyes to the dark opening and buried her face in the crook of her new love's neck as tremors began to run through her body again. "I'm scared, nin bellas."

Legolas stroked her hair tenderly for a moment. "Sh. I know melamin." He unwrapped one of his arms, keeping the other around her waist as he lead her into the darkness with the rest of the fellowship.

Gimli started boating to the elf about the hospitality that the dwarves would show them.

Ascadholiel didn't really hear anything until something that Boromir said caught her ear. "This is no mine, it's a tomb."

Ascadholiel looked around finally, her eyes widening in horror and fear as Legolas stooped and pulled a black arrow out of one of the corpses. "Goblins!" He released her and drew his bow literally before she could blink.

After that, things happened so quickly. Frodo screamed for help somewhere behind her, There were tentacle things, and splashing water and ha horrible roaring sound, and for some reason that she couldn't fathom, Legolas was moving towards the chaos instead of away from it with her where they would be safe.

Ascadholiel whimpered as she tried to make sense of what was going on around her through her panicked mind. Gandalf moved protectively to her side and she gratefully latched onto him.

That's when things got really bad. The ground started to shake and there seemed to be dark shapes rushing towards her and Gandalf was pulling her further into the darkness of the cave, away from where she saw Legolas go. There was a long deafening crashing sound, then darkness and a ringing silence.

Ascadholiel was too terrified even to whimper now. She nearly died of fright as Gandalf broke the silence. "We now have no choice but to face the long dark of Moria." He tapped his staff on the ground and light broke out from the crystal he had placed on the top.

Tears were streaming down Ascadholiel's face and she was shaking so hard she was no near collapse. She almost feinted when someone beside her tapped her. She looked up to see Legolas standing there, urging her into his arms, which she gratefully fell into at once. She clutched the shirt covering his chest in both hands and buried her face against the crook of his neck as she began sobbing almost silently.

Legolas' strong arms wrapped around her, almost making her knees buckle. Her legs really did give out as Gandalf said that it would be a four day trek to the other side. Legolas shouldered his bow and her up again, holding her tightly against his chest.

Ascadholiel wrapped her arms desperately around Legolas' neck never once lifting her head. So on they walked, heading deeper and deeper into the darkness that both woman and elf hated and feared so much.

**********

A.N.: Okay... *looks up* This chapter is a bit longer than the others. BTW, just to tell everyone, I do read and thoroughly enjoy all the reviews. I make note of every single one. The only reason that I have stopped making personal notes in the actual updates, is because I tend to type them out on my laptop first before switching them and posting them on the normal comp. Do however rest assured that I take person note and thanks of each. BTW... do keep it up ne? Is thriving off the stuff. Oh yeah... there's going to be a huge explanation of Asca's past in the next chapter. It's going to be... not so much graphic, as just a reserved story telling by her. THERE WILL BE references to past nc stuff, but only mentions and it'll be quite blunt. I'm sorry for any of you who would want detail on stuff like that, But I've had too many people I love, men mostly, as well as myself, who have gone through it to describe it myself. Well, I hope you enjoy people. Much loves!!! P.S.... is it a Mary-sue yet? Still... hopefully not a typical one. Namaarie!!!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman