Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkien's characters, Middle Earth, elves, or elvish. I do own my plot, Carissa and Splash.

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She threw a small rock into the water and turned away, she dismounted and walked beside Splash. She watched the sides of the path for any other unseen paths she may have missed.

By late afternoon, she was tired and thirsty. Splash seemed to have lost his motivation too. He was dragged his hooves along the ground, his head lowered towards the ground as though looking for something to eat or drink as they walked.

She stopped and fell on her knees, starting to cry.

"We are never going to find our way home," she sobbed. "We are lost in a strange place with nothing."

She heard something above her and her spirits lightened a bit. There was a strange sound and something fell heavily on the ground in the shrubs by the path.

"Lost my dear," said a clicking voice.

Carissa stood up and wiped the tears from her face. Something wasn't right with that voice. Splash looked nervous. He snorted and began to toss his head wildly.

"What is it, Splash?" Carissa asked her stallion.

"I can take you to water," said the clicking voice. "And to food."

"Really?" Carissa asked, not truly trusting the voice.

"Oh, my dear. Yes…"

Carissa got back into the saddle, as Splash began to paw at the ground.

"Who are you?" Carissa asked the clicking voice.

"I am the Queen of my kind," said the clicking voice. "Will you come willingly with me now?"

"There is something about you I don't like," Carissa said.

"Why is that?" the voice asked.

"I have to go," Carissa said, her voice beginning to tremble.

"Then…" the voice said slowly. " I… will have to take you by… force!"

There was a loud rustle in the bushes and one great long hairy leg appeared, followed by another.

"You're a spider!" Carissa cried.

Splash reared and she lost her seating, falling from the saddle. Splash bolted, leaving Carissa behind.

The giant spider stepped out onto the path, eight red eyes gleamed viscously at her.

"You have no escape now," said the spider. "My little tender one…"

Carissa stood routed to the spot in fear as the spider advanced slowly on her.

"Take a good look around," the spider said maliciously. "It will be the last thing you will ever see."

Carissa turned and ran, but didn't get far as the spider sent a long leg to trip her up. She turned on her back and looked up at the spider's great fangs looming over her. Acid green venom dripped onto her clothes.

The spider laughed. "There is no hope of escape… little tender one."

"So this is what is to become of me?" Carissa asked. "Sent to this strange place to be spiders food."

"I do not come this way often," said the spider. She lowered her clicking fangs towards Carissa's stomach. "Stealth comes in handy… as well as my preys stupidity."

"Stealth comes in handy for any," said a clear strong voice. "But more easily by the elves."

A tall man with long fair hair jumped lightly from the treetops to stand over Carissa. In his hands were two long knives, crossed over in front of his chest.

"You meddling elf!" the spider cried, jumping back. "Get away from my food!"

"She is not your food," the man said firmly. "Nor will she ever be. You have no right to be in this part of the forest."

"You will pay for your stupidity elf," said the spider, clicking her pincers. She jumped forward and the elf moved to the side. He struck out with his knives and cut the spider's head off.

"It is you who shall pay," the elf said lightly. He kicked the head off the path and left the twitching body where it was. He placed his knives in some sheaths on his back and turned to Carissa who was shaking. "Are you all right?"

Carissa nodded, staring up at the tall elf.

He was taller than a normal person, with a strange light in his blue eyes. He wore a tunic of murky green, with a silvery blue shirt under it. He extended his hand to her.

"Who are you?" she asked warily.

"Legolas," he said. "And you are?"

"Carissa," she answered.

She took his hand and he helped her to her feet. She felt strange, as she took his hand, her stomach jolted..

She was weak and shaky. Legolas removed a flask from his belt and handed it to her.

"Drink," he said. "It's only water, but should make you feel a little better."

Carissa took it and drunk, emptying the flask within seconds.

"Thank you," she said, handing it back to him. He put it back on his belt.

"How long have you been travelling?" Legolas asked.

"I don't know," Carissa said. "It feels like ages."

"I have been following you while you were in the forest," Legolas said. "You have been here for four days."

"Why were you following me?" Carissa asked.

"By order of the king," Legolas said. "You will have to come back to the palace with me."

"I won't go anywhere with a stranger," Carissa said suddenly.

"I wouldn't hurt you," Legolas said. "To ruin such a work of beauty."

Carissa felt her cheeks go red.

"How can I prove my good intents?" Legolas asked with a broad smile.

There was the sound of hooves walking slowly towards them. Both turned and there was Splash, being led by another elf.

"Splash!" Carissa cried, running to the horse and hugging him. "Thank you, thank you!"

"He nearly ruined our ambush," the elf said to Legolas.

"Did you get them all?" Legolas asked the elf.

"Yes," the elf said.

"Carissa," Legolas said. "This is Aredhel, a member of my company."

"You dress strangely," Aredhel said to Carissa, looking her up and down.

"This is what I wear for riding," Carissa said. She looked down at the blue velvet coat, tanned leggings and boots. It was all dirty and torn in places. "Except I'm just a bit dirty…"

"You can clean up shortly," Legolas said. "Aredhel, gather the company and head home."

"Yes sire," Aredhel said. He took off silently.

Carissa got back up into the saddle and was led by Legolas through the trees to a well-worn path. After a while of silent travelling, the trees opened up to reveal two great wooden gates with armed guards standing by its sides.

"Welcome back, Legolas," said one guard with nod. "Is this a prisoner?"

"No Thallon," Legolas said smiling. "She is our guest, and shall be treated as you would me."

"As you wish," Thallon said.

The gates were opened and Carissa stared ahead at a magnificent palace. It was something that she could never describe properly. Like a castle from England only made greater and much more beautiful. The bricks were white with no gaps or cracks, gold bordered every window, and great vines had been painted onto the white surface in intricate patterns. That was only the start of it.

"I take it you like it," Legolas said as he watched Carissa's eyes open wide.

"It is the most beautiful building that I have ever seen!" Carissa gasped.

"Come," Legolas said. "Your horse will be taken to the stables and you shall come inside for food and rest before seeing the king."

As he spoke, a young elven child approached. Legolas helped Carissa down from the saddle and the child took hold of the reins and led Splash away.

Legolas took Carissa's arm and led her up five steps to a pair of dark wooden doors. He opened one and took her inside to a foyer.

"This is more beautiful than outside," Carissa said.

"This is only the entrance," Legolas said. "The rest of the palace isn't entirely like this."

He led her through many different passageways and stopped at a door.

"This will be your room," he said. "It isn't much, but it's yours while you stay here."

He opened the door to reveal her bed with an overhanging canopies, two bedside tables, a wardrobe sitting on its vice carved feet. A chest of drawers and a sitting table with an oval mirror. There was a glass door leading out to a balcony, it had a small round table with two chairs, on the table was a pitcher of water with a glass beside it.

"How can I thank you enough?" Carissa said as she looked in room.

"Your welcome," Legolas said. "There is a bathroom down the hallway. You will find all towels and bath oils in there on a counter top. In the wardrobe you will find all your clothes you may need to wear while here. We will be having dinner in an hour. If you need anything, Telrunya will be three doors down."

He left her then on her own. She went over to her balcony over looking a courtyard of elves working and talking, normal things for them. Sitting down at the table she poured herself a glass of water and sipped it while watching the elves in the courtyard.