Disclaimer: I own nothing! N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!! Can't you morons spell? LOL.

Chapter 56

Eressa looked at Maryn like the woman had gone crazy. But it was not Maryn that Eressa thought was crazy. It was Legolas.

"He wants to try and escape again?" She asked with fear in her bright eyes. "After what happened last time?"

"I told him this." Maryn tried to explain. "Eressa, he is thinking of his…of your…of the child."

"He couldn't possibly if he wants to go through with this!" Eressa's strained reply came.

"Eressa…Legolas doesn't want the baby to grow up the way you did. He doesn't want the child to be a slave." The Lady sighed.

"I don't either." Eressa said stubbornly. "But I'm…I don't want those events to repeat themselves." The girl looked up at the Lady in despair, tears forming pools around her eyes. "I've already lost my brother…If I lose Legolas, I've lost everything in this world that is dear to me."

"But your child is dear to you, is it not?" Maryn questioned.

Eressa's head shot up. "Of course." She stated solidly. "That is why I don't want to go through with it again!"

Maryn placed her hand on the young girl's shoulder. She could feel Eressa's body tighten as she touched her. "But Eressa…last time you did not have my aid. You will have Malkor's aid as well."

Eressa swallowed. "It still sounds absolutely…absurd." She said softly.

Maryn's jeweled hand left the dirty fabric that dressed Eressa's shoulder. She frowned and looked away. "I can only tell you what he has told me." She said sadly.

"Legolas?" Eressa clarified.

"Yes."

There was a long pause that hung between the two women for a few moments. Eressa blinked and thought she felt a tear in her eye, but then thought again when she knew this situation wasn't desperate enough for her to cry. Why was Legolas acting so rashly again? After what had happened to her…to Eredor…to him? Had he that much faith that they could outlast another tragedy should one come?

"Oh…Maryn, I don't know what to do." Eressa said miserably. "I don't know what message I should send back to him."

Maryn turned towards her and managed to smile. "If it is any help, the word 'yes' spoken from your lips would make Legolas very happy."

"I know."

"Then why not send him that message?"

Eressa didn't answer. She swallowed again, the walls of her throat scraping together painfully. Her throat was so dry. Why not send that message? If Legolas had so much faith, why did she have none, especially in him?

"I don't know." She whispered, more to herself than the woman standing beside her.

Maryn frowned and rested a hand on her belly. She didn't know what she would do in this situation either. But Eressa had more to lose than she did. In Maryn's case, her husband meant nothing to her. Only their child did she feel love for. And to risk an escape that would take you into the wild unknown while you where pregnant with that child…

A moment later, Eressa stood up. Maryn observed her posture, and saw that she had a small bulge in the stomach of her dress. Eressa began to walk out of the room.

Maryn whirled around. "Eressa…wait! Are you not going to answer?"

Eressa turned briefly, a sad expression on her face. Maryn thought the girl suddenly looked older than her eighteen years.

"Tell Legolas…that I'll accept." She said hesitantly. "But only because I want a happy childhood for our son or daughter…one unlike mine. I'm not doing it because he asked me to."

Maryn nodded and smiled encouragingly. The expression didn't change the one on Eressa's.

"Tell him I love him." Eressa added after a moment of thought.

"He knows, Eressa." Maryn returned. "And he sends his love as well."

That earned Maryn the smile she wanted to see on Eressa's face.

"But you will tell him anyway…won't you?" The younger woman asked warmly.

Maryn nodded again. "I will as soon as I am able."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Eressa."

With that, and another hint of a smile, Eressa left.

Legolas paced about in his chamber. He had come to think of it more as a 'chamber' than a 'cell'. It was lighted for one thing, had more than a board for a bed, and if he had wanted, he could have left anytime he wished.

His eyes slide across the door. If he wanted, he could run out of here right now…but he would have to find Eressa, and before Lord Curdolin suspected anything as well. That was the part in which he needed Maryn's help. He was waiting for her to arrive right now.

He was bored. There was not much for him to do here but wait and hope Maryn or Malkor would come to him soon. He set his mind to daydreaming about being back in the forest…in the open fields…in the sunlight.

Legolas closed his eyes and leaned against the nearest wall, next to the door. How he wished to see his home again! How he wished to see his family again…or what was left of it. Now, only he and his Father were the survivors of what had once been a great and powerful elven dynasty.

If Father is even still alive at this point…Legolas thought with a stab of grief.

Without a doubt, after the hunting party he and Ithilion headed had not returned, his father would have sent out a search party. It would not have been hard for them to find the bodies of his comrades, had the men left the bodies where they fell. Where Ithilion fell, taken by his own hand…his own sword.

Legolas tried to push out the image of his father's face when he was told that his first son had killed himself and that his second was presumed dead, along with the others. It had been in October when he was captured. It was the middle of March now.

He had been missing for nearly five months. He wondered if his people had just presumed him as dead after many weeks of searching. He wondered if his father had wasted away with grief since then.

Valar…I pray not. He hoped. Valar, send my father faith…send me faith.

Legolas felt his body scrap down the stony wall and sit on the cold floor. He kept his eyes closed.

Valar…please let Eressa and I escape…let our child be born healthy…let my father live to see his first grandchild…let my life return to what it was…and let Eressa's become better than what it once was.

Maryn walked down the long corridors to where Legolas was being held. She kept repeating to herself that this would be her last visit here. Ever since Legolas had kissed her she had felt as if each time she faced him, her feelings only grew more and more exposed.

It was silly of me to think that I could hide my feelings from an elf, anyway…She thought, shaking her head.

She reached the door and pushed it lightly open, revealing Legolas's straw bed…empty.

Maryn frowned. Usually Legolas was there when she came before. Could he have simply walked out? She stepped out the door again, looking down the corridor both ways for a sign of the missing elf. She saw none and panic began to grip her mind…when she looked to her left and down.

Legolas sat, his back leaning against the wall, his head drooping into his chest. His breathing was deep and slow, his eyes downcast and utterly blank.

Maryn blinked and smiled. He was sleeping.

She stared at his hunched figure, breathing evenly. The thought of waking him briefly skipped through her mind, but it was no more than a thought. She couldn't motivate herself enough to wake him.

Silent as she could, Maryn stepped out of the room and closed the door.

Another time…She thought. And she walked back down the corridor, smiling.

Personal thing

Ok…what is it…four pages on Word? Sorry, I could type no more without going overboard on my promise to update in a week or so. And anyway, FF.net wouldn't let me log on for some reason! (Grrrr…) Um…In other news…I had PROM!!! And it was GREAT!!! Only Kevin didn't kiss or hug or hold hands or even dance very close to me when we slow danced, but I'm easily pleased and I got to spend a whole fricking night with him and DAMMIT, I got pictures to prove it!! Go me!

Oh, and as always, thank you so much! I love you guys! You are the best reviewers in the world! I now have over 700 reviews!! Yay!!