Disclaimer- I own nothing- if you recognise it- it's not mine!!!

Army-love-girl- thanks glad you enjoyed it- I have no idea how long this is gonna be and yes there will be a sequel to this

leggylover4ever- aww- I feel so sorry for you- tests are a real pain in the ass. No, she was just being sarcastic- she thinks the dress is slightly too tight and is just afraid that her chest will fall out.

Laura- I didn't just want to shove Glorfindel out of the way, that would have been ideal for me as the author, but not ideal for the story- thanks

Uhhh. . . . I have no name- well maybe not a dragon, maybe a tame wolf cub?- that suit ya?

Eowyn- I didn't realise that I left hints until you said that

~~~~~

I am so gonna scream. I'm getting married/bonded/whatever they called it, tomorrow and nobody can be found. Which I suppose I should have expected.

I know for a fact that Elrond and Thranduil have locked themselves in Elrond study because Eloria had been hassling them to help.

Haldir and Adar are making sure that everything is prepared and are double and triple checking that everything is set and the twins have stolen Legolas and have taken him to god knows where, which I suppose is ok.

I have just come from one of the most stressful dress fittings ever. I tried it on and I look gorgeous, I have to admit, I love my dress and not even the fact that my breasts may fall out of it is enough to make me grumpy. I have been poked and prodded and…well let's just say that it wasn't the most enjoyable experience. Dress makers are so grumpy.

My eyes caught a flash of silver from the gardens as I walked. I stopped in my tracks and with an open mouth took in one of the most gorgeous sights that I had ever seen.

Ribbons of red and silver hung from the trees, swaying in the breeze. There was a long carpet of red velvet up the grass and silk cushions of red, green and blue had been laid on it for the feast. The feast would take part before the ceremony, as the ceremony was a private affair.

We had invited, Elrond, who would bind us, Elladan, Elrohir, Haldir, Arwen, and our parents. The ceremony was very similar to Wiccan hand fasting. After we were bound we would stay in the forest for the night in a tent that had been set up by our parents. I was pretty nervous about that. I was a virgin. Back home if I guy so much as looked at me I would have bitten his head off. I was embarrassed by my scars. Legolas is different. I'm not as embarrassed anymore, and I trust him.  The thought of children kept looming in my mind- scaring me. Never mind, it's not as if they're an issue yet. 

Luckily, the night before we still get to sleep together. The idea of parting from him was…well it wasn't heart wrenching, but it was a stress that I could do without.

Sighing softly, I set out for my room, calling it our room felt weird when Legolas wasn't around. Speaking of which, he better be back soon. If…when they get back, Legolas is missing a limb, intoxicated, or has been left tied naked to some god forsaken tree while I'm not there, the twins will die a horrible death. As will Haldir as it was his idea. I do not want my husband spending what is supposed to be the happiest day of our lives nursing a hangover. Although…I'm not altogether sure whether elves get hangovers. Hmm…I'll have to check that one out.

I didn't notice the elves that grinned at me when I passed. I was too busy thinking. I was getting nervous.

I stopped in my tracks and looked out at the sky where the purple and blue streaks across the sky told me that the day was over, unconsciously telling me that a chapter in my life was coming to a close.  

Hmm, life was funny. 'Yah frickin hilarious' said the voice in my head that sounded suspiciously like Dr Evil from Austin Powers. I almost laughed out loud. Not only was I nervous, but I was losing my sanity as well.

I turned back and let my feet go into autopilot as my eyes studied the sky and the gardens below.

I reached my room and somewhat fearfully opened the door. I quickly clamped my hands over my eyes and stepped into the room. I heard laughing and slowly parted my fingers to see what was going on.

On my bed sat four half naked elves, empty bottles of wine scattered on the bed and tunics had been flung all over the room uncaringly.

I took my hands off of my eyes and placed them on my hips, glaring at them.

Haldir was the first to notice me. He grinned at me and nudged Elladan who was sprawled out next to him. Elladan in turn nudged Legolas and then Elrohir, who looked a little dismayed that he had no one to nudge, so he reached over and hit Haldir instead.

"Hello" the four of them chorused, looking adorably cute, and slightly drunk.

I waltzed over to them and picked up a bottle.

"Roughly how much of this have you had?"

They looked at each other, each hoping that the other knew the answer to that question.

"Ok. Here's what we're gonna do. Haldir you take Elladan to his room while I help Elrohir to his. Legolas while I'm gone, clear up this mess. I don't want to see a single bottle when I get back. You guys don't worry I'll just put your tunics into the laundry"

Four faces were staring at me with identical blank looks. I rolled my eyes and grabbed Elrohir's hand. He got the message and after saying goodnight to everybody, followed me out of the door.

Haldir and Elladan were behind me, Elladan was in worse condition than Haldir, who looked surprisingly sober.

By the time I'd said goodnight to everybody and got back, Legolas was in bed. The room looked cleaner than I had expected.

Legolas lay in bed, the covers only pulled up to his waist. I could feel his eyes on my back as I got undressed. Deciding that I was too tired to fish for a clean nightdress, I slipped into bed in my chemise, much to Legolas' delight.

My mind wandered to the first time that I met him. I was a completely different person back then. It almost made me sick to think about it.

But, I was so lucky that I'd found him, or rather, he'd found me.

Middle-Earth was my home now and I had a family and friends and I was looking forward to starting a new life. A new life with no strings.

I smiled as I felt Legolas' arms warp around my waist. The familiar smell of cinnamon engulfed me and I buried my head into his bare chest. 

I sighed and buried one hand into his hair and let the other rest on is chest.

~

{I carefully opened the door, my eyes sweeping the room but finding no trace of Thalia. I shook my and set about removing my clothes as I was planning to bathe. I carelessly dumped my cloak on the floor next to the bathroom. As I undressed I carefully searched the room for any thing out of the ordinary. A half empty glass sat on Thalia's bed stand, a lone hairbrush sat on the dresser, and two pairs of shoes had been kicked off next to the wardrobe. There was nothing unusual at all, yet there was something wrong. I can feel it in the air. A deep sense of foreboding had my senses on edge.

Trying to dismiss it, I walked to the bathroom, taking off my tunic as I went.

The door opened silently and steam poured out.

"Thalia?"

I asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the silence.

"Thalia?"

There was still no answer. There was nobody in there.

What he didn't see was the small figure hiding behind the door. Her hair stuck to her face, her wide eyes glassy and unseeing, and her thin arms hugging her legs to her chest in the hope of somehow making herself smaller.

In the bedroom Legolas sat on the bed removing his boots. As he stood up his sharp eyes caught sight of something on the floor underneath the bed.

Leaning down he picked it up off of the stone floor. His heart pounded in his chest as he took in the images and words on the page. Pictures of small girls locked in chains and screaming dominated the many pages. They were surrounded by words such as, bitch, slut, user, alone. Flicking through the pages his yes was caught. In the middle of the pile, was one lone page with one word, written in what looked like blood. The word read

MURDERER

He rose quickly, almost dropping the papers in his haste.

~

I had been such a fool. I should have known. She had hidden her pain before and it was foolish to doubt her talent again. These papers were all the proof that I need. Her mind had scattered and her thoughts had once again close in around her.

Memories of seeing her with blood dripped down her legs and the haunted look that she used to hold in her eyes were demanding my attention.

My only problem was finding her. Standing still I tried to focus and see if I could hear anything. I waited for a few moments, moment that seemed like years. I lost my patience and was about to leave the room when I heard a quiet sound from within the bathroom. Carefully I approached the room, not wanting to alarm whoever it was, especially if it was Thalia. Once again I searched the bathroom and found nothing. My arm brushed the door as I moved. As it swung it revealed two bare feet, covered in white fabric. My eyes travelled upwards from the feet and rested on the bowed face of Thalia. She didn't look like herself. Her face was haggard and her frame thin.

Slowly bending down, making sure that she knew that I was there. I carefully placed my hand on her arm. Her skin felt clammy, probably from all of the steam that had built up from the hot bath that she must have run. She flinched and moved away from me. I tried to ignore the feelings that she had evoked but I could not. I had earned her trust and her love, what had happened to her.

"Thalia?" I almost whispered.

She lethargically raised her head. There were black circles underneath her eyes, the sparkle that had been present in her eyes was gone, replaced with a dull grey and a glassy cover. Her cheeks looked hollow and her lips cracked.

A crazed smile that drove a bolt of fear and uncertainty, spread across her lips. She rose to her knees in front of me. Watching me. Her frail hand came up and toughed my cheek, it was cold and clammy. I disgusted myself when I wished that she would take it away. She was unwell, had her mind finally caved in?

I did not understand.

All of a sudden, a laugh, an empty and demented sound filled the small room. For a moment I thought that she going to attack me. Her face took on a skeletal look and her stance suddenly became confident, as if she knew something that I did not.

She stopped laughing and looked at me. Her finger traced my jaw.

"Loud, voices all around. They never sleep. They want me, I shouldn't be here, they want to take me back. To the dark place. I'll never come back. Undeserving they say. Of what…I do not know. You? Perhaps. Meadows of buttercups and daisies. Streams of dark dark red. You can never escape, they always know where you are"

She whispered softly, almost singing. She sounded like a lost child.

She was scaring me. I could feel the cold seep through my skin and make its way up my back.

She opened her mouth once more and then collapsed on to the floor. Her body lay at an odd angle, but I was loath to pick her up. She had truly terrified me. There was nothing in her gaze, not even pain.  

I felt a jolt and was blinded by a bright light for a moment. A tall maiden walked through the light and joined me. We stood watching the scene play out once more, it was as if I was watching a play.

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and the maiden spoke.

"Do not fear, this will not come to pass. It was simply to show you that your fears hold no sway upon your life. This has never taken place and it never shall"

She stopped and watched me for a moment.

"I know what it is you fear Legolas of Mirkwood. I gave you this dream, in the hopes of making you realise the true enemy"

"What do you mean?

"Her pain is not the enemy, she has realised this, yet you refuse to accept defeat"

Her bright eyes shifted from mine to the scene below.

"I am Vana. I have visited your beloved once before. She is strong, why do you fear this?"

"I fear it because I could not stand to lose her"

She raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"No you could not. I felt it in the glade in the forest and that bond grows stronger still. Have faith Legolas. With your help she will become one of the finest women that history had ever seen. She will change much in Mirkwood, and you should trust that"

"I do not understand. What is it that you are trying to tell me?"

"I am forewarning you. Do not doubt her and do not underestimate her. She will not fall to the darkness again. There will be times when she must do what she must, but you understand that. But do not think that she is weak. Your biggest mistake could be your wish to protect her. She is a free spirit, she needs stability, yes. But you must allow her to wander where she wishes. Do not hold her away from her family and friends. She needs them as much as she needs you"

"Look at the girl below you. What do you see?"

I looked and instead of seeing the thin, helpless girl, I saw an inner strength that glowed.

"She does not look so helpless does she? She will need comfort, but do not mistake comfort with being possessive. She is yours and she will never falter from you. Trust her and trust yourself. I leave you now with a gift. Upon your joining, you shall receive the greatest gift that there is. I wish you well Legolas of Mirkwood"

My eyes focused and the figure in my arms shifted slightly, burying her head into my chest. I tightened my arms around her and kissed the crown of her head.

Tomorrow would be busy and would no doubt be one of the greatest that I would ever see.