Heehee, naughty Elves indeed!

From here onwards i.e. this chapter, it kinda skips quite a lot. You'll see what I mean…

Thank you for all your lovely reviews, and all replies are below. I got some for past stories as well, so I'll put them on here, and on the new chapter of Farewells May Not Be Forever.

I GOT RETURN OF THE KING ON THURSDAY! WAH HEY!

Ah hem…

Yes, I got Return of the King on DVD. THE EXTRAS RULE!

Lainfaer

Haldir's Heart and Soul – Yes, very VERY naughty Elves! Happiness all around! Thanks for reviewing.

Starlit Hope – Heehee, naughty Elves! Thanks for reviewing.

MoroTheWolfGod – Yes, I got RotK!!!!! The extras are sooooo cool! Have you got it yet? Thanks for reviewing.

Elerrina – Yeah well, I like having Éowyn that way! And I'm sure Leggy liked the dancing. Especially afterwards at any rate! I'm better than you at writing? I think not! Let's say………...we're as good as each other! That do? Thanks for reviewing.

Angel From Hell – Of course I can't kill them! That would just be mean! And Leggy can't die cos he's a main character, and Haldir's just too gorge to kill off!

Yes, Hally and Leggy are protecting me from you and your bloody bat! Heehee, I know you were kidding! Thanks for reviewing.

Chapter 9: Memories Re-lived.

"Are you sure you are ok Legolas? You're very quiet."

"I'm fine."

"But…"

"Aragorn, please. Just leave it. I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself." Legolas nudged Arod forward to ride up the front with Gandalf.

"He is only concerned for you," the Wizard told him softly.

"I know. But I just wish he wouldn't keep going on about it."

"And I'm stuck in the middle of it," came a gruff voice from behind Legolas.

The other two grinned at each. "If you would prefer to ride your own horse, feel free. I am sure Arod here wouldn't mind." Legolas turned round to face his friend, grinning.

Gimli scowled back. "It ain't funny laddie!"

"Gimli, why do you insist on calling me 'laddie'? I'm over two thousand years older than you!"

The Dwarf shrugged. "Habit, I guess."

Gandalf shook his head and faced the road ahead again. Legolas did the same.

They were making their way towards Isengard, where they were hoping to come across two little Hobbits that had got lost along the way. Gandalf had told the Three Hunters that they were safe and well. He had not, however, told them exactly how they had got to Isengard.

Their question was soon answered. As they reached Isengard, they saw, through various holes in the circling wall, Ents, tearing down any remains of Sarumans' industrial fortresses. The whole of Orthanc was flooded, and on top of a pile of rubble, were two small Hobbits, smoking and sipping ale from tankards.

"You found them then?"
"Aye. Smoking and drinking on the ruins of Isengard."

Éowyn laughed. "Typical. They're such sweet little people."

"Trust me, when you're stuck with them in the Mines of Moria for days on end, they don't seem so 'sweet'."

"Well I've never met them before. I'm going to talk to them."

Legolas nodded. "Be my guest. I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air."

That 'breath of fresh air', lasted almost the entire evening. It was only when Aragorn went outside for some sir himself, after all the feasting and dancing, did he realise the Elf was still out there. He walked over to his side.

"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice." Legolas glanced sideways at his friend. "The Eye of the enemy is moving."

"To where?"

"I am not sure." They stood in silence for a while, watching the sky. Then, Legolas sensed evil drawing closer at an alarming rate.

"He is here!" he exclaimed. He rushed back inside, Aragorn following.

Down the corridors, through the main hall, into a small side room where they were sleeping. They burst in., to see Pippin, struggling with what looked like an enormous ball of fire. Aragorn wrestled it out of his grasp, and fell to the floor himself, struggling to resist whatever temptation was trying to get a hold of him.

Legolas grabbed his shoulders, and forced him to let go of it. It rolled away across the floor, and Gandalf threw a black cloth over it. Silence took over once more.

"Fool of a Took!"

But Pippin was silent, eyes glassy, staring up at the ceiling.

After a few words of encouragement from the old Wizard, Pippin was able to tell them what had happened. About the voice he had heard in his head, and that he had seen the Eye.

The next day, he, and Gandalf left for Minas Tirith. Pippin had seen in the palantír, a glimpse of Saurons' plan, and those plans included the total destruction of the White City. They had to warn the Steward, Denethor.

Later that day, Legolas walked away up to the small hilltop where he and Éowyn had first talked together. He sat down, and looked out across Edoras, towards the Mountains looming in the distance.

The wind was cool and refreshing, blowing across his face, playing with his hair. It lifted up behind him, but he paid no heed to it. He could tidy it up later.

He sat there alone for about half an hour, just staring out into the distance. Then, a gentle voice disturbed him from his thoughts.

"You miss him already, don't you?"

"Aye, I do."

Éowyn sat down beside him, tucking the hem of her dress under her feet again. "Barefoot again?" he asked, smiling a little.

"As always." She smiled in return. "I couldn't find you anywhere, so I guessed this was where you would be."

"You guessed right. I've been here about half an hour."

"Just sitting here? Looking towards the Mountains?"

"Yes. It relaxes me."

"You don't mind if I sit here too do you?"

"No, of course not. I welcome your company. Dwarves and men are alright, but after a while…"

She laughed. "I understand." She sighed, closing her eyes briefly against the wind. Her hair was blowing around even more than Legolas'. She pulled back in her hands, and tied it together in a rough ponytail with a small leather band.

"You still have that bracelet?" she asked.
"Yes." He pulled back his sleeve, revealing the small silver charm bracelet. "I'll never take it off now."

"Like you said, she'd kill you."

"Exactly." He looked at her. "My Lady, I never told you why I was separated from my family for so long, did I?"

"No. No you didn't."

"I'll tell you now, if you are willing to listen."

"Of course. Go ahead."

"Well, it all started about 700 years ago, when I travelled to Rivendell, as a messenger for my father to Lord Elrond. Whilst there, I met an Elf called Astalder. He was charming, funny, and handsome. I fell for him immediately. We had lots in common, and so got on really well.

We became lovers, and I stayed in Rivendell for the next century. But, Astalder soon changed. He was older than me, and wanted more control. He turned to drink, which made him violent."

"He hit you?"

"Worse than that. He would do anything he could to make me his. When you are in love, you are still meant to be free, are you not?" She nodded. "Well, I wasn't free. If I refused to make love to him at any time, he would hit me, kick me, and even use his belt on me. I was powerless against him. He cut off all contact from my family to me, and from me to my family. Hence the reason why I was away from them for so long."

"And this continued for an entire century?"

"Aye. I don't know how I survived. I guess it was the love of the twins that pulled me through. Pure, brotherly love. They were my best friends, and still are. The twin sons of Elrond; Elladan and Elrohir. We had grown up together, literally. Nothing more than 50 years between us. They knew what Astalder was doing to me, but I did not have the strength, nor the willpower to do anything, say anything to anyone. And there was nothing they could do. They had no proof, and I certainly wasn't going to let Lord Elrond see the bruises Astalder gave me.

I made up excuses. If Astalder broke my wrist or arm by twisting it, I would say I fell from my horse. Bruises, I would say came from not looking where I was going, and walking into a doorframe. But they were not blind. Astalder would not let me go outside, and they soon worked out I hadn't been riding for weeks. They confronted me many times, but every single time, I would deny that I was being hurt.

But soon, it was all too much. Astalder was overly rough with me one night, and when Elrohir visited me the next day, I had a huge bruise, all down one side of my face. Then I collapsed. He took me to his father, who treated me, and he knew by now what had been going on. But I wouldn't let them do anything. I had this stupid notion in my head that, if we had a small separation, Astalder would see the error of his ways and come back to me, and everything would be back to normal. No more drinking, no more violence. How wrong I was. The twins wrote to Haldir, asking him to come and talk to me. The day he arrived, Astalder raped me."

"Raped?" Éowyn had gone pale.

"Yes, raped." Legolas took a deep breath, recalling the events of that almost fateful day. "Elladan and Elrohir brought Haldir to my room to talk to me, but got no answer when they knocked on my door. They walked straight in, and found me curled up in the bath, naked, beaten, bruised, and bleeding. I was semi-conscious. The twins ran for Elrond, and Haldir comforted me. I only have vague memories of that day. He placed a blanket over me, and I remember him telling me to hold on, to keep my eyes open. He said that I was safe now, and everything would be ok.

Over time, I healed, and Haldir stayed in Rivendell with us. We gradually fell in love. Astalder was nowhere to be found at first. Finally, he was brought out of hiding, and charged with rape and bodily harm, and all that kind of stuff. He was banished from all three Elven kingdoms, and stopped from crossing to Valinor for a whole millennium. Then Haldir returned to Lothlórien, and I to Mirkwood, where I was finally reunited with my family."

"And what of Haldir? How did you meet him again and become lovers?"

"About 600 years later, I joined the Fellowship, and we ended up in Lothlórien. There, I met Haldir again, and we finally confessed our feelings for one another. The rest, you just about know." He looked at her. "You're as white as a sheet my Lady."

"Can you blame me?" Her voice was low and quiet. "How…how could anyone, especially an Elf…rape another person? Rape? I can't understand it. Humans, maybe. We are disgusting creatures after all, especially those in lower society…but Elves? The perfect beings, Illúvatars' first-born children? These ethereal people that are only mentioned in tales in human civilisation? I can't believe that."

"Its true, I assure you. As sickening as the thought is, it is all true. Trust me; it is not a common thing. But Elves who are raped usually die of the grief and shame. But, I had something to hold on to. My family. I had missed them so much. I had to see them again, and for this to happen, I knew I had to survive. I didn't enter Mandos, because I had to see my family again."

"That is such a sad tale." Éowyn slipped her arm through his. "I think you're really brave."

"I don't," he disagreed. "I stayed silent for so long. I never spoke out against Astalder. And for that, I was punished in the worse ways possible. I suffered more at his hands, and was separated from my family and real friends for a much longer period of time."

"I can understand why you didn't say anything."

"You can?" He looked at her.

"Of course. I can only imagine the pain and torment you must have been through, but I fully understand why you stayed silent. You were scared. Scared of losing Astalder, but at the same time, scared of being hurt even more. You're right; you were powerless. Even though it took rape for you to eventually say something, you did in the end, and that must have taken so much courage. You must have loved him so much; it hurt to admit how he was hurting you."

Legolas nodded. "That's exactly how I felt. How do you know that?"

"I don't know. Like I said, I can only imagine what it must have been like for you. I'm putting myself in your shoes, so to speak, and I can see clearly why you kept quiet. To me, the reasons are obvious."

"Well, you are a woman. Perhaps that has something to do with it."

"Quite possibly. We females are generally more sensitive than males. Not saying that we are weaker, of course."

"Oh no, you are definitely not weaker. Physically, maybe, but psychologically…you're just as strong as us males."

"See, you understand me as well. Perhaps you men do have a feminine side after all?" She grinned cheekily at his expression. "What? It's good to be a little feminine sometimes."

He laughed. "Whatever! You ladies have a masculine side I suppose, do you?"

"We can be just as stubborn and rude as men, if that's what you're saying."

"Who says we're rude? And we are definitely not stubborn."

"Oh really? Look at yourself. You're being stubborn right now."

"No I am not!"

Éowyn burst into laughter. "You men are also completely blind, whereas we women have perfect vision. You can never see where you're being wrong."

He shrugged. "Maybe you're right. I really cannot be bothered to argue." He stood and stretched. "I've sat here long enough. I think I've got a bit of a numb bum."

She laughed as he helped her to her feet. "That's understandable too."

"You seem to understand a lot of things."

"I'm female. It's a talent." He raised an eyebrow, and they walked back down the grass together.

"I suppose you want a lift again."

"You don't mind?"

"Nah. Come on." He picked her up, and carried her all the way up the path.

"Its nice being carried by a person of the opposite sex. Gives you a feeling of…"

"Excitement?"

She swatted him round the head. "No. It just makes a woman feel wanted, important. And the man can show off his strength as well."

"Well you're so light; it takes hardly anything for me to lift you."

She poked her tongue out. "Have you and Aragorn made up yet?"

"What do you mean?"
"Well, last time I saw you, you wouldn't stop biting his head off. He kept checking you were ok."

"Oh that? Yeah, that was all sorted. It was just starting to get aggravating." He dropped her off in the main hall again.

"What's Elvish for 'thank you'?" she asked.

"Hannon lle. Or 'Diolla lle, depending on which language you use."

"Which is yours?"

"Hannon lle."

"Ok. Hannon lle Legolas." She grinned. "Elvish is such a beautiful language. You'll have to teach me some more."

"Aragorn is fluent in it as well."

"Is he now? Hmm…" She raised a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Well, it would give me a perfect excuse to go and see him. I'll see you later."

"Bye." He watched with faint amusement as she hurried down the corridor to her room. She could be such a serious woman, determined and strong-mined, yet at other times, she could be as gentle as Filigon, caring and soft.

"You've been a while."

"Been talking to Lady Éowyn. Why?"

Aragorn shook his head. "No reason. Just wondered where you had got to, that's all."
"Well I'm back now." He smiled at the Ranger. "You look tired Aragorn."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. Go and get some more sleep. Trust me, you look shattered."

Aragorn sighed. "I'll never win a fight against you will I?"

"Nope." He grinned. "Go on, off to bed with you."

"Are you going to check on me then mother?" he mocked.
"I'll be in to tuck you in in five minutes. Off you go!" They laughed. "No, seriously Aragorn, you need rest. I'll see you later. Or do I have to escort you to your room?"

"No mother. I shall see you later also." Aragorn grinned, and set off for his own room.

Legolas smiled at his retreating back then went in search of Merry. The Hobbit was bound to be missing Pippin, and Legolas felt he needed a bit of cheering up. Merry could do that; he was sure of it.

Another little chat. I love having Legolas and Éowyn talk like that! Don't ask me why; I just do!

And Leggy has re-lived it for Éowyn. Again, I do not know why I put that in there; it just seemed to fit. Tell me what you thought in a review please. Pretty please with Pippin on top?

Lainfaer