Getting down to Business and giving in to another

"Lady Elimay?"

The sound of her name made her turn and she saw an old human with long grey hair and beard before her. He was dressed in white robes and though he was ancient, he walked like he was young.

"Yes?" she said.

"I am Gandalf. I heard that you seek my help."

"Oh," Elimay smiled to him and bowed her head in greeting. "Yes. Did Legolas tell you of me?"

The old man nodded and motioned for her to sit down. They were in a sitting room that was warmed by a fire in the hearth. "I have sent for Legolas so that he can hear what I have to say. Is that okay with you?"

Elimay would have rather not had the prince hear but she wasn't about to tell him that. "Of course."

The door suddenly opened and Legolas stepped in, closing it behind him. He sat in a chair opposite Elimay and said nothing, not looking at her. She immediately felt an annoyance towards him.

"Now, I have heard all the prince has to say and I offer you all the help I can give you," Gandalf began. "You say that Saruman has a Palantir?"

Elimay nodded.

"I have some powers that can distract what it sees, but only for a short time. There are many forces that guard Isengard and we have to get through them in order to save your family. When we leave Mirkwood I will be able to disguise the way that we are going. It will take him a while for him to find us again and hopefully it will be enough time to get to Isengard before he knows."

"What happens when we get there?" Elimay asked.

"The spells that guard the tower are not his power but dark magic. He has no power to wield and so he is destructible. I can only open a small gateway in the force field to let you in but only for one person. Elimay, you will have to enter without anyone knowing."

Elimay nodded again, showing that she understood. "I know the inside of Isengard like the back of my hand."

"Once Saruman is destroyed, we can help you to get his captives out. The only danger is that if he is not killed, you won't be able to get out again."

"Well I have nothing to loose, so I'll risk it," Elimay said.

Legolas wanted to say that she had him, but thought better of it.

"Legolas," Gandalf said, turning to the prince. "We need your skill with the bow if you would come along."

He looked at Elimay and saw her sigh deeply. "Yes, I will come," he said . "I also will come along, for you need my powers. We leave tomorrow morning."

Elimay suddenly felt scared at finality of it all. What if she got there and found that they were too late? But she realised that if they succeeded in this it would not only help her family, but others that were under Saruman's persecution. That thought brought more determination to her.

"I will train then for I need all the practice I can get," she said, standing up.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" Legolas asked, looking at her with some regret that he had spoken so harshly to her earlier.

Elimay turned to nod and then went out of the room, hearing Legolas follow behind her.

"Eli?" Legolas called, so that she stopped and let him catch up with her. They walked side by side towards the armouries. "It is okay to show your fear," he told her softly.

She did not look round at him but cursed him for knowing her emotions so well. "I feel no fear," she said, if only to convince herself.

She heard him sigh and they walked the rest of the way in silence.

Entering the armouries, she leaned down to pull out her dagger and then split it into two. When she turned to face him again, he had his long sword in his hand. Her eyes drifted over his form and her heart suddenly ached.

She pounced to break the feeling and he blocked her harsh attack with his sword, pushing back her crossed daggers. She spun round with relish and cut her left blade out then her right one over it. He twisted his sword each time to block them. Her emotions and fear made her fight all the more driven and she fought almost blindly, sending out parry after assault. Legolas was having trouble keeping up with her delirious dance and saw her eyes shining with unshed tears. Because of her blind anger he was able to get at her weak spot though, and knocked her blades from her hand.

She collapsed to her knees, panting and sweaty.

"Oh Legolas," she cried. "I am afraid. So afraid."

He knelt down to her and she fell against him, trembling. "It's okay," he soothed, stroking her hair back and drawing his arms around her.

He fluttered light kisses over her face and she did not protest because her feelings were now flooding free; her fear, her want of revenge and her love.

When his lips drifted over hers she kissed back and took his face roughly in her hands, pulling him closer. Their kisses were fevered and full of longing as she told him of what she had been hiding for so long. His fingers tangled in her hair as he devoured her lips and her tears mingled with their touching.

When he finally drew away his heart was beating painfully from the passion. "I love you," he said, kissing her brow then her jaw. This just made her cry even more. He kissed away the tears as they fell and then helped her to her feet. "Get some rest, melamin my love." She nodded mutely, unable to say anything, and let him lead her to her room.

She fell asleep almost instantly and did not wake again until the next morning.