Chapter Eleven

Oh, my soul! I am so sorry for the delay! I wanted to update sooner, but my aunt sent down this new computer and I had to save everything onto a disk. Well, whenever I went to open this chapter, I found it erased from the disk. So, yeah, needless to say, I had to start over on it. And I would have updated before that...but I've been a bit busy. Last weekend, I hung out with the rock/Christian band Broken Yoke. Yeah, that's right for all of you who know them. Broken. Yoke. They played at a concert here in Logan County and I went to it. They so rocked. I got to hang out with them for, like, 3 1/2 hours after the concert while I helped tear down their equipment and carry it into the church. Then, I went to the church service Sunday, and hung out with them for an hour and a half afterwards, just talking with them. We even exchanged emails! Ahhh! They are the coolest guys. But yeah...so that's why I haven't updated. But here is the newest chapter, one of the last, I'm afraid. The conclusion of "Black and Blue" will probably happen in the next chapter.

Okay, if I want to get this out tonight, I can't reply to each of my reviewers...so...for all of you....thanks for the reviews! It was the best birthday present! I will reply to each of you in the next chapter...Which will be the final chapter... Sniff

Dedication: To the members of Broken Yoke; Jon Lipinski, Tom Lipinski, Matt Sawmiller, and Will Kann (who is in college, so I didn't get to meet him). You all truly know how to reach people through your music. It's modern day teenage stuff, but the messages that are contained within your lyrics are amazing. I am so blessed to have met you! Your passion for God and His word is so encouraging to my heart! I just thank you all for your dedication and devotion to God and His Son...You all are truly warriors of Christ!

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Chapter Eleven

Legolas opened his eyes slowly as the spinning sensation slowly faded. He sat up, his blue eyes slowly taking in his surroundings. This is the world Kimberly was raised in?, he thought as he looked around. She had been right. This world was unlike Middle-Earth. Large buildings resembling houses were built side by side. They were painted several different colors; blue, yellow, white, even a pink house. Legolas climbed to his feet, turning as he looked. A long black road ran up and down the street, signs of various kinds standing on the side of the road. Small metal boxes sat on thick wooden posts that were stuck in the ground. Red metal shapes resembling flags were stuck on their sides, some of them up and other down. (A.N. Mailboxes, if you didnt' get it. ) Few trees were seen, and the only flowers were in small pots around the houses. His keen hearing picked up a loud, approaching sound, and Legolas jumped back when a large, metal creation quickly passed, and he frowned when the voice of a woman from within yelled, "Hey, Hottstuff!" He guessed that the metal creation was what Kimberly had called a car. Then he cocked an eyebrow. Hottstuff? He shook his head, and brought his attention back to the matter at hand. Kimberly. Remembering the words of the witch, he took of at a brisk pace, searching for anyone who might be able to lead him to Kimberly.

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Rachel paced the sidewalk for the twentieth time, her gaze turning up the street. Why did she have a bad feeling about this? She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest and paced again. Kimberly should be out of there by now, she thought, worry lining her face. She's taking too long. She looked up the street again, dread clenching her chest. She sighed, running a hand through her now-down hair. The black hair tie was now around her wrist. She looked at her watch. It had been half an hour. She groaned. "Oh, this was sooo a bad idea," she muttered.

"Excuse me?"

Rachel turned at the sound of a man's voice, and her blue eyes widened when she saw the man. Rachel knew hott when she saw it, and this man definitely spelled "hottie." Long blonde hair was partially tied back, and piercing blue eyes greeted her. His attire was different, almost like he came from the past. She frowned and looked closer when her gaze reached his head. The man had pointed ears. Just like Kim. She frowned slightly, looking at him. "Can I help you?"

Legolas stared at the girl before him. She had been the first person he had come across. The witch said that I would find someone who would lead me to Kimberly...if this girl isn't her, then who would it be?, he thought. He looked the girl up and down. Her clothes were very similar to the ones Kimberly had been wearing the day he found her. Blue denim pants, a tight, colorful shirt, high-heeled boots. His gaze traveled to her pale face, and he looked into her blue eyes. "I need to find someone," he said.

Rachel frowned. "Find someone? Did you try the police?" When he only looked at her in confusion, she sighed and pointed up the street. "The police station is up the street. Just go there, tell them who you're looking for and who you are." She waited a moment. "Who are you anyway?"

Legolas sighed, defeated. Obviously this girl could not help him. Now what? He looked at the girl, who was waiting for his answer. Not wanting to appear rude but desperate to find Kimberly, he said, "Legolas." He turned to leave, but the girl's voice stopped him.

"Legolas? As in...Kimberly's Legolas?," Rachel asked, shocked. Legolas turned to her. "The elf prince dude who proposed to her?"

Legolas looked at her, his hope restored. "Aye....I am he. Who are you? Do you know where I can find Kimberly?"

Rachel nodded. "I'm Rachel, a friend of hers. How...how did you get here? Kim said that there was no way to get back." And if he's here, then maybe she can get home, she thought, looking at him. Well...it's no wonder Kim fell for him...

Legolas shook his head. "I have a way...but, please, you must tell me where Kimberly is. She is in grave danger."

Rachel frowned. "What? What do you mean 'grave danger'?"

Legolas shook his head. "There is no time! Now please...do you know where she is?" The blonde woman opened her mouth to reply, but a piercing scream cut her off. They both looked up the street, then back at each other quickly.

Rachel pointed her thumb towards the scream. "She's this way," she said as they both took off at a run. Legolas followed the girl named Rachel up the street, turning when she did into a yard. As they made their way up to the door, Legolas prayed that they weren't too late.

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Kimberly pushed her body over to stare up at the man towering over her, the bloody butcher knife in his hand. Roger approached her slowly, his drunken step slowing him down slightly. She ticked her gaze to the body of her "mother", lying motionless on the floor, a puddle of blood already pooling underneath her. Roger's evil chuckle drew her gaze back to him.

"You're mother can't help you know," he snarled drunkenly. "There's nothing you can do."

Kimberly smirked up at him. "Wanna bet?," she asked, as the thought that Rachel was just up the street came into her mind. She took a deep breath and, rejoicing that Roger's hand no longer covered her mouth, let out a piercing scream. It seemed almost as if the walls of the house shook with her scream, and the butcher knife fell from Roger's hand. Kimberly gasped when he lunged at her, trying to cover her mouth.

"Shut up!," he yelled, his hands clamoring to cover her mouth. He clamped a hand over her mouth, then roared in anger and pain when Kimberly's teeth sunk into his flesh. He pulled his hand back, glaring at the girl. He pulled his good hand back, then backhanded her across the face. Kimberly yelped in pain when her head snapped sharply to the side, and she felt the bitter taste of blood on her tongue. Anger seared through her body, and she spat blood onto his face when he leaned down, roughly turning her towards him. He snarled, wiping the blood off with the back of his hand, then slapping her again. He pushed her up against the wall, his one hand clawing at the ties of her dress. Kimberly shook her head, reaching up and clawing at his face. Roger turned his head sharply, trying to escape her nails. He grunted, back handing her again. She only pushed her legs up, her knees digging into his stomach. Roger glared at her. "Don't fight back," he snarled, slapping her between each word. Anger flashed in his eyes when Kimberly didnt' back down, and Roger roared in anger, wrapping his hands around her slender neck. His grip tightened quickly, and he grinned evily when her blue eyes widened and her hands clawed at his. "You little bitch...I'll teach you not to fight back."

Frantically trying to reach his hands to pry them off her throat, she heard his words as if from a distance. She grew dizzy, and in the darkening twilight of the kitchen, Roger's face blurred above her. I'm going to die here, she thought as her limbs slowly went limp. She closed her eyes, giving into a wave of despair. I'm going to die, and never see Legolas or my family again....and the last thing I'm going to see is Roger's face....and he's going to rape me when I'm dead...and get away with everything....I'm going to die.

Suddenly, she was able to grab great gulps of air. She choked and heaved in reaction, her hands traveling to her now free throat. Rolling onto her side, she realized that Roger no longer held her captive; no longer leaned over her. His bare feet still straddled her legs, but his body was raised over her, the position unnatural. His arms were clawing at something around his neck, his grunting muffled by whatever it was. Squinting through her blurred vision, Kimberly realized that it was a man who held Roger by the neck, his arms wrapped around her "father's" neck. She dug her heels into the floor, trying desperately to crawl away from the struggle.

The sickening crunch of breaking bones echoed through the still kitchen, and Roger's knees buckled. She watched through blurred vision as the man lowered Roger's body to the ground, and one of his dangling hands hit Kimberly in the face. She screamed, pushing her body away. She screamed and screamed, until strong hands shook her shoulders. She opened her eyes, blinking as the face before her came into focus.

The face of Legolas.

A sob escaped Kimberly's lips as she stared up at him, and she flung her arms around his neck. "I thought I'd lost you," she sobbed, burying her face in his shoulder.

Legolas shook his head. "You'll never lose me Kimberly," he said soflty. "Not as long as I live." He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight against him, as if he never wanted to let go. And after this, I never do. The scent of Kimberly surrounded him, and he breathed in deeply, amazed at how much he had missed her.

Kimberly clutched at Legolas', still shocked at his appearance. She looked over his shoulder at Roger's lifeless body, his eyes frozen open, his mouth open at an odd angle. The sight terrified her, and she burried her face into Legolas' shoulder again, comforted by his familiar scent. She jumped at a sound from the hallway, and her gaze snapped the doorway. She smiled softly at the sight of her childhood best friend entering the kitchen. She watched as Rachel looked at them softly, then her face paled when she spotted the bodies on the floor. Her gaze was frozen on Jackie. Jackie, Kimberly thought. She pulled back from Legolas embrace. "Legolas...he killed Jackie...," she said softly. Legolas looked at her sympathetically, and opened his mouth to speak, but Rachel's gasp cut him off.

"Jackie's moving!," she yelled. "She's alive!" They both turned to see Rachel rushing to Jackie's side. She was right. Jackie was trying desperatley to push herself up on her forearms, but she yelped in pain, falling back to the floor. Legolas rose to his feet, Kimberly still in his arms. She had to lean against him for support, her legs weak. Her hair hung wild and tangled around her face, and Legolas tucked a strand of it behind her ear, smiling gently at her. He helped her over to Jackie, then looked at Rachel. "Can you take her?," he asked, motioning towards Kimberly.

Rachel nodded and jumped to her feet, rushing over to them. She leaned Kimberly against her as Legolas rushed to Jackie's side, and she smiled at her friend. She gently embraced her. "Thank God you're okay, Kim." Kimberly smiled and wrapped her arms around her friend. She was alive, Roger was dead....and Legolas was here. Things were getting a little better.

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Kimberly sat on the couch in the living room, Rachel clutching her hand as she dabbed a wet rag against Kimberly's cut lip. Legolas had ushered her out of the kitchen, carrying her into the living room. He had pressed a quick kiss to her temple before asking Rachel where he could find some kind of medical supplies to tend to Jackie. Rachel had brought him a medical kit that she had found in the bathroom, and before Legolas rushed back into teh kitchen, he had ordered Rachel to watch Kimberly.

Kimberly hadn't even complained.

Rachel put the rag on the table and looked at her. "You sure you're okay, Kim?," she asked for the fifth time, pushing the hair out of Kimerbly's face. Kimberly smiled back at her.

"Yes, Rachel. I'm fine. I just hurt a little....I'm more worried about Jackie...," she said, her gaze traveling to the kitchen.

Rachel shook her head. "Don't worry....seems this guy knows what he's doing." She grinned, gently elbowing Kimberly. "No wonder you fell for him Kim...guy's got one hott ass, if I do say so myself."

Kimberly looked back at him, her mouth open in mock-shock, and she smacked her friend. "Rach....that's not cool," she said. She waited a moment, then smiled at her. "He does, though, doesn't he?" The two laughed quietly, and Kimberly smiled. It was just like old times....Her gaze drifted back to the kitchen, and she struggled to her feet. "I'm going to see what's going on."

At that moment, Legolas emerged from the kitchen, Jackie's arm draped over his neck as he helped her into the living room. He glared at Kimberly when he saw her standing, and he helped Jackie over to a chair. "Didn't I tell you to stay sitting?," he asked.

Kimberly smiled. "Didn't I tell you a long time ago that I don't listen?" Legolas flashed her with a smile, and she slowly made her way over to him, wrapping her arm around his waist and leaning against him for support. She looked down when Jackie took her hand, and she smiled into the face of the woman who had raised her.

"Kimberly....I can't tell you how sorry I am," Jackie rasped. Tears fell from her eyes as she gazed up at her. "I should have gotten you out of here a long time ago...should have told you the truth." She looked up at Legolas. "You have a new chance now....go live the life you should have had from the beginning."

Kimberly leaned down next to Jackie, and pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. She cupped her "mother's" cheek, and smiled. "You do the same," she said softly, then leaned in, kissing her gently on the cheek. Jackie smiled at her, and nodded.

Kimberly straightened up, and Legolas held her by the waist, keeping her straight. "What exactly are you going to tell the police?," she asked. "About Roger?"

Jackie looked back at the kitchen, then back at her. "Just that I'd finally had enough." She smiled. "I think I can make it all work." She looked up at Legolas. "Thank you....for saving me. As well as Kimberly."

Legolas nodded at her, his arm tightening around Kimberly's waist. "You will want to see a more experienced person....there may be more serious damage than what I could heal." She nodded at him, and he looked down at Kimberly. He pushed her hair out of her eyes, cupping her cheek. "Are you ready to go home?"

Kimberly stared up at him, confusion written on her face. "Huh? What you...you know how to get us home?" Legolas nodded, and withdrew two vials from his pocket.

"We simply drink these...it's how you were sent back here. Janelle drugged your water." He watched the shock and anger flash in her blue eyes. "These will take us back ot Middle-Earth." He handed her one, and she smiled.

Suddenly remembering the blonde girl sitting on the couch, Kimberly turned around, seeing that her friend now stood behind her, arms crossed over her chest. She smiled. "Hey...it's cool. You belong with your Elven family. I always figured you didn't belong here....didn't belong in a life like you had." She smiled brokenly, tears welling in her eyes. She was about to lose her best friend. "Promise you won't forget me?"

Kimberly grinned, tears welling in her eyes now as well. "That's impossible." She reached out and embraced her friend, breathing deeply to be sure to remember her scent. She pulled back, tracing her friend's cheek. "I love you, Rachel."

Rachel grinned. "Love ya too, babe," she said. She looked behind her at Legolas and smiled. "Nice meeting ya, Leggy." Kimberly grinned at the name she called her true love. I'll have to remember that, she thought. "You take care of her, alright?"

Legolas smiled and nodded. "I can swear to you that I will," he said, lacing his finger's with Kimberly's.

Rachel nodded, and smiled at her friend. "Bye, Kim....Be happy."

Kimberly smiled and nodded, then turned back to Legolas, a smile on her face. She grinned up at him, and uncorked her vial. "To us?," she asked, holding the vial in front of her. Legolas grinned and nodded, gently tapping her vial with his.

"Forever," he replied. And with that, they drank the bitter liquid in the vial, and Kimberly leaned against Legolas as the familiar spinning sensation returned...except this time...with the realization that when she awoke...she'd be home.

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Kimberly made her way through the woods, the horse she had borrowed from the stable quietly making it's way through the brush. She had asked Legolas where this witch had dwelled, and after sneaking away from the many joyous people around her, she had gone to the stables, saddled a horse, and followed his directions. In her heart, Kimberly knew that she didn't want to be here in the woods....but she also knew that she had to know....she had to find the true answer. The small hut-type building came into her line of vision, and Kimberly slowed her horse, mentally thanking Glorfindel for teaching her to ride. She slid off her horse, patting it's snout as she made her way towards the hut. A small fire burned in the center, smoke billowing off of it slowly. Her blue eyes searched the area, seeking out the witch.

A twig snapped behind her, and she turned. She was greeted by a pair of unseeing eyes.... Yet is feels like they're looking right through me. She took a step back, her eyes looking the witch over. This was her....the woman who had sent her away 17 years ago. She fit the appearance of the stereotypical witch--long, tangled hair, black clothes, wrinkled skin....and yet there was something different about her. A crooked smile appeared on the witch's wrinkled face. "It is good to see that your love brought you back," she rasped. "Things are as they should be."

Kimberly stared at her, her heart beating in her ears. "Why?," she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The witch stared at her, waiting for her full question, but Kimberly had a suspicion that she knew.

"Why...why did you send me away in the first place....You knew I would come back here, didn't you?" The witch nodded. "Then...then why not just let me have grown up here? Why did you send me to Earth, to live in hell....if I would only come back here?"

The witch smiled softly and walked around her, towards the fire. Kimberly followed. "You never believed that you could be happy, did you child?," the witch asked, picking up a large stick and stiring the flames. "You always believed that you would forever be miserable...that you would never live in peace." She looked behind her, her blind eyes fixed on Kimberly's face. "This is true...is it not?"

Kimberly nodded, not really seeing the reason she was being told what she already knew. "Yeah...but...what does that have to do with what you did? King Thranduil said that you told that servant girl that you sent me away for protection....what protection?"

The witch smiled. "Protection from yourself."

Kimberly frowned. "What?"

The witch turned back to the fire. "If you had remained in Middle-Earth...been raised amoung your brothers and sisters...your vision would have been clouded. You would have grown up, believing that no unhappiness could ever reach you. You would have been naive, adn your future would have been one that you did not deserve. You would have been promised to a handesome elf lord, been wed....and you would have died before you could see that he was not the one." She dropped the stick and turned around. "He would have killed you, child....and you would have been too naive, beliveing that you were in love with him....to stop it. I had foresaw this....and I could not bear for it to happen. So I took you...sent you somewhere to grow up. The time you were meant to return was fated, child. You were to return when you did, so your paths would cross with the prince of Mirkwood....love was fated to happen between you both. But if you would have stayed here...it wouldn't. By doing what I did....both of your lives were spared."

Kimberly frowned. "Both? How...why would Legolas have died?"

"You changed his ways, child....He would have continued to bed and leave women, until one day, he would have been caught with a man's wife, and in a fit of rage, would have been killed. In that event, his father's kingdom would have fallen to the Steward....and Mirkwood would have no longer been a place of light and happiness. But the exact opposite." Blind eyes seeked out blue ones. "But with your love shared....it would remain as it is. You have to understand, child...I did what I did for the best. And the results now....will be the way things should be."

Kimberly stared at the witch, allowing what she had said to sink in. She had done it for the best....she had foreseen what was to come....and decided to do something to change it. Was she right? Would she have been too naive to do anything about an abusive husband if she had been raised in a bad-free environment? Would Legolas have been killed for sleeping with another man's wife? Well...if so...we won't know, Kimberly thought. I was sent away to save the both of us...as well as Mirkwood....and she's right. I never thought I'd be happy...and how wrong I was. She looked up at the witch, and smiled. "YOu did all this....knowing that everything would turn out alright?"

The witch nodded.

Kimberly nodded as well, and smiled. "So...I guess I should be thanking you...you saved a lot of people...so..thanks." The witch merely nodded before turning back to the fire, the flames dancing across her wrinkled skin. Kimberly turned to leave, making her way to her horse, but stopped. She turned back to the witch, silent as she stared at her.

"What is it, child?," her raspy voice asked, her back still turned.

Kimberly's brow furrowed. "I dont' know...I just have to ask...how is that you know all this? I mean...how do you know when someone is arriving? How did you know that Janelle was going to kill Legolas? I mean..you're blind. You can't see."

The witch turned to her, a ghost of a smile on her face. "There are more ways to see than with the eyes," she said softly. She smiled. "Take care, my child....be happy."

Kimberly smiled and nodded. "I will." And with those words and one last look at the witch, she climbed onto her horse, and rode away....and towards her future.

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Ahh! Finally! The chapter is up! So...what do you guys think? Good, bad , what? Ok...honestly...how was the explanation as to why the witch sent Kimberly to Earth? I had to have her ask, and I had to have a reason...so...was that okay? Oh, and also, A HUGE THANKS TO THE ELVEN SISTER IN LAWS FOR THE QUOTE THE WITCH SAYS AT THE END. I read that in her review, and had to use it. So..yeah...read and review. And, on a sad note...the next chapter I post will be the last....it was has been such blessing to share my story with you all....hopefully, the next chapter will go out with a bang!