Ah, another nice, new chapter. And may I please say one thing.

THE CALCIUM KID RULES!!!!!!!!!

Omg, I got it on Saturday, and it is AMAZING. Sooooooo funny! Anyone out there seen it? If you have not…GET IT NOW! Honestly, even my mother was laughing out loud! Me? I was in hysterics most of the time!

Now that's out the way, I think I had better start thanking people for reviews, yeah?

Faerlain


dracademented – Brilliance? Nice one! I know what you mean about the fading thing after being raped. And then, just like you said, I popped in the whole STUBBORN thing!!! Go me!!! Woo!

Legolas-loving-goodness eh? Teehee….

Thanks for reviewing my now devoted reader.

krillball6 – Yay! Your review made me VERY happy! Too lazy? Tut tut! I try to keep my spelling and grammar as correct as possible. I'm sure you don't suck at spelling! Thanks for reviewing.

Manwathiel – Pure? I like it! Cliffies are the best! And yes, thinking can be evil. Unless I'm writing. Then it's kinda helpful, that grey mushy thing in my head! Thanks for reviewing.

Crecy – Far too long. Poor girl. I like irony. It's funny! Thanks for nowz!

ShaodwStar21 – I love the word great! As I'm sure I have said many times. Thanks for reviewing.

Rayame325 – Poor, poor Thêlithil. Chorus? What's that? Confuzling! We should be getting her tomorrow or the day after. The cat, that is! It's so weird that she's got the same name as our old one though! Thanks for reviewing.

DaydreamingTurtle – Complicated lives are annoying! I'm married! Woo hoo! And we're getting the cat tomorrow or day after! Yay! Thanks for reviewing.

monaleoht – Thoughts are good. Add a nice feeling, you know what I mean? I'm married! Teehee, I LOVE married life! Thanks for reviewing.

Tiara Shin – Ok, here we go again...

Teeheehee, understatements are my personal sayings! WE'RE MARRIED! Ithilien is great. Me love it. So does Leggy actually…

That's EXACTLY what I think about long chapters! You tend to lose track of what's happening sometimes. I lose concentration VERY easily. Everyone falls for Leggy; its hard not to!

Leggy: …grin…

Me: Teehee…

ANYWAYS!!!!!!

Yes, I also feel sympathetic towards Thêlithil. She's been through too much already. Smitten with Leggy? Me, write that? Never…

Week and a half of school now. Loooooovely… Final year in high school? Woah. I'm doing GCSE's. Drama, French, ICT, History, and R.E. Plus all he usual –English, Maths, Biology…blah blah blah…

Now, I'm going to go and get kissed. See ya later. Oh, and er…thanks for reviewing! Dragged away by Leggy.

MWAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Chapter 7: Real.

Legolas wanted me to stay behind. He thought I was not well enough to travel. But in the end, I managed to persuade him, and everyone else, that I was quite well enough to travel, as long as someone rode with me. Hint, hint Elf, ride with me!

And it seemed my hint was clear enough. In the end, it was Aragorn who suggested that I ride with Legolas, as he was a gentler and more experienced rider. So, Gimli swapped horses, and I got to sit in the arms of my Elf for a few days. He said it was better that I sit in front of him rather than behind, just in case I passed out and fell off. He would be able to catch me then.

Not that I was going to pass out of course. But I wasn't going to argue. It was a great excuse to get 'tired' and lean back against him for support. Not that he seemed to mind. I always thought his grip was rather tight…

I think my imagination was running away with me. He was just being protective was all. And its fun being protected. Especially by the Prince of Mirkwood. He takes his…protected, very seriously.

We had many chats on our way to Isengard. He asked me about my past, before the capture, and I told him as much as I could remember. I asked him about his entire life, at which he laughed and answered my frequent questions. When we were talking, he would rest his chin on my shoulder to hear me better, and I would lean back against him so I could hear him properly too. Perhaps there was more in those small, simple gestures. I do not really know.

Anyway, as we were drawing nearer to Isengard, I kept feeling my stomach roll over sideways a few times, tie itself in impossible knots, and flip itself backwards. I didn't talk to Legolas as much, and could feel my own hands shaking.

Eventually, it seemed Legolas had had enough. No, he didn't demand Aragorn to ride with me! He stopped Arod, and asked me what was wrong. Even though the others were still going, he stopped for me. And what did I do?

I shook my head and said nothing.

But he wasn't taking that for an answer. He let go of the reins and slipped his other arm round my waist. He always had one round me to hold me upright. He leant forward and rested his chin in its usual position on my shoulder. "Please Thêlithil, you are worrying me melonin." I felt his cheek brush mine softly.

I could see everyone else getting further and further away. "Legolas, we are being left behind…"

"Never mind that, we can soon catch up." He nuzzled my face again. "Thêlithil…"

"Do stop worrying Legolas. It's just…Isengard." I shrugged. "You know…Isengard!"

He nodded. "I understand. But I do not why you are shaking like a leaf blown in the autumn wind. I shall not let anything happen to you. You will be with me and Arod and the others at all times, you understand me?"

I nodded. "It's just the memories…they haunt my dreams…"

"You have not mentioned this before!"

"I thought there was no need. They are just dreams."

"A dream is never just a dream Thêlithil," he told me. I felt his hand brush through my hair softly, caressing it. "A dream is much more than that. They can be so vivid; they feel like they are real, and whatever is happening is right there in front of you. You can get hurt in your dreams."

"I shouldn't be so scared. Do not worry, I will be fine. The sooner we're there, the sooner we can leave. Let's go." I dug my heels into Arod's flanks, and he set off obediently.

Legolas grabbed the reins again quickly. "If anything else hurts," he whispered. "Tell me."

And then his lips brushed over my cheek.

I thought then was a good time to shut up, and calm myself down for what was to come.

No one had seemed to notice our short absence, and we carried on regardless. But my nerves were still there, despite Legolas' reassuring words.

Soon, the gateway was upon us, and I felt my head start pounding. I gingerly raised my hand to it and felt Legolas stiffen behind me. "As man?" he asked in a whisper. (What is it?)

"Headache," I replied simply, then let my hand fall back to my side. I slumped back against him tiredly, and his one-armed grip around my waist tightened.

If that was at all possible.

I didn't even know what was going on I was in so much pain. The wound I had received in my side was aching, my head was pounding, and my entire back felt as if it was on fire. I leant forward again, clenching my teeth at the cruel onslaught of pain my body decided to give me.

"Thêlithil?" Legolas asked.

I shook my head. "'Tis nothing," I assured him. "Do not worry." But my voice was etched with pain, and I knew he could hear it.

"Nothing my as…"

"Legolas, language." I sat up again, the pain momentarily fading slightly.

I saw Gandalf talking to a couple of…very, very short people. Legolas later told me they were Hobbits. Merry and Pippin to be precise, the two they had been searching for, running all over Rohan for.

We stayed with them a while, having food and drink. But I could not eat a thing. Which was a shame really, as the food all looked delicious. But I knew I would vomit as soon as food entered my stomach.

When Aragorn, Gimli, and the Halflings started smoking, Legolas and I walked off for a while. Well, he walked, and supported me around my waist at the same time.

"Thêlithil, you are in great pain." He sat me down on a rock. "Please, tell me what is wrong."

"My back…" I mumbled. The pain had increased ten fold over the past hour or so. "And my side. It throbs…my head…it pounds so much…like a bloody drum."

He chuckled softly and sat beside me, slipping an arm round my still trembling shoulders. "What does your back feel like?"

"Like it is on fire." I took a deep breath. "I have felt it many times before…"

"Can I see?"

I nodded. I felt him sit behind me and undo the clasp that that held my cloak on. It slipped off my shoulders and pooled at it his feet. He then undid my dress, and I heard him gasp. "Thêlithil…"

"Whip lashes?" I asked. I felt a cool finger run down my spine, and relaxed a little. It felt nice, leaving a cold trail where my skin burned. "That feels good," I told him. "Your fingers…nice and cold."

"Good guess." I heard him laugh again and he pressed his whole palm softly against my back. I arched into the touch as he placed both hands on my blazing back. The pain dulled a little, and he leant forward.

"Where have these come from Thêlithil?"

"When I was here, we were trained harshly. If we didn't work hard enough or did something wrong, we were whipped. Seems the past is catching up with me."

He continued to gently massage my back. "Bastards…" I heard him mutter.

"Language Legolas."

"I don't care anymore Thêlithil!" He came and sat in front of me, leaving the back of my dress open to the cool wind, and cupped my face with his hands. "They have hurt you, wounded you deeper than any sword. I cannot…"

"Shh," I soothed him, pressing one finger to his lips. "Its ok, it's all over now. I'm leaving that life behind me now."

"But then why do these wounds remain?"

"I do not know." I looked down, biting my lip anxiously. "Legolas, I have not told you everything…"

"I know."

I looked back up at him. He was smiling slightly. He lowered his hands. "I could see it in your eyes. You are hiding many things from me Thêlithil. And I understand why. There is no need to tell me absolutely every little detail."

"I have to tell you this." I swallowed. "There is still some of the Orc left in me. I can feel it, like a shadow hovering at the back of my mind, day in, day out." My voice rose in anger and misery. "It hurts me, haunts me like a ghost. And there is nothing I can do to make it go away!" I could feel tears brimming.

"Hush," he eased, taking me into his arms. He was now straddling me. "Its ok, you'll get through this. I'll help you. We all will."

"Make it go away Legolas," I sobbed to him like a child. "Please, I hate it."

He sighed. "You know I cannot do that Thêlithil. Only you can fight your own demons. But I will always be here beside you. I'll help you as much as I can."

I gripped the back of his tunic, the tears flowing freely now. "Promise?"

"I promise. With all my heart. I swear I shall not let you go through this alone." He pulled back a little and wiped my tears away. I was no longer acting to get his attention. This was real pain, real sorrow. Everything was all of a sudden very real.

I just stared dumbly at him, wondering how on Middle-Earth this divine creature had opened his arms to me, and I wondered at myself, how I had crawled into them, embracing his tenderness with all my strength.

He ran a finger down my cheek, and I felt myself tremble. "See something you like Thêlithil?" He moved forwards, stretched his arms around and behind me, and did up the clasp of my dress again. He sat back down, though he was still more or less in my lap.

"A few things," I whispered back. It was so long since I had tried to get the attention of a male Elf.

And that line sounded so cheesy…

"What things exactly?" His eyes were glittering.

I was stumped. What did I say now? I did not wish to offend him. So I just shrugged and grinned, what I hoped was mischievously.

And I think the grin might have just worked. He leant forward, but this time, his head did not lean on my shoulder. His lips did not just brush past my cheek. Instead, they met my own in a gentle kiss.

Yes, this was definitely very real.

He pulled back, but not very far. In fact, his forehead was still resting against mine. "Has the pain gone yet?" he asked quietly.

"It has faded a little, yes," I replied softly.

"Good." He kissed me again, but this kiss was full of passion and more vigour. I responded as well as I could. Remember that I hadn't had a kiss for years.

After a few more kisses and whispered words, we heard Aragorn and the others calling for us. Reluctantly, he slid backwards off of me onto the ground and held his hands out for me. I rose as gracefully as I could with the pain still in my side and back, then he gently placed my cloak back around my shoulders, doing it up and kissing me at the same time.

"My head doesn't hurt at all now," I told him as we walked back, hand in hand. "And my back doesn't hurt as much."

"And your side?"

"Still throbbing, but I think it will be ok."

We found the others again then, and remounted Arod. Legolas held me close, and we set off to the steps of Orthanc.


Ok, I admit it.

I passed out.

But the pain was just unbearable!

Apparently, we reached the steps, and I just slumped forward in Legolas' arms, totally limp. He was of course taken completely by surprise, and had to hold me tightly for fear of me falling down off of Arod. Everyone gave us worried glances, but then their attention was quickly averted back to the wizard on the balcony.

I haven't got a clue about what happened, because I didn't wake up until we were well out of range of Isengard. And then Legolas refused to stop fussing over me. Which, I must also admit, was very nice. When we camped later on, he slept beside me, holding my hand all through the night.

We always rode together from that day onwards. Well, next to each other is more precise. Aragorn needed more room to manoeuvre on his horse, so Gimli was put back with Legolas when we reached Edoras. And I was given my own horse! A beautiful mare, white with brown socks and nose. She was adorable, and I instantly re-named her Antval, Powerful Gift. For she was indeed powerful. She could gallop as fast as any Elven steed, and was loyal and friendly. I was sure she had Elven blood somewhere in her veins.

Yet again, Legolas wished me to remain safely in Edoras when he and the others rode off to Harrowdale. And I could understand his reasons. But I did not wish to be parted from him so soon, and told him so. He said exactly the thing in reply, and gave me a kiss. We had a few more kisses, and then I demanded to be taken with him. He had laughed, and finally relented.

Then what did he do? Only went on the Paths of the Dead with Aragorn and Gimli! But no, didn't tell me did he? Just went in the middle of the night, left me cold and alone in our tent. All that was left was a single Elven arrow, lying on my pillow.

That had made me angry. Angrier than I had ever felt before. I could feel the Orc inside me building up strength. I almost went galloping after them, but Lady Éowyn managed (somehow), to calm me down. Then I realised she was in as much pain as I was and so we talked in her tent. She was to ride with the Rohirrim to Minas Tirith, whether her uncle let her or not. I admired her courage, and was contemplating going with her.

"No," she had said. "Stay, and return to Edoras. You are still weak from your injuries. You need to rest and recover."

I eventually agreed, and when I saw her sneak into the ranks with Merry on her horse, I sent my blessings with her. Then, I returned to Rohan with anyone else who was left to go back.


Sorry, but……awwwwww!

Love, love, LOVE!!!!! I'm in a lovey-dovey mood. Someone slap me to get me out of it, quickly! NOW, QUIXKLY! BEFORE I WRITE ANY MORE SILLY ROMNTIC STUFF!

See you next time.

Faerlain.

SLAP ME FOR GOODNESS SAKE!