Disclaimers: These things get tedious..... same as before in all ways....now I also own Nurima and Sirith...

Here is the next chapter - reviews are appreciated! First person to review gets a sneak peek at upcoming chapters!!!!!!

Also, any and all translations are as close as I can get them, unless I was able to find a credible source that had the exact phrase that I was looking for.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter 4

The mood was light among the travelers as they made their way into the next part of their journey to Helm's Deep. Legolas went ahead of the caravan of people, watching for any signs of danger. Gimli was riding Freyja again, going on and on about the dwarves, at this moment discussing the differences between dwarf men and women. Alina was barely paying attention, her thoughts on her vision from a few days before.

"Wargs!" The cry came from over the next small hill. The townspeople began to panic, women screaming, and men shouting. Confusion threatened to overtake the large group. Alina saw Legolas run down the ridge he had been standing on, bow at the ready. Drawing an arrow from his quiver and firing, he disappeared from her view.

Eowyn was arguing with her uncle, then turned, defeated, to guide her people down to the lower ground, quickening the pace towards the safety of the fortress. Alina hesitated, torn between her own desire to fight the warg riders with the men and her duty to ensure that Eowyn made it safely to the keep. She decided to go with Eowyn, fighting within herself all the while. The cries of the battle and the sounds of swords clashing echoed in her ears.

"Eowyn," she called, "I will help guide those in the rear down the embankment. If you need me, yell!"

"I will!" Eowyn shouted back.

The fear stirred by the warg attack had made everyone travel with great haste, and within a short time, they were within the protective walls of the fortress. Alina an Eowyn immediately began directing the flow of villagers, trying to alleviate the congestion in the narrow passages. People were already lined two and three deep along the walls. Alina saw the look of horror that flashed across Eowyn's face, knowing that her friend was already beginning to feel trapped. A guard came and took over the task of controlling the incoming people.

"Well," Alina said aloud, startling Eowyn, "We'd best get an idea of the quantity of supplies."

Eowyn nodded in agreement, and led the way to the store rooms.

Half an hour passed, and King Theoden arrived at the fortress with what was left of his small band that had fought the wargs. Eowyn rushed to greet her uncle, Alina close behind.

"So few," Eowyn breathed, struck by their reduced number, "So few of you have returned."

She looked among the warriors. "Lord Aragorn...where is he?" she asked Gimli, fear in her eyes.

"He fell..." came the mournful reply.

Alina looked to Legolas, who had just dismounted from his horse. He needed to say nothing, for the grief in his eyes was enough. She turned to Eowyn, who was now looking up at the king as he ascended the stairs to the hall. Eowyn backed up, pushing away Alina's hand as she reached to comfort her friend.

"Leave me."

Alina paused, hurt by Eowyn's refusal of her. Legolas placed a hand on Alina's shoulder.

"Tolo. Pado na enni. He boen na erui."3 He led her away, leaving Eowyn to sit in stunned silence.

They went up the stairs, and Alina could feel Legolas' sorrow. She looked at him, not knowing what she could possibly say to help him. He looked back at her, and summoned a small smile. Together, they stood on a section of the high wall of the Hornberg, looking out of the ravine to the rolling hills of Rohan.

"How long have you lived with the people of Rohan?" Legolas asked.

"Nine years, my lord." Alina replied.

"And before that?" he questioned.

"I don't remember much before these last years. Only that I traveled from one place to the next for a very long time." She shifted uncomfortably, the memory of her capture coming back.

He saw her unease, but chose not to inquire about it. "What of your parents? Surely you remember them."

A sad look haunted her for a fleeting moment. "I did not know my parents. I was raised for a time by a woman called Nurima. She said that my mother had asked her to look after me when she died. My father, she told me, had been killed defending my mother and I from an orc attack when I was still an infant. My mother was severely injured in the attack, but managed to escape with me. She died shortly after reaching the village I grew up in. "

Legolas was watching her intently. "Which village was this?"

"It was called Sirith, near the Sea of Rhun. Why do you ask?" Alina noted the change in Legolas when she said it. He quickly tried to cover his astonishment.

"I am only curious to know about you, since there is no one who does." He smiled.

Alina sensed that Legolas knew more than he was letting on about. His eyes had betrayed his thoughts. Now was not the time to press the issue, though. Perhaps when the danger was over, and they were back at Edoras...

That night, while Alina slept, the nightmares came again. She was back in that dungeon, being tortured by the horrible creatures. Alina tossed and turned, pleading in her sleep for them to stop beating her.

..............

Legolas was sitting, awake most of the night. His thoughts were on Aragorn. He could feel now that Aragorn was not dead, but Legolas had no idea how badly injured the son of Arathorn was. Stirred from his thoughts, he heard muffled cries from the room that Alina was in. Legolas rose, quickly making his way to the place where she slept. When he got to her, she was crying softly, but still dreaming. No one else in the room had heard her, for they were all peaceful. He looked back at Alina, calling her name quietly so as not to awaken the others. She did not awaken, but her movements slowed slightly. He called her again, touching her arm lightly. At this, she awoke, startled, gasping for air. He gathered her up in his arms and held her to him as she cried, the horrors of the dream fresh in her mind.

..................

When her tears finally slowed, Alina let Legolas hold her for a moment more, enjoying the feeling of being cared for. She pulled away hesitantly, and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, brushing the salty drops from her cheeks.

"There is nothing for you to apologize for." He said tenderly, wondering what could possibly be haunting her soul this much.

"I think I need to go outside for a little. Will you join me?" she asked, not wanting to be alone.

Legolas nodded, and helped her to rise. They went out onto the stairs, which were mostly empty since Theoden had ordered all the women and children into the caves. Alina sat for a moment, breathing in the air that came down from the mountains above them, then turned to Legolas.

"Just before I came to Edoras, I was attacked by a group of goblins in the mountains near Isengard. I killed many, but they overwhelmed me, and I was taken captive." She paused, pain and anger filling her eyes. She thought for a moment she may weep again.

"Go on." Legolas prompted her gently.

"They kept me chained, and would torture me, beating me, cutting me, and..." she swallowed, fighting back the tears, "and the last night, whipped me until I bled." A small hiss escaped Legolas' lips as he cursed in his native tongue, but he said nothing. "My need to survive surged, and I managed to get loose from my bonds, killing the two that were there. I made my way out of the cave, and into the hills of Rohan. It was three days before I neared Edoras, where Eomer and Theodred found me, near death and starving." Her breath shuddered as she finally was able to share her horrible memories. "I have lived with them since."

"It is no wonder that your dreams are so disturbing. I am sorry that you had to endure such suffering." He felt a surge of white hot anger that made him want to kill every last one of those vile creatures for causing her so much pain.

She looked at him thoughtfully, "Hannon le."4

"Le creoso."5

Alina sighed, rising from the stairs. "I think I will try to sleep again." He watched her as she went back into the keep.

..................

Alina froze, listening to the footsteps as they came closer. Her heart raced – could it be? The sounds stopped outside of her door. The knob turned slowly, quietly. The hinges barely squeaked as the door slid open, and he came into her chambers. Her breath caught. He walked softly to her bedside, looking down at her for a long time. She stared back at him, her blood pulsing through her. She could barely make out his features in the darkness, only his long blonde hair. He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward. His lips were soft on hers as his kissed her with wonderful tenderness. She let her hands wander over his shoulders, sliding them around his neck, one going into his hair as their kiss deepened. Never before had she felt so alive, her every nerve tingling with sensation. He pulled away, his face shrouded in the dark of night. "Alina.." he sighed, leaning down to once more take her mouth with his.

"Alina. Alina! Time to rise, there is much to be done today!" Eowyn stood over her, pulling the light blanket off of her sleeping form.

"Umm?" Alina questioned, yawning. "What are you doing!?" she complained, groping for the corner of the cover as it slipped away from her.

"Are you ill?" Eowyn said laughing slightly, though her eyes still showed some of her sorrow from the previous day, "This is the first time I've been awake before you since..." her voice trailed off as she realized what she was about to say. She knew that it was a painful memory for her friend, and tried not to broach the subject, ever.

Alina sat up, stretching, and looked about her. Most of the beds were already empty, noises from outside informing her that she had definitely overslept. "Forgive me, 'Wyn, I don't know what's come over me."

"I think I have an idea as to what your ailment is!" Eowyn teased.

"It's not what you think." Alina retorted, rising and fastening her weapons to herself. "Not at all."

"What ever you say." Eowyn said seeing the pink color rising on Alina's cheeks, "Meet me down in the caves – we need to make sure that everyone has food and water. Then, we can go check on things outside." The undertones in her last sentence were all too clear to Alina, but she wouldn't give her friend any more reason to tease her further this morning.

"I'll be right behind you." Alina said. Her mind went to this last dream. 'Where had that come from?' she wondered, 'And why now?' Goosebumps rose on her arms as she recalled the blonde haired man....

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Translations: 3. "Come. Walk with me. She needs to be alone." 4. "Thank you." 5. "You're welcome."

And so the plot thickens... Who is the blonde haired man from Alina's dream? What does Legolas know that he did not reveal? Perhaps we shall find out in Chapter 5... or perhaps not.... Keep those reviews coming! And yes, the chapter is short - not to worry, I'm already way ahead of where I'd planned to be by now, and more chapters (including longer ones) are on the way!