/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Ten

She couldn't be dead. Merian just joined the Fellowship and she still had a part to play yet and Legolas didn't know how he could go through with everything without her.

"Legolas?"

Legolas didn't answer. He didn't want to look up at the speaker, whoever it was. He wanted to grieve for his loss alone. Legolas didn't want to talk about it. Why couldn't they just all leave him alone?

Aragorn kneeled next to Legolas, but the Elf didn't say anything. He was too busy grieving for Merian to care what Aragorn did. After a few moments of silence, Aragorn looked up at Legolas.

"Mellon, she's still alive," the human said quietly.

"She can't be, I see her with my own eyes that she's dead," Legolas exclaimed.

"No, she's still alive. Look at her," Aragorn said, smiling.

"Legolas, a'maelamin," a voice rasped out quietly.

Legolas turned to look at Merian's face disbelievingly. Her eyes were upon and gazing up at him. A wave of relief washed over Legolas and he smiled at Merian and she smiled back.

"Is there anything hurting, love?" Legolas asked.

"Just my ankle, I think, but don't worry about me. I can manage somehow," Merian said, struggling to sit up.

Legolas helped her to sit up and Merian blinked up at Aragorn and Legolas. The two of them watched her silently. She seemed to take them into her eyes and made them stay there for as long as she wanted. Legolas felt like he could stay there in her eyes forever, but that wasn't possible. Finally she spoke up.

"Where are the others?" Merian asked.

Frodo and Sam have left for Mordor on alone. And I'm afraid that the Uruk Hai took Merry and Pippin. I feel it's my duty to go off and find them and save them from being tortured to death, as Legolas and Gimli believe. This is all that's left of the Fellowship. You, Legolas, Gimli, and I.

Merian looked away. "It's my fault, lord Aragorn. I tried to protect them, but I failed and was unable to protect them and Boromir. He was determined to save those halflings, also and tried to protect me. I should've worked harder."

"There wasn't anything you could do, melamin," Legolas commented, "you did well by all of them. We just have to follow after Merry and Pippin and hope that they haven't died yet by the hands of the Uruk Hai."

"That's easy for you to say, Legolas. You didn't see their eyes as the Uruk Hai took them. Fear, that's what I saw. And pleading in their eyes for me to help them. But I failed them. I let the Uruk Hai hurt me and make me fall unconscious," Merian stated.

"Do not be too hard on yourself, mellon," Aragorn assured her, "you did fine."

Soon Gimli appeared beside them. He broke into a smile when he saw Merian.

"Merian! We found you again. You mean to say that I've been savaging this dirty old place filled with nasty old Uruks and you're here having a party with Legolas and Aragorn?" Gimli exclaimed.

Merian smiled. "I was just found. So don't have a go at me, Dwarf."

"Of course, my lady," Gimli bowed, "I forgot I who I was talking to."

"Apology accepted."

"Well," Aragorn said standing, "since we found what we've been looking for, shall we start on our journey? The Uruks have already had a head start and we need to catch up to them before they reach their destination."

Everybody agreed and Legolas helped Merian up. As she stood up, Merian winced as she tenderly stood on her hurt ankle. Legolas held her so she wouldn't fall.

"Shall I carry you, melamin? It doesn't look like you can stay on that foot for long," Legolas whispered into her ear so only she could hear it.

"No. I don't want to look like a helpless cripple. I don't need your help," Merian stated boldly. She stepped away from Legolas and quickly began to fall, but before she hit the ground, Legolas grabbed her.

"You don't look like you can hold your weight, Merian," Aragorn noted.

Merian glared at Aragorn. "State the obvious, human. I can walk on my own."

"No, you certainly can not, melamin. I will carry you, for you'll only slow us up," Legolas said. "Please, let me do this, Merian. We're not depriving you of your independence. We just want to help you until you're healed enough to walk on your own."

Merian sighed and nodded in agreement. Legolas smiled broadly at her. Soon the four of them were headed off down the path of the Uruk Hai with Merian riding on Legolas' back. They went many miles that day, but Legolas didn't care. He was just glad that Merian was alive and was determined to keep her around for a while longer.

Author's Note: There's chapter ten for you people. Sorry for a short chapter and a crappy ending of the chapter, but I just got back from vacation yesterday morning and my creative juices haven't started up again. I'll continue writing this story if I can think of more plot. Happy reading to all and I'll try to update soon.