Author Note:

OMGWTFSOUPONASTICK! Is it an update? No way. No fing way. My muses cooperated with me?

Elladan: Shut up.

Elrohir: We pitied your readers, not you.

Let me have my moment of glory.

Elladan: glances at clock And your moment is over… NOW.

Damn.

elrohir: Now git to writin' that story, boy!

I'm a girl.

Elrohir: Sure?

Oh be quiet.

Oh and thank you to all my loyal reviewers who have stuck with me. I love you lots… and LOTS… and LOTS LOTS…

Elladan: That's getting creepy.

Don't make me shoot you.

Elrohir: She'll never follow through on that threat.

Shut up.

Chapter 16:

Incomplete

Aragorn felt a spurt of panic burst inside him as the villain plunged the knife downward at the dwarf, again and again.

"Gimli!" the king shouted, mentally noting that it would do no good.

The rogue stopped for a moment, letting the blood drip from the weapon in a slow, deadly way. His eyes met those of the ranger standing near the rim of the pool. He grinned in an almost cat-like way, a very unnatural way. This confused the dark-haired man. Before, the evil man before him seemed to have some sort of honour and dignity but, now there was no trace of it. He was acting more like a monster than a man.

"My king," Palandor said mockingly, and bowing in a very irreverent manner, his eyes never leaving the king's face.

"Release him and the elf," Estel demanded. "They are of no use to you."

"Ah but they are, sire," the rogue continued, putting an emphasis on the final word. "They make things interesting. They will make you suffer. Yes, I can see that you care for this stunted creature, I mean, dwarf."

Aragorn said nothing but glared intensely at the villain, who was still grinning, with a dangerous look present in his eyes.

"Do not worry, ranger," Palandor said simply, using Aragorn's previous title. "This one will not die at my hands but at his."

And the rogue made a sweeping motion in the direction of the blonde elf, who was a ghostly white.

"Legolas would never…"

"You would be surprised, my lord," the man continued, reverting back to a mocking tone.

"And so would ye, ye scoundrel!" came a war cry from behind the rogue.

Before Palandor could speak, the knife in his hand was ripped from his loose grasp and plunged into the back of his skull with a loud thunk. Aragorn cried out; the answers to his questions would die with that man. The villain's eyes rolled into the back of his head and, with the grin still firm in place upon his lips, fell forward into the glimmering pool.

The liquid seemed to rush towards the man in a hurry, enveloping him. Aragorn was barely resisting the urge to jump in afterwards. Only that man and Gimli knew of what had happened prior to their meeting and the king had a feeling he would want to know, based on the ugly brand that was present over the prince's heart.

What had happened here?

The ranger was brought back from his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The king instinctively drew an arrow from its place in the quiver and fitted it to the string almost faster than the eye could blink.

"You may shoot me if you wish, Aragorn son of Arathorn," an amused , old voice said. "but I doubt it will do much good for you and me both."

"Gandalf?" The king asked, now getting a good look at the newcomer.

"Yes, I am him," the wizard said, winking. "As if I were to be anyone else."

"How did you find --"

"It was a trapdoor, dear boy."

"Oh."

"And I believe that Masters Legolas and Gimli are in need of our service."

The ranger nodded and dashed to the small opening in the floor, previously hidden by a stone, that was emitting a strange lavender-coloured light. A small staircase, consisting of only 13 stairs, led down to the pool's edge and both of his friends. The ranger's heart raced as he easily descended the stairs and saw Gimli panting slightly, his face covered in blood, most not being his, reaching over the lavender fluid in an attempt to pull the elf back to the rim but in vain.

"Gimli," Aragorn said, concerned. "Are you alright?

"He only scraped my neck a little," the dwarf said, not turning towards the man. "My armor took the rest."

Gimli's hand was getting closer to the blonde with each fervent attempt to drag the prince back. The dwarf's fingers barely touched the hair of the elf, but also the fluid surrounding him. The stout being withdrew his hand with a hiss, a blister had formed on the back of his hand but, the hiss was not for that… it was because he could not remember where he was, or why Legolas had an awful brand tattoed grotesquely to his chest.

":Gimli," the ranger said, grabbing the dwarf's hand. "What is it?"

"Why are you here?" the stout being asked. "Where are we anyway, laddie?"

"Oh no…"

"What is it?" Gimli asked, noting the concern on the ranger's face before his own face became a sickly colour and he retched on the spot.

But, the fluid that escaped him was a glimmering, pale blue.

It was then that Aragorn was aware that Gandalf was now trying to reach over them to retrieve the elf with his staff. The king moved to one side of the crowded passage. The wizard got resituated and reached again with his staff. The wood easily reached the blonde and rested lightly on the prince's chest as the wizard contemplated what he could hook the staff onto to pull the elf back. But as soon as it did, Legolas's eyes shot open and he turned his head to gaze at them.

"Legolas!" came the chorus of three voices in unison.

The elf gave them a good look-over before he seemingly sat up on the pool, the lavender fluid trickling down his form. His eyes were devoid of any emotion and sent a shiver up the king's spine.

"He is not here," a deep voice said through the prince's mouth.

"Yes he is," Gandalf shouted at the elf. "He is before us!"

"No," the voice said again. "He is not."

Aragorn looked at the prince with a frightened concern. The elf looked like his usual self, with the exception that he was abnormally thin. His hair was still blonde and his skin unmarred, except for the brand that was now glowing fiercely. But something bothered the king, as if he were gazing at art and found a stroke of red out of place. It hit him. There was no recognition in the blue orbs; there was no laughter or concern. There was simply no emotion. There was no heart behind the work of art and a masterpiece with no heart was only one thing.

And that's what he sensed Legolas was now: incomplete.

I still can't believe I updated. It's a miracle.

Well, onto the review replies.

Ruse: xDDD Of course the dear ranger is safe. n.n;; Oh no, not Treebeard. Thank you so much for all the reviews! :3

Kawaii Elf Girl: xDDDD That's awesome. Thanks. It makes my day.

Vanyaelen: Thanks! n.n;; It makes me feel happy when people like my writing.

EverKitsune: Thank you very much! :D That's very kind of you.

Star-Stallion: Eh heh. I'm good at that. 3 Yesh, I agree: evil good.

Gozilla: Oh ho ho! I take pleasure in your agony… not really. n.n;; But it's nice to know you care.

Jazi: -glomps Eluross- Ee-e-e-e! So hot! Maybe he should be Agent Blue instead… and he can look for clues! :D

Eluross: Shut up.

Deana: I think everyone wants the demon dead by now. But he's gotta stick around for a bit longer and make trouble for everyone, including my dear twins. -evil laugh- Heh heh.

I promise I WILL try to update at least once a month. xu.ux crosses fingers

Please bear with me.

Dha