Disclaimer: If they were mine do you think I'd be writing stories right now? Anyway see chapter 1.

Reviewer Responses:

Slayer3: I haven't ever received so many death threats in one day. I'm flattered. Remember you torture me I torture you.

Deana: Yeah well it's only been two days since he dislocated them. I didn't think you'd buy them being all better quite yet. By the way, good tear jerker scene in the last chapter involving our elf.

manveri mirkiel : I have not laughed this hard in days. Your reviews always bring a smile to my face. I can withhold information, because I am that evilly morbid writer. Don't worry Pip is safe for now.

As far as your friend goes, I'd like to read her stuff too. What is her pen name? I love torture fics. I guess I just have a good imagination. My kids aren't that bad, yet. They are only 2 and 8. Now my husband on the other hand, he's another story. Shhh, don't tell him I said that.

Tissue, tissue, where did I put that semi-truck load of tissue? Oh yeah it's on the way to your house. The ranger was just an explanation as to how Garin new about the tunnel, but yes I guess people will have to read my other stories to see what will happen.

As far as where the sequels are going the second story will occur several months after Blood For the Taking. The third one occurs partially during Lotr, but does not disturb the original work. I will never write a tenth walker story, and I will never intentionally change what Tolkien wrote to accommodate my own story. There will be a little scene filling in during the helms deep period concerning Atavus. But most of the fic will take place after Rotk. As far as anything else goes that I write it will probably occur after the third story takes place. Did I confuse anyone? Just myself okay.

As far as killing Atavus, not anytime soon I can assure you. The way I see it, since orcs are made from elves I believe that they also share the long life of the elves. So she should live for quite some time.

As far as Mary-sues go Atavus was not meant to be a Mary-sue. I'm not even 100 sure what is considered to be Mary-sue and what isn't. But I do know that most Mary-sues are perfect, and they always save the day, and make all the other characters look lesser than her. Well Atavus is not perfect, she can't always save the day, and she makes mistakes too. She is meant to support the other characters, not outshine them. I'll let the readers judge what they think about her. So far I think they like her.

Karone Evertree: Sorry, I know most of us hate him, but he's needed for the sequel. Thank you.

Guilt and Acceptance

Upon leaving the tunnel, they discovered a group of rangers who Aragorn knew. They were camped at the mouth of the secret tunnel. They had been using the tunnel to sneak into Dol Guldur to gather information, in hopes that some day they could breach the Nazgul's defenses. The rangers assisted them in making their way north. It had been difficult for Atavus to say good-bye to Garin, but he had a family to reunite with in the Lonely Mountain, so she reluctantly let him go, hoping she would see him again. He had been right. She belonged with the elves.

King Thranduil had been less than happy to see his son return injured, but he had been very courteous to them. It took some time for all of the companion's wounds to heal, except for Atavus of course who was in good shape before they even entered the elven realm. The King sent a message to Lord Elrond to let him know the twins would be a few weeks before returning. He of course demanded to know everything that occurred, which Legolas promptly glossed over some of the worst parts, just telling his father enough to appease him.


The day after the twins had left to go back to Rivendell Legolas went searching for Atavus. It seemed to him that she was avoiding him. At first he had thought that she had been withdrawn from them all, but he began to realize that it was just him. He didn't understand her behavior, but he knew he would get to the bottom of the problem. He found her right where he expected she would be. He had noticed that when she was worried or upset about something she would blow off steam by practicing her archery.

He watched her for several moments as she practiced. Her aiming was off completely, and it was making her frustrated. She missed shots that she normally could do blindfolded. He watched as her temper boiled over and she tossed her bow and quiver to the ground, then flopped down next to them scowling at the nearest target. The total disregard for her weapon bothered him. The Atavus he knew cherished her weapons, and cared for them as if they were priceless treasures.

He walked up soundlessly behind her, taking a seat a few feet from her. "Care to talk about it?"

She whirled around facing him. Not many could surprise her, but she hadn't been concentrating. "Talk about what?" She asked looking down and absently fiddling with a blade of grass.

"About why you are upset enough to take out you anger on something that you treasure." He said placing one of his hands on top of hers stopping her from fiddling.

She looked at him. He could see she wanted to say something, but hesitated.

"Are you still dwelling on things that happened while we were prisoners?" He had wondered many times if what she had endured would change her. Aragorn had sworn that it wouldn't, but he wasn't as sure.

"No." She said too quickly. She could see the disapproving look he gave her and changed her answer. "Maybe."

"You know you can tell me anything Atavus. We have gone over this before." He gently reminded her.

"It's just that……I'm sorry Legolas." The calm look on her face slipped to be replaced by a look of utter desperation.

"What do you have to be sorry for, Mellon-nin?" He asked not understanding.

"I let go." Was her only answer. She looked down again ashamed of herself.

"You let go." He still did not understand. He scanned through his memories until he finally understood what she meant. As it dawned on him a shocked look spread across his face. "No, Atavus. You can't blame yourself for that. You could not hold that rope forever."

"I should have." She still wasn't looking at him.

"Atavus, don't you see? Even if they hadn't been beating you, you could not have held on indefinitely, and the Nazgul would not have let me leave that room unharmed. We all had to sacrifice for those we love. It was just my turn." He tried to convince her that she was not at fault for his pain.

"I know that in my heart, Legolas, but in my head I just keep seeing the moment playing over and over again. I see the rope slipping from my hands, and the pain on your face, as if in slow motion, over and over again. It's eating me up inside." She hadn't looked up but he saw one small teardrop fall onto his hand where he was still holding hers.

"Atavus, I don't know what will take these thoughts from your head. I wish I did. I do not blame you for what happened. I want you to know now that I am proud of you. If you hadn't done what you did and cut that rope holding me it would have done permanent damage to my arms, and I would never use my bow again. You faced horrible odds to defend me. That shows me how much you really care for me. I am honored that you would sacrifice everything for me, and I would do the same for you. Please when you have these disturbing thoughts, remember what I am telling you today, for it is the truth." He paused for a moment pulling her face up so he could look into her eyes. "The last few weeks you have avoided me. It hurts me when you do so. Please don't take your presence from me, because you feel guilty. Feel happy because we are here together, and safe. Don't turn from the light again. I don't think I could handle loosing you. I don't want to lose my friend."

Atavus stared at the elf before her. He was one of her two best friends, and she hadn't even realized that staying away from him would hurt him. She didn't want to hurt him. She also realized that part of her attitude problem was because she was forcing herself to stay away from him. She was hurt by his absence as much as he was. "I promise I won't do this again. I missed you Legolas."

He drew her into his arms in a fierce hug, which he reserved for those he was closest to. "I'll hold you to that, Mellon-nin."

She dried her eyes and stood offering him a hand up. "Where is Estel?" She said looking around half expecting the human to be watching them.

Legolas smiled. "You remember that rainstorm a few days ago that you two decided you needed to go out and play in?"

"We weren't playing. We went for a ride, to Lake-town." She said indignantly.

"Well whatever you were doing, Estel has caught a cold." He said overdramatically.

Atavus had been around to see a couple of her friend's colds. She like the elves didn't get them. She knew he was probably miserable. "I asked him to show me Lake-town, even though I knew the weather was turning bad. Oh he must be furious at me."

"No, not furious. But I do believe, to show that you are sorry, you should volunteer to take care of him while he's sick." Legolas teased.

"I don't feel that guilty Legolas."


Lord Elrond stood on the stone steps outside his home watching his twin sons approaching. The message he had received from King Thranduil hadn't gone into detail. It just said that they had encountered some trouble and would need a few weeks to rest until they could start back home. The two brothers looked healthy, but they seemed a little more somber than usual.

"You are in one piece. What of your brother, Legolas, and Atavus?" He asked as they drew close enough to hear him.

"They will survive." Was Elladan's answer.

"You are going to tell me everything aren't you?" He asked checking them over thoroughly expecting that he had missed some kind of damage. He could see some black marks on Elrohir's arm, but that was all to give away that they had been through a horrible ordeal.

"Yes father we will." Elrohir answered this time.

"Do you know when they will be coming back here?" He asked after taking them to his study where they could sit in comfort.

"Well it is almost winter, so they will probably stay for a few months until the weather improves. But I'm sure it won't be very long. I think Atavus needs to come home. Being that close to Dol Guldur will be hard for her." Elladan said voicing his opinion. Lord Elrond did not miss the fact that Elladan had called his home Atavus' also.

"Was there a problem, concerning Atavus?" Lord Elrond probed again.

"Why would you say that, Ada?" The comment was from Elrohir. I seemed defensive.

"Why are you so testy Elrohir? I only asked a simple question." Lord Elrond didn't understand his son's attitude.

"I'm sorry Ada. I think Elladan and I just want all of our family to be at home safe. I wish they had come with us." Elrohir said sighing deeply.

"You mean Estel and Legolas?" His son's answer to that question would determine if his plan to send them along had worked or not.

"And Atavus of course. Right now she needs the safety of home more than any of us. I think it will take quite some time and a lot of our love to heal the emotional wounds she has gained recently. But how can she do that if she is not here." Elladan answered his brother's question for him.

Lord Elrond blinked at his son's words. He hadn't expected his plan to work quite that well. "Okay start from the beginning. I'll have food brought. I can't wait to hear this."


Author's note: Well my friends that is all for Blood For the Taking. The sequel The Long Journey Home will continue shortly. I wish to thank those that reviewed. I think your reviews are what kept me updating so fast. I just couldn't help but want to see what you'd come up with next. I wish to extend a special thank you to manveri mirkiel. You know what to say to make me smile, which makes writing a whole lot more enjoyable.