In case you were wondering, Nerwen is the name given to Galadriel by her mother in reference to her warrior past. The lady of the light was shunned by the Valor for reasons I can't recall and she had to physically fight to redeem herself. I used this lesser-known name as a symbol of high regard. For Galadriel to name Isil after herself is a high honour. Isil chooses to use this name as her real name is shunned upon in court, though widely spoken elsewhere. It is also her alter-ego and probably to her, a security blanket as Nerwen is a name that hides her past and her crimes. Nerwen is used as a name like, how we use titles today, such as Sir Elton John or Dame Ellen Macarthur.

In this chapter, there is more of an insight of what Isil went through. This still doesn't give us much to go on but Legolas will have to travel for answers. I can reveal that soon the bond will come back into play but not in the manner we're accustomed to.

Someone raised the question of why would the lord Glorfindel help Isil? Well I can answer that Glorfindel have close ties to Mirkwood, remember he too is a sword holder like Isil and hold's Orophin's sword. (Thranduil's father.) He's also carrying out his duty on the order of Galadriel for he knows she can see things he best take heed in. he was personally approached and may have even been shown by Galadriel, the reasons he must help Isil. This chapter does explore the way Glorfindel is there on order of Galadriel.

For the people who think they know who the servant girlis, please personally email so I know if I need to change the sway of the story….though I personally think you won't guess right as I made it deliberately not so clear cut!

I don't owe anything to do with Tolkien or LOTR or the films – nope!


Warrior Code – Always search for another way, a soldier is not deterred by failure because in itself failure is success.


Despite the winter fading away into spring, the land seemed reluctant to release its chill, just like one woman Legolas knew. The frost kept the grass from growing, snow appeared each morning only to melt away by noon in the weak spring sun and the birds seem clueless as to whether to begin nesting or to avoid the dastly weather.

It's been three days since Legolas's misadventure at the Tavern and the kingdom was all a-whispering of the surprise 'reconciliation' of the prince and the woman he loved.

Somehow his father heard these gossips, and abnormally took action where as before he would ignore even the most believable of stories. He ordered Isil to escort Celeborn back to Lothlothrien and remain there at the invitation of Galadriel for her granddaughter, Arwen was returning to reside there for several months in the run-up to her marriage to Aragorn. Gimli was proving an elusive friend to find as fate told him, he accepted Isil's invite to ride along side her to Lothlorien, no doubt to see the elleth the dwarf fallen for at first glance, once again.

And to top it all, in the departure of the Estolians the White Wraith have struck again, killing a lake man who was regarded as a rapist and a murderer. The lakemen ordered Thranduil to lead an investigation into the crime as the man himself was a highly valued member of society so they claimed. Legolas have already seen the body, listened to accounts of a dark rider who rode out of the darkness on the empty main road and struck the victim down.

"And what makes you think it was the white wraith?" Legolas had asked a man who was shaken by the incident.

"You know it is him for you could feel it. Like you can feel the sunlight on your skin. He came in a glow of light much like your own but brighter." The man pointed a shaken finger at Legolas's own aura similar to all elves.

Legolas had returned home to report to his father that he believed it to be the work of an elusive elf who believed he was correcting all wrongs committed by individuals. He, himself wasn't sure what to make of this new mystery.

But right now, Legolas was more concerned about the mystery of Isil as he sat in the window of his room with nothing to do and everything on his mind.

With boredom finally winning over, Legolas grabbed his cloak and headed to the stables where he saddled up Arod and rode him towards the town for something to keep him entertained. Despite the bustle of the town, the elves took no notice of him as they walked and shouted, laughed and gossiped, giving Legolas time to admire the new building erected in his absence. He blinked several times before he realised that the building were constructed to his designs that he never got round to seeing them through. Isil must have made sure she seen through the last stage of his project and his heart warmed at that thought.

Riding towards the river, the air became less noisy and Legolas spied a dirt track which he remembered leading to the general direction to Isil's parent's house.

He sat upright when a thought came to him that he cursed himself for not thinking of it sooner. Maybe Laurin or Hassel could tell him a few things Isil or his father would not. Urging Arod down the track, he followed it, ignoring the bird calls or the tall trees towering above the track, blocking much light from reaching below.

He knew his memory served correct when he spotted Isil's family home nestled against the forest and opening before the river. Two old mares were grazing nearby in a paddock and in the breeze fluttered washing. From nearby came the sounds of someone chopping wood, presumably for a fire and within the house sang a voice whilst they were cleaning. Legolas watched Laurin leave the hose with a rug over her arm which she tossed over the washing line and began to hit it in order to dispel the dust it collected.

She turned upon hearing Arod's hooves upon the uneven surface of the dirt track and halted mid note of her song when she recognised the rider. She watched Legolas coldly as he dismounted and walked over to her, "Good day Laurin."

"What do you want?" She asked, her voice devoid of any emotion as she resumed beating the rug with a new founded source of strength as she turned her back to the prince.

"I just wanted to talk……" Legolas started but he was interrupted by Laurin who snapped, "Talk? Hah! I don't want to talk to you!"

"Is someone there with you Laurin?" Called a voice Legolas recognised it to be Hassel.

"No, you're imagining things dear!" Laurin called back sweetly but shot Legolas a dark look which he weltered under.

"Liar, I can see someone." Hassel called back as he stepped out from the trees with an axe over his shoulder and some wood under his arm. He looked at his wife with a smile which faded when he turned his attention to Legolas.

"I tried to get rid of him, I've told him we refuse to speak to him but he wouldn't listen nor go away and….." Laurin babbled, her voice rising with hysteria that was quickly quelled by her husband who placed a gentle hand on her arm, "It's alright, I think Legolas and I have some talking to do."

"But you said you refuse to even see him and if you did, you would kick his……" Laurin objected, repeating some profanity Hassel had long ago muttered in his anger.

"One says many things in anger but over time I realised Legolas is not at fault as much as Isil." Hassel replied, he indicated to the doorway to his house as he turned to Legolas, "Please. Laurin shall make us tea."

"I shall not!" Laurin snapped and crossed her arms, "In case you've forgotten, this elf is the cause of Isil's pain and our broken family."

"Laurin! Please." Hassle pleaded as he walked to the house with a reluctant Legolas in tow who was eyeing the axe upon Hassel's shoulder with caution.

Thankfully the axe was placed by the door and forgotten about as Hassel picked up a kettle and filled it with water from a bucket and replaced it by the fire. He indicated to a chair at the table and Legolas seated himself.

Laurin walked in and angrily set about the task of making tea with much noise she could muster as she slammed the cups on the counter and clanged the kettle lid whilst Hassel rolled his eyes at Legolas who weakly smiled.

The two men waited for Laurin to finish the tea which she carried over to the table, as she poured the tea out, her hand caught the small pitcher of milk and spilt it into Legolas's lap, and he would have thought it an accident if it wasn't for her sarcastic apology as he stood up and wiped feebly at his breeches.

"Laurin, calm your temper woman!" Hassel snapped, as he wrestled the hot kettle of tea from her hands in distrust that she too would empty its contents in Legolas's lap, thus doing more damage by scolding the royal jewels Thranduil so complained weren't providing a heir.

"He ruined this family!" Laurin cried but her husband pushed her down into an empty chair and calmly said, "Legolas is here, if he wasn't as sorry for the pain he caused would he be here?"

Laurin blinked at those words and saw some sense in her husband's words, she turned to Legolas and weakly asked if he wanted tea.

Even though he didn't want to risk getting burnt, he smiled politely and nodded as he watched the elleth's trembling fingers pour tea into his cup.

"Let me say that I love your daughter then as I do now and I meant for no harm to become of her." Legolas spoke, aware of two doting parent's eyes watching him out of love for their broken hearted daughter he pained.

"How long have your affair with Isil been going on for?" Hassel asked.

"Shortly after my first visit to your home. Almost a year."

"And were you ever going to tell your father?"

"Yes, eventually. I kept waiting for the right moment but it was eventually snatched out of my grasp as you know."

"Did you ever think of my daughter when you went about travelling?"

Legolas thickly swallowed and without hesitation replied, "Yes, always sir. She was never out of my mind."

"You are aware of how your father came to find out about your relationship with Isil?"

"I am, it was a mix up of letters that both fell into the hands of my father but what happened after that regarding Isil, I'm at lost. I know a few things like she had her hair shorn but that is all."

"And no one told you?" Hassel asked with a note of disbelief.

"No one will openly talk about it in court and my friends are forced under silence."

"And that is why you came here?"

"That is why I came here." Legolas nodded as Hassel sat back, "We'll tell you."

Laurin stood up and left the room for a moment to re-enter with a large wooden box she carried and placed on the table.

"From what we know, Isil was confronted by your father and was thrown into the dungeons. He kept her there for almost a week if it wasn't for Glorfindel who was lead by Arkle and his wife Keay to where Isil was locked. They found her almost faded away….." Laurin paused for a minute to clear her throat from the emotions that assailed her. "Glorfindel was sent by Galadriel with a vial of the light of Valinor which he made Isil drink in order to restore her health. Angered by the intervention of another kingdom, your father ordered Glorfindel to leave and exiled Arkle and Keay for assisting him. Glorfindel warned Thranduil that Galadriel have foreseen a purpose greater than thought for Isil and told him that if he kills her or she dies, he would pay the price."

Hassel picked up from where his wife left off, "Thranduil wasn't going to cast aside Galadriel's foresight lightly so he had Isil moved up to her former room and all her processions were burned apart from the sword which he couldn't by law take from her. She was forced to sit for a painting on the order of Thranduil and after it was completed; her hair was shorn for all to see. That painting, your father gave us with the words that this was the last time we would see our daughter and was a warning for others and well as a reminder to you of Isil's former beauty before he marred it."

Legolas sucked in his breath and curled his fists in anger, the father he always so loved and adored was being replaced by a sicker and more darker version.

"Isil was ordered to chop firewood in the deepest part of the forest where orcs frequented, what she saw we don't know but many rumours tells us that she narrowly avoided being caught and was chased. She worked as a slave, feeding the fires in the kitchens and brushing out the embers, she lived on nearly nothing and faced daily shame from the court that laughed and ridiculed her. She was given the dirtiest and dangerous of jobs Thranduil could find and one day, she was lowered into the well near the palace gardens. She had to break the ice for them to get water. Now since a baby, my Isil was frightened of the dark. She couldn't cope with small spaces and forever kept us up at night. The guards placed the well cover on, trapping Isil in darkness and caused her to panic and the ice broke beneath her feet and she feel through the water. The guards laughed till they couldn't hear her struggle no more. Glorfindel who was a messenger to Thranduil that day, came across them and ordered them to get her out. He took her to the kitchens to warm her, hence delaying his important message that orcs were nearby. By the time Isil was well enough to walk back to her room, the palace was under attack. Isil grabbed the sword of Horthe and managed to hide most of the palace staff in a secret passage way she knew from her evasive affair with you. She could only close the door from the outside and knew she had to make sure the orcs didn't find the elves she hid. She fought them and died." Hassel wiped away a tear then breathed out with a shaky breath, "Glorfindel found her and cursed your father, he was about to carry Isil's body to the halls of rest when he heard voices within the wall. He ordered his men to investigate and found the palace staff Isil has hidden."

"And what happened after her resurrection?" Legolas asked.

"That we do not know for Thranduil for she hasn't spoken to us, believing we have disowned her from the family. As if I could do such a thing to my daughter!" Laruin cried.

"My father did all this?" Legolas shook his head for a moment as if to deny it but the longer he thought about it, the more it made sense. He never seen his father angry before but he had heard stories of his infamous temper. After all, he made the laws in this kingdom and find his son breaking them……it made sense but then again……..

"Why won't she speak to any one? I'm refusing to call her Nerwen for she is Isil to me."

Legolas asked, both Isil's parents looked at each other for a moment.

"That, I do not know…." Hassel replied but a look upon Laurin's face made Legolas wonder if the elleth knew more than she was admitting to.

If he was going to ask her those questions, he never got the chance to as Laurin pushed the box before him, "These are artefacts of Isil's we were given. Some talismans in this kingdom believe any former procession of Isil's hold mystic powers and we paid a lot for some pieces." Laurin explained as she took off the lid.

"This was the vial that held the Light of Valinor….." She spoke when Legolas reached in the box and picked up a small bottle of superb craft native to Lothlorien.

"And this?" Legolas picked up a small rag with what looked to have stains upon.

"That is Isil's blood from where an axe slipped and cut her hand, a healer kept this."

"The blade used to cut her hair….." Hassel handed him a small knife similar to that of Thranduil's lords would wear.

Legolas reached in and took out a small pouch as Laurin stood up and wandered over to the window, her arms about her body as if the room took a sudden plummet in temperature.

"That is her hair……" she spoke, her voice wavered with the emotions understandably assigned to a mother.

Legolas reached in and saw the pouch was full of Isil's golden hair, his fingers stroked her silk-like threads as he smelt the smell he loved of Isil. He pulled out a small plait, the ragged end told him that her hair was hacked away in a cold, menacing manner that left him chilled as he watched out the light of day played upon the gossamer strands.

"You said there was a painting……." Legolas voice croaked as he asked.

"It resides now in Lothlorien, there they are more open about Isil and even show her the respect she deserves. I think if there are anymore answers to be found, there you'll find them." Laurin turned around and spoke.

"May I?" Legolas picked up the plait of hair as Laurin nodded, he pocketed it and rose to his feet. "I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused you; I will find a way to bring Isil home to you."

"Thread lightly Legolas, there are many things one doesn't know." Laurin warned.

Legolas didn't know what to say to that, she was right but there were other influences he reckoned that were at play. Other things he knew that were going to come to light, after all to silence a powerful elleth such as Isil, there needed to be a powerful reason.

He bade his farewells as he found Arod nibbling weeds near the forest and guided him back to the palace. The ride back, his mind was occupied by various excuses he could use against his father in order to ride down to Lothlorien and investigate further. With a troubled heart, Legolas knew his father would see through his lies and he was beginning to accept the frustrating fact that he was going no where when the valar seemed to give in and throw Legolas a life line. There in the courtyard of his kingdom, fluttered the flags of Gondor and the house of Estel which could only mean one thing.

"Aragorn!" Legolas grinned, as he dismounted Arod and brotherly hugged the young man he considered almost a brother he never had.

"Legolas, forgive my unannounced arrival for I hope to have surprised you." Aragorn smiled.

"Which you succeeded! Though, by my guess, your visit is not without a motive." Legolas assumed

A smile upon Aragorn's face as he watched the soldiers dismount and care for the horses proved his guess right, "I was hoping you could escort me down to Lothlorien to see some friends of mine as well as my future family and bride."

"That I will do with no question." Legolas immediately replied.

"Something tells me you were waiting for such an opportunity." Aragorn smiled as he walked side by side with his friend who led into the palace halls.

"I was looking for a reason to just explore once again and you proved such an opportunity."

"No Gimli? I thought he was staying here?" Aragorn took note of the noticeable absence of the little warrior; you could never see Legolas without Gimli.

"Lothlorien, with some comrades of mine at their invitation."

"Oh?"

"With Isil." Legolas finished, the final statement explaining all from the prince's eager acceptance of escort to Lothlorien.

"Oh." Aragorn cast his friend a knowing look which Legolas ignored expertly; even now he wasn't going to let Aragorn provoke him.

"Well I'm guessing you wish to leave soon then?" Aragorn innocently asked and this time Legolas fell for it, "How soon? He smiled.