All eyes turned toward Katie. Standing beside his elven father, Estel held his breath. No one dared approach her, out of reverence for one who bore a ring of power, and out of the knowledge that if she decided to put it on, no show of power could force it from her.

She turned the ring over and over in her fingers. A brilliant sapphire set in an intricate band of silver, Vilya shone brighter than the Bruinen in June sunlight. Estel had never touched it, but he knew that the call of its power must be potent. He had never known Elrond to remove it from his finger until now (even though it was often made invisible), so that no one else could even hold it. And now it was in the hands of an impressionable young girl of but seventeen summers, a girl who wasn't even from their world, and had no idea just how dangerous and powerful it really was.

"Katie," Elrond said in his rich and wise voice. "Do not put it on. Its power will be too much; it will destroy you."

Katie bowed her head as if accepting his command. But Dorlarth spoke from her other side, and all heads turned in his direction. "He will say anything to keep it for himself," he said scornfully.

Legolas stepped forward angrily to refute him, but Elrond raised a hand. He would let Katie hear Dorlarth out.

Dorlarth sneered at the elf lord's noble gesture, and his sign of trust in Katie. "You will surely not die," he said, his tone implying that the really intelligent and sophisticated would never believe such a thing. "He knows that when you put it on, you'll be like him—intelligent and cunning… and powerful."

Katie looked back down at the beautiful object in her hand again. Dorlarth's voice was low and charming, and it held a great attraction in it. But Estel, watching the wide-eyed and hungry look he gave Katie, felt suddenly that he looked like a snake. His mouth went dry.

Katie seemed to be bending in on herself, mentally and physically. She was drawing inward, her shoulders hunching over as her held the ring closer to her face. Delicately, Katie ran a finger over the shining band. Estel glanced at his father for a moment. Elrond's expression was inscrutable. Why did he not intercede? But Estel's attention was soon drawn back to Katie.

"He's so proud, he doesn't want anyone else to be like him, to challenge him," Dorlarth continued. "Besides, he doesn't think you could wield it—he thinks you're just a lowly human. And not only that—a woman."

Katie looked up at him sharply. Obviously, this particular argument had really struck a chord. Estel wondered briefly what kind of a society she must come from that such a comment could elicit such a strong reaction. "Is it not a lovely piece?" Dorlarth continued. "Put it on, and I will teach you how to wield it."

Katie looked down at the ring, but she raised her head and stood straight again. With a deep breath she looked up at Dorlarth.

A confident smile spread across his face. He was certain of his prey.

Katie's slow smile appeared in return. She took two deliberate steps toward him.

Estel looked on in horror. She was giving in! She was going to betray them!

Katie stopped, and her smile blazed out. "Go to hell," she answered Dorlarth sweetly.

Turning on her heel, she walked straight over to Elrond, dropping the ring without hesitation into his hand.

Dorlarth found tongue. "You stupid girl!" he shrieked, causing everyone to jump. "You gave it back!" he began to scream at her wildly and struggle in the arms that held him, his eyes wild and his hair coming down in tangles around his face. Flecks of spit clung to his cheeks. Katie backed away in apprehension. Estel and Legolas shunted her behind them, out of harm's way. Dorlarth struggled hard in his rage. Making one preternaturally strong convulsion, he broke free of his captors and wrenched the knife out of one hunter's hand. He flew at Elrond.

The movement was so swift and unexpected that no one had time to react. Dorlarth raised his knife—

And stumbled forward onto his knees. In shock, he stared downward—at the arrowhead that stuck out of his chest.

The knife fell from his senseless hands as he stared up at the Lord of Rivendell. "I curse you with my last breath," he gasped, and fell forward, dead.

Elrond looked past Dorlarth's inert body at the figure standing behind him. Glawar looked back grimly, and lowered his bow.

Katie clapped her hand over her mouth and shut her eyes tightly. She felt Legolas put his arm around her, and she turned her face into his shoulder.

The world slowly began to function again. Elrond crossed the glade in several long strides, dropping down beside his sons. Elladan smiled up weakly at his father. "It's nothing serious, I think," Elrohir said, making room for Elrond. "He just broke the stitches."

Eregdos's healer handed him his bag, and Elrond prepared to stitch Elladan up again. Eregdos crossed to him while one of the search party covered Dorlarth's face with his cloak. Legolas brushed Katie' hair back from her face with his free hand.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently.

Katie nodded and stepped back a bit. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks." She smiled up at him grimly.

"Good. Come," he said, offering her his arm. She took it and they and Estel went to meet Glorfindel and Eregdos by Elrond.

The elf lord was stitching quickly and competently, his work neat. He was soon done, and Elrohir helped him replace his brother's bandages.

"You arrived just in time, Captain." Elrond finally stood and greeted Eregdos with a smile, wiping off his hands on a clean cloth. Elrohir helped Elladan to sit up.

Eregdos bowed. "My lord. Our timely arrival was due entirely to Glawar, who flew to reach us and tell us of your predicament."

"Glawar." Elrond's eyes sought out the young elf who stood quietly nearby.

Glawar approached and bowed most humbly. "My lord. Forgive me for deceiving you by my words to Dorlarth. I hoped only to go for help."

"I forgive you with all my heart," Elrond said warmly, shaking his hand.

Elrohir looked up at Glawar from where he crouched at his twin's side, an irrepressible half-grin on his face. "'By your actions, not your words,'" he repeated. Glawar smiled back.

Elrond knelt by Elladan's side. "And I am truly sorry, ion-nîn, that I did not stop Dorlarth from hurting you. I had some hope still in Glawar, and wanted to keep Vilya from Dorlarth's hands until help came."

Elladan hugged him. "Gerich veleth nîn, Ada," he said by way of answer.

"And now Katie," Elrond said after a moment. He moved to stand before her. Her expression was apprehensive. "You, perhaps more than any of us, are terribly susceptible to the lure of a power you do not understand. And yet you proved yourself honorable and withstood temptation."

Katie suddenly found herself enfolded in his arms; he hugged her like she was his own daughter. "Elf-friend I name you," he said solemnly.

000

It was nearing dusk when the company rode into Imladris. Eregdos had finally accepted the Peredhils' invitation to bring his hunters in to recoup for a few days before heading back to Mirkwood.

Katie rode behind Legolas again, and Elladan behind his twin. The party kept it to a gentle walk for his sake and for the sake of the prisoners, who were on foot. Most of them seemed contrite, and Elrond had high hopes they could be rehabilitated and join with the community again. The few who couldn't—well, they would see to that when the time came.

Bringing up the rear of the slow little procession was Glawar, carrying Dorlarth's body, with Estel solemn and quiet beside him.

A number of elves came out to the courtyard to greet them. Since Dorlarth had gone, all the servants had returned to Elrond's house. And it was a good thing, too. There was plenty to be done—caring for the horses, preparing rooms for the guests and place for the prisoners to be kept, and setting out dinner for a very hungry company. The Hall of Fire stood empty that evening as everyone retired early, and all that had set out from Rivendell were able to sleep in their own beds that night.

But Katie was not.

000

Elladan opened his eyes the whole way. The sun was peeking in the room around the edges of his curtains, and from the brightness of it, he guessed that he had slept in. He went to sit up, and groaned. Valar, but he was sore! He sat up, very slowly, and pulled up his sleeping tunic to see his side. It was all bruised and discolored around his stitches. But it would heal soon enough.

He stood up a little stiffly and stretched, then crossed the room and opened the curtains. The golden sunlight flooded into his room. He was right; it was late morning. His father must have told the servants not to wake him. He was grateful.

He shrugged on some clothes and left his room, heading for the kitchen. He would have a bite to eat to hold him over till luncheon.

He heard familiar voices in the kitchen as he approached, and smiled.

"There's nothing wrong with females asking males to marry them! Why should women wait around for men to make the move?" Katie asked in exasperated tones. Elladan could hear Elrohir and Estel chuckling.

"If a woman must wait for a man to… "make the move," as you put it," Legolas answered, just as heatedly, "then he is probably not meant for her anyway—nor is he good enough for her. He should take some responsibility."

There was a pause. "Okay, I'll give you that one," Katie conceded piously. The other three laughed.

Elladan walked in the door. "Do I hear another quarrel?" he asked lightly.

"Elladan!" Elrohir exclaimed joyfully. "I am glad to see you up and moving about." He pulled over a chair for his twin, who thanked him and took it gratefully and sat down between him and Estel. On the other side of the table, Legolas lounged in his chair, his arm over the back of Katie's. Katie herself leaned her arms casually on the table.

"Not a quarrel, per say," Katie answered him, grinning. "A mere difference of opinion. In other words, Legolas is being too stubborn to see things my way."

She was met with a round of laughter, not the quietest of which came from Legolas himself. Elladan smiled happily. It seemed all was back to normal.

But no, it really wasn't. Things had changed. Orain was dead. Gúrvel was dead. Dorlarth was dead. Some of his followers would probably be exiled. And Katie had seen more violence in her short time here than she had probably seen in the rest of her young life. (Had she really only been here a little more than a week?) She had had quite an adventure! The girl had saved Legolas's life, probably saved his own, helped them to find Dorlarth and helped keep Vilya out of unscrupulous hands.

But she had not yet gone home.

Katie felt his eyes upon her and glanced up at him. Seeing his troubled expression, she realized what he was thinking and smiled wanly at him, shaking her head. Alls he had done somehow wasn't enough.

TBC

AN: A kiss from the elf/ranger of your choice for recognizing the allusion in Dorlarth and Katie's confrontation!. :)

Gerich veleth nîn, Ada: "You have my love, Dad." Anybody recognise this quote?. :)

I have the feeling that I could improve this more through some revision. But I figured you guys had waited long enough for the next installment. :)

RenegadeKitsune: I volunteer to hug Elladan! And Dorlarth finally got his. Hope it was dramatic enough!

Aranel-DiSonne: You're right!

werewolflemming: Yes, it was a very painful situation for everybody. :( Poor everybody! And especially poor Elladan.

EresseElrondiel: I'll torture that elf if I darned well want to! And where do you get off calling him "yours":) MINE! So yeah. Glawar was a good guy the whole time after his little talk with Elrond. I didn't realize he was gonna turn out to be such a key player! I just needed him to fill a role, and lo and behold, he becomes a fascinating character! I was very surprised. Yes, I'm planning on writing at least one sequel (although I have to iron out a couple of details first), but there's no way I'm gonna stop picking on the elves! I torture everybody I love. :) Yeah, palindromes are fun. I've got stories about those things…

crazycatluver: Thanks! Nope, Glawar was just evil, then good. But he's one smart elf! As you can see, Katie isn't home yet!

Fk306: For the moment…—chuckles quietly to herself—

CCE: Thanks! I often get told I have too much dialogue and too little description, so I'm glad I seem to be hitting the right ratio. Yeah, in a way, Katie isn't the main point of the story. I mean, she is, but she isn't. And I much prefer to write it from other people's POV instead of hers, so she often isn't in scenes. Glad you enjoy it:)

the great white emu: Whoops, problem taken care of:) And on your recommendation, I read "Don't Panic" (which is part of the reason it took me so long to update… lol) It's awesome! Hey, everybody, go read "Don't Panic"!

Madd Hatter: Preccciousssss… lol

RavensDestiny: Good guess! lol —returns the glomp— I'm gonna have to look for that book on poisons! Sounds interesting… Of course, the symptoms of each would be different with elves. Yeesh, that story of the wolf is giving ME the willies! Thanks so much! Your reviews were a blast to read. :)

Please review!