A/N – I'm on a roll, two chapters in one day. Hope you enjoy. FYI, the song sung by Legolas is "Twenty-Four" by Switchfoot.

Chapter 4 – The Unexpected

In the morning, Aleera sat cross-legged on her bed, clutching her aching chest frantically while rocking back and forth. Tears flooded from her eyes for no apparent reason. Moments later she recognized the sound of Roxana's footfalls coming up the staircase, followed by the sound of the key in the lock. The door opened and Roxana stepped in.

Roxana gave Aleera a look of shock. "My lady, quickly, our lord comes. You must dress."

Despite the constant throbbing pain in her chest, Aleera quickly jumped out of bed and went to wash her face in the basin while Roxana rushed to grab a gown from the armoire. She threw it over Aleera's head and quickly brushed the tangles from her hair.

Aleera heard the footfalls of the monarch the moment his feet touched the bottom step and she gasped excitedly. "He comes."

Roxana steered Aleera to stand at the center of the room and she quickly backed away from her to open the door. Seconds later the Kozari ruler entered the room. He gave Roxana a glance and the girl quickly departed, closing the door behind her.

Aleera received her first glimpse of Hurrnäd. She timidly assessed him. Tall and dark-haired, he had a handsome but rugged face and was broader than anyone she had seen thus far. His smile revealed teeth that were slightly askew. But he seemed pleasant nonetheless.

"My dear, Aleera. I will very much enjoy your company in my bed. As I am certain Gwinn will as well."

"Gwinn?" Aleera asked.

"My wife, the queen."

Aleera's world suddenly seemed to come crashing down around her and she frowned at him. "But, my lord, I was given the impression that I would be your wife."

With that Hurrnäd laughed loudly and at great length. "My dear innocent girl, do you truly believe I would take an elf as a wife? Nay, you are here for the amusement of me and my never-ending lust. A beautiful creature such as yourself, you are merely a toy to heighten and quench my desire." He laughed again. "Tonight you will dine with us. It will be the only meal you will have in the presence of the queen and I."

Aleera's eyes brimmed with tears once again. The excitement of finally meeting him quickly turned to utter disgust. Was this to be her outcome? To be the play thing for the king and queen of these lands? The Kozari ruler approached her and she stood perfectly still as he leaned over and ran his tongue over her cheek.

"Mmm, Gwinn was correct in her assumption. Elves do indeed taste good." Hurrnäd then walked to the door, his mood lightened by the thought of possessing the angelic she-elf. Tonight she would be his to do with as he pleased.

After Hurrnäd left Aleera's chambers, she reached up to wipe her face with her sleeve in utter revulsion. The mere thought of this man kissing her face and her lips the way Legolas had done the night before made her feel ill. She was doomed to a life of torture the likes she had never imagined. What could she have done to deserve such a horrible fate?

She crawled into her bed and closed her eyes, feeling the urge to go into a deep sleep, something she had not done for many days.

Legolas pushed the fruit around the plate with his fork, occasionally wincing silently at the throbbing pain in his chest. He had hoped the pain would subside during the night, but it still lingered and he had not rested much because of it. Whatever ailment had come over him, he could not decide what might be causing it. One thought was the lack of trees and wildlife. He indeed longed to be back among the trees and off this cursed rocky hill. Another was that his stomach was used to eating light and in the last two days he had consumed far too much rich food. And so he opted for fruit on his plate rather than the meats and breads that filled Aragorn's plate.

Aragorn noted his friend's silence and despite the elf's attempt at hiding it, he saw that Legolas displayed some sort of discomfort. "Man le trasta, mellonen?" (what troubles you, my friend)

Legolas did not look up from his plate. "Im vaer," he replied quietly. (I am fine)

Aragorn put his fork down and turned himself almost completely around to face Legolas. "You do not look fine."

Legolas frowned slightly, knowing that he would not be able to hide his discomfort from the perceptive ranger. "I feel a throbbing ache in my chest and I know not how it came upon me."

Aragorn raised his eyebrows. A pain in an elf's chest? He knew elves and they did not easily succumb to ailments or diseases. They were immortal and therefore felt no aches and pains that accompanied age. He gently placed a hand on Legolas's back. "Are you short of breath or feel numbness in your fingers?"

Legolas shook his head, wincing again at the next throb that assaulted his chest.

"Tell me what transpired when you first felt this ache?"

Legolas looked up and frowned again. "I was speaking to Aleera and…then I went back to my room…"

"Daro," Aragorn interrupted, holding his hand up. "Aleera? Who is Aleera?" (stop)

"She is the elf maiden in the tower. Her room is beside mine."

Aragorn could not suppress a smile. "An elf maiden? Here in Kozar?"

Legolas turned to look at him with a frown, knowing the ranger did not believe him. "Do you think I conjured her up in my mind?" he asked in mild irritation.

Aragorn removed the smile from his face. "Nay, Legolas. If you say she exists, then she exists." He rubbed Legolas's shoulder. "What did you and Aleera talk about?"

"We spoke of many things. She does not remember who she is or how she came to be here. I have tried to speak of things that might be familiar to her and it appears that Lothlorien stirs a vague memory within her."

"Lothlorien. Could she be from there?"

"It is possible."

"But how is it that she is here?"

"I know not the answer to that at this time, Aragorn. I do aim to find out though. I have a notion that Hurrnäd is keeping her here against her will. She has not said as much, but I continue to feel suspicion of some kind on his part." He winced at another throb.

Aragorn frowned, reminded that Legolas felt pain for some reason. "Let us put Aleera's plight aside for the moment. What transpired before you began to feel this pain?"

Legolas was reluctant to tell Aragorn everything that had come to pass, but the ranger was skilled at healing and any minor detail known to Aragorn might bring about a remedy. "I kissed her."

Aragorn tried to mask the look of surprise on his face. He was in fact shocked beyond words. Straight-laced Legolas kissed a girl. Never in his years of friendship with him had he seen the elf even glimpse at a female or utter a single word to hint that he had any interest in one.

Legolas saw Aragorn's surprised look. "Do you think me not capable of such an act?"

"And that is all that occurred? Just a kiss?"

"Aye, just a kiss… albeit not heated, but pleasant enough to affect me."

Aragorn had a sneaking suspicion he knew what the elf meant by his statement. He pondered this for a moment. He did not think it was Legolas's first kiss, but he imagined his friend had not engaged in anything beyond that. Then there was the sudden pain in his chest and it had occurred the moment he had left Aleera's presence. With a slight shake of his head, a smile came to his face. The elf had bonded with this unknown elleth and did not even know it. "What do you feel for her?"

"What do I feel?" asked Legolas in confusion.

"Do you enjoy her company? Is she so stunning that she takes your breath away?"

"Aye," Legolas closed his eyes as he recalled the sheerness of the gown Aleera had worn the night before and how she had indeed taken his breath away. He opened his eyes again. "Unbelievably stunning."

Aragorn continued to smile and rubbed Legolas's shoulder once again. "Legolas, my friend, have you heard of what happens to elves when a bond is formed?"

"What!"

"A bond. You have never heard of it?"

Legolas was shocked and appalled. "I am aware of what it is, but I have never experienced it firsthand. And it is certainly not what is happening to me." He could not believe that Aragorn would even consider that the ache in his chest occurred from bonding…with Aleera. A bond between elves occurred over a long period of time, sometimes even decades and then they began to feel the connection, as well as the pain of separation. He had only met Aleera two days ago. Despite the error of Aragorn's belief, Legolas was amused. "You mock me in retaliation for yesterday's warg hunt."

Aragorn's smile broadened and he pulled the elf to him in a friendly one-armed embrace.

It was at that moment when Hurrnäd entered the dining hall. He had caught the man and elf embracing and they quickly parted upon his approach. The Kozari smiled to himself. He had thought right when he assumed the two were more than mere friends. He had just witnessed it right before his eyes and did not know what to make of it. "Forgive my tardiness, my friends."

Legolas narrowed his eyes at Hurrnäd, sensing something about him that made the hairs on the back of his neck bristle. And then he knew what it was. He had been in Aleera's presence. He caught a faint scent of her on him and then his chest tightened again, quite fiercely.

Aragorn heard Legolas gasp in pain. "Legolas…"

"Goheno nin, Aragorn. I can no longer sit." (forgive me)

Aragorn watched with concern as Legolas got up and quickly walked out of the dining hall.

"What ails the elf?" asked Hurrnäd.

Aragorn turned to the Kozari and made an excuse. "He longs to return to the trees. I sincerely appreciate your kind hospitality, my lord, but we will be leaving in the morning."

"I understand completely. Rest assured that we can indeed negotiate an alliance."

Aragorn nodded and turned back to the door where Legolas had disappeared.

Aleera called out to the only familiar being. "Seledred! Do not leave me here!"

But the dark-haired elf backed away from her, even as she crawled toward him. He turned his back and walked further away.

"No! Seledred!"

And then she was suddenly surrounded by grotesquely misshapen green faces. With scars and growths and missing limbs. They poked at her with their filthy nails and sneered in delight. She panicked and tried to scream, but the sound would not come to her lips.

Legolas entered his guest room and immediately stepped out on the balcony as he gasped for air. He filled his lungs too quickly and broke into a coughing fit. After a few minutes, he began to breathe normally and the ache in his chest had faded slightly, almost to something tolerable. He leaned on the balustrade and peered out at the trees in the distance, just beyond the walls of the Keep. He seriously needed to leave this place before he lost his mind. His thoughts quickly turned to Aleera and without even thinking, he hopped up on the balustrade and jumped across to her balcony. Before stepping toward the doorway, he perked his ears and listened for any sounds from her room. All he heard was her steady breathing. She sounded as if she were in deep sleep. He also noticed that the pain in his chest faded even further. Could it be that he had simply needed the clean morning air to fill his lungs?

Legolas took a deep breath and released it slowly. Then he sat up on the balustrade and leaned his back against the stone wall. With his eyes looking out to the trees, he began to sing.

"Twenty-four oceans / Twenty-four skies / Twenty-four failures / And twenty-four tries / Twenty-four finds me / In twenty-fourth place / With twenty-four dropouts / At the end of the day / Life is not what I thought it was / Twenty-four hours ago / Still I am singing / Spirit take me up in arms with you / And I am not who I thought I was / Twenty-four hours ago / Still I am singing / Spirit take me up in arms with you / There are twenty-four reasons / To admit that I am wrong / With all my excuses / Still twenty-four strong / You see I am not copping out / Not copping out / Not copping out / When you are raising the dead in me / Oh oh / I am the second man / Oh oh / I am the second man now / Oh / I am the second man now / And you are raising these twenty-four voices / With twenty-four hearts / And all of my symphonies / In twenty-four parts / But I want to be one today / Centered and true / I am singing / Spirit take me up in arms with you / You are raising the dead in me / Oh oh / I am the second man / Oh oh / I am the second man now / Oh / I am the second man now / And you are raising the dead in me / I want to see miracles / To see the world change / Wrestle the angel / For more than a name / For more than a feeling / For more than a cause / I am singing / Spirit take me up in arms with you / Twenty-four oceans / With twenty-four hearts / And all of my symphonies / In twenty-four parts / Life is not what I thought it was / Twenty-four hours ago / Still I am singing / Spirit take me up in arms / I am not copping…" He immediately stopped upon hearing Aleera cry out and quickly rushed into her room.

Aleera sat up gasping for air, her face wet with tears. She saw Legolas rushing over to her and she accepted his embrace. Within seconds her breathing returned to normal and the pain she had felt in her chest disappeared.

Legolas held her tightly against him and reached up to wipe the tears from her face. "Are you all right?"

"I saw hideous faces…rotted teeth…they were all around me, sneering and poking at me."

"You are safe. It was just a dream." Legolas suddenly realized with much dread that the ache in his chest had disappeared. He was indeed feeling no pain now that he was at Aleera's side. It meant only one thing and he was ever reluctant to believe it. He could not have bonded with her. It was simply not possible, not in so short a time. The only way to know for sure would be to test it, but he could not leave Aleera in this state.

Aleera closed her eyes, recalling that only a short while ago she had finally met Hurrnäd and he spoke of her role. She was not to be his wife, but merely someone to be used to quench his lust. Where was the queen in all of this? Did she actually condone his actions? Surely Legolas must have met the queen. Why had he not said anything? "You failed to mention that Hurrnäd has a queen," she stated quietly.

Legolas pulled away to look into her face with a frown. "A queen? I saw no queen and have not heard mention of one."

"He came to see me today and informed me, after he laughed in my face, that he thought me foolish to think he would ever wed an elf." Aleera shivered at the recollection of Hurrnäd's laughter, making her feel small and insignificant.

"I do not understand, Aleera," said Legolas with a shake of his head. "Why is he keeping you here then?"

"I am to be nothing more than a plaything for him and the queen."

Legolas jumped up on his feet. "This is appalling. I will speak to him at once. He cannot keep you here against your will. You are an elf."

Aleera stood up and moved toward him. "Nay, Legolas. Please do not start trouble."

"More than trouble will I start if he thinks he can keep an elf as some kind of slave." He did not want to even think about what she would no doubt be forced to do. A plaything…he would never allow it.

Aleera's eyes filled with tears. "Nay, please. I will not have blood spilt on my account." She pleaded with him. "Please…"

"You cannot be what they ask you to be."

"Why not? If this is my destiny in life, so be it."

Legolas grabbed her by the arms, wanting to shake some sense into her. "You know not what this life will bring to you."

"I cannot remember who I am. I do not know where I come from. I have no memories."

"Memories can be remade."

"How old do you suppose I am? I may be twenty years or I may be twenty and three thousand."

"Aleera, I know people that will help you to remember."

She pulled away from him and wiped at her eyes. "And what if the reason I forgot who I am was because I did not wish to remember any longer?"

"Nay, your spirit is gentle by nature. I sense nothing in you that you would want to hide from the truth." Legolas reached for her hand and raised it to his lips.

A warmth crept into Aleera's belly as he lingeringly kissed her fingers.

Legolas reached up with his other hand and pushed aside the golden hair from her forehead. He frowned as his thumb traced the small scar there. "This scar tells me that your memories were taken from you. You did not purposely forget them." His fingers strayed down along her cheek, but his eyes remained steadfast on hers.

It was at that moment that Aleera felt the connection between them. As if they were linked by an unbreakable thread. This was the reason she felt so comfortable talking to him from the balcony. She knew that had any other man been in the other room, no conversation would have ever happened. "Legolas," she said as she reached up to brush her fingers over his cheek as he was doing. Her fingers moved across his lips. Perhaps it was too bold of her, but it did not matter. "I want to remember."

"You cannot live this life, Aleera. You will perish."

As Legolas leaned closer to her, Aleera raised her face up to him, waiting breathlessly as he tilted his head and finally brushed her lips with a soft kiss. His lips lingered over hers and he kissed her again. She pulled away from his lips and reached around his neck with her arms. He wrapped his arms around her back to embrace her in return. "I find great comfort with you, Legolas," she whispered to him. "The Valar has blessed me by guiding you here."

"I will be here for as long as you wish me to be." Unable to resist the continuing urge to kiss her, Legolas reached up and tilted her face up toward his, giving her a lingering kiss on the lips. He opened his mouth and grazed his teeth over her lower lip briefly. This time she returned the kiss and he responded by coaxing her mouth open with his fingers.

Aleera breathed his breath and he slowly slid his tongue into her mouth. It was but a brief touch to her own tongue…a brief taste to entice her or perhaps entice him. Then he brought his lips to the scar on her temple and kissed it gently. She clung to the front of his tunic, feeling the lingering affects of his heat and wanted him to kiss her again.

Legolas sensed her desire and lowered his face to hers again, brushing his nose against hers. She willingly parted her lips and it excited him. He wanted to resist her, but he could not. His mind screamed for him to stop…to walk away…to leave her and this place and everything about it. But his heart would not allow it. He would not leave her to live this life of perverse servitude. And so Legolas followed his heart, this new path. He dipped his tongue passed her parted lips and tasted her. One taste was all it took as he was quickly plunged into the unfamiliar world of intimate desire.

The sound of a key in the lock of the door, startled them and they quickly pulled apart. Both had been so lost in each other that they had not even heard the sounds of anyone approaching. Despite the fact that he knew he was not supposed to be in Aleera's room, Legolas instinctly moved to stand in front of her as the door opened.

Roxana stepped inside and froze when she saw the male elf standing in front of Aleera. He was an imposing figure, tall and strung tight as a bow. The expression on his face told her that he was not very happy with her presence. She had the impression that she had walked in on something. The flushed look on Aleera's face hinted to that fact.

"What do you want?" asked Legolas, not masking the contempt in his voice.

"I have come to prepare Aleera," she said meekly to him.

Legolas knew this girl had nothing to do with Aleera's plight. She was merely doing what she was told to do, not having a choice but to obey the orders given to her. But he could not stop directing his building anger at her. "Prepare her for what?"

Aleera moved from behind him and placed a hand on his arm. "Avo 'osto, bad si, Legolas." (do not worry, Legolas, go now)

Legolas turned to Aleera, his expression quickly full of concern. He did not want to leave her alone for a single moment. "Anírach i dulu nín? (do you want my help)

She reached up and kissed him lingeringly on the cheek. "Nay, le cenithon ned lû thent." (No, I will see you in a short while)

Legolas stepped away from Aleera and walked toward the door, passing Roxana with a glare he could not lighten. Once he was outside of the room and the door was closed behind him, an ache came to his chest. He sighed heavily, unable to deny the fact that he had somehow become bound to Aleera. He had not meant it to happen, had not expected it…yet it happened and there was not a thing he could do about it now. Just so the pain would not be so bad, Legolas remained close to the door to Aleera's room, wondering if she was feeling the same ache. Then after awhile he went in search of Aragorn.