Chapter Fifteen

Daralis couldn't see much. It was about seven hours since she had been taken from her bed. She felt as if she had just woken up- groggy and disoriented. She heard loud, gruff voices arguing somewhere near her, and knew from the overpowering stench and the hard, rocky ground that she was nowhere near Imladris.

The voices got louder. Daralis couldn't understand them, but she could feel the hate growing in the tones. Suddenly, one of the voices came nearer to her. Her arm was roughly grabbed, and its owner picked her up. Her vision began to slowly sharpen, and it became obvious that she was being carried through a cave. Everything went black again, however, as she was dropped onto a stone platform.

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Legolas and Elladan rode side by side in the front of the group of horses. All of the Elves were completely silent, both out of respect to Legolas and because they themselves were listening with sharp ears to find the lost princess. Aragorn would make occasional comments about the tracks that they were following, but beyond those, all any of them did was look and listen for any hint of Daralis.

Both Legolas and Elladan were inwardly seething- furious at the Orcs who had taken their princess, and at themselves for not discovering her missing sooner.

'She always responds to me when I call her, even through her door. I should have broken it open,' Legolas thought.

'Her balcony has never been latched, ever. I should have known, I should have done something when I thought it was strange.' Elladan scolded.

Elrohir, who could feel his brother's emotion, began to be worried for Elladan's sake if Daralis wasn't found.

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Daralis woke up when she felt her hair pulled up. Something sawed off a piece, and she heard low talking in a vicious language. She then heard something speaking in Elvish.

"Hello, Princess. You are probably wondering why you are here, are you not?" Daralis was too petrified to respond.

"Well, I shall tell you why. You are here because you are the key to our control of Mirkwood. We had it once, and we want it back. Your family would give anything to have you back alive, and we intend to take advantage of that. And remember," the voice began, and Daralis could feel it lean in close, "all we need to do, is have you living for the deal to be arranged." Hot, humid breath was being blown on her ear, and its smell was giving her a headache.

She replied with slang.

"Dude. The breath is gnaaarrr."

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"I think that it would be most likely that the Orcs are in a series of caves a two day ride ahead of us," Aragorn said. "I also think that we should rest for tonight and continue early tomorrow."

"I disagree, Aragorn," spoke Legolas. If we continue through tonight, then we will find her sooner. We do not know the conditions she is being kept in, but they are not good. I need no rest, and indeed, were I asked to, I could not rest."

"I could not either," agreed Elladan.

"I have no need for rest either, Legolas, but you must remember that our horses do." Aragorn stated. "There is a shady glen with a pond ahead, I think that would be an ideal place, and tomorrow, the horses will be fit for a long ride."

Legolas couldn't deny the fact that the horses needed rest, and so he fell silent, yet furious.

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Later that night, Legolas laid on his roll. He had his eyes closed, and images of Rhiannon flowed through his mind. He remembered her dazed face when he had first arrived, he remembered her smile from the day at the beach, he remembered her darkened, passionate eyes when she was below him the night he first took her. He saw the same eyes, but this time it was no longer a memory.

"Your friends are going to be worried about you, Legolas. You've fallen asleep with your eyes closed."

"Silmeamin?" His mind was spinning, overjoyed, and wary.

"I miss that name," Rhiannon replied, smiling up at him. They were in her bedroom.

"What is this? How are you with me?"

"You're dreaming, duh." She laughed, and Legolas smiled down at her.

"I shall never wake again." He cupped her cheek with his hand.

"You have to wake up. You have to go and find our daughter isn't she beautiful, Legolas?"

"She is, yes."

"You should have seen her growing up. You didn't tell me in the letter what a pain in the ass she could be."

"I think, Silmeamin, that that was her human side shining through." Rhiannon laughed again.

"You would say that." They looked into each other's eyes for a moment. "Legolas, why are you so wary of Dara and Elladan? He seems to be a good pers-Elf."
"I do not want to let her go, Rhiannon. I cannot explain it. I feel like I need to protect her, even though I know that Elladan can do so. I am not ready."

"You need to get ready, Legolas. There are lots of changes to come."

"What does that mean?"

"I can't say." Rhiannon stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Legolas' neck, pressing their lips together. Legolas wrapped one arm around her waist and threaded his fingers through her hair, and Rhiannon rubbed a fingertip over the point of his ear, making his knees quiver and him moan into her mouth. The kiss grew more passionate, building up, until finally Rhiannon broke it and said,

"I miss that more than the name Legolas, I have to go now."

"You cannot," he replied vehemently. "I will not let you go this time." Rhiannon looked sad.

"You don't have a choice, darling. I may be back, though." She gave him a quick kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Legolas replied, feeling as if he were about to break apart.

With a pop, Rhiannon was gone and he was awake.

He felt strangely cold.

A/N: I couldn't have them apart any longer. He missed her too much, and he begged me last night in bed for a quick reunion, so there you are. :). Hope you all liked it.

* "Gnar" is the most awesome word ever. It is short for gnarly, and can be used in the same contexts, but sounds cooler. Spread the WORD!

Hobbit Ivy- everyone should thank you for this update. Shameless flattery is the most effective thing with me. :)