Disclaimer: How many times must I say this? I do not own any of Tolkien's works. Only Elli. Happy now? The single translation is at the bottom. If I missed anything, I'm sure I covered it in the last two chapters.

Chapter 3

The room was dark and smelled of rotting flesh. The cold irons on her wrists and ankles burned into her skin and the rough wood grated against her back. Shouts and screams of terror could be heard through the thick wooden door and stout stone walls. The cold resided in her body, creeping into her mind and numbing all thoughts but one: her overwhelming fear of becoming yrch.

The door groaned in agony as it swung inward, bringing with it a harsh blue light that made her squint in pain. She had been in the darkness too long, had not felt the light in ages it seemed. She cringed when the Wizard spoke.

"My dear, you will be so useful to us." His words poured over her like boiling water, searing her skin and causing unbelievable pain. "However, I am at a lost as to what to do with you. The nights are quite lonely for me, although I am sorely in need of help. Yet I do not wish to share my bed with yrch. They are such vile creatures, but serve their purpose well." He traced his hand along her jaw. She could feel only pain at his touch. "You will be broken, she-elf. No matter what it takes, you will be broken and you will be mine."

With that, her world went dark again.

Eliessa bolted upright in bed, sweat pouring from her skin and panting heavily, the night air blowing across her face doing nothing to cool her down. She could still feel the burning along her jaw, the sickness she had felt when the Blue Wizard had suggested she be his concubine, or even worse, mate. Her stomach was also turning knots at the sheer terror of the thought of becoming an orc. On her back she could feel splinters burrowing into her skin, and on her wrists and ankles the iron still burned.

"It was nothing but the same dream I've had for several nights now," she whispered. "One that has come unbidden and forced itself upon me and would not let me out of its grasp, as always," she added fiercely. "Damn that wizard!" she yelled, finally losing her temper, while throwing a lamp through the window, sending shards of glass flying all over the room. "Curse it," she muttered, adding some of the more colorful Elvish phrases under her breath.

"Arwen is going to kill me," she said as she tore a sheet in half and then one half of it again. "And then Aragorn won't even bother to try to stop her when he sees that window." She wrapped the torn sheet around her bare feet, thankful for the other lamps about her room. "No, no, no. In fact, he just might help her kill me." She started sweeping the room with the other half-sheet, muttering about her imminent death at the hands of her friends. "I wonder how they'll do it exactly? Shall they hang me? Or slit my throat?" She giggled at the idea of Arwen taking a knife to her throat.

After a few moments, the glass was all picked up and shoved into a far corner. "Perhaps they will not notice," she thought. Gracefully, she walked over to the window and looked out at the night sky. "Why does such a peaceful night have to be ruined by such unpleasant dreams?" she muttered crossly, then yawned. "Curse it. Ever since coming here I haven't been able to sleep. That would be three nights straight now." She yawned again and closed her eyes, only to have the hateful images sear her eyelids. "Ai!" she gasped and fell to the floor, hitting her head against the wall. She had not even been able to open her eyes.

---

Aragorn was in his study eating breakfast with his wife when there was a quiet knock on the door. Looking over to Arwen, he raised an eyebrow in quiet question. She picked up her spoon and shrugged her shoulders, not knowing who would be at their door at such an early hour. He cleared his throat and said "Enter!" in a clear voice, silently hoping the doorman wouldn't hear and open the doors. It was rare for him to eat breakfast alone with his wife and he enjoyed it. He did not enjoy, however, being disturbed on such a rare occasion.

Contrary to his hopes, the doors opened. He thought briefly about finding a deaf doorman, at least until he saw who had entered. Standing quickly, he ran over to his friends and enveloped them in great bear hugs. "Legolas! Gimli! It is good to see you again, my friends. Come and eat."

Arwen stood and smiled at the unlikely pair before sitting again. Friends or no, she had a right to become possessive over the rare breakfast. Maybe she would have to find a deaf doorman for those times she wanted to be alone with him…

Neither Legolas nor Gimli cared about being ignored; they'd return later and they knew Arwen would be much happier to see them. However, they had to reply to Aragorn before he burst. "We decided to drop by to see you lad," Gimli's voice rumbled.

Aragorn grinned. He was about to speak when he heard Arwen cough politely. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but I will be with you in an hour's time." He had a twinkle in his eye that only Legolas and Gimli could see, and they knew it was time to leave. "In the meantime, wash off the dirt and grime of your travels and break your fast."

The pair bowed to him and left for their customary rooms. Aragorn closed the doors and turned, thanking the Valar for the renewed quiet.

---

Legolas listened patiently as Gimli rambled during their breakfast. Fortunately for the Elf, he had learned to speak much quieter, but the Dwarf's booming voice echoed miserably off the stone walls of the palace, making it much louder than intended. Of course Gimli never noticed as his ears weren't nearly as sensitive as his companion's, but it still bothered Legolas at times. Eventually he just put his fork down and told Gimli, "I will be back momentarily."

Gimli huffed and burped as his friend left. "Momentarily, eh? I'll be lucky to see his face before winter falls."

---

Legolas wandered aimlessly through the halls, silently musing about his adventures with Gimli and the Fellowship. It had been only a year since the destruction of the Ring and he was already feeling restless. Unbidden, his thoughts returned to the mysterious elleth they had encountered several nights prior. She hadn't looked too happy when he told her his name, and for the briefest second she looked saddened at the mention of the Lonely Mountain. Why?

Pausing in his travels, he thought about it, not coming to any clear answer. On a whim he asked a passing servant if the Lady Eliessa were staying here in the Citadel?

"Of course, my Lord. Her rooms are at the end of this hall."

"Many thanks." He quickened his step and knocked on the door. "Lady Eliessa?"

---

Eliessa was swimming through the darkness, trying to escape when she heard her name called. She tried calling out, but it was no use. The inky blackness swallowed her voice. Upon hearing her name again, she became frantic, clawing her way to a non-existent surface. Thrashing about, she only became more and more exhausted and had almost surrendered herself to the dark void when there was a light. It was ever so faint at first, barely noticeable, but it soon became brighter. The voice calling her name became stronger, until she opened her eyes to glorious sunlight and a very frightened and blonde-headed elf, with the most beautiful green eyes.

"My Lady, are you all right?" Legolas lifted her to her feet. He had already seen the broken window pane and was curious, but had since decided that some questions were better left for later.

"Ugh…" Making a most un-ladylike sound, Eliessa touched her head gingerly, and shook it slowly. She felt herself led over to her bed and sank into its warm embrace and tried to close her eyes, only to be rebuked quickly.

"There is a nasty bruise on your head; you cannot fall asleep. Stay awake while I fetch a healer." Immediately, Legolas bounded from the room and ran to find a servant nearby. "Fetch a healer, fast, boy! Bring him straight to Lady Eliessa's room!" Nodding dumbly, the boy did as he was told and ran as fast as his young legs would allow.

Legolas ran back into the room and almost jumped onto the bed. Instead, he restrained himself just enough to sit next to the stricken elleth and do his best to keep her awake. He made sure her eyes never glazed over while he told her amusing stories from his childhood. He was almost sad when the healer came and he had to remove the beautiful head from his lap.

"Will she be well, sir?"

The healer noted the concern in the Elf's voice, as well as the emotion hiding behind the eyes. "She will be once you get out of here and let me be about my business!" He watched the Elf scurry out the room like a child being scolded, smiled slightly and bent about his grim task. "Now, miss, if you'll just lie still…"

---

Gimli waited for Legolas for over an hour in their rooms. Exasperated, he went to go find Aragorn, who was busy with matters of state. Not knowing what else to do, he wanted to pester Arwen, but could not find her. Eventually, he ended up going to the kitchens, and decided that he was going to be a Hobbit and have a second breakfast. Lo and behold, who did he find but his friend.

"Legolas!" he practically roared. "Where in the blazes have ye been?"

Legolas hung his head miserably at the accusation in his friend's voice. "I am sorry, Gimli, but a matter came up that required my attention."

Gimli briefly wondered whose skirt Legolas had been chasing, then realized that none of the women here, save Arwen whom Legolas would not have chased were his life dependant on it, were his friend's type. Mainly, they were all human, and to Gimli, they were all far too skinny with too little hair to be of his liking. "What pressing matter might this be?"

Legolas could still tell that there was a subtle hint of anger in his friend's eyes, so he briefly wondered if the truth would be a good thing or not. "I met someone who needed immediate attention," he ended up saying.

"Well why didn't you call the cavalry, lad?"

Legolas dodged a man carrying a tray full of freshly-baked bread. "You and she seem not to get along very well, my friend."

Gimli thought back. Who is he talking about? "Not the lass from the other night, Legolas?" His eyes were dark with a growing fury. For some reason, she just didn't sit well with him.

The look of hurt in Legolas's eyes explained everything. "Why did you go hunting for her, Legolas? It's not as if she even tried to be friendly!" With that, he stormed out, needing to vent his anger onto a hard, solid object.

Legolas looked long and hard at the doorway through which his best friend had retreated. Lovely; now I've alienated him, too.

---

Eliessa woke slowly, gradually growing accustomed to the added weight on her head. She could tell, from years of experience, that there was a lot of bandages wrapped around it, and that it had been expertly done. The hard part was trying to remember the last time she had been in a battle in order to receive such a wound, but it became too painful to think after a short while. She actually opened her eyes, only to find a worried Arwen and a concerned Aragorn. Looking farther back, she noticed that Gorgeous Eyes was present, finally remembering that it was Legolas. She turned her head and smiled weakly at Arwen. "Non cuin, mellonin. Barely, but I am still here." Arwen reached out and hugged her. Aragorn did the same after Arwen was finished. Legolas looked as if he wanted to, but held back. Struggling, Eliessa sat up and looked hard at Legolas. "I see you have made it to Gondor."

Legolas saw the ice, the pain, the torture in the eyes, barely masked. He nodded. "Aye; we have."

"Where is the Dwarf?"

"Avoiding the both of us."

"Oh."

Aragorn coughed lightly. "Elli, I'll have food brought up to you. Legolas, find Gimli; the three of us must talk. Bring him to my private chambers."

Eliessa looked between the men. "If you are to talk about why the Lady sent me here, then I am to be present." She started to leave the bed, but Arwen pushed her back down.

"The healer said you are not to move for the rest of the day, at least. Besides, mellon, we do not even know what happened. Let them talk; it is not as if they will be making any decisions in your absence." She looked pointedly at Aragorn, who nodded. "Then it is settled. Aragorn, would you send for the food now?"

The men took that last sentence as a means of escape and went about their various chores. In the meantime, Elli told her closest friend the events behind what had happened.

---

Legolas and Gimli sat dumbly while Aragorn shared with them Elli's message. They couldn't really form any coherent thoughts for a while after he had finished, so they sat in silence, trying to form words. Aragorn could see the anger in their eyes and knew they would stop at nothing to free Gimli's people.

Legolas looked down at his friend and sensed that he would not be able to talk for a while. "Aragorn, how long has this been happening?"

Aragorn shook his head. "I am not sure, Legolas. Elli only came to me with this news three days ago."

Legolas nodded. "We will need to get there quickly." Expecting Aragorn's approval, he began to ask forhis horse and supplies when Aragorn held up his hand.

"No, my friend. We will need Gandalf's help in this. I have already sent a messenger to Rivendell; we will have to wait until he comes. In the meantime, rest and prepare yourselves for your journey."

At the word "your" Gimli swam up from the depths of his mind. "You mean you're not coming with us laddie?"

"No; I cannot, Gimli. I have a kingdom to run and to interfere with two other kingdoms such as this would bring strife upon myself and this land. We need peace and a chance to rebuild." Aragorn sighed heavily and slouched back into his chair. A smile played at the corner of his lips. "Besides, I no longer have need to prove myself to Elrond or Arwen; I am King of Gondor."

Aragorn's humor did little to lighten the mood. Gimli just grumbled and said, "Then let us hope the wizard gets here quickly."

---

Arwen was as pale as a sheet by the time Eliessa finished her tale. "I did not know—"

Eliessa cut her off with a wave of her hand. "Do not worry. But please, tell no one."

Against her better judgment, Arwen agreed, and prayed she would not regret it.

Non cuin, mellonin: I am alive, my friend.