The Power of Love

Authors note: Hey everyone! I'm glad you liked the chapie! Please keep reviewing! Sends Reviewers bowls of strawberries and cream with lots of sugar Thanks.

Chapter 3: Rescue (YAY!)

They had been riding for days. Araviniel was given little water and no food. She was riding on the back of the leader's horse, still tied up but the gag had been removed. She was known for her impeccable memory but she had given up long ago on remembering the way back home. Tears had dried and no more would come. She had given up all hope.

They had cleared the forest of Lothlorien long ago. She wondered why Haldir's guard had not intercepted them. She also wondered how they had even gotten into the forest in the first place.

They were past all elven territory that she was familiar with. Her guess was they would bring her to a human settlement and sell her for service....or pleasure. She felt lucky that they hadn't done anything to her...yet. The leader was Rion. She didn't know what his name meant.

Soon she could see tall thick trees looming before the riding party. 'Where are we?' she thought. She heard Rion laugh and motion for one of the riders to come along side him. A young man with short blond hair raced his horse up to Rion. He was handsome but his eyes told of many evils done in his name.

"Tell the men we camp inside the forest!" he yelled. The blond man nodded and slowed his horse so as to catch up with the others. She was to busy looking at the forest that they were riding into to hear anything that was said.

The trees were huge and closely knitted together. There branches reached up and blotted out the sun, making the wood seem dark and almost evil. The forest was green and full of life. They were riding into the trees now. The foliage soon closed in behind them. When she looked back she could not see past the trees to the other side. It was like a heavy curtain closing her off from the rest of the world.

Panic filled her heart. She may have been gone for a long time already but the forest sealed her off even from the sun. 'Was this where it was supposed to end?' she thought. It wasn't long before they were deep in the forest and the horses stopped. Rion slid off his horse, yelled some orders to his men and then turned toward her.

He sneered at the fear in her eyes before grabbing her around the waist and dragging her off the horse. She scarcely had enough time to stand up before his hand wrapped around her wrist and dragged her toward one of the trees. He shoved her to the ground and she just laid there. He laughed and walked over to his horse.

She didn't want to get up. She was too tired. Rion started unpacking his horse and she heard him say that they would camp here for the night.

Darkness fell quickly and with it came the dread and anticipation that came with every night. The men were all seated around the fire. Araviniel was cold and tied to a nearby tree. Every breeze left her with a shudder. The fire cast an eerie glow on the faces around it.

Rion had just finished his meat when he glanced over at the huddled form by the tree. He smiled evilly and asked, "Hey boys! How bout some fun tonight." Araviniel looked up sharply at him. He just smiled when sounds of agreement reached his ears. Araviniel cowered by the tree as he got up and walked over toward her.

Rion walked over to her and crouched down in front of her. She didn't look at him but instead tried to shrink as far away as the ropes would go. His smile left his face and he reached out and grabbed her jaw. He squeezed it tightly and pulled her face up so he could see in her eyes. Then he took out his knife and cut the ropes that held her there.

He pulled her up and shoved her toward the fire. She fell on her hands but before she could scramble up a sharp pain filled her head. He had kicked her. She fell on her back and raised her hand to her head. When she drew it back it was covered in blood. Her vision blurred as she tried to squint so she could see.

Rion was on her again in just a few minutes. He ran his hands over her body and smiled. She desperately tried to push him off of her but he continued to roam his hands over her. The men by the fire watched on, they were obviously used to this. "Please..." Araviniel begged Rion. He stopped and looked at her. "Please?" he looked at his men and laughed. The he turned back toward her and leaned over to her ear saying, "It's much too late for that my love. I will enjoy you tonight."

He began to undo the fastens of her once beautiful dress when suddenly an arrow was at his temple and a clear voice rang out in the dark, "Get off her, Pen-vorn" (Dark one) Rion got off of Araviniel slowly and she scrambled away from him. She looked up to find a tall elf with blond hair, pulled back into two braids, and about 14 elves surrounding him. They all had their arrows placed around the camp. One wrong move and there would be blood spilt this night.

The elf that had saved her looked strangely familiar. Then she remembered. It was the same elf who had timely appeared when her father was hitting her at the celebration. The blood was running steadily down her head now and she was finding it hard to think. Everything was getting darker.

Legolas cringed as he saw the elleth. Her hair was matted and her head was bleeding. Her arm was black and blue and she looked like she was starving. Anger kindled in his heart as he looked at the man before him. He backed him up against a tree and nodded to one of his troops. "Keep him there Calenmir" The elf nodded and watched over Rion with a gleaming eye.

Legolas nodded to the rest of the troops and had all five of the men surrounded. They were tied up and placed by the fire. Araviniel couldn't see and her strength was leaving her. She felt herself fall on the forest floor but unconsciousness felt like a warm relief.

Out of the corner of his eye Legolas saw the elf maiden collapse on the ground and rushed toward her. He looked at her head and arm and determined the first a minor wound and the second a shattered wrist. He lifted the girl onto his horse and climbed up in back of her.

Legolas looked to his troops and said, "Take them back to the dungeon. I must ride ahead." Calenmir nodded and started to give orders. "Be careful my friend." Legolas said then he rode off into the forest.

Araviniel sank into his chest like a limp doll. Legolas wondered where she was from and why she was with those men. It wasn't uncommon that she-elves were taken but it was rare that anyone found them before they were dead and or raped. This girl was fortunate that these men were foolish enough to take her into elven territory and that they were scouting farther then unusual tonight.

Araviniel moaned and tried to open her eyes. When she did her sight met trees flying by her and she could feel some one behind her. 'Oh no,' she thought 'Rion has escaped and taken me with him.' She tried to struggle but she was surprised to hear a clear melodious tone meet her ear saying, "Relax, I'm taking you to the Mirkwood palace. You need a healer."

She relaxed but could not feel comfortable next to this male behind her. He seemed concerned but one could never tell. Legolas gave his right hand the rains and with his left he circled her waist. He felt her tense at the motion but he was worried she might fall off. 'Of course she would tense, she was kidnapped by men and then she was almost raped.' He shook his head and said to her, "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you" Araviniel was shocked by this but believed what he had said. He would take care of her, for now.

Author's note: Sorry this chapie was short but the next one will be much longer. Now you all know how Legolas comes in to the story! Don't you feel so.....gifted? C-Ya-P.J.