I don't own anyone except for Kate.

Also, before getting angry at my plot changes, please note that I outlined most of them in the first chapter. Thank you.

And a note to you "critics". I don't care that it's not exactly like the LOTR. Or like it at all. Because if I wanted to rewrite his story I would. I'm making this for the Legolas fans, not for the obsessive people who have nothing better to do than criticize people's own creativity. Thank you.

The group set off once again. The Hobbits started singing a song softly. Footsteps echoed off the pebbles on the ground. Everything seemed peaceful. Then suddenly, a flash of gray jumped out in front of Kate.

She whipped her head around and saw a band of about twelve orcs. They were attacking! Kate drew her sword and held her breath. Everyone around her was fighting.

Suddenly one of them charged at her. She parried its heavy sword with her own. She pushed hard against it; her arms aching. Then suddenly she ducked as it swiped for her neck. Kate stuck her sword into its stomach and it fell down dead. For a moment she stared down in shock; her eyes wide and her breathing heavy. Kate had never taken another's life before.

But before she could think on it anymore she had to get back into action. Another Orc came from behind. As she quickly turned around, Kate saw it fall down dead with an arrow sticking out of it. When she looked up, Legolas nodded and continued on his fighting.

In an instant Kate was on the ground, an Orc on top of her. She managed to push it off just in time to grab for her sword which had fallen from her grip. She barely blocked his blade when Aragorn came and decapitated him. He held out a hand to help her up. Kate looked around and saw that all of the Orcs were dead.

"Is everyone alright?" asked Gandalf. Everyone nodded. Miraculously, no one was injured.

"Th-those were, Orcs right?" Kate asked somewhat timidly.

"Yes," said Boromir as he picked up his strewn pack. "Did you kill one?"

Kate bit her lip, "Yes I did."

Boromir laughed, "Welcome to war, princess." Then he walked away. Kate stood perplexed. She couldn't seem to read that man at all. Legolas put a hand on her shoulder as if for comfort then walked on himself. Kate followed behind slowly; lost in her thoughts.

A few days later the group was climbing up snowy cliffs of somewhere that Kate couldn't remember the name of. It was very cold and everyone was hip deep in snow. Everyone except for Legolas, who was walking nimbly on top of the snow.

Suddenly, there was a great wave of snow that fell upon the group. Kate panicked for a moment, because she was buried. Then a hand pulled her out of the snow. She looked up to see Legolas.

"Thanks," she said. He smiled at her as he grabbedSam from the snow as well.

Once everyone was unburied, Gandalf announced, "We will take the mines instead." There was a murmur through the group.

"I have relatives there that will gladly welcome us." Gimli seemed happy to be changing plans, and they set off. The entered the caves and were met with dark walls and muddy puddles. Kate took a step and crunched something under her foot that sounded suspiciously like a bone. She jumped back a little, startled and grabbed onto Legolas's arm next to her.

"Sorry," she mumbled. Kate dropped his arm as if it were fire.

"It's alright, I do not mind," he said. In the darkness Kate thought she could see him smile.

As the group works its way through the mine they started to miss the familiar feel of sunshine on their faces. No longer were their empty thoughts echoed by birds singing, but of water dripping into unknown places.

After a few days it was apparent that Gandalf was quite lost. Soon enough, however, they came upon a room with bones scattered around. Gimli discovered them to be of his kin and wept with sorrow over the loss of his loved ones.

No one quite knew what to do. It was then that Pippin accidentally knocked something down a well. It made clanking sounds that Legolas swore could wake the dead. He stiffened, knowing that anything could have heard that.

And something did. It was moments later that the whole group took off at a sprint to exit the caves as quick as possible. Legolas stopped mid-run. They were surrounded by Orcs. He drew his bow and arrow and out of the corner of his eye saw everyone following suit with their weapons. He looked down at Kate and saw her sword drawn. She looked up at him; her green eyes wide with fear. He felt a pang in his chest and nodded. Legolas did not know what that feeling was, but he knew he was not going to let harm come to her.

Suddenly the massive crowd of Orcs scrambled. The party looked towards each other, each with confusion knitted on their brows. A loud roaring could be heard. Something was coming. Gandalf sounded the alert and they ran. It was a balrog.

As everyone crossed over the bride to safety, Legolas turned and saw Gandalf battling the monster. He breathed a sigh of relief when Gandalf threw down his enemy and ran to join the group at their departure.

They finally made it out and onto snowy cliffs.

"Come on, we have to keep moving," Aragorn motioned for the group to keep going. Legolas looked around. Everyone was dirty and tired. But they were all alive and mostly unharmed. He raised his eyes to the horizion.

"It will be dark soon. We need to find a safe place to camp for the night," he said to Aragorn.

Aragorn stroked his chin then answered, "There's a place over there we can make safe camp. Let's go."

Kate felt a giant relief as she lay her head down on the rock that was serving as her pillow. It had been a long day and she was tired. So very tired.

"There's a small stream over here if you want to wash up a bit," Frodo said as he passed her lying down. Kate moaned and raised her head, opening her eyes.

"Thanks," she figured it was worth the extra five minutes of not sleeping to try and clean up. After all, cleanliness is next to godliness…or something… Kate reached the streamed and took a handful of the icy water and splashed it on her face. She used it to clean off the dirt and residue of the trip as well as that on her neck and forearms. She sat back on her heels, feeling refreshed, and breathed in the cool night air. Kate turned her head slightly to the side then let out a small gasp.

"My apologies. I did not mean to startle you," Legolas said to her, bearing his perfect white grin. Kate quickly stood up and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It's alright. Um, I'm done if you want to, use…the…water." What is it about him that makes your stomach so floppy?

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright after what happened in the mines," Kate knit her brow at his comment. Does he not get that I can handle myself?

He smiled once again, "Please do not mistake my concern for unfaithfulness. I just don't want anything to happen to you that's all." Kate nodded and moved as if to walk away from him. The wind blew a piece of hair off of the side of her face, exposing a cut she had on her cheek. Legolas was quick to stop her and raise his hand towards it.

"You're cut," his fingers lay just before touching Kate's skin. She gulped and found herself unable to speak. It was then that he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. She pulled back from reflex. Then bit her lip. Legolas had a look on his face that Kate couldn't quite figure out. Then he suddenly and briskly walked off.

Kate remembered the unreadable lookin Legolas's ice blue eyes. Why did he just kiss me? Why did I pull away? Why am I not mad that he just kissed me? Oh lord, I liked it. I like him.

Legolas stormed off to his own makeshift sleeping area. He saw Aragorn look up from the corner of his eye but Legolas didn't feel like talking. What was he thinking? Was he even thinking at all? Why did he just kiss Kate? He's never done something so random like that before. And why did it hurt him so much that she jumped back so quickly?