AN: This took longer than expected, and I apologise. This week was...rather busy for me and I was unable to write. Thank you so much for your reviews, I really do appreciate them; I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

You may not have noticed, but this story got flamed recently. I usually don't complain about flames, in fact, I do welcome them, if they are constructive criticism about the story- plot oversights and such. Anonymously leaving a URL to a 'mary-sue' definition site is not only cowardly, it's downright depressing. I've gone out of my way to make sure this story is as un-'fangirl-meets-fellowship' as possible, making an actual 'storyline' and 'plot', and all this person can do is read one chapter and pronounce the entire story worthless? They signed their 'name' as 'This is not Tolkien'.

*clears throat, hauls out her 'Websters'*

Fantasy: A highly imaginative composition, as a story or play, portraying unrealistic characters or events

Fan: An enthusiast, devotee or admirer

Fiction: Imaginative prose literature; anything imagined, invented or feigned.

*loudly snaps book shut*

Chapter Ten:

Current Mood: aggravated

Current Music: Everything to Everyone- Everclear

I ran into Mirien today. Literally. She and a messenger, Haldir, from Lorien, were being attacked by spiders near the dock. I am just glad they were not Orcs; Orcs are not as stupid as the spiders. It does not matter though, they were cornered. If we had not come...

I knew we should have left a patrol at the dock! Hopefully this attack will spark greater interest in protecting our only connection to our kin in Lothlorien. At least it would if those pushy advisors would stay out of it. Father is wise, but he leans too heavily on the advice of others and not enough on the judgement of those who actually know what is going on.

I fear for Lasgalen, I really do.

"I could have given you everything." Legolas looked long and hard at the injured elf on the forest floor. He knew his words must have sounded cruel to her, for it had been she who had pursued him.

But she had also been cruel.

Her marriage had hurt him more deeply than she'd ever known, more than anyone ever could. So much that he'd vowed never to open his heart in that way to another ever again, even if it was her. This was what went through his mind as he turned away from her to head back into the woods. He was so deep in thought that he didn't see the other elf waiting for him in the clearing.

"How is she?" It was Haldir, and Legolas wondered how much of their conversation he'd heard. He had wondered a lot about him since they'd met briefly during battle, and then later as he'd tended to Mirien. He knew Haldir from the few times he'd visited as a messenger of Celeborn. He had always thought him to be a strong person, very practical and level-headed, but when he'd seen him crouch over Mirien...he had his doubts.

"She will be fine," he replied, "she is lucky she was only stung." At Haldir's inquisitive look he elaborated. "Too often our scouts 'disappear' after an attack." The marchwarden grimly nodded his understanding. There was an uncomfortable silence between them before the Prince continued. "Why have you come?"

"I bear a message for your father," the other replied, motioning to his pack. Legolas nodded. Another meaningful silence followed. Then at once they spoke together.

"So do y-"

"What di-" They both laughed nervously, indicating for the other to continue. Legolas shook his head. "No, I insist." Haldir sighed, as if trying to avoid speaking, finally meeting Legolas' eyes.

"You know Mirien?" he asked. Legolas had to suppress the smirk he felt struggling to the surface.

"Of course I know her," he replied lightly, "her family lives in the palace." Haldir's eyebrow raised almost imperceptibly. You mean you did not know? Interesting...

"But she is not of the royal family," he probed, almost hopefully. Legolas sighed and let the smirk win.

"She is the daughter of my father's Chief Advisor. They live in the palace with us." Legolas caught Haldir's next question before he even opened his mouth, "and yes, we were...involved." Haldir absorbed the information and nodded.

"How 'involved'?" Legolas was about to answer, but then looked behind him. Turning back to Haldir, he took the other elf by the arm and led him further away from where Mirien lay. When he stopped he stood nearly face to face with the other elf.

"Listen," Legolas whispered, "I will only say this once: If you wish to become...'involved' with Mirien, the best thing you can do is walk away. Now." He made to leave, but Haldir pulled him back.

"Why?"

"Besides the fact that she's married?" Shock. She did not mention that little detail either. Her marriage must really be in trouble...

"Married?" Legolas watched as the Lorien elf's face crumbled like so much dry leaves. He nodded.

"If you need any more reason to leave her alone, I can tell you what 'involved' means." Haldir just stared at him as if he didn't know if he wanted to hear it or not. "Years ago," he began, "Before she had reached her majority, we were together. I had known her since she was born, and we had always been friends, but as she grew older we...became close." Legolas paused, as if it was painful to recall.

"We had four... years together," he said quieter, unable to find a suitable adjective for the memory. "Then she reached her majority." He looked up and caught the other elf's eyes. "She was betrothed to marry another- before she was born she was betrothed. She...neglected to mention it to me. In four years, she never once..." he turned away, and Haldir saw his shoulders shake. When he turned back, a pace away from him now, there was nothing to betray the emotions Haldir knew were just beneath the surface.

"All I can offer is advice," he continued, "even if you do not heed it." He held Haldir's eyes firmly, the blue depths saying a lot more than his words. "Do not get caught. That is all I can say, just do not get caught." He was about to leave again when Haldir stopped him.

"By who, her husband or her father?" Legolas stopped as he spoke. He turned, half looking over his shoulder. Haldir thought he saw a humourless smile on the other elf's face, as if he knew from experience.

"Pick one."

Two hours later the scouts escorted Haldir and Mirien towards the city. Legolas led the way, and after careful consideration, he allowed Haldir to carry Mirien. He would have had one of his scouts take her and have Haldir with him, but somehow he knew the marchwarden would never allow it. He would have taken her himself, but he needed his eyes and ears to look out for danger on the way- he could not afford the distraction.

It was just after midnight when they broke camp, and they did not stop their journey until they were in the city that morning. A few hours after daybreak they were within the gates, guards everywhere, greeting their prince and some sparing sympathetic looks to the unconscious elf in Haldir's arms. Legolas guided Haldir through the city towards the palace, leading him through the stone archway and through the surprisingly light and airy halls of the stronghold.

He wondered how something that was carved our of sheer rock could feel so open and... elven. He had always thought that stonework was reserved solely for the dwarves, although he knew that the fortress in North Lasgalen was built by dwarves back when there was still peace between the two races. He could see that friendship in the craftsmanship around him- every care was taken to see that there was as much openness as possible. Even the stone was worked in an almost organic way- carved into the likeness of trees and foliage. The archway they passed through seemed to be two great trees whose boughs met above them.

The fortress itself, though stone all around with strong high walls, had very little roof. Only in the centre of the castle was there any sort of enclosure above, and this was most likely removable, only put up to keep out the rain. The outer edges were covered by the boughs of the thick trees around it, providing the illusion, to those who called the stone tower 'home,' of living in the forest. Haldir had stayed in this outer edge whenever he had visited and, although it wasn't his flet in Lothlorien, it served him well enough for the week or so he was there.

The group was whisked inside the tower, and Legolas led Haldir down a long hallway, through several doors and rooms on what, presumably, was the fastest route to the healing rooms. Several elves tried to greet their Prince, but he brushed past them, too intent on getting Mirien to a healer. Some of them nodded their understanding, others gasped in either surprise or offence, Haldir could not decide. At last they entered into a cool, brightly lit chamber which could only be the main healing room. Legolas turned to Haldir and relieved him of his sleeping burden, laying her on an already prepared bed. An elf wandered out of some sort of office after hearing movement.

"Caunin," she greeted uncertainly, "man le carel-" she cut herself off as she saw the elf on the bed. She immediately knelt beside her and began to look over her injuries. They looked on as the healer uncovered several wounds, all of which seem to have mostly healed. "Lhingril," she said, more as a statement than a question. Legolas nodded, more to himself than in answer. The healer looked up and called to another elf in another office, instructing him to find Mirien's parents. The much younger elf nodded and hurriedly left on his quest. ***My prince...what are you (doing)...spiders***

Legolas and Haldir found seats while the healer, named Salébiel, cleaned and re-bandaged the wounds. Later she took statements from them as to what happened, jotting down details with a swift hand, and left them to stay with the patient.

After what seemed like hours, but was really only several minutes, the younger healer returned with two very concerned looking elves. Haldir saw them first, and when Legolas looked up he saw- or thought he saw- the muscles in the Prince's jaw tighten as they entered. The female floated forward as soon as she saw Mirien, anguish on her face. She cried out her daughter's name and knelt by her bedside, soothingly stroking her hand. This he had expected. What Haldir did not expect was the look he caught between Legolas and Mirien's father- harder than the stone of the stronghold they stood in.