Legolas had instructed his charge to spread out over the area. He looked everywhere for any sign of Elessa or her horse. He was coming close to the Old Forest Road and was about to double back when he heard something moving in the thicket near him. He went to investigate.

It was Elessa's horse. And to his horror, it was near death. Crude orcish arrows were jutting from its flank and it had lost most of its blood from a large gash across its nose. Legolas immediately knelt at the horse's side and whispered calming words to it. He could sense the terrible pain it was in and rising to his feet, Legolas notched two arrows in his bow. Tears stung his eyes as he let the arrows fly, putting the once marvelous beast out of its misery. There was no time for lamenting, as Elessa was still to be found.

He checked the area carefully and found orc tracks leading to the East. There were markings on the ground in between the tracks, indicating that something or someone had been dragged away from the area. He quickly arose and bolted in the direction of the tracks, anxiety and despair churning in the pit of his stomach.

"Elessa! Elessa, answer me!" he shouted as he ran. He unsheathed his knives as he crashed through some dense foliage and into a small clearing. The vision that greeted him made him stop in his path. His mouth opened, but all words escaped him.

The lady, his dear friend for over 200 years, was lying before him, sprawled in an unnatural angle on the forest floor. Her hands were tied over her head and the end of the rope was left hanging long, indicating that it was how she had been dragged to this point. Her once beautiful dress was ripped to shreds and her blond hair was now red with blood. Her face was barely recognizable. The orcs hated the elves almost as much as they were hated by them and it showed on every inch of Elessa's body.

Legolas finally found the will to move and raced to her side. He dropped his knives and fell to his knees on the ground next to her. He quickly untied her bonds and gently lowered her hands. Slowly, putting his arms under her, he straightened out her body and cradled her to his chest.

Miraculously, she groaned as he moved her.

He looked down at her in his arms and cried out, "Elessa? Elessa, speak to me. Please, by Eru, say something."

Elessa opened her eyes slowly. What little skin was left undamaged was extremely pale and her voice when it came, seemed to come from somewhere far away.

"Legolas?" she whispered, her eyes finally focusing on his face.

"Yes Elessa, it's me."

"Legolas," she repeated quietly, slowly raising a hand to his cheek. "You came for me; I knew it would be you."

"Shhh, it's alright now. Try not to move."

Elessa tried to smile, but her bruised and battered face would not allow it. "At last I can finally tell you the truth. I was so worried you would not come in time. But, thankfully the weight will be lifted and my conscious will no longer be burdened."

"Elessa, you must rest. We can speak later, when you are healed." Legolas tilted his head up and whistled loudly to alert his brethren nearby to his location.

The lady weakly put her fingers over his mouth and said, "Please Legolas, I can not go without telling you this first."

"Elessa, I do not understand. What are you speaking of?" asked the prince, bringing his hand up to cover hers. He wrapped his fingers around her hand and held it tightly.

Behind Legolas, unseen, Orlindel and his guards silently entered the clearing. Orlindel put up his arms to stop them in their tracks when he heard Elessa's words.

"My heart has always belonged to you, Legolas. Though you were unaware of it, I saved my deeper self for you. I never allowed myself to fully bond with Orlindel. Though I loved my husband, my womb remained empty for all but your heir."

Legolas's mind raced with this new information. "You never told me, Elessa. You never told me you felt this way," said the prince softly.

"It wouldn't have mattered. You never shared my feelings and you never could," a small, painful smile touched the corners of her mouth, "there was another you were meant to be with and I am happy that you found her."

Tears silently rolled down his cheeks. "I am so sorry. Forgive me Elessa."

Orlindel's men looked at him. Orlindel ignored their questioning stares and watched the interaction between Legolas and Elessa intensely.

Elessa's eyelids fluttered and closed. Her hand relaxed in Legolas's and dropped uselessly against him.

"Elessa!" cried out Legolas. She slowly opened her eyes again and looked at him, but the recognition of his face was starting to wane. "Don't leave us," he said pleading. "We need you...I need you. Your friendship and council are irreplaceable to me, don't you know that? Please, dear lady, hold on."

"Legolas," whispered Elessa, her voice fading. "May we meet again, my dearest prince. My one true love." With that, Elessa's spirit diminished completely and left the confines of her tortured body to find its way into the Halls of Mandos. Legolas cried out, hugging her tightly to his body. He rocked her, sobbing as he grieved deeply in his loss.

Orlindel gave a signal to his group and they backed away out of the clearing silently. Though the others turned away as they walked, Orlindel kept his eyes fixed on Legolas's back, fury and grief burning his soul. He circled around and entered the clearing again, but this time within Legolas's line of sight and without his guards.

"Legolas!" he called as he burst through the bushes. "Did you find..." he let his voice trail off in mock surprise.

Legolas looked up at his cousin, tears streaming down his face. "Orlindel, we were too late. She is gone."

"Let me be alone with my wife," ordered Orlindel.

Legolas nodded and reluctantly set Elessa's body back onto the ground. He stood and walked to where he had dropped his blades. As he reseated them, the other guards found their way to the prince's location. Before anything was said, Legolas motioned for them to leave the clearing with him.