Author's Warning – There is graphic sexual contact in this chapter.

Chapter 6 – Gruesome Discoveries
Lothlorien
(Ariedel's POV)

We arrived in a place I could only describe as a fairyland. The inhabitants were all Elves. Legolas led me by the hand up a stairway that wound around a huge tree. We followed behind Gandalf and some of the other Elves, including Thranduil.

When we reached the top, we were greeted by a man and a woman. Of the two, the woman drew my attention. She was a beautiful Elf, even more beautiful than Legolas. But then again, most of the Elves I encountered were beautiful. There wasn't an ugly one in the bunch.

Legolas leaned closer to whisper in my ear. "Lady Galadriel approaches."

Her blue eyes were spiritual and when she trained them on me, I could feel her looking into my head, into my soul, into my very existence. A gasp escaped my lungs and the sound made Legolas turn to me.

"I know why you have come. But you are too late. The evil already spreads like a disease beyond the borders of Mordor." The voice had been in my head. Her lips hadn't moved. But her words startled me. How did she know? She turned to Gandalf and smiled. "It is good to see you again, Gandalf." This time she spoke aloud.

Gandalf bowed his head. "The pleasure is mine, my lady."

She greeted Thranduil next, but I didn't hear their words. My thoughts were still clouded by the words she had spoken to me.

And then she moved to Legolas. "I see you have brought back a wife."

Legolas didn't introduce me, which I found to be pretty rude.

"I know who you are. You have come from a far off place beyond the stars." Again the voice was in my head. She knew…I was flabbergasted. How could she know? "You may trust your abilities against one creature, but will you trust them against a thousand?"

"What?" I asked her aloud. A thousand aliens? Where did she get the idea that there were that many?

My question went unanswered as Galadriel then turned to Thranduil and Gandalf, her expression quickly turning grave. "Aragorn sends word. Remain in Lothlorien for his message."

There was no debate, no inquiries. No one questioned how she knew Aragorn was sending a message. We were to remain until some messenger came via pony express. According to Legolas, that was a two day's ride, maybe shorter if he galloped all the way.

We descended the winding stairway again and Legolas took me by the hand through a thicker part of the forest.

"What's the deal with her talking in my head? Or was I imagining it?"

Legolas smiled. "She is Galadriel, the lady of light and she possesses great power. She can see into our minds and sometimes speaks but not through her lips."

I turned to look at him. It sounded to me like he was smitten with her and I felt a tinge of jealousy. "She's beautiful," I said just to see how he responded.

"An elleth of extraordinary beauty."

I stopped and pulled my hand away from his. "So you lied to me then."

He frowned at me. "About what?"

"You told me the other night that you were never in love."

"And I spoke the truth."

Now I was getting mad. "That's bullshit, Legolas. How can you say that when I can see you're clearly in love with her."

"With who?"

"With her?"

"With Lady Galadriel?"

"No, my grandmother!" I said sarcastically.

"But I do not even know your grandmother."

His innocent comment made me laugh, but I was still a little mad.

The corner of his mouth tilted upward in a half smile as realization seemed to finally dawn in his pretty little head. "I am not in love with her."

"You lie. I can see it in your eyes."

Legolas stepped closer to me. "Ariedel, what you see in my eyes is what I feel for you."

My mouth hung open, but no words came out. Was he trying to tell me in a round about way that he was in love with me?

He continued to smile. "You would battle her for my heart?"

"I'd blacken her eyes and flatten her nose across her face," I said through clenched teeth before I could stop the words. After working so hard to deny my feelings for him and making it somewhat clear that I didn't want a relationship with him, my reaction to the possibility of him and Galadriel was enough to convince Legolas otherwise.

Legolas laughed and took my hand again, leading me further into the forest. We came across a lagoon from which Elves filled jugs. They smiled pleasantly in our direction. "I swam in this lagoon the last time I was here," he said with a smile. "With Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin." He motioned for me to try the water.

I removed my shoes and dipped my toes into the surprisingly warm water. He watched me as I waded in further, lifting my gown up so it wouldn't get wet. My aching feet were loving the feel of the heated stones beneath. "What causes the heat?"

"Some say the stones are heated by a spell cast by Lady Galadriel."

"It feels wonderful."

He stood smiling and watching me for a while before reaching his hand out to me. "Come. The evening meal awaits us."

I waded back out and he picked up my shoes before leading me back through the woods to where the others were camped.

After we ate, we sat around the fire to listen to the Elves sing as usual. Legolas held my hand on his lap and translated the words for me as he had done on previous nights.

The small lagoon with its heated rocks kept nagging at me. I wanted to see the rocks. I needed to know what made them hot. "I'll be right back," I said to Legolas as I got up.

A few minutes later I approached the lagoon. The moon was full that night and it reflected magically over the tranquil water. I walked to the water's edge and crouched down to run my fingers through it. Then I stretched further and dipped my hand in to retrieve a rock. The rock was smooth and almost perfectly round. As I stared at the rock, it almost looked like there was something burning inside it. Was it volcanic?

A sound drew my attention and when I looked up, a gasp escaped my throat. A white tiger was slowly moving toward me. In the crouched position I was in, I was afraid to move. I swallowed hard and the tiger stopped advancing. It rumbled deeply in its throat as it stood staring at me.

A movement from above made me glance up quickly. It was Legolas. He was crawling on the tree limb above me, his eyes locked on the tiger. "Do not move," he whispered to me.

I wasn't planning on it, but he wasn't taking his own advice. He dropped down in a crouch beside me and the tiger roared in anger. It made me jump backward. I grabbed Legolas's arm and noticed the look on his face. He looked excited as he moved forward, completely unafraid. "No…Legolas." My hands fell away from his arm as he kept moving. The tiger roared menacingly again as it stared back at the approaching Elf. I bit my thumbnail nervously.

Legolas reached out and the tiger bared its teeth before it sniffed his hand. My jaw dropped as Legolas reached further and ran his fingers through the tiger's thick white coat. He crouched and continued to touch the tiger as it roared and laid down on its side against him. The look on his face was magical. He was smiling, his eyes blazing blue. I could have just stood there watching him like that forever. Then he turned to me. "Ariedel."

I jumped again. "What?"

"Come here."

"No way."

"Come," he insisted.

There weren't very many people in my life that I trusted. But I was surprised to find that I trusted Legolas more than anyone else and I had no idea why. I slowly moved toward him.

The tiger shifted and roared at my approach. Legolas held its head against his chest.

I crouched beside Legolas and he took my hand, guiding it to the tiger's coat where he had me run my fingers through it. It was incredibly soft. Tears welled up in my eyes. I had never touched a wild animal before. They were rare in this day and age back on Earth or on Avalon. The excitement of touching the tiger's fur and Legolas's fingers at the same time was overwhelming. When Legolas looked at me with a smile, I smiled back at him as the tears came down my cheeks. "This is so amazing."

A minute later to my dismay Legolas released the tiger and it rose and bounded away without a glance back in our direction. We stood up and watched it disappear into the woods.

Legolas turned and pointed a finger at my nose. "Do not ever wander off alone in these woods." He looked dead serious.

I ignored his warning. "How did you do that? How were you able to get close to that tiger?"

And he ignored my questions. "You would have been killed if I had not come in search of you."

"I'm sorry," I replied, thoroughly chastised for my obviously reckless actions.

Legolas placed his fingers under my chin and tilted my face upward. "I do not want anything to happen to you." He tilted his head and kissed me lightly on the lips.

I closed my eyes, waiting for more, even tilting toward him. But he pulled away from me.

"How about a swim?" he nonchalantly asked.

I bit my lower lip and glanced over at the inviting water. "That sounds wonderful."

"But we must remove our clothing."

Skinny dipping. Of course he'd suggest that. Any guy would jump at the chance to get a girl naked. "What if someone comes?" I asked, pretending to be concerned.

"No one will come. They are all taking their rest."

I turned my back to Legolas and started to unfasten my gown in front. As I took it off and moved on to my undergarments, I could tell he was watching me. I kept my back to him as I stepped into the water far enough to submerge myself. With my feet touching the stones, the water was deep and came up to just below my neck.

When I turned toward shore, Legolas was removing his wrist guards and then he proceeded to his boots. The tunic was next. As he began to untie his leggings, I turned away again, feeling my breath start to come out in gasps. This wasn't good, not good at all. Two naked people in a warm-watered lagoon…supposedly husband and wife…supposedly. And especially after knowing how he felt about me. I knew I wasn't going to be able to resist him for very long if he made a move.

I heard a small splash to my left and then he was swimming around me under the water. Oh God, could he see me under the water? Even though it was dark, the water was crystal clear. He surfaced and ran his hands over his face. When he looked at me, I looked away, turning to my right to admire a rose bush on the nearby shore. I could hear him moving toward me.

"Ariedel…"

When he reached me, he touched my face, turning it in his direction. I closed my eyes. Oh God, oh God, oh God…I was in serious trouble. If I opened my eyes, I knew they'd eventually wander down into the water where I knew he was naked, and probably damned perfect, too…like everything else about him.

"Why will you not look at me?" he finally asked, his thumb slowly caressing my cheek.

"Because I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of?"

"You."

"You need not fear me. I will not hurt you."

I could literally feel myself melting. "I know."

Legolas leaned closer and kissed me lightly on the cheek. "I sense your desire. Tis as strong as my own." Then he abruptly moved away from me, swimming backwards. "But I am a patient Elf. I can wait."

He swam circles around me again. I wanted him with every fiber of my being. Was I out of my flipping mind? His blue eyes blazed in my direction and I found myself unable to look away. I felt warm all over…the desire to taste him was overwhelming. Was he casting some kind of spell on me? "Stop looking at me like that," I said to him. "You make it so difficult for me to resist you."

Then he moved toward me again and I stared wide-eyed at him. His eyes blazed a bright blue and he had the same excited look as when he approached the white tiger. His right hand moved behind my head. "Then do not resist me," he said before his mouth descended on mine.

I responded without question. We devoured each other hungrily…kissing, licking, sucking, biting. I felt my self-control quickly slipping away, as if it never existed.

My hands were between us, pressed against his firm chest and I could feel his quickening heartbeat beneath my right palm. I gently raked my nails on his flesh and brought my arms around his torso, relishing in the feel of my breasts touching him. He moved away from my lips and nipped at the side of my neck and then my shoulder. I moaned softly and caressed his muscular back.

Legolas slid his lips up along the side of my neck and came to my ear. "I fear that I do not have as much patience as I thought."

I had no self-control, no ability to resist him and every nerve ending in my body was crying out for him to touch me. I wasn't going to wait for him to ask me twice as I slid my arms around his neck in a tight embrace. I knew this was a clear signal to him that I accepted the path we suddenly found ourselves on.

Legolas didn't waste any time. He turned me around so my back was to him and his arms slipped around my waist from behind as he gently sank his teeth into the side of my neck, leaving his mark on me. His breath was hot against my skin. I closed my eyes and moaned softly as his hands moved up to my breasts. His fingers brushed over my nipples briefly before I became aware of his right hand. He had slid it down my stomach and a gasp escaped my throat when his fingers slid between my thighs. I couldn't remember the last time I had been so turned on by any guy. It had to be this virgin body I was in. There was just so much heat wherever he touched me. He slid his fingers inside me and I cried out softly. I brought both of my hands down to where his were, forcing him to dig deeper. And then I wanted to touch him. I wanted to know if he was as excited as I was.

Legolas groaned in my ear as my hands moved between us and grasped his erection. He was definitely primed and ready for action. I moved my hips and ground myself hard against him. He uttered another groan and spun me around to face him. His mouth went to mine and he pulled me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me up, pulling my legs around him and then carried me through the water and out onto the damp, moss-covered bank.

After lowering me down on my back and coming down with me, Legolas bent to bring his lips to my right nipple, running his tongue over it and sucking hard. A moan escaped my throat. When he started to gently bite on it, I thought I was going to lose my mind. Then he switched to the left side, subjecting it to the same relentless pleasure. I brought my hands up and buried my fingers into the wet strands of his long blonde hair.

Legolas finally stopped tending to my breasts and started kissing my torso, moving downward. I wasn't sure what to expect from him, wasn't sure what Elves did when they made love, but everything he did so far felt good and was burning me up feverishly. I squirmed as he pushed my legs further apart and buried his face between them.

When I felt him graze my folds with his tongue, I moaned again. "Legolas, oh God…" I was so hot down there already, and with him licking and sucking, I couldn't stop the cry that came out of my mouth. His fingers were right there with his mouth, penetrating me deeply. I cried out again and dug my fingers in his hair even further, wanting to pull it out of his head. The heat continued to build between my legs as Legolas sucked hard on my swollen bud and the feel of his surging lips brought on a spasm that shook my entire body. It felt so incredibly good as I gasped and cried out uncontrollably. I wanted the feeling to last forever, but it seemed to be over too quickly.

Legolas came back up over me again and I looked up at the flames in his blue eyes just before he kissed me passionately. When he raised himself up slightly and his left hand disappeared between us, I felt his fingers stroking my folds once again. It didn't take long for that heat to build up, just from his touch.

Then I felt him slowly push himself inside me. I had been through this before, but I had forgotten the brief moment of pain that came with it. The pain subsided quickly, replaced by the heat and the pleasure running its course through me.

I reached for him and pulled him down on me, wrapping my legs around his waist, which brought him even deeper. I cried out and Legolas covered my lips with his. I moaned against them as he drove in and out of me. Then he pulled back to look at me and I lost myself in his eyes as the wave hit me. My thighs squeezed his waist and I let out another cry. He covered my mouth again as the wave kept going and going.

As he planted himself deep, he groaned against my lips, shaking and shivering as he came inside me. His whispered groans were like music. I cradled his head, bringing his face against my neck as his cries became louder.

When it was over, we were clinging to each other tightly, neither one of us wanting to let go. Tears filled my eyes and Legolas lifted his face to run his lips over my face, kissing the tears away. He kissed my lips and I couldn't seem to quench the thirst I had for him. Finally he pulled away to gaze into my eyes with an affection I knew was real.

I couldn't think of anything sentimental to say, no loving words. But I bit my lower lip with a smile. "Can we do that again?"

Legolas smiled back at me. "We can do this all night if you desire it."

"Why is it that I'm out of breath and you're not?"

"It takes much to tire an Elf."

"So I didn't wear you out?"

"Nay," he replied smugly.

"We'll see about that," I said as I pulled him back down to my lips.

Three hours later I had Legolas huffing and puffing. Although it did come at a cost of a near fatal heart attack for me. I didn't think I was ever going to be able to catch my breath again. Or walk for that matter.

Lothlorien – Two days later
(Legolas's POV)

My recent nocturnal activities in Lothlorien with Ariedel left me with a sense of accomplishment. I had known when it first began two nights ago that it would not be difficult to persuade her. The sexual tension between us had been incredibly heightened in the days before that. And now that we had finally consummated our marriage, I found it humorous that Ariedel suddenly could not keep her hands off me. But who was I to argue. When she touched me, I had a strong desire to touch her as well.

We had spent most of the first evening by the lagoon and then again the next night. Although I knew she had never been with a man before, she did things to me that had me wondering what they had taught her in the convent where she had spent most of her life. It was not an unheard of act among Elves or men, but no elleth had ever brought me pleasure with her mouth before. Yet Ariedel did it to me and I could not deny the satisfaction it brought. (Elf maiden)

I was in council with my father and Lord Celeborn when the marchwarden of Lothlorien entered in a rush.

Orophin looked at his lord first before turning to me. "Forgive my intrusion. There is a contingent from Forlindon just outside our borders. Ten men in all, including Prince Yardell. He has requested an audience with you."

I turned to my father in surprise, then turned back to Orophin. "He is here? How did he know I would be in Lothlorien?"

"I know not, Prince Legolas. But he is adamant about speaking with you and seeing Princess Ariedel."

When I left the talan with Orophin, my father and Lord Celeborn followed. Several moments later we were riding out to the border. Ariedel rode behind me on Arod.

"What the hell does he want?" asked Ariedel.

"I am certain he wants to know why you broke your engagement with him," I replied honestly.

"I had a message sent to him. Wasn't it enough?"

"Yardell is very persistent."

"I really have zero desire to see him. Can't someone just send him away?"

"Ariedel," I said as I turned to her over my shoulder, "he will continue his pursuit of you until this is settled. Let us settle it now and be done with."

With us rode my father, Lord Celeborn, Orophin, his brother Rúmil and a contingent of ten Lothlorien guards. No one was taking any chances, in case Yardell decided to take Ariedel by force.

When we reached the border, I caught sight of the ten men sitting on their horses. Two other Lothlorien guards were perched on trees above them, bows in hand, ready to shoot if necessary.

Yardell immediately broke from the others and rode up to us, a rather angry sneer on his face.

I brought Arod to a halt as Yardell circled his horse around us. From the corner of my eye I saw the rest of the Lothlorien guards notching arrows and drawing their bows. "How nice of you to come wish Ariedel and I a pleasant future," I said, even though I was bristling with anger that he dared make an appearance. Yardell and I did not see eye to eye and he knew of my dislike of him.

"I didn't come here for that, Elf and you know it!" He quickly glanced around, remembering that he was surrounded by Elves.

"Didn't you get my letter?" asked Ariedel behind me.

"I did and I don't accept your apology." Then he turned back to me. "I challenge you, Legolas of Mirkwood."

Ariedel slid off Arod's back and marched up to the furious Forlindon prince. "I told you in my letter that I wanted nothing to do with you and your grotesque ways."

"You were promised to me. This Elf swayed you, Ariedel."

"No he didn't. I make my own decisions."

"Tis not a woman's place to speak her mind. They do not make their own decisions."

Ariedel's face turned an angry red and she clenched her teeth. "How dare you show up here and threaten my husband and flaunt your goddamned chauvinistic shit in front of me. I don't know you from Adam and now that I've finally met you, you bastard, I can't believe my father would have agreed to me marrying you! You're an egotistic asshole who has no respect for women, so I've been told. And now I've witnessed it firsthand. Get your carcass the hell out of here before I knock you off your horse and beat the ever-living shit out of you." To drive her point home, she drew a dagger from her belt and held it up with malice.

Yardell's expression was priceless. Apparently the man had never been lectured by a woman in such a degrading manner. I was a bit shocked myself at the words that had spilled from Ariedel's mouth. But I had to give her credit for the colorfulness of her spirit. Whenever she asserted such aggression it made my blood run hot with desire for her.

Yardell continued to stare at the livid woman before him. Then he whirled his horse around and galloped off, his men quickly falling in behind him.

Ariedel turned around and stared at the gawking faces staring back at her. "What?" she asked innocently, as if the incident had been something that occurred on a normal basis.

Thranduil suddenly burst into laughter and drew his horse up beside mine. "Legolas, your new bride reminds me very much of your naneth." (mother)

I smiled at Ariedel as a blush came to her cheeks and then she walked over to mount up behind me. "You took all the fun out of Yardell's challenge," I said to her. "I would have fought him."

"I don't want anybody fighting over me, Legolas," she replied impatiently.

"But I so would have enjoyed cutting him just a little bit."

"He needed more than just a few cuts, ion nin," added Thranduil. "His head needed to be separated from his body, worthless man that he is." (my son)

"I could not agree more, adar," I answered. I turned to look at Ariedel over my shoulder with a smile. In all actuality, I was quite proud of her for standing up to the vile man of Forlindon.

We followed the rest of the Elven procession back to Caras Galadhon.

Lothlorien
(Legolas's POV)

On the morning of the third day, Ariedel and I were returning from our evening by the river and heading back to camp hand in hand. Ariedel kept stumbling on the front of her gown so she jumped on my back. As I attempted to carry her, she playfully covered my eyes with her hands. I spun us around and around and she laughed. Whenever Ariedel laughed, I did not want it to stop. It was one of the most pleasant sounds I had ever heard.

Upon arriving at our camp, I stopped in my tracks at the greeting in front of us. Ariedel stopped laughing and slowly lowered herself from my back. Before us stood Gandalf, Gimli, Lord Celeborn and my father. Their faces were grim.

My heart nearly jumped to my throat. The message from Aragorn had arrived and I feared the worst. Aragorn was dead, or Lady Arwen… "What has happened?" I asked in a sudden panic.

Gandalf turned to someone behind him. A Minas Tirith guard approached with a wooden box. He set it on the ground and lifted the lid. I was reluctant to look inside the box, fearing that I would find the head of a friend. Ariedel moved alongside me as I approached it. I was surprised to find an erratically elongated head of a black creature with sharp teeth. In my mind's eye I recalled the image of a dark creature carrying an oblong shape along the side of a snowy mountain…over two thousand years ago. This resembled the creature I had seen back then.

Ariedel gasped beside me and pulled away. "Is this it? Is this the only one?" she asked. She rushed over to the guard. "Were there anymore?"

The guard nodded solemnly. "There are more, my lady."

"Shit…" she said under her breath.

I glared questioningly at Ariedel. "What do you know of this creature?"

She suddenly turned to me as if seeing me for the first time, her mouth open in a state of confusion. "I…uhm…I guess I have a lot of explaining to do, don't I?"

Gandalf stepped up. "Let us gather in the hall, away from prying ears."

Lothlorien
(Ariedel's POV)

Explaining the laws of transmutation to people who didn't even know about electricity was an impossible task, so I kept it simple. Simple in a sense that I used sorcery as an excuse for how I knew about the aliens. But Lady Galadriel, who was also in the room, knew the truth and she voiced in my head that she understood why I avoided the truth about certain things. There were things Legolas would never understand. Not even the great wizard, Gandalf would understand. They all accepted my explanation as gospel and didn't question it any longer. Apparently people here had visions all the time.

"Tell us once again the cycle of these creatures," requested Lord Celeborn.

I had explained it in such a rush the first time that I knew none of them had really gotten the gist of it. "It begins as a crablike creature that comes from a large egg. They call it a facehugger because it attaches itself…" I used my hands to emphasis the image. "It attaches itself to the face of a living host. It has an appendage that slides into the host's throat where it deposits an embryo in the stomach. The embryo grows rapidly and eventually breaks through the chest of the host. They call this creature a chestburster." I glanced over at Legolas. He was standing near a pillar, his arms folded across his chest, his face a mask of anger and suspicion. His eyes scared me because they were icy cold as he glared at me.

"Why does it go through all that?" asked Gandalf. "Why grow inside of a host?"

"It assumes certain similarities from the host. Without it, it can't form. So if it grew inside of a horse, the resulting creature would run on all fours. If it grew inside of a human, then it could stand on two legs."

"And it's blood can melt anything and burn flesh," added Gandalf.

"Yes, that's right." I looked up at Legolas again. His brows were knotted angrily together. The only time I had ever seen him so angry was when we first met and he thought I had stolen a horse from King Draconir.

Galadriel finally spoke aloud. "Their numbers grow and will continue to grow as long as there are living hosts for them to use. The queen must be destroyed to stop the production of eggs."

"Aye," said Gimli. "We must ride to Gondor as soon as possible."

Lady Galadriel left the hall first, followed by Lord Celeborn. Then Gimli, Thranduil and Gandalf stepped out, leaving me alone with Legolas. He was watching me from where he stood. I got up and headed for the door, only he stepped in front of it, preventing me from leaving.

"Why did you keep this from me?" he asked angrily.

I kept my voice calm as I responded. "I didn't think you would believe me. I wasn't sure if the creature even existed. I just knew where I needed to go to look for it."

Legolas pointed to the table where the box containing the alien's head sat. "You planned to destroy it by yourself?"

"Well, yes, I did plan to."

"You could have warned us sooner about it! And now an entire village has vanished! Men, women and children…possibly dying as we speak…these creatures bursting from their chests!" He slammed his fist into the wall next to me, making me jump.

"I'm sorry." I couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Sorry?"

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this. It was supposed to be a quick job, in and out. Just one bug." My eyes watered as I pictured the poor souls being cocooned and then enduring the painful, agonizing moments before their chests exploded. "Oh God…what have I done?" I covered my face with my hands and burst into tears, falling to my knees in front of him.

A minute later I heard Legolas crouch down in front of me. He pulled my hands away from my face and I saw that the anger in his expression had faded. He touched my face and wiped at my tears with his thumbs.

"Legolas, I didn't know what to do or…or who to turn to." I looked into his eyes, my vision blurred by my tears. "I should have trusted you."

Legolas pulled me into his arms. "Forgive me, Ariedel. I mean not to take my anger out on you. You are not at fault."

I pulled away slightly so I could look at him. "I really am sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen."

"I know." Legolas kissed each of my eyes. "Come. We must make haste and ride hard to Gondor."

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