Haldir groaned. He felt a pulsing sensation in his left arm and he faintly wondered what was causing it. Once he regained conscious, he glanced over at his arm to see one of his arrows sticking out of it. He soon found that it held his arm to the floor.

"That was a good trick getting me in here. I wasn't planning on coming in ever but once she mentioned Banside, I couldn't help it," He muttered to himself.

He gently pulled the arrow out of the floor and found his way to the door. He surprisingly found it unlocked and made his way out of the room. He hoped he could find someone and soon. He found that no one was anywhere outside so he knew he had to find someplace where he knew someone would be.

So when he came across the king's chambers, he was glad. The elf pushed open the doors to find Gamling, Gandalf and Gimli talking to Theoden.

"Haldir," Gandalf said before hurrying over to the elf. "What happened?"

"Shentree. She escaped," Haldir replied.

When Haldir didn't say anything else, Gandalf figured that Haldir was not comfortable yet in explaining what had happened during his watch over the gargoyle.

"Let us find someone who can help you with this injury. We shall not worry about Shentree any longer. It's probably a good thing that she's gone. Everyone was nervous with her around," Gandalf said in a quiet voice.

"That is very reassuring Gandalf. So reassuring," Haldir groaned.

He found himself being led to the healer's room.

00000

Within time, Haldir held onto his injured arm, which was now wrapped in bandages. Gandalf stood next to him asGimli and Theoden stood nearby.

"So she escaped? What should we do about her now? Should we go after her? She could still be a threat to many innocent people!" wondered Theoden.

"We aren't going to do anything," Gandalf replied

"What? Are you saying we should let her go about her business? What if she decides to attack us again?" Gimli demanded to know.

Haldir sighed, not bothering to even look around at the group. He flexed his arm, as if testing before before deciding to say anything. Gandalf didn't anything, knowing that Haldir was already going to say it.

"She won't come after you," Haldir sighed. "She won't come after any of you."

Gimli and Theoden looked at him in total confusion and disbelief.

"She won't be back here anytime soon for she wasn't after any of you in the first place. She was after Legolas and Nanaylia since they escaped from their home," Haldir sighed.

"'Their'?" Gimli asked. "Who else are you talking about? There couldn't possibly be many more!"

"Shentree, Banside and Sathed. They are the three who were under the command of an elf in Mirkwood. A small number are still alive in the forests if Mirkwood. There is one part of the forest that no one goes into for they know they will not come out alive yet Legolas and Nanaylia managed to go in and survive," Haldir replied.

"I didn't realize how many are still alive, despite what you've told me. I thought for centuries that they were all gone," Gandalf mused.

Haldir shook his head, not bothering to look up at the wizard.

"There are a few still alive. I just hope that we don't hear from them again yet I have a feeling that we will," he said.

00000

Several hours later, Haldir made his way outside, He stared out at the sky, which was slowly becoming dark. He took in a deep breath before starting to head back inside.

Before he completely turned, something in the distance caught his eye: two horses heading in the direction of Helm's Deep. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at the horses and their riders even longer.

"Well, what do you know? Looks who's deciding to come back," he quietly asked himself.

He hurried to find the king and once he found him, he explained what he has seen.

"They're back? That's good to hear," Theoden said before hurrying down the stairs.

Haldir followed him towards the gate. They passed Gimli and Gandalf along the way and they joined them. The gates opened, allowing the two horses inside.

"It's good to see the three of you again. We should have known that you went after them Aragorn. The three of you are such good friends," Haldir told them.

"It's a good thing I did Haldir," Aragorn replied. "We'll explain everything later."

Haldir glanced at Legolas, who was helping his sister off the horse. He walked over to them and sighed. The siblings looked at him with worried looks.

"Haldir..." started Nanaylia.

"There's something I should tell you. It's about Shentree," he told them.

"What is it?" Legolas wondered, becoming more worried.

Haldir lowered his head slightly before motioning that they should follow him.

00000

"That wasn't like you Haldir. I can see Nanaylia and myself doing something like that but not you," Legolas said.

"What's done is done. We can't change it. I doubt she's going to be bothering us anytime soon," Nanaylia told them from nearby the window.

"But what is confusing us is how she is still alive. She was near death after Gandalf performed that spell," Haldir told them.

Legolas nodded in agreement as a knock came to the door. Everyone turned to see Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf walk into the room.

"Aragorn explained why he went after the two of you. I agree with his actions, after what he told me," Gandalf told the two elves.

"You crazy elf! I can't imagine what nonsense those gargoyles have given you already. Someone should do something about them," Gimli cried at him.

"It's not nonsense Master Dwarf when you talk about the gargoyles. You can't imagine what they can do. I can for I've seen first hand what they can do," Legolas replied. "I am glad that I am still alive. I only hope to be free from their wrath."

Haldir stood up and headed towards the door. Once reaching it, he turned to face Nanaylia.

"Come Nanaylia. Your father will be worried about you so we should soon head back to Lothlorien," Haldir called to her.

She nodded before standing to her feet.

"Take care Legolas. Father and I are expecting you back safe and sound. If you don't, you'd better be careful," Nanaylia told him.

"Aren't I always careful?" Legolas asked her with a laugh.

She smiled at the remark before heading out the door with Haldir. Aragorn walked up to Legolas' side after the two elves left.

"We're glad you're alright Legolas," Aragorn told him. "We almost lost you there."

"Yes," the elf sighed, only partially paying attention.

"Legolas, what's wrong?" Aragorn wondered.

Legolas turned towards his friend, a hand on his head. He shook his head.

"Nothing," he quietly replied.

Aragorn knew something was wrong. The elf's face said otherwise. Aragorn figured the only reason was what happened recently. He decided not to press the matter any further, even though the elf was hurting both physically and mentally.

'I just hope that nothing happens because of what Shentree did to you,' Aragorn thought to himself.

The End

Well, sorry for the delay with this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Don't know what I'm going to put up after this. Either one called 'Battle of the Wits', which takes place during 'Return of the King' and is related to this story. Or one that occurs before the War of the Ring. (I'll make up my mind sooner or later).