Disclaimer: Don't own…unfortunately.

Anger and Confusion

"Slave…you will be departing in due time. I expect your work to continue to be completed. This floor is filthy! You will wash it again until it is spotless!"

"I am not one of your mindless minions! I will no longer due their chores!" Arianna argued back.

"You insolent little girl! You will do your work! Now!" Saruman yelled.

"Never!" she spat at him. She turned to take the stairs back to the dungeons.

"No elf will turn their back on me!" he bellowed and whipped his staff towards the far wall, sending her head first into it.

She listened as his voice hissed out the word elf, and knew she had gone too far. An unseen force sent her towards the wall. She closed her eyes and immediately envisioned Legolas' face before the darkness took her.

"Haldir? Is something wrong?" Rumil asked.

"He's here. And I sense that something is amiss."

"So that's the young prince that us surrogate older brothers need to threaten?" he asked hopefully.

Haldir smirked in response. "Perhaps…we will speak to the Lady first."

"Until then?"

"We will treat him with the respect that royalty deserves."

"Well that's no fun," Rumil said with a smile.

'Welcome Legolas Thranduilion. After you have rested I will send for you so that we might talk,' he heard in his head. He gave a small nod and followed the Fellowship down the stairs.

"Legolas?" Aragorn asked.

Jerking from his thoughts, he looked up to see that the ranger had stopped in front of him. "Yes, Aragorn?"

"I am in no mood for idle silence. Shall we talk?" Aragorn asked and received a small nod. "How are you?" Seeing the coming agitation he quickly interjected, "Really? I noticed that you had problems on Caradhras (sp?) and then in Moria. Will I have to ask Lady Galadriel to tell me?"

"No," Legolas replied and continued walking in silence.

'Well he sure is being stubborn,' Aragorn thought. After a few more moments of silence, he got ready to ask again.

"On the mountain I could feel her presence more. We were getting closer. On the way to Moria, it felt like the distance was lessening again…only more slowly…an agonizing slowness. When we got trapped in Moria…I couldn't feel her at all. It was as if she had—as we heard the Balrog, I sensed her again. I was terrified. She took my fear away. Then she was gone again. After Moria, I could only think of how I'd lost both her and Gandalf. I felt her again, but only for a few hours. I felt her anger, then fear before she was gone. I know not what to do. I only wish to go find her, but now I would not even know where to start. Something has happened to her!" he growled out.

Aragorn stood in shock. He had never heard his normally calm friend speak in such a tone. 'I never would have wanted to get on his bad side, but now, I almost pity the fool who took Arianna…almost.' "I am sorry my friend. I have the utmost faith in you. You will find her and get her back. Of that, I have no doubt."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know how much you love her," he said as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Unbeknownst to them, two smirking elves smiled from the shadows as they listened in on the conversation.

"Well do you think we will still need to have a talk with him?"

"No I don't think it will be necessary…but I am curious as to what they were talking about. Why would he need to find Arianna? Shouldn't she be in Rivendell? Rumil, I think it is time that we talked with Lady Galadriel. Only she would know." Haldir tried to not worry as he looked out upon the scenery. 'Something has indeed gone awry.'

"Legolas, do you mind my asking what happened?" the luminescent lady asked.

"No, but I wish it had never happened all the same."

"Would you feel comfortable for one of her former guardians to be present?"

"I cannot say that I would be comfortable, but I would much rather only tell it once."

With a nod Lady Galadriel beckoned the waiting elf forward. "Haldir, I believe you two have met, although not formally. Legolas Thranduilion, Prince of Mirkwood, I present Haldir, Marchwarden of Lorien."

Legolas nodded in greeting and let out an inaudible sigh. 'Well if things couldn't get worse…how about adding the marchwarden to the problem,' he thought sarcastically. As he told his part of the tale, he struggled to maintain his composure under the Lady's gaze. He was slightly frustrated at not being able to read the other two elves faces while he spoke. 'This was not how our first meeting was supposed to take place. I was supposed to be greeting her in the Halls of Mirkwood, before receiving her official blessing for our wedding. Now I'm bringing her the news that I lost her niece to a band of unidentified monsters and now I don't even feel her presence anymore!' His thoughts were jumbling together until he was confused himself. He watched as a seemingly sympathetic smile graced the Lady's face.

'Calm down, young one. I have seen no reason to blame you, young prince. Arianna would not want you to worry so much about a simple blessing. Even though you cannot feel her presence, I do not believe that she is gone. For if she was, your heart would know in an instant.'

'Thank you, Lady Galadriel,' was all he could think. He watched nervously as Haldir and the lady had a small conversation of their own. 'Now if only I can manage to not upset the marchwarden,' he thought as he noticed that very few emotions show on the elf's face. He was once again torn from his thoughts as Haldir cleared his throat.

"My brother and I could not help but overhearing part of your conversation with Aragorn last night. We would gladly give you our approval if it was needed. Now all that I ask is that you do indeed find Arianna and make sure that the miserable soul who took her will pay. I take my leave. Thank you for allowing me to hear your part in this," Haldir spoke before leaving.

"He speaks with all honesty, Legolas. Many of our people were curious as to whether you truly deserved her. Now you have convinced the three that would have been the most difficult."

"Lady Galadriel? I have been told that you can see the future. Will I find her?" he asked in a small, child-like voice.

"I cannot tell you what I have seen, but you can possibly see for yourself in due time." With a nod, he began to ponder her words. "Legolas, would you be willing to look in my mirror."

"Would that be the mirror that allows people to see the possibilities of their future?"

"Your father has indeed told you many things of Lorien," she replied with a slight smile. "You do not have to look now. The choice is yours alone."

After a moment's hesitation, he set his face and said, "I would like to see this for myself."

"Very well then. Follow me," she said and started to lead him towards the mirror. 'One must admire the strong will of this young prince. They were certainly made for each other,' she thought with a smile. "This is the mirror," she stated as she poured the water in the basin. She waited patiently as he gave the mirror one last skeptical glance before looking at the contents within.

Thanks for reading. I'm sorry that I didn't actually update by the time I stated. You can feel free to take me out and flog me I guess.

I love getting reviews. It makes me so happy. Any questions, comments, and general demands for updates are very welcome. I hope to have the next chapter up soon. I love all my wonderful reviewers and if you feel unhappy that I don't address you personally, well…I'm sorry.  I do keep the reviews for future reference though.

For the previous chapter I got a slightly confuzzled reviewer. I think I forgot to put in one of those happy little page breaks which might have caused the confusion…if not…I guess I'll take a closer look and email back to you, brownie24.