Thank you to all of my reviewers, I enjoy hearing from all of you! I have to say that it's interesting to find out that some of you are rooting for Elfwine and some for Legolas. Sometimes I'm in a quandary myself as to who I want her to end up with even though I have known my ending for some time. Well, nothing is set in stone and I guess we will have to see who turns out to be the hero of the day!

The story is going to take a bit of a dark turn presently and this is the reason I originally set the story at PG-13. So far it's been mostly rated G. So be warned that Gilraen will be facing some rough times for awhile.

Journey of Ill Fate

Elfwine paced in anger after Gilraen ran off. He had an urge to follow her, to make her see how much she meant to him, but her words "leave me alone" rang through his heart. He looked in despair at the last place he had seen her before she disappeared in the trees. Running a hand through his hair and pulling on it in indecision. He looked towards the ballroom of happy, dancing people and decided he could not go back in there.

"She wants me to leave her alone!" he said to himself. "Then I shall leave!" Elfwine declared as he took a path around to the front of the tower where he could enter his room unnoticed. He stomped back and forth across the room, gathering his belongings and stuffing them into his travel bags. He changed back into his traveling garments as a large knot of regret started filling his chest. His heart was telling him to stay, but he would not listen. He wiped an angry tear from his eye and flicked it off his hand like an insect.

Hoisting his travel bags over his shoulders he quickly left the tower and made his way to the stables. His determined strides frightened a sleeping stable boy and he woke with a start.

"My Lord? Do you wish to ride?" the little voice asked.

"Do not bother yourself, I can saddle my horse myself," Elfwine said stiffly. But the boy knew his duty and took his job seriously.

"Will this be a long journey?" the boy said, looking at Elfwine's full travel bags. "You will need some feed or more water perhaps?"

"Yes, run off and fetch those things," Elfwine said, wanting to get the boy gone. After he attached the saddle and the bags on the sides of the horse, he noticed that Rumil was stamping and puffing air through his nostrils at him in agitation. So even the horse knows something is wrong, he thought.

Elfwine took a deep breath and sighed, laying his forehead on Rumil's neck. "She loves another, my friend," Elfwine confided to his horse. "I have been such a fool, believing I could win her heart," he muttered to Rumil. Elfwine closed his eyes, squeezing a few tears down his cheeks, thinking of the few sweet kisses he had shared with Gilraen and how much it was tearing his heart to leave her now.

As he was remembering these embraces, something else filled his mind, a fact that made him open his eyes in surprise and look at Rumil's face. "She kissed me back, Rumil. And the way she looked at me while we danced! She must feel something for me," he said to the horse, as if it was the horse who had told him these things.

Hope flared again in his heart. "Is that what you're trying to tell me boy? That I shouldn't give up when there is still hope?" Elfwine stared at Rumil as if he could answer him back. "You are right, Rumil. It isn't in me to give up. You are a smart horse." Elfwine petted his snout, feeling much better now that he had decided to stay. Gilraen was just upset, he told himself. He would make it up to her and not say words about Legolas again. Now with his new resolve set in his mind he started to undo his bags and saddle from Rumil.

-

At the ball, Lord Celeborn had been watching for the return of Gilraen from the garden. Legolas had returned some time ago, but not his granddaughter.

Celeborn rose from his seat, causing his Lorien guard to come alert. He did not want to make a scene so he silently commanded them to stay on the balcony while he made his way down the stairs. Even without his guard he still attracted attention with his regal, mystical air. Heads turned and watched this High Elf make his way towards the garden doors. He walked out into the fresh evening air, looking for Gilraen in all directions. Others walked in the dark, on the garden paths, lit only with torches. Even with his superior eyesight he could not spot Gilraen anywhere here.

Legolas had seen Celeborn come outside and he now trailed after him. Celeborn turned around and looked at him. It always humbled Legolas greatly to be in the presence of such a powerful Elf as Celeborn. Legolas bowed and waited to be spoken to first.

"Legolas, you left with Gilraen, but did not return with her. Where did you leave her and why?" he questioned.

"I left her here, my Lord, as Prince Elfwine wished a word with her in private," Legolas told him.

Legolas wished it was possible to lie to Celeborn as the look on Celeborn's face clearly showed his great disapproval for what he had done.

Legolas looked at the ground, "I am sorry, my Lord."

Celeborn looked away from Legolas and shut his eyes, concentrating on Gilraen in order to speak to her telepathically. He was met with nothing but a void of no answer and no emotion. His eyes opened in worry. This meant that she was either too far away or that she was not conscious or even worse. Had the young prince taken her far away to be alone with her? Alarm filled his face and he turned again to Legolas.

"We must find them quickly!" Celeborn ordered. "Get as many as you can to help. They must have taken horses, as I cannot sense her near."

Legolas filled with alarm as well. He turned to go back into the ballroom and gather some other elves to help in the search. Whatever shall he tell Aragorn? Legolas berated himself for allowing Elfwine to take Gilraen in private.

Aragorn and Arwen were enjoying a dance together when they saw Legolas come in from the garden, looking very agitated. They both slowed their dance and made their way over to him when they noticed he was signaling to the Lorien guard to come with him.

"Legolas, what is the matter?" the King asked.

"Forgive me my friend, but I have some news you will not like," Legolas told him. Aragorn's face grew concerned as he waited for more. "Gilraen has left with Elfwine. They are no longer in Annuminas."

The King and Queen both looked at him with fearful shock.

"What are you saying?" said the Queen. "Where would they go? Why would they leave so?"

"I don't know. We will search for them my Lady, I promise you." Legolas said.

Aragorn put his hand on Legolas's arm, "Then let us go at once." They left the tower quickly towards the stables, with the Lorien elves in tow.

Eldarion and Elboron had also noticed that something was wrong and now made their way over to the Queen.

"Mother," said Eldarion, "what has happened?" The Queen looked at her son with despair.

"The Prince of Rohan has left with your sister," she told him blankly. Eldarion looked at her in shock. Elfwine would not do such a thing, he thought. Anger started to replace his shock and he strode off after his father with Elboron at his side.

The sleepy stable boy was awakened for the second time that night by the group of elves and men led by the King. He stood and dropped to a deep bow as they passed but they paid him no mind.

The King noticed that Elfwine's and Gilraen's horses were still in their stalls. He paused, looking around with his hands on his hips. Elfwine would never leave his horse behind. Did they just go for a walk? But why so far and for so long? He did not like the images that those questions brought him. His eye caught the stable boy in the corner.

"You, boy," said Aragorn, "have you seen Prince Elfwine or Princess Gilraen tonight?"

The boy was shaking at being spoken to directly by the King. "I've seen only Prince Elfwine tonight your Majesty," he managed to stumble out. "He was going to go riding, but changed his mind."

The group strode out towards the tower, but before they could reach it, the tower guard was pulling a struggling Prince Elfwine out the doors towards them. When they reached the King, they let him go. Elfwine was angry to be treated so and glared at the guards meanly.

One of the guards said, "He was in his room, sleeping."

"Where is she?" snapped Legolas. Elfwine looked at him strangely.

"What is the meaning of all this?" Elfwine asked.

The King answered, "You were the last one seen with Gilraen and now she is missing." Worry shot to Elfwine's face in such a manner that Aragorn knew he was not to blame.

"Missing?" Elfwine repeated in shock.

Legolas still wasn't giving up on blaming Elfwine as it may have helped his own sense of guilt. "She is no longer in Annuminas Elfwine. Where did she go after you spoke with her last? Why would she not come back to the ball? Why did you try to leave earlier?" These questions hung in the air as they all looked at Elfwine.

Elfwine did not feel like telling them what had happened as it all felt very private. But he knew they would not leave off until they were satisfied. He felt anxious that they should all be off searching for Gilraen instead of standing around accusing people.

"She became upset after we talked and she ran off down a path," he told them in a hurry. "Now shouldn't we go search for her?"

"Why did you not follow her?" Legolas asked with suspicion.

"She told me not to!" Elfwine said, his voice rising with anger at the inquisition.

"What did you do to her that would cause her to be so upset as to run off?" Legolas persisted.

"That is none of your business! Suffice it to say, we quarreled. She was upset and so was I. And that was the reason why I almost left as well until I changed my mind. Now, if I have answered all your questions, can we please go look for her?" Elfwine said pointedly.

The group in front of Elfwine suddenly parted as Lord Celeborn came walking purposefully up to Elfwine. Elfwine stood staring at the powerful Elf as he had never been so close to him before. Celeborn grabbed Elfwine's chin and lifted his face so that their eyes were but inches apart. Elfwine could feel the pull of his thoughts, the invasion of his mind and he started to struggle. Celeborn suddenly let go and turned to the King.

"He tells the truth, they quarreled and Gilraen left on her own. I saw the path she went on. We will start there." Celeborn said.

Aragorn nodded and they all turned and left for the stables to mount up for the search. Elfwine followed them as well and Eldarion came up to his side, patting his friend on the back in understanding and consolation.

-

Gilraen felt the shooting of a thousand needles in her head as she struggled to open her eyes. Her body was bouncing and her ribs were sore and aching. She discovered that she was lying over a moving horse as she could now feel the animal trotting at a quick pace. Her vision was blurred and her head felt dizzy. All she could see was the legs of the horse and the ground beneath them, ground that appeared slushy with patches of snow here and there. She looked to her side and noticed the boot of the rider and the memories of what had happened came flooding back into her mind.

When she tried to lift her head, the pain from the blow worsened and she whimpered in despair. "Well, I see your up," came a voice from above her. "Be patient my dear. We are almost at the camp."

Confusion, pain, and blurred vision were Gilraen's present enemies and she knew she did not have the strength to push herself off the horse and try to run. She began to weep and noticed that her hair hung down now, the pearls and jewels set in it so carefully earlier were barely hanging on. An idea came to her and she managed to pull some of the jewelry loose, dropping it on the ground as a trail for others to follow.

But her actions did not go unnoticed by her captor. "Fool!" he yelled as he grabbed a hand full of her hair and tugged her head up. Fresh pain shot into Gilraen and she cried out. He lifted her and threw her to the ground. Gilraen was so stiff with pain; she felt she may pass out again. She cradled her head in her hands and whimpered. While he went back along the trail, picking up her jewels, she tried to open her eyes, thinking she may be able to get away. When she tried to stand a great dizziness came over her and she swayed falling to her hands and knees. It was no use. Her vision was no longer focused and the world turned at different angles. She sat and wept in despair as she heard him coming back.

"You wish to be free of your ornaments? Then so be it!" he snapped and he started pulling the rest of them from her head, uncaring that he was also pulling out many strands of her hair. Gilraen screamed with the pain and tried to swat at his hands. This only caused him to slap her hard across her face. She tasted blood as her lip split open.

"You will learn to be obedient or you will live in pain!" he told her. He bound her hands together in front of her and brought her roughly up by her arm. Taking her back to the horse, he made her mount in front of him, upright this time. "There will be no petted princesses where we are going, my dear. So forget your old life as you will never be going back to it."

-

Please send me a review and let me know your thoughts. Thanks! Sorry for the harsh ending. 