Hyper-Bitch: thanks for the review. no more near death experiences in this one. hehe. oh well. lena's good at that, isnt she? keep reading!

loveroflegolas: yeppers! alive and well. thanks for the review. i've delayed your and Nilfalath's chappie till next one. but it is coming! i swear.

broknbridge: awesomely suck? wow. thanks! hehehe. thanks so much!

Dark Fay: i'm sure ur life has purpose. don't give up now! here's the next chappie!

Myri78: hehehe. am i torturing you too much? sorry. fries are next chappie, i swear. couldnt fit them in here quite yet. next one i swear, double swear, triple swear! and yes, the quest is in the sequel.

TopazOwl: OK, OK, OK. i'm updating now. thanks, p.s. - no dying!

SofiaB: here's ur update. now u can see wat leggy does! hehe. thanks!

Allison Mervis: no exploding either! i'll have no one dying while reading this story! thanks!

IwishChan: good point. thanks for the review!

Lady Keshanna of the Night: shocking, is it not? thanks!

Sebstar: that was kinda the point of that line! hehe! thanks for the review!

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HyperSquishy: not quite. lol. thanks for the review!

madrone: hehehe. i'm evil, i kno. this is almost the end. thanks!

roughneck squad leader: sorry. i kno this wasnt very quick...dont hurt me!

stechpalme: um, yes...but here's the next update! Leah: thanks for the review

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Crecy: i love cookies! thanks!aurora-myst: thanks! read on!

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Jutey: thanks! good point. story w/o main character? hmmm... ChirikoFan: there is a sequel. keep reading!

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AngelOfDarkness101: sorry for the cliffie, but here's an update for ya! read on!

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Marisa: oooh, u r so smart! how'd u know? gee...

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julia587: thanks! good to kno u like my tactics!

longivity101: have a good vacation? i did! but school's back in so...blah. anyway, thanks for keeping up with the story. keep reading!

Disclaimer: you guys should kno after 41 chappies how this goes...so blah, blah, blah!

Chapter 42

Nilfalath's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. In a feeble attempt to gain Legolas's attention, he raised his hand to point emphatically at her. No words came from his lips, just choked sounds. He really did make quite an amusing sight. Her laughter at his appearance drew Legolas to turn. His vacant eyes lighted on her and his expression became even more distraught.

"The Valar have punished me with her vision," he whispered. "What have I done to deserve this?"

"Uh, Legolas…I don't think…"

"So real. She almost looks real, Nilfalath. I could almost touch her. But alas, she is taken from me."

"Legolas…" Nilfalath started again. "She's not a vision. Are you?" he directed at her.

Elenayave laughed again. "Nay, brother. I am real enough."

"But how?" he stuttered. "I don't understand."

"Nor do I. Believe me. Apparently it wasn't my time to go quite yet," she stated with a grin. "I owe everything to Vairë. It was all her doing."

"Silence!" Legolas bellowed. "This is foolishness! All of it! Nilfalath, please tell me that you are not drawn into this imprudence! She is not real! Elenayave is dead!"

"I beg your pardon," she said huffily. "I am quite alive, thank you."

"You are not my wife!"

"Legolas…I don't think that wise…" Nilfalath warned.

Elenayave narrowed her eyes. "Not your wife, eh? Listen here, buddy. I just went through the Halls of Mandos and argued with the Valar for a good half hour to get back here, and this is what I get? I don't think so!"

"I would love to see you prove your point, wench. Show to me that you are more than a vision, if you can," Legolas hissed defiantly.

"So be it." Elenayave grasped his head firmly in her hands and pressed a hard kiss to his lips, weaving her fingers deftly into his locks and pulling him against her. Legolas's eyes fluttered closed in a moment of enjoyment. His shaking hands gripped her waist in an attempt to steady himself, and she smiled into their kiss. Pulling back, she quirked a brow and asked, "Satisfied?"

Legolas's eyes rolled back into his head and he hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.

"Elena?"

She turned and glanced at Nilfalath. "Yes?"

Looking down at Legolas, he sighed. "You're really back then? To stay, I mean."

"Yes, brother. Mandos's Halls were not ready for me."

Nilfalath closed the distance between them and swept her into his embrace. It felt so good to feel her in his arms again, alive and well. He breathed in her flowery scent and smiled. Elena was home. The Wood would certainly rejoice to have their princess back. If the shock didn't kill them first. Speaking of shock…

"What are you going to do about him?" he asked, referring to Legolas once again.

"I will stay with him until he wakes. Go. Inform the King." Elenayave knelt down next to Legolas's prone form and gently stroked his pale cheek.

Nilfalath nodded briefly, and then lit out in search of Thranduil.

"Come on, you silly Elf," she whispered to the unconscious prince in her arms. "Wake up."

Legolas groaned before he allowed his eyes to open. He stared up at her in shock and awe before finally whispering, "It's really you."

"Yes, Legolas. It's really me. Do I honestly look like a ghost?" she questioned chidingly.

Rather than answering her, he plastered a silly grin on his face. "I love you."

Elenayave giggled and smiled down at him. "I love you, too. That's why I came back, you know. Someone has to look out for you and keep you out of trouble."

"I prayed and prayed that you would come back to me," Legolas said softly. "I was there when you…" he trailed off. "I thought you were gone. Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive, Legolas. Nothing of your doing anyway."

"I don't understand."

"Let's just say that I have one very powerful friend," Elenayave replied. "And probably one very powerful enemy, now that I think of it. But oh well. I am back, and that is all that matters."

Legolas sat up and crushed her into a tight embrace, nearly suffocating her. She squirmed until she found a comfortable spot, and then remained that way: her head atop his strong shoulder, wrapped soothingly in his muscular arms. He was a little too thin for her liking, but she would change that as soon as possible. She would have him eating again in no time.

But apparently, Legolas had other plans. He suddenly stood, dragging her with him.

"Legolas, where are you going?"

"Correction: where are we going? And the answer is our bedchambers. We have much catching up to do." Legolas flashed her a cheeky grin.

"You recover awfully quickly, you know that? I'm not even sure that you actually need me here," she pouted.

"Well, I believe I can resolve that uncertainty. Let me prove it to you, love. Give me half an hour…"

"Legolas, shouldn't an announcement be made or something? I mean, I am dressed for my funeral."

"And a lovely gown it is, too. Pity it shan't remain on you for long. Now come, love."

"Shouldn't you at least eat something? You look so thin…"

"For Eru's sake, woman! Hold your tongue. At the moment, I want you and only you. I have strength enough, I assure you."

"But two minutes ago you looked like you were about to keel over and die!"

Legolas finally silenced her with a passionate kiss, cradling her face in his large hands. Giving up on escorting her to their chambers, he backed her into a desk and pinned her against it.

"Legolas…"

His lips landed on hers once again. Her sudden appearance seemed to have given him a hefty amount of vigor, and he was using it to his fullest advantage. Seemingly renewed, he delved into her mouth with his velvety tongue and explored. She let him work his magic, tightly gripping his shoulders. It was half way through the kiss when she realized he had gotten her skirts up around her waist and was currently working on the laces to his breeches.

"Legolas, love. Not here. This is the library!"

"I know that," he hissed. "No one ever comes in here."

"But I sent for…"

A sudden clearing of a throat sent the two Elves flying apart. Elenayave straightened her skirts, smoothing out the wrinkles Legolas had only seconds ago put in them. He was busy pulling down the front of his tunic, attempting to hide his previous handiwork.

"I see you are feeling quite a bit better, my son," Thranduil stated, a knowing, amused smile on his face.

"Remarkable recovery?" the chagrined prince suggested with a shrug.

still a little short, but the next chappie will be longer i promise. i'm back in school now, so it might take a while, but there's only 2 or 3 chappies left before this story is over. to the sequel...and beyond!