The Secret Chapter 7: What the Heart Tells, a lord of the rings fanfic

~*~Wow…. I'm not getting a lot of reviews!! I'm so sad now! I'm trying my best to make the story interesting! If any of you can think of ways for more people to like my story, please let me know! I appreciate compliments as well as constructive criticism! Thanks a lot! Special thanks to Aranel for the nice reviews and encouragement! Thanks to everyone! ~*~

Lina woke with a start. Tears were coursing down her lovely face. She had probably been asleep for hours, as it was evening time now. Months worth of unshed tears ran ceaselessly down her face. She felt a sudden pain in her stomach and her arm, were the wounds from the previous year had been. She glanced down at the throbbing areas. Lina suddenly screamed an ear-splitting scream. Blood lay, apparent though her dress was crimson, in the spots where the Wraith's sword had slashed her.

She stood up, horrified at the blood from the past wounds. Why were they there? Lina felt faint again. She swayed in her spot. Not many people were in the House of Elrond, or they would have heard Lina's scream. The only one who came running to her aid was Legolas.

"Lina!" he shouted. He ran full-speed towards her. When he approached her, Lina tried to tell him what was wrong.

"Blood, blood," was all she could manage to say.

"What do you mean?" Legolas replied, concern evident in his handsome features.

She gestured to her wounds, but he could see nothing. Even with his keen eyesight he did not see what she meant.

"Legolas…" she stammered, "what is today's… date?"

"The 4th of April," he answered quickly, unsure of what to do. "Why…?"

"One year…. One year…"

With that, Lina collapsed into Legolas's arms. He lifted her up, worry wrought on his face.

"I must get her to a Healer!" he whispered to himself and took off running in the direction of the Healers' cottages.

~*~

Legolas knocked loudly on the door of the cottage. It was opened by a young-looking Elf, but seeing the wisdom in her eyes ensured Legolas that she could help Elenya.

"Elenya!" The she-Elf said, horrified. "What happened to her?"

"I do not know, but please help her," Legolas begged.

"I will do my best, though I do not know what I can do. I do not know what has ailed her!"

"Please…"

The Healer said her name was Irellea and she was the head Healer, other than Elrond himself. She beckoned for Legolas to enter the largest Healing chamber where he lay Lina down on the bed.

"Did you find her this way? Or was she conscious earlier?" Irellea asked quietly, searching Lina's body for injury.

"She was fine about three hours ago. And when I found her a few minutes ago, she had screamed and she was staggering like she could not stand steadily. And she was talking about blood, gesturing to areas on her stomach and arm. She also asked me for the date of today," Legolas replied hurriedly, worry furrowing his brow.

Irellea looked at Lina's stomach and arm, but there was nothing. "I must speak to Saria. Could you fetch her for me?"

Without replying, Legolas sprinted from the room.

~*~

"Saria!" Legolas yelled, entering the House of Elrond.

The blonde Elf was at his side almost instantly.

"What can I do for you, my Lord," she asked politely.

"There is no time for this, Saria! The Lady Elenya is at the Healers' cottage. She fell faint." And Legolas briefed Saria on the story of finding Lina.

When he reached the part about Lina asking him for the date, Saria murmured, "…the 4th of April…"

She grabbed Legolas's arm and both of them ran to the aide of Lina.

They entered the Healers' cottage where Saria immediately ran to the room where the unconscious Elf-lady lay. She came out once to tell Legolas not to worry, and she shut the curtain in the entrance to the room. Legolas waited outside, concerned.

About half an hour later, Saria emerged from the room.

"How is she?" Legolas asked at once, rising from a chair on which he had been sitting.

"She is resting. She is only sleeping. We did not find anything wrong with her. But I think I may know what happened," she replied, somewhat vaguely.

"What…?"

"Oh, Prince Legolas, I am sorry. It is not my place to tell you. That is Lina's business alone, and I cannot say. And please, I beg of you, do not ask her to tell you. She will open up if she feels it is right. But I cannot say."

Legolas thanked her, and left the Cottage alone.

~*~

The light from the window blinded Lina as she awoke.

"Saria, Saria, she's awake!" she heard a high-pitched voice scream excitedly. Lina opened her eyes to see a young Elf-girl, perhaps an apprentice, running out of the room in which she lay.

"Oh, dear," Saria said, bustling into the room. "Lina, are you okay? Lie down, lie down! Do not be so hasty!" Saria scolded Lina, who was trying to sit up in bed. She slid back down into the light, satin covers, sighing.

"Saria, what happened?" she asked, confused.

"That is what I, and a very concerned other, would like to know. But for now, you take your rest and I will draw a bath so you can get up."

"But Saria, why am I in the Healers' cottage? Ai!" With a blinding flash of recollection, Lina remembered what had happened merely hours before. "Is Elrond back? Or Arwen? I need to talk to them!"

"No, Lina, they are not. They may return later today, however."

"Oh my goodness!" Elenya looked down at her stomach and her hand, remembering the blood that had been there. There was no sign of blood anywhere. "Saria? Was I bleeding earlier?"

"No, dear, but I do know that you had thought you were. Why do you ask? I am afraid I think I know the reason, but…"

Lina groaned and instead of replying to Saria's question, she said, "He must have thought I was an idiot! I mean, really! Imagining blood! What was I thinking! That could never happen! Oh my! He must truly…"

"If you are thinking of the same 'he' I am thinking of, he most definitely does not think so! He was most concerned about you!"

"Oh no… Did you tell him? About last year? About why…?"

"No, Lina, I would not. I told him I cannot and that it is not my place. Though he probably has the right to know. He cares about you a lot."

"Saria! No, no, no! He cannot! I cannot let him!"

"Lina, I cannot tell you what to do, or what not to do, but let me say this: his heart is in the right place." And having said this, the young maid left the room.

~*~So what did you think???? Please review!!! Even if you didn't like the story!! And constructive criticism is always welcome. I should have the next chapter up pretty soon, so hold on!!! But please review and tell me how you think the story is going and if you think I can modify it for the better! Thanks a bunch!! Hugs, Elenya~*~