A/N: Okay! (ducks for fear of flying objects) I think I'll go over here and hide from Celtic. (scuttles away, keeping low) And what do you think is going to happen to Valia? The same thing that happened to Frodo. :D But not in this chapter. Mwahahaha!

Chapter 5: The Black Ships

Estellia sat on deck of one of the ships they had overtaken beside Legolas.

"Late as usual, pirate scum!" she heard an Orc shout. "There's enough work here that needs doing. Come on, you sea-rats! Get off your ships!"

Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Estellia leapt down from the deck, weapons drawn. The Orcs stared in surprise.

"There's plenty for the both of us. May the best dwarf win," Gimli muttered as they all charged forward. The Army of the Dead flew past, joining in the fray.

Estellia was soon separated from the others, fighting her way through the Orcs. She whirled around and struck an Orc in midattack. She cried out and doubled over in pain as a dagger imbedded itself in her side. She dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. She rose up and struck the Orc down before dropping to the ground as one of the southern men's arrows struck her shoulder. She raised her gaze to the Orc before her as he moved to finish her off. Just before he delivered the blow, an arrow sprouted from his neck, and he fell choking on his own blood.

A furious elf leapt forward, his eyes blazing with a furious blue fire. He shot another Orc down and stabbed another with one of his knives. He knelt to her side and gathered her in his arms causing her to cry out softly.

"I must remove these." Legolas motioned to the dagger and the arrow.

She nodded, gazing trustingly into his pale blue eyes. He leaned over her and removed the dagger as gently as he could from her side. She whimpered and gripped his tunic tightly but made no objection as he moved to the arrow in her shoulder. She cried out as he removed it, burying her face in the crook of his arm. She sobbed quietly as he held her as tightly as he dared.

"It hurts," she whimpered. "Legolas, saes, make it stop. Saes…" /Please/

"I know, mir nin," he whispered, tenderly kissing her forehead. /my jewel/

Aragorn knelt by his friend. "Legolas—"

Eomer suddenly cried out, and they both looked to see him cradling his unconscious sister in his arms. Estellia reached out and touched Aragorn's arm.

"Go," she whispered. "Legolas shall care for me."

Aragorn hesitated, but Legolas agreed with her. Once his friend had left, he gently lifted Estellia up. She winced a little but looked up at him with trust still shining brightly in her eyes. He carried her into the Healing Houses and set her carefully on the bed one of the healers led him to. He held her hand, sitting beside her. She closed her eyes as he caressed her hand in his.

"She is in so much pain," Legolas said to the healer standing nearby. "Is there not something you could give her?"

"I'm fine," she murmured. "Let them help those that need it."

"You're bleeding, meleth nîn," Legolas said firmly but gently. "Let them help you." He ran his hand through her hair. "Saes."

She opened her eyes then nodded slightly. "But you will stay with me?"

He gently squeezed her hand. "I will never leave you."