Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or Beorn.

Chapter 2

The enemy within

Beorn was up early, chopping firewood. The first thing he noticed in the early morning sunlight was Sky. She was stood in the courtyard, looking south. Her brown tunic flapped around her knees. Her bare arms and legs barely noticed the chill of morning. "Sky?" he said. Sky turned to look at him. "What are you doing up so early?" asked Beorn. Sky shrugged and faced south again. Beorn had noticed sadness in her eyes. "Sky," he said, "Don't lie to me."

"I miss Mother," she said. Beorn closed his eyes and winced.

"Now Sky, you know she isn't coming back," said Beorn. He looked south too, seeing the gate the girls' mother had walked out one day and never returned. "I know," said Sky, "I just wish I knew where she was." Beorn shook his head. Sky had been five when her mother left. No one knew why she had gone. She had just left. "Sky, go back inside," said Beorn, "Wake our guests." Sky nodded and left the courtyard. Beorn knew he couldn't keep trying to distract Sky and the others from their mother's absence but he didn't want them to leave as well. He couldn't help that if he told them where their mother was, which he thought he knew, they'd leave.

Sky walked into the hall. The guests were sleeping on benches around the hall but Legolas was already awake. He was sat on his bench, his eyes focusing on nothing in particular as if he were daydreaming. "My lord?" she said, politely, "My lord?" Legolas' head turned and looked at her. "Hello, Sky," he said. Sky closed the door behind her.

"I didn't notice you were awake when I passed earlier," said Sky, "Were you still sleeping?" Legolas shook his head.

"I can be ignored if I wish by humans," he said, "I didn't want to distract you." Liar said that nasty little voice in the back of his mind. He had wanted to follow her outside but Beorn had passed by shortly afterwards and Legolas was held back by a gut feeling. He looked at Sky. Against his will, his eyes fell to her bare legs. He had never yet met a woman who bared her skin so openly. "My lord?" said Sky again. Legolas brought his eyes back to her face. "Sorry, I was distracted," he said. Sky smiled, and then proceeded to wake Gandalf and the others. They were not very happy about it but Sky ignored their grumbles. She then left the hall, probably to her own room. Legolas watched her leave, once again his eyes straying to her legs. One long scar stretched from her knee almost down to her ankle. Legolas wondered where it had come from; he had not noticed it before.

Sky left the hall to be confronted by her sisters. "Spill," said Star.

"Yes, tell us," said Serena.

"What?" said Sky.

"The elf," said Star, "He was staring at you."

"Really?" said Sky.

"You may be smart, but you are not observant," said Serena.

"He's quite a catch," said Star

"You two are deluded," said Sky, shaking her head so her curls flew about wildly, "Why would he be interested in me?"

"You tell us," said Serena and Sky's blonde sisters walked past her into the hall. Sky shrugged their comments off and went back to her room.

As she shut the heavy wooden door, a slight breeze blew through her room. Sky shivered. A familiar voice sounded. "Hello Sky," hissed an evil voice, "Have you finished those translations?" Sky tensed. He was back. He hadn't come for over a month ad she had hoped he would never return. "Yes, my lord," she said. She turned and came face to face with an evil but handsome young man. His hair was shoulder length and dark brown and his eyes were black. Like his heart. She hated doing this. She hated what he did to her but he had threatened. He had threatened to hurt her family if she did not do his bidding. The man, Suiadan he said his name was, stepped forward and placed one hand one Sky's cheek. "You thought I'd gone, hadn't you?" he said. Sky shook her head.

"Don't lie to me, Sky," said Suiadan, "Understand that now the Dark Lord Sauron is gone, there is a gap in power."

"The heir of Isildur has returned," said Sky. Suiadan laughed.

"Isildur's heir?" he said, "One arrow could kill him. And when I rule Middle-Earth, I'll need a queen." Sky looked up at Suiadan.

"What do you mean?" she said.

"When all of those who oppose me are dead, I will take the throne of all the lands of Middle-Earth and I will take you as my queen," he whispered, "And as long as you are a good girl and provide me with an heir, your father and siblings will not suffer."

"And if I don't," said Sky.

"Then I'll do to them, what I did to your mother," said Suiadan, "Torture them and kill them. Don't forget what I can do." Sky closed her eyes and tried not to think of her family being tortured. She felt the scar on the back of her leg burn. Suiadan's lips captured her own. "Sky?" came Legolas' voice. Suiadan stepped back from Sky and looked at the door. A breeze blew through her room and he disappeared. Sky took a moment to calm herself before opening the door. Legolas was stood there, looking concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes," said Sky, "I'm fine."

"I thought I heard someone else in here," he said

"No one here but me," said Sky. Legolas scanned the room. There was no sign of anyone there but he could feel a presence. He looked at Sky. Her face blank, showing no emotion but there was nothing different about her except one thing. One of the laces of her tunic had been undone and her cleavage was showing. Legolas pulled his gaze back to Sky's face. "A little revealing for winter," he said before leaving. Sky looked down and saw her laces. She shut the door and quickly fastened them. The breeze blew once again and Suiadan reappeared. "Who was that?" he snapped.

"The Prince of Mirkwood," replied Sky.

"When I take Mirkwood, he'll be the first one to go," spat Suiadan, "I don't like the way he was looking at you. Now about those translations." Sky reluctantly opened her desk drawer and pulled out some pieces of paper. "That's all of it," she said, handing it to Suiadan. Suiadan had a quick scan of the pages of Sky's neat handwriting and smiled. "You will be rewarded for this," he said. He bent down and kissed her, weaving his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him, so close, she was pressed against him. His hand gave her bottom a quick squeeze before he disappeared. "Sky!" called Star. She pushed the door open and looked at her sister. Sky seemed a little flustered. "What's going on?" Star asked. "Nothing," replied Sky, "Nothing." Star frowned slightly but then smiled again. "Come on," she said, "Let's get something to drink."

When they came to the hall, they found Serena stood by the table with a barrel. Sky didn't like the look of it. "Alright," said Serena, spotting Sky, "Let's get started." She filled three tankards of Beorn's homemade ale. "No pauses," she said handing a tankard to Legolas, Gimli and Sky, "No spills."

"And no regurgitation," cackled Gimli.

"Think you can handle it, Sky?" said Star.

"It's a drinking game," said Sky.

"Last one standing wins," said Legolas.

"Not a problem for our Sky," said Serena, "She can handle alcohol as good as any elf." Sky bit her lip and then looked at her sisters. "Cheers," said Sky before drinking the ale. Legolas drank his more gracefully than Gimli, whose drink barely touched the sides of his mouth. As the three continued to drink, Serena refilled the tankards. Gimli was beginning to slow down but Legolas and Sky were going at the same pace. "It's the dwarves who swim with little, hairy women," slurred Gimli as he grew increasingly drunk. Legolas paused. "I feel something," he said. Both Sky and Gimli stopped. "A slight tingle in my fingers," he continued, "I think it's affecting me."

"What did I say?" slurred Gimli, "He can't handle his liquor." Gimli cackled, went cross-eyed and fell backwards asleep. Sky took a quick glance at Legolas; he had a smug look on his face. Suiadan's voice sounded in her head. 'Look at him,' hissed Suiadan, 'He thinks he's so clever. Show him Sky, beat him. That'll wipe that smile off his face.' Sky drained her tankard. "The game isn't over until one of us is standing," she snapped, "Fill it up, Serena." Gandalf looked at Sky. He had sensed a great evil about her just seconds before and now it had vanished. As if it had briefly communicated with her and caused this change in attitude. He had sensed an evil growing near here. A reason he had come this way, fearing one of the Beornings had become corrupted. He prayed silently that it was not Sky. She was far too smart to fall into enemy hands but she still had weaknesses. The hours passed and the winter sun set as Sky's pace began to slow as the drink began to affect her. Sky's brain was telling her to stop. It was getting dangerous and she was going to be ill if she didn't. But Suiadan's voice kept sounding in her head, egging her on. Finally her stomach lurched. She dropped her tankard and clutched her stomach. "She's going to be sick," cried Star. Aragorn pulled Sky away from the game and half-dragged her outside. Legolas put his tankard down and followed. Out in the courtyard, Sky was doubled over, vomiting. Legolas tapped Aragorn on the shoulder. Aragorn nodded and left. Legolas placed one hand on Sky's back and gently rubbed it. Her stomach began to settle and she began to catch her breath.

Inside the hall, Gandalf pulled Beorn to one side. "Beorn, you know that matter I was discussing with you yesterday?" he said, "I think I know who is assisting it."

"Who?" asked Beorn, "I'll tear the bastard limb from limb."

"You're not going to like it," said Gandalf, "I think its Sky."

"Sky?" said Beorn, in disbelief, "What makes you say that?"

"An evil has been lurking around her all day," said Gandalf, "Coming just as she looks as if she's going to forfeit the game. I sensed it here earlier today. Just before Star went to fetch her."

"My Sky is too smart to join the enemy," said Beorn, "She wouldn't."

"What if she thought she was protecting you in the process?" said Gandalf. Beorn fell silent. He turned to find Aragorn coming back into the hall. "Aragorn," he said, "How is she?"

"She's still being sick but Legolas is taking care of her," he said, "Beorn? You don't look well. Maybe you should sit down." Beorn's face was as pale as sheet.

"I'm alright, Aragorn," he said, "I think I should go to bed." Gandalf gave a high-pitched whistle and Star and Serena looked at him. Gandalf nodded at Beorn. Each girl took one of their father's thick arms and supported him as he looked like he was going to collapse. "I think we should clear up," said Gandalf, looking around the hall.

Legolas was still outside with Sky. She had stopped vomiting a while ago but he was still gently rubbing her back. "I'm alright now," said Sky, straightening up.

"It was rather foolish to continue that game," said Legolas.

"You said last one standing wins," said Sky.

"Sorry, I only meant to continue until Gimli passed out," said Legolas.

"Maybe you should have said that earlier," said Sky, wiping traces of vomit from her mouth. As she did so it brought Legolas' attention to her mouth. The vomit was gone now and his mind began to trick him into imagining what it would be like to kiss her. Sky was such a mystery. She was a bookworm yet she knew how to drink. There was that strange presence in her room that she seemed not to notice. His hand reached out and stroked her cheek. She caught his wrist and pushed his arm away. "Good night, my lord," she said and walked away. 'Why did you do that?' hissed his conscience, 'You'll scare her off.' Legolas ignored it.

Sky walked into her room and slammed the door. She leaned back against it, her heart pounding. Legolas' touch had made her skin tingle. Something Suiadan had never accomplished. "Hello, my little Sky," said Suiadan, "Where have you been?"

"In the courtyard," said Sky, "I got roped into a stupid drinking game."

"What about the Prince?" asked Suiadan.

"He was helping me whilst I was ill," said Sky.

"He touched you," said Suiadan, "I can sense it." He stepped forward and looked at Sky.

"Here," he said, touching her cheek where Legolas had, "He touched you here."

"It was nothing," said Sky.

"I'll teach him to touch you," said Suiadan, "I can see his feelings go too deep."

"He's only known me one day," said Sky.

"People can fall in love in a second," said Suiadan, "He loves you. He will suffer. When I am King of all, I will not kill him. I will keep him alive so he can watch as I take you to my bed as my queen and make love to you. I will make him watch you as you carry my heir and raise it. Only when I die, will I end his suffering."

"Suiadan, leave him alone," said Sky.

"So you feel the same?" hissed Suiadan.

"No, I just don't want you to make people suffer," said Sky, panicking.

"I will teach you to love only me," growled Suiadan. He grabbed the front of her tunic and took her from her house in a breeze. He took her to his house, set in a cave in the Misty Mountains. He pushed her down onto his bed. She tried to fight him off but he forced her into submission by pinning her down with his hands on her wrists and his legs on hers. He forcibly claimed her lips. Try as she might, Sky couldn't break the grip of either his hands or his lips. When she had begun to give up, Suiadan let go of one of her wrists and gently caressed the skin just behind her ear, the most sensitive part of Sky's body. Sky began to relax and as she did so, Suiadan relaxed his grip on her. He knew exactly where to touch her to keep her under his spell. As one hand stroked her skin, the other began to undo the lacings of her tunic and push it off. Once convinced she wasn't going anywhere, Suiadan began to remove his trousers. His seduction was perfectly memorized. Sky could not resist him when he carried it out. He pulled off his own tunic and swiftly entered Sky. Her gasp encouraged him on, creating his rhythm of back and forth movements. He sought pleasure only for himself, never thinking of what Sky's desires were. After he had done, he merely rolled away from her, leaving her feeling dirty and disgusted at herself. She grabbed her tunic and pulled it back on. "Suiadan," she said, "I want to go home."

"Very well," muttered Suiadan sleepily. He waved his hand and Sky found herself back in her own room. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and began to cry.

A/n: Suiadan is Elvish and means Manly. The drinking scene was taken from the movie version of ROTK.