A/N: -covers head- don't hurt me!

××Nicolette's POV××

In the doorway stood my captor and now my rapist, Saruman. He cackled, "How nice of you to join us, Prince Legolas." He aimed his staff at Legolas.

Legolas clutched at his throat, he gagged and tried to claw at the invisible hand that kept him immobile. He fell to the floor, unconscious.

I screamed, "GANDALF!" If anyone could help it was Gandalf. I was too weak to help, I could barely move.

Saruman smiled, "Yes, Gandalf…where is he?"

I trembled as he came closer to me, then a pure white flame wrapped around Saruman and threw him against the wall.

Gandalf stood in the doorway, his cloak thrown off and was revealed.

Saruman slowly got up, "You will regret that, my friend." He spat out some blood then with lightning quick movement he cupped his hands to his heart and pushed away, aiming at Gandalf.

A streak that looked like a tiny tornado encircled Gandalf lifting him in the air and then at the command of Saruman threw him out of the door.

A resounding crack told me that Gandalf had hit the wall.

Saruman laughed, "I warned you, friend."

I heard a groan and then I saw a lightning bolt send Saruman into the fireplace (unfortunately it wasn't on).

Soon Aragorn and Gimli rushed in, weapons drawn; they were met with the same welcome as Legolas.

I had to do something, I slowly rose, and Saruman didn't notice me. I looked for an open wound to let the water seep in and fill his lungs up. There was a particularly large gash on his collarbone, perfect.

I summoned all of my energy and put forth the largest water bolt I had done and aimed it at the wound. It seeped in. I also put a band of water around his eyes to blind him.

Although he was handicapped he could still aim, he struck his staff and I felt the pain I had felt whenever I had tried to escape only this was ten times worse.

It continued, growing worse and worse but I surprisingly didn't faint; I screamed and writhed in the most intense pain, though. Then it stopped suddenly. I sighed in relief and collapsed, the last thing I remember seeing was Saruman passing out and Legolas rushing towards me.

××Anna's POV××

When Merry and Pippin had heard the scream and the flashing lights coming form one of the rooms in the tower they ran into the tower.

A couple of minutes later Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, the man who was dressed up in white and the hobbits came out.

Aragorn and Legolas were carrying my sissy!

She was sleeping, her face was all beat up and some spots on her bare shoulders were covered in bloody gashes. The black silk sheet she was wrapped in made her seem really pale, too. Was she going to be okay?

I rushed over to her and shook her gently, "Sissy wake up!" I whispered.

After a few moments her eyes fluttered open, "Hey, sis. I missed you," She rasped.

I grinned, "I missed you, too. What's the matter with you?"

"Someone decided to try and fry me," She replied, "But I kicked his butt."

I didn't quite understand what she meant, but I was happy to see Nikki again.

Her eyes closed, "Night, babe." Her head drooped to her shoulder.

Legolas put a hand on my head, "Why don't you go see the Hobbits? Your sister needs her rest."

Treebeard stooped to lean over Nikki, "More of Saruman's treachery, I suppose. Why don't we finish him off now?"

The man dressed in white groaned and rubbed his back, "No, Master Treebeard, I have sent him to the Valar to be judged."

The Ent sighed, "I hope they send him to The Void!"

The two hobbits had fashioned a stretcher out of too branches and some leather stretched across it. They hooked it up to a horse and sat Nikki on it.

Aragorn mounted the horse and pulled me up behind him, "Hold on tight!" He said and urged the horse on.

The others followed suit after exchanging a few words with Treebeard.

"Hey what's this?" Pippin asked, he stooped down and grabbed a big black ball. He looked at it with fascination.

"I'll take that, Peregrin Took!" The old man said and quickly wrapped it up in his robe.

Pippin looked at it wistfully before mounting the pretty white horse behind the man.

××Nicolette's POV××

I slowly stirred, I found myself in a building with Beech-paneled walls, marble floors and simple white beds.

I tried to get up but pain shot through my body, I moaned and fell back on the bed with a 'plunk,' which hurt a whole lot more.

A young woman, who seemed to be ten years my senior sat next to me on a simple wooden chair with a bowl in her lap. She was grinding several herbs and water into a thick paste. When she noticed I had woke up she smiled serenely, "So, you're finally awake. We were beginning to wonder. You've been asleep for several days. Your companions have been here every day asking about you, especially a child and an incredibly handsome Elf. If you don't mind my enquiring, who did that to you?" She pointed in between my legs, "When Lelleth and I were examining you we saw what he did to you."

I was confused for a moment until I realized what she said, a flood of memories rushed into my brain. "Oh God," I moaned and covered my eyes with the back of my wrist.

The woman put a hand on my arm, "It's alright, dear. Although when I explained to Lord Aragorn what had happened I think he was about ready to kill someone. You may want to talk to him."

Despite the circumstances I smiled a little, it was good to know someone cared for me. "And the child?" I asked.

"Oh, she's a darling. I didn't tell her anything, I just said that you had gotten sick and were sleeping; which in a sense is true. You've been one of the queerest patients I think I've had in a long time," The woman said with a disarming smile, "By the way my name is Nerwen."

"Thank you for taking care of me, Madame Nerwen," I said; my voice creaky. "So, what's the matter with me? Aside from the obvious."

Nerwen's smile faded, "You have magical damage to your body, specifically your organs. Although you are much improved and with a little bit of rest you can start moving around and doing normal things. And we have been assured your not pregnant, although if you do have children it will be extremely difficult because the toxins in your body will linger there for a very long time and possible infect your child."

"Infect my child?" I repeated.

"Well, your child may have magical powers due to your spat with this magician," Nerwen replied.

Oh lovely, not only will childbirth be more grueling than the usual, my little innocent baby may have the most dangerous force at it's command. Goody, goody.

I grimaced, "Go on."

"You might have terrible nightmares for awhile which may become hallucinations at times," Nerwen said.

"Jeez, I tick off one wizard and he haunts me for the rest of my life?" I replied incredulously.

Nerwen shook her head, "No, that would be from the…" She lowered her voice, "Rape."

I forced a tight smile, "Oh. I see."

"It will take more time for you to recover from that than your battle," Nerwen said softly.

I rubbed my shoulders and forced myself to sit up despite the pain, "So basically these next few weeks are going to be torture?"

Nerwen shrugged, "Only if you let them be."

Oh yay, shaman answers. Don't you just love them?

A moan from another bed forced Nerwen to leave, "Pardon me, the battle of Helm's Deep has left us short-handed."

Yeah, I'll bet. God bless the healers.

"Hey, your awake!" Pippin cried as he rushed over to my bedside.

I grinned, "Yup, and pretty good for getting my butt kicked nine different ways." Whoa…actually, I did get my butt kicked nine different ways.

Aragorn followed behind Pippin, he was holding a sleeping Anna in his arms. (A/N: Group "Aww!")

"Good to see you awake, little one," Aragorn said, touching me on the top of my head.

I smiled a little, I don't think I had been called "Little one" since I was seven. "Thanks, how's Anna?"

Aragorn grimaced, "Wilder than a Warg during mating season."

Leave to a ranger to give descriptions like that. "Um…I don't know whether to laugh or vomit…" I said.

Pippin chuckled but his face became serious again, "Legolas has been going out of his mind these past few days."

"Yes, he has," A voice behind Pippin, said.

I looked up to see Legolas at the foot of my bed looking worn and haggard.

Since when did I have this much influence on a guy? Still, never ceases to amaze me.

The others realized this was not going to be a moment they would want to stick around for, they said good-bye to me then quickly exited the Hall.

Legolas silently sat down. For a while he didn't say a word, he just stared at me for a long time. Finally he began to speak, "How are you?" He asked, his voice sounded tired.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, "From the looks of it, better than you."

He didn't smile, "Quit it. What did the healer say?"

"In case your worried, no, I'm not pregnant," I replied, avoiding the question.

He seemed relieved but knew I was avoiding the question, "Answer the question," He said quietly.

"Fine, My body took some magical toxins in and now my organs are damaged, childbirth is going to hurt like hell and my child might have magical powers. Oh yeah, and I'm probably going to have hallucinations," I said with fake cheer.

"Hallucinations?" Legolas enquired.

"My words exactly, the healer said it was due to the…" I trailed off, feeling self-conscious.

"Oh…" Legolas said, looking ill.

"Under the circumstance I guess I'm doing…" For some reason I couldn't get to the last word. I started choking up, what the hell's wrong with me?

Seeing my current state Legolas wrapped his arms about my person as I started to sob, he rubbed my back up and down in rhythmic movements. Whispering things to me in a language I didn't understand.

I cried into his shoulder for a long time, it was dusk whenever we pulled apart.

I wiped my eyes with my sleeve, "I'm sorry for doing that, you must think I'm some sort of an emotional freak after that…" I started but he cut me off.

"Never, you can do that any time you want. Although my tunics might complain, he gestured to the wet spot on the shoulder of his shirt.

I laughed a little, "I don't think my tear ducts could take doing that ever again."

Legolas smiled and kissed me, I shuddered a little bit; remembering the last time someone had kissed me.

I pulled apart, "I'm sorry, Legolas; I don't think I'm ready to do that just yet."

Legolas nodded understandingly, "That's alright, melleth nîn."

So we sat there for a while, discussing random topics. The ring, Mirkwood, Anna and her love of hobbits.

I looked out the window and saw that it was night and the stars were out, "You had better leave," I said.

"Nonsense, I'm staying here," Legolas replied.

"Where will you sleep? The floor?" I asked him, "You should go home, it's not like I'm going to die or lose my mind in the middle of the night!"

You mean you haven't lost it yet? I would hate to see you crazy then! A familiar voice retorted.

Nice to see you too! I missed you, I replied.

I was about to kill you for leaving the caves!

If I remember correctly it was a certain scaly reptile urged me on!

This was Jade and my way of saying we missed each other and that she had been worried about me. You can just feel the love.

"What does Jade have to say?" Legolas asked me.

"Huh?" I asked, "Oh, she says she wants to kill me. No big deal, and how did you know I was talking to her?"

Legolas smiled, "Because I've been talking to you for the past two minutes and you haven't replied, that and your eyes are glazed over."

"Oh," I said embarrassedly.

Legolas rose and kissed me on the forehead, "You need to sleep if you want to recover soon."

I smiled, "Yeah, I've only been awake for a day and I'm dying to get out of here."

Legolas gave me a funny look, "Dying?"

"Oops, bad choice of words."

××Ø××

A/N: Well, our little Nikki is coping well. I can't wait to begin the next chapter! Please don't hurt me!