Hey everybody, sorry this chapter is a bit brief. Don't worry, the next chapter will be pretty long, I promise. Hope you enjoy & please leave me feedback, it makes me oh-so-happy.

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Dangerous Thoughts

These are the thoughts of Leilia on traveling to Rivendell:

She is worried about the elves that could be in danger, or worse, have died. She thinks of her sisters, both who married elves from Rivendell and desperately hopes that out of those who were attacked, none were her brother-in-law. She fears the unknown, not knowing if they will find destruction or danger. Yet, she feels safe…with Legolas. She mentally scolds herself for being attracted to him. She remembers seeing him earlier that night, watching her. Had he been any closer he would have seen her cheeks flush, no doubt. She couldn't explain what she felt for him. Elves are rational beings that do not jump into things with out a great deal of thought, relationships most definitely applied. Relationships? She almost laughed. She shrugs off these thoughts and realizes the foolish path they have lead her on. A prince of Mirkwood, in a relationship with the elf who maintains his father's house? It was absurd to even imagine. Whatever she felt for him, it did not matter. Her duty was as a healer. That was all.

Legolas and Ireth walked between the tall, dark trees. His horse had been readied, and his father had sent someone to prepare provisions for his trip. He still had a quarter of an hour before he had to make his way over to meet the others. They silently wove through the maze of trees, slowly, but deliberately.

"Are you sure you feel fine?" Legolas asked, turning towards her. He looked into her crystal blue eyes that that held the hint of a smile. Her long blond hair peeked out from behind the elven cloak she now dawned.

"I am well enough, Legolas," she whispered.

They stood looking at each other and Legolas smiled first. "So you must tell me how you have been." He glanced down at the floor, no longer able to hold her bold gaze. Ireth took a step closer to him.

"I must admit," she whispered, "I am doing a lot better now." She tenderly grasped his hand, and ran her fingers over his smooth knuckles. She gently let his hand drop back down to his side. She brought her eyes back up to his and found him gazing back into hers.

"Ireth…" he began.

She silenced him with a smile.

'That smile,' he thought. A swarm of emotions fell over him. How could he find himself in this place again, with her by his side? A brisk breeze was the only thing that assured him he wasn't dreaming.

"I have missed you, Legolas."

"And I, you, my Lady."

"My Lady?" Ireth smirked. "I do not believe I have heard you call me that since the first day we met."

"Ireth…I am glad you are well. It is… a great comfort to me to have you in presence once more…" Legolas was unsure of how to finish his thoughts.

"You are uncomfortable Legolas. I can sense it all about you. Why are you at unease around me? You have been with me before…" she whispered this with a hint of seduction in her voice.

"Yes Ireth, we were very close…once."

"I had once believed that we would be married."

"That was a long time ago."

"Yes. Too long." Ireth smiled at him. Her golden hair fell around her shoulders. Her eyes held a kind of joy and softness. For a moment Legolas thought she was going to kiss him. Instead she turned around and made her way back through the trees. Legolas stood still, his mind racing.

These are Legolas' thoughts on Ireth's return:

He remembers the past they shared together, long ago. He remembers a time before Sauron had reached full power, and he was carefree and young. He remembers meeting her at a trip to Rivendell many, many years ago. They had spent the summer together, they had fallen in love. They had shared many passionate kisses, many tender touches, but nothing more than that. Now she was back. It felt bittersweet. Ireth was from so far in his past that he did not know how to travel back to that time, to feel those feelings for her. Still… he felt drawn to her. There was no doubt he was attracted to her. He felt such a strong pull inside of him to reach out to her, to pull her close…to kiss her. And when he allows himself to close his eyes and remember her kisses, all he can see is Leilia's face. 'Why do these thoughts plague my mind?' he wonders. Whenever he thinks about Ireth, he remembers the face of a girl he hardly knows…

The sun's rays begin to peak over the trees. Legolas rushed to his horse and jumped aboard his back.

"Is everyone ready?" Legolas asks the men, also on horseback, surrounding him. Leilia rides over to them and motions for Legolas' attention.

"May I please speak to you for just a moment, my Lord?"

"Of course." Legolas moved his horse over to hers. "We must be off, are you ready?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid something is wrong with Ireth." Leilia noticed the sudden change in Legolas' face.

"What is the problem? She is not fairing well? Will she be alright?"

Leilia spoke quickly, while trying to decipher what the tones in Legolas' voice were hinting at. "She will be fine, but your father asked me to redress her wound before we left. It seems to have gotten worse. I applied some Halithar flower to the wound. She will be fine. I only worry about her ability to ride a horse. Your father has requested her to stay here and recover from her injuries. She seemed displeased, but agreed with him."

Legolas carefully took in all this news. "I see," he replied with a nod. "Thank you, my lady. We shall be off then," Legolas said to her with a smile and a nod.

Legolas began to make his way back to the front of the elves when he heard Leila call from behind him. "Legolas? She asked me to tell you that she greatly awaits your return."

Legolas kept riding to the front, as though he had not heard her last comment. But he had. He had also detected the slightest bit of jealousy in Leilia's voice. When he reached the front and turned back around to look at her, however, her face emanated nothing but a calm, peaceful aura. Perhaps he had been imagining it. Still, he was somewhat relieved that Ireth would stay behind. She needed to heal, and he was afraid that she would have been a distraction.

"We ride towards Rivendell," Legolas loudly called over them. "We shall take the pass through the Mirkwood Mountains. Be on your guard. We do not know at the numbers, nor the intent of these orcs. At the fist sign of danger, have your bows at your ready. I have seen far too many fall to their hands, I will not see anymore." Legolas finished speaking to the others and nodded to the elves following him, as well as those who had come to see them off. "To Rivendell with haste!" And he was off.

A total of thirteen riders followed him into the Mirkwood forest, and hopefully all thirteen would be following him on his return voyage home. He felt a sick feeling in his stomach. Orcs. He had hoped he had seen the end of those vile creatures. Now here he was, not home but a day, and already they had disturbed the peace he had wanted to embrace.

They would ride fast and hard, trying to get Rivendell's borders as quickly as possible. They would aim for four days, but he would not push his riders more than they could handle. He was prepared to take five days, if need be. He looked back behind him at the group of elves, most of whom he had grown up with, following him into untold of danger. He caught the pitch black, silky streak of hair that flew behind Leilia as she rode past him. He had been concerned about her following with them, but as he watched her handle herself, he realized that she was just as capable as any of them. Her horse suddenly leapt in the air over a large, decaying tree stump that had been in her path. Legolas smiled in spite of himself. Maybe she was even more capable than he imagined.