Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkien's creations and only lay claim to my own humble creatures.

Chapter Quote: "They don't usually work you know."

Chapter Forty-Eight

A Ghostly Maiden

He awoke with a sharp pounding in his head and a pain in his back that made his entire body ache. The events of the previous day filtered back to him and he felt despair tugging at his heart as he opened his eyes. She was sitting next to him, her knees drawn up to her chest and her head buried in them. Her torn garments had begun to slide off her shoulders, which were shaking visibly with sobs. He realized with a pang that he'd never seen the elf maiden so vulnerable...and it disheartened him.

He pushed himself up onto his elbows, gritting his teeth as his body protested the movement. He gasped as a sharp pain radiated from his rib cage and he pressed the flat of his left palm to it, wincing. It was only after that he had taken a deep breath and looked around that he'd noticed the blood in his eyes.

He looked again toward the maiden, collected his breath before asking, "They killed hi-... They killed him...didn't they?"

He saw her raise her head slightly, eyes -haunted and bleak- turned to glance at him. She seemed startled at first, but she calmed herself before she answered him. "They killed them all milord." She said softly. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, smearing her tears with dirt and blood.

The cave was still dark but the faintest rays had begun to filter in through its mouth. "It will be dawn soon." He said, pushing himself all the way up into a sitting position and glancing around. There were no orcs in the cave, which was surprising enough as the demons usually preferred the dark to the gloom of the forest. Grimly he realized that he was glad there were no more of their company left...no more that would have to die. With so little hope and with no chance at rescue...he began wondering if he would ever see Arwen again. Would ever hold his unborn child in his arms? He closed his eyes as he remembered... and the memory of the screams reached his ears once more.

He felt a sharp pain of regret that he'd ever come with Legolas at all. He was no longer a ranger of the wild, no matter how much he missed that it would never change. He was a king...and as such he should have never gone off into the forest in the first place. This was all his fault.

Why is it so damned quiet outside?

These orcs were unusual, yes, but right about now they should have been entering the cave for questioning...torturing...or something of that sort. He frowned...something was not right. He stood, leaning hard on the cave wall and sucking in sharply as the pain in his ribs flared again. "How long was I unconscious?" He asked Araviniel.

"The whole night...ah...Lord Aragorn?" The elf maiden behind him asked in confusion as she watched him rise.

"Can you not sense it?" He asked, glancing quickly at her. He started walking towards the mouth of the cave, one arm pressed to his chest. "No guards? No noise? They would not have left us here."

Araviniel had risen now as well and was only a pace or two behind him. Only a few steps away from the cave entrance they heard rocks from outside crunch underfoot and both elf and human froze...barely breathing. Then there they were again...and again...ans they stopped. They didn't move in silence for what seemed like an eternity and then Araviniel hissed to him,

"Do you think-"

"Quiet!" He bit back in a harsh whisper.

Suddenly a head popped into view that made the King of Gondor start in surprise.

"Legolas?"

Victoria had been ready for the attack just as the dull sunlight drifted down through the barren trees and gave welcome warmth, however weak, to their chilled bones. They waited on the edge of the hill, waiting until the camp below was more or less silent. Victoria carefully avoided the rays of the sun, hiding in the shadows as the three waited in silence for the opportune moment to strike. Victoria was shivering, the faded and torn remnants of her long, black garments hung in tatters about her shoulders.

Legolas had suggested that they fashion a knew tunic from it but she had refused, saying that the ripped cloth would only add to her ghostliness. Ana scoffed at this idea but gave no other argument. But Legolas could still see how the human shivered as the cold wind bit at her broken skin. The burns had begun to scar now, leaving her pale flesh battered in its wake. He had to fight back a grimace every time he caught sight of them- wishing for the millionth time that he was as skilled a healer as Aragorn. Estel.

He thought grimly of the orcs' violent treatment of his friend and hoped that this morning's ambush would not have come to late. And he felt a sudden rush of emotion wash over him when he thought of Victoria facing the company of orcs on her own. And it was then he realized with a pang how much worried he was about her... and how much it pained him to think of her getting hurt. He turned to look at her.

I sat still...as still as I could. I could feel frozen soil beneath my equally frozen fingertips. Talorta was standing a few feet off, he hadn't avoided the sun as I had and patches offur were now starting to glow. I smirked in amusement and blew a stray piece of hair away from my face. An Appaloosa whose spots glowed...I bet they'd never seen anything like that back in the states.

I shivered as a bit of wind blew past me and I felt Legolas' eyes on me again. I scowled at him. "I'm cold...all right? I'll admit it." I snapped.

He didn't say anything in reply, but the look that he gave me through his silver eyes bore the equivalent of 'I-told-you-so'. I guess gloating wasn't an elf thing. I could have smacked him...I was nervous about this whole business as it was and his stare was unnerving me to say the least. Ana was standing with the horses. She didn't touch either of them...or speak to them. She just stood there, looking through the trees with a dreamy expression on her face. I turned to face him again, a pit of fear starting to churn in my stomach as I realized that now was the was the time to begin.

I met his gaze and was surprised to see a softer look there...a weird sort of tenderness ...twisted ...as if he wasn't really sure if it was suppose to be there. I felt the pit churn again...there was something about him that was doing something to me...something that was changing me and I couldn't explain it. And I knew by the way he was looking at me now that he felt it too. I shifted uncomfortably on the dirt, heat flushing my pale, tainted cheeks.

"I should get going." I said weakly, averting my gaze and gulping hard. What was the matter with me? I'd never felt this way before...it was different then anything I had felt with Faerlain...and certainly like nothing I'd ever experienced back home. What was this crazy elf prince doing to me? I started when I felt him place a warm hard on my bare shoulder...fire tingled down my arm sending little shocks through my body, but they didn't hurt. They...I didn't know...in a strange way they excited me...in others they scared the crap out of me...what was the matter with me!

"Be careful Victoria." He whispered softly.

My insides twisted as I looked at him, seeing his eyes stare straight into my very being. I felt nauseous, but I gulped it down- tasting bile in my throat. I couldn't get sick now...not here. My cheeks felt hot but I felt something inside of me twinge when I thought of the possibility of never seeing him again. And I knew, with my odds, that there was a very good chance of me dying today. Strange..dying didn't bother me so much as never seeing his eyes...his face...his very being again. What was the matter with me!

Talorta pawed the earth nervously and Ana spoke in hushed tones to him. But both sounds sounded dull on my ears now...I don't know quite how it happened...but suddenly he was so close to me that I found I couldn't breathe. I could feel his warm breath on my neck, making my skin tingle.

"Legolas...I-" I started, but my sentence faltered as he place a finger on my lips. He didn't smile...not really anyway. He just looked at me and then I felt his lips brush against mine. I gasped, feeling dizzy as little shocks burst through my body. I hadn't kissed anyone since my last night with Faerlain...but I didn't pull away as the Prince kissed my again. He sought my mouth, caressing my lips with his own...and I kissed him back. I felt hot all over...sick even as he kissed me gently. It wasn't a teeth snapper of the passionate lover...it was more like a testimony...a gentle testimony...of what? I shivered as his hand came up behind my head...and I realized I was afraid of him.

But then everything went wrong.

I felt suddenly ice cold as a new thought pushed its way to the front of my clouded mind. I ran from him...the wind tearing art me as I escaped his warmth and his presence faded. I didn't let myself cry...I had a job to do and this was neither the time nor place to be thinking on this sort of thing.

I felt the sun brush across me and a quick glance at my arm told me that I had started to glow. It wasn't like a neon yellow or anything...it was more like if you had just stepped into really bright sunshine.

I lept fluidly onto Talorta's back, wincing as my limbs protested the strain. RUN...RUN...RUN...! My mind screamed as I kicked him into a gallop. I shoved my confusion and nauseousness into the back of my mind...I couldn't be doing this right now and I most certainly wouldn't be bothered about him. But that was what was bothering me anyway...wasn't it? There...I had said it. Love. I had spoken those words only once...since Faerlain's death, and that was to Talorta after the accident with my mentor. (Which was another event of my past that I refused to think on.)

I couldn't love him...I couldn't love anybody...a branch struck my cheek- biting into my skin and dragging me back to reality as pain lanced through the side of my face. But I still felt so cold...and I realized why it was making me feel so sick.

It was because if I had let Legolas kiss me...it meant I didn't love Faerlain anymore. And I...I just...

I wanted to scream...tear my hair out...but I couldn't. I had to sit serenely on my horse's back and play the part of the revered ghost. I am a God damned idiot.

And now it was time.

He watched in astonishment as she turned and galloped off into the woods. Talorta's hooves, muted by cloth, struck softly at the frozen earth- spraying snow and soil out from behind him. Legolas backed away from the hill, feeling dazed as he shook his head to clear his mind. This was impossible...he hated Victoria...he hated her!

But she hadn't kissed him...I kissed her.

Ana was watching him from across the glade, she gestured to his bow which lay a few paces away...but she made no movement to hand it to him. She watched him through solemn eyes, smiling sadly.

"You've really confused yourself...you realize that don't you?"

He glanced at her briefly, saying nothing as he stood and reached for his bow, slinging his quiver over his shoulders and fitting an arrow to the string. His heart was racing...he felt like he was trying to swim up from the bottom of a lake...trying to gasp for air. And he knew he had watched her ride away in astonishment not because she had torn from his advances...but instead because he had given her those advances in the first place.

He turned away, heard Ana's mount pad the ground behind him as she mounted him. "I shall return shortly." She said softly.

He glanced sharply at her in surprise. "Where are you going?"

She shook her head, pointed in the direction opposite of the orc encampment. "No matter, go ahead as planned."

"Where are you going?" He repeated, looking up at her with a stern glint in his eyes. He moved closer to her, reaching out to grab her arm. She pulled away, eyes flashing in irritation.

She shook her head in resignation. "There's a company of warriors just a few miles away from here...if I can get to them in time then I will bring back reinforcements."

He started, looked at her in surprise. "How do you know this?"

She twitched her fingers impatiently on the horse's mane. "It does not matter, proceed as planned and with the help of the Valar, I will be back in time. There is no other way that I will be able to help you."

He frowned, hating just then how the elven maid spoke in riddles. She didn't wait for him to reply, instead whirling her steed about and pushing him into a canter. He watched her ride off, watched as the grey horse picked up his pace...but before she was quite out of hearing range he saw her rein the horse back and look back at him.

"They don't usually work you know." She called back and he wondered if he meant their plan of rescue or the kiss he had just given to Victoria. Either way, he nodded grimly and shouted back,

"I know."

Then she was gone, disappearing beneath the snowy trees and vanishing into the misty dawn. And Legolas, raising his bow, crept closer to orc encampment, waiting for Victoria's signal.

I slowed Talorta to a walk when we were just within the borders of the camp. I'd wrapped his hooves again so that we could move silently through the forest. But my heart was beating so fast that I swore that was louder then Talorta's hooves could have ever been.

I regretted what I had done to all those elves during my reign as Gwenél, which strangely since I had met Legolas felt as if it were over. I had relished in the fear and respect I had gotten through the alias of the ghost. I hadn't killed anyone...I had just kept them away. But them keeping them away with tricks hadn't worked...and then the orcs had captured Legolas.

Orcs had always been a problem for me...at first they had only occasionally entered the forest near the borders after the slaughter of Gilloth and during that year I had spent my time hunting down every vermin I had come across. But since the war in the East had ended, they'd become more adventurous... going deeper into the forest to hide their scaly rears. I'd had encounters with them many a time since that year...most had grown to fear me as much as the elves did. But there were something different about these particular orcs...they'd been in the forest for a while now and I knew they were looking for something.

What I wanted to know is why they wanted Legolas so badly...and why Araviniel had been helping to look for him. Araviniel had been lost to me until recently...maybe the dead just didn't stay dead after all in this place. I felt my face pale as an icy shock nearly made me puke. What if Faerlain came back too? Was that even possible? Was it possible that he still loved me? I thought I loved him...I sure didn't love Legolas...did I? Or was it that I had stopped loving Faerlian and that was what was scaring me so much? That the whole reason for my having sought revenge all these years had simply vanished?

I didn't know what to think or do and I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of my own heartbeat. I won't think on this now...I just couldn't.

We were clearing the trees...just coming into the encampment. I set my face rigidly in stone, gazing defiantly around me... But there was nobody there...not a single orc waiting for me in that encampment.

They were gone.

When no signal came from 'Gwenél', Legolas had crept to the mouth of the cave where he assumed Aragorn would have been kept. He didn't let his nervousness at there being no orcs in the clearing get to him...he swallowed it down and instead thought only of the task at hand.

He frowned, clutching his bow a little tighter and moved closer to the entrance to the cave. He held his breath for a moment or two, knowing that the snow and leafless trees would offer him no camouflage if there were indeed orcs still out there. Slowly, he moved towards the edge of the mouth, and then slid his head around to gaze inside.

He had to fight not to let out a breath of alarm as he saw a face suddenly appear from the depths of the cave. "Legolas?" The voice breathed in amazement.

Legolas smiled weakly at him. Aragorn looked terrible... blood was running down the side of his face and had matted his hair in some places, his face was bruised and he was hunched over slightly, pressing a hand to his rib-cage and hinting at injuries there. All in all, the king of Gondor looked quite a sight...and an unpleasant one at that. Legolas glanced quickly again around the camp, and, upon spying no one he ducked inside the cave and gently pushed his friend out of sight.

"What are you doing here?" Aragorn hissed softly as Legolas lowered his bow, still keeping the arrow fitted as he did so.

"Rescuing you of course." Legolas replied softly, as if it were an old joke between them. It could have been...if their current situation were not looking so dire. But even as he spoke the words he frowned, he did not like the look he saw in his friend's face. He looked startled...frightened even...worried. Legolas glanced around the cave and spied an elven maid standing a few paces away.

"Lady Araviniel I presume?"

Araviniel nodded in surprise, quickly regaining her composure as she recognized him. She was about to drop into a curtsey but he shook his head and stilled her movement. "There is no time. We must leave...and quickly."

"How did you find us?"

Legolas was about to answer when a stern look suddenly passed over Aragorn's face.

"You should not have come!" Legolas glanced at him incredulously and moved towards the spot where they had been sleeping.

"And leave you here to die? Don't be stupid. Now...quickly gather anything that may be of use to us and lets get out of here." Moving towards the impressions that their bodies had made in the dirt of the floor, he realized with a jolt that no one else had survived the orcs' brutality. He felt a cold hand on his arm and he looked up sharply, finding himself meeting Aragorn's steely gaze.

"They are searching for you my friend...they have been for a long while."

Legolas gestured impatiently with his bow to the exit. "There is no time...it doesn't matter. We need to leave now before it is too late."

Aragorn looked ready to protest but Araviniel silenced him with a quick tap on his shoulder. She met Legolas' gaze through haunted eyes. "They killed our men trying to find you, my prince. What can you do to get us out of here without discovery? They will surely kill you if they find you."

"We leave now." He said firmly, he nodded towards the cave mouth. "Don't worry...we have a diversion." He heard soft footfalls follow him as he moved towards the exit, and he knew that the others were following him.

"Legolas please-" Hissed Aragorn, but Legolas cut him off with a sharp flick of his wrist. It didn't matter now if Aragorn was worried or not. They had to get out of here...and fast. He trained his eyes on the clearing, sweeping his gaze over the surrounding forest. He searched for any sign of life beneath the trees and he held his breath, tightening his grip upon his bow. He felt soil shift slightly beneath his feet and he poked his head out into the early morning light.

"Follow me." He whispered over his shoulder to his companions before stepping out from the mouth of the cave. He could feel his nervousness burning his in his throat. Where is she? He thought wildly, concentrating his mind on searching for any flicker of movement. He didn't have weapons for Aragorn and Araviniel and prayed that they would not need them. But that was when he saw her, drifting in and out of the shadows of the trees.

Both her and Talorta were glowing softly, even more eerily because they were avoiding the rays of the sun. She had let her hair down- dark locks falling in waves over her tattered clothing as the stallion walked on. He knew that she was getting ready to sing...getting ready to entice any who would show their faces. She'd be spreading the toxin as well...but as the wind blew sharply through her black garments he felt chills run down his spine as he realized how different she looked.

Memories of her kiss burned deep inside of him and he felt a fresh burst of concern as he watched her ride on. She started humming, a whispering tune that made him freeze momentarily as he recalled the haunting melody.

He heard Aragorn shift impatiently, waiting for him to give them a lead to follow. And then he froze, Legolas glanced back at him briefly, saw the human's brows furrow. "That...is our diversion?" He whispered in disbelief.

Legolas let a flicker of a smile flash over his face as he replied with a quick confirmation.

"But who is she?" Breathed Araviniel from behind the king.

Legolas twitched his head towards Victoria, his gaze softening. "That...is Gwenél."

He heard Aragorn let out a deep breath, saw him shaking his head out of the corner of his eye. "I hope you know what you're doing." He said softly.

"I'm sure." Legolas replied.

"Any idea where the others have gone then?" Asked the king, not taking his gaze of Victoria as she drifted eerily into the clearing. Legolas shook his head. "You owe me a full explanation when this is all over." He said, nodding towards Victoria.

Legolas half-smiled. "I know."

I could feel the wind wisping past me as if to carry my song to unfriendly ears. I smiled inwardly, despite everything this place had done to me...apparently the wind was still on my side. I could fee the pouch of silver toxin on my hip, my hand rested against my thigh as I watched and waited for my prey. And then I started to sing as I entered the encampment.

The wing chilled me to my very bones as fear started to tug at my consciousness. Where are they? No orc company could evacuate a camp so quickly and quietly...it defied reason. I glanced up at the hill Legolas and I had spied down from all night. Was it even conceivable that we could have missed them? And if so, had they left their captives? I let my gaze drift slowly down towards the mouth of the cave, searching for a sign of Legolas.

I blinked in surprise when I saw him already exiting the cave with his friend and Araviniel. What happened to waiting for my signal! I blinked, part of playing Gwenél required showing as little emotion as possible besides a large dose of anger. My mentor had schooled me well in the aspect but I was finding it difficult to keep a straight face as I met his silver gaze. Fool! If the orcs were out there then they would be attacked without any warning or protection.

He was unnerved though by the orcs' absence...and even more so that they had left their prisoners behind. Ambush, I thought...but I didn't speak it aloud. I didn't know if he understood me...he never got the chance to answer. For that was when they came back...filing through the wood with their weapons raised...and all eyes concentrated on the elven prince before me.

Legolas saw the orc closest to him sneer, "Prince Legolas." It hissed softly. "We've been expecting you."

The other orcs began to chuckle and hoot and Legolas felt grim determination settle upon him, calming his fears. Victoria wasn't doing anything yet...it was as if she had froze or was invisible as she gazed slowly at him- the orcs hadn't even realized that she was there.

Be careful, her eyes now begged as she stared at him through a face set in stone.

"Take the Prince alive." The lead orc bellowed...metal rings lining his forehead to his upper lip and his eyes colored a pallid yellow. "Kill the rest."

The orcs hooted, raising their weapons high over their heads...just before they all charged. And that was when he heard the music again...drifting through the trees on the wind. And then he heard a sharp voice cry out for them to halt and they all froze. It was then that everyone in the clearing caught sight of the ghostly maiden on her steed.

"Gwenél." Aragorn breathed behind him, and Legolas could hear grudging amazement in his voice. But no one moved as Victoria stared them all down. Her mouth was open as she sang...her eyes all alight and fiery- her face passive. And at once she fell silent, and then with a look that could have melted the courage of the bravest warrior, she turned to look at the lead orc.

"Who dares to enter my domain?" She called out in a commanding tone. Legolas could see some of the silver toxin swirling around on the breeze...only the faintest amount of it...but already some of the orcs were blinking in confusion. They glanced around at each other...and then their leader stepped forward, his head bowed submissively as he approached and his clawed hands each holding both sword and axe.

"Lady Gwenél." He rumbled deeply.

Victoria looked every inch a legend...her hair was blowing gently in the breeze...her torn cloths fluttering about her scarred and glowing body. Talorta's eyes drifted back and forth between the orcs. If the stallion felt any fear then...he didn't show it. He was moving so little that he hardly looked like he was even breathing.

"Why have you entered my domain?" She repeated icily, her voice deep and penetrating...almost completely different then anything he had ever heard from her. She locked her rigid stare upon the face of the orc leader, and the orc grimaced visibly under her glare...twitched his fingers nervously on his weapons.

"We claim rights to these captives for our master, milady."

"What master?" She asked serenely.

The orc blinked in uncertainty, licked its lips. "The Lord of the Wood." He began but the orc didn't finish as fire burned in Gwenél's eyes.

"THERE IS NO LORD OF THE WOOD EXCEPT FOR ME!" She lashed out, and the orc stumbled back as if he had been hit by a gale. He was panting in fear now. "The captives are MINE." She continued and Legolas realized then that he'd been holding his breath as he recalled his first day of fear when he'd met her.

The orc looked up hesitantly at her...and then he froze... and his look of fear melted into a sneer. A sharp pain of fear flickered in Legolas' breast.

"They say you are the Mistress of the Dead, milady...is this true?"

Legolas saw a flicker of irritation pass over her pale face and she inclined her head briefly. "You have said it." She replied sharply.

"Then as Mistress of the Dead, milady...you must be dead yourself? A ghost?" The orc hissed.

Legolas frowned, concern clawing into his mind. Too many questions... Gwenél was staring through steely blue eyes as she looked down at the orc and Talorta pawed the earth.

"I demand that you leave my forest at once, vermin." She spat back at the orc, shifting in the saddle and fingering the pouch of toxin. Her hand glittered in the light and it was then that Legolas noticed that the other orcs had begun to move closer.

NO! NO! NO! His mind screamed in alarm. He stared at Victoria, rapid panic for her choking him, knowing then that there was no way to alert her to the orcs' retaliation.

The orc leader neared her...sneering as he looked defiantly up into her face. "But milady...ghosts don't bleed."

Legolas saw Victoria's eyes widen slightly as she slowly raised her hand to her cheek. There was a slender cut...with a drop of crimson blood dripping down her pale cheek.

It happened too fast for Legolas to stop it...but the orc moved in a flash and far more quickly then Legolas had ever deemed possible for their kind. He raised his jagged scimitar that he clutched in his right hand and he brought it down the length of Victoria's arm from her shoulder to just above her elbow. Victoria let out a cry of pain and the toxin she had been clutching in her hand flew as her grip went slack and a shower of crimson burst from her arm. The toxin hit the orc full in the face and he stumbled back, gasping and sputtering. He fell dead with one of Legolas' arrows in his back...but that was just when the whole glade suddenly erupted into a battlefield...

...and it was just then that Legolas realized how grossly outnumbered they were.

A/N: Well, I hang my head in shame for the lack of updates. I was stuck because I knew what I wanted to happen next...but I had to put this whole order of events into sequence...which took a lot of time and a ton of planning. But here is a whopping chapter to apologize and to be my way of compensating for the delay. I hope I didn't lose to many of you!

Happy Easter by the way...I ate like...all my jellybeans today as well as all my little Cadbury Chocolate eggs...YUMM! I feel like such a pig but I still have a butload more chocolate to go through. CADBURY RULES THE WORLD!

Ahem Sorry... I was surprised that I haven't had too many questions about Victoria's 'mentor', and it is a huge reference to her past and part of a big mystery as to what exactly she has been doing for the last five years. I gave you a little insight into that time period in this chapter, and it will be 'revenge of the flashbacks' soon enough in future chapters. I just thought I should mention it.

Well, I'm on vacation but I am REALLY tired...so I hope I get reviews for this chapter (crosses fingers) and hopefully you are all ready for the climax of this story! I know that kiss in here will probably be controversial... my good friend was appalled when I let her read the first draft of this story...she's kinds pro-Faerlain and kinda anti-Princey in this regard...but you'll all see what happens in time. :)

So farewell! And thanks a million for reading and reviewing! Hey...was that a long author's note or what:) Reviews are appreciated! Toodles!

TO BE CONTINUED...