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

Chapter Quote: "You are a survivor of Gilloth?"

Chapter Fifty-Two

Innocent Until...

Legolas left Victoria in a healer's tent as soon as they had arrived in camp once more. Her face was pale with an unhealthy flush bearing the signs of a coming fever. She was very ill. He wanted to stay by her side... almost convinced that the elder healer would do something to the former scourge of Mirkwood that would steal Victoria from him forever. However insane it sounded... he could not forget the listlessness of her eyes as she had looked up at him. He'd seen that look before... it belonged to one who had lost all hope. To one who wanted nothing more than for it to be all over.

It chilled him to his core... and he swore he would do everything he could possibly do, until he'd spent the last breath in his body, to make sure Victoria was proven innocent of this whole mess... once and for all.

The low murmurings of the encampment sounded dull on his ears. He felt estranged from them all somehow... their company was a burden rather then a welcome presence. None of them understood. Of course none dared to congratulate each other on the downfall of the ghost... not now when their prince cast murderous looks in the speakers' directions whenever they so much as muttered her name. He had changed, he decided as he sank wearily onto a nearby log and sighed.

Never in a thousand lifetimes had he ever imagined falling in love with someone like Victoria. He knew all the old tales... knew of all the former tragedies... but it had happened anyway. He had...the wind seemed colder and the world no longer half as kind. She could die there... in that tent. And if she did, he wouldn't be able to do a thing about it.

She would slip once more through his fingers and this time there would be no hunting for her again... because she would be gone forever. He closed his eyes, recollecting the words she had spoken before she'd drifted into unconsciousness. "At least you saved me."

Love... yes... he supposed he did love her... if that's what the emotion he was feeling was called. As if the thought of losing her would choke the life from his body. Or that he felt torn in half whenever she was not near. Was that what this sort of love felt like? He didn't know... had never known. Not in all the years he'd spent on this earth. And now it would be taken away all too soon if she didn't survive this.

But she would survive it...she must. He heard soft footsteps approaching before an emotionless voice spoke. "Milord., the body was taken care of."

For a fleeting instant of horror Legolas thought the warrior was referring to Victoria. But he quenched the sudden thought with recollection of himself ordering the others to stay behind and take care of Talorta's body. He turned slowly. The warrior was tall... as were all elves. He had dark hair, and blank blue eyes and was altogether a stranger to him. But his eyes... his eyes seemed familiar somehow...

The camp was stirring, the wounded were getting loaded onto horses as everyone finished the preparations for the long road back to the palace. The warrior met his silver gaze and held out a simple, leather pouch. He looked troubled on a closer inspection, but said nothing as his Prince took the bag- feeling the weight of the ashes in his hand.

"If that will be all, milord." The warrior said stiffly.

Legolas hesitated, gestured for the warrior to remain where he was. "Your name?" He asked, trying the pouch to his belt as he spoke.

The warrior shifted his weight slightly and looked acutely to the forest beyond. "Cudir, milord."

"Tell me Cudir... is something troubling you?"

The warrior blinked, briefly meeting his inquiring gaze. He faltered, unsure of what to say. "The horse milord... did it belong to Gwenél?"

Legolas nodded, tilting his head quizzically. "Yes."

The warrior, Cudir's, face blanched and he cleared his throat. "It is just... well... I thought I might have recognized it milord."

Legolas nodded. "Many knew the animal on sight."

"It was not like that..." Cudir paused again, collecting his thoughts. "I remembered the horse from my village... before it was destroyed. That horse used to belong to a human there... a human who would give rides on it to my younger sister."

Realization dawned on him and the son of Thranduil's grey eyes widened perceptively. "You are a survivor of Gilloth?"

The warrior winced at the name. "One of few." He said softly. The warrior looked increasingly familiar to the point of irritation, Legolas frowned. "What was the name of your sister?" He asked, the hauntingly familiar eyes blinked- the younger elf now looking distinctly uncomfortable.

"Ana, milord. Her name was Ana."

I could hear them whispering about me even before I was fully awake. My shoulder was bandaged... and something wonderfully soothing had been applied to the still tender burns on my back. Other miscellaneous injuries had been attended to as well- but even the best of Mirkwood's physicians could mend the rift in my heart.

"Do you think she will be condemned to death?" One said softly.

"She has been once... why not again?" Replied another.

"Yet the Prince swears her innocence." Said yet another.

"Death is nothing short of what she deserves."

Death... so I deserved death. It was grimly amusing that for so long I had considered the dead to be the lucky ones... death to be an embrace I longed for willingly. And when I least wanted it... now I deserved it. Irony... so cruel a fate.

I drifted in and out of consciousness, and when next I awoke the voices were no longer there. The tent was of smallish proportions- but large enough for an elven healer and single patient to reside comfortably enough it. Even the expertly woven cloth could not keep the winter chill out of the air... it was cold. At least I wasn't in chains.

I could sometimes remember my dreams of leaving the forest... forgetting ever wanting to continue my reign as the ghost. Sometimes I could remember Faerlain's warm kisses or his gentle caresses. Sometimes I could remember my brother. But I felt so cold inside now... a shell. I was no longer whole... and now it seemed like my memories had begun to fade.

Love... I can't decide whether it harms or heals. Whether it is a paradise or a hell.

It was too easy to break my heart... I practically set myself up for it. A faint breeze rustled the tent flaps and I blinked, straining to remain awake but unsure as to why. Suddenly I saw two very clear, blue eyes gazing at me. My eyes widened and I shrank back in alarm.

"Ana!" I whispered in astonishment.

She had disappeared before the fight and I hadn't seen her since. She flickered before my eyes, fading even as she opened her mouth to speak. She smiled, the first I had ever seen, though it was a sad smile at that.

"I do not have much time but I need to speak with you." She said. "Trying times lie ahead for you, Victoria... but do not give up hope. You have brought justice to the innocence slaughtered at Gilloth. You had brought them peace... but now you must bring the truth to those who live on still."

"Ana... what happened to you?" I whispered as a glow started to steal her from my sight.

"All will be well, Victoria. Remember those whom love you." She hesitated. "You will not see me again... my time here has come to an end."

"Ana...I don't-"

She silenced me and I felt suddenly weary, my eyes became heavy. "Tell Cudir that I love and miss him. Tell him his wife and daughter eagerly await his coming to the Havens." She paused and then slowly pressed something into my palm. "Give this to him at the time of your trial... he will understand. Tell him I never forgot him. Tell him there was nothing to forgive."

"Ana-"

She shook her head again and her figure before me grew fainter. "You were a good friend to me, Victoria. Those whom love you will give you strength in your darkest hours... even when the sacrifice seems too much to bear." She placed a hand on my brow, smiling comfortingly. "It was I who was the ghost Victoria..." She paused, as if in afterthought and glanced briefly towards the heavens. "He says he will see you soon."

My eyes closed- but before I fell asleep entirely I heard her whisper:

"Thank you for showing me the truth."

"Ana... I know her. Have you seen her lately? The last I saw her was before the battle... she said she'd gone to warn a company of warriors." He paused, thinking, "She must have meant you... did you see her?" Asked Legolas. He didn't know Ana that well... but he still wished to know if the slight of a girl, however strange she may be, was all right.

Cudir frowned, swallowing hard. "Milord... she did not...she..." He cleared his throat and stiffened. "Milord... she did not survive the slaughter."

Legolas shook his head, dismissing the warrior's words. "Nonsense... I saw her barely two days ago." Legolas looked into Cudir's face which was rapidly losing color. "I've seen her." He persisted.

Cudir's gaze grew dark and stormy, his voice lowered menacingly. "That is impossible milord... I buried her myself." His slender fingers twitched with the memory on the hilt of his sword and Legolas shook his head again in disbelief... dismissing the uneasiness that had started to seep inside of him.

But Mirkwood suddenly seemed a darker place... and the thought of facing something as usual as the huge spiders seemed all the more inviting.

Cudir avoided him like the plague after their chat... and Araviniel tended to keep her distance. Though it didn't matter- she had not known the little girl anyway. And Victoria... the only one he could discuss what Cudir had called insanity as he'd stormed away, was unconscious.

It took nearly a fortnight to return to the palace... mainly due to the number of wounded that needed to be transported- which included Victoria. She wasn't awake for most of the journey- feverish despite the best efforts of the elven healers. She would toss and turn occasionally, tormented by nightmares. And for the for moments she would wake she would speak incoherently before fading back into her dark, blissful slumber.

Aragorn rode with Legolas constantly now, arm in sling and looking a little more the worse for wear with bandages covering the lower parts of his torso under a loose tunic. Legolas spent most of his time in the wagon used for transporting Victoria... whom most of the elves had chosen to keep as far away as possible from.

Home was no longer as welcoming.

Victoria wasn't conscious when they reached the palace gates, but messengers had been sent in advance to forewarn their coming to prepare for the wounded... and to make adequate accommodations for the Ghost of Mirkwood. Upon arrival Victoria's still body was carried to the dungeons... and Legolas was sent for by the king. Legolas would have wanted nothing more then to have been at her side when she awoke... but his father had requested his immediate attention. And the two warriors that had come to tell him so had no intention of leaving his side without him... prince or no prince.

So Araviniel offered to stay at her side in his stead. He had thanked her wearily... suddenly losing energy at the thought of explaining everything to his father, and sent Aragorn to his own quarters for rest. The human appeared weary enough to fall from his horse- though he was doing his best not to show it. Two house servants paced him cautiously, a supporting hand under each arm, until he disappeared from Legolas' sight.

The streets outside were quiet and the snow swirled in flurry-like anger from above, pouring down through the tree tops. He was home... and never in his life had he felt like more of a stranger.

"The trip home was uneventful?"

Legolas reclined in one of his father's comfortably carved chairs. Every bone in his body seemed to ache and his head rang with the tell-tale signs of a coming head-ache. What he wanted to do was sleep... but he would find no rest till this was all over... in one way or another.

They were in Thranduil's study- and Legolas was trying hard not to look as miserable as he felt in his father's presence. Instead he sat stone-faced, casually avoiding his father's inquiring and concerned gaze as he relayed the barest facts of his recent adventure in a flat voice- skirting the issue he dreaded speaking of for as long as he could manage.

"We had no surprises." Legolas replied simply. He averted his gaze from his father and turned instead to the fire roaring in the hearth against the far wall.

"You are well?"

Legolas nodded. "I was well cared for."

There was a silence and Legolas grimaced as he realized how harsh he must seem to his father. When have I ever fought so nervous in his presence? He asked himself.

Probably since you fell in love with Mirkwood's greatest criminal. His mind countered, he winced again.

Who just happens to be human.

"Legolas... what is this foolishness?" Thranduil asked quietly, golden hair softly reflecting the firelight.

Legolas looked up, feeling a bust of sudden confidence. "She is innocent, father! I can prove it!"

Thranduil's brows raised in surprise and he leaned forward in his chair. "Is this what is troubling you, my son?"

Legolas straightened in the chair, anxious now as he recalled the few elves who had borne Victoria's body on a litter to the dungeons below.

"She will be given a trial- which is a gift considering she was already condemned once... and by the same court."

Legolas stood, lips pressed into a thin line. "But she is innocent! I will testify in court... I will give proof... I will... I..." He stuttered to a halt, words fleeing his lips as he sought desperately to make his father understand, to make him see how blind they had all been. But Thranduil did not understand... and if he did not... how could he convince an entire nation to let her walk free?

Now was his chance... he had only to convince his father and he could take her away from here forever! But his father had stared emotionlessly up at him for several moments... and then his expression had registered into one of shock... and he met his son's passionate gaze with a blank stare. Thranduil seemed at a momentary loss for words.

"Legolas I..." He hesitated, rising slowly and clearing his throat. "You could not possibly..."

It was in that instant that Legolas realized his father knew... how could he have known so quickly? He cursed himself for his stupidity and turned from him in rage, avoiding his father's stare and walking to the wall by the hearth. He leaned against it, pounding his fist against the cold stone in frustration. He wanted to scream, to cry out. What could he do? How could he make... how could he convince him that he was right? His vision swam with angry tears as he thought of Victoria rotting away in that cell until she died. He couldn't let that happen... she had to go free!

"Impossible... Legolas, do you realize what that woman has done to this country... to your people?"

"She did not attack Gilloth!" He protested sharply, whirling to defend her.

"Even so..." Thranduil continued calmly, his mouth pulled into a frown. "... what about these past years? Hm? How many have fallen victim to her? And you claim her innocence?"

"She is innocent!" He exclaimed, nearing Thranduil purposefully and ignoring Victoria's far from perfect past. It didn't matter... all that mattered was that she couldn't stay here. She needed to be with him... she needed to be free from them...

Thranduil eyed his son darkly. "A trial is more then she deserves... you would be wise not to jeopardize that last chance."

"I will not stand by and watch her die." He muttered furiously, glaring daggers at his father across from him.

Thranduil blinked, and then sighed as his anger faded. He looked with sadness at his youngest and only son... and he shook his head. "You love her... don't you?"

Legolas back away, furious still that his father dared to try and even fathom the emotions he had for Victoria. He backed away, moving towards the door when his father spoke again.

"Only pain will she bring you, my son." Thranduil said softly.

But Legolas had already gone- slamming the door behind him. Victoria would survive this... and the court would pronounce her innocence. He would fight for her... fight till his very last breath. And then he would show them... then they will know.

She will walk free... she had to. And then it wouldn't matter what any of them said... because he and Victoria would be gone.

A/N: Finally, the father-son confrontation... and so far Legolas isn't doing so hot about all of this. And a new bit of info on Ana... I wonder where that will lead... but of course I already know... cause I'm writing it! He he. :) I will not allude to anything coming up... but I will say that Faerlain will not be left out in the cold for long. He will be talked about in upcoming chapters... so unfortunately there is some angst to come.

I realized, as a reviewer pointed out to me, that my story does tend to border on the depression line with a rather lack of humor. I can only apologize and perhaps make up for it later. Sorry guys... I throw in one-liners here and there but this story was to be my great angst experiment... and I guess its working. :)

I am only 4 reviews away from 600 and I'm so excited... this story has gone WAY beyond my wildest expectations and I have to thank you all a million times over for supporting me through it all... I promise not to disappoint to the best of my ability:) Welcome aboard to all the new reviewers I got for this last chapter, and I love you all for all the wonderful reviews you've given me. Sorry for the late update, mu job got pretty busy so I had no time to type... but I promise the next update will be on time!

Till next we meet my friends...

TO BE CONTINUED...