A/N: Hello readers! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Fun tidbit… the next morning after Halloween, the local Wal-mart grocery store was playing Christmas music.

Thank you for your reviews

. . .

You were given life; it is your duty to find something beautiful in it, no matter how small. – Elizabeth Gilbert

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Monsters in the Night

. . .

"Is she gonna be alright?"

Legolas sat on the edge of a bed, shrouded in lamplight. Kris was in the doorway, fidgeting with the threshold.

"Legolas?" she pressed softer.

Still no answer.

Legolas swathed Tauriel in sheets, red hair spilling over the satin pillows. He was at her bedside, stroking her hand in his. It was so tiny, so white and smooth. He couldn't eat. He couldn't sleep.

Aragorn's pulse was steady and his temperature was fine. But Tauriel… why? Why did the flames lap at her skin? Why did she fight the gap between life and death so fiercely?

Kristy carried a small plate of food into the room. A depression in the mattress and a warm smell wafted to his nose…warm meat and vegetable soup. She sat beside.

"Please Legolas," she said softly, "Can you just eat something? You haven't had anything all day and all night. You'll start getting weak, or-or faint, or something."

Legolas barely registered the words.

All she could do is set the bowl on the nightstand and leave. Hopeless.

The kitchen joined the living room in one open space, inside the cabin. She shuffled over the thick carpet and looked around. It was nice inside. Polished wood cupboards lined the kitchen. All the modern conveniences of the city were here: lights, refrigerator, washing machine… if the power were on.

Kristy collapsed and curled up in the black leather cushions. Flames snapped and burned under the stone mantle, throwing firelight through the room. Two couches formed an L around the fire, one's back to the kitchen tile.

Why did this storm have to hit?

Kristy glared at the windows. Whirling snow wailed and buffeted the little cabin until it creaked and groaned. Black clouds scratched across the sky. At least the doors were unlocked when they arrived, and they'd managed to get the two strangers inside. It was a full day ago.

"Aragorn…" Kristy muttered to herself, looking over with a sigh. What a name. What a man! Ranger, she corrected.

He was still asleep on the sofa, firelight dancing at the shadows on his unshaved face. Snow battered the walls in icy flakes, cold and bitter wind whistling through the pines. She listened to it nonstop, worrying for Legolas and the two strangers. She couldn't sleep either, knowing he was awake and distressed. Legolas just refused to enlighten her as to who the woman was.

It was frustrating, maddening. The man was stubborn, and he'd dragged her all the way up here without a word more than that pathetic explanation in the car!

And suddenly, something happened …a shifting on the couch, a faint groan.

"Aragorn?" Kris whispered, blinking in surprise. She focused in the dark.

He definitely was moving.

"Aragorn…" Kristy sat up, instantly tense. "Oh really, please, can you not do that right now? Just keep sleeping!"

He wasn't paying attention. God, what would he do? Wake up screaming? Demand answers and try to run?

"Ah…uh, Legolas!" She whipped her head from the lump of blanket to the bedroom down the hall. Legolas was still in there with Tauriel. They'd been in there for hours. He refused to leave. "Legolas!" she called louder. "Legolas, something's happening!"

No answer.

"Legolas, get out here!"

"What is it?" He appeared, blonde hair rumpled like he'd been running his hands through it, and he stalked out of the room. "What in-"

"Aragorn!" Kristy pointed vigorously. He was shifting and a quiet groan broke from the man's lips.

Instantly, Legolas stopped, staring at the rousing man… before rushing over. It was too soon! He didn't know what to do, what to say. Legolas got down on his knees, carefully placing his hands on Aragorn's arms in case he woke up thrashing. He remembered what it was like to wake on fire, shudder with violent chills and have no memory, no recollection of anything…the past, the future.

He didn't want that for his friend.

"Estel…" Legolas whispered, searching his closed eyes. "Estel, can you hear me?"

And slowly, as if in response… Aragorn's eyes flickered open. His pupils widened in the faint light, focused on the blur of pale silver hovering above him.

Legolas didn't move, afraid of frightening him.

"Aragorn?"

And suddenly the man grabbed Legolas by the clothes and yanked him down, pulling himself to his feet in the process. Legolas gasped. Aragorn's eyes flashed steely blue. It was like flames lapped in their depths and Legolas stared straight into them.

"Aragorn! Y-your name is Aragorn." Legolas rattled off, frozen in his grip. Aragorn whipped his gaze over the elf, up and down, wide-eyed. "You were raised by elves and they call you Estel! I am Legolas, your friend. I will not fight you and I will not hurt you. I am your friend, I swear and-"

And suddenly, to his shock, Aragorn's face slowly burst into a joyful grin. He pulled him into a bone-crushing embrace.

"What are you talking about, fool of an elf?" Estel clasped his arms and held onto his shoulders. Legolas blinked, aghast. He forgot: Estel was a hugger. "We've searched everywhere for you. I thought you were lost to me, my friend. I've found you at last!" he laughed.

"Aragorn…you-you remember me?" Legolas gasped.

"Of course I remember you."

Kristy looked between them, confused. She caught a word here and there, but her Sindarin was poor. Aragorn wasn't fighting? Why? And why wasn't he sicker, like Legolas and Tauriel?

Estel stepped back from Legolas, staggering only once, and he looked around. His vision levelled out and he felt blood rush into his legs. He felt different here. Colder. Cloudy sunlight poured through the windows, and snow was coming down in blowing curtains against the glass.

Lorien, it wasn't.

"What happened?" he asked quickly, "What place is this?"

"We are in a place called Earth." Legolas explained, still keeping a steadying hand on the man's arm. "Trust me mellon nín," he said carefully, offering support, "it is not a place for the faint of heart. I am glad you are here."

"Earth?" Aragorn squinted. "…In Arda? I've never heard of such a place."

Legolas shook his head, laughing wryly. "Indeed you have not. There isno such place in Arda. The portal has taken you to me, but nowhere that we are familiar. I believe it to be a different world entirely, perhaps a different time."

Slowly, Aragorn nodded, as if processing the information gradually. "Time…" he murmured. His steel gray eyes took in everything with a single glance… machines, furniture of leather and black metal, polished wood table that held a ticking device and- …and a woman.

"Who is that?" he muttered.

"Oh! Ah… this is Kristine. She aided me in habilitating myself to this world."

"Is that not a strong word, my friend? Habilitating?"

"Two and a half months seems a long while when you are in a world as strange and terrible as this," he shrugged.

"Two and a half months?" Aragorn stepped back, agape. "You have been here… that long?"

"Did you not know?"

"No!" Estel took an arm and gripped Legolas. "My friend…I am so sorry. But you must understand. It has been barely a fortnight since you left us."

Legolas stiffened. "A fortnight… that is all?" And then, his muscles slowly grew untaught. He considered that revelation. "Well, I am not sure if it's a good or bad thing. I have missed you terribly, mellon nín, but this…this means I have not missed as much as I thought."

"Nay, we still take rest in the woods of Lorien." Aragorn shifted on his feet, keeping himself steady, "We have another fortnight still until we planned to leave."

Legolas nodded. "And of Mithrandir, is he...?"

At the mention of the old wizard's name, Aragorn's face paled. "I fear it is so. He is indeed lost to us."

And then, a quiet throat cleared. It dragged both their minds from the sinking, dark memories and they looked up. Kristy shuffled to peer past Legolas' shoulder, and she kept her hands together, fidgeting. Aragorn's cool gray eyes met hers and she froze.

"Um, can-can somebody tell me what's going on?" she asked quickly. "And why 'Aragorn' doesn't seem to have any trouble - oh, I don't know - breathing?"

Legolas smiled warmly. "Ah, my friend, manners." He said and glanced to Aragorn. "I should warn you, she does know some Sindarin. And her Westron is growing quite good. The languages are more similar than you'd think."

Estel cast his eyes sidelong. "I see." And he switched to fluent Sindarin. "I shall watch what I say then."

"Hi! I'm Kristine." Kris grinned breathlessly. She stuck out a hand as he approached, before Estel reached to take it.

"She doesn't appreciate a kiss there." Legolas interjected.

"Aragorn…son of Arathorn," he said deciding to hold her fingers in a firm, gentle grasp instead. There was no point hiding his identity. She obviously knew what it was already. "I thank you for the care of my friend in his time here."

Legolas relayed the message and obviously, the statement surprised her. She blinked, glancing between them. "Oh, it-it was nothing. That's fine."

"She wears strange clothes." Estel stared straight into her eyes and refrained from looking her up and down, not wishing to make her uncomfortable. But he glanced to Legolas. "Does she always…?"

"Always."

"Is her hair always that short?"

"Always."

Legolas looked at Kristy then, Tauriel slipping from his mind, and the sudden nervousness flaring in her eyes made him smile again. He reached up and gently draped an arm across her shoulders. She was staring at Aragorn and not even trying to hide it.

"Don't be nervous." He could barely keep the smile from tugging at his lips.

"I'm not."

Legolas grinned. "I found you brought my blades and bow," he said to Aragorn.

"That was the captain's doing." He glanced around, as if suddenly remembering. "And where is she? …Tauriel?"

Legolas felt the grin fade from his face. Instantly, Kristy stilled against him. Legolas masked his face and focused on avoiding her eyes.

"Sleeping," he managed to say, dropping his arm from her shoulders, "… in there."

Before either of them quite knew what happened, Estel had warily taken off in that direction and Legolas quickly went after. Kris watched them go, feeling suddenly empty. Then followed after. Legolas' entire face had went pale at the mention of her name…

It was like he couldn't let the woman out of his sight for more than a minute at a time. What'd he think was going to happen? She'd pick up and vanish into thin air?

It was ridiculous.

"Wait, please Legolas." Aragorn murmured, reaching the doorway. He touched a hand to his friend's arm. The Dunedain was still unsteady on his feet, but he didn't miss the worrying look Legolas shot.

"Let me see her alone. Worry not. I will do what I can for her."

For an instant, Legolas looked like he was going to say something sharp. She could see the alarm flaring in his eyes. She knew that look. Legolas didn't want to leave her.

But Estel was a healer. Kristy remembered that much. Maybe he could help.

"Come on, Legs." She brushed his hand with the back of her fingers, a tentative touch. "You should eat something. Let her be."

"But-"

"I will tell you the moment her condition changes." He said, "…if it be."

"I-" Legolas looked from the shadowed bed to Aragorn's tired, wary eyes. Estel was a healer. He was not. There was no reasonable way to protest. "Very well," he muttered, backing away.

Before Legolas could even sit down, Kristy was there, thrusting a warm bowl of soup toward him. Legolas groaned. "Not now."

"Please?"

He ignored her, staring at the closed door where Tauriel lay behind. He couldn't see her. He couldn't feel her feä. How did he know if she was alright? It was a small relief out here, true, in the clear air, without seeing her sweating, panting body helpless under the sheets… It hurt him to see it.

"Legolas?"

Finally, his blue eyes sank to hers. Kris was gently rubbing his shoulder. "I am fine," he said.

And then, the woman's voice came a little stronger. Interesting. She was frustrated. Legolas glanced up.

"Oh sure, if 'fine' entails sitting up all night worrying over that bed and refusing to sleep. Then you're fantastic."

Legolas was about to counter that with a fast retort, something quick and meaningful: such as mentioning that he was doing more to help than she was. But then, he sighed and decided against it.

His eyes caught her hands. Kristy had food, warm food. Hm. Where did she get that? They brought hardly any food with them.

"What is that?"

"This?" She glanced down and up, following his eyes. "The people who lived here were really well stocked." She explained, "The power's out, you know. But the gas is still on. I warmed it up with the stove." Kristy shuffled closer, wedging the plate of food into Legolas' lap. The tenseness faded a little and she was sitting close to him again. "And the freezer power is out." She explained breathily, quietly. "…the food would spoil. I've got it outside under the snow to keep it frozen. So that's not stealing, right?"

Legolas almost smiled a little, but not quite. "You certainly are a resourceful one, Kristy."

There was light in her eyes...hope, curiosity maybe, or possibly shyness. But the words were barely out of his mouth, before she dropped her head.

"Thanks."

Strange. He secretly mused. Her hair fell down around her face and hid her from him. It was an odd thing for her to do.

It seemed forever that Aragorn was in there with her. And when he finally emerged…he couldn't tell Legolas anything he didn't already know. It shocked him that the two were now much more human than they used to be, disturbed him into silence for the rest of the night.

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Whispers in the dark…

Kris didn't move, snuggled in a blanket with her eyes shut. She was curled up in a lazy boy. Aragorn finally convinced Legolas he needed to rest. But only if Kristy stayed in the same room with Tauriel. He was asleep in the den, Aragorn on the couch in the living room.

She blinked, opening her eyes a little.

The windows were dark and so was everything else. Wind didn't blast the walls; the snow had finally stopped. In fact, everything had stopped. Kristy blinked her eyes open. Eerily so. Waving limbs sent shadows crawling across the windowpanes. What woke her up?

Tauriel was in the bed nearby, but it couldn't be her.

And then… a long, gentle scraaaape sound made her heart flip. Her fingers clenched. Kristy's throat tightened. She felt every single nerve flare to life and she shrunk down in the blanket, peering out. It was so dark in here. But the moon shone bright outside. So bright the snow was alive and glowing silver.

Scraaaatch…

She jumped. A shadow leapt past the window and disappeared. Her heart slammed in her ribs. What in the...

Another whisper, like prying fingers dug quietly under the windowpane. She couldn't see. It was too dark. Kristy sat up, pupils dilating in the dark. She peered closer.

I'm overreacting. It's just a branch tapping the window.

But the panicking, fearful side that was much too frightened of small, scuttling sounds in the dark for far too many years was coming to life. The reasonable, adult side was screaming at her to calm down. But episodes of horror movies, the X-Files, and every frightening thing she'd ever seen flashed through her mind and she clamped a hand on her heartbeat.

It's nothing. It's gotta be nothing.

Kristy reached for her coat on the floor, eyes glued to the window and she slipped it on over her razorback. The blanket fell away and she inched closer, tentatively. There were animals in these woods. It was a deer, or a raccoon, or-or…

The garage came into view and another hunched shadow leapt over the forest floor. It disappeared into the trees.

Just a deer. Kristy crept to the window, pressing a hand to the cold, clear glass and her breath fogged the window. Just a deer. She looked from one shadow to the next. A draft came from the window and made her shiver. She scanned the treetops, heartbeat beginning to settle in relief. Not even a whisper of sound or movement broke the quiet. She sighed, dropping her palm from the glass…

A grasping hand slammed into the window.

Kristy screamed and leapt back. The thing was grasping and pulling on the locked window with a strangled cry, face smashed in the window and clawing desperately to get inside.

"Aaah!"

Kristy spun around and hit the bedpost, scrambling blind for the door before, with a gasp and a suffocated cry, it flew open and she dashed into faint light. She could still hear the clawing nails in her head and she slipped on the carpet, before slamming to the floor and dashing into the den.

Warm firelight scratched across the walls. She just caught a glimpse of him sprawled on the couch, sleeping peacefully. She ran full speed, bolting through the door and slamming into his chest, landing on the couch and shaking him awake. Legolas let out a yelp, scrambling back and grabbing the couch as she clambered over him.

"Legolas! Legolas, th-there's a…" she gasped, spluttering for words. "There's a monster outside! It's outside the window!"

"What?" He grimaced, glancing down and struggling in vain to pull her fingers out of his shirt. "What are you talkingabout?"

"There's a monster!" she tried to shout, but it came out a whisper. She pointed madly. "It's outside my window!"

At that moment, Aragorn appeared in the doorway, dark hair disheveled. He had a knife and a sword in his grip. "What is it? What happened, Legolas?"

"I do not know." Legolas pried her off and extricated himself from the blanket, before grimacing and stumbling from the couch. He answered in English and spat the words out again in Sindarin. "She says there is a 'monster' outside the cabin."

"It's there. I saw it," Kristy insisted, still shaking. She pointed wildly. "It had f-flinching yellow eyes and lots of fingers. It's trying to get inside, I tell you!"

Aragorn sighed heavily and Legolas turned, gripping her shoulders, forcing her to look up. Kristy did, feeling the panic reduce to a dull, pounding fear. The look in his eyes made her feel like an idiot. She was still breathing hard though, and Aragorn belted the sword around his waist. She didn't like that face.

He didn't believe her.

"We will go look," Legolas murmured in that infuriatingly calming voice of his. "Calm down. You will hurt something."

Kristy fairly sizzled with fury. "It's there I tell you!" She shook his hands off and pointed wildly, before with a sudden surge of bravery, she gripped her fists and stomped. "And if you don't find it, I'm going to shoot it!" She'd found a gun in the cabin and by hell she knew how to use it.

"You are not going to shoot anything," he hissed.

"It is in all probability a woodland animal." Aragorn broke in, striding across the room. Legolas pulled on his boots.

"A deer or possibly a wolf," he agreed.

"Do woodland animals claw at the window?" Kristy shot back. "Bambi doesn't have pointy teeth and fingers!" she spluttered, forcing the buttons up the side of her coat closed. "I know what a goddamn woodlandanimal looks like."

Legolas sighed. Kristy couldn't help feeling anger as he pulled a suede tunic over his head and grabbed the weapons Aragorn brought.

"I will look." He insisted, "All right? Will you trust Estel and I?"

Kristy fumed and glared at the patronizing tone, but Aragorn's voice was quiet, a sturdy stone. It rose up out of the turmoil like a calming sea. He spoke up and suddenly, she felt an embarrassed flush rise in her cheeks. He was so composed. Why'd she have to lose it? Why hadn't she just walked in here, calmly touched Legolas awake, and asked him what he thought it was?

"There are tracks outside the window," Estel said, lifting his chin. And then Legolas glanced over and said something else in quick Sindarin. Aragorn nodded stiffly.

"What?" Kristy looked between them. "W-what did he just say?"

Legolas' eyes flashed and there was alarm on his face.

Legolas was strapping on his weapons and he didn't answer right away. He just stalked to the window, took one look, and then spun around. He pointed at Kristy with one finger.

"Stay here. Do not come out."

She felt her eyes widen exponentially. But even though she appreciated they were taking her seriously now, a flash of fear coursed through her belly. If it wasn't a wolf and it wasn't Bambi…What was it?

Aragorn strode out of the room and Legolas swept after him, bow in hand and gleaming white blades strapped to his back. He disappeared from sight…and Kristy ran after him.

"Legolas." She grabbed him by the back and held onto his knives. "What do I do? I want to help."

"You may help by remaining here. Stay with Tauriel."

Stay with Tauriel? Kristy almost spluttered in protest, but nothing came out. Was that a joke? But they were already gone. The door swung shut with a slam and she stood staring.

Stay with Tauriel. Fine. Kristy hurried to the mantle and dug out the pistol she'd found there earlier. She pulled on some low, leather boots and jeans with shaking hands.

"Take the north side." Estel leapt down the porch steps, blade in hand and Legolas nodded.

"Aragorn, wait!" Legolas reached out. "What are they?"

"Orc."

A/N: Thank you for reading! :)