Apologies for my really crappy attempt at Gollum speech. I'm not really used to writing his character, as this is painfully obvious from my writing. I really strive to keep everything as accurate as I can possibly make it, so please don't shoot me for the terrible attempt at Gollum's voice!.

Anyway, I hope this is turning out better than the original. I want to add in random quirks and mood shifts so that Nuriathiel is not as much of a one dimensional character, (many, many quirks and random interests...hehehehhehehehe) I really try to avoid one dimensionalness (I know...bad word...) and MARY SUES...errrrr...(As always!)

Elven Dragon Rider: Thanks for the PM! I got it while I was working on the newest chapter, so I hope you like this continuation with a bit more development between Legolas and Nuriathiel. I really felt bad originally about not developing their friendship enough, so hopefully I'll do it enough justice here! As for the names, did you get the prefixes and suffixes for elven names from the glossary at the end of the simarillion? I've been trying to find someplace where I could actually create better elven names in Quenya or Sindarin, but am unable to find anything. Could you let me know where you find the names? I would love it! . BTW, this chapter is definitely dedicated to you! (I'll dedicate the eventual meeting between Nuriathiel and Haldir to you as well, since you are very helpful when you don't need to be! That and you appreciate Haldir as well!)

R/R

Chapter 3

He had made the decision the moment he had recognized Aragorn. King Thranduil could never say no to this ranger. Though the king had listened to the whole of the affair with keen interest and a patient expression, Nuriathiel could already see the answer written in his very gait, the way his hands touched his lips in thought. It was a habit he had always had, to touch his own lips, which the council had learned to read long ago.

And in turn the whole elven council listened as well, each of their faces equally hard to read. Several hours of exchanges between king, prince, and a ranger, which to her seemed meaningless.

But, Nuriathiel didn't say a word. She had no right after all. It was the king's decision to make. It was the king's choice to question. And so she heard the whole story, from the mouth of the man himself.

Aragorn had captured Gollum, on the outskirts of the Dead Marshes, wrapping a rope around his neck to prevent escape. And then he had resolved himself to travel to Mirkwood, to ask for the favor of an Elven King who resided there. Her king.

It was a strange favor...Aragorn had asked to imprison Gollum within their walls. The whole affair had surprised Nuriathiel, and she kept her eyes downcast, locked upon the now seated form of Gollum, who rocked back and forth silently muttering a lively tune. Was this Gollum mad?

"You ask this of me?" King Thranduil said after he had taken a seat. His chin rested upon his chin in thought as he looked back at Aragorn. Legolas remained silent. "You would ask me to hold this...creature...in my realm, my wood?" Aragorn remained impassive, nodding his head.

The crown worn upon the king's head seemed to change color, as if predicting a change of mood. The blond of his hair only brightening as he raised his head, catching a tiny bit of sun which peeked through small openings of his underground palace. Aragorn watched, hoping for a continuation of the king's speech, but spoke when he heard nothing.

"You are the only one I trust with him. Lord Elrond, I feel, would not allow this creature within his gates, and the Marchwarden denies entrance to all who threaten his home and the Lady of Light. There was no other that I thought capable..." Aragorn said simply. The King looked to the council, who all returned his gaze silently. Then, he shifted his gaze to the Elven Prince as if looking for an answer.

Legolas had all the while kept his suspicious eyes trained upon Gollum, ever vigilant. But, feeling his father's eyes upon his youthful face, he looked up, and nodded in affirmation. Receiving a favorable answer, the king considered his answer for some seconds before responding.

"You will have your request." the king said finally, turning to look once again at Aragorn. "Leave him here, as this is your wish. Gollum will remain in the care of my people, until we have decided what to do with him next." The relief was plain upon the face of Aragorn as the words were spoken. Looking to Legolas, he smiled. And bowing to the king, Aragorn spoke.

"Your kindness will not be forgotten." he answered. King Thranduil smiled dismissively before continuing. Though he did not turn his head, he spoke to his son next.

"Legolas, take him down below." Thranduil said. "Have him bound and chained, both hand and foot." Legolas nodded and reached for the rope, and Gollum, noticing this, immediately began to howl once again. Gollum's words were incoherent, its blue eyes flashing brightly with anger and violence as it tore at the rope.

"No chains! No chains! We don'ts likes chains!" Gollum cried out in a hiss. Legolas pulled it roughly as it fell on its stomach to the ground. The prince narrowed his eyes in a mix of annoyance. It seemed as though the creature fought him the whole way, trying to stay to the ground as the prince dragged it roughly to a stand. All the while the creature howled as it began to pass the king, then the council...and finally her.

'Such a sad thing...' Nuriathiel thought quietly to herself as she saw him pushed by her forcefully. 'Such a pity...' her mind said over and over again. Every few steps the creature would stop to cry out, only to be pushed on by the young prince. It was difficult for her to tear her eyes away from the scene, even as her fellow council members turned away in feigned ignorance. They moved as easily away from Gollum as they did from a discarded piece of trash.

But, she struggled to do the same. Why did she find it so difficult? It was the right thing to do...

Slowly, forcefully, Nuriathiel moved to do the same thing...moved to away to show the lack of emotion that the others were so coldly showing. Silently, she prayed to see the creature disappear below their homes, to the abyss of the prisons, so it would never be seen again. But, as she turned to walk away, she felt a tug upon the back of her gown which reminded her it was still here.

Gollum had suddenly stopped, gripping the soft folds in the fabric of her clothing. He had chosen her to plead to. Nuriathiel's eyes widened in surprise as he did this, trying her best not to look back as she heard his sobs. Her eyes remained blank orbs devoid of any emotion though the creature's most certainly showed all the feeling in the world. She did not have to look back to know this...

"She-elf!" it cried out pitifully. Nuriathiel did not move, looking to the king for advice. His expression said nothing, showed nothing. She looked to the councilors, and met only dead looks. She looked to the ranger. Aragorn's eyes only showed disgust. Sighing as quietly as she could, and gathering her strength, she turned. The creature's own blue eyes were so wide her heart jumped in surprise. "You must helps me! We have dones nothing!" it yelled.

Legolas sighed as he saw this, looking to Nuriathiel with a confused expression. He had never seen this hesitation in her before. How could she be showing mercy to a creature which had betrayed the location of the most sought after ring in middle earth? She could not be serious. "Nuriathiel!" Legolas said harshly when he noticed the hesitation in moving away from Gollum's grip. But, Nuriathiel did not hear, only looking down at the creature before her.

Legolas, wrapping the tether around his hand, approached Gollum, gripping its shoulder to force him away. "Move on!" he said angrily. Gollum only hissed in the Prince's direction, gripping tighter to her clothes.

"She-elf...Gollum nots likes chains!" he cried out as he fought the Prince's attempts to send him away. "Gollum nots likes chains!" Nuriathiel said nothing. But, she realized her hesitation soon enough. Shaking her head as if freeing herself from a spell, she pulled away from the creature hurriedly as she realized her folly. Legolas looked briefly in her direction, his keen eyes furrowed in a strange look of annoyance.

The creature had spoken to her. He had chosen her. Why?

All the while she thought, the creature lay on the ground, crying silently to itself, muttering the same phrase over and over again. It did not like chains. It did not want imprisonment. Her eyes remained fixed on it's limp form, and Legolas looked back to the source of her concentration before turning to her once again. His lips parted to say some faint words which he did not voice. He had spoken in their native tongue, she recognized that much. And from the expression she read on his face, she knew that he was not pleased.

Looking up to meet the Prince's questioning glance, all the while hiding the embarrassment that her weakness had showed, revealing only firmness. On last glance at the creature, and she nodded. "Legolas...take him and go." she said. The prince observed her silently for a moment longer before nodding.

And it was with those words spoken, that the wailing began once again, traveling down the halls until he was finally gone.

Looking back towards the Elven King, Nuriathiel noticed a slight change in expression. She did not know what it meant, but in the slow upturn of his lips she realized approval. She had passed his test.

Bowing both in the direction of the Elven King, and Aragorn, she lifted her gaze up high, refusing to meet the gaze of the curious council members which had most certainly noticed her strange reaction to the creature's pleas. Leaving the Great Hall, she shut the doors behind her, hearing the heavy thump behind her.

Sighing, she continued her walk. All the while, she heard Gollum's screams. So sad they were.

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She remained in her apartments for hours following what she had now deemed the 'debacle'. And others, knowing when to not bother her, shied away from approaching. She had spent countless times in her room pacing in response to scenes which she had found herself less than worthy.

And she now did the same yet again, in the hopes of pushing unpleasant thoughts from her mind. It had always been a habit of hers...to make a simple exchange seem larger than what it actually was. She knew that, yet all the same, her ritual of pacing continued.

It had been a small enough gesture her mind said over and over again, a simple exchange between herself and another living being, but to her it had been the whole world. She had shown a side of herself which she had kept well hidden, she had exposed weakness to others that should not have seen it. Nuriathiel sighed deeply in response, rubbing her forehead. How would others see her now?

Perhaps they would say nothing. Perhaps they thought nothing. That was all she could comfort herself into thinking. Biting her lip, she approached her bed, taking a seat at the edge.

A knock, then the door opening.

Nuriathiel looked up from her reverie, finding the Prince entering her room. Immediately she stood, the surprise evident on her face as she noticed his slightly agitated expression. So he had warned that he would come to see her...

"It seems you have made quite an impression on our new visitor." Legolas said. Nuriathiel observed him for some moments before looking up.

"I do not have an inkling as to why." Nuriathiel answered. The prince merely watched her blank expression, and smirked as she walked across the room towards her table. There, Nuriathiel turned away from him, hoping to avoid his eyes. "That creature is a strange one indeed, though sad at the same time."

"Sad indeed." Legolas answered wistfully.

He remained silent for some seconds, hoping to think of a suitable way to continue what he had intended to voice. He spoke when he found there was no delicate way to say what he had thought to say. "I would recommend you steer clear of him, Nuriathiel, regardless of his sad situation. Gollum is a creature not to be trifled with, something that has experienced pain and suffering far beyond my knowledge and yours. It is a being that has and will exploit any weakness."

He had spoken the word. So they had seen weakness. Abruptly, she turned to face the elven prince, noticing the displeasure and worry in his blue eyes. He still wore his traveling clothes, the long soft outer cloak still wrapped about his shoulders. Like his father, his hair was a light blond, reaching just below his shoulders framing his face in a soft glow. The green of his clothes appeared to give him an earthy scent and feel. So he had come in search of a dispute, or to teach a lesson which he had not a right to teach. But, she said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"He asks for freedom." Legolas said. "He cries and wails for hours hoping for it. He thinks you can grant it over my father."

"You can hardly think this my fault." Nuriathiel answered haughtily. "I only looked at him. He could have chosen anyone for his pleas." she finished.

The prince narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Did she not realize the trouble she had caused with a mere look? Why had she chosen to show compassion when this creature had decided to make its appearance?

"But he chose you." the prince answered. "Of all people, he chose you, the head councilor. And you fueled the fire by expressing compassion! Your position entails indifference in situations, impartial opinions voiced as a result careful thought and consideration. He says he will see you, demands it of me, even."

"I am hardly in need of a lesson regarding my position." she replied. "You know better than most what I have done to maintain my standing. It was a mistake. I know this. I do not intend on seeing this 'Gollum' again. Whatever thoughts this creature may entertain about ensuring his freedom is futile at best. I am most certainly not the one to grant it. You know that." Nuriathiel said evenly. "And it is rather presumptuous of you to think that I move in his favor."

"Is it?" he asked rather hotly. She nodded. "Your eyes betrayed it. Your hesitation expressed it."

"Let the creature think what he will." Nuriathiel answered angrily yet dismissively. "I have other matters to attend to. As I am sure you do as well." The prince raised his eyebrows slightly in questioning, surprised to have heard such a tone come from her.

"Such sharpness." he answered. "I did not mean to offend you. My apologies, councilor, if I have. I was only concerned with the way you in which behaved." With the last sentence, he placed more weight upon his final words. "As to my matters, I am attending to them, when it concerns any of my people."

"Well then," she answered. "I would suggest you leave me to mine." Nuriathiel answered.

Legolas observed her for some minutes before turning his back and walking heatedly out of the room. Angrily shutting the door behind him, he left Nuriathiel alone to her thoughts. Though she would not admit it, she agreed with the prince. It had been an error of judgment to show compassion where none was due. Legolas and his archers had been charged with the care of Gollum, and thanks to her slip in emotion, she had made it that much more difficult for him to due his duty. In showing compassion she had forced him to do hers as well.

Perhaps he had not been so wrong in feeling anger.