Disclaimer: Look at chapter 1

A/N: Sorry I didn't get this up sooner. I meant to post it a few days ago, but I have been very busy. I'm really sorry. I don't have time to respond to all the reviews, but I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate them. Thanks so much for all your comments and support. I appreciate it all. Okay, now what you have been waiting for. Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Sacrifice

'I'm a ship going under

and I'd tell you this but I don't know how.

And I'm caving in and I'm falling out and I can't resist.

And I can't rebound with the weight of the world as the world falls down.'

Weight of the World by Saliva

Linriel sat quietly on a log. The campfire had long since died, but she could still see a few sparks in the ashes. Her only light was the moon, which created a gentle glow across her elven face. She stared at the stars thinking of home. She missed Mirkwood and all the people in it. She missed her father and knew he missed her, too.

As she thought of her father, her thoughts drifted to her mother, Isdilwen. How she needed her mother now. Isdilwen could understand Linriel so well. Linriel remembered spending long talks with her mother about growing up and becoming mature. She felt so comfortable with her mother and had trusted her with everything.

Now, however, her mother had sailed away over the sea. Though she had sailed many, many years ago, Linriel missed her more than ever. She was gone and she would never return. Linriel imagined the day she too would sail over the sea. Oh, what a joyous day it would be. But Linriel knew it was not time, yet.

She needed to stay in Middle Earth a while longer. She didn't understand why she felt this need, but she did. Although she felt the calling of the sea, something kept her here. Her heart longed to sail west. Her heart longed for peace and rest. She longed to escape from the evil in the world and from the darkness creeping in her heart. There was so much grief and despair in her heart, that she barely found the strength to go on.

She wished that she could talk with her mother and hear her gentle words of comfort, but she couldn't. She knew Legolas would eagerly talk with her, but it was not the same. True, she trusted Legolas completely and had a deep friendship with him, but there are some things that are too hard to share.

Legolas would not understand like Isdilwen would. No one could really understand. And at the moment, Legolas was the last person she wanted to tell. He couldn't know what had happened. He could never know.

"May I join you?" Elrohir asked cautiously as he looked at her.

Linriel looked up, having not even heard him approach. She realized quickly that she had tears in her eyes and she quickly dropped her gaze. She nodded to Elrohir, but did not look up. He sat down beside her and carefully watched her. Linriel took a deep breath and stared out into the trees.

"Linriel." Elrohir began gently. He hesitated a moment, but then continued. "There is something you should know."

Linriel looked up at him, but he did not meet her eyes. He looked off into the trees as if finding the words to continue. Linriel waited patiently, allowing him the time he needed. What he was trying to say was obviously difficult and Linriel did not want to push him. Finally he spoke.

"When I..." He swallowed. "When I tried to save you from the poison and pull you from the darkness, we were bonded so close together that...that I saw flashes of what you went through."

Linriel bit her lip and clutched her hands.

"I saw what happened and what you did for Legolas. I saw it all through your eyes." Elrohir said as he looked back at her.

Linriel covered her face with her hands as tears came to her eyes. "You saw?" She muttered as her voice cracked.

Elrohir nodded sadly. Tears were in his own eyes. "Yes, and I thought you were so brave to sacrifice so much for him." He said as placed a hand on her arm.

Linriel let out a sob and put her head on his shoulder. Elrohir wrapped his arms around her.

"I was so afraid. It hurt so much." She sobbed.

Elrohir ran his hand through her hair gently smoothing it in comfort. Gently, he cupped her face in his hands and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I know, but if you could go back would you actually do anything different?"

Linriel bit her lip, but shook her head. "I don't regret it, but the darkness now seems overwhelming. I thought that seeing Legolas' workload become easier and seeing him spared from beatings, would be enough to comfort me. It did comfort me and it still does, but..." Her voice trailed off.

"I know." Elrohir replied sympathetically as he placed his hands back on her head. He pulled her closer to him, wishing to protect her from anything that would hurt her. He wished he could take all the pain and darkness from her heart. He wished he could take it all on himself so she would not have to suffer.

"Don't let the darkness take over your sweet spirit, Linriel." He cooed softly in her ear. "Don't let the shadow come over your heart. See the light and hold on to it. Fight through this. Do not let that evil man win the final battle. Don't let what he did to you destroy and kill you."

Linriel nodded slightly as her tears fell against his tunic. For a long time, they sat together. Elrohir kept his arms wrapped around her; never wanting to let go and Linriel leaned her head against his chest, never wanting him to. Finally, she looked up at him.

"Please, don't tell Legolas." Linriel begged. "I don't want him to know that his little sister..."

"Ssh. It's okay. I will not tell him. I think he would be honored, though, to know just how much you did for him." Elrohir consoled.

Linriel was about to reply when they heard someone behind them.

"What are you two love birds doing at this time of morning?"

It was Aragorn. Laughter was present in his voice and he smiled fondly at his brother.

"That's none of your business, you nosy little brother." Elrohir retorted with a smile.

Aragorn chuckled. "Well, then I'll go get some water and let you two get back to..." He paused and smirked. "Whatever it was that you were doing." He said playfully.

Elrohir shook his head and tossed a stick at him. "Get out of here."

"I'm going. I'm going. Must be really good if you want me gone so bad." He muttered as he walked away.

Elrohir rolled his eyes. He looked back at Linriel. She was smiling, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "He's really not that bad once you get to know him." Elrohir told her.

Linriel nodded. "I am starting to get use to him. He is unlike most humans and he makes it very difficult to not like him."

Elrohir smiled. "That's Estel for you. You just can't help but love him. No matter what he does to you."

Linriel chuckled, but looked out into the forest.

"If it's not Estel that is bothering you, then what is it?" Elrohir asked concerned.

Linriel looked back at him with another smile. "It is nothing." She said as she stood.

Elrohir stood as well and placed a kiss on her forehead. "All right, but if you want to talk, you know I am here."

"I know." She said as she stared into his eyes. "And I thank you for it, but besides what you already know, there is nothing."

Elrohir looked at her cross-eyed. "Are you sure?" He asked concerned.

Linriel smiled at his overprotective attitude. "I'm fine, just a bit tired."

"Well, you stayed up the whole night talking with him." Legolas jested suddenly.

Linriel quickly turned. "I didn't even hear you get up."

"I just woke up as I heard you talking with Estel." Legolas replied.

"Well, then, good morning to you." Linriel said, smiling sweetly as she kissed his cheek.

"Good morning." He said as he stared into her eyes. He saw happiness and joy in her eyes, but deep down he could see suppressed pain and despair. Legolas sighed. She was trying her best to hide it from him or just telling him that it was hard to get over everything that had happened. She would hardly ever speak of it, and when she did, she was vague. Legolas had seen this anguish in her eyes for a long time. It was different then just sadness. Darkness was creeping into her heart, trying to take over her. When he found out that she had been poisoned, he had thought that was the reason, but it was not fading now. He could see the shadow growing behind her sparkling blue eyes. It was something more. She wasn't telling him something. Legolas feared this for she usually told him everything. Why wouldn't she confide in him when she obviously needed someone the most? Something must be troubling her deeply if she tried to even hide it from him, but Legolas was determined to find out.