Disclaimer: See prologue.

Chapter 6

Her Trust

Legolas couldn't fall asleep that night. Katherine was on his mind, and he couldn't get himself to stop worrying about her. Sure, he had saved her from almost being violated by a man, but it was the fact that she hadn't told him she was being harassed. Apparently, the boys at her school thought they could take advantage of her because she was so weak at the moment.

He couldn't wait to get her away from this place...

His mind wandered to what would happen to her when she came back to Middle-Earth with him. Would she stay in the palace with him? Like a foster sister? Or would she wish to go out on her own, and leave him behind. In truth, he didn't want her to leave him. No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he was taken with her. He had never acted like this with the other elleths in Mirkwood. As a matter of fact, all the swooning elleths in court would kill for the amount of attention Katherine recieved already. Maybe it was because he had never had this much time to get to know other elleths. Albeit, there were at least a handful that he enjoyed spending time with. It wasn't like Katherine was a reincarnated Luthien, or anything like that. Sure, she had alluring looks. But the aura around her held secrets, and seemed to hide and hold back the beauty he wished to see. And that was what drew him to her.

He turned over in his bed, staring out the window. The stars winked at him sympathetically, as though knowing his internal dilemma. The moonlight glinted off of the picture frame on the bedside table. The perfectly captured details of a younger Katherine and her parents smiled back at him. Katherine was in her mother's lap, being hugged tightly; protectively. Whilst her sinister looking sire had an arm wrapped a little too tightly around her mother's shoulder.

What did the mark upon her hand signify? Her father's words to her in that nightmarish memory made him ill at ease. 'Now you know who you belong to...' Did that mean that she belonged to Sauron? His slave? She was so young when first branded with that mark. But now that she was older... He shook his head to clear it of the horrific thoughts of what uruk-hai might unleash upon her. What was the dark lord's plans with this young girl? What were her father's plans, more like. There were so many things that he didn't know about her, yet he desperately wanted to.

Taking her to Middle-Earth with him would undoubtedly put her in danger. But having her stay here on her own... She would be in danger either way. At least she would be safer with him. Or at least, that was his plan.

His sharp ears attuned to a soft sob coming from Katherine's room. He threw back the light covers from his body, making for the door, and not caring that he was bare from the torso up. Without regard to her privacy, he softly opened her bedroom door, peering around it to look upon her.

She was lying in bed, her head buried against a pillow to muffle her quiet cries.

Sympatheticness washed over him as he walked to her bedside.

Her head jerked up as she heard his movements which he had not bothered to conceal. Her eyes were shining with fresh tears.

"What is wrong?" he asked, kneeling. "Why do you cry penneth?" (little one)

"Nothing more than a nightmare, ernil. You can go back to sleep..." (prince) she said, her voice cracking.

"Sleep has evaded me this night. I can find no dreamy peace."

"Then that makes two of us..." she sighed, wiping away her tears.

He reached out and grasped her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's alright..." he whispered. "Go back to sleep..."

"I cannot..." she retorted, looking helplessly around the room. "I don't want to fall asleep again... T-The creatures... They scare me so much... They keep telling me to come to 'my master'..."

Legolas stiffened, his worst fears confirmed.

"Legolas? What's wrong?" she asked, her eyes filled with worry as she stared at the immobile elf crouched at her bedside.

"Nothing..." he answered in a far away voice.

"You are not a very good liar..." she teased, a smile suddenly lifting her lips.

Legolas looked at her, heartened to see the grin upon her face. He returned the smile as well as he could, standing up.

"Legolas-"

He turned to her, seeing the smile vanish, and her eyes slowly fill with fear again. "Yes?"

She lowered her head, ashamed at what she wanted to ask of him. "It sounds very childish to ask such a thing from you..." she whispered quietly, but not quietly enough for it to evade his ears. "I wish that you would stay... The nightmares are not so bad when you are with me... The creatures do not speak when you are near. They seem... afraid of you."

Legolas walked slowly back over to the bed, never breaking their gaze. "What creatures do you speak of?" he asked, sitting upon the bed.

She shrugged. "I think they're like those evil beings you told me about before. Orcs, is it?"

Legolas visually paled. Orcs were plaguing her dreams? Calling her to Sauron?

"I will stay with you." he said at last, getting up to sit in the chair nearby.

"Sleep in the bed." she said, earning a hesitant look from the Mirkwood prince. She gave him a small smile. "I trust you."

Legolas smile back at her, his blue eyes sparkling. "Your trust means much to me, Katherine." he said, crawling onto the other side of the bed, and under the comforter.

She moved closer to him, hoping that the vile creatures would leave her alone now that Legolas was near to her.

Legolas read her thoughts, and cautiously wrapped an arm around her. He felt her tense, then relax, practically melting under his touch. She accepted his embrace, almost snuggling against his bare chest like a weary child. "Sleep, Katherine..." he whispered, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Let not the evil beings overcome your dreams. I am here..."

"I know..." came her soft answer.