Wow! Who wants to bet Arianell has some emotional scarring from that one? Any bets on if she'll get more scarring this chapter...let me just say I wouldn't pay to be in her shoes now. This chapter contains a few Valar and Valari.

I'm not sure what Fanfiction's policy is on replying directly to reviewers, I've heard mixed things so I'll try to include everyone in this.

First of all; so very sorry about that particular section that was lacking quotation marks, they were there on the original, it started out grammatically correct. I have no idea why they didn't show up in that section.

Secondly, Lothien's playing mind games with Arianell and he's not exactly what I'd call a noble creature...foul language is not above him. He's feeling a loss of control over the entire situation and Varda's intervention which is making him just a little, bitty bit t-ed off!

Lastly, Thank you to everyone who reviewed, some of the reviews just really made my day! (p.s. I love Orlando too and I've never seen Ella Enchanted but I heard it was a really good movie! I'll have to see if I can find a copy.)

Recap: Arianell has just stabbed Legolas and watched him die, but with Lothien's illusions is it really Legolas?

Arianell fell to her knees by the figure, her hands covered in his blood. She could feel her heart rending as she watched her love bleed to death.

Arianell barely registered the light figure that came to stand beside her

"Child" She refused to look up, couldn't look up. How could she look upon Elbereth after what she had just done. "Come child, do not cry your tears here for this is merely illusion." The voice was strong and Arianell watched as Arda's winds blew the figure of Legolas away like clouds of mist, the dagger falling to the ground with a soft thud.

She was aware of Lothien's presence as anger boiled over in her and she stood by Varda's side.

"Ah, whoring about again I suppose Elbereth? Tell me, these days how is Mel..."

Varda's eyes crackled like lightning "None here may speak his name and live!"

Lothien laughed "Indeed, I'll assume that means he is doing well then?"

888

Arianell watched as Lothien and Varda stood there, staring at each other until she finally just could not take it.

"Where is Legolas!"

"Legolas" Lothien pretended to be deep in thought "Oh yes, the elven brat. Why Arianell, you killed him."

Arianell shook her head "That was illusion Lothien, I will fall prey to your tricks no longer!"

"Oh, well, if you are no more fun then I do not see what use there is for you. Hmm, guess I will not be needing that fake image of Varda anymore."

Arianell gasped as, with a sad smile, Elbereth faded from her sight. "You did not really think someone as important as the Queen of the Valier would take interest in the plight of such a sad, confused little girl did you? You should have listened Arianell, you should have obeyed. Life could have been perfect if you had just kept that wicked tongue of yours under control wench!"

Arianell gagged and fell to her knees as a snake slithered from her mouth "But no, you had to go whoring about with that...that mollycoddled palace brat." Arianell continued to choke "They all think he's the hero, the great elf of Middle Earth. What a bunch of bull shit Arianell, you know why...do you?" Lothien spat at her "Here's why. He's nothing more than some semi-skilled backwoods archer, do you know how many times Elrond's enchantments and Aragorn's foolish comraderie saved your precious princes' life?"

Lothien kicked her with his boot "Sing now Arianell, sing like you did last night. Tell the stars of his undying love for you, tell the woods of his bravery." Arianell felt something grow inside of her and opened her mouth to spill spiders, she shivered as they ran over her face and down her arms, she crushed as many as she could with her hands.

"What, no songs to keep me awake and make me ill? Why ever not? Is it because you see your songs for what they are?"

Arianell's mind was reeling, everything was becoming too much for her to process. Detatched she watched the scorpions as they fell from her lips, detatched she watched as Lothien continued on belittling her and crushing her spirit, detatched she felt herself dying and shed a tear.

"Why do you weap Arianell?"

The voice echoed from everywhere and seemed to fill every fiber of Arianell's being. "I have not left you child, Iluvatar does not forsake his firstborn." Arianell was sure she could feel Varda smiling, if not see her "His illusions are merely keeping you from the truth, end them and you will end this nightmare."

Arianell felt renewed strength course through her once again as she crawled forwards on her knees, foul things still spilling from her mouth. There, in front of her and shinning like a thousand stars, lay Legolas' dagger. Arianell stretched her bloodied fingers for it and grasped the hilt, almost losing it for the refuse that clung to her hands.

Standing slowly she turned and thrust the dagger into Lothien's middle, twisting as she went.

"Where...is...Legolas!"

"Foolish whore." Lothien's eyes were were deadly, even as his life-force leaked from the gaping hole in his abdomen "You will learn." A grim smile played at his lips as he grabbed Arianell's head in his hands.

"You will learn!" he shouted, throwing his head back as Arianell screamed in agony, his spell trying to reverse itself.

Varda rushed towards Arianell but another figure got there sooner, twisting Lothien's neck with his bare hands. "Tulkas!" Varda motioned towards the falling Arianell but a figure clothed in grey caught her first.

Arianell found herself cradled in a womans arms, a voice that was calm and clear soothing her. "I am Este the gentle, healer of hurts and weariness. Receive my gift child, and rest."