Second to last chapter everyone! Tried working on the other two parts but it isn't going so well; I got inspired for another story...no one kill me!

Getting on with it!

Not mine...sigh...oh well...one can dream...and I have weird dreams...

As the sun began to descend in the west, the Fellowship reached the edge of the trees of Lothlórien. Sam fell to her knees, holding her abdomen. Boromir was by her side and carefully helped her up. Sweat beaded on the woman's forehead.

"We must rest!" Boromir said.

"We cannot stop just yet," Aragorn replied.

"She'll die next if we don't!" the man of Gondor snapped.

"I'll be fine…" Sam whispered.

"You need not prove yourself to anyone," Boromir whispered.

She smiled. "I know…but we…have to keep going…"

Legolas quelled his rising jealousy and turned away. The Fellowship pressed on deeper into the darkening wood. Gimli nervously looked around. "Stay close young Hobbits. They say a sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell…and are never seen again!"

"Mr. Frodo?" Samwise asked, noticing the distant look in his friend's eyes.

"Well, here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" The group was suddenly surrounded by dozens of armed Elves.

"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," the leader said. He had fair blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

"Haldir o Lórien. Henio, aníron, boe ammen I dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn," Aragorn said. (Haldir of Lórien. We come here for your help. We need your protection)

"Aragorn! These woods are perilous. We should go back!" Gimli suggested, nervously looking at the arrows.

"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back," Haldir returned. "Come. She is waiting."

The Fellowship followed Haldir and some of the other Elves to a large, beautiful city in an ethereal glow. As night fully fell, they stopped in an open room. Two beautiful figures came into view. The Elven male had long silver hair and a grave face. The woman had deep golden hair and unimaginable beauty. The man, Celeborn, looked at Aragorn hard.

"Nine there are, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him," Celeborn said.

The woman, Galadriel, looked from Sam to Frodo. "He has fallen into shadow…" she said slowly. Her gaze shifted to Aragorn. "The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all… Yet hope remains while the company is true." Her gaze swept over the company. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." The Lady of the Wood's gaze fell on Sam. "I would like to speak with you alone."

Sam nodded and two Elves came forward. They helped Sam follow Galadriel up the steps into a comfortable room. The blonde woman eased herself down into a chair and the two Elves left. Galadriel lowered semi-transparent curtains down around them before looking at Sam.

"Few humans would have survived with that wound for so long," Galadriel said. "In fact, no human should have survived."

"Guess I'm just lucky," Sam muttered.

"Perhaps…perhaps you were once touched by the false gods known as the Goa'uld," the Elf said.

"Goa'uld?" Sam repeated, playing dumb.

I know one has touched you Samantha Carter of Earth, a voice whispered in Sam's head.

Sam looked at Galadriel, hiding her fear. "How did you do that?"

"There is much to this world that you still do not yet know," came the reply.

"Fair enough," Sam agreed. "I was taken as a host for a brief time, but it was by a Tok'ra, not an actual Goa'uld." She studied the Elf woman for a moment. "How do you even know of the Goa'uld?"

"Long ago they sought to enslave this world. The Elves drove them away from this world and peace returned. Since that day, the Gate of the Stars near Mirkwood has been guarded until recently."

"When I came through…" Sam whispered.

"Yes." Galadriel sat across from Sam. "After you were taken by the Orcs and saved by Legolas, Aragorn, and Gandalf, the creatures returned at their master's request and buried the Gate of the Stars."

"The control crystal was smashed though. It couldn't have been used even if they didn't bury the Stargate," Sam said.

"But beings could still come through, could they not?" Galadriel asked.

"Yeah, but they'd be stuck here then," Sam returned. She looked sharply at the Elf. "How did you know the Gate was buried?"

"I saw them do it through the pool," she said. Sam nodded, feeling too weak and tired to argue the point further. Galadriel knelt down in front of Sam. "This wound must be healed," she said. The Elf carefully removed the rest of the arrow shaft from Sam's stomach and fresh blood began pouring out of the wound. "This will hurt," Sam was told. Sam locked her jaw and slammed her eyes shut as pain rippled out from her stomach to the rest of her body. After several long, agonizing minutes, the pain stopped.

Sam smiled in thanks to the Elf. "Thank you."

Galadriel nodded. "You are close to Legolas, aren't you?"

The sudden question caught Sam off guard. "What?"

"You care for him, do you not?"

Sam opened her mouth to answer but stopped at the Lady's look. "I don't know," Sam admitted finally, fingering the bloodied bandages in her hand. "I'm just afraid of getting close to him…or anyone…"

"You fear those you care for will abandon you."

Sam lifted her head and listened as the Elves of Lothlórien started to sing a lament for Gandalf. "Gandalf was like my father, even if I haven't known him for that long. Now he's gone for good."

"Those we care for never truly abandon or leave us Samantha Carter. They remain in our hearts and in our minds," Galadriel said. "You may return to your friends if you wish."

Sam nodded and rose to her feet, readjusting her belt. She walked down the steps and wandered over to a deserted area near the lake. She folded her arms over her chest and shivered slightly. A blanket was placed over her shoulders and she turned, half expecting to see Boromir. Instead it was Legolas, his green tunic and weapons gone.

"I am glad to see you are healed," he said softly. Sam turned away from him. He frowned. "What is wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she muttered.

"While I have not known you for long, I have known you long enough to know something is troubling you. What is it?" he asked again.

"Nothing," she returned.

"Samantha…if nothing else I am your friend. You can tell me." He rested a hand on her shoulder.

She whirled around and glared at him, tears streaming from her blue eyes. "I could have saved him! He wasn't that far away!" she exploded.

"You don't know that," he returned.

"I could have tried! But you pulled me away!"

"You would have fallen had you tried!" he snapped.

"You don't know that!"

"Neither do you! The Balrog could have pulled you down along with Gandalf. I knew I could save you and I did."

"So you didn't care about Gandalf?" she demanded.

"I've known him longer than you! He was my friend and now he is gone. I cannot change that, neither can you." Legolas bowed his head.

"He was like a father to me," she returned in a thick voice.

He looked up at her and she was stunned to see tears falling from his sky blue eyes. "Then we have both lost a member of our family and a good friend."

"I should have at least tried," she insisted softly, her head bowed.

The Elf walked to her and tilted her head up. "Then I would have lost you…and that pain would be more than I could bear."

"What…what are you saying?"

"Ever since I saw you for the first time, lying near death in the forest near Mirkwood, I fell in love with you. I have struggled to understand my feelings for you, to make certain that they are love."

Sam's heart began pounding in her chest and she swore Legolas could hear it with his Elven ears. "Are they?"

"Téra," he whispered. "Im mel le…Samantha." (Yes/Right. I love you)

Fresh tears shimmered in Sam's eyes. I do care for him… she realized. She softly slipped her arms around his waist and slowly kissed him. He returned the kiss, his arms pulled Sam close. After several moments, they broke apart. "Im mel le, Legolas," she whispered. She closed her eyes and held on to him, almost afraid to let go.

"I will never leave you Samantha. I swear it," he whispered, holding her tightly. She nodded against his chest. He guided her over to a secluded hollow.

She pulled away from him. "We shouldn't," she whispered.

"Why not?"

"I'm a human Legolas. In who knows how many years, if years we have with all that is going on, I'll die. I know there's the possibility of you dying too when that happens. I couldn't live with myself knowing that you could die after I die…I'm sorry."

"Do I not have a say?" he asked. Sam looked down. "This is my life Samantha. I have lived for over two thousand years. In that time I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. I know you will die one day. But I will treasure each day that we spend together. Every moment, every kiss, every embrace…just the thought of being with you fills me with joy." Sam tried to blink away her tears but they fell regardless. Legolas gently brushed them away. "Do you want me?" he asked.

"What?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Do you want to be with me?" he repeated.

"More than anything in the world, but…" she fell silent as he briefly captured her lips with his.

She looked up slightly into his eyes. "Then that is all I need to know and want," he whispered. "Not being with you while you live is a fate worse than death Samantha. Do not ask me to do that." He brushed her hair from her forehead and smiled gently at her. "I swear to you I will keep living even after you die. If that is what you want of me," he added.

In reply she kissed him passionately. He returned the kiss, his deft hands carefully pulling off her leather jerkin. Her quick hands were already working on his own clothes. The two slowly reclined in a hidden niche, staying in each other's arms as they let their emotions out in the cool night air.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sam watched the sun come up over the river and closed her eyes, letting the sun's rays warm her skin. A clean white shirt hung over her shoulders, the mythril shirt resting comfortably against her skin. A pair of arms suddenly slipped around her waist and she couldn't help but smile.

"Arinya Melindo," she said. (Morning Lover (male))

The Elf smiled as he kissed the top of Sam's head. "Arinya Melisse," he replied. (Morning Lover (female))

"Thank you," she whispered.

He frowned. "For what?"

"For not letting me run away from my feelings." She turned and looked at him, smiling at how beautiful he looked in the morning sun. "And for saving my life."

"I would die a thousand times for you," he said.

"And I you." She rested her head against his chest. "How long do you think we'll be able to stay in Lothlórien?"

"At most another day...possibly," he answered. "Are you scared of what lies ahead?"

"I'd be lying if I said no," she replied. "Though I am concerned for the quest."

"What do you mean?"

"I can see Boromir struggling with himself. Ever since he picked up the ring before Moria he's been…off."

Legolas frowned. "Off?"

"Like something else is on his mind."

"Do you think he will try to take the ring from Frodo?"

"I can't say." She looked at him. "I know you don't like him. I can see it in your eyes Legolas Thranduilion," she said sternly, cutting him off. "But he is a good man."

"I don't dislike him," the Elf muttered.

"You're just jealous when I spend time with him?" Legolas looked away and Sam knew she had hit the nail on the head. "Legolas, my heart belongs only to you. Boromir is nothing more than a friend to me." Legolas nodded. Their stomachs growled and they grinned.

"Perhaps it is time to break our fast," he suggested. She nodded and they gathered their things. They walked back to the others and saw that they had already started cooking breakfast. Both Gimli and Aragorn instantly knew something had changed between Sam and Legolas during the night but said nothing of it.

"Finally, real food," Pippin said happily, munching on a large piece of bread.

"Keep your mouth closed while there's food in it Pip!" Merry muttered, wiping breadcrumbs off of his face.

Sam slowly ate her food. The road of this journey will only be harder, she thought. Her eyes looked over at Frodo. Whatever gods or spirits are listening, keep Frodo and his friends safe. They do not deserve a gruesome death.

"Are you all right?" Boromir asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She looked up at him and nodded. "Just thinking."

"I have a question I have been meaning to ask you for some time," he confessed. "Why do you dress and fight as men do?"

Sam shrugged. "My mother died when I was young. At first I blamed my father for not being there for her, but as time passed I realized the fault was not his. As I finished growing up, I wanted to be like him: a warrior protecting my country." Her gaze lifted the lightening sky. "But a part of me was drawn to the stars and wanted to visit them," she said.

"No one can walk among the stars," Samwise said confidently.

Sam smiled. "Are you certain of that Master Gamgee?" she asked.

He nodded. "The stars are up there for us to look at, nothing more. Ain't no life on them. That's what my gaffer always said."

"Well you're wrong," she said softly. "There is life on other worlds. This entire galaxy is populated with the lives of trillions of people."

"What you say cannot be true," Gimli said.

"What makes you all so confident that there is no life amongst the stars?" she countered, arching a brow at them. Everyone remained silent for a moment.

"How do you know there is life among the stars?" Boromir countered.

"Because I'm from the stars," she said.

Gimli chocked a little on his drink and Aragorn slapped his back. "You can't be serious!" the Dwarf exclaimed.

"It is impossible," Boromir agreed.

"If there is one thing I have learned in my life, anything is possible," Sam replied.

"She came through the Gate of the Stars," Legolas said.

"Those are myths laddie," Gimli snorted.

"I have seen it," Aragorn said.

"What does it look like?" Pippin asked Sam.

Sam drew a crude picture of the Stargate in the dirt. "It is as tall as two men standing and as heavy as a thick stone wall."

"How does it work?" Samwise asked.

"After pressing seven symbols into a pedestal, a pathway is made between the two Gates. It almost looks like calm water in the center of the ring but it remains in the ring," Sam explained, using words she thought they would best understand.

"If this is your way home, what prevents you from using it?" Boromir asked.

"The pedestal was damaged shortly after I was rescued by Legolas, Aragorn and…and Gandalf," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Is there not another Gate of the Stars in this world?" Frodo asked.

"Maybe, maybe not," Sam shrugged. "But this place is my home now."

They fell silent for several minutes and ate. "We stay for a week to rest," Aragorn said as he finished eating. "Then we must press on." They all nodded.

Before anyone complains at how fast Sam and Legolas got together remember, Sam's been living on Middle Earth for over two years in Mirkwood with Legolas so they would've gotten to know each other in that time.

Non-flame reviews are welcomed!