Disclaimer: Same as always. Half of the ideas for this chapter and the next are from my best friend, Alia G. L Blame her if you don't like it. ;-)

A/N: Okay here is the next chapter. Glad people liked Linriel being pregnant. Exciting, isn't it? This chapter and the next was suppose to be one chapter, but I had to break it up because it was way too long. So sorry about the cliffhanger. I will try to get the next one up soon. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 10

Sacrifice

Linriel walked quietly by the lake in the woods. Kalen walked behind her seemingly distracted. Linriel sighed. Something was bothering him. It written clearly across his face. She had asked him to walk with her to the river because she had wanted to speak with him alone.

She looked back at him. He was staring off at the trees. Linriel's eyes glistened over with sorrow as she looked into his eyes.

"What is it Kalen? What has been troubling you?"

Kalen turned his eyes to her an plastered a smile on his face. "What do you mean?"

"We have been friends for a long time and at one time, even more than friends. I know when something is wrong, Kalen. You have been distant and what's more is that you have been avoiding my husband."

"I have not been avoiding him; I have simply been busy." Kalen defended.

"You want even look him in the eyes."

Kalen's eyes lowered in shame and he turned away. "Like I have said, I have been busy."

"For the past three months?" Linriel asked. Kalen only shrugged as a reply. "I though it would fade, but it hasn't. Your sorrow and grief has only increased, Kalen."

Kalen tensed and dug his fingernails into his palm. "It's not a big deal. I'll get over it."

Linriel knew that the sharpness in his tone was only because he did not feel he would ever get over what was troubling him. She sighed. She guessed that her fears were correct. It made perfect sense. She had noticed his behavior change since the wedding. She hoped it was just some phase and would die away, but it hadn't. He couldn't even look Elrohir in the eyes because he felt guilty.

"This is about us, isn't it?" She began softly. "You still hold feelings towards me."

Kalen looked up at her. "No! I am happy for you and Elrohir. And to know that you are with child with him brings me great joy. You deserve him. You are meant to be together. I regret things did not work out between us, but I gave that up a long time ago. You are happy and that is what truly matters."

Linriel looked at him, not quite believing him. "So this isn't about my marriage to Elrohir?"

"I assure you, it has nothing to do with you or your wedding." Kalen replied.

"But you admit there is something bothering you. And if not the wedding, what?"

Kalen sighed and looked away again. "I have done a terrible thing."

Linriel placed a hand on his arm. "What type of thing?"

"Something unforgivable. I did not know how much pain it would cause, but in the end it was still my fault."

Linriel looked at him confused. "What is your fault, Kalen? Tell me and perhaps we can make things right again."

"I fear things can never be how they were. Too much damage has been done." Kalen said as he turned to Linriel. His eyes were filled with tears and guilt. "It was my fault Est.."

His words were cut off as an arrow whizzed right past him and stuck into the tree beside him. "Get down!" He yelled.

He reacted quickly, instinctively. Without thinking, he placed himself between Linriel and where the arrow had fired from. His bow was all ready in his hands as began leading the princess to safety. Silent curses spilled from his lips as he regretted letting his guard down for even a moment.

"Run, Linriel. Get back to the palace." Kalen said in a panic as more arrows flew at them. He returned fire killing two orcs hidden behind trees across the lake. He saw orcs coming towards him from his right side and he knew they were falling deeper into trouble.

Linriel was running as fast as she could, skillfully passing between trees to avoid arrows. Kalen was following behind her a little more slowly as he would stop to shoot off a few arrows.

Suddenly he gasped in pain. Linriel turned and horror clutched her heart. Kalen had been hit with an arrow in his side. She rushed to him just as he knees collapsed underneath him.

"Go, leave me." He gasped.

"I won't leave without you." Linriel said as she hauled him to his feet.

Kalen staggered, but forced himself to walk. Arrows seemed to be flying at them from all directions.

Linriel did her best to run while supporting Kalen. They were only about a mile from the borders of Mirkwood, but she was beginning to think that they were never make it.

Suddenly hot pain ran up her leg and she stumbled, taking Kalen with her. She cried out in pain. An arrow had embedded itself into the muscle of her right leg. She looked up with pain filled eyes to see Kalen struggling to shoot off arrows at the approaching orcs.

"We're never going to make it." She cried out in despair.

Kalen looked at her. His breathing was ragged and raspy. Pain was coursing through his body and breathing caused an intense amount of pain. The arrow was beginning to embedded itself further into his body and any movement sent spasms of pain through his body. Yet the strong warrior knew he had to protect the Princess' life, no matter what the cost. He looked around the area and quickly determined his actions. Orcs were coming in closer towards them and he knew they would never survive a hand to hand combat fight with the creatures in their present condition. Plus the flying arrows was constant threat to them. He had to find someplace safe to hide.

"Maybe we won't make it out, but I'll do everything in power to make sure you will." Kalen said as he pushed himself into a standing position. He wavered on his feet and almost lost his balance, but he managed to remain standing.

Quickly he helped Linriel to a nearby oak tree. The huge tree had a large carved out hole at the base. Some fluke of nature had caused the hole and Kalen thanked the Valar for the convenient provision.

"Stay hidden. I will try to draw the orcs away and get help." Kalen said as he pressed his sword into her hands.

Linriel's eyes filled with tears but she did not try to dissuade him. She knew she could not run with her injury and she knew Kalen was determined to save her. "Be careful." She warned. Gently, she kissed his cheek.

He ran a hand gently across her face, before turning away. He needed to get these orcs away from Linriel. He would be the bait for them to follow.

------

"Prince Legolas!"

Legolas turned towards the guard, alarmed by the fear in the elf's voice.

"Orcs have been sighted east of the Mirkwood border. It's a large group, your highness."

Elrohir's face paled immediately and he stood from the table. "Linriel!" He gasped, fear dripping from his voice.

Legolas suddenly remembered. "She was out with Kalen." He muttered to no one in particular. "Tell my father." He ordered the guard as he ran out the door. He rushed after Elrohir and Elladan who were all ready in the stable preparing their horses. They didn't even bother to saddle their steed. In an instant all three elves along with three elven guards rushed in the forest. With great speed they rode out towards the woods.

Legolas fired an arrow at an orc as he rode. Fear was rising in his heart. He dismounted from the his horse to check the ground. A few orc bodies littered the floor. Black blood was staining the green grass, but as Legolas saw red blood on the ground, his heart sank.

The twins dismounted, fear spreading across their faces. The crimson blood was an easy trail to follow, but there were orc tracks heading the same way. Someone was running and the orcs were in pursuit.

Suddenly Legolas stopped. A single orc stood in front of him. Two other orcs were dead beside him and this one seemed injured. He had yet to notice the elves, however. He was too preoccupied with something else. He had an arrow to his bow and was carefully taking aim. Legolas silently reached to put an arrow to his bow but before he could, an arrow whizzed past his head, striking the orc in the mid back. He turned around to see Elladan grin.

Elrohir was all ready rushing forward, however. They found Kalen on the ground, still barely alive. The three rushed towards him.

"Kalen!" Legolas shouted, blood draining from his face.

Kalen gasped for breath. Pain was written clearly across his face.

"It will be all right, Kalen. Just stay with me." Legolas tried to assure him.

Elladan quickly took in the elf's injuries. He had one arrow in his right side, one dangerously close to his heart, and another in his leg. Elladan bit his lip hard. He looked up at Legolas who was looking at him with a questioning gaze. With sympathy in his eyes, Elladan slowly shook his head. Kalen would not survive. His injuries were too extensive. It was amazing that the arrow closest to his heart did not all ready kill him.

Legolas' breath caught in his throat as he tried to bite back a sob.

"Kalen, where's Linriel?" Elrohir asked desperately.

Kalen raised his hand and pointed north. "Hiding. I tried to draw the orcs away." His words were choked and raspy. "She's hurt." He finished.

"Go, find her!" Legolas ordered.

Elrohir was all ready on his feet. Elladan looked up but he didn't move. He was unsure of whether to follow his brother and see if they could help Linriel or be there for Legolas who was about to loose his best friend.

"Go." Legolas said, knowing what the elf was thinking. "There is nothing more you can do here. Bring my sister back alive."

Elladan nodded. He motioned for one guard to follow him and told the others to guard Legolas. With as much speed as he could he ran after his brother.

------

Legolas held his friend close, knowing he did not have long.

"Forgive me, mellon nin." Kalen rasped.

"There is nothing to forgive…"

Kalen cut Legolas off. "No. It was my fault the human left."

Legolas raised an eyebrow, but made no other response.

"I wanted to make him angry, so I told…" Kalen coughed but forced himself to continue. "I told him Lord Elrond did not trust him, thought him weak. I did not know it would cause such problems. I am sorry." The elf's body shook with emotion and pain.

Legolas just stared for a moment, not quite sure how to reply. He bit his lip.

"I'm so sorry. I don't deserve forgiveness from you and especially Elrohir. I only hope things can be resolved."

Legolas nodded his head. "I forgive you for what you have done, my friend." Legolas swallowed hard. Anger lingered in his heart, but he had seen death too many times to know that now was not the time to be bitter towards his best friend. "You could not have known the pain it would cause."

"Please tell Elrohir. He deserves to know."

Legolas nodded, though it worried him how Elrohir would react to the news. He pushed those thoughts away. He would deal with that later. Right now, he needed to be there for his best friend.

Kalen gasped for breath. His face was contorted into a tight grimace. He was fading.

"Go in peace, my friend." Legolas said gently. He squeezed Kalen's hand. "Thank you for all the years we have had. I am honored to call you my friend and I can never repay you for all the times you have been there for me."

"I am the one honored. Forgive me, for not being there longer for you." Kalen rasped.

Legolas' eyes filled with tears despite his efforts to keep them away.

"Be careful and may the grace…" Kalen cringed.

"Save your breath." Legolas encouraged.

Kalen smiled slightly. "Namarie."

Legolas bit his lip. "Namarie." He choked. A sob finally broke from his lips as he felt his friend draw his final breath. He knew his friend had passed into the Halls of Mandos.