Lothlorien

By the time they had reached known land, relief coursed through Aragorn as he and Legolas went ahead and saw the forest lying ahead of them. For a moment, Legolass eyes flew to the woman that was once more being carried on Boromirs back, knowing how much she would love to see this. Her eyes were bright and full of life whenever she saw the lands they had traveled through and then, whenever they made a stop, she would bring out one of her books and start drawing what she could remember.

"She will overcome this, my friend" Aragorns words were full of certainty.

"She is barely breathing at all and I can feel a sort of magic leaving her, the sensation strengthens the further we go. And there is something else…"

He knew the marks were still spreading over her skin like vines.

"I cannot remember seeing you so distressed before"

Legolas didnt answer, he knew Aragorns words were true. Ever since the moment he saw the woman laying on the forest ground he felt compelled to guard her. She was a stranger to this land, involved in a conflict she was not part of to begin with, he had seen so much in her eyes and the thought of never doing it again pained his heart.


It was near nightfall when they reached the inner woods, Leanna was now on Legolass back, his thoughts divided in between the path and the slow breaths of the woman, if only she wasnt so terribly cold one could say she was only asleep. They needed help and he was more than aware of it.

"Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great 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!"

Legolas ignored him, leave it to a dwarf to insult the Lady Galadriel before even seeing her.

"Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox! Oh."

Legolas instinctively tensed up, there was barely a sound announcing the arrival of the Lothlorien elves, surrounding them completely, the fact that one of the many arrows was pointing directly to the unconscious Leanna angered him.

"The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark" Haldir said, his eyes diverted to Legolas, more precisely to the woman he was carrying on his back.

There was a storm in the elven princes eyes and Haldir could see it, he did not seem willing to let go of the girl. His eyes widened slightly when he felt magic coming from her. Haldir signaled two of his companions to go for the woman, but the Fellowship immediately tensed up, he then ordered the rest of the warriors to lower their weapons.

"This way" was all he said as his party led the Fellowship deeper into the woods.


As they reached a deeper place, Haldir once more turned to the Fellowship. The only elf in the small group had finally left the woman at the care of one of the men, the one Haldir didn't recognize. Both Legolas and Aragorn stood forward.

"Welcome Legolas, son ofThraundill"

"Our Fellowship is indebted to you Haldir of Lorien" said Legolas.

"Aragorn of the Dunedain, you are known to us"

Aragorn gave a nod and a polite reply.

"Our friend's life perils, her condition fastly worsens, we are in need of your help" Legolas added, the prince had control over his voice but Haldir could notice the fear for his companion's life on Legolas's eyes.

"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves!" Gimli grumbled"Speak words we can also understand!"

''We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days,'' Haldir declared with clear disgust.

"And you know what this dwarf says to that!"

The insult was so rude that Aragorn stopped him

"That was not so courteous" he hissed at the dwarf.

"You bring great evil with you" Haldir said the dark magic that the Hobbit was carrying should never be allowed to step into Lorien "You can go no further"

Anger was clear on Legolas's eyes for an instant before Aragorn intervened.

"Let me" he said to his friend and Haldir agreed to pursue their talk longer far enough from the Fellowship.


Boromir refused to let the woman who had fought by his side laying on the floor, so he settled her against his body like a child and took a seat close to Frodo. The young half-ling seemed upset, Boromir knew that look, and also the pained one the small one directed to the unconscious woman. Guilt. The elven princes attention was divided between the unconscious woman and the conversation between Aragorn and Haldir. Frodo saw him, and the rest of his companions, the tired and worried expressions in his eyes.

"Gandalfs death was not in vain, he will not give them false hopes anymore" Boromir lowered his sight to Leanna, and so did Frodo until the man spoke again "Yours is a heavy burden, Frodo, dont carry it to your death"


It wasn't particularly cold, neither warm, there was no powerful relief, no sensation of freedom, no bright sun rays piercing through her fears. No. There was only numbness as she stood there, a bloodied knife on her right hand, a phone on her left, grass and dying leaves on the floor beneath her naked feet, the stench of death glued to her, almost imbedded to her bones. And far away, sirens overlapping with the forest's sounds.


"It's okay now, child, drop it"

A male's voice, but the man had Leah's eyes and hair color.

"Are you her father?" the Hummingbird asked.

"Yeah" such a deep sadness, such lost in his voice. He knew.

"I'll tell you where she is, where they all are" she dropped the knife and the phone on the floor.

"Anna you are safe now"

She showed a crooked smile, a bitter one, her eyes still empty.

"I'll never be safe, that thing" she signaled to her head "it's right in here"


The adults were talking, just outside the door of the consult, six months after going back to the world of the living and she still felt numb.

"Is there no change?"

"It's hard to assess the grade of trauma, she's too smart and knows which answers to give. Her emotions... Anna has suppressed them completely as a defense mechanism"

"Has she got back to drawing?"

"Drawing?"

"I've spoken with some of her friends, she used to draw almost every day"


...

"I am no longer Anna, she died with her parents. Your daughter died because of me, because she got too close and It found out, I'm not Its Hummingbird anymore; yet... What am I?"

Inside her memories, Leanna could see the child version of herself, that was the day "Leanna" was born, the day she decided to pick up the fragments of Anna and live for Leah, the young woman who died trying to save her.

"My life isnt my own"

Maybe it wasnt healthy… So what?

"What are you looking for, child?" A soft female voice resounded inside the memories.

"Nothing, everything, this are all my memories, but…"

She turned around, and many more images surged one after the other, different times, different people, maybe different worlds were showing themselves in a kaleidoscope of sounds and colors.

"Im just a fragment, arent I? Something happened when I travelled here"

"Is that what you believe?"

"Im not certain. But I cant wake up yet, I have to calm down first"


…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

"Leanna if you can hear me, you must open your eyes" the elven prince's voice was almost a prayer "Two days have passed since we arrived at Lady Galadriel's dominion, and yet..."

And yet she was still deep asleep, laying between the gigantic roots of one of the ancient trees, small white flowers faintly glowing in the night has grown around her, almost caressing her arms. The young woman was now wearing a white dress, her long hair drawing waves around her face and shoulders, that strange silver mist was drawing a soft halo over her resting form. There were no more wounds on her skin, but she was still pale, and unconscious.

"Legolas, you need rest, dear friend" Aragorns voice was careful.

The elves had settled her in a slightly secluded place inside the ancient city, only Legolas, Aragorn, and Lady Galadriel had been there since the day of the Fellowships arrival.

"I can not rest, Aragorn, I find no calm even if I try"

"She needs only time, her body has healed and her mind is strong" the rangers words were true even though he was also concerned for his friend, there was something in Leanna, more than once he had noticed the subtle changes, in her eyes or demeanor, maybe the most evident case was her fighting skills. Too polished to be only instinctive, but even though her body had been strengthened during their travels, it seemed still a bit clumsy at times.

All suddenly the light around her body receded, and with a long deep breath her eyes opened.

"Legolas" she smiled gently, relief invaded the princes mind and heart, leaving him unable to answer, has he not been already seated by her side he felt his knees would have bend "Aragorn" Leannas eyes turned to the ranger "How long have I been…?"

"Too long" Legolas spoke suddenly "far too long".

"Im sorry" the womans cheeks turned red because of his tone, and eyes, that longing in his eyes was heart wrecking.

Legolas stood back on his feet and offered her a hand. Leanna stared at him, her blush increasing under his soft gaze and beautiful smile, no longer using the traveling clothe but others, white and elegant, his posture, even slightly inclined towards her still emitted that royal aura. She finally took his hand with a soft smile of her own.

Aragorn watched them, a knowing look in his eyes, and an amused expression on his face, those two might not be entirely conscious yet but their lives were deeply intertwined, just the way they would only regard each other in their eyes was more than enough proof.

Hi. I know it's been too long since the last update and I'm sorry for that. Inspiration-chan has been on an extended vacation. So... It's a short one but the next one is already half written and hopefully will be uploaded soon. Thank you for reading :)