Chapter 27

She took one last look in the mirror before slipping away in the night. Evelyn watched a small smile form on her lips as she looked over the smooth skin of her neck and shoulders. The scars that one marred her body gone. With a final glance she disappeared in the night.

She followed the trail left by the orcs and Haradrim. Their large metal boots and armor leaving great depressions in the ground. Her father clearly had no qualms about them being found or followed, then, with his powers, who would, Evelyn thought bitterly to herself. When the sounds of camp reached her ear, she stopped, as the sun rose began rising over the rocks. It rose red in the sky. Narwë would know she had arrived, he would feel her presence.

Surveying the land around her, there was nothing but barren rock and dry sand. Small sand dunes littered the land where wind blew them against piles of stone. A lone desert plant survived at the lowest crevices where water would pool when the rare rain shower doused the dry land. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked up into the sky, the blue covered in a dusty haze, she closed her eyes, drawing her power to her.

It answered her willingly, springing up from the depth of her soul. It filled her being, alighting a flame within her. Her fingers tingled with anticipation. Wind swirled around her as grey clouds gathered overhead, ice crackling in their heights.

"Quite a show, my darling." A cool voice spoke above the wind, light as a feather, yet as menacing as the sting of a snake. Opening her eyes, she saw her father standing on a distant ledge, watching her carefully, arms crossed over his chest. "Your skills have greatly improved." Narwë walked forward, closing the gap between them. "I too can put on a show."

As the words left his mouth, Black clouds gathered over his head, wind whipped across the desert, creating its own sand storm and lightning struck the ground around him, thunder reverberated in the air. "Have a change of heart, dear daughter? Did you finally come to your senses? See what we can create together, you and I?" He gestured wildly about himself, his storm reacting violently to his emotions. His laugh was haunting.

"I have not come to join you." Her voice, though quiet, carried across the expanse as a deafening roll of thunder. Her father regarding her silently for a moment before his maniacal laugh resumed.

"You have come to destroy me then?" He spat, eyes narrowing to venomous slits, "How disappointing."

Prepared as she was, Evelyn was not fast enough for his first blow that he released even before his words left his lips. "You should have brought reinforcements."

The blow struck her hard in her shoulder, sending her sprawling on the ground. Quickly she pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the pain that shot through her arm watching as a dark line of orcs and Haradrim appeared on the horizon. She was even more relieved knowing her friends would not face them today, nor any other day. Responding justly, she sent forth bolt of ice, which Narwë effectively evaded. And so, their danced ensured. Blow for blow they battled and matched one another. Her icy tendrils of lightening versus his fiery bolts. The sky lit up in a dramatic display of colors and sound.

…

Legolas burst from his tent, Evelyn's letter gripped in his hand, his knuckles white with strain. He found himself in a cacophony of soldiers and chaos. His eyes darted through the crowd, looking for the familiar faces of Elrond's twins. His heart hammered in his chest, an ache growing that threatened to consume him. A sickening sense of dread began pooling in his stomach. He wanted to vomit. There! He spotted them, their height and long dark hair stark against the Gondorians. Pushing through the crowd he rushed towards them, knocking through anyone who got in his way.

"She has gone!" He exclaimed as he reached them. Both turned and eyed him with guilt filled and fearful eyes.

"Aye," Elladan replied, "And the army rides to stop her." Elrohir finished.

"What do you mean?" The elf prince looked between the two and then to Aragorn who appeared with the other Elven Lords.

"We cannot let her reach her father," Aragorn answered, reaching to put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

Legolas violently jerked away, ignoring the pained and confused expression that flashed across the King's face. "She would never join with him!" Legolas protested, anger seething and boiling in his veins, festering.

"As we have been attempting to convey to them." Elladan fumed.

"Terrible things have been done by persons for love of their fathers," Glorfindel spoke resolutely. "Have you forgotten the deeds of the sons of Fëanáro or the treachery of Meaglin? Can you imagine the destruction wrought should she side with our enemy? There would be no stopping them."

"Aragorn, surely, you must see, she would not betray us. All these years and everything she went through for us, you now her better than this!" Legolas exclaimed, hoping to reach his friends senses, his eyes pleading. Never did he believe he would be the one defending the woman who had journeyed with them since the Fellowship.

"I am sorry my friend, but what else am I to think when she escapes in the dead of night with naught but a letter? I must think of the safety of my people."

"What else was she to do, when her friend, her brother," Elrohir spat, "Treated her as a common criminal for protecting us! We stood no chance without her."

"My grandsons, Legolas, surely you must see reason, gather your weapons, we must ride out." Celeborn ordered, mounting his horse.

"No," The three answered in unison, all eyeing each other. A deafening silence followed.

Legolas spoke up, looking directly at Aragorn, "I broke Evelyn's trust once, I shall not do so again. I shall not betray her, I shall leave you to finish that." His friend's mouth hung ajar as did those of the ones gathered. They had expected resistance from Elrond's sons, their bond with the woman strong, but no one had expected it of the Elven Price. As the quiet hung, all three turned and left the group, the crowd of soldiers parting to let them pass, the confrontation causing murmurs to erupt among them. None knew who or what to believe, and so they followed their king uncertainly.

The three elves sat together as the army moved out, each silently praying they would not find Evelyn. Each wondering where and why she left.

"I do not understand why she left, where could she have gone." Elrohir asked no one in particular.

"She is not one to run from battle, not anymore." Elladan responded, when a rumbling crack filled the air, resonating from the south. They all stood and watched the horizon as dark clouds littered the skyline. Bolts of lights flickering above the hills.

Tidbits of memory and conversation filled Legolas' mind, when he suddenly swore and raced to his horse, the twins following behind, shouting questions.

"Evelyn did not run, she went to fight." He stated, the queasiness returning tenfold.

"How do you know?"

"I spoke with her the other night," Legolas began, ignoring the curious and irritated gazes of the twins, "We spoke about her father, about finding a way to win against him. Evelyn said, 'You don't.' I thought it was a moment of despair, but I was wrong." He cursed again at his own blindness. He should have known, they all should have known but were blinding by their shock. "She meant that she was the way."

Now the twins joined in his cursing as they rushed to their own mounts, they had to find a way to her before the army, or worse before he father could harm her. The three did not beat Aragorn and his army. They pulled their horses short at the outer rim of the army, fear and wonder filling their eyes.

…

Evelyn knew she could not hold on for much longer. The magic was depleting her energy, she could feel it draining ounce by ounce. Her body felt as if it was tearing apart at the seams, the pain way almost unbearable, but it kept her awake, kept her focused. A warm trickle told her nose had begun to bleed, the battle would have to end soon or she would not live to see her enemy dead. She swallowed the thick lump in her throat.

"How much longer must we play this game, daughter? I can see you faltering. Do not waste your life so carelessly. What is there left for you to fight for?" He taunted, his voice carrying over the land, ringing clear for all those gathered to hear.

Evelyn knew when the army had arrived, they had come much quicker than she had anticipated, and she thanked the Valar they did not try to intervene. This was her fight, and hers alone. She turned her gaze to the gathered army. Aragorn, Glorfindel, and Celeborn at the lead. Evelyn scanned the area until her eyes alighted on her brothers and Legolas, they stood away from the army, and she briefly wondered about their separation. Drawing her mind back to Narwë she answered, her voice clear and strong, "They stand behind me. I fight for all the free people of Middle Earth."

He laughed. "And fought bravely you have, but your power cannot out match mine. Join me, or you will die, you have given everything."

"Tell me one thing, father, did you ever love me?"

He watched her for a moment, head tilted sideways, regarding her much as a cat would its prey, deciding if it was worth the effort, "Of course I did, I loved what you could become, what you have become."

Evelyn closed her eyes tightly, letting the tears fall freely as she opened them to look at her father. He stood there, tall and regal, offering her life for the destruction of Middle Earth, her home. Offered her the death of her family, of her friends, and of Legolas. Pictures and memories of her childhood flashed before her eyes—Times they had spent together laughing and playing. She wanted nothing more than to have that again, but the cold dead eyes that looked back at her would never share in those times again.

"You are wrong in one aspect… I have not given everything, not yet."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she drew the power back to her, her body shaking with the force. Her eyes glowed a piercing blue, emitting a blinding white light as her body turned crystalline. The storm raging around her stopped as the magic seeped back into her core, her feet lifted of the ground.

"What are you doing?" Her father bellowed, but the words were lost on her. She had kept secret how much her powers had grown from him. Made herself look weaker than she was. Had he known what she was capable of, he never would have meet her on the battlefield. He was arrogant and power hungry, but he did not have a death wish. This was her chance, her only chance.

The magic swarmed her, created a giant, spiraling orb around her. The pain was more than she had ever felt, Evelyn could feel her soul ripping apart, and gritted her teeth against screaming out. Icy blood poured from her nose, though it could not be seen in her current form. She felt the ice creep beneath her skin, freezing her tissues and stilling her blood. Her breath came in quick gasps. She watched her father's eyes grow large and fill with fear. He worked to break through the sphere, casting all his lightening and fire towards it. The magic consumed it, hungry in its thirst to be free. Turning, she looked to her brothers and locked eyes with Legolas. She felt her heart break.

Her father turned to run, and she knew it was time. With her last ounce of strength, she flung open her arms, her scream piercing the still air as the power tore through her. She had never known such pain. It consumed her. Evelyn forced herself to hold on, watching as the magic left her, hurtling towards Narwë and his forces. It hit her father with a resounding crack that shook the land for miles around. Soldiers in the army fell to their knees, horses spooked and shied away. Her voice left her, ice freezing her vocal cords. Watching, she watched the Kelvarwë before her incinerate, his tormented screams replacing her own. There was nothing left of her father but a pile of ashes being blown away in the wind. Her body fell to the ground and she forced her eyes to the horizon, a smile forming on her lips as she watched the Valar collect her father's soul, where he would be thrown to the void. Icy tears collected on her cheeks. She cried for the father she thought she had, but had never known, she cried for the father she would never have. Evelyn wept for those she left behind, who would not understand.

Gasping she could not breath as the ice encircled her lungs in a vice grip, the smile left her lips as her eyes looked up, would the Valar come for her too? Evelyn hoped they would as a spasm of pain rocked through her body. Surely, they would not forget her. Then she faintly saw a glowing light above her and a smiling face looking down on her. Estë offered out her hand, "Come child, come home." Another spasm rocked through her body as her eyes glazed over, not to open again on the shores of Middle Earth. Evelyn's soul pulled free of her body, her hand grasped in the Valier's own. The pain was gone and she felt a freedom she had not felt before and followed Estë home.

…

Legolas spurred his horse forward as he watched Evelyn fall, her body laying unmoving on the ground. As he got closer he watched spasms jerk her body, he could she her gasping for air like a fish on shore. The twins where hot on his heels. He was feet from her as her body rocked against the earth once more, he heard the air push out of her lungs in a ragged sigh and not refill, he watched as her eyes glazed and saw no more. He felt his soul rip apart. The stallion under gave a startled whinny as he collapsed on the ground both from exhaustion and the sudden intense pain of his rider. Legolas hit the dirt rolling, coughing and spitting up sand. Half crawling and half running he raced to Evelyn, his horse behind him, struggling to his feet.

"Evelyn," He murmured softly, eyes not believing the sight before them. "Evelyn," He called louder, reaching out to touch her bare arms, recoiling in shock. Icy tendrils from her skin attaching to his warm flesh. "No," he murmured, kneeling by her side, shaking his head, ignoring Elladan and Elrohir who arrived behind him, starring in shock. "No, no, no…" His whole body shook violently.

Without thinking, he pulled her frozen body into arms, cradling her tightly to his chest. His arms and chest burned as the ice crept onto his skin, though he was oblivious as tears streaked down his cheeks. "NOOO!," His voice erupted from deep in his throat, echoing across the plans, rattling all those gathered.

He could not breathe, could not catch his breath, it was as if an Oliphant was on his chest. Was this how Evelyn felt, laying her helpless and alone on the ground, abandoned by her friends? He was frozen in place, repeating her name over and over again. Legolas was numb, the pain he felt was gone, replaced by a numbing coldness. He wished for his heart to stop. He did not wish to live without Evelyn. How did anyone survive this? He thought of his father, at the loss of his mother. How does one survive with their soul ripped in two?

"I loved her." He whispered, stroking her matted and dirty hair. He took his hands over her face, closing her eyes, unable to look in their emptiness any longer. Slowly he lowered her back to the ground, once again numb to the cold burn left by her frozen body.

"We know you did, my friend." Elladan's voice cracked above him. Legolas, finally able to move, he looked into two sets of grey eyes, both red rimmed and brimming with tears, their cheeks glistening as they spilled over. He let them pull him to his feet.

"I never told her, I never told her,"

"There are many things in life left unsaid. There may yet come a time to say them." Elladan spoke, though he was unsure the elf prince heard him. They both looked at one another, their grief clear. Their sister had given her life for theirs. Fought and killed her own father for friends who lost faith in her. They did not deserve her sacrifice.

Aragorn and the others arrived, their faces guilt ridden and full of anguish. They looked at the scene in silence. Elrohir was the first to acknowledge them, "She froze, from the inside" Legolas tensed, realizing to whom the ellon spoke. Spinning around, they all took a step back, his gaze intent and murderous, he zeroed in on his longtime friend.

"This is your fault!" He seethed, advancing on the king, "She trusted you, and you broke that trust! She died defending you!" His fist connected with Aragorn's cheek as the words left his mouth. Aragorn's head snapped sideways as he staggered back from the blow. Still Legolas advanced on him, fingers gripping the neck of tunic showing from under his armor. "I loved her and you took her from me!" Reaching back, he made to land another punch but strong arms grabbed him and hauled him away from the king, who stood in shock at his friend whom he did not recognize.

Legolas' eyes were haunted, empty, and hallow. His cheeks where gaunt and his skin pale. Aragorn looked to Evelyn's lifeless body, his heart aching. Legolas was right, he had betrayed her trust that was so hard earned, and still she fought for him, fought for his people. He looked at the grief-stricken faces of his brothers, knowing it would be many years until he earned their forgiveness for his mistake. Looking at Legolas, he was not sure the elf would ever forgive him. His next words confirmed his suspicion, "I will never forget this." He spat, still struggling against the twins hold on him. His anger drowning out his grief. Anger he knew how to handle, anger was something familiar. Legolas did not understand his grief and the hollowness he now felt at her absence, so he let his anger consume him.

"This is not how Evelyn should be remembered. Her sacrifice was not in vain. We need to show her the respect she deserves," Glorfindel spoke up, leaving no room for argument. Reluctantly, Elladan and Elrohir released Legolas, ready at any moment to leap back to Aragorn's rescue. With his last shred of self-control, Legolas turned from Aragorn and picked up Evelyn's body once again, hissing in pain as the ice burned his skin, turning he began walking to return Evelyn's body to camp and prepare for the trip to return her to Rivendell to rest.

A/N: so please don't hate me! I promise this is not the end! There are still quite a few more chapters left in this story. Please R&R and let me know your thoughts and ideas!