~Reckless~

The land they now ran through was marred with ash. Whole crops had been burned along with villages. Aerlaer paled as they passed the rotting bodies of hewn down cart horses, still harnessed to the cart they had pulled. A few paces away there lay the crow picked remains of a man. The air was thick with the scent of charred trees, plants and the sickly smell of rotting flesh. Her stomach roiled, her senses assaulted by the destruction and death around them. A couple paces ahead, Aragorn cursed when they passed the bodies of a mother and child.

"What befell this place?" Gimli asked in a hushed tone as they began to pass through the remains of a village

"Raiders." Aerlaer replied from where she walked beside Legolas. Seeing something unsettling in a half torn down, wooden dwelling, she gestured for Legolas to keep going, and turned towards the disarray of wood and shanty. Her three companions paused twenty or so meters ahead, waiting for her.

She picked her way over the broken wood and entered the remains of the dwelling and stopped beside the still body of the young woman. Kneeling, she gently pulled her blood and dirt covered dress back down to cover her. Aerlaer was sickened by the evil fate which had befallen the young woman.

She brushed her golden hair from her face and picked up her hands to place them upon her chest. The young woman's hands had not yet stiffened in the rigor of death and dread swept through Aerlaer as she leapt up, in time to see three large and rough looking men grinning luridly at her through the broken-down wall.

All three men held crude bows, each drawn with an arrow pointing towards her, swords and daggers at their hips. She saw a door to her right but to her dismay it had been barricaded from the inside, most likely by the woman lying dead at her feet. She would have to move a wardrobe and a table to get through it. One arrow she could dodge and catch but three? An uncomfortable realisation settled over her. She was cornered. How in Eru did I get in this predicament? I could call for the others, but there is a chance these men do not realise they are here. Although, if there are three raiders still here, there are likely more in this village...

Her assumption was verified as she heard the sound of sword on sword and Gimli's battle cry from where they had been waiting for her. No, she would have to get out of this one herself.

"You're an exotic creature, aren't you?" The man to her left murmured as he eyed her in appreciation, stepping into the dwelling. You have no idea. Aerlaer thought as she smirked at him, a daring plan forming in her mind.

"She's an Elf." The man in the middle exclaimed in wonder. "Look at her pointed ears." He followed along with the third man who watched her with intent.

"We'll have our fun with this one." The first man said as he stood only two meters away from her.

"Are you afraid, she-Elf?" The third man asked, his voice menacing. Aerlaer eyed him, holding herself proudly, muscles coiled.

"Should I be? Should I be as afraid as the woman you tore this dwelling apart to get?" She asked, and a hint of defiance crept into her voice. A slow grin spread across the first man's face.

"The wench enjoyed everything we gave her." His laugh was sinister and cruel, and Aerlaer fought to stay calm and not panic. "You will too, now get on the floor, Elf." He demanded and stepped in closer with his bow.

"I don't think so." She growled out and shifted. The three raiders stumbled back in confusion, and Aerlaer reared up, swiftly striking down the first man with a fatal blow, knocking both he and his weapons to the ground. She made to spin and leap out of the way of the others but a dull pain, which grew to a vicious burning sensation in the muscle of her left shoulder, caused her pause.

Shifting to Elf again as she fell, barely managing to roll in time to whip up her right arm and catch a second arrow as it came hurtling towards her. She flipped it and flicked her wrist, sending it sailing into her assailant. He cried out, the returned arrow finding its mark deep in his neck. Dropping his bow, he also came crashing to the ground. Two down!

Aerlaer made to leap up, but the third man was quicker, grabbing her by her unharmed right arm and twisting it in his strong grip. She fought him, but the action forced her down onto the ground. Angered she hissed at him, making to kick out but he pinned her legs down with his own and her stomach convulsed in dread. She couldn't shift back to horse form, for she would fall on her wounded shoulder and she knew in horse form he would not pause to kill her. In Elf form, as much as the thought sickened her, she had a chance.

"Get off me!" She demanded, trying to wriggle out from his grip. With a snarl, he grabbed at the arrow shaft protruding from her shoulder and twisted it hard. She gasped, sheer pain rocking through her as the arrow head tore slowly through muscle.

"I know a bit about Elves." He said, leaning down to breathe into her ear. "They do not do so well if taken by force, and their souls flee their pretty bodies." He placed his mouth against her neck and her instincts screamed at her to do just that, flee. So much for my brilliant plan. Anger and repulsion rippled through her. I should call for help. He lifted his head to stare at her, eyes filled with disturbing promises. No, I can take this single-minded fool.

"Your skin is so soft, so pure." He breathed and laughed again. Using his moment of distraction, she threw her head up and head-butted him. His skull was thick, and he only growled at her in contempt, twisting the arrow as he pushed down upon it.

This time a cry of pain escaped her, the arrow head tore deeper through the tissues of her muscles as if it were a heated, iron rod. His eyes lit up at her reaction. I wish Legolas was here. I should call for him. No, no I don't need his help. I'll get out of this. I'm an Elfhorse, we don't get caught.

"You'll behave, Elf, so I can have a little fun." With one last twist of the arrow, he let go, moving to grab the length of her dress. Ignoring the agonizing pain from her shoulder, Aerlaer lunged towards the arm which still held hers pinned down and her teeth into it, fighting repulsion when she tasted blood.

It worked, he cried out in pain and rage, letting go of her dress and backhanded her across the face, stunning her by the force of impact. Oh, I feel sick. How do people eat meat? This blood is so, so very wrong.

"They don't come fierier than you, but I am going to break your spirit, Elf." He hissed as she spat the blood from her mouth. His words enraged her, and she felt her hair sparking but he seemed to ignore it or not notice, grasping her dress again. He would have to move his legs to pull it up further, maybe she could overpower him. He must have thought the same for he shifted the weight he was using to pin her legs lower and dragged the fabric up to her knees.

That's it, I am mad. Consumed with rage, Aerlaer painfully lifted her left hand and slammed it down onto the ground. Light sparked at impact, and a sound like thunder resonated from her palm. The man jumped in fright and she brought her left hand up and smashed it into his nose, obliterating. He howled in fright and pain, releasing her right arm.

Shoving him aside, freedom in sight, Aerlaer leapt to her feet, hissing as her shoulder screamed from her actions, blood pouring down her arm and chest. She steadied herself, heady from the pain and from where he had struck her across the face.

In the time she took, the man half stood and lunged towards her. Barely, she managed to leap out of his way, drawing her sword in the process. She made to step back, and another wave of pain washed over her causing her to stumble over the body of the dead woman; whose fate she was trying to avoid for herself.

The man drew his own sword and brought it crashing towards her and she managed to lift her own in time to deflect his blow, parrying it away as she leapt back again and spun. Once again, her escape was blocked, another raider entering the dwelling. Can I not catch a break? Dodging away from the new raider, Aerlaer retreated to the empty part of the dwelling.

"A She-Elf." He exclaimed eagerly, brandishing a sword in hand. Fuelled with the instinct to fight back she slashed out at him, cutting his arm. I should call for help. No, what if Legolas and Gimli are having a wager out there on who slays the most? I don't want to lose!

"This one has a temper." The broken-nosed raider chuckled, and the newcomer licked his lips.

"It's more fun when they put up a fight." His eyes gleamed at Aerlaer as he advanced, swinging his sword at her. She attacked him, her own sword flashing and catching his and she disarmed him with a hiss of pain.

He let out a cruel laugh. As she was wrenched backwards, by her quiver. Swinging her sword behind her, hoping to inflict damage upon the raider who held her captive once more, she only met air. Angered, she made to turn, try to throw him off, but the new raider was suddenly in her face.

A second cry escaped her as his hand wrapped around the arrow shaft pushing her down, using her pain as leverage. Waves of dizziness washed over her, the torn muscles screaming as they tried to flinch and contract away from the savage arrow head. The raider, pulling her back by the quiver, cried out and fell back, dragging her down with him and she screamed as the other man fell over her, his weight driving the arrow in her shoulder straight through it.

"You're mine, Elf!" He hissed, and a rage overtook her pain and fear. Struggling against him, she lifted her unpinned leg, kneeing him in the groin area. He howled in pain, and became silent, eyes widening for the briefest moment before he fell limp at her side.

Relief flooded her as she beheld the sight of the tall and regal bow wielding silhouette, blonde hair blazing silver in the afternoon light, where he stood in the broken entrance.

"Eru, Aerlaer!" He cried, striding toward her as she shakily rose to her feet; gasping in pain as the burning in her shoulder increased by her movement. A steady hand grabbed her right arm, holding her upright as she composed herself through the fire-like pain in her shoulder.

"What in Arda were you thinking?" He hissed. "Why didn't you call for help?" Aerlaer looked up into his face. His eyes were dark and angry, his jaw clenched tight. She had never seen him so enraged. She glared at him, annoyed.

"I was handling the situation perfectly fine." She growled out, and he shook his head.

"You're bruised and bloody, there's an arrow through your shoulder. For Eru's sake, that is not perfectly fine!" He snapped.

"Why are you so mad with me?" She demanded, and he looked taken aback by her question.

"I'm not mad with you, I'm, I'm mad with them." He hissed out vehemently, indicating the four dead raiders. "I could hear their intentions as we fought outside, but I could not get to you." He barely controlled the anger in his voice. "And when you screamed as I shot the man behind you. I, I thought I'd hit you instead." He finished shakily as he looked down at her.

Aerlaer did not know what to say, instead she stared at him as he traced a finger lightly over where she suspected a darkening bruise had formed on her cheek. He took a sharp angry breath in as his hand dropped to her throat and his eyes snapped back to hers, black in pure rage.

"Did they do anything?" He asked very quietly but his entire body shook with the fury which radiated from him.

"No." She said hurriedly. "Just that." She indicated to her neck, and he nodded, shoulders relaxing.

"I should not have left you to enter here alone." He muttered, looking away from her. "If anything had happened..." He bit out, leaving the words hanging between them.

"We all should have been vigilant for raiders." Aerlaer replied. "We all knew they had been here, we all saw what they could do. I am glad you weren't. If you were here too, they would have shot you on sight." She reasoned, trying to cheer him. "You're pretty but not exactly their preference." She teased, trying to make light of the situation. He shook his head, sighing in exasperation and glanced back toward the opening. "Are there any more out there?" He gave a grim nod.

"Aragorn and Gimli are covering me, while I get you. We are not sure how many are still out there. We've killed twenty, including these four." He turned back to her, gaze settling with worry upon her bloody shoulder. She imagined it looked messy by the way it burned and ached, and by how her arm hung uselessly by her side.

"So, we are safe in here a moment?" She looked towards the door and he nodded. "Good. Can you snap the shaft and pull the arrow out from the back?" Swallowing, he nodded

"It is going to hurt." He warned, and she grimaced.

"I know." She replied, gritting her teeth and bracing herself for the pain. Legolas grasped the shaft in both hands and snapped it four inches from her shoulder. She hissed sharply as the force of the action reverberated into her torn up muscle. "This is going to be an absolute nightmare to heal." She bit out, turning unsteadily to present the protruding arrow-head to the other Elf.

"Lean against me." Legolas murmured, but she shook her head.

"No, I'll get blood on you." He laughed humourlessly.

"I really don't care." He flatly replied, pulling her to lean against him and in the same moment, swiftly pulled the arrow shaft out of her shoulder. Aerlaer let out a quiet cry of pain as she let herself fall against the other elf.

"Can you stop the bleeding?" He asked, and she nodded and focussed on dulling her nerves to lessen the pain, a task she hated for it always seemed to make her mind shaky. Legolas's presence calmed her though, and she found focussing on what had to be done not so tedious. Searching through shredded muscle, she located and reattached the torn walls of small veins. Aerlaer suspected most of the blood she had lost came from her subclavian. She healed it and felt the blood flow cease.

"That will have to do for now." She said sighed, still feeling calm, safe even. She realised Legolas was softly running his fingers though her hair, removing any tangles she had sustained in her skirmish. She looked up at him and his hand stilled as he gazed back down at her, his eyes no longer dark in anger but warm and caring and relieved in an intense molten brown.

"You've no idea how much you scared me, I am glad you are well." He murmured and gently placed a soft kiss upon her head surprising her by the action before stepping back and glancing outside the building.

"I believe we are once again even." He said nonchalantly, making his way out of the dwelling.

"I suppose we are." She replied, a little shocked. He just kissed me upon my head. Why would he do that? Eru, this is not the time to be trying to figure him out right now. There are raiders to kill. But still… No forget figuring it out, I'm just going to run with this one, it's taking my mind off the pain. Idiot, Taurorn makes such gestures all the time when I do something reckless.

"Aerlaer, can I take you nowhere without getting bloodied up?" Aragorn muttered in exasperation and she smirked at him.

"What he means to say is he is glad you aren't dead." Gimli explained, relief in his timbre voice. "What in Arda happened to your shoulder?" The Dwarf asked.

"She took an arrow." Legolas answered. "I pulled it out."

"You're far too reckless, lass." Gimli said, shaking his head. Aragorn nodded in agreement.

"But you are alright, Aerlaer?" The Ranger asked, eyeing the bruise on her neck and her right wrist which she had not noticed until that moment.

"Yes, I am fine. I had an Elf prince storm in to save me." She smirked, and Legolas seemed incredibly smug as she glanced at him.

"Very modest there, aren't you?" She teased, and his eyes snapped to hers, bewildered.

"What did you say?" He asked. She tilted her head, watching him curiously.

"I said you're modest, aren't you?" She repeated. "I'm teasing." She added as he still looked bewildered by her words.

"Oh yes, I know." He hastily replied.

"Why do you look not so well?" She asked, and his face became neutral, indifferent.

"You reminded me of something. Aragorn what is our next move?" He asked the Ranger, changing the subject. Aragorn studied him a moment before replying. Have I upset him? Is this to do with our earlier moment? I thought it was nothing, just like Taurorn. Wasn't it? Maybe it was not, maybe... Oh Eru! I was not going to dwell on this. She realised Aragorn was watching her and speaking. She started listening.

"-and Aerlaer's temper-storm earlier gave us an edge over them, and we have taken out most. There are maybe five or six of them left. Three of them have bows." Aragorn explained as he assessed her condition.

"Can you wield your sword well enough?" The Ranger asked, and she nodded.

"I just can't shoot or shift to horse form, and my combat is slightly compromised." She replied.

"The pain?" He asked with furrowed brows.

"Dealt with to be of use." She answered. "It helps there is no longer an arrow imbedded." He nodded, satisfied with her answer.

"You stick with Legolas, and I'll stick with Gimli. You and Gimli can attack those with blades which come in range and Legolas and I will hopefully pick off the archers and anyone else at a distance." He decided, and they all nodded, determined to make it out alive.

…

Aerlaer was never leaving his sight in formidable places ever again, Legolas decided as he peered around the corner of a building. Path clear, he motioned for Aerlaer and Gimli to run to the next building for cover. He and Aragorn ran, following them, arrows knocked to their bows, ready to shoot if need be.

They made it halfway through the village, unhindered in this fashion, before Legolas caught a glimpse of movement. Two archers were aiming in wait for them to run out again. He turned back to the others.

"Two archers are awaiting our next move." He whispered, looking back at Aragorn before darting his gaze to Aerlaer. Still here, still safe. Still, my heart will not feel it can rest until she is away from danger.

"Where?" Aragorn asked.

"One is behind the right wheel of the wagon of straw and the other is behind the tree before a building on the left of the path." Aragorn nodded.

"Could you snipe them out from inside this building?" Aerlaer asked, indicating to the entrance beside them.

"Possibly." He replied as he peered through the broken door and saw a window. "Yes, through that window. I will need you to keep an eye on the second archer."

"This will reveal our cover." Aerlaer murmured. "Once you see the first archer fall, make for the next building across the path and we'll meet you there." She instructed, and Aragorn nodded. She turned and entered the still intact dwelling and Legolas followed. Crouching down and out of sight, they peered out the window.

"I can see them." Aerlaer whispered as she looked at their targets. "I think if you choose to, you could shoot both down at once." She mused and then looked at him. He studied their positions too and turned to face her. He wished he had time to heal the nasty bruise upon her face, every time he looked at it, it was a slap across his own of just how close she had come to.. No he didn't need to let his temper get out of control again. Still her neck… He reined in his anger, biting down on the inside of his cheek as he looked back at the two archers .

"I won't be able to hold my bow and splay the arrows enough, the archers are quite far apart." He begrudgingly admitted. She looked at him with blue grey eyes, and they darkened to sapphire before him in the gloom of the dwelling. Just what is she thinking?

"String up two arrows and sight up between both archers." She instructed and trusting her judgement, he did so. Aerlaer leaned her head lightly against his left shoulder, sighting down his arm and the arrows as she placed her hand against his on his bow and splayed the arrows steadily apart. Focus idiot! He told himself as her hair brushed against his neck feather light and his thoughts jumped to his moment of absolute abandon of emotional composure as he had admitted how much she had scared him. In truth his words were not the half of it, he had been terrified something might have happened to her.

"Draw back." She whispered and refocusing on the task at hand, he pulled back on the string as Aerlaer adjusted her hand a little; nudging an arrow a little further out. He was gladdened they had put up the hoods of their cloaks, further concealing them as he peered through the window. He was even gladder Aragorn had paired him off with her. He guessed Aragorn did it knowing he would not wish to be parted even a meter from her until they reached safety.

"Fire." Aerlaer whispered, and he released his string and watched as both arrows homed in and took out each raider, one in the head and the other in the neck.

"We make a lethal team." He grinned at the other Elf and she smirked at him as they leapt to their feet.

"Of-course we do, we are brilliant." She replied, sapphire eyes dancing with mischief. A raider was waiting for them as they left the dwelling and lunged at him with a blade. Legolas dodged out of the way as Aerlaer's blade crashed against the man's, twisting and disarming him. Before Legolas had a chance to aim his bow, she had run the raider through the chest with her sword.

"Three more down." She murmured casually, and he couldn't help but grin at her in admiration. How many enchantingly lethal, Elven princesses are there in Middle Earth? "Although, my shoulder did not appreciate my spectacular effort." She winced, and Legolas wondered how much pain she was in, she was dealing with it well. Hopefully it would not be long before she could heal.

They checked their path was clear and dashed out towards where Aragorn and Gimli waited. Half-way, Aerlaer hissed and Legolas was pulled to the ground; an arrow whizzing over where his head had been. He heard the sound of another arrow and then a cry as a third archer fell by Aragorn's shot. Aerlaer released him and leapt back up as four raiders armed with swords charged out from behind another building. Another of Aragorn's arrows sang again, felling one of the men and Legolas sent an arrow flying into a second and third as the closest raider's sword rang against Aerlaer's.

He knocked another arrow and aimed it at the raider whose attack she was parrying and briefly she caught his eye and understanding passed between them. The elleth ducked and rolled, leaving the raider in open range for his arrow to pierce the man's heart. She leapt up and together, they raced over to Aragorn and Gimli.

"You two fight well together." Gimli commented and Legolas grinned, he was truly revelling in fighting, partnered with the other Elf. They seemed to flow better even than he and Aragorn did, and he had taught Aragorn, many of his fighting skills.

"Are there any more out there?" Aerlaer asked, her words halted. Legolas realised she was in more pain than she had let on. It occurred to him she had dragged him down with her using her left arm to avoid the arrow.

"You shouldn't have used your arm." He stated, and she laughed dryly at him.

"Yes, you are right, I should have just let that arrow pierce your idiot head." She retorted, and he felt a little foolish for his protective outburst. He would have done the same thing for her, and he did not fancy an arrow through his head.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Thank you." He added sheepishly, and she elbowed him with her good arm.

"It's okay, let's all just get out of here alive. We'll worry about injuries later." She replied with a pained but still warm smile.

Aragorn turned back to them. "I think we have finished them all off." He said, and Legolas peered out, casting his eyes around, looking for any movement.

"I think you are right. The docks are over there." He indicated. "I think we should make a run for it." He suggested and received three nods.

Without lingering longer, they dashed out from their cover and made their way towards the dock along the Anduin. They expected more danger, but no raiders met them. Their feet hit the stony cobbles of the dock. Tied to piers were various small river craft, including a barge. There was also a small corsair ship which Legolas imagined the raiders they had killed had arrived from.

An arrow knocked, he investigated the small vessel and his stomach dropped at what he saw. Four filthy and retched men of nothing but skin and bone, save for one stronger built man, were chained to the deck alongside paddles. Their bodies were bent over, and their heads stooped in exhaustion. Aerlaer leapt up beside him and hissed at the poor sight. The stronger looking of the slaves lifted his dirty, brown haired head at her outburst, and his eyes widened in wonder.

"Elves, there are Elves." He gasped, and his three companions lifted their heads to gaze up in surprise and awe at he and Aerlaer. Aragorn and Gimli came to stare down into the ship as Aerlaer leapt on board and went to the thinnest slave and placed a hand against his cheek and spoke to him.

The poor man looked euphoric as he realised they were saved. Legolas leapt down too, along with Aragorn and Gimli. The slaves gave them relived smiles although the eyes of the three thinner men were very much haunted.

"Gimli, find a set of keys." Legolas instructed as he checked over the stronger of the men, who had spoken.

"We had lost all hope, where did you come from?" The man asked him, and he gave him a warm smile.

"We have travelled from Edoras." Legolas replied. "But we all hail from afar. I am Legolas from Mirkwood and Aragorn, a Ranger from the north and Gimli, who dwelt in the Misty Mountains. Lastly in our group, Aerlaer of the Elfhorses." He said as the man gazed up at him in wonder.

"I thought Elfhorses were just in stories." The man said as he glanced over to Aerlaer. Legolas chuckled.

"No, she is very real." Gimli chuckled in reply to the man, brandishing a ring of keys. He handed them to Legolas, and he sorted through four before finding the correct one to unlock the shackles restraining the man's legs.

He pulled the shackles from the man before tossing the keys to Aerlaer.

"It's the bent key." He called to her as she flicked through the keys and freed the slave before her and helped him to his feet. Legolas frowned as she winced in pain, closing her eyes. Her injury was bothering her more than she was letting on. How could it not? Her shoulder is a torn mess. The arrow head had been flat and wide, the points sharp. Elves did not use such cruel tools of weaponry, even against Orcs. It was against their proper nature. Aragorn was clearly thinking along the same lines, for he strode up to her, tone stern as he took the keys off her.

"Once we reach the other side, I'll deal with it." She snapped at the Ranger who shook his head in annoyance.

"Are all Elves so fiery and beautiful?" The man asked Legolas as he watched the elleth and he gave a quiet chuckle; his usual intolerance of every man who set eyes on her being besotted for once not bothering him. These men had endured the torment of the raiders.

"There is none quite like her." He replied and dropped his voice lower, deciding to humour the man. He reminded him a little of Boromir, similar in build as well. "Have you ever heard of The Lady Galadriel, of Lothlórien?" The man nodded.

"Yes, we have heard stories of her. A powerful sorceress of an Elf. They say those who enter her woods, never leave." He whispered and Legolas grinned.

"Aerlaer is her granddaughter." He explained casually, and the man's jaw dropped.

"Indeed?" He asked with intrigue. "Are we safe in her presence?" He asked, a little disconcerted and Legolas burst out laughing, receiving a curious glance from Gimli and the other Elf as they helped the slave she had freed off the vessel.

"Provided you don't annoy her too much, you couldn't be safer." He smirked as he helped the man out of the boat. From the dock, Aerlaer turned and beamed down at them, offering her right hand to the man Legolas was supporting and he looked up at her, uncertain.

"She doesn't bite." He chuckled, and the man took the help she offered and she with Gimli's aid, pulled him up to the dock.

"Well I do." Aerlaer laughed, and the man looked at her quizzically as he stood in her presence.

"Only raiders." She added, and the man allowed a smile, but Legolas overheard her and clenched his jaw. She fought bitterly against those raiders.

"Doesn't your shoulder hurt, my Lady, and your fair face? It is so bruised." The man asked her.

"Yes, but I will heal it all later." She said, brushing off the man's concern. He held in a snort of laughter. Oh, she is a princess, and she is regal, but she, like me, really does not have time for tedious courtly mannerisms. I wonder how she will fare in Minas Tirith? How we will both fare? It is a lifestyle I do not miss.

"You're in fair shape still for a slave." Aerlaer noted as he and Aragorn helped the two remaining slaves from the boat and the man nodded.

"They've only had me for a week. I'm lucky." He replied. "But please, won't you tell me why you are injured so and yet your companions are not so injured? He asked with a worried frown.

"If you think I look bad, take a stroll through the village; you will see in just what bad way my companion's and I left the raiders." Aerlaer replied with a smirk and the man frowned.

"Still you are more so injured." He pressed, and Legolas wondered what he was getting at? Why did it matter to this stranger? Aerlaer said she could heal it.

"If you must know, I was attacked separately to my companions and cornered. They were occupied by their own attack and I had to get myself out of danger. Legolas aided me as well. I am an Elf and I am quite used to being knocked around a little during a fight, although the arrow to my shoulder was bad luck." Aerlaer explained and Legolas noticed the man listening intently, before he smiled.

"Your kin is naught like the woman of Gondor." He said as he continued watching her. "They do not fight at all." He explained and Aerlaer nodded.

"I have heard that before by one of your kinsman." She said as Legolas came to stand by the elleth and looked over the man who was holding conversation with her.

"You are built like a soldier of Gondor." Legolas commented to him and received a friendly smile.

"That I am. Bregon, I am called." He replied, introducing himself. Aragorn nodded to him.

"The village has been ridden of any more raiders, and the ones you have spoken to me of who are yet to come we will intercept before they reach the mouth." Aragorn said to the four men.

"How will you stop them?" Bregon asked, looking at the four of them with scepticism.

"We have our ways." Gimli replied with an air of mystery and Aragorn just smiled . The Gondor man did not press him further.

"I must find my way back to Gondor at once, and report back to the Steward." Bregon decided.

"War is now upon Minas Tirith, would it not be wise to regain your strength and stay out of sight?" Aerlaer suggeste , and he proudly shook his head.

"No, fair one. I must return to the White City which these raiders have already postponed long enough." Legolas held in another snort at the way he spoke to the elleth.

"I will call you a horse, to bear you." Aerlaer replied and turning, gazed towards the village and after a moment turned back.

"There are three horses remaining in the village. They are stabled, so you will have to find them. Release all three, the two you do not choose can run free." She instructed, and he smiled.

"My thank you, Lady." He said with a gracious appreciation as he took Aerlaer's right hand and placed a kiss upon it. Legolas fought to stay still in his slight annoyance.

"Think nothing of it." She replied politely, and he let go of her hand, although to Legolas, his release was reluctant.

"The village is in ruin, but you will find food and water enough." Aragorn said to the three other freed slaves. He then addressed Bregon. "We will likely cross paths again in Minas Tirith for we will arrive there hopefully in the late hours of the morning, with aid. Tell the Steward of Gondor that if you chance upon him." Aragorn asked of the man and he nodded.

"All aid will be greatly received." He replied and turned back to Aerlaer. "I shall look forward to gazing upon your fair and unique beauty in the White City." He said tenderly to her and with a slight bow, he bid them goodbye amidst the words of thankfulness from the other three men before all four strode away and into the village. Although Legolas was glad they had helped the four me, he was glad to see the back of the Gondor man who he decided was become altogether too friendly towards Aerlaer.

…

"Well." Gimli said, breaking the silence which seemed to have ensued as they strode towards the barge they intended to use to cross the Anduin. "I do believe that man took quite a liking to you, lass." He chuckled as Legolas moodily slashed though the ropes holding the barge to the dock and leapt onto it, followed by Gimli and Aerlaer and Aragorn

Aerlaer laughed at Gimli's teasing. "Perhaps..." She replied a bemused smile playing on her lips and Legolas listened to her voice. Had she liked the attention of that man?

"Unfortunately for him, his ears weren't all that pointy." She snickered to the Dwarf, and he relaxed as Gimli let out a deep chuckle. Of course, I knew that, there was that Mirkwood Elf…

"Is there a standard of pointy?" Gimli asked with a grin as Aragorn used the barge pole to navigate them across the river. Legolas pretended to be distracted by the water as he listened, waiting for Aerlaer's answer.

"Not really." She replied with a chuckle. "I am not so judging of appearance, although, his character was rather charming, but his eyes were heartless. There was little kindness in them, and that I do judge." She added, and Legolas turned to look at her.

"I did not notice that." He replied, feeling a little shocked. He wished he had not spoken so openly about Aerlaer to the man now.

"It was the first thing I noticed." Aerlaer said. "Because they were such a contrast to yours." She fell silent, and he looked towards the other shore, mulling over her words.

The bank they were crossing to was quite narrow. High cliffs reached up, looming over it all the way to the mouth of the Anduin. Unease now crept into Legolas, as he thought about that Gondor man, Bregon. He had been calculating in his words, under all his seeming chivalry. He realised he had missed it as he was too busy seeing the man as a slave, also wrong-done by the raiders, and not his true character. Hopefully we will not cross him in Minas Tirith.

Aragorn let the barge glide into the sandy but hard riverbank and as they leapt off the vessel, Legolas remembered his other dread, which thoughts of raiders and slaves and Aerlaer's wellness had kept well at bay. It now came seeping back slowly. He fought to ignore it, ignore the noise in the distance and instead focussed on Aerlaer as Aragorn grabbed her right arm, stopping the elleth from heading off down the riverbank.

"You are going to sit down and heal that damn shoulder before we take a step further." He instructed in a tone which brooked no argument. With a drastic sigh, Aerlaer nodded and Legolas couldn't help but smirk a little. She just had to push boundaries. Every single one.

…

Aerlaer sat down cross legged as Aragorn had commanded and glanced from the corner of her eye to her shoulder. It was a mess. Such a horrific mess. The inside damage would be much worse. She sighed in frustration. She couldn't afford to simply patch it up, she needed it functioning. She wanted to see the sea. Not waste time healing her damn shoulder.

Aragorn and Gimli stood a couple meters away from her, the Ranger watching her, eyes warning. She wasn't going to forgo healing herself. How reckless does he think I am? She grinned at him and he shook his head.

"Just heal it." He said in exasperation as Legolas came to kneel beside her, looking worriedly through warm brown eyes, which only reinforced her earlier words over how cold the dark eyes of that Gondor man had been despite his friendly demeanour. She forgot all about him as she gazed up into the face of the other Elf.

"Can I help?" He asked softly. "I could tend to healing your bruises while you work on your shoulder." He offered, and she nodded. He sounded like he needed something to do, and she wondered if it was the sea bothering him. She could hear the far-off sound of the waves and their faint call. His help would save time also, and he might not look like he was holding in anger each time he looked upon her face.

"Please, if you could." He smiled, clearly happy to help.

"Is it just the three bruises?" He asked, and she made to nod, only to feel the presence of her hidden injury.

"No, there's another." Her right leg had been bruised too, or rather scratched or cut directly above her knee in the scuffle. It had been a dull ache as she had run.

"Where?" She rolled up the hem of her dress to show the nasty, bruising welt right above her knee. He gazed at the damage to her leg, brows furrowed and then up into her face, brown eyes serious.

"Just don't leave a scar." She said dryly, giving him the answer to his silent question. He nodded sharply, a look of resolve upon his face and placed his right hand upon her leg and set to work healing it. She shut out what he was doing which was harder than she thought, having never had someone else heal her as she also healed herself, and pooled her concentration into tediously re-knitting muscle.

Vaguely she felt a hand take her wrist and sooth away the bruising and then the same hand lingered against her throat and she lost concentration on her own healing, eyes flying open to a pair of brown ones concentrating. His mouth was devoid of a smile, his jaw set as he healed the one small injury which had revealed so much raw anger in him.

Aerlaer closed her own eyes again and continued working through layers of muscle. She felt the hand move to her face, which was quite tender from the strike and held in a sigh of relief as the skin of her cheek cooled and the throbbing pain left it.

"I can heal the outer layers of your shoulder now?" Legolas asked, and without breaking concentration on the tissue she was now re-attaching, she nodded. A hand came to rest upon the back of her shoulder where the arrow had pierced through, and in the peripheral vision of her healing mind she saw bright silver, mingling and mixing with the light gold of her own lifeforce. Aerlaer felt skin tissue being knit neatly together as if they had never been torn. He had natural skill for healing.

Finally, she finished on the muscles and focussed on healing the arrow entrance in the front of her shoulder as Legolas finished off the area he had worked on and took his hand away. She opened her eyes to find him gazing at her.

…

"Are you still in pain?" He asked anxiously, and she shook her head as she glanced down at her leg, which he had thought to roll the material of her dress back to cover. He hoped she would not pull it up again. Before had been different, he had been healing a wound. Now, the length of her dress was covering a pair of very attractive, long, creamy legs.

"There is no scar, I promise." He gave her a wry smile, and she grinned, not bothering to look to his relief.

"Thank you." She smiled as she stood . "You have saved me much time. I am glad you asked me to teach you how to heal now." She teased, and he grinned, remembering he had used the excuse of wishing to heal as a ruse to what he had really been wishing back in Edoras.

"I am glad you are well again, and no lingering reminders remain." He replied contently as he too stood. He was happy he had removed those vile marks from her perfect skin; a darkness which had been marring her light.

"I must say Legolas, no one would be able to tell you have only just begun healing." Aragorn complimented and he couldn't help it, he beamed. "Now we must make our way from the Anduin and to the sea." The Ranger addressed them all and the brightness he had felt within his heart vanished as if the shadow of a Nazgul's fell beast had flown across it.

Aragorn and Gimli watched him a moment, concerned and contemplating. All four of them knew the words. Beware of the sea. It was Aerlaer, who entwined her fingers in his, quelling some of the dread which now rampaged in the pit of his stomach.

"I said you would not face this alone, remember." She said softly, just for him to hear. Legolas turned to face the elleth by his side, sending her a tentative smile of gratitude, before they ran hand in hand to meet the sea.

Thank you all for your kind reviews from last chapter, I want to reply to them but I'm squinting through sleepy eyes to just type this! Will answer individually next chap! You all rock!

xx A