Rosegold wept, feeling as if she no longer had a heart, only an empty hole where the spawn of Morgoth dwelled. Many things crashed through her tormented mind, but one scene replayed over and over again. She pressed her face into her arms, trying to block out the words...
Saruman slapped her hard, leaving finger prints on her cheek. Rosegold, terrified, watched as the wizard's hands slid smoothly over her body. Saruman looked disgusted. "You are imperfect," he declared, slapping her again and again to emphasize his words. "A waste of flesh and elven blood. No man could ever want you, not really. You are good only to be used, not loved. No one could ever truly love you."
At that moment, Aragorn reached out and placed a gentle hand on the elf's hair. Rosegold whirled on him, quick as a thought, her mind still snared in dark memories. "No!" she screamed, her fingers hooking into talons as she lashed out at what she perceived to be the cruel white wizard.
But just as quickly her mind cleared and she saw with horror that it was Aragorn that stood before her. Her eyes widened when she saw the three tiny red marks on the bewildered ranger's jawline, one just beginning to well with blood.
Rosegold fell on her knees before the son of Arathorn. "Please, please forgive me!" she pleaded. "I didn't-didn't know it was you, I..." She nearly choked on her panic and continued frantically, "I will kiss your feet, I will put my neck beneath your heel, I will give you anything I possess, I will do whatever you ask of me, but please, my lord, have mercy!"
Rosegold's words loosed a memory long caged in Aragorn's mind; a memory of Elrond many years ago, saying almost the exact same words. The pain of the memory and the deathly fear in the voice of the daughter of Elrond brought tears to the ranger's own eyes. He reached to comfort her, but thought better of it. "Stay here," he cautioned her, and sprinted off.
He sought out Legolas. The silvan elf could no doubt soothe his own kind far better than any human ever could. Finding Legolas awake, Aragorn briefly explained the whole mess and asked his friend for help. With Legolas' consent, they both hurried back to the elven maid.
The girl, having heard no word of either mercy or condemnation from the ranger, was sitting pensively alone, fiddling with her hair as she waited. When she saw Legolas and Aragorn approaching together, her heart seized within her. Instead of pity, in their faces she read punishment. She collapsed into a dead faint at the thought.
The two ran to her side. Aragorn groaned. "I knew I should've had more tact in telling her about Arwen!"
Legolas felt the girl's wrist. "There's nothing you can do about it now, Aragorn. She's alive, but very frightened. It may be best if you avoid her from now on." He looked pointedly at the man. "Lest something of this nature happens again."
Aragorn sighed. "You're right, of course. Let's leave her with the healers. Maybe they can do something for her." Legolas agreed and together they bore her thence.
After making sure the healers would keep her there until Aragorn was safely gone, the man stayed, looking at her thoughtfully. Legolas touched his shoulder. "We should go."
The ranger waved him away. "You go ahead, I'll be there in a minute." With a sideways glance at his friend, the elf left. Making sure no one was around, Aragorn turned his eyes back to the elf on the bed.
Rosegold lay peacefully, hands folded on her chest. The only indications that she had been terrified within an inch of her life were her pulse fluttering in her neck and the way her eyes rolled beneath their closed lids. A single tear slipped down her face. Aragorn caught it on his ring and touched it to his lips.
"I will remember you, Rosegold Morgil." Then he turned and strode out to meet Legolas. The next day, he was gone, all thoughts of a lovelorn elf maiden driven from his mind. It would be years before they would next meet.