Good very, very, very late evening folks. Kitty here with the sixth chapter of the Most Precious Thing, and I have to say I honestly thought that I had already updated chapter six ... I guess I was wrong. Don't know what made me think I did when I clearly didn't ... guess that shows how long it's been since I've been on fanfiction. Bad, bad Kitty! FOR SHAME! Anyway, I would like to inform my ever so lovely readers about a project that I have been working on while I was away from FF, and boy have I been positively thrilled about it! I am bouncing from excitement in my chair (well, not really, I don't do much bouncing. Unless you count bouncing back up after falling on my bum)!

This little project that I've been planning and planning and planning involves THIS fanfiction, in case you haven't guessed that already. It includes photos, yes, photos of the scenes in this story, as well as my other story, Lady of the Forest. Well, they aren't really photos, nor are they drawings or paintings. They are actually screenshots from the Sims 2. I cannot draw to save the life of me, and the only things I paint are figurines, so I thought and I thought and I thought about a way I could show you my characters instead of merely describing them with words. And then, BAM! It hit me! I love playing the Sims (hence some rather late chapters :P) and I love taking photos, so why not put two and two together and KABOOM! An idea was formed in my teeny tiny little brain.

But then other plots started to form in my mind, and none of them my daily plots for world domination I tell you. But, these plots will remain under lock in key in the ol' memory banks (where it will do battle with the bats and dust) until I finally unveil my project to the whole world (actually, only my readers will know about it, but why not make it dramatic?)!

Anyway, blah! Enough about that, and on to the actual story. I don't really like this chapter, it makes me feel as if Fleur is far too dependent on others, and I really didn't like that. But I didn't want her to be all, 'meh, I can suddenly kick ass!'. But I also didn't want her to be all, 'OMG Haldir save me!' all the time. Because that kind of crap is just annoying, and makes me want to punch someone. Not really, but you get what I'm saying, I'm sure. Blah! I ramble!

Enjoy this chapter that you waited for forever. I'm so sorry about the later than late update, I really wish I would've realized that I hadn't yet uploaded chapter six. And, as always, THANK YOU TO MY REVIEWERS! You guys are awesome! You really don't have to review, but I am so happy to see you guys enjoying the story! Thank you for being so patient, as always!

Disclaimer: Kitty owns nothing, except for Fleur, and she's not really sure she owns her either ... LORD OF THE RINGS ROCKS MEH SOCKS! Not really, but only because my bed ate them and they are now incapable of rocking ... T-T

Fleur's heart pounded as she galloped away on her horse. She didn't want to leave them, but she didn't want them to sacrifice themselves just for her and her stupid trip. Stupid. Her eyes watered, she was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

... But she'd never give up. Not even if she had to crawl to Rivendell, then crawl to Mirkwood. Even if all her bones were broken. Even if she had to fight for her life. Even if she was alone.

She slowed her horse to a trot, and finally brought her to a stop. Fleur stroked her horse's mane, "Sorry for suddenly running you all over like a maniac." she apologized, then reached for her pack and dug out the map.

She looked at it for a few minutes, trying to decipher it. It took her those few minutes to realize that she was holding the map upside down. Fleur swore, then turned it the right way, only to be in the same boat as before.

"Might as well be upside down." she grumbled, sighing and sitting back on her horse, "If only I knew where Redhorn Pass was." she muttered, looking up at the huge mountains in front of her. Even a directionally challenged girl like Fleur could deduce that those were the Misty Mountains.

Deciding that standing around was accomplishing nothing, she climbed off of her horse and led it carefully forward, keeping watch for holes so her horse wouldn't step in them and hurt itself. Unfortunately, while watching out for the horse, Fleur wasn't watching out for herself. She ended up tripping over and over. Her horse whinnied, as if it were laughing at her.

"Shut up, you." she hissed, but continued on.

She could definitely tell that she was getting higher and higher up. It became a bit more difficult to breathe, but she adjusted. Fleur only had to stop and rest once and a while to catch her breath. "Maybe this isn't as bad as I thought." she said to herself, almost as if she were giving herself a pep talk.

Then, she got to the part of the mountains where there were ledges, and, to Fleur at least, they were not very wide. Any misstep or trip could send her falling down the side of a mountain. To her death. She swallowed, but put on a brave face and continued on. Her horse easily kept it's balance, and Fleur discovered that the path wasn't really as hard to walk on as she thought. It was actually a rather wide ledge, about two yards wide. So, encouraged, Fleur made her way through, humming to keep herself entertained.

"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the-wait ... What's a bus?" she thought to herself, trying to remember, "Damn." she muttered, continuing on, "I'm such a ditz." Suddenly, she felt something touch her shoulder. Thinking it was her horse, she turned around, "Yeah, what do ya wan- AH!"

An ugly ... Thing ... with big ears and big teeth grinned at her. A goblin? An ork? "Well lookie wa we got ere! A witte elleth. Are you wost?"

Fleur backed away, "N-no, I know exactly where I'm going." despite being a blatant lie, Fleur thought her voice sounded pretty strong.

"Really?"

Then again, maybe not, "I'm fine." she backed away. Her horse spooked and turned and ran, "S-shit." Fleur whispered softly, then turned back to the goblin which was drawing its sword.

"Leave me alone!" she shouted, then turned to run after her horse.

The goblin chased her and somehow caught up. It grabbed her shoulder and forced her to turn. She tilted her head back just in time to avoid getting her head chopped in two. Instead her cheek now had a thin cut. But like all face wounds, it bled like crazy. She grabbed it's wrist, brought her knee up, and side kicked it in the ribs. It flew back into the mountain wall. Fleur stumbled back, shocked and terrified. Unfortunately, she stumbled back to the edge of the path. She looked over her shoulder into the dark abyss, trying to decide which death was better. Being eaten by goblins, or falling down a mountain. The goblin advanced towards her, and her head snapped to look at him, fear in her eyes. He laughed and raised his blade, bringing it swiftly down upon her. She rolled to the side just in time.

Then, she got an idea. Acting quickly, she kicked him in the shin. He leaned down and Fleur used all her leg strength and his momentum to dig her feet into his gut and send him flying over her. Over the side of the mountain. Better him than her. Fleur panted from the adrenaline rush she had just experienced. She turned to look down after him, but paused and shook her head.

"Don't look." she told herself, "You'll just freak yourself out." She stood up and dusted herself off, looking in the direction her horse had just gone, "Ah, great."

"Ey! Look there!"

Fleur turned around slowly and stared at the large group of goblins that had gathered, "Shit, shit, and fall back in it."

She took off running at full speed, cursing like there was no tomorrow. While she ran, she searched for a place to hide. That's when she saw another ledge that looked as if it could provide a promising hiding spot. She climbed quickly, forgetting about her clumsiness and flattened her back against the mountain. From there, she had a good view as the goblins went running past. She held her breath as they passed by, and released it when she thought that they were gone.

The elleth sighed in relief, then froze as she saw the goblins again, but this time, they were running from something. She leaned forward slightly in an attempt to see better. Arrows were flying towards the fleeing goblins, and then, three familiar faces came into view.

"Haldir." Fleur mouthed breathlessly.

He had followed her. And was now fighting against a load of goblins because of her. She cursed her rotten luck and the rotten luck she gave to others. She watched as Haldir shot his bow with grace and power, killing goblins as if it were second nature to do such. When they got closer, Haldir unsheathed his sword and Fleur once again was amazed at how skilled he was in close combat as well. He isn't called the Marchwarden for nothing ...

When the last of the goblins were finished off, the group of three looked around. Rumil rushed towards the edge of the ledge and looked over, "You don't think ..." he started to say, looking over at his two brothers.

Haldir and Orophin walked over beside him, "I know she was clumsy but ..." Orophin trailed off.

Haldir sighed, "And I know she honestly doesn't think we are that stupid. Fleur, get down from there." Haldir turned around and looked right at her.

Fleur flew back to the mountain wall, pressing herself against it, "Come on Fleur, we saw you. Come here and get down." Haldir commanded.

Fleur sighed, "You weren't supposed to follow me!" she called over as she walked to the edge.

"And you weren't supposed to run off." Haldir replied, walking over to stand under the ledge.

She crawled over the edge and looked down, hanging on by a rock that protruded from the ledge, "You aren't looking up my dress, are you?"

"You're wearing pants underneath anyway."

"Pervert!"

"Just get down!"

She continued to look down, "... I can't."

"Just jump."

"I can't!"

"I'll catch you, I promise."

"But what if you don't?"

"Then I guess you'd probably fall on your behind, but I'm going to catch you, so you don't have to worry about it. Now jump!"

"... fine." she closed her eyes and let go.

Surprising, she found herself in Haldir's arms, "Told you." he said, putting her down, "Thankfully, you were smart enough to hide." he reached up and touched the cut on her cheek, which still bled and stung a bit. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

Fleur looked at the ground, "No ..."

"Why'd you suddenly take off like that without giving me the opportunity to say anything?"

"I just ... I didn't want you to follow. And-" she worked at some dirt with her toe, "-I panicked."

"Well, I followed." he said, "And why exactly did you want me to return home?"

"I've screwed up my family, why should I screw up yours?"

"And how exactly would you 'screw up my family' so to speak?" He grabbed her chin and tilted it up to look at him, "Look at me."

"I don't want to take you away from your brothers."

"You won't, they're coming with us."

"Yeah, we're going with you!" Rumil said, grinning cheekily.

"Shut up, Rumil." Haldir said, "See? There."

"But what if one of you gets hurt? What then?"

"Then we heal. The body tends to do that."

"No! What if ... What if one of you ... Dies ..." she muttered, "Time can't heal a dead elf's scars."

Haldir shook his head, "We won't die."

"How can you promise that?"

"I just can. None of us will die." he said, "Now, let's get going, or I'll forcibly drag you away." He grabbed her arm and pulled her over to where Rumil and Orophin awaited, "Where's your horse?"

I certainly hope you enjoyed this chapter! Chapter seven will be out soon (I just have to read it about seven times to make sure it is suitable to put up)! This is ahead in the future quite a bit, but I am excited to see everyone's reaction to chapter eight, because I am having so much fun writing it!

GOODNIGHT EVERYBODY! Sleep tight, I love you all! -Kitty

P.S. Sorry about the long ass author's note! I was just so excited that I couldn't bottle it in anymore!