Okay I know you guys are dying for the next chapter and I promise, it's going to be another nice long one. But first I have a bone to pick with one of my "reviewers". Now I understand. Fanfiction is a site where you can just write and have fun and express your creativity your own way. I'm fine with that. If you think my story is bad, then don't read it. If you feel as though you have to send me a message telling me it's bad, I'm good with it as long as you do it in a nice, polite, constructive way. I would never deliberately flame someone else, so that doesn't give any of you bitches who think otherwise the right to do so. I'm not mentioning any names. Flame Rising, reviewer 34. But whatever. Long story short, I don't have time for people like that so don't take up my reviewers space because you think you're better than everyone else. That's it and enjoy the new chappy you guys :

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Lena. It is all the work of the brilliant J.R.R. Tolkien.

The pain in my arm grew worse as we ran. After about 15 minutes, we all realized that the goblins and Orcs weren't chasing us anymore. Legolas said that he could still hear them all around us and sometimes we could see them, but they weren't doing anything to us. Gandalf looked around suspiciously, wondering why they weren't attacking. I racked my brain as everyone turned to me for an explanation. I tried to ignore the pain in my arm and think hard. I didn't remember this from the book or the movie. I had no idea what was going on. I sighed in defeat.

"I don't know what's happening. I remember them trying to attack and then…" I suddenly realized something that made my blood run cold. Aragorn watched me carefully.

"What is it?" he whispered. I couldn't move or speak. After shaking my head once and taking a few deep breaths I looked at Gandalf, and he seemed to know exactly what I was trying to say.

"Something is waiting for us at the end of the tunnel, isn't it?" Gandalf asked slowly. The hobbits looked to the end of the hall and backed away in fear. Gimli practically had to be held back to stop from charging past the company and into the dark of the tunnel. I nodded and felt my throat constricting. Gandalf sighed and started running towards the end, with everyone following after him. I felt like I was about to pass out, and I knew that I was losing too much blood. I stumbled a little and Borimir reached out an arm to steady me.

"Thanks," I gasped. He nodded at me.

"If we survive, then you can thank me," he replied. If he had said this to me yesterday I probably would've laughed. We kept running until suddenly we could see the goblins crawling down from the pillars above us, surrounding us. Now this is the part I remember.

"Just keep running," I yelled, urging them forward, "Ignore them!" we kept running but soon they had formed a circle around us, me and the hobbits in the middle, everyone else surrounding us. I could hear the little beasts snarling at us, and I looked over Gimli to see what was going on. They had us surrounded, and I realized for the first time just how ugly they were. Their shrunken, slimy bodies were bent and reminded me of the little creatures in "Gremlins". As they advanced, there was a light at the far end of the tunnel and a loud roar. The goblins shrieked and scurried away, and I wasted no time. As soon as the devils started retreating, I broke through the circle and ran for dear life, the rest of the company following my lead.

"Gandalf! What is this new devilry?" yelled Borimir.

"Balrog," I yelled over my shoulder, clutching my arm. I couldn't even feel it anymore. I knew it was a bad sign, but the way I saw it, at least now I wouldn't be distracted from getting away from the Balrog. We finally made it to the end of the hall and through a large doorway at the end. We went through a narrow passage and down a flight of crumbling stone steps, but the last segment was missing. I stops in time, but Borimir didn't see and ran into me. I screamed and clawed desperately at the air, but felt someone tug me back. I turned around and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Borimir's face.

"You know, you could've just let me fall and you would never have to deal with me again," I yelled, following Aragorn down to the bridge. Borimir grinned at me.

"It would've been too easy." I laughed quietly under my breath, but stopped when we came to a gap in the stairs. Legolas ran ahead and leaped lightly over the gap, Gandalf quickly following suit. He held out a hand and motioned for the next person to jump. The next person just so happened to be me. I took a deep breath and started to take a running jump, but an arrow whistled right by my head. I jumped and saw Legolas shoot right into an orc on the far ledge of the giant cavern. I took a deep breath and started to try again, but freaked when I saw how far I had to jump.

"I can't do that!" I screeched. Borimir glared at me.

"Just jump, Lena!" he yelled as he grabbed Merry and Pippin to him and leaped over the gap. I shook my head and backed away. Legolas was still shooting at the Orcs and goblins, which were starting to increase in number. I took a deep breath and backed up a few feet. I ran as hard as I could and leaped right at the edge of the stairs, but realized quickly that I wasn't going to make the jump. I started to fall and grabbed at the edge of the bridge, hanging on for dear life. I started to cry and whimpered as I looked down into the shadowy chasm beneath the bridge.

"Pull me up! Jesus Christ pull me up!" I screamed. Borimir grabbed my arm and pulled me up, just as Aragorn tossed Sam from the other side. I stood up, trying to catch my breath. I flung myself at Borimir.

"Oh my God thank you so much! You have no idea I'll never ever make fun of you ever again!" I cried. There was a searing pain in my upper right arm and I yelped and grabbed at my arm, remembering the arrow. It had never been as bad as it was now. It brought me to my knees and I felt like I was going to pass out. All I wanted was for it to stop. Legolas looked over at me.

"Borimir help her! I can not stop shooting!" he yelled with, quickly turning his attention back to the monsters. Borimir picked me up in a cradling position, and I saw that Gimli had made it, but Aragorn and Frodo were still on the other side. The gap had widened, and the stairs were beginning to become unsteady. Aragorn grabbed Frodo, and everyone backed away as there was a loud ripping sound and the stairs started falling towards us. A loud crash shook the bridge and Aragorn and Frodo fell forward to be helped up by Borimir. We started forward, but looked back when we heard it enter the hall. We turned around and watched in horror as the Balrog approached. In the movie they had made the Balrog look so cool, but as I stood there taking it all in, that it was real and that this thing could actually kill me, it became even more frightening. It's body was burnt and covered in flames, and it stood as tall as a the highest skyscraper. It wielded a whip made of fire, and as the monster came forward, it cracked the whip in our direction, the snapping echoing throughout the cavern.

"Over the bridge! Fly!" yelled Gandalf, turning back. I tried to tug on Borimir so that he would go back for Gandalf, but it was no use. He scooped me up and followed the fellowship across the bridge. When we had all reached the end, we turned around, waiting for Gandalf to follow, but he stood there gazing at the Balrog. The creature opened it's mouth and let out a terrible roar, and Gandalf lifted his staff. The Balrog took another step , trying to make it across the bridge to where we were, but Gandalf got it's attention.

"You shall not pass," Gandalf commanded. The Balrog roared and snapped it's whip, advancing once more. Frodo tried to run, screaming Gandalf's name, but Aragorn held him back.

"No Frodo! You can not help him!" Aragorn whispered, the tears shining in his eyes.

"I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor…" Gandalf shouted, his staff still raised at the Balrog. The Balrog took a step back and snapped the whip. "The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!" The Balrog hissed at Gandalf and made it's way over to Gandalf.

"You shall not pass!" Gandalf yelled. The Balrog charged at him, his whip of fire raised and ready. Gandalf slammed the staff down in front of him and there was a huge flash of light as the bridge started to crumble in front of him. The Balrog tried to rush at Gandalf, but fell into the abyss along with the crumbling bridge. Everything was silent, we couldn't even hear the Orcs and goblins. Everyone but me breathed a sigh of relief. Gandalf turned towards us and smiled, making his way to the exit slowly. I sniffled and waved my hand in a good bye motion. He gave me a confused look, until we all saw the whip come up. Gandalf didn't even see it until the whip was wrapped around his ankle and dragging him down along with the Balrog. Frodo rushed forward to help, but once again Aragorn held him back. Legolas and Borimir started towards the bridge as Gandalf strained to hang onto what was left of it. There was dead silence except for Frodo screaming. Gandalf looked at me and I burst into tears and shook my head.

"I told you. I told you," I sobbed. Gandalf stared into Frodo's eyes, and it seemed he stopped fighting it. He gave a gasp as he was tugged farther down.

"Fly you fools," he hissed. And then he was being dragged down.

"No!" Frodo screamed, fighting to be free of Aragorn. No one in the company moved. I think we were all too shocked. Hell, even I was shocked, and I knew the whole time that it was going to happen. And then again, so did he. Gandalf sacrificed himself for us, and I decided that the worst way we could ever repay him would be to sit there and get shot by the Orcs and goblins which were starting to reappear on the ledges and rain arrows down upon us. Legolas was the first to snap out of it. He shook his head quickly, a tear still sliding down his face, and ran up the stairs to freedom. Gimli quickly followed suit, and Borimir scooped me up again and hustled the hobbits up the steps after Gimli. Borimir turned back around and saw Aragorn still looking at the bridge that Gandalf had been hanging onto only seconds ago.

"Aragorn," Borimir yelled. Aragorn quickly turned and followed us up. We burst through the mine's exit and stopped. At first no one could speak or talk, but soon enough Gimli found the words. He started swearing Dwarfish and hacking at the rocks around him with his axe. Borimir had been quietly crying, and after setting me on a boulder a few feet away from the gaping cavern he went over and restrained the dwarf. The two men stood there together, crying softly at the horrors that had befallen us in the mines. Merry and Pippin sat on the hard, rocky terrain, sobbing in each other's arms. Legolas walked over to me. He wasn't crying, but he didn't look well either. His face was blank and the look in his cold blue eyes grief-stricken.

"I can't believe he's gone," he whispered faintly. I sniffled and a strangled sob escaped form my throat. It was all my fault. I should've stopped him from coming here. It shouldn't have happened. I laid my face in my hands, silent sobs racking my body.

"Legolas, get them up," I heard Aragorn call out. I lifted my face up to look at him in disbelief. He had sheathed his sword and lifted Sam up onto his feet. The poor hobbit's face was bright red and he couldn't stop the tears from running down his ruddy cheeks. Legolas shook his head slowly and glared at Aragorn. Aragorn ignored him and continued to disturb the other Merry and Pippin. Borimir stepped up to Aragorn and wiped his face with his hands. When he spoke his voice was low and shaky.

"Give them a moment," he yelled at Aragorn, "For pity's sake!" Aragorn glared at Borimir and Legolas.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs. We must reach the forest of Lothlorien," he said evenly. His voice was calm and he made perfect sense, the voice of sanity when all of us were too grief stricken to step up and take lead right away. But at that moment I hated him for it. I wanted to sit and rest. My arm hurt so much…

"Lena," Legolas yelled, shaking me. My vision was blurred and I could vaguely hear him calling me.

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Aragorn watched the others slowly get themselves together. They had all been reluctant to go until he had brought Lena's injuries to attention.

"We must get to Lorien before it is too late. If we cannot get there in less than 5 days, she will bleed to death." He was very worried about her. They were all in grief over Gandalf's horrible passing, and to witness Gandalf falling into the abyss along with that monster was almost more than Aragorn could bear. But he knew that they had to move on, not only for their old friend, but for the safety of the company and Lena's health. Underneath all of the dirt and grime, the girl's light golden complexion had been reduced to a pale ashy color. Her curly red-blonde hair was limp and dirty. Aragorn stepped closer and kneeled down to inspect her arm. The arrow had pierced her right through her arm. He did not want to take the arrow out. As long as it was in there, she would not bleed too badly, but she needed rest in a comfortable bed, and they had forgotten their bags as they were running through the mines, so he did not have the wrappings she needed. He was at a loss of what to do. He felt a rush of pity that someone so young should see such pain and suffering, as she sat there, gray and small and shivering, the rivulets of sweat running down her face. Her bleary brown eyes looked at him, and she whispered something intelligible.

"What did you say?" Aragorn asked. She shut her eyes and laid down. Legolas became paler than usual when he took in her bloodied arm and gaunt face.

"We have to take the arrow out," Legolas stated flatly. Aragorn sighed.

"For now we must leave it in. When we are farther away from here we will take it out, but for now it must wait, mellonamin." Legolas regarded him with sad eyes before he nodded and picked her up. They all started down the mountain. It was a silent trek, the hobbits speaking amongst themselves every once in a while or Borimir and Aragorn discussing directions, but mostly it was quiet. When they reached a dale of clear gurgling water some hours later, Aragorn announced that they would rest there for the night. He, Borimir, Legolas, and Gimli needed to take care of Lena. The child was still half awake. After they had set a fire with a rock and bits of wood they found by the stream, the hobbits settled in a group near the fire and the men took Lena over so the hobbits would not have to see. They lay her out on the grass, and Legolas patted her cheek. Lena looked up at him, eyes unfocused.

"I'm tired," she murmured.

"I know, lirimaer," Legolas responded quietly, stroking her hair, "but we are going to help you get well and you must be awake when we do it." Legolas took off his vest and he, Borimir, and Gimli looked away. Aragorn stripped off Lena's long sleeved shirts and put her in Legolas' vest so that she would be covered while they took the arrow out.

"Borimir and Gimli, hold down her legs. Legolas, pin her arms straight out. I don't want her moving while I do this." The three friends obediently did what they were told as the hobbits looked over with curiosity. Aragorn had everything he needed with him. A dry rag, a wet piece of cloth, and his small blade. He lifted her arm up a bit and snapped of the arrow head. Lena shrieked and tried to get up, but the other three would not let her move. She was fully aware of what they were doing now, and she desperately struggled to escape. Aragorn took a deep breath and laid wrapped his hand around the arrow. Lena started to cry.

"Dina! Goheno nin," he whispered. With one great tug, he pulled the arrow quickly out of Lena's arm. There was a sickening sound of raw flesh being torn at, followed by the girl's blood-curdling screams of pain. The hobbits all ran over to see what was wrong and looked ill when they saw Lena's arm. "Get back!" Aragorn shouted to the hobbits. Lena lay there sobbing and screeched when Aragorn tried to wipe down her arm. With Legolas, Borimir, and Gimli holding her, he was able to bandage her arm up and calm her so that they would not attract any unwanted attention. They were not quite as far away from the mines as he could like, but he knew that they were close to Lorien. They could possibly make it there before nightfall tomorrow if they moved quick enough. A quiet groan came from below him and he looked down at Lena, who was still clutching her arm. Legolas had moved beside her and was holding her hand, whispering comforting words to her in Elvish. He felt a rush of pity. The elf was older than he was, yet he still allowed himself to be as foolish as to develop such a strong attachment to this child. Aragorn and Borimir moved away towards the stream and watched the moonlight glitter on the stream's surface. There they let the grief of today wash over them, and silently they let the tears run down their cheeks without feeling ashamed or childish.

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When I woke up again, my arm still hurt more than I could imagine. I had never felt this much pain in my life. Legolas had been watching me, but I told him to take a break. I needed to think. I gazed up at the sky. It was a dark violet color, and I could faintly make out the glitter of the stars as the sun got lower. I sighed and thought about the picture. And then I realized. I had left my bag in the mines. The picture of me and my family was still in there. I was never going to get it back! I felt the loss so sharply that it completely drowned out the pain of my arm. I thought about my family, something I had unfortunately stopped myself from doing in a very long time. For two long months I had been here. I wondered what was going on at home. My mother was probably a mess. Did she finally call Dad after so many years to tell him that I was missing? Did he come back home to help look for me? Or was he too happy with Nissa and his new family? I missed them so much. I shivered and noticed that all I had on was a vest like the one that Legolas had been wearing. I tried to sit up, but thought better of it. Without turning my head, I called Legolas over to me.

"Yes," he asked. His blonde hair came into view and I asked why I didn't have a shirt on. I turned to look at him and saw him blushing.

"Aragorn could not take out the arrow without being able to se the wound. Your sleeves were too long, so I gave him my vest," he explained. I realized with alarm what that meant, and my face heated up thinking about it.

"What did you see?" I demanded. He looked openly shocked that I would accuse him of it.

"Do you honestly think I would look?" he asked.

"You might be an elf, but you're still a dude. Guys have naturally perverted tendencies," I reminded him. He glared at me.

"No I turned around and so did Gimli and Borimir," he said indignantly. I thought it over carefully.

"So only Aragorn?" I asked. He nodded. I shivered, feeling majorly creeped out. But then again, I didn't have a freaking arrow in my arm anymore. And I felt kind of bad admitting it, but I so did not need Blondie seeing that. Aragorn I could handle. He's got a fiancé, or whatever they call a fiancé in Middle Earth. I wasn't sure what was going on with the elf, but I knew I sure as hell didn't want him looking underneath my shirt. He picked up a pile of clothing and tossed it at me, then turned around. I put my Elvish shirt on and removed Legolas' vest, which was incredibly hard to do since the shirt was pretty tight on me, but managed to get the vest off without accidentally flashing anyone, then put on my own long sleeved vest and sweatshirt. They were wet with blood on the right sleeve, and there was a large hole in the middle of the wet spot. I decided I could deal with it for now if it would keep me warm. Legolas put his vest back on and tied it up, then took a seat next to me. Aragorn walked over at that moment. He looked at Legolas and shook his head slightly, then spoke sharply to him in Elvish. He glared and responded back angrily, but the expression on Aragorn's face never changed, which seemed to enrage Legolas even further. I had no idea how scary Elves could be when they're angry. Legolas stalked off and sat with Gimli and Aragorn took Legolas' place. He took off his glove and put his hand on my forehead.

"Good. You don't seem to have a fever, and you are awake and responding well from what I can gather from Legolas," he said, smiling at me in the darkness.

"Yeah well, I don't know how long you'll be right about the awake part," I said. Aragorn chuckled and put his glove back on. I turned my head to look at him.

"What's going on with you two?" I demanded. Aragorn didn't look the least bit surprised about my question.

"I'm afraid you will have to explain to me what you are talking about," Aragorn said evenly. I glared at him.

"C'mon. You and Legolas have been mad at each other ever since that day in Moria." Aragorn sighed and looked down at the ground.

"We have not been angry with one another. It is merely a difference of opinion."

"Bullshit. Okay if that's true, what's the opinion?" Aragorn sighed again and laid down. I tried to roll over and get a better look at him so I would be able to tell whether he was lying or not, but a sharp pain in my arm stopped me. Aragorn laughed quietly.

"I have gone through much trouble to make sure that you get well, Lena. I would be greatly upset if you managed to injure yourself once again." I swore under my breath and lay still.

"Okay then. Tell me. Right now. I know it's about me so don't try to feed me some crap answer about how it's just business between you two. If it's about me, I want to know why," I said. Aragorn was quiet a moment.

"This fellowship has become quite fond of you. Even Borimir, who never expected he would even be able to tolerate you, would now risk his life for you, as he would for any of his friends. And since you are the only woman in this company and since you are so young, we all, even the hobbits, feel even more of an obligation and need to protect you than we would with anyone else," he started.

"But that's ridiculous! Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean that I have to be treated like a piece of glass," I hissed. Aragorn held up a hand to quiet me.

"In your world, that is true. But here, it is the duty of the man to protect the woman. That is how every decent lad here is raised and that is the way it shall be for quite some time, so please do not try to argue with it. Legolas feels more of an obligation than anyone else, not because his feelings for you are stronger than anyone else's here, but because he feels differently about you than the rest of us do. To this company, we think of you as we would a younger sister or a dear friend. Legolas does not. I have warned him that to become so attached to you in this way is futile, because when all of this is over and Middle Earth is once again safe, you will go back to Rivendell to live out the rest of your life with the Elves and he will never see you again. If Lord Elrond decides to take the journey over the Sea, then your care shall be entrusted to me, and that is the way it shall be, and Legolas must accept this," he finished. I lay there stunned. The fact that these people, whom I hadn't even known up until a months ago, already had the rest of my life planned out for me made me angry, and I told him so.

"How can you stand there and say that to him with a straight face when the same exact thing is going on between you and Arwen?" I demanded. Aragorn pulled himself up on his elbows and his face came into my line of vision.

"Arwen and I have made the right decision. I refuse to let her give her immortality for me and that is why she will soon be leaving Middle Earth," he whispered. This time I did roll over to get a better view of him, ignoring my arm. I grinned at him, and Aragorn looked shocked.

"I did not think that this would be amusing to you," he said. I scooted closer, very excited to let him know the fantabulous news.

"She won't do it," I whispered, leaning in closer to him. His eyes became wider and he had to pull himself together before he could speak.

"What did you say?"

"Oh come on! The girl is in love with you! She isn't going to do it! I know all about it trust me. I won't ruin anything else for you like telling you why she stayed and all, but she never leaves. She stays here for you! Isn't that flippin' awesome?" I whispered back excitedly. I definitely thought Aragorn would be happy when he heard this, but then again I'm usually wrong about that kind of thing, so it shouldn't have surprised me when he grabbed my arm and pulled me right up to him so our noses were touching.

"I will not allow that to happen," Aragorn growled. And I thought the elf was scary when he was mad. Legolas had nothing on this guy!

"Damn it! Aragorn you're hurting my arm!" I yelled. I saw a pale hand clamp down on Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn loosened his grip but didn't let go. Legolas put a hand on the ranger's wrist and whispered soothingly to him in Elvish, and Aragorn stood up and allowed himself to be led away from me over to the stream. I watched the silhouettes of the elf and the man over by the stream and could make out the figure of Legolas talk quietly with Aragorn and walk back over to me. I sat up and Legolas sat down. I sighed and pulled my knees up to my chest.

"Why is it that I keep on doing everything wrong. First I let Gandalf die, and now Aragorn is mad at me because I told him about Arwen," I moaned. Legolas put an arm around my shoulder.

"Why were you two discussing Arwen?" Legolas asked. Not even realizing what a stupid move this could be, I started to tell him.

"Well we actually weren't talking about Arwen at first, I was actually asking him why two kept getting pissed off at each other and he told me-" I cut myself off and blushed. "Oops," I mumbled. Legolas smiled and looked up at the night sky.

"You were speaking of me," Legolas said quietly. He didn't even make it a question. He already knew the answer. I nodded slightly and became even more aware of his arm around me. It wasn't entirely awkward or uncomfortable, but the conversation was definitely making me more than a little nervous. Being an elf, he sensed this and started to pull away, but I was really warm and I had just started to get comfortable, so I didn't exactly want him moving. Not to mention the guy is a hottie. Make fun of me all you want, I don't care, but the guy is freaking gorgeous and he had his arm around me. So sue me for wanting him to stay exactly where he was. I put my hand on his arm, refusing to let him move.

"Don't you dare move. It's freezing out here and I was just starting to get warm," I warned him. He laughed and didn't say anything for some time.

"Sleep now, melamin," he said, laying me down. I looked up at him.

"What does that one mean? Melamin?" Legolas looked down and smiled.

"I said to sleep. You will never fully recover unless you rest," he said. He sat next to me and pulled out his small dagger and a thick stick he found on the ground. I decided to just let the subject go and watched him whittle until I fell asleep.
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Okay people here are translations:

Mellonamin- My fiend

Lirimaer- Lovely one

Dina- Quiet

Goheno nin- Forgive me

Melamin- My love