A/N: I have made up a few terms for the dark elves in this story. Tolkien uses the term Moriquendi but I needed some informal terms so came up with "dolves", "dur-elves" and "drelves", because I couldn't decide which was better. There is the term "drow" but that refers to dark elves not of Tolkiens world, think that is in role-playing games. Hope that isn't confusing!

Thanks for reading and replying, it is much appreciated!

Sacred Water

The matter of the Dolve had played significantly on Legolas' mind ever since they had departed from Wickerwood. He was torn and didn't know what to think. Although Legolas was Son of Thandruil, Prince of Mirkwood, and had played an important part in the Fellowship, he was not as all conquering as many assumed. There were still some things in this world that unnerved him, and the dolve was one of them.

For any of this to make sense, one would have to go back some time in history, to the days of old and the Firstborn (referring to the first generation elves), existing ages before the advent of man. At this time, the Valar called their Firstborn to journey to Valinor. Most of the races of elves set out on the journey, many of them succeeding, some did not. But the Avari (The Unwilling) never set sail. They were a race of elven that never saw the Light of the Two Trees. Some say they were the ancestors of the orcs, the ugly race of deformed, cannibalistic, warmongering beasts. Not a whole lot was known of the Avari race since they had fled to the dark wilds of Middle-Earth ages ago. Could it be that the Dolves were returning?

To Legolas, who had only basically known peace between his kindred races, this was indeed unsettling. But the evidence pointed to this. There was no help for it but to wait to see what both Elrond and Galadriel thought of it. Galadriel had been born in Valinor. She was one of the oldest and wisest in Middle-Earth; if she did not know the answer to this, then none would.

Whilst thoughts of this took up much of Legolas' energy, there was at least a distraction for him, the girl Aniel.

Legolas was not one to have ever mixed with humans other than those who were leaders of their people. He lived and mixed exclusively amongst his own kind. It was how he liked it. It was what any other elf did. They simply did not mix races well, and did not take well to human ways and customs. Those customs were at best ignorant and, at worst, coarse and heathen. The light had always been strong within elves, elevating them not only to immortality, but also elevating their sensitivities, their tastes and their inborn intelligence. For an elf to be around an ordinary human often took such patience it was a tiring experience, and it could leave them feeling sullied. Humans often lived in the dirt, ignorant in their hovels, poor beasts with no history, no beautiful music on harp or flute, no tales of majestic victories from their forefathers, and no plans for a future that would be over (in any case) within the blink of an eye.

Then there was Aniel.

Legolas hadn't thought a whole lot of her at first. He hadn't given her much consideration at all in the beginning except to wonder how to get rid of her. She had seemed afraid and withdrawn to him. He'd had other things on his mind.

Then, slowly, she came out of herself. She showed a quiet bravery in unfamiliar surroundings that hadn't gone unnoticed. But most importantly, she did not bug him or question him or try to get him to do things he didn't want to do, like many females did. Sometimes females could drive Legolas crazy with their primping, their vanity, and they always took so long to do everything. Then they seemed to need to have everything done "their" way no matter what. Legolas often found females such confounding, illogical creatures that, if not for their beauty, they would serve no purpose at all.

Aniel was not typical of that type. She was a bit different.

He didn't yet know how she was different but he would watch to see if he could find out. Admittedly, he was used to delicate she-elves that were cultured and refined with hundreds of years experience. The ones he would encounter in his everyday life as a Prince. They would woo him, often successfully, and there were always games involved. They valued him because of "what" he was, not who he was. He was wary of them and kept himself sealed off from their wiles, their intrigues, all the whilst enjoying what he could get.

He had lived this way for over a thousand years. There was no reason to ever change that. Hadn't he seen what females were capable of? Hadn't he witnessed it scores of times, the same formula, over and over until he wanted to shoot himself in the head with his keenest arrow? The desire to find deeper characteristics in the opposite sex had died a very long time ago, yet he had gone on, thriving, never needing to find his equivalent in any other person except his good friends. It had been enough. And would continue to be.

Aniel – she was an attractive curiosity, nothing more. If he could not see her deception yet, he would in time, he was sure. It never failed. And he would be ready for when it showed itself. But in the meantime, he could enjoy spending time with her without ever getting attached to her or her ways. He would just enjoy her for what she was - and after Rivendell, move on again. It was how he always lived. And this way had never failed him yet.

Riding through the land of Ithilien was a pleasant experience. Although there were a few brief showers, they were barely enough to wet anything. The men in the camp had commented more than once how dry it was and how the grass lacked some of it's usual green.

The seventh day, as they were going along like usual, Legolas moved back through the group to ride with Annabelle, making a pleasant change for the lone girl in the group.

Because they were out of the open southern plains now, the going was a little slower much to Annabelle's relief. In spots they had to pick their way through dense bush and scrub, causing them to slow to a walk. At these times, it was possible to carry on a conversation as they let their horses pick their own path through the growth. On that afternoon, Legolas sought Annabelle out for some pleasant conversation now that his language skills were on a par to hers. The other men on horseback eyed the two curiously though said nothing.

He told her the history of the places they were passing; the land was full of tales. There were areas where battles had been fought and areas where once busy townships had stood during previous ages. Much of what had been had changed over time, meaning Ithilien was empty of many settlers. Indeed, it was a dream of Legolas and other Mirkwood elves to one day bring this empty land to life again. It was too lovely a place to let it go unappreciated, he swore to her. Annabelle realised, with slight guilt, that the ramifications of that would bring Legolas to live so much nearer to southern Gondor, and to her home. Such thoughts led nowhere so she firmly pushed them from her mind.

As they exited a wooded section and rounded a rise in the land, they came across a serene lake. It was a warm afternoon and Annabelle was busy brushing flies away from her face, hoping now that they were out of the woods, they could fly along again at speed to be rid of the annoying insects. She heard a minor bustle up ahead, and as they got closer to the lake, Legolas exclaimed in anger.

"Elbereth! Damn vandals!" He went to ride quickly towards the lake.

"What is it?" asked Annabelle, nudging her mare to keep pace with him.

Over his shoulder he said harshly, "This is the work of orcs. They like to poison the land they travel through."

"What?" she asked, still not seeing.

They came close enough so Annabelle could see what Aragorn and the others, who were standing at the edge of the water, were inspecting. There were several rotting carcasses half floating in the lake, one was the clear remains of a horse and the other seemed to be an unlucky orc, with it's head nearly decapitated.

"Urck," swore Legolas disgustedly. He slid off Arod and went over to consult with Aragorn and some of the officers. A moment later he walked back to retrieve several lengths of very thin, but extremely strong, elven rope. He warned her unhappily, "Do not touch the water, it is poisoned now and diseased. See?" And indeed, Annabelle could see the mirky state of the lake as well as the sickening colour it was, especially radiating round the carcasses.

The other men began to set to work digging a large hole set back from shore. Annabelle stayed out of the way, standing there to watch briefly as Legolas and Aragorn tied their ropes so they could lasso the rotting flesh and bones and drag it to shore. She didn't pause long though, for she had a task she could do that could ease the problem. She took out her fullest water flask and went and sat down in the shade with it, some distance from the men where it was tranquil. She closed her eyes to meditate.

It was something she had done many times in the past and it did not take her long to drop into a light trance state. Then she began to pray to Varda and bless the water in her flask.

Often at home, she had been called upon to make sacred water. It was not hard and, in fact, any person with the right intention could do it. If she'd had one profession back in Goldacres it was this. Of course, many people thought the creation of this water was old wives tales, but Annabelle knew better. She had seen the efforts of her work pay off and she understood how it worked.

Water was a liquid crystal, and like all crystals it could be used to store information. Water could be programmed. This was achieved using focus. It was easy really, but some people looked on such things with fear and distain. It was only when someone fell ill or they wished to bless a newly born babe did people turn to blessed water.

She worked on the water for about an hour, infusing it with intention. Incidentally, this was the time it took the men to drag the carcasses from the lake, dig holes then bury them completely. Focussing hard and calling on the Valar and even the Ainur, she sealed her water with love. She had now placed some serious light within the liquid crystal and was ready. But she was afraid of what the men's reaction would be so she decided to bless the lake in secret.

"What do you have there?" asked Legolas, coming upon her suddenly, catching her guilty glance. Aragorn was close on his heals. Whilst Aragorn looked sweaty and dirty, Legolas, who had toiled just as hard, did not seem to have a smudge of grime on him. Annabelle could not cease to be amazed by the talents of the elves.

"Me? Nothing," she replied. She looked to Aragorn. "I was taking some rest here in the shade. I hope I have not done anything wrong?" She hoped that explanation would suffice.

"I think we are getting to know you better than that," smiled Aragorn, glancing knowingly to Legolas for agreement. "Look now, what is that I spy behind your back? What are you hiding there?"

Realising she could not be accused of anything, Annabelle produced her canteen. "This?" she said innocently.

Aragorn and Legolas exchanged glances.

"She looked guilty, didn't she Leggy?" the man asked, unsatisfied with her answer. Legolas said something uncatchable in elvish, and Aragorn translated. "He says it all depends on what is in the flask. So…spill it." Aragorn went to quickly grab her flask, but Annabelle, slightly quicker, pulled it away and jumped back.

"Aragorn!" she exclaimed, "it is water. You don't want a girl to die of thirst, do you?"

Aragorn and Legolas shook their heads. She was hiding something or she wouldn't have pulled back.

"Gwaeren?" said Legolas, scratching his head. "Wine?"

"I am not an alcoholic," laughed Annabelle. "Besides, where would I get wine out here?"

"Well, you have to tell us now what it is…"

Rolling her eyes exaggeratedly, she opened the skin and let them both have a smell.

"Well, that is water," said Legolas, looking at her oddly. "Been in the sun a bit long today, have we?"

Annabelle spluttered. "Actually, if you must know, I…was doing something to this water."

Legolas' eyes narrowed. "Oh, magic?" he continued to taunt good-naturedly.

This was too much for Annabelle. She said, "Okay, I'll explain, but you mustn't laugh. I'll use an example. What happens when you are with someone and they are laughing uncontrollably, but you don't know the joke?"

"I don't know," they both admitted, cagely.

"Well, what effect does their mirth have on you?"

"I for one would probably laugh as well, even if I didn't know why," said Legolas.

"I would probably smile, at the very least," said Aragorn, going along with her.

"Yes, exactly," she said excitedly. "But why would you react that way when you don't know the joke?"

"You just do," said Legolas.

"Yes," she said, "Exactly. What happens is that you catch the humour. You catch the energy and then you copy it. Why do you copy it? Because you really can't help it. If you resonate to that energy, you catch it."

"And the water…?" said Aragorn, scratching his beard.

"Water also catches energy. I gave it some energy to catch. This is, erm, sacred water."

"Ah," said Aragorn.

"Ahh!" said Legolas. "Does it really work? How do you do it? What is it for? Oh, the lake!"

"Yes, the lake. This is healing water. It will take the sickness out of the lake. Over a few weeks time all of the water in the lake will eventually catch the energy, because it is high energy. It will override the sick energy, which is low energy. Do you understand the principle?"

What she really wanted to ask was did they believe her, or would they now take her to the nearest volcano to drop her into. (the fate sometimes imposed upon evil spell-doers)

"But this is magic, no?" asked Legolas, clearly excited by what he was hearing.

"I don't know about that," said Annabelle. "Don't you ever pray to the Valar? It is like that."

"All the time," said Legolas. "But this is great. I want to learn about this. Can you teach me?"

"You just have to know everything, don't you?" said Annabelle laughing. "Yes I can teach you. But don't go telling everyone else about this, please. I don't want to be labelled a sorceress."

"Ithron, maybe." (wizard)

Annabelle actually blushed. Legolas was starting to have that kind of affect on her.

"Just know, this isn't such a strange thing to do." Annabelle was so obsessed with avoiding judgement, she didn't notice the admiration on the elf's face.

"Maybe you have the blood of the Ainur in you," said Aragorn thoughtfully, the first thing he had said in a while. "Anyway, it is a good idea and I commend you for it."

After he walked off, Annabelle said quietly to Legolas, "No, I haven't got any fancy blood in me, I promise. Now that is sorted out, let's you and I pour this into the lake."

They went and spilled the water into the lake where the carcasses had exited. Then, on request, Annabelle explained to Legolas how to make healing water.

glancing knowingly to Legolas for agreement