Disclaimer: I didn't own LOTR for the last two chapters what makes you think I own them now? I do still own my three OC's though.

Together Forever

By: Lady Starlight 2

Ch. 3

"You know, those three elves look very familiar to me. One looks like my sister, but I'm not sure; the last time I saw her was several winters ago." Legolas remarked to his companions.

"Well, Prince of Mirkwood, it may be easier if we explain." an elf with dark chestnut brown hair that went down to her butt and curled at the bottom said, her dark blue eyes flashing a defiant silver in the sun. She and her two friends were wearing clothing similar to Legolas' but more feminine. "My name is Ellena, guard and friend to the princess." the elf introduced herself her eyes still flashing.

The female elf with shorter brown hair came into view. "My name is Angel, friend to the princess and sister to Ellena."

The last elven maiden came into the light her dark black hair shining. "I am Llianna, princess of Mirkwood and sister of Legolas."

"Llianna!" Legolas exclaimed before enveloping his sister in a hug. Turning toward the sisters he remarked, "I remember an Angel playing with my sister many years ago, but not an Ellena." Suspicion played across his face making his normally jovial face stony.

"I went by Lena at the time." Ellena retorted matter-of-factly.

"Ah, yes. I remember a Lena, but she was no guard, just an overprotective friend."

"I was a protective friend and that is why I became a guard, to better protect my sister and princess."

A gruff voice broke through the verbal tennis match that the two elves were playing. "Women shouldn't be guards, they are not strong enough. Leave the fighting to the men!"

"Is that a challenge, Master Dwarf?" Ellena replied, her voice carried no inflection, but the spastic movement of her eyebrow showed the three elves, Dúnedain, and wizard that she was barely holding back her rage. A nod from the red faced dwarf was her response.

"Oh, Ellena, don't challenge him!" Angel exclaimed.

"Hah, even your sister doesn't think you can do this." Angel only giggled at Gimli causing her sister to smirk, marring her features.

"Let's get this over with you sexist pig. You may use a weapon of choice, but first, what should the punishment be for the loser?"

"If you lose, you must give up your position as guard." The dwarf replied pompously. Legolas gasped slightly in surprise at his friend. It was an honor to get into the Mirkwood guards, but to lose your position or have to resign was the greatest shame of all. He almost hoped that Ellena wouldn't take the challenge; he would hate to have to take her position away from her.

The female guard pondered over the challenge for a moment before agreeing. "Alright, but if I win…hmm, well, we'll see." She stated as she unsheathed the sword at her side.

The mock battle began the moment the sword left its scabbard. Gimli grasped his axe (LS: axe…ax…why have the same word with two different spellings? It's like grey vs. gray) and started to slash at her with wide and powerful arcs. Ellena dodged most of them, but the first blood of the battle went to Gimli as his axe swiped the edge of her arm, but Ellena continued to dodge, never trying to attack. The dwarf lord was getting impatient at the lack of response from his opponent, "Why do you not attack?!" he shouted.

"Dwarf, you are strong, but you are also slow. That is your weakness." Ellena explained, continuing her defensive dodging. Soon Gimli was too tired and he stopped attacking for a second giving Ellena her chance. She changed her grip on her sword and positioned it under the dwarf's throat.

What the? Legolas exclaimed in his thoughts after seeing something glint off of Ellena's sword. The match was declared over and Ellena the victor before the elf removed the sword from under Gimli's chin, smiling all the while.

"What is your punishment?" Gimli inquired, his face downcast so his no one could see the blush of embarrassment burning across it.

"Your punishment, Dwarf, is to smile."

Gimli's head jerked up and his jaw met the floor. "Huh?"

"Your punishment is to smile, Master Dwarf." Ellena repeated. "Although we are warriors it does not mean that we should give up on life, love, and humanity. Friendship is the most important aspect in life, for when you die, you do not die alone. Your friends are with you to the very end." She added with smile lighting up her face. (LS: OMG, how corny was that?!! Oh well!)

"Where did you get that sword and hear that quote?" The prince of Mirkwood demanded.

"What, you mean this sword?" Ellena questioned, showing her sword to everybody. On the bright silver sword were three blood red roses with black stems, each one glinted softly in the sunlight.

"Yes, how did you get it? Only members of the Top Guard of Mirkwood were given those and one other than I were the only ones in there, but he died years ago! How did you get his sword?"

"I didn't." The female elf explained softly.

"The quote, what about his quote, where did you hear it?" Legolas beseeched, his voice growing in agitation and need.

"I didn't. You see, this is my sword, and that is my quote."

"How? How can you have Len's sword and know his quote…how can you say they are your own?" The agitation in the elf prince's voice was quickly turning into anger at hearing this charlatan say that his best friend's sword and quote were not his.

"Simply, because they are. I'm surprised that a ranger hasn't figured out this little puzzle yet." Ellena remarked, turning her head from a raving Legolas to a contemplative Aragorn.

"Hmmm…another name change?" He guessed, Aragorn then saw a sparkle in Ellena's eyes. "You're Len!"

"Right you are! I was known by three names, Ellena, Lena, and Len." (LS: Yeah, people I know it was very obvious but give me a break.)

"But…but, Len was my best friend and he died! How can you, a girl, be him?"

"Well, my Prince, Len never took off his armor did he?"

"No…" Legolas replied, a small spark of hope entering his voice as his anger started to melt away, replaced with the thought that maybe his friend hadn't left him behind.

"If you want more proof, I have plenty of memories. For instance, once training was over you would go out in the forest to a small clearing and practice your archery skills while I leaned against the old well and watched, is that enough proof?"

Legolas' only reply was to rush forward and give his old friend the biggest hug he could muster. "Everyone said you died, I thought I had lost you forever."

"I'm not dead, nor do I plan to be so for a long while. On the cheerier side of things we still do not know of everyone or what you have done." Ellena choked out once Legolas had released her from his iron-grip hug.

So the hour long retelling of how Gandalf, Gimli, Aragorn, and Legolas came to be there began.

LS: REVIEW PLEASE!!