A/N: So? What did you think of the last chapter? Emotional enough for ya? Lolz. This chapter's gonna be a big one as far as romance with Íverin and Legolas goes. I think you'll enjoy it. ;) Have a nice read!

Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings belongs to Tolkien, not me. But I do own Íverin, I am proud to say. :)

The rest of the journey to Helm's Deep, I rode on Hasufeld alone for the most part. Occasionally, Legolas or Gimli would try and start up a conversation with me, but they all ended the same: in a bitter silence. Often I would look into the Stone of Hope, and it would lift my spirits for a little while, showing me pictures of fun memories I'd had growing up, or other things that made me smile, but eventually I would slip back into darkness and despair.

Once we finally arrived at Rohan's massive stone fortress, I rode up to my dwarven companion. "Gimli! Where are our guest rooms? Do you know?"

He shook his head. "No, lass. I'm sorry. Ya might want to ask King Théoden himself."

"Thank you," I said just as Éowyn came up to us.

She looked worried. "Lord Aragorn? Where is he?"

My chest tightened, and without another word I turned on my horse and sped away as Gimli answered her sadly. "...He fell."

I finally found the man I was looking for. "King Théoden!" I called out.

He turned towards me with a grim smile. "Ah, Lady Íverin. What may I do for you?"

"I wish to know where my personal quarters are, my lord."

"Of course! If you'll just go through that door there, your room is the first one on the right." Seeing my saddened expression, he said, "Do not be so burdened as you are now, child. His loss is upsetting, yes, but there are more pressing matters at hand."

I closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them again, I glared at him. "What you ask of me...is to forget about my own kin? To simply push aside his death and worry about myself? You know not whom you speak to." I turned and quickly led my horse back down to the stables on the first level, watching as the guard put him in a stall at the back. "Always keep him there, please," I said. With that, I went back up through the main floors and into my room, where I cast myself upon my bed in grief.

I turned on my back and looked out a window to the heavens. "Why? Why is it that all I love must leave me? Is it too much to ask that I may keep those close to my heart alive?" A cold wind blew inside and chilled me as an answer, and slowly, I fell into a deep slumber.

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I opened my eyes to find myself strapped to a tree. A very old, twisted tree, surrounded by many others just like it. I recognized the place instantly. "Fangorn," I whispered to no one in particular. I struggled against my bonds, but I could not break through the iron chains that held me parallel to the tree. After a failed attempt at escape, I sighed and looked down at my feet, giving up.

Suddenly, I heard a voice shout my name. "Íverin!" it called faintly. "Íverin!" I knew that voice...

And then I saw him, standing amidst the trees, searching. "Legolas!" I cried. Instantly he saw me and smiled, running towards me. I smiled as well, upon seeing him. "I'm so glad to see you," I said.

"I have been looking everywhere for you!" Legolas replied. "How did you come to be like this?"

"I know as much as you," I said. "Can you free me?"

He flashed a confident grin. "I will certainly try." But even he could not break my bonds. After much struggle, he stepped back, his face ridden with dismay. "I am sorry, Íverin. I do not know how to get you out of here. I have failed you."

I smiled warmly. "Do not worry about me. I'll be-"

Suddenly, there was a great boom, and we both looked up in shock. Then another, and another, like a steady heartbeat. "What is that?" Legolas asked.

Though I did not know what was coming, I had an overwhelming sense of danger. "Legolas," I said urgently, "get out of here. Now."

He looked confused. "Why? I have not searched for you to give up this easily."

"Legolas, please," I implored. "you must listen to me! You need to go, now!"

Legolas opened his mouth to retort, but suddenly, there was a ferocious roar. The great winged beast from my previous nightmare came crashing through the trees, its snake-like head slithering back and forth, looking for something. The beast's beady eyes landed on Legolas.

"Run!" I shouted. "Now!"

But it was too late. With lightning speed, the beast shot out its mighty claws and wrapped them around Legolas, lifting him high into the air. The Ringwraith atop it laughed deeply, and Legolas winced as the monster tightened his grip around his chest.

"No!" I screamed. "Don't hurt him! Put him down!" I wiggled underneath my chains, desperate now to break free. "Legolas!"

The Nazgûl laughed again. "So...you have deep feelings for this elf prince, do you?" he sneered.

"Let him go," I said through clenched teeth, "or I will personally snap your neck."

"Aren't you forgetting something, foolish girl?" He pointed to the chains around me. The beast roared again, and Legolas screamed in pain.

"STOP IT!" I screamed. "DROP HIM NOW!"

"Oh, but don't you forget what my master told you at our last little encounter?" he hissed. The trees in front of me dissolved, and were replaced with flame...in the shape of a single eye with a cat-like black slit in the center.

"...Sauron," I growled. "You have no business with him. LET HIM GO!"

A deep, rumbling laughter boomed around me. "Íverin...you know what happens to those you love..." the Dark Lord said. "Pain...and death." On cue, the beast gripped Legolas even harder, and again he screamed. "Íverin!"

Paralyzing fear came over me. "...you would not dare."

"Why not? I succeeded with your dear cousin, didn't I? I succeeded with your parents, long ago. This pitiful excuse of life is all you have left. Why shouldn't I kill him, too?"

I held Sauron's burning gaze for a moment, but finally hung my head. I knew I could not win. It was impossible. With tears running down my face, I looked up at Legolas one last time. He looked terrified. "Legolas..." I said, "I...I cannot save you..." I sobbed. "And before you go...I must tell you this...I...I..."

"Too long," Sauron growled. My head snapped to attention, and I watched in horror as the evil beast holding Legolas in his claws stepped back, and with Legolas screaming my name at the top of his lungs, threw the elven prince into The Great Eye's flaming abyss.

"NO!" I screamed. "LEGOLAS!"

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I bolted awake to the sound of a knock on my door. I was shaking with terror from the second nightmare, so it took me a moment before I finally answered the door to see one of the King's servants there. "Yes?"

"His Majesty requests your presence at a feast, Lady Íverin. Ready yourself quickly."

I nodded and shut the door. I quickly changed into a much more casual outfit. I already had a plan of escape brewing in my mind. I pulled a long white dress overtop of white cotton pants and my favorite dark brown boots. I also had on underneath my navy-blue traveling top with a deep neckline, rimmed with lavender. After quickly brushing through my hair, I hurried out into the main hall, hoping I was not entering at a bad time.

The party was fun and happy, and a victorious feeling was about the place. I did not see many people I knew, though, save for Éowyn. After about fifteen minutes of eating and drinking, the hall fell silent, and Théoden raised his glass. "A toast to those who gave their lives protecting our people today!"

"A toast!" the people replied. Éowyn took a sip from her glass, but I stayed perfectly still. "Íverin," she said quietly, "I...I'm so sorry about Aragorn."

I already felt choked up. I put on a fake smile for her. "It's fine. Now, if you will excuse me, I...I have to use the restroom." I set my cup down and strode away quickly. Now was the time.

I pushed through the crowd, tears already blurring my vision. I blinked them away, not paying attention to whom I was shoving aside. I made my way through the chaos until I came to the hallways where our private rooms were located, ducking into my own. Immediately, I started gathering up my things and packing them in my trusty leather bag. My fingers brushed against the Stone of Hope, but I did not take it out. I barely even registered that it was there.

As I packed up the last of my supplies, I heard someone in the doorway. "There you are!" Legolas said. "I thought I saw you out there. Had enough party time, have you?" he joked, sitting down on the bed next to me.

I sighed. "Not now, Legolas." I slung my bag over my shoulder and grabbed my dark blue wrap. I would need that for when it got chilly.

"Why not? What's wrong?"

"I'm...leaving."

"Leaving? To go where?"

"...back to Rivendell." I strode out the door, hoping I could leave it at that.

But of course Legolas would not let me do so. "What do you mean? Íverin, you cannot be serious." He followed me out back into the main hall.

I kept walking. "I am dead serious," I said, this time avoiding the crowds. "Why would I stay if I have no reason to?"

"What are you talking about?"

I stepped outside and whirled to face him. "Estel is gone. Gandalf is gone. I do not whis to remain here alone. Goodbye, Legolas." In the back of my mind, I also thought, and I do not wish to be here to experience your death. With tears in my eyes, I turned and disappeared into the outdoor crowd, losing him in seconds. Quickly, I made my way down to the first floor of the hideaway, to the stable. I walked to where I knew Hasufeld would be. "This may be the last time I ever ride you, my friend," I whispered to the horse. "Bear me well." Just as I was about to mount, a hand grabbed my arm. I spun around. "Legolas," I said.

"Why are you doing this?" He sounded panicky.

"Because I must."

"That is not true, and you know it."

I yanked my arm from his grip, and before he could react, jumped onto Hasufeld. "Go!" I cried, and bolted out of the stall.

"No!" Legolas shouted. By some miracle, he managed to grab a hold of the horse and lift himself up so that he was sitting behind me as we sped along. "Íverin!" he cried. "You cannot leave!"

"Why not?" I countered. We were about to pass through the gates of the Deeping Wall. "Elrond was right, I do not belong here! It is pointless for me to stay!" Hasufeld charged down the stone walkway outside and began to cross the grass, headed for the large hill that hid Helm's Deep.

"It is not!" Legolas replied. "How could you say such things?"

"This journey was not meant for me! No one needs me here!"

Suddenly, Legolas's strong hands gripped my upper arms, and he jerked left, hard. I was caught off guard, and before I knew it, I was falling off my horse and hitting the ground. I rolled over onto my back, planning to get up, but Legolas grabbed my wrists and pinned me down, leaning over me. I tried kicking, but to no avail.

"Listen to me," he said. I closed my eyes and turned my head away. "Listen to me!" He pushed on my wrists harder, and I obeyed, finally looking at him. His ice-blue eyes locked with mine. "I know not who or what told you these things, but they are wrong. Dead wrong. If Elrond thought that you did not belong, he would have never invited you in the first place. You cannot give up now. You have come too far."

"No one needs me," I said again.

"Lies!" he cried. After a moment, he said, more quietly, "...I need you. You...you bring hope to me, Íverin. You are a light in my hours of darkness. If ever I am feeling grieved or full of despair, it is you who comforts me the most. You are the thing that keeps me going. You are the one who brings me joy."

I stared at him, my mind and heart racing. This...this was what Gimli had predicted. It was all true!

"Please," he said, a single tear sliding down his pale cheek. "You are all I have left."

"Legolas...I..."

And then he kissed me.

His soft lips locked perfectly with mine. For a moment, I tensed, not sure what to do. And then, something exploded in my chest, and I melted into the kiss, returning the favor with all the love and passion I had. His fingers gently caressed my cheek, and I felt his long hair tickled he base of my neck. It was perfect. The whole thing was perfect, and I wanted it to last forever.

After a wonderfully long moment, he pulled away, his face mere inches from mine. "Think of Aragorn," he said. "What would he want you to do?"

I smiled. "He would want me to stay," I said. "And I shall." I reached up and kissed him again, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

When I let him go, he too was smiling. "Thank you," he said, and helped me to my feet.

Once he did. I laced my fingers between his, and took Hasufeld by the reins. "No, Legolas. Thank you." We walked back into Helm's Deep together, and I smiled the whole way. I could not leave Legolas. Not now, because I loved him.

Eventually, we made our way back to my room, standing in the doorway, still holding hands. I did not want to let go.

"You know, Íverin," he said, "There is something I have always wanted to tell you."

"And that would be?" I asked.

He blushed a bit. "Your laugh...it is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in my entire life."

I smiled. "And there is something I must tell you as well."

"Yes?" he said.

I leaned in, pulling him close. "You have the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen." I gave him one last kiss, then hugged him. "I love you, Legolas."

"I love you too, Íverin," he whispered.