A/N: ….Am I seriously starting scenes in RotK already? Feels like just yesterday I was figuring out how to begin my prologue. O_o Time flies, eh? Before we begin, I would like to give special shout-outs to ccgnme, sarcasmwithasmile, Kit-Kat-Kitsune, and shadow-fox313. You guys in particular have left me so many nice reviews and comments, and from the bottom of my heart I thank you. ^^ But of course, I couldn't forget about everyone else! To all of you who have faved, watched, reviewed, or even simply taken the time to read this story, thanks to you, too! :D This story would've gotten nowhere without you guys. And sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been busy with school and other things. With that said, enjoy this next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Íverin and all the crazy ideas that made this story possible. XD

Note: I love how the ad over top of this story is an ad for LotR. XD rofl

"So how many Uruk-Hai did you end up killing, anyway?" I asked.

"Thirty-seven. Why?" Legolas responded as we continued trotting along on our horses.

I smirked. "Oh, no reason..."

"Wait, how many did you kill?"

"Fifty-six."

His jaw dropped, and the shock on his face was so obvious I couldn't help but laugh. "Close your mouth, dear! You might swallow a bug," I laughed as I leaned over and kissed him.

"Fifty...fifty-six? How in the world did you do that?"

I shrugged. "What can I say? I despise those foul creatures." We were currently riding back to Edoras, along with everyone else that had survived the war at Helm's Deep. The sun was high and shining brightly, and the air was cool. Not a single cloud could be seen in the vast blue expanse above our heads. Looking back at Legolas, I asked, "How is your arm?"
"It could be better. But the bleeding has stopped; that has got to count for something."

"Good. It will take a while to heal, but I think you will survive. You will probably have a really nasty scar there, though."

He smiled. "That will just show how much more effort I put into the fight than you."

"Hey, now don't get a big head about it!" I laughed, and he laughed with me. Legolas's cut was fairly deep, and ran all the way up his forearm. It would be there for awhile, but it was not a life-threatening wound anymore.

Suddenly, I heard a shout. "Íverin!" I looked over my shoulder to see Aragorn beckoning to me.

"I will be back in a moment," I told Legolas. I slowed the pace of Hasufeld and met up with my cousin, riding alongside him. He had gotten a new horse, Corror. I smiled at him. "Hello, Aragorn. You wanted to see me?"

"Íverin...there's something I think you should know."

The tone of his voice told me it was not a good thing. "About what?"

"About Legolas."

I frowned and looked ahead to where he rode, talking and laughing with Gimli. "What about him?"

Aragorn sighed. "First of all, the only reason I am telling you this is because I know that he has not yet told you himself, and I fear that if you do not learn this soon enough, it will get you into a lot of trouble." He turned to look at me. "I can see how much you love him, and how much he loves you as well. Tell me, has he ever told you anything about his family?"

I thought back to our conversation on the banks of the Anduin, which seemed so long ago. "Yes, but not much. He said that his mother died when he was young, and that now he lives with his father in the palace in Mirkwood."

"Did he ever say anything about siblings?"

"He said he did not have any."

"He does, Íverin. Or at least, he did."

I blinked. "What? Why would he lie to me?"

"Because Legolas...doesn't like to talk about his past. He probably only said that to keep you from asking questions, which we both know you would do."

Again I glanced at Legolas, my heart filled with concern for him. "...What happened to him?"

"It's not really what already happened, it's more like what could happen. You see, Legolas had a sister when he was younger, Taureanel. She looked just like their mother; pale brown hair, ice blue eyes, like her brother's as well. And she was a very happy child. Being the older of the two, she was originally meant to have the crown first, once she got married. But when she finally did fall in love...she fell in love with a half-blood. A man who was originally of northern Rohan, but who was also Wood-Elf."

My eyes widened. A half-blood. Just like me...

"When she brought him before her father, King Thranduil, he was...outraged, to put it simply. He refused to let his only daughter marry a 'mutt' like that man. Taureanel, in turn, argued that she would never leave him. The fights between the two royals got so bad, eventually the King resorted to beating her as punishment. By that point, Taureanel'd had enough. One night, she ran away, fleeing Mirkwood, never to return. She lost everything. The crown, her family...even her friends back home. No one has ever seen her since, not even Legolas. Though he has never forgotten about her, I might add. And neither has their father."

I looked back at Legolas again, heartbroken. "And you...you think Thranduil would do the same thing to Legolas?"

Aragorn nodded. "I hate to tell you this, but...I just wanted you to know what you're getting yourself into."

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, all revolving around Legolas and the story of his sister. I certainly did not want Legolas to be harmed in any way, but I also did want out love to be hindered either. What was I to do?

I could tell how much it pained Aragorn to lay this burden on me. "I'm sorry, Íverin."

"Wait!" I cried. "Does he even know that I'm a half-blood?"

"No," my cousin replied, "but that is not something you can hide from him for much longer."

I nodded. "I know that. But now...I'm afraid that telling him won't make things much better."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

We arrived back in Edoras late that night. For a long while, I stayed in my room, unpacking my things and thinking about everything I had learned. I cringed at the thought of Legolas walking out of the castle with bruises and cuts all over his body. There was no way I was letting that happen. But...I loved him. There was no denying that. And I could not just throw that love away so easily.

I sighed. There must be another solution to this. There must be! I reached into my bag and pulled out the Stone of Hope. I looked into it, hoping that it could give me some sort of sign as to what I should do. The sparkling blackness of the stone shifted, then faded away, leaving an image of myself as a small child running freely through the fields of Imladris in its place. My hair was very long and smooth, and laughter was in my eyes. I looked so happy. Smiling, I put the stone away. Life had been so carefree and simple as a child. I only wished it would go back to that someday.

Looking out my window, I turned my gaze east and looked out at the black jagged rim that was the Mountains of Shadow; the border of Mordor. The sky above them flickered red with flame. It was all because of Sauron, his evil plans, and lust for power. If he had not existed, I wouldn't be standing here, alone in my room, feeling like the world around me was crumbling to pieces. I could be back in Imladris, practicing my archery. I could be smiling and laughing as I chased Estel across the fields. If not for Sauron, I might even still be in Osgiliath, with my parents. My parents whose faces I could not even remember.

Suddenly, there came a knock at my door. "Come in," I said.

Legolas stepped in. "I had hoped you would be in here." He walked up and slid his arms around my waist, cuddling with me. "Are you well?"

As much as I wanted to tell him everything, I couldn't. Not yet. So I forced a smile, trying to seem as positive as I could. "Yes, I am well." I turned my head and kissed him. "And you?"

"I am much happier now that I have you, nîn cala (my light)."

I smiled, genuinely now. If anyone could make me happy, it was Legolas. "Im meleth le, Legolas (I love you, Legolas)."

"Im meleth le, Íverin. Le eth bein, neir van treth esta mîr (I love you, Íverin. You are beautiful, more fair than any jewel.)."

I looked up at him. "Im faun nerren lon aise canad a míthren adan lest le (I could never have asked for a better man than you)."

"Pada le (Thank you)." Falling back into the tongue of Men, he said, "It is late. I should go, so that you may sleep tonight." He let go of me and made for the door.

"No," I said softly, "stay." I walked over to my bed and sat down, smiling shyly at him. "I never asked you to leave, did I?" I patted the bed. "Come here with me."

He looked at me oddly for a moment, and there was a long silence. Finally Legolas said, "Íverin...if you are suggesting that we...ah..." he blushed slightly and looked at his feet.

I frowned, confused. "I do not understand. What are you..." suddenly, I realized what was making him so uncomfortable. "Oh! You thought I meant...Legolas, I am sorry. That was not my intention. To be honest, I do not plan to...experience that until after I am married."

Relief washed over his face. "Good. For a moment I thought you were trying to seduce me," he laughed.

I laughed, too. "That was awkward." Still giggling, I crawled back onto my bed, and he laid down beside me, draping his good arm across my shoulders. I snuggled into the crook of his arm, laying my head against his chest. His heartbeat pulsed against my cheek. We sat there for awhile, talking quietly in Elvish amongst ourselves. Eventually, I dozed off, his steady breathing calming me. Just before I fell asleep, he asked me, "Tethe Im lon a seinesse canad le, pa le lon min canad nî? Since I have a nickname for you, do you have one for me?)"

I yawned. After a moment of thought, I said, "Nîn harma...my treasure..." With that, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep slumber.