Fae pushed through the line of elves standing around an area just outside the gate, and had just caught a glimpse of Iythrinel when they grabbed her, dragging her backwards. She fought and kicked, unwilling to release her Valar power on them, but if it was needed….

Mistamor lifted her head and growled, swatting her paw at them, and they released the woman they held. She shrugged them off, pushing forward and slumped to her knees next to her, reaching for Nel's hand. She looked so weak, her breathing laboring. For the first time, she saw the shock of scars running along her right side. Just like Thranduil's. Proof she'd been the one to save him, and had suffered herself. How had she hidden these from him all this time?

"Legolas!" she lifted her head, and found him not far away, rather as close as the panther would allow him. She looked at Mistamor, and the panther backed away, settling down next to Nel again.

Legolas stood there, frowning. He approached her slowly, then kneeled on the other side. Legolas, slowly, dropped his hand to her face, lightly caressing her scars.

"Why did she not tell me?" his voice was softer than she had ever heard it. It was sad, and she shook her head, gesturing to the blade.

"You will never have the chance to ask her if we do not heal her. Pull the blade."

He looked at her in alarm, no doubt fearful that Nel would bleed to death if he did, but he did so anyway, and the blade was free in one smooth motion, and Nel's body arched and writhed in spasms of pain. Again, a fresh wave of tears spilled from Fae's eyes.

The blade turned to dust before their eyes, and Legolas met the fearful eyes of Fae.

"A morgul blade? Here?" the disbelief was evident in Legolas', and without thinking, Fae lifted her friend into her arms and made a dash for her rooms.

"Ainur, Mistamor, Legolas, come with me!" she didn't look to see if they were following, and just as she was reaching Nel's rooms, Thranduil was a flurry of haughty anger, a bored look on his face.

"What has she don- Nel?" he stopped, staring at the cold dead look in Nel's eye as the fade slowly came forward, creeping to take her life and turn her into something bred of pure evil.

"Move aside, elvenking." Fae snarled, taking on the attitude of one of the cats as she breezed passed him. He followed in a numb stupor, staring down at Nel's face.

"What happened...where did these scars-"

"The only one who knows what happened is the child that was with her." Legolas explained, pacing, his eyes never leaving Nel. Fae busied herself stripping her of clothing, trying to see the full extent of her injury. And it was something she hoped she would never see in her life again.

Blood, turning black, pumped freely from the wound, the flesh around it also turning color. Nel's skin was going pale, like her eye, which looked to be frosting over. She was dying, no amount of kingsfoil was going to cure this. Fae looked down at her hopelessly.

"Well? Do something!" Thranduil, in his anger, let his glamour slip, and he was snarling, standing in Fae's face. She didn't even have the energy to give a fuck what he said, or to even be angry at him. Legolas reached forward, pulling his father back from the smaller woman.

"Ada, I do not think…."

"Shut the door and lock it tight." Fae spoke through clenched teeth, staring down at Iythrinel as she inched into the last stages of entering the fade. The blade had been allowed to remain for too long.

"What ar-"

"SHUT AND LOCK THE DOOR." She turned her angry gaze on Thranduil, who had started the question, and the look in her eyes, now glowing, silenced him. Legolas asked no questions, shutting and locking the door, then turned back towards them with wide eyes. The two cats put themselves right at the entrance, just in case.

"What is about to happen can not be shown, or spoken, to anyone. The future is at risk. You must swear on your will be bound to me by your word." her voice had deepened, swelling with power, the power of her family, and strands of her hair started to lift as if a static charge filled the air.

Thranduil tilted his head, eyes narrowing, "What are you?"

"I swear." Legolas looked at his father, exasperated. He was starting to wonder about his father's priorities. Thranduil looked at him, then at Nel, and his eyes changed, like something in him broke.

"I swear. Save her."

Faeilân knelt over her friend, a small smile on her lips as a softly glowing light emanated from her hands as she lay it over the gaping wound. Nel's entire body jerked, and foam had started to pour from her mouth.

"Do not fall into the Fade, Iythrinel. There is still work to be done."

The first bloodcurdling shriek, the first of many, ripped it's way out of Iythrinel's throat, startling all present. Mistamor moved forward, but Ainur nudged her back to her place by the door.

Fae's entire concentration was on the woman lying, writhing in pain on the bed. The words in her home language were rushed, but efficient, her soul seeping into the other woman, cleansing her body of all impurities, all poisons, and through it all Nel thrashed. Her words seemed to echo softly around the entire room, leaving no room for evil and no room for error. Legolas' eyes widened in realization, both males watching in amazement.

"Faeilân is of the Valar…" his words were whispered, and Thranduil looked at him sharply.

And then it was done, and Ainur was at Faeilân's side before she could slump to the floor. She pulled herself onto his back, the large cat never once complaining when she tugged at his fur. Many times she was violently ill, spewing black tar onto the floor next to them.

"Iythrinel will live." was all she said before she let the sea of darkness come up and swallow her.

Thranduil stared blankly at the woman that had fallen at his feet. Much like him, Legolas did the same, but only hesitated a moment before he rushed forward and scooped her into his arms. His hand brushed over her face, and then he pressed an ear to her chest, listening for her heart. When he was sure she was fine, he settled her back onto Ainur's back, then moved to the bed, staring down into Iythrinel's pale face.

"She's alive." He breathed, turning to look at his father. His father, that was still rooted to the spot, looking between Fae, and the spot where she had emptied any contents that had once been in her stomach onto the floor. Legolas was quick to lead his father to the chair by Iythrinel's bedside and sat him down, his father would be no help as of now. Turning to Ainur he spoke. "We should take her to her room, I will help you and get a healer to check on her."

Ainur dipped his head slowly, and with one last glare to Thranduil, turned and waited for Legolas to open the door for him, rubbing his head against Mistamor before leaving.

Thranduil sat, back propped against the headboard of Iythrinel's bed, her head in his lap. He hadn't left except to bathe since it had happened. He was conflicted, confused, and the last words he'd spoken to her replayed over and over in his mind. What if she had died, and those were the last words he'd ever spoken to her? His eyes drifted to her scars, so like his own. It had been her to drag his body away from the fire then.

His eyes softened as she shifted in her sleep, his fingers lightly brushing over the scars there. Iythrinel. Ever foolish, ever saving his life. A little smile touched her mouth, and he smiled in return, standing to leave. As he walked down the hall, he noticed Legolas stepping from Faeilân's room, backing out to quietly shut the door behind him. He didn't notice his father watching him until he turned to go visit Nel.

"Oh, Father. I hadn't noticed you." Legolas dipped his head, placing his hand over his heart, though he didn't feel it. Anger and disapproval radiated from him, and it did not go unnoticed. A little grin touched Thranduil's lips.

"I see you dressed yourself." he commented, returning the gesture, and Legolas tugged self consciously at his clothing.

"So did you." Neither spoke it, but they were both used to Iythrinel laying out clothes for the next day the night before. She hadn't been there to do so in several days.

"So I did…" after a moment, he spoke up again, tilting his head, "How does the Valar woman fair?"

Again, that anger flashed in his son, and Thranduil lifted a brow. Ever respectful, his son dipped his head and starting moving past him, "Oh, you mean your wife? Perhaps you should check for yourself." And rounded the corner, disappearing into Iythrinel's room. He stood there a moment, debating, but found his feet carrying him into Faeilân's room anyway.

The first sight he was greeted with was the large cat, curled around her, and her fist was buried in his fur much like the night she'd saved Nel. His heart clenched at the realization; she'd saved his best friend. Ainur lifted his head, and as soon as he recognized who had entered, the cat bared his teeth.

"Easy, it's alright." Fae's voice was weak, but sure, and Ainur huffed and lay his head back on the bed, showing the small woman. She sat up slowly, her eyes blank as she looked him over, but she didn't say anything.

"I assume you are well?" He asked, dipping his head to her, and she struggled from her sitting position to stand, Ainur gently nudging her, helping her to stand.

"I have seen better days."

The silence that followed was deafening. And slowly, Ainur pressed against her side, she made her way towards the door.

"If that was all you neede-" her breath caught as slender fingers wrapped around her wrist, and only the tightening of her fingers of the other hand, which still remained in Ainur's fur, kept the large cat in place. When she turned to glance first at the pale hand wrapped around her wrist, then at the person it was attached to, she was shocked to see the softness of his ice blue eyes.

"Thank you, for saving her life." He was bent at the waist, his beautiful hair falling over his shoulders as he placed his right hand over his heart, and he still hadn't let go of her wrist. She was half scared his fingers would slip down and lace fingers with her own. She tugged gently, not wanting to be rude, but not wanting him to touch her anymore. She placed the hand he'd touched, which now tingled, and pressed it to her chest, dipping her head a little and gave a weak smile.

"She is my friend too, Highness. But your thanks is welcome. Thank you for checking on me. But, if you'll excuse me, now."

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and she lifted her chin, narrowing her own right back.

"Are you going to him?" his voice was low, void of the emotion he'd just held. It frankly pissed her off.

"I am on my way to see Iythrinel, is that quite alright with you?" she snapped the question at him, then turned on her heel, Ainur keeping her from falling and making her exit less dramatic.

By the time Faeilân made it to Iythrinels room she discovered that she was awake, and being pampered by Legolas. Her long hair was down and being brushed, and her scars still there to be seen by any who looked. "Oh, Fae. Come in." Nel patted the space beside her in the bed.

Legolas took one look at Fae's less than excited expression and smiled wryly, "Father was himself I assume?" at that Iythrinel scowled.

"Fae come and sit with me, you look as if you're about to fall where you stand. Tell me what he's done this time."

Faeilân chuckled, gently settling herself next to her best friend, sighing as she sat back against the headboard and glanced over at the two, "Well, first he thanked me for saving his best friend, and then, he asked me if I was going to my human. I gently explained that I was coming here. And I didn't look back." she shrugged, lightly petting Ainur and, if a tiger had eyebrows, he would have lifted one at her.

Gently? He asked her, nudging at her hand. She frowned at him, just in time for a flying ball, a huge ball, of black fur to come hurtling onto the bed.

My lady, you're alive! All present clearly heard the voice of Mistamor as she threw herself onto Iythrinel, lapping at her face and nuzzling her enthusiastically. Unable to be fully shocked, Iythrinel wrapped her arms around the large cat, ignoring the shock of pain she'd received from the contact.

"Did I, or did I not just hear the voice of my companion echo in my head?"

Legolas had dropped the brush in shock and was staring wildly at the cat, then squinted, shifting his gaze to Faeilân.

"So what Legolas told me is true, you are of the Valor…..Honestly, it explains much." Iythrinel shrugged, and the squint from Legolas turned to her, as if she questioned his honesty. She looked at him and grinned.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to keep such a large secret, but you must understand. I am here for a reason." Slowly, she explained, from the beginning, about the dwindling elf population, and the need for strong heirs to continue their survival. Many times she stressed that "no offense" was intended, as she received more than her fair share of "squints." By the time her tale was done, the two seemed to accept it, and silently agreed that, since Thranduil was not present, he did not need to know.

"And so...you and that imbecile of a human…." Nel trailed off, eyeing Fae, and the dark blush that filled her cheeks spoke volumes. With an exaggerated huff, Legolas stood and stretched.

"I see the time for me to leave has come and passed. I will see myself out, let the two of you...speak." his exit was hasty, and the two stared after him in question, but he missed the stares, as halfway down the hall, he almost ran Tauriel right into the ground. He caught her, last minute, wrapping his fingers around her wrist and pulled her into him, making her gasp. Soon after, she pushed herself away and straightened herself, brushing invisible dirt from the front of her tunic.

"My Lord, I was just on my way to see Lady Iythrinel. I assume you have just come from the same mission. Tell me, how does she fare?" Her hazel eyes were bright with worry as she looked up into his eyes, and he smiled softly, his hands coming to rest just above her elbows as he looked down into her open face. A small blush dusted her cheeks, but for her pride's sake, he ignored it.

"The Lady Faeilân is very skilled in the art of healing. Iythrinel is already moving about, awake and laughing, gossiping about my father." the sigh of relief from Tauriel made him smile even wider, and she looked up, then away.

"I will be off to see her then. I was worried about disturbing her. I am glad you ran into me first." her little joke got the desired effect, and Legolas laughed softly, a sound she rarely got to hear, and it lightened both of their hearts, and drew the ear of another a short distance away.

Thranduil lifted a brow as he caught the sight of Legolas and Tauriel. So casually they touched each other, and disgust tore through him. His son, highborn and royal, with a lowly Silvan elf? He huffed, turning on his heel and walking away from the sight. Though, halfway to his destination, he turned back, casually passing the corridor, making sure his footsteps were heard. The two broke apart in a hurry, Legolas looking more than a little annoyed by the interruption, also holding question in his eyes as he looked at Tauriel; why had she been so quick to pull away from him?

"Legolas. Tauriel" his voice was casual, and both dipped their heads in respect.

"My Lord." Tauriel's bow was even lower than his son's, and he had to at least admit she knew her place. He would ensure this even more.

"The spider problem grows. Come, I must speak with you, Tauriel." He made the emphasis on her name as both members of the small party made move to follow him. Legolas frowned, but dipped his head and turned on his heel, heading off towards the exit, going to get a head start of the scouting. Sheepishly, Tauriel followed after her King.

Once they were in his rooms, he paced back and forth, slowly, his eyes catching the reflection of the bathing pool, making them seem alive and intimidating. The room itself was dark, reflecting his soul, and his mood.

"Your report? Since I am assuming you have just returned from a scout?" he spoke evenly, not looking at her.

Giving a deep sigh, Tauriel went into an explanation, rather than a report, that soon turned into a rant. The spiders, more and more, turned up daily. The hunting parties had to be doubled, for every one they killed, five more would take their places. She suggested that they go to the source and destroy them. That was the only time Thranduil saw fit to interrupt.

"No." He turned his cool gaze to her, his expression blank, and he was secretly pleased by her shocked expression.

"...No?"

"I care nothing for other lands, only this one. Their demise is of no concern to me. Do what you must, but I will not risk my people. You are dismissed, Tauriel."

He turned fully to the pool after dismissing her, and with a red face, he was sure with anger, she bowed quickly and turned to leave.

"Oh yes. Tauriel…"

She stopped, but didn't turn back to him, "My Lord?"

"It seems my son has grown fond of you."

A small smile graced her face, but still she didn't turn. "I did not notice, your grace. I did not think you would approve of your son pledging himself to me, I am only a guard."

"You are right. I would not."

Her heart stopped in her chest, and this time she did turn, staring at him in shock. She'd known, but still, she'd held just enough hope in her heart to be crushed.

"Be sure not to give him hope where there is none. I would never agree to his union with such a lowly Silvan elf. You may go."

Before he got the pleasure of seeing her tears, she bowed her head and fled the room. She missed the pleased smile that graced the king's face.