Thanks again to everybody who reviewed! It keeps me going. I hope my story explains itself as it goes along. I try not to confuse anybody. But now Legolas' view will come into play. This is sort of a transfer chapter to get to where I want to be with the plot. I have this all planned out.

Oh and I know that Merith doesn't act like an elf in her ways but I have this all planned. (She's not mortal though)

I literally spend half the night editing this cause I couldn't sleep.

Letter from Lord Thranduil:

Aragorn. I know that you have sent many times for my son but I am afraid he can not answer quite yet. But I feel as if I do owe you an explanation. When Legolas returned from the final battle, he arrived to the grief that lay upon our land. Easterlings had pillaged our lands at nightfall and our best archers were away with your army. The guards of the palace left towards town but they were too late. Our village was ruined, several elleths and children dead. It had occurred during your own battles. When Legolas saw the graves of his people, all the deaths...I do believe the reminders of war and all the loses finally came at that moment. He had not been feeling his emotions and they all rushed at him at once. You must know of his stubborness by now, he is often inclinded to shut out all that he thinks is of weakness. I don't think he had understood what had happened in the thrill of war. The healers say he is in shock and should be left alone until he finds his own way out. There is no cure that can be bestowed by anyone but himself. I know of your friendship but I advise you to only come if you are confident in your ways.

Aragorn read the letter in front of him, pondering upon it's date of arrival. Had The Lord heard of his visit? It could not have been, mail did not send that fast. But he couldn't help but wonder what he had left behind.

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The gate stood in front of her like a soldier of war. She feared to near it. Merith paced, wondering how to resolve the missing pieces in her plan. She did not know how they would accept her, it they were to at all. She did not know what life stood for her to reach. Her fate had been drowned and the new one not yet born. Maybe the future was not a necessity. Maybe the only thing that mattered is what stood in front of her. The gate.

It's only a gate Merith. There is nothing to be scared of. You just left your home of more than a thousand years. There was no fear in that. Surely you can open a simple minded gate.

"Ok. Here I go. Opening this gate. 1…2…3." She breathed the words out quietly into the night, not wanting to forewarn the occupants of which she was about to come across. The gate opened. The soldier let her pass. She stopped breathing as she stepped lightly on each stone. When she came to the door, she knew she could not turn back. She reached her thin hand up towards it and knocked on the creaking wood. The harsh sound interrupted the peacefulness of the moon and her stomach sickened. Merith could feel her body tense, her senses aware of the suspense that taunted her. Her warm breath in the chill of the dark quickened. She leaned her arm upon the door, fighting the feeling. Then, the wood beneath her palm was taken away.

"Merith." His voice was smooth in the still air, her name coming out like the soft currents of water. She was so in awe by the moment that she forgot what was happening.

"Why are you here?" he continued, the waves of his tone changing into sour. Merith was pulled back to reality. She realized that to him, she stood as the maiden elf of a council member disturbing his peace in the moon's hours. Of course, that is how he knew her name. It couldn't be anything different, for the memory she had most likely was her imagination.

"I am very sorry to disturb you in terms like this but I would like it if you were to listen to me. I know that earlier you did not care to listen at all but I am no friend of yours and I shall not accept your silence." Merith did not know where these harsh words came from or why she spoke in this manner to him. She was the one disturbing him after all. Only she could not stop. He was her only chance, for he was the only one who would not turn her back home. But her tone seemed to make an impression.

"Oh yes, earlier. I apologize for that but I do not feel that an explanation is owed to you, for you are not my friend." A ghost of a smile played on his face as he used her words against her. "And I doubt I could stop you from jabbering on so you might as well get through with it then." The end of his words chilled her skin. Yet he seemed different then earlier. Some small change had occurred. Gandalf was right. It would take time. She still couldn't believe that she was now mixed in this affair. Why was she even worrying about his condition? Wait. Why am I here? He cannot help me, he is still lost! Merith, you saw him earlier. Stupid I am! Why am I so delusional? And why is he attractive?

"I left my parents' house for Rivendell but do not know the way. I mistakenly thought that you could guide me but I see I was indeed wrong. I had forgotten about…I apologize for waking you." She bowed and began to turn. She obviously needed rest to overcome the events that had been played upon her. She wasn't even thinking clearly anymore.

"Why has such a young maiden left her home?" Legolas' curiosity for this strange girl had grown. She was indeed a peculiar elleth. She came in the dead of night, barging in, shouting commands. And she was also a friend of Aragorn.

Aragorn. The truth in the words Strider had spoken had awoken him. He knew that this was not meant to be his fate and it was wrong for him to ponder upon it. It was not what was chosen for him when he survived the war. After the two had left, it all sank in. Legolas was dishonoring the dead and the tormented; he was dishonoring Frodo by staying in this condition. Though it took great strength to pull himself out. Legolas found his mind stumbling between the borders of lost. One small thing could push him over. He still was wearing upon reentering this world. The heavy burdens he has been ignoring would be tied to his ankles and wrists, dragging with him like a prisoner. Being an elf cured physical problems, physical pain. It gifted you with mortality. Yet it did nothing to put the mind at ease. It did not rest the thoughts. Legolas had been unfrozen but he still felt as if he was watching his life play out; everything happening in slow motion. He was quite weary indeed.

Merith turned back to respond. She had not expected him to reply to her; she had been quite rude. She became flushed, embarrassed of herself and her actions. She did not feel very elven on that day. She had let all her emotions rule her like some mortal.

"It was simply my time to leave." She did not want to give all of her away yet, even with the overbearing feeling of safeness she felt near him. Which was strange because he had truly frightened her in the afternoon.

"Then why do you stand here in the midst of darkness asking for my ears?" His face reflected no emotion. She did not know whether he truly cared or asked as a challenge to her.

"Well since I did barge in here, I guess I do owe you the truth as an apology for my actions. I did not intend for any of this to happen…." Her eyes began to stray and Legolas watched as the hardships set lines in her face. He did not need this. He did not need some elleth at his door, bringing in pain as she entered. But he could not be rude, for it was in his nature and he could not turn her away.

"You seem pained. Please, come inside."

"No, I mustn't stay. It's just…my mother….she is….broken. And my father cannot mend her himself. It took me many years to see this and I think I am the reason for her suffering. I know not of why and that troubles me. All I know is that there is nothing left here for me." She paused, looking for a reaction. In his eyes, she could see playful flashes of curiosity. She did not know why she was telling him this. Only this morning, he was yelling at her to go. But he brought a peaceful aurora and she couldn't help as the words spilled from her mouth. She still did not know what to feel of them. So, she agreed not to feel them at all.

Legolas saw that she held a shield; she would not dig into the emotions that been bound to her. This troubled him even more, not knowing whether she was merely strong or just as weak. He waited for her to continue.

"I was invited to Aragorn's wedding and I foolishly thought that I could be welcomed into Rivendell before the moon became full. And I came here, for I do not know the way. But it was a mistake."

Legolas still stood statue like in the door frame. The exchange was quite odd. A grown elf and a younger one, standing in the shadows of the outside. The two arguing. He did not know what to think of her story but she seemed quite lost. And as was he. He felt no warmth from the maiden. She was stubborn and seemed to be very head strong. He did not fully understand her. The maiden was taciturn, crossing to similar to his old self. Yet he couldn't stand the thought of helplessness anymore. He could not guide another soul astray. Even if she could stand for herself, even if she could suppress the world's hurt around her. She still needed his assistance and he needed to get out of his prison. He needed to be strong again. He had let himself drift away for too long.

"It was not a mistake. As you stand here in front of me, I cannot send you away.I will guide you there, lady Merith. But that is as far as my favors will extend. I am sorry. You carry with you too many burdens that I cannot help bare."

"I did not ask you to bare them." Merith breathed the words out coolly. He spoke to her as if she were some lost child. She had shone too much weakness. This was not what warriors did. She would not become prey to her emotions. "I only ask of your guidance, I need not care." She didn't need anyone perhaps. But Rivendell held hope for kinder ways and she felt inclined to try them.

Legolas was intrigued. None of her actions seemed to bother her. Her rudeness, her leaving of her family. She was only cold. But this could be good. But this allowed help for Legolas to separate from the past. If she could ignore it, he would to.

"All is well then. I shall retrieve my horse and we shall be off." He nodded at her, returning inside. He came back with a small satchel and a bow. The bow was so delicately carved, so beautifully made that it almost took her breathe away. It balanced feather like in his palm. Well, he is a prince. A beautiful horse followed out from the backyard. Her milky color contrasted greatly with Adalie's blue grey skin. Daddy got him some pretty nice toys she thought sarcastically until she reminded herself of where that horse was going. Adalie, as much as Merith loved her, stood low in comparison. Merith had found Adalie running loose in the woods years ago and grown to cherish her. Yet his horse looked as if it was bred to be superior.

"Come Deylia." His voice seemed to cradle the elven language, making it softer and sweeter. His tone contrasted so much for his of the morning that Merith didn't know if it was actually him speaking or her overexerted mind. His actions so greatly differed now. He walked lightly now, every move fitting precisely into the air. His elven ways dipped into the night and she felt unkind to her own race.

"Shall we be off then?" He asked, mounted his horse in one swift movement. "I too must visit our friend Aragorn."

"Then yes, we probably should go." Merith was still confused by the exchange. He seemed so well now, so much like himself again. Yet still, he was hard. Which did not matter. She did not need to care for him.

"Stay behind me then. Be ready to do anything I ask. As much as you think you know, I dare say I am wiser. Although war is lifted, I do not quite trust the world it left." He sounded irritated, like a teacher lecturing their students one to many times. True, she had never left the borders of Mirkwood, yet she was not the innocent girl he seemed to think of.

"I am quite adequate with my bow. And I ride well. I am not some innocent elfish girl." He needed to know that she was not weak. She needed to redeem herself for earlier.

"My lady Merith, I do not question your strength. But if you were to suggest that you know more of these lands, I would be happy to let you lead. Yet I thought you needed that from me, so this is how it shall be done."

Merith sighed, climbing upon her horse. It would be an insult to him to say she was better. And she did not think she was. He had survived war and back. And she did not need him to welcome her.

So they rode in silence. Legolas would periodically glance back to see if she was holding up and she would nod his way. Their elven stamina let them ride through the days and they continued in that uncomfortable fashion. Neither had anything more to say, for they still were quite strangers. But small talk was exchanged periodically, the casual "are you still riding well" or "that's a nice sight". But Merith wanted nothing more from him and he wanted nothing more from her. Legolas had to make this journey; it was not being made for this maiden. If she were to pretend to be strong, then strong she must be. He could give her no pity then. He could not aid her with anything else but his knowledge of the lands.

Yet riding with Deylia brought back more pieces of him. He couldn't recall what it felt like to have the wind trapped in his hair until he felt it that day. He was free. The shadows had loosened their grip and he had escaped; with each thump of hooves as they imprinted the soft ground. Legolas had returned. The trees called out and he sang in response. The animals danced above him. His heart grew with the joy that passed in the breeze. He could feel it all, the dirt scratching his face as Deylia rode, the sunlight painting color on his cheeks, his youth playing back to him. Nothing was holding him back in the moment. Except, perhaps, the damaged girl that followed behind. He could not fall back into such heavy wounds, for his own were just beginning to heal. And she brought trouble and grievances that she seemed to have carried her entire life. He could read her easily and see that she had been torn but for some reason, he didn't know the exact emotion it had casted upon her. Did she feel guilt? He did not know and did not want to find out, despite the curiosity that played on his tongue. He again reminded himself of her wishes. So he continued to ride, feeling every second of the day, not regretting any. And not looking back.

Legolas knew that this ride was a temperary fix. There was much to be cautios of still. But he would try to commit to this world again, if only for the fellowships honor. Too many had died in the wars he had led and he saw now that it was nothing to take for granted. He would be more careful with life, now that he had seen its fragile ways. The world of war that he had been in was very different from the paths of the immortals. He did not yet know what was left here for him but something in the wind inclinded him to stay.

Nothing interrupted their path and soon the destination came into view. The city itself glowed with beauty. Merith could hear the sound of music dripping through the evening sun. They had reached Rivendell. She was light in the breeze, her horse fading beneath her. The air was so heavy, so potent, so fragrant. It pulled her into a daze and blinded her. Her mind wanted to rest. It was weary. She felt as Adalie slipped from her grip and strong words flew her way although she could not process them. The darkness once again consumed her, just as it had that young day. Consciousness lay close and her arms failed to grasp it. She couldn't reach the surface as her body hit the ground.

Aww our Legolas is so thoughtful now! I'm glad he is momentarily fixed. I felt like this chapter was the two going back in forth between acceptances. BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO COME. Review please! Or follow. Either is chill. And my story shall continue on. ably

BTW I have exams coming up so this is probably the last I'll be able to do for a week. It wouldn't be much of a difference, but maybe 3-4 days before each new chapter. Im trying my best.