A/N: shortest chapter yet... i warned you they would be shorter! BUT, there IS Legolas/Laura fluff in here(:

also, i realize i went WAY too fast with Diamond, Genevieve, Pippin, and Merry's side of the story... woops:/ dont kill me!

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Chapter 7

"Aye you two love birds! Get over here and help a dwarf suit up for war!" Gimli shouted at Laura and Legolas as they stood looking out into the distance. It was true, the two had been showing much more affection for each other. Gimli had just caught them about to kiss, to his great entertainment. Their lips were so close! SO, close! Laura laughed and shooed Gimli away while Legolas glared at him.

"Oh, get over it!" Laura said playfully, Legolas looked at her and smiled.

"You are the most beautiful thing in the world, Laura." he said staring at her eyes. He loved them, the way they sparkled with joy and excitement. He was in love.

"Legolas, we have to go." Laura quietly reminded him as she pulled him along. She stopped though and turned to face him. Reaching up, she pecked Legolas

lightly on the cheek.

"But thank you," she whispered with a grin as she made her way to the armor room. Legolas stood there with his signature smirk plastered upon his face.

The armor room was filled with men of all ages. Laura even saw boys that looked to be about twelve or eleven years old! She shook her head sadly as she even saw some seniors, barely able to hold a sword. It was a depressing room and almost nobody was talking. She jumped when she heard a small crash behind her. A small boy had dropped his sword because it was too heavy for him. Some

men began to laugh while others shook their heads.

"Go back to what you were doing and leave the kid alone!" Laura shouted at the men, who in turned rolled their eyes and went back to their work.

"What's your name sweetie?" she asked picking up his sword and setting it on the table.

"Samuel, but I like Sam better."

Sam, that name. Sam, Frodo, and Karolyn. Laura held back a small cry as she remembered where those three were headed, if they were even still alive.

"Miss?" he asked quietly.

Laura noticed the boy had grey eyes with specks of green in them, freckled, blonde hair, and a well built body. This boy looked strong for his age.

"Yes, Sam?"

"Are you an elf?" he asked with a sudden perk of hope in his voice. Laura smiled and nodded her head.

"Yes I am. How old are you?" she asked sitting next to him.

"Eleven." he replied smiling at her.

"Well, Sam, I guess we need to find you a better sword now don't we?" she asked placing an arm around him and rubbing his shoulder.

"I suppose so Miss. Miss?" he asked again.

"Yes?"

He paused, "Are the elves going to come and help us?"

Laura froze, she didn't know! But it was as if the boy had read her mind, she had been wondering the same thing. She had a feeling they might.

"I can't say no, but I can't say yes. So what I will say is that I hope so, Sam." she looked up to find Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli walking in. "I hope so."

Sam tapped her shoulder lightly, "Do you know I've never seen an elf until now?" he asked with a grin.

"Well, now you have something to brag about to your friends!" Laura replied as the two began to laugh.

"It was a good first time, your the prettiest woman I have ever seen, Miss." the boy stated. Laura froze and blushed.

"Thank you, Sam." she said looking up at the ceiling as it suddenly became interesting.

"Well, I'm off to find myself another sword!" Sam said, and with that he was off and disappeared into the crowd. Laura closed her eyes as a tear streamed down her cheek. Why did these men have to fight? Where were the elves that she was hoping would come?

Suddenly, she heard Legolas and Aragorn talking rather loudly.

"Farmers, farriers, stable boys... These are no soldiers!" Aragorn harshly stated as everyone grew quieter.

"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli grunted.

"Or too few. Look at them! They're frightened! I can see it in their eyes. Boe a hûn, neled herain, dan caer menig?" Legolas questioned as he looked around him. Now everyone was silent as Laura stood up and sighed.

"Si beriathar hyn. Amar nâ ned Edoras." Aragorn replied glaring at Legolas.

"Aragorn," now Legolas was glaring sharp daggers at him, "Men i ndagor. Hyn ú, ortheri! Nathan daged aen!" Legolas shouted as Layra gasped. She understood the entire conversation on her own.

"Legolas!" she exclaimed with disappointment.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn proclaimed taking a defensive step forward. Everyone went totally silent as the two men stared each other down. Laura sighed and shook her head as Legolas turned back to look at her. Aragorn shook his head as well and stormed out of the room. Legolas tried to go after him, but Gimli stopped him.

"Let him go lad, let him be." Gimli said patting his arm. Legolas turned to face Laura, who's arms were crossed and leaned to her side.

"Why would you say that?" she asked quietly, but glaring.

"Laura, you know it's true. Even the men do!" he said stepping towards her.

"No, that doesn't matter. Why bring them down, when they already are down enough? Legolas, don't talk too me until you've figured things out. Their all scared enough," she paused, "I'm scared enough." and with that she too stormed out. Grabbing her bow, quiver, and arrows, she walked out to the gate and slid down the wall. Tears began to stream her face as she thought about what was to come. She hadn't actually fought before yet, in an actual battle at least. What if she got hurt? Or worse... died. Letting out a small sob she pulled her knees to her chest and cried quietly too herself.

"I want to go home!" she repeated over and over. Where were he friends? Had any died? What about Ginger, had they found her?

Had they found a way home?

"Laura," she heard Aragorn's soft yet husky voice say from above. She looked up to see him and Legolas with concerned looks on their faces.

"Hey," she replied wiping her tears away. Aragorn stuck his hand out and pulled her up.

"Were sorry for fighting like that in such fury. It was wrong and we shouldn't have frightened the men or you more." Aragorn apologized as Laura smiled and shook her head at them.

"As long as you two are cool with each other, I'm cool with you two." she said grinning. They eyed her with confused looks and she realized "cool" wasn't exactly a real term yet...

"Apology accepted." she clarified as they all began to laugh. Laura then turned to Legolas and pulled him into a tight hug. She felt him smile into her hair as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Then, there was the horn.

"That is no Orc horn," Legolas muttered as they all turned to look at each other. Gimli ran up behind them as they all ran to the top of the fortress. Laura gasped at the sight she saw.

"OPEN THE GATES!" Laura screamed as she ran back down the stairs to the gate itself.

"OPEN IT NOW IDIOTS! HURRY!" she exclaimed pushing soldiers to the door. The gates opened and the entire Lothlorien army of elves marched in. Laura smiled as she watched "her people" march in to the rescue. The elves had come! She knew her feeling she had wa right! Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and Theoden all approached her from behind with smile and confused looks.

"How is this possible?" Theoden mumbled as he watched Haldir approach them. He smiled and bowed.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago, we fought and died together," he paused and looked to Theoden and then to Laura, "We come to honor that allegiance." he smiled and bowed to Laura.

"I knew you would come." she stated as he kissed her hand.

"Help will always come from Lothlorien, to those in need." and with that he smiled and marched alongside his army.

Aragorn, Legolas, and Laura all turned to ech other with smiles. Laura clung to Legolas' arm and grinned.

"They came, Legolas! The elves! They came!" she whispered with glee. She felt like a little girl going up to meet Santa, she felt like the luckiest girl on Middle Earth.

"They did Laura." he replied kissing the top of her head.

"Too battle?" Laura suddenly asked turning to Legolas before they went up the steps. Legolas laughed and shook his head.

"May the best kill the most," and he reached down and crushed his lips onto hers.

and there is the fluff(: hope you enjoyed!

-Mrs. Frodo Baggins

Kendall

Mirabella Millstone of Bywater