Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

At last, we've reached the part many of you have been eagerly waiting for. This part - Book III - is a bit more personal and marks the moment where the romance truly unfolds. To everyone who has joined me on this long journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support means everything to me. I hope you enjoy this part as much as I've loved bringing it to life. Here's to love, joy, and the magic of storytelling—let's dive in!

Book IΙΙ

The Legacy of Hearts

Act I

Lasgalen, the Little Leaf

Chapter 111: A Parting of Promises

Minas Tirith, 3019 TA, May 1st

Back in his room, Xena had gently helped Legolas onto his bed. The tension in his body betrayed his pride, but his exhaustion won out. He leaned against the cushions without protest, his breaths shallow and labored. Gimli, stalwart as ever, took up a position beside the bed, his gruff voice a soothing presence as he encouraged his friend to rest. Xena cast one last glance at Legolas, a pang of worry flashing through her sharp gaze before she left the room.

She moved swiftly through the halls of Minas Tirith, her mind racing as she sought Elrond and Gandalf. Whatever shadow Alakar had unleashed had broken free, and the evidence lay etched into Legolas's face—the shadow of nightmares and pain deeper than mere memory.

Finding Elrond away from the celebration, his face was grave as if he already sensed her arrival and its urgency. Gandalf stood close by, the moonlight reflecting off his grey robes. Both turned to face her as she entered.

"We have little time," Xena began without preamble, her voice a mixture of urgency and restrained anger. "Legolas is suffering—whatever Alakar's doing, it's not some distant evil. It's clawing at him now, threatening to consume him."

Elrond gestured toward the smaller chamber, his brows furrowed. "Let us speak where distractions will not intrude. I sense this matter requires both haste and precision."

The three walked in silence to the chambers, where an ancient table was laid with texts and tomes. Gandalf lit a nearby candelabra, his expression thoughtful but clouded.

Elrond spoke first, his voice calm but laced with concern. "Those are the same shadows as before. They are the marks of a curse born not of mere malice but precision—a strike aimed at the very soul."

Xena leaned forward, her fists pressing into the table. "Then break it. You're the greatest healer in Middle-earth, and you, Gandalf, are a wizard with more knowledge of dark magic than most. Surely you can do something. Like the last time."

Gandalf sighed, resting his hands on his staff. "This darkness is not easily undone, Xena. A curse woven with intent, especially by one as skilled as Alakar, is not a knot one can simply cut."

"Then what?" she demanded, her tone rising. "You expect him to suffer until it consumes him? Until he becomes a shadow himself?"

Elrond's gaze met hers, steady but sorrowful. "There may be ways to lessen its hold, but to sever it entirely would require confronting its source. That source is Alakar. He is the only one who can truly undo what he has wrought."

Xena's jaw tightened. "Then I'll find him. And end him."

Gandalf's sharp eyes caught hers. "It is not so simple, Xena. Alakar is no mere man dabbling in forbidden arts. He is entrenched in darkness, likely protected by Sauron's forces. To face him without preparation would be folly."

Her voice dropped, quiet but fierce. "Then what do we do? Let Legolas suffer because it's difficult?"

Elrond intervened gently, his tone soothing but firm. "No. We will not stand idle. There are measures we can take to ease his pain, to shield him from the curse's worst effects. But these are temporary. To free him fully, Alakar must be confronted."

Xena straightened, her determination unyielding. "I know where to find him."

Gandalf and Elrond exchanged a glance, both seeming to measure her resolve. Finally, Gandalf spoke. "Alakar would return to Dol Guldur, it is there you may find him."

Xena nodded, already planning her next steps. "I'll go. And when I find him, I'll make him end this, one way or another."

Elrond stepped forward, his gaze piercing. "You must not go alone. Alakar will not be unprepared. Choose your allies carefully, for this is no task for the faint of heart."

Xena's lips curled into a grim smile. "I never expected it to be. But if it's the only way to save him, then nothing will stop me."

As Xena left the chamber, the weight of the conversation bore heavily on her shoulders. The path ahead was fraught with danger, and the stakes were impossibly high. Yet, she had faced daunting odds before. For Legolas—her unexpected ally, the elf who had walked beside her with quiet strength and unyielding loyalty—she would face them again.

But her thoughts churned with turmoil. She had made him a promise—several promises. She had vowed not to take dangerous quests alone, to face challenges together. Yet she knew, looking into his weary, pain-laden eyes earlier, that he was in no condition to undertake such a journey. He was strong, but even the mightiest could falter under the weight of unseen shadows, and Alakar's curse clung to him like a dark veil.

Her resolve hardened. She had to speak to him, to make him understand. No more silent departures or unspoken plans. This time, she would ensure that he knew.

When she returned to his chamber, Gimli still sat at his bedside, his axe leaning against the wall, his watchful eyes glancing up as she entered. Legolas lay propped against the pillows, his pallor betraying his exhaustion. His eyes were closed, but she knew he wasn't asleep—his breathing was too controlled, his posture too tense.

Xena crossed the room and sat beside him, her hand lightly brushing his arm. "Legolas," she said softly. His eyes fluttered open, the weight of his gaze piercing her like an arrow.

"I spoke with Elrond and Gandalf," she began. Her voice was steady, but the words tasted bitter. "There's nothing they can do. Alakar's curse is strong, and its roots are deep. If we want answers, if we want a chance to undo this, I have to go. I have to find him."

Gimli's brow furrowed. "You're not thinking of going alone, are you? Not after everything!"

Before she could respond, Legolas stirred. He shifted with visible effort, pushing himself upright. His voice, though weaker than usual, carried a steel edge. "You cannot go alone, Xena." His eyes locked onto hers, unwavering. "Not to Dol Guldur. Not to face Alakar."

"I'm not facing him," Xena lied, her voice betraying none of the turmoil within. "I'm only looking for him. Gathering information."

But Legolas knew her too well. Their bond had deepened in recent weeks, and even without words, he could feel the truth stirring in her heart. "Do not deceive me," he said, his voice quieter but no less firm. "You mean to ride out, to confront him alone. I can feel it, Xena. Do not deny me this."

Xena looked away, her jaw tightening. "You're in no condition to ride, let alone fight," she said, her tone sharp but tinged with concern. "You can't protect me if you're barely standing."

Legolas reached out, gripping her hand. "Then I will find the strength," he said. "If you go, I go. I will not let you risk yourself alone."

Their argument escalated, both voices rising and falling like clashing waves. Legolas's insistence was fueled by guilt and a need to protect her, while Xena's was driven by her fear of losing him. Gimli watched, his brows furrowed in consternation, knowing this was no ordinary quarrel.

Finally, Legolas's strength faltered. His shoulders slumped, and he leaned heavily against the bedframe, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "You win," he said hoarsely, his voice tinged with defeat. "I cannot go. But you must promise me, Xena—you will not do this alone."

She knelt beside him, her voice softening. "I won't. I promise."

Legolas nodded weakly. "Then find my father. Thranduil knows Dol Guldur better than anyone. He has the resources to aid you."

From beside the bed, Legolas gestured for Gimli to hand him his backpack. After rummaging briefly, he pulled out a small, ornate brooch shaped like a leaf, its silver veins delicate and intricate. "This is Lasgalen, the Little Leaf," he explained, his voice quieter now. "It was my mother's gift to me. Take it. My father will recognize it as my token. He will know you came with my blessing."

Xena took the brooch with trembling hands, its weight far greater than its physical form. She held it close to her chest, her fingers brushing its smooth edges. "I'll find him," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Before she could rise, Legolas pulled her into a tight embrace. "Stay safe," he murmured against her hair.

Xena's heart clenched as she kissed his brow, then his lips—a fleeting but charged moment that left Gimli clearing his throat loudly, his discomfort evident. "Are the two of you—?" he began, gesturing between them with wide eyes.

"Not now, Gimli," Xena said, her voice wavering between exasperation and affection as she pulled away.

As she prepared to leave, Xena turned to Gimli. "Stay with him. And inform Aragorn when he arrives. I'll be heading to Mirkwood first to find Thranduil."

"You mean to just leave without the others knowing?" Gimli asked incredulously.

She nodded. "If Gandalf learns of this, he'll insist on coming. We don't have time for more debates."

Legolas watched her go, the brooch still warm from his touch nestled against her heart. "Xena," he called softly.

She paused at the door, glancing back.

"Return to me," he said, his voice a whisper but carrying the weight of a vow.

She nodded, her gaze steady, though her heart ached with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. "I will."

With that, she left, the beginnings of a new quest guiding her steps. The first stop: Mirkwood, and the aid of Thranduil.

((Upcoming Chapter One-Hundred-Twelf))

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