Author's note:

Replies:

Louise: I'm really glad that you enjoyed my story, and I'm really touched that it's your first one. I'm also really sorry if I offended you, though, let me get a few things straight; The rant is not my rant. It is Xaja Silversheen's rant. I also agree that it is a bit harsh, and I don't agree with the name calling in there. But I do agree with many things about it, like the thing on how much SLASH there is on fanfiction. Especially with LOTR fanfiction, it insults me because it is something that Tolkien would have been truly ashamed of. Though, I also agree that Mary Sues are just as bad. I refuse to read either one of them, unless the Mary Sue thing can be changed in a character. Same goes for INCEST. *shudders* I'm mad at the authors, NOT homosexuals. And although I'm not exactly a supporter, I would not discriminate against someone who is homosexual, because Jesus said to love thy neighbor, and treat others the same way you want to be treated. I don't have the right to judge, for I am not The Judge. I hope that cleared up any tension between us, I do hate spats. :)

Kyle: Thank you for all of your reviews! You have made my day for what? Two, three months? Thank you, thank you, thank you! Anyways, people can get pretty miffed when it comes to politics and Religion. Especially when they collide. There are haters on both sides, though, homosexuals can be a bit more agressive than Christians. Christians shouldn't say that Jesus hates them, because He doesn't, and nobody is perfect, so who are we to say that when we do bad things as well? What is not admirable is when someone shoves their beliefs down one's throat. I've had that happen to me and other people I know about atheism and homosexuality much more than the other way around. Burning Churches, spitting at my feet when I walk around in a Christian shirt, being called horrible names by people when I say that I am Christian after they were the ones to ask. It is frustrating beyond belief. But, as the Lord said, if you are persecuted by the world, remember that I was persecuted first. And I shall always stand up for my Lord, no matter the circumstance.

Oh! That would be so funny, accidently calling an alien! I agree, I would hate to have such a complicated flute as well... *shakes her head in pity*

Ha ha ha! I could just imagine Adona walking down the ailse wearing white (but having no idea why), and Glorfindel at the Altar scratching his head in confusion while Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and they rest of them trying to hold back their laughter from a drugged Glorfindel. Priceless!

Ren: Cookies!XD

Dedications: Give a round of applauds to the most patient people I know (well, sort of know anyway): Mom (she practically co-wrote this story, I love her so much! Not to mention letting me use her computer.) Ren, Kyle, Louise, Wing Commander Arnica Vinyaya, Valafindiel, jamber17, heavenslilagl420, The Troll Under the Bridge (oh, yes I did... again), Emilyy, NaruVamp, LadyDoroAnne, Maglor Makalaure, stabbythings, sammiegirl, Amberalice Rose rockndasha, Starrycat05, Manny Maarie, luneara eclipse, Imaginary-worlds, malikelm, Lover's venom, pretty woman, DivaSister1, and Losanna! I hope you enjoy this shorter chapter. I made it shorter so it is easier to read, and it'll take less time to update. Is everyone all right with that?

On with the chapter then!

Chapter Fourteen

"Adona…"

A familiar voice called me from a distance. "Mm?" I mumbled back.

"Adona, you must awaken." The familiar voice commanded.

I groan and shifted. "Anthony… I think I'll take the day off from dance practice..."

I did not want to give up the warmth of my covers. Especially not for another taxing day of dancing. I was just so comfortable, more than I had been in what seemed like months. Granted, my whole body was sore, and my head felt like it got duck taped to a commercial jet-liner's engine as it traveled around the world, but this position was just too good to move from.

Apparently, Anthony thought otherwise, because that heartless fiend flipped me over and pulled the covers from my resentful body. I groaned, then patted the bed to feel for the warm covers again. "Adona… do not make me pull you from this bed."

That is not Anthony's voice. I snapped my eyes open to find Boromir shaking his head at me with the blankets in one hand and mug of nasty-smelling tea in the other. Knowing him it probably looked and tasted just as nasty. I gasped. "Sonny?"

He frowned then looked around in embarrassment for a moment before turning his gaze back to mine. "It seems so. Do you know how hard it is to get someone like you awake? I have been here trying to stir you from your enchanted slumber since the crack of dawn-"

I cut him off by pouncing on him, ignoring the bitter protests of my strained muscles. "Sonny, I never thought I would see you again!" I hugged him with as much strength as I could muster.

"Adona, would you give mind to the piping hot tea in my hand?" He hissed at me while putting the said object on the side table.

"Sorry…" I let go of him sheepishly.

"You should be." He said while pushing me back down to the bed as he shook off some of the hot liquid from his other hand, then leaned in, looking me straight in the eye. "Adona, do you want to know something?"

I blinked. "Maybe…?"

"You are a complete idiot. Your lack of coherent thoughts never cease to astound me. Not to mention your inexcusable disregard for common knowledge, as well as something called sense. Have you… ever heard of that? I would not be surprise one bit if you did not, in fact, I expect it. Sometimes, I truly believe that you are so mentally challenged that you cannot be trusted with an idea! I want to reach your mind with my words, but where is it currently located? In the ground where it aspires cabbages? Or are you just too differently clued to find it yourself? I would say that you have the intellectual agility of a four-year-old, but that would just be too much of an offence to all four-year-olds! So the real question comes to play… what is wrong with you?" He spoke his monologue slowly, as if to imply that his words would take time to fully register in my mind.

My mouth was left agape, though I suppose I deserved it. I did almost kill myself. But I cannot say I expected Boromir to be the one to say it, least of all be the one to rouse me. I was completely sure that I was going to wake up to Gandalf's staff in my face as he aligned it to hit me squarely in the nose. Hey… why is Boromir saying all these things to me? Did he not just try to do the same thing? Well… in that general direction anyway. "You should stop saying those things about yourself, you know."

He raised a brow. "Exactly my point. You clearly do not have the mental capacity to remember the fact that I addressed you,as I was telling you that you are an idiot." As he enunciated the pronouns in his sentence, he shoved his finger into my chest, then his chest, then my chest again. Let me tell you now, he must be real angry, because his glare held ferocity that I did not know was possible in his eyes.

I gulped heavily. Something was… off about Boromir. Sure, he had been mad at me before, but not like this. This was almost on the verge of savage. I mean, he was bearing his teeth, his eyes had red rings around their rims, and, now that I actually took notice, his hair looked like it had been pulled at viciously by bears. All in all, he appeared deranged. "Eh, Boromir?" I laughed nervously.

"What?" He snapped at me.

"Are you alright? You seem… different." I hesitated.

"Alright? Alright? Do I look alright?" He pointed to his unhinged face.

"… No." I gulped again. This is going to be the end of me. He is going to exact his revenge by killing me… Would I be able to defend myself if he did? Or should I not waste the energy and just let him kill me? I must make a decision quickly.

To my ever-increasing surprise, though, he laughed loudly in my face then ran out of the room, leaving me sitting on the bed, staring after him, absolutely befuddled.

After a while, Gandalf strode into the room, then jumped slightly upon seeing me, apparently expecting me to be unconscious. Though, much to his credit, he recovered quickly and threw me a glower that could, possibly, outmatch Boromir's. I blinked and frowned deeply as I glanced around, hoping to find an easily accessible escape route. There was one other doorway close to Gandalf's right, that, if I gathered every bit of energy at my exposal, I could maybe, just maybe, pull it off.

But, as if on cue, to seal my ever-diminishing fate, Elladan and Elrohir appeared right behind Gandalf, both had identical smirks on. It was almost like they knew I thought about making a break for it. Almost like they enjoyed seeing my despairing expression as I deepened my frown even more. Almost like they had been anticipating my demise.

Betrayers!

"Adona, I think we have something we must discuss…" Gandalf said slowly.

Suddenly, I remembered everything that had happened. Baraer. Baraer would not be dead if I had listened to Gandalf. I snapped my eyes to Gandalf, remembering all that I had done. My hand flew to my chest as guilt seemingly paralyzed my heart. I got up and turned away from Gandalf, unable to gather enough courage to hold his searing gaze. "What have I done?"

"You almost killed yourself trying to be a hero in a way you cannot help, that is what you have done." Gandalf replied sharply.

Baraer.

It all finally hit me. I am just a teenage girl whose life revolved around dancing and family. Not someone who has had training since they were the age of three to be able to fight a horde of Orcs with their eyes closed. I am just a girl who played Scrabble every Thursday night with her brothers. Not someone who has enough courage and strength to defeat a Dark Lord who has been playing this game far longer than anyone cares to admit. I am just a lonely, little girl in a big, big world. Not on vacation. Not in some elaborate dream. I am in reality, not fantasy. Who the hell am I to deserve this giant power? I am a stupid teenage girl that only gets Bs on her report cards! Not King David from the Bible! The only thing we have in common is our status in our family, the runt of the litter!

The full realization, the full enormity of my power finally hit like an avalanche. The full impact of the responsibility the came with it finally wrapped itself around my mind and went in for the kill.

Silence ensued.

Gandalf and the others must have sensed something that had to do with my thoughts, because none of them stirred. Yet again, another thing they have the ability to do that I cannot. The ability of restraint. All this time I have been throwing caution to the wind without any thought about what else I could do to help instead of being a distraction to everyone around me! Baraer would have seen the Nazgul and the wreckage it was holding if not for the fact that I was worrying him because I was being weakened by all that battle, for I am a Bonder, and Bonders feel the souls of the dead with their soul, because, just as Gandalf said, Bonders were not meant for battle.

I am not human! Could I not see that? Could I not realize that? My race was meant to help bring joy and strength to the children of Eru, the lands and creatures that abide in them. Not aid in battle by killing with a sword. My calling was not to be a warrior, or a battle-ranger, or a death dealer. Those titles were meant for people like Aragorn, a true king, Legolas, the Elven Prince of Mirkwood, and Gimli, whose race is, indeed, meant for battle. How could I be so stupid? Boromir was completely, 100% right, I am a true idiot.

And I have killed because I could not see it.

"Maethoreth." I heard Elladan say, almost as a reminder that they were still there.

Little did they know that I was fully aware of their presence. In fact, I wanted them to leave because my guilt wouldn't allow me to look into their accusing eyes. They were the true heroes. People that recognized their good attributes from their bad ones, and used it to their advantage. They know what they can and cannot do. They know their limits, and for that they save lives.

I shook my head slightly. "You were right all along, Gandalf…" I winced as my voice croaked.

"There is a reason why I speak." Gandalf retorted.

"You were right about everything…" I whispered softly because my throat would not allow the words to come out a decibel higher.

"I can assure you that not everything I say is true, but I am glad to hear that you finally see the error of your ways." His voice was grave, but ever so slightly comforting. So he had sensed something off about me. Otherwise he would be yelling at me.

He should be yelling at me regardless of what realization I might have had. "I am a monster now that I have disobeyed you… a monster…"

A heavy silence once again blanketed the air, daring anyone to speak. "What do you speak of?" Gandalf was, apparently, willing to challenge the silence. He knew, generally, where the comment was coming from, he just wanted to hear my perspective on it.

Such a Gandalf thing to do. So typically wise of him to try and understand why I had said that, so he would know the exact words to say to put my distress to rest. He was so kind and thoughtful, I certainly did not deserve him as a friend. It must have hurt him to know I blatantly disregarded his commands in favor of not only killing myself, but others as well. I hurt him by not honoring his word, by disrespecting him, and he still wants to help me?

His kindness brought tears to my eyes. Knowing I have to at least answer him, I shakily manage a short reply. "I speak of a monster." That was not enough of a reply to respect Gandalf, so, holding back a sob that was determined to escape my increasingly quivering lips, I choked out. "A murderer." That was also too short, but drowning in remorse I just could not get anything else past my tight throat, save a tremendous sob. I have no words to justify what I have done, and I did not deserve or want him to have comfort a blubbing girl that should be punished horribly.

"… I truly doubt that you are a murderer, Maethoreth." Gandalf stated after a moment, incredulity riddled his tone.

I shook my head slightly, crossing my arms over my chest, perhaps a little childishly, so I let go of my arms and allowed them to drop at my sides. I had it with being a child. "Then your earlier statement is correct. You are not always right." There was contradiction in that comment, but I refused to acknowledge it too much.

"Then prove my doubts wrong. What did you do?" Gandalf answered my slightly scornful statement with a disarmingly patient question.

His patience made me feel even worse about myself. I closed my eyes in a futile attempt to stop the tears that were continuously streaming down my face. "I-I…" I took a deep breath to stop my stuttering. "I killed him…" Ashamed, I lowered my head. I cannot even say his name? How pathetic.

"You must be a little clearer than that, little one." Gandalf said warily, seemingly unsure if he really wanted to hear the details.

I have to tell him, but the words, literally, will not come out. "I-I can't." I gripped the cloth above my heart, trying fruitlessly to stop the stabs of pain.

There was deafening silence. "Why?" I almost jumped at the sound of Legolas' voice. Now he is here?

I nearly threw myself out the window after he spoke, but, again, that would not give all of them what they deserve. Some answers. So I resisted the urge to panic and replied, trying to convey my remorse through my voice. "I… the-th… the words just-just-" I could not finish. I have to at least say… his name. "B-Baraer."

"Who-" Legolas' demanding voice was cut short by, most likely, a sharp jab in the ribs by Gandalf.

"Baraer? Who may that be?" Gandalf asked softly.

"H-he i-is…" Baraer deserves justice for what I did. He deserves much more than what I am managing to spit out now. I took a large breath as I realized I was now standing, I didn't even remember doing so and finally turned around. I looked at the floor, then into Elladan's, Elrohir's, Legolas', and Gandalf's eyes, then back to the floor. "I got lost among one of the levels of the rings until I found B-" My voice croaked, but I kept going. "Baraer. I told him that I wanted to-… to help… and he allowed me to do so. We took out a couple O-Or-…" The memory of Orc blood flashed into my mind. My breath hitched. I swallowed hard as my knees started to shake. "After we killed… them, I started to feel t-the impact of the death toll, so I began to weaken. I-if I had… had not been there h-he-" I quickly stopped before I could sob. No more of that. No more…

I looked up into Gandalf's confused, but unbearably patient eyes. "Had I not distracted him, had I been where you told me to stay, he would have seen the incoming Nazgul carrying a piece of building, and he would not have pushed me out of the way as he got smashed-" My head started to seriously pound, so I brought a hand to my temple. "We both would have-h-" My legs would no longer hold me, and I collapsed to my knees. "Lived…" That was the last I could possibly rasp out as my throat closed completely, and I could not breathe.

I immediately felt strong arms surround me from behind as Gandalf whispered fruitless words of reassurance near my ear. I tried to gasp, I tried to sob, tried to take a deep breath, but my throat would not allow any air to pass. Even more panic flooded into me as I clung to Gandalf. "Breathe." I heard someone demand. "Adona, breathe!" The alarmed voice belonged to Legolas who was kneeling in front of me as he gripped my shoulders. "Please breathe!"

I looked into his eyes, and saw the distress welling in them. I forced myself to calm down, then my throat finally opened and I greedily took in the fragranced air around me. I rested my head on Legolas' forearm. "You should have listened to me, but you did not commit murder. What happened to Baraer… was inevitable. You need to stop placing blame on your shoulders. It is how war is. War destroys and takes away many lives. But, as unfortunate as this is, war is sometimes necessary. Baraer died fighting in a battle that was fought for freedom, that was fought for good, and it is because of people like him did we win this battle. He knew the consequence, he knew the sacrifice, he was a warrior who knew what was to become of him should the situation require that sacrifice. And for that… you are alive." Gandalf patted my head. "The question is; Are you going to let his sacrifice go to waste? Or are you going to make the most of it?"

Taking a shaky breath, I pulled back and looked Gandalf in the eye, determination burning like a fire in my chest. "I am going to make the most of Baraer's sacrifice."

Gandalf smiled slightly, then stood up, helping me as well. "Then let us stand to meet a new day and a new dawn. We won the battle, but the war still proceeds, so we must keep fighting anyway we can." He smiled compassionately. "Are you going to be alright now?"

I thought for a moment. "Yes, I think I will be just fine. Thank you, Gandalf."

"That is good news. Well, then lady Maethoreth, I believe there are people you can help in the Healer's house. Lord Elladan and Lord Elrohir, come with me, we must discuss the plans that…" Gandalf continued speaking until he was out of hearing range… well, for me anyway.

I looked to Legolas as he stared out the window, seemingly deep in thought. He had a slight frown on his face, but other than that I couldn't tell from his body language what he was thinking. Though, his posture was not completely straight as it usually was, so that meant was he exhausted… and were his hands… shaky? I squinted just to make sure. Was he mad? Well, he had the right to be mad. I wonder why he is not yelling at me yet. Legolas' temper is more a chilly simmer opposed to fiery explosion, so I suppose he'll give me a calm, but icy monologue on my idiocy.

Though, now that I think about it, I wonder what got him scared earlier. Legolas is not one to be frightened easily, so it had to be bad. Should I ask and risk putting even more distance between us? I betrayed Legolas just as much as Gandalf by running into harm's way, even after I told him that I would be careful.

There it was again, the tense silence that I am oh-so fond of. Biting my lip, I prepare to ask something, but Legolas beat me to the punch. "Staring is not exactly polite." His voice held only a sliver of anger, but it spoke volumes.

"I apologize… Legolas?" I ask hesitantly.

Silence.

"Legolas?" I asked again, but in a smaller voice.

Silence.

There was no change in his expression from before, with the exception of pressing his lips together. "Legolas… I am truly sorry. But I just wanted to help you-"

"Have you no sense left? I spent half the time I was away reassuring myself that you had learned your lessons from before! You are an idiot. I jokingly said that before, but now I see. You are possibly the most dense person in existence." Legolas shook his head, then looked at me with flaming blue eyes. "Why do I even bother?" With that he turned to leave.

Ouch.

I really had a lot of making up to do and I didn't want this wall between us. Legolas was the closest thing I had to a brother in this world since my own brothers were lost to me here. "Wait! Legolas!" He paused but didn't say anything. "Please understand that I did not want to remain helpless… if you or any of the Fellowship had died in that battle, and I had been hiding in safety, then I would have just dropped dead in guilt and sorrow. To lose any one of you is to lose a part of my soul!" He finally turned to look at me with a firm glare, but I continued. "Legolas… I'm just starting to realize what it means to be immortal. That I will lose m-most of the Fellowship to age. You and Gandalf are the only ones I will have left in two hundred years. You are my family, and I am trying to do everything in my power to keep you safe. If you and Gandalf die as well, I will have no one in two hundred years for two thousand years! I will die if that happens! I'd much rather die in battle than by an ageless searing pain such as that. I've already tasted what it is like, and it's excruciating!" I pressed my hand to my heart to try and stop myself from crying again.

Now it was Legolas' turn to stare at me. Though, his expression was still firm, it softened considerably. "Adona… I know it is hard to accept being immortal after living like a mortal for seventeen years… but being reckless by putting your life in danger could very well kill many other people, including myself. You are… family to me as well. And knowing you do this to yourself does not give me one bit of peace." Legolas sighed. "But no. I do not know how it feels to be a Bonder. I understand that being a Bonder comes with a lot of painful consequences. I understand that you feel emotions deeper than most, perhaps as deep as the Valar. I understand that you wish to protect us in this war, that we may live in peace, because that is one of the main purposes of your entire being. I understand those things, but I do not know them. Perhaps that is why there are so few Bonders, because for all the pain you endure, no-one knows what it is like, so we take Bonders for granted. The only one besides other Bonders that would know the extent of the pain would be Eru Iluvatar." Legolas looked down, then glanced back up with a reprimanding glint in his eye. "Though, that does not justify your inexcusable recklessness."

I nodded solemnly. "I know. Just as long as you understand why I act reckless." Legolas glared at her and started to reprimand her yet again when I hastily cut him off with, "I mean acted. Acted, as in the past!" I gestured with my hands frantically to accentuate my point.

Legolas sighed hopelessly. "I do. But you would be doing all of us a better service if you took care of yourself more. I cannot always be there to protect you. None of us can."

I looked up from staring at my feet at Legolas, hoping he would not notice my suppressed smile. "Yes. Because that is Eru's job."

Legolas' eyes narrowed. "You must learn to be more responsible and know where your limits lie. I think Eru would appreciate it too." He took a deep breath than glanced behind me. "Why did you not drink your tea?"

I stared at him in confusion for a moment, then followed the direction of his gaze. "Oh! Boromir brought it, I guess I forgot to drink it because I was talking to you guys."

Legolas arched a golden brow. "Boromir delivered this to you?"

Delivered? "Yes. Why?"

He crossed his arms over his chest in thought. "Boromir has been acting peculiar ever since lord Denethor, his father, died. I assumed that it was caused by grief."

I frowned, but secretly I was grinning on the inside at the news of Denethor's death. I truly am horrible. "I… noticed that while talking to him. Though, I don't think that is just grief. I think he may be losing his sanity."

Legolas snapped his icy gaze to my eyes, searching for something. "Tis not implausible." He mumbled as if to himself.

"After this war is over, we need a vacation." I shook my head at the thought of losing Boromir to his own mind of all things, or lack thereof.

"What is this 'vacation' you speak of?" If the situation was not so serious, I would have laughed at Legolas' expression.

"Oh, um, it is a trip someone takes for relaxation." It was getting easier to explain things now that I had the hang of it. Also because I have grown to adapt to what people say here instead. Though, sometimes I don't even realize that they do not know what I'm saying. Maybe in a couple more years I'll finally get the hang of it.

"In that case, let us make that a promise to each other." He shook his head in exasperation.

"Hmm…" Oh! I just remembered something. "Legolas… a few days before the battle, I felt that you were afraid of something. What was it?"

Legolas looked away wistfully, suddenly finding the wall interesting. "We were seeking the aid of the Dead." I was about to ask him to explain, but he cut me off. "How could you felt that, though? We are not bonded."

"You know when I was about to die falling off the ledge on the Misty Mountains? Well, apparently, I bonded with you and Sam in a small way. I made an odd kind of emotional connection to both of you when I was slipping backwards like a spiritual tether. I can only feel the intense emotions from you and Sam, though. It is also the reason why your hair changed colour. It was a flare of power I had no control of. I'm still confused as to how I did it." I stared at Legolas for a moment before reverting back to our previous conversation. "Were they dangerous?"

Legolas tightened his lips, either at the memory or at my nosy questions I'm not sure. He remained silent, though.

"Was it that bad?" I took a careful step towards him.

"Some things are better left unspoken." He harden his gaze at the wall he was staring at.

I grimaced, taking a step back, then reached for my cold tea. "I am sorry." I said, remembering the last time I pestered hem for answers.

Legolas continued to stare at the wall with a forlorn expression, but he remained silent. Was he that traumatized by it? Or was he just remembering the last battle?

I took a sip of my tea, and almost spit it out right away. Did… Éowyn make this? I could just picture her in my mind, volunteering to cook for everyone while the healers tended to the injured, and the healers, being busy, thought it a blessing, and agreed readily, only to pass out later from a putrid scent coming from the kitchen, and people who refused to take sedatives were spared, somewhat, as they too fell into a bittersweet slumber. When they wake up later, they will find that not only is there a tea cup filled with an ominous looking liquid on their bedside table, but their faces are stuck in a perpetual grimace, due to over-exposure to deathly gases that had been emitted from a seemingly normal pot, which, having endured Éowyn's unmerciful lack of culinary talent, turned into a scornful servant of Sauron, creating a portal wide enough to transport thousands of Trolls and Uruk-hai, destroying the rest of our armies from the inside out and effectively winning the war!

I gulped, staring at the tea warily.

"Adona, why are you looking at that tea as if it were Sauron himself?" Legolas asked cautiously.

"Because it tastes like Éowyn made it." If you did not notice, there was a silent question in there.

"Éowyn could not have made it." Legolas said with sorrowful eyes.

My heart stop for a moment. "W-what do you mean by that?"

He finally turned to me with a gaze of sympathy. "Éowyn tried the exact same thing you did. She rode into battle."

I wanted to be angry with her for doing that, but, as Legolas said, I did the same thing. I held back a curse at her stupidity and my hypocritically dictating ways. "Is she… d-dead?"

To my relief, Legolas shook his head. "No, however she came alarmingly close to it. She did manage to kill the Witch King, though."

My eyes widened. "Really? She killed one of the Nazgul?" I felt like jumping up and down. Score one for girl power!

"Is that not what I just said?" Legolas shook his head and turned his gaze back towards the wall again.

A sudden thought struck me like lightning. "Who else did we lose?"

Legolas glanced at the floor sadly. "King Thèoden."

"King Thèoden d-died?" My heart dropped to my stomach. I was not close to the guy, but he was a good king… I could tell that he was a good man by just looking at him and the way he had a noble glow about him and a fatherly love in his eyes. Prideful maybe, but good nonetheless. Poor Éowyn and Éomor, I feel bad for them for their loss. "Do you know who killed him?"

"The Witch King."

That explains a lot. "Oh. Did Éowyn kill the Witch King for killing Thèoden?" I asked.

Legolas nodded.

"Is she in critical condition?"

Legolas shook his head.

'Is Éomor alright?"

Legolas nodded.

"Did we lose any other people? Anyone I would know?"

Legolas shook his head.

I sighed.

"You are still mad at me, are you not?"

He nodded.

"Elves don't let go of things too easily, do they?"

He nodded again.

"Are you always going to be mad at me?"

He shrugged. "Probably."

I sighed again and stared into my tea cup before gaining enough courage to down it all in one gulp. I shuddered from the after taste, but knowing that Éowyn did not make it helped immensely. "I truly am sorry for worrying you." I decided to be brave and approach Legolas to give him a hug. To my surprise, when I hugged him, he turned towards me and embraced me with fervor.

He needed this hug. Legolas is not usually one for hugging, or physical contact for that matter, so this was a surprise, but I could just tell, call it intuition, that he really needed this embrace as much as I did. So I tightened my hold on him.

We stood like that for a while, until he finally spoke. "When I heard Éomor cry out in horror, when I saw that it was Éowyn underneath that armor, and when I realized that I did not hear your flute throughout the battle, and that, knowing who you are, you probably put yourself in danger. I understood my father. My Adar always took extra precautions where I was concerned. He always held tight reigns on me, and I resented him for it. I never had a lot of freedom, and he always said that it was because I was the prince of Mirkwood, but what it really was, was his love for me. I thought he did it because he liked keeping me prisoner. My Adar rarely ever said that he loved me, but when he did, I just ignored him. I left Mirkwood on bad terms with my Adar, but what I did not realize at the time, was that him letting me go was a very hard decision he only came to because of his love for me. As I was searching for you in every corner, asking whoever passed me if they saw you, I could not help but think; When I stayed out in the dangerous reaches of the forests a couple days longer than usual just to rebel against my Adar, did he feel this way as well? Is that why he would send people to follow my every move? Is this revenge for all the pain, stress, and worry I made my Adar go through?

"How I prayed that this was not so! I prayed that if I did, indeed, need to pay for every worrying thought I gave him, every night I kept him from his sleep with my actions, for every bitter word I sent his way, making him out to be the enemy, to not let this be the price. I begged for forgivness as I wandered the streets anxiously hoping that you would appear from someplace with a sheepish expression, instead of finding you underneath a pile of Orc carcasses with no pulse. Oh, words could not express the relief I felt when I heard your voice yelling out, and no words could describe the panic when I realized what tone you were crying out in. I thought it some cruel joke."

I found myself tearing up as I heard Legolas. I did not know that he went through so much stress and pain while I was in that broken house. I also didn't know that he and his fath-uh-Adar had troubles with each other. His father was overprotective and forceful, but, as Legolas said, he did it out of love. My father never did anything for me out of love, and I'm pretty certain he tried to kill me. Both Legolas and I have had troubles with our parents, but in two different ways. Legolas came to a realization such as that, and found something beautiful. The only thing I found, no matter where I looked, was the hideousness of hate and indifference.

I had to admit to myself that I was kind of jealous. While I strove to get any attention from my father, Legolas was trying to escape his adar's notice. While I yearned for that love, he scorned it.

But those thoughts were easily over-ridden when he said that he knew what his adar went through as he was searching for me. Even after all that exhaustion from fighting, he looked for me for possibly days. Legolas truly worried about me. He truly cared for me, and I'm not his blood kin. I'm not even part of the same race! He has no obligation to me, so he just honestly loves me as his adar loves him or at least as one of an older brother would.

"I never meant to cause you distress. I-I am completely sorry… Gwador nin." I remembered that tidbit of Sindarin from when we were in Lorien. It means; my brother.

I hope.

Legolas pulled back, allowing air into my lungs once more, and looked at me with his light blue eyes. "You are forgiven, Gwaleth nin." Gwaleth nin? It took me a second to remember what that meant. Ah! It means; my sister.

I think.

I smiled brightly and hugged Legolas tightly again. "Thank you for caring about me. Even when I was, still am, being an idiot. I love you!"

I heard Legolas chuckle softly, and I also felt his chest rumble slightly. "Mela amîn lle, Gwaleth nin." I can only guess that, that means; I love you too, my sister.

I pulled back to look at Legolas' joyous face. "Did… did you ever tell your adar that you loved him?"

Legolas' expression turned to a wistful one again as he glance away from my eyes. "I did mention it a while ago, but I have not said it out loud in decades… not to him anyway."

I frowned and almost said; Don't worry, I'll make sure you get to say it to him. It's a good thing I did not, because he would have put some sort of security detail on me. Possibly even lock me up in that dungeon Denethor was talking about. Though, I did make a silent promise to him. A promise that includes me, if necessary, putting myself in harm's way again to save him. I doubt with Legolas' skills in… well, everything, that he will need my help. However, you can dodge a thousand death blows but it only takes one to do the job.

Technically, I made that silent promise a while ago for all of the Fellowship. But there is no need to tell them that, is there?

"I shall tell you now, I do not like that expression on your face. It reeks of trouble." Legolas' serious tone brought me from my thoughts.

I smiled innocently at him. "What expression?"

Legolas gave me a deadpan look as he opened his mouth to say something, but, lo and behold, the glory of Gimli graced us with his beloved presence. Oops.

I turned to Gimli with a smile so wide, my cheeks hurt, and held out my arms before brightly saying. "Gimli! How I've missed you so!"

Gimli looked surprised until he glanced behind me towards Legolas' direction, then he did the Dwarven equivalent of deadpan as he looked to me again. "What're ye up to-"

I jumped on him before he could finish, hoping he would forget what he was saying. "Oh, Gimli, you are just too funny! I missed you so much." Pulling away, I turned towards the door. "Well, I, for one, am going to find Aragorn, because I have missed him with the most dreadful bouts of longing." I said dramtically, placing a hand on my forehead for effect.

It wasn't until after I reached the end of the hall did I realize that I had no clue as to where Aragorn was. Turning around again, I saw Legolas, with his trusty sidekick, arms crossed standing near the doorway I just escaped from. "Um, where, exactly is Aragorn?" I asked, scratching the back of my neck nervously. Legolas smirked ever-so-slightly, then gestured for me to follow him.

Let me tell you, the Healing Halls are much larger than one would expect. The one in Helm's Deep had four major rooms, one with cots for the moderately injured, one for the considerably injured, one for the severely injured and one for the critically wounded. This one has eight major rooms with many more experienced healers. Don't get me wrong, the Rohirrm have some excellent people, but a lot of them were obviously nervous, since they had not been through such stressful ordeals in the past. The Gondorian healers were considerably more confident in their movements, and they worked with learned hands instead of unsure ones.

I nodded several times to the healers in respect, because the wounded here also vastly out-number the injured that were in Helm's Deep. Hopefully I could prove myself useful, because during these times efficiency is a gift that is far more valuable than any expensive trinket.

The healers looked incredibly worn, with their hair falling into their faces and the dark rings under their eyes looked as if they were drawn by black markers. Some of them had traumatized expressions and blood on their cream coloured aprons, I could only imagine how many souls they had seen slip away from the realm of the living throughout the past few days.

Oh, how I know what is feels like… Though, despite all of our pain, nobody is going through even a fraction of what Eru has to endure. These areHis children suffering, and I'm just a bystander that feels a bit of sorrow for someone I never knew. I could not even comprehend how much emotional baggage that would have caused ten people, never mind someone with a heart quite literally bigger than the Universe.

I winced at the thought.

"Legolas? How long was I asleep?" I asked in a small voice, trying to avoid a disturbance among the pensive Healer's quiet labor.

His golden head turned slightly to answer me. "About two days… why do you ask?"

Before I could respond I accidently bumped into the back of one of the Healers. "Oh, I am truly sorry!" I scrambled to help pick up the things the Healer dropped.

"Ah… it is alright. I am at fault as well." We both tried to grab the same thing, I smiled for a second, silently remembering movies where this exact situation presents itself and it turns out they're soul-mates.

My smile disappeared once I saw the golden symbol of Eru on his hand. I looked up at his face and noticed something in his tired eyes, golden flecks. Looking back at his hand, I also saw that the symbol had some sort of worn off make-up on it. As if he did not want it to be seen and called out as a freak. The scroll suddenly popped into my mind. It was to be delivered to someone in Gondor, but Daylon did not say who. The mark of Eru is not known to everyone, and being on this man's hand, could there be a more prominent sign? "You're the one…" I whispered.

His hand froze. "Pardon me?"

Did I just say that out loud? Shoot! "Um, is that a birthmark?" I pointed to his right hand, hoping he would forget my last statement.

He glanced at his hand, as if suddenly aware the powder on top of the symbol had faded. Slowly withdrawing his hand, he said. "Uh, n-no. It is something I painted."

I could even tell he was lying. Only someone like me would be as corny to paint the symbol of Eru on my palm. Even if, by some chance, he did know about the Emblem, he would have tattoo it on instead. "There is no need to lie. Just take a look at my hair, I will not judge."

He crinkled his brow. "Are you the Bonder I have been hearing about?"

Yeah, because everybody has blue, tree hair like mine. "Yes."

He sighed for a moment then saw Legolas standing over us with a curious look, Gimli in the background sniffing some ominous, potentially hostile, substance. "I am busy. You can talk to me later."

With that he got up, nervously bowed his head toward Legolas and disappeared into another room before I could object. "Who was that?" Legolas asked.

"I'm not quite sure, but he had an odd symbol on his palm…" I replied, silently wondering if he was going to play some major role in the future…

But the plot was already mapped out in the movie, and I don't remember that man being there in the end. Then again, I don't recall me being there either.

That would mean… Frodo probably won't succeed. "No!" I slapped a hand to my mouth and looked at Legolas who was carefully watching me with apprehension.

"What is it? What has you so concerned?" He put a hand on my arm, probably to steady my wavering form.

"I-I…" What should I do? Oh, my God, help me! I'm not meant to fend off bad guys with my superior intellect! I'm not a professional stratigist! What to do? I can't do this alone!

"Adona!" I felt myself being pulled into a vacant corner. "Calm yourself! You are hyperventilating."

"I…"

"You what? Does it have something to do with that man? Do you feel as if he is hostile? Your pulse is elevated, just like the last time we were attacked by Orcs." He let go of my wrist and glanced around, most likely searching for that man.

Or maybe he is the key to helping me… "No. He is not the problem. I…" I looked at Gimli, who glanced over at us with little interest. "I feared that Gimli was going to find himself in the Realm of Mandos after sniffing that foul-looking substance earlier, and that lead me to think that maybe no one would be able to help him, and I would not see him again, and then who would help me make fun of you behind your back? And-" Legolas cut me off.

"Sweet Eru, must you do this every time you find something slightly frightening?" He dropped his head back in exasperation.

"Did ye seriously think that me, a Dwarf, would knock himself out with that oder? Why me undies er' worse than that, Lass!" He chuckled loudly.

Despite all he had seen throughout his two-thousand year life, Legolas looked petrified. I would have laughed at him if I were not just as horrified as him.

"Gimli, TMI!" I made a face of disgust.

"TMI?" He asked.

"Too much information." I answered.

"Agreed." Legolas said, clearly shell-shocked.

"Ah, yer just o'bunch 'o pansies! Ye should hear 'bout me pa's delicious habit o' puttin' his toe-nail clippings in the stew-"

"Stop!" Legolas screamed.

"Er, we were trying to find Aragorn?" I suggested hastily, speaking before Gimli could.

"Ah, yes. This way!" He grabbed my wrist and lead us to Aragorn as he was helping Merry… who was in bed looking pretty bad.

"Legolas! Why didn't you tell me Merry was hurt?" I rushed to Merry's side as he smiled.

"It was not like he had died." Legolas answered nonchalantly.

" 'It was not like he had died.'? What kind of reply is that? Oh, you're hopeless!" I turned back to Merry. "How are you feeling? Are you alright? Will you recover? How did this happen? Why-" I was cut off , again, but this time by Merry.

"Adona! I am just fine… well, I could be better around the midsection but otherwise, I'm splendid!" I could hear sarcasm in his tone, so he was not too bad off.

"Oh, what a relief." I replied dramatically. But then I remembered that Aragorn was standing behind me.

Then I turned to glance at him.

And then I swallowed heavily.

Cue fervent silent prayer.

Author's note: I know, not a lot happened, but it has to slow down sometime, right? Anyways, tell me what you think about this chapter... or anything really. PPWACOT? I'll have you know that ever time I see a review, I get up and write on this story, even if it's just a couple hundred words, I do it! Cookies to all just reading this story this far, though. Thank you, and God bless you!