Soundtrack: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Guardian Angel

With thanks to WolvesKey (I'm pleased that you liked Jaenna's appearance I was worried people would find it boring :s) and Rogue's Queen (I'm glad you're enjoying this and as far as Zeralena's past goes... we'll just have to wait and see, won't we ;) ).

I'm obviously not fluent in elvish ;) - the phrases I used I managed to dig up on the internet and this rather bizarre online dictionary so apologies if they're wrong.

Borrowed Time

O5

Power

"Stay here." Legolas instructed, pushing her into a corner on the upper level of the hall before turning and firing arrows at the troll attacking Gimli. The Orcs descended upon him and she watched his skill with wide eyes as his effective moves dispatched of them. A shriek rang in her ears dangerously close. She twisted round to find another disfigured creature towering over her. She staggered backwards, tripping over her own feet in her haste just as it brought it's blade down. She hit the floor, the sword just catching her and slicing the soft flesh of her right forearm. A burning pain followed and crisom blood ran down the length of her arm. An arrow pierced through the Orc's left eye and into it's brain. She pushed herself onto her feet as it fell to the floor. Legolas quickly surveyed the damage before recommencing combat.

He would have got them all, but her eyes didn't see it that way.

An Orc jumped up behind him and aimed a blow at the elf's turned back. She inhaled sharply, ready to cry his name, her hands instinctively rose. The creature jerked to a halt. It's arms hung in the air and it's feet stuck to the spot. It's head thrashed frantically from side to side but it's body remained completely frozen. Immobilized. Legolas spun and slit it's throat, cutting off it's infuriated howls. Zeralena was even paler than before when he snatched a glance back at her. Beads of sweat lined her face and her shoulders heaved as she panted, staring down at her hands. His confusion mirrored her own before the troll preoccupied him again and she stood helplessly watching once more. The Hobbits appeared on the opposite side, gathering the attention of the infuriated monster. She screamed at them to run as it swung it's mace, hauling Frodo to her.

Like all things belonging to the darkness, it was more concerned with crushing the ring bearer than her but as soon as it's wild eyes landed on her figure she knew she was an obstacle to it. A vermin that had to be removed. Her throat constricted and swallowed her voice.

She swerved to the side, ducking and narrowly avoiding the mace. She squinted, attempting to recreate whatever she had before; to conjure the same immobility but to no avail. It reached round to grab her with its free hand. She yelped trying to scramble away from its grime covered fingers. Her hands instinctively pushed down on the large one that snatched her. Yet, as it's skin connected with hers the beast screeched and recoiled. It retracted it's limb, knocking her over in the process. She fell onto the ground level. Her vision was dazed and her head span but she managed to watch as the troll inspected the damage. With wide eyes she noted it's blistering skin. Somehow, it was burnt. When it touched her she had scorched it.

Legolas shouted her name, breaking through her stare. She took the opening and fled from it's view. She wasn't sure what exactly happened next, her thoughts were jumbled and her movements sluggish. But she saw the spear in Frodo's chest, Pippin hanging onto the troll's back and the elf in front of her aiming an arrow at it's throat. He succeeded in shooting it down and she instantly moved to Pippin's side when the hobbit crashed onto the stone floor, unconscious for a moment. She helped Merry wake him before reluctantly raising her gaze to the other members of the fellowship. Legolas beckoned her over. His vague smile confused her before he motioned with a with a nod of his head to the winded, but very much alive, Frodo. They shared relieved looks and his arm steadied her when she swayed, suddenly aware of all her body's aches and pains previously lessened by adrenaline. His hands cupped her face and he studied her forehead.

"You have taken quite the knock. Do you feel sick?" She was too dazed to even bother to hide it.

"Yes." She replied wearily, enjoying his warmth. He offered a sympathetic smile.

"We will soon be out of this place and you can rest. You did very well, Zeralena." She opened her mouth to reply, to tell him that she had been useless, but the familiar pulse cut her short. Trapping her lungs and making her insides cold yet burn with a strange tingling acidity.

"It is not over."

Her stomach convulsed in horror at the warning. Sure enough, a moment later, they were forced to run again through the mines. Pursued by an army of Orcs. She stood behind Legolas, pressed into his back, when they surrounded them. Her heart pounded against her chest, they were grossly outnumbered. Death would have been a certainty.

Her lips parted as they froze, squawking to each other in a sudden flurry of what she distinguished was panic. She stared as they began to retreat, slackening her hold on the elf's tunic to scan their surroundings. She didn't share Gimli's momentary pleasure. A tremor ran down her spine as their dark shapes faded from her sight. Something terrible was coming. A blood red light flared, it's colour alone was threatening but it's size was terrifying. She felt a sudden weight attach to her body, her knees quivered under the strain and her arms hung limply by her sides.

Raw. Powerful. Evil.

She felt the tremendous hatred and malicious intent baring down upon them. She glanced from side to side, as far as she could see none of the others seemed to be struggling. She tried to open her mouth and speak, but her lips wouldn't move nor could she reach out to Gandalf.

"A Balrog." The name alone made her heart race, even though she didn't know what one was. Legolas did, his posture stiffened and he stared intensely at the menacing glow. She reverted her gaze from his face back to it, her panic increasing with each moment as she watched it flicker.

Suddenly, the pressure disappeared from her chest. And instead silken like threads draped across her frame. The presence gave off warmth, reminding her of her bone deep cold. It promised healing against the pulsing throbs covering every inch of her body and the banging of her head clouding her thoughts. It lulled her in with a pleasant hum soothing her racing pulse and invited her to rest. And it spoke, most desirably, of power to drive away her weakness. It beckoned her, to let her spirit join with it. They would crush all her enemies and prove her suppressors wrong. She would stronger than all men and more lithe than any elf. Better than the Prince of Mirkwood.

She jerked at the mention of Legolas, remembering herself and recoiling instantly from the aura. She recognized these pulls. The feeling of longing.

Temptation.

She shook her head and snapped the hold it had on her. The pressure returned and hit her tenfold, she staggered a step backwards as if slapped.

A hand clamped onto her shoulder and she jumped. For a heart stopping second she thought Legolas knew. His eyes pierced her's, a wave of shame washed over her and she waited for the flash of anger. Instead of her anticipated disgust he grasped her hand, entwining her fingers with his and began to tug her along behind Gandalf. The knotted tension in her chest loosened a fraction and she let out the breath she'd been holding in. She struggled to keep up, scrambling down several stone stairs after him. He only released his grip once; to catch Boromir from falling over a hanging edge then quickly snatched her hand in his again and resumed guiding her down more dark steps. She could barely make out the shadows of where her feet went. She stumbled and tripped twice but his strong grasp dragged her onto her feet again. Her gorge rose when she saw the severed gap in their path.

"Do not look down." Was all the warning she got before she found herself in his arms and jumping across the chasm. Her heart pounded and her legs wobbled when they met solid stone again. Legolas steadied her before turning to the other members of the fellowship and helping them across. Arrows ricocheted off the stone around them and her heart spasmed when the ground underneath her feet shook and a boulder crashed down only a few feet before her. It tore through the bridge's gap - widening it and isolating Frodo and Aragorn. Somehow, they managed to use their weight to their advantage and jump onto where the other fellowship stood. Not sparing another minute the group rushed to the bridge. Zeralena followed behind Legolas and risked a glance over her shoulder once she reached the other side. Her insides froze, an ice cold gripping onto her and freezing her in her tracks. The elf heard her footsteps cease and jerked to a halt. He span, took in the situation with his keen gaze. He ignored her protests, ignored the way she thrashed in his arms when he swung her into his arms and tried, with little success, to ignore the cry of pain which he knew meant Gandalf had fallen.

Okay this one was short - but it's my xmas present to you :) Kinda.

Love

SKV xx