Legolas� now flawless face created quite a stir among the others gathered
around the fire. But Jamie had fallen asleep against her, and Ellie herself was so
tired, that she took only a few bites out of a biscuit and lay down with the boy in
her arms. She was too drained to talk to anyone just yet and although she knew
she should be listening to what they were saying about her, she immediately
went to sleep.
�She�s a witch!� grunted the Dwarf Gimli.
Aragorn ignored him. �I didn�t know there were any touch-healers left in Middle-
Earth�not since the Ilissans.�
�But didn�t the Ilissans disappear centuries ago?� asked Boromir.
�Who are the Ilissans?� asked a curious hobbit.
�She can�t possibly be Ilissan,� concluded Aragorn.
�She�s a witch, I tell you!� piped up Gimli.
�How would one know if she�s Ilissan or not?� asked Legolas quietly.
�Who are the Ilissans?� this again from a curious hobbit.
Gandalf was thoughtful. �If I remember correctly, the Ilissans practiced self-
mutilation. They pierced their ears, nose, and navel.�
�I didn�t notice any piercing on her face and ears,� said Aragorn slowly.
�Her navel is pierced,� Legolas replied softly.
�And how would you know that?� asked Boromir, with a cocked eyebrow.
�I saw it when we struggled in the forest.�
�So she may be Ilissan then,� concluded Gandalf, �and that would explain many
things.�
The nine companions fell silent and contemplated the girl who slept so peacefully
with her arms wrapped around the boy.
A curious hobbit finally broke the silence, �Uh...who are the Ilissans?�
And Gandalf told them what he knew.
�The Ilissans were a legendary family of female touch-healers, originally
descended from the Numenorean kings. The line can be traced to the first
millenium of the Third Age with the birth of Princess Ilissa of Gondor. She
became renown as a gifted healer from the time she was a small child, but
where she got her gift, no one knows. Princess Ilissa gave birth to three
daughters, all of them touch-healers like herself. These daughters and their
female descendants (for no sons were ever been born to them) formed a secret
society and called themselves the Ilissans. They achieved great prominence in
the communities of Man because of their exceptional healing skills. Indeed, the
most gifted among them were known to be �soul catchers��capable of giving life
back to those newly deceased by illness or injury.�
The four hobbits gasped, and Gimli muttered, �Witches��
Gandalf continued. �The Ilissans coupled with select men from the noblest
families�and in time, it is suspected, with Elves and Mermen, as well�in order
to strengthen their bloodline and breed daughters with exceptional gifts and
abilities. But they never married, and they gave their allegiance to each other
rather than to any man or king or state. And that is what ultimately led to their
downfall. For by the time the Watchful Peace ended* (in the year 2460), men
had grown envious and suspicious of the powers they possessed.�
�What sort of powers, Gandalf?� asked Frodo.
�Many Ilissan daughters were born with the gifts of prophecy and clairvoyance.
Others developed the ability to move objects with their minds, and a few were
even thought to be firestarters.� Gimli snorted in disbelief.
�Ilissans also developed a special relationship with Nature and it was said that,
like the Elves, they could communicate with animals and trees. They had keen
senses of sight and hearing and were not affected by extreme cold. It was also
said that some Ilissans�those purported to have mermaiden blood�could
breathe water, as well as air. And those with Elven blood could choose immortal
life.� Legolas� eyes widened in surprise.
Gandalf paused and took a deep breath. Then he continued in a hushed voice, a
distant look in his eyes:
�A few Ilissans were seduced by Sauron�s promises and joined with the forces of
Evil. This was just the excuse that men needed to plot against them. Although
the vast majority of Ilissans stayed true to the Light, it was not enough to save
them. For the World of Men united against the Ilissans and destroyed them.
Hundreds were killed in the first few years and those who survived and their
descendants were hunted down in the decades that followed. Some were
mercifully beheaded, but most were burned alive at the stake until nothing
remained of their bodies but a few bones and ashes. The last known Ilissan was
discovered and put to death some three hundred years ago in Minas Tirith�I
cannot help but think that the demise of such extraordinary beings was a tragic
loss for Middle-Earth.�
The listeners lowered their eyes as they silently contemplated the fate of the
touch-healers. Aragorn and Boromir were especially touched, for it was their
ancestors who had destroyed the Ilissans. Even Gimli seemed uncharacteristically
subdued.
�But some of them must have survived for the girl to be Ilissan,� Boromir finally
said, nodding toward the sleeping Ellie.
�Indeed, that is what I am thinking,� Gandalf admitted. �At least one or more
must have survived in the remote areas of Middle-Earth. And, if the stories about
them mating with elves and mermen are true, then it wouldn�t surprise me if
some of them also found refuge in the woodland realms and in the sea.�
Legolas shook his head, � Not in Mirkwood, that I know of.� And then he mused,
�But if there were part-Elven among them, some may have even journeyed to
Valinor, without the Eldar in Middle-Earth knowing of their Ilissan ancestry.�
CHAPTER FIVE: Revelation
Both Ellie and Jamie woke up before dawn (as they were wont to do) and found
Legolas taking the last watch. With a big smile on his face, Jamie bounded to
where the Elf sat. Legolas greeted the boy warmly, but his eyes never left the
girl who slowly approached.
�I need a few minutes of privacy,� she said by way of greeting. The Elf nodded
and Ellie walked into the forest. He knew she would not flee and leave and the
boy behind.
By the time she returned, Gandalf and the two men were also awake. Ellie knew
that the time had come for her to answer their questions. She sat down beside
Jamie and waited.
Not surprisingly, Gandalf spoke up first. �That is quite a talent you possess, Ellie,
healing with the touch of your hands�Who are you and where do you come
from?�
Ellie raised her head proudly. �I am the Lady Elanae of Ravenskeep, and this
is��as she took hold of Jamie�s hand��Harold James, son of King Ruellen, and
heir to the throne of Ravenwood.�
Shock rippled through the listeners at her declaration. For it was known to them
that, several months before, the remote northern kingdom of Ravenwood and its
capital city of Ravenskeep, had been completely destroyed, and its people
brutally slain, by forces allied with the Dark Lord Sauron. Until now, there had
been no known survivors.
�How is it that you still live?� asked Aragorn in wonder, for it was he who had
brought the news of the total destruction of Ravenwood to the Council of Elrond.
�And are you not�Ilissan?� he added, in a half-whisper.
Jamie started, suddenly afraid for Ellie, but the girl squeezed his hand
reassuringly, and faced the man.
�And if I am?� she challenged.
�You have nothing to fear from us, Lady Elanae,� replied Gandalf gently, and
Ellie instantly knew this to be true.
By now, the others had awakened and gathered around to listen, as Ellie began
her story. �You are right, Aragorn, I am Ilissan, but where my mother came from
I do not know. Nor do I know who sired me, for although I have my suspicions,
Ilissan mothers never reveal such things to their daughters. All I know is that my
mother, heavy with child, arrived in Ravenwood and was welcomed by one of
Jamie�s forefathers, for she used her healing gift to save the life of his son and
heir. She was given the title of Lady and fine apartments in the Royal Palace of
Ravenskeep, and it was there that I was born�285 years ago.� That revelation
drew some audible gasps. She must have Elven blood then thought Legolas.
�We lived there, my mother and I, for many happy years, practicing our healing
arts without fear and serving Jamie�s family�until she passed away of old age.
For even though she had an exceptionally long life, she was a mortal woman.�
�I continued in my service to the Royal Family and the people of Ravenskeep as
head of the Houses of Healing. And when Jamie was born 9 years ago, he was
placed in my care. For he was a colicky baby,� said Ellie, as she smiled fondly at
the boy sitting beside her, �and only my voice and my touch could sooth him. We
have belonged to each other ever since��
A quiet voice interrupted her, �And in all those long years, did you not have
daughters of your own, Lady Elanae?�
�Ellie, please. No I did not, Legolas,� and she looked at him straight in the eye,
�for I did not wish to leave the sanctuary Ravenwood offered in order to seek a
mate, and it would have been�unwise�to have joined with a local man. Ilissans
do not marry, nor do we maintain relationships with those who father our
daughters.�
Ellie shrugged and looked away, returning to her story. �In recent years we
began to hear rumors that the Dark Lord Sauron was re-building his forces and
that once again he held sway over all evil things in Middle-Earth. And indeed, the
Orcs became increasingly bold in their attacks against Ravenwood. Not only were
their raids more frequent, but they were deeper inside our territory. And then
about a year ago, we discovered they had joined with some of the wild mountain
tribes beyond our borderlands. King Ruellen had to order all outlying settlements
abandoned, for our soldiers could no longer defend them. And six months ago,
he bade all the people to seek refuge within the walls of Ravenskeep.�
�As the attacks worsened, we prepared for a long siege�and war. Seeking allies,
King Ruellen dispatched messengers to the nearest kingdoms, including
Mirkwood,� and she raised questioning eyes to the Elf, �but no help ever came.�
�No message was ever received,� said Legolas quietly. Ellie nodded, as if
confirming her suspicions. �We feared as much when our messengers did not
return and no help arrived.�
Ellie continued, �Throughout the summer the men worked hard to fortify the city
and to forge weapons, while the women prepared foodstuffs that would keep for
long periods of time. I did what I could, with Jamie more often than not in tow,
to see that the Houses of Healing were well stocked with surgical supplies and
medicinal herbs. For even though I am a touch-healer, there is no way I alone
could heal every injury and every illness in the city, particularly in a time of
war.�
�The summer was unbearably hot and humid, and the city was filled to
overflowing with three times the number of its usual inhabitants. It was
difficult�nay, impossible�for Jamie and me to remain within its walls. And so,
even though the women and children were not allowed to leave the city, I still
managed to venture out unobserved almost every day, sometimes alone,
sometimes with Jamie. I believe the King suspected, but he trusted me
wholeheartedly with his son and never said anything. And, in truth, up until the
time of the attack, the fields and forests immediately surrounding Ravenskeep
were quite safe, for they were regularly patrolled by our troops and no raids had
yet taken place there.�
�On the afternoon of the attack Jamie and I slipped away to a secluded spring,
about a mile away, to gather some ethalus plants, and also to swim. I had no
sense of approaching danger�no sense of impending doom,� Ellie said in a
bewildered voice. And then she explained to Gandalf, �You see, the Sight is not
something I can turn on at will�it just happens�and even though I often can
perceive danger before it arrives, on that horrible day I sensed nothing. The
Sight failed me utterly.�
�The first inkling I got that something was terribly wrong was when the hearts of
four soldiers stopped beating inside of mine. I had seen these same soldiers go
out on patrol earlier.� Ellie paused. �There is something I need to explain to
you,� and her eyes briefly sought out Legolas�. �Whenever I use my hands to
heal someone, a connection is made between that person and myself. My life-
force joins with theirs for however long the healing lasts. And henceforth, an
awareness of their being remains within me. For as long as they live, wherever
they may be, I can feel their heart beating inside of my own heart.� Ellie now
turned to Gandalf, �At one time or another, throughout my life, I must have
touch-healed�at least once�just about every man, woman, and child in the city
of Ravenskeep, and many others too who lived in the realm�s other settlements.
That afternoon there were thousands of hearts beating inside of me, Gandalf.
Thousands�� And the wizard�s eyes filled with sympathy, as if guessing what
was to come.
Jamie wrapped his arms tightly around Ellie as her beautiful eyes welled with
tears. �When I felt the hearts of those soldiers stop, my first reaction was to get
Jamie and myself back to the city as soon as possible. But then more hearts
began to stop�six here, ten there, more and more and more in ever-increasing
numbers. And not just soldiers, but other men�and women�and children too.
My mind did not want to accept it, but once we saw the plumes of smoke rising
from the direction of the city, I knew for certain that only Death awaited us
there. So I grabbed Jamie�s hand and ran in the opposite direction, away from
Ravenskeep. Deeper and deeper into the forest we ran, farther and farther away
from our home, but I could not outrun the horror�the pain�of all those hearts
being snuffed out.� The tears were streaming down Ellie�s face, her voice now
but a whisper. �All night long, the hearts continued to stop�until there came a
time, just after dawn, when only Jamie�s heartbeat was left inside of me. So
much loss�so much anguish�I think�no, I know, I would have gone stark,
raving mad from the grief of it if Jamie had not been there by my side. He gave
me a reason to live, to fight for survival.� And she kissed the top of the boy�s
head.
For a while, no one spoke. Then Boromir asked, not without admiration, �But
how did you manage to survive all these months alone in the wilderness?�
Ellie gave him a small smile. �That part was not as difficult, Boromir, as you
might think. Jamie and I have always felt at home in the forest and are quite
capable of surviving in the wilderness. I have a great affinity for trees and
woodland animals, if you must know, and�well, the truth is�I am able to
communicate with them,� she added a little sheepishly. �So, we kept to the
forests and avoided all roads and human settlements. We traveled by day and
nested high in the trees at night, to protect ourselves from Orcs and other vile
creatures. Food was plentiful at first, as you can imagine, for fall was upon us
and the forests were teeming with fruits and berries and nuts, and I fashioned a
fishing pole of sorts for Jamie. It wasn�t until recently, with the approach of
winter, that food became more scarce, and even so we managed to get by.�
Then Gandalf spoke up. �You two have traveled far from Ravenwood. Where
were you headed?�
Ellie hesitated, but Jamie blurted out, �The woods of Lothlorien. We are going to
live among the Elves!�
Ellie nodded. �My mother once told me that if I ever found myself alone and in
trouble that I should make my way to Lothlorien�that the Elves there would
welcome me.�
�You are half-Elven then�,� said Legolas.
�I do not know, for my mother never told me. But�I suspect that I may be,
although l do not look it. I certainly don�t look anything like you!�
Legolas smiled. �And yet, you seem to have much in common with us.�
Jamie was delighted. �Ellie, you�re an Elf!�
Over breakfast, Gandalf asked Ellie about the previous morning. �What did you
see, Ellie? Why were you so frightened?�
�I saw Sauron�s Eye,� she stated baldly. �I saw his Eye staring out of that evil
Ring that Frodo carries. And he stared straight at me, beckoning to me. You
must understand, Gandalf, Sauron has ever wanted to control the Ilissans�to
control our power�for we literally hold Life and Death in our hands.�
Gandalf nodded. �And are you not even a little tempted to possess the Ring,
Ellie?� he asked softly, his eyes intent on her face.
�No!� she denied vehemently. �The Ring terrifies me. I am a child of the Light
and could never be swayed by the forces of Evil. But I do not want to see that
Eye again.� She turned to Frodo and smiled, �And I have now shielded myself as
best as I can against that.� Then to Gandalf she said, �Sauron is responsible for
the destruction of Ravenwood�and the decimation of the Ilissans. He is my
enemy as much as he is yours.�
Afterwards, Ellie and Jamie were told about the Fellowship�s mission to destroy
Sauron�s Ring. Their eyes grew huge when they learned that the group was
headed to Mordor itself.
�Surely you can�t be serious?!� the girl exclaimed in shocked disbelief. �But that
would be suicide!�
�There is no other way,� Gandalf countered. Boromir snorted and Ellie raised an
eyebrow in surprise as she realized that there was dissension in the Fellowship.
�But you need not worry, Ellie. We will be passing near Lothlorien, and will see
that you and Jamie get there safely,� Aragorn reassured her.
Ellie should have felt reassured�and she did, for Jamie and herself�but her
heart remained strangely troubled. She did not believe the Fellowship could
succeed in their mission. And the thought of Legolas� strong heartbeat falling
silent within her heart suddenly became unbearable�
CHAPTER SIX: Ellie�s Choice
During the next few days the Fellowship made steady progress southward
through the Misty Mountains. As the terrain became more rugged and rockier,
there were minor injuries which Ellie took care of by conventional means. But on
the fourth day out, the hobbit Pippin suffered a nasty fall that resulted in a
broken wrist and sprained ankle. Ellie had to use her gift of touch-healing to take
care of him�much to the fascination of those gathered around to watch her. The
following day, Gimli fell down hard on his face and broke his nose. The gruff
dwarf unexpectedly warmed toward the girl, as she gently set his nose to rights
with her healing hands. Indeed, the whole Fellowship had been touched by the
story of the two orphans from Ravenwood, and Ellie and Jamie found themselves
the focus of much attention and affection.
Legolas and Ellie became particularly close. They spent many an hour talking
about the things that were dear to them�their special relationship with Nature,
their love of trees and music and art, their friendships with mortal humans, and
their immortality�for Ellie had scarcely aged in almost 285 years and knew
herself to be immortal. Legolas told her about his home in Mirkwood, and about
his life there. He taught her Elven lore and history, and some of the language
spoken in Lothlorien. She, in turn, told him about growing up in Ravenwood, and
about her Ilissan legacy and what it meant for her future. Jamie often sat and
listened to their conversations, for he was even more fascinated by Elves now
that he believed Ellie to be one. But often it was just Ellie and Legolas together,
sitting and walking side by side.
Their growing attachment did not escape the others� attention, and Legolas was
subjected to some good-natured teasing when Ellie was out of earshot. The Elf
chose to ignore it, keeping his usual cool demeanor. But inside, Legolas�
emotions were churning. He did not want his heart to be engaged in this way,
and yet he was powerless to prevent it. Ellie drew him like no other Elf, male or
female, had ever done before. He was desperate to touch her, but given their
situation and her Ilissan heritage and what it portended, he was reluctant to take
her for a lover. But he couldn�t resist being her friend, and with each passing
day, he grew fonder of the small girl.
As for Ellie, she found the handsome Elf strangely compelling. The more she got
to know him, the more in awe she was of him. Ellie had never felt physical desire
for another person before, and at first did not recognize its faint stirrings within
her body. But by the end of the week she could not be near him without
quivering. And whenever she accidentally brushed against him, or lay her hand
on his arm, her blood became a raging, boiling torrent racing inside of her. She
wanted Legolas�and the idea to mate with him and conceive a daughter took
hold of her. The thought that she might be in love with him (which was obvious
to everyone else in the Fellowship, including Legolas) never crossed her mind,
for such romantic notions were forbidden to Ilissans.
Ellie thought it would be an ideal pairing for many reasons. Not only was he a
Prince with an impeccable lineage, but, being an Elf, he possessed the very
qualities and abilities that she wanted to strengthen in her own bloodline.
Moreover, he was�without a doubt�the most beautiful person she had ever
met, and if her daughter were to inherit even a fraction of his physical beauty,
she would count herself doubly blessed. Plus, she genuinely liked him, which did
much to allay any fear she might have felt about laying with someone for the
first time. Finally, but not the least important, was the fact that his realm in
Mirkwood was located many days north of the woods of Lothlorien. She did not
think she would have to worry about Legolas interfering in the life of her
daughter. Ellie and Jamie and her daughter would be able to remain in Lothlorien
for as long as they desired it�or were welcome. And she would be able to stay
true to her vows as an Ilissan.
And, even though Ellie could sense Legolas� ambivalence, she was also well
aware that he craved her touch and was confident that she could persuade him
to lay with her when the right moment arrived.
Her first opportunity came sooner than she could have hoped for�
***************************************************************
It had been a harrowing morning for everyone. The day had dawned cold and
wet and dismally gray, and as the morning wore on, the rocky ground beneath
them became more and more treacherous. One after the other, the travelers and
their pony kept stumbling, and even the sure-footed Legolas found himself
slipping several times. Then, late in the morning, Gandalf took a bad tumble
down a steep slope. The group watched in horror as the old wizard rolled and
bounced, finally coming to rest, unconscious, against a large boulder. Legolas
grabbed Ellie�s hand and the two of them scrambled down after him, followed
closely by Aragorn.
It was a difficult healing. Gandalf had suffered many injuries and Legolas and
Aragorn had to disrobe him in order for Ellie to rub her hands gently over his
head and body. By the time she was finished, Gandalf was little worse for the
wear, but Ellie was exhausted. The four of them struggled to climb back up the
slippery slope, as Aragorn had to assist a somewhat shaken Gandalf and Legolas
practically had to carry Ellie. When they reached the others, everyone agreed
that there wouldn�t be any more traveling that day.
They set up camp at a nearby outcrop surrounded by dense pines. The rocks and
trees provided them with sufficient shelter to start a fire and dry their wet
clothes. Sam fried some sausages and made hot coffee for everyone. And the
weary companions spent the rest of the afternoon talking quietly and resting,
while a bedraggled Ellie fell sound asleep. And even though he knew she did not
feel the cold like other people, Legolas tenderly covered her small body with a
dry blanket.
She awoke hours later to find Gandalf sitting next to her smoking his pipe. He
smiled down at her lovely face as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
�You saved my life, little one.�
Ellie smiled back.
�And now you carry a piece of my heart within you always.�
�It is an honor for me to do so,� she replied truthfully.
The wizard patted her cheek fondly, then stood and walked away. As Ellie sat up
she noticed that the rain had stopped. The late afternoon sun had finally shown
its face and was shining through the pine boughs. And Legolas was sitting across
from her, his fair head haloed in burnished gold. They were alone.
As she stared at his sun-kissed beauty, the words came unbidden out of her,
�You are so beautiful, you take my breath away.� And then she blushed prettily,
much to Legolas� amusement. But his smile faded when he noticed her eyes.
They were wide and luminous, and the Elf could clearly see the longing in them.
It was a longing that he shared, but Legolas was still determined not to act upon
it. And it wasn�t going to be easy, for his senses were still reeling from the feel of
her hot, wet body as he half-carried her up that slope. They needed to talk, and
soon.
Legolas abruptly stood up, startling her. �Come walk with me,� he asked her with
just a hint of urgency.
Perplexed, Ellie got up to follow. As they left the shelter of the campsite, she
could see Jamie and the hobbits engaging in a mock swordfight with Aragorn
and Boromir. Gandalf had joined Gimli off to one side to watch. Ellie had no idea
where Legolas was leading her, but once the others were out of sight, she found
herself unexpectedly nervous. They had come around to the other side of the
outcrop. The shadows were longer here, for the sun was not visible on this side
of the mountain. Twilight was upon them, and Ellie�s heart began to thump
rapidly.
�You were remarkable today, Ellie,� Legolas said, startling her again as he
suddenly stopped and turned around to face her. To her surprise, she could see
that he was wound up tighter than a spring. Indeed, his hands kept opening and
closing into fists. Why�he is just as nervous as I am! And that realization did
much to dispel her apprehension.
The girl shrugged her shoulders and smiled. �I am a touch-healer, Legolas�I
simply did what I have always done and was born to do.�
The intense longing was back in her eyes, this time tinged with gentle
amusement. The Elf groaned inwardly. Legolas had made a BIG mistake�and
well he knew it. He had brought her here to dissuade her from this infatuation of
hers, but he found himself unable to speak of it. His ability to reason and his
iron-clad self-control�perfected through years of military training�were about
to fail him. For he could feel the sexual tension rising between Ellie and him. It
was a living, breathing thing. The air practically crackled with it�And the little
minx standing before him was going to play it for all its worth. He could see it in
her face, just as she could surely see the beads of perspiration breaking out on
his. And as Ellie closed the distance between them, he felt his entire being melt
away, except for that one rock-hard part of him that longed to sheath itself
inside her slender body.
Ellie raised a small hand to his long hair and ran her fingers through the silky
strands, now silvered by the waning light. �You are like starlight come to life,�
she whispered, enchanted, as she raised her other hand to cup his pale cheek.
Legolas shuddered. And she felt that shudder to the very core of her being, her
body answering it with one of its own.
In the very next instant, Legolas backed her, none to gently, into the smooth
wall of the outcrop and pressed his body against hers, using his hands to raise
her face so that he could kiss her, while Ellie wrapped her arms tightly around
his waist. Had he been more in control of himself, he surely would have handled
her with exquisite care, for he cherished Ellie; but right now his feelings were too
savage. His hot, hard lips devoured hers, pulling, biting, bruising, while his
tongue ruthlessly ravaged the inside of her mouth. One hand dropped to her
slender neck and wrapped itself around it. For one crazy moment, Ellie thought
that he meant to strangle her for she felt his hand tighten, but then he moved it
to one breast. She moaned. And when that wicked hand squeezed, Ellie�s legs
gave way and, had he not been pinning her so tightly against the wall, she surely
would have fallen.
Even through their clothes, Ellie could feel his throbbing member grinding into
her belly, and she stood on her tippy-toes, trying to bring it closer to her own
throbbing womanhood. Sensing her need, Legolas lifted her skirt with his other
hand and shoved his knee upward, mounting her on his leg. Had she been able
to, Ellie would have screamed out her pleasure. As it was, she bit down hard on
his tongue, and tasted blood.
Legolas� two hands now began to feverishly explore the hot, writhing body
underneath her dress. She exulted in his touch. And when he dropped her back
on her feet, and his knowing fingers found the core of her womanhood, Ellie was
racked by violent convulsions.
In all his long life, Legolas had never before experienced such soul-shattering
need. He felt as if he was consumed by an inferno, and his body screamed for
release. The girl was impossibly small, impossibly hot, and Legolas wanted to
impale her against that rock wall. But just as he was about to loosen his pants to
do just that, Jamie�s clear voice rang out on top of the mountain, calling for
Ellie.
The girl and the Elf felt as if they had been doused with ice water, as their world
came to a sudden and painful standstill. Ellie and Legolas stared at each other in
shock, and for a moment neither moved, although their bodies continued to
shudder of their volition. Legolas recovered first, and placing his hands on the
wall on either side of her, he pushed his body away from the girl�s. Then he
pressed his forehead against hers, and closed his eyes.
�Are you all right, Ellie? The boy is headed this way.�
�Yes,� Ellie whispered, but she wasn�t really. And neither was Legolas.
Ellie had been unprepared for the intensity of their lovemaking. She was both
confused and frightened by such raging emotions, his and hers. She had not
expected�could never have imagined�the total loss of control, the total
relinquishing of self, that she experienced in Legolas� arms. For the second time
since meeting him, she was acutely conscious of her vulnerability as a
female�and she felt vanquished. Ellie wanted to weep. She wanted to hide.
Above all else, she wanted Legolas to touch her again.
Legolas studied the small girl standing before him, and clenched his jaw. Ellie�s
composure was badly shaken. She was wild-eyed and flushed, and wouldn�t stop
trembling. Her soft mouth was swollen, and in all probability, would soon be
bruised as well. At the very least, she looked as if she had been thoroughly
kissed. At the worst, she looked as if she had been roughly tumbled, which�
thanks to him�she very nearly had been. She also looked as if she were about
to cry. Her vulnerability was heartbreaking to watch.
�Ellie, we�ll talk about this later,� he said gently to her just as Jamie came
bounding up to them. �Later� would not come until early the next morning.
There were a few raised eyebrows when the three of them entered the campsite,
but one look at Legolas� taut face and Ellie�s fragile appearance was enough to
silence any would-be comments from the others�at least in the girl�s presence.
Dinner was a quiet affair, and surely thereafter, the Fellowship retired. Gandalf
wanted them to make an early start the next morning to compensate for the
time lost that day.
Legolas had taken the first watch that night and then, because he could not
sleep, he took the last watch as well. He had handled the situation with Ellie
badly, and he was deeply disturbed. He had meant to talk her out of her
infatuation, to explain to her that he could not, would not be her lover. But
instead he had lost control. And in the worst possible way. He had never lost
control before�not like this. The girl was an innocent�something he had
known�and yet he had pounced on her like some craven animal. He had hurt
her�physically, emotionally�and would have taken her violently against that
rock wall had the boy not interrupted. Legolas could not explain his behavior.
Nor could he excuse it. The only thing he knew was that her first introduction to
lovemaking should have been very different. She had deserved to be wooed
slowly, gently, as befits a maiden�and he had failed her.
He could see her on the other side of the campfire, lying next to Jamie. Her
sleep was troubled, for she kept tossing and turning, whimpering and mumbling
incoherent words. This too, then, was his fault, for he had always seen her sleep
soundly before.
Despite her restless night, or perhaps because of it, Ellie woke up even earlier
than usual. As she sat up, she noticed Legolas sitting across the fire from her,
and she suddenly felt shy and unsure of herself. But she gathered up her
courage, gave him a wobbly smile, and approached him. And as she did, she
noticed that despite his utter stillness, his blue eyes were filled with torment.
Ellie held out a hand to him, �We can talk now.� And she motioned to a flat
boulder a short distance away, �Over there.� They would still be visible from the
camp, but their words would be private.
Legolas took her small hand in his and stood, steeling himself against the now-
familiar heat that coursed through his body whenever she touched him. When
they got to the boulder, they sat down side by side on top of it, with their backs
to the sleeping companions. The Elf put his arm around her shoulder, and Ellie
leaned into him.
�I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday,� he quietly began, and as Ellie
shook her head to stop him, he continued more fervently, �What happened
between us should never have happened. And certainly not in the way it
happened.�
�It�s not always like that, then?� she asked, curious.
�No. Not usually. Not for me.� He paused. �You are yet a maiden, Ellie. Any Elf,
or man, worthy of you would make love to you tenderly, slowly� There is no
excuse for what I did.�
Ellie was silent for a moment. �It seems to me I am as much to blame for what
happened, perhaps even more so. I wanted you, Legolas.� And then, more
softly, �I still do. I want you to lay with me.�
The Elf closed his eyes and grimaced. �I don�t think that would be a good idea��
he began, and then, because he had suspected her motives even as he had
recognized her growing affection for him, he asked her, �Why do you ask this of
me?�
�I want you to give me a daughter,� she answered honestly, suddenly reluctant
to deceive him as so many of her ancestors had deceived their mates.
�You want a daughter,� he stated flatly, surprised at the disappointment he felt
as his suspicions were confirmed.
�I want your daughter,� she insisted.
�And that is all you ask of me?� Legolas turned slightly so that he could meet her
eyes.
�I cannot ask any more of you. I am Ilissan.� And her earnest face pleaded with
him for understanding.
But he grew angry instead and dropped his arm. �And yet you ask too much of
me, Ellie. You expect me to give you a child�my child�and then walk away and
have nothing more to do with you or her. My daughter would never know me,
would not even know my name. Just like you know nothing of your father. I am
sorry, Ellie, but I cannot.� With that he climbed off the boulder and started back
to camp. But then, because he did not want to be angry with her, and perhaps
too because secretly he wanted to change her way of thinking, he came back
and sat down again, this time facing her.
Ellie looked at him, pain and confusion visible in her eyes.
�Tell me, Ellie, do you love Jamie?�
The question surprised her. �He is a child�� she replied slowly.
�Yes, but in a few years time he will not be. Yet you will be the same as you are
now. So, will you stop loving him then? When he is a man full-grown? Or will you
perhaps let him sire a daughter for you�he is, after all, a prince like me, is he
not? And if he does sire your daughter, what then? As an Ilissan you are bound
to abandon him and start a new life with your daughter where he will not find
you. How do you think Jamie will feel?� He paused. �How do you think I feel?� he
whispered.
Ellie shook her head and quietly began to cry. �I am sorry, Legolas, I am so
sorry�� But she bowed her head and would not look at him again. The Elf
watched her for a few minutes, then climbed down and walked away.
