"Bard! Everyone! Come take a look!" I hear Arley say behind us.

I look over my shoulder to see him popping out of the hold from under the large wooden hatch. Legolas and I exchange a look and then I hop to my feet. I run to where he opens the door and Bard stands there as well, following him down under the deck.

I take one leap down the steps and then look to where the few of us stare. In the hold are beautiful barrels that look rather familiar.

"Royal Wine from Mirkwood," Bard breathes.

"So they were thieves," Legolas says.

"Should we tell Epaphras?" I ask.

Bard thinks. "...No."

"He's going to find out," Legolas says.

"If he does then so be it. Let the man have some peace," he sighs and walks back up the stairs.

I follow him. "Are we to return it?"

"I don't see how," he answers as I follow him on deck.

"We could send it to the Woodland Realm on a nazgul dragon."

He turns around with a frown. "What?" he says in utter confusion.

"Ehh... nevermind," I stutter.

He squints.

I excuse myself by going down to the hold where Legolas still is.

I look at him as he stands in the same spot, though the other crew members have left. I walk down slowly, my feet stepping on the hard wooden steps.

"They stole from my father," he says as I walk up to his side. We stand down there alone in the dim light that seeps through the holes in the hatch door, the creaking of the ship echoing in the wood.

"And we stole from them," I smirk.

"Does that not make us as bad as they...?" he asks looking down.

I frown. He is probably right, as usual. "Is it stealing if it's already stolen?"

He thinks, looking about the barrels from his home, the smell of Mirkwood filling the air.

I place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I miss it too, Legolas."

He doesn't look at me.

"That place has been my only home for twenty-three years."

"My home is not there..." he breathes, looking up ahead of him before he turns his head to lock eyes with me. "My home is with the people I love."

I smile slowly, the gaze he gives me letting me understand what he means.

Cluttered voices and scattering footsteps above us get my attention, tearing me from my elf's gaze. I frown and glance at him before I turn, running up the stairs and lifting the hold door. The sunlight stings my eyes as it is late morning now, and people run about the decks.

I keep the door open for Legolas and hurry over to Epaphras, resting my hand on the railing to the stairs that lead to the captain's deck. "What's happening?" I ask over the sound of the wind.

"Pirates," he answers.

I look back in front of us to see a ship about a mile away, headed our direction. "How do you know they are pirates?"

"The flag," Bard answers gathering a rope and a quiver of arrows. "To stations!" he commands the others.

Legolas hops up on the side of the ship, holding the ropes with one hand and leaning over to look at the coming ship.

"What do your elf eyes see, lad?" Epaphras asks.

"They are hostile!" he calls. "They gather weapons and intend to run us down!"

"Can you see how many men they have?"

"More than we do, my lord."

"We won't be able to take them and I am not thrilled about a battle with rotten outlaws," the older, rounded man on the ship says. I found out his name was Borin.

"Gather bows and hope they will not have a good aim," Bard says tossing a bow to another crewman.

"Is there any way we can avoid them?" I ask.

Bard hesitates.

"Something tells me that they are not on the seas just for travelling," Legolas says.

"Bring the ship around. Steer us left," I say to Bard. "We can avoid them if that's what your men want."

He nods. And runs down the deck. "Turn the sails! Take us north! All hands on the ropes now!"

I run to the side of the ship where the thick ropes are tied and grab a hold of them. With Legolas behind me we pull on the rigs with all our strength, the others doing the same.

"Hold!" I hear our captain yell and we tie them, heading to the foremast for its sail.

The ship creaks and turns. I watch their vessel and the sun move from in front of us to more to the right as we turn. But we do not want to be completely blown off course so we don't turn that sharply. Bard has set up his map and instruments on a table on the deck to mark where we are headed to keep track of what direction we travel and our route. He stands with his hands firmly on it, his hair blowing in the wind that sends out our ship.

I turn to look ahead as we watch the boat coming this way. I walk to the edge where Legolas stands and observe as their ship get's closer. But it looks like they will pass us.

"You don't think they could fire from here do you?" I ask him.

"Not in this wind," he replies.

As the ship comes close, the wild waves crashing against the front and reaching the bowsprit, the ship about eight yards from ours. I can see the men on board with bows, rugged and dirty looking indeed. And there is one of those huge crossbow weapons like we saw the orcs use. For war, getting onto other ships with. But luckily we are as bit too far for them to use it.

Legolas puts a protective arm in front of me to pull me back and I stumble behind him. The huge, rough galleon with recent repairs and scratches, barnacles covering the lower half, passes us, a few arrows flying towards us but bending in the wind and smacking against the wood of our vessel.

That's odd. Why would the ship be so damaged out here? Perhaps they got into trouble with other pirates at sea. But the scratches look odd to me.

The dirty men yell at us in rage, spitting from their mouths of rotten teeth until they pass.

Our crew stands in silence as they sail out of range, only the back of their ship visible.

"Send us back on course!" I command.

All of us run about to stations.

I help the men tug on the ropes and align the sails.

"We lost them," Arley breathes.

I walk to the edge and look behind our vessel. To my surprise I see the large ship turn sharply, pushing the water in front of them.

I knew this wasn't over.

"They're turning around!" I say.

"Their ship is faster than ours they will catch us," Legolas says looking the same direction.

"...Then we dump the cargo," Bard says behind us.

I turn around. "No we must take it back to King Thrandiul!"

"We won't get it back if we're dead!"

I don't respond, staring at him with the same expression though.

"Is there anything else we can afford to lose?" Legolas asks.

Bard looks up at him and shakes his head.

"They're gaining speed," Arley says looking at them.

"Dump the barrels," Legolas says to the men. He and Bard go down to the hold with two others. "Everyone else prepare for the worst!" I command. "Ready the weapons!"

The men rush to grab their gear and I pull out my bow, strapping the arrows onto my back as well. Wish I had my armor.

But I stand ready and then help the others pull the cargo overboard.

We lift barrels of precious wine on the edges and then thrust them into the water, giant waves swallowing them with a splash.

We continue until there is not barrel left in the hold.

"How are we doing?" I ask Epaphras.

"They take no slowing down. I fear they might catch us even now."

"No way they can," Bard says walking up the stairs halfway to him. "We've dropped over six hundred pounds."

"Aye but I fear even with that their vessel is from the northern port. You can't beat those ships in speed."

"They're not getting closer," Arley says.

"Not yet," Legolas says.

I run back down to the main deck and approach Legolas as he watches the pursuing ship.

"What should happen if they catch us?" I ask.

"We fight."

"And what if we do not survive?"

He doesn't answer. But he pulls out his bow.

I grasp the ropes in my left hand and my bow in the right, the salty air blowing tiny locks of white into my face. I squint from the sunlight overhead and breathe.

The ship follows behind ours for hours until we notice it getting closer.

"Do you think they know this ship stole from Mirkwood?" I ask Legolas. "Perhaps the promise of valuable wine is what they chase after."

"I do not know."

I run up to the captain's deck to see them rigging their anchoring machine to the front of their ship. They mean to use it to get their men on our vessel.

I stare with my hands on the wooden railing behind Epaphras as they near us dangerously. "Steer us left," I say. "If we turn they might miss us."

"And then what?" he asks. "There's to be a fight, my lady and I do not wish us to be blown off course if we can possibly win it."

"...Can we?"

He looks at me worriedly but focuses on steering us.

I notch an arrow and walk to the edge of the deck to face the crew. "Prepare for war!"

They load bows and ready swords. I turn around to see the oncoming bandits, the ship nearing us on the left side.

I hop down the stairs and stand next to Legolas as I look out. "I don't like this. I don't like killing other men," I tell him.

"We do not kill because we hate what is before us, but because we love what is behind us."

I look down and know that if we don't defend ourselves that means Epaphras, Bard, his crew... and Legolas will die. I will not let that happen. I clutch my bow and pull out an arrow.

Our men gather the gravelling hooks on heavy rope.

"Don't," I say stopping them. "If they wish to take our ship then let them come one wave at a time. We can kill them easily that way."

"Easy won't be in the equation, my lady," Borin says.

"Here they come!" Arley says.

Just then an arrow flies past him. "Get back!" I say to him and he has already moved, loading his bow.

I see the huge vessel move into place, shouting men and outlaws with their swords in the air, readying their hooks.

"Fire!" I call out and we let our arrows fly. Mine hits an archer in the back through the chest.

I see Mirkwood arrows from my elf hit one after the other. Arley moves out of the way in front of me to miss one from the enemy just barely.

I load another and pull back, the first couple men throwing their hooks onto our ship. I fire at the man attempting to board into his stomach, him falling into the water below.

Arrows fly back and forth on the ships like two way rain, killing men left and right.

Our crew are valued fighters though. They dodge arrows and fire them back skillfully.

I only miss once, which is a miracle I know it. But I get down to hide from the incoming shots towards me, notching another arrow with Borin beside me. "If I had one grenade," I grumble, getting back up to fire another arrow. A hook crashes against the wood next to me and I stand to my feet, firing only one more arrow then pulling out my sword. "Arley! Get up to the captain's deck!" I call and he turns around, startled. But he does so and keeps shooting arrows from there.

I look to the first pirate who has made to our ship and charge forward, thrusting my blade upward and clashing it with his that blocks my blow. I shove my sword into his stomach when he does though and yank it out again, blood staining my blade. I shove him off the edge of the boat with a kick and duck to avoid getting my head chopped off from another bandit. I swing my sword right, slicing his chest and then stabbing under his rib cage with a cry.

I turn around to see Legolas now down here with his dual long knives, swiftly but mercilessly killing outlaws one after the other.

I stand ready as more leap onto our ship. One of them hits Borin as he stands not facing them, knocking him over.

I run just as the bandit is about to stab the man and slice the back of his neck quickly, throwing him into the ocean behind him. Borin stands up to block the blow of another just in time as I turn around to see one with a shaggy beard, yelling in anger as he swings down on my head. I yank my blade with a short battle cry against his and then thrust my sword into his stomach.

I snap a kick at one that jumps onto the deck to the right of me, hitting his jaw and causing him to drop his sword and fall back over the railing and into the water.

And that's when I get hit by something and knocked aside, my back hitting the main mast of the ship, my hands grabbing the salty water stained wood after I grunt. I whirl around to dodge the person who hit me when he strikes again. I make a slice on his leg but watch as an arrow from Arley pierces through his neck and makes him fall over.

I stab a man who takes his place but when I hear flesh being torn behind me I whirl around to see Legolas yank his blade out of a pirate's back as he was threatening me. I hadn't even noticed that he was there. But he seems to always look out for me even in the shadow of war.

I charge just before he is taken by a blade and blow down my sword into the man's shoulder, cutting him and then spinning around to stab him in the gut. I duck to allow Legolas to cut one's chest, blood staining the white shirt just before I pull my arm up and finish him.

I look back at their ship where they have so many crew members ready to fight and look at mine. These few men that act with skill and quickness, killing these pirates well but getting tired.

I race forward to a man who fights Bard with a cutlass. I get to them and thrust my arms upward that hold my sword, lopping off his arm with one blow. The man screams but Bard stabs him in the ribs and he dies.

"They keep coming," I tell Bard.

"Our men won't be able to defeat them," he breathes.

"Lucky you have Legolas and I then."

A savage bandit charges at us with fury in his eyes. But Bard blocks his sword and I elbow his arm, and stab through his neck.

I look back at the instrument they were going to use and think if there's anything I could do to help my men not fall. I turn around. "Distract them," I tell Bard.

"I'll do my best," he gives me a look.

I run forward just as a pirate swings onto our deck with a rope and jump off the boat, catching the string in my hand and knocking the man off into the water. I grasp it tightly and allow myself to come to the foredeck. I leap off just then and do a roll on their ship, standing quickly to my feet after.

A pirate runs towards me with his sword in the air. I spin around and slice his side open, then elbow him in the head. I duck from another and then get back up, cutting his neck and then kicking him over. I turn around when I see Legolas leaping from our ship to this one. Fool. He should have stayed on our ship. I need their attention to be draw elsewhere.

But he fights quickly on the main deck in front of me.

I throw my sword into the air and catch it again with a different angle on my hand, stabbing one that had run up behind me and yanking it out again.

I clash the blade with an attacker in front of me and swing it aside. He tries to get my leg and I block it quickly, jumping up and stepping on the sword, stabbing his neck and then pulling it out again to block one that runs up to my left. I swing my sword and cut him in the stomach, kicking him down.

I turn around and run to the giant wooden device. I begin pushing it hard, my hands pressed against the rough wood. I struggle to get it turned around and I look up when I hear a battle cry. I move back just before a sword strikes my hands and pick up my own blade from the flooded deck sparkling with salt. I thrust it upwards to block a blow coming from the side and then swing it off. But when I try to get his side he blocks and I throw my sword over, clashing hard with his that makes me realize how out of breath I am. My blade is pressed against his, his yellow teeth showing from the scowl on his greedy face. I shove him back with a grunt, and stab him in the leg. I pull it out and stick it into his gut. Just as I bring my sword again I feel a pressure that knocks me back. I land on my butt and look down at the long, thin, feathered stick that impales my thigh.

I look past it when I see eyes and I spot Legolas who is in the midst of blood thirsty pirates. He is looking at me with shock and horror.

I place my hands on the deck and push myself up. I press against the machine hard until it is angled correctly. I yank the string back and lock it in place. I look up at my target and adjust the thing so that it is aimed right... I breathe and let it fly out from its place, the hook and string shooting ahead of me and smashing through the main mast, breaking the lot of it and sending wood in every direction in a smashing explosion that makes all crew members fall silent.

There is a moment of quiet on the ships.

I smile when I begin to hear the enormously loud cracking sound. I look up to see the sails shifting... it begins to tip and then, as the pirates exclaim, it falls forward towards me and that's when I realize my death is near. The mast cracks and breaks the foremast in front of it as it comes down. I can't move. When I try to the pain in my leg sends me back to the wood. I watch the collapsing white sails and the scattering pirates until I feel a train hit me. Well that's what I was expecting... But as it crashes down I feel in a different position and the shadow of the sails overtake me.

I look up once all the noise stops. Legolas is over me and had moved me out of the way before I was crushed. His body covers mine so as to protect me.

I look into his deep blue eyes that are filled with concern. That's when the pain occurs. I feel as if stabbed in my leg as I realize what sticks out of it. My hand goes to the arrow that pierces it and brings it back up covered in blood.

I feel weak. But Legolas proceeds to bring a hand under my back and another under my knees and lift me up effortlessly.

Just one mighty kick and a large plank connects the two ships. He hops over it quickly and I only see the sky and the sails of our ship above me.

I see us leaving the ship or pirates behind us as they can no longer sail.

But the sky grows dim, and frantic voices get quieter.

And then I am asleep.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I wake to pain. Anguish in my leg. My eyes flash open to see wooden ceiling, candlelit. And I lie on something soft. My fingers touch fabric. It's the captain's quarters.

I moan and try to lift my head. But a hand gently touches my cheek. My eyes look at the arrow on my leg and I begin to breathe heavily, putting my head back down on the pillow.

I feel the life leaving me... utterly weak. "Legolas?" I moan. The only person I want to see is him.

He is already at my bedside. "Hm?" he asks softly.

"I can't feel my foot..." I say shakily. "I can't feel my fingertips..."

"Shhh," he says so quietly to keep me from freaking out, stroking my hair back from my face gently.

I open my eyes to look at the elf. There is nothing but sorrow in his eyes as they stare into mine.

"The... the rest of the crew..." I murmur. "Are they alright?"

"They are fine," he whispers.

I swallow. "...Am I going to die?" I whisper back.

He shows horror. "No, Vilora," he says so quietly.

"...I'm scared."

His eyes want to shed tears and so do mine. He swallows and shakes his head. "You are going to be alright I promise," he breathes and leans in, pressing his lips gently to my forehead and resting his own against it afterwards as he kneels at my bedside.

I shut my eyes.

Just then the doors open and both of us look there to see Epaphras and Bard come in with stuff from the hold. They set it down beside the bed and come over to where Legolas sits on his knees. He has to move to make room for them. But I reach out my hand and act like a child taken from their mother.

He comes around to the other side of the double bed and sits on it right beside me.

They begin to unwrap the cloth that's stained red around my wound and Bard picks up large pincers. He cautiously clips them close to my leg on the arrow. My heavy breathing and stomach ache doesn't help but the pain is already bad and what ahead worries me.

Legolas looks as scared as I do, but more innocent.

I close my eyes and breathe.

I feel pressure in my leg but no more pain yet. I open my eyes to see Bard getting sweaty, and hesitant. "I can't..." he starts. "I can't do it."

Epaphras takes over and grips the arrow.

I swallow and shut my eyes again. I feel so much anguish in my wound suddenly that I cry out. Legolas's hand wraps around mine and holds it tightly.

My other hand grips the sheets under me.

"Just pull it out quickly," I hear Bard say.

"It is stuck more than I thought," Epaphras breathes. "Keep still, my lady."

I nod and clutch onto Legolas's hand.

Just then an agony erupts in my thigh and I cry out from pain. I feel Legolas grasp my hand with both of his. I open my eyes when it stops a bit and see the arrow in his hand, covered in blood. But where's the tip?

I eye my elf to see just concern and sympathy in them, more than I have seen before. He looks more scared than I feel.

I look at Epaphras who uses the pincers and holds them above the red flooded hole in my leg.

I breathe heavily and begin to sweat lightly on my forehead.

Legolas looks to the wound where I cannot see and then he puts one of his hands on my cheek and looks into my eyes. "Vilora it's alright just... breathe."

I shut my eyes as the pain returns, every bone in my body becoming stiff. I moan and cry out from the torture, squeezing my elf's hand hard, tears beginning to escape my weary eyes.

This lasts much longer than pulling the arrow out, his tool digging into my tender flesh to retrieve the arrowhead.

I feel Legolas pull me onto his knee and hold me close as Epaphras works, me just crying pathetically in his arms. His hands fumble at my head and I feel his gaze look so incredibly troubled by my suffering.

I feel air reach my leg and I huff, opening my eyes to see a bloody chunk in the large forceps. Bard hands him the metal bowl for him to place it in and it clinks at the bottom.

I feel better now but weak, and my leg still throbs... but Epaphras begins to bind my thigh tightly and tie it off as I pant, my hands shaking.

"You should rest as much as possible for now," he says and stands up.

I look over at him as Legolas dries my forehead with a warm cloth. "Thank you," I whisper.

He nods slowly and takes his leave. Bard exits after he pours me some cold water with a sympathetic look.

Legolas moves from under me but I grab his hand. "No don't go..." I breathe. "Please."

"I won't go anywhere, my darling." I feel him lean down and kiss me gently on the forehead. He leans back against the headboard and I move with him, cringing when I shift my leg. But I rest my head above his knee, the soft fabric touching my cheek.

His hand rests on my shoulder and I curl up there. His finger wipes a tear away from my cheek so softly.

We lay there in silence for a little while, listening to the creaking of the ship and the occasional drop of water in the wooden floor.

I still have to breathe a bit heavier...

I hold onto the knee of the elf who gently strokes my hair back with his fingers.

"Didn't I tell you you would live, flower?" he asks with a soft voice like a flowing river.

"Not yet it seems."

I can hear his breath when he hints a chuckle.

"It still hurts..." I mutter.

"If I could steal your pain I would..." he responds in a whisper.

"I wouldn't let you..." Normally I am not one to complain about my suffering or share in weakness but with him I can... I can say anything to him. I know that I had sworn myself not to get too close to anyone but now I am over that line. I don't want to not be close to Legolas. Never do I wish this. I never want to leave him... And I submit. I will be with him. I will give him my heart... my heart that already belongs to him.

We lay in silence as I focus on the touch of Legolas's fingers on my ear... on my hair...

"Tell me a story," I whisper. I need his voice to soothe me like it always does.

"Of course... What kind?" he asks gently.

"Any kind."

The two of us rest there as he tells me a beautiful poem about the sea, followed by a fable of his realm. I just remember listening to his angelic voice until letting it send me to sleep.

                                                                                                                    .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

_______________

PS: please please please COMMENT and tell me anything on your mind or what you think so far. I REALLY need reviews if i am to grow as i writer! thank you!