Authors note: Now for the ladies. The guys have taken most of the spot light recently. does it seem  like I'm rushing this in the healing process?? Or legolas's return.

My friend and my enemy.

Elaine woke and realized she hadn't had nightmares or flashback for a very long time. Had it only been a month and a half? Had she not only gone through all her suppressions being unleashed and losing her sanity for a while at that time? Was she improving?

She felt like it. Though all day she felt a knawing disgust fill her. As if she wasn't clean enough. This happend at times due to her bodies and minds learned reactions and behavior for so long. She ignored it and pushed it away.

She ended up despite her resilience scrubbing herself raw in her bath chamber. She eventually got out from beneath the apart of water and wrapped herself up in a towle. She lay curled up into a fetal position. She let the feelings of disgust move through her much like water and food moves through plants. She let it be taken in acknowledged and then released.

**************★**************

Legolas stepped into the room that he had been directed to. He found no trace of Elaine except to see familiar possesions of hers. He heard the smallest sobs coming from the far door. He entered it despite years of what decorum bid him to do the opposite.  He entered and found her curled up into a ball softly sobbing.

He knelt beside her and ran his hands through her silvery blond hair. It reminded him of her aunts hair. He whispered soft words of encouragement and security. He eventually held her in his lap and rocked her.

When she seemed calmer she seemed to take notice of him and the rest of her surrondings. She then did something that made his heart skip a beat. She smiled so sweetly at him. As if amazed that he was here with her.

"You came back? " she said as if amazed her hand came up cupping his cheek to see if he was real.

"I did and I feel the need to tell you many things. Now isn't the time. Though some I could say right now if you wish." he said leaning into her hand.

"Tell me I . . . want to hear what you have to say." she said.

"I want you to know that you are precious to me. I honor your commradrie and friendship. Depiste your past I consider you the best of all ladies. And if you will let me I would remain at your side always." he closed his eyes awaiting her reaction.

"Strange but I feel the same though I know you deserve a better friend. But. . ." she gave him a look when he would have cut in. " but I am trying to deal with my past so that I can be that friend for you." she smiled.

"Now I will leave you to dress and perhaps you will join me for a late dinner." he said helping her up and brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

"Yes that sounds great."

***************★*************

Thranduil sat staring off into space sitting in his audience hall. he had found himself dozing when he had awoken to find Tristan's climbing up to lay upon his lap with a blanket to share with him. He smiled as he stroked the boys cheek.

He was getting better at thinking of how his actions affected others. Not only how they affected him. He was enjoying inquiring about his advisors and peoples lives. He even asked the maids how they were doing. It was because of the little boys determination.

'I once heard a boy could slay a dragon where a man would fail. I can see why they say such a thing'

He rose and gathered the boy close to his chest. He wondered what Loriel was doing. In his dreams she was there but she never truly conversed with him. She merely stayed silent and listened. To the woes he had experienced. How lonely he was. How desolate.

He slipped them both into bed and sighed in contentment at the routiness of it all. The boy had brought him from anger and guided him through the depth of desolation, and he was getting better. With time all things will heal you simply have to want to heal it.

So he slipped down into slumber and relished the vision to come. Loriel his sweet little one. Oh how he couldn't wait to see her in his dreams.

**************★**************

Loriel sat up shivers of fear passion and longing tore through her. He had showed her his past. the brutality of his father. All he had gone through. The care he had come to have for Tristan. The love he had for her.

'No one has ever seen me so weak.' he had said before giving her those images.

Afterwards he had held her as she cried and she had kissed him. In their dreams they had made love. She had broken her promsie to stay far removed from him. And yet he was getting better she sensed it. In how he spoke.  How he looked at her. And even when he spoke of his peoples daily plights.

'I realize now I am my own worst enemy and I am also myselfs greatest friend.'

Yes he was learning and Legolas had returned and Elaine was helaing. She smiled happy that soon perhaps she would be in her mates arms once more. She knee Elaine missed Tristan as well. The seperate bonds were healing now all that was left was to connect them together.