We watched in nervous silence as the two warriors--for it was clear they both were--faced each other. They spoke to each other, neither of them moving. I strained to hear them over the expanse of the short valley, but I couldn't catch anything.

The wind shifted. "If you wish, she must be here," I dimly heard Falcon say sneeringly.

"I see no reason for that," Legolas responded coldly. "You have already tormented her enough."

Ah, they spoke of me. I tried to catch more but again the winds turned and I was left with only shreds of wind borne whispers.

"They speak of a deal," I realised. No more was betrayed to me.

"I know not what Falcon intends, but we must stay here," Bren informed me.

"And what will we do for food or drink? The day is yet young." I asked, still not turning away from the scene below.

"A flask of water and a cake of lembas we have and are instructed to give to you," Damen said, pulling a leather skin from his belt.

"For this it was you who followed me," I said, raising my eyebrows.

"Indeed, it would not do to escape with no means of sustenance," Bren said, with a light smile.

"Cleverly planned, comrades," I assented. "We stay, then."

The rest of the day passed with little incident. The alcove which we had situated ourselves behind had warmed in the sun by the afternoon so the moist, sloppy earth no longer was so chilled. We passed the time by simple word games, while I flashed a glance below at the proceedings every few minutes. It seemed at one point that all the Wargs and Orcs had left, probably at the command of Falcon, for some reason. He must need them for something, some master plan he had yet to unveil.

At this point, Legolas, Faewyn, Maldor, and the other men were assembled at the far side of the valley, Falcon standing with one lone sentinel on the other. It was a strange arrangement, but there was nothing I could do about it. Instead, I focused on the riddle Bren had given me.

"Lady Gianna," he began, fingering a small, smooth stone he had picked up. "What belongs to you only, but others use it more than you?"

"My name," I said with hardly a second thought. "That was easy, good sir."

"Very well, it is your turn then," he conceded.

"What is a box without hinges, key, or lid in which the golden treasure is hid?" I said with a small smile.

"How do you open it to get inside, then?" Damen challenged.

I shot an amused glance in his direction. "A hint? Very well. You break it."

Both men silently thought for a while.

"It's an egg," Bren finally piped up, tossing a stone down the steep embankment.

"Well done," I acknowledged.

And so the afternoon wore on. I had a bite of bread and some water, and that was that. I had no idea how long we were to stay hidden, or whether they would come to find us.

As soon as I thought that, it seemed there was the sound of footsteps pattering over the loose stones.

"A scout," I hissed. "Get down!"

We crouched in the deepest shadow of the alcove, hardly daring to breathe, and fearing the worst.

Not hearing anything else, I began to rise and see what it was, but Damen pulled me down. "I will go," he said in a whisper. He leapt up and dodged before our concealed hiding place. I heard his sword drawn.

"My lady Faewyn," I heard him say, with some degree of surprise.

Thank the Valar. I followed him breathlessly.

"Le sulion, mellon nin!" I exclaimed, running to meet her. "How did you find us?"

"I followed the tunnel until I reached the part that had collapsed. It was by chance I stumbled here, but fortunate enough."

"What has happened?" I asked urgently. "From here I saw Prince Legolas and Falcon conversing, with as great a wrath as any."

"It was a tense meeting indeed," Faewyn said darkly. "Were he not a prince with good self control I doubt he could have resisted running him through."

"He must have been substantially angered, then," I said, with some degree of skepticism.

"Gianna, you have no idea. I have never seen him so furious. It was about you," she added.

"What was?"

"What they spoke of. Falcon tried to convince Legolas of a bargain."

"Which bargain?" I asked quizzically.

"I know not, I was sent to get you. He will not hurt us until Legolas gives an answer," she answered.

"You are sent alone?" Bren frowned. "A lady--"

"I am not only a lady, sir," Faewyn shot back. "All elves are trained to be fighters and I am no exception, if you please."

"Forgive me," he answered, abashed. "There is much I do not know."

"We must return before nightfall," she  said, turning back to me. "By the dark all manner of fell creatures may roam."

"Now, then?"

She nodded. "I know the way back."

"Flank us," I said to the two men. They curtly nodded and tightened their sword belts once more.

Breathlessly, our small party ran over the still, harsh landscape, the wind mournfully singing around us.

We made it back with little incident, fortunately, though it was difficult to imagine being perfectly safe.

"There was a host of goblins around just before we hid," I told Faewyn.

"Did they attack?" she asked, concerned.

"They did not see us, but I dread their motives," I explained.

"Falcon made it seem a threat was looming," she said worriedly.

"A poor threat, as there were but a hundred." I assured her.

"Perhaps they are those mutant creatures," Faewyn said with distaste.

"I hope not, they are as unpleasant as they come," I shuddered, remembering the assault outside of Minas Tirith.

In what seemed like much less time than before, we reached a coarse brush surrounded by steep precipices of black rock.

"Here," Faewyn stopped, putting out a hand. "Follow me."

Legolas strode forward, his hair flying behind him in the eerie wind that had gathered in the valley.

"Are you hurt?" he said with immediate concern, as soon as he saw me.

"No, hír vuin, the men did well in assisting me," I said with a slight nod to Bren and Damen, who trailed behind.

"They have proved their worth well. Thank you for protecting her." he said courteously.

"It was an honour," Bren assured him.

"Gianna, there is a matter that requires your urgent attention." Legolas said bluntly, fixing me with his startling blue gaze.

"Yes?"

"Faewyn?" he said instead.

Faewyn gave a short nod and motioned for the men to follow her back through the brush to where their comrades were assembled.

Legolas hesitated before speaking.
"Gia..."

"What is it, Prince Legolas?" I asked politely, feigning indifference. 

For a brief moment, an expression of pain crossed his face. "Do not use my title, Gianna," he said quietly.

"But it is yours, is it not?"

"Too often those use it who feel they are my inferiors. You are not."

"If you wish it," I said, inclining my head briefly.

"You--" he began, reaching out his hand to touch my face. I stepped back.

"Don't, Legolas," I warned him.

He stiffened and pulled away abruptly.

"What I meant to tell you is that Falcon has offered one chance to search the old treasuries for the scroll," he said. "But---

"There are conditions, of course," I sighed, crossing my arms. "He wants me to do it, doesn't he?"

"It will not happen," he said instantly, his voice laced with venom. "He will use you to his advantage, you know this."

"What does he want?" I asked. "He cannot seriously think the scroll is there or he would not let us look."

"He believes it to be a myth," Legolas acknowledged. "But he says if you go, and only you, you can look through the entire hold."

"All of it? There must be some trick."

"There is no trick. Except--if you do not find it, he will keep you for his own."

"What?"

"I told him it was completely ridiculous, of course," Legolas said sharply, "Gianna, I will not risk your life or safety again."

"But how would he keep his word?" I asked, frowning. "Even if it were considered, it seems too much of a trap."

"He swore an oath that will destroy him if he breaks it," Legolas said darkly.

"Those should not be sworn lightly," I said, troubled, remembering the most famous of all oaths that ruined the house of Finwë.

"But it will end less violently, perhaps," Legolas said, seemingly reading my thoughts. "As it will never come to pass."

"Where else could we find the scroll?" I asked, "Is there no other way?"

"All that is known is that it was stolen by the chieftains of Morgoth in the First Age," Legolas said. "Utumno was razed in the War of Wrath, none of Morgoth's fortresses remain. This would be the only place, if it were to still exist."

"Then it is a risk we must take," I said gravely, "Legolas, you must let me go."

"I would sooner forfeit my own life," he said savagely.

"Legolas--"

"Do not think I am ignorant to his advances," he hissed. "I know very well what he would do to you."

I turned away uncomfortably, feeling the memories surface of being pinned against the stones, afraid for my very life.

"He will not let anyone else?" I asked helplessly.

"What do you think?"

I looked down in frustration. "Legolas, I want to go."

"And if you do not find it?" he asked. "The oath will bind you to him!"

"It is a risk that must be taken," I said softly. "Without this scroll, we will never know if there is a weapon, or what to look for, or the nature of my blessing."

"Gianna. Blessings aside, if you were to be bound to that dark man I could never live with myself." he said with a low voice. "As I am the one giving you permission to leave."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"This is the only way, and though be it with a heavy heart, you must go. If he threatens you in any way, fade to your own world."

"But that will not solve anything," I said, "Not if I never find it."

"I will have time then to figure out a way to have the quest fulfilled," he said. "But I pray to the Valar that it will be found."

"Very well." I looked at him nervously.

"You do not have to do this," Legolas reminded me.

"That is just it," I said. "I do."

"I will tell him," he said solemnly.

"He said I must be there," I reminded him.

"How do you know that?" he asked in surprise.

"I saw him speaking to you earlier today. Our hiding place overlooked the valley and I heard a few words he said."

"Stay close, then," he said warily, turning and striding towards the center of the valley.

The meeting with Falcon was terrible, as I expected. As soon as he came forward over the cleft, he grinned menacingly at me.

I narrowed my eyes.

"What is your decision, Prince?" he spat, making it seem like a curse.

"I will go," I said, stepping forward. I brushed past Legolas accidentally and he flinched, stepping to the side. At this, Falcon laughed outright.

"I see my curse is well underway," he said with a pleased air.

"It matters not," I said, "As it is insignificant."

"I doubt that," he said smugly. "Our previous get together informed me as much."

"Keep in mind that is not what this is," Legolas said. "You are not to touch her until she has searched everything."

"I can't guarantee that," Falcon said indifferently.

"Then I won't go, you worm," I said vehemently.

"Why must you spoil all the fun?" Falcon sighed dramatically. "Very well. I will give you one day, and one day only, to search without me. If you do not find it..." he trailed off and looked at Legolas with a smirk.

Legolas furiously drew his twin knives and crossed them across Falcon's neck.

"You--"

"What? Oh, right. You cannot kill me." Falcon said sinisterly. He stepped back and looked at me consolingly. "Are you sure you want to be with this elf?" he asked innocently. "He seems a bit...unstable."

"Oh, he has a bad reaction to idiots," I said sweetly.

He frowned. "Still rude? Pity."

"Still here? Pity." I shot back.

Legolas looked at me briefly, amused. "I will escort her personally until we reach the treasury," Legolas said.

"I thought the bargain was that she would come alone?"

"Into the hold, yes," Legolas said stonily. "We never spoke of an escort."

"She has me," he pointed out smoothly.

"I would not consider your presence as protection," I said sourly.

"Very well then. But I see now, I understand," Falcon continued in a bored voice. "Of course I do. You want some time to talk to each other before you have to stay with me. Mind you, just talking. I suppose other forms of affection would be...difficult."

My cheeks flushed slightly and I glared at him with all the fury I had.

"No thanks to you, coward," I hissed.

"If that is what you wish, I suppose it will hardly matter once you fail to find anything," Falcon answered dismissively.

"I will not fail," I assured him. "I will not."

But as he smiled to himself, I wasn't so sure.