I pressed myself against the wall as the door creaked open, pulling out my dagger instinctively. I held it loosely as I beheld who had opened the door.

A Lórien guard (I recognised the insignia on his breastplate) stood, fully armed, at the doorway. "My lady," he said brusquely, motioning to us both.

Fortunately, I had made time at some point to change from my nightdress to a pair of Faewyn's leggings and tunic.

I lowered my arm, but made no other move. "What news?"

"I bring word that you are on order to remain here until the search parties return from their survey of the borders," he replied.

"Which search pa--did the fighting end? Who was it? What happened?"

In the elevated sense of panic I felt, my questions tumbled over each other. I silently willed myself to ignore the heightened emotions brought on by the moonstone.

I had learned to fight it over time, but still it caught me off guard in times of high tension such as this.

The guard looked rather alarmed at the assortment of questions.

"The skirmish was small, nobody on our side was killed. The Lórien foot soldiers successfully... rendered the invading men... unfit for battle." He cleared his throat after attempting to soften his words for our ears.

"Heavens, must you speak in riddles!?" I exclaimed. "Were they killed?"

"Yes, my lady," the guard replied. He clearly was not accustomed to engaging in such crude talk; I imagined he had not ventured from his post of palace guard during his years in service.

"Good, thank you. In which manner?"

"In which--?" The soldier looked confused.

Faewyn strode to my side and smiled sweetly. "In which way were they killed, she means? Eviscerated? Burned? Stabbed? Beheaded? Mauled? Drowned? I could go on, but I should hope you understand."

He looked rather aghast. "Ah--they were...beheaded, my lady. All of them. The prince demanded it."

I sighed, relieved, and I mentally shooed away images of hooded men pulling spears and arrows out of their sides with no ill effects.

"Were there any survivors?" I inquired.

"One captured."

I smiled, eyes gleaming.

The poor guard looked a bit alarmed at my expression.

"The plan lives yet," I proclaimed. I meant to push past him, but at this he put up his sword.

"You are under orders to remain here until the parties return," he stated again, warningly. "I am only to let you know and now you must remain under lock for now."

"Orders," I said, rather disdainfully, though I stepped back. "Whose orders are you under, might I ask?"

"The Captain of the guard, naturally," he said, raising an eyebrow challengingly.

"I hardly think his orders can keep me in here," I snapped waspishly.

Valar, this was pointless.

I looked up to the sound of more footsteps, only to find that in a sudden appearance, Legolas had pushed past the guard suddenly, nodding at his acknowledgment from the latter.

"Perhaps not, but mine can," he said, eyes blazing.

He had somehow found time to don icy silver greaves, bracers, breastplate and pauldrons, all ornate, though now also ornamented by various spots of rust coloured blood.

One of his two knives was in his left hand, his quiver empty. Since putting on armour likely required significant time, he had not braided his hair in any way, and it hung loose around his face.

He looked like a king.

"Legolas, the threat is over," I pleaded. "What is the reason for this?!"

"The threat is not over," he said, returning the knife he had been holding to the sheath strapped on his back. "Gianna, we have to be sure we only know of the two men. The one that will take news of the captured, and the one that remains so. If there are any others, anyone at all, this will fail. I must try to eliminate that possibility."

"Reasonable," I admitted. "But I fail to see why I cannot simply walk around."

"Why yes, it is a lovely night for a stroll," he said, cocking his head ever so slightly. His eyes glittered as he continued. "Do you see the moon? And the pools of blood on the stones?" His sarcasm was obvious.

"There's no need to be melodramatic," I said mildly. "Very well, but you mustn't leave me hanging. Come personally if there is news, or there is a high chance I will ignore the rank of whatever soldier you send."

The current guard raised his eyebrows when he thought nobody could see.

"So you only accept orders from me?" Legolas remarked, "Interesting. Also, unfortunate, since in likely no more than a day, I will be nowhere near to administer information to you. Perhaps you'll cope."

"I shall have to cope with a great many things, which in fact I already have had quite enough experience with to deem myself capable of," I replied, somewhat sharply.

"I know." he said, his voice softer.

I sighed. "Legolas, I want to cope with it now, but you are hardly letting me."

"Gianna, you--I want you to fight next to me, and Faewyn as well, but you know as well as anyone that we all must tread lightly, lest this entire plan unravel."

"Hold tight to the thread, then," I said, half smirking.

He shot me an exasperated look, though the corners of his mouth turned up in an odd almost-smile.

"You're the thread," he said lightly. Without further ado, he nodded to us all and left.

The guard similarly vanished, and I heard the lock of the door click behind him.
******************
The once-welcoming nighttime was oppressive in its silence.

Surely some scouts would return soon enough, this small attack was meant to come in at once, not to hide in the bushes.

Faewyn was busily smoothing out the creases on the bed sheets, furrowing her brows together in frustration.

"I am a guard," she said sourly. "I wish I could come with you on your fake kidnapping."

"Ah, my dear friend, that would be too much fun to be dreaded," I laughed. "But if I were truly captured, you would not be with me, thus you must stay."

"I realise, but that doesn't make it any less irritating," she said. "I am to be posted on one of the watch points, however. So for a short time, I will be there."

"That is fortunate," I said, "Your archery is excellent and other than Legolas, I doubt there is any one more qualified."

She snorted, amused. "If you believe that to be so, I will not contradict you."'

I sighed again. "Is your window unlocked?"

"No, you can't!" Faewyn said hastily, "Legolas does not anger quickly, but when he does I'll not face him. Besides, you want to leave me here by myself?"

"Calm down, I only wanted to see how far the view went."

She laughed, relaxing slightly. "My apologies."

Faewyn took the silken curtain sash and tugged lightly, before parting the pale fabric aside. I pushed open the window and breathed deeply. Still there was tension in the air, but it was less now. All those who came had been done with, and now we had only to assume the guise of one of them.

Though the prospect of failure meant death, the thrill of secrecy and danger kept me somewhat excited for the days ahead, though surely I'd regret having that thought later.

"Faewyn, I have not returned to my own world in a while," I commented thoughtfully.

"Go, I will be here for a significant amount of time, probably," she said, shrugging.

I thought about it intently. My true home, my parents, my aunt, apparently--

--and back I was, blearily opening my eyes in the back seat of the car.

"...know the drive was long," I heard my mothers voice, "But you can sleep more once we are settled in, okay?"

I vaguely mumbled something and tried to regain my senses.

Presumably, we were at my aunts house, though I remembered very little of it from the last time I had come, when I was about 5.

I shifted slightly and looked down in sudden realisation. Somehow, Phoenix the betta fish had not splashed around in the car on the journey. He was ambling around in the water with little discomfort under the magazine that covered his bowl.

My mum came and opened the door, and I offered her the fishbowl, which she took.

I took over the business of getting myself out of the car, which took some thought. I was bleary, and still trying to adjust to this world where nobody knew where I had just been.

As I closed the door, a short woman with an assaulting floral pattern on her shorts came hurrying down the steps, curlers in her dyed blond hair. "Ohhh, Margie," she exclaimed, holding out her hands. "Welcome, welcome!"

She positively ruffled my mother and moved to me, looking at me with grave pity. "I'm so, so sorry, my dearest ginger," she cooed.

Since my dark brown hair is nothing orange and my name is actually not Ginger, I could only assume it was a nickname of some sort.

"Thank you, Auntie," I said, smiling weakly.

She ushered us in to her house, where two massive Great Danes stood barking, their tails thumping against the stair railings.

"Down, Duke and Buster," she commanded, though the dogs (that were nearly as tall as she was) ignored her.

I took the fishbowl from my mother and wrapped my arms protectively around it as the dogs pawed at my feet and shoved their cold noses onto my ankles and calves.

Clearly, Buster and Duke were very excited to have new people in the house.

"Now, do you have your things? Oh, of course not, they all are burned up, aren't they? Silly me..." She muttered to herself as she fussed over the door locks.

I shot my mother a look, but she ignored me.

After being given a zealous tour by my aunt, she showed us to our rooms, which were very simply decorated and had large windows.

I truly appreciated accommodations such as this given the situation, even if Aunt Riley was a bit... obnoxious.

I thanked her, and she only replied absentmindedly, "It's no worries, ginger."

I placed Phoenix gingerly (ha!) on the dresser and sat on the bed idly.

"Gianna?" My mother walked in after presumably seeing her own room. "How are you doing?"

"Fine, actually," I shrugged. "How are you doing?"

"I'm just waiting to hear back about your father," she said quietly. "The last thing the doctor told me was that although his bones are starting to mend, and his lungs are healing fine, the severe burns cover 20% of his body. It may be longer than we thought."

I fell back onto the mattress, looking up at the ceiling.

My family didn't deserve this, and I didn't deserve to live unscathed after the accident.

"Tell me if you hear anything," I said bleakly.

"You'll be the first to know," she promised. "I'll call you down for dinner, if you feel up to it."

"I definitely am," I said, assuredly. I sat up and brushed my hair back from my face. "Can I do anything to help?"

"No, no, love," she said, shaking her head.

Ignoring my pleas that I was, indeed, quite up to the task of assisting in culinary preparations, I was left alone to my thoughts.

Unsurprisingly, my first thought was of Legolas.

I pictured him over and over again, his proud stance as he had come into the room, pleading with me to listen to reason.

Inevitably, what came next was the sudden rush of feeling, as I stood behind Faewyn once more.

"Heavens, Gianna, did you forget something?" Faewyn remarked, not turning around.

"I know it was fast. Right now, I need to be here," I said. "There's nothing but waiting and woe in my other state."

Not bothering to say anything, the two of us sat side by side, on the cool stone floor, our backs pressed against the side of the bed.

Though no clock chimed the time, I almost imagined a ticking noise for an indiscernible amount of time.

Suddenly, a knock at the door caused us both to scramble to our feet. Startled, my heart pounded.

"Come in," I called.

Legolas stepped in, shutting the door behind him.

"Gianna, Faewyn," he said, acknowledging us both. "No others have been found. The Lady Galadriel requests a meeting with you both as soon as you can make it down."

"Where?" Faewyn asked, already moving.

"The East study," he said. "I will meet you both there."

After briefly ensuring both of us were sufficiently dressed, Faewyn and I hurried through the hallways as quietly as possible. The raw tension after the attack was everywhere, jumping from every shadow.

I hardly knew where to turn, but Faewyn always murmured a direction right before I went the wrong way.

In the end, we got there, and sure enough, Legolas was waiting like a sentry by the door. Four guards, as opposed to the customary two, stood outside as well.

"Come," he said, ushering us in.

The room was lit with golden lanterns rather than the usual blue or white, which lent the figures in it a warm glow.

"Gianna, thank you for joining us, and Faewyn as well," Galadriel said, as soon as the door clicked behind us.
"After this incident, we must hurry with the plan if it is to work," she continued, straight to the point.

"How soon?" I asked, nervous. I knew this would happen; I regretted any feeling of excitement I may have imagined earlier. This was dread.

"Tomorrow," Celeborn said gravely, standing behind his wife.

"That is too soon," Legolas countered. "We have not made final the details, and it is imperative that nothing goes wrong."

"If we do not act now, everything has the potential to go wrong," Galadriel said pointedly. "If that man that was seized really had not been, he would be returning to his master by now. The more we wait, the more suspicion we arouse."

"Were they all of the Remnant character?" I asked, "I know they are all loyalists, but am I correct in saying that not all are imbued with that evil power that protects them?"

"That is true," Galadriel affirmed. "I sensed two of that manner, the rest mere men with no power but their malice."

"The issue arose when confronted with eliminating them, we could not keep track of them and thus resorted to more barbaric methods of violence to ensure none but the one captured survived," Legolas sighed heavily.

"I know I thought of the plan," I began, "but if I am to go tomorrow, there are matters of importance that I should inquire about."

"Which are those?" Thranduil asked, who as of yet had been more silent than ice.

"First, how will we use the one captured to our best advantage?" I began, "One of our men can take on his guise, but what then? Would it not be better if he also were felled, like his fellows?"

"The one reason we need him alive is for information," Legolas replied. "We need to know how he acts, his name, and other things. After you leave, he will die."

I nodded slowly. "Will it not be... obvious... that I have not truly been captured?"

"How so?" asked Faewyn, frowning.

I took a breath before answering. "This is, by no means, intended to be a comfortable journey. If I were truly taken, I would suffer greatly, and the only way this will convince anyone is if I suffer. Yes, in relative safety, but I cannot simply waltz in with a fresh face and expect the kidnapping ruse to remain intact."

"What are you suggesting?" Legolas asked calmly.

Galadriel spoke before I had the chance to answer. "Gianna, your willingness to do so is commendable."

"Do what?" Faewyn asked, her grey eyes searching my face for a hint of what I was thinking.

I took a deep breath.

"If... I were truly kidnapped, I would be... beaten, abused, and exhausted. Falcon knows this. I have never been one to go gently."

Everyone was silent at this thought.

"What is the point," began Legolas, "of being safe, when you are under the same conditions you would be otherwise?"

"That is the point, my Prince," I said, "If the situation were real, I would be killed in the end. In this case, I will have a better chance of staying alive."

"Hardly favourable odds," he snapped.

"The other option is too obvious, Legolas, and you know it," Faewyn said quietly.

Legolas looked pleadingly at Galadriel. "How will this be?"

"As it must," she said tiredly. "I do not enjoy violence, nor does anyone with good in their hearts. But these petty darklings lust for it, so we must give it to them, lest they take care of it themselves."

Thranduil nodded slowly. "If we control this, they will not have as much free reign. Falcon does not want her severely injured, presumably to save himself the honour."

Legolas looked at his father in disgust. "My King--,"

"It is fact, Legolas," he replied. "Fact is fact. Gianna must look the part if she is to play it."

"Then it is settled," he said resignedly.

"I have penned the letter to King Elessar," Thranduil added. "I sent one soldier to pretend the delivery, we can only hope it makes it into the... wrong hands." His mouth curved into a smirk at the irony.

Legolas almost rolled his eyes.

"Gianna, you have already endured much," Celeborn said, "but this task will come to an end soon."

I can only hope, I thought.

Galadriel stood in one fluid motion. She smiled at me, so radiantly I almost felt calm again.

"Go now and rest, for you shall not have a good rest for a great many days," she said lightly.

I nodded briefly and respectfully inclined my head.

Legolas stopped me outside the door with a pained expression. "Gia--"

"I hardly feel physical pain anymore, Legolas," I said in reply. "This is nothing compared to what will happen if I do not."

"I will be there," he promised.

"Please, no," I said, my voice cracking. "You shouldn't see--"

"We suffer as one," he said in a low voice. His lips brushed my ear as he leaned forward. "Good night, Gianna."

He turned away, and, followed by Faewyn, I made my way back through the night.