Ella:

"I'll...I'll admit to him my feelings, when he expresses his own once more." I finally said. I looked up. "Oh...oh...oh..." Legolas and a couple others were walking towards us.

"What is it Ella?"

I pointed. "I don't believe I'm ready for this yet."

Rosriel squeezed my hand. "Shhh it will be all right."

I nodded, but was unconvinced.

~~~

Legolas:

My heart soared as I saw who we were approaching. It was her. "Ella!" I called. Ella, my love. Please never run from me again.

Ella did not look up. Was I wrong to want her friendship? Seeing her again made me want it now more than ever. So she could not love me; that did not matter. I would not make her uncomfortable with expressions of my own feelings again. I would live as I always had, never revealing the pain my own heart felt, whenever I saw her lovely curls bouncing toward me, whenever her gorgeous mouth turned up in a smile, or emitted a melodic laugh...I shook my thoughts away and focused on the present moment.

Found

"Turwethiel, what do you see?" Legolas called up into the tree where I was scanning the horizon.

"No sign of them.....wait! I see smoke of a camp fire in the north maybe three miles," I replied as a hurried down the tree.

"Let us fly like the wind then," Aldarion said as I lightly landed on the ground.

I ran in the direction I saw the smoke, leading the others who were close behind me. We soon came to the location and crouched to the ground.

Elladan observed, "There are three figures. Two sitting, one lying as if hurt."

"It's Ella," Legolas whispered to me.

I looked at him. He seemed to have a strange glimmer of.....could it be hope in eyes? I turned my attention back to the figures and finally recognized the other person, "And Rosriel."

Now knowing who they were we approached.

"I..." I looked at my hands. "I thought he loved another--Lady Nessa. I convinced myself he did...that nothing could happen between us..."

"But now you know he loves you, Ella."

"I'm not sure I can believe it."

"You think he would lie to you? About something like that?"

"Not exactly, no. I suppose that is not what I meant. But...I can't believe it will work between us...after thinking he cared for me only as a friend for so long a time...well, I convinced myself I only cared for him as a friend as well."

"And yet..." Rosriel prodded.

"And yet it was never true. I love him. And I've loved him...since...since the first time I realized that while when Elrond looked at me it was only with pity, when Legolas looked at me it was with the love of a true friend."

Rosriel smiled. "You have to tell him, Ella."

I shook my head. "I can't. And you can't either. He can't know."

"What? Why not??"

I put my head in my hands. "He just can't."

Rosriel sighed. "I won't tell him. But you should."

"Someday, maybe."

"Will you come back with me?"

I nodded. "I miss being with you and the others. And...I really miss Legolas."

"I'm glad you'll be back. We've missed you too. Legolas especially wasn't handling it well. He'll be happy to see you again...whether or not you're ready to reveal your feelings to him."

"Thank you, dear sister."

Persuasion

"Afraid? What would I be afraid of?"

"Of your feelings."

"Rosriel, really. Why would I be afraid of my feelings?"

"Because of what they might mean to you. Sometimes people are afraid of their feelings because they do not want their lives to change. Sometimes they are afraid of their feelings because they fear that admitting them or acknowledging them might make them more vulnerable, more easily hurt." I turned away, giving her time to think. I focused my attention on the girl we had found. She appeared to be awake now, if you could call it that. Her eyes were still closed, but she gave the faintest flutter of her eyelids when I lifted my canteen to her mouth. Feeling her forehead, I noticed that it was rather warm. My brow furrowed, something needed to be done for her.

I glanced up at Ella's face, but it was hidden in the darkness. While I waited for Ella to speak, I searched the pouch I wore at my waist for an herb that would lessen the girl's fever. By the flickering firelight, I did find something and crushed it into the water. Then I moved the girl's head into my lap and tried to get her to drink as much of the liquid as she could.

We sat in silence. When the girl coughed, I moved the water skin down from her lips. I began combing her hair with my fingers, noting that her face was tense. Having my hair brushed always had helped me to relax, I hoped it would help her as well. I looked up as Ella spoke.

"Or," she said softly, "one may be afraid of one's feelings, for fear of giving another pain."

I looked at her keenly. "Ella, I do not believe that you feel nothing for Legolas."

She turned towards me. "Why do you say that?"

I smiled softly, glancing down at the girl and was pleased to see that she had indeed relaxed. "Well, we have grown rather close since we first met and we are sisters, which most likely helped me to read your face more easily. Legolas is a very dear friend to you, you said yourself that when in Rivendell others teased you for your curled hair, he alone defended you. That in itself would endear him to you." I thought, then went on. "The way you act around him, you always have a smile ready for him..." I laughed, "Well, almost always. You tend to ask his opinion first, before asking anyone elses. I have seen how you look so happy and blush when he gives you a compliment or says a kind word to you. And do you not remember how upset you were that first day he joined us when I ran up to him and gave him a huge hug?"

Ella giggled. "Oh my, yes! I was so silly! I recall that at the time, I could not even tell why I was so upset with you..." Her voice trailed off and she sat silently.

I waited patiently while she thought.

~ Rosriel

"You don't have to answer me if you'd rather not but...why did you run, Ella?"

Rosriel's question caught me off guard. Now that it came down to it, I couldn't be sure I had had a reason. "I don't know," I said slowly. "Legolas, he..."

Rosriel nodded. "He expressed his feelings to you."

"He told you?"

"I figured it out. Ella, you've always been close to Legolas. I just...I don't want this to be something that ruins your friendship."

"I don't either Rosriel, but..."

"But what, Ella? What's the real reason you left? Were you afraid?"

"Afraid? What would I be afraid of?"

"Of your feelings."

I Have Found Her

I had run on and on, following the call that I felt deep in my heart. And as I ran I pondered. Where did this call come from? Who was calling me? Could it be Ella? Was she hurt? No, I thought. I knew that it was not Ella, it was someone else.

The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. I glanced up anxiously. The call was getting fainter, and I knew I had to find who ever it was soon, before dark. I quickened my pace and then stopped. Wait, what was that I had heard? Listening carefully, I heard a faint moan to my left. Stepping lightly, I walked towards the sound, then coming around a tree I spotted something. Someone. It was a girl, and she was lying on the ground as if in pain.

Quickly I knelt at her side, and laid my hand on her forehead. I spoke gently. "Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel." I saw her mouth move and bent down close. I heard a horse, faint whisper.

"Yes."

I sighed with relief. "Can you tell me what is wrong? Where does it hurt?" I waited for an answer. The girl's mouth moved feebly, but no sound came out. A tear slipped down her face. "There, there," I wiped the tear away. "It's alright. You don not have to say a thing. Just try to sleep and I will take care of you." She relaxed and I lifted my water skin to her lip, helping her get a small drink. Then I set about gathering wood for a campfire.

As I gathered bits of brush and twig I heard a rustle behind me. I stood and looked carefully around. My keen eyes caught the sight of a figure dropping quickly down behind some bushes. My breath caught in my throat. I could hardly believe my eyes. "Ella? Ella, come out! I saw you!"

Slowly she stood up. Tears filled my eyes as I ran to my sister and embraced her. She pulled away.

"Rosriel, I had to leave. I am sorry I did not say good-bye, but you must understand..."

I put my finger to her lips. "It is alright, really." I hesitated. "I understand, and if you still do not want come back, if you want to go on your way... that is alright with me."

Ella stared. "It - it is?"

I nodded. "Yes, if that is what you need to do. But for now, "I grabbed her hand. "Please, will you not spend the night with me? I would love to have another talk with you, and I need help." I re-gathered my kindling and began leading the way. "I found a young girl, she is very sick and injured I believe as well. I need help caring for her."

Ella nodded. "Of course I will help you. " She began building the fire as I examined the girl, who now appeared to be sleeping. I carefully felt her arms and legs, noticing that she winced when I touched her ankle. I looked up.

"Her ankle appears to be broken," I examined her further. "But other then that, she just seems to be dehydrated and I wager that she has not eaten in a few days."

Ella came over and knelt next to me. "Do you think she will be alright?"

I ripped off the hem of my dress and finding a flat stick, began binding the girl's ankle. "I think so, if she gets something to eat." I looked up. "Did you bring any food supplies?"

Ella looked through her pouch. "A few things, but not something she could just swallow. And I'm not sure how to make a broth with what's around here." She glanced around. "Or should I say... what's not around here."

I sighed, looking down at the sleeping form. "Well, then I guess we shall have to wait until someone finds us." I half smiled. "I imagine Legolas is having a panic attack over my disappearance, and most likely everyone else is worried as well." I laid my hand on Ella's shoulder. "If anyone should show up, particularly Legolas, it is alright if you go on."

She nodded slowly. "I will decide that later."

We sat together in the growing darkness, watching over the injured girl, enjoying each other's company as only sisters could.

~ Lady Rosriel

Ella:

The mountains were steep and the going was slow. Much slower than I had anticipated. I heard something. Closing my mind to all noises but this, I listened as I walked, then froze.

"My name is Rosriel..."

Surely she had not followed me here. Was there no place to hide?

Now I knew part of the reason the original fellowship had chosen the mines of Moria. The mountains were far too open.

Save Me...

Help! Someone......please....

This was agony. How would I ever be able to survive if I continued to hang in this black space, floating on nothing? I needed people, even if they would be my enemies in the end, I was relying on them.

Suddenly, I felt something...something soft and warm.... It was resting on what I assumed must be my forehead. It was so light...I could barely feel it. And then, a voice came drifting through my thoughts. A gentle, kind voice. It sounded like a little silver bell...

"Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel..."

I wetted my lips, straining to make my voice come from my throat. Finally, a hoarse whisper came: "Yes"

I'm coming as well

As Aldarion, Legolas, and Elladan turned and rushed into the forest I slipped out of the campsite to follow them.

"I may be a she-elf, but my skill is just as good as any of theirs, and they might need it. I suppose my rather masculine skills are due to being the youngest of four......" I stopped my musings knowing that they would only bring about painful memories.

I swiftly and carefully followed them when suddenly Legolas halted the trio.

"What is it," asked Elladan?

"Nad no ennas*," Legolas replied, "or rather someone."

I froze. How did he know I had followed? Lately he seemed to read my thoughts, which was greatly annoying me.

"Teli breitho**, Turwethiel," Legolas said with a sigh.

I emerged out of the trees with my head held high, and approached them. "How did you know?"

"I expected it. It seems that ever since," he paused here catching my warning gaze, "well, it is like you to want to help those in danger.

"I don't know you well, Turwethiel, but I can tell that you are eager to be of service to Rosriel. You may come," Aldarion said.

I bowed in my thanks and we took up the search again.


*something is out there
**come out

What to do?

I sat with Elanor near our campfire, occasionally getting up to stir at the stew I was making for dinner. I looked around again, everyone had been a bit quiet today, what with Miss Ella's disappearance, Miss Rosriel gettin' all mad at Legolas, Miss Lira still bein' unwell what with her broken arm and all. Yes, very quiet indeed.

Legolas had gone after Miss Rosriel - before Miss Turwethiel had come back an' told us that she'd wanted to be alone - and neither of them had come back yet. I figured that once they did though, we'd all sit down to talk about what to do next.

We all looked up as Legloas walked out of the trees, alone I noticed. Aldarion stepped forward.

"Rosriel, where is she? Did you find her?" he asked tersely.

Legolas nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yes I did. She said that she wished to be alone a while longer." He glanced back at the forest, as if puzzled about something. "She should be here soon, in the mean time, I believe we should discuss what to do."

"What is there to do?" Elena spoke. "From the sound of the note, it sounds as if Ella wanted to leave, and did not want anyone to follow her."

I nodded in agreement, and saw a few others nodding too, but Legolas' face had a stubborn look to it. "I cannot just let her wander about Middle-Earth alone!"

"I think she can take care of herself," Elladan voiced his oppinion.

"What did Rosriel think? Did you ask her what she wanted to do? She is Ella's sister after all." Anarion looked questioningly at Legolas.

Legolas hesitated, "She said she did not wish to look for Ella."

That puzzled me. Why wouldn't Miss Rosriel want to look for her sister? I shrugged, and spoke up slowly, "Well then, if that's what Miss Rosriel said, than I think it would be fine to not look for Miss Ella. Miss Rosriel is her sister and should know what her sister would want and could do. And seein' as Miss Rosriel has the closest connection with Miss Ella, if she's fine with lettin' her go then it seems as if we should be fine with it too."

Elena smiled. "Never argue with good hobbit sense." She looked keenly around at the rest. "I propose that we let Ella go and continue on her way."

Legolas looked frustrated, but complied. "Very well then. As soon as Rosriel returns then we will go on." He walked off to sit by himself.

I got up to put more wood on the fire, casting a glance at Legolas' stiff back. "It's as plane as the nose on your face Samdo Took that Mister Legolas doesn't plan on lettin' Miss Ella go off on her own, but there'd be no use in pointin' that out just yet," I muttered to myself. "Well, maybe when Miss Rosriel gets back she'll talk him out of it."

And so we waited for her to return. And waited, and waited, and waited, but there was still no sign of her. At last Aldarion turned to Legolas. "Legolas, did she say she would be gone this long? The sun is nearly setting!"

Legolas looked worried, "She said she would be along shortly, maybe."

"Maybe?" Aldarion looked closely at Legolas.

"Those where her words," Legolas spoke. "Could she have gone to look for Ella herself?"

"Yet you say that she said she did not want to follow her," Elena pointed out.

Legolas nodded, "She did, and very firmly too. No, I do not think she went after Ella. I know Rosriel well enough to know that when she speaks firmly, she just as firmly intends to stay by what she says."

"Then something must have befallen her, we must look for her." Aldarion stood up. "I will go, Legolas, you will come with me and Elladan as well. The rest of you should stay here." He looked to Elena who nodded.

"Be careful."


~ Master Samdo