Legolas Greenleaf thought he had lost Marian's trail , until he found human tracks sliding down towards the ravine, and looking down he saw her hanging on to a slim branch, about to fall.

Swiftly he lay down on his stomach and reached for her, but even before he could utter a word to tell her to reach for his hand, he saw her close her eyes and let go. Faster than lightning, he reached out and grabbed her falling wrist, and cut her fall short.

As his hand made contact with her arm, Marian looked up with mixed emotions, disbelief and shock being the worst. As he pulled her up over the edge, her tears were running freely down her dirty cheeks, her body racked by desperate sobs.

Legolas anger had reached an unexpected level, never known before even to himself. Not only was Marian foolish in her actions but shrewd in deceit and now suicidal as well. Marian's look as their eyes met over the edge of the precipice had been something he had seen once before, as a wolf had been caught in a trap and started to chew his own paw off to recover his freedom. Despair and resignation with the spark of wilfulness that had disappeared as she realized he had her hand and was not going to let go.

"Please," she muttered as he had pulled her over the edge and was cradling her against his chest. Quickly he surveyed her to see if she was hurt. Thankfully she was not, merely scraped, dirty and crying in a desperate way that looked quite painful. And minutes ago she had decided to put an end to her life. His concern turned again into anger. "What were you thinking, you insane woman? You let go willingly … you wanted to die?"

Marian looked up at the furious elf and did not reply. She could not even if she would have wanted to, her crying having gone over into hysteric wailing.

Legolas was at a loss, this level of human emotion was beyond his experience. Acting on instinct he pulled her into a tight embrace and began rocking back and forth slowly.

Sympathy and anger was a new combination of feelings for the elf. Never had he been so furious, and never had he ached for another the way he ached for Marian. Her frailty was tangible and she was willing to lie, and endanger her own life to escape. She would have succeeded if he had not been there to prevent it. "What foolish notion made you think of giving up your life, the most precious gift of all?" he started, his usually soft and calm voice gaining intensity and loudness as he continued. "Are you aware that you can not toy witlessly with your life, Marian? And you gave me your word and I trusted you. You broke your promise to me and lied, just to run away not knowing what you could encounter in the wild. Then you endanger your life and finally you decide to put an end to it without even a second thought. Are you daft? How can you act this recklessly?"

She didn't reply but wept even harder, rolling onto herself as if she were back in her mother's womb.

In an effort to reign in his anger, he stared into the distance and began to tell a story, his voce was hollow and cold, he began... "There were too many that lost their lives for the good of the people and each and everyone I mourn in my heart eternally. There were others who fell to the spell of age and sickness and I had to stand by and watch them fade away, and I am the keeper of their memory as to give them eternal live for those of us who are sentenced to stay behind without them."

Finally he turned to her again, and the pitiful sight softened his heart. "I will not watch you die, Marian. Not as long as there is any life left in me," he said angrily as he kneeled on the ground and gathered her in his arms again. "Even if I have to protect you from yourself, and this is a promise."

****

Legolas ran slightly slower than usual; considering he was carrying Marian all the way back to the Village. Not only was he still suspicious she might do something foolish and try to run away but the woman had become apathetic and silent once she had no more tears left.

As he had feared, shortly after noon another storm had broken and as he arrived to Imedhuir he and his precious cargo were drenched and cold. He walked directly to the Inn, ignoring the curious stares of the Village inhabitants he met on his way.

Entering the building through the private entrance, he didn't stop until he was in the antechamber of his father's private chambers, looking for his father's companion, since he wanted to give Marian into Sindohte's care while he spoke to Thranduil.

He hoped he wasn't interrupting anything, as he called for her. "Ghislaine?"

The sight that greeted Ghislaine was impressive, as she found Legolas with Marian still in his arms, water and mud puddling at their feet on one of Thranduil's favorite woven rugs.

"Yes?" Ghislaine looked up from the book she was reading with a concerned look on her face. "What is wrong?"

"Forgive my intrusion, Ghislaine, but I need your help. Would you take care of Marian while I speak to my father?" he asked, smiling at his friend. He cherished the woman Thranduil had chosen as his mate and knew he could entrust his own life into her hands.

"Of course I will take care of Marian for you. Thranduil said something in passing about Marian leaving the Inn, but of course he was being his usual close mouthed self and refused to tell me anything more." Ghislaine came closer and examined Marian worriedly. "Are you sure that leaving her with me is the best thing to do at the moment? If she has been outside for the last couple of days, it might be best to have her examined by one of the healers."

"No, please, not yet. I do not think she is badly hurt, but probably more distressed than anything else. I will not let her into anyone else's care than those I know I can trust," he explained. "Her escape was unfortunate and she is having difficulty handling that and her situation in Arda Reborn. Would you look after her for me?"

"Yes, I will look after her for you." Ghislaine frowned as she looked at Legolas' disheveled appearance. "You might want to clean yourself up first and change your clothing before you go see your father." She gave a small, mocking smile. "You know how much your father dislikes it when you look like a grubby human."

"Ghislaine, at this moment I couldn't care less about my father's preferences," he told her. "And besides, humans in all their forms and appearances have a special place in my heart, you know that" he said smiling at her.

"Flattery will perhaps get you somewhere with me, but it is not me that you need to worry about charming today. Thranduil is in another one of his moods, which is why I am staying out of his way. He would love nothing better than an argument today."

"I find myself often amazed by your wisdom, my dear friend. But I have no means at this moment to have fresh clothing fetched for me from my house. Can you help me?"

Ghislaine laughed aloud. "I would be more than happy to steal some of your father's clothing for you. He has enough clothing to clothe the entire village I imagine. Surely he will not miss a few spare items."

"If you were not his companion, Ghislaine ... thank you," Legolas said, honestly grateful to her.

"He would still be the same annoying individual that he is now. The only one who has any influence over him is you. The rest of us are merely spectators."

"I sincerely hope I do have some influence, for I will ask him to grant me a favor which goes against the laws of Imedhuir," he explained to her, since she was one of the few he knew he could tell about his pledge.

"If there is one thing that I have learned from living in Imedhuir, it is that one should think carefully before asking a favor of Thranduil. You may get what you desire, but you may not like the price you will have to pay."

"Ghislaine, I am willing to pay any price he would name," he then let a caring look sweep over the apathetic woman he had set down on a chaiselonge.

At hearing that heartfelt statement, his friend cast a worried look in Marian's direction. "I wish you luck. And I hope she is deserving of your devotion."

"I am not expecting retribution or gratitude. I am only taking into my hands the responsibility for my actions and choices," Legolas said. "No matter what is the final outcome."

Legolas was surprised when Ghislaine moved forward and gave him a quick hug, because normally she was not given to affectionate displays. "I hope that the outcome is as you hope." She pulled back and toyed at the skirt of her gown. "Let me go and get you some clothing. You are your father's son in that I know there is nothing I can say or do to make you change you mind about talking to him and pleading your case."

"Indeed there is not much you could say to change my decision, Ghislaine, but if there is one I would always lend my ear to, it is definitely you. Thank you, for your kindness and friendship."

"You are welcome and I know you would do the same for me if our positions were reversed."

"Indeed I would. Now please help me get prepared to face the Lord of Imedhuir"

Ghislaine laughed and rolled her eyes as she started walking towards the bedchamber, "I shall return in a few minutes." She paused in mid-stride and looked once again at Marian. "If I was not so short, I would just loan Marian some of my clothing. What I will do is have one of the staff to bring me a change of women's clothing."

"Please do, but also be careful not to discard her current clothes. She is still very attached to the things that bind her to Earth."

"If she is to survive here, then Marian will need to cut herself off completely from her old life." Ghislaine frowned slightly. "It would make things easier if she took a new name."

The elf shrugged. "I will not force her to do so. She has to accept this on her own. But if she chose to, I already have given her a name."

"I will keep her old clothing safe, but it still might be better for you to be the one to make Marian accept her new life. Your father has his own set of methods that likely you would not approve of to make her understand her fate."

"This is exactly what I will request of my father. To give her into my care and leave her alone."

"And your father will think that you have grown soft and would coddle this human and keep her for yourself, rather than allow her to be shared with the other villagers."

"He may be right. But once she accepts Imedhuir and what it implies I shall not stand in her way if she chooses another over me," he said. Still the idea alone was loathsome to him.

"If you truly accept the fact that women in Imedhuir are supposed to have the choice in settling their mates, Thranduil will not allow you to take Marian home with you. For you to argue otherwise can only mean that you want her for yourself. And no one in Imedhuir, not even your father, gets to have only one woman."

"No one in Imedhuir can give her the proper care she requires right now, except me. I will make this clear to my father. She is a danger to herself and needs caring and patience until she settles in. Which she will, I have no doubt. Until then, I will give my father my vow that she will be free to choose and leave my house if she wished to."

"And could you honestly promise your father that you will not try to do all within your power to seduce Marian into choosing to become your mate?"

"If that is what it would take, yes, may the Valar help me," the elf sighed. "But sex does not mean anything to her, except means to achieve what she wants, I already know this."

"I have only gotten to know Marian slightly over the past few weeks she has been here. Even if she was desperate enough to use her body to achieve what she wanted, I know from personal experience that Elves have enough self-control to restrain their sexual urges. And if I am to assume that something has already taken place between the two of you, it was because both of you were willing and at least physically attracted to one another."

He had the good grace to blush. "Is it my failure then? She was willing though I am not unaware that humans ... can often not resist elves. With counted exceptions, of course."

Legolas was gratified to know that he was not the only one embarrassed by the conversation, for Ghislaine had suddenly developed an intense interest in the carpet underneath her feet. The personal details of her relationship with his father were something she did not discuss with him. Finally she glanced up at him and then looked at the floor again before continuing. "I was certainly not a virgin before I arrived in Imedhuir, but still it was pathetic how quickly I fell prey to him. It was not that I was unwilling, but a part of me questions if I would have fallen into his bed so quickly if he had only been a human." Ghislaine darted another quick glance up at him and then looked down again. "In my heart I know that things would have been different if he had not been an Elf. But... there is little I can do to escape the situation that I placed myself in of my own volition."

Very aware of how uncomfortable the conversation had become, Legolas took a step towards Ghislaine and took her hand in his. "I am no one to judge your actions and choices. You did not come willingly here but adjusted to what was forced upon you. Had you been a weaker person, you would have not been chosen by him or faced your fate with the courage and aplomb that you have shown this far. For this I admire you, Ghislaine, and I am honored to be your friend and worthy of your trust."

She placed her hand atop his for a moment before she turned and finally went to the bedchamber. Even though Ghislaine had not come out and directly said anything, it was clear that she was yet another one of the women from Earth who was not truly content with her situation.

While Ghislaine went to look for fresh clothing, Legolas kneeled by the chaiselonge where Marian lay rolled up, uninterested to what was going on around her. Carefully he smoothed the tangled hair away from her face, gently cupping her face in his hand. "Marian?" She didn't reply, her eyes glassy and distant, as they had been since he had saved her from the fall. He sighed and turned to Ghislaine returning, receiving gratefully the clean clothes she brought for him.

"Here is some clothing for you to put on. If you would like to freshen up further feel free to make use of the bathing chamber in the other room. While you are getting ready, I will go to Thranduil's office and let him know that you wish to speak with him."

"I thank you, I shall try to make myself acceptable for my father and then join you. You will look after her, will you not?" "You do not need to worry about Marian, because I will take care of her". He smiled as Ghislaine lightly thumped him on the chest with her forefinger to give what she had to say emphasis. "You would be wise to spend more time worrying about what you are going to say to your father."

"If I convinced you, I am certain I will convince my father. You are a much harder judge," he said, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles briefly.

Pulling her hand back Ghislaine snorted at his gallantry. "You are just saying that because you know that I have to put Thranduil in a better mood so that he is more receptive to what you have to say. I will have to think of a suitable reward that you shall give me in the future." "You know I could never deny you anything, Ghislaine. And I am in your hands if you could make father more agreeable to indulge my pledge," he smiled.

"Your father is not the only one that you should be wary of when asking for a favor." His friend smiled to show that she was making a joke. "For all that you know, I might ask you to cut off your long gorgeous hair that you are so justifiably proud of and give it to me for a wig."

He looked at her in shock. "Would you really ask this of me?"

Ghislaine burst out in laughter. "Never, you silly Elf. The look of shock and horror on your face is reward enough for the favor that I am doing for you today."

"There is always something new I learn each day about humans"

"That we like to needlessly scare Elves at times? There is no surer way to do that than to talk about cutting off their hair."

"You know already too much about us for your own good, woman" he said mockingly trying to imitate his father's voice and manner.

I think that I am learning enough about Elves, so that it is for the good of certain Elves in particular," Ghislaine replied.

"Sometimes I wish you would be happy here, my friend. And sometimes I recognize that my father may have more in his hands that he is aware of."

"Your father is getting what he deserves," a look that could only be described as sheer evil delight crossed her face, "and I am enjoying every minute of giving it to him."

****

Legolas had knocked on the door and though there had been no reply, after his second knocking he entered his father's study to a most … inspiring sight.

His father was bent over Ghislaine, who was sitting in his lap, nibbling at the décolleté of the woman's dress. Legolas pondered on leaving unnoticed but Thranduil had already heard his very soft footsteps.

"You did not tell me my son had returned home," Legolas heard his father say to Ghislaine in an annoyed tone of voice as he glanced up and noticed him entering the office.

"You distracted me," Ghislaine said apologetically as she attempted to scoot off Thranduil's lap. She had nearly made good her escape when he grasped her arm and held her in place.

"Nothing distracts you for very long, especially when you are up to some scheme. I assume that Legolas is here to speak with me about Marian, but I suspect he spoke with you first." Thranduil looked suspiciously at his son, looking for some errant facial expression that would prove Legolas had conspired with Ghislaine. Releasing her arm, he allowed her to stand. "You know I dislike others meddling in my affairs."

"I promise that you can deal with me later, in any way that you desire."

"And you know that I would anyway," Thranduil said with some hidden meaning that Legolas did not even wish to guess at. So to save himself from overhearing any more of a conversation that was enough to make the tips of his ears turn red, he coughed softly to attract his father's attention on himself again.

"I put Marian under Ghislaine's care after the ordeal and she was kind enough to look after her while I discuss a matter of importance with you, Father," he said.

"I will assume that Marian is unhurt?"

"Her escape was unfortunate. Still she just has a few minor wounds and scrapes," Legolas reported.

Thranduil leaned back in his chair and studied his son carefully. Legolas had to remind himself that he was a full grown Elf, but his father had a way of looking at him at times that made him feel like a green youth.

"If the extent of Marian's problem was nothing more than a few minor scrapes, you would have deposited her into the care of one of the healers and then come to see me. However you took the time to first see Ghislaine and gain her cooperation in her transparent attempt to distract me." Thranduil got up from his chair and came from around his desk to stand in front of his son. "How about you tell me what is really going on with Marian?"

"I wanted to ask you to release her from her training at the Inn and put her under my care, Father" he asked Thranduil without even blinking. He knew not what reaction to expect but he decided to be prepared for whatever came towards him.

There was no response at first from his father. Thranduil merely stood there looking at Legolas as if he were a living statue. Finally his father moved and broke the illusion. "I would like for you to answer my question son. What is wrong with Marian?"

"She is ... disturbed. I cannot vouch for her own safety or for her not to escape again, and I think that I can and will be able to help her adjust to her new existence," the younger elf explained. He would not speak of feelings or responsibility yet.

"Son, I am growing tired of how you are attempting to dance around the issue. What has Marian done that you believe I cannot provide for her safety while she resides in the Inn?"

"She has attempted to take her own life rather than return here, Father" Legolas said, waiting for his father's reaction.

"Did you see this with your own two eyes or did Marian merely tell you that she had done so?"

"She would be dead if I hadn't stopped her"

"It was good that you were there to prevent such a needless tragedy from taking place," Thranduil said quietly.

Something in the tone of his father made Legolas react. "Are you aware that she wouldn't have been in that situation if hadn't been brought to Imedhuir? Have you ever considered that any of the women we abduct might go to that extreme and that some may succeed? Are you aware of the responsibility we have, Father?"

"Do not think to lecture me on responsibility," Thranduil warned. "Great thought went into my decision to allow our men to bring over women from Earth. I do nothing lightly, especially when the lives of others are involved."

"Then you can see that what we are doing is not right father. We are disturbing these women's lives. There are few who came of their own volition and the others were ripped away from their world," Legolas continued, letting some of the anguish he started feeling since Marian's abduction show.

"And it is not right that we were reborn into a world that is nothing like what we once knew. Where was our choice in making the decision whether we wished to come back and live in an Arda that is completely different from what I once loved? If these women's lives have been disturbed, so have ours. This experience will give the men and women something to have in common. All of us have made the best of our new lives. The women must do the same."

"The circumstances of our return to Arda have been decided by the Valar. This does not give us the right to inflict this on others, Father," he continued.

"We are merely correcting a mistake made by the Valar in not seeing to the rebirth of an adequate number of women.",p> Legolas could not believe what his father was saying. "Father, this is not right. We are not the Valar. And we are discussing women here, potential mates for the people of Imedhuir, not just the amount of deer we would need to keep us well fed."

"And how is our current situation really so different than trying to ensure a good food supply? If there were not enough deer in our woods, it would be my task to devise a solution to the problem. In this particular case, the men are lonely and starved for female companionship. If we were starving, would you truly suggest something as addlebrained as us sitting around and dreaming of deer? No. You would come up with an alternate way of supplying our needs. And once again - how is this situation truly so different?"

Legolas turned away to pace in front of his father. "These women have lives of their own and we cannot rip them away from their world because of our needs. They are not deer."

"So what would you do if you were ruler of this place?"

"I would ... try to convince women to come here. Annatar convinced Andreth," he paused. "I saw the desperation in Marian's eyes father. Maybe if she would have had a choice ..." he shook his head.

"And how exactly would you go about convincing women to come here? Pop up in their houses and try to make them believe that you are truly an Elf and you are actually from another world? Any woman would be justified in thinking she was being visited by a madman." Thranduil sat back down in his chair again. "Do you think Marian would be living in Imedhuir right now if she had been given the choice?"

Legolas saw his father's logic, but couldn't accept it. "I do not know. And regret will not change the situation as it is. Marian has not accepted her new life, and being the one who brought her here I will assume the responsibility for her. Will you break your own laws to make this possible?"

"At all other times, you continually remind me to not treat you any differently than any of my other subjects. Yet you would now ask me to favor you above all others in Imedhuir?" A conflicted look briefly crossed Thranduil's face. "Why is this one woman so important to you?"

"She is my responsibility, father. I brought her here."

"And I would like to believe it was merely your desire to be responsible that was motivating you." Legolas held his breath because he knew what his father was going to ask next. "Has something taken place between you and Marian?"

"Yes," he confessed. "But that is not the reason I assume my responsibility. If I succeed in helping her accept Imedhuir I shall set her free to chose another, if she wishes to."

Thranduil started chuckling. "You are a perfect illustration of why I made the decision to sequester the women in the Inn until they are prepared to live out among the other residents. Son, you know that if you are allowed to live with Marian it will be hard, if not impossible, for you to allow her to pick another man over you. Arrangements were made to prevent situations, like you being infatuated with Marian from occurring.

Legolas turned towards his father. "You judge me poorly as to let "infatuation" as you call it, rule my actions. I have explained you my reasons and you can trust me that I will give Marian and any possible suitor the opportunity they deserve." He paused. "Reason tells me I have no rights over her, father, but neither have you. And no matter what emotion tells me, I have come not to beg but to demand. And only this once you will give me what I want."

Thranduil raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing the word 'demand' being used by his son. "If I give you what you want, then what will you give to me in return?"

"I shall not ask anything else from you. And I shall stand by your side in every matter, Father. I am the only one who can take proper care of her."

"Do not make promises you may be unable to keep in the future son. I can understand why you feel responsible for this one particular woman and why you wish to have her live in your home. Yet I cannot understand why you so strongly believe that you are the only one capable of caring for her."

"She is disturbed. She may try to take her own life again. I shall endeavor to make her life here agreeable."

"Since your desire to care for Marian is so strong, I will grant part of your request. The woman is to remain her in the Inn under my custody. However if you choose to temporarily move out of your house and live in the Inn, I cannot prevent you from having contact with Marian."

Legolas looked at his father pensively. Gathering courage he asked "If she remains under your custody, does it imply you will sample her?"

For the first time since the conversation had started with his son, Thranduil actually looked outraged. "No," he said curtly. "And as for sampling the women who live in the Inn, I am only interested in those who appeared receptive to what I have to offer." Thranduil looked closely at his son. "Is there reason that I should wonder what you have been doing with your 'friend' Ghislaine?"

"No. Never. I haven't touched a female on Arda Reborn ... except for Marian. And then I would never in my right mind seduce a woman that belongs to you ... or already to someone else for that matter. You should know me better," Legolas replied.

"And you should know me better as well, son. I am not the ogre that some people would like to believe. Back when we lived in Mirkwood, the idle gossip by the people of Laketown and the lies spread by the dwarves had people half believing I ate small children and seduced innocent women." Thranduil snickered. "Nothing but a pack of lies, the only part that is slightly true is that I seduced women. However I prefer a woman who knows her way around a man's body."

"Forgive me, Father. I didn't mean to offend you"

"You did not offend me, but you have given me cause to wonder as to what has happened to your good sense."

"I do not understand, I am my usual self."

Thranduil sighed. "Does my son usually come barging into my office and begin making demands about what I need to do?"

Legolas looked at the floor as he blushed. "My apologies if I have been rude to you, Father. You are not only my father but also my liege and yet I may have acted out of line."

"You did overstep yourself today, but the reason why you did so is admirable. Go see to Marian and I will make arrangements for a room to be made ready for you here in the Inn."

"Thank you. I shall do as you instruct," the younger elf said. Before leaving he turned to his father. "I trust you will not be upset with Ghislaine? She has been naught but a good friend to me."

"Your concern is misplaced Legolas where she is concerned. Ghislaine is more than capable of taking care of herself."

"I know, but I care about those close to my heart. And it implies I care for you as well, Father"

"As do I Legolas. The fact that you were reborn as well has made life in this second incarnation of Arda bearable."

Legolas took a step towards his usually distant father, and embraced him. "Yes Father, I love you too."

"And I love you as well," Thranduil answered as he embraced him in return.

With a honest smile the younger elf left his father's office. There were some matters he had to handle to be able to begin with the healing of Marians' mind.