Arod had stopped just beyond the forest edge and Legolas, still badly shaken, was beginning to slide off his back. Eowyn pulled in her reins, drawing Brightstar to a halt, leapt to the ground and ran to the elf. "Careful, my love," she cried, helping him dismount. "Here, sit down." She gently guided him to the ground and, lifting his hair, examined his throat and neck.

There was no sign of any injury.

"Legolas," she said, softly, "what happened?"

He stared at her for a moment, as though not understanding what she was asking, then he whispered, "I do not know, melmenya. A bear will not normally attack an elf… I do not know what happened…"

"I am not at all sure that it was attacking you," said Eowyn, thinking of the bear's strange behaviour before she had managed to drive it away. "At least, I do not think that it meant to kill you."

He stared at her. "It… I… I do not know…"

"Can you ride?" She asked. "We should get you back to camp—though what are we going to do about your bow? And your clothes? And, more importantly, about my clothes?" She looked down at her slim, bare legs beneath her short, yellow tunic. "I look like Senta's little yellow bird!" she said.

Legolas managed a shaky laugh. "I will send guards to fetch them tomorrow, melmenya. It would be too dangerous to go back now."

Eowyn nodded. "Why are elves so unconcerned about walking around naked?" she asked, as she helped him to his feet.

"Because we are beautiful."

Eowyn grinned, refusing to rise to the bait, and helped him mount Arod. "Do you want me to ride with you?" she asked.

"No, melmenya, I feel much better now." He smiled, reaching down to touch her face. "You have saved me once again, Shieldmaiden."

"I will be glad to get back to camp," said Eowyn, suddenly feeling very tired. And she brought her hand up to her mouth to stifle a yawn.

…

The next day—after a detachment of guards had retrieved Legolas' bow, and the remains of his and Eowyn's clothing (torn to shreds by the bear), but had found no sign of the bear itself—the cavalcade resumed its journey northwards.

"We will continue along the west bank," said Legolas, "until we reach the Old Ford. Once we have crossed to the east we have a choice: we can either take the Forest Road, south of the mountains, until we reach the Forest River and then continue north; or we can follow the Anduin past The Carrock, and then take the Forest Path eastwards."

"Which do you recommend?" asked Eomer. "You know these parts better than we do."

"It is some years since I ventured into the south of Mirkwood and I doubt that it is still the wild, dangerous place it was then. But I still think that we should take the Forest Path. It is dark and narrow, but the Mirkwood elves and I know it well; and it leads directly to my father's palace."

…

Two weeks later

Legolas was growing more and more uneasy.

He looked ahead, checking the riders one by one—Haldir, Valandil, Orodreth, and two Rohirrim, Captain Eofred and his lieutenant, Halrand. Safe.

He scanned the rocks to the west. Clear. Then the forest edge to the east. Clear.

On his right he could sense Eowyn, watching him anxiously. She is worried about me again, he thought, and he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

Then he reined in Arod and pulled off the track to check the rest of the cavalcade: Eomer, riding between his Chief Counsellor, Colgan, and his secretary, Florestan; Lord Fingolfin flanked by the cook, Master Elros, and the cartographer, Berryn; behind them, Master Dínendal, the healer; ten pack animals; then, bringing up the rear, eight elven guards, including Camthalion, Amras and Finrod, and twelve more Rohirrim. All safe.

Legolas sighed with relief.

"What is wrong?" asked Gimli, who was riding behind him.

"Nothing, elvellon."

"Nonsense!" huffed the dwarf, "you have been behaving like a rabbit trapped in a dog kennel ever since we left The Golden Wood—and you are driving your poor lady crazy with it. What is going on?"

"I have told Eowyn that she does not need to worry about me," said Legolas. He sighed, "But we are not travelling alone, Gimli. There are two shadows in my mind—something following us at a distance, and something—or someone—much, much closer… "

…

She spent her days riding with the golden man—E-o-mer—and her nights lying by his side, happy for the first time in her long, long life.

"Where are we going, beloved…" she asked. "To the north, where The Great River disappears into Hithaeglir and Ered Mithrin… Or to the east, where the wood elves live amongst the caverns of Taur-En-Daedelos… And will we be staying there? Or are we to make our home elsewhere…"

But E-o-mer did not reply.

"If only I could find some way to make you hear me, beloved…" she said. "The elves can sense me—especially their prince. I will do you no harm, your highness…" she called to Legolas as he trotted past. "I will protect you… I will protect all of you, for the sake of my love…"

…

For the first time since leaving Lorien they had decided to take a day's rest from travel, and had camped close to The Carrock.

Legolas looked at Eowyn, sitting on a rock by the river, watching the water that sparkled in the sunlight. I have been neglecting her, he thought. I have been far too preoccupied with the safety of the others.

"Would you care for a stroll, melmenya?"

"Yes!" cried Eowyn, leaping to her feet. "Can we cross to the island?"

Legolas caught her about the waist, laughing. "Of course. But are you sure you are not too tired?"

She came up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "I am never too tired to spend time alone with you, Lassui." Legolas kissed her forehead.

"I am sorry melmenya," he said, as he watched her mount Brightstar. "I have been worried these last few days…" He sprang up onto Arod's back.

"I know," said Eowyn softly. "But that is only to be expected. This meeting with your father—"

"It is not just my father, melmenya," he replied, as they rode, side by side, down to the ford.

"It is the bear," said Eowyn.

Legolas stared at her. "What makes you say that, Eowyn nín?"

"You have been nervous ever since that day."

"The bear…" said Legolas quietly.

Eowyn gently urged Brightstar forward and began picking her way across the partially submerged rocks. "Do you think it is the bear that you have been sensing? Following us?" she called over her shoulder. "But why would it travel so far from its home? What would it want with us?"

"I do not know, melmenya," said Legolas, softly. And Eowyn, concentrating on the ford, did not notice his reluctance to answer.

"Do you know any more about the other shadow?" she asked. "The thing that is much closer?"

"No, melmenya. I cannot quite… I cannot reach it. I know it is there, but I cannot reach it."

"What does it feel like?" asked Eowyn.

Legolas thought for a moment. "Like someone watching me from across a crowded room…"

When they reached the shore of The Carrock, they dismounted and started the long climb to the summit. But, after a few steps, Eowyn stopped, turned southwards, and stretched out her arms, to catch the cool breeze blowing off the Anduin.

"Are you sure you can manage all these stairs, melmenya?" asked Legolas.

"Why would I not be able to?"

He grinned. Then, slipping past her, he ran nimbly up to the next rocky ledge and waited, with exaggerated impatience, for her to catch up.

"Elves!" grumbled Eowyn, as she carried on climbing, steadily. "Just because you can run up the leg of a Mûmak—and walk on top of snow…" She smiled to herself. But you wait, melethron. As she reached the ledge she suddenly leant forward and, resting her hands on her bent knees, made a great show of trying to catch her breath.

"Melmenya?"

The concern in his voice gave her a brief pang of conscience—but only for a split second. The moment she felt his hand on her back she grasped his waist and pulled him down to the ground. Laughing, Legolas wrapped his arms around her and they both rolled around the rock ledge, Eowyn tickling his sides whilst he tried, half-heartedly, to remove her hands. Eventually, they came to a rest, lying side by side, both gazing up at the cloudless sky.

"I have missed you," said Eowyn, softly.

"I am sorry, melmenya."

"We have not made love for days…"

"I know. I…"

"You are uncomfortable, lying so close to the others—so am I."

He rolled over and brought himself up on his elbows. "It is not so much the others, melmenya," he said, stroking a strand of hair from her face. "Though I admit that Eomer scowls at me whenever I come near you. And I am always expecting Haldir to take me to one side and warn me that—if I expect to keep you—I must improve my technique..."

"Legolas!" She blushed and, at the same time, smiled at his wickedness. "What is it then?" she asked.

"It is—"

But his explanation was cut short by a deafening roar that seemed to come from inside The Carrock, and just a few feet above them. They both scrambled to their feet and Legolas—grasping her by the waist—threw Eowyn over his shoulder and ran down the stone steps, back to the safety of the ford.

…

"Was it the bear again?" asked Eowyn.

"I do not know, melmenya, but I am not taking any chances." He lifted her onto Arod's back and sprang up behind her. "Tolo, Brightstar," he called, as he urged Arod across the ford, "bedithon minui, aphado nin."

And Eowyn, seated sideways like a lady, and cradled in Legolas' arms, wondered if she should protest. But when she opened her mouth the only words that came out were, "Thank you."

…

"Anything?" asked Captain Eofred.

"I am not sure," said Halrand. They had searched every inch of The Carrock. "What do you make of this, Valandil?"

The wood elf crouched beside the man and drew his fingers lightly over the rocky ground. "No," he said. "There was something standing here, but it was not a bear."

"That is what I thought," said Halrand. "I think it is a woman's footprint—Lady Eowyn must have been here. But, then, I cannot find any trace of Prince Legolas."

"I am not sure that elves leave footprints, Halrand," said Eofred, quietly.

"Oh, no—of course not." He grinned at Valandil. "Perhaps it was an elven bear…"

Valandil grinned back. "Perhaps it was an elven elf—perhaps the Prince just wanted to scare Lady Eowyn so that he could carry her back to the camp across his horse..."

They both laughed.

Eofred cleared his throat. "We had better be getting back," he said. He started down the stone steps.

Halrand winked at Valandil and whispered, "Captain Eofred thinks that the sun shines out of the Prince's—"

"Halrand!" barked Eofred.

Valandil shot his human friend a sympathetic smile.

…

Despite Captain Eofred's report, Legolas had decided to move the camp several miles up river, double the guards on the perimeter, and join the first watch himself, sitting in one of the stunted trees that dotted the Anduin flood plain.

I must tell Eowyn exactly what happened that day, he thought. I must—"Elvellon?"

"Humph," said Gimli. "How do you see through the back of your head? And do not try to tell me that my breathing gave me away—for I was holding my breath."

Legolas smiled. "Yes; but you were not holding your beard, mellon nín," he said. "And the beads in your braids are noisy…" He shrugged his shoulders. "Come, Gimli, climb up and sit beside me."

The dwarf shook his head. "No. You come down here."

Laughing quietly, Legolas dropped lightly to the ground and sat down, cross-legged, beside the dwarf. "What is troubling you, elvellon?"

"I have been thinking about this bear business," said Gimli. "When my father travelled through these parts with Thorin Oakenshield and young Frodo's uncle—"

"Bilbo," said Legolas.

"Yes. There was a man that lived here—a skin changer—called Beorn."

Legolas nodded. "I met him," he said, "on several occasions."

"My father told me that Beorn could turn himself into a bear at will, and that he passed on his powers to all the men of his line."

"It is true, elvellon."

"Then could not this bear be one of Beorn's descendants?"

Legolas shook his head. "I have wondered that myself, Gimli, but, on reflection, I do not think so. Beorn was a noble, good-hearted man and his descendants have inherited his nature. Besides," he added, quietly, "this bear does not behave like a man."

…

Two days later

It is hard to believe, thought Eowyn, as the cavalcade rode along the edge of Greenwood the Great, following the great impenetrable wall of its outer trees, that Legolas was living here before it was tainted by Sauron's evil…

She glanced at the elf.

"Melmenya?" Riding close beside her, Legolas had sensed a change in her mood.

"Are you pleased to be home?" she asked.

"That is not what you were thinking," he chided, gently.

"No—no, it is not."

"Were you worrying about meeting my father?"

"No…" She glanced at Gimli, seated behind Legolas. The dwarf was dozing, his head resting on the elf's shoulder. "I was thinking," she said, quietly, "about the difference in our ages—"

"Oh, melmenya…"

"—and I was wondering why you have been so distant lately—"

Legolas did not reply.

"Every night you seem to avoid coming to bed until I am asleep." She looked again at Gimli, making sure that he was not listening. "You have not made love to me since Lorien, Legolas." She looked at him beseechingly. "I know that you still need me—sometimes, when I wake, you are holding me so tightly I can scarcely breathe. But what is it my love? Can you not tell me what is wrong?"

"I—"

"We are here, your Highness," called Valandil, from up ahead. "The Forest Gate."

Legolas sighed. "We will talk later, I promise—and I will explain everything to you, melmenya." Then he pulled out from the cavalcade and cantered to where the Mirkwood elves were waiting for him.

…

Down in dim woods the diamond delves! the elves'-eyes!

The entrance to the Forest Path was like an 'arch made by' two 'great trees that leant together, too old and strangled with ivy and hung with lichen to bear more than a few blackened leaves.' The whole party dismounted and, leading the horses, passed one by one through the forbidding opening and made their way along the narrow path, winding 'in and out among the trunks' until 'the light at the gate was like a little bright hole far behind'.

At first the forest was oppressive and the humans were troubled by the unfamiliar shapes and smells and by 'queer noises'—'grunts, scufflings' and 'hurryings in the undergrowth'. But, as they travelled deeper, the forest grew lighter, the darkness broken by 'slender beams of sun' slicing through the 'tangled boughs and matted twigs', and splashing the ground with patches of brightness. And then, in the pockets of light, they began to notice little 'black squirrels' scampering along the branches, and birds nesting in the forest canopy, and colourful butterflies flitting amongst the bushes, and—everywhere—new, green shoots sparkling like precious emeralds against the old black leaves.

"The forest has begun to live again," said Legolas, looking around in wonder.

…

Every night the wood elves built Eowyn a small shelter to undress and sleep in. On their first night in Mirkwood, she had gone to bed early, exhausted by the day's worries, and had fallen asleep alone. But, sometime in the early hours of the morning, she awoke to find Legolas lying beside her.

Remembering his earlier promise, she rolled over and straddled him, provocatively—

To her horror, Legolas immediately threw up his arms, crying out, in a mixture of fear and anger, "Get away from me, brôg!"

Eowyn clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Legolas!" she whispered, desperately, as they wrestled in the bedroll, "hush, my love, shhhhh, shhhhh! I am not the bear; I am not the bear!"

He continued to struggle for just a moment longer, then she felt him collapse beneath her, as if defeated. Slowly, she removed her hand. "I am so sorry Legolas," she whispered. "I did not realise."

"I… Oh, melmenya, I…" Legolas shook his head, confused. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, my love." She settled down beside him, one arm lying protectively across his chest. "What is wrong Legolas?" she asked. "You must have been attacked by animals before—wargs, spiders, orcs—even threatened by bears—what made that day so different? What happened, my darling? Before I arrived? Sometimes it helps just to say these things out loud."

Legolas sighed. "It licked me," he finally admitted.

"I saw it."

He turned to face her. "No, melmenya. It licked me. Licked all of me. Even—especially—my…" He could not say it.

"Oh, my love!" cried Eowyn. She held out her arms to him and he laid his head on her breast.

…

"I wanted to tell you, melmenya," he whispered, "but I could not bring myself to admit it."

"Why?"

"I had the strangest feeling—as if the bear was trying to seduce me… What sort of elf is desired by a bear?"

"Are you still sensing that? From the shadow?"

"There is some desire, yes. But, mostly, there is anger."

"Towards me? For driving it away from you? Is that is why you carried me down The Carrock?"

He nodded. "It seems to hate you."

"Just let it come near me again!"

He smiled. "I should have known how you would react, Eowyn nín." Then he added, very softly, "I need you, melmenya…"

"Oh, my love!" She kissed him tenderly. "You have been needing me for two weeks. Lie back…" She pushed him gently onto the bedroll, unlaced his leggings, and lovingly stroked his penis, coaxing it to full hardness. "I have heard women say," she said, softly, 'that the male member is ugly. But I think it is beautiful." She leant forward and pressed her lips to his shaft, whispering, "I think that you are very beautiful."

"That is the most loving thing anyone could say, melmenya," he whispered back.

Smiling, she curled her hand around him and took him in her mouth, sucking gently. His body arched with pleasure but, after a few moments, he reached down and stroked her hair.

"Let me make love to you, Eowyn nín," he said.

…

She let him take his time, with long, slow, strokes, that had her writhing beneath him—begging softly for more—until, very gradually, with no increase of speed or vigour, he brought them both to a mutual release, clamping his hand tightly over her mouth to prevent her rousing the entire camp with her scream.

…

He awoke her just after dawn. "Good morning, melmenya," he said, cheerfully. "It is a fine day and we will be starting early."

"I need some breakfast," said Eowyn.

"All in good time, meleth nín," he replied. He dipped a piece of linen in the bowl of scented water he was holding. "We must make you presentable." He wrung out the cloth and gently began to wash her face. "You have a smear of dirt on your nose and chin," he said, smiling.

"Legolas…"

"Mmmmm?"

"Is the bear still following us?"

"I have not sensed it since we entered the forest, Eowyn nín."

That would explain his good mood, she thought. Though I may have helped, a little, too.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said. "What about the other shadow?"

"It is still with us, but it means us no harm." He sponged her arms and hands.

"How do you know?"

"It seems that I am not the only one who can sense it. Most of the elves are aware of it, though I seem to be more sensitive to it than most—sensitive to her—"

"Her?"

"A woodland sprite, melmenya. A very ancient being. She has followed us from Lorien—in fact, the Lorien elves are quite familiar with her kind."

"Why did she come with us?"

"Lorien is deserted—I suppose she wanted company."

"Where is she?"

"She seems to spend most of her time with your brother."

"Does Eomer know?"

"No—and there is no reason why he ever should, melmenya. I doubt that she will remain with us much longer, now that she back in the forest, where she belongs."

He wrung out the cloth and began, slowly and gently, to wash her breasts.

Eowyn sighed contentedly.

"If I tell you something else, do you think you can keep it quiet, meleth nín?" he asked.

Eowyn looked surprised. "Of course," she said.

"You promise?"

"Yes."

Legolas leant forward and whispered something in her ear. Eowyn laughed loudly—and, for a moment, the buzz of conversation in the rest of the camp came to an abrupt halt.

"You promised," Legolas complained.

Eowyn swatted his arm, still smiling happily.

…

The enchanted river

On the seventh day after entering the forest, they 'found their path blocked by a running water. It flowed fast and strong but not very wide' 'and it was black, or looked it in the gloom', and smelled brackish.

"It is known as the enchanted river," Legolas explained to the humans. "Anyone who drinks from it will fall into a profound sleep that may last for several days. We must cross without touching it."

"How?" asked Gimli.

"There is a rope bridge," said Valandil, "concealed in the trees. It will not take us long to arrange it." He and Orodreth left the main path and followed an even narrower track—all but invisible to the humans—along the very edge of the river bank, until they reached a tree that was straighter and even sturdier than those around it, and began to climb.

"I cannot do that," said Gimli.

"Neither can I," said Eomer.

"And nor can the horses," said Eowyn.

"Do not worry," said Legolas, taking Eowyn's hand. "Once Valandil and Orodreth have erected the bridge, we can all walk across."

The humans watched nervously as Valandil tied a rope around his waist then stepped gracefully along a narrow branch that almost spanned the river.

"Why is the water still tainted?" asked Eomer. "The rest of the forest is recovering, but the trees along the river banks look dead. Does the river flow from Dol Guldur?"

"No," said Legolas. "Its source is in the Mountains of Mirkwood—"

Several of the humans gasped as Valandil leapt effortlessly down to the far bank.

"It was the wood elves who first cast the enchantment," Legolas continued. "In the days before the Greenwood was contaminated by Sauron's evil, the river granted travellers a few hours rest that did them no harm but was enough to deter all but the most honourable—or the most determined—from going any further."

Valandil had untied the rope from about his waist and was using it to haul a large bundle across the water.

"But when Sauron's evil turned Mirkwood into a place of dread and darkness, and his foulness leached out of the soil and into the water, the enchantment became a real danger." He sighed. "We can only hope that, in time, the river will clear itself."

Valandil and Orodreth had unrolled the bundle and were securing its ends to two pairs of sturdy trees on either bank.

"Perhaps your father could build a permanent bridge," said Eomer.

"You will have to talk to him about that, mellon nín," said Legolas, smiling.

Haldir, Orodreth, Eofred and Halrand crossed first, to secure the eastern side of the river, then the remainder of the cavalcade made its way across the swaying bridge, one at a time, each leading his horse behind him.

Legolas and Eowyn waited on the western bank until the last man had crossed.

"Your turn, melmenya," said Legolas.

Eowyn nodded. She took hold of Brightstar's bridle and led him down to the river, talking gently. But, as they reached the water's edge, the horse suddenly stopped.

"Come Brightstar," said Eowyn, softly, "come, there is nothing to fear. What is wrong?—oh!"

The horse suddenly pulled away from her and reared up on its hind legs, as if trying to protect her from something in the trees behind. A second later, a huge, golden bear emerged from the undergrowth, knocked the horse away with a swipe of its paw, and lashed out at the woman.

Eowyn dodged backwards and stumbled. For a moment, she seemed to hang in the air, struggling to maintain her balance—and then she fell into the water, and disappeared under the blackness.