Darkness in the mountains was often accompanied with a chill. That particular evening was no different. The wind howled and snow had begun to blanket the ground. 

Since the little cabin held little to no electronic devices, Legolas and Willow sat by the fire drinking hot chocolate and chatting softly. Willow held a deep fascination of all things related to Middle Earth and marveled at the stories Legolas told of his past. 

Legolas was normally an elf of few words but the captivation he saw in Willow's face as he described his world kept him talking for hours. He described in detail his part in 'The Battle of Five Armies' and the destruction of the 'One Ring'. 

He told her of his close albeit unorthodox friendship with Gimli. He described his delight at annoying his father by flouting tradition by his friendship with Gimli and his refusal to take a bride. 

He described his old friend in detail. It was during this part of the discussion he did the most smiling and even a bit of laughing. Every time he did her heart skipped a beat.

"Gimli sounds like my kind of guy." Willow chuckled. "I think we would get along great."

"Indeed." Legolas agreed. "I think you would. You two are very similar."

Willow pouted her lips adorably and raised a questioning eyebrow. "And just what do you mean by similar?"

"The most obvious similarity being your height. You are both come up a bit... short." He joked.

"Hardy har har," Willow said dryly. "Did Legolas just try to make a joke about my height? Ok, pointy ears let's hear what else you got. How else are we similar?"

"You are both stubborn and willful to a fault." He smirked, lifting one corner of his lips. 

Willow stared at him blankly. How could one man be so damn perfect? Correction. How could one elf be so perfect? She continued to stare adoringly at him while he watched the fire in the hearth with a distant gaze. 

His mind appeared to be far away in a mystical land where things like elves, dwarves, and trolls were real. When she gave no retort he turned to face her, watching her through hooded eyes.

 The mood quickly shifted from jovial and light to intense and concupiscent. Realizing that her emotions would run out of check if she allowed her mind to linger, Willow quickly excused herself and retreated to the safety of her bedroom. 

She rushed into the bathroom and splashed water on her flushed face. It certainly didn't take much for him to heat things up with her. If she was going to get the habit of controlling her powers she'd have to put her guard up around him.

She crawled into bed that night, exhausted. It had been a trying day and using her abilities seem to drain her energy. She closed her eyes and drifted swiftly into sleep. 

Suddenly she was standing in a dark forest. She clutched her sweater, feeling a very real fear creep over her. The trees were gathered close, even the air seemed heavy with malice. 

She called for Legolas but could not use her voice. She looked around and did not recognize where she was. The cabin was nowhere in sight, no trail, nor land marks to tether her memory to this place. Her skin began to prickle as she felt her power uncoil from deep within.

"No need to get riled my dear" A ghostly voice whispered. 

She turned to see a creature perched on a tree branch. Its massive talons clasped the branch, bat-like wings encased its body and the head resembled a woman with flowing dark hair, a pale face, and dagger-like fangs. 

Her rose-red lips pulled into an eerie smile. Willow's blood ran cold. This must be the creature Legolas was talking about. She was here for her.

"Tell me where the Light is Arien Stormcrow and I will allow you to live out the remainder of your pathetic life on this loathsome world amongst these know-nothing humans"

Willow opened her mouth to speak still nothing came out. She clutched at her throat.

"Oh can't speak my dear? Shall I give you back your voice?" Thuringwethil cast open her wings releasing a gust of wind. Opening them to their full terrible width, the length of at least two men. The force of the gust buckled Willow to her knees. She gasped for breath and coughed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Willow said softly as her hands dug into the ground, grasping clumps of dirt in each of her hands. She felt her power rippling through her churning, threatening to overcome her if she did not release it.

"This is your final warning witch!" Thuringwethil snarled. "Give me what I want or I will tear out your throat and feast on your blood."

Still, on her hands and knees, Willow threw her head up and stood shaking. Willow spoke in a voice she did not recognize as her own, "Thuringwethil you shall never possess the light, as long as the grace of the Valar runs through me, I will defend it from you. Tonight you shall only meet your end." 

Thuringwethil sprang from the branch screeching as she glided at an incredible speed towards Willow. Instinctively Willow threw up her hand to protect herself and felt the sudden release of her power through the palm of her hand in the form of blue radiant light. The creature was expelled backward, crashing into nearby trees falling sharply to the ground.

"Willow!" She heard Legolas' voice in the distance. "Willow" He called again. She couldn't see him; she couldn't feel his presence. She closed her eyes and focused on the call of his voice.

Slowly she blinked her eyes open to see Legolas' blue ones peering at her, full of concern and relief. He clutched her shoulders in his hands. He must have been shaking her for some time trying in vain to rouse her. His lips were drawn into a thin line as worry etched on his handsome face. He hauled her into an embrace.

"I felt Thuringwethil's presence, then I knew she was trying to attack you while you slept, the one place I cannot defend you. I feared I'd lose you. Thank the Valar you are unharmed."

"I'm alright Legs." She said realizing how strange her own voice sounded, raspy and throaty. 

She pulled back from Legolas and wiped at her forehead. Her face was matted with sweat and her hair clung to her face. She pushed the heavy quilt off her legs and attempted to stand but nearly fainted in the process. 

Legolas quickly scooped her up in his arms. "Careful. You are weak. You must have used your powers to defend yourself against Thuringwethil." Willow threw her arms around his neck and tucked her head under his chin. "Take me outside for a while. I'm burning up in here."

Legolas swiftly carried Willow outside setting her bare feet on the cold ground, she walked a few feet away from him when he called out. "Miss Dubois are you certain? You may catch your death of cold out here."

She turned and smiled at him. "I think I'm beginning to understand who I am Legs and why they want me." 

She placed her hand on a nearby tree that was gnarled and ravaged by a rough winter. She closed her eyes and her palmed glowed a soft blue as it pressed to the tree. The tree sprang to life, its bark growing lustrous, its leaves green and strong, flowers budding and coming to full blood simultaneously. 

"My power, it comes from the Valar, I'm able to control nature and I get my power from it. Thuringwethil, she called me Arien Stormcrow. I must be from your world too."