In Minas Tirith, Legolas stood in a dining hall by a window, deep in thought. The hall was full of people eating and drinking and there was much jolly noise. Cheerful talking and laughing filled the room. A raggedy peddler walked in, swaying under his armload of too many sacks. He collapsed on a bench, some of his worn-out sacks flowing onto the floor while he managed to pull colourful cloths out of one and began wheeling out his marketing speech for the merchandise. No one was listening.

The candles had been lit and there was a fire in every fireplace, making the atmosphere quite cozy, but the mood did not reach the heart of the elf.

The One Ring had been destroyed a month ago, but the hellish fires in Mordor still made the night sky flicker in the shades of red and orange. He was watching the silhouettes of a small flock of common cranes dotting the sky as they flew when Legolas felt a pat on his shoulder.

"Hey, laddie," Gimli said, "why're you brooding here alone?"

Legolas turned to find Gimli carrying two pints of ale in one hand and a bowl of steaming stew in the other. The angle which he had to look down at the dwarf was painfully similar to the angle he used to look at… No, it would not do to let this train of thought finish.

"Do you know Gimli," Legolas said, "if I could fly with those cranes, I could be at home in two days."

"And miss all the fun of the coronation?"

"Aye."

"So, who's waiting for you at home?" Gimli asked.

"No one," Legolas replied, turning to look at the sky again only to find the cranes had flown out of sight.

"By the look on your face a moment ago I'd say there has to be someone."

"There is nobody." Legolas crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the dwarf.

"Alright, alright, no need to get mad at me," Gimli said and sat down at the table with the pints and his food and began eating. "But why the rush?"

"I only wish to get back to my usual life," the elf replied and sat in front of Gimli. Taking one of the ales for himself, he took a long sip. "When I came to Rivendell, I had no idea I would be here half a year."

"Aye," Gimli sighed and licked some grease off his beard. "I know what you mean, I miss home too. My wife's roasted pork. Mmmm…"

"It is not food I am longing for. I just wish to resume my post at the Marchwardens."

"Marchwardens, huh? Sneaking around in the woods and scaring people?"

"Aye. Something like that."

"Wait a moment," Gimli said, "you aren't leading the army with your father?"

"No. I quit sixty years ago, I wanted to do something else for while. I went north, met Aragorn, and lived with him and the Dunedain for many years."

"Yeah, you said that you'd met with him years ago. But when did you join the Creep-around-in-the-bushes folk?" Gimli asked, spooning his stew.

"About thirty years ago, and I have not regretted a single day," Legolas said smiling.

"So, it must be fun to prowl about the woods?"

"Aye, it is. Mainly we just scout in the forest and if we find something of interest we act accordingly."

"Draw your bow against their heads?"

"Sometimes there is a need for that indeed, but often it is something else. My partner is excellent at hiding and she - "

"She? Your partner is a lady? And you never told me about her?"

"There is nothing to tell. We are Marchwarden partners."

"Of course," Gimli said, dropping his spoon back into the empty bowl. "Does she have a name?"

"Sulrochil," Legolas said and could not help smiling.

"Oh, you're smitten," the dwarf said, taking his ale.

"I am not. What makes you believe that?"

"No Marchwarden partner ever could put that grin on your face." Gimli lifted his mug into a brief gesture of a toast.

"There is nothing between us. We are friends, and that is all."

Gimli took a sip from his ale and Legolas continued:

"And she is better shot than me."

It made Gimli almost choke on his ale. "What?"

"Is there a problem with your ears, Gimli?"

"My ears are just fine. No pointy tips on them, you know. But you can't mean she could be better bowman than you."

"Why? You have not seen her shoot. She is a lot faster than me, and also more accurate, but I will never tell her I said that. In field battle she is not that strong, though. She is as tiny as a mosquito and - " Legolas froze and lifted his head.

For Gimli it seemed the elf was trying to hear something. "What it is lad?"

"No, it can not be," Legolas said and his eyes darted rapidly in different directions. "This must only be my imagination. She can not be here."

"What do you mean she can't be here? Where?" Gimli looked at the same direction as the elf, but saw nobody.

"Not in this room, Gimli. Out there." Legolas gestured toward the window. "I share a Wardens' Bond with Sulrochil - "

"A bond? But you said there isn't anything between you two, so you can't be married."

"No, we are not married and not bound in that way," Legolas grinned even at the thought of that. "We do share a Wardens' Bond which is completely different than the Bond of Love."

"I've heard about the bond of the marriage kind, but never about this other."

"Wardens' Bonds can develop during years of working as Marchwarden partners," Legolas explained. "It does not happen to every pair, but when it happens it gives them a great tactical tool. We can determine each other's location within a half a mile and I know if she is moving or staying still. It helps enormously in scouting and patrolling. But I want to emphasize the fact that we do not feel each other's emotions like married couples do, but only - "

"What?" Gimli was baffled. "You can't mean married people would feel the feelings of the other?"

"Why?"

"Even the pointy-ears can't be that strange? Feeling what my wife does? Awful. How's it possible?"

"There is a simple ceremony which the two elves in love perform in order to receive the Bond of Love and then it just happens. They become bound to each other eternally and receive the gift of feeling each other's feelings, but I do not know how it happens."

"Why has no one told you?"

"It can not be explained because you are supposed to learn this together with the one you love. The elves do not think these kind of things before they love someone, and I do not love anyone."

"That is strange. You live thousands of years and can not even think about love?"

"I can think about love, but I do not know what it will be truly like. You can care for people. You can be friends and like them, but until the two elves actually love each other, it is not love. And before you love someone you can not appropriately imagine what it will be like."

"My mind just got twisted," Gimli said shaking his head in disbelief. "So, what kind of strangeness is the bond you share?"

"The Wardens' Bond," Legolas said. "We simply sense the location of the other. If she is within the range, I know where she is and if she is moving or not. Right now I am sensing her in the area but she should be nowhere near us. This is quite confusing. It has to be only a memory of her."

"Why she couldn't be here?" Gimli asked.

"Because she should be safe in Mirkwood and not here at the other end of the world."

"I thought she could defend herself?"

"Of course she can," Legolas turned his head trying to get a grasp on what he believed to be sensing. "There was our "not in danger" signal again. Am I only imagining this?"

"You could go and see if she is really there?" Gimli said.

"No," Legolas relaxed a bit and leaned his elbows on the table sipping his ale. "If she is here, let her find me."

Sulrochil was here, that was certain, as Legolas could not imagine sensing her presence that long. He had thought about Sulrochil on his quest through Middle Earth. If he was honest to himself, he had thought about her a lot, but not even once had he believed he had sensed her. So, she must be here. But why? Legolas was waiting for the King's messenger bring him his crown and other needed things for the coronation of Aragorn, but why would his father choose Sulrochil to do it? That did not make sense at all, because his father had not ever met her and there were numerous people who he could have ordered to do the task. Still, it was the best plausible explanation for her sudden arrival. Better to not guess, but to wait for her.

"I really don't understand this feeling thing. You elves are so weird. How do you feel her?" Gimli asked.

"Not feel, sense. Wardens' Bond means our minds are connected, not souls like in the Bond of Love," Legolas replied.

"How do you feel it? The connection, I mean," Gimli asked, genuinely curious.

"It is hard to explain, but I always describe it is like when you extend your arm and close your eyes. You do not see your hand but you know where it is."

Gimli tried that naturally at once; straightening his arm and closing his eyes.

"You look like a fool," Legolas grinned.

"Well, what's she doing right now." Gimli lowered his arm and took his ale.

"I sensed her coming fast towards Minas Tirith, most probably riding. Right now she is staying still, I guess she is tending her horse. So if I am still sane and not completely imagining things, she should come here soon."

"Now that's something I won't want to miss! Let's see what kind of smile you get when she actually comes here."

"Most likely she came all this way from Mirkwood only to lecture me about something which is supposed to be my fault." Legolas drank the last of his ale, put the mug on the table, and leaned on the wall behind him. He tried not to smile when he admitted to himself he had been waiting anxiously to get back home soon and see Sulrochil again. And now she was here.

Through the plains towards Minas Tirith indeed rode an elf lady with a package for the Prince of Mirkwood. When Sulrochil had ridden through the huge forests of Ithilien, the trees had hummed crisp songs about spring and it had been too easy to forget the purpose of her journey. The linden trees had gladly informed her that there had been another wood-elf walking in these woods a few days ago. Legolas was, of course, only a half wood-elf because his father was not one himself, but the trees made no difference about it and neither did Sulrochil. So, he had been here in this forest, Sulrochil contemplated.

Also Gandalf would be there in Gondor and the warm thoughts of the dear wizard filled her mind. Her last encounter with Mithrandir had happened many months ago. She had been patrolling with Legolas at the southern borders of Mirkwood and they had sat on a tree branch, listening to Gandalf as he approached them. There were no other people for miles - neither friends nor foes - and therefore, after a quick glance at each other, they had dared to jump onto the ground before the wizard when he had been just below them.

"You miserable tree hugging elves! Do you not have more important business to attend than to scare poor old wizards?" Gandalf pierced them both with his gaze and continued more calmly with a twinkle in his eye. "You two fools were exactly the ones I was looking for. I have not had a proper rest for weeks and you can make yourselves useful keeping watch while I sleep."

Gandalf had slept peacefully for the night while the two of them guarded him.

All the way from Mirkwood to Gondor Sulrochil had asked Baraniel to run fast, resting only when necessary and they both felt exhilarated by their ride. Now she had arrived in Minas Tirith again, after many centuries. She turned to look at the magnificent white walls and many layers of the city. It was beautiful and when she got closer to the city she felt a familiar tug in her mind.

Legolas.

So he really was in the city.

Sulrochil rode slowly, counting to five and stopped her horse. She kept her horse still, again counting to five, and continued riding. It was their signal meaning "I am in the area and not in danger". She was sure he had also sensed her, but because he did not expect her presence, he would wonder what she was doing there. She decided to repeat the signal after some time.

She had been beyond furious to learn Legolas had to leave on some kind of secret mission due to the King's order half a year ago. He had been not allowed to say anything to Sulrochil and he had only guessed the mission would take a couple of weeks. Sulrochil was sure Legolas had not really known how long it would last. But, if he had known he could be many months away, but had not allowed to tell her, he would not have said anything. "I believe I owe him an apology when I meet him again." Sulrochil smiled fondly to herself. Too many times had she blown up for various reasons to him, and as many times she had pleaded forgiveness. Sometimes she wondered how he could stand her moods, as many times he had forgiven.

Many rumours had gone round in Mirkwood about the Fellowship of the Ring and that Legolas had been chosen into it, but not until the Fellowship had visited Lothlorien did the people in Mirkwood truly know their Prince had been one of the members of the honoured group which had been sent to destroy the One Ring.

And they had succeeded! The joy and pride Sulrochil felt was enormous, even though she had no idea how it had been done. The evil forces had been racketing around too long. Perhaps now there could be peace. But too painfully she felt in her soul there still were evil forces here and there and it would be a long time until a real peace could be achieved. All traces of evilness had to be vanquished from the Middle Earth before the time of the men would begin. There still was much to be done, before all elves could leave Middle Earth.

In Minas Tirith a stableman watched Sulrochil's arrival, and he debated with himself if the clothing of the elf was green, brown or grey. Every piece of clothing was some kind of muted earth color. If you looked closely at the clothes you could see she had a strange sleeveless coat. On her arms there was showed the sleeves of her grayish brown shirt and the bracers on her wrists were also some kind of brownish green. Or was it greenish gray? Her trousers and boots had a same effect. It was impossible to determine the colour of her clothing. When she happened to be in front of a juniper growing near the stables, she seemed to merge into it.

Sulrochil showed her messenger badge to the stableman and at once he bowed to her and diligently showed a place in the stables. She was given a stall and the stableman offered to tend her horse, but she wanted to do it herself and began brushing her horse. Tending Baraniel gave her the calming feeling she needed and also the horse relaxed now they finally had reached their destination.

So now Sulrochil was really in Minas Tirith with the package for Legolas. She was not used to carrying things in her hands. Usually she traveled only with things she could attach onto herself, or tuck into her pockets. Now the package in her hands seemed so unnatural, like it would bite her if she held it too long, and she decided to find Legolas at once. She put the pin on her chest and climbed myriads of staircases upwards towards the spot where he would be.

Legolas sensed Sulrochil had begun to move towards him, and he said. "Sulrochil is coming. At least I hope it is her and not my imagination. Please, let her talk first, because I really can not say in what mood she is."

"Don't worry, laddie," Gimli said, "When you begin to babble in that impossible language of yours I will not understand a word of it."

"Perhaps not the words, but her tones are quite understandable."

Legolas blinked when he saw Sulrochil walking into the dining hall. She was pacing directly towards him with a package in her hands. At once he noticed the pin on her chest. His father really had chosen her to be his messenger. She looked much like Legolas remembered her when they had last seen each other over six months ago. Something seemed different but Legolas could not exactly say what it was. Her clothing and weaponry were the same as before, so it was nothing exterior. It was something other than her odd expression. Her whole demeanour was serious and her eyes seemed like she was a stranger to him.

So, she wanted to play. Let us play, he thought.

"My Lord Legolas," Sulrochil bowed in front of the Prince and handed the package towards him. "I bring this package for you from the Lord Thranduil, our King."

Legolas rose up, took the package, and spoke as cordially as she had. "Thank you Sulrochil, messenger of our King Thranduil." Legolas glanced at the package and turned to glare at Sulrochil. His eyes were hard as rock and his voice seemed to chill the room. "You are late. The coronation of the King of Gondor will take place the day after tomorrow and I have been waiting for your arrival. What took you so long?"

"Please forgive me, My Lord," Sulrochil bowed again. "I came as quickly as I could after I got my assignment from the King. I can not know the reason our Highly Esteemed King would send anyone for this journey so late. I can only guess the reason was the Battle of Mirkwood, when the orcs attacked - "

"There has been a war in Mirkwood?" Legolas put the package on the table.

"Aye, everybody available was asked to join the army and also I joined temporarily - "

"You were in the war?" The act was over. Legolas' voice suddenly became much softer and his eyes were full of concern when he scanned her thoroughly, searching for any kind of distress. He lifted his arm a fraction, but lowered it. "Are you alright, Sulrochil?"

"I am fine," Sulrochil smiled lifting her eyes so she could look directly at his eyes, for he was a head taller. "It was the same war you fought. The same war, a different battle. And you? How was saving the world?"

"It was not me who did it," Legolas smiled and switched into the Common Tongue. "Sulrochil, may I introduce you to Gimli, the greatest dwarf that has ever lived in this world. And Gimli, this is Sulrochil, my Marchwarden partner who today seems to appear as the messenger of the King."

Gimli had been watching the two elves, flabbergasted, as their meeting did not seem at all what he had believed it would be when Legolas had talked about Sulrochil. When the lady had walked in the room it had felt she had been surrounded by the sharp edges of a saw blade and the rigid line divided the elves in two opposite leagues. Only when they ceased pretending and the look on the lad's face changed altogether had he known they had done it all for the show. The edges melted and slowly the air around the lady was filled with a spirit of the forest, shimmering in the last rays of the sun in the evening.

"Nice to meet you, Sulrochil," Gimli said blinking in the sudden change of the atmosphere, "When I can see you shoot? The lad said you are faster than him."

"Pleased to meet you too, Master Dwarf," Sulrochil said bowing to Gimli. "Of course I am faster than Legolas, for he is only average. I can show you real elven archery tomorrow, now would be too dark for your eyes to see it." Sulrochil smiled sweetly at the dwarf. "In fact I will challenge Legolas to a competition tomorrow."

Gimli looked to Legolas, who only shrugged indifferently but had no time to say anything. They all saw Gandalf arriving in the dining hall with billowing white robes, striding towards the three of them.

"Mithrandir," Sulrochil exclaimed, "I am so relieved you are not lost as we had been led to believe! There was much sorrow in the whole Mirkwood for a time, but now I can be joyous again to see you." She embraced the wizard and almost drowned in his beard.

"I sensed your Wardens' Bond, and came to see what you could possibly be doing in Minas Tirith," Gandalf withdrew from the hug smiling and looked at the pin on Sulrochil's chest. "Well, now, if it is not the messenger of the King Thranduil."

"Aye, I am the messenger today," Sulrochil said and turned to look at the ceiling, trying to mimic the King. "'The Prince of Mirkwood is not going to be prancing around in hand-me-downs at the coronation of the King of Gondor.'"

"And he wanted you to bring the crown for Legolas?" Gandalf said quite thoughtfully.

"Well, he claimed all the better options were either dead or on other assignments, so he had to use me as the substitute."

"I see," Gandalf replied. "Now are you going to eat something?"

"I suppose I could eat something while you all tell me about your quest."

"Now that is something I want to see," Legolas said to Sulrochil, both smiling fondly. "You eating as long as the story goes on."

"Could you bring food also for me, Sulrochil?" Gandalf said and sat down to the table with the others.

Sulrochil fetched two bowls of stew and while the wizard ate and the elf lady played absently with her stew, Gimli and Legolas told the story in turns. It involved many tales about who had killed more orcs at which battle, but it was also a heart-wrenchingly aching story of how everything almost shattered many times, but in the end the Ring had been destroyed.

The glances between the elves did not go unnoticed by either the dwarf or the wizard.

"I am tired," Gandalf said and yawned. "Do you have a room yet, Sulrochil?"

"No, I guess I should go and get one before it is too late," she replied and stood up.

"I will show you to the guard who can give you one," Legolas stood up also, took his package and bid everyone goodnight, then they left.

"Now Gandalf," Gimli began, turning his head slowly towards the wizard, "What did I just see?"

"What do you mean, Gimli?" Gandalf said with mirth, lighting his pipe.

"You're going to smoke? I thought you were tired."

"Of course not," the wizard said, offering the match for the dwarf too. "I only wanted to get those two out of here."

Gimli also lit his pipe and both puffed a while until Gimli said: "The lad never told about her and we walked together for a half a year."

"They are Marchwarden partners and nothing more. There was nothing to tell."

"For me it's obvious there's something to tell."

"Perhaps there is, perhaps there is not," the wizard pondered. "No one ever knows what two elves actually feel. You could be misguided about this, and you would not be the first one to be wrong when trying to guess what really is going on between elves. No one ever knows, and neither do they themselves know what is going on."

"What do you mean by that?" Gimli asked, pointing at the wizard with the end of his pipe. "I get the part I don't know what they feel, but how could they not know themselves?"

"Relationships change extremely slowly for elves. The lifespan of the elves is so long. They have time. What is a year to the elves, or ten years? A hundred years? For a long time they might think they are only friends, but in fact, their relationship could already be changing into something else. But no one else can know what is going on, neither can they. It is always like that for the elves. Please, do not say anything to them about this as it would be considered rude."

"Rude?" Gimli asked, puffing his pipe.

"Aye, the others are not to comment in any way the development of the relationship of the two elves."

"Well, I said to the lad, he seems to be smitten."

"Was that before Sulrochil arrived or after?"

"Before."

"Then it is alright, but please do not say anything now that you have seen them together. One beautiful day they might find out it is not plain friendship anymore, but until then they should be considered simply as friends. For elves there can be affection from one towards the other but it can never lead to love if it is not mutual. When we see two elves, we can never be sure what they really feel no matter how affectionate they seem. And the sad part is that one of them might even wish for something more, but if it is not mutual, it can never become anything other than friendship."

"The pointy ears are so strange."

"You are right. The ways of elves in this matter probably do seem quite odd to the other races. Love is such a sacred thing for the elves that you probably have no idea."

"They seem so clueless," Gimli said after a contemplative puff of his pipe.

"If," Gandalf said, taking a long puff, "and only if they are going through what you believe they are, it would be a completely new experience for them, as it happens only once in their lifetime. If it were to happen, everything would change in their lives. Their whole beings transforming into something thoroughly novel; their bodies, minds and souls trying to settle into the new situation. The transition would be confusing and thus lead to erratic behaviour and uncertainty. Finding equilibrium is never straightforward."

"Speak Common Tongue, Gandalf," Gimli huffed.

"Alright, they are clueless," the wizard said, smiling. "But can you guess why I came here tonight?"

"No," the dwarf replied.

"I was surprised to sense their Wardens' Bond, as I did not expect Sulrochil here. I came to see how they are." Gandalf turned to look at Gimli with a twinkle in his eye. "And I guessed Sulrochil wanted to embrace someone."

"Who? The lad?"

"No, no, no, of course, not him! Someone, anyone. And I guessed right. I was embraced, wasn't I?"

"I can't believe this!"

"That embrace was not the first one I have received from elf ladies during the past centuries…"

"The pointy ears…"

The two elves walked to the guard who gave Sulrochil a room. Legolas took a burning candle off one of the holders on the wall and showed the way as they walked through the corridor. The room was quite small and it had a window facing towards the mountains surrounding Mordor. While Sulrochil removed her weapons and hung them on the wall, Legolas lit an oil lamp on the desk and heard Sulrochil say:

"Could you open the package and give my dress and other things to me?"

"Your dress?" he said lifting the package and looking at it like he could see through the cover.

"Aye, I put my dress and all the nonsensical stuff needed for the coronation to the same package so I did not have to bring many items. That one extra was almost too much," Sulrochil said, trying to guess if he wanted to stay for a while because he had not left at once when they had found the room. The whole situation was strange. During their duties and practising, they had to be together, but tonight it was not required. If he stayed, it was because he wanted to do it.

"I see. Your orders naturally include attending to the coronation as a member of the Mirkwood Embassy," Legolas smirked opening the package and not giving any indication of hurrying. "You must enjoy it immensely."

"Of course I will enjoy it. Wearing a dress at a huge ceremony is like a dream come true for me," Sulrochil sighed and studied the room. Besides the desk was only one chair and there was no other place to sit on except the bed, but that would not do.

"Thank you for bringing me this," Legolas said looking at his crown and handed Sulrochil a folded smaller package tied up with a brown ribbon.

"There is also a letter from the King to Mithrandir," Sulrochil said, "but you have to deliver it to him, because I guess I was not supposed to open your package."

"And Gandalf knows," Legolas said, "those kind of rules never mattered to you."

"They matter to you," she replied keeping her eyes fixed on the wall.

"Thank you," he said glancing at the door.

"Before you go," Sulrochil said, "could you explain one thing for me?"

"Of course," Legolas said turning to look back at her.

"I do not understand," Sulrochil began and sat on the floor with her package in her hands, "how the King knew about the destroying of the Ring and that there will be a coronation coming up. The Advisor only said they have their ways." She leaned back against the wall.

"I am probably not supposed to say this," Legolas also sat down to the floor next to her, "but I guess it was Galadriel who learned the information about it and they brought the information to Mirkwood also."

"I see," Sulrochil said, feeling small with him sitting next to her. "After you had visited Lothlorien with the Fellowship many months ago, somebody brought the information to Mirkwood and then I heard you had been chosen for the fellowship. Well, I must say… could you please forgive me everything I said to you back in Mirkwood when you told me you must leave on this secret mission of yours and you were not allowed to say anything to me. I said things I should not have said to you."

"You are forgiven," Legolas said turning to smile at Sulrochil. "I would have been furious too if I had been in your place. Trust me, I wanted to tell you why I had to leave."

"I know, I just feel bad I always lose my temper," she said, trying to decide if he had leaned a bit closer to her or if it was only her imagination.

"I know," Legolas said resignedly, taking his crown out of the package and hanging it on his right forefinger in front of him. "But this time you actually had a proper reason, so, please, do not worry about it anymore."

"You mean there is not a proper reason always?" she grinned.

"Do not misunderstand me. Of course, you have a proper reason every time," he said, idly spinning the crown with his finger.

"Naturally." Sulrochil lifted her jaw proudly, watching the movements of the crown.

"It is just not always clear for me what the reason is," Legolas said and suddenly threw the crown to Sulrochil.

"You lack basic understanding skills then," Sulrochil replied and threw the crown back to him.

"What I lack is an ability to read your mind," he sighed.

"You should learn, if you think that would help you," she said, turning her head so she could see him properly.

"How nice to have you back," Legolas smiled and lowered the crown to his lap. "It was so boring without your incessant arguing."

For a while they just looked at each other, contented to be together, until Legolas broke the silence:

"When I said I would be gone only a couple of weeks, I really did believe that."

"I knew you were not lying to me."

"My orders when I left Mirkwood were to go to Rivendell to inform the elves there about the escape of Gollum. I had no idea I would be chosen to the fellowship."

"Of course, they wanted you. You are the best."

"Many times I missed you," Legolas said contemplatively, but continued quickly, "I do not know anything you have been up to these past months. Except for fighting in the war of course."

"I joined the army because there was an order that anyone who can fight must join."

"What kind of a corps were you assigned to?"

"Chief Marchwarden Filvendor collected a small unit of former Marchwardens who had had to quit because their partner had quit for some reason. I fought with them and I was asked to do what I can do best which is - "

"Hide and shoot orcs," Legolas said and turned to look at Sulrochil. "How did it affect you?"

"I was ordered to kill certain orc leaders and that meant I mostly ran through the woods and tried to find the best spot where I could hide, shoot them, and sneak away afterwards. I had to kill only three."

"Only?"

"I meant - "

"I know what you meant, but trying to find a hiding spot to kill one orc leader is difficult and you took three of them?"

"Hiding is easy. Waiting for the best moment, when no one sees it, is harder, but the hardest part is always staying in the hiding spot waiting for the attacking orcs run past me."

"And they always run past you."

"Aye."

"But staying in the hiding spot is not the hardest part for you. It is always the killing," Legolas said.

"I am ashamed that the killing still affects me in that way," Sulrochil said, lifting her knees up and resting her head on them. "I used to be a good soldier back then."

"Please, do not blame yourself," Legolas said and looked at the curve of her back, trying to recall if he ever had seen her like that. "What you had to endure back in the Battle of the Five Armies was something so horrible and unimaginable."

"Aye, but why it was only me who survived of my group?" Sulrochil turned her head a bit so she could see him with out of the corner of her eye.

"I do not know the reason for that," Legolas whispered and turned his head at the same angle as hers to meet her frightened gaze.

"Me neither," Sulrochil said hiding her face again. "I can deal with the killing much better nowadays, but it affects my soul all the time. It wrenches me every time violently and twists my heart. I guess that is why Chief assigned me to the hide and seek game in the battle."

"No. That was not the reason, and you know it. The reason was nobody else could do what you did."

"Perhaps," she replied lifting her head and inhaling deeply.

"Are you really alright, Sulrochil?" Legolas said gently, looking at Sulrochil's eyes. Sulrochil was not sure if there ever had been so much fondness in his eyes.

"I am now," she whispered and after a small while continued in a brighter tone, "Before the battle I lived at my cousin's home and occasionally helped him with his studies of the trees and plants. At first I thought I would be bored, but it was quite intriguing actually. I got to climb trees and for a while only enjoy being in the forest and letting the presence of the trees fill my mind. He taught me many interesting things about trees I never had considered. And then after the battle I was summoned to the King and the rest of it you know."

"But why did he choose you to be his messenger?" he asked.

"Like I said earlier, the King said all the better options were either dead or doing other assignments and he said he had to ask me because you trust me."

"Can you tell me exactly what he said?"

"I can not remember the exact words, because I felt so nervous," Sulrochil said looking at the ceiling. "I had heard rumours his gaze is piercing, but I really had no idea what it would be like until I had to experience it myself."

"He indeed does that."

"But he said he needs someone who can ride fast, can defend herself, and I have been in Minas Tirith before so I knew the road here. I really felt there was no one available whom he could trust, so he needed to ask me because you trust me. I was surprised." She really could not say anything at all about certain questions of the King.

"And then?" Legolas tried to comprehend what really had happened.

"Then he asked his Advisor to tell me the details of my assignment. He gave me the pin and the package and took me to the seamstress in order to get that ghastly dress sewn."

"And that was all?"

"Just about it. Well, I must have looked horrified after Limdur said I must attend the coronation and he asked what could be so awful."

"And you said naturally what was on your mind," Legolas said.

"What else would I have said? It would have been rude to lie to the King's Advisor."

"I see," Legolas said thoughtfully, "I still do not understand everything, but it does not matter. I am glad you came." He was certain Sulrochil had deliberately left something untold, but he could not question her more if she did not want to reveal it.

"And I am delighted to be here. Are you free to get back to Mirkwood after the coronation?"

"Aye. And I can not wait to get back. There are three other messengers, besides you, in the area and we must travel together. It is the tradition of Mirkwood that the Embassy travels together back home and brings their greetings to the King. We are going to leave for our journey back the next day after the coronation with the Lothlorien Embassy. They also invited us to Lothlorien on our way home, and we have agreed to their invitation. I guess you have nothing against it."

"No. Visiting Lothlorien sounds excellent and I want to get away from the lands of men as soon as possible."

"Have the men been causing any trouble?" Legolas asked.

"The usual disgusting ogling, but nothing worse than that," Sulrochil said shaking her head.

"They should not do it," he said. "I am sorry you have to endure it."

The walls seemed to be dancing with all shades of yellow and orange from the far-off fires in Mordor. Both fell into their thoughts. Distant yelling was heard somewhere in the corridor, but the outside world seemed far away. The essence of life concentrated in the room; everything outside, unimportant.

"How do you really feel about this quest you have been through?" Sulrochil asked after a while.

"This whole ordeal has been quite strenuous." Legolas leaned his head towards the wall.

"It is natural," she said, "Legolas, if even half of it was true, what you told with Gimli tonight, you must have killed hundreds or perhaps even thousands of enemies. No elf can survive that without effects. And you have been doing this for almost two millennia."

"It was easy when we were out there. You did what was expected of you." Legolas inhaled deeply. "But now, after the Ring has been destroyed and I have had free time, it all revolves in my mind."

"I will listen if you want to tell me about it," she whispered.

"I know you will."

Sulrochil waited for a while to see if he wanted to continue, but he did not. She knew there was no way to push him into telling her more. If he ever wanted to tell, she would have to wait. Showing any weakness or any kind of vulnerability on this matter was unacceptable for Legolas, like all male warrior elves. Their hearts were awash with the urge to defend what was important to them and to protect everything and everyone they cared of. To admit killing could have effects on their souls would be unbecoming. She had seen that in her comrades in King Thranduil's Royal Army for many centuries.

What Legolas had conceded a moment ago was a lot more than Sulrochil had expected. All she could say was:

"Have you slept at all afterwards?"

"Not much."

"You should. It is always the best way to take away the worst sting from the pain of what killing does to us."

"You are right, perhaps I should," Legolas touched her arm with his knuckles. "You need to rest too."

"I know." Sulrochil was amazed by his unexpected touch and lifted her eyes to his, asking the meaning of it.

Legolas stood up and walked to the door, turning to look at Sulrochil. For a while they gazed in each other's eyes solemnly. Something was different than before. Both saw something had changed in the look of the other's eyes. Neither understood the meaning of all this.

Sulrochil sat on the floor a long time after Legolas had left and realized she had missed him more than she had believed. And that touch? The smallest touch of the back of his hand on her arm covered with a thick sleeve. They never touched, unless necessary for one reason or another.

If Sulrochil looked at her arm, she almost could still see his hand brushing on it. And not only see, also feel.

It felt like a leaf of a linden falling softly on her arm.

Legolas walked to his room with the package in his hands and sat similarly on the floor, leaning his back to the wall and sighing heavily. His left side felt cold when there was no longer another being giving warmth next to him.

There were many things in his mind right now, but the first thing was to try to comprehend the real reason why Sulrochil was in this city. His father did not do anything without a reason and there were two possible explanations for Sulrochil's sudden appearance in Minas Tirith. The first was the explanation Sulrochil had given. That seemed so far-fetched, Legolas could not believe it at all. Any of the guards at the castle could have brought these items to him. The second, his father had wanted Sulrochil to do it. But why?

The last encounter with his father before he left for Rivendell many months ago had taken place right after Legolas came back from telling Sulrochil he had orders from the King to leave immediately for a mission of which he was not allowed to say a word. Sulrochil had been furious and naturally made Legolas angry too.

"It did not go well, I assume?" Thranduil said, seeing his son storming back home.

"What did you expect?" Legolas huffed. "She was like sunshine when she learned about my going away?"

"She gets free time when you are away."

"The worst part was not my upcoming departure, but that I could not tell her the reason."

"That can not be avoided. For you are the Prince of this kingdom."

"When we are out there prowling in the woods," Legolas said, "there are no princes nor subordinates. We are equals."

"And that was the reason you wanted to join the Marchwardens."

"It was the wisest decision I have ever made. Finally I could be equal with someone, that is a luxury I never had."

"You are a member of royal family. How could you be equal with anyone?" his father said, "The Mirkwood Embassy will leave tomorrow at dawn, there will be five members including you. Farewell, Legolas."

Was sending Sulrochil here some kind of an apology on his father's part? It did not sound likely at all, but it was the best explanation Legolas could figure out with the knowledge he had.

Now that was settled, Legolas could allow his mind wander to more pleasant thoughts. Sulrochil was here, and alone in his room he could let his smile lighten up his whole face. He sensed her location through their Wardens' Bond. She was approximately thirty yards away. She had not moved after he left her room, so it meant she was still sitting on the floor. And the fact she had sat on the floor in her room in the first place - in essence it had meant she had invited him to sit with her for a while, even though there had been no need for it. She just wanted it, but what for? He could not give any more meaning to the gesture than what it was - a pleasant conversation between two Marchwarden partners after a long separation.

Once in his lifetime he had misunderstood the friendship he had, had wished for more, and been disappointed badly. He would not make the same mistake twice.

But still his final meeting with Sulrochil in Mirkwood spun in his mind. Aye, it had ended in an argument, a ghastly argument, but the look on her face when he had to leave her without giving any reasons had made him almost feel the pain she had felt.

Something had changed in him. There was only one problem, and it was that he did not know at all what she felt.