Chapter 2

Love Grows

Legolas was the door to the houses of healing. He was called there because something had happen to Vàna. In the months that Legolas was in Minas Tirith, they had grown close. Now he feared for her. He knew he saw a growing shadow in her eyes but dismissed it was homesickness. He knew that she feared for her homeland and wished to return but now that she was in the Houses of Healing he knew it was more than homesickness.

He inquired about her room and found out that Aragorn was with her. He knew then that it was serious if it needed the healing hands of the king.

Legolas came to the door and yet hesitated. He feared to go in. He didn't want to see what was on the other side of the door.

The door suddenly opened and a weary looking Aragorn was on the other side. "You better come in, Mellon Nin."

Legolas entered and stifled a gasp. Her left arm was bandaged and in a sling. He face was pale and taunt, like she was in pain.

"Her left shoulder was stabbed by a cursed blade. We have yet to find out what poison laced it, but for now we wait and hope she will pull through."

Through her fitful sleep words were heard. "Anakin… No… please…"

"She has been saying the same things for awhile now. Does this Anakin have an meaning for you?" Legolas shook his head no. He had all he could do to stand there and watch while she suffered, not being able to do anything. Aragorn saw the anguish on his face and smiled sadly. "What have you found Mellon Nin?" Legolas looked at him not understanding. "Have you found love?" He couldn't answer.

Legolas went to visit her every day and each day he found her ever stronger. They never figured out what poison coated the blade but it seemed that her body rejected it. By the end of the week, color came back to her pale face. To the healers, although they only told the king, it seemed that she had the healing capabilities of an Elf, even though she was human.

They talked whenever he was there for that was all they could do; she was still too weak to walk. They talked for hours and often well into the night. They talked of Middle earth and it's people, of Legolas and his home, and they talked of the War of the Ring and of the hobbits (she seemed quite eager to learn about them), but whenever the conversation turned to her and her homeland, she was silent. One night Legolas couldn't stand it anymore and he pressed her.

"You kept muttering something in your sleep. A name, I think it was." Her eyes glassed over and he knew she didn't want to talk about it, but he pressed harder. "Who is Anakin?"

"I wish I could tell you, I truly do, but for me the grief is still too near." Tears started to fall form her face and Legolas chided himself for pressing. It was then that a nock was heard and Aragorn walked in checking up on her and Legolas left wanting to think about everything that had happened the last months.

Legolas did not go back for several days. He was mired in politics and trying to help Aragorn with a treaty with the remaining elves. Even though he was busy there wasn't a moment that he didn't think of her. He knew that she wanted to tell him everything but couldn't. When he finally did go back to the Houses of Healing he found out that she had been released and was living on the sixth level of the city, in the guest apartments set aside for delegates of the court.

He called upon her and they went for a walk among the people of the city not noticing or not caring about the stares they were receiving. Around midday they stopped for lunch in a small pub.

"Are you able to remember what gave you that wound?" Legolas asked after the meal was set in front of them.

She fingered the mug of ale in front her; the food untouched and asked. "Did Aragorn ask you to ask me that?"

He saw her frightened face and sat back in his chair. "He told that you remember a little of the night you received it, but, no, he did not ask me to."

She breathed a little easier. She looked around and saw that the only other person was the bartender. She leaned in close and started the story softly. "Aragorn was not being truthful. He knows exactly what happened that night because… because he was there." He didn't interrupt because she was finally talking about her past. "My first night in Middle Earth was the worst. I managed to get lost on my way to Bree. In my pursuit to find my way I fell upon three Hobbits being attacked by a foul Goblin. I stepped in the way of his blade and it pierced my left shoulder. The hobbits took me to Bree where we were met by Aragorn. If it wasn't for his healing hand I would have died." Legolas stared and Vàna shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Legolas stopped in front of her door dreading this meeting. His father found out that he had been courting someone and he wanted to meet her. He wished to face the whole of Mordor before his father met any of his perspective spouses, not that they were many.

Vàna came to the door and laughed out loud at his sheepish stance. "What is wrong?"

"My father is coming for a visit."

"Is he here for the treaty?"

"No, not even a historic treaty like this one will bring him out of Greenwood. No, he is coming because he heard about us."

"Us?"

"Even though elves are immortal a father still hopes for a male heir," Legolas said. He could feel redness creeping into his pale face.

"An heir?" She asked, her cheeks also turning red. "Oh, Legolas, I…"

"You don't have to say anything. I just wanted to warn you." He said moving away.

"No, Legolas, I do need to say something," she said stopping him. "We need to go and seek an audience with Aragorn. We have a lot to talk about."