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Legolas rubbed at his eyes, they felt slightly sore as he tried to breech the darkness that surrounded the fortress. He sighed and walked back inside. There was still a lot of work to be done as they burned the bodies of the orcs and buried the fallen soldiers.
The wounded were being threaded and Legolas found the business of this place kept him sane. It kept the horrific memories from coming to the surface and every time he rushed towards Castiel's room to see if she was better. She seemed to need a lot of sleep but she was feeling better, at least that was what he had been thinking.
Last time he checked upon her, the door was closed to the room she was in and he had frowned, not sure what to expect but afraid to open the door. He wandered back inside and frowned when he saw a familiar figure leaning against the wall.
"Castiel? What are you doing out of bed?" The questions sped past his lips as he took her arm as the familiar eyes returned to him.
She gave him a slight smile and answered. "A part of the wall collapsed last night and they needed the bed. I have been trying to help treat some of the wounds but I find myself growing weary and painful after barely an hour of helping." She nearly fell against him and quickly steadied herself with a hand on his chest.
"Oh, I am sorry, Legolas. I must be wearier then I thought." Castiel looked up as Legolas took her other hand and quickly his other arm slid around her waist, helping her to stand.
He found a smile lighting his face as he looked into clear green eyes. "It is alright. You probably should rest for it has only been barely two days since you were injured…. If there is no bed for you available you can make use of mine, I will gladly move."
"Oi, Elfling, there you are. I believed you had fallen off some cliff somewhere since I have barely seen you in the last two days…. Oh am I intruding?" Gimli the dwarf came around the corner to stop at the unusual sight of Legolas holding a slim elven maiden up.
"No, Gimli you are not. She almost fell, that was all and she steadied herself against me." Legolas answered as he turned to Gimli, giving Castiel a moment to steady herself. She was glad for the arm around her waist for else she would have fallen.
"You are the elf from earlier, the one who collapsed and Legolas rescued you. Now I remember. Are you even supposed to be out of bed yet?" Gimli turned to her as she forced a smile to her face.
Legolas changed to look at her to see she was still very pale. It would take weeks for her strength to return and weeks was not something they had, unless she was to stay here but Legolas did not want that. "I am not fit to be out of bed yet, I will grant you that, master dwarf but there is not much of a choice. In a matter of days we are leaving for Rohan and the elves for Rivendell, I cannot stay behind, no matter how weak I am. I do not believe we have been properly introduced. My name is Castiel and I hail from Rivendell."
"My name is Gimli, son of Gloin, my lady, at your service." The dwarf bowed and she tried to curtsey back. Only Legolas quick assistance kept her from falling over. "So where have you been all this time, Legolas. I feared you were buried underneath a rock somewhere since I could not find you." Gimli turned a stern eye upon the elven prince.
"I am afraid that is entirely my fault, master dwarf. Lord Legolas has been keeping watch at my bedside and visiting me whenever he was available. I apologize for worrying you. It was not my intent." Castiel cut in.
"Then it is alright, my lady. It is Legolas' nature to be charmed with beautiful things. Beings that walk or nature alike." Gimli spoke with a twinkle in his eyes as she giggled.
"Gimli, I merely thought Castiel would want some company. She fought for the people here and since they are still afraid of the Firstborn I thought it would be nice for her to see one of her own kind who was not injured or dying." Legolas placed a hand upon her back and she looked at him for a short minute.
"So that is why you are so overly worried about her? I do not see you fret to over any of the other elves here. Do not even try to tell me that it had nothing to do with the fact that she is a female and a very attractive one at that." Legolas turned a stern eye upon Gimli as Castiel turned her head, fighting to keep the smile down.
"My worries for have nothing to do with the fact that she is a female. She saved my life and in return I worry for her." The heated words left Legolas' lips in a hurry.
"You must worry a lot then…" Gimli answered smugly.
"That is none of your concern, Gimli. Do you not have somewhere else to be? Possibly outside to smoke?" Legolas ignored the jibe.
"Yes as a matter of fact now that I found you, I was told by Aragorn to get you to eat. He says we are leaving in two days and everybody needs their strength. So are you coming or not?" Gimli turned around and looked over his shoulder as Legolas nodded, saying.
"In a moment, Gimli. I will join you on the battlements. Just find some food and I will find you." As Gimli walked away, Legolas turned back to Castiel. "I think you should join us. It would do you well to be outside and to eat something." The elven prince said nothing about how he would enjoy her company.
She held up her hand, nearly ready to reject his offer. "You should spend some time with Gimli. He wants your company and he is a good and loyal friend. I will be alright on my own, Legolas, really."
"Lord Aragorn will be there. He is worried for you and he is an excellent healer. Please, Castiel, come for me? The firstborn cannot endure to be inside for too long and you have spent the past two days inside, I think it would be best if we could get some colour in your cheeks."
"I am not sure…I do not think I can walk that far. My wound pains me already so I do not think it would be a wise idea for me to stay on my feet any longer…" She frowned as a voice called out to Legolas.
"Are you coming, Legolas? Gimli said he had found you." Aragorn rounded the same corner Gimli had before. He smiled as he saw her but a worried expression crossed his handsome features as he beheld her pained and pale face. "Will you come as well, lady Castiel?" He asked softly.
Legolas did not answer as he turned to look at Castiel as well as she looked from one male to the other. "I am not sure…" She answered just as softly.
"You are too pale for my liking…" Aragorn stepped in closer and gently brought her face up to peer into her eyes. "I think it would do you well to get some fresh air and some food. At least better then this dark place." The man eventually continued.
"Then I will come. I apologize in advance if my company is not what it should be. I am slightly weary." She answered. "I will watch over you. If you are too weary just let me know and I will find you a place to rest. Perhaps Aragorn can fix you a pain draught for the pain?" Legolas turned to Aragorn expectantly and the man nodded.
"Yes, I shall. It makes me wonder why you are not resting then if you cannot remain on your feet." The man stepped away to allow Legolas to take her arm as they walked towards the battlements and fresh air.
"They needed the bed after a part of the wall collapsed yesterday. Some of the soldiers were trapped beneath it so I got out of it. I did not know it had taxed my strength so much." Castiel smiled at Legolas gratefully as the prince lowered his pace to keep up with her.
"We shall need to find you a new bed then. We are leaving in two days and I think it would be best, and I daresay Gandalf will agree with me, that you travel with us. If the enemy ever caught you in their hands, it will be the undoing of Glorfindel. You will be saver then with the company of the elves. Their numbers are greatly weakened. Perhaps it is best as well to leave your true identity behind and whose daughter you are." Aragorn led the way as they finally stepped outside.
"I have offered her my bed." Legolas answered softly as the man's sharp gaze turned to him.
"That is for her to take or leave, Legolas." The future king only spoke.
They were greeted by a welcome shout by the dwarf and a soft "hello" from Gandalf. The wizard walked forward to take Castiel's hands and she smiled gratefully at him. "I am glad to see you up and about, my dear. I thought for a moment that I would have to bring Glorfindel sad news but it seems not so. He will be glad to know that you have recovered."
"He would not be." She answered, adverting her eyes as Gandalf helped her to sit down.
"What do you mean?" The white wizard asked, slightly baffled. She bit her lip as she answered. "He does not know I am here. And if he did he would not approve of it."
"You left without his consent." Gandalf stated softly.
"Aye, I did. He would not have approved of it anyway. He did not wish for me to fight." She answered sadly.
"If it is any consolation, king Thranduil did not wish for me to fight either. I think I gave him quite a scare when I did not return home but send a letter telling him I had joined the Fellowship." Legolas joined them, settling down on the ground and handing Castiel a bowl of brew. "Eat that. Orders from Aragorn."
She smiled at him and answered. "Thank you. I will finish it all." She took a few bites and Legolas was content to just watch her. After a while Aragorn drew the elf into a conversation and finally the day waned, bringing darkness once more.
Castiel followed Legolas as the elven prince led her to a sleeping place. It was a small room that the elf shared with both Gimli and Aragorn. There was a soft mattress on the floor and two beds. "I hope you do not mind sharing a bed. I do not take up much space and this is a better sleeping place then sleeping out into the hallway. The only downside is Gimli's snoring." Legolas smiled at her.
She fidgeted with her hands. This was the first time she ever shared such close quarters with a male who was not her father or like a brother to her. Legolas saw this and he placed a calming hand over her own. "If you are not comfortable I can sleep someplace else."
"No, no, I am fine. It just takes some getting used to. But I thank you, Legolas." She smiled once more and for a moment nearly swayed as his strong arms caught her. She leaned against Legolas and buried her face in his shoulder, trying to hide the weakness her body was displaying.
She felt him press a quick kiss to the top of her head and she breathed in deeply, the scent of him more welcoming and comforting then she could have imagined. They stayed like this for quite some time.
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