Chapter 4

A helping hand

Juliana's body felt heavy. It felt that there was a great weight on her chest and she struggled to breath. Even though her eyes were open, she saw darkness. She smelled something foul under her nose and it was draining her all of the air she needed to breathe, she closed her eyes. Then it hit her. She had been fighting, fighting for Helm's Deep. All the events of the fight flashed before her eyes: Running out the Glittering caves, fighting the Orcs, being saved by Legolas and trying to run to him before the contraption exploded destroying the wall. Legolas! She did not see where he was thrown off when the wall exploded. Struggling to breath, all her worry and anxiety of Legolas came rushing back to her. Then… She felt free. Air started to course over her, abundant and free. It was a wonderful sensation, that foul smell she was breathing was gone. Juliana opened her eyes.

Apparently, there had been an Orc above her. Somebody had removed it that is why fresh air came wafting over her. She sat up, a little dizzy and nauseous but her mind was clear. She looked at her right. A Rohirrim soldier looked shocked. Obviously, he thought she was dead and she saw he was holding an orc's helmet. He was the one who rescued her. Smiling suddenly, she thanked the soldier and stood up, asking if he had seen Aragorn and his Company.

'Finally count…' Legolas said as he approached Gimli. 'Forty-two.' He arched an eyebrow as he told the dwarf of the amount of Orcs he had killed in battle. They started a game during the battle and it lessened the tension of war, something Legolas wanted to do.

Gimli, not offended by the Elf's gaze, looked back at him. He was sitting on a corpse of an Orc and smoking a pipe, looking far shorter than usual. 'Forty-two?' he asked casually. 'Not bad for a pointy-eared elvish prince ling.' Gimli remarked, which earned him a sharp look from Legolas. Nevertheless he continued. 'I myself am sitting pretty on forty-three.' He stressed the last word.

With a blink of an eye, Legolas shot an arrow to the Orc's body, a place where Gimli's hand had been seconds before.

'Forty-three.' Legolas said triumphantly.

'He was already dead.' Gimli said stating the obvious.

'He was twitching.' Legolas argued.

'He was twitching because he's got my axe embedded on his nervous system!' As the dwarf said this , he moved the axe impaled on the Orc's head back and forth. Legolas laughed, but before he could think of a proper retort, someone calling his name snatched his attention:

'LEGOLAS!'

Before the Elf could look to the direction of the sound, he was shocked that someone came and hugged him. Winded by the hug, he looked at the giver of the embrace. His eyes went wide when he recognized Juliana's arms around his neck. Slowly, and hesitatingly, he draped one of his slender arms around her.

Juliana fell deeper into her embrace with Legolas. She was so relieved that he was alive and well. Looking up, with the sparkle back in her eyes, she punched him lightly in the arm.

'Don't ever give me that kind of scare again. Besides, I knew you couldn't make that shot.' she smirked.

Legolas' shock turned into annoyance. 'Hey!'

Juliana was still hugging him, and now she could see how fair he looked even up close. Legolas suddenly realized how much Juliana was built to fit him. Her waist was perfect so that Legolas could entirely wrap his arms around it. Juliana was tall enough that her head could nestle itself comfortably in his shoulder. Her smile was just right, not too small, and not wide, just enough so he can also smile. They stared at each other for a few minutes, taking in every detail of each other's face, trying to memorize them. Juliana finally looked away from Legolas when she heard someone clear their throat. Gimli was looking at them confusion on his face as he smoked his pipe.

Juliana wondered why he gave her that look, when she suddenly realized, as if for the first time, she was hugging Legolas. Color rising to her cheeks, she quickly removed her hands away from his neck. Mumbling a "sorry", she moved away from Gimli and Legolas.

'I thought you said she didn't like Elves.' Gimli said a small smile on his lips still smoking his pipe, when Juliana moved out of earshot.

'Gimli, I'm just as confused as you are.' Legolas shook his head and folded his arms. Nevertheless, he could not resist looking over to Juliana who had met Eowyn. The latter seemed concerned at the fact that Juliana had a serious head injury, something Legolas did not notice earlier. He sighed. 'Perhaps its better this way,' he murmured.

Gimli, who obviously had not Elves' hearing, heard him nevertheless. 'Careful Elf, she's mortal.'

'I know that Gimli.' Legolas answered slightly annoyed.

Gimli appeared not to hear him. 'Are you starting to fall for her?' It would have been funny, if Gimli's tone was not dead serious.

To the Dwarf's astonishment, Legolas started to blush and look away. 'Of course not.' He said defensively. 'I'm not starting to fall for her, as you said.'

'You know,' Gimli said looking at Legolas a glint in his eye. 'You're not a very good liar.'

'That's because Elves hardly lie.' Legolas retorted. 'It's better this way, we're on speaking terms, like we used to.' He added softly.

As he said this, Juliana had looked back and smiled a little at Legolas.

Gimli sighed, and he too looked at Juliana. 'I hope you know what you are doing.'

'For both your sakes.' He added.

Juliana hated wearing a dress. Scratch that, she absolutely loathed wearing a dress. As a female, she was required to wear dresses. Juliana envied Eowyn who could move so quickly even wearing a gown.

She hated it because of a little accident during her childhood. She used to wear dresses when she was little, she vaguely remembered liking a pink dress with bows. Juliana used to wear them going to Mirkwood, back when she used to play with Elves. Back when Legolas used to play with her. It was still strange to meet Legolas still looking the same as ever back when she was a girl. Immortality had their benefits.

Anyway, she wore a dress going to Mirkwood, when it was tree-climbing day. The Elves used to play this with her, and she loved this game. She had climbed high, not knowing that as she started her procession up, a loose thread caught itself in a branch and it slowly undid her skirt. When she reached the top, half her skirt was already a pile of thread down at the ground and her underwear was shown for all the other Elf lings, also the older ones, mainly Legolas. Juliana could still see the look of pure laughter on Legolas' eyes and the way he tried to hide his laughter, resulting to sniggers. That is why she never wore a dress again. Being raised by a Ranger, she had a perfect excuse to wear a tunic and leggings. However, she only had two tunics. Therefore, she became resourceful and cut slits at some of her dresses so that she only had to wear leggings underneath. It was a genius idea and she designed three of this dresses, her most simple ones to serve that style.

Nevertheless, Eowyn declared the one she brought with her dirty and it needed to be cleaned. When Juliana said, she envied Eowyn because she could move so easily along with her dresses; Eowyn suddenly had the idea of letting her wear one. Eowyn had tended her wounds, with a scolding during this process. Afterwards, she insisted for Juliana to take a bath. The Ranger did not want to because she knew she was going to be forced to wear a dress afterwards. Eowyn, however managed to let her take a bath when she threatened to bathe Juliana herself. Scowling, Juliana got in the tub and took a bath. When she was clean and wearing a new frown, Eowyn cheerfully let her pick a dress from her own. Finally giving in, Juliana picked a blue gown, which reminded her of the Sea, and a little bit of Legolas' eyes. She knew she was going to be stared at curiously by some people and that was worse than being ridiculed.

Eowyn finally left her alone so she can dress. Hadrod had gone somewhere, so she was spared from his jokes. Looking dejectedly at the dress, she stared at it, as if determined to make it melt with the bed sheets. However, when the dress did not have the ability to do that, she made a deep sigh and started to put it on.

Juliana stood in front of the looking glass after she had dressed. She wondered when the last time she looked at herself in the mirror was and preparing for a celebration, for Théoden decided that a big dinner would not hurt after the battle. She sighed with sadness because she realized that she never really celebrated anything after her father, Droug had died. Still staring at her reflection, she did not see the Ranger but saw a stranger, wearing a dress.

The dress was simple, a blue shift that clung a bit tightly to the bodice and it draped over her hands in typical Elf fashion. Deciding that she had better make it through and through, she pinned her hair in the only way she knew how, Elf style. Sighing again, she imagined the smug look on Eowyn's face if she saw her look like this; she loosened the twine that pinned her hair so that it fell softly to her shoulders.

When Eowyn finally knocked at the door, demanding she should come out, Juliana had a deeper scowl on her face.

Legolas Greenleaf stared out from the stall he was sitting on. He was looking at the beautiful full moon that rose, not shortly after the battle. This kind of moonrise reminded him of home. He missed Mirkwood deeply, Legolas missed the smells of the forests on a spring or summer day, when the sun would bathe the trees on the morning and it would melt all signs of coldness during the night. He missed the peace and quiet, but he knew when he returned to Mirkwood, his father would not stop badgering him of fulfilling his duties as Crowned Prince of Mirkwood. Was he not doing exactly that? He loved Tharanduil for the rouge he could sometimes be, but Legolas did not know what he meant by "fulfilling your duties to your people." Was not he the one who was risking his neck to fight for the Elves? True, he did not need to do that, mainly because some other Elf could have done that and the fact that the Elves were leaving in droves to go over the Sea, he really need not to fight for them. Perhaps it was for symbolic purposes why he joined the Fellowship, but Legolas knew better. He joined it because he wanted to be away from all the politics of the Court of Mirkwood. He knew that being alive for almost three thousand years had to have some benefits, not to have the uncertainty of a purposeless life that was plaguing his thoughts.

It was not only his father he thought of when he saw the moonrise. Juliana. She had been also in his thoughts ever since they met again. It was hard for him to see Juliana as a woman now, not a little girl who used to play with them. It was hard to see her as an accomplished warrior and not as a curious little child. It was hard to see her as anything at all. True, Legolas had been enchanted by the fact that Juliana grew up to be as beautiful as she was. He could still remember when that incident in Mirkwood when her dress became undone. It was very unnerving to see that she grew up to have that hard cold glare that she threw at him constantly.

Legolas sighed. Why then did she hug him? Why then had he seen relief and warmth on her face when she stared into his eyes? Why then is he asking all these questions?

He drove a hand through his hair in unusual frustration. He had never been this agitated before. War was slowly boring into him, perhaps. It was already starting to weave into his proper senses that all he felt was anger and impatience. What if it ended? What if the War, the confusion, the anger ended and all was left was peace? Would he have accomplished anything? Would he go home to say he had accomplished something? Would Legolas, Crowned Prince of Mirkwood finally get peace that he wanted? No, he told himself. He knew that he would still feel empty and alone. He did not want to pass over the Sea or die without knowing how it was to love. How it was to be loved. He needed to know what Love was.

Not this time though. He added looking at the Moon again.

'The Prince of Mirkwood is requested inside the Hornburg for dinner.' Juliana said as monotonous as she could, but the last words escaped her lips like whispers as she stopped to listen to the song Legolas had been singing. She had been assigned by Eowyn, (perhaps to torture her some more) to call all guards and everyone inside for the feast. She was about to return, when she saw someone sitting on the parapet. She could immediately tell it was Legolas. No Man could climb that high.

She was still embarrassed at the fact that she had hugged him for all to see, for Gimli to see. She did not even know why she did that, it was an involuntary movement, though she could not deny she was pleased. She still could remember how warm she felt as she hugged him. His body heat slowly enveloping her, it was hard to remember when she had such a hug. It was a sensation she would like to feel again.

Legolas removed his gaze from the moon to look at the speaker. He knew it was Juliana from the moment he heard the swift movement, but what he saw did not make him prepared whatsoever. Juliana managed to steal his breath away, though he hid it well. He could finally see the loveliness that was hidden underneath her Ranger clothes and it winded him more than her hug earlier. His eyes did the smallest takes to scan her from head to toe. The dress fit her perfectly, even though it was very simple, not even an Elf-maiden from Mirkwood would wear for everyday attire, but Juliana managed to look elegant. Eowyn had managed to hide her head bandage, making her look prepared for feasting.

'Are you just going to stare at me Prince?' Juliana said interrupting all his thoughts and folding her arms. Her tone suggested annoyance but she was pleased at his reaction, she never thought she could make him react like that.

Legolas looked away, embarrassed. 'Forgive me.' He mumbled.

Juliana actually laughed aloud. 'The Prince apologizes! What do I have to do to deserve this honor?'

'How about wearing a dress now for the rest of this expedition?" Legolas quipped, forgetting his humiliation. The look on Juliana's face made it Legolas' turn to laugh. 'I take it you did not wear that dress with open arms. Perhaps I should ask Eowyn how she does it.'

'How she does what?' Juliana asked suspiciously.

'How she manages to make you do what she wants without so much as a scowl from you. Maybe if I apply the same technique, you wouldn't be so harsh towards me.'

Juliana raised an eyebrow. 'Harsh? Me? Oh no, Prince Legolas, I would not dream of being harsh to you, that would certainly be low of me.' Her voice dripped sarcasm.

Legolas, in turn raised his eyebrows. He was enjoying this Juliana than the one who had hugged him a while back. This Juliana was easy to read, her beauty was only secondary to her will and wit, which was laid out for all eyes to see.

'Since when have you had a silver tongue?' Legolas asked changing the subject.

'Since I grew up and acted older than you, Prince Legolas.' Juliana retorted.

'That is funny.' Legolas seemed thoughtful. 'Who's the immortal here?'

Juliana smirked mockingly. 'You are right about that one! You will forever be immortally immature, Legolas.'

' Oh really?' Legolas asked with an aristocratic smirk. 'Who was the one who stuck their tongue out during the battle?'

'I did not do that!' Juliana cried.

'Still in denial?' he said jokingly.

Juliana gave him her usual light punch on his arm. 'You'll pay for that.'

'I don't think so human.' Legolas answered calmly. 'You forget you owe me one.'

'What?' confusion was etched on her face. 'But why should I give it to you here? You could go to dinner.'

'Dinner? I might go, but then again, I'm not the social type.'

'I'll say!' Juliana remarked. 'You choose the weirdest companions: Four pherian, two Men, a wizard, and a dwarf. Who would think you're not the social type?' Her tone once again sarcastic.

'I only do what I am told to do.' Legolas replied sincerely.

Juliana nodded knowingly. 'Ahh, yes. The ever- powerful King Thranduil.' Her eyes sparkled when she said his father's name.

'Is it me or are you taking a liking to my FATHER?'

'Why, are you jealous?'

Legolas frowned. 'No.' But he clearly was. Legolas had caught her sweet tone when she spoke of his father.

'You're very sweet when you're jealous.' Juliana said as smile on her lips. She knew he was, and she found very pleasing, and very disturbing. A part of her did not want Legolas jealous for her, and another was actually pleased that Legolas could be hit by such a petty emotion.

'I am not jealous.' Legolas defended himself feebly, color rising to his cheeks. However, he looked away, back up the moon.

'Come on,' Juliana coaxed gently taking his hand. 'Are you going to sulk all evening, with such a feast inside?'

Legolas looked at the hand that was barely wrapped around his own. Even Juliana was surprised by this sweet gesture.

'I am not sulking.' He answered petulantly, like an Elf ling that stubbornly refused to listen.

'Well, if you're not sulking would it at least cheer you up if I get you something to eat from the feast?'

Legolas looked back at her his eyes twinkling. Juliana suddenly realized how easy it would be to lose her in their depths, if she somehow succumbed to some crazy feeling or another.

'I'm not sure I'll like anything you cooked.' He said.

This earned him another punch in the arm.

'Wait here okay?' she said starting to go back and letting go of his hand, much to Legolas' disappointment. She retreated from him with a gentle swish of her skirt.

Laughing softly, Legolas looked down at the hand that was held by Juliana only moments ago. He was just thinking of how soft Juliana's hands though it may be calloused, when he heard a sharp groan. He turned to see, at the bottom of the steps, Juliana clutching her leg.

He quickly placed his bow back, which he had been holding when Juliana came, and raced down stairs towards her.

'What happened?' He asked kneeling down beside her, concern filled his tone.

Juliana looked up, surprised at his tone of voice. 'I forgot about this injury.' She said through pain indicating her injury. Legolas could see the blood that was being sponged by her skirt, and he wondered how she could forget such injuries. He started to lift her skirt to inspect the injury but Juliana interrupted him.

'I don't think you should do that.' She whispered.

'But you're injured.' He insisted. The look on Juliana's face made him stop any more attempts to force her to make him look at her wound. 'All right,' he said giving in., 'I won't take a look at it here. Let me help you to your room so you can rest there for a while.

At this, Juliana agreed, but she would not let him support her, at least, not yet. She did ,manage to stand up, but only for a couple of seconds before falling into the arms of Legolas.

With her pride hurt, she allowed Legolas to help her stand up. Legolas held her with one arm around her waist and the other around her hand. 'Put the weight of your injured leg on me.' He said. Juliana did so, very surprised at his gesture. She suddenly realized how soft his hands were, how gentle and firm his touch could be.

'How did you get such an injury anyway?' Legolas' voice broke her thoughts.

'A stupid Orc's doing.' Juliana said pain in her voice. 'Though I 'm sure it was not aiming for my leg.' She added.

'And I am sure you killed it the minute it wounded you.' Legolas added picturing the moment.

'You guessed right.' Juliana answered smiling.

Legolas looked up still smiling but it faltered when he saw Juliana. He had never seen her face so up close, not even when she hugged him. Legolas found himself wondering how soft her face would be. It was probably as soft as a rose petal, and then Juliana looked at him too. They stopped.

Legolas was not aware he stopped walking. He was not aware he was standing at all. All he was aware of was that he had his arms around Juliana, and half of her weight was leaning onto him. He was aware how light she was, how soft her skin was even though she was wearing a dress. He was aware that she was beautiful.

Juliana was speechless. She could not breathe; her heart was pounding in her chest so wildly. How can he be so close? She had admired how handsome he was, but not like this. He was handsome, she knew even by Elf standards, but somehow, she could not see him like Legolas. He was an Elf, not to be forgiven, he was somebody in her past, somebody she wanted to forget, but her heart did not want to. She had wondered why she had hugged him, and this was the answer. Legolas was somebody you could hold onto and you would feel warm and safe, something she never felt for a long time. She had to break the gaze; she had to break the gaze! SHE HAD TO BREAK THE GAZE! However, it was not her willpower that broke is gaze; it was the pain in her leg.

Legolas slowly resumed walking. What had gotten into him? He liked maidens before, but never mortals. He met and loved Elf-maidens once or twice in youth; it was not so hard when you are the Prince and eligible. He knew how maidens, may it be mortal or immortal, would stare at him. He was not cruel to females in general; in fact, he was courteous and noble to all, except the dark ones. Legolas never allowed judgments based on stereotypes to get in the way of actually knowing a person, he simply accepted people as they were. However, He held everyone in arms-length and lovers were no exception. Few people understood him, and therefore it was difficult for a woman to have any serious relationship and be close to him. Legolas had only taken a little less than his share of lovers over the millennium, but it was no more than romantic interludes.

It was not common for Legolas to stare at Juliana. He had never done that to a maiden, and it surprised him. Perhaps because he saw how young she was, and this sudden sight of her all grown up, hit him hard: that he was immortal and life will just pass him. No, no matter how much he wanted to believe that lie, it was not that. Juliana was beautiful, he could not deny that, and it was the only reason why he stared at her.

Juliana wondered if she succumbed to her feelings, would it change everything. Not that she had feelings already; she was not even sure what she was feeling. Nevertheless, she knew if she took Legolas closer than arms-length, it would hurt him more than it would hurt her in the end. It would probably kill him, and she could not do that to any one, not even someone she vowed never to forgive.

They had reached Juliana's room. Already there were signs that Juliana rested in the room, though it may be temporary. Droug's Ranger cloak, which Juliana now used, was draped over a chair. There was a jewel-encrusted comb on the vanity desk, probably the only object on the desk. Her belt with her healing pack, her sword and her two daggers was on the bed, laid across it as though it was something very precious. However, Legolas noted that one of the daggers was missing. Legolas smiled in spite of the confusion he had. It was a nice feeling, the presence of Juliana in the room, not just literally, but figuratively.

He led her to the bed, slowly moving aside her belt. Legolas kneeled in front of her and propped her injured leg on his left knee.

'Wait.' Juliana said for the first time they entered. Her voice sounded hoarse. 'I thought you said you were not going to inspect it?'

Legolas' blue eyes twinkled. 'No you were mistaken Lady Ranger. I said I was not going to inspect your injury out there. And since it's inside…' he trailed off a spark of mischief in his eyes.

'You are impossible.' Juliana shook her head.

'Really?' Legolas asked. 'I would have thought a Ranger such as you can handle an Elf.'

Juliana raised an eyebrow. 'Not if that Elf happens to be The Prince of Mirkwood and seemingly irritating.' Nevertheless, she allowed Legolas to inspect it.

It was not such a deep cut, but blood was already oozing from her wound and started to form a little puddle on the floor. Juliana actually paled when she saw her own blood.

'What's wrong?' Legolas asked sincerely this time.

'That is my blood on the floor, what do you think is wrong?' Eareliath asked panicky.

'Don't worry,' Legolas said soothingly. 'I'll clean it, and no objections.' He added before Juliana could say anything.

He stood up and slowly placed both her feet on the bed as he looked for her healing tools. He was relieved that there were no more awkward moments. Juliana told him the bowl she used with Gimli's wounds was at the base of the closet along with some athelas and a clean cloth. Filling the bowl with some water from a jug, he came over to the bed. Placing the bowl on the bedside table, he sat on the bed in front of her. Juliana had already gotten a piece of cloth to sponge her blood and to stop hemorrhage when Legolas returned.

Legolas worked silently as he started to clean the injury. When he wiped all the blood away from her leg, he dampened the clean cloth and dabbed it on her wound. As soon as the wet cloth made contact with her wound, Juliana winced.

When Legolas looked at her inquiringly, she only whispered 'It's cold.'

After cleaning, Legolas started to crush the athelas. Juliana watched him, amazed. His hands were soft and gentle, aside from the fact that they brutally killed Orcs a few hours ago.

Legolas applied the athelas on her leg. 'Do you have any spare bandages?' he asked. 'I already cleaned it; I might as well finish the job.' He added at the look on Juliana's face.

'There's some on my healing pack.' She answered a scowl on her face.

'Very good.' Legolas said smiling. 'Perhaps I could make you behave like this all the time, so you won't be so harsh towards me.'

Juliana glared at him.

Smiling smugly, he reached for the belt. At the same moment, Juliana reached for it too. As the tips of his fingers touched the back of her hand, Juliana gave out a little gasp and pulled her hand away. Legolas got the bandage. Juliana watched as Legolas silently wrapped her leg with the bandage. Once when he finally got the bandage in place, he looked up at Juliana.

She was looking at him also, a small smile on her face. That small smile made her look so gentle and angelic. He stood up and sat on the bed beside her. They looked at each other without noise, taking in each detail of their faces, very much as if they did a few hours ago. Almost absentmindedly, Juliana raised her hand to brush a stray hair from his face. It would not be strange if there were actually stray hair on his face.

'Juliana…I…"Hadrod entered and stopped at the doorway. He stood amazed at the scene before him. Juliana and Legolas were sitting on the bed, Juliana's leg on his lap and the tips of her fingertips on his chiseled cheek. A small smile crept on his face as he cleared his throat.

'Lady Eowyn is looking for you my sister. She asks if you shall attend the feast.'

Instantly, Juliana came back to reality. She withdrew her hand quickly and slipped her leg from above his lap but the sudden movement caused a sharp pain to course over her. She yelled, clutching her leg.

Legolas also blinked and did the slightest flinch as he heard the dull thud of Juliana's leg hitting the cold, stone floor. Stooping down, he helped her leg up on the bed once again, despite protests.

'I better go, you need your rest.' He said softly standing up. He got the bowl he used to clean her leg and the cloth and started to walk out of the room. However, when he was level with Hadrod, he placed his hand softly on the boy's shoulder.

'Make sure she gets her rest. Despite her protests, be as stubborn as she is.' Legolas whispered when bent down to say it in his ear.

Hadrod smiled and nodded. Legolas straightened up as Juliana threw them a glare and a retort about what the Elf said. She clearly heard it though it seemed out of earshot.

Smiling softly, Legolas continued his walk out towards the door.

'Legolas,' Juliana called. He looked back an inquiring look on his face.

'Hannon le,' thank you

With a larger smile, Legolas exited the room.

(whadya think? please..please...please review! This is my first fanfic after all...I meant first posted fanfic...please review!Thanks! (More Leggy and Juliana moments coming ahead!)