A/N: I am so sorry, this chapter took even longer than the last one... but finally I got my inspiration back and was able to write the next chapter :) Thanks so much to sparrowismyhummingbird, Whisky Whisk, Lazy Gaga, KD Skywalker and Menghave2 for your lovely reviews! I am so glad you liked the last chapter. And special thanks to Aralas for your ideas and encouragement! :) I guess this chapter is rather fluffy, hopefully it's not too much? As always I am very grateful for any feedback, both positive and negative :)

Legolas slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on the bed, judging by the soft blanket draped over him and the mattress upon which he was lying. He sighed softly. Slowly, he was getting used to waking up like this.

However, to his surprise, this time he could not remember having any bad dreams. Instead, he felt drained, but it was not so much the bodily exhaustion he experienced after a long ride or fight. It was rather his mind that felt incredibly tired and also quite disoriented.

He slowly turned to his side and started slightly when he found a girl lying there fast asleep. Rose was her name, he thought. The events of the past day came back to him, much more slowly than they usually would and he raised a hand to touch his head. Had he hurt it somehow?

He turned to his other side and found Aragorn sitting next to the bed, watching him concernedly. He sat up – or rather, he tried to sit up, as the sudden movement caused the world to spin around him and he would have fallen backwards if not for Aragorn's quick reflexes, who quickly gripped his shoulders to steady him.

"Are you alright?" Aragorn whispered.

"What happened?" he replied. "I cannot remember anything…"

"You had no evil dreams?" Aragorn inquired, sounding surprised. "I found you lying in front of the door when I woke up late at night, unconscious, just like the past nights."

"Indeed? I cannot remember having any nightmares," Legolas replied softly.

"I was sitting by the window," he recalled with difficulty, "when Nimrodel reentered the room. It must have been quite late; I think I had been sitting there already for quite some time.

She walked by the bed, looking at you and Rose and then came over to the window, standing by my side. I rose myself and so we stood side by side, watching you and Rose sleep. She looked so incredibly sad.

I asked her whether there was nothing I could do to help her find her peace and she turned to me and looked at me desperately; touching her mouth as if wanting to indicate that she could not speak to me.

Then she started moving her hands as if trying to speak with them instead. Suddenly she motioned towards Rose and herself, but I was not able to understand what she tried to tell me. It was very confusing. I asked her whether it had something to do with Rose, but she shook her head, as if disappointed. And then… I know no more."

"She motioned towards Rose? This is most curious indeed…" Aragorn looked at the girl thoughtfully.

Legolas nodded, but he increasingly had trouble to focus on the matter at hand. He felt incredibly tired. Aragorn, who was still holding him, gently lowered him back into a lying position. "Sleep a little more," he whispered, and Legolas, feeling too tired to protest, complied, letting his mind wander and drift away into green woodland.


Aragorn sat next to the bed and watched his elven companion sleep. He was glad that the elf's eyes were now half open in his sleep, proving to him that he indeed was simply resting now. With every day that passed, the strange effect the elven spirit had on his beloved – for he could not think that there was any other reason for what happened to the elf - scared him more.

And even though tonight Legolas did not seem to have had any nightmares, he had barely been able to stay awake, nor to stay in a sitting position on his own. Aragorn had never witnessed anything alike in an elf – except for those who were grieved or injured. And Legolas – as far as he knew – was neither. Or was he?

Aragorn looked down at the pale hand he was still holding in his own. Legolas had not yet given any answer to what he had told him the night before and while he was willing to give him all the time he needed, he had to admit to himself that he was afraid of the elf's decision.

He did not know how to bear it if the elf told me that he could not join him on his path into the world of men. He could not imagine how he should ever move onwards if he was parted from his beloved not by waning love, but simply by the circumstances making their being together impossible.

But at the same time he felt horribly selfish, knowing that he himself put the men of Middle Earth before their love, forcing Legolas to choose between him and his own people. How could he ask of Legolas to do the very thing for the man he himself could – or would? - not offer to the elf?


When Legolas opened his eyes again, the sun had already risen. He felt much better and sat up without trouble, finding that Aragorn had fallen asleep on his chair, holding Legolas' hand still tightly in his. He gently disentangled himself und walked over to the window to look outside.

He opened it and breathed in the cool morning air. Even though they were in the middle of the town, he could smell the odor of blossoming flowers and green growing things which was carried over from the far away woods. It promised to be a bright day.

When Aragorn opened his eyes a little later, he caught sight of the elf's figure standing in front of the window, alighted by the sun, his hair shining like a halo. He smiled, still hovering between sleep and wake.

Rose stirred as well and slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She looked around sleepily and when her eyes fell on Legolas, she gasped softly, starting to rub her eyes again. Aragorn could not stop himself from chuckling and she turned towards him, startled by the sound.

"Oh," she said, sounding happy. "So it all hasn't been a dream? I am so glad."

"No, it has not indeed," Legolas confirmed, sounding cheerful as well, before the man could reply. He turned and smiled at them. "Let us go downstairs and have some breakfast, shall we?"


Both Aragorn and Legolas were aware that they would have to find a place to stay for Rose as soon as possible. King Thranduil was expecting them back in about two week's time and they would need about one week for their journey back.

Therefore, after breakfast Aragorn left to talk to the inn keeper who knew the local customs better than them, while Legolas stayed with Rose.


"We certainly can't take her," the inn keeper said to Aragorn, after he had explained the matter to him. "My wife's dead and I've to care for my own little girl as it is. Business is running badly and we can't feed an additional mouth. I'm afraid you'll have trouble to find a place for her to stay. There are many well to do people in the city, but I can't think they would want to take in a poor little orphan."

"I see," Aragorn replied thoughtfully.

"Why don't you give her to an orphanage?" the man suggested.

Aragorn shook his head. "I have thought about this as well and I do not like the idea. I have seen some of these places and I do not want her to have to grow up in one of those. She might just end up in a brothel once more…"

At this moment Legolas entered the room, startling the inn keeper who still seemed rather fearful of the elf. Legolas frowned at him. "You have thought of no solution?" he inquired.

Aragorn shook his head, rising and thanking the inn keeper for the consideration he had given the matter. "We have to find a solution for her soon, though," he said, switching to Sindarin. "We cannot stay here much longer."

Legolas nodded, frowning. "I know. There is no way my father would permit me to raise a human child at his court and your life as a ranger makes it equally impossible to take care of a child."

Aragorn turned and caught sight of Rose, who was standing close to the door, clearly trying to eavesdrop on them. He smiled at her. "Let us take her to the tailor first. She cannot keep wearing those rags in any case."


After Rose had been measured by the tailor and had decided on the fabric and colour of her new dresses, they decided to ride outside of the city in the afternoon. Their horses were in desperate need of some exercise and entertainment and Rose had rarely been outside the city.

Legolas took her onto his horse and let her sit in front of himself, so he would be able to catch her in case she fell. The girl was thrilled, having never sat on a horse before.

Legolas felt his spirits rise as soon as they left the city, glad to be surrounded by nature. They did not go far from the city, not wanting to encounter orcs or other foul creatures, as long as little Rose was with them.


A little while later, after a lot of persuasion and assistance from both Legolas and Aragorn, all three of them were sitting on the broad branch of a tree, enjoying the afternoon sun and discussing whether they should move to another inn. Legolas still was reluctant, but had to admit that they could not truly continue the awkward sleeping arrangement of the past night for another week.

"Why's there a ghost in the inn?" Rose finally asked tentatively, as if wondering whether she really wanted to hear the reason.

The elf looked at the man, who shrugged and so, after a pause, he told her about the fate of the elven maiden. To his surprise, Rose did not seem frightened at all by the story, instead she seemed to find it rather interesting and romantic.

"My mama often said that there may be more elves among us than we think," she said thoughtfully, after he finished the story. "Close to the house I lived with my parents there lives a family with three daughters. They are very, very pretty girls and their mother and even their grandmother are very pretty as well. They all have very beautiful blonde hair and my mama claimed that even their ears are a little pointed. And the grandmother looks much younger than grandmothers usually do.

Mama was certain that one of their ancestors must have been an elf. Of course, mama was so very fond of the elves, that papa and I didn't believe her, we thought she was just making the story up, but maybe she was right after all?" The girl smiled a little sadly.

"What happened to your parents?" Legolas asked tentatively, uncertain whether he was allowed to touch upon the subject.

Rose, however, replied quite readily. "My papa died about a month ago. He's been very sad and ill, ever since my mama passed away a year ago. When I was younger, they had a small business and we had quite a lot of money, but then papa went bankrupt… mama always had been ill a lot and when papa lost his business we had no money left to pay for the doctor. And when papa fell ill we had money neither of course…" Her eyes turned watery, but she fought the tears rather bravely, Aragorn thought.

Legolas reached out, brushing away a stray tear that had managed to escape her eyes. "I cannot bring your parents back, Rose, but we will support you to find a place where you can be safe and happy as good as we can."

He paused, wondering how to go on, for it seemed so difficult to find a place for her to stay. He decided that she deserved the truth.

"However, Estel and I are strangers here, so you might need to help us a little." he continued softly. "Can you tell us what kind of place you would like to stay at, Rose?"

She looked at him a little surprised. Since the death of her parents, clearly no one had thought to ask the girl about her own wishes. She was silent for quite some time. "I think I wouldn't want to be given to another family. They might pretend to be nice at first and then they are not nice at all in the end... And I am already a big girl, I don't need someone to look after me anymore," she finally said.

"You are not saying that you want to go to an orphanage, are you?" Aragorn asked sceptically.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed. "I was at one for a couple of days, until my relatives were found and I was brought to them. It was quite horrible."

"Well, I am afraid you cannot live alone. Even though I understand that you are not a little child anymore, you are too young to be completely on your own," Aragorn replied.

"But there is no one with me anymore," she replied firmly. "I need to be on my own."

The man and the elf exchanged a look, lost for words what to reply to the child.

"I think I am not afraid of the poor ghost anymore," Rose announced unexpectedly. "I can sleep alone, even if she might turn up. Maybe the lady is happy if she gets some company?" she wondered.


They came back in the evening. Rose moved indeed into the little room next to them and the inn keeper inquired politely whether Aragorn and Legolas also wished to have separate rooms now.

Aragorn found himself searching for an answer, while Legolas smiled serenely and claimed that he had by now gotten so used to the room that he wished to keep it that way. The inn keeper looked doubtful, but did not question the matter further, as the sleeping arrangement was his fault in the first place.


The matter of little Rose`s fate weighed heavily on Legolas. In the rare cases an elven child was orphaned it was taken in by the closest relatives – in most cases the grandparents of the child. It seemed quite unbelievable to him that little Rose had really no relatives who were able and willing to take her in.

He would have preferred to find a family for her to live with, but she had all but begged not to be taken to an unknown family and he had to acknowledge that it would be almost impossible for him and Aragorn who knew no one in this city to find a nice and trustworthy family, willing to take a little orphan. The strength the girl showed despite all adversities, her ability to adjust to the changes impressed him.

He wondered whether she really was prepared to sleep alone, afraid that she might be sitting scared and alone in her room and decided to check on her before he went to sleep. He knocked at her door softly, not wanting to wake her in case she was already asleep and opened it upon hearing a soft "Enter!"

Rose was lying in bed, the blanket drawn up to her chin, but she was still wide awake.

"Are you not asleep yet?" he asked, smiling at her. "Are you still afraid of the ghost?"

She shook her head. "It's alright. It's just a poor lonely lady. It's not very scary, you know?"

"I am glad about that," he replied. "Shall I leave you alone then, Rose?"

His hand had already moved to the door knob, when she suddenly shook her head furiously.

He turned, smiling at her encouragingly.

"Maybe…maybe you could stay and sit with me a little?" she asked in a quiet voice, looking suddenly very small.

"Of course," he said and walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge.

"You know, when you asked me earlier what place I would like to stay at?" she said.

"Yes?" he said. "Did you think of something?"

"When I was younger, my parents sent me to a school where I went to live for two years, because my papa was busy with his work and my mama had fallen ill and couldn't take care of me. I liked it there very much, but when papa lost his business, I was taken out of the school of course, as it was much too expensive. I've been thinking of it a lot these past days when I was all alone… Of course I could never afford to stay in a place like this now, but maybe there are schools as well for poor girls?" she wondered.

"I do not know about these things very well," he said apologetically. "But I will ask Estel, if that is alright with you?"

She nodded, looking hopeful.

"Do you think you can sleep now?" he asked.

She looked thoughtful and then said tentatively: "Would you maybe sing me a song again, like yesterday, so I can fall asleep more easily?"

He smiled. "Of course I will. What would you like to hear?" he inquired. "Shall it be a story?"

"Oh…could you sing something in Elvish?" she asked. "It sounds so beautiful."

He nodded and thought a little. "I could sing you a hymn to Elbereth," he finally said. "In Sindarin we call it 'A Elbereth Gilthoniel'. It is a quiet song and very important to us elves. Would you like to hear it?" She nodded eagerly and so he began to sing.

Aragorn, who could hear his fair voice in the next room, smiled, pleased and a little surprised how much his beloved started to care about the human child.


A little while later the door opened and Legolas came in. Aragorn stood and pulled him into an embrace, kissing him lovingly. The elf leaned into the embrace, when they broke the kiss.

He told Aragorn about the school Rose had talked about and as Aragorn knew as little about these matters as he did, they decided to talk to the inn keeper once more in the morning.

"Let us go to sleep, my love, you look tired," Legolas finally said, tracing the circles under Aragorn's eyes lightly with his fingers. He felt a little guilty, knowing that last night the man once again had not gotten much sleep.

Aragorn nodded, letting Legolas lead him to the bed. The elf leaned over to blow out the candle. Just as the light went out, the man suddenly embraced him from behind, pulling the elf towards him.

"Aragorn!" he protested laughing. He turned and found the man smiling vaguely in the direction of his face. Probably he hardly could see him in the darkness, the elf thought. He tackled Aragorn, pinning him to the bed and kissed him. When he pulled back, the man's arms tightened around him, holding him close, so he came to rest on top of him.

"Legolas?" he said softly.

"What is it?" he replied.

"It scares me how much Nimrodel's ghost is affecting you. Last night you were so exhausted, Legolas… this cannot be healthy. Are you really certain that this is alright?

The elf moved slightly, letting himself come to rest even deeper in Aragorn's embrace, his face leaning against the crook of the man's neck.

"I am a little scared myself," he finally admitted. "I have never felt like this before, but at least I had no nightmares last night.

I know that you want to leave this inn and probably you are right, but I feel somehow… responsible, like I have to be there for Nimrodel. We should have monitored our borders more closely, searched for her more thoroughly, prevented her from coming her or found her before it was too late."

Aragorn sighed and lifted his hand to caress the elf's head. "I know, Legolas, I know. I would feel the same…" And such intertwined, the pair fell asleep.