Note: Usual disclaimers. This chapter's more or less pure fluff! Enjoy!

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The next morning, the Fellowship prepared to leave Lothlórien with the supplies that they were given by the Galadrhim. Lord Celeborn presented the group with elven cloaks intended to shield them from "unfriendly eyes." The Lady Galadriel also presented them with gifts. She gave Legolas a Galadrhim bow with a matching quiver of arrows. Legolas was ecstatic, but he still could not bear to part with his own bow. Instead, he made Merenwen promise to take it back to Mirkwood with her.

Merenwen was happy for him. She reassured the hobbits of their gifts, as well, laughing at Sam's comments of awe about his elven rope. Merenwen did not bother herself too much about the dwarf and the man of Gondor, but in Aragorn's case, she knew that the Lady spoke to him about Arwen. She respectfully stayed away from that subject. Instead, she helped Legolas load the Fellowship's boats. Merry and Pippin sat by the boat they were loading and watched.

Legolas put a few packs into the boat and picked up a small piece of bread from one.

"Lembas," he breathed, looking at Merry and Pippin. "Elvish waybread." He took a small bite of the corner of the piece. "One small bite can fill the stomach of a grown man," he told them before re-packing it and going for more supplies.

Merenwen watched the scene with interest. The hobbits smiled, and once Legolas had gone, Merry turned to Pippin.

"How many did you eat?"

"Four," Pippin responded quietly before burping.

Merenwen laughed. She fully enjoyed the hobbits.

"What do you laugh at?" Legolas asked, coming up to her and taking the supplies she held.

"Merry and Pippin."

"What of them?"

"I may need to worry if you did not hear that."

"I had my back turned!"

"That matters not. You've disappointed me, Legolas," she teased, crossing her arms and turning her head away from him.

"Merenwen…" He turned and started back toward the boats. She quickly followed.

"You were talking to half-lings."

"Yes, I am aware of that."

"Obviously, they eat a lot. So how would our people's waybread fill their stomachs? You missed Merry asking Pippin how many of the lembas he ate."

"So? How many did he eat?"

"Four! Common sense, meleth nín."

Legolas looked over at Merry and Pippin as he put the packs in the boat. They saw him, smiled, and waved. He groaned.

"Why do I take so much punishment from you?" he sighed, walking back toward the trees to see if he forgot anything.

"You love me!" she cried, linking an arm with his.

He looked at her and couldn't help but smile. "I guess I do."

Merenwen gawked at him. "You guess? Hmph." She pulled her arm away from his and crossed her arms, swinging her gaze away from him sharply.

Legolas, still grinning, took her hand. "You know I do." He caressed her cheek with his free hand and kissed her forehead. "We have everything and are ready to depart."

She sighed and looked at the ground. He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes before giving her a soft kiss.

"Now, where are you off to once we leave?"

"Mirkwood."

"Good. And what are you doing there?"

"Go to you father and not leave the realm."

"Good. I only ask to be sure."

"Be careful. It is a dangerous journey you make."

"I shall. You do the same."

She smiled sadly and drew an arrow out of her quiver. She presented the green-fletched arrow to Legolas in her upturned palms. He hesitantly took it and held it before himself.

"Remember me by this arrow."

"I would remember you no matter what," he said, offering the arrow back.

"Keep it."

"In that case," he drew one of his own gold-fletched and handed it to her, "Take one of mine." It was a special gesture between the two, for arrows were chiefly used among the wood elves.

Merenwen took the arrow and regarded it before looking up at him.

He leaned down to her and brushed his lips against hers in a tender kiss before kissing her with all the passion he felt for her within his immortal soul. Leaving her was always difficult and as hard as it was, he knew they would find their way back to each other.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting the rest of the world fade from her senses until the only thing she could focus on was the elf in her arms. When the kiss was broken, he leaned his forehead against hers. She took a shaky breath.

"Melon le," Legolas said to her.

"Melon le."

He caressed her cheek with the feathered end of her arrow. She leaned forward into the touch, closing her eyes and simply absorbing his presence. Then, she reached up and returned the passionate kiss.

"Master elf, I'd like to be along some time this morning!"

Legolas pulled away from Merenwen and shot a deadly look at the dwarf. The accursed dwarf. He stood, hands on his axe, at the dock by their boat, looking impatient. Then he looked back to Merenwen, who looked up at him patiently. As if he had the choice on what or who to go with. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

"I must go," he said, touching her cheek.

Merenwen looked at Gimli, then back at Legolas, and nodded. He kissed her softly and looked into her eyes. She could have sworn she saw a tear run down his cheek. He pulled away from her and she reluctantly let her hand slip from his. He walked toward where the dwarf was impatiently waiting.

"Cormanín niuve tenna' ta elea le au'! My heart shall weep until it sees thee again!" she called after him.

Legolas turned back to look at her. "Elen sila lumen omentilmo. A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting." He smiled softly before continuing on to meet Gimli, whose stance had softened some.

"Ready?" he ground out, staring down at the dwarf. He slid Merenwen's arrow into his quiver.

Gimli looked up at him, and realized he may have interrupted something he shouldn't have. "I apologize," he choked out, not one for normally apologizing, least of all to an elf. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"'Tis fine, Gimli. Come, let us go." He got into the boat and helped the dwarf in before preparing the boat to start down the stream that met the Anduin.

Merenwen watched them go from the bank of the river, still clutching Legolas' arrow. She would do as she said and go to Mirkwood, but she would not leave until the Fellowship was out of her sight.

Legolas looked at the east bank to see Merenwen watching them go. He gestured to her an elvish gesture of well wishes.

She smiled sadly and responded the same way, kissing her fingertips before gesturing back to him.

He smiled back and turned, paying more attention to where he was going.

She watched the Fellowship leave. Once they were out of elvish sight, she said her good-byes to the elves of Lothlórien and turned east toward Mirkwood.