Legolas sat and watched as Evelyn slept silently for a couple of hours. He had moved her from his chest and rested her head onto the pillows softly. She had stirred slightly but had not opened her eyes as Legolas thought that a pillow had to bring more comfort than his chest. He draped his cloak over her body seeing as how she was laid on the only sheet and had sat and stared at her for a while, his palm cupping his chin as he thought about what could be.

He thought about what he could have with her if he survived and the thought thrilled him terribly. He almost felt like a giddy child at the image of getting what he wanted. He did not know what he truly wanted from his life. Yes, Evelyn was a dead certain, but everything else seemed pretty irrelevant to him. He failed to really care about anything else at all whilst he watched her sleep peacefully. He knew in the end he would come to care about other things. He would come to care about what their future held.

But that was after the war.

"You are lucky."

Legolas turned around from the side of the bed to see Aragorn stood there, his arms folded over his chest as he looked at his blonde companion. Legolas stood up, moving from the sleeping figure so not to disturb her as he placed his hand onto Aragorn's shoulder. The ranger took the hint and turned around, walking beside Legolas through the camp which they resided in.

"To find your true love is the same kind as you," Aragorn said. "That is something which should never be undervalued."

"I do not intend to do that," Legolas assured him. "I do not mean to pry, Aragorn."

"Yes," Aragorn said simply to Legolas. "I assume your question was along the lines of my love to Arwen. Yes, I do love her."

"No," Legolas said, a small smirk reaching the corner of his mouth as he and his friend continued walking throughout the safety of the woods. "I am aware of that. Evelyn divulged the information many years ago with me when I stayed in Rivendell with her. I mean to ask you if you know what will happen between the two of you. The immortality of Arwen...surely that hinders what you feel."

"Nothing hinders what I feel for her," Aragorn told the elf. "I know what you speak of. Arwen and I can never be together. She is elf kind and I am man. I would not ask her to give up her kin for me. I cannot ask her to do that."

"And if she longs to?" Legolas said and Aragorn stood still, his eyes looking into the elf's blue ones. Aragorn shook his head.

"I know she longs to," Aragorn spoke. "I do not want her to do that for me. She does not deserve what happens when death comes for me. Things happen which we cannot control. Love is one of them, Legolas."

"I am aware," Legolas nodded. "What a complicated spider's web we find ourselves caught up in."

"Yes," Aragorn mumbled. "It certainly is. Anyway, I came to speak to you. I heard your argument earlier with Evelyn."

"I am assuming the entire Fellowship heard that?" Legolas checked, knowing the pair of them had been anything but quiet and discreet. Aragorn felt his lips tug upwards for a moment before he sniffed and looked up to the canopies of the trees above him.

"Gimli seemed most intrigued," Aragorn offered him and Legolas resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Aragorn continued. "You must know that Evelyn cannot come with us."

"I told her that," Legolas said. "She did not back down on the matter. It is irrelevant. I shall make sure she returns to Rivendell even if it is the last thing I do."

"Arwen told me many stories of her highly spirited sister," Aragorn informed Legolas. "Apparently whatever she wants, she normally tries to get. Most of the time it is harmless. I just worry she may succeed in getting what she wants when it comes to you."

"She shall not," Legolas assured Aragorn. "Evelyn is simply being stubborn. You need not worry."

"I cannot help but worry, Legolas," Aragorn mumbled. "The passion in her voice was there. She truly thinks she can handle this war. We both know the truth. She is the daughter of Lord Elrond. He was once a great warrior. The fighter in her runs through her veins."

"Worry not, my friend," Legolas said in a low voice. "Evelyn shall return to Rivendell and back to the safety of her father. Galadriel and Celeborn will make sure of it. I am certain."

"As long as it happens then I worry not, Legolas," Aragorn told him and then moved off, delving further into the woods without Legolas. The blonde haired elf looked around for a moment before clicking his tongue and walking back towards the camp. He sat back down in his previous spot, his hand daring to brush away the hair which had matted itself to her cheek and he noted the small glow which encompassed her body.

He smiled once at it before she spoke.

"Legolas," she mumbled, grabbing his hand on her cheek and holding onto it. "Stop watching me sleep."

"Sorry," Legolas whispered and she peeled an eye open and looked at him. "You are glowing."

"Hmm?" she wondered, sitting up, not releasing his hand as she wrapped her arms around his chest, her head sitting in between his shoulder blades and breathing in his scent. "I had not noticed. Odd."

"Rather," Legolas lamely agreed, cupping both her hands into his and rubbing them, keeping her warm when there was no need to do that considering how she was ever so warm regardless.

"There is probably a few more hours sleep to gain before sunrise," Legolas told her but she shook her head against him, the feeling moving through him and causing him to shudder.

"I am no longer tired," she assured him. "I would rather spend my time sat with you."

"You need your strength for the trip back to Rivendell," Legolas reminded her and she moved from his back, shuffling down the bed until she could see him over his shoulder and she rolled her eyes in his direction.

"The trip back to Rivendell requires me to sit on a horse whilst being flanked by guards, Legolas," she drawled out to him, looking bored. "There is no strength required, believe me."

"So you have seen that going back to Rivendell is the best thing to do?" he checked with her and she grumbled, her chin resting on his shoulder as she pulled one of her hands from his hold and rubbed along his back softly.

"I do not think it is the best thing," she contradicted him. "I do not think I have a say in the matter. I doubt my grandparents would allow me to leave."

"They would not," Legolas confirmed for her. "It feels odd, does it not? Parting for another time."

"I do not know how to feel," Evelyn said. "The previous time I was angry with you for dismissing me in the way you had. Now I feel no anger, only sadness and worry yet joyful in an odd way."

"Joyful?" Legolas wondered.

"Because I know that you love me, I suppose," she explained. "I do not feel joyful; I suppose that is the wrong word. In that case I do not know what to feel."

"It matters not," Legolas assured her. "I understand."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, Legolas remaining sat where he was, her hand in his, his thumb stroking over her pale skin whilst she stroked his back soothingly.

"Legolas!"

The bowman looked up and over to Aragorn who stood with his hands on his hips.

"We need to leave," he said and Legolas looked up to the sky, the scene of the sun peering over to him and he nodded. Evelyn untangled herself from him as he stood and offered her his hand, pulling her from the bed whilst she watched him.

"I do not know how I will cope," Evelyn said, her breathing uncontrollable as she looked at Legolas and tried not to cry in front of him. She had to be brave. She could not show him how weak she felt. "I will worry terribly, Legolas. I worry now."

"You need not worry," he promised her. "I shall do my best to come back. Do not fret, my love. Promise me you shall stay safe."

"I have my father to protect me," Evelyn informed him. "He would not let me be anything other than safe."

"Humour me," Legolas urged her, tilting her chin up so that she looked him in the eye and she nodded in agreal with him.

"I will stay safe," she promised.

"Good," Legolas whispered and quickly kissed her.

Evelyn snaked her arms around his waist whilst he did the same, bringing a hand up to her neck and he knotted his hand into her hair, pressing her closer as she moaned into his mouth. Something stirred within him at the noise of her and she curled a hand around the curve of his neck. Evelyn felt the hairs on the back of her neck prick up as Legolas tickled a hand down her spine and she arched further against him with haste.

"Put her down, son."

The two elves jumped apart for a moment to see Boromir stood there with a grin on his face and Legolas nodded, dismissing the young man of Gondor. Evelyn watched Boromir leave before reaching up and stealing another kiss from Legolas who pulled back before he lost his own will.

"I must go, my love," he told her. "If not then I fear I shall want to remain here with you."

"I would much prefer that," Evelyn said and he chuckled, placing her hand into the crook of his arm.

"I know you would," Legolas muttered and she walked by his side to the lake, the pair of them silent as they saw a group gathered around the boats at the side of the lake. She walked by his side until it was time to release his hand. He looked at her for a moment, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as she sniffed and rubbed at her dark eyes.

"I apologise," she said. "I do not mean to cry."

"Do not apologise," Legolas whispered. "You never have to apologise to me."

"Be careful," she urged him, hugging him quickly before he kissed the top of her head. He released her gently and she nodded at him, urging for him to leave her before tears continuously fell from her eyes. She stood back beside Galadriel's guard and Legolas jumped into a boat, sitting down in front of Gimli.

She continued to stare at him as they began to move down the water and the trees hid them from view. It was only then when Evelyn allowed herself to cry.

...

Evelyn bid farewell to Galadriel and Celeborn before mounting her horse and commencing the journey back to Rivendell, the guard flocking around her. She remained silent, her hood covering her hair on the path back to the mountainous area.

"Lady Evelyn!" a sudden voice snapped Evelyn from the daydream she had found herself in and she looked to the leader of the guard, her face emotionless as panic consumed him. "Ride on without us!"

"Why?" Evelyn asked him. "What is happening?"

"Orcs."

Evelyn froze for a moment as the noise of rustling trees hit her sensitive ears and the guard motioned in front of her.

"Go!" he commanded and Evelyn nodded, grabbing the reigns of her horse as the threat began and Orcs leapt out from the trees which they had been hidden in. Evelyn panicked as the guards drew their swords and she patted her horse who suddenly bolted in fear.

Evelyn screamed out loud in panic, sliding down the creature until she released the reigns and the horse went galloping off without her. She scrambled to her feet, looking around as Orcs drew swords against the guards and Evelyn crawled on the dirty floor, rushing for the safety of hidden trees as she did so. She kept on running, hearing the bloodshed which she left behind her as she went.

Her heart hammered against her chest as she ran, fumbling and tripping over rocks and other debris. She finally slowed to a walk, puffing and panting as she went until she could hear no more but the sound of her own cries of fear.