I do not own the works of Tolkien. Enjoy.

Mokomiss - Thanks and yes it is :)

Thanks also to Mirkwood Warrior, Guest Reviewer, Dola and Lauren for your reviews. Well I won't give anything away by answering you guys. Happy reading. Dola, Elphir is Imrahil's son and Calaer's father.

Legolas had leapt to his feet immediately and tried the gate but it was locked. He looked around wildly. Meril had gone into the city. He had to get out, get to Calaer! He took three large steps back and assessed the wall. It was high, even for an Elf and the stones bore hardly a crevice for hand or foot holds. The near three-foot-thick top was fortified with many small but sharp spears. It was a miniature fortress and he had to get out. Calaer had not moved. Without another thought, heart pounding in fear for his friend, he raced up towards the wall and leapt as high as he could. His left hand grasped the edge of the top and scrambling with his feet he latched on with his other hand and used his arms to haul himself up. He could see well the sharp needle like spears embedded in the top but could barely avoid them and soon the sleeves of his tunic were ripped and bloody but he did not notice in his desperate rush to reach Calaer. He leapt down and into a sprint towards the fallen girl, falling to his knees at her side and shook her lightly. She did not move and so he placed his ear against her chest. She still breathed but she was so very pale, whiter than the sand around them. He shook her lightly again, fear coursing through him. Still she did not stir, it was as if she were dead and he began to panic. He didn't know what to do and shook her again. He looked around again wildly and checked her heart again, it beat fast, erratic and her forehead felt clammy. She still feels warm surely that is a good thing! He shook her again, she had to wake up! A feeling of dread washed over him. What if she was dying?

"Calaer!" He choked out in panic and shook her again. "Calaer please wake up!" Her eyes suddenly fluttered open and gazed half focussed at him. "Calaer, stay awake, tell me what is wrong?" He said urgently and she blinked at him stunned and he wondered if she was in shock. "Calaer what do you need to help you?" He pressed.

"I, I don't know, feel so weak." She stuttered her words out shakily and he frowned. "I felt dizzy." She added in a stilted whisper and her eyes fluttered and closed again.

"Calaer, stay awake!" He said again urgently and placed a hand at her neck and located the chain he knew the key to the gates hung from and carefully, quickly pulled it over her head and lifted her and, holding her securely, raced back to the main gate and unlocked it. "Stay awake!" He shook her and roused her again before racing to the kitchen entrance and flinging the door open and resting the barely conscious girl against cupboard doors and swiftly located a large jar of honey and a small spoon.

"Legolas?" She said his name with difficulty as he knelt down beside her, uncorking the lid and dipping the spoon into the sweet, golden liquid.

"I am here." He said softly and took her face in his hand, turning it to face him and tilted her chin up. "You must eat this quickly, open your mouth." Her lips parted and he swiftly fed her a spoon full of honey. "Swallow it." He urged and laboriously she did and he quickly gave her another five mouthfuls of the sweet substance and then waited, watching her anxiously. Watching her breathing, her eyes and her hands. Her breaths were laboured and her eyes barely focused and her hands shook and then she began shaking uncontrollably and he pulled her against him. He listened intently and soon her heartbeat returned to what was normal for her and her breathing eased and she even gave a weak cough and he knew she would be okay but now she shook as if she were freezing and her teeth began to chatter and he picked her up again and swiftly took her to her bedchamber. He was now faced with another problem, her garments and hair was wet from swimming and unless she removed her wet garments, she would become very sick. He laid her upon her made up bed she curled in upon herself shaking. He spied a light blanket upon a chair and draped it over her. "Calaer, you must take of these wet clothes." She gave a slight nod and from beneath the blanket seemed to struggle weakly to remove her tunic which was clinging to her. It had buttons at the front! He realised. "I'll help; you focus on the ones at your chest. "He pulled the blanket back down and deftly undid the five buttons over her stomach and hips and the first one at her collarbone before replacing the blanket so she could undo the remaining two. She still shook violently and so he eased her up to sit, keeping the blanket wrapt at her front and helped her pull off the saturated tunic and cast it aside, easing her back down. "Now can you untie your trousers?" She gave the barest of nods and slowly did so, her shaking hindering her actions. He helped her pull then off beneath the blanket and then deftly wrapped it around her and picked her up and pulled the covers of her bed back and placed her in it. Her shaking had not ceased and so he piled the blankets over her and climbed onto the bed and lay down beside her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close, trying to help her warm up. Outside it was warm, summer was around the corner yet Calaer felt as if she had been upon the snowy peaks of Caradhras for how she shook. It was quite some time before her shivering began to cease and as soon as it did he left her and raced back to the kitchen. There he found a wooden tray and quickly found a ceramic cup and filled it half with hot water and added cacao powder followed by honey and once dissolved added nut milk. He unwrapped the cake Calaer had made the day earlier, also of cacao and of cane syrup and cut a large slice onto a plate and took it all back to her.

...

Calaer heard the soft toned musical voice say her name again and opened her eyes and focused on the Elf before her. Her shaking had ceased and she felt warmer finally but still weak.

"Can you sit up?" He said quietly and she nodded and pulled herself up to rest back against pillows. "Here you must eat and drink this. A tray was placed beside her and she gazed at the cake and warm drink. She nodded and took the drink with both hands, keeping the blankets tucked securely about her. It was incredibly sweet. "You passed out from a lack of food; sweet food and drink will build your strength up again." She nodded again. She was slowly beginning to feel better and realised she was quite hungry and placed the drink down and took the cake, taking a large bite. Legolas was speaking to her! She didn't know what to reply for it was such a new thing to hear his voice, she felt shy which she decided was ridiculous. She took another bite and placed the cake back down and picked up the drink again. "You are looking better, there is colour in your cheeks again." He murmured in that soft, melodious voice.

"You are speaking." She stated, still trying to comprehend it and he nodded sagely.

"I am." He replied but she caught a flash of fear and wariness cloud his grey eyes and wondered why he had not spoken to anyone for so long.

"I am glad." She murmured before taking another deep sip of her drink. The food was helping. "I feel better but I do not think I should be running around for the next hour." She sensibly decided and he shook his head.

"No. Which robe are your clean garments in?" He asked and she frowned. "Oh I can retrieve them." She replied and he looked at her skeptically. "Perhaps in an hour, I think you should sleep once you have eaten. You look tired." He said worriedly.

"I did not sleep very much overnight." She admitted.

"Or I warrant the night before." She nodded sheepishly in answer to his assumption as she finished off the cake.

"Oh gosh, my medicine-"

"I put it in your drink, I hope it did not ruin the flavour." He grinned at her and she smiled back.

"No, thank you." She said with feeling and then she noticed the blood stains upon sleeves which she realised were shredded. In fact now she looked properly, she noted the entire lower half of his tunic was torn and marred with blood.

"Legolas you are bleeding!" She exclaimed and he gazed at her confused and then glanced down at himself.

"Aye I am fine, just a couple scratches." He said offhandedly but she shook her head.

"No, you are hurt, what happened?"

"I climbed the wall to get to you." He said simply. "I think I am out of practice." He added as he examined his arms. "It is no worry Calaer, I will clean them up and change my tunic so they so not distress you."

"I'm worried about you, not what it looks like." She replied pointedly and he shook his head.

"I should change nonetheless. I will return in a moment." He said and disappeared from the chamber. I should change too. She decided and hopped up out of her bed, dragging the blanket she'd been wrapt in with her. Her head spun a little but she ignored it and opened her wardrobe and selected undergarments and a cream summer dress with cuffed sleeves and quickly changed. It was too much. What is wrong with me? She muttered as she sat down heavily on the floor, suddenly feeling dizzy again. Moments later she heard a quiet sigh.

"Calaer." He knelt down and shook his head with an amused smile. "I should have known you'd get up." He scooped her up and carried her back to her bed. "You need to rest."

"But my hair, I must untangle it from swimming." She insisted and sat up and began attempting to separate the long, tangled strands.

"Let me." Legolas said and hopped up to sit upon her bed. He had she presumed cleaned the cuts to himself and now wore a grey tunic. "Lay down, sleep." He whispered as he began running a hand through her hair and yawning suddenly, she laid down upon her side and in moments had drifted to sleep.

...

It felt good to speak. It felt better to finally be speaking to Calaer. He had been contemplating doing so for some days but had been afraid. Not as afraid as being unable to awaken her upon the beach. Thank Eru it was simply a lack of food and sleep. He'd figured out the day before she had not slept and suspected it was due to her impending morning tea party. He was glad she slept now and gazed down at her peaceful face as he gently untangled her golden hair. He loved how it felt after she had been in the sea and how its wild, salty scent lingered in it and even after it lay soft and untangled upon the coverlets; he continued running his fingers through it.

Over an hour passed and the sun now shone directly through Calaer's open window and lit her hair up like gold and her still peaceful, sweet face glowed from its light. She began to awaken and he knew she would undoubtedly need to clear her lungs and sat back a little, giving her room to move. She slowly sat up and opened her eyes, frowning slightly in concentration and he knew she was holding off coughing. He didn't say anything as she quickly left and he heard the sound of a tap and then the splash of water mingled with exhaustive coughing. He refrained from checking her but he did listen intently to ensure there was no sound of her falling and passing out again. She eventually emerged.

"Better?" He asked and she nodded shyly. "Come and rest again." He said softly and she crawled back onto her bed.

"You did fix my hair, thank you." She said tiredly and he gently pulled her to rest beside him.

"Sleep." He said in the softest voice.

"Your arms, are they okay?" She asked ignoring him although all she wanted to do was close her eyes.

"They are fine, sleep Calaer." He whispered again.

"Will you stay?" She mumbled.

"Of course I will."

...

Meril felt a sense of unease as she saw the open main gate swinging gently in the breeze and hurried around to the kitchen door to find it also wide open. She stepped in and noticed plates and cutlery left out and crumbs upon a counter. Calaer and Legolas never left the kitchen untidied after they had been in it. Something was wrong, had Legolas left? Where was Calaer? She quickly checked the lounge chamber and then the entertainment hall but they were empty and so hurried to Calaer's chambers. The door was open and she peered in.

"Miss Calaer?" She called out nervously but received no reply. Cautiously she walked to the door of the girl's sleep chamber and peered in and let go of the breath she had been holding. Calaer slept and stretched out beside her, the Elf gazed lazily at Meril. Those two are near inseparable. She mused to herself as she gazed back fondly at the pair. The young miss must be having a bad day. "I shall begin preparing dinner for an hour's time?" She asked Legolas quietly and the Elf gave her a nod and a smile. I don't know how that girl understands all his expressions and meanings so well but thank goodness someone does. She thought as she left the girl's quarters and returned to the kitchen to begin preparing the evening meal.

...

By dinner Calaer was feeling much better and was in good spirits as too was Legolas. As Meril had cleared the table, Legolas had thanked her for the nice meal and she had squeaked in fright and dropped a plate. Calaer had laughed herself breathless at the look of surprise upon Meril's face before she acted like nothing was out of the ordinary and politely replied to Legolas with her own gratitude. As she had left the hall, the Elf had smirked at Calaer and she grinned back. Calaer had come clean and told Meril what had happened earlier and the woman had tutted disapprovingly at her for not eating beforehand and for forgetting her medicine in the city and had beamed at Legolas like he could do no wrong in her eyes when Calaer explained he had taken care of her. They had now retired to the lounge chamber, Calaer was still weary and the guilt weighed down in her that she had not exercised.

"Perhaps you can tell me a story now you have found your voice." Calaer said teasingly and then yawned.

"I can do that but not here, you will fall asleep."

"No I won't."

"Yes you will, you are still tired are you not?" He raised a brow at her and she sighed.

"Yes."

"Then you should ready yourself for bed and I will tell you a story although most Elvish stories are sad."

"I do not mind." She yawned again and made her way to her own quarters.

...

"I must be a very boring story teller indeed." Legolas murmured to the girl who had fallen asleep after only a quarter of an hour of listening to him recount the tale of Beren and Lúthien. In hindsight it was probably not the greatest story to tell her but it was one he admittedly liked. He placed a gentle kiss upon her golden hair and quietly left her chambers to retire to his own. He was not tired though and as he had for part of the night before, he took one of the lengths of wood he had requested which Imrahil had brought back from the city and sat upon the soft rug, leaning against the chair he had moved to the window and picking up one of his knives, began whittling the length of wood to match the one he had whittled and carved the eve before. Eventually he paused to check his work and satisfied he gazed out to the moonlight waves down the beach. I could go out there. I could walk in those waters, swim in them. He yearned to. It would be so very easy but he would not, he resisted the temptation. The sea never left him alone it was still in his mind, a background of waves rolling in and a quiet rushing. It was quiet enough now it could have merely been the waves outside. It was such a relief. he suddenly snapped his attention towards his open door as he heard Calaer cough. She coughed two more times and then all fell silent again save for the song of the waves outside his open window. He never shut his main chamber door now so he could better hear if his friend awoke unable to breathe like she had earlier when he had come to live here. he only ever shut them if he was bathing or dressing. He continued his whittling until the wood now resembled the other object he had carved the eve before and satisfied but still well awake, he retrieved another of the shorter lengths of wood he was now determined to have all four completed by morning.

The sky slowly began to lighten and the birds he could hear stirring in the trees outside, signalling a new day had begun and Legolas put the finishing touched on the four identical practice knives he had made. He hoped Calaer would like them, it would be an excellent skill for her to have, being able to fight with knives and he knew it would be exercise for her too. He knew she enjoyed archery but and swimming and riding but she had mentioned more than once that everything felt too repetitive. He hoped this would help that. His friend began coughing, signalling she was awake and so he decided he best get ready for the day too. He strode into his bedchamber and pulled off his tunic, closing the door behind him and inspected his arms. The cuts were nearly healed. A couple had been nastier than he had realised, including one upon his torso but they had healed well enough too. He sighed dejectedly, if only Calaer could simply be able to heal like this, surely her lungs would be fine then for they seemed to be the main concern regarding her health. He wished he could do more, he wished he could just make it all go away. Feeling slightly down he went about preparing for the day and then waited in the corridor for Calaer to appear. Eventually she did, taking longer than usual and she looked tired still. He walked up to her and she frowned slightly at him with a quizzical look.

"I did not simply dream it did I; you are speaking again aren't you?" She asked and he grinned.

"Yes I am." He just hoped he would never utter any words to hurt her like he had done those few years ago.

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