Author's Note: Another update is finally here but don't rule this as the end of the action of the story! Oh quite the contrary, there is much more to come. I am going to be taking my story much further from the movie sequence now. So hang on for the ride and let me know what you think! Can't get over how excited I am to see so many followers! Thank you!

Lonely: Thanks for the review! Glad you're liking the story!

Rubberduckybugati: Your review was awesome, thanks for taking the time to review! She definitely chose to live! I hope you enjoy this next update, more actiong and adventure to come as well as the full progression of their relationship.

Belladu57: Thanks for the review!

Elleth of Light

Chapter Fourteen

Legolas' POV

I felt it. This was what it was to be broken, to fall apart and watch as the shards of your soul scatter around you. I was frozen in place, no ability to move nor the thought to do so. I felt abandoned in a field of frost without even the slightest glimmer of warmth upon me as I looked upon her. She remained still; the only movement was the slight rise and fall of her chest as she struggled to take in breath.

War was raging on around us; both elves and men step in front of blades swinging towards our direction but still I could not gather myself to stand. I was useless. For the first time in all of my years I was utterly useless to anyone…including the elleth I loved.

The only thing I found myself able to do was call out her name, it began as a simple whisper but my nerves were taking hold. My desire to remain calm as I called out to the elleth fading in my arms was starting to falter; calm was far from what I could portray. My tone had grown in intensity; I was now screaming her name, pleading for her to open her eyes. My hands were shaking with the feeling of her blood trickling from my fingertips. The feeling of death billowed around us and yet I knew life continued on nearby; elves, men and beast all continued to fight as if we were nothing to be concerned about. It was a tinge of cruel reality to realize that a life, even one as rare and beautiful as Merenwen's simply was not felt as deeply as I was experiencing.

I had hoped I reached her, I hoped my words were still echoing within her mind to keep her in the warmth of the light but my words could very well be overshadowed by the unexpected death of the march warden a few feet away. I glanced over at him, the man I had viewed as my rival in a sense. It was foolish to think in such a way, especially now. He was a great man; I could see why she was so hesitant in returning my feelings when he was dwelling within her very thoughts and dreams. Arrogance and youth had ravaged my mind when it came to how I thought and spoke to the elf; I thought myself better than him in every aspect. I remember thinking that I was royalty and I deserved her attention. I would carry that guilt indefinitely for now I looked upon him and felt that we were equals, and he was far more deserving of her attention than I. I was sickened that such an impressive elf was taken from this life in such a brutal way…he deserved more and even I could not deny him that.

I felt my eyes rest upon her once more, my emotions were becoming too much for me. I released a scream from the very depths of my soul. Pale, motionless and growing cold by the second. I had witnessed the fate that had plagued her waking mind for years, finally come to pass. I refused to accept it, such an end would not be hers…I would not allow it. Not this, not now…not her. But I was frozen in my movements; I could not think clearly enough to know what action to take.

I brushed aside droplets of rain and blood that fell upon her face while my body began to rock her body. This could not be it…this could not be the end.

"MERENWEN!" I screamed until I felt her body jerk slightly at the sound. Stunned, I pulled away from her and examined her closely. I searched for signs of life and my eyes welcomed the sight of her rolling her head closer to my chest.

I didn't waste a single moment before I was carrying her into my arms and running through the midst of the battle. I dodged arrows, deflected blades and shields as I ran. I was nearing a door into the bowels of the fortress and I was thankful to see a young man pull open the door as I ran towards it.

"Down the stairs, to your left!" He called back to me before closing the wooden door behind. The sound echoed through the stone corridor. My pace didn't once slow as I ran down the stairs, using every bit of speed and agility I could to bring Merenwen to the warmth of a bed I hoped awaited us behind the door I was now facing. The warmth of the torches placed at either side of the door brought a sense of hope to me as I pushed through the door.

There, draped in rich tapestries and blankets, was a single bed with an array of candles nearby. I quickly raced towards the bed, frantically pulling back the many textures of fabrics and placed Merenwen down gently.

I was able to breathe, to think…I was overjoyed to watch her brows furrow and her small fists clench at the fabric beneath her. She had not given up, and neither would I.

The battle had ended, the victory filled the fortress with cheers that could be heard in the lands surrounding; a beautiful sound to behold but I remained by Merenwen's side. Aragorn had came to tend to Merenwen's wounds, leaving no wound untreated his meticulous hands brought relief to her body.

She would come back, I reached her, there was hope…I continued to repeat within my mind. My gaze never ceased in focusing on every stir her body would make.

I rose from the wooden chair and began to pace the floor, my steps following a single line upon the stone floor. I had never felt such nervousness, such fear and anxiousness in my life. It was consuming me.

I don't know how many hours had passed, but the flicker of light was beginning to dwindle, the candle had nearly reached its end. Naturally my mind wondered if that was some sign that I did not wish to accept.

"Has she woken?" I heard a voice ask in the shadows cast. I turned to see the shield maiden of Rohan closing the door gently behind her.

"No." The woman strayed into the light of the candle before she took a seat upon the edge of the bed. Gingerly she brushed a few locks of hair from Merenwen's face before leaning down and placing a kiss upon her forehead.

"I don't know why…but I feel as if we are the same. I look upon her as a sister in a way. Isn't that silly? We have not known each other for a great span of time…but still…whatever our souls are made of, I believe ours is made of the same." Eowyn spoke barely above a whisper, fighting back tears with every word.

"I do not believe it is silly to feel that way. You two are…very similar." She and Merenwen had grown close and it was true what she spoke of; they both had a similar spirit about them. They held strength within them, a strength that was contagious to the men around them though I doubt they would admit.

"I do not know much about your kind my lord, but I have heard of the loss she endured in battle but I do not think she has succumbed to the grief that accompanies loss."

"How do you know for certain?" I instantly inquired. The woman turned to me with a kind smile and she spoke.

"She still lives. I'm sure she has had moments to give up, to let go…but she has not. She has reason to live."

"She also has reason to…give up."

"I do not think that giving up is something she is capable of my lord. If it is true, and we are alike, then she will not give up. It pains me to see her like this, but I will not lose hope…neither should you." She said before standing and offering a slight bow to me. She started towards the door but I felt myself turning to face her once more.

"Thank you."

As time continued to pass; it was becoming harder to listen to the words Eowyn had said to me. That hope was hard to cling to when the morning light peered through the small window in the room signaling the entire night had passed and she had still not awoken.

But just as I accepted my new residence beside her lifeless body, a sound reached my ears that I had feared I would never hear again. Softly, I heard my name escape her lips. It was so soft, the ears of men would have mistaken it for the gentle flow of wind but I knew what I heard. I turned to her and saw her eyes upon me, the faintest smile gracing her beautiful features.

I lost all sense of strength in my legs, emotions overtook me and I crumbled to my knees. I ran my fingers through my hair as tears freely fell. I quickly scrambled to her side and took her small hand within my own.

"Hey…" I strained out, so many things I could say to her but that was the only thing I managed to speak. Her smile widened, I couldn't find the proper words to express how grateful I was to see such a sight. The love of my life was alive, her eyes glistening with the warmth of candle light now taking me in completely.

"I thought…I lost you…forever." I admitted.

"I'm glad…you didn't" She said before grimacing at pains now returning to her senses. I tried to calm her back to remaining still but to no avail. I watched as she brought her hand to her throat and then glancing down to her arm. Her arm was riddled with swelling and bruising from the sheer force it must have taken to drive a blade so deep into her flesh. Suddenly her grimace turned to an expression of contentment which was curious to witness.

"Merenwen?"

"I am happy to feel Legolas. I am no longer numb…I can feel." She said with a smile before resting her head upon the pillow once more. To hear that feeling had returned to her was the greatest thing I could hear from her. That was a sign that her heart may yet survive the grief that I'm sure she is still withholding from expressing to me. Eowyn was right, she would not give up. Not now, not ever.

"Kiss me." I heard her say. I raised an eyebrow at the request.

"Excuse me?" I chuckled.

"I said I can feel. Right now I feel pain…fatigue when all I want to truly feel is the warmth of your touch." She said. I felt a hint of color upon my cheeks from the request but I would not wait to be asked again. I leaned to her and pressed my lips upon hers. I felt myself grow lost in the feeling of her kiss, a feeling I hoped to experience for the entirety of my life.

Moments passed before we parted and were left to gaze into each other's eyes as we remained but a few inches from one another. I saw within those eyes, life…and love and it was enough to bring a smile to my face that could never be taken from me.

"You really look terrible prince." She whispered with a wink. With a laugh I began to shake my head, there was no mistaking it…the elleth of light was back.