I was woken by the feeling of lips against mine, gentle, a hand stroking my face, long hair tickling my skin. No need to know who it was. I sighed, warmth flooding my chest as I reached up to grasp Legolas' arm, feeling nothing more than contentment. Love. Warm.

"Can I join you?" He kissed my lips again, then my cheek, fingers running across my scalp as he drew hair away from my face. Warmth flooded my hips, desire not hampered by logic or wakefulness, just a familiar sense of trust and love. Legolas smelt amazing. I inhaled slowly, nodding, and felt the bed sag as I half slipped back into sleep. Skin brushed against mine, a knee running up the back of my leg and sliding the night gown up, lips finding the back of my shoulder as the fabric was pushed aside.

I missed him. Missed him. I wanted to tell him but if I did I'd wake up. Better he get in and we go to sleep again.

Legolas slid in beside me under the blankets, very careful of my leg, and this time I felt more skin against mine. Naked. My Elf was naked. His chest pressed against my side, arm crossing over me, a slow exhale of air tickling my bare shoulder. "Something happened?"

"Shh, don't ruin it." I muttered. Too late though. Now that he'd asked I couldn't keep trying to ignore the truth in sleep. Boromir. Children. Broken hearts. Urgh. No. Bad choice. Naked Legolas. Butterflies. Elves. Stuff like that.

Legolas didn't respond. He lay beside me, eyes on me, forehead against the side of my head. But he wasn't relaxed either. His body was actually pretty tense, muscles all hard against me, and he clearly was not going to sleep anytime soon. Was he waiting for me to talk? Probably.

"You want to know what happened last night."

A nod.

"Boromir came in here drunk."

Legolas shifted up pretty fast. He didn't loose it like he had last night, he was clearly more composed when he was fully awake, but I grabbed his arm just in case he was thinking of getting up and heading for the door. His eyes locked in mine. "And?"

"He..." I squeezed my eyes shut, sighing, not really knowing where to begin. How to begin. "I don't know. He was upset. He thought I'd fit in better with people here and that I'd be lonely there and ...well, he wanted me to stay here. Talked about children. Our baby. That kind of thing. Aragorn dragged him out though. Nothing happened."

"He wanted you to stay here with him." I nodded. Legolas sighed and ran his hands up and down my arms slowly. "Is this why you locked the door?"

"Yeah. Keep drunk idiots out. I knew you'd climb up."

Legolas smiled somewhat and shook his head. "The door was not closed. Locked, yes, but there was this in the way of the door." He held up a glove. One of Boromir's gloves? Maybe. Maybe Aragorn or someone had dropped it. I groaned. How could I have missed that? Oh well. He was probably hog tied in the kitchen anyway. "Aragorn would not let Boromir wake you again."

"Was he telling the truth?"

"Truth?"

"That I wouldn't live to see this baby grow up. That Elves grow up slower than humans?"

Legolas leaned up higher at that. The sound of movement outside my door, hobbit-sized movement, distracted us both somewhat, and he didn't answer until whoever it'd been had gone again. " I … there are always strange fates for those of us who choose to love a different kin."

This was not a helpful answer. And it wasn't really an answer for me. I sat up slowly, careful, and stared down at Legolas. "Legolas, how long does it take for an Elf child to grow?"

"A child of my kin will take fifty of men's years to reach the body of a young man or woman. Another fifty they will age before their body stops growing." Legolas sat up slowly as well and stared at me. I stared back. He was exactly as he'd been when he'd stopped aging at one hundred. The Elf looked so young. The question of HIS age was overshadowed by this really bad news.

"So by the time my child's grown up, I'll be..." Elderly. Old. Already planning my funeral cover.

"Still alive."

That was easy for him to say. Yes, I'd be alive, but would Legolas even like me then? When I was grey and aged? What about him? Did this mean he'd stay immortal? Or would he die when I did? Some part of me didn't want him to.

"Who told Boromir this? None should know this. The life of our children is a guarded secret" Legolas shifted closer, grasping my hands and sliding his into them, his smooth fingers tracing over mine.

"I don't know, he was blabbering about all kinds of things, how he should father my children and-" I hesitated. I probably shouldn't have mentioned that part. Legolas' mood shifted pretty fast, suddenly, and he just about jumped off the bed after a two second pause. "-nothing like that, Elf, get back here! All he did was kiss me." I yanked him back down. "He was drunk and he told me this. Then he proposed. But relax."

"To a woman already married?" Somehow 'father my children' had tipped Legolas' calm mood over a little. Legolas actually clenched his fists. It was kind of amazing to see how much of his emotions he was showing in front of me these days, how much he went from 'distant calm Elf in the corner' to 'real actual Elf with emotions'. I had to admit though. If some Middle Earth skank had thrown herself onto Legolas and said 'Give me a baby' I probably would have lost it too. "Tis not something he should know anyway."

This was the least of my worries. Legolas' anger towards Boromir was, somehow, not even interesting right now. I stared at my stomach as I slowly crossed one leg under the sheets. Fifty years.

"How long does a child of man to age?" Legolas seemed to be getting back on track too. But this question? I was not expecting it.

"Seriously?"

"I have not left Mirkwood since I was born. There are many things I do not ...yet know."

"Twenty years." I muttered. Twenty long years. Or at least I used to think so.

"Such a short time?"

"Yep." I wanted to roll my eyes. "So a baby Elf is a baby-"

"-They will begin to walk after their fourth month of life. After a year our son will already be talking with us, walking beside us, and singing." Legolas

Woah. So... he wouldn't be a baby for years. That was much faster than a human child. I blinked at Legolas. Magic Elf babies. Springing up as fast as they could. Did that mean they spent most of their time as children? Legolas answered me though, before I could even ask. "They do not remain as a baby long. An Elf child will only slow when they have their first tooth at the age of three."

"They don't teethe before that?"

"Teethe? Tooth. No." Legolas had to actually say the word to know what I was on about. "No. The tooth of a Elf child comes close to their third year of existence. From there, they will slow. The minds of our children age much faster than their bodies. But the body of a Half-Elf... I cannot tell you. I can tell you that you need not fear never knowing your son. He may grow in body slow, as a tree does, but his mind will age much faster."

"Lord Elrond could." I muttered. Legolas nodded, sliding closer, grasping me and pulling me into his lap. I breathed out, tense, kind of strung out all over again. Glancing at him, I hesitated, some of my tension fading. No. It was okay. I could handle a baby talking and walking early, handle one that didn't have teeth for some years, and ...well, who ever planned for grandchildren anyway? "Leggy?"

"Mmm?"

"I love you." The words were hard to say, somehow, as if I was saying them again for the first time. But it was true. All this crap, this baby, the problems, and I still felt it.

Legolas smiled, a warm sun-filled smile that made those three words completely worth it, and kissed me with sudden enthusiasm. His anger and tension faded away. "And you, my love. I love you as well. Do not fear the birth of this child. The fate of his life is to be his alone. We would not be gifted with a life were we not able to live with the choice."

"We wouldn't be gifted with him." That was kind of a good way to put it. I kind of hoped I didn't end up being one of those moms though that screeched something like 'I better gift wrap you and send you back!' when the kid ...was drawing on the tree house walls or something. "Who sent him?"

Legolas told me of the Valar, his fingers tracing along my back, the two of us leaning against each other. More often than not he'd break into Elvish, either for lack of words or out of habit, but I didn't mind so much. I understood it somewhat. They were spirits, real living beings, who had created Elves to begin with. Kings and Queens. More names than I could memorise. And they'd been here once, walked here, created and changed the land. Not just Elves either, but dwarves, and all kinds of species.

Again it sounded kind of like 'aliens messing with a planet'... but I'd called Legolas an alien once. Maybe all Elves weren't from this earth. Maybe no one here was actually native to this planet. What if it wasn't even Earth? Aliens had just thrown down all these different species? What if Sauron had been an alien? What a mind blowing thought. Middle Earth had been populated by alien species?! Wow.

"I do not know how our lives will go. Not anymore. But … I do not fear, so long as you do not."

"I'm okay." I was now. The confusion and hurt was gone again now. I was still a bit worried but... I didn't know. Legolas was here. I was fine. It was that simple. "I really am. There aren't many elves and humans who've done this, are there? Leggy, how is this really going to be taken? When we get to your home?" In other words, when the hell was I going to get some distance from Boromir. I still cared for the big oaf. But I needed to get away from him for a while.

"There are only two." Legolas responded. "Three, soon, for I do not see the Lady Arwen giving up on her heart any easier than I could. Others, there may have once been but … they are not spoken of an are forgotten." He hesitated. "It may be some time before we can leave Minas Tirith."

"Why?" I moved so I leaned against his chest. This seemed to suit him fine- Legolas re-wrapped his arms around me the second he got a chance to. "Aren't there records and things?"

"The Elves of Mirkwood do not read and write. History is passed through song. " Before I could comprehend this bombshell, Legolas went on, "When a man dies, they leave this world to places unknown to Elves. When an Elf dies we ...know where we go. It is seen as a fate that ends only in separation." He must have realised he was finally getting realistic with this thing when I tensed, Legolas shifted suddenly, and slowly kissed the back of my neck. "But I will find you in any world."

It was the second time he'd said that. I believed it too. I opened my mouth to ask more about Elf things but Legolas cut me off with a great topic ender, "You spoke of your father last night. Did you remember this while we were in battle?"

"Yeah." I smiled weakly at his obvious change in topic. Let it go. What use was there right now in stressing? I'd gotten some good news about the baby and I didn't need to overwhelm it with bad news about Elves. "Babbered to poor Faramir."

Legolas sighed and tightened his arms around me, tugging me hard against his chest, resting his chin on my shoulder. As if this'd protect me. As if it was enough. Or maybe it was how he dealt with it. "I do not understand. I … the heart of your father. I do not understand."

"Sorry."

"No. Do not be." I felt him press his lips against my shoulder, fingers tracing down my arms, his head shaking. "There are things men do that Elves find strange. So much anger, and rage, and hurt."

Yeah. The hurt summed up Boromir pretty good. Remembering him, and my father, this just put a dampener on the whole mood. At least no dreams of death last night. That was good. Right? I sighed and shut my eyes. "It is strange."

Early morning sunlight broke through the window at that point and bathed us both in light. It seemed to help break the mood somewhat. "So, your Elves sing."

"They do." Legolas smiled then, I felt his face move at the edge of my face, and turned to gaze up at him. The sunlight had warmed him, grey eyes lightening in the warm light, his hair somewhat messier than usual. Must have been from the climb up. "We sing."

"Good." I liked that part of it. No reading and writing? That was going to take some getting used to. "What else do you do?"

"Dance. Heal. Craft. There are many dangers, and so I protect the roads and the homes." Legolas shifted up to play with my arm as he talked, tracing the veins up and down my arm, his chin against my shoulder. "There is much to do. We live simpler but we are happy. We are used to men, their ways, for we trade with them often. You do not need to fear my home."

Happy. Simpler. I nodded, sliding my fingers around the back of his head to kiss the side of his neck, breathing out slowly. Okay. All right. Good news. They were happy and I wasn't going to spend my years as an old lady caring for an eternal five year old. "Sorry. I trust you. I do. It's just..."

"The unknown is always frightening. Do not be sorry." Legolas kissed me gently. We sat there for some time side by side, his arms around me, watching the sun rise slowly over the land.

I sighed, tension fading, feeling his hands reach around to hold my stomach. The three of us. There was this sudden awareness that there were three of us. How crazy was that? I could have almost sworn I could feel that boy on the bed with us. This was all I needed. Just ...him. Boromir's fear was so contagious that it kept bringing up my fears. Every single fucking time.

"How long would it take to get Aragorn crowned?" I asked softly.

"I do not know the customs of men for this." Legolas responded, his fingers touching my stomach slowly, digging in as if he was feeling for it. Feeling for the lump. "It would not be rushed. Lords , of both Elf and Man, will come. Dwarf Kings will come. It may be summer before his crowning takes place."

Summer? It was still spring so... it was some time away. To tell the truth, I'd always felt like it'd gone from 'Frodo destroying the ring' to 'happy ending with Aragorn all crowned and singing'. Instant transition. Nope, apparently not, apparently THAT part of the story wasn't close at all. I shouldn't really have been surprised.

"I will ask him. You wish to leave." Legolas clearly had read my mind about that. "As do I. I am worried for your heart. I leave you for two hours with Boromir and return to find you once again upset and afraid."

Yeah, that was pretty much it perfectly, and I had to admit my heart was kind of broken over the man. I didn't want him hurt. I'd saved his life, changed fate or something, and this was supposed to be the part where he lived happily ever after with some woman he liked. Or man. I didn't mind in the slightest if Boromir went for a man. The big oaf probably could do with some rough fun. Or someone physically his size to ...shove him back. Last night had shown how little control he had. Someone had to be able to shove him back.

"It's not his fault."

"You say that every time, my love."

I did, didn't I? I sighed and shut my eyes, twisting so that I could bury my face in Legolas' chest, deciding it was much more fun to concentrate on him than on the drunk idiot from last night. "What am I supposed to do? Leggy?"

"There is nothing more you are expected to do. His life is his own now. Your gift to him was freedom. Let me see your leg now." Legolas slid my dress up, slowly, and his fingers traced over the shape of the swollen skin. "It is better."

"Just needed rest. Pippin said you were helping with Frodo." Again he was teasing me, I was sure of it, because his fingers kept tickling the back of my knee. The very sensitive back of my knee. Also... he was still naked.

"Then rest today. I do not know much healing but-" Legolas smiled somewhat. "But even I could tell he was not far from waking. Already he has started to talk in his sleep. Mithrandir does not leave his side, but for a few hours of rest, and there was little I could do. I did not need to do much. It will be a day, perhaps two, and he will be awake."

"You should tell Sam that."

"I spoke to Sam before I climbed up here. He has already taken breakfast." Legolas blinked, apparently remembering something, because he stood up and headed for the window. I watched him without shame, watched him stride completely nude across the room, his muscles lean and beautiful in the warmth of the sunshine. His hair caught the light and went almost silver. When he turned, it took me a few seconds to see that he had a plate in one hand, so distracted was I by everything else. "Your breakfast."

"Oh." Breakfast. Yes. That was what I'd been thinking about. I watched him walk back, doing my best to not look downward, but this was a loosing battle. I giggled as Legolas froze and shut my eyes. "Yes. Breakfast."

"Is there something else you desire?" He was laughing at me. Legolas knew what he was doing. He'd spent ages touching me, teasing me, and now he was showing off exactly what he had to … and oh god, it was moving. Yeah. He knew what he was doing.

"Me?" I laughed, Legolas back at the bed within two strides, feeling the bed sink as he knelt on it, letting him push me back slowly "Well..." I was cut off, sudden, as lips crushed on mine, eyes flying open to see the same hungry look on Legolas face. He dragged at my dress, only separating his kiss to get it off my head, but still so careful to not jostle or lean on my bad leg.

"Well?"

"Shh, there's hobbits downstairs." I hissed, when he made the bed groan, and Legolas laughed.

"Would you have me wait?"

I grabbed his head, dragging him back down and into me, and we made love, slow, as quiet as possible, laughing as we heard people coming up and down the stairs, and it was well into the day before Legolas was finished. It was the first chance since Lothlorien that we'd really gotten time alone like this. I was sure he kept having heart attacks everytime he bumped my bad leg, because I kept hissing in pain, and Legolas would freeze, but … somehow I managed to distract him from that.

Finally we got to breakfast, still twisted up in each other and the sheets, with the several plates between us. Washing was just as silly, I ended up splashing Legolas more than I washed, all while trying to keep balance with the walking stick.

Dressing was slower, more teasing, Legolas being confused as I tried to explain why I needed 'breast binding' – I wasn't a magic elf with magic perky breasts- and then his turn when I watched him try and pull on his leggings. Magic Elf my ass. All I had to do was tickle his ear and he'd twitch and nearly fall over. Funny how Elves were about their ears. One touch and he almost wanted to pounce again.

"Are all Elves this obsessed with sex!" I laughed, as he advanced on me, this wicked look in his eyes. I was sure I'd seen a similar expression on Legolas' face just before battle.

"With our lover?" Legolas got that 'hungry look', not that he'd really lost it, as he knocked me back on the bed, tugging my good leg up and my dress with it. Once again we made love, not even bothering to undress this time, and only after another 'quickie' did we really decide we should wash.

"With our lover?" He grinned. "Yes." Legolas jumped, knocking me onto my back on the bed, tugging my good leg up and my dress with it. Once again we made love, not even bothering to undress this time. We hadn't really finished so... why worry?

Finally we did manage to get dressed properly and go downstairs. It was hard to stop smiling, my face hurt, and Legolas seemed to struggle with putting on his Elf mask thing all over again.

The sight of Boromir downstairs, still passed out on a mat, with Pippin 'sitting guard' nearby did bring me out of my good mood somewhat. No one else was around. And, I noticed, no Eowyn yet.

"Where's Sam? Merry? Everyone?" I asked, when Pippin came inside, and naturally got the answer I was expecting.

"Frodo. Aragorn went to get some food to replace what went missing."

Uh huh. Almost seconds after he'd told me this Aragorn returned with several boxes worth of food on the back of a cart, Faramir and Eowyn walking along side. Eowyn? Pretty flushed looking. I grinned and met Legolas' eyes. He might not have known what I knew but he got the hint, a soft chuff of amusement as his eyes went from Faramir to Eowyn, before he turned away to bend over Boromir. I saw the quick movement of something.

Uh oh.

"What are you doing?"

"Tying him up." Legolas unwound a rope and started to tie him up, legs and arms, his face perfectly passive and calm. It was kind of scary how calm and relaxed he could look when I knew he was probably still pretty angry inside. "There. Where is Gimli?"

Gimli? Come to think of it, had I seen him since the feast?

"He's outside." Pippin pointed. "There's a place behind where he trains."

Legolas headed outside and I stared down at Boromir. The man kind of stank right now. I felt bad for him though. Pippin grasped my hand and asked quietly, "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah." I was, to my surprise, even after all that 'breakfast'. I followed Pippin to the little wood fired stove. Aragorn, Faramir and Eowyn were carrying in supplies as Pippin and I ate, or tried to, but Eowyn was pretty quick to catch Pippin eating again.

"Are you eating again!"

"It's afternoon tea time. Hey!" Pippin grabbed for the plate Eowyn had grabbed, but Faramir was pretty fast to be right there between them, which amused me all the more. "I'm hungry."

Eowyn raised her eyes, sitting down beside me, and I swore I saw her wince. Oh yes. I could guess why. When she met my eyes, I almost laughed, and she covered her mouth to stop her own laugher

"Have a good sleep?" I asked, lightly, innocent. Faramir flinched, staring from myself to Eowyn, before he turned away. Oh. Was this embarrassing for him? Still he had this small smile on his face and when he met Eowyn's eyes, there was this incredible tenderness there. He slid the food to Eowyn instead.

"Yes, and you?" Eowyn accepted the plate of food from Faramir.

"After Boromir was dragged out, sure."

Faramir's eyes went to his brother and his smile faded. "I am sorry. He was not supposed to come here."

I noticed that he didn't say something like 'He's always like that when he's drunk. I also noticed that line between Faramir's eyebrows, this frowny line, as he stared at his brother.

"It's not your fault." I felt like it was my fault, actually, and guilt rose. Like nausea. Or was it nausea? Maybe it was. I did feel kind of sick to the stomach. I pushed the food away and decided I wasn't so hungry after all. "But is he going to sleep there all day?"

"No. He will come home. And if the soldiers see him, so be it, for he is not a child." Faramir was moving across to Boromir. He froze a few feet away, staring at something I couldn't see, and when I stood up I saw Gimli was now standing in front of Boromir. Arms crossed. "Master Dwarf-"

"The Elf and I are waiting for Boromir to wake. Leave him now, Lord Faramir, for we both have something to discuss when he is awake." Gimli nodded towards me over the table. "Wendy. Afternoon, lass."

"You two aren't going to hurt him, are you?" I muttered. Nice that they wanted a chat. I hoped it didn't result in anything too violent. "He's still my friend."

"No more than you would, I imagine, were it Legolas who he bothered." Gimli gazed up at Faramir, arms crossed, not budging. "We are all members of the Fellowship. Boromir deals with us."

"Yeah." A voice piped up. Pippin. Standing right beside Gimli and mirroring my slang. He was so small beside the dwarf, however few inches taller he was, that I hadn't even noticed him there."Yeah. We have to talk with him."

Okay. Good point. If he'd behaved like that towards Legolas last night I might have probably punched him. I sat down and started to pick at the food again, slowly, not keen on wasting it either. Aragorn walked in with a fairly sizeable pumpkin in his arms, lowering it onto the table in the corner, a little pale faced himself.

"You will come to live near me now." He informed me as he sat down with a soft groan. Aragorn reached up to rub his head.

"Near you?"

" Living in the Great Hall. The Fellowship can use this house now."

Oh, wow. Okay. "You sure? What about Eowyn?"

"Where else would the sister of Aragorn live?" Eowyn responded softly. "I am returning to Rohan with Eomer, with the body of my Uncle, and those who have survived. There we will wait until it is time to return. When we return, I marry, and Aragorn is crowned."

"Take Boromir." The words made everyone stare at me. I hadn't gone crazy. I added, quickly, "I mean it. Take him to Rohan with you."

"He must stay." Faramir shook his head.

"Why?"

"He is still the Captain of Gondor." Faramir sat down heavily and sighed. "Though I understand why you ask. He would only return days before you left for Mirkwood and it would save both of your hearts. Were that a maiden of Rohan capture his heart, as did one capture mine-" He grasped Eowyn's hand at that, "-I would feel less fear for him."

The sweet thing he'd said about Eowyn was overshadowed by the fear part. He felt it too? Greeeaaat. He'd know when to be worried about his brother. Eowyn squeezed Faramir's hand. "He will heal."

Guilt again. Major guilt. What was I supposed to do though? I remembered how I'd felt that morning with Legolas. Comfortable. Happy. Able to cope. I knew that I loved the Elf. But I cared about Boromir. But could I sacrifice Legolas? Even if I could, which I knew I couldn't, what would happen to Legolas if I did that? I wished I could ride to Rohan for a while. As I sat there stewing in my own guilt I was relieved to see Legolas return. He leaned against the wall beside the door, right where I could see him, and I breathed out and tried to relax.

"I do not think he will harm you."

"I know he won't. That's not really the problem." I replied and started to eat again. The problem was that he'd sit around for three months, letting those feelings eat at him, and he'd snap again. Which would just make him feel WORSE. I really wanted to get the hell out of here now. A holiday to Lothlorien. Surely we could come back for the whole crowning thing. Right?

Aragorn rose and, with a wince of his face, started to carry in food again. "This food must last for some time, Pippin. Tell Merry."

"Where is Merry?"

"Who knows." Aragorn was bringing in a sack of potatos. A literal fabric sack. He slowly tipped them into a basket and folded the sack back up, before heading back out again for whatever else he had gotten.

"With Sam." Pippin responded. He was inching over towards the vegetables. "Did we get apples?"

"Enough for one every three days."

"One!"

"There is going to be rations. The war has disturbed our farms." Faramir responded. "But most is grown during spring. If we are lucky it will not cause more than a shortage in winter harvest."

"Where is everything grown?" This question occurred to me only now. It was just fields out there. I hadn't seen a single farm or anything.

"The farms themselves are half a day's ride from here." Faramir nodded in some direction. East? North? Who knew. East, I realised, was probably Mordor so not east. "Lord Eomer has agreed to check them during his travel home."

"As have I." Eowyn added. She met my eyes and I smiled somewhat. Oh yeah. She might have been softened by Faramir but warrior woman was still in there. I hoped Faramir could cope with this. "We ride tomorrow at dawn. I would gladly see you there as well, Wenduin."

"Of course." And talk today, I hoped, I was seriously curious about how much she and Faramir had gotten up to. Alone. I met Legolas' eyes, more or less still picturing him as naked as he had been all morning, and grinned. To my surprise he actually mirrored it for a good three seconds, this warm affectionate smile with a hint of ...more lust? … which clearly he didn't mind being seen by anyone. Unusual for him. But how the hell could he still be up for sex? We'd been at it for hours. Distracted, I started to eat once more, the nausea in my stomach fading again. Maybe I had just been hungry. What was I thinking just now? Oh yeah. Eowyn and Faramir.

"So I'm-"

"As a princess of Gondor, you should remain within the Halls. As must I." Aragorn responded. It was not a pleasant reminder. I was flattered, sure, and I knew he'd had his reasons for telling everyone this, but ...seriously? We were still going to keep it up? "There is a chamber they started to prepare for you while you were in the House of Healing but it has not seen use for many years. Only now is it ready."

Princess of Gondor. Some women probably found this title really tempting. I wasn't quite used to the idea of Legolas being a 'Prince', personally. This explained why they were so keen in offering me all those pretty fabrics.

"When you are ready to come, I'll show you. Your things will be moved up. You will still be free to move between here and there. I have already made it clear that you would spend the day with the Fellowships."

"Yeah." I mean, what else was I supposed to do? I supposed 'princess' had all kinds of jobs. Like sewing. Or singing. Or something.

My eyes went to Boromir once again, still asleep, and I knew I wasn't going to be able to stay near him right now. Maybe later. As much as I liked to handle my own battles, which I really did, some part of me was glad Legolas and Gimli had decided to 'talk' with him.

"Okay. I'm ready to see it when you do."

"Give me a moment. My head-" Aragorn was still looking kind of green.

"Have you drunk much water?" I asked automatically.

"No, for I will vomit more."

"No, you have to drink water. Lots of it. It gets rid of the alcohol faster." As soon as I'd said this Eowyn had risen and was already getting Aragorn water. Aragorn did not look convinced as the water was put down but with me and Eowyn staring at him, he sighed and began to slowly drink, his face looking greener still. I added quickly, "Just drink it slowly. But drink lots."

Aragorn raised his eyes, shrugged, and drank. "Give me time, then. I will walk with you soon."

Slowly. I heard Boromir grunt in his sleep and decided I'd head out anyway. Standing, I grasped my walking stick and headed out into the sunshine, hearing … or rather... sensing Legolas follow.

He didn't ask if I was okay. The morning's giggles were sort of gone now. Legolas stood beside me against the edge of the wall, the two of us gazing out across the plains, our arms brushing and the wind whipping both our hair. He probably knew better than anyone how frustrated I was right now with Boromir.

"How far ride is Mirkwood?"

"Too far to return when we need to." A finger looped through mine, Legolas shifting closer, adding softer, "But Gimli and I will watch him."

"He was drunk."

"And before, it was the ring."

"Well, it was."

"And next time, will it be because he is tired?"

I growled in frustration, free hand clenching on the walking stick, wanting to smack Legolas. He was right though. It'd already gotten bad enough. Last night was harmless, clearly Boromir had been afraid himself of what he'd do if he invited Aragorn along, but that didn't mean it could keep happening. "I know."

"I cannot protect you from him."

"Leggy, I know." I didn't feel afraid of Boromir anyway. I didn't need protecting. I needed to kick him. Legolas shifted, leaning closer, fingers entwining with mine. I sighed and leaned against him. Okay. Relax. Not his fault. "So Mirkwood's too far. How about a trip to Lothlorien?"

He smiled again, relaxed, and shook his head. "No, and not Rivendell either, though I would gladly see it once more. The place I found you."

Oh yeah. Wow. It seemed like ages ago now. I sighed softly and shut my eyes. There'd been a kid. Should I have... been a guardian or something ? Not while I did this. They'd taken good care of Aragorn. Surely they could handle one more human kid for a few more months. Or longer. What was going to happen with her? I'd have to ask Lord Elrond if I saw him again.

Aragorn's voice cut into my thoughts. "All right, let us walk."

"I will remain here and await Boromir."

I left Legolas to ...whatever he'd planned for Boromir … and followed Aragorn up the sloping road. We both walked slow- him with his hangover, and me with my bad leg. Interesting pair. I wasn't sure where they came from but guards joined us, escorting us all the way up, which made for a strange walk. The future King and the Princess. Oh man. That was going to make life interesting until I left.

I found myself reaching up and touching the silver-green necklace Legolas had given me. It may have been weird, having to be some kind of title for this place, but I'd have to take a role like it for Mirkwood. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe a human woman would barely rank above the ...chamber pot cleaners. Well. Okay. I doubted it'd be that bad. But if I just put up with this... it would at least get me more used to attention.

We got quite a lot, didn't we? People staring. Oh man.

A hand clasped mine and I blinked, staring down sideways, Aragorn's hand in mine. Seriously.

"Relax, sister." He said softly, close, somehow giivng me a smile through his hangover.

It was a nice gesture and I tried to relax, the hand releasing mine once more, as we slowly came up and onto the easier flat top of Minas Tirith. I had to admit I was pretty impressed by this massive city. People had spent years carving this city. Maybe entire lifetimes. We didn't go for the main hall though, Aragorn led me towards one of the smaller buildings to the left side, past the white tree and the four guards.

These buildings looked small but as we entered, surrounded by arches and shelters, but I saw that they must have been much larger than they looked because we walked into a large balcony-like area that overlooked a large room. It had to be three stories deep with balconies on three different levels overlooking a large room below. I recognised it now though, as we moved close to the edge of the balcony, recognising the room far down below as the room where Arwen had seen Aragorn. The silver-white stone, the balcony, the stone columns, and smiled somewhat to myself. I hadn't seen the spectacular height of the building like this.

Aragorn seemed equally as awed, his mouth open, eyes going over every detail as if he'd never seen it before. Maybe he hadn't. I didn't know much about his life except that he'd more or less been 'Prince on the run slash ranger'. It distracted him from his hangover better than my water idea.

"My Lord." A guard said softly. Aragorn moved away for just a moment before he gestured to me. "This way, Wenduin."

Down two flights of stairs and one floor, we followed the metal-clad guard towards a pair of fairly heavy doors wrought with iron and painted a dark blue and green. Aragorn twisted the iron handle and pushed the two doors open.

I had thought the room I'd had earlier had been luxurious. Not surprising after spending most of the past few months wandering Middle Earth with the Fellowship. Hell, I'd thought the room in Edoras had been amazing, and it had barely been wider than the bed and chair inside it. This room? The two doors opened into a wide area that felt like a hall all of its own. A bed, a real massive bed stretched out across one wall, gauzy curtains drifting backwards and forwards under heavier red velvet curtains that were tied back. No balcony but wide arched windows. And while the entire building was carved out of the stone of this mountain they'd clearly cut up, it was hard to see any stone, tapestries and carpets covered my room.

I was aware that there were no machines here, nothing to speed up the process, so someone had spent weeks or months knotting and weaving... or whatever it was they did... to create each of these tapestries and carpets.

"This is where you sleep." I'd forgotten Aragorn, and glanced sideways at him, his arms crossed as he gazed around. "Do you like it?"

I nodded and smiled. This seemed to please Aragorn. But my mind was already back in the little house where I'd left Boromir tied up.

"Aragorn, how long till your crowning thing happens?"

Aragorn smiled a half smile. He turned to the guard, gesturing, and they retreated out of the doors, closing them behind them. "I wondered when you'd ask. I have been meaning to talk with you since we return but there has been .." He hesitated, glancing back at the door where the guards had been, reaching up to run his hand through his hair.

"Problems? Duty?"

A nod. Aragorn suddenly flopped, literally flopped into one of the soft chairs, and ran his palms over his forehead. "This headache..."

I went for where I saw a jug of water and mugs, ignored the fruit, and poured him a glassful. "Drink."

Sitting down beside him, I rested my head on my hands, and gazed forward.

"A month. I promise you. Faramir and I have already spoken of it." Aragorn said when he'd drunk the water, leaning back, crossing a leg as he gazed across the small gap to me. "No more."

"I didn't know it'd take that long."

"There are many to come. As the steward of Gondor, Faramir is responsible, and he has already sent invites to the Lords and Ladies of Middle Earth. And I wished to talk with you about Mirkwood." Aragorn's gaze got serious now, his smile fading, he drank a nother deep gulp of water before he continued. "When we last spoke you were not certain of this marriage."

"Well..." I hesitated. Aragorn was fixing me with a look that caught me mid-lie. Well. No. I wasn't. "Elves are different."

"Aye, they are that. And now there is now a child." Aragorn sighed and started to kneed the back of his head with his knuckles. "I wish I were not so sore in the head for this talk."

"Just keep drinking."

"I shall. Do you feel any more certain?"

Another hesitation for my part. Aragorn opened his mouth to respond but I cut in, quickly, "Well, it's not easy. Is it? And everytime Boromir opens his stupid mouth, I keep feeling like it's the wrong thing, and … but I think it's right."

"Because there is a child?"

"Because I don't know till I try it. Do I?" I didn't really ask him. The words had seemed right to me. Aragorn was still kneading his head.

"I do not know myself." Aragorn admitted. He winced as the sunlight suddenly burst into the room, probably coming around that big stone thing in the middle of the city, and I shifted so that his poor eyes were in shade from my head. "Thank you. I thought you were unlikely to have changed your mind now, but I thought I should ask, after last night."

"Nope. All ...planes ahead." Okay. That sounded wrong. I wondered what that line was. "I mean, yeah, I still love Legolas. Boromir's just … scaring me."

"About the Elves?"

"Well, yeah. About growing old. Legolas dying when I do. This baby staying young as I get ancient." I frowned. No. That didn't bother me as much... "Well, more than that. I mean, Legolas said the Mirkwood Elves don't even read or write or anything. I don't even speak their language. That's what scares me. You grew up with them. It's easy for you."

"I did. I do not recall telling you that either." Aragorn raised an eyebrow at me. Oh. Woops. I flushed and he shrugged it off so easily. "No, they do not from what I have heard, for they have no need of it. They live for so long that knowlage may be remembered and passed on easily. Only the Elf kin from Lothlorien and Rivendel, and further, took pride and interest in recording through their writing. The kin of Mirkwood prefer to live a simpler life without worry for tedious duties such as writing."

Tedious duties. Oh yeah. No computers. I wondered how long it'd take for an Elf to write a book, given how obsessive they were with beauty and perfection, how long it'd take for them to carefully scribe out a page without a single error, without a single spelling mistake or grammar mistake, all while the page had to remain beautiful. Illustrated as well, most likely. Not like how I would take a book for granted.

"Not many men or women know the art of writing either, Wenduin, and if you do it is a skill many would envy."

"I guess … everyone where I came from knew how to write. It bothers me that no one here does." Or that I'd never really thought about how awesome it was that I'd ever been able to just go to school. I supposed kids around here generally started to work young and no one had heard of child sweatshops or things like that. "Or there. I don't know what to expect."

"You have a month before you leave." Aragorn spoke slowly and drank mid sentance. "You have my assistance, and I will instruct you in Elvish when Faramir does not require my help with his plans, and Boromir will-"

He hesitated and clearly regretted mentioning that. "Never mind He will do as we ask him to do. If you would have him not speak to you, then you need only ask us."

"It's okay." I muttered. Was it? Was it really okay for me to just ...let him keep it up? But it seemed wrong to tell him to not speak to me either. "He was drunk last night. I think he'll be all right from now on."

"I hope so." Aragorn stood up slowly. "I must sleep. My head is... but I am never far. And when you need company, the home for the Fellowship is always open to you."

I nodded and he wandered off without much more than a smile, a weary pained smile that decreased as he found the bright sunlight again, Aragorn's departure half welcome and half annoying.

The afternoon was spent exploring the room. It wasn't just the two main rooms, there were tiny ones, mostly for storage. People brought my 'things' up, all except for my weapons which I'd left kind of concealed near the edge of my bed, and put them here and there. Dresses mostly. Dresses that had been donated. I didn't have or need a lot more else right now. When they brought an ornate box containing my phone and the charger which had sat untouched and ignored with my 'boy clothing', however, I sat there and started to charge it. Gandalf hadn't said not to and he'd clearly given it back to someone. It seemed to work. He also apparently hadn't stabbed it. Maybe he'd decided it wasn't an evil communication box after all.

I sat at the edge of the window as the late afternoon sun turned golden, legs swinging, gazing out at the view as people moved backwards and forwards further down below. As if there was a magnet on him, I spotted Boromir before I spotted the house, walking slowly up the hill. Probably for the hall. He seemed to be ...well, alive. I hoped this meant Legolas and Gimli hadn't done anything nasty. Some guilt trickled in now though. I still didn't think Boromir had actually meant me any harm, or why else would he made sure he told Aragorn and Pippin, he'd just been ...well, drunk. Sure. Legolas was right. I was making a lot of excuses for him.

He hadn't tried to upset me. At least, he'd tried to … I didn't know. Warn me. Tell me something I should know. I sighed and leaned against the edge of the window. What was I supposed to do?

"Do not fall."

A voice startled me. I glanced back to Legolas, who stood close by, his magic stealth Elf thing getting him just a few feet from me without me hearing him. Greeeat. Legolas sat beside me slowly, careful to not push me, and gazed down. "He will not come near you."

"Oh? What did you say?"

"Not much needed to be said. Boromir has agreed to keep a distance." Legolas slid a hand into mine. "He was eager to agree. You are better off without his company from now on."

Somehow, as much as I wanted distance, this news did not sit well with me. It stung a little. I rested my head against the stone edge of the window and kept as best I could from showing on my face. Why did it upset me? Because he was my friend, probably.

I felt Legolas kiss my shoulder, sliding closer to wrap his arm around my waist, and leaned against him without really feeling much more than exhaustion and hunger. Sadness. Nothing else. Even my love for the Elf wasn't enough to make me feel better. My eyes were glued to Boromir, as he trudged slowly up the slope, his head down. They didn't seem tot be able to leave him until he'd entered a house.

I was not going to enjoy the next month.