A/N: What's this?! Two chapter updates in one go? Aren't we lucky today? - Well as I'm planning to update again this week, here is another chapter. What can I say? :) R&R!

xYruniwyliox

Chapter Twenty-six: Time to Fly!

Ailith remained unconscious for most of that morning. The slow and ragged breaths she drew in were the only indication that she was alive. Legolas sat completely still at her bedside. The only movements he made were to brush a lock of hair from her pale face, or to cup her cheek tenderly. Aragorn sat in a chair by the fire. He could not believe his sister had been injured. He had passed anger, and was now wondering why he even believed she was invincible. Most of her battle training, and combat training with him was good. She had wise advice, and helped him make good decisions, and yet, there she lay. His face still stung a little, what with the wear and tear from the battle, and the whalloping he received from a red-headed woman not an hour ago.

He stalked the halls with purpose, and turned into the medical room. There he found Éowyn and Liniel taking care of the Rohirrim. Liniel was focused on a rider with cropped and braided hair, the colour of her own. He must be a relative. He stalked towards her and stopped before her. She raised her gaze to meet his.

"My Lord Aragorn," she murmured, bowing her head to him as she continued with the mans' stitching. "Is everything alright?" she asked, not moving her eyes from the task at hand. He stiffened and scowled. "No. my sister is not yet out of peril, and yet you have decided that she saved your life while you were fighting, and now she matters not, anymore. I wanted to thank you for what you have done for her. Which is nothing." He snarled. She stood up quickly, and slapped him with all her might.

"How dare you!?" she screeched. "You have no idea how I feel. It was my fault she was injured. If she had not tried to get me from the wall, then she would not have been in harm's way. I am aware of all that is my fault, my Lord. But the prince seems to be taking good enough care of her, and I did not want to intrude. My healing skills do not match those of the Wizard, or the elves, or yourself. I thought I would bring my good-for-nothing skills to those who could benefit from them." She raged. She turned to her red-haired companion. "Forgive me, I will see you later." She said before curtseying Aragorn and sweeping from the room. Aragorn watched her go, his anger diminished as he was completely put in his place. He sighed and returned to Ailith, who had yet to move.

"Her heart stopped." Legolas informed Aragorn, who shot to his feet and was beside him in an instant. "What?" he demanded. Legolas shrugged. "I pumped her heart, and it beats once more. The crystal seems to be glowing." He stated flatly. "It heals." Aragorn supplied. "I do not understand how, but it heals. She has saved me more than once with it." He said. Legolas nodded. He stood and stretched. "We are wanted in the Hall of the King." He said, before turning and striding from the room. Aragorn sighed. He sent for the White Lady, and was surprised when she appeared with her brother.

"I have come to say farewell to the Lady Ailith." Éomer spoke. "We will be leaving shortly, and my sister will ensure the safe passage of the Lady Ailith to Edoras." He explained. Aragorn nodded, and placed a gently kiss on his sisters' forehead. He reached the door and turned to see her once more, before making his way after his travelling companion.

Aragorn climbed the steps to find Legolas firing an arrow into the corpse Gimli was sat upon, smoking a pipe. "Forty-three." The elf remarked.

"He was already dead." Replied the dwarf. "He was twitching." Joked the Prince. "He was twitching because he has my ax embedded in his nervous system!" he yelled, yanking on the handle of the ax to demonstrate. The Uruk corpse gave a full body twitch as the weapon was moved. Aragorn shook his head and grasped Legolas' shoulder as he passed them. The two stood straight and followed after Aragorn. They appeared beside the King and the Third Marshall, staring at Gandalf.

"Sauron's wrath will be terrible. His retribution swift." Mused the Wizard. "The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little Hobbits...somewhere in the wilderness" he finished, glancing at the darkening skies to the north-east of Helm's Deep.

"We must head for Isengard." He added, turning to face the men who watched him. The King nodded, and turned to Éomer who began collecting the necessary men and supplies needed for the trip to Isengard.

"What of Ailith," Legolas asked, turning to the Wizard. Gandalf sighed. "She will awake. I can feel her aura. She is closer to waking every day. But she needs rest. Arcallon has been brought to the stables. She will be fine when she reaches Edoras. You may have your reunion then." He said firmly. "For now, Legolas, you must focus on the task at hand. We have a Wizard to visit." He said. Legolas nodded, grimly.

As the group packed their supplies and their weapons, and their small caravan moved from the stone fortress, where the corpses of the dead were being burned, a warm pulse seared through the wizard. He smiled to himself as Shadowfax set the pace through the darkening forest of Fangorn.

Green eyes opened to survey the ceiling above her. She looked around, and realised three things. Firstly, she hurt. A lot. Even breathing was painful. In total, her face, side, shoulder, back and arms ached. The second thing she noticed was that she was awake, alive and it was day. We must have won then…I wonder at what cost…

Lastly, she realised she was alone. The room was a fine one, in the stone fortress, which is where she assumed she still was, with furs, and beside the door was her armour, along with her boots and breeches. Looking down, she realised she was only in her shirt. Gingerly, she sat up.

Fret not, Ailith. You will be fine.

She stretched her arms out, to test her pain. It was a dull ache, and a soft throb at her throat drew her attention to the crystal at the hollow of her neck. As she touched it, a soft whisper filled her soul.

"I am giving this back to you, in the hope you will berate me for it later. You can give it back to me when you awake. Just… please, come back."

"Legolas…" she breathed. The crystal glowed a little more, and she felt her pain diminish. She carefully raised her short to above her waist and inspected the long snaking puckered scar that marred the skin of her abdomen. She crinkled her nose at it, and lowered her shirt, before pulling a little at the bandage on her shoulder. Swinging both legs from the bed, she stood, somewhat shakily, and wobbled over to the rest of her clothes. She had managed to pull on her breeches and tie them, along with one boot, when the door opened, knocking her to the floor with an unladylike snort and an 'oomph' as she hit the flagstone floor.

"MY LADY!" the voice called, and Ailith screwed her eyes shut, clutching her head from the noise.

"What are you doing? You are meant to be resting. You know? Since you got MORTALLY WOUNDED!" Ah. It was Liniel. "I am glad you have survive the night past," Ailith began, "but if you do not quiet this instance, I will kill you myself. I may be injured, but I am still formidable with a blade." She hissed. Liniel stilled, then gathered her skirts and helped Ailith to her feet.

"You should not be up and about," Liniel warned.

"I see. And you adhere to the rules set to you, do you?" she answered back. Liniel cocked her head to the side. "Well, your attitude suits that of a soldier." She murmured. Ailith began hastily braiding her hair. "Help me get my armour on," she commanded.

"What? Why?" Liniel asked. Ailith sighed. "Legolas gave me this. It is the only reason I am awake and moving. I need to find him." She said, gesturing to the jewel at her neck. "He hadn't moved from your side until they decided to go to Isengard." Liniel said. "Lord Éomer, the King, Aragorn, Legolas and the dwarf have gone with the wizard." She started. Ailith stood, and immediately had to sit again. Once her vision steadied, she turned back to Liniel, who seemed to have sensed the unasked question.

"They left a few hours ago. They will be stopping to camp overnight somewhere in Fangorn forest." She shrugged. Ailith scrunched her features. "Why Fangorn? Why are they going north instead of West?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, you have not yet seen. Come to the window." Liniel pressed. She dragged Ailith to see the end of the forest, sitting the other side of the valley. "Eru! What… I do not understand…" she spluttered, leaning on Liniel.

"The wizard arrived as the last of the army rode out. He came with the force of the Rohirrim. They fought the army back, and the forest appears. Gandalf says the Ents have awoken." Liniel began fussing over Ailith until the elleth started slapping her hands away. "I am fine. I just need to rest a while, then I will follow them. I need some food and water, and supplies for my journey. Any my horse." She listed off, counting the items on her fingers.

"Alright, I will ready these for you, but will you please rest? You might have healed physically, but moving around this much has taken its' toll. You may not even be able to remain atop your horse." Liniel argued. Ailith sat, perched on her seat like a cat ready to pounce. "Very well." She murmured, as Liniel shot from the room. Within mere minutes, she was back, a broth and a hunk of bread on a tray, along with a full water skin and a spare. "Eat this, and I will help you put your armour on." She ordered. Ailith raised her brows, but did as asked.

"Did your friend make it through last night?" she asked, turning her forest eyes to her crimson haired companion. "The Gondorian, I mean." She clarified. Liniels' mouth formed a hard line. "He did. He is not my friend though." She said simply.

"Then what is he?" she asked.

"My lover. He should be my husband, but first my father did not approve, then he died, and so I petitioned my brother to marry him, but he refuses too." She finished, somewhat sadly. "Liniel, I never took you for a hound. You never know how long you have left with him. If you love him, marry him." Ailith said.

"I have come so close to losing Legolas, many times. He could have died before his journey, I could never have met him, he could have died on the journey, I nearly did…" she said solemnly. "I will see him shortly. And when I do, I do not intend to let him go." She vowed. Liniel nodded. "We will be leaving for Edoras tomorrow. Are you going to come with us?" she asked.

"I will be coming with the Kings' party. And so will you." Ailith responded. Liniel looked at her as though she'd grown another head. "Will I?" she asked. Ailith nodded. "As you are so sure I cannot sit atop my horse, you shall be coming with me. You need to change into breeches, and choose a horse. Preferably a fast one. Arcallon is fast." She explained. Liniel nodded and darted from the room.

By the time she returned in her breeches and leather jerkin, and leather armour pieces, Ailith had managed to get her gauntlets and shin guards fastened, and her breastplate on, but was fumbling with the clasps.

"Let me, my Lady." Liniel said, moving to tie the armour. "You may have healed, but you will not be able to twist and turn as you once did. Not for a while. I know." She gestured to her scarred arm. Ailith nodded. "Thank you. We will not need our helms, just weapons." Liniel nodded. "Your blades have been re-sharpened and cleaned, you can thank your prince for that." She began, "my sword is strapped to my saddle, and your quiver has been restocked, and your bow has been well taken care of." She finished proudly.

"Thank you, my friend. Now come, we must fly."