A/N: Desolation of Smaug spoilers (I think they're small for most people, but hey, figured I would still put it here). Sorry bout that, but I've seen it twice and I have so many ideas going through my mind. Speaking of Hobbit movies and Ideas, I have a poll on my profile I'd be happy if you'd check out! Enjoy!


~Legolas POV~

I watched as Gandalf went to work re-stitching the dark haired girl. My anger was still brightly heated as I sighed darkly into the night. From the other side of the fire, I heard her friend, Haru sigh also.

"I swear I'm going to strangle her if she does something like this again."

"Hey now," her brother, Edmund cut in, "She must have a good excuse for not telling us."

"Or it simply means that she does not trust us," I said, not meaning for the thought to leave my mouth.

"And why shouldn't she trust us? We are her family," Haru quickly shot back, not bothering to conceal the anger in his voice. Quietly, I stared at the arrow I held in my hand. This was not worth an argument.

"You, yourself, did mention that something happened before she came here that made her act differently," Aragorn stated, starting the conversation again.

"You told them about her being adopted," the brother asked his friend. I looked towards the duo curiously.

"She's adopted," Merry asked, stilling his hand. Casually, he took another breathe of his pipe, releasing the smoke in rings.

"No, I didn't, but you just did. You explain it now."

"Okay then. Well, before we came here Wyn sort of found a letter that pretty much said, 'Your adoption papers went through' and mom found her looking at the letter. Some things were said and, well I guess she was feeling like you guys are feeling. Like mom didn't trust her and it hurt her. A few months after she disappeared, a woman showed up at our door saying that she was looking for her daughter-"

"Turns out that she's Wynter's mom," the raven haired boy interrupted. Edmund nodded, not adding anything else to the topic.

"Have you told her about her mother yet," Éomer asked, looking into the fire with a thoughtful look.

"Well, I haven't," Haru said carefully, "I figured that it wasn't my place to tell. I may be like family to Ed and Wynter, but I'm not actually a part in their family. This is something Ed and Kia need to work out themselves."

"Who is Kia? I thought we were talking about Ad- I mean Wynter," Pippin asked from his place next to Merry.

"It's Wynter's middle name."

The young hobbit nodded. Éomer looked back to the brunette brother, "Have you told her yet?"

The prince's warrior laughed loudly at the statement. His friend looked at him quizzically, "No, I haven't told her yet. There hasn't exactly been a good moment to tell her. Haru, why are you laughing about this?"

"Well, I find it funny that he's asking if you told her yet. I mean, ever since we found you, Wyn's been with Prince Éomer. We spent most of today riding and Wynter was with Éomer. He would have known if you told her yet or not."

The Rohirrim's face began turning red as the boy explained what he found to be so entertaining. My eyes narrowed at the prince. This situation was beginning to seem too familiar. I was vaguely reminded of a certain dwarf prince as I watched Éomer's eyes look at Wynter. Then Edmund's voice caught my attention.

"Well, to be fair in this game, I don't think I've ever seen an elf get so riled up by the actions of one person."

My head whipped to the boy, "I do not know what you speak of."

"I was simply stating that, elves are known for being very collected. I don't think that going to Wynter and then scolding her, with anger totally dominating your features, is considered collected."

"Taking her off of Éomer's horse the way that he did would probably add to that," Haru added, tugging at his shoulder length hair again. Aragorn began chuckling softly before breaking out fully.

"I do not understand the humor in this."

"It is humorous," the Dunedin began, whispering to me, "because it has been less than three days, and these two have already seen through what you have been choosing to deny yourself."

"And what have I been choosing to deny myself of?"

"Come now, Legolas. Surely you must know better."

I stayed silent, listening to the conversation between our companions. Hesitantly, I risked a look at the girl who had caught my attention. The fire made her pale back look yellow, making the wound on her side look less sickly than it actually was. Her hair was free from any binds, flowing around her body. The brown strands were the battle ground for the light from the fire and the moon. A clash of gold and silver wishing for dominance.

"Edmund," Gandalf's voice broke through the conversation and my thoughts for the time being.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need you to help me sit Wynter up."

"Why can't she do it herself," the boy asked, looking worried. Whether it was from the thought of him being over heard or the possibility of her being even more hurt than we thought, I could not say.

"She has been asleep for some time now."

Wynter's brother nodded as went over to the wizard. Carefully he sat her up and I averted my eyes as they lifted her shirt up higher. I spent the next few minutes staring into the flames, hoping to find some sort of answer within them. Edmund and Gandalf came to sit down with us.

"I finished wrapping the wound. It will take some time for the wound to heal and for her to recover the blood she has lost, but she will be fine other than that. It is good that she was given herbs to dull the pain."

"Who gave her the herbs," Pippin asked.

"The same person who stitched her wounds the first time."

"And who was that," Merry asked instead, his protectiveness for the girl slowly coming out.

Gandalf smoked on his pipe a while longer before answering, "She said it was a friend of hers from Lothlórien. An elf by the name of Rumil, I believe."

I attempted to sigh as shallow as I could, trying not to give away any of the insecurities I was feeling. What if the reason why she was here was so she could get hurt again? So she could see Rumil…

"Rumil took very good care of her while we were in Lothlórien. When she was not with Haldir, she would either be with the Hobbits or Rumil," Aragorn stated.

I sighed again, finding more difficulty to hide it, "I shall take first watch tonight. It is getting late."

Rohan's king nodded, "You are right. We should head to bed. Tomorrow, we will leave as soon as Wynter has been looked over by Gandalf. Good night."

Théoden went to his bed roll, lying down to sleep. The next to move to sleep was Gandalf. As the night grew on, Éomer excused himself. Before he went to lie down he looked at me.

"Wynter should feel lucky to have a friend like you," the man nodded. His eyes did not seem to express the same sentiment. Haru turned to Edmund, whispering to him before the two of them went to sleep. Soon it was only me and Aragorn left.

I looked into the dying embers, preparing for the conversation I was starting, "You are right."

"What do you mean," the blue-eyed man asked me.

"I have been denying myself."

"Why?"

I took a minute to think about it. Taking a breath, I answered, "Because I am afraid."

"Afraid that the past may choose to repeat itself? Or that this time the object of your affections could mean much more to you?"

I nodded before glancing at the heir of Gondor.

"Will you truly let the past keep you from pledging yourself to someone you love?"

"When have I ever said that I loved the girl?"

"You did not. Your eyes did. Whenever you can, you watch her, and just as Haru said, she does make you lose your control over your emotions. This isn't the first time that you have lashed out, out of worry for her."

I frowned, "The last time I lashed out, I was not worried. I was relieved, but there were so many conflicting emotions. I did not know how to deal with them all."

"She is the only one I have ever seen you lash out to, regardless."

"That is something I should stop doing."

"Shall you choose to stop your feelings for Wynter?"

I looked to her sleeping form some feet away from us. My heart was beating faster, my head was clear and the answer came easily out of my mouth, "I do not think I can anymore."


A/N: "And so the plot thickens" as said by Haru in this chapter (it's what he whispered to Ed.). AND I UPDATED AGAIN WHOOP WHOOP (kinda. It's a short chapter, but a continuation of the last one. I'll be working on the next chapter here soon). Review!