Sorry guys, I know it has been a couple of weeks. I have been busy shopping for things for my dorm room and making lists, preparing myself for college, meeting my roommate (she's from New York!). Then last week I went to Panama City, Florida with my boyfriend to visit his mom and did not bring my computer with me. It was a much-needed break from reality for a while. Now I'm back and I'm ready to finish this thing, so hear goes another chapter!

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Later that day, Cladeth arrived. She found me lying in Legolas' bed.

"Tia," she whispered, nudging my arm to wake me. I mumbled something incomprehensible before sitting up and looking around. I realized Legolas had spoken, and he was alright. I still felt pain all over my body where Legolas' wounds were, but the pain had weakened as Legolas grew stronger and his wounds started to heal. I looked up at Cladeth, who was hovering over me, grinning brightly.

"Cladeth!" I whispered, carefully climbing out of bed to hug her. "I am so glad you are alright." She nodded, and we walked together outside of the hospital wing.

"I met someone while I was in Mirkwood, after they freed me," she began. I saw brightness in her eyes I had never seen before, and knew immediately this was good news. "Reithar," she said.

"Reithar?" I jumped.

"He told me he was in the prison cell with you," Cladeth said, her eyes still lit. "He said he has never met someone as strong as you." I beamed. "He is so lovely, Tia."

"He is a very nice Elf," I agreed. Walking outside, letting the sun soak into my skin for the first time in a while, I felt rejuvenated. Something about that day was good. It was the little things; Legolas' awakening, Cladeth's return and her good news, and the thought that we might win this war. I could not remember the last time I was as happy. Hope was all I needed.

"Thranduil has returned to his castle," Cladeth said. I furrowed my brow.

"Why? Is that not dangerous?"

"He does not seem to think so," she mused, "and no one else was worried about it, either."

"Does that mean--"

"The war is over, Tialyn. Well, not completely, but we have won and we know it," Cladeth explained. I drew in a deep breath, realizing what this meant. It was finally the end of the fighting and the fear, and I would get to spend time with Legolas without worrying about him running off again. I had almost lost him because of this war, and I refused to get that near to it again.

I took my leave of Cladeth and went back to Legolas' side. He was awake again, and smiling at me with those pale lips that still had not regained their natural color.

"Your father has returned," I said softly, brushing his golden hair away from his face. His honey brown eyes softened.

"Then the war is won," Legolas choked. I could tell he was very thankful, but worried that he was wrong and his father had returned too soon.

"Cladeth said it was almost completely over," I confirmed. He smiled and nodded before drifting back off to sleep.

I spent the rest of the day outside, letting the sun heal what wounds I had acquired and thinking of how peaceful everything in Imladris was at that moment. I was too caught up in my thoughts to feel the presence of someone standing behind me.

"You look healthier than last I saw you," the Man behind me said. Startled out of my thoughts, I turned around quickly and my surprise subsided.

"Aragorn, you are back!" I exclaimed happily, jumping into his arms. He laughed.

"And who would I rather see than my favorite Elf?"

"Your other favorite Elf?" I suggested, indicating Arwen. Aragorn pretended to shrug her off, but could only grin.

"Of course I have seen her, too, but she is not near as important as you," Aragorn countered, pinching my bottom slightly.

"Aragorn!" I exclaimed, shocked. This was the behavior of the Man I had known most of his life and not what he had become recently. All of his misgivings about our flirtatious relationship seemed to have vanished, and the cheek had returned in his voice and mannerisms. I was so overjoyed that Aragorn had actually pinched my rear end that I jumped into his arms again instead of slapping him, as I would have done as of recently. He laughed again as I squeezed his neck.

"Why so excited on my behalf?" he asked suggestively as I let him go.

"Am I not always excited around you, my Lord?" I joked.

"Not as of late, but then your love is bed-ridden and can neither hear nor see what is being said between us," he teased. I grinned. Thank Ilúvatar this had gone back to normal. It was hard living without it for so long, when everything inside me longed to flirt with this handsome, wonderful Man. After more teasing and verbal harassment, Aragorn left to find his wife and I returned to Legolas' side. Even though I had only been gone for the afternoon, he had seemed to heal somewhat even in the short while. His lips had more color, as did his face, and his honey browns were deeper than they had been lately. I reminded myself not to underestimate the healing power of Imladris.

"I think I am ready to get out of this bed," Legolas said at my return.

"Please do not hurt yourself," I implored, but Legolas had already sat upright and was putting his feet on the floor. He was dressed in only a white gown, his feet bare. I could tell the marble floor of the hospital wing was cold to the touch, because he cringed a bit when his feet hit the floor. As soon as he had stood, I saw the wounds disappear. His strength had returned and I knew in that moment Legolas could have run a lap around Imladris if he had wanted.

"I must go to Mirkwood," he said almost immediately. I nodded because I understood Legolas' want to see his father again and make sure everything was going according to plan. "Come with me," he said as an afterthought, grabbing my hands and looking into my eyes as he towered over me. How could I resist?

"Of course," I agreed. The two of us found the nurse and she gave Legolas his clothes back. Then, we found Aragorn and Arwen and bid them farewell for the moment. Aragorn did not forget to nonchalantly slap my behind as Legolas and I walked away in search of horses. I would have reacted, but as soon as I turned my head, Aragorn's finger flew to his lips in a gesture that meant "don't tell," so I winked instead and hurried off with Legolas. Everything really was back to normal.