Chapter 37- Healing

Vanessa turned in front of the mirror as she examined her figure. She ran her hands down the side of her dress… she hadn't worn one in so long… she'd forgotten how much she loved them. She inspected her facial features before pushing her hair behind her ear; the scars were still there.

"Where did you get those scars?" Hayley gasped form behind.

Vanessa jumped in surprise and turned to meet her friend's gaze. She pulled her hair back over her ear.

"Nowhere… it doesn't matter now." Vanessa shrugged.

Hayley nodded sadly.

"Are you going to go find Legolas?" Hayley asked.

Vanessa gulped. "I have some things to talk to him about."

Hayley smiled. "Have fun! I think I'm gonna go find Frodo, I just need to fix my hair first."

"Does your hair really need fixing?" Vanessa giggled.

"Don't tease!" Hayley said, holding back a laugh.

Vanessa smiled an exited the room, the door clicking shut behind her. She came face to face with Legolas.

"Vanessa, it is good to see you." He smiled, inching slightly closer to her.

Vanessa flashed him a soft smile.

"What is troubling you, Meleth?" Legolas placed his hand comfortingly on her upper arm.

"Nothing." Vanessa mumbled. "It's just…"

"Just what?" Legolas asked.

"I was talking to Hayley last night… and…umm… well…"

A small frown appeared on Legolas' brow.

"Hayley said something about half-elves choosing their immortality. And, well, you're a full elf." Vanessa gulped

Legolas face went white.

"Why did you tell me that you had decided the fate of your immortality…" Vanessa was cut off by Legolas.

"You must understand that there have been very few elves that have chosen a mortal as their…"

"What does that have to do with it?" Vanessa sqeaked.

Legolas sighed. "I had hoped… that perhaps there would be different rules… that I could live a mortal life with you."

"But this way, you get to keep your immortality, right?" Vanessa asked with wide eyes.

Legolas gulped. "But…"

"I'm going to get old!" Vanessa exclaimed. "Elves stop aging after they're 50!"

"Yes, but…"

"What are we going to do?" She shrieked, tears forming in her eyes. "I can't let you do this… is there a special elleth somewhere? I can't make you do this."

Vanessa avoided his eyes and looked at the ground. Legolas delicately lifted her chin to meet his gaze.

"If I could see you but even a second, I would die happy." Legolas whispered.

"But you're not going to die! You're immortal!" Vanessa cried.

This time it was Legolas' turn to look away.

"Do you remember that time in Rivendell, on the balcony?" Legolas asked.

"Yes, when I asked you about elven immortality." Vanessa nodded, brushing away tears.

"Do you remember the ways in which I said an elf could die?" Legolas asked.

"Yeah… you can die in battle…" Vanessa mumbled.

"And the other way?" Legolas raised an eyebrow.

Vanessa frowned. "I don't seem to recall another way."

"Of grief, Meleth, of grief." Legolas whispered.

Vanessa's eyes widened in realisation. "No!" she breathed.

Vanessa began to sob. Legolas quickly pulled her into an embrace, lightly kissing the top of her head.

"But… but… if I go away now or something… then you don't have to grieve when I… die." Vanessa's voice cracked.

Legolas placed his cheek on the top of her head.

"I would grieve despite separation." Legolas whispered. "I already love you too much."

Aragorn was soon crowned King. Vanessa had been overjoyed to see Aragorn reunited with his love. Vanessa felt slightly envious of them… of course she did. She decided in the end just to be happy with the life she'd been given.

Vanessa sighed as she walked around Minas Tirith with Legolas. Legolas had an arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Vanessa looked up at him to look into his eyes. Would they get their happy ending? It all seemed so hard. Vanessa decided that she was just going to enjoy the time she had with him. Legolas smiled at her.

"Le melon." He said softly.

"I love you too… always." Vanessa smiled sadly, tears welling in her eyes.

Legolas came to a halt, forcing Vanessa to stop with him.

"Fear not." He whispered.

"I'm never afraid." Vanessa whimpered in a half-laugh.

Legolas leaned down and brushed his lips on hers. Vanessa let tears roll down her cheeks as they stood there, she wasn't sure if she was happy or sad.

Vanessa stared down at her reflection in the small fountain she had discovered whilst on her explorations of Minas Tirith. She had been through a lot since she arrived in Middle Earth. She thought of Earth… or well the future, she had decided… they must have been sent back in time. There wasn't actually anything left for her at "home" anymore… she had changed.

A warm hand suddenly grasped hers. Vanessa smiled faintly at Legolas as he sat down beside her. He raised his other hand and placed it on her left cheek, stroking it gently. His fingers moved and slowly pushed her hair behind her ear; the ear she had loathed too greatly. She looked into Legolas' eyes, blue locked onto blue, searching each other for endless minutes. Legolas tilted his head to the side, but did not break eye-contact, though confusion did begin to stir in his eyes.

"You did not push your hair back over your ear." He stated, moving his hand away from her.

Vanessa sighed and looked back to her reflection in the water.

"I care not for such juvenile things anymore. I have decided to love myself for who I am and I refuse to hate myself over something so small." She told him, her eyes searching her reflection.

Silence erupted between them. Vanessa turned back to Legolas; he was staring at her curiously.

"What?" Vanessa laughed. "Do I look silly?"

"You could never look silly, Meleth. It's just… your ears… they…never mind." He shrugged.

Vanessa smiled and moved closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and he instantly wrapped his arms around her. This is where she belonged.

"You…" Legolas began, "You always told me your greatest desire was to return home." Legolas said softly.

"I am home." Vanessa whispered back.

A blinding light surrounded Vanessa. Legolas gasped and cringed away from the light. Vanessa pulled away from his embrace, deciding only to tightly grip his hand. Her breathing grew faster, but the feeling was wonderful. A warmth stretched up her; she wasn't afraid.

The light began to fade, ending in a small rim of light above her head that looked like the sun rising behind a hill. The feeling soon subsided and Vanessa looked into Legolas' eyes; they were filled with astonishment. What had happened?

"You're staring again, Meleth." Vanessa giggled.

"Vanessa… you…" Legolas stuttered. "You're an elf!" He exclaimed.

Vanessa's eyes quickly dropped down to look at her reflection in the fountain. Her ears… they were pointed! She lifted her hands up to touch them. She gasped, it wasn't just an illusion. She stared in wonderment at her reflection; the scarring on her ear was only faint and her shoulder no longer pained… she had been healed.

Vanessa turned to Legolas her eyes meeting his. A tear rolled down her cheek and Legolas closed the gap between them, pressing his lips to hers. Vanessa felt a flutter and wrapped her arms around his neck, tears of happiness continuing to roll down her cheeks. Legolas softly ran his hands through her hair before pulling away. Vanessa stared at him as he searched her eyes.

"What happened to me?" Vanessa breathed.

"I don't know." Legolas answered.

"I'm an…"

"Elf." Legolas cut her off.

Vanessa searched his eyes.

"I love you." She told him truthfully.

"As I love you." Legolas said softly, cupping her cheek with one hand. His eyes fixed on her ear, amazement in his expression

Vanessa watched him; she couldn't decipher what he was thinking. Was he glad that she was an elf? She felt a flutter of fear.

"Your friend… she told me I should…" Legolas voice drifted off.

"What did Hayley tell you?" Vanessa giggled, reaching out a hand to play with a strand of his blonde hair; her sense of touch had improved slightly… that was strange, elves were supposed to have way better senses.

"Your friend, Hayley, told me I should…" He was beginning to look nervous. "… that I should get down on one knee."

Vanessa's breath caught in the back of her throat.

"Vanessa, I love you, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Vanessa responded by smashing her lips onto his.

Gandalf smiled warmly at them.

"I am surprised it has taken you this long to realise." Said the wizard.

They were standing in the hall with Gandalf. He had instantly noticed her transformation.

"I.. I don't understand." Vanessa squeaked as she squeezed Legolas' hand.

"I think you do, you have been mistaken for an elf many times. It was the first sign of your transformation. Next, your senses began to improve, yet you were still completely oblivious. But then, I began to notice little flashes of an elf like appearance, hence my curiosity of your ears after the battle at Helm's Deep." Gandalf laughed.

"But…humans can't just turn into elves!" Vanessa protested.

"Nor can they turn into hobbits, but that didn't appear to stop Hayley." Gandalf said, knowingly. "Besides, there is nearly always an exception to the rule."

Vanessa sighed.

"My wounds have been healed." She breathed.

"Yes, it has been a long process." Gandalf laughed.

"But…"

"It was not just your physical wounds that needed healing." Gandalf cut her off.

"I…I don't know what to think." Vanessa exhaled.

"Enjoy your new life." Gandalf smiled before swiftly turning around and exiting the room.

Vanessa turned to Legolas and squeezed his hand. They stared deeply into each other's eyes. A smile twitched on Vanessa's lips.

"I love you." They said simultaneously.

Perhaps Vanessa would get her happy ending.

THE LAST CHAPTER WILL BE UP SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS!

Oh gosh, I'm almost finished! Whattaya think?

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