Title: How Does It Feel (51 of ?)

Author: palephoenix (palephoenix(underscore)6(at)yahoo.ca)

Genre: LOTR FP-het

Pairing: Legolas/OFC

Rating: NC-17 this chapter...

Warning: This story is a Mary Sue... I cannot fathom why anyone would waste their time reading it if they don't like Mary Sues... Well, go ahead and waste your time if you want, but don't waste mine by reviewing telling me my fic sucks.

Disclaimer: Not for profit, purely for entertainment purposes. The characters belong to Tolkien and the actors belong to themselves. I'm just borrowing them. I don't know the actors; if I did I wouldn't be writing this... I'd be keeping Orlando in my bed for the next five years.

Feedback: pretty please with Orlando on top?

Notes: Eilish is pronounced 'eye-lish'... As far as I know it is the Irish version of Elizabeth... As in previous chapters, words in italics are in elvish, with the translation at the end of the paragraph. This chapter is more book verse, but I've changed things a bit. Words in bold are in French, with a translation at the end of the paragraph.Some dialogue (and only dialogue) is taken directly, word for word, from the book.

Summary: Labour and delivery nurse Eilish Bell is in a car accident and finds herself thrown into Middle Earth.

Chapter 51

Eilish lay awake that night in the bed she and Legolas had shared, hugging his pillow to her chest. The crisp, white linens were infused with his fresh, green, woodsy scent and she breathed it in, trying hard not to surrender to the tears that threatened. The bed felt huge and cold without Legolas' soothing presence. Try as she might to relax, sleep refused to come to her. Finally she gave up and sat up in bed, grabbing the robe that lay across a chair next to the bed and got up. She wrapped the robe around herself against the early spring chill in the air and walked over to the window. She sat down on the window seat and looked out over the White City, the stone walls gleaming softly in the moonlight.

'Oh, Elbereth, please keep him safe,' She prayed silently. 'I'll die again if anything happens to him. I can't live without him.' She bit her lip and fought the urge to cry. After a moment she sighed and leaned back against the pillows, looking out in the direction Legolas and the others had travelled. She didn't notice when she began to drift off.

:Dream Sequence:

"Eilish Bell," A soft, lilting voice spoke.

Eilish opened her eyes and looked around confusedly at her surroundings. She was in an impossibly bright white marble room, faced with two beings who shone with an un-earthly light. "What the..."

"I am Manwë," Intoned the male, in a deep, resounding voice.

"And I am Varda," Said the female, "Though you may know me better as Elbereth."

"Elbereth?" Eilish gasped, her eyes wide. "I've got to be dreaming," She said in disbelief.

"You dream, but we are real," Manwë told her. "We visit your dreams to speak to you."

"Why?" Eilish frowned.

"We come to grant you a very special gift, if you will accept it," Elbereth said gently. "You have given much since we brought you to this world. But first I would ask of you, what do you feel for the son of Thranduil?"

"Legolas?" Eilish repeated. "I love him. With all my heart and soul. I couldn't go on without him."

Manwë nodded, obviously pleased. "You speak truly. We offer you the choice of the Half-Elven. If you wish it, you will be counted among the Firstborn, and you will be allowed to remain with Legolas forever."

"If I want, I can be an elf?" She echoed, wide-eyed. "And never have to leave him?"

"Forever," Elbereth told her, smiling softly. "Even should anything happen to either of you, you would be reunited in the Undying Lands. What is your choice?"

"Yes," Eilish managed to choke out.

"Very well," Manwë nodded. "Now sleep, Eilish Bell. When you wake you will be of the Firstborn."

:End Dream Sequence:


When Eilish regained awareness, she was still sitting at the window of her room. The sun was well into its decent, the people in the streets below drifting to their homes for the evening meal. Eilish was a little bewildered at the sudden sharpness of her vision and hearing. There were two women in the courtyard below having a conversation and she could hear them as well as if they had been on the opposite side of the room. With a start she remembered her dream. Her hand flew to the side of her head, her eyes bugging out as she felt the delicate point that now graced her ear.

"Holy shit!" She gasped.

She jumped at the sudden knock at the door. In her shock she hadn't heard the footsteps coming down the hallway and stopping outside her room. She got to her feet, inwardly amazed that she wasn't completely stiff having slept in the window seat, and after making sure her robe was secure, opened the door. Ioreth, from the Healing Houses, was in the hallway.

"Lady Eilish," She curtseyed politely. "Lady Eowyn was worried when you didn't come to see her this morn and sent me to see if you were well."

"Oh, I'm fine," Eilish smiled reassuringly. "I just overslept. I guess I was more tired than I thought. You can tell Eowyn I'll be down to see her shortly."

"Certainly, my lady," Ioreth curtseyed again and started back down the hall.

Eilish stopped a young maid who was passing and asked if she would send for bathwater. The young woman nodded politely and scurried off. Eilish re-entered her room to sort her clothing for the day while she waited for her bathwater. In less than 15 minutes there was a knock on the door, which Eilish opened to several young footmen carrying buckets of steaming water. Eilish thanked them and got her bath going as soon as they had left. She bathed and washed her hair quickly, then dried off, got dressed, fixed her hair, being sure to cover her new elven ears, and headed for the Healing Houses.