XXXVI - A Glimpse Into Darkness

Mirren thought she had died.

The world seemed cold. She felt herself drifting, as if she had let her body float away in the Grey Haven's spring tide; leaving her life up to the chance and sway of the currents.

There was something irresistibly sweet about the feeling of nothing, of being still within oneself . The fellowships journey had be tough and lengthy; her feet were never still for long along their road. Stopping, felt good. After a while, she wondered if she was breathing and tried to suck in some air. The action was excruciating. Then she remembered the pain, the battle…Legolas…and the brooch.

Had her mother known? All those years ago…had her father? It was all she had left of her. Maybe, Mirren thought, she had left it as a reminder that her power came from within her , from the result of Cirdan's love and not from the water itself.

What had happened was still not completely clear to her…had she managed to save Legolas? Or had it been too late?

Surely, she thought a year, a month or a day later (she did not know) I must be dead.

And just when she had convinced herself there was nothing left but this floating darkness: a voice.

"Can you sit up, do you think?"

So… she was not dead.

As the world seemed to refocus around her,

Mirren found she did not know the answer to the question. She stared at the old woman who had spoken with a bewildered look in her sea-blue eyes.

The elleth lay on a shallow bed, a pillow beneath her head which throbbed incessantly as she tried to concentrate on the world around her. Mirren could clearly smell the soothing sent of Athelas but, the pressure of the smell did little to calm her thoughts.

"Perhaps I could try?" She murmured, finding her throat hoarse and her mind fuzzy as she tried to sit up. Stooping to hold her head in her hands as the world span around her, Mirren peaked through her fingers to observe the old woman once more.

She was a healer, that much was evident by the way she had scooped her hair back in a shawl and clad herself in an apron, stained a little with a mixture of pastes and blood.

"My name is Ioreth." The woman spoke loudly, witnessing Mirren's interrogating stare. "I am a

Healer of Minas Tirith's Houses of Healing and… have been such for many years."

Mirren accepted the cup of water Ioreth offered her gratefully. The liquid was smooth and refreshing and soon she was wondering how much time has past since the fight on Pelennor fields, "How long?" She managed to ask between greedy gulps.

"Four days, my lady."

"Four days?" She breathed, finding only a little discomfort in her chest.

"You were mighty cold when they bought you here…Mithrandir said it was exhaustion but you looked to be dead."

Mirren shook her head of this explanation, her mind focussed on other things,

"Legolas? Where is he? Is he alive?"

Ioreth looked a little disgruntled at her chain of thought and turned her back on the elf with a small sigh.

"Ah yes… The tall elf that refuses to leave."

Mirren raised her eyebrows, looking around her for the Woodland Prince. Legolas was alive! Whatever she did must have worked…

Turning back towards the elleth, Ioreth found a brilliant smile stretched across her fine features. It brightened her complexion significantly, but Mirren was still pale and tired looking, great bags under her eyes.

"You must rest, my dear…I'm sure they will all be along shortly. I could hardly keep them from the room at first-"

The old woman trotted on as Mirren lay back, but the elleth could not hear her, Legolas was alive! Aragorn and Gimli had found them, Mithrandir and Pippin must be too, she was sure of it.

This thought relaxed her more than she thought was possible. Soon, the throbbing in her head lessened and she found herself drifting off once more. Her dreams this time were not of a black expanse, but littered with wildflowers and sand-dunes; blue clouds with silver linings and a quiet elf with golden hair.

"Stop looking at me like that, Gimli."

The dwarf had taken it upon himself to watch her as she rested. Mostly, Mirren was not amused by his constant company; but over the last few days she had learnt to treasure it as the healers would let neither Legolas or Aragorn to see her after they had apparently refused to leave her side for almost two days when she was asleep.

This morning, the fifth since she had awoken in the Houses of Healing, Gimli had brought her flowers from the walled garden near the rooms that had been set aside for him in a lower level of Minas Tirith. They sat now, happily by the side of her bed as he stared at her from the chair he had dragged by her bedside.

"But lass…You were dead!"

"No I wasn't…" She sighed, shifting a little to find a more comfortable position on the shallow bed, "Mithrandir just said I was exhausted... I must have drained myself trying to heal Legolas."

"Well you looked dead." Gimli huffed, "And I'm…happy you're not.. So I'll look at you how I want."

Mirren smiled a little at the dwarf, leaning to place a light kiss on his forehead. "Okay." She couldn't argue with him after he had been so sweet to her.

He would never admit it, but Mirren believed Legolas and her had scared him at the end of the battle when the dwarf had found them lying in a pool of the ellon's blood.

The thought of the woodland prince instantly disgruntled her as although she had been told by Ioreth that he had recovered quite quickly from his wound, she had yet to see him.

The magic she had used on the battlefield had evidently wiped out her energy but it had efficiently healed Legolas' torso and Gimli told her it had been little more than a scrape by the time they heard the Horn of Cirdan and found them lying in the oliphant trampled mud.

"I want to get out of here…" She mumbled, stiffly. "I am rested enough."

Gimli nodded, looking behind him for Ioreth who was the only one who refused to let her leave.

"That Princeling has been going mad without you…Anyone would think you had been injured yourself." Gimli huffed, looking quite happy about the fact that he was permitted to see her and the ellon was not.

"It is true… that elf has been fretting over you far too much." Ioreth interrupted, placing some fresh water down by Mirren's bed. The healer was a stricter warden than Mirren had first believed her to be and studied Gimli with a hard glare, "Needs fresh air I told him." she continued, shaking her head, "It's a good a medicine as any. I said… He could see you when you're rested."

"-Well I am fine now-" Mirren caught her, folding her legs beneath her as she sat up straight. The world did not spin and her head had not throbbed for the past days. She could walk now as well around the room in laps without collapsing.

Ioreth glanced at her wearily. She had taken a liking to the elleth immediately after the company of men had trailed after her into the healing houses. Despite having no wounds, for many days the elf had been deathly cold to the touch. Ioreth, in her many years as a healer, had never seen an illness like it.

Mithrandir, the only wizard Ioreth admired, told her that the elleth was simply exhausted and needed good care and rest. The healer would proudly admit that this is what she had given the elf. In her book that meant few visitors and definitely not ones who would refuse to leave at proper time intervals. But, looking at the battle-worn elleth now, she did look healthy.

"Only if you feel up to it." She finally answered, "I am not used to healing elvish bodies… And from what I've heard your skilled enough as it is," She raised her eyebrows pointedly, obviously hinting at Legolas' healed wound. "Oh to be young and in love…"

The thought of ever being called young by a mortal confused Mirren, but she only blushed at the implied compliment and bowed her head at Ioreth in thanks as the old woman moved on from her bedside to her other patients.

"Come, Gimli." Mirren smiled, pulling herself from the bed. "Let us find the Woodland Princeling."

Legolas had thought he had died.

He remembered the orc…the sword as it tore through his side like a blade of hot fire…and he remembered Mirren, crying, pleading for him not to go.

When he woke, Aragorn had told him what had happened…what she had done. He had been filled with pride and worry in equal measure. Had she really used her powers so far from the waters edge? Had she really pushed herself past exhaustion for him? Like always, she constantly managed to astonish them all.

But finding her deathly cold in the Houses of Healing had sobered him. Holding Mirren's hand, limp in his own. He hated himself for pushing her to extremities.

And it had been his fault...if only he had been paying more attention-

-A small cough interrupted the thoughts he had lost himself in many times over the last few days.

He was standing in the walled garden on Minas Tirith's second- highest level. It was spring.

Legolas had forgotten that in the last few weeks. But, here in the garden, nature reminded him of Middle Earth's beauty. The sight of it calmed the ellon which is why he had found himself wandering its secret pathways alone after he had been banished from Mirren's side by the old healer.

The cough sounded again, gentler this time, and he turned.

"It does not do well to dwell on dark things when there is still light."

Her voice talked to his heart but he found the shock of it stilled his feet.

"-Mirren!" He breathed, drinking in the sight of her.

The elleth was a mess of braids, tangled from battle and several days of sleep. Her clothes were creased, a simple green dress trimmed with gold, evidently a little too small and loaned to her by one of the healers. Her eyes were tired, her face a little too pale. But she was beautiful.

"Legolas." There were tears in her eyes suddenly. "My love."

And she launched herself at him before he could stop her. If he hadn't been leaning against a short stone bench they would have fallen together amongst the spring roses. He could not find it in himself to mind.

"Careful!" He winced, gripping his side whilst still managing to pull her closer.

Stepping back at his voice, Mirren studied him for injury. Once she was sure there was no outward sign of pain she raised her eyes back towards his.

"I'm a little bruised still." He offered in explanation and her expression instantly fell.

"You're still hurt?" He could read the disappointment in her eyes and he quickly dipped his head to kiss her, caressing her face in both hands. The distraction worked well enough and Mirren melted against him, gripping him tightly as he trailed his fingers down the side of her neck and further until they rested on her hips.

Suddenly, she snuck a hand between them and prodded his side. Legolas gasped in surprise, effectively ending their kiss. "I can heal you." She whispered, her eyes flashing silver as he had seen them do so before.

Still, the ellon shook his head, looking down at her patiently, "You saved me. You wonderful, talented, beautiful girl!...You've done enough…"

She looked unconvinced but he grasped her face and studied the lines of it gently.

"It is I who should be worried…How are you?" He continued, trying to distract her once more, "I saw you lying there, I thought-"

"I'm fine." She nodded, "A little tired is all…but I had to see you."

A ghost of laughter flickered across his sharp features, a small smile, the one she knew was just for her. "Truly, you never cease to amaze me." Stooping slowly this time, he lowered his lips to hers once more; revelling in the heat that clawed its way out of his heart at the feel of her so close to him again.

"I love you, Mirren." He muttered in-between kisses. The elleth sighed in response, wrapping her hand around his neck to pull herself closer to him.

"And I you." She breathed a while later, resting her forehead against his. Mirren gripped his hands in-between hers, unwilling to let go.

And so for a while the couple, still weighed down by the responsibilities of their people, walked arm in arm through the gardens. Interested more in each other than the plants around them, Mirren marvelled at the Prince as he was bewildered by her. As she had thought so long ago in amongst the roses of Imladris, she mused that Legolas moved soundlessly still, in the same unhurried manner that he had approached life with since they had been elflings.

The thought that somethings had not changed warmed her significantly and she felt that for a while at least, she could ignore the glimpse of darkness they had faced in the Battle of Pelennor fields and focus on the little victories they had accomplished instead.

"I want you to know no ones asking you to come with us if we march on Sauron, Mirren… I know you're exhausted." He told her when the sun was beginning to set behind them.

The elleth scowled at him then and shook her head impatiently, "And you're wounded and no ones asking you to stay!"

He silently considered her words for a moment and then nodded at her stubbornness. "Aragorn has called a meeting tomorrow night…I will make sure he knows that you are coming."

"Thank you." Swiftly she leaned up to kiss him once more, a chaste kiss that left his head a little dizzy.

But the damage was done and the quiet peace they had forged together in the walled garden was shattered by silenced thoughts of further battle and war.

As she wondered from the walled garden after another rendezvous with Legolas the next day, Mirren could tell she was being followed.

Legolas had been whisked away by Gimli and Elladan; Elrohir had some questions about Aragorn's guard and Mirren had desired to take a bath anyway now that she had officially been discharged from the Houses of Healing.

She had slept under the care of Ioreth once more the night before as they prepared new quarters for her somewhere in Minas Tirith and had begun a leisurely walk around the City as the hours of the day passed over noon and towards dusk.

Silently, she cursed herself for asking little about the whereabouts of her weapons and was considering pushing herself into a light run when a soft voice called out from behind her.

"My Lady!"

Turning, Mirren faced a young girl, with a childlike face, looking up at her with wide eyes. They were grey-green and beautiful.

"Hello?" Mirren asked when the girl did not speak further.

She was regarding the elleth with something that resembled awe and fear. Mirren was reminded of the first time she had met the Hobbits in the forests before Rivendell. Pippin and Merry lay now in a different part of the Houses of Healing, where Aragorn kept watch over them and Eowyn.

Mirren made a mental note to visit them as the girl in front of her finally gathered the courage to speak.

" My name is Lilith daughter of Iornath. My grandmother is Ioreth of Imloth Melui." She bowed her head quickly, dipping into a small curtsey. "I've been told to take you to your chambers, my lady."

Mirren smiled and the sight softened Lilith's fears of her instantly. There was a light in the elleth's eyes that Lilith was sure belonged to the stars.

"Then by all means, Lilith, lead the way."

Making small chatter as they walked, Mirren found the girl reminded her of the Hobbit's in more than one way as the young girl beheld her with a childish wonder.

Soon though, they came to a small door at the end of one of the Western corridors. Mirren noted that Gimli's quarters must have been below her, further towards the heart of the city and the mountain.

"They have put you with Prince Legolas, my lady…I hope this is not an inconvenience…it was just the dwarf said that you were…close." Lilith told her, looking back at the elleth before she opened the door.

Mirren blushed but nodded nevertheless, "That's fine… thank you, Lilith."

"This area of the City has views over the river; we thought it best for the Daughter of the Sea."

"It's magnificent…" Mirren breathed, and truly it was.

The small door revealed a large room, decorated lavishly in swathes of pink and gold fabric. The elleth thought that the view over Minas Tirith would be spectacular in the light of the setting sun for a great balcony exposed the room to the elements but also a gave them a panoramic view; protected on both sides by the White rockface of the mountain. Legolas' bow and quiver lay on the white stone bed but there was no other evidence of his staying there.

Directly below them, the Anduin curved its way around the city, shining like a path of gemstones on the once green fields of Pelennor.

"There is no view like it in Gondor." Lilith expressed proudly, sighing at the view of her city. From this angle, you could almost forget about the wreckage of the lower levels and the devastation caused by Sauron's armies.

Minas Tirith was truly spectacularly beautiful.

"Can I draw you a bath, my lady?…It may help you relax."

Mirren nodded, setting her pack down next to Legolas' weapons and cloak. Carefully she sat on the bed next to them and felt the softness of the sheets. It felt like it had been so long since she had slept in a real, clean bed. "That would be wonderful, thank you."

"My pleasure," The girl grinned, "It is no longer a casual sight to have elves staying in these halls, it is a great honour for me to help you in anyway that I can."

"I'm sure you are like your grandmother and do too much." Mirren smiled, "But I am grateful nevertheless."

Lilith smiled at the compliment and went about her business, pulling a great wooden bath out from behind a small partition so that Mirren could sit in it and still enjoy the view of the river and the mountains beyond.

Mirren helped her to load the large basin with water and when it was filled and warm enough, the young girl helped the elleth from her dress and began folding her dirty clothes for washing as Mirren sank into the tub.

"You are lucky to have found someone like Prince Legolas." Lilith began hesitantly as she helped Mirren to untangle and de-braid her long warriors knots. The elleth sunk her head beneath the water to smooth and soften her hair. Its waves fanned out beneath the water, only straitening when she finally sat up in the tub, gazing across the balcony at the sky and plains below.

"My grandmother said he tried to be with you from the moment he could sit up himself."

Mirren smiled at that thought, somewhere within herself she could still not believe she had found such happiness with Thranduil's son.

"Do you have a beloved?" Mirren asked the girl lightly. Lilith opened her mouth to answer, but she was swiftly cut off when someone opened the door. The sound startled both of them and Mirren slipped a little further into the tub as she saw Legolas enter.

The Prince looked as surprised as she was and he stared at Mirren for a couple of seconds before he stole a look at Lilith.

The young girl blushed under his gaze and Mirren could only be thankful that it was her and not her grandmother who had offered to help her bathe.

Looking back at Legolas, she could see the surprise still working its way through his mind; his thoughts turning clearly behind his sharp eyes. She understood them because her own thoughts mirrored his.

His entrance demanded he stay and explain himself. But, if he stayed, there would be much more intimacy than they had allowed with each other for the last month. Mirren blushed deeply at that thought and hoped that the warmth of the water naturally flushed her skin and did not betray her.

Unprompted, the elleth mused that he had never actually seen her without her clothes on. She wondered what his touch would be like, his lips on her skin-

No… it was best not to dwell on such thoughts as he verged on faltering before her.

"Legolas." Mirren greeted, slightly amused at the way her voice seemed to snap the Prince from his own distracted thoughts.

Feeling a little more at ease at the familiar sound of her voice, Legolas bravely took another step forward. Mirren had to purse her lips in order to hide her smile as he finally approached, making her heart almost skip a beat as he sat by the tub.

"Mirren…I was not expecting…"

His mouth was a little dry and he cleared his throat to makeup for it. The elleth slunk further into the tub naturally, trailing her hand across the surface of the water absentmindedly. Legolas' eyes followed her movements before he blinked a couple of times as if trying to find the right words to continue.

"It smells good…" He said after a pause, instantly cursing his hesitance as Mirren smiled slightly. Lilith stifled a giggle and continued folding some towels for the elleth; admiring the Prince sparingly, with glances lingering slightly over the fluffy material.

"Doesn't it?" Mirren asked, "Lilith found some oils and I added some herbs…it's supposed to make your skin soft and smooth…"

Legolas squinted his eyes slightly, a light blush reaching up to the tips of his ears at the thought, "And does it?"

Mirren hesitated briefly. Her breath stilling for a moment before she nodded. The small action seemed to be enough for Legolas because he dipped his fingers into the warm, scented water.

The elleth could not help but think that if he moved his hand, it would touch her bare arms but, he just kept it still before he pulled it back, the water dripping from his fingers as he inspected them, as if waiting for a miracle.

Smiling, Mirren moved forward, leaning towards him. She tried not to think about the way she could feel the end of his breaths graze the top of her head.

"It takes time…" She felt the corners of her mouth pull into a grin, "Here, hold out your hand."

Legolas instantly did as she asked, albeit lifting his hand hesitantly towards the tub. Mirren lifted her own, droplets of water shimmering silver as they fell from her fingers. Carefully she pressed her fingertips to his, her hand trembling as they touched. He seemed as wary as she was before he curled his fingers to entwine them with Mirren's and suddenly, palms pressed together; their hearts settled as one, beating furiously in their chests.

A shiver ran down Mirren's spine that had nothing to do with the warm water.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" She asked suddenly with a devilish smile. The mischief that Legolas could read in her eyes reminded him of their days as elflings, running through the Greenwood.

"..Are you?" Legolas glanced down rapidly and Mirren's breath caught in her throat. If she hadn't been an elf, she would have missed the purposeful action, but she was the daughter of Cirdan and Irime and did not. Carefully, she drew her arm back under the water, consciously pulling it closer to her body. Composing herself as she held Legolas' gaze for once without blushing, the elleth smirked.

"I don't have to try."

Legolas gulped, taking a purposeful step back. Glancing at Lilith he saw a permeant blush on the young girls cheeks. She was trying to look away from them but of course Legolas noticed her embarassment and it seemed to pull him back to reality, quickly he backed away.

"I's sorry…did you want something?" Mirren asked innocently, leaning back in the tub as she watched his awkwardly trying to excuse himself from the situation.

"Uh-…No… uh not now." Legolas dropped his gaze, looking to the floor. "…Enjoy your bath." He finished curtly and bowed his head slightly as he stood up. Mirren grinned as soon as he took a step back, but cursed the blush that would not fade from her cheeks.

Legolas nodded to himself before turning, uncharacteristically stumbling a little on the chair Lilith had set aside for Mirren's clothes on the way out of the room.

The young girl laughed brightly when the door was shut behind him. "I did not know that elves could be embarrassed!...It is true what my gran says-"

"-and what would that be?" Mirren rolled her eyes, sighing against the edge of the tub.

"You've got him completely wrapped around your fingers."

Mirren smiled at that thought and did not contradict her. She knew she was wrapped around his too.

A/N : Pure Fluff I know, but they deserve it (and so do you my wonderful readers :)))) ;) :P - J x