By late afternoon the company had returned to Edoras. Náedran was banished from Rohan, which in Noelle's opinion was more than merciful of the King. That traitor deserved to be locked up in prison the rest of his miserable life.

But enough misery and death had taken its toll on Rohan already.

Lady Éowyn and the survivors of Helm's Deep had already made it back to Edoras earlier. As Noelle led Flash back to the stables, she gave the White Lady a wave.

"The men have told me you are a skilled fighter, Lady Smith," she said, stopping briefly on her way to greet her uncle and brother.

Noelle smiled. "Ah. Thank you," she said sheepishly. "I learned from the best." Her gaze wandered over to Gandalf, who was dismounting Shadowfax.

Éowyn watched her. "Tonight there is to be a feast in honor of the dead," she said. "I have extra gowns if you need one."

Noelle was about to decline, when she realized that this was more of an obligatory invitation than a kind offer. She nodded. "Thank you, my lady. I would appreciate that."

"I will ask one of my handmaidens to help you. She's a close friend of mine and I trust her."

Noelle smiled in thanks, as she began undoing Flash's saddle.

"Gonna get all dressed up tonight so Legolas notices?"

Noelle's mouth hung open. "And how do you know about that? Gandalf established the mental connection between us, which means you can only hear me when I want you to!"

"Oh come on!" Flash laughed (as much as a horse can laugh). "It's quite obvious, Noelle."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Whatever Flash."

Later that night, Noelle tried to put off getting dressed up for as long as she could, but much to her own embarrassment, Flash's words kept ringing in her mind, and she wondered how Legolas would think she looked.

Blushing, she tried to think about something else as she paced nervously in the spare room next to Éowyn's. The long vanity almost seemed to be staring at her from the corner of the room.

She sighed and sat down on the soft bed, it felt too comfortable after sleeping on the hard ground for five years. Her mind drifted back to the Elf. Why did he love her of all people?

Her looks certainly didn't even come close to that of the Elves- Arwen for example. She wasn't ugly or anything, but she wasn't exactly Luthíen Tinuviel either. She was a young human woman, a former Jedi, a broken warrior and a defeated commander who was now trying to help stop a Dark Lord from taking over Middle-earth.

And she was in love with the Prince of Mirkwood.

She had never felt this way about anyone- ever. Legolas... He was different. The way he looked at her.

Suddenly there was a soft tap on the door interrupting her thoughts. Noelle jumped.

"My lady?"

"Come in," Noelle answered, hoping she didn't sound startled.

A girl with dark hair and dark brown eyes who looked a couple years younger than her peered into the room. "Lady Éowyn sent me with your dress."

"Oh," Noelle breathed. "Thank you. I almost forgot." That wasn't one hundred percent true. After all, she had been thinking about Legolas moments before.

"Would you like me to lay it on the bed?" asked the girl, raising her eyebrows.

Noelle nodded. "Sure, thanks."

Éowyn's handmaiden crossed the room and gently laid the velvety periwinkle and pearl-colored dress across the bed. She glanced up at her inquisitively with her chocolate brown eyes. "The other ladies said you fought in the battle. Where did you learn to fight? I wish I could be just like you."

Noelle was taken aback. She wasn't prepared for that. The first thing she wanted to blurt out to the girl was: you don't want to be anything like me.

Instead she just shrugged. "Gandalf taught me how to fight."

"So you're a sorceress?"

"No!" Noelle said quickly. After Náedran calling her a witch the past few days, she couldn't help but be a bit defensive. "It's... hard to explain," she said. "I'm Noelle by the way."

"I'm Nanda," the girl said, looking at her in a new light. She seemed very perceptive, unlike Noelle who never seemed to notice anything. "I was merely curious. You see, my life is nothing but... dull."

"You're Lady Éowyn's handmaid," Noelle pointed out with a laugh. "You're not going to be bored with her."

"On quite the contrary, Lady Noelle. Lady Éowyn and I are always daydreaming adventures up together. She's actually my closest friend."

"Oh yeah?" Noelle felt a pang of longing. She wished she had a best friend she could laugh with. Talk with. Someone you could tell anything: your hopes, dreams and fears.

Nanda must have seen her faraway look, because she was grinning.

Noelle snapped back to reality and frowned. "What?"

"Oh nothing," Nanda replied with a smirk. "It just looks to me like someone is in love."

Noelle's mouth dropped open in shock. Nanda was almost as bad as Flash! But she was too taken aback to deny it. "How-how did you know about that?" she whispered.

It was Nanda's turn to shrug with a grin. "Word travels fast among us women."

You can say that again, Noelle thought, inwardly cursing her own gender for being so gossipy.

"Legolas is quite beaut-"

Noelle held up her hands and closed her eyes. "I know. I know he is," she interrupted. Legolas was beautiful, and caring, and sweet... and everything she wished she could be. Tears began swelling at the back of her eyes, realizing just how lucky she was to have him.

Nanda didn't seem to notice as she had a dreamy look on her face. "Do you think he has any relatives?" she asked Noelle.

Noelle wiped her eyes, and pulled herself together. It had been a long week, and it was finally getting to her emotionally. Boromir had died. They had chased the hobbits. Found out Gandalf was alive. Fought at Helm's Deep. She had her confrontation with Náedran and Dooku/Saruman. And Legolas had told her he loved her.

She sniffed a little. "I mean, I don't think he's got any brothers, but his dad looks young."

Nanda sighed, lost in thought, but she switched her focus back to Noelle. "Anyway. Are you going to change into that lovely dress Éowyn had me bring you?"

"Well yes-" Noelle started.

"Then you'd best not keep Legolas waiting!" Nanda cried enthusiastically. "The feast is in one hour!"

"Hail the victorious dead!" King Theoden raised his wine cup as he stood in front of the congregation of nobles, lords, captains and all those who had fought in the battle.

"Hail!" Everyone else raised their own cups, then drank from them.

Noelle stayed in the back with her head bowed respectfully. She felt as if she were back at the Temple on Coruscant. Master Yoda would lead everyone in a similar ritual whenever there was a fallen Jedi. There had been many of dead Jedi during the Clone Wars and after-

The sound of blaster bolts filled her ears. Then the whiz of a lightsabers deflecting them. Noelle felt that overwhelming sense of grief that she had felt right before Rex had betrayed them.

"Fire!" came the voices she knew so well. The voices of the soldiers she had been friends with for three years. The soldiers who had served under her, fought dozens of battles with her, and in some cases had even died for her.

Then Master Ki-Adi-Mundi dropped dead at her feet. Noelle gasped, covering her mouth with one hand and deflecting blaster bolts with her lightsaber with the other.

Then she saw Master Plo's ship being blown out of the sky into smithereens.

Then the scene changed.

She was sitting next to Master Yoda. His face was sorrowful and grave. "Master Yoda, who did this?" she whispered.

Yoda's green eyes were filled with something Noelle had never seen in him before- fear.

"The Sith."

Noelle opened her eyes with a gasp. She wasn't in a galaxy far, far, away. She was in Meduseld with the people of Rohan, and her friends. She must have fallen into a meditative state instead of a vision. Visions just came out of nowhere, but meditation -good or bad- always happened when she was in a peaceful moment.

Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she glanced around the Golden Hall only to find it bustling with people, drinking and laughing as if it was a party.

Well, Eowyn had said there was to be a feast.

Noelle stood up from her spot on the bench to see where everyone else was. Aragorn was talking quietly with Éowyn in the corner. Merry and Pippin as always, were the center of attention, telling the crowd tall tales of life in the Shire. Legolas and Gimli were at a table with Éomer that was by the barrels of ale. Gandalf was nowhere to be found.

She decided to go over to Legolas and Gimli. The Elf's ocean blue eyes immediately brightened when he saw her coming over. "Mae govannen, Noelle," he said with a smile. "I saw you asleep in the corner. I thought it best to not disturb you."

Asleep. Oh Legolas if only that were true- "I was uhhh... dreaming," Noelle said. She didn't want him to worry over her. That was all he did. These dreams- these visions. She'd figure them out eventually, but right now, she didn't want him to worry.

Legolas raised his eyebrows. "Of what?"

"Things I don't understand- what are you doing with all this ale here?" she asked quickly, changing the subject and glancing at the twenty-some mugs of ale on the table. It was no wonder Merry and Pippin didn't have something to do with this...

A look of confusion passed Legolas's face. "I am unsure..."

"No pauses, no spills," Éomer was saying as he came over with several more mugs of ale.

"And no regurgitation," Gimli added.

"So it's a drinking game?" Legolas asked.

"Aye, last one standing wins!" Gimli chuckled. He already sounded drunk.

"Drinking game?" Noelle repeated, rolling her eyes.

"Want to join, lass?" Gimli asked.

Noelle raised her hands and backed away. "No thanks. I'm good watching, although I think you'll win, Gimli. You're quite the drinker already."

"I will bet you, Noelle," Legolas said suddenly.

Noelle looked over at him in surprise. "That you'll beat Gimli?" she laughed. "Legolas I know from experience dwarves are better drinkers than Elves."

"We shall see... Remember who put Galion to sleep with wine when you needed to escape?"

"Yes, I remember," Noelle answered. She hated to admit it, but it had been Legolas's idea to get the butlers drunk.

"What do you want from me if you win?" he asked, tracing his finger over the rim of one of the mugs.

Noelle was silent. Then a thought crossed her mind. "I want you to tell me something."

Legolas laughed. "How much more do you wish to know about me?"

Noelle shook her head amusedly. "As much as there is to know. What do you want from me?"

Legolas smirked, and he bent down next to her ear. Noelle resisted the urge to pull away as her cheeks heated up. "A kiss," he whispered softly and almost huskily.

Noelle's face was on fire as she stepped back. "Legolas!" They were in a room full of people!

"What?" he asked innocently.

Noelle took a deep breath, and sighed. "Deal..." she agreed. "But not here."

Legolas smirked and nodded. "Understood, my lady."

Noelle crossed her arms. "We'll see, Legolas." She raised her eyebrows as the Elf glanced doubtfully at his drink.

"Having second thoughts?"

"Not at all," he said as he slowly brought the mug to his lips.

Legolas and Gimli drank at two different paces. Gimli drank more than Legolas in the same amount of time. Noelle watched the whole thing with skepticism that Legolas was gonna win. Although... the more drinks they intook, the less likely it seemed that she was going to win this bet.

Legolas suddenly slammed his cup onto the table. He held up his right hand. "I feel something!" he gasped. "A slight tingling in my fingers... I think it's affecting me." He turned worriedly to look at Noelle, who was smiling in triumph.

Éomer raised his eyebrows curiously.

"What did I say! He... can't hold... his liquor..." Gimli stuttered. He began to tilt backwards slightly.

"Gimli!" Noelle yelled. "Don't-"

The dwarf collapsed backwards out of his seat onto the ground.

Noelle, Legolas and Éomer gaped in shock.

Legolas saw the pout on Noelle's defeated face as she frowned at the inebriated dwarf on the ground. "Game over," he said with a smile, trying to hold back a laugh.

Noelle looked sideways at him.

Legolas couldn't contain himself, and burst out laughing. He gently took one of her hands that had fallen to her sides. "Shall we go outside?" he asked, his eyes bright with gleeful mischief.

She felt herself melt under his gaze, and she looked down bashfully, then over to her right.

And met Gandalf's eyes.

She hadn't spoken to him privately since before their encounter with Dooku -Saruman- at Isengard. There were things unspoken that they both needed to say.

She took a deep breath and met Legolas's eyes. "Yes... but can you give me one moment?"

Legolas nodded. "Of course," he replied, releasing her hand.

Noelle meandered her way through the throngs of drunken men who were clamoring to the antics of Merry and Pippin, who were dancing on the main table with mugs of ale in their hands, singing a song about the Green Dragon.

Gandalf gave her a warm smile as she took her place by his side. That was where she had always been until she had joined the Jedi.

"Hey Gandalf," she said with the faintest smile.

"Hello dear. Are you... enjoying yourself?" There was a strange tone in Gandalf's voice- as if he knew something.

Gosh. Did everyone know about her and Legolas?

Noelle cleared her throat. "I am."

Gandalf smiled. "Then I'm glad to see that. It's been a long time since I've seen you so happy. Not since you were a child."

Instead of the surprise she thought she'd feel, all Noelle felt was another stab of pain at the memories. Of the first time she met Gandalf in her front yard, after Fourth of July party with her cousins. How simple and beautiful life had been back then. Not a care in the world.

She missed it deeply.

"How have you been since this morning?"

Noelle shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

"Uh huh," Gandalf observed quietly. "You were happy a moment ago with Legolas, until I mention Saruman and you don't sound fine any longer."

Noelle felt herself tense, but didn't react to the mention of Legolas's name.

There was so much on her mind she didn't even know where to begin. Being with Legolas, someone who was so sweet and innocently happy (other than when he worried about her) was calming to her mind and soul.

She sighed. "I'm not fine Gandalf," she admitted. "I haven't been fine since- I don't even know. I keep wondering if I made the right choice... the right choices," she corrected herself.

"So do I," said Gandalf suddenly, his voice laced with regret.

Noelle looked up in surprise.

"You, Bilbo, Frodo. Did I make a mistake pulling you from your homes and your lives to send you on adventures?" It was almost like he was talking to himself rather than her. "Have I sent Frodo to his death? Have I ruined your relationship with your family beyond repair?"

Noelle stood with her mouth open in shock and she blinked back the tears that were coming into her eyes. "Oh Gandalf," she whispered. "I don't blame you for anything. It was my choice."

Gandalf smiled sadly. "I know my dear. I know you never did, but I was the one who started all of this."

Merry and Pippin finished their song and chugged down their mugs in about ten seconds, breaking the silence of the moment.

"I'm gonna to get some air, Gandalf," she said, touching the old man's arm gently. Turning around, she didn't see Legolas anywhere.

Maybe he was already waiting for her outside. She started blushing as she came to the realization. Legolas had this all set up perfectly, didn't he?

The night, spring air was clear, cool, and calming as Noelle stepped outside to the front steps of Meduseld. Aside from the moonlight and a torch hanging beside the door, it was all darkness.

The dark silhouette of Legolas was standing facing the East.

"I knew you would find me," came his soft voice.

Noelle went over to him. "You beat me to it."

Legolas turned to look at her. As her eyes adjusted, she could see his smile. "I did not know there was another competition."

"There's not."

"Still... you owe me from the last one," he said, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Oh yes..." Noelle trailed off as she gazed up into his eyes. "I did agree, didn't I?"

Legolas reached down to touch her jaw. Then his breath mingled with her own as they kissed. She felt the same sensation in her stomach and her heart as the first time he had kissed her on the ramp at Helm's Deep, which was not two days ago.

Noelle exhaled deeply as they parted. "Legolas," she whispered his name.

"Yes?"

"Your breath still smells like alcohol." Noelle couldn't contain herself, as she burst out laughing.

Legolas snorted, but he was smiling too. "I'm sorry you did not enjoy it."

"I never said I didn't."

He stepped back a little and ran his thumb over her cheek. "What is it you wanted to ask me?"

Noelle was surprised. "But I didn't win the bet!"

"Well," Legolas looked up to meet her eyes. "I am curious to know, and I have something I want to ask you."

"Oh?" Noelle raised her eyebrows. "Ok," she glanced down, fidgeting with her velvety sleeves. This was such an embarrassing question, even though she was so curious. "When did you first realize you loved me?"

Legolas looked taken aback. He obviously hadn't been expecting that from her. "I…" He scratched the back of his head. "I think I've always loved you, but I didn't realize it until Rivendell. When you told me about your home, and- I did not know what to do. I wanted from the bottom of my heart to comfort you. It distressed me to see you distressed. I put more thought into it during the journey from Rivendell to Moria, and I realized it was because I loved you. Ever since you stepped in front of Thorin Oakenshield to defend him, I have always admired your spirit, your willingness to defend others,' even at the cost of your own life. And despite what you most likely think, you are beautiful." He kissed the top of her head.

Noelle's face probably probably looked like she had been slapped, or given some huge revelation about the universe. Because it was a huge revelation. She had never expected that from him. The fact that he loved her was enough to baffle her already troubled mind, but this… He saw all this in her that even she couldn't see.

"Oh Legolas…" she whispered, as he pulled her in for a hug. She looked up at him, tears forming in her eyes. "That was a really good answer. What did you want to ask me?"

Legolas smiled as he pushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Why did you call me meleth nîn?"

Noelle frowned in surprise. Shouldn't the answer be obvious? "Because… I love you."

"I know," Legolas whispered. "I just… wanted to hear you say it."

Then his lips met hers again.