A/N Ahhhh Lothlorien, our last rest before all hell breaks loose. I can't believe how close we are to finishing FotR. Tomorrow is the last day of my job's spring break and then I'll be back to work full time but I'm hoping to get some good distance in the story before then and maybe be able to keep this inspiration going well into work.

Also guess what? We're actually gonna have a conversation with Legolas? Whaaaat? I know, right?

Josephine was silent the rest of their journey, wrapped up in the memory of what happened at Cerin Amroth. She'd known how she felt for a long time, since Rivendell when things were so different. But it had been easy to make excuses for it, easier than accepting what it might mean.

If she acted on it and at the end of the quest she found herself back home…the thought was so sharp she couldn't fully bear to imagine it. But if she didn't go back home, if he shared her feelings, then that was also terrifying.

Then again, it wasn't some kind of magical soulmate hill. Just because she was in love with him didn't mean he was in love with her. He had the journey to focus on, his throne ahead of him. And then there would be his rejection when he didn't feel the same way. It was safer to say nothing, to not distract him. A part of her still believed she wouldn't survive all the dangers ahead and there were too many uncertainties anyway.

They entered Caras Galadhon at dusk just as Haldir promised. He led them up one of the centermost mallorn trees in the city, leaving them at the foot of the stairs that Galadriel and Celeborn descended hand in hand.

"The Enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Nine that are here yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar."

Galadriel had the answer of course, before any of them responded. "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow."

"He was taken by both Shadow and flame." Legolas said. "A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria."

"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose. Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin. For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands love is now mingled with grief."

Josephine watched Galadriel as her gaze moved to each of the members of the Fellowship in turn and waited to see if it would fall on her as well. Galadriel was her last hope for answers.

Celeborn asked another question. "What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost."

"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains…"

Her lips kept moving and distantly Josephine could hear her dialog, but it was overshadowed by her voice echoing in her head. Even being expected it was unsettling and she flinched.

I have met your kind before.

The habit of Elven realms giving her the time to overthink things was becoming old. On the road there was so much else to do and worry about she didn't have time to wander pensively. It was during one of those walks that she went to find Boromir. They'd hardly spoken since he confronted her in Moria and she'd snapped at him. At the time it was what she'd needed to do, or at least all she was able to in the moment to shut him up. But it felt like she was doing something wrong to have that be how they were with each other up until the end.

He was sitting near a pond, elbows on his knees and his hands clasped in front of him. When he heard her coming he turned, a look of worry on his face.

"Hey. Want some company?" She wasn't sure if he was so far gone that there was no bridging the gap.

"Please." He sighed, weary somehow.

She sat down on the grass next to him, mirroring him and waiting to see if he'd say anything. When he didn't she leaned over and shoved him with her shoulder. "How's the brooding going? I've been getting a lot of it in myself. I'm practically Batman at this point, minus the fortune."

"Josephine, I am very sorry, but sometimes I truly don't understand what you're saying."

She chuckled. "It's fine, it's not important. You know, you really should at least try to get some rest."

He pursed his lips and nodded. "You have been speaking to Aragorn."

"No, but I already know what you two talked about the night we got here and I know you don't like how much Galadriel knows."

"She knows more than should be known by a stranger." He said bitterly.

Josephine sighed and shook her head. "Yeah, it's not so great to be on that end of it either, let me tell ya."

An awkward silence fell between them again that he eventually broke bluntly.

"In the mines, I spoke out of turn. I am sorry. I was being a…what are you so fond of calling me?"

She thought for a second, trying to run through the times she'd argued with him. "A dick?"

"Yes, that.

Laughing she wrapped her arms around one of his and gave it a squeeze. "I'm sorry I had to let you fight a giant squid monster and then yelled at you more than was probably necessary."

"Yes, if it happens again, I would appreciate a warning if you don't mind." He said it very firmly, exaggerated so she'd know he was joking.

"No promises."

"There are no giant squid monsters in the Anduin."

"That's what you think." She said ominously. "You thought Hobbits were fake too."

"When this is over, Little Sister, I will bring you to see the White City. We shall go to the archives and I will prove to you there are no monsters in the Anduin."

"Alright, but I get to say I told you so." She dropped her head against his arm and tightened her grip. For all she knew, this would be one of the last times he was himself again, Parth Galen was only a month away.

Her bowstring snapped away from her fingers and the arrow sank into the target, just off the center ring. She still hadn't quite gotten the hang of it, but her lessons with Legolas had started a lot later than everything else. She tried again as he watched with his arms folded, doing even worse the second time.

"Your form is sloppy." He observed, walking over to remove the two arrows and pass them back to her. "You are preoccupied."

Josephine groaned. "I know, I'm sorry."

He handed her an arrow and stepped back. "Try again."

This time the arrow dove right into the grass at the foot of the target. Frustrated, she set the end of her bow into the grass and rolled her eyes at herself. "Do you know anything about Cerin Amroth?"

He cocked his head to the side. "Some. Do you wish to know of its history?"

Maybe she could get some answers without having to admit that anything happened that had to do with Aragorn. "Not exactly. When I went up there things were…different. Kind of…sharper, clearer. Even things I already knew make more sense now? What's up with that?"

"The power of Lothlorien is stronger in some places than others. Cerin Amroth is one of those."

"So that sort of clarity, is it real or does the mound just sort of…amplify it for a while?" Maybe she'd just been high or something.

"It will bring you clarity, not falsehoods." He looked at her conspiratorially. "What did it teach you?"

Josephine sputtered and grabbed another arrow to continue practicing. "Nothing anybody needs to hear about."

"It seems to be troubling you, speaking of it might be helpful." He wordlessly corrected her posture and stepped back again. "Perhaps with Aragorn as he showed you the mound and as one of your kin, might understand your reaction to it better than I."

"It has nothing to do with Aragorn." She said quickly. Too quickly.

"I did not suggest it did." Legolas said with the ghost of a smile and a raised eyebrow. "But now I am curious."

"Legolas…" She said warningly.

He held up his hands, looking like he'd gotten an answer that satisfied him even though she didn't give one. "I will speak of it no more. Now," he motioned to the target. "again."