DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything created by Tolkein and Middle-Earth. This is for entertainment only.

A/N: Two chapter day! So that was a terrifying way to end the last chapter. Let's see if this next chapter can help you forgive me... - P

Song for the Chapter: "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles


Chapter 18 - Healing Wounds
My sister and I, you will recollect, are twins. You know how subtle are the links which bind two souls which are so closely allied.
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


Aurora had refused to leave her brother's side as the Elk and Egg were made ready to ride. One of the healers had applied something called athelas and bandaged the wound. The camp was being broken down around them; the soldiers readying their horses for a long journey through the night. Thranduil, Legolas, and Aurora would depart immediately with Augustus to get him to the palace healers as soon as possible.

Aurora refused to let go of her brother until the time came to lift him onto Egg, Legolas settling into the saddle behind him. She didn't like the thought of someone else riding her horse but, between her distress over her brother and her physical limitations with her leg, it was not safe for her to ride.

Once the saddlebags were filled with additional healing supplies, Legolas imitated the sharp whistle he had heard Aurora use and Egg took off into the night, leaving Aurora behind to watch them slowly disappear. She felt a warm breath on her neck and she turned around, fresh tears forming in her eyes. She came face-to-face with an elk and the rider.

He leaned over and offered his hand to her, "Come, Ilma nin (My starlight). We must go." Aurora grabbed his hand and he pulled her gracefully onto the elk. She was positioned in front of him, her back pressed against his chest. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer as he gave a sharp command urging his elk forward.

The pair rode off into the night, the cool summer air stinging their faces as the elk bounded through the forest. Were it under any other circumstances, Thranduil would have relished holding her so close, the feeling of her body moving against his in rhythm. The light smell of roses on her hair as it caressed his face. But now all he could focus on was how she trembled under his touch. He stole a glance at her and saw that her stoic expression had broken and her bottom lip had begun to tremble. All he could do was hold her close. Her crying seemed to calm after several minutes, Thranduil could feel her take several deep breaths. "I can't lose him, Thranduil…" She whispered, "He's all I have left."

Thranduil pressed his cheek to the side of her face, "Aside from Lord Elrond himself you will find no better healers in all of Arda than those who reside within the halls of Greenwood. They will save him, Ilma nin (My Starlight)."

"What does it mean?" She whispered.

"What do you mean, Aurora?"

"Ilma nin." Aurora explained, "You're always saying things that I assume are sweet in Elvish, but I never know."

"It means 'my starlight'," Thranduil whispered and placed a soft kiss on her hair, "For that is what you are to me." Aurora unconsciously smiled at the confession, lacing her fingers in between his hand that was wrapped around her waist. She nestled closer to him as they rode into the night.


The majority of their travel they remained silent, both lost in their thoughts but every few hours they would stop and allow the elk a few minutes of rest. The sun was beginning to rise when they stopped next to a small spring so they could get a drink of water.

"We should carry on," Thranduil called as he walked back over to the elk. He turned to see that Aurora had not moved from the edge of the water, "Aurora?" He walked over to her and stood silently by her side for several minutes, once again lacing his fingers with hers. "Tell me how to ease your pain," He finally whispered.

Aurora let out a shaky breath and began to cry again. She looked up into melancholy blue eyes, "Lie to me," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his waist and stepped in closer to him. "Just hold me and tell me everything will be okay. Even if it's a lie, just tell me— "

Thranduil hushed her and pulled her close to his chest, her head resting perfectly above his heart. "He will be fine, Ilma nin (my Starlight)."

"Gwestog? (Do you promise?)" Aurora lifted her head to meet his eyes.

Thranduil smiled softly and touched the back of his hand to her porcelain cheek. He leaned in and place a soft kiss on her forehead and whispered against her skin, "Gweston. (I promise). It's okay to fall apart, Ilma nin (my Starlight). I will put you back together."


Legolas burst through the main gate, startling several elves who were nearby.

"NATHO! (HELP ME!)" He shouted as several guards sprinted towards him with looks of concern.

"Your Grace!" One proclaimed as he held the unique black horse steady as his Prince dismounted holding an immovable shape. "What has happened?"

"I require Kasterren! Bring her to the healing halls at once!" Legolas shouted and began sprinting up toward the grand palace. Legolas turned his head and shouted over his shoulder as he ran, "And make sure nothing happens to that horse!"

Legolas ran through the halls of the palace to the shocked expressions of those who lived there. He slammed the door of the healing halls open and found Kasterren already waiting for him, "He's been stabbed with a Morgul dagger!" He shouted as he set Augustus on the closest bed.

The elderly elleth began working immediately on the wound, removing the bandage and cleaning the wound thoroughly with several medicinal herbs. She jumped back as the unconscious ellon suddenly sat up and shouted, "Aurora!" His eyes were wild as he scanned the room, his eyes widened as they rested on Legolas, "Where is she?! Did that monster— "

"Posto hi (Rest here), Augustus." Legolas laid him back down and nodded for the healer to continue her work, "She is safe. She will be arriving with the King soon. I will bring her to you the moment she arrives."

"He has a fever, my Prince." Kasterren informed bleakly, "I must work quickly if he is to be saved."

Legolas gave one more nod to the healer and left the healing hall leaning against one of the walls in the corridor he silently slid to the ground until he was sitting and rested his head against the cold stones.

He sat in silence for several hours, listening to Augustus's anguished cries as the healers worked to stop the poison from spreading. A part of him was glad that Aurora was not here; surely the sound of her brother's cries would be a torture to her. Legolas thought back to the previous night's battle. How his father had protected Aurora with such ferocity that he could barely believe it was truly his father. She must truly mean a lot to him.

"Your Grace?"

Legolas opened his eyes to see a stern-looking elleth standing over him. He slowly rose to his feet once more and nodded respectively to the brown-haired elleth, "Mae govannen (Well met), Tauriel."

She watched the Prince closely as he leaned against the wall once again, "What has happened, Legolas?"

Legolas took several breaths, "I'm sure my father will call together the Council and the Captains to inform them of the details, but the short version is we were attacked by spiders last night but they were being controlled somehow… By a Nazgul." Legolas saw fear cross over the Captain's expression as he continued, "He was after one of our company. The boy was trying aiding in her protection and was caught with a Morgul blade."

Tauriel crouched down next to Legolas, "and the Nazgul?"

"Escaped." Legolas met her eyes briefly and then looked away, "This was not his first attempt in capturing the girl. There was an attack in Rivendell at the solstice."

Tauriel shook her head in disbelief, "What is King Thranduil's opinion on this matter? Surely he wouldn't allow such an elleth to reside in the Palace. She brings a threat to everyone here."

"You will not say that to his Majesty, Captain." Legolas gave Tauriel a sharp look and continued, "The girl is important, she is spoken of in a prophecy that will save Greenwood from Dol Guldur."

Tauriel dropped her eyes to the ground, "My apologies, cuan nin (my prince)."

Before Tauriel could continue they heard several sets of hurried footsteps rushing toward them. Legolas rose and looked at the concerned faces as they stopped in front of him.

A dark-haired ellon stepped forward and spoke first, "Caun vuin (beloved Prince), we were informed of your sudden arrival with an injured party. Is the King— "

"Hidh (Peace), Lord Sankrovyn." Legolas raised a hand to silence him, " It is not the King. But another of our company who was felled by a Morgul dagger." He saw all the color in the Lord's face drain as he looked to the other Lords present. "I am sure that the King will call a meeting and discuss the details of everything with the Council. I would wager that he will schedule this meeting for tomorrow morning, so plan accordingly."

The Lords nodded in agreement but before any could speak all present turned to find the source of a thunderous sound that had suddenly filled the halls. They looked in awe as the saw a great elk bounding down the hall of the palace, coming to a graceful stop in front of the group present. They watched as King Thranduil dismounted and turned to help an unknown elleth from the elk. The pair did not acknowledge the group as they strode past and into the healing halls.

The Lords slowly looked back to Legolas, expressions of disbelief painted on their face. Legolas cleared his throat as he moved to grab the elk's reigns before it ventured further around the palace, "It would appear that King Thranduil has returned to the Greenwood Palace."


The healing halls were darkened save for a candle on a bedside table and the moon shining through the windows. Thranduil watched from the doorway as Aurora sat in a chair next to Augustus's bed, her feet casually propped up on the side of his bed, his limp hand resting in hers. She wore deep green leggings and her usual black boots; she had a black, sleeveless-tunic on; but Thranduil knew that she probably had a second cover-up nearby should someone come in and see her arm.

As she absently traced circles on the back of his hand with her fingernail, she was startled when Augustus began another bout of coughing. She instantly sat up and tried to prop him up so he could breathe better. The healer had given him some medicine that would keep him asleep as his body fought off the poison. As the coughing subsided, Aurora wrung out another damp cloth and placed the cool material over her brother's brow.

"Come back to me, stupid…" She whispered into the darkness.

Aurora leaned back in her chair slightly until she heard a slight brush of fabric against the stone. She looked up and saw Thranduil at one of the healing counters silently placing herbs in a cup of steaming water. He turned and met her gaze as he casually grabbed another chair, sitting down next to her.

"Drink this," Thranduil offered the cup to Aurora and then softly touched her cheek, the smell of lavender reaching her nose, "it is a calming tea. It will relax you."

Aurora silently sipped the tea. It tasted disgusting, but she couldn't deny the calming effect that she felt shortly after. The pair sat in silence as they watched Augustus.

"How is he doing?" Thranduil asked quietly.

"Your healers remain positive. If this fever breaks soon he should make a full recovery. But they gave him a sleeping tonic that should last for several days." Aurora never took her eyes off her brother's face. "So now we wait…"

Thranduil looked at her pensive expression, "Will you come on a walk with me? I promise not to take you away from Augustus's side for too long." He smiled as Aurora gave a slight nod.

The pair had linked arms together and walked around the darkened palace. Aurora was grateful that Thranduil was there or she would have been lost several times. They walked in peaceful silence as Thranduil led her through a more elegant corridor and into a courtyard that led to the most beautiful garden Aurora had ever seen. She traced the lines of the flowers as she walked around. At the back of the garden, she found a small waterfall reminiscent of the one in Rivendell. She walked over to the edge of the pool and watched as the droplets of water fell into the small pond. As she watched, she felt the slight pressure of fingers intertwining with hers, causing her to smile softly.

"This is beautiful." She breathed.

"I'm glad you like it," Thranduil gave a warm smile, "it is my private garden. But you are welcome here anytime you desire." Aurora shuddered as she felt Thranduil's other hand trace a line up her scarred arm, she turned to look at him to find that he had dropped the glamour on his face once more, revealing his deep wounds. She placed a hand on his scarred cheek and he leaned into her touch.

"Thank you," Aurora stepped closer to him, "Thank you for all the kindness you have shown me and my brother.

Thranduil placed another kiss on her palm and whispered onto her skin, "Aiqua an tye (Anything for you)."

Aurora smiled as his eyes met hers again, "I don't suppose you'll tell me what that means."

Thranduil gave a sly grin and leaned in close, his lips close to her ear, "No."

Aurora laughed and pulled away from him slightly, her hand still resting over his scars and her expression turned pensive as she ran her finger along one of the long scars. "Do they still hurt?"

"No, not anymore." Thranduil took her hand in his once more, "What of yours?" He ran his hand down her arm where the pink swirls tapered off.

"Now and then," Aurora looked away, "not as much as they used to; but they are still very new."

Thranduil watched her expression grow sad and she pulled away folding her arms across her chest and wandering the garden once more.

"Aurora," Thranduil reached for her shoulder to stop her after several minutes. She turned and he wrapped his arms around her, looking deep into her eyes. "Please don't turn from me…" The moon danced across the jade pools of her eyes as she searched his eyes for something that he couldn't pinpoint. Then she stood on her tiptoes and their lips met.

His lips were softer than she could have ever imagined, a hint of wine lingering on them. After a brief moment, he returned the kiss; one arm tightening around her waist and pulling her closer to him while the other hand slid up her back and gently cupped the back of her head. Aurora's hands slipped up his broad chest one arm mimicking his motion as she held the back of his head, the other hand traveled over his neck and came to rest on his scarred cheek. She felt him tense under the touch but then instantly relax. She tasted more exquisite than Thranduil could have dreamed, he held her close and he could feel their mouths mold perfectly together. Aurora let out a soft moan as he deepened the kiss, his tongue lightly tasting her lower lip.

They separated from each other, their foreheads pressed together as they both breathed heavily. Thranduil caressed her cheek and smiled softly. They stood silently, basking in the moonlight. He opened his eyes when he felt her tremble under his touch to find that she was crying.

"Aurora, what troubles you?"

Aurora stepped back from him slightly shaking her head, "I'm sorry." She breathed, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that… I wasn't thinking. I'm extremely emotional right now and I shouldn't— I shouldn't have— "

Thranduil saw as she began to breathe heavily like she couldn't catch her breath and he rushed forward and took her in her arms once again, "No, Ilma nin (my Starlight). I desired this as much as you."

Aurora continued to silently cry as Thranduil's gentle hand cupped her face and wiped her tears away. "I'm just afraid," she breathed, "the things I am starting to feel scare me."

"Then we will face those fears together," Thranduil whispered. "I will not ask you for anything you do not want."

The pair remained silent for a long while wrapped in a close embrace.

"Come," Thranduil spoke gently and looked in her eyes once more, "let me return you to the healing halls. There will be time to discuss this later." Aurora nodded her head shyly and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. The pair laced their fingers together once more and walked silently from the garden.